Every time you use AI, you are, in some small way, depending on a 42-year-old, 44,000-person Dutch company that spends €4.5 billion each year to advance its technology.
ASML, headquartered in the Netherlands, makes the machines that make the chips that make AI possible. More specifically, it makes the only machines in the world capable of printing the microscopic patterns on silicon wafers that define the most advanced semiconductors — a process called extreme ultraviolet lithography, or EUV. The machines are roughly the size of a school bus, take months to assemble, involve hundreds of suppliers, and cost anywhere from $200 million to upwards of $400 million apiece depending on the generation (prices that give even ASML’s biggest customers pause occasionally).
That monopoly has made ASML the most valuable company in Europe, worth over $530 billion. And with the four largest American tech companies — Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Google — committing more than $600 billion in AI infrastructure spending this year alone, demand for ASML’s machines has surged to the point where the company has openly said the world won’t have enough chips for years.
All that demand has also made ASML a target. Substrate, a San Francisco startup founded by a protégé of Peter Thiel, has raised more than $100 million and been valued at over $1 billion on the claim that it can build a rival lithography machine. Separately, there have been reports that former ASML engineers in China have partly reverse-engineered the technology, a prospect with enormous geopolitical implications.
Christophe Fouquet, who became ASML’s CEO in 2024 after more than a decade at the company, sat down with this editor on the rooftop deck of his Beverly Hills hotel Tuesday morning ahead of his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference. Dressed in a blue suit and white shirt, he was relaxed — even when the conversation turned to the rivals.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
TC: Did you see the AI explosion coming?
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CF: No, not at all. We worked very hard, but not with the idea that this would come. You went from a concept — something people thought would eventually arrive — to ChatGPT, which was really the first good example of what AI could do. And now I think we look at AI as the next revolution, not only industrial but societal. Did I see it coming? No. Sitting in the middle of it every day, sometimes we wake up in the morning and still check that what is happening is really happening.
The big question everyone has is whether the supply chain can keep pace with demand. Can it?
The demand is such that the market overall will be supply-limited for quite a bit. Right now, the biggest bottleneck seems to be in chip manufacturing. We, as an equipment supplier, follow our customers, and so far we’ve followed them pretty well — but we know we have to step up our entire supply chain and capacity. If you talk to the hyperscalers, I think they will tell you that for the next two, three, even five years, they’re not going to get enough chips.
TSMC made news recently saying your latest machines are too expensive. How do you respond?
An EUV system, if you look at the price, is going to be more expensive than a low-NA system, but the cost of making a wafer with this tool on some advanced layers will be cheaper. We can get 20%, 30% cost reduction.
[Editors note: both machines Fouquet is referring to here are EUV machines — the same fundamental technology. NA stands for numerical aperture, a measure of how finely a machine can focus light onto a chip. Low-NA EUV is the current generation; high-NA EUV is ASML’s newest generation, capable of printing even finer patterns but carrying a price tag of $350 million or more apiece. Fouquet is arguing that even though the new machine costs more, it produces chips more cheaply.]
I get a lot of questions about whether it’s going to be this month or next month or the month after. And I usually say it doesn’t really matter, because we designed high-NA for the next 10, 20 years. You can go back to the press from 2016, 2017, and you’ll find the same quotes — low-NA EUV was very pricey. We know what happened after that. The same will happen with high-NA.
There’s a startup called Substrate, backed by Peter Thiel, claiming it can build a rival lithography machine. What do you think of it?
Wanting to have it and having it — that’s still a huge difference. The challenges of lithography are many. Being able to make an image is a starting point, but you need to make that image in very high quantity, at very low cost, at high speed, and with nanometer accuracy. I always say the only reason ASML could build an EUV machine is because 80% of it already existed, based on previous knowledge and products built over time. We had to solve one problem — getting EUV light — and that alone took 20 years. When you start from scratch, the challenge is enormous. I’ve seen a lot of claims. I’ve seen a few pictures. But we had our first EUV picture 30 years ago, and we still needed 20 more years of hard work to turn it into a manufacturing system.
xLight is focusing on one element of our EUV machine — the source that creates the light. The source we have can be extended for many years to come, and we know how to scale it. What xLight is doing is a new source that still has to be built and proven. The only question is whether it provides a performance or cost advantage over what we have. I think the jury is still out. We are working with them so they can demonstrate their technology — we feel that’s a responsibility on our side. But it’s still a very long journey.
There are also reports that former ASML engineers in China have reverse-engineered your machines.
To reverse-engineer anything, you first need to have the machine. And there is no EUV machine in China — we never shipped any tools there. All the tools we have shipped, we know where they are. They’re either in use with customers, and we track those, or they’ve been dismantled and came back to us. The idea that one of our systems is in China is simply wrong. And because our EUV technology has never been exported there, we also have no people in China trained on EUV.
Very early on, when restrictions came in, we created a complete separation within the company between those who can access EUV technology, documents and training, and those who cannot. Our team in China sits on the other side of that line. The facts point to very little, if any, progress at all. It’s hard for people to accept that because access to this technology is so important.
On export controls more broadly — Jensen Huang was here last night arguing that companies should sell globally, that more corporate revenue means more tax dollars for a company’s home country. He also said the important thing is to keep the best and latest closer to home. Do you agree?
I think he’s totally right. What he adds — and I think this is what Nvidia has done — is that you can keep a technological advantage by maintaining a generation gap in what you sell. Nvidia sells a few generations back, and that lets them find the balance between still doing business and not handing a strong competitive advantage to countries where you won’t sell the latest. We believe the same approach should apply to our products. Today we ship tools to China — allowed by export controls — but it’s a tool we first shipped in 2015. If you apply Jensen’s philosophy to our situation, Nvidia is working with roughly an eight-generation gap. We’re looking at two or three. There’s room for rationalization — finding the right balance between not doing business at all, losing a major opportunity, and strongly inviting others to compete with you.
