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It's an excellent time to find AirPods deals, thanks to the new release of the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2. This means you can find fantastic AirPods sales on all models, including the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 2 and 3, the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max, and even rare AirPods 4 deals.The AirPods 4 and AirPods 2 were just unveiled at last year's September Apple Event and are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129. Thanks to holiday sales, you can find impressive discounts on Apple's newest AirPods and AirPods deals on older models, with prices as low as $69 / £69.Below, you'll find all the best AirPods deals, categorized by Apple's standard AirPods, which include the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the all-new AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 2, which include noise-canceling technology, and Apple's only over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2.Our price comparison tool automatically brings you the best savings from all your favorite retailers. You can shop the latest prices when they hit the shelves to ensure you get the best AirPods deals.

The best AirPods sales and deals

The best AirPods deals

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple's all-new AirPods 4 are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129.Apple says the AirPods 4 are the best-fitting AirPods ever and feature a new refined contour and shorter stem. The AirPods include Apple's H2 chip that supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation to improve the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Other features include new controls for playing music and muting calls, a case that delivers 30 hours of battery life, and support for USB-C for wireless charging.

There are plenty of AirPods deals to be found for the 2019 AirPods that had a launch price of $159 / £159 / AU$249. But thanks to the AirPods 3 release, you can find frequent discounts on the 2nd generation AirPods, dropping as low as $99 / £99 / AU$99.While the AirPods 2 lack noise cancellation, the 2nd generation earbuds come with Apple's H1 chip to deliver quality sound and faster pairing with seamless connectivity. The H1 chip also offers voice control via Siri, so you can get directions, skip songs, and make calls completely hands-free. The earbuds come with a charging case that provides a further 20 hours of battery life in addition to the five hours in the buds themselves.

(Image credit: Apple)

The Apple AirPods 3 were released in 2021 and are the latest true wireless earbuds in Apple's line-up of AirPods. The earbuds feature a new design that resembles the AirPods Pro with shorter stems that include touch-capacitive force sensors for easy control. You're also getting improved sound with spatial audio, resulting in a more immersive experience, and a MagSafe charging case that provides more than 30 hours of total listening time.The 3rd generation AirPods have a starting retail price of $179 / £169 / AU$279, but you can regularly find the earbuds on sale since their release.

The best AirPods Pro deals

(Image credit: Apple)

In September of 2022, the long-awaited AirPods Pro 2 launched with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. You're getting enhanced noise cancellation and overall sound quality thanks to Apple's new H2 chip and improved in-ear detection and touch controls for volume adjustment. At the 2023 Apple September event, the AirPods Pro 2 received an upgrade and now come with a USB-C charging case, so you don't have to rely on a Lightning cable, plus additional dust resistance and Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro.Thanks to recent holiday sales, we've already seen impressive AirPods Pro deals, with record-low prices reaching $189.99 in the US.

The original AirPods Pro were released in 2019 with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. While the earbuds are no longer available to purchase from the Apple store, you can sometimes find the original AirPods Pro on sale at third-party retailers.The AirPods Pro were the first AirPods to include active noise-canceling technology to keep outside distractions away from your music, which is excellent for those noisy commutes or keeping your concentration going at work. The AirPods Pro are also water and sweat resistant, making them much better suited to the gym than the standard AirPods, and they come with multiple tips so you can adjust to the best fit for you.

Check out AirPods Pro deals direct from Apple

The best AirPods Max deals

Apple quietly released the AirPods Max in December of 2020 as Apple's most expensive headphones with a starting price of $549.99 / £549.The AirPods Max not only stand out because of their price, but the Apple headphones also feature an over-ear design, which is a first from the AirPods line. Apple claims the AirPods Max bring the magic of AirPods to an over-the-ear design, which means you're getting Active Noise Cancellation, powerful H1 Chips, and an enhanced audio experience.The AirPods Max also feature a unique design with a breathable knit mesh headband and a stainless steel frame with memory foam earcups for ultimate comfort. The Apple headphones come in several sleek color choices, such as space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink, and provide up to 20 hours of battery life.

Check out AirPods Max deals direct from Apple

How much are AirPods?

The official AirPods' price is $159 in the US and £159 in the UK and $249 in Australia. So you shouldn't pay any more. Although, we have seen some stores cheekily push the price up when stock thins out. If you're looking for the version with the wireless charging case, then prices shoot up to around $199 in the US and £199 in the UK.Expect the usual outlets to charge closer to the MSRP and, better yet, potentially dip below it around the key shopping seasons. Fingers crossed we don't have to wait long for some proper Apple AirPod sales though!As an alternative, there are lots of wireless earphone and headphone deals in our Beats headphone deals page and other brands are covered in our wireless headphone deals page.

What about the original 2016 Apple AirPods?

These models have been discontinued and phased out at most stores now. On the rare occasions that we do spot unused stock units, they're actually the same price as the new and improved 2019 versions.Short version: get the 2019 models instead via one of the deals in the comparison chart above. To be sure they are the new ones, look out for H1 chip and hands-free Siri functionality in the description if the title doesn't say something along the lines of '2019' or 'latest/newest version'.

Should I wait for a cheaper AirPods deal?

You might be waiting a while for seriously big discounts. Last year around Black Friday, we were seeing $20 discounts selling out in minutes, and it was one of the most popular deals we highlighted in our extensive roundups of the hottest offers. We saw similar discounts in the UK too - much better than last year's $7 discount but still no flash sales around right now.Things have actually been better overall this year though with much better deals available in various regions. We're regularly seeing discounts of $15/£20 outside of peak seasonal discounts, so you should be able to beat the recommended asking price to be honest.

Apple fan in general? Then take a look at the latest iPad deals and the best Apple AirTag prices and sales.

GoPro deals are offering up some excellent savings across the full Hero range right now, with the release of the Hero 13 Black and older models dropping even further in price. We've been watching these costs trickle down over the last few months, so anyone on the hunt for a cheap GoPro right now is well-catered for. Those GoPro sales aren't just reserved for those with the big bucks, though, we're also seeing older models taking steep savings these days. From the Hero 12 to the latest entry-level action camera, there are GoPro deals at every budget level available.If you're just after the newest release, however, you're shopping at the right time. The latest GoPro Hero action camera is on our best GoPro camera list, thanks to its affordable price tag of $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99. It's easy to use and features a compact and rugged design with an impressive battery life.We'll explain each model's specs, making it easy for you to compare them all. So whether you're after the smoothest 4K scene shooting or a reliable budget 1080p option, we've got the best GoPro deal for you.

The best GoPro prices right now

(Image credit: GoPro)

1: GoPro Hero Action CameraGoPro's cheapest action camera4K video: up to 30fps | Stills: 12MP | Waterproof: 5m | Battery life: 80 minutes estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99AffordableCompact designSimple to useLimited video options

If you want a cheap and easy-to-use action camera, the 2024 GoPro Hero is a fantastic option, priced at just $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99. While it lacks some of the high-quality video options that GoPros are known for, the camera does include impressive features such as HyperSmooth video stabilization, ultra HD 4K video, and an LCD touch-screen display. It's also highly compact, with 35% less volume and 44% less mass than the Hero12 Black. It also has a battery life of up to 80 minutes and a rugged, waterproof design of up to 16ft under water.

(Image credit: GoPro)

1: GoPro Hero 12 Black dealsExtra features at a great price5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | Stills: 27.6MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1.5 to 2.5 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $399.99 / £399.99 / AU$649Frequently discountedSuberb stabilizationSupport for Bluetooth audioStill expensive

The GoPro Hero 12 Black was released in 2023 and sat at the top of our best GoPro list before the GoPro Hero 13 was released in 2024. It's feature-packed and still one of the best action cameras you can buy, and it's also frequently discounted thanks to newer releases. Compared to the Hero 11, new features include a 1/4-inch thread mount to handle mini tripods, HDR video capture for improved picture, and support for wireless audio from a Bluetooth microphone. You're also getting GoPro's excellent Hypersmooth stabilization to handle your action shots, 10m waterproofing, and a battery life lasting up to two and a half hours.

(Image credit: Gopro)

1: GoPro Hero 11 Black dealsThe best GoPro action camera for social media5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | Stills: 27MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-2 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $499.99 / £499.99 / AU$799HyperSmooth 5.0 with 360° horizon lock Support for 10-bit videoImproved battery lifeUser friendlyExpensive

GoPro's latest and greatest, the Hero 11 Black, was released in September of 2022 and is no longer available from the official GoPro store. The Hero 11 Black includes new updates over the Hero 11, like the 1/1.9in sensor, which helps boost versatility, including exporting videos in various formats, a feature that will please social media gurus. The Hero 11 Black also includes an improved Enduro rechargeable battery, support for 10-bit video, and HyperSmooth 5.0 for the smoothest and steadiest recording experience. The GoPro Hero 11 Black has a starting retail price of $499.99/ £499.99/ AU$799.95 and is now GoPro's most expensive camera. Thanks to recent holiday sales, we've already seen discounts on the camera, so you shouldn't expect to pay full price.

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2: GoPro Hero 10 Black dealsOne of GoPro's best cameras at a discounted price5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 23MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-2 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$7495.3K at 60fps Snappier menus and interfacePowerful GP2 processorClass-leading stabilization

The GoPro Hero 10 Black launched back in 2021, but it still leads the market with its 5.3K 60fps recording quality and high-powered processor under the hood. Of course, all that grunt comes with a high asking price, and the MSRP here represents a considerable jump over the previous generation Hero 9.You're looking at a maximum cost of $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$749 for this professional level action camera, though we have seen GoPro deals dropping that price to as little as $399 / £379 in the past year. In fact, over the last few months we've been seeing that sub-$400 price position relatively regularly, so you're browsing at an excellent time.

(Image credit: GoPro)

3: GoPro Hero 9 Black dealsAn older generation is seeing some strong discounts5K video: up to 30fps | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 20MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-3 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699.95Extra detail in 5K Additional front displayImproved batteryNew software tricks

The GoPro Hero 9 Black still comes with a range of new software features, an extended battery life, brand new 5K shooting capabilities, and a front facing display. That's a good list of upgrades that adds more to the value than the Hero 8 Black offered, but you'll find little improvement in 4K shooting here.That 5K option, however, makes up for the stasis of shooting 4K at 60fps. You'll get better clarity and more vivid details with the new shooting mode, and pair that with HyperSmooth Boost (GoPro's latest and most powerful stabilization tech) and it's possible to achieve some amazing footage with the GoPro Hero 9 Black.With all that new tech does come a shift in the GoPro price, with the new model launching for £100 / $200 more than the previous version now sits at. However, if you're shopping in the UK you can save that £100 by picking up GoPro's own launch bundle which offers up a year of the GoPro subscription (unlimited cloud storage, savings on accessories, and warranty replacement) with the new camera for far less than the action cam by itself.

(Image credit: GoPro)

4: GoPro Hero 8 dealsA more affordable GoPro if you can find stockFOV: SuperView, Wide, Linear, Narrow | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | 720p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Battery: 1220mAh | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Excellent image stabilizationFolding built-in mountBetter micNow superseded

This older GoPro was more about internal improvements over radical redesigns. But make no mistake, the GoPro Hero 8 Black is still one of the best action cameras GoPro has ever made.Image Stabilization 2.0 combats the most chaotic of scenes you can throw at it and there's a better microphone on the device now too. The water resistance is a solid 10m and the shock resistance rating of the Gorilla Glass lens cover has been doubled - especially handy if you're likely to make a mess of a landing or take a bit of a beating from the great outdoors.So, it's still a fantastic action camera for 2022, and now with two generations ahead of it there's plenty of room for discounts. You can currently pick it up for around $100 / £100 cheaper than the Hero 9 Black. A very tempting pick if you're not too bothered about the latest features.

(Image credit: GoPro)

5: GoPro Max pricesThe best GoPro with a 360 degree cameraFOV: Max SuperView, SuperView, Wide, Linear, Narrow | 5.6k video: up to 30fps | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | 720p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 16.6MP | Battery: 1600mAh | Launch Price: $499 / £479 / AU$799Film in full 360 modesNow with a proper displayCheap launch priceHero 8 Black has better camera

If you want to film your latest adventures in full 360-degree vision then the new GoPro Max is the action camera you've been looking for. Its launch price is much cheaper than the older GoPro Fusion was on day one too.We're glad to see a proper display screen on the GoPro Max as that was a feature we sorely missed on the older Fusion 360 degree camera. If filming in 360 isn't that high on your priorities, then the GoPro Hero 8 Black is the better camera for you, although the mic quality on the Max is better.The GoPro Max only requires one memory card now and stitches the footage together in-camera, making editing much simpler and the Max HyperSmooth technology does a much better job at leveling the horizon out - as long as you keep up your end of the deal by not flying over the handlebars and into a tree that is.

6: GoPro Hero 7 Black pricesA great camera, with falling pricesFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Linear | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS | Auto low light: Yes | Launch Price: $399 / £379 / AU$599HyperSmooth is a great additionLive streaming featuresTakes better still images tooExcellent value now

For even cheaper still (sometimes), you can sometimes pick up the Hero 7 Black - an older device, but one that still shoots 4K 60fps video, and was the first to feature GoPro's 'HyperSmooth' image stabilization.The resolution and frame-rates may be similar to the older 6 series (we were bound to hit a wall sooner or later), but GoPro HyperSmooth dramatically increases image stabilization with the Hero 7 Black. This motion smoothing technology can be used in numerous shooting modes to record the smoothest possible video running at 60fps. The voice-activated commands are more responsive than older models too. SuperPhoto tech performs automatic improvements on lighting colour and noise-reduction across multiple frames. ProTune options allow you to take the safety wheels off and tweak setting to your own particular style too.Right now, depending on stock levels, the Hero 7 Black can sometimes be picked up for around $50 / £50 cheaper than the Hero 8, and about $130 / £130 cheaper than the Hero 9.

7: GoPro Hero 7 Silver pricesCheaper but lacking some of the latest featuresFOV: Wide | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 15fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS | Auto low light: No | Launch price: $279 / £229 / AU$399Cheaper than the Hero7 Black4K shooting impressesDecent stills capabilitiesOnly 30fps at 4K

Even cheaper still is the GoPro Hero7 Silver - a fantastic budget action camera that still manages to shoot in 4K, albeit at a reduced 30fps.That's the main difference here between the Silver and Hero7 Black, which will of course shoot in 4K and 60fps. So, you're still getting 4K here and this is generally the most widely available cheap 4K GoPro in 2020 but the picture isn't quite as smooth as on the later or more premium models. The 1080p fps capabilities are slightly lower too and you also don't get the new HyperSmooth, SuperSmooth or Live Streaming features either.For the $150 / £150 odd price though, this is still an extremely capable, durable, and waterproof action camera. There are cheaper models available on this page though if some of the features seem like overkill or it's still a bit pricey.

8: GoPro Hero 7 White pricesNo 4K, but very cheap for a GoPro with a touchscreenFOV: Wide | 4K video: No | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 15fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth | Auto low light: No | Launch price: $199 / £149 / AU$279Very, very cheapRecords 1080p at 60fpsGreat build qualityNo 4K video

The GoPro Hero7 White is perhaps the cheapest widely available GoPro device that's still around in 2020, going for as cheap as $149 / £149 at the retailers which still have stock. That's seriously cheap for a new GoPro camera, though as you can imagine this is definitely more of a stripped-down basic affair than the newer, more premium entries.This more entry-level GoPro has the main omission of 4K video shooting. You do get a touchscreen though, and plenty of fps for 1080p standard HD resolution. If you'd be happier with 4K shooting instead of a touchscreen though you might be able to get a similar price via one of our highlighted GoPro Hero5 Session deals further down this page.

9: GoPro Hero 6 Black pricesStill worth a look if the price is rightFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Captures 4K video at 60fpsImproved image stabilizationWater-resistant without housingStill fairly pricey

If you can find it in stock, and for a decent price (we recommend around $200 / £200), the Hero 6 Black is a flagship of yesteryear that still manages to pack in a ton of quality.This is still an excellent GoPro camera with 4K recording at a super smooth 60 fps (frame per second). Image stabilization is super important given the active lifestyles most GoPros record, so it's great to see this model improve even further on older ones. Even the 1080p recording has been improved with a boost to 240fps - excellent for maximizing those slow-motion shots. We expect the price to drop on this one over time with the new Hero7 Black now on the scene. If the prices are still close though, you may as well opt for the new one.

10: GoPro Hero 5 Black pricesDecent 4K shooting (albeit at 30fps)FOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 120fps | WVGA video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Captures 4K videoTouchscreen for easy controlsWater-resistant without housingOnly 30fps at 4K

The Hero5 Black wass the GoPro we wanted for years. It was the first GoPro to have a waterproof design out-of-the-box, making it more resilient and the camera has enough to make it a convincing update on the older models. The picture quality is better, it has video stabilization and the touchscreen makes it easier to use than any other GoPro before it. Sale items aside, it's often cheaper than the older GoPro Hero 4 Black now too.An oldie, but a goodie, the Hero 5 Black is unfortunately showing its age now but is still a worthwhile pickup if you can score a deal. We definitely wouldn't recommend spending more than $150 / £150 though since there are better, newer options now which are sometimes actually cheaper, depending on stock.

11: GoPro Hero deals (2018 model)Great value for a GoPro with a touchscreenFOV: Wide, Medium, Narrow | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 10fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $199 / £149 / AU$279Cheap for a GoProHas a touchscreenGreat HD footageLower availability in 2020

Update: We'd imagine this model is going to be phased out soon despite still being quite new. This is because it's pretty much identical to the ever newer GoPro Hero7 White in terms of capabilities. Actually, it's looking like the Hero7 White is currently cheaper! Always worth keeping an eye on this one though as clearance sales should mean potential discounts.The simply-named GoPro Hero is cheaper than most other Hero models. You're not getting 4K capture options, but you are getting a display and a touchscreen, features many of you might miss from the other budget GoPro option, the GoPro Hero Session. There was an older GoPro Hero released years ago and if you want to avoid getting that one by mistake, avoid models with a big, round, red light on the front as they can pop up in search results. They're not much cheaper, sometimes even more expensive and aren't as good as this 2018 version.

