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Google has updated NotebookLM once moreIt can now search the web and find sources for youIt's easier than ever to create an AI podcast

Google has updated NotebookLM, its handy learning tool and AI podcast creator, so that it’s easier than ever to add sources. Now you can “search on the web” for sources of information that it turns into an AI podcast, mind map, or which it can answer questions about.NotebookLM is designed to help you learn anything by breaking down large volumes of information into easily accessible reports and podcasts.It doesn’t take a genius, however, to realize that its podcasts are so good they could easily replace real podcast hosts talking about literally any subject, and that’s where the new feature from Google leaves me in a bit of a moral quandary.

State your sources

Since I run a tai chi podcast I decided to try out the new feature by asking NotebookLM to see what sources it would find on the subject of tai chi, and I was quite surprised at the articles it found.There were some academic articles on tai chi in there, as I'd expect, along with articles from various tai chi websites, but also a Reddit discussion offering various perspectives on tai chi’s spirituality, and a YouTube video.NotebookLM takes all these sources and produces various media for you, including an Audio Overview (it’s basically a podcast) that takes a deep dive into your subject.It made me ponder whether all those article writers and Reddit commentators were happy that I was using their thoughts as fuel for an AI-generated podcast.

Credit where it's due

It’s not like Google has added any new abilities to NotebookLM – you could always add any source you wanted – but at least you had to add it manually.Making it actively scour the web to find a curated list of sources for you, without really asking the permission of any of these sources, then turning them into other types of media, does feel a little bit questionable.If you are using NotebookLM purely as intended - i.e., to learn about a subject I don’t see a problem, but if those AI podcasts that are based on other people’s work, for example, get used in other ways, perhaps as income-generating podcasts, then that doesn’t always feel justified.

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Yesterday, we learned a lot about the Switch 2 we didn't know before, including the fact Nintendo that will offer a webcam alongside the new console. As far as accessories go, the $50 Switch 2 Camera looks boring, and judging from the footage the company shared on Wednesday, not particularly great at its intended purpose of, you know, capturing moving pictures.

The good news? Nintendo is allowing third-party manufacturers to make their own webcams for the new console. Enter the Hori Piranha Plant Camera.

Hori

Hori's Switch 2 camera has a couple of features you won't find on Nintendo's first-party offering. First, the pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both as a stand and USB extension for the device. The part of the Piranha that houses the webcam can detach from the pot, allowing you to, ahem, plant it directly on the top of the Switch 2. In that way, you can take your new buddy on the road. Want to trash talk your friends over video in GameChat while on a domestic flight? With the Piranha Plant and in-flight Wi-Fi, you can.

Second, the Piranha Plant camera has a built-in privacy shutter. You can simply close its mouth to obscure the lens. If that's not clever, functional design, I don't know what is.

Hori

Hori has yet to list the Piranha Plant camera on its US website, but over in Germany, retailer Media Markt has the accessory priced at €40 or €20 less than the official Switch 2 Camera from Nintendo. Practical, stylish and affordable, what's not to love? This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/horis-piranha-plant-switch-2-camera-is-a-work-of-art-194430377.html?src=rss

Phishing emails carrying PDF attachments are on the rise, report warnsCheck Point highlights how hackers love PDFs for customizationSocial engineering attacks using PDFs are also on the rise

At least one in every five phishing emails carries a .PDF attachment, researchers are saying, warning that the popular file format is being increasingly used in social engineering attacks.A new report from Check Point Research claims PDF-based attacks now account for 22% of all malicious email attachments, making them particularly concerning for businesses sharing large quantities of these files every day.In earlier years, many of the attacks relied on JavaScript or other dynamic content being embedded within the files. While this approach is still seen in the wild, it has become less common, since JavaScript-based attacks tend to be “noisy” and easier to detect by security solutions.Email remains one of the most popular attack vectors out there, with more than two-thirds (68%) of cyberattacks beginning this way.

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Customizing the link

Today, cybercriminals are pivoting towards a simpler, more effective approach, Check Point says - social engineering.Generally speaking, the attacks don’t differ much from your usual phishing email. The PDF attachment would serve as a launch pad, often carrying a link that would redirect a person to a malicious landing page or a website hosting malware.That way, the malicious links are hidden from security filters, making sure the files are received straight to the inbox.Furthermore, placing the link in a PDF gives the attackers full control - they can change the text, the image, or any other aspect of the link, making it more trustworthy.The files are often designed to mimic trusted brands like Amazon, DocuSign, or Acrobat Reader.“Even though these attacks involve human interaction (the victim must click the link), this is often an advantage for attackers, as sandboxes and automated detection systems struggle with tasks that require human decision-making,” Check Point concluded.

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Android Auto has a new free dash cam appIt uses the car's in-built cameras to capture the roadCar manufacturers will need to customize the app for their cars

If you want to add some extra security to your car or keep a record of what’s happening on the road while you drive, then you’ve probably thought about picking up one of the best dash cams. But you might soon be able to rely just on your car’s in-built cameras and Android Auto to do the job.That’s because Google has recently rolled out a new free Dashcam App via Android Auto, which car manufacturers can easily integrate into the services their vehicles offer (spotted by Android Authority).A few cars already include dash cam services using their cameras, but these had to be designed by each car maker.With Google offering this generic service via Android Auto, many drivers are hoping – us included – that manufacturers yet to add this kind of service to their vehicles finally will because Google has made the process much simpler for them.

With Android Auto you may no longer need a dash cam (Image credit: Future)

The documentation Google has released is quite in-depth because it’s aimed at software developers looking to adapt its app to fit their vehicles, so we’ve parsed through it and picked some highlights.For example, the app recommends you use external storage to keep video recordings so you don’t instantly fill your car’s internal storage. We also know that the dash cam service will start automatically when it detects certain triggers, like driving over a certain speed. These customization options potentially let you design your ideal dash cam setup depending on your needs.Developers can also set up options for notifications, limits on how long files will be stored for before being deleted, and a ‘streaming_module’ reference has us thinking you might be able to remotely view your car’s dash cam clips remotely from another device.

Android Auto already has plenty of useful tools (Image credit: Google Play)

Now, Google’s Android Auto app system isn’t quite as perfect as an actual dash cam.For one, this new system will only work if your car has cameras, and if it does, the cameras don’t usually look at what’s happening inside the car – something you can get from dash cams.For another, you can’t simply install Android Auto’s dash cam today – you’ll have to wait for your vehicle to get support for it in an update.But as more vehicles boast cameras to help with parking, basic self-driving capabilities, road sign detection, and other driver-assistance features, this Android Auto update will be a big upgrade for many of our cars and could quickly become one of Android Auto’s best features.

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Traeger's only gas-powered grill is its Flatrock flat-top griddle. Besides this one model, everything else in the company's lineup runs on wood pellets. Since griddles continue to be insanely popular backyard cooking tools, Traeger is expanding its Flatrock line with a smaller, two-burner option. The Flatrock 2 Zone has all of the features from the larger version, which is now called the Flatrock 3 Zone, in a griddle that takes up less space on your deck, patio or porch.

As the name suggests, the Flatrock 2 Zone has two separate cooking areas with precise heat control for each one. U-shaped burners consistently heat the entire cooking surface and an edge-to-edge, wind-blocking design helps keep the flame running smoothly without burnouts or flare-ups. Like the Flatrock 3 Zone, there are folding side shelves for resting tools and trays, plus the Pop-And-Lock (PAL) rail system allows you to add the snap-on accessories you need to complete your griddle setup. The EZ-Clean grease keg from other recent Traeger grills is here as well, making it easy to get rid of liquids and debris after cooking.

Traeger

The main appeal of the Flatrock 2 Zone is that it's smaller than the original model. You'll still have the ability to make breakfasts, smash burgers, fajitas and more with the griddle's 468 square inches of cooking surface, but this new version will fit better in smaller outdoor spaces. It's also $200 cheaper at $700. Unfortunately, there's no word on availability just yet: Traeger says the Flatrock 2 Zone is coming "soon" to its website and retailers in the US and Canada.

If you're looking for an alternative, Weber's Slate griddles are well-built and offer various options depending on the size and features you're after. Starting at $549, you can get the three-burner, 28-inch base model that comes on a basic cart similar to the company's gas grills. Even this smallest Weber option offers more cooking area than the Flatrock 2 Zone at 504 square inches. At the top end, there's a four-burner, 36-inch version that comes with an easy-to-read digital temperature gauge and enclosed storage for $999. What's more, Weber offers a 30-inch size in between those two, with various storage configurations and an the option to include that battery-powered temperature gauge. This one is This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/traeger-built-a-smaller-flatrock-griddle-for-smaller-outdoor-spaces-210057199.html?src=rss

After a January announcement that it would spend $80 billion on data center construction, Microsoft may already be adjusting its future plans. Sources told Bloomberg that Microsoft has delayed or slowed data center efforts in Indonesia, the UK, Australia, Illinois, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Some of the cases meant withdrawing from negotiations, while others have involved delays on planned construction projects, according to these insiders. These data centers would be central to Microsoft's efforts to develop more capabilities around artificial intelligence.

Despite the apparent shift in its approach, a Microsoft rep told Bloomberg that the company still plans to hold to its $80 billion spending budget on data centers during its 2025 fiscal year. Engadget has reached out for confirmation and will update if we receive comment from Microsoft. That was the figure laid out in a blog post attributed to Vice-Chair and President Brad Smith. The post, published days before President Trump's inauguration, included some ingratiating language for the new administration. "The country has a unique opportunity to pursue this vision and build on the foundational ideas set for AI policy during President Trump’s first term," it reads. "At Microsoft, we are excited to take part in this journey."

Microsoft's plans could have been influenced by looming tariffs, which had been threatened and were finally introduced this week by President Trump. The trade policy is likely to make large infrastructure plans more expensive and has already caused uncertainties on Wall Street. It could be that the company will still spend in the ballpark of $80 billion but will not be able to complete as many locations as it had previously calculated. Or it could be that in the months since presenting its forecast, Microsoft has already seen a reduction in expected demand. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-is-reportedly-walking-back-some-data-center-plans-210406748.html?src=rss

Like most people, I tune out when an ad comes on while I'm listening to a podcast or streaming service if I can't just skip it. An ad needs something special to draw my attention to the actual product or service being pitched to me.Spotify thinks AI can help businesses overcome ad apathy. The company just launched a feature called Gen AI Ads for businesses using its Ads Manager platform.Gen AI Ads enables businesses to create audio ads with AI help from top to bottom. They can ask for AI help writing and editing a script and even get AI voices to perform the ad. The AI tools are built into the platform for no extra cost, meaning producing new ads should be faster, more affordable, and easier for any business. You can see how it works below.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Audio wallpaper

Spotify's offer makes sense since advertising is key to its revenue. At the same time, not every business has the wherewithal to produce a good one or the resources to hire people or a firm to make it. For a smaller business, especially, advertising can cost resources in short supply.Spotify pitches Gen AI Ads as a way to rapidly publish polished ads without needing to book a sound studio or hire Morgan Freeman (or a more affordable impressionist). I can see it as a huge deal for scrappy entrepreneurs trying to reach new audiences.But just because you can make an ad doesn't mean it will be good. Even a competent or outright brilliant ad doesn't guarantee sales.Because, let’s be honest, most ads are already annoying. Now imagine a world where half of them are spit out by a bot trained on corporate LinkedIn posts and “How to Sound Friendly” YouTube tutorials.The risk is that instead of democratizing creativity, we’ll end up with a sea of samey-sounding voiceovers that make everything from indie bookstores to boutique sock brands feel like they're all pitching for the same corporate team-building seminar. Spotify can claim that AI ads are produced creatively, but creativity isn’t preloaded in an AI model.I'd bet the best AI-made ads are from businesses that would have made just as good a commercial without AI tools had they the same resources as a bigger company. I suspect most AI ads will be just audio wallpaper.The example from Spotify doesn't make me feel like my current coffee routine needs improvement. It's just audio wallpaper.

