## Consumer Electronics Are Getting More Expensive — Again

If you've noticed your favorite gadgets costing more lately, you're not imagining things. A significant new wave of price increases is sweeping across the consumer electronics industry. Apple recently raised prices on its MacBook and iPad lineups, and Xbox consoles are set to become more expensive starting in August. These hikes follow earlier price jumps on products like Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro, and they come at a time when rising oil costs are already pushing up shipping expenses across the board.

## What's Driving These Price Increases?

While several forces are at play, the primary culprit behind this latest round of price hikes is an ongoing memory chip shortage. Semiconductor manufacturers are prioritizing the production of chips for AI data centers, leaving other consumer tech products with a shrinking supply of critical components. Combined with the effects of last year's tariffs, this shortage is creating serious cost pressure throughout the industry.

Under normal circumstances, companies might absorb temporary cost spikes internally. But industry experts say this shortage shows no signs of letting up anytime soon — and with the AI sector still operating at full throttle, demand for chips isn't slowing down. When supply falls well short of demand, businesses almost always pass those extra costs along to everyday consumers.

### Waiting It Out Is No Longer a Viable Strategy

"In the past, you maybe could have waited out little blips like this," says Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at the Global Electronics Association. "I don't think that's the case here. Waiting is not a strategy right now and probably won't be for the foreseeable future."

DuBravac advises consumers who need new devices to pay close attention to which products have already seen price increases. Items that haven't been hit yet may be next in line. Paradoxically, products that have already experienced a price jump might actually give buyers a small window of stability before another increase arrives.

"They are very intentional in their pricing, and there's a lot of coordination that goes along with all of that," DuBravac explains. "If you're looking at products that have already had a price increase, you probably have a little bit of time to think about it."

## The Pressure Is Real — Especially for Budget-Conscious Shoppers

For many households, simply rushing out to buy everything at once isn't a practical option. With back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons approaching, financial anxiety is building for families who rely on new tech for work, school, and daily life.

"People are worried that they're going to have to pay a lot of money for the next device or the next purchase," says Thibaud Hug de Larauze, CEO of the secondhand marketplace Back Market. "The bad thing about that is just pushing people to upgrade more rapidly because they're scared of inflation, basically."

## The Silver Lining: The Refurbished Market Is Booming

Amid all the uncertainty, there's a notable bright spot — the secondhand and refurbished electronics market is thriving. Buying refurbished devices is not only easier on the wallet but also a more environmentally responsible choice, keeping functional gadgets out of landfills and reducing the demand for newly manufactured products.

According to Sean Cleland, vice president of Mobility Tech at recommerce company B-Stock, used smartphones are currently selling for 10 to 20 percent more than they were in December 2025. In a typical year, those values would have moved in the opposite direction, with used devices depreciating over time. Instead, growing consumer demand has flipped the script entirely.

"The supply chain will correct eventually," Cleland notes. "Secondary market pricing will go back to normal depreciation, but it will continue being a step above what it was in 2025. It just never comes all the way back."

### Trade-Ins and Resale Are Worth More Than Ever

A more active resale ecosystem is encouraging more consumers to explore refurbished options, whether by choice or necessity. Major manufacturers have responded by expanding their own trade-in and buyback programs, covering everything from smartphones and tablets to laptops, smartwatches, and headphones. Selling used devices through third-party platforms is also yielding higher returns than usual, thanks to sustained demand.

"You're going to get way more from that phone than you ever would before," Cleland says. "Take advantage of it — there's trade-in and resale value in all that stuff."

The takeaway for consumers is clear: if you need a new device, act sooner rather than later, consider the refurbished market as a smart and eco-friendly alternative, and don't leave money on the table with your old gadgets — they may be worth more than you think.

A new wave of gadget price hikes is here. Learn what's driving rising electronics costs and how to shop smart with refurbished and secondhand devices.

Consumer Electronics Prices Are Rising Again in 2025

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Consumer Electronics Prices Are Rising Again — Here's What You Need to Know

## 7 Hidden Google Account Settings That Are Worth Changing Right Now

Most people set up their Google account once and never look back. But buried inside that account page — accessible on both desktop and mobile — are dozens of settings that quietly shape how Google's apps behave, what data gets collected, and how much of your personal information is visible to others.

While some settings are fairly well known, others rarely get the attention they deserve. Below are seven of the most overlooked Google account settings, why they matter, and exactly how to adjust them. Your starting point for all of these is the **Google Account page** on the web.

Take a moment to consider how comfortable you are sharing personal data with Google before diving in. There's no single right answer — it's about finding the balance that works for you.

---

## 1. Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Adding your home and work addresses to your Google account allows Google to personalize your experience in meaningful ways. The biggest benefit shows up in **Google Maps**, where you can get directions to either location with a single tap instead of typing the address every time. You'll also notice these locations appear as quick shortcuts whenever you search for a destination.

Additional perks include more accurate weather information and search results that are relevant to your area. As always, Google's standard privacy policy applies — no other user can see these saved addresses, though you may notice more locally targeted advertising as a result.

To add your addresses, navigate to **Personal info**, then select either **Home address** or **Work address**. You can type the address directly or drop a pin on a map.

---

## 2. Edit Your Google Profile Information

Your Google account functions more like a public profile than many people realize. When you send a Gmail message, the recipient can click on your profile photo to view any information you've made public. The same applies when you post a review on Google Maps — anyone who reads that review can tap your name and see your public profile details.

To control what others see, go to **Data & privacy**, then select **Profile**. Here you can add or remove details such as a profile photo and website links. Each item in the list is marked with a visibility icon — two people indicates public, while a padlock means private.

Click any item to update the content or change who can see it.

---

## 3. Designate Recovery Contacts

If you're ever locked out of your Google account, recovery contacts can serve as a reliable safety net. These are trusted individuals who can confirm your identity to help you regain access — a layer of security that's arguably more reliable than a forgotten password or PIN.

To add or update recovery contacts, go to **Security & sign-in**, then select **Recovery contacts**. Each person you designate will receive an email notification with a link they must click to confirm their role. It's a good idea to give them a heads-up beforehand so the request doesn't come as a surprise.

---

## 4. Customize the Ads You See

Using Google's free services means encountering advertising — that's simply part of the deal. However, you have more control over the *type* of ads you see than most users are aware of.

