SSDs are supposed to be fast. They're supposed to provide rapid access to your files in a snap of your fingers, transfer files in a flash, and provide great workstation and gaming performance. However, sometimes real-world performance doesn’t match the numbers on the box. If your SSD feels sluggish, it’s not always a sign of failure. Not every explanation is one that can be easily remedied, but these five are common sticking points for SSD performance.

Nintendo has notched another victory in its crusade against piracy. Last week, a Washington District Court judge ordered Ryan Daley to pay Nintendo $2 million and stop selling modded Switch consoles online, as reported earlier by Engadget.In a copyright lawsuit filed last year, Nintendo accused Daley of operating the website Modded Hardware, which sold modded Switch consoles, modchips used to hack into Switch devices, and Mig flash cartridges that allow people to play pirated copies of games.Nintendo claimed Daley caused the company “significant and irreparable harm” — and the judge agreed. “The MIG Devices, Mod Chips, Hacked Consoles, and Circumvention Services allow members of the public to create, distribute, and play pirated Nintendo games on a massive scale,” the ruling states. Daley denied any wrongdoing.Piracy lawsuits from Nintendo have become increasingly common, with the company winning its case against a file-sharing site accused of hosting pirated games earlier this year. Nintendo’s legal actions have led to the shutdown of Switch emulators, including Yuzu and Ryujinx. The company has also made it clear that it may brick Switch 2 consoles if players try to mod the device.Daley, who chose to fight Nintendo without a lawyer, is now banned from modding Switch consoles, as well as from using devices designed to circumvent the console’s security measures. The judge also ordered the seizure, impoundment, or destruction of all devices owned by Daley that may contain copyright-infringing material.

Anyone familiar with the AI slop on Pinterest should recognize how unnatural that hair is. I opened TikTok while visiting Germany last week and stumbled across a Vodafone ad being presented by a woman who probably doesn’t exist. The ad includes several “tells” that suggest the presenter was artificially created using generative AI — the unnatural style and movement of her hair, the way her moles disappear, and the uncanny valley vibe of her facial expressions — and Vodafone confirmed my suspicions in its video comments.In response to a commenter asking why Vodafone couldn’t put “a real person in front of the camera,” the company said it was “testing different styles of advertising — this time with AI,” according to machine translation of the German text. In another comment, Vodafone said that “AI is so much a part of everyday life these days that we also try it out in advertising.” As an ad, it certainly captured my attention, but only because my brain registered that there was something “off.” @vodafonedeutschland Jetzt Internet mit bis zu 1000 Mbit/s im Download für Dein Zuhause. ♬ Originalton – vodafone_de – vodafone_de This isn’t the first time that Vodafone has embraced generative AI in its ads, having released a commercial last year in which every shot was AI-generated. Fake influencers created using artificial intelligence are also rising in popularity, according to a New York Times report, with notable examples like Lil’ Miquela — a creation of tech company Dapper Labs — having already appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Prada, and BMW.

It hasn’t been the greatest year for the Ford F-150 Lightning, with sales so far this year down nearly 10 percent as compared to last year. In the hopes of boosting interest in the battery-powered truck, Ford today announced a new appearance package called STX, which the company says is in direct response to customer feedback. The STX, which replaces the XLT in the Lightning lineup, comes equipped with dual motors and an extended range battery that targets an EPA-estimated 290 miles of range. It also will be no slouch on the straightaway, with 536 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft. of torque, as well as a standard rear e-locking differential.Ford also “raided the F-150 parts bin” to add a bunch of rugged features, including off-road running boards from the F-150 Tremor and new wheels and all-terrain tires that are new to Ford’s electric truck. There’s a new grille, blue accent lines, and “STX” badging throughout. Truck owners who like to do actual truck stuff with their big electric truck can option up with a black vinyl floor for extra protection. In addition to the regular range of paint options, the STX will also come in two new colors: Argon Blue and Marsh Gray. “Customers have been asking for a rugged F-150 Lightning with more range than the standard range XLT,” Will Marchand, product and consumer marketing manager for the Lightning, said in a release. “Until now, if these owners wanted a rugged F-150 Lightning, they had to turn to the aftermarket to build the truck they wanted. We wanted to meet them where they were, which is why we’re so excited about the new F-150 Lightning STX.”The STX arrives at dealers in early 2026, and starts at $63,345. Ford says it expects it to be a top-seller based on internal projections.