How do you assess where things stand with the current administration on all of this?
There is a good dialogue, which is very important. I think there’s a genuine understanding of what business needs, but there’s still the challenge of finding the right balance between all the different voices and interests. The dialogue is there, and we appreciate that. I’ve been in Washington many times. At least the discussion is happening. But it’s a very complex topic.
You don’t seem concerned about anyone short-cutting your technology.
People like to have the greatest technology, but they tend to forget what it took to build it. It’s been many years of work — not only at ASML but with our suppliers. Many different groups of people solving very difficult problems, and then one company bringing it all together using decades of lithography expertise to turn it into a manufacturing system. This is in no way easy. And I think that’s also our best protection. It’s simply what it took to put it together.
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Volkswagen has pushed Amazon out of the top spot to become Rivian’s largest shareholder, new filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission show.
VW Group’s increasing equity stake in Rivian, which has grown from 8.6% to 15.9% in less than two years, is tied to a joint venture with the EV startup. The Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies joint venture — officially formed in November 2024 — is focused on the development of electrical architecture and software.
And that stake will continue to grow, as long as Rivian continues to meet its end of the deal.
VW has committed to invest $5.8 billion into Rivian, capital that is unlocked as certain milestones are reached. The German automaker kicked off the deal with an initial $1 billion investment, followed by another $1 billion in mid-2025.
Rivian received another $1 billion last month after completing winter testing of the VW ID.EVERY1, a small four-door hatchback that will be the first vehicle under the joint venture to be equipped with its software and electrical architecture.
The latest SEC documents, filed Monday, show that VW Group now owns 209.7 million shares of Rivian stock.
Amazon, a longtime backer and customer, holds 12.28% of Rivian. Amazon was an early backer of Rivian, investing $700 million into the company when it was still a privately held upstart. The company disclosed in 2021, ahead of Rivian’s IPO, that it held a 20% stake in Rivian. Amazon is not only an investor in Rivian; it’s also a customer. In September 2019, Rivian entered into an agreement with Amazon to produce 100,000 electric delivery vans.
Other top shareholders include Oryx Global with an 8.6% share, and Vanguard with 5.1%. Rivian founder and chief executive RJ Scaringe holds a roughly 1.1% stake in the company.
Volkswagen’s deal with Rivian came at a critical moment for the EV maker as it poured millions of dollars into R&D and pushed to bring its R2 from the design studio to the assembly line. Rivian started production of the R2 in April and is expected to begin delivering the mid-sized SUV to customers in the coming weeks.
If successful, the VW-Rivian joint venture could lead to future tech licensing deals with other companies or new categories. For instance, the joint venture with VW excludes AI and autonomy, two areas that Rivian has focused considerable capital towards in recent years. Rivian plowed $1.7 billion on R&D in 2025, up from $1.6 billion in 2024, the company’s annual filing shows. Much of that has been directed towards its autonomy efforts — so much that it has prompted the company to push its profitability goal past 2027.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight sits in an odd place for me. I haven’t played much of TT Games’ Lego games in a while (to the point where I still associate the studio with wordless puppet-show mimicry), and yet the three-hour preview I was given of the upcoming DC adventure game still felt very familiar. Not because of its lineage as a Lego game, but instead its clear ambitions to channel Rocksteady’s Arkham series, of which I consider myself a full-fledged expert. As in an “every Riddler trophy in every game” expert. Yeah, I’m that freak.
That puts me in a tricky position. On the one hand, I know that we’re probably not getting any more Arkham games any time soon, so Legacy of the Dark Knight is the best I’m going to get. But on the other hand, this is a game that’s at its best when it’s not trying to mimic the superhero series that defined the 2010s.
Hold on, or Lego
(Image credit: TT Games / Warner Bros)
Key info
Developer: TT Games Publisher: Warner Bros. Games Platform(s): PC, PS5, *Switch 2, Xbox Series X Release date: May 22, 2026 *Switch 2 release date: TBC 2026
Stop me if this sounds familiar. There’s a counter-focused melee combat system where you paradoxically charge up takedowns, an open-world Gotham where you can hookshot and glide around blocky skyscrapers, a detective mode to highlight objects, and even a selection of Batmobiles to tear about the streets in, picking up side quests and Riddler puzzles while occasionally taking a break to disassemble some purse snatchers.
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Jimmy Sedota, assistant design director for TT Games, assures me in an interview that I’m not misreading the situation. “That original Arkham Asylum game, it made you feel like Batman […] So we absolutely looked at that as a source of inspiration, and we built that from the ground up at TT for what we thought was the best combat experience for Lego Batman.”
TT Games even considered the series’ VR game and what it might have to offer. “Not a lot to pull from that,” Sedota adds quickly, wisely preempting my obvious follow-up. There’s a throwaway mention of looking at other Batman games, but Sedota offers no specifics. The message is clear: here, the Arkham games rule supreme.
It’s da freakin’ bat!
(Image credit: TT Games / Warner Bros)
Now similarities are not a bad thing, especially with Arkham Knight being over ten years old – we’re well overdue for a true successor. But Arkham Asylum and City are some of the greatest superhero games of all time, and if you’re going to invite comparisons, then you’ll need to be worthy of them. Trouble is that Lego Batman’s attempt to recreate some of these systems feels a bit stiff and clunky, which is perhaps inevitable considering it’s all modelled on plastic toys with limited articulation and geometric shapes.
