Google has issued an emergency update for Chrome users, after its own Threat Analysis Group discovered and reported an actively exploited vulnerability last week. When a single security fix is rolled out this quickly, it’s critical to update immediately.
Google warns it is “aware that an exploit for CVE-2025-6554 exists in the wild,” and that “access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix. We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed.”
ForbesGoogle Update Warning—30% Of All Android Users Now At RiskBy Zak Doffman
The high-severity vulnerability is a “Type Confusion in V8,” Google’s Javascript engine, which could allow hackers to remotely execute code on devices. This issue was mitigated “by a configuration change pushed out to Stable channel across all platforms.”
That config change took place a week ago and has been followed by this urgent software update. As usual, it will download to your device. You then need to restart your browser to ensure it installs. All your regular browsing tabs should be restored, but your Incognito private browsing tabs will not, so save any work before you exit Chrome.
Attacks exploiting CVE-2025-6554 will come by way of specially crafted HTML pages, and as usual while the assumption is this is very specifically targeted for now, once a vulnerability is in the public domain that can change quickly.
ForbesChange Your Browser Settings Now—‘Massive Security Risk’By Zak Doffman
Chrome is essentially the default browser on Windows, despite Microsoft’s efforts to push Edge more widely. As such, this is primarily a Windows threat. That said, whatever device you’re using to run Chrome should be updated today.
We saw something similar last month — with another emergency update — which should frame the urgency. The latest update for Windows/ Mac is 138.0.7204.96/.97. We can expect this to prompt a U.S. government update mandate and deadline.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, July 1, 2025 —ASUS today announced that the VivoWatch ECG app has been certified by the Food and Drug Administration Thailand (FDA Thai). A major advancement for smart healthcare innovation in Thailand, certification for the ECG software marks a milestone for ASUS, underscoring its expanding role in the global digital health landscape and its commitment to medical-grade technology innovation.
ʺOur goal is to empower individuals and healthcare providers with the best health monitoring tools,ʺ said Joe Hsieh, COO and Global Senior Vice President of ASUS. ʺThis certification validates our technology and also reinforces the ASUS commitment to expanding global access to smart, medical-grade health solutions.ʺ
Intuitive and efficient monitoring
With the new ECG app, users can measure their ECG readings directly via ASUS VivoWatch. To take a measurement, the user places a fingertip on the watch–face sensors for 30 seconds. It will display the results and even allow users to easily share them with their healthcare provider. Compatible ASUS VivoWatch models include the latest ASUS VivoWatch 6 and ASUS VivoWatch 6 AERO.
Ready for personal and institutional use
The ECG functionality enabled by ASUS VivoWatch is ideal for individual consumers as well as for use in hospitals, clinics and any other healthcare setting. It can also be integrated into business-to-business (B2B) solutions to enhance VIP patient care and support premium health management services.
In addition to the newly activated ECG function, ASUS VivoWatch also supports blood pressure monitoring. This means that VivoWatch enables users to track two essential cardiovascular indicators simultaneously. With accurate, real-time date, the solution helps detect potential health issues, making it a valuable asset for institutions aiming to improve both care quality and operational efficiency.
ECG feature available now
To enjoy the benefits of the accurate ECG feature today, users simply need to update both the ASUS HealthConnect app and the ASUS VivoWatch software.
It’s not just high-end watches and world-class chocolate that come out of Switzerland; the last 30 years have taught us that the Swiss are pretty darn good at making bike wheels too. DT Swiss has become one of the leading manufacturers of all things related to bike wheels, and, learning from its watch-making brothers and sisters, has ventured into the intricate realm of developing and manufacturing suspension.
In the brand’s lineup is a wheel for almost every discipline of cycling, including the D 1900 wheelset seen here, designed specifically for the demands of dirt jumpers and pump-track riders alike. The theme tune for this wheelset sings reliability and durability, ready to case that gap you’ve been eyeing up at the pump-track or under-rotate that 360° you’ve been trying to nail.
Stealth black and ready for a beating, the D 1900’s are destined for the dirt-jumps or the pump-track.
