On Monday, Apple released its second developer beta for iOS 26. While the update is mostly here to fix bugs and glitches found in the first beta, Apple did take the opportunity to include some new features and changes that weren’t ready for beta 1—at least eight, in fact.

To be clear, iOS 26 is currently in beta testing, and is not generally available to the public yet. What’s more, this is the developer beta, which is meant for software developers to test their apps within Apple’s new OS. While anyone can install the beta on their iPhones, I do not recommend it, as it’s still too unstable. You may find your iPhone unusable or lose data if you uninstall the beta without a proper backup.

Whether you’re running the beta or you’re just curious about what’s new, here are eight of my favorite features and changes I’ve seen reported from Apple’s second iOS 26 beta.

Control Center’s Liquid Glass effect

The first thing you’ll probably notice when you install iOS 26 on your iPhone (or any of Apple’s upcoming updates, really) is the new Liquid Glass design. It’s hard to miss: All of the UI elements—including menu bars, windows, and buttons—now take on a “glassy” effect that shows the elements behind them, albeit blurred and distorted.

While there are plenty of opinions about this redesign, I think it’s pretty cool, and it’s refreshing to see Apple mix up its design in a major way for the first time in over a decade. That said, the initial design that rolled out with the first iOS 26 beta wasn’t perfect. Control Center, in particular, was a bit of a mess: As usual, it features a grid of tiles, only now they’re made of “glass,” letting in too much of the background. It’s difficult to see; it’s messy; it’s just not very Apple.

The company clearly went back to the drawing board for beta 2, because Control Center now looks way different. Apple significantly reduced the transparency effect, to the point where I wouldn’t blame you for thinking nothing had changed from iOS 18 at all.

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It’s objectively easier to see the tiles now, but I do wonder if Apple could strike a better balance here. I appreciate the need for visibility and simplicity, but I do like the new glassy look, and it’d be a shame if that design was compromised by the need to reduce the effect too often. It’s still early yet, so we’ll see where Liquid Glass ends up at the end of beta testing.

The transparency can be reduced even more

Before Apple toned down Control Center’s Liquid Glass effect in beta 2, beta testers were looking for ways to reduce the effect on their own. As it happens, “Reduce Transparency,” an existing accessibility feature, gets the job done, cutting down on the transparent effects throughout iOS.

With the latest beta, Apple has boosted Reduce Transparency’s effects even more. It seems like this is going to be the official workaround for limiting Apple’s new design, at least at this point.

A new ringtone

Apple last updated its ringtone selection with iOS 17 back in 2023. Before that, its tones had stayed the same since iOS 7, save for “Reflection,” the ringtone Apple shipped with the iPhone X in 2017.

Reflection is now the default ringtone on all iPhones, and while you can change it to any of Apple’s other tones (or even one of your own), the company would prefer you have another version of Reflection to work with. With beta 2, Apple added Alt 1 as an option under Reflection, with the original ringtone now labeled as “Default.” As it happens, the new ringtone was spotted in the IPSW file of the first beta, but Apple only added it to the ringtone settings with this latest update.

You can hear the new ringtone below. I think it’s pretty great, though I’m not sure why Apple was dead-set on calling this an alternate version of Reflection. It sounds different enough to me that it could have been its own ringtone.

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A new “Live Radio” widget

Apple Music has a new Home Screen widget: Live Radio. If you frequently listen to Apple Music’s various radio stations, you can add this widget to your iPhone’s Home Screen to select a station without needing to open Apple Music first.

Safari’s tab options are back

With the first iOS 26 beta, Apple’s redesigned Safari also moved the placement of the tab buttons. If you’re using an iPhone with iOS 18, you’re likely used to these options being on the bottom of the screen. That’s not the case with iOS 26, as Apple moved them to the top.

Perhaps Apple received one too many complaints from beta testers whose muscle memories failed them while browsing the web, because these buttons are now back on the bottom.

We now know what Low Power Mode really does

You might use Low Power Mode to eke out as much time as possible when your iPhone’s battery starts to die—but do you really know what the feature is doing?

We’ve only been able to speculate up until this point, as the current description in iOS 18 says: “Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch until you can fully charge your iPhone.” But it clearly does more than this, as anyone with a high-refresh rate iPhone can attest that Low Power Mode cuts the refresh rate of 120Hz to 60Hz.

iOS 26 beta 2 gives us much more detail, per MacRumors. The description now reads: “iPhone will temporarily reduce some background activities, processing speed, display refresh rate and brightness, and limit certain features such as 5G, iCloud syncing, mail fetch, and more.”

