Meta reveals over 20,000 Instagram accounts hacked and stolen using AI support bot

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Meta confirms 20,225 Instagram accounts hit by HTS password‑reset flawBug let attackers request resets to unassociated emailsHTS disabled, passwords reset, full recovery‑flow review underwayLast week’s attack against Meta’s customer support affected just over 20,000 accounts, the company has now confirmed. Hackers managed to break into these profiles and most likely exfiltrate the data found inside.Last week, news broke that cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in Meta’s AI-powered customer support service, tricking it into sending password reset codes for other people’s accounts.Now, the Facebook and Instagram owner filed a new report with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, in which it stated that 20,225 persons were affected. In a letter Meta sent to the Maine AG, it was said that the company discovered a flaw in High Touch Support (an AI-assisted account recovery system for Instagram) on May 31, 2026.Latest Videos FromMitigating the intrusion“The tool itself worked properly and functioned as intended; however due to a bug in a separate code path, the system did not properly verify that the email address provided by the individual requesting a password reset matched the email address associated with that user’s Instagram account. As a result, when an individual provided an email address not previously associated with the account, the system incorrectly sent a password reset link to that unassociated email rather than rejecting the request,” Meta explained.The company says there is no evidence of data exfiltration, but leaves it as a possibility, given that the crooks were able to easily access it. That includes contact information (email address and/or phone number), date of birth, social media posts and content (photos, videos, stories), direct messages and communications, account activity and interaction history, profile information (biography, profile photo), and connected accounts and linked services.

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To address the issue, Meta disabled the HTS system and reset the passwords for all affected profiles. It also enrolled all targeted accounts into a mandatory security checkpoint and asked all users to re-authenticate.”Prior to re-launching the tool, Meta will fix the authentication check in the Instagram recovery entry point to ensure proper verification of email addresses against existing account information before any password reset is initiated,” Meta stressed. “Additionally, Meta is conducting a comprehensive review of similar account recovery flows across Meta’s platforms to identify and remediate any potential issues.”Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!Muhammad Yahya Patel, vCISO & Cybersecurity Advisor at Huntress, said:”This is a new category of risk that the industry needs to start taking seriously. As AI is embedded into operational workflows, customer support, identity verification, and access management. The attack surface shifts from technical vulnerabilities to logical ones.Any organisation deploying AI into support, identity, or access workflows needs to ask one question before go-live: what happens if an attacker treats this tool as the attack surface? AI systems that can trigger privileged actions such as password resets, account access, data retrieval this needs the same rigorous access controls and verification logic as any other privileged system. The fact that it’s AI-powered doesn’t make it lower risk. Right now, for many organisations, it’s making it higher.The more significant issue is what this signals about the security review process for AI-powered tools before they go into production”.Via BleepingComputerThe best antivirus for all budgetsOur top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Spotify wants to have more video content, and it could start streaming live concert footage soon — but my scepticism is telling me that YouTube still has the upper hand

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Spotify is eyeing up live concert streaming It’s part of the company’s strategy to shift more into video content YouTube is still leading on the livestream front, and I think it’ll be tough competitionSpotify is doing all it can to move beyond being just an audio platform — now it wants to offer live concert videos for subscribers, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.According to Bloomberg , the audio streaming giant has plans in the works to become “a hub for live music”, and has reached out to concert promoters to secure licensing rights to broadcast live videos of music festivals right from the Spotify app.Spotify has recently been experimenting with concert videos, adding a slew of pre-recorded music videos from Dua Lipa’s show in Mexico City, accompanying a live album released by the artist. Additionally, Primavera Sound festival took place in Barcelona over the weekend, which has gained substantial popularity and following online over the recent years — so it makes sense as to why Spotify would want to capitalize on this.Latest Videos FromThe move into live concert broadcasting reflects Spotify’s evolving plans to become a pipeline between artists and their most dedicated fans. A few weeks ago Spotify unveiled its new in-app tool Reserved, a concert ticket-reserving tool that aims to give legitimate fans top priority for securing tickets to their favorite musician’s live shows. On the other hand, the move into live concert streaming plays into Spotify’s wider video monetization strategy.Spotify first started out as an audio-only service, but over its 20-year lifespan it’s rolled out many visual components from short-form content feeds to music videos, and even video podcasts. Not only have these helped increase subscriber engagement levels, it’s also established a more profitable means of ad revenue that Spotify doesn’t quite get through its audio content and this is reflected in the company’s recent quarterly earnings, as Bloomberg highlights.

