News
This constantly updated list features the latest and most important news articles, ranked in order of significance. The top stories highlight major developments, breaking news, and critical updates across various topics, ensuring you stay informed about the most pressing issues. As new articles are added, the list adapts to reflect the latest priorities, keeping the most impactful stories at the forefront. Whether it’s global events, technology breakthroughs, or industry trends, this dynamic list ensures you always have access to the most relevant and timely information.
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11451Netflix have released a bounty of details for the upcoming fourth season – or Volume 4 as the streamer is calling it – of ambitious anthology Love Death + Robots, and the trailer looks just as wild as we’d expect from one of the best Netflix shows.Show creator and Deadpool director Tim Miller teases more of what fans have come to love about the series, stating “I’ve given up on figuring out which season might be ‘the best’ because I love all my children, but I am really excited about all the episodes in Volume 4,” and we’re excited too, with the trailer, which you can watch below, promising everything from cute kitties to insane violence.
Perhaps most intriguing though is executive producer David Fincher returning not only to the Love, Death + Robots directors chair (following Vol. 3’s 'Bad Travelling' episode) but to the world of music videos.While Fincher is best known today as the master of the slightly twisted, always gripping thriller, the Gone Girl filmmaker cut his teeth as part of the MTV generation, directing videos for the likes of Sting, Madonna, Aerosmith and Michael Jackson before making his feature debut with Alien 3.While Fincher has gone back to the well in recent years, collaborating with artists such as Justin Timberlake and long time composing partner Trent Reznor, the upcoming Love Death + Robots episode 'Can’t Stop' may be his most ambitious short project yet, with Netflix billing it as: “A unique take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ legendary 2003 performance at Slane Castle, Ireland, with band members [...] recreated as string-puppets.”
What can we expect from Love, Death + Robots season 4?
While Fincher and Red Hot Chilli Peppers may be hugely exciting, that’s far from all this season has in store, with one of the best streaming services teasing a whole host of new stories.As always, fans can expect a huge variety of visual styles, genres and global influences, with Miller stating: “One of my biggest joys in making LDR [...] is when artists or directors make choices you would never make. Their ideas, shot choices, angles, sense of timing – whatever – is something foreign to your visual language but also awesome!”'Close Encounters of the Mini Kind' looks set to deliver an adorable alien apocalypse as it pays tribute to classic 50s sci-fi, while 'Spider Rose', a sequel of sorts to Vol. 3’s cyberpunk horror 'Swarm', will deliver a dose of gory vengeance. Star Wars’ John Boyega lends his voice to '400 Boys', which sees warring post-apocalyptic gangs team up to battle a Kaiju-like threat and comes from Emmy-winning director Robert Valley and comedians Chris Parnell and John Oliver can be heard in 'The Other Large Thing', the tale of a cat with designs on world domination and his web-hacking robot butler sidekick.Tim Miller directs 'Golgotha', a rare live-action installment in the series starring Rhys Darby as a vicar playing host to an alien emissary who believes a dolphin is the reincarnation of their messiah. Miller also helms 'The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur' which can be summed up as gladiators + dinosaurs, while 'How Zeke Got Religion' follows a WW2 bomber which finds itself up against biblical foes. 'Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners' features the voices of Kevin Hart and Brett Goldstein as overworked and underappreciated household goods, and “For He Can Creep” sees a Georgian Era poet protected by his cat when Satan (Dan Stevens) comes knocking.We told you Netflix's new installment of Love, Death + Robots looks wild, and you can enjoy every insane moment for yourself when all ten episodes drop on Netflix on May 15.
You might also like
This new hitman series is a streaming hit on NetflixOuter Banks season 5: everything we know so far Two major streaming services have been reducing ads
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11452 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11453 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11454 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11455 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11456 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11457 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11458 -
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11459Nintendo may not have enough Switch 2 consoles for everyone, it seems. It’s struggling to meet demand both in Japan and the US, where pre-orders were already delayed due to the tariff fiasco. The official release date for the console, June 5, remains unchanged. However, if you signed up ahead of time on Nintendo’s site, you may have received an email granting you access to place your order through Nintendo.
The company recently emailed users to inform them it has noted “very high demand” for the console, so “your invitation email may arrive after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, scheduled for June 5.” Yeah, your chance to pre-order might happen after the console has already gone on sale.