Related:
DT Swiss D 1900 Wheelset
Starting from the inside, the D 1900 wheels spin on a pair of DT Swiss 370 hubs, but these aren’t the same as what you’d find on a trail bike. The front hub comes in a Boost 110mm width, and includes end caps for both 15mm and 20mm axles, however has no provisions for a front disc brake. Generally speaking, a lot of folk only run a single rear brake on dirt-jump or pump track bikes for simplicity and to reduce the number of cables, hence the move by DT Swiss to eliminate the front brake mount from the hub.
In the rear, we have another DT Swiss 370 hub, but this time configured for a 135mm axle spacing and in a bolt-up configuration. This will suit the majority of hardtail DJ frames with sliding dropouts on the market, and allows for simple adjustments to chain tension. The hub comes preconfigured with a singlespeed specific freehub inbuilt with a 12T cog, and runs the DT Swiss Ratchet LN36 internals. This is the brand’s 3-pawl system with 36 engagement points, and is well known for being extremely durable and easily rebuildable.
Wheelset Weight | 1,060g Front, 1,294g Rear, 2,354g Total (Claimed)
Spokes are taken care of by DT Swiss’s own double-butted Competition spokes configured in a traditional 3-cross lacing pattern, and secured to the rim via Brass ProLock Squorx nipples.
And to finish things off, a sturdy aluminium, pin-joint rim with a 30mm internal width keeps the D 1900’s rolling. They come pre-wrapped in tubeless tape, but can be run with tubes if preferred. It’s worth noting that the D 1900 wheelset does carry a maximum recommended rider weight of 120kg to be able to handle the trashing they are built for. These are available only in 26in to suit the majority of dirt jump bikes available on the market.
As for price, the wheels are sold individually, with the front retailing for $250 AUD and the rear for $360 AUD. The DJ-specific 370 hubs will be available separately for $159 AUD and $299 AUD for the front and rear, respectively. Given the small price difference, the complete wheelset appears far better value than buying the hubs alone and building the wheels from scratch. However for those just chasing hubs, it’s excellent to see this as an option nevertheless.
We fitted the D 1900 hoops to a Canyon Stitched 360, which were a direct swap for the stock wheels. Following a fair share of heavy landings, they’ve stayed true and haven’t had any detensioning issues.
Aside from that, there’s not a whole lot to be said. We were a little surprised that DT didn’t choose the EX471 rim for the wheel build, as this is the rim of choice for many elite DJ riders. This likely would have pushed the price a bit higher though, and as it stands this is a great value wheelset.
The D1900’s have been plenty sturdy so far, surviving more than a few under-rotations and cases.
Of course they’re not super-light at 2.35kg for the pair, and the ride quality was similar to the stock wheelset. With weight not being the drawcard, durability and cost becomes the primary selling point of the D 1900s. The pre-built wheelset options in this space are few and far between, forcing a lot of riders to opt for custom-built wheels. These generally carry significantly higher price tags once you factor in the labour to build the wheels. This makes the D 1900s an attractive choice as a replacement upgrade for your DJ bike’s stock wheels once they look like tacos.
Tony Hawk will be releasing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, a re-release from the iconic video game … More series. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Activision)
Getty Images for Activision
For everyone who is looking to relive their childhood, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be re-released.
The legendary games will be released on major consoles on July 11, marking the second time that Hawk’s games have been re-released in this current generation. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was re-released in 2020 and 2021 on the current generation of consoles.
“The nostalgia is obvious, and with our game coming out, the nostalgia for that is very strong,” says Hawk in a one-on-one interview.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time. The first game was released in 1999 at a time when extreme sports was just starting to become a mainstream genre. The game’s release came just months after Hawk landed the first-ever 900 at X Games V.
The original series generated over $1.4 billion in sales, with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 being the best-selling game of the franchise with over two million copies in the United States alone.
The new edition will feature all of the notable skaters from the original games — Bucky Lasek, Bob Burnquist, Chad Muska and Hawk himself — along with multiple new current skaters. The game will also feature skateboard legend Bam Margera, something that Hawk had to push tremendously for. Margera will be included as a secret skater in the re-release of the game.