While this still might not cover all bases, Apple is now confirming that Low Power Mode not only stops apps from running in the background, but also does things like reduce processing speed and limit demanding cellular connections.

Order tracking in Apple Wallet is now live

Apple originally announced the ability to track your orders in Apple Wallet during WWDC, but as of beta 2, the feature is now live. When you update, you’ll see an option to scan the Mail app for orders from companies, which will then appear in Wallet. You can see which orders have been placed, which have shipped, and which are out for delivery.

Apple confirms you can restore your iPhone without a Mac or PC

As MacRumors reports, the initial iOS 26 beta contained the ability to restore your iPhone without a separate computer—a first for Apple. But with beta 2, Apple confirmed the change in its release notes, saying: “Recovery Assistant is a new way to recover your device if it doesn’t start up normally. It can look for problems and attempt to resolve them if found.”

Despite a lengthy WWDC keynote, Apple didn’t have time to advertise each and every new feature shipping with iOS 26. As such, we continue to learn about new features and smaller changes as beta testers explore the new OS. These testers have sniffed out one new addition that is small, but fun: Your iPhone is getting a new ringtone.

Technically, it’s getting a different version of an existing ringtone. At least, that’s how Apple apparently sees things: Following the release of iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has, for the first time, added an alternate version of one of its signature ringtones—specifically, “Reflection,” the default iOS ringtone that Apple originally introduced with the iPhone X. Provided Apple doesn’t change things between now and the release of the final version of iOS 26, once you’ve upgraded you’ll find a drop down arrow next to “Reflection” in your phone’s ringtones settings. Tap that, and you’ll see two options: “Default,” which is the familiar tone, and “Alt 1.” That’s your new ringtone.

What’s perhaps more interesting than the tone itself is the fact that keen beta observers actually found it buried in the first beta for iOS 26: While Alt 1 wasn’t an option in the Ringtones settings, the sound file itself was present in the IPSW file for the operating system, as this X user discovered on June 18. You can hear the ringtone itself in the embedded post:

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I do hear similarities between the Alt 1 and Default versions of Reflection, but, to be honest, Alt 1 sounds unique enough to my ear to deserve its own entry. Apple could have called this “Rumination” or “Refraction” or anything really, and I don’t think many would have complained that it sounded too close to the existing default ringtone.

To be fair, though, Alt 1 is a pretty cool name for a ringtone. And who knows—Apple could change the name or make it a separate entry before the OS is officially released. It could also add more alternate tones, or delete Alt 1 entirely. We won’t know until the final version of iOS 26 rolls out this fall.

(Santa Fe, N.M., June 23, 2025) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced during a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association in New Mexico, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. This outdated administrative rule contradicts the will of Congress and goes against the mandate of the USDA Forest Service to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands.

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If you’re looking for an easy-to-install outdoor security solution that won’t rack up monthly fees, the eufy Security SoloCam S220 2-Cam Pack is a solid pick, especially while it’s on sale for $200. The bundle includes two solar-powered, wire-free outdoor cameras that have crisp 2K resolution, infrared-enhanced night vision in low-light settings, dual connection options, and built-in AI. They self-charge off as little as three hours of sunshine daily to operate continuously, and have up to a three-month battery backup.

Beyond the ability to self-charge, one major perk is that they don’t require a monthly paid subscription or have any recurring monthly fees. This eufy cam records locally with 8 GB of storage (roughly two weeks’ worth). The AI feature is also helpful in minimizing false alarms from movement generated by pets, cars, or trees, and only detects humans walking in the vicinity. Amazon reviewers appreciate the ease of installation, footage quality at all hours, and the long, powerful signal range.

These compact cameras can be used together or separately as standalone units. As with most outdoor security cameras, this model has an IP67 rating, making it 100% weatherproof for year-round usage, along with two-way audio that lets you talk to delivery people or ward off unwanted guests directly from the eufy app.

However, there are some tradeoffs. Color night vision isn’t available, and the camera operates on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, which may be an issue on crowded networks. While it technically supports Alexa and Google Assistant, features like facial recognition, built-in sirens, or expanded storage require pairing with a separate HomeBase 3 hub. Also, changing wifi networks means manually resetting the device every time. Still, if you’re looking for outdoor surveillance without the hassle of recharging or battery swaps and you don’t require the full bells and whistles of more advanced models like the PC Mag-vetted eufy SoloCam S340 (i.e, panning and tilting), this is a value-friendly choice at 13% off. 

