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Password managers make it so much easier to keep track of your most important data. Not all password managers are the same, however.

In the digital age, much of our lives are conducted online. From social media accounts to banking applications, each digital service requires a password, making it difficult to remember them all. This is why a password manager is essential. However, with so many options available, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. This article will guide you through the process, ensuring your digital life remains secure and convenient.

How to choose the perfect password manager for you

(Image credit: Future)

The first step in choosing a password manager is understanding your specific needs. Consider the following questions:

Number of Devices: How many devices do you need to sync your passwords across?

Platform Compatibility: Which operating systems and browsers do you use?

Features: Are you looking for features beyond password management, such as secure note storage or password sharing capabilities?

Budget: Are you willing to pay for a password manager, or are you looking for a free alternative?

When it comes to security, not all password managers are created equal. Here are essential security features to consider:

Encryption: Opt for a password manager that offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring your data is encrypted before it leaves your device.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security, requiring a second form of verification beyond your master password.

Zero-Knowledge Policy: This ensures that the password manager company doesn’t store or have access to your passwords.

Security Audits: Look for a password manager that undergoes regular, independent security audits.

A good user experience is crucial for a password manager, as you’ll interact with it daily. Consider these factors:

Ease of Use: The interface should be intuitive, making it easy to store, retrieve, and generate passwords.

Browser Integration: Look for seamless browser integration that automatically fills in your passwords.

Mobile App: A user-friendly mobile app is crucial for accessing your passwords on the go.

What to look for

(Image credit: Unsplash/Glenn Carstens-Peters)

When selecting a password manager, several crucial features should be considered to ensure maximum security and ease of use. Let’s explore the key features that define a top-tier password manager.

End-to-End Encryption

Encryption is at the heart of a password manager’s security. End-to-end encryption means that your data is encrypted on your device before it’s transmitted to any server. Ideally, a password manager should use industry-standard encryption, such as AES-256, to protect your sensitive data.

Zero-Knowledge Architecture

This security feature ensures that the service provider cannot access your stored data. A zero-knowledge protocol means the service encrypts and decrypts data locally on your device, and even the pass manager’s developers cannot access your passwords and information.

Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Adding a layer of security, 2FA requires you to provide two different authentication factors to verify yourself. This could be a combination of something you know (your password), something you have (a mobile device), or something you are (biometric data). A password manager with 2FA support dramatically decreases the likelihood of unauthorized access.

Password Generation

One of the most practical features of a password manager is the ability to generate complex, high-strength passwords. Look for a password manager that can create long, randomized passwords that are tough to crack, diminishing the risk of password-related security breaches.

Auto-Fill and Auto-Login

A password manager should integrate with your web browsers and apps to streamline your online experience. Auto-fill and auto-login features allow the software to automatically populate login fields with your username and password, saving you time and avoiding typos that can occur with manual entry.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

In our multi-device world, having a password manager that syncs across all your platforms is essential. Cross-platform compatibility ensures you can access your passwords anytime, anywhere, whether you switch from a PC to a smartphone or from Windows to macOS.

Secure Sharing

Sometimes, you need to share a password securely with a family member or colleague. A password manager with a secure sharing feature allows you to do this without exposing your password in plain text via messaging or email. Look for a manager that lets you share access through the manager itself.

Password Audit and Security Alerts

Top-notch password managers often include a security dashboard that analyzes your passwords for strength and security. The dashboard can alert you to weak, reused, or compromised passwords and prompt you to change them.

User-Friendly Interface

A robust array of features is valuable only if the password manager is user-friendly. The software should be intuitive so you can manage your passwords without any confusion or frustration.

Backup and Recovery Options

Your password manager should offer an efficient way to recover your data in the event of device loss or data corruption. Check for options like secure cloud or local backups to ensure you can always retrieve your passwords.

Customer Support

Reliable customer support is vital, especially if you encounter issues or have questions about your password manager. A responsible provider should offer comprehensive support through multiple channels, such as email, chat, or a knowledge base.