Head to **Data & privacy** and select **My Ad Center**. From here, you can toggle ad preferences on or off for various categories, including your professional field, relationship status, and homeownership.

For more granular control, click **Customize Ads**. You'll find three tabs — **Topics**, **Brands**, and **Sensitive** — the latter covering areas like alcohol or gambling. On each tab, you can review recently served ads and adjust your future preferences accordingly.

Keep in mind: this won't reduce the number of ads you see, but it does give you a say in what those ads are about.

---

## 5. Control Whether Contacts Are Saved Automatically

Google can automatically add people to your contacts list based on your interactions across its apps and services. Whether this is helpful or frustrating depends entirely on how you use those apps.

For some users, it's a convenient way to reconnect with someone they emailed months ago without ever saving their details. For others, it results in an overcrowded contacts list that's difficult to navigate.

To manage this feature, go to **People & sharing** and select **Contact info saved from interactions**. Toggle it on or off based on your personal preference.

---

## 6. Sign Out of Old and Unused Devices

Over time, your Google account accumulates connections to old phones, tablets, and computers you may no longer own or use. Even if you wiped a device before passing it on, it's worth verifying that it's no longer linked to your account.

Navigate to **Security & sign-in**, scroll down to the device activity section, and click **Manage all devices**. You'll see a complete list of everything currently signed in to your account. For any device you no longer use, click on it and select **Sign out**.

If you accidentally sign out of a device you still use, simply sign back in — no harm done.

---

## 7. Set Up Automatic Deletion of Your Web Activity

Google retains a significant amount of data about your online behavior, but you can configure your account to automatically delete this data at regular intervals.

Go to **Data & privacy**, then click **Web & App Activity**. Look for the **Auto-delete** option, which lets you schedule automatic deletion of your activity data after **3 months**, **18 months**, or **36 months**.

This data typically includes your search history, app downloads, Google Maps location history, and Google News reading activity. Google uses all of it to personalize your experience and refine the ads you see — so deleting it will make your Google experience feel less tailored. On the flip side, it significantly reduces the digital footprint you leave behind.

---

## Final Thoughts

Your Google account settings are easy to overlook but genuinely worth reviewing. Whether your priority is stronger security, greater privacy, or simply a more organized experience, spending even ten minutes on these seven settings can make a real difference. The control is already there — it just takes a few clicks to use it.

Discover 7 overlooked Google account settings that can boost your privacy, security, and personalization. Here's what to change and how to do it.

7 Hidden Google Account Settings You Should Change

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7 Hidden Google Account Settings That Are Worth Changing Right Now

## Hopper Settles with FTC for $35 Million Over Deceptive Fee Practices

Popular travel app Hopper has agreed to pay $35 million to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which accused the company of deliberately concealing fees and misrepresenting the true costs of its services to consumers.

Hopper, widely recognized for its artificial intelligence-powered predictions on flight and hotel pricing, now joins a growing list of companies facing regulatory consequences for employing so-called "dark patterns" — manipulative user interface designs that steer consumers toward decisions they may not have intentionally made.

## What the FTC Alleged Against Hopper

At the heart of the FTC's complaint were allegations that Hopper misled users about the value and functionality of two key offerings: its "VIP Support" and "Price Freeze" features. Consumers were reportedly led to believe these services would meaningfully improve their booking experience, only to discover unexpected charges and restricted access to support once they had already committed.

The agency also found that fees labeled as optional — including charges for "Tip" and VIP Support — were frequently pre-checked within the app's interface, making it easy for users to unknowingly agree to them. These charges were often buried in areas of the screen that required users to scroll down to see, making genuine informed consent difficult.

### The Price Freeze Problem

Hopper's "Price Freeze" and "Hold the Room" features came under particular scrutiny. The company marketed these tools as a way for travelers to lock in a specific price for a set period of time. However, the FTC determined that Hopper failed to adequately disclose critical limitations tied to these services — most notably, that the price lock only applied up to a defined ceiling and was contingent on the booking remaining available throughout the freeze window.

## What the Settlement Requires

Under the terms of the $35 million settlement, the funds will be directed toward consumer redress for affected users. Going forward, Hopper is legally prohibited from misrepresenting its pricing structures and is required to clearly and conspicuously disclose all applicable fees before a transaction is finalized. The goal is to ensure that travelers have a complete and accurate picture of what they will be charged before completing any booking.

## A Broader Crackdown on Junk Fees

This settlement is the latest in a series of FTC enforcement actions targeting hidden or deceptive fees across various industries. Prior to the Hopper case, the agency had reached a $10 million settlement with ticketing platform StubHub, requiring the company to overhaul how it displays ticket prices. Booking Holdings also settled for $9.5 million following a lawsuit from the Texas Attorney General, which alleged that the company displayed artificially low room rates while concealing mandatory fees until the final stages of checkout.

The FTC's continued focus on dark patterns signals a clear regulatory direction: companies that obscure costs or manipulate user interfaces to extract additional revenue from consumers can expect heightened scrutiny and significant financial consequences.

## About Hopper

Founded and launched as a consumer travel app in 2014, Hopper has grown into one of the most downloaded travel platforms globally, surpassing 120 million lifetime downloads worldwide by 2024. The company built its reputation on using predictive AI to help travelers identify the best times to book flights and hotels for the lowest possible prices — making the allegations of hidden charges a particularly striking contrast to its user-friendly brand image.

Hopper agrees to a $35M FTC settlement over hidden fees and dark patterns. Learn what the charges involved and what the travel app must now disclose to users.

Hopper Pays $35M in FTC Settlement Over Hidden Fees

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Hopper Agrees to $35 Million FTC Settlement Over Hidden Fees and Deceptive Practices

## TV Time Is Calling It Quits — And AI Is to Blame

For millions of television enthusiasts, TV Time has been the go-to app for logging episodes, discovering new shows, and connecting with a global community of fellow viewers. That era is coming to an end. TV Time officially announced it will discontinue its service on **July 15, 2026**, as its parent company, Whip Media, pivots aggressively toward artificial intelligence-driven enterprise solutions.

The shutdown was communicated directly to users through in-app notifications, catching many by surprise — especially given the platform's still-active and engaged user base.

## Why Is TV Time Shutting Down?

Whip Media cited the financial burden of maintaining a free consumer platform as a primary factor in its decision. According to the official message sent to users:

> *"While we loved supporting TV Time, it was no longer sustainable to continue operating the service as a free app, and there was not enough demand for a paid app. To everyone who tracked, discovered, and shared their love of TV and movies with us, thank you. Your passion and enthusiasm made TV Time more than an app. You made it a community."