Human interest

Paradoxically, if every ad sounds clean and competent because of AI, the only way to stand out may be to bring in a human voice people recognize. Cue the sudden boom in demand for celebrity voiceovers (but not Ryan Reynolds and his endless Cricket and Mint Mobile ads).When every ad has the same polished AI-generated tone, a familiar voice will cut through the noise like your favorite song's opening chords. That may drive up the cost of those voiceovers and set a new tier for advertising costs.AI replicas of celebrity voices won't level the playing field if the 'live' ads can boast of their non-AI origins. So we could end up in this bizarre situation where AI ads make it cheaper to enter the advertising game but more expensive to win it.Ultimately, nobody likes ads, even if we tolerate them. We might laugh at a good one, but most of the time, we count down the seconds until the music or podcast returns.If Gen AI Ads flood Spotify with a wave of pleasant but dull pitches, there’s a chance listeners will start noticing how synthetic everything feels and be annoyed.Ironically, that could work out very well for Spotify. Because what’s the fastest way to get rid of ads on Spotify? Pay for Premium. In a roundabout way, all these new AI-generated ads could drive more people to fork over the cash for a subscription. I would be both appalled and impressed if Spotify’s play is to “use AI to draw in advertisers with cheaper and more efficient production, but ensure they are just irritating enough to upsell subscriptions.”I don’t think AI ads are a bad idea. They’re just not a magic bullet for businesses. Lower-cost barriers are a big deal, and they sound decent enough. Whether they actually help people sell more dog treats, cologne, or artisanal sourdough starter kits depends entirely on whether the person listening is open to the product.AI can help polish a diamond, but it can’t make one out of a chunk of concrete.

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When I make audio or video content, one element I always struggle with is music. I don't mean a full theme song or anything, but just some basic intro and outro tunes to ease people into the beginning or end rather than just abruptly beginning to speak.There are lots of good music libraries out there, but with the growth of many AI music tools, I thought it would be fun to see if they were any better than me at composing an appropriate musical motif.To properly test it, I decided to quickly make a 'podcast' using another AI tool I’d been toying with, Google's NotebookLM. The Audio Overviews feature can turn documents, video transcripts, and other information sources into AI-generated podcast-style recordings between two AI hosts. On a whim, I picked glass blowing as a topic just because it interests me.I gave NotebookLM a handful of links and videos about the history of glassblowing and how it works. Soon, two AI voices discussed it for more than 20 minutes. But for this, I only needed about ten seconds.

Suno serves

I tried a few different AI music tools, including Soundverse, Beatoven, and Loudly. They all had their moments, but most just didn't quite crack it. I tried short prompts, longer detailed ones, and even just keywords. Mostly, they were okay, but often, they were discordant or simply uncomfortable to listen to.After way too long trying out different prompts and edits, I landed on asking Suno to make an instrumental track that would work as the introduction to a podcast about glassblowing- as simple as that.Suno produced two tracks with the evocative title "Shaping Fire and Sand." One was just alright, but the other had the perfect kind of ambient and light classical tone I could easily imagine being heard ahead of a nerdy discussion of annealing and sand purity.When I stitched everything together, it kind of worked – or at least it wasn't distracting from the incoming speech. I ran it by a few friends, and none of them noticed the music being AI-generated, though they did spot the actual podcast as AI voices.You can hear how it went below.

I won’t pretend it was perfect. I had to set the fading manually, and if the music were from human musicians, you might think they were more enthusiastic than talented. Still, Suno did a great job for a free tool without any complex production required.I don't think I would automatically choose it over something from a human composer, even in a free song library. The customization available with AI can't override human creativity in most cases; the AI podcast proves that. But, as an experiment, Suno made a harmonious addition.

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The integration of AI into HR is rapidly reshaping how businesses approach employee management. While AI offers significant opportunities for efficiency and innovation, the key challenge is ensuring it complements, rather than replaces, the human element. Many organizations remain in the planning phase, while a select few early adopters are actively experimenting with AI - particularly in recruitment, where both employers and candidates engage in what has been termed an 'AI arms race.'However, AI adoption in HR is about far more than automation. It requires trust, ethical considerations and a seamless blend of technology and human oversight. As AI finds its place across the employee lifecycle, organizations benefit from ensuring its implementation enhances the employee experience rather than creating new barriers.

The challenge: balancing efficiency with employee experience

Today’s HR leaders are considering how to strike a balance between leveraging AI for improvements in productivity while maintaining a high-quality employee experience. One of the biggest concerns is trust. Employee trust in AI varies across different HR functions, making a one-size-fits-all approach unsuitable.Some might trust the tool but the trust might be misplaced, while others are not as early in the adoption curve and don’t know the steps they need to take in order to find out if they could trust AI. Therefore, transparency about how AI-driven decisions are made and ensuring employees have the option to engage with a human when needed will be crucial in fostering confidence in these new systems.The TRUSTED framework can help organizations responsibly navigate AI implementation. This model comprises Transparency, Regulation, Usability, Security, Technology, Ethics, and Data, each playing a critical role in ensuring AI is adopted in a responsible and sustainable manner.Transparency - Employees benefit from understanding how AI-driven decisions are made. Clear communication about AI's role in HR, its benefits, and its limitations is essential in preventing misinformation and building confidence. Transparency reassures employees and strengthens their trust in AI-assisted processes.Regulation - AI use in HR aligns with legal frameworks such as the EU AI Act and existing employment laws. Organizations also consider how future regulatory changes, such as Right to Switch Off laws, could impact AI's role in HR. Compliance reduces legal risks and supports organizational credibility.Usability - AI tools are designed with a user-centric approach. Accessibility considerations ensure AI solutions cater to diverse employee needs. Gathering regular feedback and refining AI-based HR services based on user experience enhances their effectiveness. Additionally, organizations define clear boundaries for AI usage, where AI augments HR functions, but employees continue to have the option to engage with a human professional when needed.Security - AI adoption introduces potential risks, particularly in handling sensitive employee data. Robust security measures help prevent misuse. Human oversight remains a vital component of AI-driven HR to monitor and mitigate risks, ensuring AI decisions align with ethical and organizational standards.Technology - AI integrates seamlessly with existing HR technology. Organizations assess whether their tech infrastructure is ready to support AI and whether their workforce is adequately trained to leverage these tools. As the emergence of Agentic AI, where individual AI agents handle specific tasks, raises concerns about governance and oversight, making structured frameworks essential for managing AI use effectively.Ethics - AI in HR reflects and upholds an organization's values. Reducing algorithmic bias, ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and maintaining fairness in hiring, promotions, and performance management are key ethical considerations. AI should not inadvertently reinforce biases; instead, it actively supports fairer workplace practices.Data - The foundation of AI, making responsible data management critical. Organizations comply with GDPR and data protection laws while maintaining high data quality. AI-driven decisions rely on accurate and up-to-date information, and robust data governance frameworks prevent biases from affecting decision-making processes.With UK organizations facing budget constraints and impending employment law changes, many are turning to AI as a cost-saving measure. Indeed, a recent CIPD report revealed that almost a third of organizations anticipate job cuts and hiring freezes in response to legislative and economic pressures. This raises the question: can AI truly balance efficiency and human touch in such an environment?

HR’s role in AI transformation

Achieving this balance requires a strategic approach. AI cannot be used as a hasty replacement for human roles without considering the wider implications. HR plays a central role in ensuring AI adoption is done responsibly, focusing on how AI can enhance, rather than disrupt, the employee experience. Organizations should, therefore, engage in due diligence, ensuring that AI implementation aligns with long-term workforce needs rather than merely short-term cost savings.HR leaders are integral in shaping AI's role within organizations. Even if AI is first implemented in other functions, HR actively participates in governance, ethical considerations, and workforce readiness. In fact, HR professionals can greatly benefit from upskilling and building AI capability, ensuring they provide oversight and guidance as AI becomes more embedded in workplace processes.While organizations may not yet be ready for full-scale AI implementation, exploring, experimenting and building the necessary ‘muscle memory’ to effectively integrate AI is now underway. And HR leaders should take a proactive stance. By embracing AI thoughtfully and ensuring human oversight remains integral, they can create a workplace that is both technologically advanced and deeply human-centric. The future of HR isn’t about choosing between AI and people - it’s about ensuring they work together to create a fairer, more inclusive, and higher-performing workforce.

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

In the past decade, most organizations have undergone digital transformations. But digital transformation is never done; it’s a continual process to keep pace with technological change. Recent advances in AI have only accelerated the need for every company to transform its underlying IT infrastructure and operating model.For data leaders faced with this continual evolution, this means building and evolving a modern data ecosystem that keeps data well-governed and enables teams to effectively use data. A foundational data ecosystem—with a focus on strong data management—is necessary for digital transformation, and especially one that seeks to leverage technologies like AI.What does effective data management look like in the context of this transformation? It looks like creating a scalable ecosystem that enables teams across an organization to find, access, and use high-quality data. For engineering leaders like myself, here are a few tips for building a scalable, well-managed data ecosystem in the face of digital transformation.

Distributed data; centralized rules

A scalable data management strategy starts with a centralized data hub—a unified repository that consolidates data across the enterprise. Using a combination of proprietary and off-the-shelf tools, organizations can construct a "front door" to data, enabling secure, real-time access and sharing throughout the organization. This hub acts as the heartbeat of the enterprise data ecosystem, integrating distributed data sources into a standardized, well-governed environment.From this central hub, data can be securely provisioned to authorized users, published to data lakes for machine learning initiatives, or streamed in real time. All these operations adhere to a unified set of rules, standards, and permissions, ensuring consistency and governance across the enterprise.

Address data governance up front

Before embarking on the journey of data centralization at scale, it is crucial for organizations to establish robust data governance policies. These frameworks define data management standards, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and include measures like tokenization, data quality assurance, schema registration, and case management tools. Strong data governance safeguards data integrity and enables secure data discovery and sharing across the organization.Automating these governance capabilities ensures data remains well-managed throughout its lifecycle. For example, you can ensure that lineage is generated when data is manipulated in a data pipeline, or that data quality checks are run as part of the conditions of the data pipeline. You can also monitor data for timeliness and alert, monitor, and generate cases when issues arise.

Build data pipelines to and from the centralized hub

Once your centralized hub with embedded standards is in place, you can start building pipelines to and from the hub to enable federated data sharing within the organization. Federated sharing organizes data into units that can be recombined into various streams. For instance, marketing teams can combine transaction histories with demographic data to create highly targeted campaigns and personalized experiences.These pipelines act as conduits, intelligently routing and combining relevant data to deliver contextualized insights tailored to specific teams. This cross-functional integration also breaks down silos, fostering collaboration and data-driven decision-making across departments such as sales, marketing, engineering, and data science.

Know when, where, and how good your data is

After you’ve got data moving throughout your ecosystem—reaching users through pipelines of federated data sharing—it’s critical to maintain full visibility into those data flows. As data moves through multiple systems, applications and processes, companies should implement robust data lineage and monitoring tools to track data provenance; understand where data is flowing, to whom, when, and for what purpose; and to ensure compliance with data governance policies.When building a data-driven organization, fostering full transparency and trust in that data is paramount. Further, with data powering the business in so many different ways and places, lineage alone is not sufficient. Providing tools to ensure service level agreements and quality of service are met, data quality is acceptable for use, monitoring and alerting is employed when data is not up to standard, and a mechanism for correction is also critically important.

Don’t forget your “old” data and modernize what you can

While modern ecosystems excel at integrating new data, many companies also have legacy data collected over years or decades. Transforming this data into a format compatible with modern systems involves cleansing, aggregating, and standardizing it. But it’s worth it to undertake this task to ensure historical information is accessible and usable throughout your organization’s data ecosystem. Legacy data can provide a more comprehensive vision of trends over time, or analyze past performance and outcomes to help make informed decisions for the future.In today’s era of digital disruption, data offers a competitive edge—whether by refining business strategies or fueling AI. A successful digital transformation requires leadership that champions a data-driven culture. This data-centric approach is fueling strategic decision-making today and paving the way for future AI initiatives—the next digital transformation shaping the companies of tomorrow.

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

Full spoilers follow for A Minecraft Movie.

A Minecraft Movie has finally arrived in theaters. And, whether you plan on seeing it or not – read my review of A Minecraft Movie to see whether it's worth watching – I suspect you'll want to know if it has any end credits scenes.Below, I'll reveal if Warner Bros' film adaptation of Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game has a mid- and/or post-credits scene. I'll explain what each or both sequences mean for a possible sequel, too, with a little help from its director Jared Hess.Major spoilers immediately follow for A Minecraft Movie. If you don't want to know anything about it, turn back now.

Does A Minecraft Movie have a mid-credits scene?

