China’s former UK ambassador clashes with ‘AI godfather’

China now has its own equivalent; but they decided to call it The AI Development and Safety Network, she said, because there are lots of institutes already but this wording emphasised the importance of collaboration.

They were speaking at the AI Action Summit, a global gathering of tech bosses, world leaders, academics and other experts from 80 countries taking place in Paris this week.

It begins on Monday with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Microsoft president Brad Smith and Google chief executive Sundar Pichai among the big names in US tech attending. Elon Musk is not on the guest list but it is currently unknown whether he will decide to join them.

The pair’s heated exchanges were a symbol of global political jostling in the powerful AI arms race, but Fu Ying also expressed regret about the negative impact of current hostilities between the US and China on the progress of AI safety.

“At a time when the science is going in an upward trajectory, the relationship is falling in the wrong direction and it is affecting unity and collaboration to manage risks,” she said.

“It’s very unfortunate.”

She gave a carefully-crafted glimpse behind the curtain of China’s AI scene, describing an “explosive period” of innovation since the country first published its AI development plan in 2017, five years before ChatGPT became a viral sensation in the west.

She added that “when the pace [of development] is rapid, risky stuff occurs” but did not elaborate on what might have taken place.

“The Chinese move faster [than the west] but it’s full of problems,” she said.

Fu Ying argued that building AI tools on foundations which are open source, meaning everyone can see how they work and therefore contribute to improving them, was the most effective way to make sure the tech did not cause harm.

Most of the US tech giants do not share the tech which drives their products.

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I hate today’s Wordle so much it might be my least favorite ever. And I bet you hate it too

I love Wordle. I play it daily so I can write my today’s Wordle answer column, but even if I got a new job as an astronaut or secret agent, I’d still play it, still analyze my results, still obsess over my average score.

However, I HATE today’s game. HATE it so much that I need to use capital letters for emphasis.

Don’t worry, I didn’t fail. My streak is still unbeaten at 1,134. Well, theoretically at least – in practice it was long ago lost to the glitchiness of the NYT’s Games App, but I know I’ve played it every day since January 2022 and I know I’ve never lost. What’s that? You weren’t worried about my streak? Well, thanks.

No, I HATE it because it has a particular format that acts as my personal Kryptonite. And I’m no Superman.

Seriously, I seem to have a mental blind spot when it comes to solving Wordles like this one. And nor am I the only one – because today’s game has an incredibly high average score of 4.9.

Obviously I can’t say any more about it without spoilers, so stop reading now if you haven’t played. Go and get some Wordle hints if you need them, complete the puzzle, then come back and find out why I HATE it so much. Maybe you’ll HATE it too.

SPOILERS FOR TODAY’S WORDLE, MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2025, FOLLOW BELOW.

My least favorite Wordle format ever

Wordle is by its nature a game of patterns. Certain letters are more common than others; some appear more regularly in specific places; some pair more readily with others. Those rules create patterns and if you play the game regularly you can learn to spot them. I dug into all this in my analysis of every Wordle answer.

Today’s game has a good example of one particular pattern – and as I said above, it’s an awful one.

The pattern in question is OO, as in BROOK, GOOSE, GROOM, FLOOD and some 50 or so other words that either have been, or will be, Wordle answers.

SPOILERS COMING NOW!

An angry woman looking at a phone

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Today’s Wordle answer is GOODY, and it’s almost the most difficult OO word we’ve had so far, with an average of 4.9 according to WordleBot, the in-game AI analysis tool.

The only more difficult OO game was KAZOO (5.1), which I don’t really count given that it also has an uncommon K and an uncommon Z, plus it’s a stupid word that was added by the NYT for no reason other than to troll people.

GOODY is just terrible, isn’t it? It’s not a good word – pun intended. I mean what kind of person even says ‘GOODY’? A three-year-old, maybe, and they should be watching Bluey or something rather than playing Wordle.

I probably wouldn’t mind about that if I’d completed it easily, but I scored a five – the shame! – and it reminded me once again that I have a complete mental block when it comes to solving these words.

To prove how much I struggle with them, I did a little number crunching. I’ve kept a record of every Wordle I’ve completed (yes, I am a fun guy) and my average across 1,136 games so far is 3.67. Not too shabby.

However, looking only at OO words it jumps to 4.19 – more than a half guess higher! That’s even worse than my record on ER games, that other dastardly Wordle format, for which my average is 4.18.

It’s not just me – honest!

A chart showing average scores for Wordle overall, OO words and ER words. Marc's average is 3.67 vs 3.96 for everyone. On OO words Marc's average is 4.19 and everyone's is 4.29. On ER words Marc's average is 4.18 and everyone's is 4.41

(Image credit: Future)

And I’m not alone, either. I’ve also kept a record of WordleBot’s average score for every game since it launched in April 2022, and the global average currently stands at 3.96. But for OO words it jumps to a mighty 4.29.

Admittedly, everyone else finds ER words even harder to solve – the average there is 4.41. So, while the rest of you do also struggle with OO answers, you don’t hate them quite so much as those ER nasties.

