She's 17 and won an international musical contest — beating out tens of thousands of entries
Summer Bennett of Paradise is having a big month. She won the East Coast Music Award for Dance Release of the Year. And nabbed first place in the International Songwriting Competition in the teen category. On the Go's Todd O'Brien talked to Bennett about her stepping into the spotlight.
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CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
I Got Belkin's New Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories But Not the Switch 2
You'd think an accessories company like Belkin would have already made some gaming accessories, but until now it hasn't. That's changing as it's released four new accessories for the new Switch 2 game console, which Nintendo just started shipping to consumers. I'm still waiting for my Switch 2 to arrive, but I did get review samples of all four Belkin Switch 2 accessories, which include two cases -- one with a bundled battery -- and two glass screen protectors. Read more: CNET's Switch 2 accessories round up The $30 Belkin Travel Case for Switch 2, available in three color options (charcoal, sand and green), is a compact, elegant case that seems durable (the fabric is water-resistant). On the inside you'll find a slot system to store 10 game cards and a hidden AirTag compartment. What's kind of cool is that you can detach the carrying handle, turning it into a wristlet strap. According to Belkin, the relatively compact case weighs 285.5 grams (.63 pounds) or 821.5 grams (1.81 pounds) with the Switch 2 stored in it. The Travel case comes in three color options. Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET The $70 Belkin Charging Case has the same footprint as the Travel Case but is about a third thicker as it includes a 10K power bank that sits in a little well in the bottom of the case under your Switch 2. You can charge the console in the case or remove the battery and uses it to charge the Switch 2 outside the case -- or charge other devices. It's a pretty basic looking 10K portable battery that offers fast 20W charging and has two USB-C charge out ports (the Switch 2 has a 5,220mAh battery and Belkin says its power bank will charge the Switch 1.5x). In my tests with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, the power bank doesn't heat up too much while charging. The Charging Case also includes the same slot system to store 10 game cards and a hidden AirTag compartment. The Belkin Charging Case for Switch 2 includes a 10K power bank. Belkin The screen protectors are solid glass screen protectors, which is nice (these aren't those cheap, thin plastic ones you sometimes see). Belkin has a history of making screen protectors for iPhones -- it has a partnership with Apple to apply screen protectors in Apple Stores -- so they also seem good though a little pricey. Read more: Hands-on with Nintendo's Switch 2 on launch day I'm already seeing a slew of Switch 2 cases and accessories showing up on Amazon from no-name brands, with cases starting at a little less than $20. We'll be putting together a list of the best Switch accessories as soon as we test more items, but I like what I've seen so far with these Belkin accessories. I'll add any additional comments should I encounter any issues once I actually use them with my Switch 2 that is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Belkin's antireflective screen protector for the Switch 2. Belkin Belkin's new gaming accessories:
The Verge
an hour ago
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Ballerina is a dance-by-numbers return to the world of John Wick
Lionsgate was always going to need to take the John Wick franchise in a new direction if it wanted to keep the film series going after the inevitable exit of its central star. A spinoff series came and went with a telling lack of fanfare that spoke, in part, to how John Wick stories feel like they were meant to be experienced in movie theaters. And while the studio has a second tie-in show in the works, it seems like another project that might wind up being a sign that John Wick works best on the silver screen. On paper, director Len Wiseman's awkwardly named From the World of John Wick: Ballerina feature sounds like the sort of straightforward parallel prequel that could work as the beginning of a new chapter for the larger franchise. There's a simplicity to the story and a comedic whimsy to (some of) its action that feels true to the John Wick brand. And there are enough returning faces from the older films that it works fairly well as a crash course introduction to this gore-filled world of assassins. But in practice, Ballerina lacks a lot of the near-camp flair that made previous John Wick films fun, and most of its set pieces feel uninspired. Rather than using its story to show you how an ordinary person learns the ins and outs of the assassin lifestyle, Ballerina spends most of its runtime riffing on narrative beats from other action films. That might have worked if the movie's leading actor delivered a compelling performance that sold her character as the series' rightful heir. But Ana de Armas' acting — especially compared to that of her co-stars — falls too flat for its own good. Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, Ballerina chronicles the rise of Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) as she becomes one of the world's most-wanted hired killers. As an orphan raised within the Ruska Roma, Eve knows that she's destined to follow in the bloody footsteps of her adoptive mother, the Director (Anjelica Huston). But part of her still yearns to leave her violent life behind to pursue a career as a ballerina. It's a dream that Eve's father (David Castañeda) encouraged her to hold onto during her childhood while he worked to keep their small family safe and far away from another clan of deadly assassins. But after being forced to watch his murder at the hands of the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) as a child, Eve locks that part of herself away in order to focus on revenge. As one of the Ruska Roma's strongest young students, it doesn't take much for Eve to convince the Director to let her start going on assignments to take out and / or protect high-profile targets. But when one of her missions brings her face-to-face with a member of the Chancellor's clan, she breaks protocol and starts hunting more of them down, knowing full well that her adoptive family will take swift action to stop her before she sets off a war. Compared to past John Wick films, there's a roughness to Ballerina 's choreographed fights that's meant to highlight how relatively new Eve is to operating in the field and how, because of her small stature, she has to be creative in her approach to taking on larger opponents. While Eve finds herself in plenty of shoot-outs, the film often leaves her with nothing but her wits and whatever mundane objects (rather than weapons) happen to be laying around. It's an idea that works well enough throughout Ballerina 's first act, when we're first shown her signature move of using her bodyweight to snap people's necks and arms. Though Ballerina 's script cribs some story beats from Kill Bill and Marvel's Black Widow, the film's action is classic John Wick in the way its brawls emphasize the artistry of stunt fighting. But as the film progresses, it quickly becomes clear that Eve doesn't have many other tricks up her sleeve, and the few that she does have tend to feel like steps de Armas is counting her way through. Acting has never really been the big draw for John Wick movies, but there's an emotionally wooden quality to de Armas' performance that makes Eve hard to buy as a complex, conflicted character. This is especially apparent in scenes between Eve and Ballerina 's other returning characters from John Wick 's past like New York Continental owner Winston Scott (Ian McShane) and hotel concierge Charon (the late Lance Reddick in his final on-screen performance). Where Ballerina does work well is in moments where it embraces the cartoon energy that's always been present in the John Wick franchise and served to offset the visceral brutality of its brawls. It's tough watching Eve slash people's faces to shreds with ice skates on her hands, but it's wildly fun watching her use a fire hose to square off with someone wielding a flamethrower. De Armas' awkwardness actually feels like more of a feature than a bug in scenes that double down on the idea that Eve is learning on the job and still getting used to the ridiculousness of being an assassin in this heightened reality. But Ballerina insists on returning to a serious tone that does no favors for its lead actor. It's easy to imagine Ballerina really shining with a little bit more live-action cartoon energy and a narrative that actually felt like a journey through the world of John Wick. But for that kind of a good time, we're going to have to wait for whatever the franchise has next.
CNET
2 hours ago
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'Murderbot': When to Watch Episode 5 of Apple's New Sci-Fi Comedy Thriller
Alexander Skarsgård as the titular sentient sec bot in Apple TV Plus's sci-fi thriller, Murderbot. Apple TV Plus Murderbot joins the epic list of must-see sci-fi series you can watch on Apple TV Plus. The sci-fi comedy is based on Martha Wells's Hugo—and Nebula Award-winning bestselling series. It follows a self-hacking security robot (or sec bot, for short) programmed to protect its crew while trying to make sense of its newfound sentience. It loves trashy TV but despises human emotions. Alexander Skarsgård leads the series as the cyborg in question. Can the Murderbot keep its free will a secret and serve out its assignment to keep its vulnerable human clients safe? Or will it succumb to its more profound desire: watching futuristic soap operas and pondering its place in the vast, unknowable maw of the universe? Alongside Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tamara Podemski and Tattiawna Jones star. The Weitz brothers wrote, directed and produced the series; David S. Goyer and Keith Levine are the executive producers. Scroll on to learn the episodic release schedule for Murderbot and more streaming details about the series. Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2025 When to watch Murderbot on Apple TV Plus Murderbot's fifth episode, Rogue War Tracker Infinite, will premiere on Apple TV Plus on Friday, June 6. The remaining episodes will stream on the platform each Friday until the Season 1 finale on July 11. Here's the full episodic schedule: Episode 1: "Free Commerce" -- May 16 "Free Commerce" -- May 16 Episode 2: "Eye Contact" -- May 16 "Eye Contact" -- May 16 Episode 3: "Risk Assessment" -- May 23 "Risk Assessment" -- May 23 Episode 4: "Escape Velocity Protocol" -- May 30 "Escape Velocity Protocol" -- May 30 Episode 5: "Rogue War Tracker Infinite" -- June 6 "Rogue War Tracker Infinite" -- June 6 Episode 6: "Command Feed" -- June 13 "Command Feed" -- June 13 Episode 7: "Complementary Species" -- June 20 "Complementary Species" -- June 20 Episode 8: "Foreign Object" -- June 27 "Foreign Object" -- June 27 Episode 9: "All Systems Red" -- July 4 "All Systems Red" -- July 4 Episode 10: "The Perimeter" -- July 11 If you don't have an Apple device, sign up for the service via Prime Video channels or on your Android device. James Martin/CNET Apple TV Plus Home of Murderbot To watch Murderbot, you will need to sign up for a subscription to Apple TV Plus, which is priced at $10 per month. If you are a new subscriber, you can take advantage of a seven-day free trial. Additionally, if you have purchased a new Apple device, you are eligible for three months of Apple TV+ for free, but you must redeem this offer within 90 days of your purchase. See at Apple TV Plus How to watch Murderbot from anywhere with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows or movies while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds; they can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN usage to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying whether your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