One of the Overworld's villagers stumbles into the real world and chaos inevitably ensues (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

It does – and it's probably the funniest scene in the entire movie, which doesn't say much for the rest of this Minecraft live-action-animated hybrid flick.Anyway, the scene reunites us with Jennifer Coolidge's Marlene who, as you'll know if you've watched the film, whose whole subplot (or should that be side mission?) revolves around her meeting one of Minecraft's villagers. Indeed, the latter stumbles into the real world after he travels through the Overworld's portal, which was reactivated when Henry, Garrett, Dawn, and Natalie accidentally traveled in the opposite direction.But I digress. After Marlene runs over said villager, she apologizes by taking him out to dinner. Long story short: the pair fall for each other.

Marlene falls head over heels for the villager who arrives on planet Earth (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

That takes me onto the mid-credits scene. The sequence sees Marlene and the unnamed villager confess their love for one another, but not before Marlene's ex-husband storms into her office (she's the vice principal of the local town's school) and demands to know how she could replace him with the villager.Before Marlene can react, though, the villager suddenly starts speaking perfect English. Oh, and the actor behind the villager's voice is none other than Matt Berry, who viewers will recognize from hit Hulu series What We Do in the Shadows, as well as Prime Video's TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout video game franchise.It's an amusingly unexpected moment for two reasons. Firstly, villagers can only communicate via a series of grunts and other sounds (otherwise known as 'Standard Villic' or 'Villager Speak'). To hear one talking like an ordinary human, then, is pretty funny. The fact that Berry lends his unmistakable voice to the film's main villager makes things even more humorous.

Is there a post-credits scene in A Minecraft Movie?

Steve might have a new friend (or even love interest) in a potential sequel lick (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)

There is! And it's a pretty significant one in terms of the potential future of the film series.It opens on Steve, who's returned to the real world with his newfound human friends after saving the Overworld from the malicious Piglin leader/sorceress Malgosha. Arriving at the place he used to call home, he knocks on the front door and is greeted by a ginger-haired woman.After exchanging pleasantries and explaining why who he is, the lady invites him in. Before she does, though, she introduces herself as Alex.

Alex was the second default character skin to be introduced in Minecraft (Image credit: Mojang Studios)

This is a pretty big deal for a couple of reasons. For one, Alex is the second playable character skin that Mojang ever created for Minecraft. Steve was the first default character skin to be *ahem* crafted by the Swedish video game maker but it didn't take long for him to be joined by his female counterpart. Like Alex in A Minecraft Movie, she sports ginger hair.The other reason why this is significant is that it sets the stage for A Minecraft Movie 2. Warner Bros and Mojang haven't officially announced a sequel is in the works but, with one of 2025's new movies predicted to make over $100 million globally during opening weekend of April 4 to 6 (per Deadline), it seems like A Minecraft Movie will find more than its fair share of gold at the worldwide box office.As long as it proves popular enough among cinema goers, the chances of a second film being made will increase. And, speaking to TechRadar ahead of the movie's launch, Hess hinted that, if a sequel is greenlit, A Minecraft Movie's post-credits stinger might be just the start of Steve and Alex's adventures together."Well, I hope it's a tease for a sequel!" he told me. "We'll see how this one does first, but it would be amazing to go on another Minecraft adventure with some other amazing characters."

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There is an increasing volume of digital interactions occurring between machines – AI agents, automated systems, APIs, and bots – in addition to human beings within organizations. In response, cybersecurity agencies like the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and regulatory bodies such as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) are pushing for stronger cybersecurity measures. However, many organizations still struggle to implement effective protections.The growing shift towards machine-to-machine communication is reshaping the threat landscape, bringing a fresh set of security challenges for businesses to address.Unlike some members of staff, machine identities often have elevated privileges and access to multiple critical systems. In situations where credentials are compromised or mismanaged, API keys can open doors to attackers and enable them to move laterally across networks, escalate access, or disrupt operations.An overwhelming 94% of organizations plan to adopt AI-driven identity technologies, with over half already making progress, as identified in a recent report. However, failing to secure these identities introduces significant risk to enterprises - a challenge that AI itself can help mitigate.

How AI can revolutionize identity security

AI is especially suited to address the challenges of managing and securing machine identities. With the capability to analyze large volumes of data in real-time, AI allows organizations to detect and respond to anomalies more efficiently.Whether it’s identifying an abnormal API request or flagging suspicious behavior from a privileged account, AI helps accelerate response times to potential security threats. In addition to detection, AI automates identity governance and enforces security policies on a large scale. This is essential as the number of machine identities grows, making manual monitoring increasingly unfeasible.By adding efficiencies to these processes, AI not only reduces operational burden but helps close security gaps prior to being exploited.

Industry Impact

The emphasis on AI is integral to broader efforts aimed at bolstering identity security, as organizations are grappling with an increasingly complex threat landscape.Addressing identity vulnerabilities is critical for business continuity, as cyberattacks targeting credentials remain one of the most common entry points for breaches, contributing to 25% of data breaches in 2024.The continuation of hybrid working and multi-cloud environments is further driving investment in Identity Access Management (IAM) technologies. With employees, contractors, and automated systems connecting from dispersed locations, maintaining visibility and control over access is more critical than ever. Our research shows that 78% of organizations plan to increase their spending on identity security in 2025.Along with securing identities, businesses are prioritizing integration and efficiency. Identity solutions that work seamlessly across cloud and on-premises environments are in high demand, with 88% of organizations considering consolidating IAM vendors in the next year. This consolidation would allow for centralized management, improved monitoring, and more streamlined operations.This represents a strategic shift, with businesses now recognising identity management as a foundational element of security resilience. By mitigating risks, improving compliance, and building trust, robust identity practices have become crucial for sustaining a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world.

Cybersecurity’s next era

As digital ecosystems become increasingly complex, securing machine identities will emerge as a critical challenge. AI presents a solution, offering enhanced protection and the flexibility to adapt to evolving threats.By harnessing AI, organizations can turn identity security from a potential vulnerability into a strategic advantage. The future of cybersecurity will hinge on our ability to manage these emerging frontlines, and AI will be the key to overcoming this challenge.

We've compiled a comprehensive list of the best AI tools.

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

Managing your finances doesn’t have to be a headache — especially with the right budgeting app at your fingertips. Whether you’re trying to track everyday spending, save for a big purchase or just keep a closer eye on your subscriptions, there’s an app that can help. With Mint shutting down, plenty of users have been looking for the best budget apps to replace it, and luckily there are plenty of solid alternatives.From AI-powered spending trackers to apps that break down your expenses into easy-to-follow categories, the best budgeting tools help you take control of your money without the hassle of spreadsheets. Some focus on automating savings, while others give you a deep dive into your finances with powerful analytics and custom reporting. If you’re still searching for the right Mint alternative, check out our guide to the best budgeting apps to replace Mint to find the best fit for your needs.If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up the top budgeting apps to help you track spending, save smarter, and stick to your financial goals.

Best budget apps of 2025

How we test budgeting apps

Before I dove in and started testing out budgeting apps, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to try out, I consulted trusty ol’ Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps (or other budgeting methods) they might be using for money management. Some of the apps I found were free and these, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, “offers”) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $100 a year, or $15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.)

All of the services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web.

Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps, I made a point of adding every account to every budgeting app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once.

Budgeting app FAQs

What is Plaid and how does it work?

Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so it’s worth explaining what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims.

To be clear, you don’t need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including all of the budgeting apps listed in this guide. Once you find the “add an account” option in whichever one you’re using, you’ll see a menu of commonly used banks. There’s also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, you’ll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, you’ll need to enter a one-time passcode as well.

As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didn’t note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting “more financial data than was needed.” As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices.

In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that “the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaid’s role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track.”

Why did Mint shut down?

When parent company Intuit announced in December 2023 that it would shut down Mint, it did not provide a reason why it made the decision to do so. It did say that Mint's millions of users would be funneled over to its other finance app, Credit Karma. "Credit Karma is thrilled to invite all Minters to continue their financial journey on Credit Karma, where they will have access to Credit Karma’s suite of features, products, tools and services, including some of Mint’s most popular features," Mint wrote on its product blog. In our testing, we found that Credit Karma isn't an exact replacement for Mint — so if you're still looking for a Mint alternative, you have some decent options.

What about Rocket Money?

Rocket Money is another free financial app that tracks spending and supports things like balance alerts and account linking. If you pay for the premium tier, the service can also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions. We did not test it for this guide, but we'll consider it in future updates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/best-budgeting-apps-120036303.html?src=rss

Sony's new TV range gets priced and dated in the UKBravia 8 II is cheaper than the LG G5 in some sizesLower prices compared to Sony's previous models

Sony has announced UK and EU pricing for its Bravia 8 II OLED TV and Bravia 5 mid-range mini-LED models – and LG should be worried, because Sony is pricing its latest TVs very aggressively. One model of the Bravia 8 II is cheaper than the equivalent LG G5.The Bravia 8 II isn't a replacement for the Sony Bravia 8. Rather, it's a new, more premium Bravia 8 with Sony's latest generation of QD-OLED panel, meaning it's a replacement for the Sony A95L, but with a nicer price tag.We've seen the Bravia 8 II in real life and we're very impressed: in our first look we said that "this could really end up being the connoisseur's high-end OLED of choice".We also said that "If the Bravia 8 II can hit the same kind of prices as the LG G5 and Samsung S95F – rather than coming in significantly more expensive, like the A95L did – then we could be onto something very special here when it comes to picture quality." We had no confirmation on pricing at the time, but maybe we should start a side hustle as fortune tellers, because the pricing here is very competitive.US prices haven't been announced just yet but we're crossing our fingers that we'll see similarly competitive pricing and that proposed tariffs won't have a huge impact.

The 98-inch Bravia 5 is coming in at a surprisingly low price (Image credit: Sony)

Sony Bravia 8 II and Bravia 8: UK and EU pricing

The Bravia 8 II prices start at £2,500 / €2,600 for the 55-inch, significantly down from the £3,000 / €3,300 of the A95L at launch. That's slightly more expensive than the G5 – but the 65-inch Bravia 8 II is £3,000, compared to £3,299 for the G5's equivalent.Bravia 8 II models will be shipping from 6 June 2025 in the UK and EU.The 98-inch mini-LED Bravia 5 is also coming in hot with prices from £1,500 / €1,550 for the 55-inch to £7,000 / $5,500 for the 98-inch model. The 98-inch X90L was priced from £1,599 to £8,999 / €10,000, so the largest model is considerably cheaper this time around.Bravia 5 models will start shipping from 23 May 2025.The full prices, as per FlatpanelsHD, are:

Bravia 8 II 55-inch: £2,500 / €2,600Bravia 8 II 65-inch: £3,000 / €3,300Bravia 5 55-inch: £1,500 / €1,550Bravia 5 65-inch: £1,800 / €1,900Bravia 5 75-inch: £2,200 / €2,300Bravia 5 85-inch: £2,800/ €3,000Bravia 5 98-inch: £7,000 / €5,500

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Report claims the average business loses $7 million annually to identity fraudLarger enterprises with more than 100,000 workers could lose upwards of $50mIdentity verification solutions not only minimize this but also help improve brand impact

Organizations with more than 150 workers are losing an average of $7 million annually due to identity fraud, new research from DocuSign has revealed.Moreover, companies with over 5,000 employees report an average of $13 million in such losses, with one in five companies with over 10,000 workers losing more than $50 million directly and indirectly from identity fraud-related costs.The trend shows no sign of showing down, either, with more than two-thirds (69%) agreeing that fraud attempts have increased, noting the AI’s role in the frequency and sophistication of these types of attacks.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/monthTransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Digital fraud is on the up

Despite the evolution of fraud, we haven’t seen much change in decades when it comes to username and password fraud, which accounts for half (51%) of all cases. Interestingly, only one in five (21%) reported attempts against facial biometric liveness detection, suggesting a higher effectiveness.As such, three-quarters (74%) plan to increase investment in identity verification solutions. Those that have already report an average of $8 million in savings.Perhaps in a bid to show just how valuable its eSign software can be, Docusign suggests that identity verification investors are 2.2x more likely to achieve savings, 1.7x more likely to significantly reduce identity fraud, 2.7x more likely to see a competitive advantage and 1.6x more likely to report positive brand impact – all good metrics for what can be a costly outlay to begin with.“As identity fraud escalates, enterprises are increasingly pressured to strike the right balance between security and seamless user experiences,” Docusign Group VP of Product Mangesh Bhandarkar commented.Quick biometric checks, device recognition and AI-powered deepfake detection all help to provide a more seamless user experience while maintaining optimal security.“By implementing intelligent, low-friction security measures… businesses can create the right balance between building trust, protecting customers, and driving long-term engagement in an increasingly digital world,” Bhandarkar concluded.

