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The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could have a 3.5x optical zoom instead of a 5xHowever a 5x and even 7x lossless zoom might still be achievable through croppingThis change would apparently be paired with a new 48MP sensor

One thing we’ve heard from quite a few sources is that the telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max could be getting an upgrade, with a 48MP sensor reportedly set to be included in place of the 12MP one on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The latest tip echoes that, but suggests a lot more is changing than just the megapixel count.According to tipster Majin Bu (via 9to5Mac), the iPhone 17 Pro series will have a telephoto camera that offers 3.5x, 5x, and even 7x optical zoom. The wording makes it slightly ambiguous as to how this is achieved, but they mention lossless cropping as a feature, so we’d assume it’s a 3.5x optical zoom camera, which can then crop an image to achieve a 5x or 7x zoom at a lower megapixel count.This sort of optical-quality cropping wouldn’t be possible without upping the megapixels, so it’s a feature that would make sense for Apple to offer if the sensor is 48MP.

Not a new idea for Apple

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We’ve already seen this idea on iPhones, with the 48MP main sensor on the iPhone 16 series being able to take optical-quality 2x zoom photos at 12MP, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple added this same feature to the telephoto lens.This change then would arguably be for the better, since you’d still be able to achieve a 5x zoom like you can on the current Pro models, but there would also be longer and shorter distance zooms available too.And being able to get 3.5x images at – presumably – full 48MP quality would be especially desirable for some people, as a 3.5x zoom is typically more useful for portrait shots than a 5x zoom.All that said, while this is a credible claim, we’d take it with a pinch of salt, as the source has a slightly mixed track record, and the iPhone 17 series is still a long way from launching, with September likely to be the announcement month.

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Project 007 may not have been fully revealed yet, but there is a lot to look forward to from the upcoming James Bond game from IO Interactive. We don't have a lot of information regarding a release date, yet we've still managed to scrape together a few bits and pieces.So far, we've only had two short teaser trailers that doesn’t show any gameplay, but the official website confirms that the story is about James Bond’s origins and it’ll be “completely original”. That means IO Interactive won’t be borrowing stories from previous James Bond movies or books. That said, we also know for a fact that Project 007 doesn't feature actors from the films.As a whole, Project 007 is keeping its cards close to its chest when it comes to gameplay. We can almost certainly expect gunslinging in some form, but the precise details have yet to be revealed. We could be in for some classic first-person action in the vein of Goldeneye 007 for the N64. Alternatively, IO Interactive might opt for some third-person stealth mechanics in the tradition of their much-celebrated Hitman series. But, speculation aside, here's what we know so far.

Project 007: cut to the chase

What is it? A James Bond game from the developer of HitmanWhen can I play it? TBCWhat can I play it on? TBC

Project 007 potential platforms

There are no official details about when we can expect the new Project 007 game. Given we know that IO Interactive is still pulling together its development team, it could be a good few years before the new James Bond title sees the light of day. Interestingly, the game was showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event, so we now have one confirmed platform at least.For now, we can also probably expect to see it launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, but we don't know definitively. Given the seemingly far out release date, it seems unlikely that it'll come to Xbox One or PS4.

Project 007 trailer

So far, IO Interactive has only provided us with two teaser trailers for Project 007. They're not much to go on, but it's always charming to see a new take on the classic James Bond opening sequence.

Project 007 news

New Bond game could be the start of a trilogySpeaking in an interview with IGN, IO Interactive boss Hakan Abrak shared some details on the upcoming Project 007 game. He revealed: "It's completely beginning and becoming a story, hopefully for a big trilogy out there in the future,"IO Interactive hires audio director for Project 007Making an official announcement on the developer’s website, IO Interactive has announced that its hired a new audio director, Dominic Vega. Having previously worked on big names like League of Legends, Ratchet and Clank: Nexus, and Just Cause 4, Vega stated:“I don’t think there are many sound palettes as iconic as the James Bond universe. It’s one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. Working on such an iconic franchise with IOI, and the audio team here is incredibly exciting."

We're thrilled to welcome Dominic Vega to the team as the Audio Director for Project 007. “Working on such an iconic franchise with IOI and the audio team here is incredibly exciting.” says Vega.Full announcement: https://t.co/IMcRye9flL pic.twitter.com/d8ipXUwhWpJune 15, 2022

Project 007 featured in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal eventAfter announcing Hitman: World of Assassination for Nintendo Switch 2, IO Interactive then revealed that Project 007 will also be coming to the new platform. A brief teaser trailer was shown, and no further details given.Don't expect familiar actors to returnAt the moment, further details on the project are few and far between, but an interview with IO Interactive's studio director did reveal that the upcoming game won't be based on any of the actors featured in the film series. Hakan Abrak described how his team “have been allowed to make [their] own digital Bond, which will not lean on a Bond actor."

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A Minecraft Movie's name was chosen for a very simple reasonIts director has lifted the lid on why he didn't get more creative with its titleThe decision was taken in light of the hugely successful game's endless storytelling potential

A Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess has a very simple explanation for the film adaptation's uncomplicated title.Speaking ahead of the movie's release on April 4, Hess revealed its plot and cast of characters were just "one of many stories" that could exist within the Minecraft universe.It's an obvious answer to an obvious question, but there's logic to what Hess means. The primary reason is that there's unlimited storytelling potential in Mojang' Studios' best-selling sandbox title. Indeed, every time someone starts a new game, or a group of individuals embark on a new adventure in a unique, procedurally generated world, they've no idea how this new world's story will unfold.It's that 'leap into the unknown' storytelling component that Hess wanted to capture in one of 2025's new movies. Rather than seek narrative inspiration from the seemingly endless number of Minecraft Let's Plays on YouTube, then, Hess and the film's team of writers decided to create a wholly original tale with character that, while relatable, had distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.

Hess' daughter created a hotel for wolves in one of her single-player games (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

"That's what's special about Minecraft," Hess told me. "It's the biggest video game of all-time, but it doesn't have a built-in story to follow, so you bring your own narrative to it every time that you play.

You bring your own narrative to it every time that you playJared Hess, A Minecraft Movie director

"I watched my daughter playing it one day [and] she had a crazy, complex storyline [where] she'd built a hotel for wolves," Hess continued. "I'd never seen that before, but that's proof that there's endless stories that go along with the game."So, while we were developing our movie, we had to have the same approach. We're just one of many, many stories out there that's set in this world with these characters. For me, it was like 'how do we take a group of unlikely heroes, who are in a difficult place in their lives, and send them on this adventure where they have to use creativity to survive and cooperate?'."My introduction to the game was right when it came out. My kids would play it and they were having such a riot, so I thought I had to play it, too. It became something we did together as a family, so to be able to be creative and collaborate with other people just became one of the movie's big themes."

Critics haven't responded kindly to A Minecraft Movie ahead of its April 4 launch (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

Fun as all of that sounds, Warner Bros' film adaptation hasn't been a hit with critics. In my review of A Minecraft Movie, I gave it two stars out of five, said it "isn't the wildly creative blockbuster videogame film adaptation I was hoping for", and told people to wait until it's available to stream on Max.Based on its near-bang average 52% Rotten Tomatoes critical score, it seems many agree with me that it's not very good, either. Nonetheless, industry analysts expect the movie to rake in the cash during its opening weekend at the global box office. Per Deadline, A Minecraft Movie is reportedly eyeing a huge $140m haul this weekend (April 4 to 6). With relatively little in the way of competition during that three-day period, it could defy the critics and easily earn that amount, too.

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Pluralsight survey finds 77% of workers admit to pretending they know more about AI than they doMany workers consider using AI to be lazy, especially leaders93% of employees are worried about losing their job to AI

Nine in 10 (91%) UK tech workers claim to be AI-savvy, yet three-quarters (77%) admit to pretending they know more about AI than they actually do, new research has claimed.The findings from Pluralsuggt come at a critical point for many organizations, with 86% of UK businesses either using or planning to use AI and 93% fast-tracking AI initiatives in the past six months.However, popular misconceptions around the tech continue to plague businesses, preventing the effective deployment and utilization of AI.

AI misconceptions are leading to a lack of AI transparency

Pluralsight found that two in three (59%) workers say that AI use is seen as lazy, rising to three in four (73%) at the C-suite level.As a result, nearly one-third (31%) hide their AI use due to fear of judgment and two-thirds (65%) have observed colleagues using AI without admitting it, highlighting the need for more ethical AI use guidelines and consistent strategies.“Without a clear understanding of the right ways to use AI, UK businesses risk wasted investment, inefficiencies and even security threats,” Pluralsight Chief Technology and Product Offixer Chris McClellan said.“Using AI at work isn’t about cutting corners. When used correctly, it’s a way to increase efficiency and alleviate talented workers from routine tasks,” McClellan added.More broadly, a considerable majority (93%) of workers are still concerned that AI tools could replace their jobs, even though 44% of firms have actually added more roles due to AI growth and a further 87% stated they’re likely to replace or outsource roles just to tackle the AI skills gap.Highlighting just how important it is for workers to upskill in AI, Pluralsight’s study revealed that only 6% do not factor in AI skills when hiring, with 94% agreeing that staying up-to-date with AI skills is the best way to ensure having a job.“The key for tech workers isn’t to resist AI; it’s about leaning into upskilling. Employees who proactively learn to work alongside AI will be the ones shaping the future of the workplace, not being replaced by it,” McClellan concluded.

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More signs of ultra wide-band in Find My Device are spottedThe upgrade could be rolling out imminentlyDevices can be tracked more precisely with the technology

Google's Find My Device platform got a hefty upgrade last year, adding support for offline devices and third-party trackers, and it looks like it's about to get another significant boost – courtesy of ultra wide-band technology (UWB).This is the precise location tracking protocol that you'll find in everything from the Apple AirTag to the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the team at Android Authority just found references to it inside the latest Find My Device app for Android.Phones and other gadgets can already be located via GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, but UWB adds an extra level of accuracy. Rather than just knowing something is in your house, you'll actually be able to find the sofa cushion it's buried under.We actually got the first signs of this upgrade last June, which were then followed up by mentions of a 'compass' tool in the Find My Device app. The latest code snippets – which aren't yet live – suggest the feature is now about to be deployed.

Compatible devices

AirTags offer UWB support (Image credit: Apple)

Ultra wide-band isn't just about location tracking: the standard works over short distances using radio waves, and it also has applications in smart home and car tech (letting you wirelessly unlock your vehicle, for example).For you to be able to find something via UWB, you'll need the tech to be built into the phone you're searching with, and the gadget you're trying to find. You can then find the lost item to an accuracy of just a few centimeters or inches.Many devices now include UWB, such as the Google Pixel Watch 3, but it's not everywhere – the flagship Google Pixel 9, launched last August, doesn't offer UWB. You will find UWB in some tracking devices, including the Galaxy Smart Tag 2.We're still waiting for some Google-branded AirTag competitors, and we haven't seen anything to suggest they're launching imminently. If Google were to launch its own trackers soon, it would be the perfect way to showcase UWB support for Find My Device.

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NETSCOUT report claims Distributed Denial of Service attacks are on the riseSuch attacks are increasingly being used as political weaponsNotorious Russian Group NoName057(16) targeted European countries in the second half of 2024

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are reportedly becoming a tool of choice for politically motivated cybercriminals, new research has revealed.Sociopolitical events like civil protests, elections, and policy disputes are increasingly playing out through digital platforms, and DDoS attacks are an effective way to erode trust in institutions and critical services, NETSCOUT research claims.These intrusions are aimed at a wide range of industries, and are difficult to defend against as they require constant vigilance and advanced cybersecurity strategies, as shown by a recent Pro-Russian hacking group targeting critical infrastructure and public services through DDoS attacks which disrupted key utilities and companies.

The scale of the surge

A DDoS attack is a technique in which an attacker will flood a server with an enormous amount of traffic, overwhelming the site and making it impossible to access. The malicious traffic can cripple websites and infrastructure, and can cause serious financial and reputational damage.The nature of these attacks means they are very often politically motivated, as opposed to ransomware attacks, for example, which are unsurprisingly largely carried out for financial reasons.According to the research, the second half of 2024 saw almost 9 million DDoS attacks, a 12.75% increase from the first six months. Israel in particular saw a 2,844% increase in attacks, seeing a high of 519 in one day.The above mentioned Russian hacking group, NoName057(16), focused primarily on government services in the UK, Belgium, and Spain. Georgia also saw a 1,489% increase in attacks in the lead up to the “Russia Bill”, highlighting its use as a political weapon.“DDoS has emerged as the go-to tool for cyberwarfare,” stated Richard Hummel, director, threat intelligence, NETSCOUT.“NoName057(16) continues to be the leading actor for politically motivated DDoS campaigns targeting governments, infrastructure, and organizations. In 2024, they repeatedly targeted government services in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain.”

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New Disney+ movies are coming thick and fast now, aren't they?After a lengthy barren spell, we've had four consecutive weeks where a new film had joined Disney+'s movie library. This week, one of 2024's final new movies in A Real Pain has landed on one of the world's best streaming services. Well, outside of the US, anyway – it landed on Hulu stateside in January.Our best Disney+ movies is also packed with other great film suggestions. Bookmark that page for later, though, and read on to see if any of the recently released new Disney+ movies take your fancy first.