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Having a pool is awesome when it comes to summertime dips and backyard parties, but creating a smashing vibe—and keeping your pool sparkling clean—can be a lot of work. And who wants to work when it’s scorching hot and you have a pool? Nobody.

These simple tips will help you dial in your poolside game and get you ready for all the hangs and Marco Polo games ahead. 

Make some shade

The sun’s rays are no joke and it’s important to set up a UV-resistant patio umbrella (or two) for those all-day hangs. If you have a patio table, it likely already has a hole in the middle for an umbrella. A stand-alone cantilevered umbrella also works well if you want to throw shade over a couple of chaises. Look for a sturdy, heavy base and crank-and-tilt mechanisms, so that you can move the umbrella with the sun. 

Let the robots do the dirty work

Nobody wants to swim in a dirty pool, so why not let an AI-powered cleaning robot, like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, keep it clean for you? 

The cordless Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra not only looks slick, but it’s the only robotic pool cleaner with HybridSense Pool Mapping. This advanced system utilizes 27 sensors—including an AI camera and ultrasonic and infrared sensors—to map your pool’s unique layout, scan for debris, and clean like a champ.

The Beatbot slays at surface skimming, waterline scrubbing, floor cleaning, wall scrubbing, and keeping your pool cannonball-ready. Basically, this busy bot and its handy mobile app will keep your pool clean without the cords, hassle, or time suck.

Just drop it in and it cleans for up to 10 hours on one charge. Once it’s finished, it returns to the surface near your pool’s edge and releases water in order to float. It’s a cinch to retrieve. 

Keep your water sparkling

Yet another perk of the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra: It features an exclusive ClearWater Clarification System that automatically dispenses an eco-friendly water clarifier made from recycled crab shells. The natural solution binds gunk into larger clumps, allowing it to sink to the bottom of your pool, where it’s detected and sucked up by the Beatbot. 

Water wings for all your friends

Keep your pool party-ready by assembling a toy collection that includes big, colorful beach balls, a floating mattress or inflatable chair for lazy lounging, and why not throw in a sparkly unicorn floatie? Water wings are a smart idea if you plan on having kids over at any point. Bendable pool noodles are awesome, too, as you can float on them, use them in your water-aerobics workout, and more.

Balance your levels

Keeping your pool’s chlorine and pH levels balanced is essential, especially if you have kids and lots of friends using your pool. If the acidity or alkaline level is too high or low, it can cause nasty skin irritations and decrease the effectiveness of the chlorine, which is a pool-party foul. 

Keeping the balance in check is easy. Just use a pool kit or strip that measures both the chlorine and pH levels. Test your water every day at the beginning of summer, and once you get the numbers where you want them (pH levels should land between 7.2 and 7.8 and chlorine between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million), a quick test twice a week is all you need. 

Stock up on snacks and bevs 

Because you never know when thirsty friends are going to drop in for a dip, you want to always have light refreshments on hand. Keep a separate minifridge somewhere near the pool, if possible, and keep it stocked with frosty beverages for all ages. It’s also a good idea to have chips, crackers, and other hunger-busters ready. 

Summer’s here, and it’s time to prep for the poolside hangs and pool parties ahead. Keep calm and splash on by utilizing a stress-free routine that includes the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, and spend your summer enjoying your pool, instead of maintaining it.

Customers who have insurance through Aflac may have had their data stolen. Earlier this month, the company experienced a cyber attack that compromised personal information belonging to an unknown number of its approximately 50 million policyholders.

Aflac is just the latest in a string of insurance and healthcare companies targeted by cyber actors. The group believed to be behind this incident is also reportedly responsible for recent hacks at Philadelphia Insurance Companies and Erie Indemnity. In the last year or so, major breaches have also been reported at Landmark Admin and Blue Shield of California, among others.

How the Aflac data leak happened

Aflac hasn’t disclosed many specifics of the cyber incident, which occurred on June 12, other than to say that the “unauthorized party” utilized social engineering to hack into the company’s network. These tactics may have included scamming help desks to reset login credentials and bypass multifactor authentication, according to a security expert interviewed by Reuters.

Aflac has said that the attack lasted several hours and did not involve ransomware. The compromised data may have included claim information, health information, Social Security numbers, and other “personal information” belonging to Aflac customers, beneficiaries, agents, and employees.

What to do if your data was compromised

As Aflac has not determined how many customers were affected by the breach, the company does not appear to be notifying individuals directly at this time. However, if you are an Aflac policyholder, you can contact the company’s call center to receive 24 months of free credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and Medical Shield, which specifically focuses on medical and healthcare data that may be at risk of exposure or fraud. According to Aflac’s press release describing the incident, any customer who calls is eligible for these services.