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Some of Australia's biggest pension funds hit by cyberattackHackers tried to withdraw hundreds of thousands of dollarsThe government acknowledged the coordinated attacks

Australia’s superannuation industry is experiencing a barrage of cyberattacks which have seen customers already lose more than AU$500,000.AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Rest, Insignia and Hostplus all confirmed breaches, with the former confirming losing 600 member passwords, which cybercriminals tried to use in fraud attacks."We took immediate action to lock these accounts and let those members know," AustralianSuper's Chief Member Officer Rose Kerlin said, stressing that all members should reinforce their accounts with new, stronger passwords, and that they should check their balances.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/monthTransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Unusual login activity

Four members have cumulatively had AU$500,000 withdrawn from their accounts, Reuters further reported, citing an anonymous source. AustralianSuper is yet to comment on this information.Rest Super, on the other hand, confirmed that the attack affected 20,000 accounts. "Over the weekend of 29-30 March 2025, Rest became aware of some unauthorized activity on our online Member Access portal," Rest CEO Vicki Doyle said. “We responded immediately by shutting down the Member Access portal, undertaking investigations and launching our cyber security incident response protocols."Australian Retirement Trust also observed “unusual login activity” on “several hundreds” of accounts, but no withdrawals were attempted.The country’s government has acknowledged these incidents and said it was working on a response.The industry is a key component of the nation's savings system. It has seen substantial growth and consolidation in recent years. As of December 2024, the industry managed approximately $4.17 trillion in total superannuation assets, up 11.5% increase from the previous year. ​At the same time, there are approximately 23.1 million member accounts across 960 superannuation products.Via Reuters

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Kaleidescape Strato M costs $1,995, but is HD-onlyDolby Vision, HDR10, BT.2020 and 4:2:2 chromaDolby Atmos and DTS:X sound

Kaleidescape's new home, commercial and marine theater movie player comes with a really tempting price tag and one surprising omission.At a time when even very cheap streaming devices generally come with 4K, this is a 2K player rather than a 4K one. But it's a very, very good 2K player delivering better than Blu-Ray quality with the need for all those discs.That makes it a good upgrade for a theater setup that already boasts a premium HD or 2K projector with no interest in updating to 4K: we've reviewed the same firm's 4K Strato V and found it to be "outstanding" with superb software; this 2K option is half the price.Kaleidescape says that the Strato M is best suited to viewing rooms where the viewing distance is at least 1.5x the size of the screen in inches. If you prefer to sit closer, the 4K Strato V may be more suitable.

The Strato M can be used on its own or with Terra Prime movie servers for lots of local storage. (Image credit: Kaleidescape)

Kaleidescape Strato M: key features and pricing

The Strato M is designed to work in two scenarios: on its own, or as part of a wider Kaleidescape system with Terra Prime movie servers.It supports lossless multi-channel and spatial object-based audio, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and it also supports reference 2K video with higher bit depths than Blu-Ray, plus Dolby Vision, HDR10, BT.2020 and 4:2:2 chroma.As a stand-alone system it delivers a single playback zone and can store up to a half dozen movies on its internal SSD, with movie downloads taking about 10 minutes over gigabit ethernet. Its interface has been optimized for smaller movie libraries, and it can automatically offload watched movies 48 hours after playback to make room for more.In a wider Kaleidescape system the Strato M connects to Terra Prime movie servers and uses the same Kaleidescape interface as its siblings.The Kaleidescape Strato M is available now through authorized dealers with an MSRP of $1,995 (about £1,553 / AU$3,208).It's an interesting alternative to the best 4K Blu-ray players at this price – the HD requirement is obviously going to put off people indulging in 4K on the best TVs, but I could see a few home theater enthusiasts finding a home for this.

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The Galaxy S25 Edge will reportedly be announced on May 13, having apparently been delayed from a planned April launchIt could be unveiled in an online-only presentationIts price might be right between that of the Galaxy S25 Plus and the S25 Ultra

In the last few days, there’s been a lot of confusion over when – or even if – the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will launch.First, we heard that it might land on April 15, then the very next day, there were claims that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge had been delayed until May or June. Shortly after that, we heard that there was a chance Samsung would cancel the S25 Edge altogether.Now, though, a SamMobile report from leaker Max Jambor suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is finally set to launch on May 13.There’s not much more to this story, though Jambor is one of the several sources who previously claimed the phone had been delayed until May or June, so this is in line with that; it's an update to an existing claim.Jambor also says that it will probably be announced during a small, online-only presentation, rather than a big Unpacked event with an in-person element. That’s largely in line with what other sources have said, though there’s previously been a suggestion that the Edge might just get a press release and no proper launch event at all.

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Priced right down the middle

In any case, there’s also a new report on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s pricing, this time from WinFuture.The site claims that the Galaxy S25 Edge will start at €1,249 in Germany. That’s for a model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while a pricier model with 512GB of storage will apparently be sold for €1,369.We won’t bother with price conversions here as they’re rarely accurate, but the key point is that this starting price would put the Galaxy S25 Edge right between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus (€1,149) and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (€1,349).If the same holds true elsewhere, then you can expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to cost roughly $1,150 / £1,125 / AU$1,950, as that’s halfway between the price of the S25 Plus and the S25 Ultra in those regions.

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A new teaser for James Gunn's Superman movie has been released onlineThe extended clip reveals our first look at The Fortress of SolitudeIt also confirms who Alan Tudyk will voice in the DCU Chapter One film

I didn't think I could be anymore excited for James Gunn's Superman movie. But, after the unveiling of its latest jaw-dropping teaser, clearly I wasn't pumped up enough for its July 11 release.The sneak peek is largely an extended look at the first Superman trailer that made us fall in love with his mischievous canine companion Krypto.

Once a severely beaten-up Clark Kent/Kal-El convinces the lovable scamp to "take him home", though, we're treated to the official unveiling of the DC Universe's (DCU) take on The Fortress of Solitude. And, boy oh boy, did it leave my jaw on the floor.For the uninitiated, The Fortress of Solitude is Superman's home away from home. It's an Arctic-based headquarters for the Man of Steel to get away from the humdrum of civilian life on Earth, where he first learned he wasn't of this world, and a base of operations where he can recuperate from, I don't know, getting smacked about by his foes.What's striking about Gunn's take on the Man of Steel's iconic fortress, though, is that it isn't a stationary object that looms over the Arctic tundra. As the DCU Chapter One film's latest clip confirms, it actually grows out of the icy terrain that surrounds it. Oh, and it can spin on a 360-degree axis, which, you know, is handy when you need to point Supes at the Sun so he can heal using its ultraviolet rays.

Alan Tudyk's Superman character revealed

I think this is the DCU's iteration of Kelex (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Luckily for Superman, The Fortress of Solitude is home to a small group of technologically-advanced androids who are also on hand to help him recover.In DC Comics, it's usually home to a single service robot named Kelex. Essentially, it's the HQ's caretaker whenever Kent is off masquerading as a reporter for The Daily Planet and/or keeping planet Earth safe from threats at home and further afield.For one of 2025's most exciting new movies, it seems like Kelex will be the de-facto leader of the humanoid robots that inhabit Supes' secret stronghold. It appears he'll be voiced by Alan Tudyk, too, whose voiced countless characters over the years. That includes another sentient android in K-2SO, who first appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and who'll be part of the cast of Andor season 2 on Disney+.

Hear that? It might be the voice of whoever is playing Jor-El in Gunn's Superman film... (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

The robots' DCU design won't be unfamiliar to long-time DC fans, either. Indeed, Gunn has taken inspiration from Grant Morrison's 'All-Star Superman' comic book run, which also serves as a key storytelling influence on Superman, for their look.Away from Kelex and company, it also looks like The Fortress of Solitude is hiding another cast-based secret. Listen closely when the robots are carrying Superman into the heart of his secret lair, and you can hear a voice saying... something in the background.It's hard to make out who this is but, based on what we know about The Fortress of Solitude from the comics and previous film adaptations, there are references to Clark's Kryptonian parents within its walls. Could it be, then, that the voice we hear has ties to a new Superman cast rumor that suggests a Guardians of the Galaxy star will play Jor-El, Supes' biological father, in Gunn's movie? I wouldn't be shocked if that's the case.

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Microsoft appears to be working on a big redesign for the Start menuThis work is hidden in the background of Windows 11 test builds, though, so it isn't officially happening yetIt rolls the Start menu elements into a single, scrollable panel, and also gives users the choice to ditch recommendations

Microsoft looks to be applying a major change to the Start menu in Windows 11, revamping the layout so that it’s all on a single panel – and allowing recommendations to be turned off if the user wishes.These are positive steps forward for this central part of the Windows 11 interface, although they aren’t happening just yet.In fact, this work is still hidden in the background of the most recent Dev and Beta preview builds of Windows 11. So, it’s present, but not yet officially live, and it has to be enabled by fudging things with a Windows configuration utility.That’s exactly what PhantomOfEarth, a regular provider of Windows info on X, did to uncover the new Start menu layout, which now puts everything on one panel that you scroll down.This means you now have the pinned apps at the top, then recommendations, and the full list of installed apps below that – rather than the latter being separated off, as is the case now in Windows 11, with the app list being in a different panel you switch to by clicking a button.

Hidden in today's Dev/Beta CUs: a major update to the Windows 11 Start menu! It has a new, larger layout with everything on one scrollable page, with the "All" list below recommendations - which can FINALLY be turned off! Pinned list is now limited to 2 rows, but can be expanded. pic.twitter.com/JkP3V2I5g6April 3, 2025

As Windows Central reports, the rejigged Start menu panel is now also wider, meaning there’s more space to pin your favorite apps for easy access.Crucially, there’s another move, something I’ve been wanting for a long time, and that’s being able to switch off Microsoft’s recommendations for files or apps you might want to use (based on the history of your PC usage), as mentioned at the outset.

(Image credit: Evgeny Atamanenko / Shutterstock)

Analysis: An apparent reversal of course by Microsoft

It’s good to see Microsoft is mulling a big, positive change for the Start menu, but we must remember that this isn’t yet in testing, so we can’t count on this redesign actually being realized. That said, it looks like this work is well underway in the background of Windows 11 preview builds, which is a positive sign.The worry for me is that at the end of last year, Microsoft categorically said it wasn’t going to remove the recommendations panel, and would instead continue “to work on improving its quality” going forward. Well, that stance appears to have changed, but this previous statement does give me a little pause for thought.I can only hope that the options to turn off recommendations makes the cut for the release version of Windows 11. Okay, so some folks might appreciate having recommendations flagged to them, and that’s fine – Microsoft has even been exploring some useful tweaks to them in recent times.However, there are certainly people who could live without recommendations eating up space in their Start menu – myself included – and there should always have been an option to turn them off, really. Give people the choice to either have them, or not, plain and simple.Also visible in testing here are the new grid and category views which are different choices for how you peruse the list of all the apps on your PC. These aren’t new, and have been in testing (officially) for a while, but I thought I’d highlight them in case you missed this. They’re also a positive stride forward for the Start menu, and the new views are a good alternative to having one long alphabetical list of apps, particularly the category view which groups related applications to make navigation easier. Again, you don’t have to do this, and you can stick with the default long list if you prefer, but as ever, more choice is always good.Is there a chance we’ll see this new Start menu as part of Microsoft’s big 50th anniversary celebrations (a bash that kicks off later today)? Well, no, because this redesign isn’t even in testing yet, but it may be possible that Microsoft could mention the idea in passing or tease it somehow.At least that would confirm that the revamp is definitely inbound, and quell any lingering doubts that I have based on some of the company’s past statements. I’ll be keeping my fingers firmly crossed that this is a move that’s incoming, and that it’ll be fully realized as it currently appears in testing (meaning that Microsoft doesn’t whip out the choice to turn off recommendations).