New Disney+ movies: April

A Real Pain

Release date: April 2 (available on Hulu in the US)Runtimes: 91 minutesAge rating: R (US) / 16+ (UK)Directors: Jesse EisenbergMain cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, Liza Sadovy, and Jennifer GreyRotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 96% (critics); 81% (audiences)

Watch A Real Pain on Disney+

New Disney+ movies: March

Mufasa: The Lion King

Release date: March 26Runtimes: 125 minutesAge rating: PG (US) / 9+ (UK)Directors: Barry JenkinsMain cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tiffany Boone, Preston Nyman, Kagiso Lediga, Mads Mikkelsen, and Thandiwe NewtonRotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 56% (critics); 89% (audiences)

Watch Mufasa: The Lion King on Disney+

O'Dessa

Release date: March 20 (available on Hulu in the US)Runtimes: 108 minutesAge rating: PG-13 (US) / 16+ (UK)Directors: Geremy JasperMain cast: Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Murray Bartlett, and Regina HallRotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 40% (critics); 64% (audiences)

Watch O'Dessa on Disney+

Moana 2

Release date: March 12Runtimes: 102 minutesAge rating: PG (US) / 6+ (UK)Directors: David G Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux MillerMain cast: Auli'i Carvalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Temeura Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rose MatafeoRotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 61% (critics); 86% (audiences)

Watch Moana 2 on Disney Plus

New Disney Plus movies: coming soon

There aren't many other new Disney+ movies set to arrive this month, so another barren spell may be in-bound. For now, here are three films that are due to land on the platform over the next seven days:

Not Just a Goof – April 7 (docufilm)Pets – April 11 (docufilm)The Abyss in 4K – April 11 (US only)

Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney+ shows, see if there's a free Disney+ trial available, read our Disney+ review, or get the lowdown on the new Disney+ price points.

Lenovo has leaked Nvidia’s next GPUs, in theory, in a listing for an incoming desktop PCThe Lenovo Legion Tower 5i offers options on the as-yet-unannounced RTX 5060 Ti and 5060If Lenovo is preparing product listings that mention these GPUs (and accidentally sent one live), this hints that RTX 5060 models are imminent

What could be Nvidia’s next Blackwell GPU models – the RTX 5060, and 5060 Ti – have popped up in the official specs page for a Lenovo desktop PC.As VideoCardz highlighted, the machine in question is the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 (Intel), which as the name denotes has an Intel processor (actually a mobile flavor, soldered to the motherboard – up to an Intel 285HX CPU, apparently). Note that Lenovo refers to this chip as a ‘Core Ultra i9’ which is incorrect, confusing Intel’s old naming scheme (i9) with the new one (Ultra 9).It’s the GPU options which are key here, though, and they consist of a choice of the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, or the RTX 5060 Ti, or RTX 5060 (the RTX 5070 seems to have been skipped over by Lenovo for this PC).Of course, the RTX 5060 models don’t officially exist yet, but are rumored to be nearing release. The fact that Lenovo has listed them with this PC is a heavy hint that these graphics cards are indeed imminent, just as the grapevine has suggested multiple times now.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

Analysis: Possibly imminent GPUs and pressing concerns about stock

The rumor mill has been alive with chatter about the RTX 5060 graphics cards for some time now, and theories that Nvidia actually intended to launch this next tier in its Blackwell GPUs already – but there have been delays.Obviously, we need to take that speculation about Nvidia pushing back its plans with a fistful of seasoning, but the latest guess is that the RTX 5060 Ti is possibly delayed to mid-April and the vanilla RTX 5060 to mid-May.Mind you, if we are looking at mid-April, that’s only a couple of weeks away now, so it makes sense that Lenovo is readying listings for PCs with these GPUs to go live on its site, and has accidentally published this product blurb a little prematurely.Normally, I’d expect after this sighting was reported, Lenovo would have taken down the listing (or at least removed the mention of the unreleased GPUs here), but at the time of writing, it’s still live (as linked above).Unfortunately, there are no spec details accompanying the mention of the RTX 5060 GPUs, but as VideoCardz noticed, we do get a glimpse of the graphics card inside the PC, showing it has two fans and a single 8-pin power connector (which backs up existing rumors).Speculation thus far contends that the RTX 5060 will run with 8GB of VRAM, but the RTX 5060 Ti should offer both 8GB and 16GB versions (exactly as is the case with the current RTX 4060 range).The consistent rumors about the RTX 5060 being likely to suffer from poor levels of supply are also a worry here, but with what we’ve experienced so far from Blackwell launches, this would hardly be a surprise. That might well be tied into the rumored delays, as Nvidia really needs to ensure a more robust level of stock for Blackwell GPUs that are going to be priced more affordably, and therefore be under much greater demand, than the RTX 5070 and above.

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Nintendo confirms that some Switch 2 games will only contain a download keyIt explains that games with Game-Key Cards don't feature the full game dataPlayers will require an internet connection when first inserting a Game-Key Card

Following the full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has confirmed that certain physical games will only feature a download key.The company detailed everything we need to know in a new customer support post after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, explaining that its new 'Game-Key Cards' - physical Switch 2 games - will contain a download "key" and don't feature the full game data."Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your 'key' to downloading the full game to your system via the internet," Nintendo said.After the game is downloaded, players can play the game by inserting the Game-Key Cards into their console and starting it up like a standard physical game.Players can identify which Switch 2 physical games will contain a Game-Key Card by a key icon on the front of the game box. When a card is inserted, the HOME Menu will then provide instructions on how to download it for the first time.Currently, we know games like Bravely Default and Street Fighter 6: Year 1-2 Fighters Edition will only feature a Game-Card Key, while new titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will offer standard physical game cards like the original Switch.Many fans are conflicted about Nintendo's new Game-Key Card idea, with some worrying that the company might be moving toward a full digital output. However, it's worth mentioning that keys are quite similar to some PS5 physical games that may require an additional download via the internet, except the PS5 only offers one physical version compared to the Switch 2.In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders set to begin on April 8.

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The iPhone 17 Pro probably won’t land until September 2025, but this being a high-profile handset we’re already hearing leaks and rumors about it – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series.The Pro will likely slot in just below the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and just above the iPhone 17 and perhaps the rumored iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim.And while we don’t know loads about it yet, early rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new button, new cameras, and a new chipset, making this a potentially major and exciting upgrade. Below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 17 Pro so far.

Latest newsThe iPhone 17 Pro might have just 3.5x optical zoom.View Deal

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next smaller Pro iPhoneWhen is it out? Probably September 2025How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

Expect it in September

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Likely to land in September of 2025Will probably cost at least $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

We haven’t heard many iPhone 17 Pro release date leaks yet, but based on Apple’s usual patterns we can say that it will probably be announced in the first or second week of September, and indeed the one leak we have heard points to a September launch for the iPhone 17 Pro.More specifically, it will probably be announced on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of the first or second week of September. Apple more often goes for the second week of September, leaving the most likely announcement dates as September 8, September 9, or September 10.Pre-orders then typically open on the Friday of the announcement week, which would mean September 12, and the iPhone 17 Pro will most likely ship the following Friday, which would be September 19.But it’s possible the various stages of the launch will happen a week earlier, or that Apple will break with its usual patterns.There aren’t yet any iPhone 17 Pro price leaks either, but the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,849, so you can expect to pay at least that much for the next model.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far there aren't any release date or price leaks, but based on past form we're almost certain that the iPhone 17 Pro will be announced in September.

A new button and a new color

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Might include a new button and a new camera designExpect the same screen size but possibly upgrades to the techCould have an aluminum frame

The biggest iPhone 17 Pro design leak we’ve heard so far is that the volume buttons and the Action button might all be replaced by a single new key that can do the job of all those things. Exactly how it would do all those things is uncertain, but it may well have a similar design to the Camera Control button, meaning it can register different strength presses as well as swipes, and respond in different ways to each.It's worth noting that Apple has previously made iPhone prototypes with unified volume buttons, including an iPhone 14 Pro prototype. The buttons here were solid-state rather than mechanical, and it's not clear whether the iPhone 17 Pro's implementation would be mechanical or not, if it even happens, but it could look something like this anyway.The iPhone 17 Pro will probably also be available in at least one new shade, with one leak suggesting Apple is considering using one of the three colors pictured below. From left to right these are Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium, and the source says Teal Titanium is the most likely to get used.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

We’ve also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro might use a “more complex” aluminum design, rather than the titanium of its predecessor.Another leak has since shed more light on this aluminum design, saying that the iPhone 17 Pro will have an aluminum frame and that the top half of the back will also be aluminum, with the bottom half remaining glass so wireless charging will work. The report adds that it will also have a larger rectangular camera bump than the iPhone 16 Pro.A leaked image supposedly showing an iPhone 17 series frame lines up with this leak, and points to a Pixel 9-like camera design. You can see this below.

(Image credit: @Jukanlosreve)

However, we've elsewhere heard a counter to this, with another source saying the iPhone 17 Pro will use titanium, not aluminum.We've also heard the possibility of a different but still new iPhone 17 Pro camera design, as you can see in the image below. But this comes from a source with a mixed track record, so we're not convinced.

(Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

This iPhone 17 Pro Max render got given a redo by its creator that paints the odd design in a new light. But it doesn't tell us any more about why Apple would go for such a design; Cupertino tends not to mix up iPhone design unless it facilitates a new feature or hardware.There's also a small chance the iPhone 17 Pro could have a smaller Dynamic Island by hiding Face ID components under the screen, but another source claims the Dynamic Island won't be changing.One smaller design change we might see either way is the presence of curvier sides than the iPhone 16 Pro has, though so far only one source has mentioned this.And while we don't yet know how thick the iPhone 17 Pro will be, it certainly looks a lot thicker than the iPhone 17 Air in a leaked image.As for the screen, the iPhone 17 Pro might have a 6.3-inch display, just like the iPhone 16 Pro, but it could be more anti-reflective than the current display, as well as being more scratch resistant.We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro's screen could use a new technology that makes it more power efficient, durable, and overall better performing.

Can you trust these rumors?

We fully expect the iPhone 17 Pro to have a 6.3-inch screen, since Apple only recently upped the display size with the iPhone 16 Pro. The other design and display leaks so far are worth taking with a pinch of salt though, as not many sources have weighed in.

Two upgraded cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A 48MP telephoto upgrade is likelyIt could also have a new 24MP front-facing cameraThe main sensor could be smaller

The main camera upgrade coming to the iPhone 17 Pro could be a 48MP telephoto camera, up from 12MP on the iPhone 16 Pro. This 48MP telephoto camera has been mentioned in several iPhone 17 Pro camera leaks, including from reputable iPhone leakers, so this may well happen.Most leaks suggest it will still offer the same level of zoom – namely 5x optical zoom, but one source differs, saying that the iPhone 17 Pro will instead offer 3.5x zoom, but will still be capable of 'lossless' 5x and even 7x by cropping into the image.The other significant camera upgrade we could see is a 24MP front-facing camera, up from 12MP on the current model.As for the main and ultra-wide cameras, leaks so far suggest they’ll stick at 48MP like on the current model. However, one source suggests that oddly the main sensor could be smaller on the iPhone 17 Pro, which might make it a downgrade.We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro might be capable of 8K video recording, which would be up from the 4K of current Pro models.And while less likely there’s also talk that the iPhone 17 Pro could have a mechanical aperture, meaning you’d be able to change the aperture and therefore also the depth of field.

Can you trust these rumors?

So many sources have talked about a 48MP telephoto camera that this upgrade seems likely. We haven't heard as much about the other cameras though, including the rumored 24MP selfie snapper upgrade, so we're less sure of those specs. We also wouldn't count on the phone having a mechanical aperture, as that seems a bit niche for how much work it might involve.

The most powerful iPhone chipset yet

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A top-end A19 Pro chipset8GB of RAM again

One thing we can be very confident about is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, one that will most likely be called the A19 Pro.Not only is an A19 Pro chipset an obvious upgrade, but it has also been mentioned by multiple sources.Beyond that, there’s a chance that the iPhone 17 Pro will get 12GB of RAM, which is something we've heard more than once, and would be an increase on the 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro. However most current leaks suggest that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get this upgrade.The iPhone 17 Pro might however get a vapor chamber, which could help it avoid overheating and could also boost performance.And as for the battery, Apple is reportedly considering using a thinner and lighter motherboard, which could free up additional space for a larger battery than in the current model. We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro could offer reverse wireless charging.

Can you trust these rumors?

One of the few things we're almost certain of is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, since that's a standard yearly upgrade for Apple's phones. We hope it will also get a RAM upgrade, but so far it looks more likely to stick at 8GB.

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The Galaxy S25 Edge has apparently been delayed due to technical issuesIt might now launch in May or June, in line with other recent claimsBut there's seemingly the possibility that it could be canceled entirely

Just yesterday, we heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has been postponed from a planned launch in mid-April to sometime in May or June, and while sources at the time suggested this was not due to any problems with the phone itself, we’re now hearing that Samsung might be facing technical issues after all.In a report for WinFuture, reputable leaker Roland Quandt claims that “sources close to Samsung” have confirmed that the delay is due to “technical reasons” and that further testing of the phone is necessary.They didn’t specify what these technical issues might be, but Quandt seems under the impression that they could be significant, stating that it is “questionable whether Samsung will bring the S25 Edge to market at all.”