Why you need a password manager

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Memorizing dozens of complex passwords is neither feasible nor secure, often leading to weak password practices that put us at risk. On the other hand, password managers offer convenience and a robust solution for securing our digital lives. Let’s explore why a password manager is no longer an option but a necessity.

The primary appeal of a password manager is its ability to simplify your online experience. Password managers securely store and organize your passwords in an encrypted vault, ensuring that even the provider cannot access your login information. You only need to remember one strong master password to access your login details.

Humans prioritize memorability over complexity, leading to the widespread use of weak passwords. A password manager eliminates this problem by generating unique passwords for each account. This significantly reduces the risk of account breaches, as the others remain secure even if one password is compromised.

One of the most common security lapses is reusing passwords across multiple accounts. If a hacker gains access to one account, all accounts that share the same password become compromised. A password manager creates a unique, strong password for each account, ensuring that a breach in one does not lead to a cascade of unauthorized access.

Most people tend to avoid changing passwords regularly. However, periodic changes are crucial for security. A password manager can often automate this task, ensuring your passwords are routinely updated without your intervention, thus keeping your digital fortress secure.

There are times when sharing passwords becomes necessary. Unfortunately, sharing passwords via text messages or emails is inherently insecure. Password managers offer secure sharing features that allow you to share access without the recipient seeing the actual password, and you can easily revoke that access when needed.

In our multi-device world, digital access points are not limited to one computer or phone. Password managers sync across devices, ensuring you have access to your passwords whether you’re using your laptop at a café or your phone while on the go.

Granting someone access to critical accounts can be essential in extraordinary situations. Many password managers provide an emergency access feature that allows trusted individuals to access your account under predefined circumstances, ensuring continuity without compromising security until then.

Password managers encourage better overall security practices by facilitating unique, complex passwords for each account and securely storing them. They remove the guesswork from digital security and make maintaining a secure online presence more accessible.

Types of password managers

(Image credit: Kaspersky)

Not all password managers are created equal. They come in different forms, each with unique features and storage methods. Understanding these differences is crucial in selecting the right password manager for your security needs and lifestyle. 

1. Cloud-Based Password Managers

Cloud-based password managers are the most popular type. They store your passwords on the provider’s servers, allowing easy access from any device with an internet connection. This type of password manager offers convenience, as you can synchronize your passwords across all your devices and platforms. Examples include LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane. They often have additional features like two-factor authentication, secure password sharing, and emergency access.

2. Local Password Managers

Local password managers store your passwords on your device rather than on an external server. This type offers heightened security, as your passwords are not exposed to potential breaches on cloud servers. KeePass is a notable example of a local password manager. They particularly appeal to those who prefer complete control over their data’s storage location.

3. Browser-Based Password Managers

Most modern web browsers have built-in password managers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. These tools automatically offer to save your passwords whenever you log into a new site. While they provide a basic convenience for managing passwords, their security features may not be as robust as dedicated password managers.

4. Desktop Password Managers

Desktop password managers are installed as a software application on your computer. They store the password database locally but can also offer cloud synchronization options. Examples include RoboForm and specific KeePass configurations. These managers blend the security of local storage with the optional convenience of cloud backups.

5. Mobile Password Managers

Designed specifically for mobile devices, these apps offer password management capabilities tailored to the needs of smartphone and tablet users. They provide convenient access to your passwords on the go and often include features like biometric login (fingerprint or facial recognition) for added security. Examples include Bitwarden and the mobile versions of 1Password and LastPass.

Conclusion

Choosing the right password manager depends on your priorities: convenience, security, or a balance of both. Cloud-based and browser-based managers offer simplicity and accessibility, while local and desktop options prioritize security. Mobile password managers cater to those constantly on the move. Regardless of your type, integrating a password manager into your digital routine is critical to safeguarding your online identity and information. Remember, the best password manager you regularly use fits seamlessly into your digital life.

Here’s our list of the best identity management services right now

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Luis Elizondo and Admiral Tim Gallaudet to spill more UAP secrets in congress today

How to watch UFO hearings live stream

Today’s UFO hearings promise to ‘pull back the curtain’ on yet more UAP secrets live from 11.30am ET / 4.30pm GMT. The hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth” will feature testimony from former Pentagon UFO hunter Lue Elizondo. Here’s where to watch UFO hearings 2024 live online for free.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) is the U.S. government’s name for Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).