Of course the worst possible format for any Wordle, ever, would therefore be a combination of OO and ER, right? Oh yes.

We’ve only had one such word so far, WOOER, back in September 2021 (game #78). That was way before anyone was actually playing Wordle, so I only completed it via the Wordle Archive. And I lost.

In fact, that’s my only loss so far, from all 1,333 Wordles. It’s not a proper loss, because it wasn’t played ‘live’ – but it still rankles. Maybe now you can see why I hate OO words so much.

What’s the problem here anyway?

NYT Wordle answer for game 1332 on a green background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Why are OO words so difficult? Well, any repeated letter makes a Wordle tougher, but I don’t think it’s that as such. Or not only that. After all, as my analysis of every Wordle answer shows, O is the second most likely letter to be repeated, behind only A.

No, I suspect the problem is simply that it’s a repeated vowel, and that they are next to each other rather than split up.

Vowels can go next to any other letter, generally, which makes it much harder to narrow down the characters either side of it. And because you don’t generally get two ‘A’s, ‘I’s or ‘U’s together, ‘O’s and ‘E’s are the only vowels that create this problem.

As an example, if you have a word with two Ls together – also very common – you’ll know they’re almost certainly preceded and followed by a vowel, or a Y (which is itself sometimes a vowel anyway). You wouldn’t get a word that was spelled -RLLD or something – there’s always going to be a vowel either side of those Ls. Same for most other letters.

But with a repeated O, it’s going to have consonants on at least one side, probably both – and there are far more of those. Is it going to be an OOM word like GLOOM? An OON word like SWOON? An OOP word like SCOOP? Is it going to be preceded by an R like in BROOM or a T as in STOOD? There are just too many options.

There’s a similar problem at play with ER words, where it’s incredibly difficult to find the first two consonants for COWER or BOXER or whatever. But at least I know to look out for ER words. With OO words, they always catch me by surprise, even though today’s is the 29th so far.

So there you have it: that’s why I HATE OO words. Let me know in the comments below whether you HATE them too. I bet you do.

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LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB review

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: 30-second review

Specs

Capacity: 2, 4TB
Transfer rate – Read:
6,700 MB/s
Transfer rate – write: 5,300 MB/s
Dimensions –
17× 65 x 98 mm
Weight – 150g
Rating –
IP68

The LaCie Rugged drives have been the go-to for creatives for the past two decades and have often led the field when it comes to adopting the latest technologies. While the performance of the Rugged drives has lent itself to use by the creative sector, especially videographers, it’s the design that has really made them stand out. I use the older iteration of the Rugged drive, in its unmissable bright orange rubber shell, on most shoots—they offer large capacities, they’re easy to locate at dusk as well as in the bottom of a bag due to the contrasting colour, and best of all they’ll survive a knock or two.

Ranked as some of the best rugged hard drives, the only issue I’ve had with them in recent years is that while the capacities have increased—I stack up the 5TB versions to cope with 4K RAW video files—the speeds haven’t generally kept pace with the latest SSDs, even the excellent LaCie Rugged SSD. The existing SSD version is USB 3.2 Gen 2 and only offers 10Gbps, whereas now there’s a true ultrafast option with this Pro5 and its native Thunderbolt 5.

Removing the Rugged SSD Pro5 from the box, and like the Rugged SSD, it takes the small form factor that has been made possible by the new storage technology, although this time it’s blue rather than orange.

Aesthetics and design aside, I preferred the orange for use out on site, and while the blue looks great and aligns with the original LaCie brand colours, I’m not so keen—I’ll go into why in the performance section, along with the IP68 certification, which I have to say is a great upgrade.

In use, the performance of the drive instantly impressed, and while I wasn’t able to test the full Thunderbolt 5 speed, the transfer rates still surpassed most other drives I’ve tested.

The choice of Thunderbolt 5 has wide backward compatibility and will work with USB Type-C and Thunderbolt ports, in each case enabling the speeds that you need for use as a scratch disc for video editing and, therefore, anything else.

While I have reservations about the colour choice, there’s no doubting the build quality—this is a drive that will stand up to far more than most, including being dropped into water or run over by a Ford Transit Custom. And then there’s the speed. The speed of the transfer and the compact size make this a great choice for any creative looking for one of the best portable SSDs around; however, while you can see the influence of the iconic design, a little more of an evolution of the design would have been welcome.

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Price & availability

LaCie Rugged Pro5 4TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is widely available and can be purchased from most photographic, video, and electronics retailers, including Adorama, CVP, and B&H Photo, as well as directly from LaCie.

  • Score: 4/5

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Design & build

LaCie Rugged Pro5 4TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is the latest iteration of the iconic portable hard drive and one that has been the go-to for creatives for the past 20 years. I have old LaCie Rugged drives that I’ve used over the years and had chosen for three distinct characteristics.