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In the first quarter of the year Spotify’s total advertising revenue saw a drop — The Next Web reports that it fell 5% year on year to €385 million (roughly $443 million) — therefore adding more video content means higher advertising rates and a better chance at boosting this profit.That said, some see Spotify’s venture into live concert broadcasting as just another means of reducing artist’s streaming revenue — but that’s not the first concern that crossed my mind.Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.YouTube, always and forever Spotify’s video offerings aren’t my favorite ways to engage with music. Compared to Apple Music, I find Spotify’s music videos interface to be unorganized and almost forced upon you while listening to audio (I never use the ‘Switch to video’ button).I’ve said it before and I shall say it again, YouTube is still the holy grail of visual music content, even if Spotify is still doing all it can to compete. You have to give it to Spotify though, it’s drive is undeniably admirable, but competing with YouTube is like attempting to shade the sun.In addition to its slew of pre-recorded live music channels (I watch a lot of NPR Tiny Desk Concerts as well as artist music videos) YouTube plays a huge part in bringing fans closer to the biggest music events across the world. This is most notably the case for the Coachella music festival in California, which I’ve been streaming via YouTube since I was 17.

Someone made a smart Sonos touchscreen music controller for just $20 / £16 — and it makes me miss the days when Sonos made its own iPod-like dedicated controller

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Redditor creates own smart home controller, tied into Sonos systems Cost just $20 / £16 (or around AU$30), for a small displayIt’s like the Sonos Controller, but in 2026Back in Ye Olden Days (the noughties), Sonos used to sell dedicated music controllers and they look wonderfully retro now. These fell by the wayside when smartphones got good enough to do the exact same thing. But given the current penchant for nostalgia tech, cassette players and digital detoxing, these music controllers are seemingly making a comeback.No, Sonos isn’t re-releasing its beloved CR100. And while a new Google Nest Hub is on its way, it’s apparently going to focus more on AI chatbots than music controls. So to manage your Sonos, we have to turn to Redditors.Over on the r/sonos subreddit, a user appropriately called hometechgeek has shared a small, simple smart display they created. Using software shared in the post (and screens bought for cheap online), they have fashioned a home assistant controller which you can use to change lighting, check sensors and, yes, control your music.Latest Videos FromCover art and smart room control using a £16 touch screen from r/sonosScreens show a play/pause button, volume controls and track skips, and a default screen shows the song you’re playing — perfect, in other words, to manage your Sonos devices from one controller. Some commenters have compared it to the Windows Phone’s old software, and more widely to Windows’ noughties and 2010s boxy look, and honestly they’re not wrong.Can you make it at home?

Making a controller like this doesn’t sound expensive. The 4-inch screen hometechgeek used cost £16 (about $20 / AU$30), bought cheap from AliExpress, and they list plenty of other models that’d work. The internet is, as it turns out, rife with little screens you can buy and use for your own ends.

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The software is free too, and it sounds like plenty of people on the r/sonos subreddit have already got their hands stuck in by trying it out, reporting any bugs they’ve found and suggesting tweaks.If you’re a technophile you’ll likely find it really easy to make at home, then. However, as some commenters point out, not everyone will find it feasible. You’ll need a little technical know-how to set up the screen, and to use Github for the code.Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.Obtaining that technical knowledge shouldn’t be too hard, with a few YouTube tutorials sure to get the job done, but it might not be worth it for everyone. This kind of kit will be useful to people with a smart home full of gadgets, but if you’ve just got a single speaker or soundbar, it likely won’t be worth your time.There’s a reason the smartphone killed the Sonos controller: a dedicated screen to control your music just isn’t necessary for most of us (because it’s already at our disposal with zero effort, in our phone).The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgetsOur top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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‘This looks awesome’: there’s now an unofficial, open source app for reading Whoop data that doesn’t need a subscription