However, the deeper story lies in a significant corporate transformation. In early 2025, Whip Media was acquired by direct lender **Blue Torch Capital**, which had a clear vision: reshape the company around artificial intelligence and leave consumer-facing products behind.

## A Company Transformed by AI

Under its previous structure, Whip Media leveraged TV Time's massive user base to fuel a media industry intelligence business. The behavioral data generated by millions of viewers — what they watched, rated, and recommended — powered sentiment analysis, content optimization tools, and ratings forecasting for media companies. In that model, TV Time didn't need to be independently profitable; its data was the real currency.

That business model has now been abandoned in favor of more lucrative AI-driven opportunities. Whip Media's current flagship product is **Helix**, an AI-powered automation and workflow management platform designed to enhance streaming analytics and supply chain orchestration for enterprise clients.

## A Massive Community Left Without a Home

The scale of TV Time's reach makes its closure all the more striking. According to app intelligence firm **Appfigures**, the platform has accumulated more than **26.4 million lifetime installs**, with nearly 29,000 new downloads recorded in just the past 30 days. Whip Media itself frequently cited a user base exceeding 25 million in its marketing communications.

Despite this, the app showed signs of slowing download growth in the first half of 2025 — a data point that may have factored into the final decision.

### Why Not Sell the App Instead?

One lingering question is why Whip Media chose to shut TV Time down entirely rather than sell it to another operator. No official explanation has been offered, but analysts suggest the company may have been reluctant to hand over a data-rich platform to a potential competitor in the media and entertainment space. The proprietary viewing behavior data TV Time has collected over the years could be enormously valuable — and strategically sensitive.

## A Growing Trend: Consumer Apps Sacrificed for AI

TV Time's closure is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader industry pattern in which beloved consumer applications are being wound down as companies redirect resources toward AI development. A comparable case is **Pocket**, the popular read-it-later app that was shut down by Mozilla as the browser company concentrated on Firefox enhancements and AI-powered browsing tools — despite Pocket still maintaining a loyal user following at the time of its closure.

As the race to build competitive AI products intensifies across the tech industry, consumer apps with active communities are increasingly viewed as cost centers rather than strategic assets.

## What Happens to Your Data?

Whip Media has confirmed that all personal user data collected through TV Time will be **permanently deleted** once the service ends, and none of it will be repurposed for commercial use after shutdown.

Before the app is removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play on July 15, users have the opportunity to **export their personal data** using a GDPR-compliant download tool available within the app. Anyone who wants a record of their watch history and activity should act before the deadline.

## The End of an Era for TV Fans

For a generation of viewers who used TV Time to chronicle their binge-watching journeys and debate season finales with strangers who became friends, the app's closure marks a genuine loss. It was never just a utility — it was a community built around shared storytelling.

As Whip Media turns its attention to enterprise AI tools, the 25-plus million users who made TV Time what it was are now left searching for an alternative — and a reminder that in today's tech landscape, even thriving communities are not immune to the gravitational pull of the AI gold rush.

TV Time is shutting down on July 15, 2026. Parent company Whip Media is abandoning its popular TV-tracking app to focus on enterprise AI products like Helix.

TV Time App Shuts Down July 2026 as Whip Media Pivots to AI

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TV Time App Is Shutting Down for Good as Parent Company Chases AI Ambitions

## WhatsApp's New Username Feature Is Already Under Fire

Meta has begun rolling out username reservations on WhatsApp ahead of a broader launch expected later this year. The feature allows users to find and contact one another through custom handles rather than phone numbers — a change Meta frames as a privacy improvement. But the rollout has quickly attracted sharp criticism from cybersecurity professionals, digital rights advocates, and government regulators, particularly in India, where WhatsApp has over 500 million active users.

## How the Feature Works — and Why It's Causing Concern

The shift from phone numbers to platform-assigned usernames fundamentally changes how people identify each other on WhatsApp. Meta argues the change reduces personal data exposure, but critics warn it simultaneously opens a dangerous new door for bad actors looking to impersonate well-known individuals and trusted institutions.

Early testing by TechCrunch revealed that usernames closely resembling those of prominent public figures and organizations were still available to claim. These included handles referencing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, Mukesh Ambani's telecom brand Jio, and even the Reserve Bank of India. Separately, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao publicly noted he was unable to reserve his own widely recognized handle, "cz_binance."

## Meta's Response Falls Short for Many Critics

When pressed on how it plans to prevent misuse, Meta stated that it proactively reserves usernames for public figures, government bodies, and certain name variations so that only legitimate owners can claim them. However, the company stopped short of explaining exactly how it determines which lookalike usernames qualify for protection — and which ones slip through the cracks.

That vagueness has done little to reassure skeptics, especially in markets already dealing with rampant digital fraud.

## Indian Regulators Issue a Formal Warning

The concerns have escalated quickly in India. The country's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent WhatsApp a formal notice warning that the username feature could significantly increase incidents of online fraud, phishing attacks, digital arrest scams, and impersonation. The ministry specifically flagged the risk of bad actors creating handles that closely mimic those of real individuals, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Regulators directed WhatsApp to explain why enforcement action should not be taken under India's existing IT laws and urged the platform to pause the rollout until proper consultations could take place. A senior government official confirmed to TechCrunch that the IT ministry is actively engaging with WhatsApp on the matter.

## Digital Rights Groups Push Back on Regulatory Approach

Not everyone agrees with the government's intervention, however. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), a New Delhi-based digital rights organization, challenged the legal basis of MeitY's notice. The group argued that addressing fraud through private correspondence between regulators and tech platforms — rather than through transparent, codified law — risks giving authorities unchecked power over product decisions.

"Impersonation and fraud are real risks, but they are met by enforcing the criminal law against those who commit them," the IFF said in a public statement. "They are not met by MeitY deciding, in private and by letter, what features Indians may use."

The debate also echoes a notable ruling by the Delhi High Court in a case involving Telegram, where the court observed that username-based communication could make it easier to conceal user identity and distribute harmful content. While that case did not involve WhatsApp, it has become a reference point in the current discussion.