While the game is very true to the original versions — Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 were released in 2001 and 2002 — Hawk mentions that the re-release will feature new added elements, including new maps and levels.
“Based on the success of our last remaster (1+2), I think it’ll be great,” says Hawk of the game’s re-release. “This one is more of a remake. We have some of the iconic levels from three and four, I think the ones that people most identify with. We also added some new maps and new levels, which I wanted to do.”
There will be several new skaters added to the original lineup, including Chloe Covell — youngest women’s street gold medalist in X Games history — Rayssa Neal, Yuto Horigome, Jamie Foy and Zion Wright. There’s a number of new international skaters in the game, which represents the growing popularity of extreme sports across the world.
Foy is considered the “best street skater” these days, according to Hawk. Meanwhile, Hawk calls the 26-year-old Wright a “machine.” The game will also feature new songs, with Hawk saying he didn’t want to repeat the old soundtrack. He also cites wanting to bring songs that resonates with the current generation.
“I’m excited to venture into new territory and give people a chance to skate and do combos in different areas in new areas,” says Hawk. “We’ve updated the skaters so they reflect the current roster of the people you see either competing or in Thrasher Magazine, while still honoring the original characters.”
Skateboarding debuted at the Olympics in 2020 and Hawk points towards that as a major reason for the international growth of the sport.
“With the Olympics inclusion, that has helped to open eyes to skating in other countries that maybe hadn’t embraced it or considered it before,” says Hawk. “I feel like the international growth is even bigger. If you look at the top competitors now, so many are from Japan, from Australia, from Brazil, and that element is growing.”
A total of 80 skateboarders participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics from 25 different countries. Japan won the most medals (five, three gold) with Brazil pulling in three total medals. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 features Horigome (who won gold in the men’s street competition) and Brazilian skater Rayssa Leal, who won silver in the women’s street competition.
“Obviously, the United States is still doing well, but I feel like it has become much more international,” says Hawk. “I’m thankful for that, because it gives kids a chance to try it wherever they are.”
Tony Hawk Partnering With Tony The Tiger For Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
In collaboration with the re-release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Hawk is partnering with an old friend of his — none other than popular cereal character Tony The Tiger. For those that aren’t familiar, Hawk was Tony The Tiger’s stunt double in 1990 for a commercial.
“I’ve been a fan of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes since I could choose my own breakfast,” says Hawk. “But I got to work on a commercial in 1990 where I was the stunt double for Tony The Tiger. It’s the early days of animating things over actual video. It was a little archaic, but I think it looked great. I had to wear a skin tight suit.”
Tony Hawk and Tony The Tiger for Kellogg’s collaboration with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.
Kellogg’s
While Hawk is a mega star and has been over the past quarter century, that wasn’t the case in the early 90’s. This preceded the debut of the X Games and Hawk hitting the innovative 900 move. It also preceded the release of his popular video game series by nearly a decade.
The 57-year-old says he was just thankful to get work at that time, considering vert skaters didn’t receive much recognition in the early 90’s.
“My friend Chris Miller was the main character in the commercial, so I ended up filming him as well,” Hawk details. “I was the cameraman, and I was Tony The Tiger in that commercial. At the time, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for skateboarders, especially vertical half-pipe skateboarders, so I was thankful to get a job, to be honest.”
Tony Hawk and Tony The Tiger will be partnering up for a collaboration in time for Tony Hawk’s Pro … More Skater 3 + 4.
Kellogg’s
The two Tony’s will be teaming up again at the Vert Alert Legends Demo in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Here we are 35 years later, and we’ve incorporated Tony the Tiger into the game with some of the merch,” says Hawk. “I got to hang out with him on my ramp a couple weeks ago, and he is coming to our big event in Salt Lake City, the Vert Alert on July 18 and 19th. He’ll actually be there in person. It’s beyond any dream I would have had, because I didn’t imagine I’d even get to be a pro skater into my old age.”
Limited edition skateboards will be released to five fans, including autographed merchandise at the Vert Alert Legends Demo.
