As America apparently digs in for the long haul in a trade war with China, one of the most popular places on the web for cheap consumer goods is increasing its prices. With import taxes skyrocketing for US residents and the de minimus exemption set to disappear, Temu has raised prices on most of its items. Prices appear to have more than doubled for most items originating from China.
De minimis exceptions are a rule that allows items imported to the US with a declared value of under $800 to be exempt from import taxes. This is what enables popular China-based marketplaces like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress to offer items at prices far lower than even companies like Amazon or Walmart. Though de minimis (literally “with trifles” in Latin) is a policy designed to avoid overincumbering taxation and customs on items that would be more expensive to track than the tax actually collected, US president Trump has declared an end to the de minimis exemptions in addition to incredibly onerous taxes on imports from China. De minimus is scheduled to be suspended on May 2nd, subjecting most items to the same 145 percent import taxes as other Chinese goods.
“Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up,” says a message on Temu’s website. “To keep offering the product you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025.”
While the 145 percent tax rate does not automatically mean that, say, a $10 T-shirt costs $24.50, that’s generally how it plays out as both suppliers and retailers pass the cost on to consumers. CNBC observes prices on many items roughly equivalent to the tariff rate, more than doubling, and thus making Temu a far less enticing option than some of its US-based competitors.
Not that simply buying from another site will help much. With a huge amount of goods sold to Americans still originating from China, including everything from clothing to food to electronics to car parts, experts are predicting widespread price increases and the obvious hammer-blow to Americans’ buying power. Consumers aren’t the only ones affected, as US-based companies reliant upon Chinese imports for their goods are already facing massively increased operating costs. Many have stopped offering sales to Americans. Some smaller companies, including PC manufacturers, are facing an existential crisis if tariffs on Chinese goods continue for an extended period of time.
Some goods sold on Temu ship from US-based suppliers and are not immediately subject to import tariffs, labelled with a “local” tag. But since most of these items appear to be merely held in US warehouses in anticipation of being ordered, it seems probably that these prices will also rise once domestic supply runs out and new goods from China are imported.
It’s common sense that if you have a Windows PC, you need a third-party security suite to protect it. Right? Well, maybe not.
That might’ve been the common sense mantra for decades, but things are starting to change and it may not be true anymore. With added protections incorporated into Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, you may not actually need a separate security solution.
Are Windows 11’s built-in antivirus and security features enough for everyday users? The answer is, “Yes… but.” Here’s why.
Windows has always had some security measures in place to protect you against hackers, cybercriminals, and malware. Those security measures have dramatically improved over the past decade, and they’ve never been better than they are in Windows 11.
Although the additional requirements to even install the latest version of Windows might be annoying if you’re running older (ineligible) hardware, mandating secure boot and other protective features help make Windows 11 the most secure version of Windows yet.
Indeed, Windows 11 has several protective measures that come installed by default, and they’re packaged together as Windows Security. Together, these features make Windows 11 secure enough for the average user to not need third-party antivirus software. Mostly.
Here’s a look at each major aspect of Windows Security, what it tries to do, and how it protects you from threats.
You can manage Microsoft Defender from the Windows Security dashboard in Windows 11.
Jon Martindale / IDG
Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the latest iteration of the classic Windows Defender software that first launched as an anti-spyware tool alongside Windows XP.
With Windows 11, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is fully integrated and installed with the operating system, and it stays on watch for you. It offers real-time protection to detect malicious files before they harm you, but you can also run manual or scheduled malware scans.
In third-party testing, Microsoft Defender Antivirus showed itself to be just as effective at detecting malware threats as other free antivirus solutions, though in our own testing it did throw up a few false positives. Better safe than sorry, but we understand that can be annoying.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus also offers basic ransomware protections by locking down your files and folders and preventing malicious alterations without admin approval.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus also leverages the cloud to provide faster malware identification, and is regularly updated with new malware signatures to keep your protection up to date.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
If you’ve ever tried to run a standalone indie game or an app your friend developed and had Windows try to stop you, that was Microsoft Defender SmartScreen in action.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is an anti-phishing, anti-malware tool that protects you from malicious websites and applications.