## Security Experts Weigh the Tradeoffs

Cybersecurity professionals have offered a more nuanced view. Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, acknowledged that usernames represent a genuine privacy gain since they reduce the need to share phone numbers — which can expose users to SIM-swap attacks, account takeovers, and targeted phishing campaigns. At the same time, she cautioned that lookalike handles still pose a meaningful impersonation risk.

"Usernames are a great idea to avoid leaking your phone number to people you don't know, but verifying identity through the username function still matters," Tobac told TechCrunch. Her advice to everyday users: choose a username that isn't easily guessable to reduce your exposure to unsolicited messages, spam, and harassment.

## Cross-Platform Identity and Broader Implications

WhatsApp has also introduced an option for users to claim their existing Facebook or Instagram usernames by linking accounts — a move intended to help creators, businesses, and organizations maintain consistent branding across Meta's ecosystem while reducing impersonation risk.

However, the Mozilla Foundation pointed out that this integration highlights a deeper issue. While it may reduce some impersonation, it also demonstrates how readily Meta can consolidate identity across its platforms — even as users remain unable to transfer that identity, or their contact lists, to competing services.

"Increased scams and impersonation from fake handles are potentially a big concern," Mozilla told TechCrunch. "Checking a phone number can be a useful verification tool, but these harms are also shaped by the platform's fundamental design choices."

## WhatsApp Promises a Careful Rollout

For its part, WhatsApp insists it is moving deliberately. "We're taking our time and listening to feedback so that when it rolls out later this year we get it right," the company said in a public FAQ posted on X.

Whether that measured approach will be enough to satisfy regulators, security experts, and a user base of billions remains an open question — one that will likely define how the feature is ultimately received across the globe.

WhatsApp's new username feature sparks impersonation fears. Regulators, security experts, and digital rights groups weigh in on the risks and tradeoffs.

WhatsApp Usernames Raise Impersonation and Fraud Concerns

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WhatsApp Usernames Spark Serious Impersonation Fears Before Full Launch

## Explosion Rocks Anduril's Rocket Motor Test Facility in Mississippi

A rocket motor detonated unexpectedly during a routine test at Anduril's facility in McHenry, Mississippi, last Friday, delivering yet another blow to the defense technology company's ambitions of becoming a leading supplier of missile propulsion systems for the US military. The company confirmed the incident publicly only after WIRED reached out with questions.

### No Injuries, But Significant Damage Reported

According to Anduril's chief operating officer, Matt Grimm, no personnel were harmed in the blast. However, the explosion did considerable damage to the company's testing stand — a critical piece of infrastructure used to evaluate prototype rocket motors. Grimm addressed the situation in a social media post published on Tuesday, which featured photographs of badly scorched equipment.

"Anduril is continuing to build and test rocket motors weekly, and the production facility remains on schedule," Grimm wrote, adding that the team was already working to reassemble the test stand. "Disciplined iteration begets steady progress, and we're already putting the pieces of our test stand back together for the next test."

Despite the optimistic tone, sources familiar with the company's operations paint a more troubled picture. Three individuals with direct knowledge of Anduril's work — who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter — told WIRED they could not recall a similar explosion occurring at the site in recent years, and none could identify a clear cause for the mishap. One source indicated that rebuilding the damaged testing setup could take as long as two months, temporarily stalling a key revenue-generating activity for the rocket motor division.

## Production Timeline Under Fire

Anduril had set an ambitious goal to begin mass-producing rocket motors by July 1, 2025. According to four people with knowledge of the company's internal operations, that deadline has passed without production commencing — directly contradicting Grimm's claim that things are on schedule. A former Pentagon official who was involved in awarding a multimillion-dollar government grant to Anduril previously expressed to WIRED that he anticipated significant delays, despite the startup's confident promises.

The broader context here is important: solid rocket motor manufacturing in the United States is dominated by just a handful of large contractors, creating supply bottlenecks that the Department of Defense has been actively working to address by financially backing emerging players like Anduril.

### A String of Setbacks at McHenry

Valued at $61 billion by investors, Anduril has built a formidable reputation through its work on autonomous drones, underwater vehicles, and surveillance technology, securing billions in government contracts globally. However, its rocket motor unit in McHenry has struggled consistently since its inception.

In March, WIRED published a detailed investigation highlighting multiple safety and operational problems at the Mississippi facility, including an employee sustaining a hand burn from an igniter and the acquisition of expensive machinery that ultimately failed to meet performance expectations. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey dismissed portions of that reporting on social media, characterizing the concerns as trivial complaints. Company chairman Trae Stephens echoed this sentiment, insisting that Anduril is "scaling faster than anyone in this industry" and resolving problems in real time.

The McHenry facility has a troubled history stretching back years. In 2021 — before Anduril even owned the site — a fire linked to improper waste disposal melted part of an aluminum building wall. In subsequent years, construction errors reportedly forced workers to rebuild sections of multiple structures. This year, plans to invest in new machining equipment were shelved so that funds could be redirected toward fixing existing problems elsewhere.

## Revenue From Prototype Testing at Risk

While mass production remains elusive, Anduril has been generating meaningful income by designing, constructing, and testing prototype motors for clients including the US Navy. That business reportedly brought in tens of millions of dollars last year — a bright spot that even critics of the broader unit acknowledge. However, with the test stand now damaged, that revenue stream faces an uncertain near-term future.

Two sources suggest that full-scale mass production may still be at least a year away. Following WIRED's March report, senior executives including Grimm reportedly pledged to give the rocket motor team whatever resources were needed. By April, however, leadership had decided to move struggling equipment into storage and begin constructing an entirely new production setup — one that relies more heavily on manual labor processes.

"It's a hot mess," one source told WIRED bluntly. "They completely gutted the building and started from scratch what they had spent three years developing."

### Morale Declining as Departures Mount

Anduril acquired the McHenry facility in 2023 through its purchase of defense startup Adranos, which had originally established the site. The years of strategic pivots, missed milestones, and the recent elimination of workplace perks such as complimentary meals have taken a visible toll on staff morale. Several employees have reportedly left the facility in recent months.

Meanwhile, the company continues recruiting to fill gaps, and a publicly listed job posting reveals that Anduril is searching — for at least the second time within a year — for a new head of production at McHenry. The successful candidate will be charged with leading what the company itself describes as one of its "most mission-critical business lines."