12: GoPro Hero 5 Session dealsThe small, but still 4K-capable GoProFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 90fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch Price: $299 / £249 / AU$429Small, unobtrusive designCaptures stabilized 4K videoSeveral new field of view modesOnly 30fps at 4K

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a capable 4K action camera with a minimalist design that pushes the specs to the max within its cube-shaped confines. The Hero5 Session is also a major specs boost for GoPro's tiniest action camera. It now shoots stabilized 4K video and has a variety of new field of view modes. It's more expensive than its predecessor, but it's well worth the upgrade.

13: GoPro Karma Drone prices

Looking to take to the skies with your GoPro camera? There are certainly cheaper camera drones available, but this is one of the best premium setups out there. You can buy the drone on its own (often listed as 'GoPro Karma Light' or 'GoPro Karma with harness'), or get it bundled with the excellent GoPro Hero5 Black camera (some retailers may start to replace these bundles with the more modern Hero6 or Hero7 models instead).We've also included price comparison charts for both below, but you may be able to save a bit of cash by buying the drone and camera separately (check out the various GoPro Hero Black deals near the top of this page). You'll find the best GoPro Karma prices below though.

You might also want to check out the best cheap dash cam deals and sales.

An Arkansas law requiring social media companies to verify the ages of their users has been struck down by a federal judge who ruled that it was unconstitutional. The decision is a significant victory for the social media companies and digital rights groups that have opposed the law and others like it.

Arkansas became the second state (after Utah) to pass an age verification law for social media in 2023. The Social Media Safety Act required companies to verify the games of users under 18 and get permission from their parents. The law was challenged by NetChoice, a lobbying group representing the tech industry whose membership includes Meta, Snap, X, Reddit and YouTube. NetChoice has also challenged laws restricting social media access in Utah, Texas and California.

In a ruling, Judge Timothy Brooks said that the law, known as Act 689, was overly broad. “Act 689 is a content-based restriction on speech, and it is not targeted to address the harms the State has identified,” Brooks wrote in his decision. “Arkansas takes a hatchet to adults’ and minors’ protected speech alike though the Constitution demands it use a scalpel.” Brooks also highlighted the “unconstitutionally vague” applicability of the law, which seemingly created obligations for some online services, but may have exempted services which had the "predominant or exclusive function [of]... direct messaging" like Snapchat.

“The court confirms what we have been arguing from the start: laws restricting access to protected speech violate the First Amendment,” NetChoice’s Chris Marchese said in a statement. “This ruling protects Americans from having to hand over their IDs or biometric data just to access constitutionally protected speech online.”

It’s not clear if state officials in Arkansas will appeal the ruling. “I respect the court’s decision, and we are evaluating our options,” Arkansas Attorney general Tim Griffin said in a statement.

Even with NetChoice’s latest victory, it seems that age verification laws are unlikely to go away anytime soon. Utah recently passed an age verification requirement for app stores. And a Texas law requiring porn sites to conduct age verification is currently before the Supreme Court.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/arkansas-social-media-age-verification-law-blocked-by-federal-judge-194614568.html?src=rss

Apple's ushered in a new continuity feature with iOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4You can now use an iPhone or iPad to help set up your MacWhile relatively small, this could be a huge time-saver

Part of what makes the Apple ecosystem so good – and appealing to newcomers or folks just buying new devices – is the continuity between them, even including set-up. For instance, to set up an Apple Watch or AirPods, just hold the device near your iPhone.Setting up an iPad? Hold it near your iPhone, follow the steps, and scan the glowing blue orb. Setting up a new iPhone? Hold it near your old iPhone. This takes a lot of the manual nature out of a new device setup and even helps authenticate your account.While iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 didn’t bring with them the next major set of Apple Intelligence features, they did bring with them something awesome. And if you are getting a new Mac, planning to get one, or frequently reset your old ones, you’re in for a treat.

As long as you’re up to date – meaning your Mac has the latest version of Sequoia and your iPhone or iPad is running iOS or iPadOS 18.4, you can now set up that new Mac with your other Apple device. Really neat, and it could save you time. As with the speedy setup, you’ll need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled for these two devices to connect.So, what does this quick setup speed up? All-important Wi-Fi credentials, design choices like dark mode or icon size, accessibility features, and more are included. Plus, since you’re authenticating and signing in with your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID), you can elect to turn on iCloud features like a shared desktop, your photo library, Messages in the Cloud, your long list of passwords, notes, and other items.

How setting up your Mac with an iPhone or iPad works

(Image credit: Apple)

Now, the good news is that this whole process really speeds up the setup process for your Mac – and that goes for whether it’s a desktop, like the Mac mini, Mac Studio, or iMac, or a laptop, like the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.You’ll still boot up the Mac and select your language, but then, under the familiar screen that asks “Transfer Your Data to this Mac,” you’ll find a new option:

From a Mac, Time Machine, or startup diskFrom a Windows PCSet up with iPhone or iPadSet up as new

(Image credit: Apple)

That third option – Set up with iPhone or iPad – is what you’ll need to select to do just that. From there, your Mac will then start looking for a nearby device, and you’ll want to unlock your iPhone or iPad and bring it close by.Then just like when setting up a new iPhone or an iPad, a splash screen will appear on the bottom asking if you want to use your Apple Account to “Set Up New Mac.” Simply hit continue and then you’ll scan a pattern displayed on your Mac with your iPhone. That’s the final step for authentication here.After that, you’ll be asked if you want to enable any accessibility settings and then create your Mac account. The last step is a bit of a waiting game as your Apple Account syncs up with your Mac, and then you can wrap up the setup.

(Image credit: Apple)

Basically, you’re speeding through the authentication process and getting some of the previously customized settings associated with your new Mac.It’s nice to have, and if you’ve ever dreaded setting up your new Mac, you might question how you’ve lived without it.

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GL.iNet Slate 7 dual external antennas boost range for stable & extended coverageQuad-core 1.1GHz CPU with 1GB RAM ensures smooth operationUSB-C power supports up to 12V/2.5A for efficiency

GL.iNet has introduced the Slate 7 (GL-BE3600), the first mobile Wi-Fi 7 router, offering high-speed wireless and wired networking for demanding applications like 4K and 8K streaming and video conferencing software.The Slate 7 delivers Wi-Fi 7 speeds of up to 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 2882 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, providing stable, high-speed performance even in crowded areasThe Slate 7 features a Qualcomm quad-core CPU running at 1.1GHz with 1GB of DDR4 RAM and 512MB of NAND Flash storage, while the two foldable external antennas enhance signal coverage, making it one of the best small business routers for both mobility and home networking

Powerful wired connectivity and flexible power options

Weighing 295g, this mobile router includes a 2.5Gbps WAN port and a 1Gbps LAN port for stable wired performance in bandwidth-intensive tasks while also featuring a USB 3.0 port for connecting external storage or a modem to expand its functionality.With its dual Ethernet ports, the Slate 7 can also function as a best network switch solution for users needing reliable wired connections alongside its advanced wireless capabilities.This device supports OpenVPN at up to 100 Mbps and WireGuard at up to 540 Mbps, offering secure and fast connections for remote work or private browsing while integrating compatibility with over 30 VPN services for extensive security options.It also features an interactive touchscreen for managing settings, toggling VPN connections, and monitoring real-time network performance.The device is powered through a USB-C port, supporting inputs of 5V/3A, 9V/3A, and 12V/2.5A, and is compatible with multiple power sources, including laptops, power banks, or smartphones, while maintaining power consumption under 18W (excluding USB usage) for efficiency even under heavy workloads.The Slate 7 supports the installation of plugins via OpenWrt 23.05 with Kernel 5.4.213 for enhanced network management, including traffic monitoring and firewall customization.It also features WPA3 encryption for protection against cyber threats and operates at temperatures between 0–40°C, with storage capability from -20°C to 70°C.The Slate 7 is available for pre-order at $120, with the standard retail price set at $149.90, and the earliest deliveries expected in May 2025.Via TechPowerUp

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3 points

In the wake of the Salt Typhoon attacks that compromised most of the major telecommunications providers in the US, many in the upper echelons of power are pushing for offensive cyber operations against China.The move would model a tit-for-tat strategy, in that China has struck the US, so the US should strike China, and vice-versa until they stop.The difficulty with that strategy, as legendary threat intelligence analyst Marcus Hutchins explains, is that the US is woefully under regulated and underprepared for any escalation of cyber warfare with China.

No scope for cyber war

Despite China’s claims that Volt Typhoon is actually a CIA asset, there is fairly reliable evidence to suggest that all of the ‘typhoon’ groups are Chinese state-sponsored actors, and it was Salt Typhoon that breached the US telecommunications networks by targeting and exploiting systems put in place under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, (or CALEA for short).This act, introduced in 1994, saw all major communications networks have ‘backdoors’ installed to monitor the communications of criminals.However, as John Ackerly, CEO and co-founder of Virtru told me, “It's the same doors that the good guys use, that the bad guys can walk through,” - and walk through they did.Hutchins writes that while the US certainly has the capability to launch offensive cyber operations on China, and would likely see success, the US is not prepared for the retaliation-in-turn that would come next.For example, US critical infrastructure is woefully underequipped to protect against cyber attacks and relies heavily on outdated tech that in some cases hasn’t received an update in over a decade.China and its Typhoons have been mapping this infrastructure for years, probing the defences and checking responses and recovery plans with small scale attacks in preparation for a much bigger strike that could be used should a hot conflict erupt between the two super powers.But equally, Hutchins argues, this large scale attack would be just as effective as a response to US cyber offensives in China, and it can’t be patched any time soon.Thanks to a lack of federal regulations governing cybersecurity in the US, the private sector has been largely left to its own devices to protect itself from cyber attacks, and Hutchins duly notes that its often cheaper for a company to ignore a cyber intrusion than it is to chase them down and evict them from the network.It's also cheaper to continue using outdated tech to run systems than to spend billions of dollars replacing everything and training your staff to operate new systems. Who could’ve guessed that the private sector wouldn’t regulate itself?Now throw into the mix a smattering of federal bodies that, because they are modelled on the US separation of powers, must rely on each other to get anything done.As Hutchins puts it, “Ultimately, cybersecurity in the United States feels like trying to put together a puzzle; except, there’s no picture on the box, each piece has been distributed to a random entity, half of the entities aren’t even willing to disclose that they have any puzzle pieces, and nobody is sure who’s actually supposed to be the one building the puzzle.”What’s more, China’s own regulations for cybersecurity at both the state and private sector levels are fairly robust, and have been for many years more than the US can hope to catch up to.Convincing an administration to establish a body with complete cyber-regulatory oversight in the age of DOGE is one thing, convincing the private sector to spend the ever increasing billions to give their networks even a fighting chance at being resilient is another."Personally, I think that trying to deter China through offensive cyber operations would not only be unsuccessful, but also a huge mistake," Hutchins concludes. "I am not arguing that the US should bow down to China, or that it should not be able to defend itself, only that increasing offense[ive] cyber operations without the defencive capabilities to back them up, is a horrible idea.”

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A hacker claims to be selling data stolen from Check PointSecurity firm says data is from an old breach that has been dealt with But some security experts aren't convinced by this explanation

A hacker is claiming to have stolen a “highly sensitive” dataset from Check Point - but the company is looking to play down any concerns users might have.The cybercriminal, going by the name of CoreInjection, posted about the dataset of compromised Check Point files on a cybercrime forum - and alleges that the information contains user credentials, employee contract information, and internal network maps, among other things.A spokesperson from Check Point told TechRadar Pro that they “really wouldn’t call it a breach”, and added that this was “one account with limited access on a portal”. The firm’s statement assures that this is an “old, known and very pinpointed event,” that only involved a few organizations, and “ does not include customers’ systems , production or security architecture.”

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“If this is completely fake, I’d be surprised”

However, concerns have been raised in the cybersecurity industry, with Hudson Rock CTO, Alon Gal saying that there is a “high certainty” that Check Point has been hacked, with a threat actor appearing to have “gained access to an administrator account with serious privileges.”Whilst the researcher argues he would be surprised, he also explains that the breach is “not yet officially confirmed”.In Check Point’s official response, it confirmed a breach did occur, but that this was a long time ago, and that the hacker is just recycling old information which “falsely implies exaggerated claims which never happened.”“This was handled months ago, and didn’t include the description detailed on this message. These organisations were updated and handled at that time, and this is not more than the regular recycling of old information. We believe that at no point was there a security risk to Check Point , its customers or employees,” the spokesperson told us.In 2024, Check Point VPN software was targeted by hackers in order to gain access to corporate networks, although these attempts were largely unsuccessful, and Check Point outlined a simple and easy fix.Via The Register

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The Washington Post reports that members of the White House's National Security Council have used personal Gmail accounts to conduct government business. National security advisor Michael Waltz and a senior aide of his both used their own accounts to discuss sensitive information with colleagues, according to the Post's review and interviews with government officials who spoke to the newspaper anonymously.

Email is not the best approach for sharing information meant to be kept private. That covers sensitive data for individuals such as social security numbers or passwords, much less confidential or classified government documents. It simply has too many potential paths for a bad actor to access information they shouldn't. Government departments typically use business-grade email services, rather than relying on consumer email services. The federal government also has its own internal communications systems with additional layers of security, making it all the more baffling that current officials are being so cavalier with how they handle important information.

“Unless you are using GPG, email is not end-to-end encrypted, and the contents of a message can be intercepted and read at many points, including on Google’s email servers," Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation told the Post.

Additionally, there are regulations requiring that certain official government communications be preserved and archived. Using a personal account could allow some messages to slip through the cracks, accidentally or intentionally.

This latest instance of dubious software use from the executive branch follows the discovery that several high-ranking national security leaders used Signal to discuss planned military actions in Yemen, then added a journalist from The Atlantic to the group chat. And while Signal is a more secure option than a public email client, even the encrypted messaging platform can be exploited, as the Pentagon warned its own team last week.

As with last week's Signal debacle, there have been no repercussions thus far for any federal employees taking risky data privacy actions. NSC spokesman Brian Hughes told the Post he hasn't seen evidence of Waltz using a personal account for government correspondence.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/national-security-council-adds-gmail-to-its-list-of-bad-decisions-222648613.html?src=rss

SpaceX apparently wants to block Globalstar's access to some satellite frequenciesGlobalstar receives Apple funding to help expand iPhone's satellite featuresApple and SpaceX may have previously failed to make a deal over a collaboration

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Apple are reportedly in a spat that could ultimately lead to spotty signals for services like Starlink and iPhone satellite communications or a homogenous monopolistic satellite service – neither of which would be great for anyone.The report comes from The Wall Street Journal (behind a paywall) who say sources familiar with the matter claim SpaceX is pushing US federal regulators to not allow Apple-funded satellite service Globalstar to expand its usage of limited satellite radio frequencies.This comes after SpaceX and Apple have reportedly been in conversations to more closely collaborate on Apple’s growing satellite communication service, but with talks ending with no direct deal – instead SpaceX and T-Mobile will be able to offer their alternative to Apple’s satellite service on iPhones (with the service due to debut this summer).Apple instead wants to rely on non-SpaceX networks to support its own satellite communication features – but if Musk’s company gets its way, Apple may struggle to expand without SpaceX’s backing.

Reach for the stars

A Starlink dish allowing internet access in a remote place (Image credit: Starlink)

As a quick and simple explanation: all satellites send signals to Earth using radio frequencies, and so to ensure service reliability, many parts of the world will license specific frequencies within the radio spectrum on a regional basis. This is to ensure two companies with satellites operating in the same place don’t get their signals all muddled together because they’re trying to use the same frequency.SpaceX (or any other satellite company) would want to try and control as many of these frequencies as possible because it allows it to send more data, or send data more quickly – which ultimately leads to a better service for its customers.But one company locking down too many frequencies in a region stops other companies from being able to offer satellite services there – leading to frustrating dead zones – or forces them to offer a worse service there because they can only use a limited band of frequencies. For consumers it also could lead to price gouging, as the service with the most (or total) satellite signal control can charge what it wants.This latest contest over satellite frequencies likely won’t be the last, but it highlights an issue with this important communication frontier.Getting reliable internet and signal service to remote services can only be a good thing – as we’ve already seen from people using their iPhone’s Emergency SOS via satellite tool to call for help when they had no other option – but if it isn’t handled with care we could end up with an overly fractured network or one that’s controlled by a lucky few that got there first.

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I review the best camera phones, but I recently bought myself a dedicated camera. I carry a Galaxy S25 Ultra and an iPhone 16 Pro daily, yet I just bought a camera that's intentionally simpler.My phones boast optical zoom up to 5X and digital reach well beyond that. I chose a camera with a fixed lens and a field of view slightly wider than my natural vision.I'm continually impressed by what the best camera phones achieve, but Samsung, Apple, and every phone maker could learn a lot from a camera like the Fujifilm X100VI and today’s best point-and-shoot cameras.

An iPhone 16 Pro (left) with a Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

My Galaxy S25 Ultra has five cameras, and the iPhone 16 Pro has four. Their largest sensors barely top three-quarters of an inch diagonally. The smallest, for the periscope zoom, are minuscule: 0.4 inches (Samsung) and 0.33 inches (iPhone).My Fujifilm X-T5 uses an APS-C sensor – smaller than a full-frame (35mm film size) but still around 1.12-inches diagonally. That dwarfs any smartphone sensor.The largest smartphone sensors currently are the one-inch sensors used by makers like Oppo and Xiaomi. Curiously, these aren't found in models you can buy in the US.

Camera phones do the opposite of what they should

Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Why this focus on sensor size? Because it's the spec that really counts, especially on phones where the difference between the smallest and largest sensors is vast, not marginal.So why don't Samsung or Apple use a full frame sensor? They demand power and physical space – luxuries smartphones lack.Unfortunately, smartphones often make the opposite error. Instead of one great sensor, they cram in so many tiny sensors that none produce genuinely memorable images.It’s ambitious what smartphones attempt. Today’s best range from wide-angle (near 18mm) to telephoto (200mm+), with a wide f/1.6 aperture and macro focus. You can buy an 18-200mm camera lens, but not a lens that is this fast (even f/2.8) without spending thousands.Every smartphone chases the holy grail: an ultra-wide to super-telephoto zoom with microscopic focus. It's unrealistic. To chase it, makers cut corners, yielding phones technically capable but often failing to capture keepers – photos worth saving, printing, and cherishing – real photos.