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Its prospects aren't promising

Quandt sounded similarly bleak about the phone's prospects across a couple of Bluesky posts, saying in one that they “wonder if Sammy might even decide to cancel it overall” and in another that “the official pics I posted earlier could well be the only ones we'll ever see.”It would seem surprising for Samsung to cancel the Galaxy S25 Edge at the last minute, especially since the company has already teased the device, but this certainly doesn’t sound promising for the Edge’s prospects.With the phone still potentially landing within the next few months, we’ll probably hear more soon – and if we don’t, that in itself could be a good sign that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has been canceled.

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The iPhone 16 line has only recently landed at the time of writing, and yet there are already numerous iPhone 17 claimed leaks – some of which emerged even before the launch of Apple’s latest phones.As such – even though we’re not expecting the iPhone 17 and its siblings to launch before September 2025 – we already have some idea of what to expect from these phones. That includes camera upgrades, yet another new button, better screens, and even an entire new model.Below then, you’ll find full details of all the credible leaks and rumors we’ve heard so far, and we’ll be updating this article whenever we hear anything new.

Latest newsThe iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could have 3.5x optical zoom instead of 5x.

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next flagship iPhoneWhen is it out? Probably September 2025How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399

A predictable release date

The iPhone 16 (Image credit: Future)

Likely to be announced in the first half of SeptemberCould start at upwards of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399

There aren’t many iPhone 17 release date rumors yet, but we don’t really need any, as Apple tends to follow a highly predictable pattern.As such, based on past form we predict that the iPhone 17 will be announced in the first half of September 2025. Typically Apple announces the device on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but the company broke with that pattern for the iPhone 16 and used a Monday, so we aren’t totally confident of the exact day.That said, Apple more often uses the second week of the month, so it could be announced sometime between Monday, September 8, and Friday, September 12, with September 8, 9, or 10 being most likely based on the weekdays Apple usually goes with.In any case, the phones will likely then go up for pre-order on the Friday of their announcement week (meaning probably Friday September 12 or failing that September 5 if our guesses are right), and then ship on the following Friday, which would probably be September 19 but could be September 12. While those are all just predictions for now, one source has unsurprisingly pointed to a September launch for the iPhone 17 series.As for the price, the only leaks there so far are for a new model possibly dubbed the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air (more on which below), but a report suggests this slimmer iPhone 17 model could have a starting price of $1,299 (about £1,000 / AU$1,950).We would however take that with a pinch of salt, as that would be a higher price than the current top iPhone, and some other leaks suggest this would be positioned more in the middle of the pack.Indeed, more recently we've heard that the iPhone 17 Slim could cost less than the iPhone 17 Pro, with the latest leak pointing to a starting price of $899 for the iPhone 17 Air, which would see it match the iPhone 16 Plus.In any case, we can look at previous pricing for possible starting prices of the other models. The iPhone 16 then starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,599, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, so successors to these models are likely to cost at least this much.

Can you trust these rumors?

The claim that the iPhone 17 Air could have the same price as the iPhone 16 Plus is believable, and the release date for all these phones will very likely be in September.

A new model

We might not get a successor to the iPhone 16 Plus (Image credit: Future)

An iPhone 17 Air rather than a Plus modelAlso expect an iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max

You won’t be surprised to hear that we’re expecting an iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but what about the iPhone 17 Plus? Well, while that’s a possibility, several leaks have suggested that there might be a slimmer and more expensive iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim instead.However, a reputable analyst predicts that the iPhone 17 Air won't be any more popular than the company's Plus and mini models.There’s also an outside chance that we’ll see an iPhone 17 Ultra, either instead of or as well as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. This would be an ultra-premium model that would sit at the top of the line. But that’s seeming less likely, as it’s not something that’s been leaked much recently, though claims of an Ultra model still occasionally emerge.Claims of an iPhone 17 Air though have arrived with more frequency, and from a number of reputable sources, so there’s every chance we could see a super-slim iPhone in 2025.In fact, the latest leaks point to the iPhone 17 Air measuring even thinner than the competition, namely the recently-announced Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, at a possible thickness of just 5.44mm. That's even thinner than an unfolded Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.What's more, the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to get Apple's new C1 modem, revealed with the iPhone 16e, unlike the base model iPhone 17.

Can you trust these rumors?

Numerous reputable sources have pointed to an iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, so we'd think this is likely to make an appearance, though what it will actually be called is less clear, and we wouldn't count on seeing an iPhone 17 Ultra.

A new button

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A 120Hz screen for all four modelsA new button in place of the Action and volume buttonsA new display technology for the Pro models

One of the more intriguing iPhone 17 design leaks we've heard is that the iPhone 17 Pro and possibly other models could have another new button – this time a single button that would replace the Action button and both volume keys.Details of this possible button are limited, but it’s easy to imagine it could work like the Camera Control key, allowing you to swipe to change the volume, and press it to launch an app or feature of your choice. Perhaps it would even accept both light and strong presses to launch different things.Apple has actually experimented with unified solid-state volume buttons in the past, including on an iPhone 14 Pro prototype, so it's possible the idea is being resurrected for the iPhone 17 series.And in a less likely leak, we’ve heard that Apple could equip some or all iPhone 17 models with under-display Face ID.One other source has leaked three possible iPhone 17 Pro colors, namely Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium. Apparently only one of these will be used if any, and of these it's the Teal Titanium they suspect is most likely to be used. That's the middle shade in the leaked image below. That said, we suspect all three of these are brighter than Apple would opt for.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

In another leak, we've heard that all four iPhone 17 models could have an aluminum frame, which would be a change for the Pro models, as the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max use more premium titanium.So that seems an odd shift, and the report adds that in the case of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max the top half of the back will also be aluminum, with the bottom half sticking as glass, and the camera bump being larger than on current models.However, another leak has since refuted this, saying the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will stick with titanium frames.Since then, we've heard that the iPhone 17 series could use the frame pictured below, which could make for a Pixel 9-like design, and somewhat lines up with the leak above mentioning an aluminum top half and a larger camera bump.

(Image credit: @Jukanlosreve)

Another source has similarly claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro (and probably the other models) will have the design shown below.

(Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

This source has also shared the possible design of the iPhone 17 Air, as you can see below.It has a very slim build but a quite large camera block considering there's just one lens on the back. So we'd take it with a pinch of salt, though it does line up with another iPhone 17 Air design leak.The same source has also claimed that the standard iPhone 17 will have the same camera design as the iPhone 16, so that model might not get this new camera bar.

Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Front Page Tech / ‪@Zellzoi‬)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Front Page Tech / ‪@Zellzoi‬)

Other leakers have since backed up these claims, with multiple sets of iPhone 17 dummy units being leaked, showing similar designs.Some smaller design changes could be planned too, with one source suggesting that some or all iPhone 17 models will have curvier sides than their predecessors.We’ve also elsewhere heard that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a narrower Dynamic Island than the current model, and that conflicting with one of the leaks above it will have a titanium frame, while the other models will apparently have a “more complex” aluminum shell, which may be a reference the the half metal, half glass rear leaked above. Multiple sources have now pointed to a smaller Dynamic Island, though one source says the Dynamic Island will stay the same.One of these sources also claimed that the iPhone 17 will have a 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone 17 Air a 6.6-inch one, the iPhone 17 Pro will have a 6.3-inch display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch one. So that’s the same sizes as the iPhone 16 line, albeit the rumored new Air model could have a slightly smaller screen than the Plus model it might replace.There’s some disagreement on the iPhone 17 Air’s screen size though, with leaker Ross Young claiming it will be slightly smaller at 6.55 inches, while @UniverseIce says to expect a 6.65-inch screen, and another source points to a 6.7-inch 2796 x 1290 one.Also on the subject of the iPhone 17 Air, one report suggests it won't be as slim as Apple hoped, with the company originally aiming for around a 6mm thickness but apparently failing to achieve that, as it needs more space for the battery.That said, we've elsewhere heard that the iPhone 17 Air will be just 5.44mm thick, while another leak similarly says the iPhone 17 Air will in fact be 5mm to 6mm thick, but that thanks to this it won't have space for a SIM card slot (so it will be eSIM only).This report adds that the iPhone 17 Air will also only have one earpiece speaker, rather than two as is the case on other iPhones, and that it will have a “large, centered camera bump” housing just one lens.We've also now seen an image showing how slim the iPhone 17 Air might be in comparison to the iPhone 17 Pro, and it certainly looks very thin there.We've also heard that all four iPhone 17 models could have a 120Hz refresh rate and an always-on display. In fact, several sources have echoed this, saying that the base iPhone 17 will join its Pro siblings in having a 120Hz refresh rate and and always-on screen. We've heard this as recently as March 2025, with reputable leaker Mark Gurman saying as much.So this wouldn’t be an upgrade for the Pro models, but it would be for the standard iPhone 17, and for the iPhone 17 Plus if we get such a phone.Speaking of all the iPhone 17 models, a rumors has them all tipped to use Samsung's M14 OLED display, which features on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. This would mark the first time the flagship iPhone lineup would feature 120Hz displays across the board, rather than only on the Pro models, a much requested feature. The current-gen iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are both limited to 60Hz.However, the Pro models could still get a screen upgrade, with one source claiming that their displays will use a new technology that "improves battery efficiency, maximizes display durability, and enhances overall performance compared to existing display technologies.”Finally, we’ve heard that the iPhone 17 line’s screens might use a type of glass that’s tougher to scratch and cuts down on reflections.

Can you trust these rumors?

Apple bringing 120Hz screens to all four models is long overdue, so we certainly hope that's true, and it has been tipped enough that for now we'd say it's likely.The talk of a new button is something we're less sure about, just because only one source has mentioned it so far, and they have a mixed track record.We're also unsure about claims that all four models will have an aluminum frame, as that would seem like a downgrade for the Pro units. And the rumored changes to the camera design also seem questionable, but enough sources have mentioned this that it's certainly possible.

More megapixels

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A new 48MP telephoto camera for the Pro modelsNew 24MP selfie cameras for all models

The iPhone 17 line could include several significant camera upgrades, including a new 24MP front-facing camera for every iPhone 17 model, up from 12MP on the current phones. It’s a claim this source (Jeff Pu) has made multiple times, most recently in March of 2025.The same source also points to a 48MP telephoto camera for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, up from 12MP currently. We’ve also heard analyst Ming-Chi Kuo say similar, though they weren’t sure whether both Pro models would get this, or if only the iPhone 17 Pro Max would get a 48MP telephoto camera.And leaker @UniverseIce has also said that the Pro models will have a trio of 48MP cameras, meaning an upgrade for the telephoto but not – at least in terms of megapixels – for the main or ultra-wide cameras. Mark Gurman (who has a great track record for Apple information) has also made this 48MP telephoto camera claim.We've heard mention of a trio of 48MP cameras from another source too, but they also claim that oddly the main camera on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will have a smaller sensor than on the 16 Pro series, which sounds like a downgrade.And one source has claimed that as well as a new 48MP sensor, the the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will offer 3.5x optical zoom, rather than the 5x of the current models. However, they would reportedly still offer lossless zoom at 5x and 7x by cropping the image.We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro models could offer 8K video recording.Elsewhere, another leak says the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air won't have a 5x telephoto camera. This isn't really surprising but it is disappointing. In fact, the iPhone 17 Air might just have one rear camera, with another source claiming the iPhone 17 Air will have a 48MP main camera and a 12MP front-facing one.Finally, we’ve heard that Apple might be planning a camera with a mechanical aperture for at least one phone in the iPhone 17 series. This would allow you to adjust the size of the aperture, and therefore the depth of field.

Can you trust these rumors?

The front-facing and telephoto cameras seem obvious upgrade choices in the iPhone 17 line, as their megapixel counts are noticeably lower than some of the other cameras. So there's a good chance those leaks will prove accurate.

A boost in power

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A powerful new A19 Pro chipsetUp to 12GB of RAM

One leak suggests that – unsurprisingly – the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a new A19 Pro chipset, and that the other models will have either an A18 or A19 chipset. The same source also says to expect 12GB of RAM in the Pro models, up from 8GB currently, but that the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Slim will only have 8GB. They've now made this claim multiple times, so they seem confident of it.Another source has echoed this, saying to expect an A19 Pro chipset and 12GB of RAM in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. This chipset will reportedly be built on a new 3-nanometer manufacturing process, which could mean a big jump in performance.That said, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get 12GB of RAM, with the others stuck at 8GB, and that the Pro Max will also have an upgraded cooling system, and exclusively have “enhanced on-device AI capabilities.”Kuo also claims that the iPhone 17 line could use a lighter and thinner motherboard, which would leave room for other components or a larger battery. And speaking of the battery, the iPhone 17 Air might have a high-density cell, giving it comparable life to current iPhones. We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Air might support MagSafe.There’s also an outside chance that some or all iPhone 17 models could include under-display Touch ID, giving you a fingerprint sensor as well as Face ID, but we doubt that.Finally, the iPhone 17 Air might use Apple's in-house 5G modem, but this reportedly doesn't perform as well as the Qualcomm modems the company currently uses - and we've heard that the base model iPhone 17 could even miss out on Apple's C1 modem.

Can you trust these rumors?

New chipsets are sure to make an appearance, and we'd expect at least some models would get boosted to 12GB of RAM, especially as this could help with AI.We'd be quite surprised though if Touch ID makes a return, even in under-display form.