Firstly, the speed and capacity of the internal drives made them ideal for video and photographic work. Secondly, they’re tough, with that rubberised outer offering plenty of protection. And finally, the colour made them easy to locate when working out in the field. There’s no missing a bright orange hard drive when you pack up.

This latest iteration takes that design, if not the colour, and, like the small SSD version, downsizes the drive to 17 x 65 x 98 mm with a weight of 150 g, so it’s extremely small and light. It keeps much of the aesthetics, so there’s no mistaking the make or model of the drive from a glance. The only thing is, as mentioned, it’s now blue rather than the iconic orange.

The design of the drive is simple, with just the single Thunderbolt 5 port on the side, which, like the SSD version, is placed on the long side of the drive rather than at the end.

The update to Thunderbolt 5 is welcome, as the SSD version for Mac compatibility remained at USB 3.2 Gen 2, which limited speeds to 10Gbps. While fast, this is starting to be challenged by the latest 4K and 8K video file formats. This new version will handle these large video data files without issue.

The other major point about the build, aside from the high quality, is the fact that this drive is now IP68, up from IP67 on the previous version. This essentially means that you can drop it into water up to 1.5 m in depth, and it will survive for up to 30 minutes. This is a big upgrade over the SSD version, which you could only submerge briefly. It will also withstand 3m drops and up to two tonnes of pressure, again reinforcing the build quality and its suitability to be a go-to for creatives.

  • Design & build: 4.5/5

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Features

LaCie Rugged Pro5 4TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

When it comes to the features, the small SSD keeps things simple, with the headline being the ultra-fast transfer rates provided by the Thunderbolt connection. This connection type, when connected to a machine that supports Thunderbolt 5, will achieve read speeds of up to 6,700 MB/s and write speeds of up to 5,300 MB/s with a 50GB cache. To achieve these speeds, you’ll need one of the latest Apple Mac machines, and at present, the availability of Thunderbolt 5 on PCs is almost non-existent.

This makes it an ideal option for videography as a scratch disc, meaning that after the cache, the performance will still enable up to 5,000 MB/s read and 1,800 MB/s write. The fact that it’s available in both 2TB and 4TB versions also gives you plenty of flexibility and budget choices, and considering the capacity and speed, it’s actually not that expensive.

At present, it’s only the latest Mac computers that offer the full Thunderbolt 5 speeds, making it an ideal partner for anyone needing to edit 6K and 8K video. While these speeds are nice to have, outside of video editing, these transfer rates will be far in excess of the needs of most users.

One of the features that really interests me is the IP68 rating and resistance to water, dust, drops of up to 3 m, and 2-tonne pressure. While I never intend to drop a hard drive into a puddle, run over it in a car, or drop it from a height, these are all possible outcomes when you work in the field—so knowing that it can take this abuse in its stride is reassuring.

One other point about the build is that the Rugged SSD Pro5 is built with at least 45% recycled materials, giving the drive a small environmental tick when it comes to sustainability.

As with all LaCie drives, the new Rugged Pro5 comes with a 5-year limited warranty, Rescue Data Recovery Services, and Toolkit backup software, all of which I have found very useful in the past, especially the data recovery.

  • Features: 4/5

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Performance

LaCie Rugged Pro5 4TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks

These tests were carried out on a MacBook Pro M1 Max with Thunderbolt 4

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test read: 3518.7MB/s
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test write: 2968.1MB/s
AmorphousDiskMark Read: 3451.97MB/s
AmorphousDiskMark Write: 1795.47MB/s
AJA System Test Lite Read: 3024MB/s
AJA System Test Lite Write: 2015MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Read: 3280MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Write: 2830MB/s

Opening the box, the small drive is very reminiscent of the SSD version, the main difference being that the new drive is blue rather than orange. The difference in colour is a nice touch, although I do wish they had also launched an orange version. The orange is far more than an aesthetic choice—for the same reason that the insides of camera bags are often bright yellow, red, or grey, those colours are chosen to create contrast with kit so you can find things when Light is low.

Still, against the inside of the Vanguard and Manfrotto bags, the new blue drive contrasts well, although, at this size, it’s now better practice to pop the drive into one of the small zipped inner pockets rather than leaving it loose inside the bag. I would also have liked to see a lanyard loop for a drive of this size just to secure it, as this is now a common feature elsewhere with drives of this type.

Another feature, and an issue that is universal with the new wave of tough drives, is that there’s nowhere to stick a label. The rubber outer skin of this and other drives just doesn’t allow labels to adhere with ease, and when you’re dealing with a stack of these, some indicator is always useful. If LaCie included a 3M sticker or similar for that top section, it would definitely be welcome, and a flush rather than raised logo on this surface would enable the label to lay flat rather than have a bump in the middle. On the back, however, there is a nice flat section with the info label, making it a perfect surface to attach Velcro to secure it to the back of a laptop or other device.

The new smaller size of the drive, made possible by the small form factor of SSD technology, definitely makes this a huge upgrade in performance and usability over the previous generation.