Apple and Samsung, meet my new friend Fujifilm

Fine details and soft bokeh, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Fujifilm gets it. The camera world is buzzing about the Fujifilm X100VI – it's the blueprint smartphones should follow. It uses a large APS-C sensor and a fixed 23mm lens (a 35mm equivalent). It captures phenomenal photos.No magic here. Fujifilm pairs a great sensor with a versatile prime lens. A fixed lens often means fewer elements, yielding sharper, brighter images. With its 40MP, you can crop digitally and still have a print-worthy resolution.

Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my Fujifilm X-T5Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my iPhone 16 ProImage 3 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my Galaxy S25 Ultra

I crave this from camera phones: one large sensor, not five tiny ones. One superb lens, not a jumble of folded glass and pinholes. Use the space saved from extra sensors for one real camera with a resolution for digital zoom.The big problem with the Fujifilm X100VI is that you can't buy one. Every reputable retailer has the camera back ordered for months, and the aftermarket is rife with shady scams or folks selling the camera at a 25% markup.

Taking smartphone photography to the edge

Like this, but make the camera really good (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

That leaves an amazing opportunity for the smartphone market to step in with a stylish phone that focuses on high-quality photography instead of winning a spec war with megapixels and zoom.Ironically, the rumored thin smartphones might nudge things this way. We've seen Samsung's teased Galaxy S25 Edge with only two rear lenses. The latest iPhone 16e uses just one, with a wide f/1.6 aperture, but its sensor remains small. Still, closer.Give me an iPhone 17 with a massive sensor and a single wide lens – I’d be ecstatic. Forget the megapixel race and the lens count. Just give me light, captured beautifully through one great eye.

Right now, AI is the dumbest it will ever be. I hear that line all the time.Our favorite adjectives of “unprecedented” or “exponential growth” can’t quite capture the pace at which AI is learning, iterating, and advancing. The models that wow us today might be rudimentary tomorrow.It’s both a scary and thrilling thought. Scary, when we think of regulations playing catch up, the computational bandwidth it might require, and ensuring tech stack agility. But thrilling when we think of the innovation, scale, and productivity just on the horizon. For now, let’s focus on the latter.One of the most notable “up-and-coming” sectors of AI is in conversational voice and chat. Right now its market valuation is at $5.8 billion. In three years it’s expected to hit $31.9 billion – a 450% increase.AI-powered agents offer a level of precision in customer engagement we haven’t seen before. They’re simultaneously analyzing historical and behavioral data while keeping the natural flow of conversation – even understanding the nuance of a well-timed pause on a phone call.These capabilities seem incredible today, but as we know, the bar keeps getting higher. What advancements can we expect from conversational AI agents in the near future?

Adapting with human sentiment and responding to emotional cues

Sentiment is tricky to pick up on. Something as simple as receiving a one-word text can spark a moment of uncertainty – is this person upset? Is it just their style of communication? Usually, we navigate this by relying on our lived experiences and the context of the conversation.Can AI do the same?In the past, sentiment analysis was usually done by categorizing words as either positive, negative or neutral (i.e., a polarity score), which created a framework for AI to learn within. Businesses could then analyze social media comments or product reviews at scale to gauge brand sentiment.Now, advanced machine learning algorithms are starting to go beyond these preset categories. It can understand how sarcasm changes the meaning of a normally positive word – e.g., the difference between an enthusiastic or jaded “wow” – or sense someone’s urgency in their rapid responses. In text, AI can look at punctuation or even historical data to glean emotional subtext; like the difference between “that’s great!” versus “that’s just great…”By picking up on these subtle emotional cues, AI could start to adjust its responses in real time. This could range from simply acknowledging a person’s frustration to recognizing replies are becoming gradually more delayed, hinting at a waning interest. By weaving in predictive analytics, AI agents could even start to connect sentiment to things like churn or lifetime values.Emotionally intelligent AI isn’t a net-new concept – in 1995 Rosalind Picard, an MIT lab professor, published “Affective Computing” on the subject. But this once-futuristic sounding idea is now within reach. It’ll be interesting to see customers' reaction. Emotionally intelligent AI can create better customer experiences, but will an AI agent that’s too perceptive come across as eerie and off-putting? I imagine, much like personalization, its effectiveness will ultimately come down to transparency and customer trust.

AI representatives in the metaverse

When generative AI catapulted into the spotlight it pulled focus from another burgeoning technology and channel: the metaverse. Described as a digital playground and a virtual marketplace, the metaverse is reimagining everything from how we purchase products, to education, and collaboration.Just look to Roblox, the virtual 3D gaming platform worth ~$49 billion, whose growth has predominantly been organic. Its success has cemented immersive, digital experiences as a channel worth investing in. The NFL, Walmart, and Paramount all saw the potential in Roblox to reach new audiences and blend entertainment and commerce.Even luxury brands are following suit. Gucci has created several metaverse experiences, like their 2023 Gucci Cosmos Land hosted in The Sandbox. As part of the experience, visitors could explore themed rooms, complete quests, and even purchase digital Gucci clothing. (It was reported that Gucci made over 1 million in revenue by selling digital items through Cosmos Land.)I expect we’ll continue to see brands build in the metaverse, whether it’s a digital equivalent of a physical storefront or a standalone virtual experience. And AI agents will play a pivotal role. They could be personal shoppers, tutors, or run a 24/7 virtual concierge desk. With advanced language models, AI agents could switch between languages and incorporate accessibility features to make experiences more accessible and inclusive.Even more meta, consumers could have their own AI agents acting on their behalf, like evaluating the best product or offer from multiple brands at once. It’s a completely new dynamic.However, AI representatives will only be as effective as the data (and the data architecture) behind them. Real-time personalization hinges on the ability of an AI agent to process multiple data streams in milliseconds – analyzing everything from purchase history to user intent.There might even be certain scenarios where a customer needs to share sensitive information (e.g., payment details, their home address to coordinate shipping, etc.). Success in the metaverse will depend not just on creating engaging experiences, but on maintaining user trust and compliance through responsible and privacy-conscious data handling.

Closing thoughts

Conversational AI is redefining how and where customers interact with brands. In the coming months or years, I expect conversational AI will become increasingly multimodal – able to process and respond to things like spatial awareness, a person’s tone and speech patterns, and even subtle cues like body language and gestures with greater precision.The use cases we’re already seeing are brimming with potential, from top-tier customer service to integrating AI voice assistants into cars to help with navigation or even monitor driver fatigue.When we think of what’s possible, there’s often a far-off feeling attached. But AI is rapidly reducing the time between idea and implementation. That horizon, of what AI will be capable of, is much closer than we think.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The recent AI Action Summit has placed artificial intelligence at the forefront of business transformation, but there is a growing gap between AI implementation and workforce readiness emerging. While companies invest heavily in cutting-edge AI tools, many lack structured approaches to building essential AI competencies within their teams – a disconnect that threatens to undermine the very benefits these technologies promise to deliver.As organizations grapple with ongoing challenges, from the macroeconomy to changing data policies to the competition for AI talent, the need to develop AI literacy has become a practical necessity rather than a future consideration. Add to that, the rising workforce expectations around flexible work and career development opportunities, and it’s clear that organizations must reimagine how they prepare their teams and also how their employees benefit from the adoption of AI.

The current state of AI adoption

Organizations are implementing AI across their business, from content creation to machine to data analysis. A McKinsey research suggests that up to 30% of hours worked across economies could be automated by 2030, with millions of job changes required in the same timeframe.This skills gap extends beyond technical expertise; it also includes understanding AI's potential and pinpointing the right applications across workstreams. Rather than replacing workers, AI should be viewed as their “sous chef,” enhancing productivity and efficiency in the workplace.Research from the IBM Institute for Business Value found that organizations deploying AI at an operational level, rather than relying solely on skills-based initiatives, have outperformed their peers by 44% in key metrics such as employee retention and revenue growth. This suggests that successful AI integration depends not on deploying more tools, but on creating seamless, user-friendly employee experiences that enhance rather than complicate daily work.

Reimagining workforce development

Traditional training methods don't apply to the dynamic nature of AI. Organizations must create comprehensive training that accommodates different levels of AI literacy and varying roles within the company.Doing this successfully requires nuanced thinking. Companies should implement programs that go beyond technical knowledge and include practical application and ethical considerations. Whether it is developing clear frameworks for AI use or establishing guidelines for use cases, it is important to create a safe space for experimentation and learning.Above all, any framework created must be flexible and easy to adapt as the technology evolves. Organizations need trust-based management that ensures teams understand not just how to use AI tools, but when and why to leverage them effectively.Executives and managers need to champion AI adoption, demonstrating their own commitment to learning and development. This top-down approach helps create a culture where AI skill development is valued across the organization. Leaders also need to be prepared to combat digital exhaustion by integrating AI tools into intuitive, unified platforms that support productivity without creating employee frustration.

The human element remains central

Many professionals navigating an AI-enabled workplace are concerned about how their skills and expertise fit in this new landscape. While anxiety is natural as employees wonder how AI will alter their roles, leaders need to help their teams see their place in this transformation.For instance, some organizations have found success through practical demonstrations, such as having human experts fact-check AI-generated responses. This exercise helps professionals recognize AI as a useful starting point while spotting its shortcomings, validating employees' unique human expertise.On the other hand, individuals need to identify the skills that make them valuable in their field and lean into them. Soft skills like leadership, compassion, and critical thinking will become even more valuable as routine tasks become automated.Leaders are the catalysts for AI transformation, pioneering a new era of work by blending technological innovation with human ingenuity. By modelling AI adoption and setting clear roadmaps for AI adoption, they’ll be one step closer to creating a culture that balances technological advancement with employee wellbeing. As teams acquire new skills around AI and critical thinking, leadership's vision and commitment become the foundation for workplace evolution.The time to act is now. Organizations cannot afford to wait until the AI skills gap becomes a crisis. By taking proactive steps to develop their workforce's capabilities, businesses can ensure they're prepared to thrive in an increasingly AI-enabled future. Taking decisive action now to develop your workforce's AI literacy can help your team prepare for change and also position your business to lead it.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Hostinger rolls out Google Ads Performance Max campaign supportUsers can run campaigns across Google services from the Website BuilderUpdate aims to help ecommerce clients attract visitors and grow sales

One of our favorite website builders, Hostinger, has announced it has partnered with Google Ads to offer users the ability to create and run goal-based Performance Max campaigns directly within its Website Builder app.Hostinger will be among the first in the market to offer built-in ad campaign creation and management in this way.The company, which offers a range of tools designed to support blogs, portfolios, ecommerce, and other online projects, says the introduction will help users, including SMBs, drive traffic to their websites more quickly and easily.

Free to use

“Driving traffic is one of the biggest challenges for website owners. Hearing this feedback, we partnered with Google Ads to bring Performance Max campaigns to help our clients grow their online businesses," says Auksė Žirgulė, Head of Website Builder at Hostinger."With millions of people using Google to search online, Performance Max is a magnet for potential buyers, and our integration makes advertising on all Google channels much easier."The feature will be fully embedded in Hostinger Website Builder, so users can set up a Performance Max campaign without leaving the platform.The tool will be free to use for Hostinger customers and allow users to run ads across Google services like Search, Gmail, and YouTube.Customers will receive customized ad content and budget suggestions to support their campaign goals, and as a welcome bonus, new Google Ads users are eligible for $500 in advertising credit after spending $500 (the inevitable terms and conditions apply.)Hostinger told us this latest update is something its customers have been asking for.“We pay special attention to the needs of our ecommerce customers, as this group is growing quickly,” a company spokesperson said.“Today, about one in three websites built with Hostinger Website Builder includes an online store, and the total gross merchandise value of all ecommerce stores is increasing by 110% each year. According to our internal survey, nearly half of business owners struggle to attract customers and build trust online. To support their growth, we actively seek and implement solutions that help boost their online presence.”

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Despite AI tools being designed to improve business efficiency through automation, it is being exploited by cybercriminals to threaten organizations at scale, leading to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks that are outpacing traditional security measures.As the volume of AI-driven cyber threats rises, over half (54%) of security teams stated they are struggling to keep up. They must now adopt a robust cyber resilience posture in order to protect against these ever-evolving threats.

AI-Driven Cyber Attacks

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned that AI will "almost certainly" make cyberattacks against the UK more impactful as AI enables threat actors to train models on stolen data, refine their methods and amplify the scale and severity of attacks.The NCSC Report states that AI's rapid data analysis and model training capabilities will make cyberattacks more damaging, leading to higher data breach costs. Additionally, AI's ability to quickly summarize data will enable attackers to target high-value information more easily, resulting in more severe breaches.AI’s speed is undoubtedly leading to more dangerous threats, allowing cyber criminals to scale up their attacks. For instance, social engineering attacks are increasingly being fine-tuned with generative AI, enabling attackers to tailor their techniques to specific targets faster than ever.In the long run, we may also see AI being used to automate more mechanical attacks aimed at penetrating systems, although it's uncertain if AI will significantly outperform existing tools fine-tuned by experts.The growing volume, complexity, and impact of AI-driven cyber operations will intensify challenges for organizations. A recent study from Absolute Security highlights that 46 per cent of organizations view AI as more of a threat to their cyber resilience than a help, 39% of CISOs having personally stopped using AI due to fears of a cyber breach. This highlights the critical need for businesses to adopt a robust cyber resilience strategy to counter the increasing complexity and speed of AI-driven attacks.

The Double-Edged Sword of AI

While AI has certainly heightened the complexity of cyber threats, it has also become a valuable tool for businesses, leading to increased investment. Given that AI is here to stay and will continue to grow in adoption, companies must adapt and integrate it into their strategies as part of cyber resilience.One way to embrace AI is by using it for data analysis to help businesses identify and mitigate cyber threats more effectively. AI-powered tools can analyze large amounts of data quickly, making it easier to detect potential security issues and anomalies.The Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 states that using AI and automation in cybersecurity can help protect organizations by reducing the risk of attacks. As companies use generative AI, IoT devices, and SaaS applications more, their vulnerability to attacks increases. To combat this, AI and automation can be applied to strengthen security strategies.By continuously scanning for vulnerabilities, analysing data threats, and spotting unusual behavior that might indicate a breach, AI can help manage attack surfaces better. AI also automates patch management and adapts security measures in real time to address new threats. This reduces potential entry points for attackers and strengthens overall security.AI, especially Generative AI, plays a crucial role in closing the security gap. These systems can process and understand human language, making them invaluable for interpreting vast amounts of data and generating easily digestible insights. AI tools can streamline processes and enhance efficiency across the board.The same neural network structures can also be used to process language can be applied to security information from devices like laptops and servers, predicting what should happen next and identifying any deviations that may indicate a security breach.Another way to adapt to the challenges brought by AI is by investing in cybersecurity skills. Upskilling employees in cybersecurity, as well as AI, can help protect organizations from AI-powered cyber threats. For example, 85 per cent of CISOs say their C-Suite has been sent on AI training courses over the past year.Additionally, 83 per cent of organizations have prioritized hiring AI experts over the past year, recognising the importance of having specialized knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven threats.

Investing in AI-Powered Defense Technology

Although AI introduces significant challenges to cybersecurity, it also provides powerful tools to counteract these threats. In order for companies to remain cyber resilient, there needs to be a balanced investment in AI-powered defense technologies, as well as human expertise. Embracing AI as a vital part of a robust cyber resilience strategy, rather than just a threat, is essential as cyber threats evolve and become more complex.

We've ranked the best endpoint protection software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

There are dozens of excellent Nintendo Switch games available now to the point where you’ll always have something new to play even if you have an extensive library of titles already. Whether you’re playing on the go with a Switch Lite, at home with your family on an OLED Switch or (eventually) on a brand new Switch 2, you’ll be able to play most games on your preferred console. This flexibility makes the Switch lineup ideal for both casual gamers and hardcore fans who love having the ability to access every title, whether they’re at home on the big screen or gaming on the go.But where do you go when you want to find a new Switch game to try out? With so many to choose from, it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Nintendo has something for everyone — from epic action adventures and thrilling multiplayer battles to relaxing life sims and nostalgic platformers that bring back memories of classic gaming days. We’ve gathered our favorite Nintendo Switch games here for anyone curious to try something new and lose a few hours to a new title.

Best Nintendo Switch games for 2025

Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-nintendo-switch-games-160029843.html?src=rss

Mozilla takes on Gmail, Microsoft 365 with range of new featuresThunderbird Pro includes Appointment, Send and ThundermailA new AI writing tool is also coming with local processing

Mozilla is turning its Thunderbird open source email client into a full communications platform with the launch of Thundermail and Thunderbird Pro.The expansion of Mozilla's email services aims to compete with rival ecosystems like Gmail and Microsoft 365, which are more rich in features, except Mozilla’s offering stands out for its open source values of privacy, freedom, transparency and user respect.“Thunderbird loses users each day to rich ecosystems that are both clients and services,” Ryan Sipes, Managing Director for Product Thunderbird confirmed as he expressed the ‘why’ behind Thunderbird’s expansion.

Thunderbird is about to get an overhaul

The Thunderbird database says its number of active monthly installs has dropped from 17.7 million in late December 2020 to 16.2 million in late March 2025, with the mail app struggling to keep up with the industry’s main players like Gmail.With the launch of Thunderbird Pro, Mozilla is adding Thunderbird Appointment, a new scheduling tool for sharing calendar links; Thunderbird Send, a rebuild of the discontinued Firefox Send; and Thunderbird Assist, a new AI-powered writing tool enabled via a partnership with Flower AI that is intended to do the processing locally to eliminate privacy concerns.The final launch will be Thundermail, an email hosting service using the open-source Stalwart stack. Usrs will be able to pick between thundermail.com and tb.pro domains.Apart from consistent community contributors who will be able to get early access for free, Sipes confirmed Mozilla would ultimately end up charging for the features, such as Send which requires storage, an expensive commodity.“Once we have a strong enough user base that the services appear to be sustainable, we will open up free tiers with limitations, such as less storage or the like,” Sipes added.