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WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce owner Automattic is laying off 16%Automattic wants to become more agile and responsiveLong-term financial viability and profitability is also key

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce, has confirmed it will be laying off approximately 16% of its workforce.The news is estimated to impact around 280 of its nearly 1,750 employees (via TechCrunch), with CEO Matt Mullenweg confirming HR representatives would be reaching out to affected workers after his email landed in the inboxes of all “Automatticians.”The usual “financial and support benefits” were promised, with Mullenweg citing profitability as a key driver for the layoffs.

Automattic layoffs

“We have reached an important crossroads,” Mullenweg wrote, illustrating a scenario of continued growth and an equally high competitive market. “We must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest,” he added.The leader confirmed that the changes would help the company to become more agile and responsive, break down organizational silos, focus on product quality and ensure long-term financial viability.More broadly, the layoffs follow a precarious year for both Automattic and Mullenweg personally, after he became embroiled in a battle with WP Engine, likening the WordPress hosting provider to a cancer that takes more than it gives back to the project.Mullenweg added the redundancy process would be more complex with workers in 90 countries, but as a rule they could expect severance pay and other benefits, including the retention of company laptops and other job placement resources.“I’m confident we will come out of this situation in a better position… In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about our path forward and how we’ll work together to strengthen our company,” Mullenweg added.According to layoffs.fyi, Automattic became the 96th tech company to announce layoffs in 2025, but although layoffs continue to plague the tech sector, workers are seemingly a lot more safe than the height of the tech sector layoffs in 2023.

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Two new Samsung Galaxy Watch models are on the wayThe Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic have surfaced, this time in regulatory filingsOne battery listed is slightly bigger than last year's model, but it's not a massive upgrade

Details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup have appeared for the second time in just a few days, this time with our first hint at the battery capacity for one of the models.In late March, firmware for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic was spotted, pointing to four new Galaxy Watch models coming in 2025 – two Classic and two regular models, each with a Wi-Fi and an LTE (cellular connectivity) version.Now, filings have been uncovered in South Korea's SafetyKorea certification database, one of the myriad global regulatory bodies with which device manufacturers have to register upcoming new products, including the best Android smartwatches, before they can go on sale.As reported by Xpertpick, the batteries that will feature in the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic appear to have surfaced in the database. The outlet matches these with the aforementioned firmware leak, indicating one battery each for the Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic, respectively.This would reinforce the idea that two new models are on the way, but also gives us one small hint about battery life.

Galaxy Watch 8 battery leaks

As per the report, only one of these battery filings has a listed capacity, the Galaxy Watch 8. The battery is listed at 435mAh, a very minor bump over the Galaxy Watch 7. While that's technically bigger, it's nothing to write home about, and likely won't yield any tangible results in terms of battery-life performance.And if Samsung has added more power-hungry features to the new model, battery life might only match last year's model, and if so you can expect Samsung's rating of around 22 hours. This is the larger 44mm model, with no information out there about the smaller version yet.That definitely won't be enough to challenge the best Android watch for battery life right now, the OnePlus Watch 3, but it does tell us that both of these smartwatch models definitely exist, and will probably launch in early summer in the US and UK.The absence of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in database listings could indicate that the company won't release an Ultra model this year, and may be alternating between the Classic and the Ultra on an annual basis.

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Some of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows of recent years have been watched by millions of people from different countries all around the world.Think Spain's Berlin, France's Lupin or Korea's Squid Game. And now many more Netflix viewers can experience shows from around the world in their native languages as the service becomes even more multi-lingual.Starting now, Netflix has upgraded its audio and subtitles options to offer you more than 30 different languages for on-screen translation or audio dubbing. Netflix says this is in response to the "thousands of language requests" it receives from customers every month.And that's not all. Netflix is coming for the Duolingo owl.

What's new in Netflix's multilingual update

Netflix knows that many of you use its foreign-language films to practice language learning, and it wants to point out the additional features it offers that can help you with that.For example, you now can customize subtitles to adjust their style and size for better legibility. Or you can watch a show with subtitles in one language and audio dubbing in another. And if you're on PC, you can use the 'Browse By Language' feature to find some suitably educational entertainment.This is an important and welcome upgrade for Netflix specifically, because it's been investing quite heavily in movies and shows from around the world. Squid Game is the most famous example, of course, but many of its other non-English language shows have been huge hits too: Money Heist, Lupin, La Palma, Who Killed Sara? and more.And of course it works in the other direction too, with the language features opening up English-language movies and shows to Netflix's huge global audience.

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Google Pixel 9a phones come with a new Battery health assistance toolIt will intentionally drop your phone’s maximum battery life every 200 charge cyclesIt turns off after 1,000 charges, and you can’t switch it off before then

The Google Pixel 9a has a new feature that will intentionally reduce your phone’s battery life over time – and there’s nothing you can do about it.While they’re never the most exciting features, battery health tools are some of the most useful you’ll find on modern smartphones. Following best practices can ensure your phone doesn’t become a massive battery sink after a year or two of use and can extend how long you can go before buying a replacement lithium-ion cell for your handset.And with its latest Google Pixel 9a release, Google looks to be taking battery health seriously with a new Battery health assistance feature that (at launch) will be exclusive to the new handset.But rather than giving you a choice on how your phone charges – such as manually setting your device to cut charging off at 80%, or only reaching a full charge just before when your phone expects you to unplug it – according to Google’s official help page Battery health assistance will automatically lower your battery’s maximum charge every 200 charge cycles.This gradual decline will continue every 200 cycles until your device completes 1,000 cycles.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What’s more, while Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices,” (i.e. the other best Google Pixel phones) its help page for the Pixel 9a reveals that for its latest device, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.”Now, some of you might be worried that this will mean your Google Pixel 9a runs out of battery more quickly than if you could switch this feature off, but the silver lining here is that this feature will probably mean your phone battery lasts longer.Over time, most batteries degrade anyway, so 100% charge after several months won’t last as long as it did when the phone was brand new.The hope is that while you’re still losing some battery performance over time, Google’s controlled descent will mean your battery lasts longer per charge than it would if you didn’t use Battery Health assistance.Though we can understand that the lack of control over how you can manage your device is likely to rub many the wrong way, even if it is an upgrade. It also doesn’t do much to assuage concerns surrounding intentional performance throttling from smartphone manufacturers to encourage you to upgrade your smartphone more regularly.It’s looking like this feature is an upgrade in disguise, however, and if it’s a success we’ll likely see it appear on other Google smartphones going forward.

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The still rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly be one of the biggest and best phones of 2025, headlining the iPhone 17 line – which will also probably include the iPhone 17 itself, the iPhone 17 Pro, and a new iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim model.That final phone may steal much of the attention, but it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max that will probably have the most impressive specs.And while we’re not expecting it to land until September, leaks and rumors are already emerging – all of which you’ll find below.

Latest newsThe iPhone 17 Pro Max's telephoto camera might only offer 3.5x optical zoom.View Deal

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next top-end iPhoneWhen is it out? Probably September 2025How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149

Look out for it in September

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Likely to launch in the first half of SeptemberWill probably cost at least $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149

The iPhone 17 Pro Max – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series – will probably be announced in September of 2025.One source has specifically pointed to a September launch for the iPhone 17 line, and Apple almost without exception launches its new phones in the first half of September, so we can be quite confident of that much.Prior to the iPhone 16 series Apple also usually announced the phones on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but with the iPhone 16 it went with a Monday instead, so we can’t be quite as confident of the exact day as in previous years.Still, the second week of September is the most likely based on past form, meaning likely Monday September 8, Tuesday September 9, or Wednesday September 10. The Thursday or Friday is also possible, but those aren’t days we usually see Apple go for.Either way, pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Pro Max will most likely start on the Friday of the announcement week, so our best guess for that is Friday, September 12 – though a week earlier on Friday, September 5 is also possible. And the phone will likely ship on the following Friday – meaning probably September 19 but possibly September 12.We haven’t heard anything about the iPhone 17 Pro Max price either and that’s a bit harder to predict, since we don’t know whether Apple will raise the price from the iPhone 16 Pro Max or not. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, so it’s likely that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will cost at least that much.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far there aren't any price or release date leaks yet, so it's all just educated guesses, but we'd be surprised if this phone wasn't announced in September.

One button replacing three

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Could combine the volume and Action buttons into one keyMight have a new camera designLikely to once again have a 6.9-inch screen

So far we’ve heard of several possible design changes, including that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might gain a new button – or perhaps more accurately lose some buttons, as one report suggests it will have a single key that replaces the two volume buttons and the Action button.Details on this button are light, but if it emerges, we’d imagine it might sport a similar design to the Camera Control key, so you can swipe across it to change the volume, or press it to trigger a custom action.You can also get some idea of how it might look in an iPhone 14 Pro prototype, which includes a unified volume button (though this only combines two buttons into one, not three). According to various leaks, Apple has been working on versions of this idea for a long time, but it remains to be seen whether this sort of change will actually appear on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.Another big design leak suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have an aluminum frame rather than titanium, and that the top half of the back will also be aluminum (rather than glass), with the bottom half still being glass. The same source claims that the camera bump will be larger this time too.We've also seen an image of how this might look, thanks to a leaked iPhone 17 series frame, pictured below, which has a Pixel 9-like camera cut-out.

(Image credit: @Jukanlosreve)

On the other hand though another source has said the iPhone 17 Pro Max will stick with titanium, which seems more likely.And we've seen another possible new iPhone 17 Pro Max camera design, as you can see in the image of an iPhone 17 Pro below. You can see a similar design in some iPhone 17 Pro Max metal molds that have leaked.

(Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

We've also heard that at least some iPhone 17 models might have curvier edges than the iPhone 16 series, which could make them more comfortable to hold.Also on the design front, one source claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be available in one of the three colors pictured below. These, from left to right, are apparently dubbed Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium. And apparently all three are being considered, but only one would be used if any, with the source speculating that Teal Titanium is the most likely.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

We’ve also heard that Apple could hide the Face ID components under the screen in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which might allow for a smaller Dynamic Island, and Apple now even has a patent for a technology that could enable this.That said, a smaller Dynamic Island could instead be achieved through using a new ‘metalens’ technology for the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s proximity sensor, which is a claim we've heard more than once. Then again, another source claims the Dynamic Island won't be shrunk after all.The source of the metalens claim also says that unsurprisingly the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a titanium frame, just like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.The same source also says to once again expect a 6.9-inch screen, and we’ve elsewhere heard that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s display might use a type of glass that’s less reflective and more resistant to scratches.Additionally, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's screen might use a new technology that makes it more power efficient and durable.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far only one source has mentioned a new button, so we'd take this with a pinch of salt, especially as the Action button is a recent addition, so it would be strange to remove it already.We're also slightly skeptical of the phone switching from titanium to aluminum, as that could be seen as a downgrade.Changes to the camera design are possible, but this would be a big switch for Apple so we'll reserve judgment until more leaks emerge.A smaller Dynamic Island is possible too, and has leaked multiple times, but it's more likely to be achieved through a new proximity sensor design than under-display Face ID.

A new telephoto camera

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Could have a new 48MP telephoto cameraThe front-facing camera might be boosted to 24MPThe main sensor might be downgraded

We’ve heard quite consistent tips about the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cameras, with the most exciting claim being that the telephoto will have a new 48MP sensor, up from 12MP on the current model. We’ve heard this claim of a 48MP telephoto camera for the iPhone 17 Pro Max from multiple sources, including reputable leaker Mark Gurman, so this is very likely accurate.However, this snapper may offer just 3.5x optical zoom rather than the 5x optical zoom of its predecessor, according to one source, though with 5x and 7x 'lossless' zoom possible through cropping.This might also be the only rear camera that’s getting a significant upgrade – meaning 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras could make a return.The front-facing camera might also be improved though, with one of the same sources saying the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a 24MP selfie camera, up from 12MP currently.We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be able to record video in up to 8K quality, up from 4K on the current model.And in more surprising news, one source has claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a mechanical aperture, allowing you to adjust the aperture, changing the depth of field in the process.It might not all be upgrades though, as we've elsewhere heard that the main sensor on the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be smaller than on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Can you trust these rumors?

Numerous sources have mentioned a 48MP telephoto camera, so that much is very likely. The 24MP selfie camera hasn't been leaked as much, so we'd take that with a pinch of salt, but the claim comes from a credible source.As for a mechanical aperture, we're skeptical of this, as it sounds like a major yet niche upgrade, but it's always possible. We're also not currently convinced that Apple would reduce the main sensor size.

A powerful chipset and loads of RAM

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A powerful A19 Pro chipset12GB of RAM

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset – after all, the current model has an A18 Pro. Multiple sources have mentioned an A19 Pro chipset, and they’ve also said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current model.That could be a major boon to its AI capabilities, and we've heard this 12GB claim numerous times. Though there’s some debate over whether both iPhone 17 Pro models will get 12GB of RAM or whether this RAM upgrade will just be for the Pro Max.We've also heard that Apple could add a vapor chamber to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, helping it stay cool and perform better.We haven’t heard much about the battery yet, but reportedly the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a thinner and lighter motherboard than the current model, which in turn might leave space for a larger battery, and we've also heard that it could offer reverse wireless charging.

Can you trust these rumors?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset based on past form, and we'd say an increase to 12GB of RAM is very believable too, since it could help with AI.