When it comes to performance, there is little to fault. Used as a scratch disk for Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, the drive works seamlessly and at the same pace as the internal MacBook Pro M1 Max SSD when under load. Any worries about thermal throttling performance when editing RAW Light were quickly dismissed, and a 15-minute edit using 4K and some 8K footage from the Canon EOS R5 C showed the drive’s potential, with the limitations coming from the MacBook Pro rather than the drive itself.

As the results from the benchmarking test highlight, the speed and ability of this drive as an external entity is one of the fastest available and the first to utilise the Thunderbolt 5 interface.

  • Performance: 5/5

Should you buy the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB?

As an all-around portable SSD, its small size and variety of capacity options make this a discreet and easy choice. The minimal size and weight will appeal broadly, as it takes up very little room in the pocket of a jacket or bag, making it an ideal partner for imaging professionals.

The cable’s weight influences its position on a desktop, but with a little Velcro, this drive can be perfectly attached to the back of a monitor. This feature is particularly beneficial for those on the move, working in various locations like trains, coffee shops, or hotdesking around an office, as it ensures the safety of the driver’s connection during movement.

Although small pen drives with large capacity options are available, this dedicated drive offers sustained performance, making it an ideal choice for activities that require fast transfer speeds and reliable access to data. It is particularly suited for those in the video sector who demand reliable file access and need storage that is safe, secure, and lightweight enough to be easily transported in a busy environment without excessive concern about cables disconnecting.

iPhone 15 Pro and Max users will also benefit from the connection to greater storage when shooting video in the Apple ProRes format. This is a superb, slightly unique feature. There’s the issue of how to attach the drive comfortably, but ultimately, it pushes the function and features of the iPhone 15 Pro even further. In real terms, the video that you can store on an iPhone with around 70GB of storage goes from 18 minutes to 1,183 minutes with the 2TB drive attached.

Overall, considering the capacity, size, and speed, this is an outstanding SSD that will suit many uses but will find particular appeal with photographers and videographers.

LaCie Rugged Pro5 4TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Buy it if…

You need data transfer speeds.

The Thunderbolt 5 interface ensures ultra-fast data transfer rates along with excellent backward compatibility.

You need durability

Few other portable SSDs are as rugged and durable as this compact option.

Don’t buy it if…

You just need storage.

While this drive will supply you with plenty of storage, if you don’t need the speed on offer here, then there are cheaper options.

You work in an office.

Even if you’re video editing in a studio, there are desktop drives that will match this performance for the price. You’ll pay a premium for the rugged design that you may not need.


For more durable devices, we’ve tested out a range of options including the best rugged tablet, the best rugged laptops, and best rugged phones.

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Quordle hints and answers for Monday, February 10 (game #1113)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, February 9 (game #1112).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1113) – hint #1 – Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1113) – hint #2 – repeated letters

Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1113) – hint #3 – uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1113) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)

Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1113) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)

What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?

• T

• F

• G

• T

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1113) – the answers

Quordle answers for game 1113 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1113, are…

  • TWIXT
  • FRESH
  • GUISE
  • TABBY

The beauty of Quordle is that the longer it takes to get your first word the easier it becomes to find the rest, so I didn’t panic after it took me five guesses before I got one correct.

I’d used so many letters by the time I got to TWIXT there were few other options, difficult word though that undoubtedly is due to the combination of repeated T and uncommon X. Look out, also, for QUALM in the Daily Sequence – that’s another nasty one.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Daily Sequence today (game #1113) – the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 1113 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1113, are…

  • BEECH
  • QUALM
  • PASTA
  • CABIN

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
  • Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
  • Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
  • Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
  • Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
  • Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
  • Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
  • Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
  • Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
  • Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
  • Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
  • Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
  • Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
  • Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
  • Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
  • Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
  • Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
  • Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
  • Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: SLANT, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
  • Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN

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Super Bowl LIX streaming and viewing options, ranked

If you’re looking for the best way to watch the Super Bowl in 2025, the answer is more complicated than it should be.

Between cable providers, live TV streaming services, free streaming options, and a trusty antenna, there are an assortment of ways to watch the game. Unfortunately, many of them offer varying levels of video and audio quality, yet it’s weirdly difficult to get precise details on what those differences are.

Seriously, I shouldn’t have to spend hours chasing down PR contacts and interrogating them on 4K, HDR, and surround sound options for the Super Bowl. This stuff should just be posted online by the companies involved.

But since they won’t, I will. These are what I believe are all the Super Bowl viewing options, ranked from best to worst:

1. Comcast’s “Enhanced 4K” feed

  • Quality: 4K, Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, low-latency
  • Requirements: X1 box for low latency

No one should sign up for cable just to watch the Super Bowl—not with the numerous free alternatives listed below—but if we’re measuring by quality, the highest-quality Super Bowl broadcast is only available on Comcast’s X1 cable boxes.

As with the Paris Olympics last year, Comcast is offering an “Enhanced 4K” feed that supports both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, a combo that no other streaming platform will offer. The company is also promising “ultra-low latency,” which should only trail behind live action by about 10 seconds.

