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  • Solana’s Agave 4.2 activation target arrives with mainnet feature gates still pending

    Solana’s Agave 4.2 activation target arrives with mainnet feature gates still pending

    The Aug. 17 target date for starting Agave 4.2 mainnet feature activations arrived without a confirmed delivery update. Agave is Anza’s validator client for the Solana network.

    Anza’s v4.2 release schedule still shows Aug. 17 as the tentative start date but left the delivery field blank. The empty field does not prove a delay or rule out a later update. It means the target date alone cannot establish that a feature gate is live.

    Anza recommended Agave 4.2 for general mainnet adoption on Aug. 11. Its feature tracker separately continued to classify the first 4.2 slot-time gates as pending on mainnet, distinguishing software adoption from the staged protocol rollout.

    Agave 4.2’s biggest changes remain staged

    Anza’s Agave 4.2 feature-gate tracker, last updated Aug. 14, listed the gates for 350-millisecond and 300-millisecond slots as pending mainnet activation. The tracker recorded their testnet activation epochs as 1000 and 1002, respectively, and their devnet activation epochs as 1115 and 1118. It did not list a mainnet activation epoch for either gate.

    The 250-millisecond gate was still pending on devnet after activating on testnet at epoch 1004, while the final 200-millisecond gate remained pending on testnet. Solana’s slot-time plan calls for four separate 50-millisecond reductions from the current 400-millisecond target, with the network able to pause if block skip rates rise.

    In the Agave 4.2 rollout, rent follows a five-gate path. Solana plans to reduce lamports_per_byte, the constant behind the refundable balance required for onchain storage, from 6,960 to 696. The intermediate values are 6,333, 5,080, 2,575 and 1,322. The Solana Foundation’s rent overview said all five gates were inactive when accessed on Aug. 17, so the advertised 90% cut describes the completed sequence rather than the first step.

    The available material also lacked a confirmed activation for the transaction change. Solana’s v1 transaction plan raises the maximum payload from 1,232 bytes to 4,096 bytes only for the new format. Legacy and v0 transaction limits remain unchanged.

    Agave 4.2 includes code needed to test Alpenglow, but the consensus overhaul is not part of the 4.2 mainnet activation. The Solana Foundation’s release overview says Alpenglow is expected in Agave 4.3, targeted for October 2026.

    For users and developers, the Aug. 17 date does not make the 90% rent cut, 4,096-byte transactions and 200-millisecond slots live as one package. A confirmed gate and its mainnet activation epoch would establish which part of the roadmap has actually moved into production.

  • Why did Trump scale back war games with South Korea?

    U.S. president cites good relationship with Kim Jong Un

    Annual military manoeuvres between South Korea and the United States are underway.

    But just hours before they were due to start, the US president announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back the exercises.

    Donald Trump says they send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea and its leader, with whom he has a ‘good relationship’.

    The joint drills have been held for decades.

    So, does Trump’s last-minute decision mean he’s seeking talks with Kim Jong Un?

    Could dialogue end one of the world’s longest-running conflicts?

    Presenter: Anna Burns-Francis

    Guests:

    In Bum Chun – Retired South Korean Lieutenant General and military and security analyst

    Jenny Town – Senior Fellow and Director of 38 North programme at the Stimson Center

    Rodger Baker — Geopolitical analyst at RANE, a global centre for geopolitical intelligence and analysis

  • A Handy-Dandy Deal: Slash 60% Off This Ecovacs Robot Vacuum & Mop Today

    A Handy-Dandy Deal: Slash 60% Off This Ecovacs Robot Vacuum & Mop Today

    Now this is what I call a clean-up job! Walmart has the Ecovacs Deebot N30 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop on sale for $279.99, down from its regular $699.99 list price. This gives you a massive 60% discount on a hands-free cleaning system featuring 10,000Pa suction, TruEdge adaptive edge mopping, ZeroTangle 2.0 technology, and an all-in-one Omni Station with 140-degree Fahrenheit hot water mop washing. This deal won’t last long.