For those of us who feel like File Explorer isn't a great way to manage our files on Windows 11, there are plenty of alternatives that can help make it better. I've been pretty vocal in my support for File Pilot, which is still my favorite overall, but that is going to be a paid app once the beta period ends. Thankfully, there are some free options, too, and Files is one of the best in the business.

It's kind of weird that puzzle games aren't inherently chill, isn't it? I mean, in real life, doing a crossword or solving a jigsaw is pretty easy-going, but I wouldn't say that Portal 2 is a particularly "chill game." In fact, some moments can be downright stressful.

We love our mini PCs here at XDA. In fact, one of our editors, Joao, never wants to go back after getting into mini PCs (although he really wishes companies didn't make bad ones). And while they come in all shapes and sizes (well, as long as they're mini sizes), it's not often that you can call one "cute."

When was the last time you heard Microsoft compliment Apple? Given how the pair of them have been bitter rivals for decades now, I wouldn't be surprised if you can't remember the last time you saw Microsoft pass a nice word over to its biggest competitor. I can't even remember a single time.

Google's AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, is simply one of the best AI productivity tools there currently is. Period. Though it first started out as an experimental offering from Google Labs and had limited features like getting a quick summary of a Google Doc, asking questions about it without hallucinations (thanks to its source-grounded nature), and generating ideas for you, the tool's goal was to help people learn faster.

Uber and one of its many robotaxi partners, Momenta, will test fully driverless cars in Germany next year. The news comes as Europe continues to lag behind the US and China in the number of commercially operational robotaxi services. The companies say they will test Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Munich starting in 2026. (Level 4 describes fully driverless vehicles, without safety drivers, that can operate anywhere within a defined geographic area.) If everything goes according to plan in Munich, Uber says that Momenta robotaxis could be coming to additional European cities in the years to come. Momenta is based in Shanghai, where it is currently operating its own robotaxi service. Earlier this year, Uber said it would allow the company to add its robotaxis to its ridehailing platform, though it would be cities outside the US and China. Uber also said that Momenta’s robotaxis would feature safety monitors behind the wheel at launch, before eventually transitioning to fully driverless vehicles. Momenta, which has received funding from China’s state-owned SAIC Motor, GM, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Bosch, currently supplies driver assist software to a number of automakers, including Mercedes and BMW. Though it currently lags behind the US and China, Europe is starting to see more robotaxi action that signals the floodgates could soon be open. In addition to Uber and Momenta, China’s Baidu and Lyft plan on bringing driverless taxis to the UK and Germany in 2026. Volkswagen has also been testing autonomous vehicles in Germany for several years, and recently said it would launch its own robotaxi service with — you guessed it — Uber in Los Angeles in 2026.

There are numerous ways in which you can improve your productivity on your PC, and one of the big ones Linux users like to bring up is tiling window managers. If you're not familiar with them, these are programs that force your application windows to open in a non-overlapping layout, keeping all windows visible at any given time.

Two AI-generated  figures from the production of Critterz. OpenAI is on a mission to show Hollywood that generative artificial intelligence can deliver results and is throwing its weight behind an animated feature film it hopes will stand toe-to-toe with much costlier productions, according to the Wall Street Journal.The film, called “Critterz,” is expected to hit theaters worldwide in 2026 after a planned debut at the Cannes Film Festival, the Journal reported. It will be made primarily with the company’s AI tools, including GPT-5, its flagship model that landed with a thud last month. “Critterz” is reportedly being made on a budget of less than $30 million in just nine months, fractions of what is normally required for animated features. OpenAI, alongside LA- and London-based partners Native Foreign and Vertigo Films, will be hoping the flick can convince wary Hollywood executives to bet big on AI, a tall order as the industry wrestles with slow uptake, resistance from talent and audiences and concerns over intellectual property and creative agency.