An explosion at Anduril's Mississippi rocket motor facility damaged key testing equipment, deepening concerns about the defense startup's chronic production del

Anduril Rocket Motor Test Site Explosion in Mississippi

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Anduril's Mississippi Rocket Motor Facility Hit by Explosion, Raising Fresh Concerns Over Delays

## Lime Officially Enters the Public Market After Years of Waiting

After nearly a decade of operating as a private company — surviving valuation rollercoasters, multiple hype cycles, and a global pandemic — micromobility company Lime has finally made its public market debut. The scooter and bike-share company raised $167 million through its initial public offering, marking a significant milestone in its turbulent history.

Lime sold 6.68 million shares at $25 apiece, landing squarely in the middle of its projected $24 to $26 price range. When shares began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol "LIME" on Wednesday afternoon, they surged approximately 9% within the first hour — a promising start for a company that has faced more than its fair share of challenges.

## A Valuation That Reflects Hard-Won Growth

The IPO places Lime's total valuation at approximately $1.66 billion — just below the figure that rival micromobility firm Bird achieved when it went public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger back in 2021. That comparison is notable, given that Bird subsequently filed for bankruptcy protection and was forced to restructure following its own public offering.

For Lime CEO Wayne Ting, the moment carried deep personal significance. Speaking to the media on the day of the listing, Ting reflected on the company's long and difficult path to this point.

"Having that resilience and patience and belief and optimism that we will get through the toughest moments really paid dividends over the long run, because there were many days, weeks, months, where I wasn't sure if Lime was going to make it past the next three months, four months," Ting said. "To be here today as a public company feels incredibly rewarding, and it took a lot of heart, sweat, and tears to get to this point."

## Years in the Making: Why Lime Waited So Long

Lime's IPO ambitions are nothing new. Back in 2021, following a $523 million fundraising round, Ting signaled that the company was targeting a public offering in 2022. He revisited that idea in 2023, but ultimately held off, citing the need for better market conditions and, more importantly, a stronger business foundation.

Ting was deliberate about not going public before the company could demonstrate lasting financial resilience — particularly in contrast to the struggles experienced by competitors in the micromobility space.

"We felt like we needed to demonstrate we were going to be a self-sustaining, profitable, free cash flow positive business, and that only happened over the last three years," he explained. "I think the timing is right, because the business is strong. We still have a lot of growth ahead of us."

## Financial Pressures That Made the IPO a Necessity

While the IPO is a landmark achievement, it also comes with a degree of financial urgency. In Lime's IPO filing submitted in May, the company disclosed "substantial doubt" regarding its ability to continue as a going concern without access to new capital. The company is facing approximately $1 billion in liabilities, more than half of which is due before the end of the current year — though a portion of that debt is convertible.

Without the proceeds from its public offering, Lime indicated it would need to pursue alternative financing arrangements to stay afloat. The IPO funds are therefore not just a growth lever — they are essential to stabilizing the company's balance sheet.

## A Brutal Industry Backdrop

The context in which Lime has survived and grown makes its longevity all the more impressive. The micromobility sector has proven extraordinarily unforgiving. Bird collapsed into bankruptcy after going public through a SPAC deal. Other players have either merged — as was the case with Tier and Dott — been removed from major stock exchanges, or shut down operations entirely. The landscape is littered with cautionary tales.

Against this backdrop, Lime has managed to grow its revenue steadily and reduce its losses considerably. The company generated $521 million in revenue in 2023, which climbed to $686.6 million in 2024 and reached $886.7 million in its most recent fiscal year. Net losses, meanwhile, shrank from $122.3 million in 2023 to just $33.9 million in 2024 — though they ticked back up slightly to $59.3 million in 2025. When accounting for depreciation adjustments, the company reported an adjusted gross profit of over $400 million in 2025.

## Global Scale and Strategic Partnerships

Much of Lime's growth can be attributed to its international expansion strategy. The company now operates across 230 cities in 29 countries, giving it a global footprint that few competitors can match.

However, Lime does carry some concentration risk tied to its relationship with Uber. The ride-hailing giant owns a 24% stake in Lime and was responsible for more than 14% of Lime's total revenue last year, largely through an integration that lets Uber users book Lime rides directly within the Uber app in select cities.

Ting credited Lime's investment in software and machine learning as key drivers of the company's operational efficiency, enabling it to fine-tune performance on a city-by-city basis and continuously reduce unit costs.

"It's a real game of inches business, and we're constantly looking for this 1%, 2% improvement," he noted.

## What Going Public Means for Lime's Future

Beyond financial stabilization and growth capital, Ting believes that public company status will open doors with city governments looking for reliable, long-term micromobility partners.

"I know a lot of cities don't like the fact that they sometimes would bring an operator into the market and that operator will go out of business in six to 12 months," he said. "They want a long-term sustainable partnership, and now that we're public, our financials are available to any city regulator looking to decide who's going to be a good long-term partner."

With fresh capital, a growing revenue base, and the credibility that comes with being a publicly traded company, Lime appears well-positioned to consolidate its role as the dominant player in the global micromobility market — even as the road ahead remains competitive and unpredictable.

Lime raised $167 million in its long-awaited IPO, debuting on Nasdaq under 'LIME' after nearly a decade as a private micromobility company backed by Uber.

Lime IPO: Scooter Company Raises $167M on Nasdaq

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Lime Makes Its Stock Market Debut After Nearly a Decade as a Private Company

## U.S. Removes Export Ban on Anthropic's Most Advanced AI Models

After weeks of negotiations and mounting pressure from the global AI race, the United States government has reversed its decision to restrict exports of Anthropic's Mythos and Fable artificial intelligence models. The move clears the path for Anthropic to restore international access to what many consider the most capable AI systems publicly available today.

According to Anthropic, access to both models will be reinstated beginning Wednesday, July 1.

## How the Export Restrictions Came to Be

The situation began on June 12, when the U.S. government added Mythos and Fable to its list of export-controlled technologies. Under that designation, Anthropic was prohibited from making the models available to foreign nationals without first obtaining special government approval. Because enforcing such a requirement at scale proved essentially unworkable, Anthropic had no choice but to suspend public access to the models entirely.

The sudden restriction created significant disruption for users worldwide and drew sharp criticism from cybersecurity professionals and industry analysts alike.

## The Agreement That Changed Everything

Following extended discussions between Anthropic and federal officials, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced that Anthropic has committed to several key obligations in exchange for the lifted restrictions. These include proactively identifying and mitigating security risks tied to its models, collaborating with the U.S. government on protocols and release standards for Mythos, Fable, and any future systems, and promptly reporting any detected malicious activity to federal authorities.