It analyzes the websites you visit and the apps you run to see if they seem suspicious or potentially harmful. If it senses something off, it’ll raise a flag and block you from visiting that site or running that app.
You can easily get around Microsoft Defender SmartScreen by clicking a few buttons, but the warning prompt should at least give you enough pause to double-check what you’re trying to do.
Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall filters network traffic to protect you against malicious apps and hackers who want to access your network and devices.
It can filter network traffic based on various criteria, including the IP address of the device trying to access your network, the port number it’s using, and what kind of app or service it’s trying to interact with. It can also limit network traffic to certain apps, preventing inbound and/or outbound traffic to/from applications and services.
If Windows Firewall detects an untrustworthy connection attempt, it will automatically block the connection and prevent it from accessing your device and your network.
You can customize Windows Firewall, including whether it runs on just public networks or private ones too, and what kind of traffic it filters.
Microsoft Defender Guards
Windows 11 also has some bespoke “Guards” as part of Microsoft Defender that enhance its anti-malware protections.
Microsoft Defender Application Guard works across a range of Microsoft apps, including Edge and the Microsoft Office suite. It detects potentially malicious websites and/or files, and instead of opening them within Windows, does so within a sandbox that prevents any potentially malicious code from affecting your system.
Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard helps eliminate common vectors for malware attacks. For example, it can prevent all executables from running within an email client or webmail service, or it can prevent applications from running after clicking links within Office documents.
There’s also Microsoft Defender Credential Guard, which uses virtualization technology to isolate secret information (like password hashes) so that only privileged system software can access it.
The different Microsoft Defender Guards are all enabled by default, but also have additional options and protective measures for enterprise users, offering greater granular control over how they work and how much they lock down certain Windows functions.
When do you need more than just Windows Security?
Not every antivirus or antimalware solution works with Microsoft Defender.
Jon Martindale / IDG
Back to the original question: Are Windows 11’s built-in antivirus and security features enough for everyday users?
For the most part, yes. The actual security features are effective at what they set out to do. As far as detecting malware and prompting you with warnings when suspicious things happen, Windows 11 works and you probably don’t need a standalone antivirus solution.
But Windows Security still puts the onus of safety in your hands. Certain features need to be properly configured ahead of time, and the overall protection offered by Windows Security is baseline. You still need to smart, careful, and aware by:
Not visiting shady websites
Not downloading unsolicited files
Not clicking links in emails or social media messages
If you trust that you’re good enough to keep yourself safe, and if you don’t mind shouldering the responsibility of maintaining good cybersecurity practices, then Windows Security should be enough.
But if you have frequent lapses in judgment, if you’re anxious about falling prey to malware or cybercriminals, or if you need additional features not included in Windows Security, then consider a paid antivirus suite.
The best paid antivirus solutions offer more comprehensive protections against malware and phishing, along with additional features like VPNs, password managers, identity protection, parental controls, defense against remote access, and more. Some top-of-the-line services may even monitor your bank accounts and insure you against losses.
Asus GPU Tweak III software notifies ROG Astral GPU users of any potential GPU sag
It’s possible thanks to a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer
The feature appears to be unavailable in the latest version of the application
Considering the multitude of Nvidia and AMD third-party GPUs that come with different designs and sizes, GPU sag is an undeniable issue (even if the recent RTX 5000 series has largely been a move in the right direction from the comically large RTX 4090). Fortunately, a popular GPU and motherboard manufacturer has introduced a solution – well, sort of.
As reported by VideoCardz, Asus’ ROG Astral RTX 5000 series GPUs have an ‘Equipment Installation Check’ feature within the GPU Tweak III software, which alerts users if their GPU has tilted or moved out of place. This is made possible thanks to a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer, effectively helping detect GPU sag.
The strange thing is that this feature hasn’t been included in any of the ROG Astral GPU marketing. GPU Tweak III, a GPU monitoring and tuning software, has several features to prevent issues, such as Power Detector+, which indicates any potential issues with the 12VHPWR cable – but this GPU sag preventative measure was only just discovered by users.