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Another upgrade has been spotted in Google Messages beta codeThe update would improve how longer texts are handledThere's no word on how long it will be before the feature goes live

Sometimes the situation calls for a long and thoughtful text rather than a quick and short one, and Google Messages is finally improving support for these extended missives, according to new code spotted in the beta version of the app for Android.This code isn't activated yet, but as spotted by Android Authority, it extends the text compose box to 12 lines – that's up from the current four, and means you don't have to keep scrolling up and down to review your message before sending it.If you're a regular Google Messages user, you'll know it can be annoying to be composing a lengthy text and then have half of it disappear. It tends to break up the flow of writing, but it should be less of an issue going forward.Google hasn't said anything officially about rolling this feature out, so we don't know how long it'll take to reach everyone – but it being baked into the beta code of Google Messages suggests the upgrade will start appearing sooner rather than later.

Getting the message

The compose window, before (left) and after (right) (Image credit: AssembleDebug / Android Authority)

Google Messages is now the default messaging app on both Pixel and Samsung phones, and Google has been working hard to make sure you choose it over any other chat app – such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.Near the end of last year, Google rolled out a bunch of features to improve message security, including better scam detection and controls for blocking messages that come in from international senders you don't know.Earlier this year, Google added upgrades for contacting the emergency services, while it also seems to have been listening to users – reversing a frustrating change that prevented user nicknames and profile pictures from being edited.It seems there's much more in the pipeline as well: we've seen signs of a remote delete feature, more straightforward group chat management, and support for higher quality photos and videos sent through your chats.

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Industry analysts have weighed in on Nintendo Switch 2's controversial pricingHardware prices are in line with expectations, but software is a concernAnalysts are saying that US tariffs are just one part of the problem

The pricing model of the Nintendo Switch 2 is now public knowledge in the aftermath of the April 2 Nintendo Direct, and there's much to unpack for both hardware and software.In short, the common consensus is that the retail price of the console - $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle - is more or less in line with what folks were expecting. It's the software side that seems to have generated the most concern.We now know that Switch 2 launch games like Mario Kart World will cost a borderline absurd $79.99 / £74.99, while Donkey Kong Bananza is being listed at the current industry standard of $69.99 / £64.99. In both cases, this is a massive leap up from most of the best Nintendo Switch games, and many analysts are showing concern about the precedent being set here.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

IGN has since spoken to a number of trusted industry analysts on the topic of Nintendo Switch 2 pricing.There is general agreement on the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration being a factor. NYU Stern professor Joost van Dreunen calls Nintendo's pricing a "strategic balancing act," adding that: "Nintendo appears to be building in a buffer against these potential trade barriers while ensuring they maintain their traditional positive margin on hardware."Ampere Analysis' Piers Harding-Rolls seems to agree here, saying: "My view is that they probably had a range of pricing for the US market in play up until the last minute due to the uncertainty on import tariffs."Kantan Games CEO Dr. Serkan Toto also considers competitor Sony as a factor: "Nintendo probably factored in possible tariffs, the current inflationary climate in the world, and the $700 Sony dared to charge for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year."

(Image credit: Future/Nintendo)

Toto and other analysts, then, maybe hinting at a more cynical reason for Nintendo's lofty pricing schemes for Nintendo Switch 2. Toto added that the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World is "quite bold."He added: "Tariffs could play a role, but I think it is much simpler: Nintendo is charging this price because they feel they can and that people will pay."Finally, Circana's Mat Piscatella suggests that Nintendo is strongly targeting its enthusiast market for the first year of sales. "Based on what we're seeing across the market, sales to higher-income or more affluent households likely won't be impacted by this pricing," he said."And, of course, we have the price-insensitive super enthusiasts that will do and pay whatever it takes to acquire the Switch 2 at launch. Therefore, because of the limited quantities that will be available during the launch year, I do not anticipate this pricing to hinder year one sales volumes."I personally have to wonder if Nintendo's software pricing for Switch 2 will level out in its second year, as Piscatella says: "The true test will come in year two, as supply is likely to become more readily available, and the addressable market will be forced to widen. So, we'll have to see what happens over the next 9-12 months."

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Application Programming Interfaces, (APIs) are a hot topic right now. With the rise of AI, APIs are crucial for integrating AI into apps, chatbots, as well as automating workflows. There is also the growth of microservices and cloud computing where APIs allow different services to communicate efficiently in the cloud.APIs are transforming the integration and flow of data and information between different software applications and operating systems. The possibilities of what this will enable us as consumers to do is endless and for businesses its evolution is presents exciting opportunities across the board.APIs enhance the connectivity between multiple platforms by allowing different systems to communicate and work together more seamlessly, streamlining operations and greatly improving the flow of data to be benefit of end users. It can save staff time and increase the value of tools including payment gateways, social media platforms, cloud services and more to help businesses improve functionality, create scalability and you get better value from existing systems.

An opportunity to grow

In fiercely competitive markets, APIs also provide businesses with an opportunity to grow and enhance their position as leaders in the field bringing significant advantages over competitors. There are other benefits too. Greater efficiency and reliability: APIs ensure consistent and accurate data transfer between systems which reduce errors and enhance the reliability of your operations.By centralizing and connecting data from various sources, APIs provide a unified view of all the information. With this business leaders can make more informed decisions that enable expansion, moving and adapting quickly to respond to market demands and opportunities.The operational enhancements that APIs bring mean that companies can enhance their customer experiences, facilitate more personalized services, apply seamless payment solutions, and share real-time updates, all of which lead to greater user satisfaction and engagement.Everyday examples of this include integrating Google Maps into apps to show location data or where an online retailer provides the ability to pay with PayPal without the need to access sensitive data. APIs are already being used in our everyday lives.Businesses can also use APIs to integrate chatbots, recommendation engines, and other AI-driven tools to deliver a more customized experience. The ability to connect with third-party services also improves functionality and helps companies offer comprehensive solutions to their customers.

Key considerations

Technology moves at pace and keeping up with these changes can bring key considerations that need to be considered throughout the development process.The need to ensure the API meets end user needs – it needs to do the job it set out to do therefore it’s important that all stakeholders are involved in the development stage of the process to ensure success and buy-in at the implementation stage. Think about who the end user is, what the efficiency is you’re hoping to gain. The planning stage is key. Design an API with simplicity and test regularly throughout the development.Consider security aspects – cross-sharing of data across platforms poses possible cyber security risks and APIs can be prone to threats like unauthorized access and data breaches if proper security measures are not adhered to. Robust authentication measures such as OAuth2 and token-based methods can ensure secure access along with encrypting data. This should be regularly reviewed.Optimize API performance – APIs need to be able to handle high volumes of requests. Poor performance can cause slow response times and cause programs to crash. There are ways to mitigate this including caching for data that is frequently requested and sending only essential data. Developers can create database queries to minimize the level of data retrieved and processing required. Breaking the data retrieval down into more manageable chunks improves scalability and the ability for the API to cope with traffic spikes.Consider cross-system compatibility – APIs need to work lots of different systems and programs and this needs to happen seamlessly for it to be effective. This can be particularly challenging when dealing with legacy systems that use old programming methods. Widely accepted standards such as JSON or XML should be used to ensure broad compatibility and help futureproof the API.

Summary

The rise of APIs is reshaping digital transformation across industries. From ecommerce and fintech to healthcare and logistics, businesses increasingly rely on APIs to innovate and scale at unprecedented rates. As cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and IoT continue to evolve, APIs will serve as the backbone of interconnected digital ecosystems.Companies that embrace APIs will not only streamline their operations but also gain a competitive advantage by unlocking new markets and partnerships. The future of business lies in connectivity, and APIs will continue to play a crucial role in shaping this dynamic landscape.

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The iOS 18.4 update seems to be causing problems for CarPlay usersSymptoms include connection issues and missing dashboard informationThere’s no solid fix yet, compounding the problem

Apple has just released iOS 18.4, which has brought a number of changes to users of many of the best iPhones. Unfortunately, though, it looks like the change has rendered Apple’s CarPlay platform unusable for a number of people, bringing disruption to Apple’s in-car entertainment system.And according to multiple posts on X and Reddit, it looks like the issues are not restricted to one particular aspect of CarPlay. Instead, a wide range of glitches seem to be cropping up.For instance, user NRein7 posted on Reddit to say that their car’s dashboard no longer displays Now Playing information after updating to iOS 18.4. Other Redditors chimed in to say that they were unable to connect their phone to their car in the first place, while others found their iPhones would only connect when using certain USB ports, or would repeatedly disconnect and reconnect over time.We've reached out to Apple to find out if this is a confirmed issue and will update this story if we hear back about a potential fix.

Not just one car brand

(Image credit: Future)

The bugs seem to affect users of various car makes and models, including Audi, Ford, Honda and Mazda. That suggests the problem could lie with CarPlay itself rather than a specific car manufacturer’s software. Indeed, one Redditor said Volkswagen had told them that “Apple has to fix” to bug, implying it’s not down to Volkswagen’s own software. We've reached out to Apple to find out if this is the case.Users have reported trying various methods to resolve the issue, including restarting their iPhones, unpairing and repairing them with their cars, and rebooting their vehicles. Some have found these methods to work, but for others, the problems remained.Whatever the exact nature of the glitch, it’s a frustrating issue to encounter, and for now, there’s no confirmed fix. If you find yourself falling victim to this CarPlay mishap, you might just have to wait for Apple to roll out an update. The company has deployed the iOS 18.5 beta to testers, and the full version is expected to be released next month. Hopefully that provides a solution, if there isn't a fix before then.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 will use Nvidia's DLSS AI-powered upscaling for its games for better performance and image qualitySo far, handheld gaming PCs only have AMD's FSR and Intel's XeSSThe Switch 2 could see itself compete with other handhelds thanks to DLSS

The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally fully revealed on April 2, with confirmation that the handheld console will use a custom Nvidia processor - and while the device may not outperform handheld gaming PCs, it could have a significant bonus over them.As highlighted in a blog post, Nvidia confirmed that its DLSS AI-powered upscaling method will be present on the Nintendo Switch 2, along with ray tracing, thanks to its custom chip. This will allow game developers to implement DLSS in games where necessary, creating room for better performance through upscaling while maintaining image quality.It's not exactly clear what version of DLSS this will be: its latest version, DLSS 4, utilizes a new transformer model to further improve image quality, especially with performance mode - which has been shown to outdo the previous model's quality mode in DLSS 3.However, handheld gaming PCs have only been able to use either AMD's FSR or Intel's XeSS, as Nvidia hasn't made an APU (a processor with CPU and GPU on the same die) for any of the devices like the Asus ROG Ally or MSI Claw 8 AI+. Both of these rival upscaling methods have yet to match DLSS, and if DLSS 4 is being used by the Switch 2, it could challenge more powerful handheld gaming PCs when it comes to graphics and performance.

(Image credit: Konstantin Savusia / Shutterstock)

It won't beat handheld gaming PCs, but it's on the verge of competing

Don't get me wrong, handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally, MSI Claw 8 AI+, and the Lenovo Legion Go are all still an easy choice over the Switch 2 as they more than likely still have more powerful hardware (as we don't know the exact specs of Nvidia's chip just yet).However, if Nintendo’s new console uses DLSS 4, it could be a literal game changer placing the Switch 2 in pole position to compete against other handhelds, thanks to the new transformer model. It takes the upscaled image quality up another level, as I've highlighted previously and has already been a massive benefit to all GeForce RTX GPU users: image quality on the CNN model’s performance mode was blurry and contained ghosting when in motion, and the transformer model fixes this.Despite the slight performance loss in games with this new model (due to its more intensive processing nature for greater image quality), it's not significant enough to not recommend DLSS 4 - and it's better than Intel's XeSS 2 and AMD's FSR 4, as it maintains much better detail on objects, particularly at longer draw distances in games.I've begged Nvidia to make an APU for handheld gaming PCs to use DLSS, and this gives me hope that the Switch 2 will make it possible.We'll have to wait and see how DLSS will work (especially in docked mode at a 4K resolution), but if the Switch 2 ushers in a new generation of PC gaming handhelds with Nvidia hardware, then I’ll be extremely happy.