Comcast will also offer Enhanced 4K through its Xfinity Stream app, but a spokesperson confirms that it won’t support ultra-low latency. That means you’ll need an X1 box if you want no risk of social media spoilers. (The app is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TVs, LG TVs, Xumo devices, and Xfinity Flex boxes.)

2. Tubi’s free live stream

  • Quality: 4K HDR, 5.1 surround sound, possibly low latency
  • Requirements: Compatible Roku, Fire TV, Android TV/Google TV, or Apple TV for 4K HDR and surround sound

Tubi is Fox’s free streaming service, and this year it will stream the Super Bowl for free as well. Tubi will carry the same exact broadcast as Fox proper, and it will support 4K HDR video and surround sound on compatible Roku, Fire TV, Android TV/Google TV, and Apple TV devices.

Note that Fox is not natively broadcasting the game in 4K, and is instead upscaling a 1080p signal. Still, Tubi should provide an overall better picture than over-the-air broadcasts if you have the proper hardware. Hopefully it also provides the same low-latency feed that the Fox Sports app did in 2023.

There’s just one potential snag: Tubi’s app will have a sign-in requirement, and you’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Given that Tubi has never covered a live event at this scale before, and that lots of people will suddenly be signing up on game day, there’s plenty of potential for things to go wrong.

3. An antenna and ATSC 3.0 tuner

  • Quality: 720p to 1080p, HDR, 5.1 surround sound, low latency. (Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision or HDR10+ in select markets)
  • Requirements: ATSC 3.0-compatible TV or tuner box

The Super Bowl is a big event for ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, as it brings HDR to the big game’s over-the-air broadcasts. Using an antenna also gives you lower latency than most streaming services, and it’s not prone to any buffering issues or service outages.

Caveats apply, however; you’ll need a TV or external tuner with ATSC 3.0 support, and your local Fox station must support HDR on its NextGen TV feed. (The NextGenTV website’s station lookup tool shows which channels in your area offer HDR.)

Some local Fox affiliates owned by Gray Media will go a step further, offering HDR10+ and Dolby Vision in select markets. TVTechnology reports that these include Atlanta, Ga.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Davenport, Iowa; Mobile and Birmingham, Ala., Pensacola, Fla.; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.; and Portland, Ore.

Gray will also provide Dolby Atmos audio in New Orleans, La.; Atlanta, Ga.; Springfield, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; Honolulu, Hawai; Tucson, Ariz.; Davenport, Iowa; and Portland, Ore.

4. An antenna without ATSC 3.0

  • Quality: 720p to 1080i, SDR, 5.1 surround sound, low latency.
  • Requirements: Just an antenna

Even on TVs that use the longstanding ATSC 1.0 standard, an antenna a fine way to watch the Super Bowl. Assuming reception is strong in your area, you’ll get a 5.1 surround sound and a lower-latency signal than streaming services; plus, no risk of buffering issues or outages. Picture quality might also be better than the more compressed feeds of cable and streaming, though that can vary by station and the number of subchannels it’s carrying.

5. YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Fubo

  • Quality (DirecTV and YouTube TV): 4K HDR, 5.1 surround sound
  • Quality (Fubo): 4K HDR, stereo sound, plus Dolby Vision on Roku, Android TV/Google TV, and Fire TV
  • Requirements: See compatibility lists for YouTube TV 4K, YouTube TV surround, DirecTV 4K, and Fubo 4K

DirecTV’s service includes 4K HDR video at no extra charge and will carry Super Bowl LIX on channel 105. YouTube TV charges $10 per month extra for 4K video, but is offering the add-on as a 30-day free trial for new users. Fubo will stream Super Bowl LIX in 4K HDR, but only in its Elite package, which costs $108 per month after regional sports fees.

While their capabilities differ, I’m ranking them all the same. Fubo is the only live TV streaming service that will offer the Super Bowl in Dolby Vision HDR, but doesn’t support surround sound. The other two services offer surround sound, but support HDR10 only. You shouldn’t sign up for any of them just to watch the game—not with free alternative available—but the features are nice to have if you’re already a subscriber.

6. Sling TV

Sling TV, whose Blue package carries Fox in select markets, will carry the game in 4K, but the company has not responded to an inquiry on HDR support. At least 4K doesn’t cost extra if you’re a Sling subscriber.

7. Regular cable TV

  • Quality: HD, 5.1 surround sound
  • Requirements: A cable box

I’ve yet to see any other cable providers besides Comcast announce 4K HDR support for Super Bowl LIX, so let’s assume for now that they’ll stick with the usual HD quality. If you’re still a cable TV subscriber, you’ll probably just stick with it for the Super Bowl instead of chancing the vagaries of streaming, but the free 4K feed on Tubi might be worth a look for comparison’s sake.

8. Hulu + Live TV

  • Quality: HD, 5.1 surround sound
  • Requirements: Any device with the Hulu app

Unlike most of its live TV streaming peers, Hulu + Live TV won’t offer a 4K feed of the Super Bowl, though the service at least supports surround sound on select devices.