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Apple has released watchOS 11.4 one day later than expectedIt comes with a new sleep alarm upgradeWake Up Alarms can now be set to break through silent mode

Apple has released watchOS 11.4 – one day later than expected – and among the highlights is a big upgrade for the Apple Watch sleep alarm.We'd have normally expected watchOS 11.4 to debut alongside iOS 18.4 and other software releases, but Apple hasn't given us a reason why the update was delayed.It's here now, and it brings a couple of exciting new features, including one that gives you even less of an excuse to miss your morning alarm.

Apple watchOS 11.4 new features

The most welcome new feature is a toggle that lets your Sleep Wake Up Alarm break through Silent Mode. This means you can leave your Apple Watch in Silent Mode (which you probably do all the time), while still hearing your alarm audibly in the morning.The taptic wake up in Silent Mode is fine if you've got someone else in the bed you don't want to wake, but for anyone who needs an extra shove to get out of bed in the morning, this will help a great deal. Crucially, it means you don't have to turn off Silent Mode every night in order to hear your Apple Watch alarm sound.Elsewhere, alongside the usual suite of bug fixes and improvements, the new Apple Watch software supports Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners in the Home app.These can be controlled via the app and added to scenes and automations. This is a universal change across all of Apple's software releases, but for Apple Watch users, it means you'll be able to command the best robot vacuums right from your wrist.Apple has also fixed the unresponsive watch face selection screen, which may previously have become unresponsive when switching faces.watchOS 11.4 works on the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, so you don't even need the best Apple Watch to take advantage of its new features.

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A new Nintendo Switch 2 video is teasing the function of the mysterious 'C' buttonThe video was uploaded to the new Nintendo Today! app ahead of today's Switch 2 Direct ShowcaseSome fans believe that the music played in the teaser is the same that plays in the Wii U chat

Nintendo has released a new video teasing the Nintendo Switch 2 and the console's 'C' button, but some fans may have found a connection that could give us an idea about its function.The video was uploaded to the company's new Nintendo Today! app, ahead of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase later today, showing a video focusing on the device's mysterious 'C' button (via NintendoEverything).It's quite a short teaser, starting with a zoom in on the 'C' accompanied by a short jingle, but when the button is actually pressed, it's followed by a sound effect.Just this one sound has fans fired up with even more theories currently making the rounds online.

Nintendo has teased Switch 2's new C button ahead of the Direct tomorrow https://t.co/4SyXfifn56 pic.twitter.com/DAKZXPJnGCApril 1, 2025

One fan, 'get_homebrewed', over on the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit is convinced that the jingle is the same one that plays in the Wii U chat. When the Redditor played both sounds back to back, it's hard to discount their similarities."There's no way it's the exact same two beats like that and a similar melody for no reason," get_homebrewed said.This theory also has other fans in the thread discussing the possibility of the Switch 2 introducing a chat feature, which could be the reason for the 'C' logo."This is probably also why the "C button noise" has an almost vocal-like sound effect when it's pressed. It is a social/chat/call feature," one user said."They have needed chat so bad. I'm hyped hopefully some software + button combo brings it to the old switch as well," said another.We'll learn all we need to know about the Switch 2 and the function of the 'C' button at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase, which is scheduled to air today at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST.It will be "approximately 60 minutes long", and we'll likely get a better look at the console, learn pricing and preorder details, as well as get our first look at some new Switch 2 games.

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The EU is proposing a backdoor in E2EE for law enforcementA more collaborative strategy is also being recommended for EuropolThe move aims to bring EU member states together on security practices

A new internal security strategy has been unveiled by the European Commission including a roadmap regarding the “lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement” and on encryption.The ProtectEU strategy aims to bolster the EU’s ability to “guarantee security for its citizens” and looks to produce a “sharper legal toolbox” with “increased information sharing and deeper cooperation”.These new proposals will “enable law enforcement authorities to access encrypted data in a lawful manner, safeguarding cybersecurity and fundamental rights”, despite platforms like Signal threatening to remove products in countries rather than remove encryption protections.

ProtectEU

Privacy campaigners have condemned the British Government's recent backdoor request, with experts warning such a move "jeopardizes the security and privacy of millions."This isn’t the first time the EU has proposed a backdoor for end-to-end encryption (E2EE), especially in regards to scanning messaging apps and communication platforms for abuse material.The project also aims to establish Europol as “a truly operational police agency to reinforce support to Member States,” with a role “in investigating cross-border, large-scale, and complex cases posing a serious threat to the internal security of the Union,” making it more comparable to the FBI, for example.As the EU is of course made up of 27 sovereign nations, and this comes with challenges in delivering a coherent and collaborative security strategy.Since each state has its own law enforcement agencies, objectives, and budgets, effective safeguarding can be difficult - but the strategy aims to foster a “change of culture” to bring Europol members together.“Safety is one of the key prerequisites for open, vibrant societies and a flourishing economy,” says Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.“That's why we are launching today an important initiative to better tackle security threats like terrorism, organised crime, surging cybercrime and attacks against our critical infrastructure. We will strengthen Europol and give law enforcement up-to-date tools to fight crime. But also researchers, businesses and even citizens can contribute to greater safety for all.”Via The Record

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Several different sources have claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has been delayedIt was reportedly set for an April 15 launch, but it now might not land until May or JuneThe reason for the delay is unclear, but rumors suggest it isn't a quality issue

Just yesterday (April 1) we heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge could launch as soon as April 15, but now it seems that’s unlikely, with numerous sources saying the phone has been delayed.According to leakers @UniverseIce and Max Jambor, and South Korean site ET News, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is currently set to land in either May or June.These latest rumors mention that Samsung had originally planned a launch on April 15, so that leak may not have been totally wrong; but for whatever reason, Samsung has apparently decided to delay the launch.

What I want to say is this bad news: the release of Samsung S25 edge has been postponed. It was originally scheduled to be released on the 15th of this month, but now it has been postponed to May or June.April 2, 2025

A political sideshow?

The reason for the delay isn’t clear though, with ET News claiming that it isn’t due to quality issues, and speculating that it might instead be so that the impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol, which is set to begin on April 4, doesn’t take attention away from the launch.While we always take leaks with a pinch of salt – especially when the source is uncertain of the reason behind particular information – in this case we’d say a May or June launch is more likely than April 15, since at least three separate sources have made this claim.There’s not much else in the way of new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge information, but ET News has in the same piece echoed previous reports in saying that it will be priced somewhere between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.That would make it a moderately expensive phone – so if nothing else a month or two’s delay gives you more time to save up for it.

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Hidden clues in Windows 11 point to a new ‘full screen experience’ for gaming handheldsThis could be a long-rumored ‘handheld mode’ that has several choices for layouts the user can selectIt’s still very early days with this speculation, but Microsoft’s past (and more recent) moves all appear to add up to this really happening

In terms of gaming portables, all the chatter might be around the big Nintendo Switch 2 reveal today, but that’s not what I’m most interested in, frankly.No, what has grabbed my attention instead is the airing of the strongest hint yet that Windows 11 could get a dedicated mode to make the OS a lot more usable on gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally X.Windows Central picked up on a regular leaker on Bluesky, Xeno, who posted about a recent preview build of Windows 11 that has some interesting changes hidden away in the background of the OS.

These are applied to settings in a new ‘GamingPosture’ category, and they include a mention of ‘Boot into the Full screen experience at device startup’ and ‘Choose your Full screen experience.’In theory, that ‘full screen experience’ refers to a separate mode in Windows 11 which will be specifically designed around making the operating system work better on a small screen, such as those found on gaming handhelds.As Xeno points out, Microsoft is also busy stripping out anything pertaining to the HoloLens from within the Settings app in Windows 11, which makes sense now Microsoft has dumped the headset.

(Image credit: Future)

Analysis: An increasingly likely prospect

There’s a major problem with gaming handhelds powered by Windows 11 right now, namely that the operating system’s normal interface is clunky to use and unfortunately tricky to navigate on a small screen.There have been rumors of Microsoft at least mulling a ‘handheld mode’ for a long time now, which would frame Windows 11 with a much more gaming portable-friendly interface – a new ‘full screen experience’ for the OS, as we see with the leaked changes.Indeed, the mention of a choice of full screen experience indicates that there may be multiple options to pick from in terms of how this handheld mode is presented – which would be a useful twist here. Options for customization, or different spins on the same basic idea, are always welcome.Before we get carried away with a grand vision of Microsoft building a new way of working with Windows 11 specifically for handhelds, though, we need to remember that this is the wispiest of leaks at this point. It’s just a few tweaks to code in the background of Windows 11, with nothing even near testing yet.However, there are already a lot of clues that this is the direction Microsoft is heading in. Not just the early rumors around the handheld mode I’ve already mentioned, but a bunch of strides forward since then.That includes a ‘compact mode’ for the Xbox app on PC, and the same treatment for Windows 11’s Game Bar (which has been further improved in this respect very recently). Not to mention another recent addition for Windows 11, the gamepad keyboard layout to facilitate easier typing with the on-screen keyboard using a controller, or on a handheld.These are concrete changes already in Windows 11, which seems a pretty clear signal from Microsoft that it’s serious about making the OS better for handhelds. And what else has popped up very recently? That teaser from Asus about the rumored Xbox handheld Microsoft is supposedly cooking up, which underlines the company’s ambitions on the portable gaming front.Indeed, that Xbox-branded handheld might be the first device to use this new full-screen UI experience in Windows 11, but again, let’s sprinkle some caution over all this before we leap too zealously towards any conclusions here. As difficult as it may be to exercise restraint when it comes to the prospect of Microsoft supercharging Windows 11 handhelds to much better compete with the excellent interface delivered by Valve’s SteamOS, a dedicated gaming spin on Linux which remains a core strength of its Steam Deck.

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Half of UK workers would consider quitting over full-time office-working mandates, report findsHays study sees three-quarters cite commuting costs as their number one concern71% see equal or improved productivity among remote workers

Forcing employees back to the office full-time risks companies losing core talent, with most professionals highly valuing hybrid working for its cost and wellbeing benefits, new research has found.Nearly half (48%) of 8,000 UK organizations quizzed by recruitment company Hays said they would even consider quitting if they were forced back to the office full-time, highlighting how important it is for companies to consider worker needs.The study also noted a gender disparity, with women (58%) over a third more likely to quit over full-time office mandates than men (42%).

Workers are willing to quit over full-time office mandates

Of those surveyed by Hays, more than three-quarters (77%) follow a hybrid working model, with three days per week in the office most common.Around one in five (22%) still allow staff to choose their own remote working days, but this has dropped from more than a quarter (26%) just six months ago, indicating that flexibility could be on the decline.On the flip side, one in five organizations have increased their office attendance requirements. Thankfully, just 8% of companies plan to mandate a full-time return in the next six months, though the study doesn’t detail how many companies plan to implement such measures beyond six months.Businesses seem to understand that workers want more flexibility, because two in three (66%) noted that they fear staff backlash if office attendance were to be enforced more strictly.Interestingly, it’s the financial benefits that appear to be most enticing for workers wanting to stay at home. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) say full-time office work would raise their commuting costs, with 73% citing commuting costs as their top concern.“Before making any significant changes to their current working model, employers must look at the bigger picture and consider key factors such as the cost of commuting, work-life balance, employee wellbeing, productivity and the host of benefits that hybrid working can bring to their business, in order to retain talent in a tough market,” Hays UK&I COO Pam Lindsay-Dunn commented.Thankfully, only 13% believe remote workers are less productive than their office-based counterparts, with 52% noting productivity equality and 19% adding that home workers are more productive.Via The Guardian

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Google Password Manager could be working on passkey import and exportThe function would make it easier to transfer passkeys between devicesPasskey import/export is being built on a new FIDO Alliance protocol

Google’s password manager may soon allow you to transfer your passkeys to a new phone, making their use as a login tool even easier.An APK teardown by AndroidAuthority has found that Google might be working on a potential update that would allow you to export passkeys from one device to another.Password export and import is already a key feature of many of the best password managers, but the same functionality for passkeys would be a huge step forward.

Passkey import and export

The FIDO Alliance announced in 2024 it was working on a protocol to allow passkeys to be imported and exported, and it appears Google is breaking ground for the function in its password manager app.Excerpts of in-progress code show the numerous references to Passkey import and export, with some strings even showing work is being done to stop you from exporting your passkeys to potentially hostile applications, preventing you from leaking your entire passkey chain to the world.There currently isn’t a timeline on when the feature would be released, nor has Google officially confirmed the feature.For those unfamiliar with passkeys, I’m sure you’ve experienced the frustrations of having to try and remember all of your passwords, and may even admit to keeping all your passwords as similar as possible to help you remember them. Well, a passkey can solve all your woes.Rather than using a password to login, passkeys are stored on your device and allow you to use a separate authentication method to access your accounts. For example, on an iPhone you could use your biometric FaceID scan or your fingerprint to verify that it is actually you accessing your account. Couple this with an auto-filled username or email, and you can login in seconds.Passkeys are widely recognized to be the successor to passwords, offering an easier and more secure way to log in to accounts and services, and have seen remarkable uptake with tech savvy young people.

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The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) has been in effect for over two months (since 17th January 2025, with the previous two years for preparation), but some organizations are still unprepared. While this regulation directly affects the financial sector of the European Union (EU), it also impacts US companies providing services to EU financial firms, including US firms providing services to their EU subsidiaries.This is perhaps the most significant yet underrated aspect of DORA. Not only does DORA mandate higher resilience standards of EU financial institutions, but it also requires the management of third-party risk, similar to DoD CMMC, but with even more depth and detail. This means European financial institutions must be wary of third-party vendors and partners they work with, while U.S. companies that want to do business these firms must be compliant and be prepared for audits. These audits include the ability to upload metrics and data, in a Register of Information, regarding their third parties.DORA is a prime example of how connected businesses around the world are today and why IT management and service providers must be able to adapt to new security and resilience requirements, no matter what region the regulations come from.

What DORA is and Who it Affects

At a basic level, DORA is an EU regulation that requires financial institutions – including banks, insurance companies, and investment firms–to meet specific standards for IT security, detection, recovery, and resilience. The purpose of this regulatory framework is to protect financial entities against operational disruptions from the growing number of cyber threats and their increased tenacity. This includes varying types of severe operational impact from denial of service (DDoS) attacks and ransomware.To adhere to DORA’s requirements, EU financial firms must have proactive resilience protocols in place that include advanced risk management frameworks designed for the prevention, detection, and resilience against cyber threats and disruptions.These organizations are also required to report any significant disruptions from data breaches or cyberattacks within 24 hours. But because of DORA’s third-party mandate, U.S.-based solutions and service providers must also abide by these regulations and be able to detect incidents and respond in time to be compliant.DORA mandates the analysis, documentation, and management of third-party risks, so it’s critical for financial organizations to be sure that any organization they do business with meets DORA’s standards.Not complying with DORA can lead to varying types of penalties – including criminal repercussions – against an organization. These can include legal, financial, and operational consequences – such as fines of up to 1% of an organization’s daily global revenue – in addition to reputational damage to a brand.

How to Comply with DORA

DORA compliance will require some organizations to update their existing IT infrastructure, policies, and protocols. When upgrading an IT environment to comply with any regulation, there must be a long-term view. Any plan in place must be sustainable and adaptable to any challenges that may come down the road. Security threats are always evolving, so security protocols and solutions must continuously advance as well.Improvements and testing to security frameworks should be continuous and ongoing, which makes company security an advantage. Rather than setting compliance as a goal, it becomes a standard. Financial firms and third-party vendors that have a continuous focus on cybersecurity threats and preparation are more resilient during times of crisis and prepared to ward off threats than those who take a different approach.This strength has a ripple effect in positive outcomes for organizations in terms of data protection, brand reputation, customer satisfaction, and business opportunities. Additionally, organizations who meet DORA compliance and have a security posture of continued readiness and improvement will be more prepared for the next regulatory standards that come down the pike.For U.S. companies to meet DORA compliance, they should run assessments on their security and resiliency standards. Doing so would enable them to identify weaknesses and create a plan of attack on where to improve, whether it is regarding incident response time or risk management. These assessments should include regular testing of IT environments, such as penetration testing and vulnerability evaluations to pinpoint potential susceptibilities and blind spots.

Digital operational resilience

Complete digital operational resilience, disaster recovery, and business continuity testing helps organizations evaluate the effectiveness of alternative processes to seamlessly switch to secondary methods during disruptions. Furthermore, documenting these tests, their results, and the protocols for when an incident does occur, will showcase an organization is compliant and prepared for crises.Another way companies can demonstrate DORA compliance is by conducting detailed audits and automating logs of user activities. This facilitates information sharing around threats seen or experienced, particularly regarding zero-day attacks.Companies also need to have systems in place for monitoring to enable quick incident response times to meet DORA’s strict 24-hour reporting window. By creating attack and disruption simulations, companies will have a game plan in place during a time of crisis and will know what preemptive measures to take to improve on weaknesses and hasten their response.U.S. companies providing solutions and services to EU financial firms also need to adhere to DORA regulations pertaining to third-party risk management with their own subcontractors and suppliers in mind. Working with entities that do not live up to DORA’s standards can risk their own compliance status.The same way an EU financial firm needs to be sure a U.S. service provider is compliant, that same US-based organization needs to keep their own third-party entities in-check. To do this, U.S. providers should conduct audits and look for certifications to help show compliance and preparation for any attacks, outages, or disruptions that may come. The key is to not only be compliant but also be able to document this compliance to depict confidence from an EU firm.While the advancement of modern technology leads to improved productivity and efficiency, it also advances the threat levels of cyberattacks, meaning organizations must continue to improve their cyber defenses. This is not just to comply with new regulations such as DORA, but to protect their data and brand reputation.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

What's the next PS5 exclusive planned for 2025?(Image credit: Bend Studio / Sony)The next PS5 exclusive planned for a 2025 release is Days Gone Remastered, which launches April 25, 2025. This time, there's a permadeath mode as well as a Horde Assault arcade survival mode. Those that purchased the original can upgrade to the new one for $10, though this does not apply to those that picked the game up on PS Plus. After that, we'll get The Midnight Walk, a dark fantasy game featuring real clay models.