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Marvel Rivals Season 2 arrives later this month, adding Emma Frost as a brand new Vanguard. There are also interesting changes coming to Team Ups, with some like Magneto and Scarlet Witch's Metallic Chaos ability being removed, while new ones between Captain America and Winter Soldier are being added. By the looks of things, this season will shake up the meta quite a bit.I'm still absolutely loving Marvel Rivals, having reviewed it back at launch. Since then, The Fantastic Four have been added, and I've spent a considerable time gaining Sue Storm, using the push ability to send enemies flying. By having a good cadence of adding new heroes, Marvel Rivals remains highly ranked in TechRadar Gaming's best crossplay games page. If Season 2 continues to bring new maps, modes, and heroes at a decent pace, I can't see myself being torn away from Marvel Rivals anytime soon.NetEase has now revealed the main details surrounding Marvel Rivals Season 2. There's a new Hero to try out, and an evolving story set around an opulent gala on Krakoa. Here's when Marvel Rivals Season 2 launches, as well as some info on upcoming changes to the balance of the game. As we near launch day, I'll update this page with all of the latest news.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 release date

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will arrive on April 11 UTC. This means that it'll launch at the following time according to your timezone:

April 10 at 5PM PST: West Coast USApril 10 at 8PM ET: East Coast USApril 11 at 1AM BST: United KingdomApril 11 at 2AM CET: Central EuropeApril 11 at 9AM JST: Japan

Based on previous seasons, expect Marvel Rivals to go offline for a few hours before the launch of the second season. Keep on eye on the official Marvel Rivals website for more info.I'll be sure to update this section with any news of expected downtime once it's revealed.

Marvel Rivals Emma Frost release date

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals will add Emma Frost on April 11 UTC. She's a new Vanguard, operating on the front line of battle by utilizing telekinetic abilities and sheer brawling firepower. -NetEase has fully detailed the character in the video below, which shows off each of her abilities. It appears that she'll have a decent bit of range, as well as the ability to apply her diamond skin and move in for close-quarters combat. She has an ultimate that damages multiple enemies at once with telekinetic beams while pulling them toward her.There are some interesting details to Emma Frost's kit that are worth diving into. Firstly, her dash and choke slam ability ends with a sweep kick which knocks enemies back. This can be used to throw an opponent off of an edge for a quick kill. Emma Frost can also place diamond shields, using them to block Ultimates like Iron Man's. This works similarly to Groot's shield walls, in that there's a fair bit of range to where you can place them.Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.

Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.I'm a Venom main in Marvel Rivals, so I primarily tend to go with Vanguards over the other two classes, so I'll definitely be giving Emma Frost a go when she launches. We'll have to wait and see how her Team Up with Magneto and Psylocke plays out, but having a 2-tank team with Emma Frost and Magneto could be a good place to start in terms of working out a new meta.

Marvel Rivals Ultron

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now for Ultron, who won't launch until Season 2.5. If we look at the release schedule for the previous season, I expect Ultron to arrive sometime in May. We haven't seen much from this upcoming character just yet, only a brief tease in the Season 2 reveal trailer. It's clear that he's set to be the villain of the season but in terms of how he'll play? Well, that's yet to be seen.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 Team Up Changes

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will bring in a bunch of new Team Ups, while removing existing ones. The first new one sees Emma Frost as the anchor Hero, with an ability called Mental Projection. This gives Magneto and Psylocke illusory projections, making it more difficult for the enemy to hit them. Next up is Arcane Order, which sees Doctor Strange sharing his magic abilities with Scarlet Witch, enhancing her attacks. Then, Stars Aligned allows Winter Soldier to leap towards allies at critical moments.Here are the key points on the changes coming to Team Ups in Marvel Rivals Season 2:

Mental Projection: Emma Frost, Magneto, Scarlet Witch (NEW)Arcane Order: Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch (NEW)Stars Aligned: Captain America, Winter Soldier (NEW)Gamma Charge: Hulk, Namor, Iron-Man (Doctor Strange removed, Namor added)Ammo Overload: Rocket, Punisher (Winter Soldier removed)Dimensional Shortcut: Magik, Black Panther (Psylocke removed)Chilling Charisma: Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark (Namor removed)Voltaic Union: Thor, Storm, Captain America (Removed entirely)Metallic Chaos: Magneto, Scarlet Witch (Removed entirely)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 balancing changes

In the Developer Vision video you can view above, some general balance updates are outlined for the future of Marvel Rivals. We've collected the key points in the list below:

Hero balancing (buffs): Black Widow, Mister Fantastic, Scarlet Witch, Jeff the Land Shark, Peni Parker, Moon Knight, and Rocket RaccoonHero Balancing (nerfs): Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock, LokiNew Hero schedule: One per month from Season 3 onwardsMaps: Map rotation will be in effect from Season 2 onwards (ranked), Hellfire: Gala (new map)Modes: New limited-time modes will be added over timeCompetitive: Map rotation, Bans added to Gold III, each player drops 9 divisions at the start at Season 2, minimum level requirement now 15, One Above All and Eternity ranks only allow duo queuing, Increasing the rate of individual performance vs match outcome.

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Adaptive Security secures $43 million in investmentOpenAI listed as one of the key investors alongside a16zAdaptive wants to tackle social engineering and deepfakes

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has backed a security start-up in a sign the company might be about to focus more heavily on cyber protections.With generative AI enabling more sophisticated cyberattacks like deepfakes and phishing content, OpenAI has revealed a major supporting role for Adaptive Security.The New York-based startup helps companies defend against AI-powered cyberattacks, and already counts over 100 enterprise clients on its books since publicly launching in January 2023.

OpenAI is backing Adaptive Security

“I’m thrilled to announce our $43 million investment round, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and the OpenAI Startup Fund – marking OpenAI’s first-ever investment in a cybersecurity company,” shared Adaptive’s CEO and co-founder Brian Long.Long noted that social engineering continues to be the leading cause of security breaches, but artificial intelligence has enabled attackers to “[increase] the efficacy and blast radius of these attacks.”It doesn’t just come down to the creation of content, because AI can now imitate colleagues and business leaders to “make phone calls, send emails or text your team.”For decades, policymakers, leaders and individuals from all walks of life have been split on whether we can fight fire with fire, but Long believes AI can be the solution to AI-enhanced threats: “With the right models and data, we can simulate realistic AI attacks, train employees to recognize threats, triage suspicious behavior in real time, and surface risk before it turns into loss.”Demonstrating how realistic deepfakes can be, Long even has a deepfake of himself on the website that customers can interact with. I asked the fake Brian to tell me about the company: “We offer a suite of next-generation cybersecurity training and simulation products designed to protect organizations from advanced threats,” he said.It’s unclear how much money OpenAI invested individually, but the fact that the AI giant is now getting involved with cybersecurity – not least, relating to its own products’ impact – is especially noteworthy.

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Signify has released eight spring-themed scenes for Philips Hue lightsThe new scenes are available in the Philips Hue app with version 5.39An updated icon hints that the Philips Hue AI assistant may arrive soon

Want to give your home a quick makeover? Signify, the company behind the Philips Hue lighting system, has released an update for the Hue app that adds eight new lighting scenes that you can apply to a whole room with a single tap.Scenes are themed presets that use a palette of colors to create a particular mood. The latest collection are all designed around the theme of springtime, with fresh floral shades of pink and yellow alongside fresh greens.Fabian, editor of Hueblog.com, has shared a screenshot of the new scenes in the app's German language edition. Seven appear to be standard scenes, while the eighth (named 'Die Farben der Natur', or 'The Colors of Nature') is one of Signify's new 24-hours scenes, which shifts to different shades depending on the time of day.

Scenes let you instantly apply a themed color scheme to all the Philips Hue lights in a room (Image credit: Signify)

AI is on the way

It looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for Signify the launch the Philips Hue AI assistant that it announced back in January, but it could arrive any day now. Just a couple of weeks ago, the search button in the Hue app changed from a magnifying glass icon to the cluster of sparks that's typically used to represent AI.For the time being, the change is only cosmetic and the search bar still works the same as before. However, the new icon suggests that the assistant may launch imminently.According to Signify, the upcoming feature will let you create "personalized lighting scenes based on mood, occasion or style", so you won't need to tinker with colors by hand, or wait for an app update to add a theme that you particularly want.The Philips Hue system already holds the number one spot in our roundup of the best smart lights, so it'll be interesting to see whether the addition of AI will make it an even more compelling choice.

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New footage for The Fantastic Four: First Steps was revealed at CinemaCon 2025The sizzle reel confirmed a big fan theory about the Marvel movie's first trailerIt's unclear if the MCU Phase 6 film's latest teaser will be released online

Marvel detectives, you've done it again. One week after sleuthing fans claimed they'd worked out Avengers: Doomsday's plot, a big fan theory regarding The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first trailer has been proved correct.During yesterday's (April 3) Walt Disney Studios showcase at CinemaCon 2025, Marvel chief Kevin Feige revealed new scenes – ones that won't be released publicly, in my view – from the hotly-anticipated Marvel Phase 6 movie. And, in a surprise turn of the events, The Fantastic Four: First Steps' latest teaser revealed fans were right to be curious about something they saw in the film's first round of footage.Major spoilers immediately follow for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Do not proceed if you don't want to know anything ahead of its July 25 release.

More like The Fantastic Five... (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

As revealed on social media by CinemaCon attendees, Sue Storm, who'll be played by Vanessa Kirby in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), will be pregnant for a portion of The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen reboot.This won't come as a huge shock to some fans. As I mentioned earlier, MCU devotees had their suspicions that Sue Storm was with child as soon as The Fantastic Four: First Steps' inaugural trailer dropped online.Multiple viewers pointed out that, during the teaser's scene where Kirby's Storm and Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards are showing an individual around their home, something looked off about Storm's midriff. That led a number of fans to theorize that Marvel had edited the footage to hide her baby bump. Thanks to the film's CinemaCon sizzle reel, we have confirmation that Storm will not only be pregnant, but is likely to give birth to her first child in First Steps.

Why Sue Storm's pregnancy is such a big deal in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Say hello to Franklin Richards, everyone (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Potentially big spoilers follow for The Fantastic Four's MCU debut.

Let's cut right to the chase: Storm's pregnancy is such a huge deal because it means Franklin Richards, Storm and Reed's first-born, will appear in First Steps.For the uninitiated: Franklin Richards is not only a supremely powerful being in Marvel Comics, but he's also someone with incredibly close ties to Galactus, aka First Steps' Big Bad who'll be voiced by Ralph Inseon.And, when I say 'incredibly close ties', what I mean is they're related. No, Galactus isn't Franklin's real dad – he's actually Franklin himself.

Franklin Richards actually becomes Galactus in one Marvel comic book series (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Well, in one Marvel comic book series, anyway. 'Earth X', a 1999 limited comic series, sees Richards take on the mantle of the planet-devouring cosmic entity following the demise of Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, aka Sue's brother and, by proxy, Franklin's uncle.Now, it's incredibly unlikely that the Galactus who'll appear in First Steps will be the future form of this universe's Franklin Richards. After all, there have been numerous versions of the character throughout Marvel's illustrious history, many of whom haven't been Franklin Richards to begin with.Sure, time travel and dimension hopping exist in the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM), so it's still a possibility. However, I don't think it's the wisest move to have Marvel's First Family face off against a villainous version of the offspring of two of their team members. Not now, anyway.The more likely scenario is that Galactus – and his most famous Herald, aka The Silver Surfer, who was shown off for the first time in First Steps' CinemaCon sizzle reel – travel to Earth for another reason. That being, Galactus taking an interest in Franklin Richards due to his potent reality-warping and teleportation powers.

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If Galactus learns of Franklin Richards' abilities, I suspect he'd want to commandeer for his own nefarious purposes. Namely, being able to travel across the multiverse to devour as many planets as possible in an attempt to satiate his never-ending hunger.That could eventually lead to The Fantastic Four being transported to the MCU. Marvel has already teased that the supergroup don't actually exist in the MCU (designated Earth-616), but live in an alternate reality. If their Earth is destroyed by Galactus because they refuse to hand over Franklin, First Steps might end with Franklin teleporting his family to Earth-616 to escape Galactus and survive in another dimension. That would also set the stage for the team's inclusion, and likely big role, in Avengers: Doomsday.This is all speculation on my part. But, based on what we now know about Franklin's likely introduction in First Steps, it's the most logical theory I can come up with.We won't find out if I'm right until one of 2025's most exciting new movies lands in theaters in late July. Until then, read up on everything else we know about the film in my dedicated hub on The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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A new patent has revealed that Samsung is working on an exciting new smart ring charging solutionIt would involve charging your Ring on the back of your Galaxy phoneThe tech reveals a built-in slot that would securely house the device

New technology developed by Samsung could one day let users of its Galaxy Ring charge the device by placing it in a secure slot on the back of its Galaxy phone lineup, according to a new patent.The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the best smart ring out there right now thanks to its comfortable design, extensive feature set, and lack of subscription – a crucial advantage over the Oura Ring 4.The Galaxy Ring, like most devices on the market, charges using a small, standalone charging case. Battery life is good for up to six or seven days on a single charge, and you can get multiple charges from the case, with a full charge taking about 80 minutes.Now, a newly published Samsung patent spotted by 91Mobiles reveals how this could change in the future.The patent comprises a device with a processor, memory, battery, and more, clearly a smartphone, replete with a grooved housing that can seat a smart ring securely to provide wireless charging. It's pretty self-explanatory, but it would be a unique and novel solution to smart ring charging.