Dead last: The NFL app

  • Quality: HD, 30 frames per second, stereo sound
  • Requirements: Any device with the NFL app

As in previous years, the NFL app will stream the Super Bowl with no TV provider authentication required. Too bad the app’s video quality is garbage, with dull colors streamed at a choppy 30 frames per second.

Now that the NFL offers its own streaming service, you’d think the league would bring quality in line with modern streaming standards; but no, it continues to insult its viewers by doing the absolute bare minimum. Rant over. You can at least keep it in mind as a free backup solution if all other options fall apart on gameday.

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I haven’t always liked Razer’s gaming headsets, but the Barracuda X Chroma finally offers good value for money

Razer Barracuda X Chroma: two-minute review

The Razer Barracuda X Chroma is a wireless gaming headset that sits towards the budget end of the brand’s lineup, offering plenty of features in a more affordable package.

It adopts a rather conservative design, with its gaming stylings confined to the RGB lighting on the sides of each driver. The matte finish and elegant form help make this a smart-looking headset.

The fit and comfort levels are up there with the best wireless gaming headsets around. Even glasses wearers should find there’s enough clearance and cushioning to accommodate the arms of their frames comfortably.

The headband is wonderfully plush too, and the relative lightness of the overall headset means it remains comfortable over long sessions. The earpads aren’t the most cushioned, however, which did result in the insides of the drivers making contact with my ears, but not enough to cause an issue like other gaming headsets.

In addition to some useful on-board functionality courtesy of the buttons on the left driver, you can make further tweaks using Synapse, Razer’s peripheral software. These include altering EQ profiles via numerous draggable points across the frequency spectrum, as well as advanced customization options for the lighting via the Razer Chroma add-on. However, it’s inconvenient that this latter feature opens in a separate app window, rather than being contained within Synapse.

You’ll also get access to the Surround Sound 7.1 feature with your purchase of the Barracuda X Chroma, but this also requires a separate app, rather than being a Synapse module.

The Barracuda X Chroma offers a balanced and clear sound. The various preset sound profiles can be hit and miss, with music mode being the best in my opinion, as it rounds out the bass nicely. Oddly enough, while the Surround Sound 7.1 capability does impart a subtle sense of directionality, the overriding impression I got from it was an increased fullness and punchiness – but at the expense of adding an unwanted airiness to the higher frequencies.

The various connectivity modes on the Barracuda X Chroma work well, with Bluetooth and the HyperSpeed dongle functioning as intended. Using the SmartSwitch button to hot-swap between the two modes is quick and easy too, although there were some occasions when it wasn’t quite so sharp.

The battery life is also good, with the 70-hour claim appearing to hold water during my tests, as it didn’t even deplete halfway after several days of varied use. Charging it from about half to full took just under two and a half hours, which is a middling performance.

All things considered, however, the Barracuda X Chroma represents better value than some of Razer’s more expensive gaming headsets, such as the Kraken V4, offering much the same features and performance but for less. I also found it more comfortable than the Kraken.

If you’re after a headset with superior sound, though, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a better choice, and if you want to stick to the budget end of the market – and don’t mind missing out on wireless connectivity – you can’t do much better than the Epos H3.

Close-up of ear pad on Razer Barracuda X Chroma on table resting on plinth

(Image credit: Future)

Razer Barracuda X Chroma review: price and availability

  • $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95
  • Available now in black and white
  • Well-priced and good value

The Razer Barracuda X Chroma costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95 and is available now in two colorways: black and white. With a purchase of the headset, you’ll also get access to the Surround Sound 7.1 app, which is usually a paid-for addition.

At this price, it sits well within the gaming headset market. It’s cheaper than the Razer Kraken V4, and yet it performs just as well according to my tests, with similar sound quality – yet the Barracuda X Chroma has better comfort levels. It also has a claimed battery life of up to 70 hours, whereas the Kraken can only manage 50 hours. However, the Kraken does feature a retractable mic, whereas the mic on the Barracuda X Chroma is only removable.

If you’re after a headset with better sound quality, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, the best PC gaming headset around in our view, may be a better option. It also has some useful features, such as ANC. However, it’s considerably more expensive than the Barracuda X Chroma. If you want something a lot cheaper but still worthy, the Epos H3 is the best gaming headset in this regard, although you’ll have to make do with a wired connection.

Razer Barracuda X Chroma review: specs

Close-up of drivers on Razer Barracuda X Chroma  on table resting on plinth with plant and pink in background

(Image credit: Future)

Razer Barracuda X Chroma review: design and features

  • Restrained looks
  • Comfortable
  • Volume wheel a little prone to misscrolls

The Barracuda X Chroma looks smart and rather understated for a gaming headset, with the RGB lighting on the sides of each driver being the only indicator in this regard. The smooth, matt finish adds a dash of elegance too. The whole headset is quite wide, but I wouldn’t describe it as bulky.

