Category: 4. Technology

Finding a Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t been easy since its launch on June 5th, with sporadic availability over the past few weeks at various retailers. Luckily, if you’ve missed chances to pick one up, Best Buy will have more stock at its retail stores across the US starting tomorrow, July 1st. The Verge has reached out to Best Buy as to whether locations will primarily stock the standalone system ($449.99), the console bundle $499.99) that comes with Mario Kart World, or both. We’ll update this post if we hear back. To see a list of participating locations, head on over to Best Buy’s Switch 2 landing page.

While you’ll have to physically go to a Best Buy for a Switch 2, the good news is you won’t have to deal with an online queue or a potentially finicky checkout process. Despite stock being hard to come by in its first month of availability, the Switch 2 has already become the fastest-selling console of all time, surpassing 3.5 million units sold in its first four days. The handheld’s 7.9-inch 1080p LCD display (up from the Switch’s 6.2-inch 720p screen), magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and improved performance make it a solid upgrade over its predecessor. Or, as The Verge’s Andrew Webster referred to it in his Switch 2 review, “exactly good enough.”

Your Google Calendar is moving to your Apple Watch, thanks to a new update spotted by 9to5Google on Monday. 

The Apple Watch has few Google applications, but a new Google Calendar update, version 25.24.1, is bringing another one to Apple’s smartwatch. 

Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a major upgrade. The best features coming to WatchOS 26

Google Calendar is one of four Google-owned apps available through Apple Watch, along with Google Keep, Google Maps, and YouTube Music. 

The application displays a week’s worth of events and Google Tasks in a list view, with each event or task getting a color-coded card. Users can see the date, time, and event through this view, and not much else. This is in contrast to Apple’s native calendar app, which provides views of both week and month events. 

However, according to 9to5Google, users won’t be able to create new events or set reminders from the Apple Watch app. 

New complications — that is, the app information displayed on the Apple Watch’s face — include “What’s next” and “Today’s date,” easily available to view. The former displays as a circle or rectangle and includes the next event on the calendar. It’s also available as a Smart Stack widget. The latter displays the day and date. 

Also: One of the best smartwatches I’ve tested is not made by Samsung or Google 

The functionalities available with Google Calendar’s emergence on the Apple Watch are fairly simple. When a user taps into an event, Google Calendar prompts them to view more on their phone. I see this as a helpful Smart Stack widget addition for people who want to view their daily or weekly calendars quickly. 

Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Whether you’re a content creator needing a dedicated drive for raw and rendered video files, a PC gamer with an extensive library of digital titles, or just want plenty of space for backing up your personal computer, it’s hard to go wrong with a portable SSD. And right now at Amazon, you can snag the 8TB Crucial X10 portable SSD for 48% off, bringing the price to just $290 and making it a more affordable, high-capacity option.

Also: The best early Amazon Prime Day 2025 laptop deals live now

Along with high-capacity storage, you’ll get fast read and write speeds: up to 2100 MB/s, which makes the Crucial X10 perfect for transferring large files like digital games, raw and rendered video, and work projects. It also features plug-and-play compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even game consoles like the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. 

Read the review: Finally, a portable SSD that’s durable enough to travel outdoors with me

The SSD is also protected by a rugged, water and dust-resistant case to help prevent damage and data loss or corruption. With the rugged case, the Crucial X10 can withstand drops from almost 10 feet high and the occasional coffee or water spill on your desk. And with support for both Thunderbolt 4 and USB 3.2, you’ll have flexible connectivity options for integrating the 6TB Crucial X10 portable SSD into your workstation or PC gaming setup. 

ZDNET’s resident rugged tech and gadget expert, Adrian Kinglsey-Hughes, got to test out the Crucial X10 for himself and was impressed with just how durable this portable SSD is. As an avid outdoor photographer, Adrian needed a portable SSD that could handle everything from dust and grit to rain and shocks or drops, and he found just what he needed with the Crucial X10’s ruggedized case, integrated lanyard loop, and multiple storage sizes.

Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

How I rated this deal 

While not the steepest deal I’ve ever seen on a high-capacity portable SSD (the Samsung Evo T5 was almost 50% off around Christmas 2024), it’s still an incredible deal on a quality storage solution for gaming, content creation, and complex office projects. With read and write speeds up to 2100 MB/s, you can quickly transfer and back up large files. That’s why I gave it a 4/5 Editor’s deal rating.