The call center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET through the end of June (so you should call ASAP). The number is 855-361-0305.

Otherwise, the usual precautions following a data breach apply: Keep an eye on your credit report (request a free copy each week) and financial statements—whether you have credit monitoring and identity theft protection set up or not—for signs of unusual activity. You can go ahead and freeze your credit and place a fraud alert on your file.

Be wary of unsolicited communication that could be phishing attempts, and never click links, open attachments, or engage in any way with texts, emails, or phone calls from anyone you don’t know. You should also proceed with caution if you receive any messages or notices specifically related to your Aflac account: never provide sensitive information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue, and always go directly to the website to log in or access your information.

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Walmart announced that it’s prepping to launch Walmart Deals, a sale meant to compete with Prime Day. Last year, Walmart had the same sale around last year’s Prime Day as well, so it’s no surprise it’s happening again. Here is what you can expect from Walmart Deals.

What is Walmart Deals?

Walmart Deals is meant to be the answer to Amazon’s Prime Day. It is both an in-store and online sale with deals on most things that Walmart sells (food being arguably the biggest omission). The sale happens every year around these early summer dates, revolving around Prime Day.

When does Walmart Deals start?

Walmart Deals kicks off online at 12 a.m. ET on Tuesday, July 8, and in stores at local opening times, and it will run through Sunday, July 13. This is the first time the sale will run for six days, likely having to do with Amazon also extending its sale.

Do you need to be a Walmart+ member to shop during Walmart Deals?

No. But, if you are a Walmart+ member, you’ll get early access to the sales beginning Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. ET, a full night before the event opens to the public. You can sign up for a free 30-day Walmart+ subscription or get the annual plan for $98 ($8.17/month).

What you can expect from Walmart Deals

Walmart says its sale will include many different categories, including deals on electronics, home, toys, travel, back-to-school materials, and many other categories—similar to the deals we found last year. The sale will be on Walmart.com, the Walmart app, and in stores. You can already see the landing page, even though the sale hasn’t started. Here are some deals Walmart says will be available:

• 32-Inch Samsung Smart Monitor for $199 (was $299.99)

• 50-Inch Vizio QLED Smart TV for $238 (was $298)

• Dyson V7 Advanced Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $229.99 (was $399.99)

• HART 40-Volt 21-inch Supercharge 3-in-1 Self-Propelled Mower Kit for $374 (was $548)

• Ozark Trail 20×10 Foot Straight Leg Pop Up Canopy Tent for $139.77 (was $199.67)

• Seiko Automatic Blue Dial Stainless Steel Men’s Watch for $125 (was $196.20)

• Timex Women’s Dress Crystal 30mm Watch for $32.25 (was $79)

• Skylight 15 inch All in one Family Calendar for $269.99 (was $319.99)

• 75-Inch DIY Nutcracker for $159 (special buy, pre-order)

• 55-Inch DIY Gingerbread House for $100 (special buy, pre-order)

You can choose between in-store pickup and different delivery options, including early-morning delivery, late-night express delivery, and next- and two-day shipping.

Here are all of the other competing sales

You can always expect major retailers to have their own competitive sales, the big ones being Best Buy, Target, and, of course, Amazon. Like in previous years, the dates for these sales will start earlier, overlap, and run longer than Prime Day. There are usually a couple of deals that are better than Amazon’s Prime Day from each of the retailers, but the majority of the good deals will be on Amazon. I will be updating this post with details on those offerings as soon as they’ve been announced.

iOS 26 is full of new features and changes (some of which your older iPhone might not see), but perhaps the most obvious change this year is Apple’s “Liquid Glass” redesign. The goal is to turn all of the on-screen elements into digital glass: When you place something behind those elements, you should still be able to see it, just obscured and blurred, as a real object may appear behind a piece of glass.

The new update is currently in the initial stages of beta testing, which means Apple is still ironing out all of the quirks and issues before iOS 26 goes public later this year. However, even in this early stage, not everyone is a fan of Liquid Glass. Critiques can vary, but in general, the biggest controversy surrounds visibility: When you access Control Center in this first beta, for example, the tiles let through so much of the background that it can be difficult to quickly find the option you want to select. (Even if you can see the tiles well enough, it just looks busy.)