This is perhaps even more baffling: according to Asus forums, the Equipment Installation Check feature is no longer available in the latest version of the software. Whether the omission was entirely intentional is unclear at this moment, but it’s a feature that GPU and motherboard manufacturers should consider including going forward.
(Image credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock)
I see this as nothing but a win, and I’m hoping other manufacturers can follow suit…
There’s nothing worse than finding your PC components damaged due to cases of oversight or necessary precautions being forgotten: that’s why GPU sag should be taken far more seriously.
Fortunately, I’ve never had it happen to me since I made it my priority to obtain a good anti-sag stand (I’m using a fairly chunky GPU), but it’s easy to see the potential damage to the PCIe slot or the GPU itself in the long run if there isn’t any support inside your case for a heavy graphics card.
It’s a different conversation if you’re using a GPU riser cable (in a mini-ITX build, for example) as the card can be placed vertically to alleviate concerns of sag – but good luck placing some of today’s modern beefy third-party GPUs in those cases.
Of course, this won’t apply to all GPU owners, as it seems the heavier GPUs are mostly third-party high-end offerings to compensate for cooling: prime examples are my current GPU, the Asus TUF RTX 4080 Super, a triple-slot card, and the ROG Astral RTX 5090.
It’s good to see that Asus even thought about a feature to at least notify users of any sag or movement: in my experience, it’s not always easy to tell if your GPU is sagging, so while some might see it as a nonsensical addition, I’d argue it’s one worth applauding.
However, it’s gone at the moment and no one knows if it will return: if it doesn’t come back (which I’ll be shocked by), then I’ll be hoping other GPU manufacturers have at the very least taken note.
Meta’s smart glasses with a screen again tipped for 2025 launch
They’re expected to land in October and cost over $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,500
Apple is also working on smart glasses according to rumors, but they’re still some time off from launch
Meta’s incoming AR smart glasses could eventually face an Apple-made rival with Apple Intelligence, according to new rumors. The details add credibility to other rumors we’ve heard previously and hint at a big AR glasses battle in the coming decade – though it’s a fight Meta has a big headstart on right now.
The information comes via Mark Gurman’s latest PowerOn newsletter (behind a paywall) where he details some insider reports of what the two companies are apparently working on.
Gurman’s comments support a few details we’ve heard previously about Meta’s upcoming glasses. They’ll be smart glasses like its existing Ray-Bans but will also have a display, they’ll be pricey (we’re talking over $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,500), and Meta is targeting an October 2025 release (which is when it usually releases new Quest and smart glasses hardware).
However, Meta is at risk of slipping from this target date. Gurman adds that “top managers on the team” have reportedly told their staff to pick up the pace – and in some cases employees may need to work through their upcoming weekends to achieve Meta’s goals.
Apple glasses incoming (Image credit: Shutterstock / Girts Ragelis)
There’s no word on when the glasses might be released if they miss their October deadline – we’re hoping they’ll fall this side of 2025 rather than 2026, though ideally their release date will arrive without any excessive crunch Meta’s employees.
We’ve also heard the first signs of some potential pressure from Apple’s first smart glasses – codenamed N50.
Based on how Gurman describes them (“an Apple Intelligence device” that can “analyze the surrounding environment and feed information to the wearer” but stops short of proper AR) sounds just like what Meta has and is working on in the smart glasses space.
The issue? Apparently a launch is still some time away.
Gurman isn’t specific on when a launch might follow, but with Meta, Snap and now Google and Samsung (via Android XR) getting involved in the smart glasses space it seriously feels like Apple is giving everyone a major headstart.
(Image credit: Meta)
Analysis: Will Apple be late or right on time?
Given its success with the Apple Watch and AirPods from both a portability and fashionability standpoint (the two key areas smart glasses need to succeed in), Apple has the potential to catch up.
But if its non-AR glasses do launch in 2027 that could coincide with when Meta launches full-on AR specs, according to leaked development timetables – which means Apple’s rival runs the risk of being dated out of the gate. Then again, Apple’s delayed release will only matter if Meta, Android XR, Snap, and others can capitalize on it.