Towards the end of each month, Microsoft publishes a roundup of the features that it added to some of its popular software in the previous four weeks. We have already talked about the new capabilities introduced in Excel and Teams during the month of June 2025, and now, it’s time to talk about Microsoft 365 Copilot.

We’ll start off with admin-facing capabilities since there are only a few of them. For starters, the usage metrics for Copilot in the Copilot Analytics tool now have new prompt categories that give more insights as to how users are engaging with Copilot. This feature has just begun rolling out, but another enhancement to the usage metrics that is already available is dedicated statistics for intelligent meeting recaps. Finally, Microsoft 365 admins can now view and manage their inventory of agents and connectors and also have more granular control over costs and billing policies.

On the user side of things, we have intelligent assistance in Copilot Chat, powered by ContextIQ. This layer of intelligence can scope prompts to internal (SharePoint, OneDrive) and external data sources, find files in the chat, and proactively offer relevant suggestions as you type. In the same vein, the Copilot mobile app is being updated so you can talk to the AI in a natural manner using your voice. In addition, users can also get access to deep reasoning agents such as Researcher and Analyst for more complex and research-oriented needs. The Create experience in the app is also being updated with the ability to generate stories and branded templates.

Other interesting Copilot capabilities rolling out to Edge customers are the ability to prompt the AI through the search bar, access agents from within the browser, and take advantage of Copilot’s impressive text summarization capabilities. That’s not all though, other features in tow include:

• Enhancements to Copilot in Outlook: Schedule meetings through Copilot chat, summarization of email attachments, a new sidebar experience in the classic Outlook app, meeting preparation, and automated meeting invite creation
• Improved image generation and large file handling in Copilot Chat: More photorealistic image generation with better text depiction, ability to generate longer summaries from bigger files, and PDF scanning capabilities for insights
• Memory in Copilot: Copilot will now remember certain items from your conversation and you can modify or delete them
• Transferred calls summary with Copilot in Teams Phone: Generate a summary of a call and transfer it to a target
• New file extension for Copilot Pages: Copilot Pages will now have .page extension with an updated file icon
• Copilot Notebooks availability in OneNote: We already covered this in detail here
• Seamlessly add brand-approved images with Copilot in PowerPoint: Integration of Copilot with SharePoint Organization Asset Library (OAL) and Templafy asset libraries
• Explain formulas on the grid with Copilot in Excel: Self-explanatory, exactly what it says on the tin
• Expanded availability for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app: Availability of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Mac

You can read more details about each of the aforementioned features here.

Instagram announced Monday that it’s finally adding the ability for users to listen to previews of songs that they’ve shared from Spotify to Stories.

While Instagram has long allowed users to share Spotify songs to their Stories, it would do so without sound, and simply provide a link to the song on the streaming platform. Now, when a user posts a song to their Story, viewers will be able to listen to a preview of the song right within Instagram.

The small, yet notable change makes it easier to share and discover music on the platform without having to leave the app.

The move comes a few weeks after the social network rolled out a similar capability for Instagram Notes. Users can now stream songs from Spotify directly to their Instagram Notes, letting their followers see and check out what kind of music they’re into in real time.

The new capabilities could help position Instagram as a hub for music discovery and, in turn, encourage people to spend more time on the app. Building out music features could also make Instagram more competitive with TikTok, which is already dominating the space and influencing music charts globally.

Instagram also announced Monday it’s rolling out new fonts this year for Stories and Reels. To start, the platform is introducing a limited-time font inspired by singer and songwriter Rosalía’s handwriting.

Users can unlock secret symbols hand-drawn by Rosalía when typing in characters such as ” 🙂 “, ***,” and “<3,” Instagram says.

June 30, 2025 (Sonoma County, CA) — Bricoleur Vineyards, the acclaimed Sonoma County estate known for its exceptional, food-driven wines, is proud to announce a new partnership with SingleThread, the three-Michelin-Star restaurant and inn located in Healdsburg. Together, the two hospitality leaders have developed an exclusive private label Viognier sourced from Bricoleur’s prized Kick Ranch vineyard in the Fountaingrove District.

Now available by the glass and bottle at SingleThread—and offered as a special amenity to guests of the Inn—the wine reflects a shared commitment to craftsmanship, hospitality and Sonoma’s terroir-driven identity. 

