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At $699.99, down from $999.99, the Roborock Qrevo Curv is at its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. That puts a top-tier robot vacuum and mop within a price range that is still expensive but no longer out of reach for people who were already considering a premium hybrid. This is the model our reviewer, Amanda Blum, called the most adaptable robot vacuum she’s tested, and PCMag backed that up with an “excellent” rating.

The Curv, using Roborock’s AdaptiLift chassis, can raise its body and climb thresholds up to 1.6 inches. In real use, that means it can move from hardwood to tile or over raised door frames without stopping short. Cleaning performance is strong as well. It delivers 18,500Pa of suction power, handles pet hair with an anti-tangle main brush, and uses a redesigned side brush that extends outward to sweep debris from corners. It can also avoid more than 60 types of obstacles, including shoes and cords. And when the job’s done, the dock takes care of most maintenance: emptying the dustbin into a bag that lasts around two months (depending on usage), refilling water, washing mop pads with hot water, drying them, and cleaning itself afterward. 

Navigation relies on LiDAR and a camera that can also be used for live viewing or patrol routes, effectively turning the robot into a rolling security cam. Setup takes a bit of time, but mapping is fast and accurate, and the app gives clear control over schedules, rooms, and cleaning intensity. On the downside, there’s no detergent dispenser, and the voice assistant (“Hello Rocky”) has a learning curve unless you’re reading off the cheat sheet. Also, while the robot tries to lift its mops over carpets, it may still drag them across, depending on the rug’s height. All in, the Qrevo Curv feels like a well-rounded investment for someone who wants more than just a basic robot vacuum, especially at its all-time low price right now.

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For me, third-party "Joy-Cons" were an absolute necessity for comfortable portable play on the original Switch. But because the Switch 2 upgraded its Joy-Cons to a more complicated magnetic connection, we haven't seen many third-party options come out for it yet. It hasn't been as much of an issue for me as on the original Switch, since I do think the Joy-Con 2 are more comfortable than the original Joy-Cons. But they're still not ideal, especially when compared to other portable gaming options like the Steam Deck.

That's why controller company Abxylute's recent announcement is so interesting to me. The company announced on Tuesday that it will soon launch Kickstarters for two different portable controller options for the Nintendo Switch 2, both of which use a novel solution. Instead of sliding onto the console's sides like the Joy-Cons, these are instead shells you slide the console itself into. Just plug your console into the USB-C dock at the bottom of the shell, and you'll get a wired connection to the controller halves that sit on either side of the shell, while still being able to use the system's built-in screen. These Joy-Con 2 alternatives offer gamer a bit more grip, and, as a bonus, one of them also essentially turns your Switch 2 into a portable GameCube.

Abxylute N6 (above) and Abxylute N9C (below)
Credit: Abxylute

Part of the fun of third-party Joy-Cons for the original Switch is that they took advantage of the console's modularity to offer wacky form factors. Take the NYXI Wizard, for example. This controller looked like a classic Nintendo GameCube WaveBird controller out of the box, but you could also take both halves of the controller off a central connector piece and slap them onto the sides of the original Switch for authentic portable Smash Bros. or Super Mario Sunshine gameplay. I missed seeing this kind of innovation on the Switch 2, especially since that system now offers even more GameCube games via Switch Online. Thankfully, though, Abxylute is picking up the slack.

While its N6 portable controller is more traditional, its N9C is for retro gamers. It looks more like an original GameCube controller than a WaveBird, but it has the same familiar stick and button layout, and even has the right colors. There are modern niceties here, like home buttons and a more fully-featured D-Pad and right stick than on an actual GameCube controller. But this is shaping up to be the best way to play GameCube games on the Switch 2 on the go. The N6, meanwhile, has all the same features, but in a more common, Xbox 360 style layout, similar to the CRKD Nitro Deck 2.

