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5 Apr 2025

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Cowgirl country style is in. How does that look in New Zealand?
Country music and style have hit the mainstream. In New Zealand, that doesn't always mean big boots, belt buckles and hats.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces new charges of sex trafficking and prostitution
The rap mogul now faces a total of five charges in a criminal trial that is set to begin next month.

Microsoft unveils powerful new research tools in Copilot overhaul
While improving Microsoft Copilot’s basic research functions might not be as sexy as, well, a Copilot that finds you sexy, it’s still very much one of the most important uses for Copilot as a research tool. On Friday, at Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration, the company showed off its Copilot redesign. The company introduced Copilot Vision for Windows as well as a more intuitive Copilot assistant. But Copilot’s knowledge capabilities are also being improved with Copilot Search, Deep Research, podcasts, and Pages. The podcasts and Pages features may seem familiar. Google unveiled a hidden feature that allowed users to upload their own documents on a certain topic, and Google’s own AIs would create an engaging podcast about them. Microsoft appears to be doing the same. Pages also feels like it’s been done before, as Google also allows you to upload content to a workspace. Pages might be a bit more thorough, as it’s designed to synthesize various research into a draft document. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAVywhF4p2Q Microsoft also isn’t the first to enable Deep Research, a feature that both ChatGPT and Google Gemini offer. Deep Research can take several minutes, but the output is worth it. Deep Research can read several, even dozens, of web pages, synthesizing their content, then producing a research report based upon what it’s read. It’s a powerful tool and generally considered more accurate since the output is drawn from live web pages. Microsoft Microsoft has already quietly launched Copilot Search, the final entrant in Microsoft’s list of research-minded Copilot features. Copilot Search is a bit like Deep Research, in that it uses live web pages as a research tool. However, it’s designed to be both quick and factual, shoving away new AI-powered search engines like Anthropic from Bing’s role in traditional search. Microsoft said that it’s beginning to roll out these experiences, beginning today. However, Microsoft hasn’t released a formal roadmap, which will likely vary by geography and language, as well as by feature.

Everyone’s seen ‘Severance’ but you. Here’s how to stream it for free
Everyone’s talking about Severance, that twisty, creepy Apple TV+ thriller starring Adam Scott–except you. Feeling left out? There’s still time to catch up, and you can do it for free. Unlike some streaming services, Apple TV+ offers a variety of free trials, including one option that spans a full three months. Students can also grab free Apple TV+ access, and there’s even a mobile carrier that offers Apple TV+ as a freebie, provided you’re signed up for the right service plan. So whether you want to see what the fuss is about with Severance, or you’re itching to check out a new show like The Studio, the buzzy behind-the-scenes-of-Hollywood series with Seth Rogan, you can stream entire seasons of Apple TV+ shows without paying a dime. Here’s how. Grab a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ The easiest way to get a free taste of Apple TV+ is to simply visit the service’s website. Once there, you can sign up for a free week of Apple TV+, provided you’re a new subscriber. Just go to the Apple TV+ webpage and click the Accept Free Trial button. Keep in mind that you will need to submit a payment method, and once your free week is up, you’ll be charged $9.99 for the next month of streaming. If you don’t want to pay up, be sure to cancel before your 7-day trial expires. Get three months of free Apple TV+ after buying an Apple device Want more than just a free week of Apple TV+? If you buy the right Apple product, you can get a full three months of Apple TV+, perfect for taking a deep dive into Apple’s streaming catalog. To scoop up three free months of Apple TV+, you’ll need to buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac. After you’ve made your purchase, open the TV app on a device connected to your iCloud account, and you’ll be prompted to claim your three-month Apple TV+ trial. Again, don’t forget to cancel before your three months are up, or else you’ll be charged $9.99 a month thereafter. Get one month of free Apple TV+ with an Apple One subscription Not quite ready to shell out for a new iPhone or Mac? There’s another way to nab an Apple TV+ free trial. Apple One offers a bundle of Apple subscription services, including iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+. Sign up for a one-month free trial of Apple One and you’ll get a month’s worth of free Apple TV+ along with the other bundled Apple services. Get free Apple TV+ access as a student Qualified students can score free Apple TV+ through an Apple Music subscription plan, which—for students—includes free access to Apple’s streaming shows. Apple Music offers a one-month free trial for students, followed by a discounted $5.99/month charge, and free Apple TV+ is part of the deal. Just visit this web page to get started—and yes, you must submit student credentials to claim the offer. Get free Apple TV+ from T-Mobile Are you a T-Mobile subscriber? If so, good news: You can grab six months or more of free Apple TV+ from the carrier, provided you’re subscribed to the right plan. For six months of free Apple TV+, you’ll need to be signed up T-Mobile’s Go5G or Sprint ONE plans. Got Sprint MAX? Then you can get a year of free Apple TV+ from T-Mobile. And if you’re a Go5GPlus, Magenta MAX, Magenta Plus, Magenta MAX Welcome, Magenta Amplified, ONE Amplified, or ONE Plus subscriber, you get free Apple TV+ as an ongoing benefit. To add free Apple TV+ to your T-Mobile plan, sign in to your T-Mobile account and claim the Apple TV+ offer. Get free Apple TV+ from Comcast Finally, you can get free—or next to free—Apple TV+ from Comcast as an Xfinity Internet subscriber. By opting for Comcast’s StreamSaver add-on, you can get Peacock with ads, Netflix Basic with ads, and Apple TV+ for $15 a month. Considering that those three services combined normally cost $25.97 a month, you’re essentially getting Apple TV+ for free. Another option is to go with Comcast’s NOW StreamSaver plan, which includes more than 125 streaming channels; plus, Peacock with ads, Netflix Basic with ads, and Apple TV+ for $30 a month, good for a steep discount.