Republican congressman and UFO hearing joint-chair Glenn Grothmann said: “We still have not got any solid information as to what we know about these aircraft. It’s very frustrating that NASA, the Department of Defense have been very close-mouthed on these things.”

“Americans deserve to understand what the government has learned about UAP sightings, and the nature of any potential threats these phenomena pose.”

If you haven’t read Luis Elizondo’s mind-blowing book Imminent, in which he claims that “we are not alone”, and they U.S. government has recovered both off-planet craft and their pilots (“non-human biologics”), it could be worth watching.

Read on as we explain how to watch UFO hearings live stream from anywhere.

Can I watch the UFO headings for free online?

Yes. The November 13 UAP hearings will be available for free on YouTube.

If traveling or in a location where YouTube is blocked, you can use a VPN to watch UFO hearings live streams safely and securely from anywhere in the world.

Unblock any stream with a VPN

If you’re keen to watch the UFO hearings 2024 safely and privately, but you’re away from home and access to YouTube is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it. You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to watch UFO hearings online and privately from anywhere:

Where can you watch the UFO hearings 2024 in the US?

The November 13 UAP testimony from Luis Elizondo and others will be live on YouTube, which is free (with ads) from 11.30 am ET / 8.30 am PT in the States.

Currently away from home? Can’t access YouTube? Or just want to watch the latest UFO hearings privately and securely? We recommend that you use NordVPN (save 70%) to watch UAP hearings. Nord has a ton of uses and is a great way to access online content without being profiled by advertisers.

How to watch UFO hearings 2024 for free in the UK

Today’s UAP testimony from Luis Elizondo (Imminent: Inside The Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs) will be live on YouTube, which is free (with ads) from 4.30 pm GMT in the United Kingdom.

Currently away from home? Can’t access YouTube? Use NordVPN (save 70%) to watch UAP hearings safely and privately.

Where to watch 2024 UFO hearings in Australia

UFO hearings 2024 with Luis Elizondo will be live on YouTube, which is free (with ads) from 3.30 am AEDT on Friday morning in Australia.

You’re also likely to see highlights and live reporting on NewsNation (via Sling TV 50% off deal), which has covered this story with the help of Australian investigative journalist Ross Coulthart.

Currently away from home? Can’t access YouTube? Use NordVPN (save 70%) to watch UAP hearings safely and privately.

UFO hearings line-up

A number of experts will testify live at today’s hearings including former government workers and a member of NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team. The star witnesses, so to speaker, will be:

Luis ElizondoAdmiral Tim Gallaudet

Who is chairing 2024 UAP hearings?

Chairs Nancy Mace and Glenn Grothman will jointly lead the UFO hearing.

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There’s a slew of brand new and returning TV shows coming to Disney Plus and Hulu in 2025, but these six are my most-anticipated.

It’s certainly an exciting day for Disney Plus subscribers everywhere now that the platform’s ‘new in 2025’ teaser trailer has finally dropped, which reveals sneaky first-look clips at some of the best Disney Plus shows and best Hulu shows expected to arrive next year. Disney shared the teaser trailer in alignment with the fifth anniversary of its platform, which has evolved to become one of the best streaming services out there.

In the two-minute long teaser trailer (see below), a rapid-fire spin of mini clips reveals a number of the platform’s fan-favorite titles that will be returning some time in 2025, most notably The Bear season 4 (unveiling the return of Jamie Lee Curtis) and the Star Wars drama series Andor season 2. Additionally, fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians can expect another action-packed season of the Greek demigod epic following the news of its new cast addition Andra Day.

But what are the new shows that will be gracing the streaming service in 2025? It wouldn’t be true to Disney Plus if it didn’t tease its two new additions to the MCU, of course – showing a brief insight to its new shows Daredevil: Born Again and Black Panther spin-off series Ironheart. Superhero shows aside, Disney also teased the new Hulu show Paradise, which appears to be a crime drama, and the new comedy-drama series Chad Powers, which caught my attention immediately, but that’s just because I’m a Glen Powell sympathizer.