In Japan, when Nintendo offered the chance to “register your interest” in purchasing a Switch 2, 2.2 million people applied. That’s almost two percent of the country’s population.
You don’t have to buy your console direct from Nintendo, of course, but getting the Switch 2 elsewhere has also been challenging. Best Buy, Walmart and Target pre-orders opened at midnight yesterday, while GameStop in-person and online pre-orders started at 11am. And all of those retailers have either already sold out, or list the console as “coming soon.”
Did you manage to get an order in? And did you get the Piranha Plant camera?
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
MasterClass subscriptions are 40 percent off right now
Motorola made a foldable Razr with a wooden body
Remedy’s co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak comes out June 17
Netflix subtitles are now available in a dialogue-only format
Duolingo will help you learn chess
Fetch my red bob!
After adding music and math to its app, Duolingo is now introducing lessons for the true love language: chess. Lessons for beginners and intermediate players will initially be in beta in its iOS app.
The app will start by asking you how much you know about chess, then tailor lessons based on your level — I assume it asks you what the horsey piece is called. If you already know how each piece moves, you’ll face Duolingo’s Oscar in mini -puzzles, where you have to capture certain pieces using a specified piece. You can also play full level-appropriate games against Oscar — but no other humans for now.
Continue reading.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 review
An original hit RPG.
Engadget
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has many excited. Maybe it’s the dreamy Belle Époque aesthetic and design. Maybe it’s the gloriously pulpy concept of an all-powerful Paintress dooming humankind to an ever-shortening mortal clock. Maybe it’s the characters, bolstered by a starry voice-artist roster, and nuanced animation and story. (Maybe, at this point in gaming, it’s the $50 price tag.) The surprise boss, however, might be the remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, which stealth-launched the day before Expedition 33. Our lives can only take one RPG at a time — this compelling, gorgeous RPG is worth your time. And it’s already on Xbox Game Pass.
Continue reading.
Razer has a vertical mouse now
Yes, there's RGB lighting.
Razer
Razer’s Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition is the company’s first vertical mouse. Vertical designs can be a more ergonomic mouse options, particularly if you experience discomfort when spending long stretches at a computer. Like me, hi.
The Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition has eight programmable buttons and promises a battery life of up to six months. It has a 71.7-degree tilt, so you hold it in a handshake-like grip, which can reduce strain in long-use sessions. There’s also a support on the base that aims to cut down on wrist friction. The cost of ergonomic comfort? $120.
Continue reading.
Motorola’s new wireless headphones are worn like jewelry
Dangle dangle.
Moto
Motorola is introducing the Moto Buds Loop, the company’s first take on wireless open-ear earbuds. Instead of completely covering your ear, the Moto Buds Loops cuff the outside, almost like a piercing, blocking out less of the world around you, while still letting you hear your music. Motorola says the earbuds have 12mm drivers and Sound by Bose technology, which means they’re tuned for clarity and balance. They also use a combination of AI and dual microphones to minimize background noise.
Continue reading.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-112054646.html?src=rss
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11460Aggreko study finds most data center managers agree sustainability is more important than three years agoBattery energy storage systems and future fuels are favorites across the UK&ICollaboration with energy suppliers could help tackle some hurdles
One-third of UK data centers managers and over 40% in Ireland cite reducing environmental impact as their top concern, but the reality is that there's still a long way to go.According to new data from an Aggreko survey, reassuringly, 73% in the UK and 96% in Ireland say sustainability has become more important today than it was three years ago, suggesting data centers might be heading in the right direction.However, even though attentions have shifted onto sustainability, data center managers are facing a number of barriers preventing them from becoming greener.
Data centers are far from being sustainable
High upfront costs to adopt greener tech were cited by 48% in the UK and 42% in Ireland – a trend that could possible continue to grow as the world's economies continue to battle it out.Around a quarter of respondents also noted that biofuels are not easily accessible.Looking ahead, we're likely to see regional differences on a much more local scale. Companies are already exploring exploiting the world's climates to improve sustainability, such as locating data centers in colder regions where cooling puts less stress on the environment, but even the UK and Ireland are preferring slightly different strategies.In the UK, respondents showd a preference for battery energy storage systems (BESS), allowing them to store harness the power of green energy, but Irish respondents noted a higher preferences for future fuels like hydrogen or biomethanol.Aggreko also revealed the influencing factors can vary wildly – legislation is the main driver for sustainable options in the UK, but Irish respondents noted a desire to lower carbon emissions.Looking ahead, Aggreko calls for closer collaboration between data centers companies and energy suppliers."It is vital they work together with a trusted and reliable energy supplier that understands the industry’s challenges," Aggreko Global Sector Head for Data Centers Billy Durie said.