The new direction has also resulted in tweaks that prioritize depth over width.
See, the Arkham series had a mastery of flow in all forms, which isn’t quite present here. Bats doesn’t so much acrobatically pounce at villains as slide over and clock somebody, the animations not always threading together. Outside of combat, traversal felt sticky, as the grapnel gun seems inclined to target every ledge except the one you’re actually aiming for. I spent nearly five minutes fighting the controls while trying to ascend one building, and eventually just gave up and went to do something else. And that’s to say nothing of the stealth, which is so rudimentary that there isn’t even a crouch button – you just run up behind burly mooks and press a button to end them.
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(Image credit: TT Games / Warner Bros)
But fair’s fair, the Arkhamizing of the Lego formula is not without its upsides. The Batmobile drives better than it ever did in Arkham Knight, and this time it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The puzzles in the main story were child-friendly (i.e., could be solved by frogspawn), but some of the optional brain-teasers in the open world required at least a moment’s mulling over.
The new direction has also resulted in some tweaks that prioritize depth over width. Now the traditional Lego cast of dozens has been boiled down to seven playable characters – Batman, Robin, Catwoman, Nightwing, Batgirl, Talia al Ghul and Commissioner Gordon for some reason. Each one has a couple of unique abilities – Catwoman can whip things and send cats through air vents, for example – and is also given a small, unique skill tree to work through.
“Batman doesn’t do it alone,” explains Sedota. “We wanted to focus on not only Batman, but the Bat family. And so we wanted to make sure that when we looked at every character, we wanted them to be the best representation, a true representation of who that character is, and we wanted that to come through in their gameplay and in their mechanics.”
Acomic occurrence
(Image credit: TT Games / Warner Bros)
But while I’m not sure Lego Batman is very good at being an Arkham game, it’s still perfectly good at being a Lego game – God knows TT has no shortage of practice there. The levels I’m shown are colourful and imaginative, blending recognizable DC iconography with affectionate absurdity. There’s an emphasis on interactivity with everything around you, and twenty years after Lego Star Wars, there’s still a simple pleasure in scooping up studs and collectibles, watching a growing collection of costumes and cars materialize back in the Batcave.
And of course, it’s as reliably funny as every Lego game before it. One gag that kept catching me off guard was the citizens of Gotham seeming to genuinely perceive Batman as a large bat, even when they should be able to clearly see that he’s a man in a costume from three feet away (“Where’d a giant bat learn to dance?!”).
(Image credit: TT Games / Warner Bros)
And the nyuks don’t end there. Combat and stealth takedowns are usually moments for ridiculous animations (such as taking somebody out with a frying pan), Matt Berry as Bane is an inspired moment of casting, and there’s a wide plethora of deep cuts from comics, games, movies and TV alike. Yes, Robin karate-juggles underpants, and yes, it’s just as powerfully unnecessary as it was when Chris O’Donnell did it in 1995.
And ultimately that may be enough. Lego games have always been a testament to the power of pure charisma, and so far this one is no different, using comedy and context to elevate itself into more than the sum of its parts. I’m not sure that Legacy of the Dark Knight is going to be a major hit with older gamers, despite some familiar mechanics and the inclusion of a higher difficulty mode, but if you loved the Skywalker Saga and everything that came before, there’s still smiles to be had on the smokey Gotham streets – no Joker gas required.
Pixel Buds users hit Google’s subreddit to report an issue with their ANC and Transparency mode toggles.
Users state their toggles are either gone entirely or take ~30 seconds to appear when using the Quick Audio settings menu.
After Google’s suggestions, users claim nothing has worked, meaning an alternative fix is required from the company.
Google’s Pro-level earbud users are running into an issue, as key features are going missing without rhyme or reason.
A few days ago, reports started popping up on the Google Pixel subreddit, as one user reported that they can’t see their Pixel Buds’ ANC, Off, and Transparency modes (via Android Headlines). This problem seems to have targeted the Quick Audio settings for their device. They provided a screenshot as evidence, which clearly shows the lack of these notable features.
This has become a notable frustration for the user, as this menu can be quickly produced by tapping the three dots when changing your volume. It removes the necessity for diving into larger menus. Other users chimed in, stating that they’ve had this issue “for several months, as well.” The user, with the Pixel Buds Pro 2, adds that the number of buttons that would appear in their Quick Audio settings can vary from two to three, or maybe four buttons. The issue here is that the bug is causing a consistency error. Some features are there one day and then gone the next.
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Two other reports said that the features will surface, but it “takes a few seconds to populate.” One comment says that they’ve been forced to wait ~30 seconds for their ANC/Transparency buttons to appear, which is annoying to deal with. It’s not exactly clear when this issue first started, as some theorize the April update might’ve caused it, while others have had this for a few months.
Google responded to this thread, suggesting that users update their device or perform a reset. That hasn’t exactly worked out for many users, meaning something more will be required from Google’s end.
While this is a dark spot on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for some users, there was some excitement a few months back when Google rolled out a key update. Head Gestures played a significant part in that Buds Pro 2 update, giving users a convenient way to accept and decline calls. Nodding your head will accept the call or begin a reply to a text message. The other side of that patch was Adaptive Audio and Loud Noise Protection to better defend against any inner ear damage.
Along the lines of this report, Google’s been struggling elsewhere, such as an unusual battery drain affecting several Pixel generations. Following the April security patch, devices from the Pixel 6 series to the Pixel 10 have had their energy strangely depleted without much user interaction. Luckily, Google has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix.