We’re not even finished with 2024, and yet I’m already excited for what Disney Plus and Hulu has in store for us throughout next year. It makes it more difficult to narrow down the shows I’m most looking forward to, but these six are the ones that I will be adding to my watchlist as soon as they land on the platform.

Daredevil: Born Again

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Scheduled to arrive on Disney Plus on March 4, 2025 in the US and March 5, 2025 in the UK and Australia, Dario Scardapane, Christopher Ord and Matthew Corman’s take on Daredevil is one of the most-anticipated shows coming to the platform next year.

The plot from Marvel reads: “Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course.”

It will be the second Daredevil series following the Netflix Original show that lasted for three seasons between 2015-2018.

The Bear season 4

(Image credit: FX/Hulu/Disney Plus)

The Bear is one of the most intense TV shows I’ve watched, but its blend of drama and comedy has me crawling back for more. After making my way through its first three seasons far too quickly, seeing Jeremy Allen White – and especially Jamie Lee Curtis – crop up in Disney’s teaser trailer has made me even more impatient for the arrival of its fourth installment.

But its not just Jeremy Allen White that makes the show what it is, but his co-star Ayo Edebiri has become one of my favorite actresses since I first saw her as Sydney and later in Emma Seligman’s Gen Z high school comedy Bottoms (2023) alongside Rachel Sennott, who I admire just as much.

Andor season 2

(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

Just like the MCU, Disney has taken the Star Wars franchise to a different level with both its spin-off movies and TV shows – particularly The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and the Obi Wan Kenobi miniseries.

As for Andor season two, will continue to tell the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and recall the four-year period leading up to the discovery of The Death Star and those of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – a prequel to the original Star Wars movie. Over the course of the second season, the rebel alliance grows stronger as the threats of the galactic war escalate.

Alien: Earth

(Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu)

Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi horror from the ’70s is getting another addition to its growing cinematic universe right off the back of the release of Alien: Romulus (2024), which is now available on Hulu.

The new show gives a backstory to the entire franchise, taking place thirty years prior to the events of its first movie Alien (1979). Tipped for a summer 2025 release date, the official Alien: Earth webpage shares the following plot outline: “When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley”.

I’m over here hoping and praying for a surprise Sigourney Weaver appearance.

Ironheart

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Give me a powerful female superhero protagonist and I’m sold. Ironheart is a new Marvel miniseries centered around the titular character who made a first impression in the 2022 movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther. Not familiar with the character? Read our guide to who is Ironheart to find out more.

Chinaka Hodge serves as the show’s creator and head writer, and has enlisted actress Dominique Thorne (If Beale Street Could Talk and Judas and the Black Messiah) to reprise her role as Riri Williams/Ironheart starring alongside Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, and Regan Aliyah. After the events that took place in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, MIT student Riri returns to her home in Chicago where she learns that technology and magic are clashing, sparking the beginning of her own unique journey.

Good American Family

(Image credit: Hulu; Disney)

One of the new Disney Plus shows that caught my eye in its ‘new in 2025’ trailer was limited drama series for Hulu Good American Family, simply because I knew exactly what true story it’s based on just from first glance.

Starring Mark Durplass (Creep) and Dr. Meredith Grey herself Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy), Good American Family explores the unbelievable story of Michael and Kristine Barnett who adopted Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace believing she was a child with dwarfism, but started to develop concerns over her legitimate age.

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Generative AI and legacy tech are the top concerns for security leaders.

IT leaders reporting burnout and stress, Google Workspace report findsGenerative AI is becoming more important to solutions and threatsLegacy tech is putting organizations at risk

It probably won’t come as a huge surprise that burnout is a significant concern for IT workers and security leaders, but new research from Google Workspace has claimed most are more worried about their teams being overwhelmed.

The company’s report found nearly half (43%) saw being overwhelmed as a serious concern, showing current approaches are unsustainable for many businesses.