There are also some power user features in the fine print, like drift-proof sticks (capacitive on the N9C and Hall effect on the N6), a gyroscope, optional macro buttons, and on the N9C, clicky micro-switch buttons. You could use either controller for any type of game, if you'd like. But it's really the GameCube form factor that's convincing me here. Yes, this design will likely be more comfortable than the Joy-Con 2, but it's also more fun.

Abxylute N9C (left) and Abxylute N6 (right)
Credit: Abxylute

Unfortunately, because the Kickstarter campaigns for these have yet to launch, we don't yet know what they'll cost. Competitors like the Nitro Deck 2 cost $99, though, so you can probably expect to pay around that much. Abxylute's HandheldDIY J6 for the original Switch also costs $95 (when not on sale), which is another good barometer.

That's on the pricey end: My favorite third-party Joy-Cons for the original Switch only cost $50. But for the extra features here, plus the pricing on the competition, it's probably a cost I'd be willing to eat—especially because alternatives are still rare. The only third-party Switch 2 Joy-Cons you can buy right now that offer the same magnetic plug-and-play as the official ones are the NYXI Hyperion 3, and they have yet to be released and cost $126.99 (and they'll jump to $170 once early bird deals end). Abxylute's new reveals may not have that same satisfying snap-on tech, but they're feature-rich, and should still be a good upgrade over the official Joy-Con 2.


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Identity thieves are now using college enrollment to take out student loans in victims' names. This so-called "ghost student" scam capitalizes on limited verification for online class sign-ups and the federal aid application process to steal millions in funds while assigning the debt to unsuspecting targets.

I personally have been a victim of this scam, which I discovered only after an outstanding student loan debt landed on my credit report in 2024. Here's how the scheme works.

'Ghost student' scam relies on stolen identities

To run this scam, fraudsters use stolen or fake identities to enroll "ghost students" in online classes while also applying for federal student aid, including Pell grants and loans. Of course, they never actually attend those classes, instead disappearing with the money and placing the resulting financial burden on the individuals and schools they've conned.

In my case, scammers had used just enough accurate personal information to "enroll" at a community college in southern California and take out a Pell grant in my name. However, because the enrollment was fraudulent, the grant was considered overpaid and sent to collections via the U.S. Department of Education—which is how it landed on my credit record.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General (OIG), this type of fraud blew up with the shift to online and remote learning, particularly at community colleges that offer open enrollment (and generally engage in limited verification of applicant information). Increasingly, AI tools also likely help scammers to expand their reach with enrollment and loan applications and get past identity verification checks.

The scheme has affected schools across the country. In California alone, nearly a third of all applicants to community colleges in 2024 were identified as fake. A handful of individuals have been sent to prison after stealing millions in "ghost student" financial aid, but the OIG still has 200 investigations open.

For individuals targeted by the ghost student scam, the consequences are essentially the fallout of identity theft, such as debt falsely assigned to you that negatively affects your credit or the inability to get legitimate student loans (or any other type of credit) when you actually need them.

It also forces you into a long and arduous process of disputing the fraud: I spent several months going back and forth between the Department of Education, the community college, the credit bureaus, and an attorney to track down the fraudulent applications, file identity theft reports, provide extensive documentation proving that I wasn't responsible for the debt, and get the information removed from my record.

How to protect your identity from student loan fraud

Unfortunately, the ghost student scam circumvents a standard anti-fraud safeguard because most federal student aid doesn't require a credit check. (My credit record had been frozen for years, and still was at the time that this fraud took place.) While you should absolutely freeze your credit and thaw it temporarily only when needed, this step may not prevent bad actors from using your information to apply for grants and loans.

Because this scam is a form of identity theft, you should take every precaution to safeguard your personal information. Given the ubiquity of data breaches and hacks, you can assume a lot of it is already out in the open, but that doesn't mean you can't lock accounts down and practice good digital hygiene. Credit fraud alerts and a regular review of your credit reports will help you catch any suspicious activity quickly.