“To bring those two elements together for me is an amazing collaboration,” says Hawk of teaming up with Tony The Tiger again. “We’ll be doing some giveaways with some prize packs, Tony the Tiger skateboards, limited edition Frosted Flakes boxes. I’m doing some social media stuff with Tony. It’s a meeting of the Tonys, which has been pretty cool. We actually created our own handshake.”
Tamron has announced the 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 zoom lens for both Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount, completing its second generation trinity — the “Daisangen” as Tamron calls it — as the new lens joins the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 and 70-180mm f/2.8 G2 telephoto zooms.
Daisangen is a term that originated from the game of mahjong, Tamron explains, and refers to a winning hand made by collecting three sets of dragon tiles.
“Drawing from this concept, the photography industry uses the term “daisangen lenses” in Japan to describe a set of three zoom lenses—a wide-angle, a standard, and a telephoto—all featuring a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout their zoom range,” Tamron says.
This third lens in its trifecta of G2 optics builds upon what Tamron calls the success of the “highly acclaimed” 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046). The 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 expands the zoom range but maintains a compact form factor and lightweight design along with maintaining the company’s promise of exceptional image quality. Tamron also says that the lens features improved autofocus performance which contributes to overall better operability.
Tamron also says that from a design perspective, it improved the ergonomic design of the body and made the lens with an “enhanced” exterior surface. The lens also comes with the promise of exceptional optical performance along with beautiful bokeh.
The Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 features a construction of 16 elements arranged into 12 groups, although the company does not note the inclusion or number of any special glass elements or coatings in that formula. It has an aperture range of f/2.8 through f/16 — an unusually tight aperture range, especially for a zoom lens — via a nine-bladed diaphragm. The lens has a minimum object distance of 7.5 inches at the wide end and 11.8 inches at the telephoto end. It measures four inches long on Sony E-mount and is a slightly longer 4.1 inches on Nikon Z-mount. Similarly, the lens weighs 440 grams for Sony cameras and is slightly heavier 450 grams for Nikon cameras.
Tamron says the lens has a moisture-resistant construction, a fluorine coating on the front element, and the 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 also has a common 67mm front filter thread. It is also, of course, compatible with Tamron’s Lens Utility software.
Below are a few sample photos taken with the new lens, courtesy of Tamron:
The 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 zoom lens will be available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts for $929. The Sony E-mount version will be available on July 31 and the Nikon Z mount on August 22.
Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection (Teledyne GFD) is unveiling its PS DUO, a portable dual-gas detector set to enhance personal safety in gas monitoring applications.
This innovative handheld device features real-time monitoring with audible, visual (bright LED) and vibrating alarms, providing immediate alerts when gas levels exceed safety thresholds.
The new PS DUO uses passive diffusion sensing for the continuous detection of harmful gases in potentially hazardous environments, enhancing safety for personnel. It can monitor two gases simultaneously from a wide selection that includes carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H?S), sulphur dioxide (SO?), ammonia (NH?), oxygen (O?), hydrogen (H?), nitrogen dioxide (NO?) and ozone (O?).
Users of the ATEX/IECEx-rated PS DUO can select flexible gas pairings according to their specific application. The result? Enhanced safety, flexibility and peace of mind in the field, backed by a 2-year warranty.
For applications in regions such as the Middle East, H?S/ SO? capability will prove especially useful. The PS DUO offers a measuring range for H?S of 0~100 ppm with 0.1 ppm resolution, while 10 ppm and 15 ppm represent the low alarm and high alarm respectively. For SO?, users can take advantage of 0~20 ppm measuring range, 0.1 ppm resolution, 2 ppm low alarm and 5 ppm high alarm.
The LCD display provides continuous real-time gas concentration information, while the internal memory supports up to 30 alarm logs. Wireless connectivity allows seamless data retrieval and safety system integration.
Of particular note is the instrument’s rugged, IP67-rated rubberised enclosure, which combines with an ergonomic, compact (56 x 89 x 21mm) and lightweight (200g) design for optimal user comfort, convenience and safety. The PS DUO will operate for up to 2 years on a single replaceable battery under normal use.