It’s also one of the most comfortable gaming headsets I’ve tried. The light weight means it’s hardly felt on the head, and the fit is snug but not too tight. The earcup padding isn’t the most plush, however, and I did feel the inside of the drivers making slight contact with my ears, but thankfully the pressure wasn’t great enough to cause aches, as I’ve experienced with other headsets. I also prefer their oval shape over circular designs, as they fit my ears completely without protruding behind me too much.

However, it has the same design flaw that I noted with the Kraken V4: namely that the volume wheel on the left driver has a tendency to spin unintentionally when leaning back in a chair or sofa, such is the ease with which it scrolls. It’s a small gripe, but one that may become irritating for those who like to lounge away when gaming.

The headband is more cushioned than the earcups, and I hardly felt it across my head. The headband adjustments are also easy to make while remaining secure. In fact, the entire headset is engineered to the high standards typical of Razer’s peripherals.

Razer Barracuda X Chroma with mic, USB cable and dongle on table resting on plinth with plant and pink in background

(Image credit: Future)

The mic on the Barracuda X Chroma is detachable, but since it employs a gooseneck design, it can be moved in and out of position with ease. It also feels durable, and the cloth tip is reasonably thick, so I don’t have many concerns about it deteriorating quickly.

There are various buttons adorning the left driver, including a power button that can also be used to perform various call and media-related functions, which is quite useful. There’s also a mic mute button and a SmartSwitch button, which quickly switches between Bluetooth and HyperSpeed Wireless modes, provided both are already connected to your devices.

The Barracuda X Chroma can be tweaked using Synapse, Razer’s peripheral software. Here you’ll find various settings for the sound, including an EQ graph where you can boost and cut numerous frequency bands, allowing for a lot more control than many other headsets offer. You can alter the existing sound profiles, or create a custom one. Synapse itself is well laid out and relatively stable, and I had hardly any issue with it, aside from the occasional slow-down.

As the Barracuda X Chroma name suggests, you can also customize the RGB lighting using the Razer Chroma add-on. This offers plenty of options to sink your teeth into, including audio-responsive effects and synchronization with other compatible peripherals. There’s also a Studio section where you can create layers of effects and segment the light bars with different colors, which is far more detailed than most.

It’s inconvenient, however, that Chroma isn’t integrated within Synapse; instead, it’s a separate app, which can be a hassle when hot-switching between windows.

Close-up of headband adjustment on Razer Barracuda X Chroma, resting on plinth with plant and pink in background

(Image credit: Future)

Razer Barracuda X Chroma review: Performance

  • Good audio quality for gaming
  • Surround sound adds fullness
  • Long battery life

The sound of the Barracuda X Chroma is well-balanced, although the low-end lacks the same level of depth as some of the best headphones out there. As I found with Razer’s other headsets, the best preset profile for most situations is Music, as it offers the best all-round frequency response, whereas the others tend to cut the lows and mids too much.

With your purchase of the Barracuda X Chroma you’ll also get access to the Surround Sound 7.1 feature, which is usually paywalled. Like Chroma, this opens in another app window, adding to the inconvenience. The Surround Sound 7.1 effect is reasonably subtle but does give a better sense of where sound is coming from in-game. It also provides a noticeably fuller sound, with greater presence and low-end, but at the cost of making the upper mids and highs more airy, with a faint drone in these registers. This can be a little off-putting but not egregious enough to ruin the experience entirely.

Both wireless modes work well, with the HyperSpeed dongle – true to its name – offering slightly better response times, although there isn’t much in it. The sound quality appears much the same too.

The SmartSwitch feature also works well enough, moving quickly between devices connected via Bluetooth and HyperSpeed Wireless. It also connects easily to various devices besides PC: it’s as convenient as the best PS5 headsets to use with Sony’s console, while both Bluetooth and HyperSpeed modes work seamlessly with the Nintendo Switch, with a slight improvement in sound quality and lag when using the latter method.

The HyperClear cardioid microphone on the Barracuda X Chroma provides sufficient clarity, but it’s not quite as pristine as that on the Kraken V4, as it introduces more sibilance and muffling. But for gaming, it’s still perfectly usable.

The claimed battery life of the Barracuda X Chroma of up to 70 hours seems to ring true according to my tests. After several days of varied use between Bluetooth and HyperSpeed modes, it only depleted to 54%. Charging the headset took just under two and a half hours from this point, which isn’t spectacular but not terrible.

Hand holding Razer Barracuda X Chroma with plant and pink in background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Razer Barracuda X Chroma?

Buy it if…

You want features
From the multiple connectivity options to the in-depth software and included Surround Sound 7.1 app, Razer has been rather generous with the extras.

You want comfort
Thanks to the oval drivers, plush headband, and overall lightness of the Barracuda X Chroma, many gamers should find these comfortable to wear – even the bespectacled.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best sound
Although it suffices for gaming, the audio quality isn’t the best for serious music listening, and the various modes can compromise the fidelity even more.

You want the best convenience
It’s not always plug-and-play with the Barracuda X Chroma, and the various apps for the settings can complicate matters.

