Nintendo dropped a ton of information with the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. Though games are always going to be the main focus of any console, the system itself is a serious upgrade over its predecessor. Sporting visual and audio enhancements, as well as a slew of new features, it’s all but guaranteed if you liked the Switch, you’ll love the Switch 2. That being said, some of the console’s improvements stand out more than others.

President Donald Trump’s promised higher tariffs have gone into effect today, targeting many countries whose goods imported to the US were already subject to a 10 percent base tariff that started on April 5th. China has already retaliated in an escalation of Trump’s global trade war.The White House announced the tariffs on April 2nd, dubiously claiming they were “reciprocal” based on a nonsensical formula that far exceeded conventionally calculated tariffs. At the same time it declared a national emergency and stated that the higher tariffs would stay until Trump “determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.” Countries targeted for higher tariffs included China at 34 percent, the EU at 20 percent, and Vietnam at 46 percent, but since the tariffs are additive, some of the real numbers are much higher — Trump had already slapped 20 percent tariffs on China, and added another 50 percent this week after China announced retaliatory measures, bringing it to a total 104 percent. That means the total tariff more than doubles import costs for everything shipped from China, including the majority of the world’s components and consumer electronics. The EU will vote on its own retaliatory tariffs today.China announced another 50 percent tariff — matching Trump’s — on all US goods in retaliation. It’s set to go into effect on April 10th. Some of the trade war’s effects have already been felt, with Nintendo delaying its just-announced Switch 2 preorders, Jaguar Land Rover pausing its April car shipments to the United States, and both Framework and Razer pausing some laptop sales. US memory chip maker Micron announced it would be adding a surcharge to its products on April 9th if the higher tariffs happened, and other companies are likely to follow suit soon.Update, April 9th: Added mention of China’s additional 50 percent tariff levied in response.

Copilot Vision running on Windows 11. | Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft has started testing a new update to its Copilot app on Windows that will let you share your screen or apps with the AI assistant. Copilot Vision was originally limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser, but it’s now extending to any app on your PC.Copilot Vision will be able to do things like coach you through using Adobe Photoshop features, or analyze the photos and webpages you’re looking at. I got to see an early version of Copilot Vision on Windows at Microsoft’s 50th anniversary party last week, where the AI assistant guided me through a game of Minecraft and helped to optimize settings in Microsoft’s Clipchamp video editor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Verge (@verge)I haven’t been able to fully test Copilot Vision on Windows through the Insider beta because Microsoft is limiting the experience to US testers only. Copilot will be able to highlight parts of your screen to guide you through apps, although this initial beta version won’t have the feature enabled just yet. Copilot Vision might sound similar to Microsoft’s Recall feature that automatically takes snapshots if you allow it, but it’s actually more like screen sharing an app or your entire desktop in a Microsoft Teams call.Microsoft has also started testing file search in Copilot on Windows, allowing you to ask the AI assistant about the contents of a file on your PC. File search supports .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, .txt, .pdf, .json files, and you can use Copilot to easily find the documents you were working on recently.Both of these Copilot features just require the Copilot app on Windows, and not a full Copilot Plus PC. You can also use Copilot Vision on iOS and Android. Microsoft has started testing these new Copilot features with Windows Insiders, ahead of a broader rollout to all Windows 11 users in the coming weeks or months.

PDFgear is a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat. While it’s not open-source, like many great closed-source Adobe alternatives, it’s an option for anyone who wishes to pivot from Adobe tools. However, PDFgear is still missing some features that would put it at the same level as Adobe Acrobat, preventing many people from making a full switch. These major features of Acrobat aren’t available in PDFgear, but if you don’t need these features, you should consider moving on from Acrobat and using a free resource from a smaller brand. There are many reasons to avoid Adobe software, and PDFgear offers PDF editing and reading without the need for large corporations.

The world of gaming handhelds is going through a bit of a renaissance these past few years, and it's in big part thanks to the immense popularity of the Nintendo Switch starting way back in 2017. Of course, a lot of PC-based gaming handhelds have been introduced in recent years with tons of advantages over NIntendo's handheld, particularly in terms of performance, display, and storage.

When you think of user-friendly tools for non-designers, Canva is probably the first to come to mind. But Canva isn't the be-all-end-all for accessible design — there's a whole range of alternative design tools that offer just as much, if not more, and some of them also don't lock their best features behind a paywall. So if you need an easy way to bring your ideas to life, whether creating flyers or simple web graphics, you don't have to settle for the mainstream picks. Give these graphic design tools a try instead...

