I'm a longtime MacBook user browsing the web primarily through Microsoft Edge. It might seem a very odd choice, considering that Apple has a great browser built into macOS, and Safari is even better for privacy than any alternative. Also, Edge is essentially a Chrome clone that Microsoft developed once it was clear its previous internet-exploring products would not be able to compete against the real thing. Safari isn't good for my needs, however. It just doesn't "just work." Google Chrome used to be a big resource hog and impact the Mac's performance. That's how I ended up using Microsoft Edge several years ago, and I've been a happy user ever since. But I still care about who owns Google Chrome, especially now that Google risks having to sell the world's most popular browser to settle its massive Google Search monopoly problem. Selling Chrome is one of the DOJ's proposed remedies to reduce Google's search monopoly, which is giving Google nightmares. There's no question that Chrome has been instrumental to Google's Search success. Selling it might impact its revenue directly, as whoever ends up owning Chrome might use the browser's massive market share to steer users toward other online search engines. That's no longer speculation. Google is facing the DOJ in court at the time of this writing, and we already have three companies that have expressed interest in purchasing Chrome. All of them are involved in internet search. While I happen to think that Google being forced to sell Chrome would be a great win for consumers, I'm also very interested in who will own the company. Not because I'd return to Chrome once Google abandons it, but because the owner of the most-used internet browser in town will have a huge influence on what internet browsing looks like. Continue reading... The post If Google is forced to sell Chrome, you should be wary of the buyer appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Best Echo Dot deals for April 2025 Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, $60 Waterpik, $120 off Bose QC headphones, 20% off Anker sleep buds, more Today’s deals: $299 Apple Watch Series 10, $349 Vitamix blender, Sony headphones, $18 cabinet lighting, more

When it comes to internet browsers, most people expect a fair trade-off: fast access to information, a few ads, and, hopefully, a bit of privacy. But with the upcoming Perplexity browser, that balance might tilt a bit too far in the wrong direction. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas recently revealed that the company’s new browser, Comet, is designed not just to help users navigate the web but to learn everything it can about their online behavior. The goal? Build detailed user profiles and sell more targeted premium ads. While browsing through Perplexity’s browser, it could track far more than just your searches. It aims to collect information on what you're shopping for, which restaurants you’re checking out, what hotels you browse, and more. Image source: Kilito Chan/Getty Images Srinivas explained that work-related queries alone aren't enough for Perplexity’s AI to fully understand its users. Filling in the gaps needs a broader, more personal window into your life, which is where Perplexity’s browser comes into play. In fairness, Srinivas argued that this tracking could lead to a better user experience through more "relevant" advertising. And Perplexity isn’t alone in using this playbook—Google, Meta, and even Apple have all been scrutinized for their expansive data collection methods. Still, Perplexity’s open admission is unusually candid in a tech world where companies often downplay their data practices. Perplexity expects to launch its browser soon, with partnerships already forming, including a pre-installation deal with Motorola’s Razr smartphones. Talks with Samsung could also expand its reach even further. Of course, Perplexity’s plans raise important privacy questions. Even if personalized ads sound appealing, users need to know what they’re giving up. The idea of a browser that watches your every click and scroll could make privacy-conscious users uneasy, especially in an era where trust in big tech is already fragile. As competition between AI companies heats up, expect more players to tread the same line between innovation and invasive data collection. The CEO of Perplexity has even noted some interest in buying Chrome if Google is forced to sell, though OpenAI is also gearing up for the same. If you plan to try Perplexity’s browser when it launches, it might be wise to read the fine print and know exactly what you’re signing up for. Don't Miss: How long does plastic take to decompose? The answer is terrifying The post Perplexity’s CEO wants its new browser to learn everything about you appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, $60 Waterpik, $120 off Bose QC headphones, 20% off Anker sleep buds, more Today’s deals: $15 Amazon credit, $730 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $20 Kasa security cam, $119 Bose speaker, more Today’s deals: $320 iPad 11, $328 Sonos Move portable speaker, $90 Ninja blender, $400 off Freo Z Ultra, more Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, more

