Technology

We tend to think of Google Maps as a straight-up navigation tool, like a digital compass that gets us from point A to point B without getting hopelessly lost. But no, there's more you can use it for.

The last time we talked about YouTube Premium Lite, Google was putting more ads in front of subscribers, making it feel even less “Premium.” Thankfully, the latest update is doing the opposite, and some nice Premium features are trickling down.

I love trying out productivity apps, but it's not often that I come across new gems. One app that has impressed me with its diverse feature set has snuck its way into being my regular task manager. It replaced Todoist, and I'm not looking back.

Yellowstone fans looking for the next family drama from Taylor Sheridan won't have to wait much longer. The next show in Sheridan's growing empire at Paramount+ will be The Madison, a neo-Western starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.

Physical media is having a bit of a revival at the moment, and vinyl is getting a lot of attention with claims about its supposed superiority over digital audio. Music CDs, on the other hand, have received a more muted revival.

At this point, Punch the monkey no longer belongs to the zoo. He belongs to the internet.

The 7-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo first went viral for clinging to a stuffed animal after being abandoned by his mother. (She was just stressed out!) People projected onto him immediately — his loneliness, his resilience, his need for comfort. They rooted for him as if he were the Chosen One in a modern fantasy novel.

SEE ALSO: The internet is worried about Punch the monkey. The zoo says he's OK.

And like any good main character, people want updates. Lots of them. So we're here to provide them to you. For example, just look at this recent clip of Punch jumping into his enclosure:

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Concern for Punch reached such a fever pitch that even joking criticism of him hasn't gone over well. When comedian Jon Stewart mentioned Punch during a recent taping of The Daily Show, audience members booed at the mere suggestion of anything negative happening to the baby monkey. The moment was brief, but telling.

Despite his name, people don't want the little monkey to be a punchline. They want him to be safe. They want him to be happy. Mostly, they want him to be OK.

So, what is Punch doing now?

According to the most recent updates from visitors to the Ichikawa City Zoo, Punch is continuing to slowly integrate with the other macaques.

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He still carries his stuffed animal — his emotional support orangutan from IKEA and the object that made him famous — but he's also spending more time exploring his enclosure and interacting with other monkeys. He's even found himself a bit of a bodyguard within the enclosure.

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According to a Feb. 23 update from one of his keepers, Punch has been having a lot more fun with the other baby monkeys in the enclosure.

"From what I could see, there were no scenes of him being scolded, and he was observed playing with the other baby monkeys," the keeper wrote on the zoo's official X account. "During mealtime, he came down from the keeper’s foot on his own and started eating by himself. He continues to do well."

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That last detail is especially significant. For the first five months of his life, Punch was hand-raised by zoo staff, forming a close bond with the keepers who fed and cared for him. During meals, he often clung to them for comfort instead of eating alongside the other monkeys. Now, he's starting to let go.

Choosing to eat on his own may seem like a small step. But for Punch, it's a sign of something much bigger: independence. A growing confidence. Proof that he's slowly learning how to be a monkey among other monkeys.

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There are other small but meaningful signs of progress, too. In recent videos shared by zoogoers, Punch can be seen learning to groom by observing a larger monkey carefully picking through another's fur and mimicking the social behavior that helps macaques bond with one another.

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In another clip, Punch wobbles forward on two legs, a stick in hand. The posture is tentative, almost childlike. And it's really adorable.

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He's also learned to open doors — a fantastic new skill.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How can you help Punch?

The outpouring of concern for Punch has been so intense that people have begun asking how they can help or donate directly to Ichikawa City Zoo.

In a recent post on its official social media accounts, the zoo said it has received "a large number of inquiries" about sending money or goods to support Punch and the zoo. Details about an official donation system will be announced soon, the zoo said.

But officials also issued a clear warning: any fundraising efforts not announced through the zoo's official channels are not authorized.

SEE ALSO: Punch the monkey's emotional support plushie is from IKEA. Buy it before it sells out.

"Apart from the announcements made here, the various support activities for our zoo or Punch that are currently being called for in different forms are not officially endorsed,” the zoo wrote. “Please be aware that we cannot take responsibility for any troubles that may arise."

Punch's story has become so global that the zoo says it's now receiving a surge of phone calls from overseas. Staff noted they're unable to respond to inquiries in languages other than Japanese, a sign of just how far concern for the tiny macaque and his Oran Mama plushie has spread.

So, TL;DR — Don't harass the zoo. Punch is doing OK. You can all exhale now.

TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle vs. Qarabag in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first legs of the Champions League playoff round delivered drama, entertainment, and bags of goals.