You might also like
Consider switching to the best green web hostingData centers are behind the best AI tools and best AI writers you useAI demand is causing huge sustainability problems - and hard drives over SSDs could be the answer
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 114614chan, one of the trolliest places on the internet, could be gone for good following last week's hack. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn break down what 4chan was and why it's influence can be found practically everywhere now. It's like we're living in a poster's paradise. Also, we discuss YouTube's 20th birthday and all of the memories (and frustrations) it's given us over the years.
Subscribe!
iTunes
Spotify
Pocket Casts
Stitcher
Google Podcasts
Topics
4chan is dead, RIP? – 2:08
Youtube turns 20 – 15:59
Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally available for preorder at the same price – 33:03
Apple and Meta fined a combined €800m under Europe’s New Digital Markets Act – 34:44
OpenAI might be interested in Chrome if Google was compelled to sell – 35:30
Google pays Samsung an “enormous” amount to put Gemini on phones – 37:50
The Washington Post partners with OpenAI to bring its content to ChatGPT – 38:43
Around Engadget – 41:52
Listener Mail: Transitioning from Windows to Mac for CAD / 3D design – 47:01
Pop culture picks – 54:55
Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn LowProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-the-death-of-4chan-for-now-113033187.html?src=rss
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11462 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11463Got a Google Pixel 7a? You could be eligible for a payout or free battery swap – here’s how to checkGoogle is offering repairs or payment for Pixel 7a users affected by a serious battery issueSome Pixel 7a users have reported battery swelling severe enough to warp the phone chassisEligibility depends on region and warranty status
Google has stepped up to remedy a major battery swelling issue with some Pixel 7a smartphones, meaning affected users can now claim a free repair or partial refund.Under the Extended Repair Program for Pixel 7a, users can seek repair or repayment from Google directly.Recent reports have highlighted the battery expansion issue, which Google describes as including “visible swelling of the device”, the “phone cover bulging or separating from the device”, or the battery “draining significantly faster than usual”.As we previously covered, swollen batteries present a danger to health and home, as they can be an unpredictable fire risk if left unattended – be sure to check out our guide on how to dispose of an inflated phone battery for more information.As 9to5Google reports, Google is offering walk-in repairs at centres in the following countries:
USUKIndiaGermanyJapanSingapore
Additionally, Google is providing a mail-in repair service in the US and India only.Google is also offering partial refunds to affected Pixel 7a users, depending on territory and warranty coverage: none of the following options are available in the US or India.In other territories, those still covered by their Pixel 7a’s warranty can claim $456 from Google – that’s cash, not store credit.And users in said territories who are out of their Pixel 7a’s warranty period can claim either $300 towards another Pixel phone, or $200 in cash.It’s worth noting that if your Pixel 7a handset exhibits other forms of damage, such as exposure to sharp objects, liquid damage, or damage caused by excessive force, Google may refuse to issue a battery replacement.The official Extended Repair Program page also notes that Google may charge an additional fee if the phone exhibits out-of-warranty damage like a cracked screen – which we’d guess is because screens typically need to be removed to access the internal components of a smartphone.The kind of repair program that Google is running isn’t unheard of – some may even call it expected with an issue as serious as battery inflation – but it’s still good to see Google doing the right thing here.Head to Google’s official registration page to get your repair or refund claim started, and be sure to let us know how you get on in the comments below.
You might also like
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 price rumors: how much might this foldable cost?I've reviewed 100s of phones and the new Motorola Razr comes in colors I've never seen - I've ranked the new Razr 2025 look from the worst to the bestApple will reportedly offer more RAM than ever before in the iPhone 17 as it catches up to the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11464A company backed by Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto, just came out of stealth mode to unveil its first EV, and it's incredibly interesting. The Slate Pickup is a tiny and boxy, almost Kei-like truck that will be sold in a barebones configuration for as little as $27,500, or $20,000 with the Federal US tax credit. That would make it one of the cheapest EVs available, but there is a catch: it doesn't come with a stereo, touchscreen or even paint options, and the 150 mile range makes it more of an urban runner than a cross country machine.