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Android Central’s Take
Google’s Pixel Buds have been flying under the radar. They’re earbuds, after all. While they’re good, and good at doing what they need to, reports like this can be frustrating. What I’ve noticed are user comments to Google’s suggestion on Reddit about how to solve the issue. Users aren’t finding any help, and even encourage the company to check other reports on their community forum. Hopefully, Google can acknowledge these issues are begin working on a fix.
Running a business from home changes how you think about the house itself. It is no longer just where you live. It holds your equipment, inventory, records, client calls, production schedule, and internet connection. If a storm damages the property, the repair bill is only one part of the loss. Downtime can cost just as much.
For home-based entrepreneurs in hurricane-prone areas, impact windows can be a practical business continuity investment. The upfront cost is higher than standard windows, but the long-term savings often come from several places at once: insurance discounts, lower energy bills, avoided storm damage, less disruption, and stronger resale value.
Lower Insurance Costs
Many homeowners insurance carriers offer wind mitigation discounts when a home has approved opening protection. Impact windows for home-based entrepreneurs can help qualify for those discounts because they protect one of the most vulnerable parts of the structure: the window openings.
For a home-based business owner, this matters because the home carries both personal and business risk. A lower annual premium can free up cash for software, inventory, marketing, or payroll support. The savings vary by location, carrier, and whether every opening is protected, but in coastal markets the difference can be meaningful.
Entrepreneurs should ask their insurance agent two questions before starting a project:
Which wind mitigation credits apply to impact-rated windows?
Does the carrier require every window, door, skylight, and garage opening to be protected?
That second question matters. In many cases, partial protection leaves money on the table.
Reduced Storm Damage Risk
A broken window during a hurricane can let wind and rain enter the house. Once that happens, the damage can spread fast. Flooring, walls, desks, computers, printers, product samples, shipping supplies, and stored inventory can all be affected.
Impact windows use laminated glass and reinforced frames designed to resist windborne debris. The glass may crack under severe impact, but the laminated interlayer helps keep the opening sealed. That can reduce water intrusion and help protect the room where a home-based entrepreneur works.
For a consultant, that may mean protecting a workstation and client files. For an online seller, it may mean protecting inventory. For a designer, bookkeeper, coach, or agency owner, it may mean keeping the office usable after the storm passes.
Less Business Downtime
Storm damage creates hidden costs. You may need to pause client work, move equipment, replace documents, reschedule meetings, or operate from a temporary location. Even a few lost days can hurt cash flow.
Impact windows do not remove every storm risk, but they can reduce one common failure point. They also remove the need to install panels or shutters before every storm. That matters for entrepreneurs who travel, care for family members, or cannot spend hours preparing windows once a warning is issued.
Permanent protection has a time value. Home-based business owners who want year-round storm protection can compare impact-rated windows and doors before the next hurricane season starts.
Lower Energy Bills
Home offices often run hotter than the rest of the house. Computers, monitors, lights, printers, and equipment add heat, while long workdays keep the air conditioning running.
Modern impact windows can improve energy performance through insulated glass options, Low-E coatings, tighter seals, and stronger frames. In warm climates, that can reduce heat gain and help the HVAC system work less during business hours.
For a home-based entrepreneur, lower monthly utility bills act like a recurring operating-cost reduction. The savings may look modest month to month, but over several years they can help offset the project cost.
Stronger Property Value
Impact windows can improve the value and marketability of a home. Buyers in hurricane-prone areas often view storm protection as a major upgrade because it reduces future work, improves security, and may help with insurance costs.
That matters if the home is part of your long-term financial plan. Many entrepreneurs build wealth through both their business and their property. Improvements that protect the home and support resale value can serve both goals.
Better Security and Noise Reduction
Impact windows can make a home office feel more secure. Laminated glass is harder to penetrate than standard glass, which can help protect computers, equipment, and confidential records.
They can also reduce outside noise. For entrepreneurs who take client calls, record content, teach online, or run meetings from home, a quieter workspace has real value. Better focus and clearer calls may not show up as a line item on a tax return, but they affect daily productivity.
Financing Can Improve Cash Flow
The main objection to impact windows is cost. A full-home project can require a significant upfront investment, especially when doors and larger openings are included.
Home-based entrepreneurs should compare financing options before delaying the project. Some contractors offer payment plans. Some homeowners use home equity products. In Florida, certain homeowners may qualify for hurricane-hardening grant programs or other mitigation incentives.
The right financing structure can spread the cost while the owner receives benefits from insurance savings, energy savings, and reduced storm exposure. A cost guide can help owners compare project scope, product choices, and estimated payback before requesting bids. For readers at that stage, an impact window cost resource can support the budgeting process.
The Business Case
Impact windows make the most financial sense when you evaluate them as more than a home improvement. For a home-based entrepreneur, impact windows can support:
Lower insurance premiums
Reduced storm damage risk
Fewer business interruptions
Lower cooling costs
Improved security
Better resale value
A quieter daily workspace
The payback period depends on the home, location, insurance carrier, window package, and available incentives. Still, the logic is simple: if your home supports your income, protecting the building also protects the business inside it.
Before choosing products, get a written estimate, confirm local code requirements, ask about product approvals, and speak with your insurance agent about wind mitigation credits. That gives you a clearer view of both the upfront cost and the long-term return.
The Drama has been stirring up drama online since a teaser dropped back in December. A24’s dark comedy about a wedding gone awry stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson and promises an unexpected twist. If you’ve managed to steer clear of spoilers thus far, this isn’t your typical “cold feet” romantic comedy. It’s darker and heavier.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama makes you question whether you really know the person you’re about to marry. It’s done surprisingly well at the theaters, besting Zendaya’s 2024 hit Challengers. If you missed it or can’t wait to watch it again, here’s everything you need to know to watch the actual drama unfold from your couch.