Upcoming PS5 exclusives include AAA first-party games, as well as Sony's future slate of multiplayer titles, something slightly newer that the publisher seems to be pushing quite hard. Regardless of what kind of games you like to play, there are plenty of exclusives coming to PS5, many of which already have release dates or broad release windows.In terms of upcoming games, the next year or so of PS5 exclusives look set to be an extremely strong lineup. That's before you consider the multiplayer offering, with games like Marathon set to continue Bungie's success in the FPS game genre.Here are the upcoming PS5 exclusives to look forward to in 2025 and beyond. We'll only be covering games that have been officially confirmed for release, many of which already have solid release dates locked in. In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives, meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

Upcoming PS5 exclusives

(Image credit: Kojima Productions)

There are currently quite a few major PS5 exclusives planned and confirmed for future release on the PlayStation 5 console. We've listed them below, alongside their release dates where available.In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives; the latter meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll make that clear with each entry below too so you have a clear picture of what's what.

Days Gone Remastered - April 25, 2025The Midnight Walk - May 8, 2025Lost Soul Aside - May 30, 2025Death Stranding 2 - June 26, 2025Ballad of Antara - TBC 2025Ghost of Yotei - TBC 2025Saros - 2026Marvel's Wolverine - TBCMarathon - TBCSword of the Sea - TBCPhantom Blade 0 - TBCFairgame$ - TBCWhere Winds Meet - TBCIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - TBC

Days Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

The next PS5 exclusive to come out this year is Days Gone Remastered, a new version of the open-world zombie action game. This time around, the game has been beefed up for the PS5, and PC audiences, with DualSense controller support, new accessibility features, and a survival arcade mode called Horde Assault. There's also a Permadeath Mode this time, which challenges you to complete a full playthrough without dying.Days Gone Remastered launches April 25, 2025 for PS5 and PC

Lost Soul Aside

(Image credit: Sony)

Lost Soul Aside is a brand new action RPG that'lll launch on PS5 and PC. You’ll traverse landscapes that feel alive: sunlit plains, mysterious ancient ruins, and alternate dimensions that buzz with energy. This world is filled with secrets, monsters, and unpredictable events that keep you interested. Beneath the flashy moves, there’s depth for players who love to experiment. You can customize loadouts, chain synergistic combos, and strategize with Arena, Kaser’s dragon-like companion.Lost Soul Aside launches May 30, 2025 for PS5 and PC.

The Midnight Walk

(Image credit: Moonhod)

In The Midnight Walk, you awake as The Burnt One, a mysterious being who’s dug themselves out of a muddy grave to find their purpose. They find it in Potboy – a little dormant lantern creature that you reignite and bring back to life. Together you must venture down the Midnight Walk – a perilous, nightmarish highway and, along the way, survive five strange tales about fire; its life-giving warmth as well as its inherent danger.The Midnight Walk will launch in 2025 for both PS5 and PSVR 2.

Ghost of Yotei

(Image credit: Sucker Punch)

Ghost of Yōtei is the latest game from Sucker Punch, and follows Ghost of Tsushima. Protagonist Atsu’s journey takes place in 1603, more than 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. While we don't know how the two are connected, if at all, expect the same mix of stealth and sword-fighting as you make your way across a gorgeous Feudal Japan setting. So far, we've only received one trailer, but it's looking very pretty indeed.Ghost of Yōtei will launch sometime in 2025, exclusively for PS5.

Saros

(Image credit: Housemarque)

Saros was revealed during a State of Play event that aired in February 2025. It's the latest from Housemarque, and is being described as a game that builds upon the third-person action systems showcased in Returnal. A key gameplay distinction between Saros and Returnal is permanent resources and progression making every death valuable. After every death you will face a changed world, but in Saros you will be able to choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit upgrades to “come back stronger” to overcome the challenges you face on Carcosa.Saros will launch on PS5 in 2026.

Ballad of Antara

(Image credit: Infoldgames)

Ballad of Antara is an action-RPG with multiple playable characters. These characters possess the power to traverse the two worlds of normalcy and unimaginable. The devs are calling them “Emissaries”. Each Emissary has their own unique class, gameplay capabilities, and their own enticing, mysterious stories. So far, we have seen a lengthy trailer, which you can check out as part of this blog post.Ballad of Antara is currently slated for release sometime in 2025. At present, it's only confirmed for PS5.

Where Winds Meet

(Image credit: Everstone Studio)

Where Winds Meet is an epic Wuxia open-world action-adventure RPG game, that was recently confirmed to be launching on PS5. At first, we only knew about a PC release, but after a State of Play event in May, we know it's coming to PlayStation. For now, there's no word on when it'll come out, so stay tuned for more info. If you'd like to read more about the game, check out the PlayStation blog.

Marvel's Wolverine

(Image credit: Sony)

Marvel's Wolverine is coming from the folks over at Insomniac, the team responsible for the Spider-Man PS4 and PS5 games. As such, expectations are very high indeed, and because we've not seen much on it so far, things are still very much up in the air. Only a brief cinematic trailer has been revealed so far, showing Logan sitting at a bar after what looks to have been a very bloody brawl.At present, Wolverine is only slated for a PS5 release.

Death Stranding 2

(Image credit: Kojima Productions)

Death Stranding 2 was something of a surprise when it was announced, given that many hadn't expected 2019's Death Stranding to get a sequel. What we've seen so far amounts to some classic Kojima cinematics, with Sam Porter Bridges now sporting grey hair. It looks as though Fragile will also return. Not much is known beyond that.When it does arrive on June 26, 2025, Death Stranding 2 will only be available for PS5.

Marathon

(Image credit: Bungie)

Marathon comes from Bungie, the creators of Destiny and Halo. It'll be a sci-fi extraction shooter, and what we've seen so far looks absolutely incredible in terms of its visual style. Marathon will have players engaging one another as cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners, exploring a lost colony on the planet of Tau Ceti IV in search of riches, fame, and infamy.It'll launch on PS5 and PC, with full cross-play and cross-save.

Fairgame$

Fairgame$ is a competitive heist game where you join an underground movement to rob the ultra-rich and rebalance the scales. We've not seen any gameplay yet, nor do we have a release window or release date.What we do know is that it'll launch on PS5 and PC.

Phantom Blade Zero

(Image credit: S-Game)

Phantom Blade Zero was revealed during a PlayStation Showcase event earlier this year. It looks set to blend fast-paced action with cinematic quick-time gameplay. There are epic boss battles, and plenty of parrying as you make your way across a fractured land, looking to seek revenge on those that have mortally wounded you.Phantom Blade Zero has been confirmed to be in development for PS5 and PC, though no further details have been given on when it'll be coming out (or if that number of platforms will grow). You can check out our hands-on Phantom Blade Zero preview to read what we thought of the upcoming game.

Sword of the Sea

(Image credit: Giant Squid)

Sword of the Sea takes place in an abandoned realm where the terrain flows in waves. You'll make use of a traversal vehicle called the Hoversword. The Hoversword controls like a snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one. Build momentum to achieve great speeds and catch big air as you explore skatepark-like ruins, uncovering an ancient mystery as you go.At present, Sword of the Sea is announced for PS5 and PC.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

(Image credit: Naughty Dog/Sony)

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was a surprise reveal that closed out The Game Awards 2024. It's the new game from Naughty Dog, and looks to be a sci-fi epic, with a retro-futuristic vibe. We don't know too much about the game yet, except that it's being developed exclusively for PS5 consoles. From the official announcement blog post:"Intergalactic stars our newest protagonist, Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit."At present, we have no release window for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, so we'll mark it down as TBC.

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Samsung season is still going strong, as we're getting ready for the worldwide release of the Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and brand new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge following the reveal of the new phones at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025.And while we've been getting to grips with three of these four new devices for our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 review, hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review, and hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review, we've yet to hear much official information about the S25 Edge, which was known as the S25 Slim prior to its official announcement.Still, we've got plenty of rumors from the past few months to work with, and below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge so far. We'll also be updating this article as more Edge-related news rolls in.

Latest newsThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has reportedly been delayed until May or June.

Cut to the chase

What is it? A high-end, slim Samsung phoneWhen is it out? Possibly May or JuneHow much will it cost? Likely over $999 / £999 / AU$1,699

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: release date & price rumors

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display (Image credit: Future/Viktoria Shilets)

Could launch in May or JuneExpect it to be priced somewhere between the S25 Plus and Ultra

We first heard talk of a slimmed-down Samsung Galaxy S25 back in October, with a source claiming that this phone – then referred to as the S25 Slim – would probably land a few months after the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. Since those phones were announced on January 22, that would mean a launch in April or May.This source cautioned, though, that the S25 Edge might only be released in limited quantities or regions, so Samsung can judge how much interest there is in it before committing to a wider release for a model next year.Then, in November a model number for a phone believed to be the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was spotted on the GSMA IMEI database. This told us a few things. For one, it provided more evidence that the phone existed, and for another, the model number ended with a ‘U’, which denotes a US model.Another model number for the S25 Edge later emerged, this time with a ‘B’ at the end, which typically means a phone that Samsung will sell in every region it operates in. And, of course, the S25 Edge appearing at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked means it's likely headed for a wide release.This find also pointed to a release in or around May, as Samsung phones tend to get added to this database roughly six months before they launch.In any case, in mid-December, a source claimed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge would land in Q2 (so between April and June), with another source making the same S25 Edge release date claim in February of 2025, and in January of 2025 we heard to expect the Galaxy S25 Edge in May.Since then, we've heard that in fact the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might be announced on April 16 and then ship in May. Another leak said similar, pointing to an April 15 launch for the Galaxy S25 Edge. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge now having passed through the FCC, that's believable.However, most recently of all we've heard that while an April launch was planned, Samsung has apparently delayed the Galaxy S25 Edge to May or June.Though rumors around Samsung Galaxy Unpacked varied quite significantly, from claims that the S25 Edge would launch alongside the rest of the lineup to rumors suggesting the new phone would be totally absent from the event, we actually landed somewhere in the middle.As for the price, we haven’t heard much, but based on its rumored specs and model number, it’s likely that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be positioned somewhere between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199.The few Galaxy S25 Edge pricing leaks we have heard largely support that, with one stating that in Europe it will start at between €1,200 and €1,300, which is indeed between the S25 Plus and the S25 Ultra. That would be for a model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but the same source also says to expect a pricier 12GB / 512GB model.We've also heard from another source though that the S25 Edge's price could be "similar" to that of the S25 Plus, which could mean it's slightly less than the price above.

Can you trust these rumors?

Almost every Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge release date leak is pointing to the same launch window, with May or June now sounding like the most likely months.It is slightly unusual for Samsung to tease a new product, let alone a flagship-series phone, in such a visible way without providing many details. It seems unlikely that the company would delay release too long into the year after unveiling the phone at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, but we can't say for sure.

Samsung Unpacked: reserve the next Galaxy smartphone now and get $50 Samsung creditIt's that time of the year again, folks. Reservations are now open for the new Galaxy S25 smartphones. Simply sign up by email, and you'll get $50 Samsung credit on the house when you preorder, as well as the chance to win $5,000 in a sweepstake.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: design and display rumors

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image credit: Future)

A slim design, large camera module, and sleek metal finishCould be just 5.84mm thickThe screen might be 6.66 inches

Though we didn't get much in the way of information about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, we did get a good look at the new phone.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge generally follows the design language of the other S25 series phones, with a few changes made to allow for its visibly slimmer profile.The most obvious is the camera module, which sports only two cameras as opposed to the triple-camera systems found on the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra.The sole color displayed also seems to be a polished natural metal, which will probably be aluminum or titanium, with one source saying the Galaxy S25 Edge's frame is indeed titanium. We would generally expect Samsung to offer more colors at launch, and indeed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors leaks so far point to Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack models being sold.We've seen how two of these colors might look in a video showing dummy units, which also have off-puttingly off-center USB-C ports and SIM card slots. You can also see the colors in the leaked Galaxy S25 Edge images below.

Image 1 of 3(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)

Though not quite in line with the officially revealed design, a prior leak from @Onleaks (a reputable tipster) in collaboration with SmartPrix may shed some light on the dimensions of the upcoming phone.The source claims that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has dimensions of 159 x 76 x 6.4mm (rising to 8.3mm if you include the camera bump). For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (which this phone is expected to have a similar size screen to) is 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm.Below you'll find a gallery of S25 Edge images from its official reveal at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked:

Image 1 of 7(Image credit: Future/Viktoria Shilets)Image 2 of 7(Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)Image 3 of 7(Image credit: Future/Viktoria Shilets)Image 4 of 7(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)Image 6 of 7(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)Image 7 of 7(Image credit: Future)

6.4mm seems a realistic thickness, as another source has also said that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is somewhere between 6.0 and 6.9mm thick.This might sound very thin, but yet another source has shown a comparison image revealing that the Galaxy S25 Edge might not be noticeably much thinner than the rest of the Galaxy S25 line. Though we've seen the phone from afar, Samsung has not allowed anyone to test or even handle the S25 Edge yet, so whether the difference will be easily felt is still hard to say. And indeed, however thin the Galaxy S25 Edge might be, it’s reportedly not as thin as Samsung was hoping to make it.All that said, a more recent leak suggests the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be even slimmer, at 158.2 x 75.5 x 5.84mm, with that thickness having been put forward by multiple sources now.Supposedly prototypes of phones with both dimensions existed, but the thicker model had a third rear camera, and Samsung apparently chose the slimmer design to better compete with the rumored iPhone 17 Air. However, this source adds that at the camera bump, the S25 Edge rises to 10mm.And the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might also be very light, with one source claiming it's lighter than the 162g Galaxy S25, despite probably having a bigger screen.Speaking of lightness, there's a rumor that the Galaxy S25 Edge could use a ceramic back panel, which would also help make it scratchproof. These rumors were given more weight in an exclusive story reported by Phones Editor Axel Metz, who spoke to Samsung’s UK Marketing Director Annika Bizon."There are two points I want to make,” Bizon said. “One is that it’s absolutely stunning. And if you think about the technology that’s going into that size of space, it’s pretty impressive. The second thing I’ll say concerns durability. With anything slim, durability [has to come as part of the package]. Those are the two features [of the Edge] that are exciting [for us]. Well, I know durability isn't exciting – but it’s really important. So watch this space, because there are some exciting things to come regarding this phone.”Speaking of the screen, the source of the renders above claims that it’s somewhere between 6.7 and 6.8 inches, while another source got more specific, saying that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 6.66-inch display. That would put it in line with the Galaxy S25 Plus. Indeed, we've elsewhere heard that the Galaxy S25 Edge could have exactly the same 6.7-inch screen as the S25 Plus.We've also heard that unsurprisingly the S25 Edge could have a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, putting it in line with the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge could also have a 2K resolution.

Can you trust these rumors?

Though some of these leaked renders and estimates don't quite line up with the model we saw at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, it seems likely that the S25 Edge will have a screen roughly the same size as the S25 Plus and boast a thinness of either 5.84mm or 6.4mm, with the former seeming more likely. Despite missing a few details, the source of the leaked renders is generally reliable.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: camera rumors

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future)

Multiple sources point to a high-spec cameraThe first Galaxy S to have only two cameras in five yearsPossibly a 200MP main, with a 50MP or 12MP ultra-wide

The first thing Samsung fans will notice when looking at the S25 Edge is that it has two cameras, rather than the three-camera system that's been standard on the Galaxy S series since the S10 was released in 2019.However, it's not all bad news, as several leaks suggest the S25 Edge could come with a very powerful camera system, even if it offers less versatility than its S25 series siblings. Previous leaks suggested the S25 Edge would sport a triple-camera system with the standard combo of main, ultra-wide, and telephoto, so we aren't sure whether the phone's secondary camera will be an ultra-wide or telephoto lens yet.The earliest Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge camera leak suggested this phone would have an "Ultra" camera, which presumably means similar camera hardware to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, or the S24 Ultra that came before it.Later, the same source similarly said that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge would have a “stronger” camera than the standard Galaxy S25.Another source has since got more specific, claiming that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom. This claim likely fits with the leaks above, as a 200MP main sensor would see it match the S25 Ultra, but as we saw at the reveal, the phone only has room for one of the other cameras mentioned. Of those, it will probably be the 50MP ultra-wide, going by other Galaxy S25 Edge camera leaks.That said, we've more recently heard that along with a 200MP main camera, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might have a 12MP ultra-wide.Finally, we’ve heard elsewhere that the potential telephoto camera on the S25 Edge could have an ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) design, making it thinner than most telephoto lenses.

Can you trust these rumors?

Our initial expectations for the S25 Edge included a triple-camera setup with Ultra-matching specs, but it's clear as day that the final phone only has two cameras. Still, we're reasonably hopeful that we'll see a 200MP main camera on the S25 Edge, as this has been corroborated by several leaks, albeit with varying track records. Both a telephoto and ultra-wide camera were previously rumored, but we don't know which, if either, will make it to production.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: specs rumors

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Leaks point to a high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset12GB of RAM also looks likely

Though Samsung has revealed the Galaxy S25 Edge to the world, all we've seen so far is the design of the phone. We're still relying on rumors for specs information at this time.Our first real Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge specs information came in December 2024 when we heard that – like the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series – the phone would probably have a top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.More recently, the Galaxy S25 Edge appeared in a benchmark, with exactly that chipset and 12GB of RAM. Its scores weren’t as impressive as we’d expect from a phone equipped with such a top-tier chipset, but that’s probably just because the Edge's hardware and software were still being developed and optimized.A second Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge benchmark has also now appeared, also with those specs and also with underwhelming scores. But yet another S25 Edge benchmark has since appeared, and this one is more in line with the Galaxy S25 Ultra's performance.Multiple other rumors have since echoed that chipset and RAM amount for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. So, this could be an extremely powerful phone, offering performance that’s in line with the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, all of which have now been confirmed to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and 12GB of RAM.

Can you trust these rumors?