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The 65-inch TCL QM7K is currently selling for $797.99, down from $999.99, and price-trackers show this is the lowest it has dropped so far. The QM7K isn’t a stripped-down budget model—it’s a mini-LED TV with full-array local dimming, wide HDR format support, and brightness levels that push past 2,000 nits. In practice, that means HDR highlights pop, contrast stays controlled, and the screen remains usable even in rooms with a lot of daylight. It doesn’t reach the extreme peak brightness of TCL’s higher-end QM8, but for most living rooms, the difference is negligible. And if you’re also shopping for a solid gaming and streaming setup without dropping over a grand, the QM7K fits the bill.

TCL has packed this one with gamer-friendly specs: a native 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and input lag under 5ms for 1080p at high frame rates. Even at 4K60, input lag stays under 14 milliseconds, keeping it comfortably below the one-frame delay PCMag uses as a benchmark for solid gaming performance in a TV. Connectivity is solid, too, with four HDMI ports in total, including two that support 144Hz signals and one with eARC for audio passthrough, plus USB, Ethernet, and optical audio. Google TV handles the smarts, with support for Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, hands-free Google Assistant, and all the big-name streaming apps. The included remote is backlit, easy to use, and comes with shortcut buttons for popular apps. And the interface is easy to navigate.

That said, there are some trade-offs. Color tuning leans warm out of the box and may need adjustment, and the panel doesn’t support ATSC 3.0, so you’re missing out on the newer over-the-air broadcast standard. Also, like most LED TVs, you’ll lose some color saturation and contrast when watching from sharp side angles. But those compromises are minor for most people using it as a living room centerpiece or gaming display. PCMag gave the QM7K “excellent” rating, and our own writer, Daniel Oropeza named the 65-inch model one of the best budget QLED TVs to buy.

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Speaking as someone who almost pulled the trigger on one this weekend, if you're planning on buying a new MacBook Pro right now, don't do it. According to inside information seen by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new models are right around the corner. The news came in the latest edition of Gurman's Power On newsletter, a frequent and usually correct source on all things Apple. According to the reporter's sources at the company, new models of MacBook Pro are currently set to come out sometime during the macOS 26.3 release cycle, which will last from February through March.

The new laptops will supposedly keep the same form factor, but will feature newer chips, likely the M5 Pro and M5 Max. That means more performance for power users. Currently, you can only buy a MacBook Pro with either an entry-level M5 chip, and if you want a little bit more power, you'll have to settle for either the M4 Pro or M4 Max, both of which are last gen. Also, the base M5 chip is not available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, although that's unlikely to change in the new release.

If Gurman's sources are correct, the new MacBooks would be coming out a bit earlier in the year than you might expect, at least going by the last time the MacBook Pro got pro-level chips, which was in October of 2024. However, if you try to buy a MacBook Pro with an M4 Max chip on Apple's website right now, you'll notice shipping delays into the end of February and, in some cases, early March. Gurman also says that his sources are also reporting that the current MacBook Pro is starting to sell out at Apple Stores around the world. Both of these points seem to show that Apple isn't bothering to restock dwindling inventory anymore, which would hint towards a new launch being imminent.

That's great news for Apple power users who want to eke a bit more performance out of their machines, but I'm a little disappointed that there's no mention of OLED or touchscreens in this report, both of which were rumored to potentially start production this year. Still, even going by those earlier rumors, the start of 2026 would be an optimistic timetable for these features—we might expect them closer to either the end of year or early next year.

Apple users might be concerned about the new models releasing during the ongoing RAM crisis, which could theoretically see prices go up. However, according to a separate report from other famed Apple leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, it seems the company is planning to eat rising RAM costs itself rather than pass them on to consumers, at least for its next iPhone. I can't say whether that'll also be the case for the next MacBook, but as Apple will likely stop selling the previous models once the new ones are out, it seems likely to me.