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

There’s now an open source app available for Whoop bandsYou can install it for free on Android and macOSWhoop has yet to respond, but may block access to its trackersIf you own a Whoop band or have read any of our Whoop reviews, you’ll know that the premium fitness tracker comes with a monthly subscription attached. However, thanks to the efforts of an independent developer though, you can now get at your Whoop data without paying anything.The app is open source, available for Android and macOS, and called Noop (via Android Central). You do need to do a little bit of work to get it set up (it needs to be sideloaded on Android), but instructions are provided on the GitHub page. It should work with the Whoop 4.0, Whoop 5.0, and the Whoop MG bands.”I built it for one reason,” the app creator Kabir Khalil said in a post on Reddit. “To read my own data, off a strap I own, on a machine I control, without it living in someone else’s cloud. That’s the whole idea.”Latest Videos FromAs Whoop’s own algorithms aren’t available to the developer, Khalil says he’s used “my own maths” based on “published methods” to come up with fitness scores and data interpretations from the raw figures that are grabbed from the tracker device.Positive feedbackWHOOP with no subscription, no cloud, no account — it’s OUT today. Fully open source, Mac + Android. from r/whoopWhile the idea of a cloud-free, offline experience will appeal to many, it’s the zero cost that Whoop users will be most interested in. Whoop subscriptions start at $199 / £169 / AU$299 per year, though the device itself is included in that cost.

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And users seem to be keen to give this a try: “this looks awesome” one Redditor has commented, in a thread that’s full of positive feedback (as well as some requests for technical help from those who are having trouble getting the app working).We’ve contacted Whoop about the app and will include the company’s response here if we get one, but it clearly won’t be happy about users sidestepping the need for a subscription on their hardware. It’s possible that future updates to the bands will lock out access for third-party apps like this one.Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.Noop does seem to be part of a small trend however. A similar app called Goose has also just popped up, though it’s at an earlier stage in its development than Noop, and another one called Whoof has apparently been running for a little while now — so if you want an alternative Whoop app, you’ve now got several options.

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AI could actually be driving positive tech job growth in Europe – but still presents growing security risks and skills gap

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Robotic hand reaches from holographic screens above a laptop, depicting AI and data analytics.

European leaders expect 27% jobs growth in 2026 and 17% growth in 2027WEF predicts 78m net new jobs by the end of the decadeSecurity and privacy are still holding some adopters backNew data from the Linux Foundation has surfaced information that directly challenges the long-time concern that AI could replace human workers – per the new data, European employers state they actually expect AI adoption to increase tech hiring.And this isn’t just a short-term burst – they expect 27% growth in 2026 and a further 17% growth in 2027 as human jobs continue to be in demand.Instead, the Linux Foundation’s research is the latest in a growing number of reports to predict job displacement by means of simultaneous job creation and job loss – instead of an outright net loss.Latest Videos FromLinux Foundation data reveals AI isn’t taking jobs after allThis aligns with separate WEF research from 2025, which predicted that 78m net new jobs could be created by 2030, stemming from 92m displacements but 170m brand new roles created.However, while we look to be on track for more job opportunities, business leaders are still worried about the same old things. Half (51%) of European organizations cite security as a major obstacle for widespread adoption, and 44% also worry about privacy concerns.

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As a result, the Linux Foundation argues that the challenge is no longer whether companies want AI, but rather whether they can deploy it security enough. With a greater emphasis and more investment in security and data privacy, it implies that continued job growth could occur beyond the 2026 and 2027 projections above.This comes amid a major AI skills shortage across the continent, with organizations reporting shortages across AI and ML expertise, cloud computing capabilities, cybersecurity understanding and data engineering skills.Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!Looking ahead, the biggest takeaway from the report is that companies should invest in internal training programs to prepare and support future workforces. Those who are already doing this reveal it’s faster and cheaper than recruiting externally.”There can be no digital sovereignty without local tech talent,” Linux Foundation Europe GM Thierry Carrez concluded.

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The most exciting thing about the new Siri is the new hardware it’ll unlock — here’s what it could mean for a new Apple TV, HomePod mini and Siri Remote

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Close-up of a white spherical mesh smart speaker on an orange background with a subtle blue ring at the top edge.