A good analogy to the Slate Pickup is a home-built PC that comes with the basics but can then be infinitely customized. For the entry-level model (the "Blank Slate"), you get two seats, a bed large enough to hold a sheet of plywood, plastic composite body panels and any paint color you like, as long as it's grey. Curb weight is 3,500 pounds and it's 25-inches shorter than a Ford Maverick. There's no infotainment system, just a universal phone mount and USB power. Power windows? Heck no, it comes standard with crank opening (it does have AC though). And with just a 52.7 kWh battery, range is limited to 150 miles, though it does support 150kW fast charging.
With that as a base, you can start expanding into DIY territory with more than 100 available accessories. Want more passengers? Choose from two SUV options and you'll be able to seat up to five, or go for the open air kit. Those are delivered in a flat pack and designed to be user-installed.
If you want a color scheme that better reflects your personality, get a wrap and decals. There are a number of exterior options, like a spare tire carrier, rear and front bumper upgrades, fender flares, running boards, a lift kit and tower rack lighting. Inside, you can add small or large screens, speakers and yes, a power window kit. The pickup also comes with "Slate access points" that will support future and even homemade accessories.
The battery pack can also be expanded to 84.3 kWh for a target range of 240 miles. With the standard battery, the company says you'll be able to charge to 80 percent in 30 minutes at 120kW using the fast charger. Power is limited compared to other EVs at 201 HP and 195 pound feet of torque, giving the Slate Pickup a 0-60 MPH time of 8.0 seconds and top speed of 90 mph (estimated).
Slate Auto
Where most automakers try to max out a vehicle's features, Slate is banking on a subset of buyers that don't care about, say, self-driving but do enjoy DIY personalization. In its video, the company points out that it took out everything "that wasn't a car" like "a fancy screen, colored lighting, cooled seats, self driving, self parking and automated cup holders." However, it will still comply with Federal safety standards for 2027 as it will be equipped with features like automatic emergency braking and a standard backup camera (with view displayed on the dash since there's no touchscreen).
It remains to be seen if there's a big enough market for such buyers, but the Slate Pickup is certainly affordable. The company is promising you'll pay under $20,000 for the base model if you include federal tax credits (which Trump could kill at any time, by the way) thanks to its direct, Tesla-like sales model. If you're interested, refundable vehicle reservations are now open at $50 at slate.auto. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/slate-auto-unveils-its-us-made-barebones-electric-pickup-costing-just-20000-120029155.html?src=rss
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11465Food at the grocery store seems expensive — until you go out to eat. If you’ve decided to get more use out of your kitchen, we know of a few handy gadgets to make cooking at home easier, quicker and probably more fun. As food lovers and tech reviewers, the Engadget team has tried out pizza ovens, sous vide machines, air fryers, ice cream makers and more. This list gathers up the best of what we’ve tested and reviewed in our own kitchens and serves as a great place to start as you zhuzh up your cooking situation. We’ve also linked to our reviews and buying guides so you can dive deeper into our recommendations for the best kitchen gadgets around.
Best kitchen gadgets for 2025
Nicole Lee contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-kitchen-tech-gadgets-small-appliances-124515179.html?src=rss
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11466 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11467 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11468Microsoft was flagging some legitimate Adobe emails as spamThe company blamed it on an error with its machine learning modelThe issue now appears to be fixed
Microsoft has fixed an annoying bug where a machine learning model in Exchange Online had been mistakenly flagging legitimate Adobe emails as spam.The errneous spam flagging was relatively short-lived, spanning a two-day period between April 22 at 9:04 AM UTC and April 24 at 11:04 AM UTC.It's believed the company's machine learning model wrongly flagged emails due to their similarity with spam emails, and particularly affected emails containing Adobe URLs.