Notably, Anthropic had already made many of these same commitments on a voluntary basis months before the export rule was ever introduced — a fact that fueled skepticism about the restrictions from the start.

### Were the Restrictions Ever Really About Security?

Many cybersecurity experts questioned the true motivation behind the export ban. Given that Anthropic had proactively pledged cooperation with the government well before the restrictions were enacted, critics argued the ban looked less like a genuine national security measure and more like a political tool. Some suggested it may have been designed to pressure Anthropic executives who had publicly voiced concerns about how the technology could be misused — both by the government and by political adversaries.

## The Global AI Competition Factor

The timing of the policy reversal is also significant. Asian technology companies have been rapidly closing the gap, releasing AI models with capabilities approaching those of Mythos. Notable among these are models known as Fugu and Tulongfeng. As competition from overseas intensified, U.S. officials faced growing urgency to ensure that American AI companies could remain competitive on the world stage — making the continued restriction on Anthropic increasingly difficult to justify.

## Selective Access Still in Play

Even with the export ban lifted, access to these models is not entirely unrestricted. Last week, Secretary Lutnick approved Mythos for release to a select group of White House-vetted customers. Similarly, OpenAI's most recent models were made available only to organizations that received prior approval from the Trump administration, rather than the general public.

## Industry Uncertainty Remains

Despite the resolution of this particular dispute, the broader landscape for AI governance in the United States remains murky. The Trump administration's inconsistent approach to AI policy has left many companies uncertain about what rules will apply to future model releases.

A June executive order that hinted at a pre-release government review process for AI models drew strong criticism from prominent industry voices, including analyst Dean W. Ball, who recently transitioned into a policy-focused role at OpenAI. As Washington continues to navigate its relationship with the rapidly evolving AI sector, companies like Anthropic are left operating in an environment where the rules can shift with little warning.

The Trump administration has reversed export restrictions on Anthropic's Mythos and Fable AI models, restoring global access starting July 1, 2025.

U.S. Lifts Export Ban on Anthropic Mythos and Fable AI Model

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U.S. Lifts Export Restrictions on Anthropic's Mythos and Fable AI Models

## A Security Researcher Just Exposed a Ticketing Giant — With AI's Help

Imagine having the ability to issue yourself a backstage pass to Lollapalooza, South by Southwest, or Bonnaroo — completely free, at will, and without anyone stopping you. For security researcher Ian Carroll, that wasn't a fantasy. It was a reality he stumbled into during a months-long investigation that revealed just how fragile the infrastructure behind America's major music festivals truly is.

## The Target: Front Gate Tickets

Earlier this year, Carroll was looking into attending Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas when he noticed that its ticketing was managed by a company called Front Gate Tickets. Curious, he checked other festival websites and found the same name everywhere — Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, and nearly every other major US music festival outside of Coachella.

"This is like Ticketmaster but for music festivals," Carroll recalls thinking. "They have the monopoly, essentially."

Front Gate Tickets, like Ticketmaster, operates as a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment. As someone who runs the travel startup Seats.aero and independently researches web security, Carroll saw an irresistible opportunity: probe the platform for weaknesses.

## Claude AI Cracked Open the Door

Carroll quickly spotted what appeared to be a SQL injection vulnerability — a well-known flaw that lets attackers input executable commands into website text fields, potentially extracting data from backend databases. However, Front Gate's web application firewall seemed to be blocking his attempts to exploit it.

That's when Carroll turned to Claude Opus 4.7, the most capable AI model available to the public from AI company Anthropic at the time. He asked it to help him bypass the firewall, and the results were immediate.

"It was the first time, really, that I had a vulnerability that I didn't fully understand," Carroll admits. "I had to go back and read what Claude had written to understand the bypass, because I didn't write it. Claude did it completely by itself."

The AI had independently identified that a nested SQL query — essentially a query embedded within another — could slip past the firewall undetected. Within moments, Claude had generated a working script that returned samples from a table containing 500 databases worth of exposed customer information.

Carroll estimates the vulnerability gave access to the personal data of millions of people, including names, email addresses, and mailing addresses — though not payment card information — along with data belonging to Front Gate's own staff.

## From Data Breach to Full Administrator Access

With internal staff data exposed, Carroll didn't stop at customer records. He located a super administrator account and clicked the password reset option. The reset code sent to the administrator's email was stored directly in the site's backend — and Carroll could see it. He used it to set a new password, effectively taking over the account entirely.

From there, the access was staggering. Carroll searched for the most expensive tickets available for Bonnaroo and began adding them to a cart as complimentary tickets.

"It seems like you could do that for every single event that you wanted to," he says.

He stopped short of completing any orders, concerned about crossing into legally actionable fraud territory. But the demonstration was clear: a bad actor with the same access could have issued unlimited high-value tickets — including sold-out VIP and backstage passes — to themselves or anyone else.

"It was pretty cool to see a ticket that's $4,000, and I could just hit a button and issue as many as I wanted," Carroll says. "I could go to every single event with no limitations or restrictions."

## A Glaring Security Gap: No Two-Factor Authentication

Beyond the SQL vulnerability itself, Carroll was troubled by another discovery. Front Gate's staff accounts had no two-factor authentication in place. That means anyone with a valid username and password — whether obtained through a data breach, phishing, or simple guessing — could log in and begin issuing tickets without any additional verification.

"There's just this one centralized company issuing all tickets for every single festival," Carroll warns. "And even without this vulnerability, if you knew someone's password, you could just log in without any verification and issue free tickets."

## Responsible Disclosure and Anthropic's Role

Carroll reported his findings responsibly to Front Gate rather than exploiting them. Front Gate has since patched the vulnerability and issued a statement thanking him for the disclosure, characterizing the episode as a productive security collaboration.

"This was resolved within 24 hours, and we can confirm there is no evidence of exploitation, ticket impact, or compromise of customer information," the company stated.

Front Gate also argued that its security measures would have limited personal data exposure, that fraudulently issued tickets would have left an audit trail, and that such tickets would have been identified and canceled before use. Carroll disputes these claims, noting that he successfully achieved super-administrator access without triggering any apparent response from the company — and that Front Gate has not claimed to have evidence the vulnerability was never previously exploited by others.