Speaking of previous models, even if you don't necessarily need Apple's latest and greatest chips, I would still hold off on buying until the new models are announced. That's because existing M4 Pro and M4 Max units that are already in stock at sites like Amazon are likely to go down in price immediately afterwards. According to price-tracking sites, these seem to have been unaffected by the RAM crisis so far, and are favorite discounts during deals events like Prime Day. No longer being the latest and greatest means discounts are likely to become even more common, as these stores push to move their remaining stock and give customers a compelling reason to not opt for Apple's slightly newer chips instead.


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It's been more than a year since the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra were unveiled, which means we're overdue some new flagship phones from Samsung. While nothing has been officially revealed about the Galaxy S26, a number of leaks and rumors that have appeared online, providing a pretty good idea of what to expect.

With the caveat that none of this is confirmed (though this information all comes from well-known tipsters with decent track records when it comes to future Samsung products), here's everything the rumors are telling us right now. We'll know how much of it is spot-on once the devices are announced—perhaps as soon as the end of this month.

What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' launch date and pricing

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 phones on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and they then went on sale on Friday, Feb. 7. We're already into February 2026, and there's still no word about the Galaxy S26 series, so for whatever reason, Samsung hasn't been able to stick to the same schedule that it used last year for its flagship phones' launch.

Still, we should see these handsets appear before we're too much further into 2026. According to information obtained by the team at Dealabs, Samsung is planning to hold a launch event on Wednesday, Feb. 25—which would align with the day of the week that Samsung usually likes to hold its Unpacked events.

That date has been repeated by veteran leaker Evan Blass, so it looks as certain as anything can be without any official confirmation. There will then be a short preorder period before the phones actually go on sale, as usual, and the Galaxy S26 series is being tipped to start shipping on Wednesday, March 11.

As for pricing, it would seem that these Galaxy S26 handsets are going to cost you as much as their Galaxy S25 counterparts did when they first came out. Several sources, including reports from South Korean media, predict the following starting prices: $799 for the Galaxy S26, $999 for the Galaxy S26 Plus, and $1,299 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' design

The three models we're expecting—the standard model, the Plus model, and the Ultra model—match up with what Samsung has done in previous years, including 2025. It's possible that we'll see a more affordable FE (Fan Edition) version of the Galaxy S26 later in the year—the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025.

What we're probably not going to see is a Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge. The Galaxy S25 Edge, the thinnest Galaxy phone to date, broke cover in May 2025, measuring just 5.8mm front to back. However, multiple sources (including the well-respected Jukan) suggest that sluggish sales have led to the model being dropped this year. (It seems demand is weak for the iPhone Air as well.)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
The rear camera design from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is set to be used on the Galaxy S26. Credit: Samsung

When it comes to the designs of these phones, we're not expecting much to change at all. Android Headlines has posted renders for the 6.3-inch Galaxy S26, the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26 Plus, and the 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra: That's a slight increase in screen size (from 6.2 inches) for the standard model compared to the Galaxy S25, but the other two look like they'll have the same sized displays as their predecessors.

The only real change in terms of aesthetics is a pill-shaped camera island on the back. This was missing on the Galaxy S25 series, but did show up on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Multiple colors have been rumored, in part through wallpaper leaks: They include gray, peach, purple, light blue, black, and silver for the standard model, and black, white, silver shadow, sky blue, cobalt violet, and pink gold for the Ultra model.

What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' specs and features

The Samsung Galaxy S26 phones will come with the standard processor speed bump: As reported by SamMobile, it looks as though the handsets are going to be fitted with a mix of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 from Qualcomm, and Samsung's own Exynos 2600 processor, depending on region. If previous years are any indication, all the handsets sold in the US will have Snapdragon CPUs inside.

Don't expect massive leaps forward in terms of cameras: According to The Elec in South Korea, the Galaxy S26 cameras will match those on the Galaxy S25 (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto), as Samsung tries to keep costs down. However, the Ultra model may get treated to a new 10MP telephoto camera.