Newcastle United scored six in their first-leg victory over Qarabag. Their place in the first knockout round is all but guaranteed, but they'll still want to deliver a confident performance at St James' Park. Qarabag will be looking to defend their honor in this second-leg clash. Expect an improved performance from the Azerbaijan Premier League champions.

If you want to watch Newcastle vs. Qarabag in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Newcastle vs. Qarabag?

Newcastle vs. Qarabag in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Feb. 24. This fixture takes place at St James' Park.

How to watch Newcastle vs. Qarabag for free

Newcastle vs. Qarabag is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Newcastle vs. Qarabag for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Newcastle vs. Qarabag for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Newcastle vs. Qarabag without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Newcastle vs. Qarabag in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE UP TO 30%: Through Feb. 26, Southwest promo code ONBOARD saves you up to 30% on select base fares for Southwest flights to the continental U.S. and inter-island HI between April 7 and May 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Southwest Southwest sale: Up to 30% off base fares   Get Deal

A ray of hope for the northeast U.S. population who has really had enough of the snow, thank you: Through Feb. 26, Southwest plane tickets are up to 30% off for travel this spring break season. Of course, you don't have to be flying from (or flying to) the blizzard zone to take advantage of this Southwest sale — the deal applies to the whole continental U.S. and inter-island Hawaii. Use code ONBOARD to see flight discounts for travel between April 7 and May 20, 2026.

Yes, Southwest makes you pay for bags now. But you could end up saving enough on roundtrip tickets that it ends up covering the $35 each way you would have paid for luggage. Once you plug your destination in and enter code ONBOARD, you can use Southwest's Low Fare Calendar to get an overview of daily fares for a two-month window. The lowest fares will appear crossed out with the new discounted cost. In my own personal research (Philly to Orlando or Philly to Las Vegas), I'm seeing a ton of flights for $40 off each way on multiple days of the week.

Geely might not be a household name yet, but you’ve almost certainly come across its work. The group sits behind brands like Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, and now it’s bringing its own badge to Europe.

Home Assistant has slowly expanded its 'Works with Home Assistant' program, adding more companies that pledge to keep their smart home devices compatible with Home Assistant. Today, another manufacturer is joining the party: Heiman.

iSO 26.4 beta 2 has launched for developers, and there's plenty to test out.

For those early adopters out there, we've already gotten a look at new features and other changes.

Here are a few things to keep an eye out for.

RCS encryption with Android devices

Apple has added encryption for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices, which is a big development for security-minded users.

Wrote Apple in its release notes:

"In this beta, RCS end-to-end encryption will become available for testing between Apple and Android devices. This feature is not shipping in this release and will be available to customers in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26 releases. End-to-end encryption is in beta and is not available for all devices or carriers. Conversations labeled as encrypted are encrypted end-to-end, so messages can’t be read while they’re sent between devices."

Reduce highlighting effects

As Apple-focused site 9to5Mac spotted, the new beta adds a feature where users can reduce the highlighting effect on the edges of buttons and sliders. This is an accessibility feature.

Home screen editing

The edit menu for the Home Screen — where you can add a widget, customize your wallpaper, and do other tasks — uses even more transparent Liquid Glass, MacRumors spotted.

How to try the new iOS 26.4 beta 2

If you're subscribed to the Apple Beta Software Program, then you can find the new beta in Settings > General > Software Updates. As per usual, you should back up your device before switching to a beta OS. You can also read the full release notes at the Apple Developer portal.

And don't forget that we're expecting big developments from Apple in the coming week. The company has an event scheduled for March 4, and we're expecting announcements related to iOS and new devices.

It's a familiar situation for every Excel user: you open the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager and discover that the neat little rule you created has somehow multiplied into dozens—or even hundreds—of fragmented copies. The formatting that once worked now behaves unpredictably.

Google constantly updates its core Android apps with new features, especially Google Messages. Throughout 2025, it received an onslaught of new goodies, like better RCS support, and now we're about to get another long-outstanding feature to help it compete with iMessage and others.

I switched from sitting in front of my laptop all day to a sit-stand desk about four months ago, and I’m a changed man. I knew a sit-stand desk was better than sitting all day, but I didn’t realize how much it would positively affect my overall comfort and concentration.

SAVE $16: As of Feb. 24, you can sign up for the Starz Prime Video add-on streaming subscription for just $2.99 per month for two months. Usually $10.99 per month, that saves you $16 total.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz (Prime Video add-on) $2.99/month for 2 months (save $8/month) Get Deal

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Starz is one of the most slept on streaming services. It may not be the first streamer you think of (or even the second), but it deserves a spot in your lineup. And the best part is it won't cost you an arm and a leg like other subscriptions.