“With its reliable performance, flexible gas pairings and wireless integration, our PS DUO offers a powerful new option for industrial safety programmes – backed by Teledyne’s global service and support,” states Pawel KULIK, Product Manager-Portables, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection. “It adds to an existing and highly successful range of personal safety and gas monitoring solutions that includes our portable Protégé ZM and PS200.”
Available in O2, CO, H2S and SO2 models, the easy-to-use Protégé ZM (Zero Maintenance) single-gas monitor delivers high performance in a small, ergonomically designed package. Offering proven reliability in the field, industrial workers and first responders gain the confidence to focus on the task at hand, not on their equipment.
Teledyne GFD’s PS200 four-gas compliance monitor is compact, lightweight, water resistant and extremely robust. This user-friendly device is a proven performer in hazardous locations with its ability to measure any combination of LEL (Lower Explosive Limit), O?, CO and H?S. The PS200 pumped gas detector features an internal sampling pump for optimal use in confined space applications.
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If you’re in the market for a premium ereader, then I can’t recommend the latest edition of the Kindle Scribe highly enough. Sure, it’s an expensive epaper tablet, but if you can pick it up at a discounted price, there’s really nothing quite like it out there.
And a week before Prime Day 2025 officially kicks off, Amazon AU has already produced the best Kindle deal yet – dropping the price of the Scribe by up to 31%. I say ‘up to’ because each variant has a different percentage off, with the best offer being on the 16GB Tungsten colourway that’s now available for AU$449.
This offer is also available for New Zealand shoppers too, bringing the price down to NZ$469.41 with free shipping.
That’s still a lot of money for the Kindle Scribe, but some shoppers might be able to save an additional AU$10 / NZ$10 if they use an “eligible” Citi or NAB card (the list is provided in the Terms via the product listing) and apply the code CARD10 at checkout.
I’ve been using the Kindle Scribe since the 2022 edition launched, then upgraded to the 2024 version soon after it was released in Australia in December last year. I love it!
My favourite feature is the ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts screen brightness depending on the light conditions where you’re reading. So it’s perfect indoors and out, in daylight or at night. Your eyes will thank you for it.
While it’s mainly an ereader, it’s one of the best screen and stylus combinations I’ve had the pleasure of using. Writing on the Kindle Scribe’s screen in the best there is of any epaper tablet I’ve tested – and I’ve tested a fair few of those, from the Kobo Elipsa 2E to the reMarkable 2 and even several models from Onyx Boox.
It’s one of the few E Ink writing tablets that has native MS Word support. And then there are the AI writing features – one to decipher your scribbles and convert them to text, the other to summarise the notes in a Notebook. Both work a charm – I use the latter a lot!
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
I admit that holding a 10-inch ereader isn’t the most ergonomic thing to do as a reader, but if you can spare the change for its official folding case, you won’t even need to hold it. I keep it propped up beside me in bed and read lying down on my side… yeah, that sounds weird now that I’ve written it out, but hey, I fall asleep easily enough while reading and Scribe goes into Sleep Mode in 30 minutes if there’s no activity. Look, mum, no hands!
And if you want to jot notes in ebooks you’re reading, you can do that now as well. There are two ways to do so – little boxes called Active Canvas and a Side Panel Margin (yes, that’s what it’s called, how original!) for longer notes.
The 2024 Kindle Scribe is my pick of the best premium ereader for good reason – Amazon has done well with this epaper writing tablet. My only complaint is that none of the Kindles now support Audible playback in Australia.
If that doesn’t bother you, then grab the Scribe now – available in two colour options and three storage variants, all of which are discounted to their best prices yet. I don’t think it’s going to get any cheaper when Amazon Prime Day 2025 kicks off on July 8.
Capcom is embracing more crossover potential and going full K-pop in Street Fighter 6, launching a massive collab with the girl group æspa to bring new looks and content to the game and, more specifically, Juri.
That’s right, SF6 is getting its first official collab costume that isn’t for the player characters, with Juri getting a K-pop redesign inspired by æspa. The rest of the game will receive content tied to the idol group too, ranging from new visual effects and cosmetics all the way to one of the æspa girls becoming a commentator.