The future of smart ring charging

(Image credit: Samsung / WIPO)

One of the reasons to choose a smart ring over the best smartwatches is battery life, with the best models generally tending to last a week or longer.The charging case solution employed by every smart ring manufacturer isn't particularly cumbersome or inconvenient, but I can see the appeal of an even more streamlined solution like using wireless charging tech on the back of a phone.Firstly, the case is only good if you have it on you, which means if your smart ring dies unexpectedly or without warning and you don't have it handy, you're at a loss. You'll. likely always have your Galaxy phone on you, so this could be a handy emergency solution and a great alternative to carrying a bulkier case around.Smart rings don't need a ton of juice to get going, so it's not going to destroy your phone's battery life either.I don't think this tech solution would be the primary mode of charging, and I can see charging cases sticking around, but as a way to supplement charging, this is a great idea from Samsung. Employing a slot or groove makes sense, too, because the Galaxy Ring is small and light and could easily become dislodged otherwise.What's more, it would mean you could simply pop the ring in your pocket and forget about it while it's charging and you get on with your day.Just a patent at this stage, so don't expect to see this technology deployed in the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2, which is probably just a few months away.Bearing in mind this would require some serious hardware tweaks to Samsung's Galaxy phone lineup, it's safe to assume its probably a couple of years away.

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Nintendo’s new console has finally been revealed in full, with magnetically attaching Joy-Cons, a new chat function and a bigger higher-res 7.9-inch screen that supports 120Hz and HDR.

Then there are the new Joy-Cons. Alongside larger SL and SR buttons made of metal, the controllers can be disconnected by pressing a more pronounced release button on the back. The big upgrade, though, is using either Joy-Con like a mouse. (And even use them on your pants, if you want to.)

The Switch 2 also uses DLSS, so it’s easier for developers to port games across to the hybrid console. In a very Nintendo way, it didn’t actually talk up the hardware specifics, so NVIDIA had to fill in the gaps.

Engadget

According to NVIDIA, responsible for the chip inside, the Switch 2 has “ten times” the graphical performance of the original. DLSS tech means games can be rendered at a lower resolution, and trained AI models and dedicated Tensor Cores can be used to fill in extra details.

With that extra power, the Switch 2 supports up to 60 fps at 4K resolution and 120 fps at 1440p or 1080p resolutions, docked. The 1080p screen can handle variable refresh rates up to 120Hz in handheld mode, too.

Yes, catching up with the last two decades, the Switch 2 can also do video chat (and voice chat, but yawn). However, it demands a sold-separately camera, costing $50. Boo.

I think that strikes at the issue of price. The original Switch was $300 at launch, the PS5 starts at $399 now. The Switch 2 is $450. Sure, that includes the screen and (technically) two controllers, but it’s a bit of a jump.

Is Nintendo factoring in tariffs? Possibly. While some of us think $450 is an appropriate price for the console itself, the costs are creeping up in every direction. Want the new must-have Mario Kart World? That’s $80 now. Meanwhile, older games re-released on the Switch 2 also won't be cheap. Cyberpunk 2077 rings in at $70. Oof.

If you want to expand storage, well, you’d need a microSD express card, the faster, pricier version of the tiny storage card. Need another pair of Joy-Cons? That will be $90, please.

Want to pre-order a Switch 2 ahead of the June 5 launch? We’ve got all the details, but it’s worth noting Nintendo is trying to get ahead of scalpers by offering a dedicated pre-order system for existing heavy Switch users with a Switch Online subscription.

In Nintendo’s words: “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.”

Read on for our hands-on impressions of the Switch 2.

— Mat Smith

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Even more Switch 2 stuff

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything you need to know

The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons can double as mouse-like controllers

Mario Kart World hands-on: The perfect launch game for the Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 has built-in voice chat and screensharing

GameChat will be free until March 31, 2026.

Nintendo

While we didn’t get to try it at the early hands-on event, voice chat is an integral part of the new Nintendo console. By pressing the new C button on the right Joy-Con, players can jump into a GameChat with friends and family. Nintendo demoed the feature during its recent Switch 2 Direct, alongside a new Switch 2 Camera, enabling video chat too, with a cut-out profile. It looks a lot like a stream on Discord, with windows along the bottom of the screen for every chat participant. Up to four friends can share their screen and join with video chat if they own the Switch 2 Camera.

Continue reading.

Want a less ugly Switch 2 camera?

National Security Council adds Gmail to its list of bad decisions

Signalgate was just the start.

It’s not long since that Signal messaging app disaster, but US politicians continue showing off their minimal national security expertise. The Washington Post reports that members of the White House’s National Security Council have used personal Gmail accounts for official government business. National security advisor Michael Waltz and a senior aide of his both used their own accounts to discuss sensitive information with colleagues. Government departments typically use business-grade email services, while the federal government also has its own internal communications systems with additional layers of security.

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How to add someone to a Signal group chat

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are back on sale

You can pick up a pair for $179.

Google’s latest wireless earbuds are on sale via Amazon for just $179. This is a record-low price, down from $229. As per our review, they sound great. They provide a good low end, which is tough to do with earbuds, and crunchy highs. Google says it redesigned the entire audio system, and it shows. We called out the “noticeable improvement” over the original Pixel Buds Pro earbuds.

Continue reading.

'Careless People' author will testify on Meta at Senate hearing

This will be Wynn-Williams’ first remarks since Meta took legal action against her.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, the former Facebook policy director who wrote a best-selling memoir about her time at the company, will testify at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing next week. In her book, Careless People, Wynn-Williams recounts Meta executives’ interactions with world leaders and government officials as Facebook’s influence expanded globally in the early 2010s. Her account has resurfaced information about Facebook’s attempts to operate in China and revealed new details about its overtures to Chinese government officials.

Prior to her book’s publication, Wynn-Williams also filed whistleblower complaints about alleged misconduct at the company.

Meta’s attempts to curtail sales of the memoir spectacularly backfired, with the book seeing explosive sales after reports suggested Meta took legal action against the author. Now there’s a senate hearing too.

Continue reading.

The world’s smallest pacemaker is injectable and powered by light

And it dissolves when no longer needed.

Northwestern University

Engineers at Northwestern University have developed the world’s smallest pacemaker. It’s so small that it fits in the tip of a syringe. It safely dissolves into the bloodstream after a time, so it’s a temporary solution. It’s designed for folks who need heart help short-term, like newborn babies with congenital defects. The pacemaker pairs with a wireless device mounted to a patient’s chest. When it detects an irregular heartbeat, it shines a light that activates the pacemaker.

Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111500071.html?src=rss

Sergey Brin has reaffirmed his belief that employees should work 60 hours a weekGoogle co-founder is also an advocate of return-to-office policiesBut Infosys CEO Narayana Murthy wants a further 10 hours/week

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has reaffirmed his belief workers should consider giving up to 60 hours a week to their job.An internal memo seen by The New York Times has Brin yet again urging workers to devote 60 hours each week to work in order for Google specifically to keep up with the likes of Microsoft and OpenAI in the AI race.Brin is also an evident advocate of in-office working for its perceived productivity benefits, adding that workers might want to consider paying a visit to the office at least every weekday to get things done.

Longer hours

“60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” Brin declared as he discussed how underperforming workers can be “demoralizing” to others: “A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by.”Not forgetting that worker burnout is still a thing, particularly among developers, Brin also called for increased use of artificial intelligence tools.Sure, the likes of Google are working to develop better AI models, but that shouldn’t stop workers from exploiting current technologies to make them the “most efficient coders and AI scientists in the world,” he said.Brin isn’t the only business leader in favor of extreme working hours – Infosys CEO Narayana Murthy has urged Indian workers to devote a staggering 70 hours per week to life the country’s poorest out of poverty once and for all.Big Tech has also been turning back to office working, upping their return-to-office policies from three days per week to five – Amazon and Dell are two such companies, which have both been met with widespread worker dissatisfaction.As we continue our long-term return to ‘normal’ in a post-pandemic world, the definition of ‘normal’ continues to shift as the divide between worker and employer desires becomes more evident.

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After Nintendo revealed the full details around the Switch 2 this week, Engadget's Sam Rutherford got some hands-on time with the new console. In this episode, he talks about the major improvements in the new hardware (especially that 1080p, 120 fps screen) and why he doesn't really miss the older Switch OLED. Also, Sam discusses his time with Mario Kart World, the new semi-open world version of Nintendo's classic racer.

In other news, we dive into the latest updates around the TIkTok ban, and we discuss how the Trump administration's tariff push will affect everything in the technology world and beyond. Stay tuned to the end of the show for our chat with Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop, about his new anime series Lazarus.

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Topics

Switch 2 details are finally here, Sam Rutherford got hands-on time with it – 1:47

U.S.’s broad new tariffs on China and beyond could make everything from keyboards to cars more expensive – 49:32

TikTok’s divest-or-ban deadline is April 5, here are the possible buyers – 54:57

xAI buys X, but how much does that matter? – 58:24

Working on – 1:00:59

Pop culture picks – 1:02:31

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam RutherfordProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'BrienThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/engadget-podcast-nintendo-switch-2-hands-on-and-the-cowboy-bebop-creator-chats-about-lazarus-113005280.html?src=rss

Now that the PS5 Pro is in the hands of gamers everywhere, the list of PS5 Pro enhanced games continues to grow. Around launch, Sony detailed 50+ titles that have dedicated modes that make use of everything the upgraded console has to offer.As Sony revealed the PS5 Pro, it was made clear that plenty of currently available PS5 games will receive updates to coincide with the launch of the PS5 Pro, and now that it’s out, we’re happy to confirm that this is indeed true. Thanks to the PS5 Pro specs, it's no surprise that games such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2 look and feel better than ever, leveraging AI-driven upscaling and improved raytracing. Now that the dust has settled on the PS5 Pro launch, we’ve even been able to spend time with many of the upgraded games, and feel confident offering some recommendations on the PS5 Pro games to play first.Before you seek out where to buy a PS5 Pro, however, you'll want to know what games have received upgrades, which is where we come in. In this article, we'll cover every PS5 Pro game confirmed so far, including a look at what's set to change in each title. As more games are unveiled in the future, we'll be sure to update this list.Update (April 4, 2025): Added Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a new tactical RPG that'll offer enhanced PS5 Pro features. We don't know what they are yet, so stay tuned!