“This collaboration is a testament to the quality and character of Bricoleur wines,” saidSarah Citron, Co-Founder and COO of Bricoleur Vineyards. “We’re honored that SingleThread—a restaurant known globally for its precision and creativity—selected our Viognier as a wine worthy of its cellar. It speaks to the integrity of the fruit and the expressive, food-friendly style that defines Bricoleur.” 

Grown on the slopes of Kick Ranch, where warm days and cool evenings yield optimal ripeness and balance, this Viognier reveals bright notes of white peach, apricot, and citrus zest, framed by floral undertones and a crisp, refreshing finish. Its aromatic elegance and versatility make it an ideal match for SingleThread’s evolving tasting menus, which showcase micro-seasonal produce grown just miles away on the restaurant’s own farm. 

Chris McFall, Wine Director at SingleThread, shared: “The addition of Bricoleur’s Kick Ranch Viognier reflects the intentionality behind every element of the SingleThread experience. It’s a beautifully expressive wine—elegant on its own and perfectly in sync with the seasonality and nuance of our cuisine.” 

A small reserve of the private label will remain available throughout the year and will be thoughtfully integrated into SingleThread’s pairings as seasonal menus evolve. For a boutique, family-owned winery still in its first decade, inclusion on one of the world’s most esteemed wine lists marks a defining moment for Bricoleur Vineyards and its rising influence in Sonoma County and beyond. 

To learn more about the Bricoleur Vineyards wine portfolio, visit www.bricoleurvineyards.com. To book a dining experience at SingleThread, visit https://singlethreadfarms.com/restaurant/.

About Bricoleur Vineyards 
Tucked away in an expansive, stunning estate amid Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Bricoleur Vineyards has gained acclaim for its exceptional wines designed for food pairing. Bricoleur’s award-winning winemaking team — Tom Pierson, Cary Gott & Bob Cabral — sources grapes from its two estate properties and select heritage vineyards in Sonoma County. Bricoleur’s allure lies in its incredible terroir that grows the best grapes, herbs, edible flowers, and produce imaginable. The 40-acre estate is home to a renowned culinary program, anchored by a wine-first philosophy and led by Executive Chef Todd Knoll and Senior Sous Chef Rebeca Robinson, whose estate-to-plate menus reflect the seasonality of the land and source ingredients from the winery’s internationally acclaimed culinary gardens. As a family-owned winery, Bricoleur is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, family-friendly environment (dogs are welcome too!) and hosts numerous events throughout the year that bring the community together. Rooted in community, Bricoleur is committed to supporting breast cancer research after co-founder Sarah Citron received a diagnosis at age 32 and has since raised over $100,000 for the cause. To learn more about Bricoleur Vineyards, visit bricoleurvineyards.com. 

About SingleThread 
The first and only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Sonoma County, a recipient of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ “Miele One to Watch” Award and ranked #46 on the 2024 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and La Liste’s rated #2 Best Restaurants in the world, SingleThread is a farm-driven restaurant and inn that offers a unique and authentic taste of the region and season. SingleThread was born out of Kyle and Katina Connaughton’s California upbringing, extensive international travels and experiences living and cooking abroad in world-renowned restaurants in the UK and Japan. Their philosophy is rooted in a wealth of Japanese principles and traditions surrounding hospitality, food culture and service while focusing on the seasons, their farm, the products of Sonoma, and the health and wellness of their guests. Together with SingleThread Co-Owner and CEO of Vertice Hospitality Management Tony Greenberg, their goal is to evoke an authentic experience of their Sonoma lifestyle which combines the art of sustainable agriculture with culinary excellence, fully integrating the farm into its hospitality spaces, with food sourcing and storytelling at the forefront.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

In our modern world driven by innovation, tech gifts are more than just trendy — they’re practical, exciting and transformative. It seems like everywhere we look these days, technology illuminates new possibilities for improving upon the status quo and broadening our horizons.

Whether you’re shopping for a gadget guru, a futuristic wellness enthusiast or a productivity fanatic, the right tech gift can strike the perfect balance between function and fun. Giftable tech runs the gamut, from mixed reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3S, fitness trackers like the Oura Ring 4 or gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2.

Check out the best tech to gift in 2025 below:

Starting at $299.99, the Meta Quest 3S is a headset designed for new users with its sleek design and intuitive controls to enter the Metaverse, an immersive and interactive shared virtual world. This makes this the perfect tech gift to give in 2025. The headset comes with two Touch Plus controllers and a free digital copy of the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” as well as a Meta Quest+ subscription for three months, which has a value of $23.97 (or $7.99/month) for free.