    Securing an all-in-one robot vacuum equipped with hot-water mop washing, hot-air drying, and 75 days of autonomous dust collection for under $280 is an extraordinary value, making now the best time to upgrade your whole-home floor care routine.

    This steep 60% price cut removes the financial barrier usually tied to self-washing all-in-one docking stations, giving pet owners, busy parents, and multi-room households a rare opportunity to bring home pro-grade floor washing without standard retail price strain. It’s time to upgrade your cleaning situation.

    WALMART DEAL ALERT

    Ecovacs Deebot N30 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop

    10000pa suction, Truedge mopping, Zerotangle 2.0, 140°F hot water wash, 75-day auto-empty


    $279.99
    at Walmart

    $699.99
    Save $420.00


    Get Deal

    The Ecovacs Deebot N30 Pro Omni handles your daily floor maintenance with 10,000Pa suction power and ZeroTangle 2.0 anti-hair-wrap technology. It manages hard-to-reach messes effortlessly using TruEdge adaptive edge mopping, Ozmo Turbo 2.0 pressurized scrubbing, and auto-lift carpet protection. You also get an all-in-one Omni Station with hot-water mop washing, hot-air drying, 75-day auto-emptying, and TrueDetect 3D navigation, for total control. If you need more options, take a look at PCMag expert Andrew Gebhart’s list of the best robot vacuum and mops for 2026.

    The Ecovacs Deebot N30 Pro Omni sets an absolute benchmark for budget-friendly automated floor care. At 60% off, it takes the cost out of flagship cleaning docks, and brings home zero-tangle maintenance, adaptive edge scrubbing, and 75-day hands-free dust disposal. Don’t overthink it.

    Recommended by Our Editors

    However, if you need a more hands-on solution for your cleaning duties, this Roborock F25 GT vacuum deal is currently available at over 40% off as well.

    More Deals on Robot Mops

    *Deals are selected by our commerce team

    About Our Expert

  • Best Laptop Deal of the Day: Bring Home This Budget Lenovo for 30% Off

    Best Laptop Deal of the Day: Bring Home This Budget Lenovo for 30% Off

    “Budget” doesn’t always mean bad when it comes to laptop shopping. With the right configuration, you can easily keep prices down while keeping product quality up—and land yourself a solid daily driver that lets you complete all your schoolwork, shop, or even just enjoy a bit of streaming without taking a sledgehammer to the bank. Sound like a plan? 

    If you found yourself nodding, allow me to introduce you to the budget-friendly Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i. We love Lenovo laptops here at PCMag, and we’re making heart-eyes at this particular model right now, especially since it’s almost half off at Best Buy. It’s an ultra-budget ultraportable that you can take home for less than $400!

    Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i

    Intel Core i3-N305, 128GB UFS storage, 8GB RAM


    $349.00
    at Best Buy

    $499.99
    Save $150.99


    Get Deal

    The IdeaPad Slim 3i starts off hot with a huge 15.6-inch Full HD display. A big screen makes virtually all to-dos easier, especially since it opens up the floor for multiple window-viewing. It can reach up to 250 nits of brightness, which isn’t spectacular, but it’s perfectly fine if you aren’t tapping away in direct sunlight. Plus, the bezels on each side are narrow and don’t distract from whatever’s going on on-screen!

    Now, what’s powering this likable laptop? This particular configuration uses a capable yet affordable Intel Core i3 processor, which is built for basic, everyday tasks, easy browsing, and light streaming at the end of the day. So, if you’re a student or casual user looking for a laptop that can help check off your easy (or just normal) tasks, this laptop will get the job done—especially with its 8GB of memory. 

    Our review highlighted its everyday usability, lightweight design, and overall good value, though this configuration’s measly 128GB of storage is a bit of a letdown. However, you can put the $150 you’re saving with this deal toward an external SSD to make up for it. 

    Recommended by Our Editors

    But if you’re looking for something different, check out our experts’ list of the best affordable laptops for 2026!