PS5 Pro games list - confirmed PS5 Pro-enhanced titles

(Image credit: Sony / Guerrilla)

Given that there are now over 100 PS5 Pro enhanced games, and with each developer handling things slightly differently, the list below represents just a small slice of the headline games that have received beefy PS5 Pro updates since launch:

Alan Wake 2 - Performance Mode now offers 4K at the same fidelity as the base PS5's Quality Mode. The PS5 Pro Quality Mode however, will target raytracing. As confirmed in this blog post.Assassin’s Creed: Shadows - exhibist an enhanced ray-traced global illumination technology. Improved fidelity thanks to expanded GPU capabilities, and leveraging of PSSR. As per the PS Blog.Demon’s Souls - 4K image-like quality at 60 frames per second.Dragon’s Dogma 2 - benefits from the power of the PS5 Pro, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and new ray tracing technology, allowing improved framerates.Dragon Age: The Veilguard - The game’s Fidelity and Performance modes both see improvements on the hardware, including improved resolution in 30FPS Fidelity and 60FPS Performance modes.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - enhanced on PlayStation 5 ProFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth - The new Enhanced Mode* developed especially for PS5 Pro combines the characteristics of the existing Performance Mode and Graphics Mode to offer players a new visual experience.F1 24 - F1 24 is upgrading its Quality mode to add new ray tracing effects that shined particularly on rain-soaked courses and made the tracks feel more realistic and immersive. As per the PS Blog.Gran Turismo 7 - now able to support ray tracing during races, which was previously impossible. This allows not only for car surfaces to show full reflections of other cars, but also for a car to reflect its own parts, greatly enhancing realism and immersion throughout the whole game.Hogwarts Legacy - Players are able to experience crisper, richer, higher resolution graphics, leveraging PSSR on all visual modes.Horizon Forbidden West - you can now enjoy a visual quality that matches or surpasses the Quality mode on the regular PlayStation 5, but now at 60 FPS – double the framerate.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Spider-Man 2 finds a new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - PSSR technology allows for the trees and the lush vegetation of the game’s iconic jungle terrain to become more vivid, and enhances the sense of realism of infiltrating through a natural environmentMonster Hunter Wilds - Resolution Mode for full Ray Tracing at 4K and 30FPS. Performance Mode allows for uncapped frame rate. Balanced Mode with some Ray Tracing at 40FPS on 120Hz monitorsRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart - new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered - new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales - new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.Resident Evil 4 Remake - the game runs at a higher framerate, making the dynamic action even more intense. Resident Evil 4 also uses the power of PS5 Pro for ultra-high-resolution technology, painting vividly realistic imagery brimming with detailed environments and more natural and beautiful visual effects than ever before.Resident Evil Village - added 120fps gameplay to provide the best possible user experience on PS5 Pro.Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - In Quality Mode, the game offers its highest-ever console resolution at 2160p. At the same time, Performance Mode continues to deliver a solid 60 fps—but now with higher resolutions and the added visual depth of ray tracing for reflections and ambient occlusion.Stellar Blade - 4K resolution at 50fps or more, with smoother gameplay, and you’ll notice an improvement in grain and detail in the game in PSSR upscale mode. Plus, the HFR (high framerate) option is supported, allowing you to enjoy a fluid gaming experience at 80 fps (120hz display support required).The Crew Motorfest - more objects on-screen – decals, vegetation, crowds – all running at 60fps.The First Descendant - expanding the ray tracing feature by leveraging PS5 Pro’s superior GPU performance and enhanced ray tracing architecture.The Last of Us Part I - new PS5 Pro-specific enhanced rendering mode that takes advantage of improved graphics processing, rendering 1440p, then upscaling to 4K via PSSR super resolution. This mode maintains the 60 fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution.The Last of Us Part II Remastered - new PS5 Pro-specific enhanced rendering mode that takes advantage of improved graphics processing, rendering 1440p, then upscaling to 4K via PSSR super resolution. This mode maintains the 60 fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution.Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 - Upscaled resolution of 2160p. Target performance of 60FPS, unlocked with VRR enabled. Leverages PSSR upscaling technology.Lies of P - "Quality Mode benefits from more than a 30 percent increase in FPS, delivering smoother, more fluid gameplay. Additionally, Performance Mode now supports full native 4K resolution, allowing players to enjoy stunning visuals without sacrificing responsiveness," - Lies of P director Jiwon Choi in an interview with Eurogamer.Lords of the Fallen - the PS5 Pro enhanced version of the action role-playing game (RPG) allows players to experience a "40% increase in pixel density over the base PlayStation 5 console, resulting in a sharper image and finer details. Read the full details here.Zenless Zone Zero - native 4K resolution and 60 FPS simultaneously with the average frame rate increasing by nearly ten frames. Update arrives December 18, 2024.

And now, the full list, as previously confirmed on the PS Blog ahead of the PS5 Pro launch.

Alan Wake 2AlbatrozApex LegendsArma ReforgerAssassin’s Creed MirageAssassin's Creed ShadowsBaldur’s Gate 3Black Myth: WukongCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Clair Obscur: Expedition 33EA Sports College Football 25Dead Island 2Dead Rising Deluxe RemasteredDemon’s SoulsDiablo IVDragon Age: The VeilguardDragon’s Dogma 2Dying Light 2 Reloaded EditionDynasty Warriors: OriginsEA Sports FC 25EnlistedF1 24Final Fantasy VII RebirthFortniteGod of War RagnarökHogwarts LegacyHorizon Forbidden WestHorizon Zero Dawn RemasteredKayak VR: MirageKingdom Come Deliverance 2Lies of PLords of the FallenMadden NFL 25Marvel’s Spider-Man RemasteredMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesMarvel’s Spider-Man 2Monster Hunter WildsNaraka: BladepointNBA2K 25Ninja Gaiden 2 BlackNo Man’s SkyPalworldPaladin’s PassagePath of Exile 2Planet Coaster 2Professional Spirits Baseball 2024-2025Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartResident Evil 4Resident Evil VillageRise of the RoninRogue FlightSlitterheadStar Wars: Jedi SurvivorStar Wars: OutlawsStellar BladeTest Drive Unlimited: Solar CrownThe Callisto ProtocolThe Crew MotorfestThe FinalsThe First Descendant The Last of Us Part IThe Last of Us Part II RemasteredUFC 25UFLUntil DawnWar ThunderWarframeWarhammer 40,000 DarktideWorld of Warships: LegendZenless Zone ZeroPirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The games above have received dedicated PS5 Pro versions, and are even be labeled separately to indicate as such. There's also a whole host of PS4 and PS5 games that'll benefit from what Sony is calling PS5 Pro Game Boost (as per the PS Blog):"With the PS5 Pro version of the Game Boost feature, you can enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 and PS5 console’s greatest games."This is said to apply to at least 8,500 PS4 and PS5 titles, so there are plenty of changes and upgrades on the way to the games you already own if you do choose to pick up a PS5 Pro. In addition, PS5 Pro will significantly enhance PSVR 2 games according to Mark Cerny.

PS5 Pro enhanced games - what's the difference?

As part of the initial PS5 Pro technical presentation, we saw a few games running on the new hardware, highlighting the differences relative to the base PS5 console. Each enhanced game benefits from the new specs in different ways, but they all pull from the improvements below:

Upgraded GPU with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory; resulting in 45% faster renderingAdvanced ray-tracingAI-driven upscaling known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)2TB SSDPS5 Pro Game BoostOptional disc-driveVRR and 8K gaming support

(Image credit: PlayStation)

In our PS5 Pro review, we came to the conclusion that the main attraction is really “the convergence of graphical fidelity and performance with games now able to tap into the PS5 Pro’s hardware and features to shine in both ways - at the same time”. This boosted graphical fidelity is, more often than not, on par with the Quality Modes of the base PS5, but with a much smoother experience thanks to 60FPS or higher. This best of both worlds approach is really going to be the key difference moving forward, though it’s likely that we’ll see developers experiment further with higher end graphical settings that focus on ray tracing, or make use of the hardware’s new AI-boosted upscaling.Speaking on ray tracing, there have been significant advancements for many of the games now enhanced by the PS5 Pro. In our PS5 Pro review, we were impressed by the ray tracing across the board, noting that “you can now enjoy some of the best ray-tracing PS5 has to offer in a performance mode, targeting 60 frames per second, which is truly special in games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.” So far, we’re looking at games that have already come out as well, so moving forward we’re excited to see what the PS5 Pro’s ray tracing capabilities can achieve as games get bigger and better looking across the board.

PS5 Pro review: The TechRadar Gaming verdict(Image credit: Future)Our Managing Editor, Rob Dwiar, spent some time with the PS5 Pro pre-launch, and gave his verdict in the TechRadar Gaming PS5 Pro review. He concludes that the PS5 Pro “is a superb console and now the best PlayStation 5 machine available. The advancements are glorious and bring a new level of immersion and beauty to games, while also boosting performance levels to offer fluid and smooth frame rates and very high levels of image fidelity - at the same time - offering a clear advancement over the base PS5, and will be perfect for those enthusiasts yearning for more from the camps of fidelity and performance.”

One thing that is immediately surprising when taking the PS5 Pro out of the box is its size and weight relative to the base model, especially the one that launched with a disc drive back in 2020. The PS5 Pro is much lighter than you’d expect, and its sleek design and black vented sides really stand out alongside the all white of the PS5’s faceplates. Under the hood, you now get 2TB of storage as standard, meaning that you can hold more games on your hard drive without having to swap things out for new releases.While the technical upgrades and visual changes are indeed exciting, it’s also vital to point out the price jump between the base PS5 and the PS5 Pro. For $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199, you do not get a disc drive, or even a vertical stand, something that really represents a sting in the tail for an otherwise enticing mid-generation upgrade. Our review concludes that “If you’ve a keen eye for detail, are a PlayStation fanatic who wants to be at the bleeding edge of the brand’s console and wants the most performant PlayStation console going, or you’re a graphics obsessive who wants the best experience going, or are a PS5 user with a new 120Hz-capable gaming TV or PS5 monitor, then the gaming experiences provided by the PS5 Pro are going to be very tempting indeed. For everyone else, it’s just going to be too expensive.”You can read more on the differences between the Pro and the base PS5 in our PS5 Pro vs PS5 article.

PS5 Pro games: FAQs

Will new games be PS5 Pro-enhanced?

While we'll have to wait and see what upcoming PS5 games like Death Stranding 2 do with the new PS5 Pro technology, it's highly likely that first-party games will offer some form of PS5 Pro version. This was how things worked with the PS4 Pro, so expect there to be boosts to upcoming games like Marvel's Wolverine, and Ghost of Tsushima 2. In terms of third-party, PS5 Pro enhancements will come on a case by case basis. Some games will lean into the PS5 Pro's features, even offering separate PS5 Pro-labelled versions, while others may focus on a more general PS5 offering.

How much does the PS5 Pro cost?

The PS5 Pro launched on November 7, 2024, and currently retails for $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,999.95. This is a significant step up from the base console, especially when you consider that you won't get a disc drive or a vertical stand with it.

What games are the TechRadar Gaming looking forward to on PS5 Pro?

Now that the PS5 Pro is out, we’ve spent some time with the currently available list of enhanced games. Looking ahead, Assassin's Creed Shadows is sure to offer a smoother experience on PS5 Pro when it launches later in March. Beyond that, it’s Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei that’ll most likely show off the next level of PS5 Pro enhancements, especially the latter, which is being developed by Sony first party studio Sucker Punch.

What are the best PS5 Pro games to play on the new console?

In my opinion, the best PS5 Pro games are currently Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Alan Wake 2. The former introduces the new Performance Pro Mode, increasing the fidelity available while running the game at variable refresh rates. The results are extremely impressive, and immediately felt during the game’s opening fight with Sandman. Alan Wake 2 is significantly enhanced by the PS5 Pro as well, with the Performance Mode now able to match the Quality Mode on the base PS5, all while maintaining a smooth framerate. TechRadar Gaming’s Managing Editor Rob Dwiar recommends Horizon Forbidden West, in particular, calling it “hands down, the best looking game I think I've ever seen on a home game console, ever.”

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Windows 365 Link is easy to set up for IT admins and secureIt’ll cost $349 / £349 / AUD639 and is available to buy nowWe also got a Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode

Windows 365 Link, Microsoft’s first purpose-built Cloud PC device for connecting to Windows 365, is now generally available.The device is available from Microsoft account teams or a number of resellers in all of the countries it’s for sale in. It’s priced at: AUD639 in Australia, CAD519.99 in Canada, €419 in Germany, JPY56,800 in Japan, NZD739 in New Zealand, £349 in the United Kingdom and $349.99 in the United States.Key to its upcoming success will be its simple setup and minimal configuration requirements, making it an IT-friendly tool to deploy via Microsoft Intune.

Windows 365 Link on sale

An announcement by Stefan Kinnestrand, VP for Modern Work at Microsoft, claims in the several months after it was previewed at Microsoft Ignite 2024, more than 100 organizations got in on the preview program to offer feedback ahead of general availability.Kinnestrand noted that Windows 365 Link could be especially useful for desk-based or frontline workers in shared workspaces, because the device leaves no local data when users sign out.In the same breath, Kinnestrand also uncovered a handy new update – Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode. It allows multiple users to share a single Cloud PC license and automatically clears user data after each session ends for privacy, making it an ideal system for temporary or occasional access use cases.Highlighting the benefits of Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, a Microsoft-commissioned Forrester Consulting study details how users can save six to 12 minutes per day from avoided outages and improved latency, implement cost-effective bring-your-own-PC (BYOPC) programs, reduce their IT infrastructure costs and make substantial five- or six-figure savings (for companies with 2,000 employees).Other announcements shared include a Windows app for Android devices and a reminder of the Windows 11 hotpatching update.

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