Adobe emails are no longer being marked as spam
"We've determined our machine learning (ML) model, which safeguards Exchange Online against risky email messages, was incorrectly identifying legitimate email messages as spam due to their similarity to email messages used in spam attacks, which was resulting in impact," Microsoft explained.The mishap was detailed in an advisory on the Microsoft 365 admin center under the EX1061430 tag (via Bleeping Computer).Coinciding with Microsoft's erroneous flagging, malware analysis service ANY.RUN recorded a sharp rise in the number of Adobe Acrobat Cloud links for personal documents that were being submitted by Microsoft Defender XDR.ANY.RUN shared on X: "After research, we've discovered that Microsoft Defender XDR mistakenly flagged acrobat[.]adobe[.]com/id/urn:aaid:sc: as malicious.""To fix the issue we initiated Replay Time Travel (RTT) on the affected URLs to fully remediate impact. Impact was specific to some users who were served through the affected infrastructure," Microsoft added.ANY.RUN noted the unintented consequences created by a combination of its services, Defender XDR and Microsoft's machine learning mistake. Because legitimate URLs linking to personal and work documents were being submitted to ANY.RUN, the service saw users "upload more than a thousand Adobe files with sensitive corprorate data of hundreds of companies.""To stop leaks, we're making all these analyses private," ANY.RUN confirmed.
You might also like
We've listed the best email providersCheck out our roundup of the best endpoint protection softwareA Microsoft Entra security update is locking users out of their accounts
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11469Moto Buds Loop have sound by Bose and spatial audioAvailable in sparkly and non-sparkly versionsReportedly will cost £129 (about $171) without crystals, £249 (about $330) with them
The new Motorola open earbuds in partnership with Bose we told you about a few days ago are official. They're called the Moto Buds Loop, they're an ear cuff design, and they come with sparkly bits embedded in the buds.There's also a non-sparkly option, but that's much less fun.As expected, these have Sound by Bose – and that means the audio experience should be pretty good. But it's the visual design that makes these buds stand out.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Motorola Buds Loop: key features
There are two color options here. Trekking Green is a very dark green color, while French Oak is more of a champagne.French Oak looks a lot more luxurious than the green, and that's before you open the case and see that the buds have Swarovski crystals embedded in their arches.It's smart of Motorola to offer a non-bling option too, because I think for every person that goes "Ooh! Sparkly!" like me, there'll be someone going "Eww! Sparkly!"Both models have identical spec: 12mm drivers, two microphones with Motorola's CrystalTalk AI, spatial audio, and up to eight hours of playtime from the buds and a total 37 hours via the case. Charging time is 60 minutes.We saw the buds at an event, though couldn't try their sound quality – but at this US event, Motorola didn't reveal the price. This is getting pretty common at US launches, as companies worry if they'll have to change prices due to tariffs between announcement and release – just look at the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders for a prime example.But there is a claimed UK price for these buds, reported by Notebookcheck, which gives us some guidance. They're said to be £129 (about $171 / AU$270) for the green Swarovski-free model, and £249 (about $330 / AU$520) for the Forest Oak shiny model.The lower price puts them in line with a lot of the best open earbuds, so it'll come down to how good they sound – we were very impressed with Moto's last tie-up with Bose, the Moto Buds+, and particularly praised the sound quality.Their biggest issue was locking key features to Motorola phones, and not making the control app available for iOS at all – hopefully Motorola will fix that error this time, because the Forest Oak could appeal to a lot of gold iPhone owners…
You might also like
The best earbuds 2025 for every budget, all tested by usThe best noise-cancelling earbuds 2025, for all budgetsThe best headphones 2025 tested by our experts
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11470Adobe adds new AI tools to ExpressThe push towards video continuesClip Maker is going to save creators so much time
Adobe has unveiled a stream of new additions for Adobe Express that, to my mind, are making it a clear go-to app in the marketer’s and creator’s arsenal.There have been plenty of updates to Adobe stalwarts Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator, infused with more Firefly AI than you’ll know what to do with (check out our round-up of the 5 biggest new Photoshop, Firefly and Premiere Pro tools that were announced at Adobe Max London 2025)But Adobe Express has also received some extra love this year - and a host of new AI tools. At this year’s Adobe Max London, I had the opportunity to check out a demo for some of these - and I’m starting to really see the growth here from its original role as a simple online designer, not a million miles away from Canva, to a new focus on both design and motion. It looks like we’re going to have to update our Adobe Express review after all this.
What’s new in Adobe Express?
On the new tools, Govind Balakrishnan, SVP and General Manager, Adobe Express, said: “We're excited to introduce new AI-powered video and animation capabilities to make it even easier for people to stand out and break through with their brands.”Here are the stand-out additions coming to Express.