Razer Barracuda X Chroma review: Also consider

Epos H3
If you’re on a budget, then the Epos H3 is hard to beat, as we think it’s one of the best wired gaming headsets for those looking to save. It offers superb sound, even when listening to music, as well as great comfort levels. It can be found for a mere fraction of its original price too, making it even better value. A wireless version is available in the form of the Epos H3Pro Hybrid, but naturally, this costs more.

Read our full Epos H3 review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is the best PC gaming headset overall in our view, thanks to the brilliant sound, comfort levels, and battery life. It also has ANC, but we didn’t think this was its strongest suit. You’ll also have to pay considerably more for it than the Barracuda X Chroma, but in the areas where it excels, it’s pretty much unbeatable.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review

How I tested the Razer Barracuda X Chroma

  • Tested for several days
  • Used on multiple platforms
  • Extensive gaming and headset experience

I tested the Razer Barracuda X Chroma for several days, during which time I used it while playing gamines, listening to music, watching video content, and attending virtual meetings. I made use of as many of its features and functions as possible, including the Surround Sound 7.1, Chroma, and Synapse apps.

I used the headset on a variety of devices, including PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, and played various titles ranging from Counter-Strike 2 to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I connected to these platforms via Bluetooth and the HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle where I could.

I have been gaming for over 25 years, and during that time I have experienced a number of headsets and headphones, from over-ear to in-ear. I have also reviewed a myriad of gaming headsets, including other offerings from Razer: namely the Kraken V4 and the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed.

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Are you unable to get security updates for Windows 11 24H2? Here’s the likely reason why, and the fix to get your PC safe and secure again


  • Windows 11 24H2 has a bug that can break security updates completely
  • This only applies to those who’ve installed using media such as a USB stick
  • It affects certain versions of Windows 11 24H2 from late last year, and the fix is a reinstallation using a newer version

This is a very odd one: some folks who’ve installed Windows 11 24H2 (which is now more widely rolling out) have been left unable to receive security updates for the desktop operating system due to the particular installation package they used.

Confused? I wouldn’t blame you, as when this first caught my eye, it caused me to wonder what on Earth might have been going on here.

And indeed, I can’t give you an answer to that, but the problem here is actually pretty simple to explain, and sort of easy to fix (if a bit of a hassle in terms of being time-consuming, and I’ll come back to that later).

Windows 11 24H2 install problem – what’s happened

So, what’s happened here is that Microsoft has somehow made a mess of the Windows 11 24H2 media installation packages that were created based on the October 2024, or November 2024, security updates.

Those would have been used by many folks installing Windows 11 24H2 from scratch in those months, as they were (at the time) the most up-to-date copies of the operating system.

As to the exact problem here, Microsoft explains: “When using media to install Windows 11, version 24H2, the device might remain in a state where it cannot accept further Windows security updates.”

The other key bit here is that mention of ‘when using media’, which means that this bug affects those who used a drive – such as a USB stick, or other media like a DVD – and the media creation tool to install Windows 11.

Other users are not affected here, so if you didn’t use the media creation tool, this isn’t a problem you need to worry about. Meaning that if you installed Windows 11 24H2 via Windows Update inside the OS, then you’re in the clear.


A Windows 11 laptop sitting on a desk in front of a window

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Melnikov Dmitriy)

What to do if security updates are broken on your PC

What’s rather strange here is that this issue was recognized by Microsoft on December 24, 2024, but has only just been addressed and marked as ‘resolved’ in the Windows 11 release heath status dashboard a few days ago.

And Microsoft’s advice for that resolution is, frankly, stating the very obvious. Don’t want this problem caused by the Windows 11, version 24H2, October 2024 or November 2024 security update versions? Then don’t use the October 2024 or November 2024 security update versions for installing Windows 11.

Thanks for that. I’d never have guessed otherwise.

Anyway, going forward, if you’re installing Windows 11 24H2 via media, simply make sure that you are using the latest version (and definitely not one you might have kicking around from the end of last year).

If you have already installed Windows 11 24H2 in this way, and have encountered the problem whereby you can no longer get security updates installed – which is obviously a bad thing, leaving you open to exploits potentially – then you’ll need to take action.

In this case, you will need to reinstall Windows 11 24H2, and make sure you use the December 2024 version (or later). That involves running the same installation process that you performed when grabbing 24H2 late last year – just be sure to elect to keep your personal data and apps when running the installation process, and all you should lose is some time waiting for the reinstall to complete.

I say should, because you never quite know what might happen when undertaking any major OS operation, which a reinstallation certainly is. So, you should back up your files before proceeding, always.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft observes that this bug where updates can no longer be installed on the Windows 11 PC “might” happen, so that won’t necessarily be the case. Meaning you could be fine, even if you did use installation media and the October or November 2024 flavors of Windows 11 24H2.

That said, this issue might still pop up later, down the line – who knows – so be prepared to perform a reinstall at that point if it does.

Via PC Gamer

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