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Some iPhone users have seen random apps appear on their devicesMany apps were previously deleted but others are totally new to the usersThe bug might be caused by updating to iOS 18.4

Every now and then, a strange iOS bug comes along that brings back long-lost items, seemingly from the dead. We’ve seen this kind of behavior before with deleted photos, and now it looks like iOS 18.4 is mysteriously resurrecting old iPhone apps that some users removed many moons ago.As spotted by MacRumors, the issue has been documented by users posting on Reddit and Apple’s official support forums. There, people have been describing how their iPhones began automatically downloading apps after they were updated to iOS 18.4.Interestingly, while some users reported that the apps in question had once been on their devices but have since been deleted, other iPhone owners claimed that the apps were entirely new to them.For example, Reddit user EagleEyedTiger7 stated that their iPhone “randomly” downloaded the Last War game after updating to iOS 18.4. In response, user schulze1 said the same thing had happened to them and that “I’ve never had that app installed before.”

A strange situation

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

On first glance, it might appear that the issue relates to the Automatic Downloads setting in Apple’s App Store. This enables Apple devices to automatically download apps and games that have been installed on other Apple products you own, even if they have never been added to the device you are currently using.However, several users claimed that their iPhone is the only Apple device they own, meaning the apps could not have been downloaded in this way.We also do not have many details about whether the bug is only affecting people with certain iPhones, users who are located in specific regions, or people who have taken any other steps. It’s also unclear how widespread the issue is.For now, the main solution is simply to delete the unwanted apps from your device. Hopefully, Apple will soon roll out a fix that stops random apps from appearing on people’s iPhones, but for now we’ll just have to wait.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 features 256GB of internal storageThe console still supports expandable storage, but you'll need to use a microSD Express card to run gamesThese cards offer faster speeds but are more expensive

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it – a more powerful CPU to enable even more impressive games, better audio from improved speakers, and yes, a larger screen at 7.9 inches. But can we give a round of applause to Nintendo for upping the internal storage to 256GB?That’s a big leap – eight times what the original Nintendo Switch offered – and it should mean that you’ll have a lot of room for games and apps. Of course, there is expandable storage. However, it’s not all roses in that regard … especially if you’ve invested in a lot of standard microSD cards for your current Switch and want to make the upgrade.Why? Well, the Nintendo Switch 2 still supports expandable storage, but it’s only going to work with microSD Express cards. That’s an important distinction, as non-standard microSD cards don’t carry the properties of ‘Express.’ These higher-end microSD cards, though, do offer faster speeds that are more on the level of SSDs (solid-state drives).

(Image credit: Nintendo)

That feature, alongside the improved performance, should make for a more fluid experience when reading or writing onto the microSD Express card. You will need a microSD Express card to use with the Switch 2 to save a game or open one. However, according to this support page, you can plug a standard microSD card in to view photos or screenshots.The improved speeds might weigh out the downsides aside from the cost though. A regular 128GB microSD card runs for about $20.99 (on Amazon for this SanDisk model), but a 128GB microSD Express card from SanDisk is $49.99 (currently $44.99 on Amazon). That’s quite a jump and generally the case here – microSD Express Cards are more expensive than microSD cards.So yes, upping the internal storage on the Switch 2 to 256GB is great, and keeping the option for expandable storage is good, but the microSD Express requirement might cost you a bit more.Of course, there’s always the chance that you might have been using a microSD Express card in your Switch Lite, Switch, or Switch OLED – it’s worth checking and as we get closer to preorders (April 8 from Nintendo and April 9 from other retailers) and launch (June 5, 2025), we’ll be writing about any major sales on this cards.

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Proton VPN released new updates and features for its Windows, iOS, and Android appsThe upgrade aims to make Proton VPN apps more intuitive, transparent, and customizable The new apps also provide a range of educational content to help users get the most from their VPN

Proton VPN unveiled a major upgrade that promises to make its apps more intuitive, transparent, and customizable.As of today, April 3, 2025, Proton VPN's Windows, iOS, and Android users will benefit from new updates and features. These include a sleek new interface, customizable home screen widgets for mobile, and a new enhanced Profile feature.The new apps also provide a range of educational content to help users get the most from one of the best VPN services on the market.

Proton VPN's new look

While increasingly more people have become familiar with the benefits of using a virtual private network (VPN) in their daily life – whether that's better streaming, privacy, or security – the underlying software and its features can still feel quite intimidating.As Proton VPN's General Manager, David Peterson explains, this may limit users' ability, especially those unfamiliar with the tech, to benefit from what a VPN has to offer. That's exactly where Proton VPN's revamp comes in."The new Proton VPN apps make it easier than ever before to protect users' privacy while enhancing transparency to explore new features effortlessly," said Peterson.After launching a new, more intuitive home screen interface on Android, the provider has decided to bring these improvements to its iOS and Windows VPN apps, too.The Windows app received a full redesign to match its Android VPN counterpart. A redesigned Settings menu makes it easier to scroll through all of Proton's advanced features, like split tunneling, a kill switch, and port forwarding. For the first time, you can also choose between a dark and a new light mode.

(Image credit: Proton)

An enhanced Profile tab is perhaps the most relevant new feature (see image above).This allows paid subscribers to create personalised connection profiles, picking their favorite location, city, or state, server, protocol, and settings depending on their needs.You may opt for the fastest server in the US to use Proton VPN to unlock US Netflix when abroad. Alternatively, you may choose a Secure Core server and Stealth protocol if you're worried about online surveillance and censorship.While the iOS app also comes with a Profile tab, the new release brings the latest, enhanced version to Windows and Android. The team is currently testing an early version on iOS, too, meaning that iPhone users won't need to wait too long to enjoy the same level of customization.Another exclusive feature for Windows and Android at the time of writing, Connect & Go, allows you to specify the website or app you want to launch when connecting to a specific profile.While the team didn't give TechRadar a timeline, Proton said the plan is to extend all these features across all platforms (iOS, macOS, and Linux).To know more about the new release, you can head to Proton VPN’s official website or visit the blog post with the official announcement.

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Several reports claim a second Oracle data breach has occuredUser login credentials were apparently stolenOracle allegedly told some customers that the data is almost a decade old

Oracle has apparently suffered its second cyberattack in a month, but the company is downplaying its importance.A Bloomberg report citing two people familiar with the matter has claimed Oracle told some of its customers a threat actor compromised its IT infrastructure and stole client login credentials.At the same time, Reuters is reporting that an unidentified threat actor tried to sell the stolen data on the dark web, claiming to have stolen it from Oracle’s Austin, Texas premises.

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Old data

Bloomberg also reported that Oracle told some of its clients that the FBI was notified, and that CrowdStrike was brought in to investigate. Furthermore, the clients were notified that this is not the same incident that struck healthcare customers in March 2025. Finally, the attacker also tried to extort Oracle for the stolen data.Oracle has hinted that the data isn’t that relevant, however, claiming that the compromised system was not used for eight years. Therefore, the conclusion is that the data found there is outdated and poses little risk.However, there were Oracle customer login credentials from as recently as 2024.We would say that leaked login data is always a problem, regardless of if it’s ten years, or ten days old. Besides, many organizations never change their login credentials, or reuse the same passwords across a myriad of other services, in which case such a database could prove a gold mine for brute-force or credential stuffing attacks.At press time, Oracle has not yet addressed the media reports, but we have contacted the company for comment.

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After years of lagging behind rivals when it comes to video capture (and then suddenly buying cinema camera manufacturer RED), Nikon is pushing new boundaries in that area. Its latest salvo is the $1,699 24-megapixel full-frame Z5 II, perhaps the cheapest mirrorless camera so far to support internal RAW video. It also offers improved autofocus with new AI powers, cleaner images and enhanced image stabilization.

The Z5 II is a wholesale remake of the original Z5 and that starts with video. While still limited to 4K 30 fps and cropped 4K 60 fps, it can now capture those formats internally using the company's 12-bit N-RAW format with N-log, along with 10-bit H.265 and 8-bit H.264. Interestingly, it will record in N-RAW to SDXC UHS-II cards, since the camera lacks high-speed CFexpress slots. That likely means you'll need to buy very fast (and expensive) cards and that the N-RAW video will be highly compressed. Still, it's a feature available on no other camera in this price range.

Nikon

Nikon is also promising much-improved autofocus bolstered by a new image-processing engine and tech borrowed from its high-end Z9 and Z8 models. The Z5 II can now lock onto subjects more quickly, particularly human eyes, faces and bodies, and works in lower light down to -10 EV, compared to -3 EV before. Meanwhile, the AI system can detect up to nine subject types ranging from animals (including a Bird Detection mode) to bicycles. When working in Auto-Area AF, these subjects can be detected, focused on, and tracked automatically.

Native ISOs have been boosted to 100-64000 (50-204,800 in expanded modes), up from a maximum 51,200 before. That should improve noise levels across the ISO ranges, the company said. However, resolution is still limited to 24 megapixels.

Nikon

In-body stabilization has been boosted to 7.5 stops with supported lenses, way up from five stops on the Z5. That's paired with electronic stabilization designed to keep handheld video steady.

The Z5 II's viewfinder still offers a decent 3.69-million dots of resolution, but brightness has been boosted to 3,000 nits with 13 levels of brightness control. And it now comes with a 1.7-million-dot vari-angle display that's a big improvement from the previous model's tilt-only screen. The body now has a deeper grip to improve handling and comes with a one-touch Picture Control button for previewing and switching between color profiles in real time, matching a recent trend started by Fujifilm's X100 VI.

Other features including dual SD UHS-II card slots, 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks, camera to cloud connectivity via Nikon's Imaging Cloud and a new weather-proof build "on par with the Z6 III," according to Nikon.

The Z5 II looks to be an impressive hybrid full-frame camera for the money and rivals Sony and Canon don't really have anything in the same price range that can match it. However, it also comes at a price $300 higher than the Z5 was at launch. Still, it could tempt filmmakers and others away from similarly priced crop sensor cameras from the likes of Fujifilm and Sony. The Z5 II is now on pre-order for $1,699 (body only) or $1,999 with a 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/nikons-z5-ii-is-the-cheapest-full-frame-camera-yet-with-internal-raw-video-113041486.html?src=rss

A bug in iOS 18.4 stopped AirPods Max promised lossless update from workingApple has fixed the issue with firmware 7E101You'll need your iPhone, iPad or Mac and your charging cable

What do you call an Apple update that doesn't work? A Tim Cook-up! I made that joke up myself and I'm very proud of it, but it's time to get serious now: Apple's AirPods Max lossless audio update was about to launch, didn't work properly, was delayed, and is now working and ready for you to install it.The problem was with iOS 18.4, the newest version of iOS, which contained the necessary code to update your AirPods Max. Unfortunately that code didn't work properly, and the update wasn't downloading. Apple has fixed the problem and also provided helpful instructions on how to update your headphones.

"Update my AirPods! I said UPDATE MY AIRPODS!" (Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes)

How to install the lossless audio update on your AirPods Max

Here are the instructions, directly from Apple.

Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and that Bluetooth is onMake sure that your AirPods Max are connected via Bluetooth to your iPhone, iPad, or MacConnect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Wi-FiPlug the charging cable into the bottom-right earphone, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or portKeep your AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to updateReconnect your AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, or MacCheck the firmware version again and make sure it lists “7E101"

I'm glad this update has been fixed, because it's a welcome one for owners of the USB-C AirPods Max: once installed, you'll be able to get lossless audio over USB-C to make your AirPods sound even better, and to finally be able to use them with airplane entertainment systems.We're going to test the feature to see if it sounds as good as it, er, sounds – at least, we will as soon as we've verified this firmware update.

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Intel has announced its Unison app will be discontinued at the end of JuneThis was an alternative to Windows 11’s Phone Link functionalityIt was better in some ways – notably for iOS users, and with the app being more streamlined – so it’s sad to see a viable alternative go

Intel’s take on tying your phone in with your Windows 11 PC – the Unison app – is being shuttered, with Team Blue announcing that it’ll be discontinued for most users at the end of June 2025.Windows Latest reports that Intel made the announcement in the Microsoft Store listing for app, stating that: “Intel Unison will soon be discontinued. The first step in its wind-down process is ending service for most platforms at the end of June 2025. Lenovo Aura platforms will retain service through 2025.”If you’re scratching your head and thinking "I’ve never heard of Intel Unison" well, you wouldn’t be alone there. In a nutshell, it’s Intel’s version of Windows 11’s built-in functionality known as the Phone Link app.Both Phone Link and Unison offer the ability to access iOS or Android smartphone functionality on the desktop of your Windows 11 PC. In the case of Intel Unison, the core abilities are covered, such as replying to texts, seeing notifications, making calls, and file transfer operations if you want to shift, say, a photo from your phone to the PC for image editing purposes.As Windows Latest notes, the key strength of Intel Unison is a better implementation on the iOS side (indeed, it supported Apple smartphones from the off, when Microsoft’s take on this formula didn’t for some time). It’s also a more streamlined app, and well enough liked by those who use it – the review ratings for Unison on the Microsoft Store are currently higher than for Microsoft’s own solution.At any rate, if you use Unison, you’ll have to ditch the app soon, so you might be looking at Phone Link in a couple of months’ time.Windows Latest has spoken to sources and claims that while officially June 30 is the day on which Unison will be discontinued, it may continue to work okay on some devices for a little time afterwards – or at least some parts of the app might. Before long, though, it’s going to be fully turned off, so you might as well start getting used to that idea now.