1. Turn long-form videos into short-form content
This is my favorite new addition in Express. You can now cut down long videos at pretty much the click of a button with Clip Maker. This update is going to be a serious time-saver if you create long-form content for platforms like YouTube or you’re running webinars and presentations, and want to splice it up for the likes of Reels, TikTok, or Shorts. During my demo, I sawn an hour-long video cut into approximately ten-minute chunks that can be further edited.
2. Create new AI images based on existing ones
Generate Similar lets you select existing images and, with a little prompting, create new images that maintain the same look and feel. It worked very well during my demo, where a heavily stylised image of a rose was used as a starting point, and using Firefly, a similar image of a tulip was generated. Color, style, and framing carried through, as if the work was by a single ‘artist’. Not a game-changer by any means, but it’ll help users stay on-brand and quickly create a library of images that sit well together.
3. Turn still images into eye-catching animations
Adobe Express’s bread and butter is simple graphic design, but this is a really nice addition. You can now animate sections of a static image - for example, adding glittering stars, having your text pop in, or letting objects jiggle on-screen. I didn't find it as high-powered as you’ll see in more advanced Adobe apps, but if you’re looking for more engaging content for your social platforms, this is a nice touch. For more image tools - although I didn’t get a chance to see them in action - you now have access to more than 30 new filters powered by Photoshop right inside Express.
4. More AI video generation
You can’t go ten seconds without AI inserting itself into the workflow, but I think these are going to be welcomed by most users. You can now generate commercially safe videos in Express. I was told all the backgrounds and b-roll seen in the demo were created this way - and they looked pretty good to me.
5. Improve audio with Enhance Speech
If you use other Creative Cloud apps, you may be familiar with Enhance Speech - it’s already a part of Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Podcast. Effectively, this tool uses AI (of course) to clean-up sounds. So, if you record in an echo-y room or there’s a little too much background chatter in the office, this tool will strip out unwanted audio and standardize noise levels.
6. Better, faster captioning
Another new tool is automatic captioning. Now, there’s nothing especially new about this tool - but it’s new to Express, and I found this one was pretty quick. On top of this, users now have more control over how those captions appear. Useful if you have brand colors and styles you want to apply.
7. Record yourself and add it to the canvas
I wasn’t expecting this, but you can now self-record videos and add them into Express. According to Adobe, this is built for “tutorials, video podcasts, reels and more.” In the demo, I liked how you can position the video anywhere on the canvas and resize it to suit your needs. You’ll find these types of webcam capture tools in the best screen recording software, but this seems like a seamless way to blend self-recorded videos to existing designs.
You can check out the new tools in Adobe Express right now. The app is free to use with plans for teams and business users. It's also included as part of an add-on alongside other Adobe apps like Photoshop. Click here to find out more.
You might also like
See how Adobe Express fares in our round-up of the best free logo makersLike the self-record feature? We reviewed the best free screen recorders aroundAdobe arch-rival unveils online graphic design tool for beginners - and yes, it has a subscription
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11471 -
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11472Those waiting for a good deal on Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air should check out Amazon now. The online retailer has the new MacBook Air for $100 off, down to $899 from $999, which is the best discount we've seen. At the moment, the discount is only available on the midnight color option.
Apple only released the MacBook Air M4 in Mid-March and it's already our pick for 2025's best MacBook overall. We gave it in a 92 in our review thanks to features like its 13.6-inch liquid retina display and slim build — it weighs 2.7 pounds and is 0.44 inches thick. But, it's the M4 chip that really gives this MacBook Air a boost. The 13-inch model has a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Plus, it lasted over 18 hours while playing HD video.
If you're looking for something a little bigger and with more RAM, then it might be worth getting the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. It's currently down to $1,449 from $1,599 and offers 24GB of RAM, compared to the 13-inch's 16GB. Similarly to the 13-inch deal, this one is also only available at the discounted price in the midnight colorway.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-drops-to-a-new-record-low-price-144625480.html?src=rss
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11473OpenAI is giving free ChatGPT users limited access to its Deep Research tool without the need to pay for it. In addition, the company has expanded the tool's limits for all users by rolling out a lightweight version of it powered by its o4-mini model. It says the o4-mini Deep Research feature produces slightly shorter responses, but is "nearly as smart, more cost-efficient and delivers similarly high-quality results" as the original version. OpenAI previously released the tool for use by paying Pro, Plus, Team, Edu and Enterprise subscribers. But even they have a limited number of Deep Research queries per month.