Overall, the report found nearly all (96%) of organizations said they were confident in their security posture, yet 81% reported experiencing at least one security incident per year, showing there is much work left to be done.

Ever-present threats

The threat landscape is changing thanks to AI, and security teams are seeing more incidents than ever. The new research shows that 81% of organizations see at least one threat per year, with the average being 8 per year.

This may not sound like much, but when the average cost of a data breach is now $4.45 million, even one incident per year can cripple an organization if they’re not properly protected.

Some risky behaviors were uncovered in the report, with 63% of respondents using unlicensed generative AI tools on a weekly basis, and almost half (48%) trust unlicensed gen AI tools to help them deal with threats.

As might be expected, AI is at the forefront of security concerns, and while 93% of security decision makers are worried about incidents, the top breach issue is from generative AI attacks, with nearly a third (31%) identifying this as a primary concern.

Gen AI as a security tool is also gaining traction, with 59% of security decision-makers seeing it as a key tool in combating evolving threats.

Legacy tech was also identified as a major issue, which 75% of IT leaders say is leaving them ill-equipped to handle modern security threats. Nearly two-thirds (59%) of organizations admitted relying on outdated technology had hinders their security preparedness, and 71% said legacy technology has left them less prepared for the future.

“The evidence from our research is clear: Organizations don’t need more security products, they need more secure products,” noted Andy Wen, Senior Director of Product Management, Security, Google Workspace.

“If they’re going to stave off a barrage of sophisticated attacks in the future, they need to move away from outdated solutions and approaches that were designed for the desktop era. They need to embrace secure-by-design solutions that address the modern threat landscape and the way we work now.”

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Forget AMD’s powerhouse Strix Halo laptop CPU – Nvidia’s planned APU could outgun it apparently.

Nvidia APU rumored to equal RTX 4070 laptop GPU in performanceLaptops are already being made with the APU, including from AlienwareThe Arm-based APU could outgun AMD’s Strix Halo by miles for efficiency

Nvidia’s apparent plan to make an Arm-based CPU for PCs – in conjunction with MediaTek – raised some eyebrows, certainly, and now we’re hearing a bit more about how powerful said APU from Team Green might be in terms of its integrated graphics.

For the uninitiated, an APU is an all-in-one chip (packing a processor, alongside an integrated GPU and NPU) and with a powerful enough graphics solution, these can make for a great engine for thin-and-light gaming laptops, dispensing with the need to have a separate graphics card in the chassis. (They’re also ideal for PC gaming handhelds, too).

Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID) has some fresh info on Nvidia’s rumored Arm-based SoC, namely that said integrated graphics will match the RTX 4070 laptop GPU (with the chip running at around 65W).

MLID further notes that laptop makers are already working with Nvidia to realize this APU, and there’s a rumored deal with Alienware on the boil.

We could see new entrants bursting onto our best gaming laptop list powered by the Nvidia APU as soon as the end of 2025, or the leaker still believes that’s a possibility – though we may realistically be waiting until 2026.

It is, after all, a big move for Nvidia, and one that Team Green and its partners will want to get right.

Analysis: The battle against a Halo product

If you recall, AMD also has powerful APUs on the cards, and is closer to launch than Nvidia – in fact, Team Red is expected to reveal new Strix Halo chips at CES 2025 (alongside a whole heap of other goodies).

Interestingly, the Strix Halo flagship APU has also been strongly rumored to have seriously peppy integrated graphics, and comparisons have been drawn to the discrete RTX 4070 laptop GPU here, as well – or that Team Red’s top chip might even be slightly more powerful.

Still, in Nvidia’s favor, it’s not clear if that flagship APU will serve gaming laptops, or just workstations, as we’ve discussed in the past. And even if the Nvidia APU is a bit behind in terms of the performance of its integrated GPU, it’s targeting much better efficiency. (Strix Halo rumors point to 120W for the flagship, and as we see here, 65W is mentioned for Nvidia’s effort – that kind of power difference is huge in the world of portables).