For his part, Carroll is a member of Anthropic's Cyber Verification Program, a vetted initiative that grants approved security researchers access to Claude's capabilities for legitimate hacking and research purposes. Anthropic confirmed that Carroll's activities fell within the program's guidelines and that, without that membership, Claude would have detected and blocked his attempts.

"We created our Cyber Verification Program to make advanced security capabilities available to defenders so they can conduct exactly this sort of research that helps make the world's code safer," Anthropic said in a statement.

## AI Is Changing the Vulnerability Landscape

What makes this incident particularly significant is what it reveals about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. Carroll believes Claude could have discovered the entire exploit chain from start to finish without human guidance.

"I think there's a very good chance it could have found this exploit end-to-end without me doing anything at all," he says.

That's a double-edged reality. In the hands of responsible researchers, AI tools can surface critical vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. In the wrong hands, those same tools could dramatically lower the barrier for conducting sophisticated cyberattacks.

## The Bigger Picture: Infrastructure Built on Duct Tape

Perhaps the most unsettling takeaway from Carroll's research is what it suggests about the state of security at organizations handling enormous volumes of sensitive data. Front Gate processes ticketing for virtually the entire US music festival industry, yet Carroll found that basic vulnerability scanning — whether conducted by human researchers or AI tools — does not appear to have been performed thoroughly.

"It just feels concerning when you think these very professional music festivals with professional websites are well-run," Carroll reflects. "Then you get access, and you realize it's all held together by duct tape and prayers."

As AI continues to make security research faster and more accessible, incidents like this may become increasingly common — serving as a stark reminder that even the infrastructure behind billion-dollar entertainment industries can harbor critical, overlooked flaws.

Security researcher Ian Carroll used Claude AI to expose a critical bug in Front Gate Tickets, gaining access to millions of records and unlimited festival tick

AI Helped a Hacker Access Every US Music Festival's Tickets

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How an AI-Assisted Hacker Gained the Power to Issue Free Tickets to Every Major US Music Festival

## Clicks Technology Unveils Final Version of Its BlackBerry-Inspired Communicator

A freshly released hands-on video is giving the public its most detailed look yet at the Clicks Communicator — a modern smartphone designed to recapture the spirit of the iconic BlackBerry while running today's most popular apps.

Clicks Technology, the startup behind this ambitious project, dropped the new footage as a preview of what consumers can expect when the device officially hits the market later this year.

## What Is the Clicks Communicator?

First unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this past January, the Clicks Communicator is built for people who live on their phones — professionals who spend their days firing off emails, messages, and documents. More specifically, it targets those who have long mourned the death of the physical keyboard, a hallmark of the BlackBerry era that many power users argue still outperforms touchscreen typing.

Priced at **$499**, the Communicator pairs a traditional display for reading and responding to content with a tactile, touch-sensitive physical keyboard positioned beneath — a layout that will feel instantly familiar to former BlackBerry loyalists.

## More Than Just a BlackBerry Clone

While the design aesthetic draws clear inspiration from BlackBerry, the Clicks Communicator sets itself apart through several thoughtful innovations:

### Signal Light
One of the device's standout features is the **Signal Light** — a customizable illuminated button built into the side of the phone. Users can assign specific colors and light patterns to particular contacts, groups, or applications, allowing them to identify important notifications at a glance without unlocking the device.

### Hardware Highlights
- **Swappable back covers** for personalization
- **3.5mm headphone jack** — a feature many modern smartphones have abandoned
- **Physical SIM card tray** alongside eSIM support
- **Expandable microSD storage** up to an impressive 2TB
- **Dedicated airplane mode toggle switch** for quick connectivity control

## A Phone for the Digital Wellness Movement

Beyond productivity, the Clicks Communicator speaks directly to a growing segment of users who are actively trying to reduce their dependence on dopamine-driven smartphone experiences. By stripping away the noise of addictive apps and games, the device encourages more intentional phone use.

To power its Android app ecosystem, Clicks has partnered with **Niagara Launcher**, ensuring users still have access to essential applications while maintaining a cleaner, less distracting interface. Combined with the Signal Light's ability to filter notifications, the Communicator gives users meaningful control over how — and when — their phone demands their attention.

## Early Impressions From CES

At CES, journalists who handled a prototype reported that the device felt comfortable and well-balanced in the hand — neither too light nor too heavy, with a solid grip. The physical keys delivered satisfying tactile feedback reminiscent of classic BlackBerry hardware. The development team noted at the time that they were fine-tuning the key pressure to better accommodate fast typists.

## What's Next for Clicks Technology

The latest video showcases pre-production hardware and internal software as a comprehensive preview ahead of the phone's anticipated **fourth-quarter 2024 launch**. Clicks Technology has also confirmed that additional videos are in the pipeline, each focusing on specific features such as the Signal Light, Prompt Key, Message Hub, and the touch-sensitive keyboard.

For professionals craving a return to physical keyboards — and for anyone seeking a smarter, less overwhelming mobile experience — the Clicks Communicator is shaping up to be one of the more compelling smartphone releases of the year.

Clicks Technology reveals its $499 Communicator smartphone with a physical keyboard, Signal Light feature, and up to 2TB storage. Launching Q4 2024.

Clicks Communicator: A Modern BlackBerry-Style Phone for 202

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Clicks Communicator: The Modern BlackBerry Revival Making Waves in 2024

## Google Opens Gemini's Personalized Image Generation to Free US Users

Google is making its AI-powered personalized image generation more accessible, rolling out the feature to eligible free-tier users across the United States. The update enables Gemini to craft custom images drawn from a user's personal interests and data pulled from linked Google services — no detailed prompting required.

## What Is Gemini's Personal Intelligence Feature?

First announced back in April, Gemini's Personal Intelligence capability brings a new level of contextual awareness to AI image creation. Rather than requiring users to spell out every detail in their prompts, Gemini taps into its understanding of individual preferences and habits to generate images that feel genuinely personal.

The system draws on data from connected Google services — including Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube, and Search — to build a picture of what each user enjoys. This means instead of typing out a detailed request like, *"Create an illustration of me enjoying coffee and baking,"* a user can simply ask Gemini to *"Create an illustration of me and my favorite things"* and let the AI handle the rest.

Another standout capability: Gemini can pull actual photos of you directly from Google Photos, eliminating the need to manually upload images before generating personalized visuals.