Multiple sources have pointed to a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 12GB of RAM. So, there’s a good chance this is what we’ll get, especially as that’s what we’re getting with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: battery rumors

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future)

Could have a very small batteryThe latest rumor suggests a battery capacity of just 3,900mAhOne source instead says it will be 4,700mAh or bigger

One area where the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might not impress is its battery. A recent leak suggests that the phone has been certified with a 3,900mAh battery in China, which may have significant implications on the phone's battery life.We've heard that same Galaxy S25 Edge battery spec elsewhere, along with a claim that it will charge at 25W.This latest leak echoes earlier suggestions that Samsung had failed at making the battery as energy-dense as hoped, and that the Galaxy S25 Edge’s battery will be somewhere between 3,000mAh and 4,000mAh.That said, the source of the renders above stated that its battery is “significantly” bigger than 3,050mAh, so it might at least be approaching 4,000mAh.For reference, the standard 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S25 comes equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, so a smaller battery powering the S25 Edge's larger screen might significantly lower the phone's longevity.Or, these sources could be wrong, as we’ve elsewhere heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might have a battery of between 4,700mAh and 5,000mAh.

Can you trust these rumors?

While one source points to a big battery in the Galaxy S25 Edge, they don’t have much of a track record, and it’s hard to believe Samsung would be able to fit such a big battery in such a slim phone. There have been no signs of Samsung switching to a more energy-dense silicon-based battery, and with the S25 series otherwise using lithium-based batteries, this seems likely for the S25 Edge too.So, the claims that the battery is somewhere between 3,000mAh and 4,000mAh are more believable, but we’re hopeful that it will at least be at the upper end of that range.

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A new Nintendo FCC filing suggests a new Pro Controller is in the worksThis filing indicates that the device will feature Bluetooth, NFC, and a headphone jackFans believe that this could be a new Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct finally airs today, and it looks like a new FCC filing has given us an idea of what could be in store for the showcase.The FCC filing was first spotted on Famiboards(via GoNintendo) and is labeled under product code "BEE-008", which seems to confirm the existence of a new game controller.This device appears to offer Bluetooth and NFC, which fans believe would make this a brand-new Pro Controller. However, the most notable part of the filing is that the device also has a headphone jack, a feature that wasn't included with the original Switch Pro Controller and something that players have wanted for years.In addition, it seems that this Pro Controller will use a new battery that the original poster says is "different from anything I'm aware of for Switch 1 or Switch 2", which could mean that the Switch Pro Controller battery has been retired.It's worth mentioning that this is all just speculation for now, as Nintendo has yet to officially announce a new Pro Controller for its new console. If a new gamepad is in the works, today's Nintendo Direct would be the perfect place for a reveal.The long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase is scheduled to air today at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST and will be "approximately 60 minutes long". Nintendo is likely to offer new details about the console's pricing and preorders, as well as showcase an in-depth look at the console and possibly new software, like the new Mario Kart game.

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New leaked info about Meta's next smart glasses has surfacedThey'll reportedly boast a single display, and be controlled by a 'neural wristband'But they could cost as much as $1,400 (£1,100 / AU$2,200)

New leaked details of Meta’s upcoming AI smart glasses have emerged that both support existing rumors and provide a few fresh tidbits – including an eye-wateringly high price that's already starting to kill my enthusiasm.Bloomberg has shared reports from unnamed insiders that the device, codenamed Hypernova, is expected to launch later this year and will feature a monocular design, as in it will use only one display rather than a pair of screens – two details we've already heard.This single panel would sit in the lower-right corner of the right lens, so it should allow you conveniently see information by looking down without obscuring your vision greatly.

The current meta smart glasses (Image credit: Meta)

The leak also suggests that the specs will boast many of the same functionality as the current Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, including the ability to snap photos and videos, and get WhatsApp notifications. On top of that they’ll also apparently offer new features like a dedicated maps app, so you can get navigation right in your vision.To navigate apps Meta is said to be relying on touch controls built into the frame (just like we've seen with its existing smart glasses) as well as a ‘neural wristband’ which can detect hand gestures – with this band believed to be packaged in the box with the Hypernova glasses.However the kicker is these smart specs likely won’t come cheap. We’re talking over $1,000, with insiders predicting something in the $1,300-$1,400 range (which would be around £1,000-£1,100 or AU$2,050-AU$2,200).

How much extra will special lenses cost? (Image credit: Meta)

What!?

I was expecting a price increase over the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for sure. A starting price of $299 / £299 / AU$449 would certainly be too low, so I wouldn't be surprised to see these glasses land at around $800.That would be high, but not astronomical in the realm of early adopter tech.But at over $1,000 and perhaps approaching $1,500, these glasses would be demanding a price that demands excellence – and based on these leaks they don’t deliver that.I’m sure they’ll be impressive – Meta's existing smart glasses are one of my favorite gadgets, and AR tech truly feels like the future – but unless Meta has plenty of software tricks up its sleeves, and massive hardware upgrades beyond the screen, these new specs don’t seem to be a tantalizing enough proposition.Sure, they might boast a few new tools like AR navigation, but these tools aren’t $1,000 more useful than the specs I have at home.

Maybe things are just getting pricier, look at Meta's recent limited edition specs (Image credit: Meta / Ray-Ban)

Interestingly, the same Bloomberg report adds that work has already begun on a second-gen version – Hypernova 2 – which will rely on a binocular (two-display) design, with that being planned for 2027.However, it’s unclear if this design would be part of this new smart glasses line, or if it would be the full-on AR glasses a leaked Meta roadmap teased back in 2023 – and which Meta has been promising since announcing its Meta Orion AR glasses prototype.This model, with two screens, and with app developers having longer to cook up innovative tech, could find success even at a high cost, but I’m skeptical that Hypernova will prove as phenomenally popular as Meta and Ray-Ban’s other smart glasses have.As with all rumors we should take these latest details with a pinch of salt. Meta’s pricing strategy could change, it could be planning several apps the leakers aren’t aware of yet, or it could even cancel the smart specs altogether.I'm hoping Meta can rejig its plans at least a little. After experiencing the fifth-gen Snap Spectacles recently I’m completely sold on the AR future, but these plans don’t sound like the glasses I’m looking for.

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A major European service marketplace kept an open database on the internetPassport data, government-issued IDs, and more, were exposed by YoojoThe database has since been locked down

Yoojo, a European service marketplace, reportedly kept a major database open on the internet available for anyone who knew where to look containing roughly 14.5 million files, including plenty of sensitive customer information.Security researchers from Cybernews discovered the misconfigured cloud storage bucket and told Yoojo, which subsequently locked the archive down.The information leaked in the database is more than enough for your average cybercriminal to run personalized phishing attacks, identity theft, or possibly even wire fraud. It includes people’s full names, passport information, other government-issued IDs, text messages between users, and phone numbers.

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Remote code execution risks

Yoojo is an online platform that connects people with home service providers for tasks such as DIY, gardening, moving, house cleaning, childcare, pet sitting, IT support, homecare, and tutoring.According to Cybernews, it has more than half a million downloads on Google Play, and is relatively popular in the UK, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.The database was exposed for at least 10 days, the researchers said, adding that there was no indication of misuse. However, that doesn’t mean that someone hadn’t managed to get ahold of the archives already. Yoojo closed the instance down, but is yet to make an official statement.“Leaked personal details enables attackers to create highly targeted phishing, vishing, and smishing campaigns. Fraudulent emails and SMS scams could involve impersonating Yoojo service providers asking for sensitive information like payment details or verification documents,” Cybernews researchers said.Misconfigured databases remain one of the key causes of data leaks and spills. Many organizations nowadays use cloud to store sensitive employee, partner, and customer information, without realizing that cloud works on a shared security model, and that the responsibility for safeguarding the data is also on them.The good news is that most organizations react quickly when notified about the leak and lock down the databases fast.

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It's the big day folks! The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is just around the corner and the anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. We're expecting to learn loads about the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo's next major console, in a tell-all presentation that lasts for a confirmed duration of roughly 60 minutes.This is going to be a massive day in gaming history, with millions of fans tuning in. Our live coverage will be your one-stop shop for all the major announcements and reveals as they happen. Whether you're watching the stream alongside us or can't tune in, we're going to have everything that you need right here.Join me as I count down the last few hours until the event, keeping you updated with a steady stream of Switch 2 leaks, rumors, news, and updates as they come in. I'll even be squeezing in a few last-minute predictions here and there, as we draw nearer and nearer to the official start time.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct start time

Here's a quick reminder of when the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is set to begin. It takes place place today on April 2, 2025 at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST.Nintendo confirmed that it will be "approximately 60 minutes long" in a recent social media post, so make sure that you have about an hour free if you want to follow along as it all happens.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live countdown

Knowing the start time is all well and good, but here's a live countdown showing you exactly how many hours and minutes are left to go.

How to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

As is the case with most official Nintendo streams, the most reliable and popular to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is via the official Nintendo YouTube channel.It will also be streaming on Twitch if that's your preference.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct final predictions

With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct almost here, I'm very keen to lock in some final predictions.Starting with a safe bet, I think that the next Mario Kart will be shown in detail and is very likely to be a launch title. I suspect that it will be joined by some other major Nintendo franchises, most probably a new 3D Super Mario game.Third-party games will also be shown, likely an Elden Ring port or a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake if those persistent rumors are accurate.I believe that the Nintendo Switch 2's features will be detailed too, with a breakdown of what exactly the Switch 2 can do. This could include showing off the rumored mouse mode, which seems all be officially confirmed at this point.I would also put money on both a pre-order and release window being announced, plus pricing information for each region.What kind of prices are we expecting? TechRadar Gaming predicts that the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$699.95 - though this is just careful speculation for now.

Hello and welcome to the beginning of my Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live coverage!I'm going to guide you through the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct as it happens, keeping you up to date with a steady feed of all the latest news just as it comes in.The presentation is only two hours away now, so I would really start getting prepared. If you haven't already, consider bookmarking the official Nintendo YouTube page for easy access once the broadcast goes live.

What's the fuss all about?

(Image credit: Nintendo / Future)

If you're a little out of the loop and want to know what today's Switch 2 event is all about, here's a quick recap of events so far explaining exactly why I'm so excited.Nintendo first unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming successor to its hugely popular Nintendo Switch console, in a surprise reveal trailer posted almost two months ago on January 16, 2025.It showed off the new system officially for the first time, with a slick 3D animation paired with cute music and cool sound effects.Although there were plenty of small hints throughout, the video confirmed very few new features and didn't explicitly mention any games (though what looks like a new Mario Kart was shown briefly on screen).It did plainly state that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be able to play most Nintendo Switch games though, but that's basically all we know for sure right now.The video ended with a date: April 2, 2025, which the company then confirmed would be the day of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.I expect this imminent broadcast to be a detailed breakdown of the system, outlining its features and revealing some of its launch games. I also think we're likely to learn a release date, with pre-orders potentially opening too.

The trend of inflated GPU prices for AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series continuesPartner cards are priced far above MSRPThe previous gen RX 7900 XTX is at a ludicrous $1,299.99

Yet again, the prices of GPUs are causing waves, but (as you may have guessed), it's for all the wrong reasons.Over at Best Buy, a three-year-old XFX Radeon RX 7900 XTX is being sold for a whopping $1,229.99, way above its $999 MSRP. A similar case is seen with its XT counterpart, with the XFX 7900 XT at $929.99 - and bear in mind, these are both older RDNA 3 (AMD's GPU architecture) cards, so users won't have access to the RDNA 4-exclusive FSR 4 upscaling method for greater visual quality and performance.With older GPU prices getting out of hand, it may not surprise you to learn that it’s even worse with new GPUs, as the freshly-launched XFX Radeon RX 9070 XT is selling for up to $939.99, when it’s supposed to have an MSRP of $599.These are examples of why the current GPU market is arguably the worst it’s ever been: the same is happening with Nvidia's new RTX 5000 and (slightly older) RTX 4000 series (notably the RTX 4090) GPUs. While pricing is much higher for Team Green's high-end cards, this situation doesn't look good for Team Red, as it’s not offering high-end GPUs this generation, which could lead to many opting for Nvidia anyway: AMD needs to ensure it doesn’t get left behind in GPU competition with its fierce rival.The appeal of the Radeon RX 9070 series was affordability while gamers would still be able to enjoy playing at high resolutions in demanding games. It's also worth noting that AMD was off to a great start as cards were successfully selling at MSRP for a limited time, but without a reference card (a card designed by the GPU manufacturer, and not a board partner), buyers are at the mercy of retailers with partner cards - and unfortunately, the inflated prices have changed the narrative completely.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Enough of this madness, it needs to stop...

While many excuses like high demand and low availability can be thrown around easily (especially for new GPUs), it doesn't excuse this issue that’s making PC gaming unaffordable for so many people. A three-year-old graphics card should not cost more than its MSRP, but that's exactly what’s happening with both Nvidia and AMD partner cards.What's not helping matters is the fact that these GPUs are selling out almost as soon as stock comes in, meaning gamers are tempted to pay over the odds just to get hold of one.Essentially, you're out of luck and will likely have to settle for either a console or overspend on a GPU. The former isn't a terrible idea, don’t get me wrong. However, it fails to match up to the freedom I feel you get with a gaming PC.Unlike the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, gaming on PC offers things like fun modifications for games made by the community, free multiplayer gaming, and most importantly, more powerful hardware. It’s also evident that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 may have significant enhancements over its predecessor, but it will have a tough time against handheld gaming PCs like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which will likely still have better processing power (if the rumors of the Switch 2’s specs are true).However, as good as PC gaming is, these inflated GPU prices mean many people simply cannot make the leap. Unfortunately, I don't see this getting any better, and the more gamers continue to buy inflated GPUs, the worse it may get...

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Segway has expanded its robot lawnmower range with four new X3 Series models, designed especially for massive lawns. The new Segway lawnbots are designed to tackle garden from 1,500 square meters right up to a massive 10,000 square meters in size – that's the equivalent of a football pitch and a half – with (of course) no need for boundary wires. I saw some in action, tackling challenging terrain around on a golf course, and was duly impressed.Navimow already has an i Series (for small lawns) and H Series (for small to medium lawns), but the brand found that a not-insubstantial 10% of its customers were tasking their bots with mowing a space larger than recommended. So the X3 series is designed to fill that gap, a particular focus on mowing efficiency and navigation accuracy. There are four bots in the range, priced from $2,499 / £2,199 to $4,999 / £4,299.

The Navimow X3 series is designed specifically for big, complicated lawns (Image credit: Future)

Segway says the X3 series models mow twice as fast as the average lawnbot. While not quite F1 speeds (which, to be clear, is a good thing – that would be terrifying), they're still impressively efficient, capable of covering an area of 5,000 square meters in 24 hours. That opens them up to commercial spaces as well as just homes with large, complex grounds.There's a souped-up motor that offers 25% more power, plus a six-blade cutting mechanism for double the cutting power. There's also a blade specifically to prevent the mechanism getting clogged up with mulched grass. The bots can handle inclines of up to 27 degrees, as demonstrated in the clip below (it did also go up this slope).

Also helping streamline the process is an improved battery. After all, if you have a lawn that big, even the process of trundling back to the dock is going to take a while. Segway says the X3 Series bots can mow 1,200 square meters of lawn before needing to return to their dock to recharge, and when they do, that charging is super-speedy, to allow them to get back mowing asap.If it means anything to you, the X3 Series is the first robotic lawn mower to receive an endorsement for "high mowing efficiency" from TÜV Rheinland.

Navigation stations

To ensure the lawnbots always know where they are on these gargantuan lawns, Segway has also improved its navigation features.Lawnbots establish their location using satellite, and for the X3 Series the brand promises 20-30% better signal coverage, even in potential blind spots like narrow walkways or beneath high rooftops. There's also an extra backup antenna, for added signal stability when the base station is a long way from the edge of the lawn.On the ground, there are two wayfinding systems working in tandem: VSLAM, which relies on recognizable visual cues, and VIO, which is better for new, featureless areas. Three cameras give the bots a 300-degree field of view – so not only can they spot obstacles in front of them, but also to either side – working alongside a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor with a 0.1-2 meter range for obstacle avoidance.

The lawnbot navigated not just this lawn set accurately, but more complex obstacles like a moving ball (Image credit: Future)

During the demo, obstacle avoidance was indeed very impressive; the lawnbot even detected and avoided moving objects like a football. (Here's more on how robot lawn mowers work, in simpler terms, if it's helpful.)Segway has added a dot matrix screen that shows status and GPS tracking updates, and also added Alexa and Google Home compatibility, if voice commands are your thing.

An edge case?

If you want to hack the system further, and have the skills to do so, now you can. An Expansion Bay with open API enables customers to add extensions based on their needs.The first add-on to launch through Expansion Bay is a semi-automatic edge trimmer. Before you get too excited, it's not available everywhere – there's no launch planned in the US or the UK, although it is available in some European countries including Italy, Finland, Sweden and Czechia, and there are plans for it to come to Germany and France too.Edge trimming is something that regular lawnbots can't really do (just as today's best robot vacuums still aren't so good at edges... although at least there are features in place with those to try and improve the situation). A lawnbot that could also trim your edges could be a real game changer – it means you wouldn't need to also get out a manual strimmer to keep your lawn neat.

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The Life List, which was one of seven new movies and shows that was released at the end of March, is Netflix's current most-watched movie worldwide, but it isn't getting brilliant reviews.The Guardian called it an "overly neat Netflix weepie [that] leaves dry eyes" and awarded it just two out of five stars. It's currently sitting with a woeful 44% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics, and while Sophia Carson's performance is widely praised, the critics aren't so keen on the movie itself – despite the movie's best efforts, many found themselves unmoved.That's a shame, because crying is good for you: as the health experts at Harvard point out, "crying is an important safety valve" and emotional crying – the kind we do at sad movies – "releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help ease both physical and emotional pain."As TechRadar's unofficial 'Queen of Crying' there's nothing I like better than having a big ugly cry to a song, a show – has anyone else blubbed in every single episode of The Pitt? – or a movie. And here are three very different Netflix movies that are guaranteed to turn on the tears.

Roma

RT critic score: 96%

To date, Roma has won an incredible 256 awards worldwide – and it deserves every one of them. Set in 1970s Mexico City, Alfonso Cuarón's beautifully shot movie focuses on Cleo, who helps Antonio and Sofía take care of their four children and whose life is about to take a very unexpected turn. It's a tale of families, and of love, and of deep sadnesses too.Roma is "an epic of tearjerking magnificence," The Guardian says. It's "thrilling, engrossing, moving – and just entirely amazing... Those coming to see this film had better prepare themselves to be emotionally wrung out"."It's like nothing you've ever heard or seen," Slashfilm says. "Roma is a story of motherhood, complicated by socio-economic boundaries, yet filled to the brim with tragic love. And its telling... is simply masterful."