Apple is expected to launch an AI-powered version of Siri at WWDC todayThat could enable new features on the Apple TV 4K and HomePod miniOther Apple products have been postponed due to Siri’s long delayApple’s long-overdue Siri upgrade — which should see it level up with new artificial intelligence (AI) powers — is set to be unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today. Not only could that give Siri a much-needed shot in the arm, it might also bring new features to a bunch of hardware products that have had to sit on the sidelines until Siri is ready.That includes the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, two devices that haven’t seen meaningful changes for years now. And I’m excited to see what new powers could be unlocked once they’re imbued with Apple Intelligence.Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman — who broke the news that these devices have been held up while Apple finalizes its AI efforts — cautions that we shouldn’t expect much aside from new chips that are compatible with Apple Intelligence. But to me, that feels a little beside the point — the Apple Intelligence upgrades alone could be worth the wait.Latest Videos FromThat’s because the new version of Siri is expected to better understand your personal context and work within other apps running on your devices. For the HomePod mini, I’m hoping that might mean learning your listening habits and picking out more personalized selections on request.And if you’re able to better control apps running on the Apple TV 4K using Siri and your voice, that might let you bypass the Siri Remote, which is still frustrating many years after it launched. Although Gurman did note that the remote might itself be “refreshed in some form,” he didn’t share what that would look like.

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Further delays

(Image credit: Apple)Aside from new powers coming to the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, other products could get a dose of Siri medicine in the future, Gurman reports in his latest Power On newsletter. Yet he also adds that many of these products are still years away from arriving.That includes a tabletop robot, which has been pushed back from 2026 or 2027 to 2028, and a smart home display that has seen its release date slip from the original 2024 target to late 2026 “at the earliest.” And Apple’s smart glasses have also been delayed from early 2027 to later in the year, Gurman claims. Despite the hardware being close to launch, these products have all been rescheduled because they rely on the new Siri software, Gurman explains.Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.So while the Siri upgrade coming to WWDC later today could finally lift the limitation that has delayed updates to the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, Apple’s AI holdup still appears to be having a negative effect on some as-yet-unreleased devices hidden in its secret labs.Still, the silver lining is undoubtedly what Siri could enable for existing Apple products — and we’re about to see exactly what the company has planned. While we might not get big improvements to the hardware of the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, the software upgrade alone could be worth the wait.

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What is the release date for Dutton Ranch episode 6 on Paramount+?

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Couple in black western attire walking outdoors, both wearing cowboy hats and sunglasses.

We’re halfway through Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch, and fan opinion is strong. Almost 1,000 of you agree that the show, which follows Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip’s (Cole Hauser) move to Rio Paloma, is just as strong as the original series — but if you disagree, make sure to let us know via the poll linked below.Personally, I think episode 5 proved that things are only just beginning to heat up. After losing all of their cattle to foot and mouth disease, Rip has taken a job as rival ranch 10 Petal’s foreman, working directly with Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening).If that wasn’t enough, Beth has also asked Beulah to hire her, claiming that she can turn 10 Petal into a “recession-proof household name” in the next three years.Latest Videos FromSurely all of this “adapt or die” talk is going to end in tears, but when does Dutton Ranch episode 6 land on Paramount+?What time can I watch Dutton Ranch episode 6 on Paramount+?

Dutton Ranch | Official Trailer | Paramount+ – YouTube

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Dutton Ranch episode 6 will drop on one of the world’s best streaming services on Friday, June 12.

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Like The Madison and Landman, we can expect the episode to arrive at 12am PT. Here’s when it will be released in other nations globally:US – 12am PT / 3am ETCanada – 12am PT / 3am ETUK – 8am BSTIndia – 1:30pm ISTSingapore – 4pm SGTAustralia – 7pm AEDTNew Zealand – 9pm NZDTWhen do new episodes of Dutton Ranch come out?

(Image credit: Paramount+)Dutton Ranch will have a total of nine episodes, airing weekly after its two-episode premiere. That gives us the following schedule:Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.Episode 1: out nowEpisode 2: out nowEpisode 3: out nowEpisode 4: out nowEpisode 5: out nowEpisode 6: June 12Episode 7: June 19Episode 8: June 26Episode 9: July 3Today’s best Paramount Plus deals

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How to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War anywhere in the world for FREE

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Two men in dark suits standing side by side against a black marble backdrop.

Ten years after the Brexit referendum resulted in Britain’s decision to leave the EU, the BBC looks back on the buildup to the crucial vote with two-part documentary series Brexit: A Very British Civil War.The documentary begins with the election of David Cameron as the UK’s Prime Minister in 2015. Cameron famously pledged to allow a referendum on the UK’s place in the EU as part of his campaign for the premiership.