We can also expect a seriously powerful NPU from Nvidia, and AMD Strix Halo for that matter.

What’s going to be the problematic area for Nvidia is that its APU is Arm-based, so will run Windows on Arm with its inherent drawbacks, as seen with current Snapdragon SoCs. Whereas AMD’s Strix Halo is a traditional x86 chip and won’t have any compatibility (or performance overhead) worries – though come 2026, the picture for Arm chips in that respect may have changed a great deal. Microsoft is certainly betting on that, and Nvidia too, no doubt – if this rumor is right.

More competition in the mobile CPU arena will be a prospect that Intel isn’t keen on. Team Blue has a big business in producing laptop CPUs, an area it continues to be strong in despite all the woes around its desktop processors. Is that going to change with Nvidia’s entry into the laptop CPU market? It’s not what Intel needs right now, that’s for sure.

Via TweakTown

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Amazon is shutting down its free streaming service as it directs non-subscribers to Prime Video.

Amazon Freevee to be phased out in coming weeksFreevee content is available on Prime Video insteadPrime Video’s successful ads rollout picks up pace

Amazon Freevee is officially being shut down as the company looks to simplify its streaming offerings by making Prime Video a one-stop shop, according to Deadline.

The free streaming service will be phased out over the coming weeks in the US, UK, Germany and Austria, but you’ll still be able to find Amazon Freevee content on Prime Video, including flagship series like Jury Duty, Bosch: Legacy and Judy Justice. These titles will be identifiable by the label ‘Watch for Free’ in the Prime Video app.

Amazon had already begun shifting Freevee Originals to Prime Video way before it introduced ads earlier this year and had given us more signs of the upcoming shift when it announced that the third and final season of Bosch: Legacy would be shared across Freevee and Prime Video in September.

Opinion: It was inevitable that Amazon would shutter its free streaming service

Despite being one of the best free streaming services, there has been talk of Amazon Freevee closing ever since the launch of an ad-supported tier on Prime Video at the end of January earlier this year, which many considered at the time wasn’t necessary.

Amazon denied rumors of Freevee closing at the time, but a lot of us were unconvinced, mainly because the introduction of an ad-supported plan meant there was no real point of difference between Prime Video and its free streaming offering. After all, the overlap between content meant you didn’t have to leave Prime Video to find Freevee titles.

The rollout of the ad-tier had been viewed as controversial as many subscribers had been frustrated at the fact that Prime Video was inserting ads unless you paid more – essentially forcing you to spend an extra $2.99 in the US and £2.99 in the UK if you wanted to go ad-free.

Bosch: Legacy is one of Amazon Frevee’s flagship Originals. (Image credit: Amazon)

But it turns out that the new ad-tier didn’t dent subscriber numbers as much as people initially thought it would. In fact, because people didn’t complain enough, Prime Video is expected to be filled with even more ads in 2025, with plans to introduce three new types of adverts to the service, including carousel ads, pause ads and trivia ads – and your Fire TV will not be spared.

Amazon has since doubled down on its advertising efforts, following the successful launch of its new plan – UK ratings body Barb found that 86% of homes are now signed up to its ad-tier – and we can only expect more growth to occur as Amazon Freevee users migrate to Prime Video.

Amazon Freevee had been voted as the best free streaming service by readers at the TechRadar Choice Awards 2024, so it’s likely to see a bump in activity in upcoming months. As the new home for Amazon Freevee content, including select Amazon MGM Studios Originals, licensed movies and series alongside over 450 FAST channels in the US, Prime Video has even more reasons why it’s the best streaming service for movies.

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Andover’s SpinBase 2 goes where most audiophiles wouldn’t dare: directly underneath your precious turntable.

Combines an amp and speaker system for turntablesHigh pass filter for adding a subwooferBluetooth and optional Wi-Fi streaming

Sometimes the trick to making a successful product is to think the unthinkable, or at least think the highly unusual. And Andover Audio did just that with the SpinBase, which answered the question: “what if a soundbar, but for vinyl?” And now there’s a new and improved version.