What is The Drama about?
The Drama follows Boston couple Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) as they prepare for their wedding. At a food-and-wine tasting event, along with their best friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie), they play a game where each person confesses the worst thing they’ve ever done. While it’s all in good fun at first, the game takes a dark turn when Emma admits her truth. Her confession throws the whole wedding and her relationship as a whole into question.
A24’s The Drama has drawn in moviegoers around the globe, crossing the $100 million mark. It’s only the studio’s fifth film to ever hit the century mark in over a dozen years. So far, it’s earned a 77 percent critic and 78 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which means people aren’t just showing up for the film — they’re actually enjoying it.
That being said, The Drama dabbles in some heavy themes and uncomfortable emotions, so it’s certainly not for everyone. Whether it’s worth a watch is debatable, as always, but one should certainly check trigger warnings before going in.
“Those tired of Hollywood happy endings or whimsical romances might appreciate A24’s latest vision of the rocky road to commitment,” writes Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Despite its flaws, she cheers on the film’s ambiguity, hard-hitting ending, and acting performances.
As of May 5, there are a couple of ways you can watch The Drama at home: buy it or rent it via digital-on-demand retailers. It will also be streaming at a later date. We’ve broken down the details below.
Mashable Top Stories
Buy or rent on digital
The Drama makes its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on May 5, 2026. You can buy the film for your digital library for $24.99 or rent it for $5 less. If you choose the rental option, you’ll get access for 30 days, but only 48 hours once you start watching.
Quick links to buy/rent The Drama on digital:
Stream it on HBO Max (at a later date)
There’s no word yet on a specific streaming release date for The Drama, but we know that it will make its debut on HBO Max.
A24 recently renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases will exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. If The Drama follows the same theater-to-streaming schedule as other recently released A24 movies, like Marty Supreme, Sorry, Baby, and Bring Her Back, we estimate that it will hit HBO Max in the back half of July 2026. We’ll update this story once we know more.
If you want to prepare for its streaming release or check out other A24 films on HBO Max, subscriptions start at $10.99 per month. However, there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.
If you’re ready to commit to an HBO Max subscription, the best way to save some money is to opt for the annual plan over the monthly plan. While a monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, you can get a full year for $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to $9.17 (about 16% in savings).
Want to go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, only the Premium option will unlock 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.
Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan
It may not be the most convenient option, but switching your phone plan to Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max for free. Once you’re a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.
College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half the price of a normal subscription. Just use UNiDAYS to prove your student status, and you’ll receive a unique discount code that’ll drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month. Once the initial 12 months are up, the price will jump back to the full cost unless you cancel.
$19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads)
The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, remains one of the best deals in streaming. For just $19.99 per month, you’ll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $15 cheaper than paying for each one separately. Prefer an ad-free viewing experience? It’ll run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47 for all three. That’s up to 42% in savings.
$10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.98 per month)
If you’re a Verizon customer on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) to your plan for only $10 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that’s essentially like getting one streaming service for free each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you’ll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon’s support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.
$22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month)
Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action with Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package with Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $30.97 for all three, so you’ll save about $8.97 monthly.
Outsourcing hardware design & PCB (printed circuit board) electronics refers to hiring a freelance firm or team of engineers, 3D designers, and developers to manufacture a product’s physical electronic system rather than creating it in-house. For different startups, outsourcing hardware design and PCB electronics is quite common and considered a best practice, especially for those that do not have any electrical engineers on the team. Outsourcing these processes to specialized experts can accelerate development while reducing overhead costs associated with hiring a full team. Also, experienced design firms and specialists can prevent costly trial and error.
If you are in the business of consumer and industrial gadgets, smart home devices, wearables, medical electronics, digital automation systems, and more, outsourcing may just be what you need. There are numerous engineers and other specialized teams that offer outsourcing services to different startups. As an external service provider, Cad Crowd can connect you to a team of world-class quality engineering designers and contractors that will fit your specific design and manufacturing needs. But before you make the move to outsource for the first time, here are some mistakes that new startups typically make and how you can avoid them.
1. Choosing the suppler with the lowest quote
Big savings now may lead to bigger expenses later. There are many factors to consider when looking at the price. First is the experience, if the team can execute well according to your specifications. Second, cheap design does not necessarily mean good quality. You don’t want to end up with a product where everything was done haphazardly and rushed. Third, a quote can be very cheap because not all costs are upfront.
You may end up paying for a lot of hidden costs for any type of rework or troubleshooting. Always keep in mind that redoing a product from scratch, as well as any delay, is more expensive than executing it correctly on the first run. Choosing the cheapest product design firm can affect your product, launch schedule, and most especially your budget, so always weigh your options carefully and choose wisely.
Suppliers are not magicians. You cannot just order a product without clear, specific requirements and expect it to deliver exactly what you want. For a startup, it’s a rookie mistake to expect your supplier to know the ins and outs of your product, especially when it comes to technical electronic specifications like power consumption and requirements, outdoor or indoor usage, and even local regulations.
The moment there are gaps in the details, suppliers often tend to make their own adjustments. This can lead to possible multiple revisions and redesigns along the line. Remember, every redo and rework and every week of delay will potentially cost you thousands of dollars, so always note down and document every single specification detail of the product.
3. Not designing for mass production
Design for Manufacturability (DFM) services are more important than you think. Your PCB prototype can work perfectly, but it may not work for mass production. The layout should always be fit for manufacturability. All the tiny specifications such as tight spacing, dense layouts, and poor planning of panels may result to issues that go beyond the capacity and capability of factories.