The new documentary will air in two parts – the first episode at 9pm on Monday, June 8, and the second a week later at 9pm on Monday, June 15. The documentary features interviews with major political figures, like former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson, as well as Nigel Farage, George Osborne, and Michael Gove.The series is directed by Max Stern, who also directed the 2023 BBC miniseries Putin vs the West, and produced by veteran documentarian Norma Percy, who in a 40-year career has produced dozens of documentaries, with a particular focus on the Middle East and global politics.Here’s how to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War online from anywhere.
How to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War in the UK for free

How to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War from anywhere
If Brexit: A Very British Civil War sounds like it’s up your street but you won’t be in the UK when it goes live, your access to the show could be geo-blocked. You can use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer while abroad (do check you’re not breaching any terms and conditions first, though). You might be surprised at how easy it is to set up, and we have a great deal on our pick for the best VPN:
How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN
Using a VPN to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War is easy with our handy guide:
Download and install a VPN: Our top pick is NordVPN, but any of the best VPNs will workConnect to a UK server: Open your VPN app, click ‘choose location’, and select a UK server (or just select ‘anywhere in the UK’)Head to BBC iPlayer: Head to the BBC iPlayer website or app.
What devices can I watch BBC iPlayer on?
Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)Android (Mobile & Tablet) – Android 7.0 and aboveApple TV (tvOS 14 or later)Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)FreelyFreesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models aren’t supported)iOS (iPhone & iPad) – iOS 14 and aboveLG Smart TVs (2016-2024)NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above)Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puckVirgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

How to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad – YouTube

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How to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War around the worldHow to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War in other countries
There are no confirmed plans to bring Brexit: A Very British Civil War to the US, Canada, Australia or other countries yet – we’ll update this page if it becomes available in other regions.For UK residents travelling abroad, you can use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer – see our handy guide above to get set up.
Brexit: A Very British Civil War FAQs
Brexit: A Very British Civil War episode guideEpisode 1: David Cameron’s victory in the 2015 general election sets the scene for a referendum about Britain’s place in the EU. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage begins campaigning for Brexit. Episode 2: Cameron and allies like Chancellor George Osborne campaign on an economic platform to try to keep Britain in the EU. Mayor of London Boris Johnson campaigns for the opposite as Farage’s own leave campaign builds momentum.
Who is interviewed in Brexit: A Very British Civil War? Per Radio Times’ interview with series producer Norma Percy, the series features interviews with every major figure involved in the campaign – except one elusive source that the team couldn’t track down. Interviewees include: David Cameron – Prime Minister, 2010 – 2016, Foreign Secretary 2023 – 2024Boris Johnson – Mayor of London, 2008 – 2016, Prime Minister, 2019 – 2022Nigel Farage – UKIP leader, 2006 – 2009 & 2010 – 2016, Reform UK leader, 2024 – presentGeorge Osborne – Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2010 – 2016Michael Gove – Various ministerial offices, 2010 – 2024Peter Mandelson – Various ministerial offices, 1997 – 2004, 2025
Who wouldn’t be interviewed for Brexit: A Very British Civil War? The same Radio Times interview mentioned above reveals that the documentary team were refused an interview with former government advisor Dominic Cummings for Brexit: A Very British Civil War. Cummings most famously served as an advisor to Boris Johnson before and during the COVID pandemic, where he was found to break lockdown rules. Most relevant to this documentary, though, is his role as director of the Vote Leave campaign during the lead up to Brexit – but Cummings ‘firmly’ refused to take part in the new series.
Brexit: A Very British Civil War – watch here
Here’s the link to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War when the first episode goes live at 9pm on Monday 8 June.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Amazon is rolling out a redesigned Fire TV app

March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Amazon is starting to roll out its redesigned Fire TV mobile app to customers, the company announced on Thursday. While you could previously only use the app as a backup remote, the updated experience lets you browse and discover content directly from your phone, manage your watchlist on the go, and play titles on your TV from the mobile app.

“The updated app turns smartphones into a second screen for discovering what to watch next, making it easy to add a friend’s show recommendation to a watchlist even when away from home,” Amazon wrote in an email to TechCrunch. “This seamless integration between mobile and TV creates a more flexible and convenient viewing experience for Fire TV customers to find what they want to watch, fast.”

The app is rolling out now in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the U.K.

Image Credits:Amazon

Amazon says the refreshed look matches the new Fire TV user interface that it launched last month, which was designed to put more focus on content, while also simplifying navigation. The updated user interface introduced rounded corners, varied gradients, consistent typography, and increased spacing between content, while also providing more room for pinned apps.