The lightweight version of deep research is powered by a version of OpenAI o4-mini and is nearly as intelligent as the deep research people already know and love, while being significantly cheaper to serve.Responses will typically be shorter while maintaining the depth and… pic.twitter.com/H2UD5GThVj— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 24, 2025
Plus users, for instance, only had access to 10 inquiries, whereas Pro subscribers paying $200 monthly had a limit of 125. Now, when users hit their limit on the original version, ChatGPT will switch over to the lightweight one. Plus and Team subscribers are now getting an extra 15 Deep Research inquiries a month on top of their 10, while Pro users are getting an additional 125 tasks powered by the lightweight version of the tool on top of their 125. Enterprise and Edu users are getting access to the lightweight tool next week and will get 15 more inquiries every month. As for free users, they can use the tool powered by o4-mini to get up to five answers monthly.
Deep Research has the capacity to analyze websites and various sources to create thorough reports with citations. The company says the tool is "fine-tuned on the OpenAI o3 reasoning model," but the lightweight version is "significantly cheaper to serve."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-deep-research-tool-is-coming-to-free-accounts-123031773.html?src=rss
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11474 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11475 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11476 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11477Yale New Haven Health suffered a cyberattack in early March 2025A subsequent investigation showed the theft of sensitive dataMore than five million people could have been affected
A recent cyberattack on Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) may have resulted in the theft of sensitive data of more than five million people.The non-profit healthcare network confirmed the news in a legal notice published on its website, where it said it had identified “unusual activity” on its IT systems on March 8, 2025.The subsequent investigation, conducted with the assistance of a third-party forensics expert, showed that “copies of certain data” were stolen.
Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/monthKeeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data. It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal
Class action lawsuits incoming
“At no point did this incident impact our ability to provide patient care,” YNHHS said.The organization then detailed the information that was stolen: people’s names, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, race and ethnicity, Social Security numbers, patient type information, and/or medical record numbers.Electronic medical records and treatment information were not stolen, the organization stressed, and added that the crooks did not steal financial account or payment information.While the notice did not discuss the number of affected individuals, BleepingComputer found a new entry on the US Department of Health and Human Services breach portal, where it says that 5,556,702 patients are affected.The publication says that given the extent of the impact, class-action lawsuits are “already being prepared” by law firms representing impacted individuals who will seek reimbursement.At press time, no threat actors assumed responsibility for the attack, and the data is yet to surface on the dark web.Generally speaking, organizations in the healthcare industry are an attractive target for cybercriminals, due to the sensitivity of the files they generate, and the fact that many are still running outdated and neglected hardware and software.In mid-March 2025, for example, both Sunflower Medical Group and Community Care Alliance confirmed suffering a cyberattack and losing data on some 300,000 people.
You might also like
Ransomware gangs allegedly hit two major US healthcare firms, 300,000 patients have data stolenTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers
-

Picture from techcrunch.com
Rank 11478 -
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11479The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are on sale right now for $179, which is a discount of $50. Just head on over to Wellbots and pop in the code ENGAD50 to score the deal.
This is Google’s latest and greatest audio product and easily made our list of the best wireless earbuds. They are smaller and more comfortable than the previous version, which is great. Despite the product shrinkage, the sound has also been improved. The bass is punchy and the highs are crisp.
The battery life is also slightly improved when compared to the original earbuds. You can expect eight hours of use with ANC on, but this increases to 30 hours when you consider the included charging case. These are the company’s first earbuds with a Tensor chip, which allows for ultra-low latency audio processing and multi-path signal handling.
Other perks include conversation detection, multipoint Bluetooth and the ability to customize what long-pressing the button does. These earbuds can also automatically switch between devices linked to a Google account, which is great for Android users but doesn’t do much for Apple fans.
For those on a serious budget, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds are also $50 off via Wellbots. Enter the same ENGAD50 code to bring the price down to just $49.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-are-50-off-right-now-130054223.html?src=rss
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11480For earbuds in the $150 range, there’s usually not a lot to get excited about. Sure, those models typically offer the basics with decent sound quality, but very few have a stand-out feature that leaves a lasting impression. For its ATH-CKS50TW2 ($149), Audio-Technica sought to do this with extremely long battery life and a neat trick that will help you make the most of it. There’s a lot more to like on this set, including a list of tools that rival more expensive alternatives, but the ATH-CKS50TW2 is far from a complete package. The satisfying audio performance and ability to use them for over 20 hours on a charge might be enough to entice you to overlook those shortcomings.