Also, if the proposed components are difficult to source, it becomes a major issue in the manufacturing process. Always keep in mind all manufacturing requirements when designing the layout and the system itself. If the PCB or hardware design is not scalable for mass production, this will cause delays in the product launch, increase per-unit costs, and reduce yield.
Before going to production, startups need to ensure that the design prototype includes all parts and components that are readily available at any time. The supply chain is one of the key parts of the manufacturing process, and missing parts will stall the entire production for months on end. Make sure to verify that all parts are not obsolete, have a short lead time from order to delivery, and are sourced from a single, credible source.
If parts are unavailable, the PCB design team must create a completely new PCB layout. Then, there’s the problem with reapplying for another round of certification, which will cause additional delays. Lastly, any additional parts would require a firmware rewrite to ensure compatibility with the entire system. Choose the right parts and make sure they are readily available anytime, at all times.
5. Assuming that the first PCB prototype already works
Any type of hardware always requires and needs several iterations. The first revision of any prototype is never perfect. Failing to plan for multiple revisions will prove very costly down the line. Never assume that the first one works immediately without any problems. The real scenario is that Revision No. 1 is when the electronics design team discovers major issues. Maybe there are faulty components, relay disconnections, gaps in the system, etc. Revision No. 2 is where any functional issues are fixed, such as parts not working together properly. Even that’s not enough, because Revision No. 3 is when the system’s performance can be optimized with additional tweaks.
These iterations are also when you can assess manufacturability and determine whether the product is ready for mass production. At the beginning of the design process, always include in the timeline and the overall budget considerations for multiple revisions and iterations. This ensures that your startup will either burn through funds or experience delays in the product launch, which can definitely result in your investors being frustrated or displeased.
6. Lack of communication with outsourced suppliers
Before choosing the right team of external engineers and PCB designers to work with, make sure that you are prepared to communicate with them regularly. Have an organized communication system in place to share important files and documentation, update and review each other weekly, create logs for every approval and revision, and more. Creating a product requires very precise, no-fail coordination between the firmware and the hardware.
Clear communication must be maintained at all times to control the various revisions and iterations being applied. Also, having an open line between the startup team and the outsourced team will make it easier to quickly manage and resolve any issue that become escalated. It is critical to avoid any miscommunication to prevent major issues such as pin assignments out of place, incorrect voltage rails, or firmware that is completely incompatible with the hardware being designed.
7. Not securing ownership of the product source files
It would be a massive problem if you do not gain ownership of the original design files. Here is a list of the important files you need to secure after working with any outsourced supplier: Full schematic design, PCB layout files, the Entire library of parts and components, and the Complete source code for all installed firmware. Why should you ensure that all these design files are in your possession? Because if you change suppliers or hire an entirely new design engineering team in the future, they do not need to create revisions or reworks from nothing.
Without the source file, revisions and redesigns would have to start from scratch, which can waste many months on rework on an existing product design. Even worse, if you try to request the original file from the previous supplier, you will likely have to pay very high fees to access it. Always ensure that ownership your own product’s design is very clearly stated in the contract to save yourself.
8. Putting off compliance certifications
All electronic products must be certified to ensure they operate safely and do not harm users or the environment. One thing about startups is that they always focus first and foremost on the design and remember to comply with necessary EMI/EMC and Certifications later on. One of the most important things that startups need before you can proceed to market a product is to comply with all necessary certifications that declare your product as up to global standards.
But what if the product fails to meet EMI (electromagnetic interference), which ensures that the device does not produce unwanted emissions, or EMC (electromagnetic compatibility), which ensures that the product works properly? Then your product will have to undergo a major revision in the PCB layout and a total overhaul and redesign. Fixing these technical problems is a long, drawn-out process that costs a lot of money. So, even when planning the entire system from the beginning, always consider the compliance requirements.
Designing a PCB with no plan for testing is a formula for disaster. Engineers should always design a PCB with a plan of how to test it, making sure that these are included in the initial prototype: multiple test points to check the signal, programming connectors where firmware can be uploaded, built-in access points to test chips, and plans on how to verify boards before they are shipped out. If you cannot test a board, it will be very difficult to identify faulty or defective boards, which part or component is defective, and why the defect occurred in the first place. This results in a lot of boards getting thrown away. Another problem is that it would be very difficult to troubleshoot and debug.
If there are no access points on how to check, the design engineering team would have to dismantle boards piece by piece, and waste so much time trying to guess what the issue is and where it is. Another worst-case scenario is that if boards are not tested before shipping, customers will discover the problems at home. This results in product returns, and in the end, the reputation of your startup and its products will feel the backlash.Always design your PCB’s schematics and layout with a plan to test it first.
10. Not consolidating the firmware and hardware
The hardware is the physical board, while the firmware involves the software that runs inside the chip. Both are not independent of the other and must be taken together. It’s not uncommon for startups to outsource to different suppliers for hardware design and software development. This is not a problem if there is early communication and collaboration because anything related to hardware has a direct connection with how the firmware works.
The problem with hardware and firmware not being in sync from the start is that when issues crop up, the PCB assembly team needs to make a new board, rewrite all the firmware, build totally new prototypes, which, of course, costs thousands of dollars. Even before actual layout design begins, both hardware and firmware teams must consolidate and integrate their work processes to ensure smooth outcomes.
11. Setting unrealistic time schedules and deadlines
Startup founders need to remember that software and hardware do not follow the same timelines. Hardware design involves many physical processes, such as planning the architecture, designing schematics and PCB layouts, procuring materials, fabricating prototypes, testing the product, and fixing and revising it. This process flow for the hardware alone takes months. Unlike software, which involves coding and testing, a physical PCB cannot be updated in a couple of minutes. Fabrication depends on the lead time provided by the manufacturer or factory.