Samsung Unpacked
The Galaxy S25 series launch. Credit: Samsung

There may be better news when it comes to battery capacity, though this is only one of the contributors to battery life. As Wccftech reports, the Galaxy S26 is rumored to be getting a 4,300mAh battery, compared to the 4,000mAh battery of its predecessor—and the other two models are apparently getting similar bumps as well.

It seems as though this will be the year that Samsung adds MagSafe-style accessory snapping on top of wireless charging to its flagship Galaxy phones. WinFuture has managed to obtain details of some of the official magnetic cases that are apparently coming our way, together with the phones themselves.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Credit: Lifehacker

There is one feature that Samsung has officially teased, and that's a "new layer of privacy" for Galaxy phone screens. When this privacy feature is enabled, it will be much harder for anyone but you to see what's on your display—cutting down the risks of 'shoulder surfers' getting a glance at passwords, PIN codes, or other sensitive information.

Overall then, it seems we'll be getting rather modest upgrades from Samsung this time around, in terms of both the hardware design and the internal specs. On the software side there are several new features to look forward to with One UI 8.5, including improved security and sharing tools, and yet more AI functionality.


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Most organizations view AI identities through the same lens used for other non-human identities, such as service accounts, API keys, and chatbots, according to The State of Non-Human Identity and AI Security report by the Cloud Security Alliance.

securing AI identities

AI identities inherit old IAM weaknesses

Treating AI identities as another category of non-human identity means they inherit the same weaknesses that have affected identity programs for years. Credential sprawl, unclear ownership, and uneven lifecycle controls already pose challenges at scale. AI systems increase the number of identities in circulation and shorten the time between creation and use, placing additional stress on these controls.

Many identity programs rely on models built for slower and more predictable systems. AI identities are created programmatically, distributed across environments, and used continuously, increasing the number of credentials that require tracking and review.

Risk management often centers on access mechanisms, with limited visibility into how AI systems behave once access is granted.

Policy doesn’t keep up with automation

In many organizations, AI identities fall into a gray area. Defined rules for how they are created, managed, and retired are often missing, and teams handle them differently depending on the system or use case.

Automation provides limited relief. AI identities are still created and removed through processes that include manual steps, making consistency difficult to maintain as AI systems begin generating access on a regular basis. No single team consistently owns an AI identity throughout its lifecycle, and permissions tend to accumulate over time.

When an issue occurs or an alert triggers, security teams may spend valuable time determining ownership before they can act. The result is a growing set of identities with broad access and limited oversight, which becomes increasingly difficult to manage as AI systems expand across the environment.

“Organizations with limited visibility and unclear ownership are feeling the strain of AI-driven identities and securing identities in the AI era. Establishing strong identity foundations now is critical to reducing risk and confidently scaling AI use” said Hillary Baron, AVP of Research, Cloud Security Alliance.

Legacy IAM meets continuous identity creation

Most identity and access tools were built for human users and long-lived service accounts. They struggle to scale as AI systems create and use identities continuously.

Security teams report limited confidence in their ability to control non-human identities at scale. Legacy IAM platforms depend on manual reviews, exception handling, and ticket-based workflows, which slow oversight and leave many AI-generated identities outside established governance paths.

Non-human identities tied to AI workloads are often treated as exceptions. They bypass access reviews and certification cycles, reducing visibility into where credentials exist and what resources they can reach.

This gap between AI-driven activity and identity controls forces teams into a reactive posture, addressing risk only after access has already been granted.

The blind spots around AI credentials

Weaknesses in legacy IAM tools and governance are most visible in how organizations manage the credentials behind AI systems. Teams often lack a reliable way to detect when new AI-related identities or tokens are created, allowing credentials from short-term projects or experiments to persist.

When a credential is exposed or no longer needed, rotation or revocation frequently lags. Security teams may spend hours or days identifying where a token is used, who owns it, and which systems depend on it. During that time, the credential remains active.

Reviewing, rotating, and auditing non-human identities consumes a consistent share of staff time each month, further straining security operations.


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