The Meta Quest 3S is the best way to enter the world of mixed reality, especially if you’re new to it, thanks to its ease of use, comfort and wide range of experiences. Learn more about Meta Quest 3S and Meta Quest+ here.

Giving the gift of an Oura Ring this year will be nothing short of life-changing. This one-of-a-kind device unlocks personalized insights into the wearer’s sleep, activity, stress, heart health and more, empowering users to prioritize wellness goals and build healthy habits that will last a lifetime. This model, Oura Ring 4, is the most accurate and comfortable version yet, letting users get seriously up close and personal with their health. If your goal for giving is to show someone how much you care about them (and their health), this gift is unbeatable.

With this new, smart Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock, say goodbye to grogginess and hello to restful sleep that will power a busy day. This device is designed to transform and customize a quality sleep routine, from soothing adjustable lighting and sleep sounds to sunrise alarms for gentler wake-ups and energized mornings. This is the ultimate tech gift for anyone who values quality rest, ensuring they wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day’s to-do list.

Know a music lover who might like to take their passion into their own hands? This Pioneer DJ deck is the perfect gift to get them started mastering a new craft – it’s easy to use and will help them play like a pro! The design of this 2-channel DJ controller emulates a professional DJM-S mixer + PLX turntable setup, including specialized features for both open-format and scratch DJs. This super fun gift will allow someone to cultivate a new hobby and channel their creativity, both invaluable pursuits of life.

Got games? The Nintendo Switch 2 is top-of-the-line when it comes to versatile gaming systems. It has 3 different gaming modes — connect it to a TV for an HD big-screen experience, stand it up on a flat surface to share the screen for multiplayer gaming or hold it in your hands with controllers attached to play solo from the LCD touchscreen. These options make the Nintendo Switch 2 the ultimate ‘play from anywhere’ device. Banish boredom and gift a Nintendo Switch 2 to your favorite Player.

The Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker (2nd Gen) is a gift everyone could use. With a big, bold sound in a packable size, this speaker will elevate the mood for any occasion in any location. Durable, waterproof, and dustproof, it’s made to survive the elements. Bring it to the beach, take it on a hike, or simply put it on the dining room table. This gift will keep the good tunes and good times flowing.

This award-winning Portable Monitor from Plugable is a must-have gift for someone who appreciates productivity on the go. Universally compatible with all Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices, this sleek monitor seamlessly adds extra screen space to elevate any professional setup. It’s easy to use, lightweight, and hassle-free (no driver downloads necessary); simply plug it in and get to work. Whether it’s used for remote work, travel, or multitasking, Plugable’s Portable Monitor makes the perfect companion for anyone who loves to stay efficient on the go.

was released six years ago this past Saturday. While Nintendo didn’t do a whole lot to mark the occasion, one of the game’s most dedicated players sure did. DSteves hit a remarkable milestone by becoming the first to clear 1 million SMM2 levels.

The Twitch and YouTube streamer had hoped to reach that point by the game’s sixth anniversary and got there toward the end of a . In fact, DSteves cleared 1,000 levels during that single stream.

After the 999,999th level clear, an emotional DSteves punched in the code for a custom level a player named raysfire created just for this occasion — you can try it yourself by entering the level ID QKQ-4TD-0DG. Since this is SMM2, of course there was some cheap (or should that be Cheep Cheep?) trolling from raysfire, such as a Question Block that dispensed an enemy instead of a power-up. DSteves died a couple of times while playing this level, including to Bowser fireballs that were disguised by a bunch of coins.

DSteves said on the stream it took six years and eight hours to beat 1 million SMM2 levels, and then toasted the achievement with some champagne. The vast majority of the level clears, nearly 800,000 of them, occurred in one Endless Challenge streak on Easy difficulty (just slightly more than my current streak of 581). So, DSteves didn’t exactly grind through several hundred thousand ultra-hard kaizo-style stages, but it’s still an impressive achievement.

To reach the goal, DSteves cleared an average of 456.4 levels per day. The streamer skipped more than 80,000 levels, died more than 772,000 times and hit the million mark with about 165,000 more stage clears than the player in second place (I love that SMM2 shows these stats publicly).

Despite hitting an astounding number of cleared levels, DSteves isn’t done with SMM2. The streamer was back to playing the game the following night and, at the time of writing, has now beaten 1,000,050 Super Mario Maker 2 stages.