Now the FAA says gamers are the answer to its air traffic controller shortage
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled for years to have enough air traffic controllers to address shortages, with the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) saying in January that the number of people in the job in the US has declined by around 6 percent "in the last decade." Now the Trump administration is rolling out a recruiting campaign targeting gamers ahead of the opening of the annual air traffic control hiring window on April 17th.
Even with the campaign, getting qualified individuals through training and into the role may still be a challenge: according to the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector …
20-year-old man arrested for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s house
San Francisco police have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's Russian Hill house early Friday morning, The San Francisco Standard reports. The incident was caught on surveillance cameras shortly before 7AM ET. Later that morning, someone matching the suspect's description was seen making threats outside OpenAI's Mission Bay offices, where he was arrested around 9AM ET.
OpenAI spokesperson Jamie Radice confirmed the incident in a statement to The Verge, saying, "Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep …
How to watch the Artemis II astronauts return to Earth
The Orion capsule, carrying Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is expected to land back to Earth after a nine-day mission that set a record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from our planet.
After making a high-speed re-entry through the atmosphere, the capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at approximately 5:07PM PT / 8:07PM ET. Navy recovery crews will bring the astronauts to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks before they helicopter back to land.
Re-entry is unquestionably the riskiest pa …
Microsoft finally lets Windows 11 testers unlock experimental features without ViVeTool
Microsoft is finally allowing Windows 11 testers to get access to experimental features without having to download a third-party app like ViVeTool. The changes are part of making the Windows Insider Program (WIP) less confusing, with Dev and Canary testing rings simplified into a new Experimental Channel alongside a refresh of the existing Beta Channel.
Microsoft has been using a technology called Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) for years now, to gradually roll out new features to all Windows 11 users. While this is an industry standard, it's often frustrating to try and get access to experimental Windows 11 features and realize that Micro …
My go-to electric screwdriver is on sale for over 50 percent off today
Fanttik, like Hoto, is quickly becoming a household name. The tool brand’s cordless wares are quiet, capable, and certainly more stylish than anything you’d find at your local Ace Hardware or neighborhood tool library. The S1 Pro electric screwdriver is a great example of the company’s penchant for attractive design, one you can currently grab on Amazon for an all-time low of $39.99 ($50 off) when you enter promo code YBRS9843 at checkout.
Fanttik S1 Pro Cordless Electric Screwdriver
Where to Buy:
Unsurprisingly, Fanttik’s TikTok-worthy screwdriver isn’t going to rival a dedicated drill when it comes to torque or comfort, even when talking about the smaller 12V variety. Still, it’s more efficient than a manual screwdriver when it comes to performing small- to medium-sized tasks around the home, whether that be assembling a bed or tightening the screws on your bicycle seat — two things I used it for just this week. It’s lightweight and sleek, with a 220RPM motor, three torque settings, a circular LED light, and a dedicated button for screwing in or out.
In addition to the S1 Pro itself, you get a magnetic case that also houses the screwdriver and the 16 S2 hardened steel bits, which encompass everything from flathead and Allen heads to Torx bits for opening up smaller electronics. It’s also equipped with a 2,000mAh battery, which, according to Fanttik, should be enough to operate up to 340 screws. I haven’t put that claim to the test myself, but so far, so good.
More ways to save
- Now through 10PM PT today, April 10th, Iniu’s 10,000mAh Portable Charger is on sale at Best Buy for just $15.99 ($13 off), which is the best price we’ve seen. I’ve become a big fan of Iniu’s compact charging banks in recent years, particularly the 2oW P61L-P1 on sale here, which comes with a built-in USB-C cable, a three-year warranty, and enough juice to charge an older smartphone model like the iPhone 15 to 65 capacity in just 25 minutes.
- If you’re really looking to level up your newborn’s sleeping arrangements, enter the Cradlewise. The smart crib / bassinet — which is now available on Amazon for $1,709 ($90) thanks to an on-page coupon — combines a sound machine, an AI-enhanced baby monitor, and an automated rocker into a single device, with real-time notifications and sleep insights at the ready. It also easily converts from bassinet to crib, allowing you to eke out about 24 months of use, assuming you want to use it with your toddler.
- Speaking of all-in-one devices, Mophie’s slick Juice Pack battery case is still on sale at Amazon starting at $49.93 (about $50 off), an all-time low. The MagSafe-compatible, lanyard-equipped case can provide both impact protection and an additional 50 percent of battery life to iPhone 16 and 17-series phones, including the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro, and even the beefier 17 Pro Max.
Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases
Amazon Luna announced a big change on Friday that will prevent players from purchasing third-party games and subscriptions. The cloud gaming service will remove previously purchased games on June 10th, 2026, though they'll still be available to play on other platforms through the EA, GOG, or Ubisoft accounts players used when purchasing the title.