    More Affordable Laptop Deals

    *Deals are selected by our commerce team

    About Our Expert

  • Patrick Renna on ‘The Sandlot’ Fame and “Once in a Lifetime” Trip to Field of Dreams Game in Iowa

    Patrick Renna on ‘The Sandlot’ Fame and “Once in a Lifetime” Trip to Field of Dreams Game in Iowa

    Patrick Renna touched down in Iowa last week to attend the MLB’s Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins. The interleague matchup, which streamed live on Netflix, took place inside a newly built stadium just a ball’s throw from the original movie site used for the 1989 sports classic starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones.

    “Theo Von, baseball players, great food and there’s a baseball game to see tonight at the Field of Dreams — it’s spectacular. It’s once in a lifetime,” Renna told The Hollywood Reporter of the scene during a brief interview against the backdrop of the house used for filming. As Renna recapped his experience, a line of fans formed over his shoulder as people waited for a chance to take a photo with the actor best known for starring in another beloved baseball classic — The Sandlot.

    In a chat with THR, Renna opens up on the nostalgic moment, being starstruck by the MLB commissioner and his recent reunion with his Sandlot pals on the series Dugout Dads.

    How did it happen that you were able to be here for the game?

    The [Sandlot] guys came out a couple years ago but I couldn’t make it for some reason, and I had such major [fear of missing out]. The fact that this [site] is still standing here is so epic, and they built a whole stadium. It’s great.

    You’re wearing John Deere merch. Did they bring you out?

    Yeah, they brought me out. I have a partnership with them that I’m doing here, and we shot a little fun thing in the cornfields. They brought me out for the game and I head home tomorrow.

    Anything baseball must always kick up a lot of interest around you and the film. What is it like to be so closely associated to this sport?

    It’s a great sport to be attached to — it’s America’s pastime so it’s really special. The sport itself is almost nostalgic when you think about it; the experience of families watching the game together in the stands with all the food. It’s cool and it’s humbling. It doesn’t get lost on us how lucky we are to have been part of something like [The Sandlot]. We have now three generations of people coming up to us saying, “You’ve been in our living rooms for 30 years.” To be able to provide that is special.

    What’s the other most common thing people say when they come up to you?

    “You’re killing me, Smalls.”

    It’s nice to see you embracing it, taking all the photos and engaging with the fans. Some actors lean into it, while others might say, “I’ve done 30 years of other work since then.” But you really enjoy it?

    Yeah. As an actor, you kind of always worry about the things that you’ve done that are negative and you think to yourself, “Oh god, I hope nobody sees it.” But the great thing about doing something negative is that nobody sees it. So, yes, I’ve been working for 30 years but I haven’t topped Sandlot and that’s OK. It still gives me something to shoot for and hopefully I do. There are major movie stars that don’t have a movie like Sandlot. There’s something there for people, and all the credit goes to the director, [David Mickey Evans], who write, directed and narrated it. It was lightning in a bottle for a movie to mean something and become so important to families. It’s mind-boggling to even be in it it because it’s not really about me or the guys. It’s bigger than all of us.

    How hard is it to be an actor today?

    I do more producing and directing now. I have Dugout Dads coming out in August, which I brought all the Sandlot guys back for. That was fun. I’m an actor in that. But I don’t go out often [for acting jobs]. If something comes to me because I’ve been doing this so long, that’s exciting to me and I’ll do it. So acting isn’t that hard for me today because I just don’t do it often. I’m on the other side mostly now.

    Can you describe the atmosphere here? You’re getting a lot of attention and I just saw you hanging out with Theo Von.

    Super nice guy. Also, the commissioner of baseball is here. I was so starstruck and wanted to meet him. Theo Von, baseball players, great food and there’s a baseball game to see tonight at the Field of Dreams — it’s spectacular. It’s once in a lifetime.

    Who are you rooting for between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins?

    I got no skin in the game. I’m just looking for a good ball game that is hopefully high-scoring and down to the ninth inning. Maybe the Phillies? Maybe the Twins? I don’t know really. It’s going to be a good game either way.

    Interview edited for length and clarity.

  • Paramount Demands That States Post $1.88 Billion Bond Amid Warner Bros. Antitrust Suit

    Paramount Demands That States Post $1.88 Billion Bond Amid Warner Bros. Antitrust Suit

    Paramount Skydance is demanding that the states suing to block its $111 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery post a nearly $1.9 billion bond ($1,884,726,092 to be precise about it), pending the outcome of the litigation.