(Image credit: Intel)

Analysis: Disunification in progress

Intel Unison will have lasted two years (almost) when the app gets canned (Team Blue launched it back in August 2023). It’ll be a shame for some folks to see it go, as there are reports that it works more smoothly than Phone Link not just for iPhones, but for Android devices too – going by some of the online feedback for the app, anyway. (I haven’t used it myself).If this is the first time you’re hearing about Intel Unison, then obviously, it’s a bit late to be learning about the app now. Although it’s not something I’d heard of previously, either, and Unison somehow flew under my radar – and I’m guessing that’s part of the problem, and reason why it’s been dropped. The other likely reason here is that as Windows Latest hints, it’s probably part of Intel’s cost-cutting measures, with Team Blue having to streamline its business considerably, as we saw with all the very unfortunate layoffs (and more) last year.Compared to Intel Unison, the advantage of Phone Link is that it does offer more advanced functionality – particularly for Samsung smartphones, of course, but for all phones more broadly. And that includes the most recent step of integrating Phone Link directly in the Start menu, putting it front and center in the Windows 11 interface.In short, Phone Link isn’t going anywhere, and Microsoft is surely going to bolster it going forwards – so it’s not likely that Unison would have kept up with this pace anyway. Still, for those who wanted a simple alternative, and a streamlined app that covered the basics – and by all accounts, covered them with some aplomb – Intel’s app fitted the bill, but obviously that won’t be the case for much longer.

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Online retailers like Very and Smyths opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders earlySome fans have already secured their console ahead of the official preorder date, April 8Amazon UK is currently accepting invites for Switch 2 preorders

Some online storefronts in the UK opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders ahead of time, but if you missed out, there may be a way to get your hands on one, too.Nintendo Switch 2 preorders don't officially begin until April 8, but according to numerous posts online, fans were able to secure their console from websites like Very and Smyths days early.Unfortunately, these sites quickly sold out of units, and the majority of Very's Switch 2 preorder stock has now sold out – although we sometimes see a few bundles available.As of writing, however, Argos is currently accepting preorders for the Switch 2 and Mario World bundle, but we're unsure how long supplies will last.While Amazon isn't taking preorders right now, it is accepting invites for those interested in getting their hands on the console. When you head over to the webpage, there will be a "Request invite" button that will allow you to opt in for a chance to purchase."If invited to purchase, you'll get an email with a link that's valid for 22 hours. We won’t be able to grant all requests," Amazon explains.Meanwhile, US retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart have announced that they will take Nintendo Switch 2 preorders from April 9 with in-store collection or free delivery available on the release date.It's important to note that even though it may seem that your preorder has gone through on websites offering the console early, some stores may not have stock just yet. We'd recommend waiting until the official preorder date to ensure you've secured one.The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, and it will cost you $449.99 / £395.99.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders – quick links

My Nintendo Store - from $449.99 on April 8Amazon - preorder details TBCWalmart - from $449.99 on April 9GameStop - register your interestBest Buy - from $449.99 on April 9

My Nintendo Store - from £395.99Argos - in stock now from £395.99Amazon - request an invite nowCurrys - register your interestEE - register your interestSmyths Toys - limited stockVery - limited stockShopTo - sold outTGC - register your interest

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US

The official My Nintendo Store is, naturally, one of the best places to bookmark and keep close by for Switch 2 pre-orders when they go live. You can register your interest now and priority will be given to Nintendo Switch Online members who have an active membership and a minimum of 50 hours playtime as of April 2.

Best Buy is one of the best places to pre-order gaming gear and the retailer has confirmed it will take orders from April 9. You can register your interest now for notifications. Also, Best Buy will do some late-night store openings so you can pick up your console from 12:01am ET on June 5.

No word on pre-orders here just yet, but as the biggest retailer of them all, Amazon is always one of our top places to check for stock. It will likely require you to register your interest or request and invite before the pre-order window opens on April 8, so check back in regularly to get your name on the list.

Old, reliable retailer Walmart has confirmed it will take Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders on April 9, with both the Switch 2 console and Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle listed as coming soon. As a bonus, the retailer also promises free delivery before 9am on launch day when you pre-order at Walmart.

Of course, video game retailer GameStop will be offering Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - and it might even offer some super attractive trade-in deals for your OG Switch.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - UK links to bookmark

Going straight to the source is never a bad idea, and this is the first place we've seen offering Nintendo Switch 2 preorders. However, there is one caveat: preorders from here will be initially offered on an invite-only basis to Nintendo Switch Online members.

Argos is a superb option if you're looking for that physical store element to your Switch 2 pre-order, and it's available right now. Don't expect stock to stick around for long.

Amazon is giving you the option to request an invite to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, but the retailer hasn't confirmed if they will be available on April 8 like the official Nintendo Store. However, if you're one of the lucky chosen ones, you'll be emailed a link to buy the console that remains valid for 22 hours.

Very has several Nintendo Switch consoles and bundles available to preorder right now. Stock is extremely limited, though, and seems to be vanishing from sale about as quick as we're seeing it. Because of that, you'll need to move fast if you want to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 from here.

Currys is a terrific option in the UK for pre-orders. Since its reveal, it has been working hard on Switch 2 coverage and taking registrations of interest.

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Sonos Era 100 is now $199 / £199 / AU$319Sonos Ray is now $199 / £199 / AU$349Retailers may discount even further

If I were in charge of Sonos, my earworm would be Black Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love? – because since the botched app update in 2024, there have been many cases of users hurtin' and users cryin'. But now the firm has embarked on a new strategy to win back audio fans' love: it's seriously cutting the price of some of its key products.Sonos has permanently cut the price of two of its key speakers, the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker and the Sonos Ray soundbar.These are significant cuts: the Era 100 is down $50 from $249 to $199 (£199 / AU$319). And the Ray is down even more, from $279 to $199 (£199 / AU$349).These aren't the cheapest prices we've ever seen for these Sonos products. But this is a permanent price reduction, not a promotional discount or retailer loss leader.

Opinion: a sound strategy for Sonos

There's no doubt that the Sonos app fiasco did a lot of damage to the brand. But Sonos has made good on its promises to keep updating the app, and while that's still ongoing, the app is in much better shape now.The app problems seem to have cost Sonos a lot of sales as well as reputation, and the previously loyal customers who've vowed to ditch the brand altogether may not be coming back. And that means Sonos needs to persuade new people to buy into its ecosystem.

(Image credit: Future)

For years, Sonos has positioned itself as the Apple of audio, a premium brand offering a premium experience at not too premium prices. The app problems have made that a much harder sell, and until the app disaster is a distant memory – as it eventually will be; who thinks about Apple's "antennagate" when considering an iPhone? – one of the best tools in Sonos's toolbox is price.Even before the app problems we felt that these two products were a little overpriced. In our Sonos Era 100 review, we said that the price was pushing it "closer to high-end speakers", where there's an expectation of excellence. Similarly, we felt that the Sonos Ray was "middle of the pack for value". At these newly reduced prices, both products are much more compelling.

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GPT-4o updated includes deeper training on a “variety of image styles”Users have created images replicating the hand-drawn look of Studio GhibliRenders raise legal and ethical questions over the work of living artists

Tl;DR What's the debate?Fans are using OpenAI's latest generative model to create images which imitate the distinctive hand-drawn style of Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. Creatives have questioned whether this is ethical, as artists such as studio founder Hayao Miyazaki are still alive. Legal experts suggest the style itself isn’t protected, but its usage might be.

If you’re a regular on X or Instagram, chances are your feed’s been flooded this week by images that look like scenes from Spirited Away. But these imitation animations aren’t the work of famed Japanese company Studio Ghibli: they’re from ChatGPT. And that has some copyright experts sounding the alarm.Just a few days ago, OpenAI released the latest version of GPT-4o, the generative AI model which underpins ChatGPT. That update introduced more accurate text rendering, the ability to understand more complex prompts and – crucially – deeper training on a “variety of image styles”.Within hours of the update, fans were using ChatGPT to create pictures which emulated the art style of different animations. The most common kind of recreation? Renders that bore an uncanny resemblance to the dreamy, hand-drawn aesthetic of Studio Ghibli’s work.Users have given the Ghibli treatment to everything from popular memes to political figures. But with ChatGPT now apparently able to replicate such an iconic look with ease, there are serious question marks over the legality – and morality – of its usage. Does the Ghibli craze breach copyright? And is it ethical to imitate a living artist? We’ve asked expert lawyers and broken down all of the issues this short explainer.

The debate: users flood social media with AI-generated Ghibli memes

Fan art is nothing new. For as long as there have been animations, fans have created replica artwork. These community creations are usually tolerated by animation houses such as Studio Ghibli, as long as they aren’t used for commercial purposes. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.OpenAI’s latest GPT-4o update changes that. Now, anyone can generate or transform an image into a Ghibli-style scene. What would previously have taken hours can now be achieved in a matter of seconds. Users can emulate art styles with no appreciation of the effort that it would take to a seasoned animator to create the same scene.

Ghibli style memes taking over the internet 😅 pic.twitter.com/96v8ip8ezXMarch 27, 2025

On one hand, this opens up the realm to users who want to create their own fan art but don’t have the requisite skills. On the other, it arguably reduces the value and originality of the source material. Images circulating on social media faithfully replicate the Ghibli look, without a single human artist being involved.ChatGPT’s ability to channel the visual language of animation houses such as Studio Ghibli makes it a powerful creative tool for fans. But there’s also a moral dimension: some might see such easy imitation as an affront to the studio’s hand-drawn legacy, especially when applied to memes.Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki is known for his painstaking frame-by-frame approach to animation. The studio famously spent more than a year animating a four-second scene in The Wind Rises. In a 2016 documentary, Miyazaki described AI-generated animation as “an insult to life itself”.Then there are the legal questions. Many of the visuals seen on social media effectively ape the Ghibli look. Because it’s capable of such faithful mimicry, some have questioned whether they infringe on the studio’s copyright.

Awesome. The Ghibli style is now going to become oversaturated and associated with lazy and boring content - can’t wait for kids to grow up thinking the Ghibli movies are Ai-generated and instead of art that’s crafted by excellent artists https://t.co/YFOUIRLYAmMarch 27, 2025

Copyright generally doesn’t protect a visual style as such. So the dreamy backgrounds, oversized eyes and whimsical creatures which are hallmarks of Studio Ghibli animations probably aren’t covered. Unless ChatGPT were to replicate a specific character or scene, it might be hard to prove infringement.There’s the matter of training data, too. OpenAI hasn’t disclosed specifically what image assets were used to train the latest version of its GPT-4o model. It only specifies that a “vast variety of image styles” featured in the training data. Without more information, it’s impossible to say whether the model was trained on copyrighted Ghibli frames directly – or whether the AI simply learned to emulate the aesthetic from publicly available derivatives, such as existing fan art.But here's the verdict today from expert copyright lawyers on where this could all be headed.

The reality: style isn't legally protected, but its usage might be

We asked Chris Mammen, IP litigator and San Francisco Office Managing Partner for Womble Bond Dickinson, for his expert insight. “Copyright law in the US does not protect ideas or styles,” Mammen explains. “One artist creating a work 'in the style of' some other artist has been happening for centuries.”According to Mammen, AI tools such as ChatGPT are changing two important factors when it comes to fan art creations: “(a) the scale, volume and speed with which new works can be generated, and (b) the fidelity with which these rapidly-generated new works can mimic the style of the original.”While the style of Ghibli animations might not be covered by copyright, the studio could have other routes to protecting its intellectual property. Mammen continues: “If someone were to represent that one of these GenAI-created images is, in fact, a product of Studio Ghibli, then it could give rise to issues, such as false designation of origin, under trademark and unfair competition laws.”

(Image credit: Studio Ghibli / Netflix)

What’s clear is that AI tools will continue to give rise to new issues around the rules and grey areas involved with derivative and generative content. “These issues are really testing the boundaries of copyright and other intellectual property laws,” Mammen says.These observations echo those of Matthew Sag, en Emory University law professor studying copyright law and artificial intelligence, who recently told Business Insider: "OpenAI took a pretty sensible decision to say 'We are going to stop producing images in the style of living people'. Not because it's copyright infringement, but because people don't like that. Individuals get very understandably viscerally upset by that," he said. Studios, though, are a different matter.Asked for comment by TechRadar, an OpenAI spokesperson said: “Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible. We continue to prevent generations in the style of individual living artists, but we do permit broader studio styles – which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations. We're always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we’ll keep refining our policies as we go.”With tools such as ChatGPT and OpenAI Sora advancing so rapidly, law- and policymakers are scrambling to keep up with the thorny issues arising around intellectual property as a result. As Mammen concludes, “Advocates on both sides of the issue are arguing for legal reform.”

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Adobe Premiere Pro 25.2 becomes even more powerful with AIGenerative Extend lets you plug gaps with footage that you forgot to takeOther under-the-hood updates include faster processing and performance

Adobe has launched version 25.2 of Premiere Pro, its video editing software, including even more advanced features, and of course, artificial intelligence makes more than just one appearance.Some of the highlights include Generative Extend, powered by Firefly, automatic caption translation to over 27 languages and additional GPU accelerated format support for better processing capabilities.Key to the updates, Adobe says many of the new features are based on customer feedback, including the automatically translated captions, which were demanded after the creative giant launched text-based editing in 2023.