If you’re tired of dealing with bugs in iOS 18.4 or simply eager for any sort of upgrade, Apple is already prepping its next release: iOS 18.5. But don’t expect fireworks—this one’s more about maintenance than new features. If Apple sticks to its usual release pattern, iOS 18.5 should land by mid-May. It’s shaping up to be one of the smallest updates in the iOS 18 cycle, with no major new features planned. That’s likely because Apple is shifting its focus to the big reveal of iOS 19 at WWDC in June. Here are a few changes and fixes that are expected to arrive in iOS 18.5: Mail tweak: First spotted in iOS 18.5 beta 1, Apple is finally giving users a toggle to control Contact Photos in the Mail app. It’s a small but overdue fix for those who found the feature more distracting than helpful. AppleCare info: A subtle update in the Settings app adds a new AppleCare banner, complete with a logo and clearer details about your device’s coverage. Pride wallpaper: Beta 2 includes code hinting at new Pride-themed wallpapers, though they haven’t been enabled for testing yet. When to expect iOS 18.5 All signs point to a release during the week of May 12. As recalled by MacRumors, here’s when Apple launched previous x.5 updates: iOS 17.5 – May 13 iOS 16.5 – May 18 iOS 15.5 – May 16 iOS 14.5 – April 26 iOS 13.5 – May 20 As you can see, these mid-cycle updates tend to be light on features, and iOS 18.5 appears no different. While Apple may roll out iOS 18.6 or even 18.7 later this year, expect only incremental changes focused on security and stability. Curious about what’s next? Check out the rumored features coming with iOS 19 below. Don't Miss: iOS 19: Rumors, features, release date, supported devices, more The post iOS 18.5 release date: When to expect Apple’s next iPhone update appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $299 Apple Watch Series 10, $349 Vitamix blender, Sony headphones, $18 cabinet lighting, more Today’s deals: $320 iPad 11, $328 Sonos Move portable speaker, $90 Ninja blender, $400 off Freo Z Ultra, more Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, $60 Waterpik, $120 off Bose QC headphones, 20% off Anker sleep buds, more Today’s deals: $739 Apple Watch Ultra 2, 20% off LG OLED TVs, $160 Ninja Crispi air fryer & microwave, more

I've been using ChatGPT Deep Research for all sorts of tasks that require a more thorough search of the internet for answers, and I've been mostly happy with the results. The AI puts out detailed reports about the topic, and it includes sources to verify its accuracy. For example, I used ChatGPT Deep Research to visit Tokyo and wouldn't do it any other way. I'll do the same thing when I travel elsewhere. My only worry is that I'll reach the ChatGPT Deep Research limits before the end of each month. I pay for ChatGPT Plus, and my subscription tier only includes 10 Deep Research queries a month. Well, that used to be the case until this week's big upgrade. OpenAI decided to bring the Deep Research feature to ChatGPT Free users and raised the limits for premium accounts at the same time. That's great news, but it comes with a caveat. Not all these Deep Research reports will be the same quality, and that's something that users will definitely need to keep in mind. Continue reading... The post ChatGPT Deep Research is now available to Free users appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals TORRAS Ostand R Air iPhone Case: Aerospace-Grade Protection That’s As Light As Air Today’s deals: $269 iPad 10, $50 WiFi 6 router, $80 Ninja portable blender, $998 Samsung 85-inch TV, more Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, more Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, $60 Waterpik, $120 off Bose QC headphones, 20% off Anker sleep buds, more

Regardless of what streaming service I might use, I don’t hit play on a movie or TV show until I’ve enabled subtitles, even if I understand the language. It’s not just that I suffer from mild hearing loss. Volume settings and the actual audio quality of some titles get in the way of hearing what the characters are saying. The dialogue is extremely important, and I don’t want to keep rewinding to figure out what they said. That means I’m just like about fifty percent of Americans who watch content with subtitles most of the time, a statistic that Netflix quoted in its newest feature announcement. The streamer just introduced a new subtitle option that many people will appreciate, including me. Netflix will start showing dialogue-only subtitle options on some shows. This will probably replace the current captioning option most of us use, which covers all the sounds in a movie or TV show, not just the lines spoken by the characters. Continue reading... The post How to use dialogue-only subtitles on Netflix, and why you should appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $349 MacBook Air, $60 Waterpik, $120 off Bose QC headphones, 20% off Anker sleep buds, more Today’s deals: $739 Apple Watch Ultra 2, 20% off LG OLED TVs, $160 Ninja Crispi air fryer & microwave, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $350+ free Today’s deals: $320 iPad 11, $328 Sonos Move portable speaker, $90 Ninja blender, $400 off Freo Z Ultra, more