The Street Fighter 6 x æspa collab will start on July 4, 2025 and run for a full year. That means most of the crossover content will be available to purchase in the in-game shop or unlock via other means until July 3, 2026.
Specifics on how players can unlock the special Juri Outfit 4 look inspired by the K-pop group and its virtual idol naevis will be shared once the event goes live, though Capcom does note event content will be featured in the in-game shop for the duration of the collab.
On top of Juri getting an actual collab costume, the æspa and nævis collaboration goes way beyond just one design and an alternate color.
For starters, the Battle Hub will get an æspa makeover for the event, bringing the girls and themed designs to the online world of SF6. Additional Special Titles, phone backgrounds, and photo frames to use with your player character featuring æspa will also be available.
Street Fighter 6 x aespa Special Collab with naevis
✨ Presenting Juri’s Collaboration Outfit ✨ As a bonus with the collab outfit, get a Kpop-style remix of Juri’s theme and aespa inspired visual effects that play before matches!#SF6×aespa #SF6×naevis pic.twitter.com/yEprPiDFQF
Players who grab Juri’s æspa outfit will also unlock a K-pop remix of her theme and special visual effects that will automatically be applied when using the costume in matches.
If that wasn’t enough, naevis, the virtual idol tied to æspa, will also be added to the game as a new real-time commentator
Related Article: Full Street Fighter 6 Season 3 DLC Roster Revealed At Summer Games Fest
Street Fighter 6 has rolled out multiple collabs with other brands, including anime, creators, and events in the past, but most of them have been limited to smaller cosmetics or costumes available for player characters to use in customization. The æspa collab could potentially lead to bigger, and more in-depth content that players have been asking for when it comes to these crossovers.
Juri getting a brand new costume styled after æspa is a first for SF6, and might be a sign that Capcom is ready to bring more brands in to actually provide outfits for the main roster. Much like all of the Capcom crossover costumes featured in previous games like Street Fighter V, this could simply mean we see Monster Hunter and Resident Evil collabs with actual costumes, or the doors get completely blown open with third-party designs as well.
Street Fighter just recently had its crossover skins with Fortnite pop back up in the shop and a massive Overwatch 2 collab, while Monster Hunter Wilds has an ongoing Street Fighter event available for players to complete. This larger K-pop collab is a great first step for Capcom broadening what kind of content SF6 will offer in future events,, while also appealing to new users in a unique way.
The SteamOS 3.7.13 update fixes WiFi issues on the Steam Deck OLED for a better gameplay experience.
Patch focuses on bug fixes for input issues, visual corruption, cursor, and power button detection.
A comprehensive changelog includes audio fixes, accessibility improvements, and additional platform support.
The Steam Deck OLED is a great way to play your games on the go, which is why it’s important for it to have a strong and stable WiFi connection. I mean, sure, you can install a USB Ethernet port on it, but if you want to, say, play it online at a cafe, you’re very much dependent on the Steam Deck’s WiFi capabilities.
Unfortunately, the Steam Deck OLED’s WiFi capabilities can be a little bit spotty, which can get really annoying when you want to play it on the go. Well, here’s some good news for you: Steam has just released a new version of SteamOS, and tucked away within its patch notes is a fix for the Steam Deck OLED’s WiFi issues.
Related
I already installed SteamOS on the Asus ROG Ally X, and I regret it
This needs a little longer in the oven..
The SteamOS 3.7.13 update fixes a ton of annoying issues
On the Steam Community website, Valve breaks down what’s new in SteamOS 3.7.13. By the looks of things, the main focus of this update, titled “Out Exploring,” is squashing lots of infuriating bugs. As such, if SteamOS has been acting strangely for you lately, it’s worth taking a peek at the changelog and seeing if your issue got squashed already.
Perhaps the most welcome change is the removal of WiFi regression on the Steam Deck OLED. People have reported spotty performance with WiFi on the OLED model lately, and before now, the best advice people could give was to install the beta version with the fix on it. Now, there’s no need to leave the release channel; just update your Steam Deck and you’re good to go.
