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9 Jul 2025

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Study: People who use emojis feel closer to each other
If you ever find yourself second-guessing the urge to add emojis to a text message, consider this: There may be a social significance to that impulse. A new study from the University of Texas shows that using emojis in text messages makes people feel closer to each other and more at ease in their personal relationships. The study was first reported by The Guardian. The researchers interviewed 260 people between the ages of 23 and 67, who were read 15 different messages — some with emojis, some without. Participants were asked to imagine themselves as the sender and to focus on the recipient’s response. These were then evaluated for responsiveness, sympathy, closeness, and relationship satisfaction. The results showed that messages containing emojis were perceived as more responsive than text-only messages. It also showed that emojis act as non-verbal signals that indicate attention and emotional engagement.

Windows 11 may get AI-powered desktop wallpapers
Microsoft may introduce an AI-powered feature for dynamic desktop wallpapers in Windows 11, reports Windows Latest. The feature, found in preview versions under the name “Dynamic Wallpaper,” doesn’t work yet, but is described as a background that automatically updates based on the user’s choice. This could involve selecting a theme or category, and Windows then changing the background depending on the time of day or other signals. Microsoft has previously trialled similar ideas, such as animated backgrounds and parallax effects to add depth and life to the desktop, but these have not been launched. It’s not yet clear whether the new feature uses AI to modify images or just switches them automatically.

This blazing-fast portable SSD we love drops to best price on Prime Day
Prime Day isn’t just bringing impressive discounts on some of the best monitors out there, but also on one of our very favorite portable SSDs. The SK Hynix Beetle X31 is down to $63 right now, its very best price, a 28 perecent discount from its $87.89 MSRP. This is a portable SSD that we had tons of fun reviewing, giving it a 4.5-star rating, appreciating its fantastic performance, and loving the compact design. In fact, at the time, it was one of the top 10Gbps performers. You’ll be moving files around in no time, and considering it has 1TB of storage space available, you’ll have loads of room for all your data. The champagne-gold metallic casing is a matter of taste, but it’s definitely easy to find in a tech drawer at first glance. The SSD even comes with a silicone case you can use to better protect your data (and the device). The case gives it 2-meter drop protection and a barrier against dust and dirt. Stop wasting time because this Prime Deal may not last for the whole week, so get your hands on the 1TB SK Hynix Beetle for $63. Check out the best tech deals we discovered if you want more inspiration and visit our Prime Day live blog too to get the latest deals. Get 1TB of storage space for $63Buy now at Amazon

Bayeux Tapestry to return to UK after 900 years
Bayeux Tapestry will be shown at the British Museum, which will lend treasures to Normandy museums.

The best OLED deal for Prime Day is this $470 gaming monitor
I regret to inform you, readers, that OLED gaming monitors are a little more expensive this year than last year. In fact, the AOC Agon Pro 27-inch, QHD OLED monitor is about 18 percent pricier than it was during the last Prime Day sale…gee, I wonder why. Still, $469.99 for an OLED gaming monitor on Amazon is a darn good deal. The AOC AG276QZD2 is rocking familiar specs, with a 27-inch, 2560×1440 panel that’s positively zippy at 240Hz. While not the fastest OLED on the market, that should be more than enough for the sweatiest of online multiplayer shooter fans. Features are a bit on the basic side — Amazon’s listing says this monitor has USB-C, but I’m not seeing that from AOC’s actual product page or other reviews. The real thing appears to rely on just two USB-A ports, one of which has a little extra juice for charging. That means you’ll be plugging in multiple cables if you want to use this with a gaming laptop. Still, if you’re looking to upgrade to OLED for the absolute lowest price on a new display, this is about as good as it gets for the moment. Amazon’s price is exclusive to Prime subscribers (here’s how to get in for cheap), but you can get this monitor for just a few dollars more from Best Buy, no subscription required. Be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best monitors on the market, or dive deep into the deals over on our Prime Day monitors page (and again, there are plenty of non-Amazon options, too). For other great Prime Day finds, check out the best tech deals that we’ve discovered so far and visit our Prime Day live blog to get the up-to-the-minute updates. Get a 27-inch OLED gaming monitore for $470View Deal