## Rollout Timeline and Availability

Google first made Personal Intelligence broadly available to all U.S. users in March of this year. The company has since extended access to users in India and Japan, signaling its intent to expand the feature globally over time. The latest update now brings this functionality to free-tier users in the U.S. who were previously left out.

## How to Enable and Control the Feature

Personal Intelligence is entirely opt-in, giving users full control over which Google apps and services Gemini can access. Once activated, the feature operates as the default setting across all prompts. Users who want to temporarily switch it off can do so easily through a dedicated toggle found in the Tools menu, offering flexibility without requiring a full deactivation.

## What Else Is Coming to Gemini?

Beyond personalized image generation, Google recently announced a wave of upcoming enhancements for the Gemini app. Planned additions include:

- A **Daily Brief** feature for personalized morning updates
- A **redesigned interface** for a smoother user experience
- Access to **Gemini Omni**, Google's advanced AI video model
- **Gemini Spark**, a dedicated personal AI agent

These updates reflect Google's continued investment in making Gemini a more versatile and deeply integrated AI assistant.

## Gemini's Growing User Base

The timing of these expansions aligns with impressive growth figures. Google's Gemini chatbot surpassed 750 million monthly active users earlier this year, cementing its status as one of the most widely used AI platforms in the world. As competition in the AI space intensifies, Google appears committed to deepening Gemini's utility through personalization and tight integration with its existing ecosystem of services.

Google expands Gemini's personalized AI image generation to free US users, using data from Gmail, Photos, and YouTube to create custom visuals automatically.

Gemini Personalized AI Image Generation Free for US Users

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Google Gemini's Personalized AI Image Generation Is Now Available to Free US Users

## The Woman Who Brought Adult Entertainment Into Your Living Room

If you grew up in New York City with access to public access cable television, chances are you know exactly who Robin Byrd is. Her rockabilly theme song *Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box* was practically burned into a generation's memory, and her signature sign-offs — "Lie back, get comfortable" and "don't forget to wear your rubbers" — became cultural touchstones for a city that embraced her unconditionally.

Now 71 years old, Byrd is having a well-deserved cultural renaissance. A new HBO documentary, *Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story*, streaming now on HBO Max, reintroduces her to a broader audience and makes a compelling case for why she deserves to be remembered as far more than a local novelty.

## From Public Access Icon to HBO Documentary Subject

The Robin Byrd Show ran from 1977 to 1998, spanning over 600 episodes, and it remains available in reruns for those still subscribed to old-school cable. Filmed on a gloriously low-budget set complete with a garish heart-shaped backdrop and decades-old phone sex advertisements, the show featured Byrd interviewing adult film performers and exotic dancers, who would then perform striptease routines captured by a single aging Nekagami camera.

Directed by Jyllian Gunther and Stephanie Schwam — both proud self-described "Byrd-watchers" who grew up sneaking glimpses of the show as teenagers — the documentary goes well beyond nostalgia. It presents Byrd as a genuine sex-positive advocate who championed LGBTQ rights long before it was mainstream, actively promoted safe sex during the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic, and took on Time Warner Cable in a landmark free speech lawsuit when the company attempted to censor her programming.

"It was during a Mercury retrograde," Byrd says of agreeing to the project. "Mercury retrograde involves communication — it's a time to renew, redo, and rethink. I realized I'm not getting any younger, and my story needs to be told by the right people."

## A One-of-a-Kind Television Personality

Byrd has been compared to Mister Rogers by *New York* magazine — a comparison she takes in stride while also placing herself alongside Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson in the pantheon of variety television hosts. Her show was charmingly unpolished in a way that felt entirely intentional. Unable to pay her guests in cash, she compensated them with VHS tapes of their appearances.

"I called it tit for tat and dick for dat," she says with characteristic wit.

Her cultural footprint extended far beyond the five boroughs. In the 1990s, *Saturday Night Live* comedian Cheri Oteri parodied her in a recurring sketch. Rather than bristle at the imitation, Byrd embraced it wholeheartedly, even gifting Oteri her own lip gloss.

"I felt like I'd arrived and gone national," she recalls. "I wanted to go on the show myself and say, 'No, I'm Robin Byrd,' but I think I was too much of a local celebrity."

## Why Robin Byrd Stepped Away — and Why She Blames the Internet

Byrd's departure from the industry in the late 1990s was not accidental. As the internet began reshaping how adult content was consumed and distributed, she found herself increasingly uncomfortable with what the digital landscape represented.

"The internet is open to the world," she explains. "Here in New York City, people got it. But to be open on the internet to some rural religious towns — they wouldn't have gotten it. In New York, we accept everybody, as long as you're not hurting anybody. But in other parts of the country, they don't like that."

She also took issue with the identity verification requirements that came with online adult content platforms, viewing them as an infringement on personal privacy.

"That's why you don't see my show on XTube or anything like that," she says. "The privacy of your own home is the privacy of your own home. And children — they can just lie anyway."

### The Art That Got Left Behind

For Byrd, the deeper loss was aesthetic and artistic. She describes the analog era of adult entertainment with genuine affection, contrasting it sharply with what replaced it.

"It was soft, it was artsy — it was an art form," she says. "Digital is very harsh. It's like the difference between an old-timey bulb and an LED. Very distant, very cold."

She also mourned the disappearance of genuine talent from the industry. "The stars weren't stars anymore. They were just anybody from next door. People were just doing it for the money. They weren't doing it for the art. And I did it for the art."

## Standing Naked on a Beach at 71 — and Owning Every Moment

The documentary closes with one of its most striking images: Byrd walking along a beach completely unclothed. It is a moment of radical vulnerability and fierce self-acceptance that encapsulates everything she has always stood for.

"I didn't want to change people's fantasy of me," she admits. "But then I said to myself, what kind of hypocrite am I? I've spent years telling people to love their body, respect their body. This is who I am. This is what a 71-year-old Robin Byrd looks like."

For decades, Robin Byrd occupied a uniquely New York space — equal parts entertainer, advocate, and provocateur. The HBO documentary makes the case that her influence stretched well beyond late-night cable, shaping conversations around free speech, sexual health, and LGBTQ acceptance long before those topics entered the mainstream. Whatever one thinks of her medium, her message was always clear: embrace who you are, protect yourself, and never take life too seriously.

Robin Byrd, the public access legend behind The Robin Byrd Show, opens up about her new HBO documentary, internet censorship, and the lost art of analog adult e