There are also some fixes for input issues on the Asus ROG Ally, a line of visual corruption on the cursor, and SteamOS hanging on Strix Point devices. So yes, a ton of annoying issues have now bit the dust. There’s also a nice change that allows for better power button detection on third-party devices like Ayaneo and OneXPlayer systems. Nice one, Valve.
Here’s the full changelog:
Fixed a case where the battery level indicator could become stuck
Fixed VRR frame pacing with the performance overlay on screen
Fixed game stuttering when using the volume keys
Fixed Legion Go S joystick lights turning off upon entering desktop mode
Fixed controller input occasionally disappearing on the Asus ROG Ally
Fixed grip buttons not registering on the Asus ROG Ally
Fixed a hang on boot on Strix Point platforms
Fixed a WiFi regression with Steam Deck OLED
Disabled experimental support for Wake-on-Bluetooth for Steam Deck LCD while issues with spurious wake-ups are being investigated
Fixed a bug where visual corruption could occur with Sharp upscaling with HDR/10-bit applications when interacting with the overlay
Fixed an issue where the cursor would not be visible in the bottom-right quadrant of the screen when using the magnifier
Fixed cursor having a line of visual corruption when using Sharp upscaling in certain instances
Fixed certain overlay key bindings involving Shift, the Super key, Right Alt, or Return/Enter not being able to be triggered
Fixed input being passed to applications when overlay key bindings are invoked
Fixed OBS Studio not working with the streaming output provided by gamescope
Fixed an issue where clicking mailto: links sometimes didn’t display the right error
Fixed an issue where volume keys would sometimes not properly adjust the volume of the 3.5mm audio connector
Fixed a SteamOS 3.6 regression causing audio glitches in God of War: Ragnarok
Added support for optional color filters
Added Orca screen reader and espeak-ng text-to-speech tools
Fixed the magnifier producing an incorrect scale and offset when Sharp upscaling was used
Fixed an issue where the Legion Go S with SteamOS could lose trackpad functionality after sleep
Added power button support for some AYANEO, AYN, GPD, MSI, ONEXPLAYER, and OrangePi platforms
Midjourney was my first real text-to-image AI tool experience starting back in 2022. I’ve watched it evolve as the industry swelled with competition and lots of other image, animation and video tools popping up almost weekly since. By January 2023, the tools started to evolve to a place where they made us sit up and take notice, as I outlined in my first AI Tools article, AI Tools Part 1: Why We Need Them.
But after years of progress and lots of testing, Midjourney has now raised the bar yet again, with the introduction of their new video tool, and I’m pleasantly surprised at what it can do so quickly and sensibly. Here’s what I’ve explored so far…
Frame from Noir style short clip created in Midjourney Video
Midjourney Animate
Midjourney announced the new video animation feature and the output is quite impressive!
I’ve been using a lot of different animation and video generation tools the past few years, as you may know if you’ve been following my AI Tools series here on ProVideo. But this is the most seamless and quickest workflow I’ve yet to engage with.
Most generators require a starting image – like a keyframe if you will. I almost always start with an image I’ve generated in Midjourney and then gone to another tool to animate it. (You can see my last article, AI Tools: Generative AI for Video & Animation Updates for more examples of the workflow). But now in Midjourney, you can either generate a new image as your source, or start with your own photo.
First – the details and specs…
Currently, everyone with an account can access the Animate option, but only the Pro and Mega plans can use the Relax mode, and videos consume 8x more time to process than images, but it does provide you with 4 variations to choose from in each round.
Video Output Sizes & Formats
Note that the maximum resolution at the moment is 480p (832×464) and the sizes vary depending on aspect ratio of course.
You can export your video in a compressed MP4 for social use, or a larger RAW MP4 H.264 version (still compressed but less) and animated GIF. You can link to the completed video’s URL as it stays in the cloud in your account.
This is the Codec data from a “RAW” files downloaded from Midjourney:
Midjourney Video Test Drive
Of course I had to dive in and absorb all I could with this new feature and I spent a couple days running it through the paces.