Private Life

RT critic score: 97%Private Life isn't billed as a weepie – it's a comedy-drama – but this tale of two fortysomething New Yorkers' IVF journey is often quietly devastating, especially if you've been through the process yourself: many online reviewers have written about having a big cry to this movie.The Guardian's Ann Lee picked it as her streaming gem, explaining that "its story of a middle-aged couple in New York struggling to conceive – inspired by writer and director Tamara Jenkins’ own experiences – feels genuinely authentic. It’s an intimate and unflinching look at the pain and heartache of infertility that is deeply compassionate and, at times, very funny." And the New York Times [paywall] described it brilliantly: "Someone once said that life is what happens while you’re making other plans. This movie is about the plans that happen while you’re trying to make another life."

If Anything Happens I Love You

RT critic score: 100%If Anything Happens I Love You is just twelve minutes long but you'll be crying for a lot longer.This one comes with a ton of trigger warnings because it's about a very violent event.This gorgeous, Oscar-winning animated short is "a bold, heart-wrenching tale of grief that asks discomforting questions about the realities of corporate America," Flickering Myth says, while Decider says that "If Anything Happens I Love You is a stunner, a true heartbreaker."

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Apple has backported fixes for three security vulnerabilities At least two were being used in "highly sophisticated attacks"Older iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions are now protected

Apple has backported three major vulnerability fixes to older versions of its operating systems to fix issues reportedly beingabused in the wild, with some of the incidents being described as “highly sophisticated”.The three flaws are tracked as CVE-2025-24200, CVE-2024-24201, and CVE-2025-24085. The former is a bug that allows malicious actors to disable the “USB Restricted Mode” on locked devices.When it first released a patch, in mid-February 2025, the company said it was “aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.”

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WebKit sandbox

USB Restricted Mode is a security feature that prevents data transfer through the Lightning (or USB-C) port when the device has been locked for more than one hour. This helps protect against hacking tools that try to bypass passcodes or extract data via USB connections.This bug was fixed in iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1.The second issue, tracked as CVE-2025-24201, is a bug enabling attackers to break out of the Web Content sandbox in the WebKit engine. Apple patched this one in mid-March and, once again, warned users about sophisticated attacks:"Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 17.2,” the company said at the time.Fixes for both flaws are now incorporated in iOS 16.7.11 and 15.8.4, as well as iPadOS versions 16.7.11 and 15.8.4.The third bug is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple’s Code Media framework, which CyberInsider described as "among the most critical fixes". It was patched in late January this year, and has now made its way to iPadOS 17.7.6, and macOS versions 14.7.5 (Sonoma) and 13.7.5 (Ventura).Via BleepingComputer

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The Astell & Kern PS10 is coming in May 2025 for $2,50032-bit PCM, DSD, Roon, aptX HD and LDACComes with desktop dock with XLR balanced and USB outputs

Astell & Kern has unveiled a brand new design direction for its music players, which always rank among the best Hi-Res Audio players. The new PS10 digital audio player, which will officially be unveiled at CanJam Singapore on 5/6 April, comes with a brand new look and a new desktop dock to give your home hi-fi an easy streaming upgrade at the same time as your your mobile music.The Astell & Kern PS10 brings the new AKM AK4498EX chips to the player in what A&K says is a world first, and the docking cradle has XLR balanced outputs plus USB and USB-DAC digital output. It supports native playback of high-res PCM audio up to 32-bit, 768kHz and DSD512.It's also notable that it drops A&K's iconic volume wheel, found on all of its current players. There's an all-button approach here, that's the end of an era. Or, at least, the start of a new era where some players don't get the dial.

(Image credit: Astell & Kern)

Astell & Kern PS10: key features and pricing

The PS10 has four AKM AK4498EX DACs and two separate AK4191EQ chips that handle digital signals. It takes the same HEXA audio circuitry developed for the A&K SP3000, which separates analogue and digital signals for what A&K promises is "astonishing" sound.The PS10 also uses separate audio circuits for its balanced and unbalanced outputs, and it has two amplifiers with different tunings. The Normal Gain AMP "reproduces delicate details and delivers high-purity sound" while the High Gain AMP "excels in handling complex and dynamic sounds, rendering audio signals more vividly and with greater clarity for a more immersive listening experience."The PS10's Smart Gain feature is a clever touch. It instantly detects the impedance of the connected headphones and sets the appropriate AMP – so headphones or earbuds with an impedance of 32 ohms or lower are set to Normal Gain and a maximum output of 5.5Vrms on the balanced output, while headphones with more than 32 ohms get High Gain of up to 8.3Vrms for balanced output.That sound make it a little easier for beginners to the audiophile world to be able to pair some of the best wired headphones or best wired earbuds with the device without discovering they've made a frustrating mistake.The PS10 has 256GB of internal storage and supports microSD cards of up to 2TB. There's dual-band 2.4/5GHz a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, DLNA networking, USB digital audio output, USB-C for data transfer and charging, and the ability to use the PS10 as an external DAC via Bluetooth or a direct USB connection.The Astell & Kern PS10 will be available in May 2025 for $2,500. We'd expect the UK price to be around £2,500 (about AU$5,100) but international pricing hasn't been announced just yet. Hopefully we'll hear more this weeken

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Google Messages could be getting a new snoozing feature that allows you to mute messages for longer periodsIt's the first snoozing function since Google dissolved its text-reminding feature There's been more evidence that group chat joining links are coming to Google Messages, but you'll have to wait a little longer

We’re just over a quarter of the way through the year, and Google has introduced a substantial amount of changes to its Google Messages software – so many that I’m starting to lose count. But despite these constant changes, Google is working towards making your experience more user-friendly and personal when it comes to its messaging service, and two more handy features have cropped up in the pipeline.In its intricate teardown, Android Authority has noticed a new notification snoozing feature, as well as bringing more evidence of its new group chat features to the surface. Out of all its recent upgrades, Google has been paying close attention to its group chat joining-links in Messages, and though we’ve had our eyes peeled ever since rumors arose a few weeks ago, this latest update pretty much confirms that it’s on the way.

Snooze messages for longer, reply at your convenience

However, I’d argue that the most interesting thing here is the addition of the snoozing feature. Unlike the text reminder function that Google used to offer, Android Authority has discovered strings in its teardown that point to specific notification snoozing options including an hour, eight hours, and 24 hours.Additionally, there’s also an ‘always’ option, which we imagine will require you to manually disable when you’re ready to start receiving messages again. While this new found evidence is promising, there’s no clear indication as to whether you can use it to mute individual messages, but it seems as though you’ll still be notified if you’re mentioned in a chat.

As well as a new snoozing feature and group chat joining links, Google has recently added Screen Effects to emoji symbols. (Image credit: Google)

This could be another huge improvement for those who rely on Google Messages for daily contact, especially since the company dissolved its text reminder feature in late 2023, where you could set a date and time for your alert. And although this wasn’t a designated snoozing feature, it could be used as one nonetheless.Some may wonder why Google would introduce this specific function when Android phones have a comprehensive snoozing feature, but Messages’ version would allow you to silence messages for longer periods of time as opposed to Android’s two-hour limit.

It’s official, group chat links are coming to Google Messages

Over the past few weeks more evidence of Google Messages’ new group chat links has been appearing, pointing to a WhatsApp-like function that allows you to join group chats through link sharing. Thanks to another one of Android Authority’s teardowns, a group chat link-sharing interface has been spotted.

(Image credit: Android Authority )

Similarly to other messaging services, Messages will allow you to create invite links that you can share in link form or through a QR code that others can scan. Under the space where the QR code would seemingly appear, there’s a toggle you can enable that can amend the link for singular use only or one that can be reused and distributed. According to Android Authority, links will expire after 30 days.It’s likely that we still have a while before Google will roll out its group chat joining-links, so it’s best to be patient with it, but there’s no denying that this will be a landmark upgrade for the messaging service. For now, at least you can take advantage of its new emoji symbol animations and message details menu.

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The next Samsung Galaxy Ring might have a solid state batterySamsung's reportedly working on solid state battery tech to extend the Ring's time between charges – essential for a sleep tracker It's said to arrive on earbuds in 2026, and Samsung Galaxy Watches in 2027

We’ve known for a while now that Samsung is looking to incorporate a miniaturized, super-powerful battery into its wearables to improve battery life and longevity. However, according to a new leak, the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 might be the first device to include this new battery tech, and it could arrive as early as this year.The Samsung Galaxy Ring is one of the best smart rings on the market, with its innovative clamshell case design and long battery life contributing a lot to this ‘set and forget’ wearable’s appeal. The less you need to charge a device like a smart ring, the better it gets, so any improvement to the battery life is going to make a change.We reported back in January that Samsung is looking for its dream battery. It may well have found it, and it's coming sooner than expected.Leaker Jukanlosreve on X (formerly Twitter) said: “Samsung has set a goal to apply solid-state battery prototypes starting with the Galaxy Ring in Q4 2024.” Given that the tweet was posted yesterday, at the time of writing, we assume that's meant to be 2025.Spotted via Gadgets & Wearables, solid state batteries would boast improved ‘energy density’, but one of the big surprises here is the mention of a Q4 release date for the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2.Typically, its wearables are unveiled in the summer at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, but it could also be the case that Samsung is set to reveal and release the Ring 2 at Unpacked as usual, followed by a version with improved battery life in the winter.

What about other wearables?

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re not a smart ring user and you’re wondering why smartwatches and earbuds are being left out, don’t panic. Jukanlosreve goes on to say the Ring will be “followed by true wireless earbuds (TWS) in Q4 2026, and smartwatches in Q4 2027”.Battery life is one of the bigger sticking points for most leading smartwatches, with the current Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 barely managing 30 hours in most cases. If Samsung could extend that to 60 hours – or three times the life of your average Apple Watch – it would really enable users to make the most of Samsung’s excellent sleep tracking features.

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Thanks to Nintendo's January 16 teaser trailer, we've long known what the Nintendo Switch 2 will look like, and that it will arrive in 2025 — over eight years after its predecessor. Now it's time for the rubber to meet the road: A special Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct streaming on YouTube today (April 2) at 9AM ET is expected to reveal the all the other key details, including the release date, price and pre-order details. And we might see a few new games, too. (We're parsing it all in real-time in our Switch 2 liveblog, as well.)

The January unveiling already told us quite a bit about the new Nintendo console. The Switch 2 looks very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.

Looking to catch up on everything we know — or think we know — about the Switch 2? Read on.

What are the key last-minute Switch 2 news and rumors?

The livestream placeholder for today's Switch 2 Nintendo Direct is live on YouTube, counting down to the 9AM ET start time. Nintendo has also confirmed that the presentation will last "approximately 60 minutes," which is more meaty than many of its recent game-only streams.

If that first burst of Switch 2 news isn't enough for you, Nintendo will following up with gameplay video on April 3 and 4 at 10AM ET as well.

Meanwhile, the Nintendo Today app in Japan (as spotted by Kotaku) offered up a short teaser on that curious "C" button (see more below). We still don't know what it's for, but clearly Nintendo is about to spill more info.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on January 16

The rumor mill had heavily suggested that Nintendo would pull back the curtain on the Switch 2 on January 16, and that turned out to be the case.

The company hasn't changed the core form factor. It's a portable console with detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 can be placed in a dock for big-screen gaming. There are some significant differences from the original console, however.

The most obvious one is that the next-gen Joy-Cons will no longer slide into place mechanically. Instead, they appear to attach to the main unit magnetically. There is a small connector that's likely used to charge the controllers. It's unclear at this point if Joy-Cons from the original system will be compatible with the Switch 2.

One other big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. That should make it much easier to plug in accessories while the Switch 2 is docked. FCC filings suggest that you'll be able to charge the console using either USB-C port, which is another nice quality-of-life change.

It's great to see that Nintendo has kept the headphone jack as well. Let's just hope that Bluetooth headphone support is live from the jump this time and Nintendo doesn't leave everyone waiting four years for that feature.

The kickstand is getting an upgrade. As with the Switch OLED, it spans the length of the console this time around. But, according to the reveal trailer, this one looks fully adjustable, so you can tweak the viewing angle to one that works for you.

There are still a great many unknowns regarding the upcoming console. We don't really know the specs yet, or what type of display it uses. We also don't know anything about battery life, the UI or launch games. We assume we'll get full details on all of this at today's Nintendo Direct presenation.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?

2025. That's all we know for sure at this point.

Accessory manufacturer Genki, which had been a major source of leaks before Nintendo's January reveal, claimed the console would be released in April. Other reports have pegged June as the release window, as have several analysts.

In any case, we should get a concrete answer today.

When can I pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2?

As with the release date, we expect clarity on this during or after the April 2 presentation. A Best Buy Canada post spotted on Reddit (since deleted, but archived) states that pre-orders will open on that day, but that has yet to confirmed.

When can I try the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers go hands-on with the console. These events start in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others taking place throughout the following two months. That lends credence to some suggestions that Nintendo will release the Switch 2 in June.

Ticket registration for many of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, given that Nintendo is taking a first come, first served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already have a ticket (or unless you signed up for the waitlist immediately) seem very small at this point.

The full list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is as follows:

North America:

New York, April 4-6, 2025

Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

Paris, April 4-6, 2025

London, April 11-13, 2025

Milan, April 25-27, 2025

Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025

Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025

Hong Kong, To be announced

Taipei, To be announced

Will the Nintendo Switch 2 have some weirdness?

Everything we've seen and so far about this console has been fairly, well, traditional. It looks like the original Switch, but better. That's awesome, but will there be any of that unpredictable Nintendo magic? Maybe! There are two puzzling additions that folks can't make hide nor hair of.

Genki, the accessories manufacturer, just published a landing page for their Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. This landing page features a video that includes a very detailed look at a Switch 2 mockup. pic.twitter.com/Db7RSk4YlQ— Bob Wulff (@BobWulff) January 8, 2025

Keen eyes will have noticed a new button on the bottom of the right Joy-Con. Promotional images for a new app called Nintendo Today!, which the company says will provide users with daily news updates about things like games and the Switch 2, confirmed that it is a C button.

However, it is not yet clear what this button does. Could it initiate voice chat during gameplay? Could it calibrate the controllers? Could it create a room-sized hologram of Bowser in your living room? We'll have to wait and see.

Now onto the updated Joy-Cons. There appears to be a new sensor on the connecting side of each controller. It looks a whole lot like an optical sensor, which is what a computer mouse uses. This has led to speculation that players will be able to flip the Joy-Con over and use it like a mouse. Of note: the trailer shows the Joy-Cons moving along a flat surface, connector side down and looking suspiciously like a mouse.

But why would anyone even want this? We can think of three words. New Mario Paint.

Genki reveal isnt a mockup, its straight up just the Switch 2, optical sensor is literally flashing in this shot @Stealth40k #Switch2 pic.twitter.com/COeLsonqMd— Ash  (@Ashinarii) January 8, 2025

Mouse control isn’t the only “too strange for any company but Nintendo” rumor floating around. A patent filed by the company suggests you can swap the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, snapping them onto either side of the console. That would align with the magnetic Joy-Con attachment scheme.

But much like the weird mouse rumors, it doesn’t necessarily align with, well, any logical reason for why you’d want to do that. The patent suggests it could allow for more user choice in where the headphone jack is. But since it’s Nintendo, the company that brought us Labo cardboard peripherals and the Game Boy Advance e-reader attachment, we have to wonder if there are… quirkier designs at hand.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible?

The company confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It will also feature access to Nintendo Online, so users will be able to play all of those old retro titles.

In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." More details about which games those are will be revealed later.

During a Nintendo Direct on March 27, the company revealed a new system for loaning digital Switch games out to friends and family members. Virtual Game Cards are designed to make it easier to start a game on one console and continue on another as well. Although Nintendo's approach to this is not as simple as it perhaps should be, Virtual Game Cards will also be available on the Switch 2.

Will old games be enhanced in any way?

The original Switch has, to put it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that's come down the pike. Could these games be enhanced to take advantage of the increased horsepower of the Switch 2? We have no idea. We also don't know if any of these releases will receive graphical upgrades, perhaps taking advantage of upscaling tech.

What will the cartridges taste like?

You may remember that the original Switch cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games in their mouth. Will the successor follow suit and continue to dip cartridges in a foul-tasting bitter coating? Only time will tell.

What about specs?

The rumors regarding specs are all over the place, so it’s tough to pin down. We know one thing for sure: It’ll be more powerful than the ancient Switch hardware, which was already antiquated back in 2017. One analyst allegedly got a hold of a spec sheet from the Korean United Daily News that said the Switch 2 would boast an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. This tracks, as these specs are about as underpowered now as the original Switch was in 2017. However, some reports do indicate that the console will include 12GB of RAM.

Another source suggests that the eight-core CPU will be packaged inside an NVIDIA-produced Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Given the current Switch runs on an NVIDIA chip, that makes a lot of sense. The CPU will be more powerful, but it's the Switch 2's new GPU that will be a major differentiator. It's all-but-confirmed that the Switch 2 will support DLSS, NVIDIA's "deep learning supersampling" upscaling tech, which would allow the console to render games at a low resolution internally while outputting a high-resolution image. (Fun fact: We actually wrote about how perfect DLSS was for the Nintendo Switch 2 when the technology was announced alongside the RTX 20 series back in 2018.)

There are still questions about the Switch 2 and DLSS: Will the system support newer DLSS features like frame generation? Will existing games be automatically tidied up by NVIDIA's algorithm? Regardless of the exact implementation, DLSS upscaling will be a huge leap over the rudimentary techniques available to Nintendo Switch developers.

As for the display, there are many conflicting rumors. Early reports from solid sources suggested the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch LCD screen. The Switch 2's display certainly looks larger than that of the original Switch in a side-by-side comparison in the reveal trailer. Some folks have worried that the Switch follow-up may actually be too big, especially for kids.