As of Feb. 24, you can get a taste of what Starz has to offer by signing up for the Starz Prime Video add-on for just $2.99 per month for two months. It's usually a $10.99 per month subscription, so you'll save about $16 on two months of streaming. Of course, you'll have to be a Prime member or a Prime Video subscriber in order to get the add-on. Not yet a subscriber? You can get your first 30 days for free.

What can you watch on Starz? Well, it's the first stop Lionsgate theatrical releases make in the streaming circuit. That means it's where you'll be able to stream The Housemaid and Greenland 2: Migration in the coming months. Other recent additions include The Long Walk and The Strangers: Chapter 2. The streamer also has its own original series we think are worth a watch, like the female serial killer comedy Sweetpea and the TV adaptation of Lisa Taddeo's book Three Women.

Streaming deals are pretty hard to come by (unless it's a major shopping holiday), so the ability to score two months of streaming for less than $6 is pretty epic.

In some online forums, you might've come across a piece of advice—if your hard drive is damaged, maybe swapping the PCB with a working drive's PCB will fix it.

SAVE $326: As of Feb. 24, get the LG Ultragear 27-Inch QHD OLED Gaming Monitor for $473.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799.99. That's a discount of 41%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LG Ultragear 27-Inch QHD OLED Gaming Monitor $473.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $326   Get Deal

Ready to invest in a new gaming monitor? Now's the best time to do so, especially with a model like this LG Ultragear available at such a great price. You can get this high-refresh OLED display that'll get you good and ready for games like Resident Evil Requiem and beyond for a significant discount today.

As of Feb. 24, get the LG Ultragear 27-Inch QHD OLED Gaming Monitor for $473.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799.99. That's $326 off and a discount of 41%.

SEE ALSO: Get a 57-inch 4K Samsung gaming monitor for its best-ever price at Amazon — includes a free copy of 'Resident Evil Requiem'

This monitor boasts a 2560x1440 QHD resolution OLED panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It also has deep levels of black shades as well as bright, eye-popping colors and crisp contrast to give anything you play a polished visual upgrade. It's great for handling just about any variety of game, or you can use it solely for desktop work.

It has a 250Hz refresh rate and an 0.03ms response time as well as support for NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It also supports VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 for some additional graphical detail.

Put simply, you can use this laptop for a variety of different situations and still be satisfied, but if you're a huge gamer, you'll want to lock one in for the sheer performance you'll experience. Be sure to lock yours in ASAP while you still can.

Great smart home setups aren't based on the number of gadgets you own or how complicated your automations are. Instead, it's about the quality and thoughtful design of the logic connecting them. Unfortunately, too many people have basic, ill-conceived routines that mostly bring friction and issues.

It's late February, and that means the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will soon be upon us. If there's one thing I want to see this year, it has nothing to do with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. I just want the base model to stop being such an afterthought compared to its bigger siblings.

SAVE $500: The Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X Robot Vacuum and Mop is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the usual price of $1,149.99. That's a 43% discount that matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X Robot Vacuum and Mop $649.99 at Amazon
$1,149.99 Save $500   Get Deal

When robot vacuums first rolled into our homes, it was a semi-comical experience. The poor lil' robots often needed some help getting back to the cleaning task when they got stuck under the couch, lost in a closet, or took a fall down the stairs. Thankfully, we no longer have these worries and in addition to vacuuming, these robots can now mop our floors. If could use the help of a robot vacuum and mop, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Feb. 24, the Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X Robot Vacuum and Mop is on sale at Amazon for $649.99, down from the usual price of $1,149.99. That's a 43% discount that works out to a savings of $500. It also matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X brings 18,500Pa suction power to the cleaning party and the roller brush is designed to never tangle with hair. Both of these attributes combined makes is great for pet owners. Roborock also equipped this model with the brand's FlexiArm technology. No, this is not the Roborock model with an arm, but it uses a side brush and edge mopping system to make sure every corner of your home is spotless. It'll be able to tackle corners, go around legs on a chair, and get as close to baseboards as physically possible.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop has hit its best-ever price at Amazon — save $700

The charging and emptying dock is an all-in-one hub that gives the robot the power to mop with hot water up to 167 degrees with auto tank refilling. There's also the warm air drying when the vacuum comes back to the base after mopping with dirty mop pads.

With the Roborock app, you'll be able to set a cleaning schedule and make no-go zones for the vacuum so it'll avoid objects like the dog's water dish.

If you're no longer interested in a growing list of house chores, grab the Roborock Qrevo Curv S5X Robot Vacuum and Mop while it's on sale at Amazon for under $650. It'll be the perfect way to kickstart spring cleaning this year.