    In a statement Monday, the company, led by CEO David Ellison, says that the bond demand is based on settled federal law.

    “Both the Clayton Act, the federal antitrust law upon which these suits are based, and other federal law expressly provide that plaintiffs are required to post a bond covering the potential harm from halting a transaction to litigate, so that if they lose, the injured party has a source of recovery for the damage caused,” the company said in a statement. “Here, every month of delay carries substantial and quantifiable financial consequences.”

    Paramount counts Makan Delrahim, was previously the chief antitrust enforcer in the U.S. during the first Trump Administration, as its head of legal affairs.

    “Paramount is seeking a bond based on the straightforward calculation of the maximum potential ticking consideration and financing costs from this litigation,” the company states. “But these are not the only costs of delay. By virtue of what will be at least an eight-month delay in closing, there will be no integration and no ramped-up investment in content, production, and creative talent by the combined company. Of course, in addition, employees of both Paramount and WBD are also harmed by the uncertainties caused by the delay.”

    Paramount has been playing a hardball public pressure campaign since the lawsuit was filed, with threats to leave the state of California (realistic or not), as well as accusations that partisan politics are at play. Hollywood is divided on whether the states and company should try and settle or follow through with the trial, further complicating the effort.

    But the bond is a tangible ask, one that would put taxpayers on the hook in a high-profile case.

  • Taylor Swift Praises Phoebe Bridgers’ New Album ‘Lost Weekend,’ Calls It an ‘Absolute Triumph in Every Way’

    Taylor Swift Praises Phoebe Bridgers’ New Album ‘Lost Weekend,’ Calls It an ‘Absolute Triumph in Every Way’

    Taylor Swift has spoken out about her love of Phoebe Bridgers‘ new album “Lost Weekend,” praising the singer-songwriter for her “absolute triumph” of a record.

    Swift, who previously featured Bridgers on her 2021 song “Nothing New,” took to Instagram Stories to congratulate her on her latest project. “It’s her birthday but she gave us a gift,” wrote Swift. “Haven’t been able to stop listening. This album is an absolute triumph in every way.”

    She continued by praising the songwriting on “Lost Weekend” and wishing her a happy birthday. “To write about grief with such vulnerability and detail, and to trust the listener with this much honesty,” she continued. “Happy bday @phoebebridgers I love you!!”

    Swift previously tapped Bridgers for “Nothing New,” a vault track included on “Red (Taylor’s Version).” During an interview with Billboard at the time, Bridgers reflected on the experience and described it as a “dream.” “I just am so excited to have people take it at face value the day that it comes out, because I got teary recording it. I just couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “I think that she is an incredible businessperson and an incredible writer. What she’s been able to build just from writing adeptly from a young age is insane.”

    Bridgers would continue on to serve as an opening act on a handful of Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Nashville, Philadelphia and more in 2023. This past weekend, Bridgers and Swift attended the wedding of recording engineers Laura Sisk and Oli Jacobs in the U.K.

  • Remembering Hayden Panettiere: From ‘Heroes’ to ‘Nashville’ to ‘Scream,’ 12 of Her Standout Roles

    Remembering Hayden Panettiere: From ‘Heroes’ to ‘Nashville’ to ‘Scream,’ 12 of Her Standout Roles

    The actress died Sunday at age 36.

    News of Hayden Panettiere’s death shocked Hollywood — and the rest of the world — on Sunday.

    While the cause of death is unknown, it’s understood that an investigation is under way. The actress was 36 at the time of her death.

    As fans flock to social media to pay tribute to the actress, The Hollywood Reporter has rounded up a list of her most memorable roles, from her early beginnings as a child actor on soap operas to her critically acclaimed performances in Heroes and Nashville.

  • BINI, SB19 and Lea Salonga Lead ‘Forgotten Island’ Soundtrack (EXCLUSIVE)

    The full track listing for Dreamworks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” has been revealed.