International buyers can order a Laptop 12 today, but US fans will have to wait.Framework has confirmed it will no longer be opening US preorders for the new Laptop 12 today, or announcing a price, as it evaluates the impact of Trump’s tariffs. The modular, convertible laptop will still be available later today for buyers elsewhere, including Canada and Europe.The Laptop 12 is Framework’s smallest laptop yet, and its first convertible touchscreen model. It comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 chip, a 1920×1200 touchscreen with stylus support, and up to 48GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. Like other Framework hardware, it’s modular and repairable. It also ships in a pastel pink and mint finish that we’re pretty fond of.Although the company hasn’t announced pricing, it pitched the 12-inch laptop as an “entry-level” model at a “lower cost” than the Laptop 13. That model now starts at $899 for a DIY version, or $1,099 for a prebuilt one, after the company “paused” sales on some of the cheaper Laptop 13 models in the US to avoid selling them at a loss after factoring in the new tariffs.Framework manufactures its products in Taiwan, which is subject to a 32 percent tariff as of today. The company explained on Bluesky that it’s beginning its tariff response with the “most reversible” changes, delisting and delaying products, and that it will avoid raising prices “until we have final confirmation that there is no alternative.”We’re delaying opening pre-orders for Framework Laptop 12 in the US. We’re still opening orders for the other countries we ship to tomorrow (April 9th), now at 10am PT. (cont)— Framework (@frame.work) 2025-04-08T19:05:50.494ZLaptop 12 preorders open for buyers in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Taiwan today at 1pm ET, and pricing will be announced at the same time.

Google has a vast history of launching experimental projects, only for them to fade away before ever getting a proper launch. Unlike many Google Labs experiments that never quite see the light of day, NotebookLM, Google's AI-powered note-taking app, is one of the few that did.

If you've ever wanted to dual-boot a different OS or set up a clean testing environment separate from your everyday files, you’ve probably considered partitioning your hard drive or already have. Partitioning can come with some downsides that are hard to reverse without reformatting your entire drive, and a certain inflexibility in adapting to evolving needs down the road. There are a few reasons that Virtual Hard Disks (VHDs) offer a better alternative, with more flexibility, security, and portability.

Soulslikes are some of my favorite games. Since I first got into the genre via Dark Souls 2, I have had that itch to throw myself at the most difficult bosses and emerge victorious. Thanks to Elden Ring Nightreign, I am craving that Soulslike experience more than ever. Thankfully, there are plenty to choose from that are currently on the market. There are even more coming out, and even some DLC is being made.

This is only a concept art rendering for now, but gives us some idea of what to expect.Universal, having just completed its latest Nintendo- and Harry Potter-filled theme park in the US, is now planning to build a new theme park and resort in the United Kingdom. The multi-billion dollar project will be Universal’s first European theme park, with construction on the 476-acre complex expected to start next year in Bedford, England, located around 60 miles north of London.Set to open in 2031, the UK government says the theme park will be “one of the largest and most advanced in Europe,” projected to generate nearly £50 billion ($64 billion) for the British economy by 2055 and attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year. Rumors about the project have been circling since Comcast NBC Universal acquired the sizable chunk of Bedford land in December 2023, with today’s announcement finally confirming that plans to build the park are going ahead — subject to securing planning approval.“Today we closed the deal on a multi-billion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who added that the project is expected to create “28,000 new jobs across sectors such as construction, AI, and tourism.”This announcement comes ahead of Universal opening its third Orlando park, Epic Universe, on May 22nd. The Orlando expansion contains new lands themed around Nintendo, Harry Potter, classic movie monsters, and the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, and showcases some of the entertainment giant’s most advanced ride and animatronics technology to date.It’s too early to say exactly what the new park will entail, but proposals from Universal Destinations & Experiences include a theme park with “several themed lands featuring Universal’s distinct brand of immersive storytelling,” rides, attractions, and other forms of entertainment that utilize “sophisticated and advanced technology.” Plans for the resort include a 500-room hotel with on-site retail, dining, and entertainment options.We will have to wait and see if Universal will be bringing any of its existing land themes or ride experiences to the UK project, or opt for something new entirely. I’d expect the Harry Potter branding to be involved in some way — Universal has already built six lands themed around the franchise across other global parks, and this is its opportunity to fully lean into its native British setting.

Hours after Donald Trump’s latest tariffs came into effect, China has announced retaliatory measures: an additional 50 percent tariff on US goods, on top of a planned 34 percent charge, and adding a further 12 US companies to its export control list.“The US’s practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which seriously infringes on China’s legitimate rights and interests and seriously damages the rules-based multilateral trading system,” the country’s Tariff Commission said in a statement.Last week China announced a 34 percent tariff on goods imported from the US, matching the rate that the US would impose on Chinese goods. Trump took that badly, adding an additional 50 percent levy, which China is now matching in return. The new US tariffs on China, and other countries around the world, took effect today, with the 84 percent rate added onto existing 20 percent tariffs for a total of 104 percent. China’s 84 percent levy on US goods will come into force tomorrow, April 10th. In addition to the elevated tariffs, China has added 12 US companies to its export control list, joining 16 additions from last week. That move bans the export of dual-use items – anything that can be used for both civilian and military purposes – to those companies.The European Union is expected to confirm its own retaliatory measures soon, with a vote taking place today.