Adobe Premiere Pro 25.2

Taking the headlines, AI-powered Generative Extend is one of the most noteworthy features coming to version 25.2, including 4K and vertical video support.With the tool, video editors can extend video clips up to two seconds and ambient audio up to 10 seconds to fill gaps, hold shots or create transitions even if they don’t have the full footage required.Paul Saccone, Senior Director of Product Marketing for Professional Video at Adobe, confirmed users can try out Generative Extend for free for “a limited time,” after which they’ll need to use Firefly generative credits, with exact costs determined by video format, frame-rate and resolution.Another update makes “fly[ing] through hours of footage and find clips fast[er]” with thanks to even more AI. Users can search for objects, locations, camera angles and more to find exactly the clips they need even in the largest libraries.The company stressed this analysis happens locally and offline, and that user content is not used to train its AI models.Auto translation of captions also happens with AI assistance – the functionality now works with 27 languages, and editors can see multiple caption tracks at the same time to ensure consistency and quality.Other smaller but no less useful changes include dynamic waveforms for better audio level visual representation, rewritten support for H.264 in MP4 and MOV for up to 4x performance increase on Apple silicon and hardware-accelerated Canon Cinema RAW Light on Apple silicon computers for up to 9x faster export.For a full breakdown of what’s new, check out Adobe’s blog post.

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Following recent tests, Amazon is finally ready to launch its Project Kuiper space internet project in a bid to rival Elon Musk's Starlink, the company announced. The first batch of 27 satellites on the KA-01 (Kuiper Atlas 1) mission are set to launch into low earth orbit (LEO) aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on April 9th next week from Cape Canaveral if conditions allow. Amazon hopes to start offering the high-speed internet service "later this year," it said.

Amazon's network will eventually comprise 3,200 satellites launched from partners including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin and even SpaceX. Much like that company's Starlink, Project Kuiper's service will cover the entire planet when completed. It will work with a dish as small as seven inches that will deliver speeds up to 100Mbps, smaller than Starlink's Mini, or up to 1Gbps with larger dishes. The company said the cost of terminals will be under $400.

The satellites will cruise at 17,000 mph at 392 miles above earth, circling the planet in about 90 minutes. They'll use a dialectic mirror film coating that's supposed to scatter light and make them less visible to ground-based astronomers, Amazon said. SpaceX's constellation currently uses over 7,000 satellites, so the Project Kuiper and Starlink fleet will use over 10,000 LEO satellites once Amazon's network is complete.

Amazon

Amazon launched two test satellites in October 2023 and proclaimed its early tests a success, with the pair sending and retrieving data at speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second. Later in December, it bolstered the network with a network of high-speed laser cross-links that promise further speed boosts. The company claims its mesh network can move data about 30 percent faster than terrestrial fiber optic cables.

Project Kuiper’s first launch will be the heaviest payload yet for the Atlas V, which will fly in its most powerful configuration. The rocket will include five solid rocket boosters in addition to the main booster, and a payload fairing 77 feet high and 16.4 feet wide.

Despite past successful tests, the mission isn't without risk. "We’ve done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we’ve flown our final satellite design and the first time we’ve deployed so many satellites at once," Project Kuiper vice president Rajeev Badyal wrote. "No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/amazon-will-start-launching-its-project-kuiper-starlink-rival-next-week-123011012.html?src=rss

A German logistics management firm has experienced a data breachRoyal Mail may files may have been exposed as a resultGHNA hacking group previously targeted Samsung Electronics

A hacking group going by the name GHNA has put information for sale on the notorious BreachForums site, claiming belongs to the Royal Mail Group.The British postal firm was reportedly breached through a German logistics management supplier - if the information for sale is legitimate.This data includes 293 folders and 16,549 files, and is said to include personally identifiable information (PII) like names, physical addresses, phone numbers, and package details, leaving anyone affected at risk of identity theft and fraud.

Familiar exploits

“We are aware of an incident which is alleged to have affected Spectos, a supplier of Royal Mail," a Royal Mail spokesperson told us."We are working with the company to investigate the issue and establish what impact there may be regarding their data. We can confirm there has been no impact on Royal Mail operations and services continue to function as normal.”GHNA previously leaked over 270,000 customer service tickets tied to Samsung Electronics Germany, in a breach that exposed transactional and sensitive personal data.A spokesperson for Spectos GmbH confirmed to TechRadar Pro it has been the target of an ongoing cyberattack since March 29, 2025, when “unauthorized access to systems and personal customer data has occurred”, and that the attack is ongoing, but systems are being continuously monitored and secured.“The origin of the attack is currently being analyzed together with external cyber security experts.Contrary to media reports to the contrary, there are no indications of an internal attack or the use of leaked access data.”Analysis from HudsonRock suggests that AI is playing an increasingly important role in breaches such as this one, with tools like ChatGPT able to “rapidly parse through” files and extract valuable data such as PII.Via The Register

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TechRadar Gaming asked Nintendo if the Joy-Con 2 controllers have seen any improvement to avoid stick driftGeneral manager Tetsuya Sasaki says the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers have been "designed from the ground up"The new Joy-Con's will offer "smoother movement"

Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers have been redesigned, hopefully, to avoid potential stick drift.During an exclusive hands-on preview of the Nintendo Switch 2, TechRadar Gaming asked Technology Development Division general manager Tetsuya Sasaki if any improvements have been made to prevent Joy-Con stick drift.Sasaki responded, confirming that the new magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers have been completely redesigned for smoother gameplay."The new Joy-Con 2 controllers have been designed from the ground up. They’ve been designed to have bigger and smoother movement," Sasaki said.The Nintendo team didn't offer any specifics, but according to our Hardware Editor Rhys Wood, there is a noticeable improvement in the Joy-Con 2 thumbsticks, and they "feel much smoother and less grainy than the previous model".If you own a Nintendo Switch, you may be familiar with the dreaded stick drift that can occur after using the console for a long time. Hearing that the Joy-Con 2 controllers have been improved gives me hope that I won't have to invest in another pair after only a couple of years of use.The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct aired yesterday, confirming that the console will launch on June 5, 2025, cost $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders scheduled to open on April 8.The showcase also offered a deep dive into the Switch 2's specs, revealing that the console will offer Joy-Con 2 mouse functionality, 4K resolution while docked, a bigger screen at 7.9 inches, 256GB of internal storage, and more.We're keeping the party going right now with live coverage of the upcoming Nintendo Treehouse: Live event, and you can read our full Mario Kart World hands-on preview here too.

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Mario Kart 8 and its Deluxe update have been around so long it's easy to forget that the game actually predates the Switch and can trace its origins way back to the Wii U. But every good run must come to an end, and with the forthcoming arrival of the Switch 2 on June 5, Mario Kart World is looking like the ideal launch partner.

Now there hasn't really ever been a bad Mario Kart game, but World feels like Nintendo has jammed nitrous into every corner and crevice. Even during my demo session where not all the characters were unlocked, I got the sense that its roster is massive. All the big names are there like Peach and Yoshi, but you also have baby versions of many of them alongside Toadette, Pauline, Nabbit and so much more. This feeling extends to a range of vehicles too, which includes standard karts in addition to stuff like jet skis and scooters.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

But more importantly, the world feels huge. Not only can you freely roam around tracks as they seamlessly connect from one to another, there are also little details like weather effects and day/night shifts that make things feel more alive. And there's also a seemingly huge range of tracks to choose from, organized into several Grand Prix circuits.

The most fun I had, though, was when I got a chance to play the Knockout Tour mode, which is like Mario Kart meets F-Zero 99. In this setting, you have 24 people in a single race that progresses across multiple tracks. Every few laps, the last four places get eliminated, so it's your job to dodge shells and use every last mushroom boost, shortcut and power slide to stay at the front of the pack. It's a non-stop frenzy that just keeps going and, though I don't have the same reaction speed I did when I was younger, this old-head still got first place. And even after a win, I just wanted more. (For the record, Nintendo's photography policy required me to have a person in the frame, so a friendly staff member stood in my place, but here's my receipt.)

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

I also need to call out that Mario Kart World has a 120 fps mode and it's damn good. Racing has never looked this smooth on any Nintendo console and this game might be the best first-party showcase of the Switch 2's upgraded display and performance.

That said, the best part is that I'm sure I missed some features because I didn't even have a chance to try out the outfit customization Nintendo teased in World's trailer. And I was so focused on winning that I didn't fully explore the expanded list of tricks like grinding on rails and hopping off vertical walls.

Granted, it's a bummer that Nintendo has raised the price of many Switch 2 games, particularly with Mario Kart World coming in at $80 for a digital copy or $90 for a physical cart. But that can be largely avoided by purchasing the Switch 2 bundle that comes with the game, which effectively brings its price back down to $50. So if you are planning on getting a Switch 2 at launch, opting for this combo feels like a no-brainer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/mario-kart-world-hands-on-the-perfect-launch-game-for-the-switch-2-130003924.html?src=rss

The original Switch started a revolution when it combined the portability of handhelds with the ability to play games on your TV at home like a traditional console. But with the Switch 2, even though it's physically bigger, it feels like a sleeker, faster and more refined take on its predecessor — to the point that Nintendo should have called it the Super Switch (which apparently almost happened). And after getting a chance to try it out, I'm sold on its abilities, even with its significantly higher starting price of $450.

Design and display: No OLED, no problem

The Switch 2 has the same basic shape and layout as the original, including its signature detachable Joy-Con. But it looks more polished all around, thanks to tapered edges and slimmer bezels. Nintendo also increased the size of its joystick caps and the face buttons on the left controller, though the latter still doesn't feel quite like a traditional D-pad.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

That said, the biggest upgrade is its larger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD display, which now supports a 120Hz refresh rate with VRR and high dynamic range. Frankly, it's super bright and very colorful to the point where I don't really miss having an OLED screen. Now there's a fair bit of grumbling that Nintendo, despite the existence of the OLED Switch, didn't opt for a similar panel type on the Switch 2. But if you remember, that model didn't support HDR, so it's not like we're looking at a downgrade in display quality, though the super deep blacks you get from OLED screens would have been nice.

Also, the Switch 2 feels like it defies its dimensions because even though its display is larger than the 6.2-inch version on the base Switch, it doesn't feel that much bigger. It's only half an inch taller (4.5 inches) and a little over an inch wider (9.4 vs 10.7 inches). And while its weight has also increased to 1.18 pounds with its Joy-Con attached (up from 0.88 pounds), it never felt too heavy.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Elsewhere, there are a ton of quality-of-life upgrades, including a second USB-C port (though the one on the bottom is the only one that can do video out), a built-in mic and support for microSD Express cards. That last one is a big deal, because even though the cards are more expensive, they're also significantly faster than your standard fare and they should be a major boon to download speeds and load times. I admit the lack of analog shoulder buttons is a small downer, though Nintendo says it made that choice because analog buttons would introduce a tiny bit of input lag and it wanted to go with the more responsive solution.

Joy-Con features: Expanded detachables

During its livestream, Nintendo spent a lot of time talking about the C button on the right Joy-Con, which feels like a first-party solution that looks to recreate everything people like about Discord. But at Nintendo's hands-on experience, there weren't any chances to test out the console's new social features, so I wasn't able to dive deeper into that.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

That's ok, though, because I think the Joy-Con's new magnetic mounting system is the hidden star. Not only is there a larger button around back for popping them off, they now detach simply when you pull them left or right. There's no need to slide anything up or down first. Granted, this sounds like a small change, but it makes the whole process so much simpler and the Joy-con seem to be more securely attached as well.

Then there's the Joy-Con's ability to function as a mouse (for both the left and right controllers). I thought it was pretty gimmicky, until I played Metroid Prime 4: Beyond where I suddenly found myself favoring the mouse mode over standard gamepad controls. Everything feels a bit more precise and if you're a fan of shooters on PC, it's definitely worth trying out. The obvious limitation is that while you can use the Joy-Con on your leg, you really ought to have some sort of flat surface like a table, which may not be an option if your favorite place to game is on the couch.

Performance: Nintendo's move to next-gen tech

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Nintendo has kept relatively quiet regarding the Switch 2's processor and memory. But the company has said the system does support DLSS and hardware-based ray tracing. Now those features might not get used in every game, but it does seem to make it way easier for third-party developers to port their titles over to the company's upcoming console. When I played the new Switch 2 versions of Street Fighter 6, Cyberpunk 2077 and Civilization 7, they all ran really smooth. And without doing a straight-up side-by-side comparison next to a proper gaming PC, it was really hard to tell if the Switch 2 was cutting corners graphically, if it was even doing it at all. The only hiccup I noticed was rather long loading times in Civ, which isn't exactly uncommon for a Sid Meier game.

The flipside to this is if you told me that some of Nintendo's new first-party games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World were actually being run on an original Switch, I wouldn't have blinked. In some ways, Nintendo's ability to wring every last bit of performance out of its hardware and its habit of eschewing hyperrealism in favor of more stylized graphics has almost put a ceiling on the company's ability to really show off its chops. But when you pay attention, you'll really appreciate how delightfully satiny Mario Kart looks when it's running at 120 fps.

I still have questions about what's going on inside the Switch 2's new dock and how it's leveraging its increased performance to deliver 4K resolutions when connected to a TV. I also think it's a travesty that Nintendo is charging money for the Switch 2 Welcome Tour. It's barely a game, but it is a genuinely useful way to introduce the console's features to new owners and it really should be pre-installed on every system for free. It also remains to be seen how the Switch 2's battery life holds up. Nintendo says it has a larger power pack than the original Switch, but it also has increased performance and a larger screen, while the company claims runtimes may vary between two and six and half hours depending on the title.