    SB19, BINI and Lea Salonga are among the artists leading the soundtrack. As previously revealed, H.E.R. and Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza also feature. The soundtrack will be released on Sept. 18 with the film set to open on Sept. 25.

    The film follows H.E.R. and Liza Soberano as the voices of Jo and Raissa, two best friends who embark on one last adventure together. Their journey takes them into a night filled with shapeshifters, demons and witches, testing their friendship as they struggle to find their way out of a magical portal and return home.

    The music in the film blends influences from the 1980s and ’90s, particularly drawing inspiration from Filipino and Filipino-American musical culture.

    “Forgotten Island” also features a remixed version of INXS’ classic “Never Tear Us Apart,” sung by Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza, for an emotional moment between the two friends.

    The film’s two female leads, H.E.R. and Soberano, are at the helm of the film’s title track “BRB.” Filipino boy band SB19 will cover the classic song “Mga Kababayan” by Francis M. Additionally, Ruby Ibarra and Carl Angelo perform “Salbahe Ako.”

    The film is scored by composer Nathan Matthew David who leaned heavily on analog synths from that era. Speaking about the score, David said, “There are elements of ’80s pop and hip-hop. But when the girls stumble into the mystical portal and end up on the island of Nakali, “the story evolves, and so does the sound.”

    He also introduces music and instruments from indigenous Filipino tribes, utilizing traditional Filipino instruments like chanters, the Las Piñas bamboo pipe organ, and a Filipino choir singing Tagalog phrases.

    In the film, Salonga plays a dreaded Salonga’s mythical creature. For that, he used the talking gong, known as the indigenous gandingan, a traditional instrument of the southern Philippines.

    How did directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado get Salonga to play a villain? Crawford revealed that they sent a pitch to see if she was interested. “We heard from her team right away.”

    Salonga said yes, but the directors realized that, as amazing as the part was, they were concerned it wouldn’t be meaty enough for her. Mercado said, “She was already on the same page as us, understanding that the Manananggal didn’t need to speak a lot to be scary.”

    “She elevated the material,” Mercado said. He went on to explain that Salonga found the voice for the character after listening to H.E.R. and Soberano. “She said, ‘I’ll change my voice so that it complements theirs. If they’re a little higher, then I’ll make the Manananggal deeper and speak from the gut.’” Salonga’s vocals are used throughout David’s score. The album can be preordered here. Check out the album art below.

    Full tracklisting below.

    *All tracks by Nathan Matthew David unless otherwise noted

    1. BRB – H.E.R. & Liza Soberano
    2. Pasakalye
    3. Tayo Na
    4. A Parallel World – BINI
    5. Lola
    6. Tadhana
    7. Never Tear Us Apart (Performed by Sophia of KATSEYE) – Sophia Laforteza
    8. Nakalimutan
    9. Susmaryosep! Hay Naku! Maanghang!
    10. Salbahe Ako – Carl Angelo & Ruby Ibarra
    11. Ninakaw Sa Akin – Nathan Matthew David feat. Lea Salonga
    12. Batiba
    13. Sarimanok
    14. Mga Kababayan – SB19
    15. Bungi
    16. King Truffle Wuffle
    17. Prince Mermahn – Nathan Matthew David feat. Nico Santos
    18. Jerk in the Box – H.E.R. & Liza Soberano
    19. Double Up – Guapdad 4000 feat. P-Lo
    20. Kapre
    21. If We Remember
    22. Magnanakaw – Nathan Matthew David feat. Lea Salonga
    23. Hulihin
    24. It Was You
    25. Balik – Nathan Matthew David feat. Lea Salonga
    26. All of Them
    27. One Last Deal
    28. Forgotten Friendship
    29. I’m So Sorry, Apo
    30. Without You
    31. Memories Are Magic
    32. Bahagi Mo – Nathan Matthew David feat. Lea Salonga
    33. Paalam, Nakali
    34. Jo and Raissa Suite
    35. Ang Mananaggal Suite – Nathan Matthew David feat. Lea Salonga
    36. Batiba Suite
    37. A Parallel World (Amping Mix) – BINI feat. Lea Salonga