The SpinBase 2 is designed to sit underneath your turntable, and while Andover will happily sell you its own SpinDeck 2, it’s designed to work with any turntable. It’s an amp and a speaker system in a single device, and it’s designed to produce a reasonably wide sound via its 270-degree sound system. It’s not going to be as wide as a standard set of the best stereo speakers properly spaced, but as with the best soundbars, it’s aimed at people for whom space is at a premium.

One of the key differences between this device and all-in-one turntables is what Andover calls IsoGroove, which it says reduces the vibration from the speakers as well as reducing feedback. That should mean louder audio without bouncing your tonearm around.

(Image credit: Andover Audio)

What’s new in the Andover SpinBase 2

The second generation SpinBase retains the same looks as the original, which is no bad thing, but replaces the perforated metal grille with a “heathered fabric”. The single vented enclosure contains a pair of 1.75-inch x 4-inch oval woofers with 3/4-inch silk-dome tweeters, and each woofer has its own dedicated amp instead of the passive crossovers used in the first generation. There’s 2 x 20W power going to the woofers and 2 x 15W to the tweeters, and the frequency range is 65Hz to 20kHz.

That’s not as low as your average bookshelf speakers, but too much low end is going to send your stylus skipping when your turntable is atop any speaker system, no matter how clever. If you want more bass there’s a new selectable high-pass filter that’s designed to work with a subwoofer.

There are multiple inputs: Phono, Line, Bluetooth, Optical Digital, and USB for flash drives. And there are line outs for additional powered speakers or the aforementioned subwoofer as well as Bluetooth streaming to headphones or speakers. Andover also sells an add-on Wi-Fi streaming adapter for access to internet radio and the usual streaming suspects.

The SpinBase 2 is available to order now with deliveries scheduled for December. It’s currently US-only and the price is $349.

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Hyundai Design North America Vice President, Ha Hak-soo, revealed that customers want a return to physical buttons and controls in cars.

Hyundai design VP says owners are calling out for more buttonsChanges to safety tests will put an onus on physical controlsAs a result, manufacturers are finally rethinking vehicle interiors

Hyundai is the latest manufacturer to go on record to say that it is reintroducing physical buttons to future vehicles, following customer backlash surrounding fiddly and often distracting touchscreen systems.

Hyundai Design North America vice president, Ha Hak-soo, recently revealed in an interview with Korea’s JoongAng Daily news website that the company had been taken in by the “wow factor” of massive screens and had neglected the ease and convenience of physical buttons.

“When we tested with our focus group, we realized that people get stressed, annoyed and steamed when they want to control something in a pinch but are unable to do so,” Ha said.

The company joins a growing list of automotive manufacturers than have seen fit to reintroduce physical controls for key functionality, with the likes of VW pulling a U-turn on its decision to go screen-only in early ID electric models following negative feedback from the press and general public.

VW’s then-CEO Thomas Schäfer said that the reliance on touchscreens “did a lot of damage” to the brand and it subsequently revised the infotainment offering during mid-life refreshes of the numerous models in the ID range to include proper, back-lit physical buttons for climate control, window de-misters and hazard lights.

What’s more, Europe’s premier passenger car safety body, Euro NCAP, said earlier this year that it would “incentivize OEMs to have physical, easy-to-use, and tactile controls of the main driving features like wipers, warning lights, and indicators,” its Technical Director, Richard Schram told Auto Express.

Analysis: Blame the Tesla effect

(Image credit: Tesla)

Although very few automakers will admit it, the trend for committing absolutely everything to a large touchscreen display is partly down to Tesla and its innovative use of tablet-style infotainment systems.

Before this, legacy brands had merely toyed with screens that were neatly embedded into the dash or centre console, often operated via a rotary dial and other switches.

Rewind to 2009, with the debut of the Tesla Model S, and Mercedes-Benz still had a physical numerical keypad for inputting phone numbers. Now, Tesla has taken things further by removing indicator stalks and other automotive mainstays.

Things have changed and in-car screens are most certainly here to stay, with Hyundai even revealing recently that it had partnered with German optical specialist Zeiss to work on a head-up display that spans the entire windshield.