Starting off, I tried using some simple prompts for various news reporters to be used as B-roll. (I’d use something like this in a pinch to put on a screen in a shot that simulated a newscast on TV, for instance). The quality is good enough for the scale it provides (480p) but in no way intended for full-screen in this initial roll-out.
My first step was to get some figures to animate. I entered short prompt descriptions for Midjourney to generate some examples. It’s funny what AI thinks about ages at times. And some of the results are just so wrong they’re HILARIOUS!
After selecting the subject I wanted for each shot, I let Midjourney decide on the motion with the Auto Animate option. Each pass provides you with four different videos to choose from so you can extend out many options.
I created this video to show you the selections and results for each subject.
I did the same with these other examples from ChatGPT prompts and explain the process for each example.
(Note: the VO says 840p when I know damn well it’s 480p! Linguistically dyslexic I guess!)
Photo to video
Testing out the photo to video feature in Midjourney, I used an old image of my 80’s hair rock & roll days. So much hair product back then!
I uploaded the photo as the first frame and I let Midjourney do the work from there. I extended it just once more to make about an 8 second clip. I exported it as an animated GIF (not JIF) since there isn’t any audio. If only I was really that cool on stage!
Using Midjourney for Storyboarding and Previz
Currently, I see Midjourney as a tool for creativity and helping you bring your ideas to life. Not necessarily as an end product, but to realize how the written word can be visualized on the screen.
This could be an amazing tool for screenwriters trying to sell a treatment, or for storyboarding scenes and shots for locations, sets, lighting and blocking.
I created a short scene completely with AI tools in just a few steps – with two different variations to show how seamlessly Midjourney responds to prompts and extensions.
I started with ChatGPT asking for ideas for projects to do and this was one of the results I followed.
I was happy with the resulting images so I went with one I liked and decided to build a story around what the character ended up doing with my extended prompts.
I must say, this was one of the most satisfying and creative projects in an intuitive workflow that I’ve done in years. And it really only took a few hours from start to finish, because I had no preconceived idea what it was going to be – and I was going to let the AI Tools be my partners as my writers, actors, sound FX, staging and camera ops. I really felt like a director of sorts.
Each render pass provides 4 different variations based on the first frame (or continues from the last pass with each extension up to 4x). It’s very subjective to decide what take you want to use, but that’s part of the storytelling aspect. In my case, I started with the ChatGPT original prompt and then instructed the action to the end of the prompt with instructions.
Each pass I would add a new instruction or direction. Mostly the camera moves and angles were determined by Midjourney but those can be directed more closely as well. However, it doesn’t always follow instructions for action, but you can often fool it by rewording instructions. Sometimes though, the mistakes can actually change the story and you follow a different rabbit down the hole.
I’m including a few GIFs below showing the order of the process and the subsequent renders for each prompt instruction, and decision I made from those render result to continue on building my scene.
Prompt (with selected start image): film noir style, trench coat detective under a streetlamp in heavy rain, black and white with subtle color tint, glistening cobblestone, intense contrast, 1950s urban alley setting, moody and mysterious, he’s holding a lit cigarette and looks around like he’s waiting on someone
Prompt change/addition: he starts to cross the street while the camera follows his movement and he flicks the cigarette down on the street. (He didn’t cross the street but I went with it)
Prompt change/addition: a woman appears from the shadows on the right and runs up to him urgently. (more like a slow saunter, but it works)
Prompt change/addition: the couple kisses and embrace.
You’ll have to watch the video below to see what Variation 2 ended like!
So I needed to add sound to this short scene and I needed a voice over to narrate in an appropriate tone and voice.
I started with ChatGPT again and my AI script writing partner and I came up with some good lines. (You’ll hear both versions in the video below).
I used the script text in ElevenLabs using their new v3 Alpha model for a more natural speech delivery and I found a great voice that really fit the time period.
I also used ElevenLabs to produce my sound FX and music bed.
Everything mixed easily in Adobe Premiere Pro in just minutes. And here’s the result(s)
For more detailed info about Midjourney video options and usage instructions, visit their website.