Certain analysts have suggested this would be an OLED screen, while others have said it would be a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display is basically an LCD display that has a backlight made of (surprise!) mini-LEDs rather than edge lighting. This allows for local dimming, making the blacks more black.

We're hedging our bets here. We think it’ll be a standard LCD, to cut costs, with an OLED or Mini-LED model coming later down the line. However, Mini-LED screens are slightly cheaper than OLED displays, so that’s certainly a possibility at launch.

As for resolution, recent reporting suggests that the console will output 1080p in handheld and 4K when docked. That's much better than the OG Switch.

More tenuous “leaks” have intimated that the Switch 2 could also support a faster microSD card standard known as microSD Express. This allows for significantly faster transfer rates than the common UHS-I cards supported by the Switch today. It’s technically been around for several years, but we’ve only recently started to see microSD cards that take advantage of the spec hit the market.

We actually tested one of them from SanDisk for our microSD card buying guide and found it could reach sequential read speeds up to around 900 MB/s. With the current Switch, microSD transfer speeds top out closer to 100 MB/s.

So, in theory, all of this could bring a sizable boost in load times and general storage performance for the Switch 2 (though it’s still not likely to be on par with the SSDs in the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S). But again, these rumors are far from concrete. It’s also worth noting that microSD Express cards cost significantly more than what we usually see today — the SanDisk card we tested, for instance, starts at $45 for just 128GB of storage.

Recently-unearthed FCC filings also indicate that the console will support Wi-Fi 6 and NFC. The latter indicates that the Switch 2 will continue Amiibo integration.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

We don't have too much information regarding price but we do have plenty of history to work with. The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300, which is pretty much the "magic number" when it comes to Nintendo console releases in recent years. The Wii U also came in at $300.

However, there are plenty of rumors circulating that Nintendo could be upping the asking price for the Switch 2. Several analysts are expecting Nintendo to hike the price to at least $400 and possibly even as much as $500. Rising costs of components and development, as well as US tariffs, are likely to mean that the Switch 2 is more expensive than its predecessor.

Dipping back into history, there is some precedence for a price uptick. The GameCube was $200 and the Wii was $250. The Wii U and Switch increased to $300 and, well, numbers like to go up. A $400 price tag would make the Switch 2 nearly as expensive as a PS5 and Xbox Series X. That would also put it at the same price as the 256GB LCD Steam Deck.

Again, we should get confirmation of the price during the April 2 Nintendo Direct.

How well will the Nintendo Switch 2 sell?

Even with an expected price increase, Nintendo is likely to sell boatloads of Switch 2 consoles. The company seems to be positioning itself to shatter sales records. Reports suggest that Nintendo wants to have as many units ready to sell as possible on release day. One analyst told Bloomberg that they expected Nintendo to have an inventory of between 6 million and 8 million units at the outset.

As Bloomberg notes, the company sold 2.7 million Switch units in that console's first month. Sony's PS4 and PS5 each sold 4.5 million units in their first quarter on the market, though it's worth noting the PS5's early momentum was hindered somewhat by shortages.

Nintendo has sold more than 150 million Switch units. Given that many fans are more than ready for an upgrade (and to perhaps give their old Switch to a young relative or sell it on the cheap), the Switch 2 is very likely to go gangbusters right out of the gate.

Do we know about any launch games?

Not so much. The reveal trailer offered a peek at a new Mario Kart game. Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U over a decade ago and it's been milking that cash cow ever since, having sold more than 64 million copies of the game across that console and the Switch. It's definitely time for a new entry!

It's certainly been a long time since we’ve gotten a proper 3D Mario adventure as well, so a new one could be a launch title. That would be one heck of a system seller. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours. Past as prologue, we can expect something from Ubisoft and an off-the-wall title like 1-2-Switch. One report suggested that PowerWash Simulator 2 is bound for the Switch 2, so that's something.

If there’s a gimmick or hook involved with the console, we’ll also get a game that takes advantage of that. A dual release of Metroid Prime 4, just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before that, is also a possibility.

It's all but nailed on that we'll learn much more about the Switch 2 launch lineup during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which starts at 9AM ET. You'll definitely want to set your Alarmo for that one.

That's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this article with rumors we trust and with information we gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements and the taste of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about storage and information about the new microSD Express standard.

Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to note recent FCC filings to indicate the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support.

Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been updated to include pricing and sales speculation from analysts.

Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to include a note about the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2.

Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to add details about the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards.

Update, April 1, 2025, 10:16AM ET: Updated to add link to livestream and details on its length.

Update, April 2, 2025, 7:34AM ET: Added final pre-Direct details.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-direct-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-console-reveal-today-195136387.html?src=rss

Daredevil: Born Again viewers are disappointed about episode 7's big character deathMarvel fans had hoped to see the individual stick around for much longerDisney+ users thought their character arc should've been explained in more detail in previous episodes, too

Daredevil: Born Again hasn't drawn much criticism from Marvel fans since it began in early March.That's changed following the release of its seventh episode, titled 'Art for Art's Sake', though. Indeed, some viewers have reacted negatively to a big character death in the Disney+ show, with some saying they felt there was more to explore with the individual in question at a character level.Full spoilers immediately follow for Daredevil: Born Again episode 7. Turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

Is Muse really dead in Daredevil: Born Again?

Farewell, Muse (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

It appears so. The serial killer who's stalked the streets of New York throughout Daredevil: Born Again season 1 is no longer of this world. Unless you're a superpowered being, you don't take five bullet wounds to the torso and live to tell the tale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).To be fair, Muse has had it coming. Not only has he murdered 60 innocent civilians since Wilson Fisk became Mayor of New York City, he was close to increasing that tally to 62 in Daredevil: Born Again episode 5 and the series' most recent chapter.If Daredevil hadn't intervened on both occasions, Muse would've added Angela Torres, aka the niece of deceased vigilante White Tiger, and Heather Glenn, i.e., Matt Murdock/Daredevil's girlfriend, to his victims list. It's a good job, then, that Murdock ended his year-long self-imposed exile as The Man Without Fear, then.It'll be interesting to see how Murdock deals with the fact that Glenn is responsible for Muse's death. Indeed, even though Fisk paints a picture (see what I did there?) that his Anti-Vigilante Task Force took down Muse, Gleen is the one who filled Muse – real name Bastian Cooper and the individual we all suspected to be Muse as early as Born Again episode 2 – with lead. That's because Cooper was one of Glenn's mental health patients and, during their latest session, he tried to kill her.So, while Glenn acted in self-defense, I'm curious to see if Murdock's opinion of her will change because, as Daredevil, he still seems to be abiding by his no-kill rule. Well, as long as Glenn doesn't cotton onto the fact that her boyfriend is not only The Devil of Hell's Kitchen, but has also been lying to her about his injuries and where he's been going at night, and subsequently breaks up with him.

'This episode was like jumping into the finale of a movie I haven't seen'

Fans aren't a-Muse-d at the timing of the serial killer's death (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

But back to the matter at hand. Muse's death means that the final two episodes of Born Again's first season will primarily focus on the next collision of its two main characters. Those being, of course, Murdock and Fisk.Nevertheless, fans of the Marvel Phase 5 TV series have expressed disappointment that Muse is no longer around.Taking to a Marvel Studios Reddit thread post-episode 7, MaruKENTA wrote "I'm a bit disappointed that might be the last of Muse that we see. Hunter Doohan really pulled off the creepy aspect of the character". In another Reddit thread, Joker_CP *ahem* joked that they'd hoped to see Muse feature more heavily in Born Again season 1's final few entries before his demise in 'Art for Art's Sake'.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

Others were less enthused about Muse's portrayal in the show for different reasons. For one, Redditor CartoonAcademic said they weren't happy that Muse was given a clear identity in the series (NB: he's remained nameless in Marvel Comics since he made his literary debut in September 2016).Elsewhere, MCU fans suggested that Born Again should've spent more time examining Muse's civilian identity. On Reddit, AmarDikli and CrimsonComet1941 said they were disappointed that the show didn't give us more scenes between Glenn and Cooper to really sell how unhinged the latter was, or to see what actually made him tick.Redditor Vadermaulkylo expressed frustration over how little he was utilized on-camera, too. With comments from willys_zuppa, Rain616, and Pax_flash among others stating how terrifying Muse was in episode 7, it's a shame this is the end of the line for Cooper and his masked alias.

Do y’all think we see muse returning season 2 with his more superhuman abilities😣#DaredevilBornAgain #Daredevil pic.twitter.com/W820JSo98YApril 2, 2025

Or is it? Speaking to TVLine, showrunner Dario Scardapane insinuated that Muse – or, at the very least, his shadow – will loom large over Born Again's sophomore outing. "The Muse run, for lack of a better word, in this story has pretty shocking consequences. And those consequences don’t end," Scardapane said. "We’re carrying them into season 2, is the best way I can put it."Does that mean Cooper could somehow return as Muse? Will a fanatic of his adopt the mantle of Muse 2.0? Or was the serial killer's presence in this season just a fulcrum to bring out Murdock and Fisk's dark sides again? We'll have to wait and see what plays out in one of the best Disney+ shows' next two episodes and in season 2 before knowing for sure.

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UNA Watch is a modular smartwatch looking to take the fight to Apple and GarminIt's built to be sustainable, with replaceable parts you can fix and upgrade yourselfIt also features activity tracking, health metrics, and other smartwatch features

The UNA Watch is a brand-new modular smartwatch that's looking to take the fight to Apple and Garmin with a fresh, sustainable approach to wearables. As of April 2, you can now back the project on Kickstarter and get your hands on in the process.The UNA Watch is "the world's first modular GPS sports watch." With shades of the best Garmins baked into its design, it features the usual suite of smartwatch tricks, including activity tracking metrics, notifications, workout and performance tracking, and daily health tracking.While it likely won't give the Apple Watch Ultra 2 a run for the title of best smartwatch in terms of premium features, its core ethos is such that it could be an industry-leading wearable in terms of sustainability, longevity, and modular design.

UNA Watch is coming for the smartwatch market

(Image credit: UNA)

As mentioned, the UNA Watch's party piece is its sustainable design. You build the watch yourself, assembling parts like the chip, housing, and the USB-C (yes, USB-C) charging port.That all means that every part can easily be replaced in case you need to repair it, theoretically lengthening the lifespan significantly. In the future, Una envisions even using this process to upgrade parts, just like you would a gaming PC. That means you could theoretically upgrade your display, chip, or even battery in the future.The UNA Watch comes with an accompanying app that presents metrics like your daily steps, heart rate, and workouts.The Kickstarter page is now live and has already garnered a groundswell of support. There's a very limited number of UNA Watches available in the first tier of support, the Una Watch Launch special, which costs just £210 (roughly $270). According to the Kickstarter page, that should include shipping duties and taxes for the US, Canada, UK, and EU.More premium options get you add-ons like a custom strap, and UNA's dev tool, which lets you write your own apps and custom firmware for the watch too.Live now, you can see the full Kickstarter page for Una Watch here. Early Kickstarter shipping estimates are currently listed as August 2025.

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Samsung is releasing two Fan Edition models of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10, and they're both more affordable than their standard counterparts. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ are powered by the Samsung Exynos 1580 chipset instead of MediaTek processors like the standard versions. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ model has a 13.1-inch display, which is bigger than the Tab S10+'s 12.4-inch screen but smaller than the 14.6-inch one on the Tab S10 Ultra. Take note that both models have a refresh rate of up to 90Hz, which is lower than the standard versions' 120 Hz refresh rate.

That means the standard Tab S10 models are still the better options if gaming is your primary use for a tablet. But again, the new Fan Editions cost substantially less than they do. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE's prices start at $500, and it comes with 128GB and 256GB storage options. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ will cost you at least $650 and come with the same storage options. The standard Galaxy Tab S10's prices start $999, while the Tab S10 Ultra will cost you at least $1,200.

Like the the standard models, the Fan Edition versions come with AI capabilities, including Circle to Search with Google that makes it easy to look for information simply by encircling elements on your device. Their Samsung Note app also features Math Solver, which can do calculations based on handwriting and text, as well as Handwriting Assist, which can help you tidy up handwritten notes. Both Fan Edition devices will be available in the US starting on April 10. You'll get a $50 credit if you reserve a unit now, and you can buy a Book Cover Keyboard Slim for 50 percent off if you purchase one by May 11. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/samsungs-galaxy-tab-s10-fe-and-galaxy-tab-s10-fe-will-be-available-on-april-10-120019555.html?src=rss

Roblox is again updating its parental control features in an effort to give parents more visibility into (and control over) their children’s activities on the platform. The company is updating its in-app “Safety Center” to counter concerns that Roblox, which unlike social media apps allows children under 13, puts its youngest users at risk.

The company added the centralized hub for parental controls last year, in an update that also added new restrictions on younger kids’ ability to exchange private messages with other users. But while that update gave parents the ability to control some of their children’s settings from their own devices, it was missing some key features like blocking.

With the latest update, parents can now view their child’s friend list and block users on their behalf. Once another user has been blocked, they’ll no longer be able to exchange direct messages with the child and kids will need to get parental approval to unblock the person.

Similarly, parents will now be able to block specific experiences within Roblox. Parents have already had the ability to limit in-app content based on its age rating, but parents have still at times complained about inappropriate content surfacing in certain games. Now, parents can block their young kids from participating in certain experiences. (Importantly, Roblox notes that kids will be able to remove apps from the blocked experiences list once they turn 13.)

Finally, Roblox is adding more “granular insights” to the in-app screen time metrics that allow parents to see how their kids are spending their time on the platform. The Safety Center will now list “the 20 experiences in which their child has spent the‬ most time over the last week, sorted by total time.” Parents can then opt to block specific games or experiences directly from the screen time menu if something seems off.

Roblox’s recent push to beef up safety features for younger users come amid a broader reckoning about the effect that online platforms can have on teens. Platforms have tried to address these concerns by enhancing parental controls and dedicated safety features for teens. But lawmakers are also pushing for change, with multiple states passing measures requiring some form of age verification (some of which have since been struck down). There’s also a bipartisan bill in the Senate to ban all preteens from social media entirely.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/roblox-parental-controls-now-include-a-block-button-120005897.html?src=rss

Epson QS100 is a 4K ultra short-throw projector 160-inch images from just inches away4,500 lumens, but no Dolby Vision HDR support

The best ultra short throw projectors are pretty bright, but they're not usually quite this bright: the new Epson QS100 4K PRO-UHD HDR short throw laser projector puts out a whopping 4,500 lumens.For context, our number one 4K laser UST projector is the Hisense PX3-Pro, and that's 3,000 lumens, so we're talking a 50% boost from the Epson.That brightness gives it great power, enabling it to project images of up to 160 inches in size from just inches away. But there's one key HDR feature missing: it doesn't have Dolby Vision HDR to help make the most of that brightness.

(Image credit: Epson)

Epson QS100 short throw laser projector: what you need to know

This isn't the brightest projector you'll see in 2025 – the Hisense LG9 laser TV is brighter at 5,000 nits, but you can actually buy the Epson; the Hisense doesn't have a release date yet.And it's much brighter than our recommended projector for daytime and sports viewing, the 4,000 lumen Epson EpiQVision Ultra LS800.The HDR here supports HDR10 and HLG standards, and there's dynamic tone mapping for frame by frame optimization – but as I mentioned above, it would be better if it came with Dolby Vision to provide more accurate tone mapping and to ensure that all that brightness is really well-optimized on a scene-by-scene basis.The light source is rated for 20,000 ours of "virtually maintenance-free" operation, and if you're a gamer there's support for auto low latency mode for low-lag gaming. There's no 120Hz support of any kind here, though – it's 60Hz all the way, even at 1080p.The Epson has individually adjustable feet, multi-point picture settings and an optional wall mount bracket, and it's designed to play nice with Crestron, Control4 and PJLink-compatible control systems.As you'd expect, there's a hefty price tag for that super-bright display: the MRSP is $4,999 (about £3,870 / AU$7,920), which is quite a step up from the $3,499 / £3,199 / AU$4,999 of the Ultra LS800. Still, if you want something that's going to dazzle among even the best projectors, you'll have to pay for it.The Epson QS100 4K PRO-UHD laser projector is available now from authorized Epson dealers.

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Wikimedia has seen a 50 percent increase in bandwidth used for downloading multimedia content since January 2024, the foundation said in an update. But it's not because human readers have suddenly developed a voracious appetite for consuming Wikipedia articles and for watching videos or downloading files from Wikimedia Commons. No, the spike in usage came from AI crawlers, or automated programs scraping Wikimedia's openly licensed images, videos, articles and other files to train generative artificial intelligence models.

This sudden increase in traffic from bots could slow down access to Wikimedia's pages and assets, especially during high-interest events. When Jimmy Carter died in December, for instance, people's heightened interest in the video of his presidential debate with Ronald Reagan caused slow page load times for some users. Wikimedia is equipped to sustain traffic spikes from human readers during such events, and users watching Carter's video shouldn't have caused any issues. But "the amount of traffic generated by scraper bots is unprecedented and presents growing risks and costs," Wikimedia said.

The foundation explained that human readers tend to look up specific and often similar topics. For instance, a number of people look up the same thing when it's trending. Wikimedia creates a cache of a piece of content requested multiple times in the data center closest to the user, enabling it to serve up content faster. But articles and content that haven't been accessed in a while have to be served from the core data center, which consumes more resources and, hence, costs more money for Wikimedia. Since AI crawlers tend to bulk read pages, they access obscure pages that have to be served from the core data center.

Wikimedia said that upon a closer look, 65 percent of the resource-consuming traffic it gets is from bots. It's already causing constant disruption for its Site Reliability team, which has to block the crawlers all the time before they they significantly slow down page access to actual readers. Now, the real problem, as Wikimedia states, is that the "expansion happened largely without sufficient attribution, which is key to drive new users to participate in the movement." A foundation that relies on people's donations to continue running needs to attract new users and get them to care for its cause. "Our content is free, our infrastructure is not," the foundation said. Wikimedia is now looking to establish sustainable ways for developers and reusers to access its content in the upcoming fiscal year. It has to, because it sees no sign of AI-related traffic slowing down anytime soon. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikipedia-is-struggling-with-voracious-ai-bot-crawlers-121546854.html?src=rss