But committing everything to a display and its numerous sub-menus is, on the surface level, frustrating and often downright dangerous. Having to hunt for a slider to adjust the temperature in the cabin is a chore, while asking a clunky AI-powered voice assistant to defrost the rear window is more hassle than simply pressing an easy-to-locate button.

Until we get to the point where highly autonomous vehicles do most of the driving, we still need physical switches and buttons to make life behind the wheel more convenient and safer.

After all, there’s a reason why an aeroplane cockpit looks the way it does and isn’t just a giant touchscreen computer.

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Carry-On looks like its ready to satisfy thriller cravings this festive season.

Netflix has released the official trailer for festive thriller Carry-OnThe movie is heading to the streaming service on December 13Trailer gives first-look at Jason Bateman’s villain character

It’s mid-November, so all the Christmas teasers are rolling in and Netflix has just dropped a first proper look at Carry-On, which looks a lot like Phone Booth if it was set at an airport during Christmas. If I haven’t sold you on that alone, you can watch the trailer below and you’ll see exactly what I mean ahead of the movie’s release on December 13. It happens to be a Friday as well so, well played Netflix, because this protagonist really is having an unlucky day!

The best streaming service seems to be leading the charge when it comes to Christmas movies – if you don’t think this new thriller sounds like one then read why we previously compared Carry-On to the beloved festive movie Die Hard, which is a Christmas movie, actually. It’s a fair comparison, but something about the latest trailer just screams Phone Booth to me, and that’s a very good thing.

The trailer gives me that high-tension feeling like you’re trapped despite being in a public setting with a madman targeting you. This is exactly what I was talking about when I said Red One has proven we need more action-packed festive movies. Sorry Hallmark, but I want to go where the action is.

What do we know about Carry-On?

The gripping thriller follows a young TSA agent who has to spend his Christmas Eve fighting a mysterious traveler who blackmails him into letting a dangerous package slip onto a flight. As if festive travel wasn’t stressful enough as it is, you know?

Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, and Jason Bateman lead the cast of the movie, which was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who is also the genius behind The Shallows, one of my favorite shark movies. It’s also important to note that Bateman is playing a bad, shady guy in this, and I’m loving the emergence of actors in more villainous roles. Recently, Hugh Grant terrified me in Heretic, and I can’t wait to see Jason Bateman in action too.

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There are rumors that selected Garmin watches will have a new strength training program soon.

A new strength-training program from Garmin is rumoredGet Fit would be aimed at beginnersThe number of compatible watches could be limited

It would seem that a new strength-training course is set to arrive on the best Garmin watches in the near future: apparently called Get Fit, the program is said to be aimed specifically at beginners.

This news comes from notable tipster the5krunner (via Notebookcheck), and follows on from the strength-training revamp rolled out in August. The existing courses in this category are Accumulation, Intensification, Exploring Benchmarks, Realization and Deloading.

The source says Get Fit will offer three weekly workouts over 12 weeks, bookended with two benchmarking sessions so you can see how much progress you’ve made (or haven’t made) over the months.

As you may have already noticed, the Garmin Coach component of the Connect App was recently revamped to offer separate sections: Cycling Coach, Running Coach, and Strength Coach. Get Fit would slot into that last one.

Keep updated

The strength training option on the Enduro 3 (Image credit: Garmin)

We don’t have any more details about the program, but the source says it’ll appear “soon” – and “probably” before the end of the year. There’s been no official word from Garmin about it so far though.

For now, the Strength Coach is only available on a limited number of watches: the Fenix 8, the Fenix 8 Solar, the Enduro 3, and the Fenix E. Whether Get Fit is available on any devices outside of those four remains to be seen.

If it is exclusive to the latest and greatest Garmin watches, our full Fenix 8 review will help you decide whether or not you should upgrade. In short, we found it to be a “phenomenal adventure watch” with “a smorgasbord of hardware and software features”.

Last week we saw the first round of Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 updates pushed out to users in the beta channel, so be on the lookout for more new functionality in the near future – functionality that will help Garmin keep pace with competing watches such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

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