But all told, the Switch 2 is exactly what you want from a successor to Nintendo's legendary hybrid console. Aside from the price, that is, because in addition to the console starting at $450, almost all of its standard accessories cost more than before, too. From the Pro Controller, which now goes for $80 ($10 more than for the original Switch) or additional pairs of Joy-Con that cost $90 (another $10 hike). And that's before you factor in the cost of games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza that start at $80 and $70 as digital downloads (or $90 and $80 if you want physical carts).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-hands-on-no-oled-no-problem-130002712.html?src=rss

Security researcher finds bug in an API used in a Verizon mobile appThe bug allowed threat actors to view other people's call logsIt was found in February 2025 and fixed in March, but users should still take care

A bug in a Verizon API allowed malicious actors to view other people’s incoming call logs until it was fixed.Cybersecurity researcher Evan Connelly found the bug in Call Filter, a free app Verizon ships with all iOS and Android devices sold directly through the telco to help users block spam calls, identify unknown numbers, and avoid robocalls.Given Verizon’s large subscriber base, the app likely has millions of users, as it offers features like spam detection, caller ID, personal block lists, and automatic blocking of high-risk calls. Call Filter also has a premium version which adds spam lookup, custom controls, and caller ID for unknown numbers.

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Targeting journalists

As Connelly explained, the app connects to an API endpoint where it retrieves the logged-in user’s incoming call history, and then displays it in the app. However, due to a misconfiguration in the API, the user’s phone number is not verified, meaning that any user could request the data for anyone else.Connelly tested the iOS version, but claims the problem is platform-agnostic, since the bug resides in the API, instead of the app itself.Seeing someone’s call log might not seem like much at first, but Connelly warns that it could be a “powerful surveillance tool”, especially against high-profile targets such as journalists, government opponents, dissidents, and similar."Call metadata might seem harmless, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful surveillance tool. With unrestricted access to another user's call history, an attacker could reconstruct daily routines, identify frequent contacts, and infer personal relationships," Connelly said.Verizon addressed the flaw sometime in March 2025, but we don’t know for how long this information was exposed, so users should still take extra care.Via BleepingComputer

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What do modern speakers need? Good sound quality? As little distortion as possible? Longevity? Well, yes. Plus, according to Bang & Olufsen, marble plinths. Bang & Olufsen is debuting a partnership with Italian marble and granite company Antolini at Milan Design Week. The Beosound Balance Natura speaker features a sculptural base from Antolini that the audio company says elevates the device to its optimal height. Apparently, the plinth isn't just there for aesthetic — it's a functional audio element.

Let's face it, though: You wouldn't buy a speaker with a marble stand unless you wanted that marble pedestal. And that is why they're making the model available with various Antolini stones. You can get it with natural quartz, as well as with petrified wood and fossilized wood, if you're looking for something with earthy colors. The options have different translucency and color depth, but one common feature is the anodized aluminum ring that serves as the transition between the plinth and the bottom of the speaker.

In addition to the Natura version of the Beosound Balance speaker, Bang & Olufsen is also presenting a Beovision Theatre 55-inch TV and a pair of Beolab 28 speakers customized with Antolini's Amazon quartite at Milan Design Week. All the products it's showcasing during the event are made to order with prices available upon request, which says all you need to know about its price range, especially since the basic Beosound Balance isn't cheap to begin with and will set you back $3,300.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/bang--olufsens-new-beosound-balance-speaker-model-comes-with-a-marble-plinth-131555070.html?src=rss

The second Five Nights at Freddy's movie has a release date – but it won't be coming to streaming straightaway.The movie will open in theaters on December 5, 2025. But unlike the first Five Nights at Freddy's film it won't also be available on Peacock to stream on the same date.Five Nights at Freddy's 2 will be coming to streaming, but not immediately.

That's according to studio boss Jason Blum, whose Blumhouse is once again bringing the video game hit to the big screen.Speaking at CinemaCon 2025 on 2 April while dressed up as an animatronic monster, as reported by Variety, he "acknowledged that exhibitors [theater owners] weren't thrilled that the movie was released day-and-date on Peacock, but assured the crowd that the new film would launch exclusively in theaters".

What do we know about Five Nights at Freddy's 2?

Guess who's back / back again / Freddy's back / but not on streaming (Image credit: Universal Pictures / YouTube)

The official teaser doesn't give us much to go on, but it looks like the scary stakes have been raised for the second FNAF movie: the animatronics aren't limited to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza any more. One of the locations appears to be a school, and we also see Vanessa telling Mike that "they're out there". When he asks where, she says "everywhere".The film is directed by Emma Tammi and stars Piper Rubio, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lillard. Tammi wrote the script with Scott Cawthon and Seth Cuddeback, who also co-wrote the first movie with her, and Tammi has previously said that the first movie left "some loose ends that I think are going to have to come back in a sequel to be tied up."Expectations will be high for this one: the first Five Nights movie was Blumhouse's biggest ever hit, with an opening weekend of $80 million.

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iOS 18.5 makes it easier to simplify your Apple Mail experience on iPhone The default Mail app got new categorization features in iOS 18.2The latest beta repositions options to disable some of these features to more accessible locations

Apple has released the first beta of iOS 18.5 for developers, just days after issuing iOS 18.4 for public release, and it features a neat way to reverse a controversial change.Though iOS 18.4 brought several new features to iPhone, like Priority Notifications and the charming Ambient Music feature, iOS 18.5 is thus far lighter on significant additions to the iPhone experience.With that said, as 9to5Mac notes, the beta does seemingly make it easier to reverse a controversial change to the iPhone’s default Mail app.The Mail app got a redesign in iOS 18.2, adding categories and Apple Intelligence features to what was previously one of Apple’s simplest mobile apps.With email being one of the core functions of a modern smartphone, some users weren’t pleased with such a major shakeup – one Reddit thread on the r/iPhone subreddit, for instance, contains plenty of annoyed commenters bemoaning the new categorization features.iOS 18.5 moves some options around, making it easier to switch back. Previously, a menu accessible at the top-right corner of the app’s homepage allowed users to switch between category view and list view, but now, options to disable Group by Sender and Contact Photos have been added.This should make it quicker and easier for users to revert back to a simpler Mail app experience, while simultaneously making new features more accessible as and when they’re required.It’s worth noting that Apple never made it impossible to disable the Mail features added in iOS 18.2 – these were always optional additions. Indeed, we've got a dedicated piece on how to turn off Mail categories on iPhone, or customize them to your needs, if you're not a fan of Apple's new default setup.As for other aspects of the iOS 18.5 beta 1, the official release notes are pretty light on information. There are a few bug fixes for the Vision Pro app and Writing Tools Apple Intelligence feature, as well as the StoreKit developer framework.Let us know how you feel about these changes to the Mail app, as well as anything else you’d like to see changed with iOS 18.5, in the comments below. We’ll have the latest updates as we hear them through our dedicated iOS coverage.

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Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 3 (game #396).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #397) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Step on it!

NYT Strands today (game #397) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

MEATWOODTIREREALWHALEMATE

NYT Strands today (game #397) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #396) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: right, 7th rowLast side: left, 7th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #397) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #397, are…

CONCRETEHARDWOODLINOLEUMLAMINATETERRAZZOSPANGRAM: FLOORING

My rating: ModerateMy score: 2 hints

The beauty of Strands is that it gets you thinking about things you wouldn’t normally think about, like today’s search for FLOORING.There’s a town not far from where I live in London called Staines – they’ve rebranded as Staines-on-Thames because a) they think it sounds more classy than Staines and b) Sacha Baron Cohen based his character Ali G in the town and it’s not something they’re proud of.What they are proud of, though, is that LINOLEUM made in Staines was once world-famous and was exported around the globe. What Carrara in southern Tuscanny is to marble, Staines in northwest Surrey is to solidified linseed oil. There is a beautiful statue in the city center of two men carrying a roll. A very rare example, in the UK at least, of a statue that honors working people instead of some major on a horse.Despite my deep love for lino – and indeed CONCRETE (something my father used to tell me my head was made from) – I struggled with today’s search and needed a couple of hints to get me going. You could say I was floored.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 3 April, game #396)

LADYSTINKDOODLELIGHTNINGPOTATOASSASSINSPANGRAM: ENTOMOLOGY

What is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, April 3 (game #1165).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1166) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1166) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1166) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1166) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1166) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• O• L• C• B

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1166) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1166, are…

OAKENLOOPYCURIOBUTTE

A day where I was very uncertain about several words — BUTTE, a landform I was unsure if I was spelling correctly, and OAKEN – a word I entered thinking “well, it sounds like it could be something made from oak”. With very few letters left I had no choice but to experiment.I was also very lucky with LOOPY, as I had typed out POLLY before noticing I had already tried the letter L in the same position.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1166) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1166, are…

DELTAUSHERBLOATSTANK

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1165, Thursday 3 April: ASCOT, JETTY, DRUNK, JOLLYQuordle #1164, Wednesday 2 April: INDEX, QUEEN, INCUR, STOLEQuordle #1163, Tuesday 1 April: HUMUS, BALMY, WORRY, ERECTQuordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACEQuordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUERQuordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREEQuordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FRONDQuordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKEQuordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIADQuordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAINQuordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALLQuordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADIIQuordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLYQuordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISSQuordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCHQuordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNICQuordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINKQuordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEERQuordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANKQuordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, April 3 (game #662).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #663) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

DRIVEPARKHARMONYBALANCEDIAMONDINKRESTSPINDIFFERENCEFIELDCRUISEBAYRIDETRADESTADIUMREMAINDER

NYT Connections today (game #663) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: The remainsGREEN: Journey by roadBLUE: Places for a home run PURPLE: Missing a letter

Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #663) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: WHAT'S LEFTOVER GREEN: CAR TRIP BLUE: BASEBALL VENUES PURPLE: COMPANIES WITH "E" REMOVED

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #663) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #663, are…

YELLOW: WHAT'S LEFTOVER BALANCE, DIFFERENCE, REMAINDER, RESTGREEN: CAR TRIP CRUISE, DRIVE, RIDE, SPINBLUE: BASEBALL VENUES DIAMOND, FIELD, PARK, STADIUMPURPLE: COMPANIES WITH "E" REMOVED BAY, HARMONY, INK, TRADE

My rating: ModerateMy score: 2 mistakes

A muddle-through-somehow Connections today, with a great deal of shuffling.My first mistake came from thinking HARMONY and BALANCE belong together. They do, but not when you shoehorn them with CRUISE and REST. Not sure what I was thinking there.The first group I got was BASEBALL VENUES, but I didn’t get there before making another mistake by thinking that PARK and FIELD belonged with REST and BAY.It was remembering that DIAMOND was also a feature of baseball that finally cleared my mind.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 3 April, game #662)

YELLOW: PRINTED NOTIFICATION ANNOUNCEMENT, BULLETIN, NOTICE, POSTERGREEN: SEEN AT A GROCERY CHECKOUT COUNTER CONVEYOR BELT, REGISTER, SCALE, SCANNERBLUE: THINGS WITH TABS BROWSER, FOLDER, KEYBOARD, SODA CANPURPLE: PALM ___ BEACH, READER, SUNDAY, TREE

What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

The most recent Nintendo Direct went into great detail on the new Switch 2, including when fans will be able to get their hands on the console. According to Nintendo's press release, pre-orders for the Switch 2 open up on April 9 in North America, and the console will be widely available on June 5. The starting price is a whopping $450, and in addition to Nintendo’s online store, you’ll be able to get the Switch 2 at participating retailers. We expect those to include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and others.

The $450 price tag is for the Switch 2 console alone, but Nintendo said it will also offer a bundle with the Switch 2 and a copy of the new Mario Kart World game, a Switch 2 exclusive, for $500.

There's some fine-print attached to pre-ordering directly from Nintendo. According to the pre-order page on Nintendo's site, you must be 18 years or older, sign in with your Nintendo account and register your interest in pre-ordering. Then, you'll be sent an invitation email when it's time to play your pre-order, and the invitation will be valid for 72 hours. And then there's this bit of info: "Invitation emails will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis to registrants who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2025."

That seems to mean those who have paid for Switch Online in the recent past and those who have spent a good amount of time playing Switch games as of late will get first pick at buying a Switch 2. There's no telling if these same restrictions will apply if you want to pre-order from third-party retailers.

We knew from the teaser trailer for the Switch 2 that Nintendo's new hardware would be bigger and would have a new approach to the detachable Joy-Cons. The new Joy-Con 2 have a new C button, mouse controls and a built in gyroscope for tilt control. The console has a built-in mic to support a new feature called Game Chat that will let you communicate with friends in-game. The device is indeed a bit larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR and a 1080p resolution.

When docked, you'll be able to play at up to 4K on your TV, and Nintendo says it improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The new dock also has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. The Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, and the base storage amount has increased to 256GB. The Switch 2's storage can be expanded like the previous model, but it will only work with newer microSD Express cards.

The Switch 2 has a number of accessories that you'll be able to purchase separately as well, including the new Switch 2 camera for $50, a new Switch 2 Pro controller for $80, an extra pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers for $90, a Joy-Con 2 charging grip for $35 and more.

Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 starting April 9 from:

Nintendo

Amazon

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/pre-order-the-nintendo-switch-2-for-450-starting-april-9-140931997.html?src=rss