The top navigation bar has been simplified into categories marked with clear icons for Movies, TV, Live TV, Sports, and News. The search button is more easily accessible to the left of the Home tab.

Within these tabs, Fire TV shows the content you’re already watching alongside recommendations from your subscribed services, organized in rows labeled “For You.” The tabs also feature free movies, top movies and shows, and other paid content you might like.

The changes to the app and the user interface come in response to the surge of streaming content, which has made it harder to keep track of what’s available on each service, requiring platforms like Fire TV to function more as discovery hubs rather than just places to launch streaming apps.

BYD rolls out EV batteries with 5-minute ‘flash charging.’ But there’s a catch.

March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Chinese automaker BYD unveiled a new battery pack Thursday that the company says is capable of charging from 10% to 70% in five minutes. Taking it to almost 100% takes about four minutes more.

Recharge times like those would nullify concerns about electric vehicles’ charging times — one of the few places where internal combustion engines retain an advantage. Even in bitter cold weather (–4˚ F or –20˚ C), the pack can charge from 20% to 97% in under 12 minutes, according to BYD. The battery pack, known as the Blade Battery 2.0 system, is slated to debut in the Yangwang U7, a full-size luxury sedan.

There is a critical caveat to this eye-popping figure. The Yangwang U7 sedan, or any other future BYD vehicle equipped with this next-generation battery pack, can only reach this ultra-fast charging time when paired with one of the company’s new Flash Charging EV chargers.

Still, BYD is likely counting on this flashy charging tech to boost sales and give it an edge in a price war with other Chinese automakers that are rolling out new and improved EVs at a rapid clip.

The Shenzhen-based company was a darling of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway holdings for years. The investor bought a 10% stake in the automaker in 2008 for $230 million — long before it became a Tesla rival and household name. Berkshire sold its last shares in 2025, returning more than 20x the original investment.

Today, BYD is the world’s largest manufacturer of EVs — a status that other Chinese automakers and Tesla are keen to change. While BYD still outpaces competitors like LiAuto, Xpeng, Xiaomi, and Zeekr, there has been a recent dip in sales. The company reported that its combined January and February sales volume in 2026 dipped by roughly 36% compared to the year before.

Its next-generation battery system could help it attract new customers and retain existing ones.

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The new Blade Battery 2.0 accomplishes the ultra-fast charging feat by using lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), a chemistry that automakers are betting will help lower the cost of EVs because it avoids the use of pricy metals like cobalt or nickel. Currently, LFP packs cost $81 per kilowatt-hour compared with $128 per kilowatt-hour for NMC, according to BloombergNEF.

Because LFP isn’t as energy dense as other chemistries like nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC), it can’t carry as much energy, which limits range. As a result, Western automakers almost exclusively use LFP cells in their less expensive models. But BYD is betting that by speeding up the charging process, LFP can become acceptable in more than just low-end EVs.

To hit a five-minute charge time, BYD has also developed a new EV charger it calls Flash Charging, which is capable of delivering 1.5 megawatts of electricity. Previously, BYD had rolled out a 1 megawatt charging system for a previous sedan, the Han L, that used two 500 kW charging cables that needed to both be plugged in. In the U.S. and Europe, the fastest chargers tend to top out at 350 kW, though there are an increasing number of 500 kW chargers that are being rolled out.

BYD’s Flash charger stalls have cables draping from overhead towers, which allow the cables to serve either side of the vehicle. It should also make plugging in easier since the cables and charging plug are probably pretty heavy to cope with the amount of power they’re rated to handle. BYD said it has 4,200 Flash charging stations completed throughout China with a goal of adding about 16,000 more by the end of the year, though we should note that the automaker uses the “Flash” name to describe its 1-megawatt chargers, too. It also said it will add grid-scale batteries to the installations to relieve pressure on the grid.

In the U7 full-size sedan, the battery can power the car for just over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), which tends to be optimistic. CLTC overstates range by about 35% compared with the more realistic EPA test cycle. In real world driving, the car would likely be able to cover just over 400 miles on a single charge.

That’s less range than a Lucid Air Grand Touring, which can travel for 512 miles on a full 117 kWh pack, according to the EPA test cycle. But being able to add 240 miles in five minutes could make such comparisons moot.

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