In line with these changes, Amazon Luna will no longer support EA, Ubisoft, or GOG's third-party stores. It's also discontinuing subscriptions to Ubisoft Plus and Jackbox Games, and says it will cancel active subscriptions purchased through Luna at the end of the billing cycle. Amazon Luna is gett …
The Iranian Lego AI video creators credit their virality to ‘heart’
Donald Trump has spun the recent rescue of a downed airman whose fighter jet was destroyed behind Iranian borders as a resounding success. But the story is very different in one of the many viral, AI-generated Lego videos that have been produced by Iranian content creation group Explosive Media in the weeks since the US and Israel began dropping bombs on the country. In Explosive Media's music video take on how things played out, the US military is a joke for losing multiple planes and helicopters, and spending "$100 million just to save one guy."
The video's shots of Lego jets exploding into $100 bills and golden coins reinforce the idea …
Little Snitch’s software counter surveillance jumps from Mac to Linux
The popular macOS app Little Snitch brought its network-monitoring tools over to Linux this week. In a blog post announcing the launch, one of the developers at Objective Development shared some early results from using the app on Linux: "On Ubuntu, I found 9 system processes making internet connections over the course of one week. On macOS, we counted more than 100."
While the Linux version of Little Snitch provides the same basic functionality for viewing and disabling unwanted connections, it's not exactly the same. Objective Development says it's "not a security tool," unlike the macOS version.
According to Objective Development, Lin …
Congress can finally close a mass surveillance loophole — but will they?
A warrantless wiretapping authority that has facilitated surveillance for decades is up for renewal in Congress. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), last reauthorized in 2024, is set to expire on April 20th. A bipartisan coalition of progressive Democrats and members of the hard-right Freedom Caucus say it's long overdue for reform. But they're up against powerful figures in both parties who want to deliver a "clean" reauthorization, even as critics warn the rule is allowing President Donald Trump's administration to spy on anyone - even Americans.
Section 702, first enacted in 2008, formally allows for the surv …
Bose’s rugged Soundlink Flex Bluetooth speaker is on sale for up to $50 off
We saw a host of excellent Bose discounts during Amazon’s so-called Big Spring Sale last month; however, none of them were quite as steep as the current price drop we’re seeing on the latest Bose Soundlink Flex. Right now, the portable speaker is on sale at Amazon in select colors starting at $109 ($50 off), nearly matching its best price to date. It’s also available at Walmart, Best Buy, and directly from Bose in all eight hues, albeit for $119 ($40 off) instead of $109.
Bose Soundlink Flex (second-gen)
Where to Buy:
A few years back, we crowned the original Soundlink Flex the best portable Bluetooth speaker under $200. It was an impressive speaker with expansive sound and a surprising amount of low-end thump, not to mention a rugged, IP67-rated design that allowed you to take it pretty much anywhere. It was a real winner in many respects, particularly for its compact size, which is probably why Bose didn’t feel the need to completely reinvent the wheel with the second iteration.
The second-gen Flex is nearly identical to the first-gen model, only with a few subtle refinements. The travel-friendly speaker features a redesigned control strip with a new play / pause button and a power button that’s easier to locate — a welcome upgrade, given that the buttons on the original weren’t easy to use by feel alone. The 2nd Gen version also features adjustable EQ and support for higher-res AAC and aptX codecs, though you still get up to 12 hours of battery life, stereo pairing (if you own two), and weatherproofing, making the silicone-wrapped speaker a great picnic or poolside companion.
More deals and discounts
- Lego’s adorable R2-D2 replica is currently on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for $79.99 ($20 off), matching its lowest price to date. The 1,050-piece set is a nice, decor-worthy homage to everyone’s favorite R2-series astromech droid, complete with a 180-degree swiveling head, an attachable periscope, and a miniature Artoo that’s meant to sit alongside the included info plaque.
- If Google’s premium subscriptions don’t scare you off, the third-gen Google Nest Doorbell is down to $139.99 ($40 off) — its second-best price to date — at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The new model supports 2K HDR video, a taller field of view than prior models, and a new sensor with a wider aperture lens for full-color low-light video. The wired video doorbell can also leverage Gemini for AI-generated text descriptions, assuming you’re willing to pay for Google’s Home Premium Advanced plan ($20 a month).
- I probably wouldn’t call Twelve South’s 4-foot PowerCord the God Cable we’ve been looking for, but it’s still a good option for charging a range of gadgets now that it’s on sale at Amazon for $16.79 (about $13 off), which is about $6 shy of its lowest price to date. The sleek, low-profile device combines a 30W fast charger with a USB-C cable, allowing you to top off your phone, tablet, and a host of other small electronics without the need for an extra wall adapter.
Update, April 10th: Updated to reflect a steeper $50 price cut on the Bose SoundLink Flex.