This lead time also depends on the shipment schedule of the parts and components, which can be easily affected by climate and weather disturbances or by any problem in the supply chain, including political issues. Therefore, the timeline must always depend on the hardware schedule. Setting unrealistic timelines can result in the investors losing trust and confidence in your electronic product design company. If schedules are not laid out clearly, the teams will burn out from stress. Always plan accordingly based on the hardware design process.
12. Lacking a sustainable manufacturing plan
Most startups focus a lot of energy on a successful, working prototype, but sometimes forget how to scale their product. The ability to transition to the manufacturing and mass-production stage is often overlooked. Thus, startups should remember that the actual product must be easily scalable, even when produced in the thousands. Some important things to keep in mind are to first choose the right manufacturing partner. Make sure that your partner’s factory is experienced in handling fine electronic components, assembling high-speed PCBs, and is able to maintain quality control despite the large-scale production.
Working with the right contract manufacturer is an important factor for success. Prototypes are sometimes assembled by hand, but mass production is created through automated machines. If your design easily falls apart on the assembly line, it means your manufacturing plan has suddenly become too costly. Lastly, don’t forget that particular parts and components might no longer exist in just a few years. Always plan for alternatives and secondary sources once the original ones become obsolete.
Before outsourcing hardware design & PCB electronics to an external pcb layout design team, take note of these important guidelines to ensure positive outcomes.
Scope of work and list of deliverables
You should always clearly indicate what the supplier will design, along with a complete list of features and performance goals. Also, the limitations and what is not to be included must also be stipulated. The number of prototype revisions should be clearly stated, taking into account the number of iterations and revisions required for the design (see section 5). The deliverables (schematics, PCB layout files, firmware files, test plans, etc.) must be clearly listed, along with a timeline with reasonable lead times and deadlines. Lastly, the ownership of the IP and design source files must already be identified at the beginning.
Organized communication
A strong and healthy relationship with the outsourced supplier is defined by regular updates. Having an open line of communication where all parties collaborate in a shared space is also critical for the engineering design team. There should be weekly coordination and review, as well as a platform to track and log all hardware and firmware decisions and approvals.
Discussion of potential risks
Always bring up potential risks with your outsourced supplier, including the availability of the parts and components, any concerns about temperature, issues on EMI, compliance with regulations and requirements, and, of course, the cost versus the actual performance. Discuss these things openly and develop strategies to manage them immediately.
Collaboration between hardware and firmware
If you outsource these two things separately, make sure coordination and collaboration start from Day 1. The software engineers responsible for the firmware should review the schematic design very closely. Technical details, such as pin assignments and even power modes, are reviewed early and approved together. Before the actual PCB layout, integration planning has already been done.
Make sure your outsourced supplier already has mass production and manufacturability in mind. The 3D engineering team needs to consider how to scale and produce in bulk even during the layout design stage. They know how to choose parts and components that are always available with a steady and stable supply. Test points are a must during prototyping, and that prototype must be ready to scale up and be mass-produced anytime.
Clear breakdown of costs
To ensure a transparent relationship with your outsourced supplier, make sure that you understand the cost of engineering, the cost of prototype, and the costs of future revisions. Always ask for a breakdown of every single expense throughout the entire process.
Turnover and ownership of files
Your outsourced supplier must be willing to provide you with the following design source files: native schematics, PCB layouts, component library, source codes of firmware, and manufacturing files. You should never be held hostage by your supplier.
Outsourcing quick tips and checklist
Have a clear product specification. Be as detailed about the product as possible
Know your target costs. Set them early to ensure achievable targets.
Know the estimated volume of production.
Understand certification requirements. Compliance is important to meet international standards.
Set a realistic timeline. Make sure all schedules and deadlines defer to the physical design of hardware.
Check outsourcing suppliers’ previous experience. Have they previously designed something similar?
Ensure the supplier understands the process of contract manufacturing and mass production. Can they create a prototype that is ready for manufacturing and shipment?
Clearly state ownership of source files. All files should be turned over to you.
Choosing the right outsourced team that fits your startup
Having a solid and reliable outsourcing partner for hardware design and PCB electronics is essential for every startup’s success. Outsourcing the product concept design services and development of your hardware can be very beneficial for your startup, saving you resources, time, and costs in the long-term. However, a successful partnership begins by selecting the right team of engineers and designers to fulfill your outsourcing needs. The solution to all your hardware design outsourcing problems is Cad Crowd.
They provide a one-stop shop for all the specialized expertise required who can help with electronics such as electrical engineers, PCB layout designers, software developers for firmware, consultants for manufacturing design, and more. You get access to a vast network of freelance experts and professionals whose skills and experience match exactly what your product requires to get from concept development to being ready to market. Cad Crowd vets and selects each one of their possible freelance candidates so that you won’t make the costly mistake of outsourcing to someone who does not fit your project.
Cad Crowd prevents that by giving you access to multiple engineer profiles and portfolios where you can review previous work, check feedback from other clients who have outsourced with them. Even better, you can communicate with CAD engineering candidates before actually going into a contract of commitment. Because sometimes it’s not just about choosing the team members with the best technical background, but also someone who can fit in with the culture of your startup.
At the early stages of any startup, being cost-efficient while maintaining a high standard of quality in every product is critical to long-term success and survival. Having a complete in-house team for hardware design & PCB electronics can be very expensive. Not only do you have to think of salaries, but licenses of software, as well as equipment for research & development is needed as well. That’s a lot of overhead costs when you’re in the early stages, where the budget is limited.