Soon after these critiques went viral on social media, beta testers discovered a workaround through an existing accessibility feature: “Reduce Transparency.” Reduce Transparency is meant to boost the contrast of on-screen elements by limiting or eliminating iOS’ or macOS’ transparent effects. As it happens, it also works on Liquid Glass, making Control Center tiles (and other UI elements) much more visible when placed on top of other items.

As it happens, you might not need to rely on this feature once Apple rolls out iOS 26 in full. The company dropped the second iOS 26 beta on Monday, and with it, reduced the transparency of the Control Center tiles by default. You can see the difference in the example below, per MacRumors:

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It’s a good sign that Apple is taking feedback seriously and working on a better implementation of its new design, though I’m a bit torn. The new look is more legible off the bat, but directly comparing it to the previous design, you definitely lose that Liquid Glass effect. Maybe the company will continue to refine it throughout the beta process. After all, it’s still quite early, as the public beta doesn’t drop until July, and the general release won’t be until the fall.

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While the Vitamix Explorian E310 is the cheapest model of Vitamix you can get, it doesn’t mean they’re cutting corners on its capabilities. However, the fancy preset functions that you’ll see on their higher-end models, like the Ascent X5, are not present on the Explorian model. This easily seems like a knock against the blender, but once you get the hang of how to operate it without the presets, the Explorian is actually better for folks who want more control over their blend. It’s simple too—here’s how I do it. 

I was lucky enough to test the Ascent X5 before testing the Explorian (here’s my review of the Explorian and of the Ascent if you’re torn between the two), and I noticed a consistent pattern with the presets. The presets have the most effective timings and blade speeds programmed in to match the food you’re trying to make. After seeing this pattern happen during enough blends (and reading the Vitamix instruction manual for leisure because I’m that person), I’ve found I can basically mimic the Ascent model presets.

Take it easy

Whether you’re making a smoothie, soup, or frozen dessert, the presets all start slow for a few seconds—and you should do that manually with the Explorian too. If you don’t take it easy during the initial blend, there’s a good chance a ton of your foundational ingredients end up stuck to the lid. I’ve done it. It’s annoying. (If you did this already, just stop the machine and use a small rubber spatula to scrape everything back into the container.)

It’s during this slow chop that the blades can catch a lot of the ingredients situated low in the container. Depending on what’s down there, this will hopefully be liquid or ingredients that release some liquids and eventually help pulverize the ingredients above at higher speeds.

All you have to do is make sure the central dial of the Explorian is all the way to the left side at level 1. Flip the switch on the right side to On and blend slowly for about 10 seconds.

Ramp it up

After that initial blend on low speed, the Vitamix presets always blast off to the highest speed: level 10. This is part of why I love the presets: At that speed, they all finish in under a minute (except for the hot soup function). But, preset-shmee-set—you can do this manually with any Vitamix model. 

After the 10 second slow chop, keep your hand on the speed dial and consistently rotate it all the way over to the highest speed on the right side. Do this over the course of seven to 10 seconds. The coward in me always considers stopping before level 10 (it’s very powerful!) but just go for it. 

At this point, the operation might be over and you can just switch it off. But observe the consistency of your blend to see if you need to repeat the speed process. That’s the beauty of manual operation. If the consistency isn’t smoothing out, or the blade is whizzing free without catching anything (as can happen with thicker pastes), maybe you have to bring the speed down again. 

Don’t forget your handy tamper tool

However unattractive, his angular mini-baseball bat is important, regardless of the Vitamix model. If your blends are taking more than a minute or two to become silky smooth (again, barring the delightful hot soups you’re churning up), you should be using your tamper. Not using the tamper will require you to blend for extra time and it’s a surefire way to heat up the mixture. It’s certainly not ideal for a chilly fruit smoothie.

Remove the central cap in the lid, and the tamper goes through there. Use it to smash ingredients down into the blades. It will make your blending experience much faster, doesn’t take much effort, and it’s easy to clean. 

How to clean a Vitamix container

My steps to cleaning the Vitamix Explorian container is another mimic of the self-clean preset of the Vitamix Ascent. First, rinse the container and lid with warm water to get most of the residual mixture out. Fill the container halfway with warm water (I go a little higher than halfway in height because the container flares at the top), and add a few drops of dish soap. Snap on the lid, make sure the center cap is secure and fit it onto the base. Start the machine on low speed for a couple seconds and then steadily ramp it up to the highest speed for about 30 seconds. 

Click the right hand switch to the Off position. Rinse out the container, and you’re all set. If you have some stubborn smudges—always the case with peanut butter—spot clean it with a soapy sponge or dish brush. Once you get the hang of manual operation, you won’t be missing out on anything with your Vitamix Explorian.