These other AR glasses might be out in the wild sooner, but if they’re expensive and lack innovative applications, they likely won’t be super popular. This could especially be an issue for Meta’s upcoming XR specs, as the existing Meta Ray-Ban smart specs are already great and only continue to get better thanks to software updates.
(Image credit: Jason Redmond / TED)
A display would be a significant enhancement, sure, but it doesn’t yet seem like an essential one – especially when you consider the display-less specs start at just $299 / £299 / AU$449 and are already the best AI wearable around.
On the other hand, if the upcoming Meta and Google XR glasses can match even half of the cool uses that I experienced on the Snap Spectacles during my demo, then they have the potential to take people’s perception of XR technology to new heights. That would be an exciting prospect, and a high price would seem significantly more justifiable.
We’ll just have to wait and see what Meta, Apple, and Google have up their sleeves, if and when their next-gen XR glasses finally release to the public.
We thought it might be the case, but I can now officially confirm that there is no ‘regular’ model of the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Nothing’s budget-friendly sub-brand, CMF, today announced its second smartphone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro. But when the original model was the Phone 1, it begs the question: “Will there be a non-pro model as well?”
It seemed likely that this was the only edition in this generation, but we don’t like to rule it out or assume. Phone makers do some bizarre things on occasion, so it wouldn’t be totally out of the question for it to arrive later, allowing the Pro to get all the limelight for now.
However, a spokesperson for Nothing categorically told Tech Advisor: “No, Phone 2 Pro is the successor of Phone 1.”
Short and sweet, but there you have it – that’s your lot. Your choice is mainly which colour you want.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro with the Phone 1
Luke Baker
Whether that ‘Pro’ moniker deserves to be there or not is up for debate, but the device is certainly a healthy upgrade on its predecessor.
Highlights include new cameras, new accessories, added NFC for contactless payments, improved water protection, a performance bump and an improved display.
New research shows AI can help identify which dogs are most likely to be candidates
It can help reduce the emotionally draining problem of ‘late-stage failure’ in guide dog training
AI can map dog personality types
AI is being used to help identify which pups have the greatest potential to go on to become guide dogs (also known as seeing-eye dogs) or service dogs earlier and with more accuracy.
In a new research project at the University of East London, Dr Mohammad Amirhosseini, Associate Professor in Computer Science and Digital Technologies, found that one AI model achieved 80% prediction accuracy over a 12-month period.
“One of the biggest challenges in assistance dog training is the emotional and financial cost of late-stage failure,” says Dr Amirhosseini. “This is more than a tech innovation – it’s a leap forward for animal welfare.”
To perform the analysis the trainers who work most closely with the dogs record their behaviour at six months and 12 months using detailed questionnaires, which function as snapshots of the dog’s temperament, focus and personality.
AI then weaves its magic and spots the early signs of suitability for guide or service dog training. The AI can detect patterns of behavior that even experienced trainers could miss.
Paw patrol
The project brought together an international dream team of dog experts including members of The Seeing Eye, which is the oldest dog training centre in the world, as well as Canine Companions, the team featured in Netflix’s Inside the Mind of a Dog documentary.
While many industries are under threat from AI removing human jobs, the study shows that there are plenty of opportunities for AI to positively benefit mankind.
AI can potentially be a game-changer for many dog training programmes, saving time, money and even heartbreak because dogs that don’t make the cut have to get rehomed and split from their potential new vocations and owners.
If an AI can pick up patterns that even seasoned dog trainers miss then it will become a powerful new ally in the field of animal training.
By now, most online users are probably tired of all the notifications asking whether to allow or block cookies when browsing the web.
Since 2022, the Brave browser has offered built-in blocking of these notifications, but the feature does not display some sites correctly. Brave’s solution to the problem is Cookiecrumbler, a new extension that uses AI to block the notifications without affecting page display.
Cookiecrumbler is based on open-source code, and since the blocking is done via Brave’s servers, there should be no danger to privacy, Bleeping Computer reports.
Cookiecrumbler will eventually be integrated into Brave, but if users want to test the extension now, it’s available for free from Github.
