Entertainment
EU may ban video game console sales to Russia
The European Union is considering banning video game console sales to Russia, aiming to prevent the army from using the controllers to fly drones in Ukraine.
On Monday, the European Council renewed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its continued invasion of Ukraine, extending them for six months until the end of July. Russia significantly escalated the countries’ ongoing conflict in 2022 when it launched a full-scale military assault on Ukraine. The invasion is currently still ongoing, with Russian president Vladimir Putin refusing to recognise Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We really need to keep up the economic pressure on Russia [to stop the war] while also giving military support to Ukraine,” Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, said on Tuesday. “To strengthen Ukraine, so that the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are also behind the negotiation table.”
Though some EU sanctions against Russia have been in place since the war began in 2014, they have multiplied significantly since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They currently cover a wide range of areas, including restrictions on trade, energy, technology, transport, and even luxury goods.
Now, that list may soon be extended to video game consoles and controllers.
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“We are really looking into all types of things that really help Russia to wage this war – to put them on the sanctions list,” said Kallas. “Even elements like the consoles for the video games, because apparently these are the ones that they operate the drones with. So, really being creative.”
It’s unclear exactly how video game consoles themselves might be used to operate drones. Some reports have suggested that Russia’s military has been reappropriating components from household electronics for use in weapons, though there is scant evidence that such practices are widespread.
However, video game controllers have long been used to operate electronics in non-recreational settings, steering everything from flying drones, to bomb disposal robots, to submarine masts. The ill-fated Titan submersible which imploded in 2023 was infamously controlled by a Logitech G F710 controller.
Even so, how much of an impact an EU ban on selling Russians video game consoles might have remains uncertain. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have already suspended sales in Russia since March 2022, cutting off the nation’s supply of Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch consoles in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Logitech also exited the Russian market in August that same year.
As such, a ban will likely be of more immediate consequence to the third-party console vendors in the EU. It also seems more likely to send a message than significantly slow Russia’s military efforts, as the country has increasingly relied upon China as a trade partner due to such long running and wide-ranging sanctions.
Last year, Putin ordered Russia’s government to look into developing its own domestic video game consoles. Unfortunately for Russian gamers, reports indicate that the two machines currently in development are underwhelming in comparison to the current-gen consoles they’re hoping to replace.
Entertainment
Apples excellent AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for just $200 — a $50 savings
SAVE $49.01: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are 20% at Amazon and Walmart as of April 22. Snag a pair for just $199.99 (normally $249).
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at Amazon
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Our very own Stan Schroeder is fresh off reviewing the new AirPods Max 2, Apple’s updated over-ear headphones. While he thought their noise cancellation has improved since the last generation, they still can’t block out sounds as well as the AirPods Pro 3: “Wearing them on a busy street makes the outside noise vanish in a spectacular fashion,” he writes of the earbuds.
So, if you’re an Apple user looking for best-in-class ANC, stick with the AirPods Pro 3. Right now, they happen to be on sale for just $199.99 at Amazon and Walmart — that’s a savings of nearly $50 and one of their best deals to date. They briefly hit $184 on Amazon back in February, but never since. (And they were $219.99 everywhere last Black Friday.)
For comparison’s sake, the AirPods Max 2 are up to $350 pricier depending on the color.
The AirPods Pro 3 actually have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Max 2, so they support the same suite of smart features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. On top of that, they come with a built-in heart rate monitor that “worked perfectly,” per Mashable contributor Adam Doud. (Read his full review.)
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On their own, the AirPods Pro 3 will net you up to eight hours of battery life per charge with their ANC enabled. Their included charging case adds an extra 24 hours of use.
I can personally assure you that you won’t find the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for anywhere cheaper — even if you go for a used pair. In new condition, they’re $239.99 at B&H Photo and full price at Best Buy and Target. Then there’s Best Buy’s open-box AirPods Pro 3, which are are $204.99 in fair condition. Pass.
Entertainment
LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first
Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.
Titled “Using Technology with Intention,” the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.
Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.
District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.
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The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.
“We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best,” board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday’s meeting.
“This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time…”
Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.
“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.
“There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”
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Entertainment
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year
SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That’s a 25% discount.
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Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That’s a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon so far this year.
A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It’s both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.
Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won’t add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.
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Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It’s ready for any adventure you have planned.
Apples excellent AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale for just $200 — a $50 savings
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