With Cad Crowd, you have access to all these resources for hardware design and firmware development without any requirement to provide them with permanent employment. This allows your startup to remain flexible yet effective, being able to pivot whenever needed as your startup evolves. The best thing about Cad Crowd, you are not limited to your region.
You can connect to skilled electronic engineers from all over the world, giving you more options to hire someone who has the exact experience with your product, whether it is something similar or even more complex or specialized. Transform your innovative product concept into a very real and reliable tangible electronic product with the right outsourced supplier from Cad Crowd’s network. Contact us for a free quote.
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
The hype is steadily building around Summer Game Fest 2026 and the show’s June calendar is starting to fill out. The fine folks at Wholesome Games will host their seventh annual digital showcase on Saturday, June 6 at 12PM ET on YouTube and Twitch, featuring more than 50 joyful and just plain adorable games from new and established studios alike. Wholesome Direct 2026 promises to feature world premieres, demo reveals and a handful of fun surprises.
The list of confirmed participants includes Planet Coaster series creator Frontier Developments, Fields of Mistria team NPC Studio, The Wandering Village dev Stray Fawn Studio, and Cozy Grove maker Spry Fox. The Spry Fox update is of particular note, considering some recent upheaval at the studio: Netflix bought Spry Fox in 2022, published its Cozy Grove sequel in 2024, and then sold Spry Fox back to its original founders in December 2025. Netflix had already greenlit Spry Fox’s next game, a cozy life-simulation MMO called Spirit Crossing, and the streamer is still on tap to publish it on mobile, with Spry Fox self-publishing on Steam. It’ll be nice to get a peek at Spirit Crossing now that the corporate dust has settled.
The Wholesome Games Presents publishing arm will also provide updates on Usagi Shima (a bunny atsume-style game coming to Steam in 2026), Is This Seat Taken? (Poti Poti Studio’s beloved little puzzler that came out in mid-2025), and Milki Delivery (a sweet-looking community-building game from Minami Lane creators Blibloop and Doot).
Merch sales tied to this year’s Wholesome Direct showcase will benefit the Transgender Law Center. Wholesome Direct fundraising efforts have raised more than $300,000 since 2020 for charities including the American Heart Association, Point of Pride, Save the Children, AbleGamers, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the International Rescue Committee.
Summer Game Fest 2026 kicks off on Friday, June 5 at 5PM ET with its big live show, and the surrounding days will be packed with additional streams and news dumps. We’ll go hands-on with fresh games at iam8bit’s Play Days event in downtown Los Angeles and we can all watch another Day of the Devs: SGF Edition together, plus whatever else is announced in the coming weeks. If you want to keep up with Wholesome Games news specifically, check out the Discord.
Two days before the Musk v. Altman trial began, Elon Musk asked OpenAI cofounder and president Greg Brockman about reaching a settlement. When Brockman suggested both sides drop their claims, Musk responded, “By the end of this week, you and Sam [Altman] will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so be it.”
The message—which OpenAI’s lawyers made public on Sunday, and which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers subsequently refused to let the jury hear about—underscores what may be Musk’s larger goal in this trial. He appears to be trying to not only win over the jurors to potentially remove Brockman and CEO Sam Altman from power, but also stir up dirt on the two men and damage OpenAI’s public image.
As Brockman took the stand on Monday, Musk’s attorney Steven Molo quickly started questioning him about his compensation at OpenAI. Brockman revealed that his equity stake at OpenAI is currently worth more than $20 billion, and perhaps up to $30 billion. While Brockman initially promised to donate $100,000 to OpenAI when it was being set up, he said he ultimately never followed through.
Brockman has held a number of instrumental roles at OpenAI since he cofounded the company in 2015. In the startup’s early days, it operated out of his apartment in the Mission District of San Francisco. Today, he’s deeply involved with refocusing OpenAI on a few key products, such as Codex. In the past year, Brockman has also given millions to super PACs promoting AI and President Trump, and has previously said this increased political spending is related to OpenAI’s founding mission to create artificial general intelligence that benefits all of humanity.
In court on Monday, Molo tried to make the case that Brockman and Altman had essentially looted OpenAI’s original nonprofit, which Musk funded and helped create.
In its early days, OpenAI told investors and employees that its nonprofit mission took precedence over generating profit. Brockman testified that his financial interests are still, to this day, second to OpenAI’s nonprofit mission.
When OpenAI created its for-profit arm in 2019, which received assets from the nonprofit, Brockman testified that he was given a significant stake in the new entity. Early in OpenAI’s history, Brockman had referenced wanting to be a billionaire, writing in his personal journal, “Financially what will take me to $1B?”
On Monday, Molo pressed Brockman for several minutes about the vast wealth he had accumulated beyond his initial goal.
“Why not donate that $29 billion to the OpenAI nonprofit? Why didn’t you do that?” Molo asked. Brockman responded that he and others had poured “blood, sweat, and tears” into building OpenAI in the years since Musk left the company.
OpenAI’s foundation holds a stake of over $150 billion in the company, making it one of the richest nonprofits in history, Brockman said. That’s roughly five times Brockman’s ownership interest. Altogether, OpenAI employees hold about 25 percent of shares. The foundation has 27 percent. Brockman testified that OpenAI’s nonprofit had received less than $150 million from donors, implying Musk had been incidental to the company’s success and that the real drivers were those who stuck around to build out OpenAI.
Of course, Brockman’s stake in OpenAI could be worth much more than $30 billion if the company successfully goes public in the next two years. When asked whether OpenAI was exploring a potential IPO, Brockman said he believes so.
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