The good: battery life, magnets and sound quality
When Audio-Technica announced the ATH-CKS50TW2 at CES, the first item on the spec sheet that struck me was the battery life. The company says you can expect up to 25 hours on a full charge without active noise cancellation (ANC) and up to 40 more hours from the charging case. With ANC enabled, you’ll still get a whopping 15 hours of listening time, which is about double what a lot of the competition offers these days. Importantly, those claims actually held true during my tests.
To maximize those numbers, the company equipped the ATH-CKS50TW2 with so-called Magnetic Switch technology. Specifically, the earbuds snap together with magnets to turn off before you put them in the case. Much of the competition doesn’t power down until the earbuds are inside of the case, but with the ATH-CKS50TW2, you don’t need to worry about that extra step. Simply take them off and snap them together, then you’ll know you’re no longer wasting precious battery power while the buds are resting on your desk. This also means the ATH-CKS50TW2 won’t always be charging in the case when you’re not using them, which should help extend battery longevity.
I’m also happy to report that Audio-Technica brought its trademark warm, inviting sound profile to the ATH-CKS50TW2. More specifically, the stock audio isn’t overly tuned, so bass remains pleasantly thumpy when needed and dialed down when it’s not. The bassline of Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” booms while the hi-hats, claps and vocals cut through clear. When you switch over to something more mellow with less low-end bombast like Turnpike Troubadours’ “Be Here,” you get the full gamut of the acoustic instruments and light drums without bass overpowering the mix.
It doesn’t deliver the enhanced clarity and pristine detail that more expensive, flagship-level earbuds do, but the ATH-CKS50TW2 is plenty good for $150. In fact, this may be the best option in terms of sound quality in this price range. On Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow, for example, the acoustic guitar — the lone instrument on the album — doesn’t have the expressive nuance as it does on Technics’ AZ100 or Bowers and Wilkins’ Pi8. But I’ll admit the ATH-CKS50TW2 holds its own against similarly priced competition. That, and the extended battery life alone make these earbuds a compelling package.
The not so good: design, controls and a missing feature
By 2025 standards, the ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds are big and bulky. They also feel unbalanced, with much of the weight sitting well outside the curves of your ears. This means they’re not as comfortable as smaller models and feel unsteady. I never had issues with them falling out, but they feel like they could, which isn’t great. Perhaps Audio-Technica needed the extra space for bigger batteries, which I’m guessing will be an acceptable trade-off for users searching for longer listening times between charges.
Audio-Technica gave the ATH-CKS50TW2 physical controls, which is usually a good thing. Like some of the company’s previous models, the buttons are small, positioned along the top edge of the earbuds. Due to the design of the ATH-CKS50TW2 though, you have to hold the earbuds in place while pressing those buttons. It’s cumbersome, mostly due to the size and weight of each bud. The bulky, unbalanced construction has trickle-down effects on other aspects of the listening experience.
Billy Steele for Engadget
The ATH-CKS50TW2 is missing a crucial feature — wear detection. But the company has done well to include ANC, Hear-Through (ambient sound) mode, a five-band EQ, soundscapes, media controls and battery updates in its app. There’s also a “private timer” and low latency mode for games and video. You can even adjust how many steps volume adjustments will jump and test your microphone to see if optional noise reduction is needed during calls. Additionally, a quick-attention, Talk-Through mode that reduces volume and activates ambient sound for brief chats too. But you won’t find the simple, and handy, automatic pausing when you remove the earbuds from your ears.
The final verdict on the ATH-CKS50TW2
My initial assumption was correct: the main reason to buy the ATH-CKS50TW2 is the extremely long battery life. I don’t think the Magnetic Switch feature is necessary to hit the promised runtime, but it’s nice to know the earbuds are off without having to put them in the case where they’ll recharge even when you don’t need them to. Audio-Technica’s sonic prowess is on display here as well, albeit to a lesser degree than some of the company’s other earbuds and headphones.
The design isn’t the most comfortable and the controls are awkward to use, but the full list of the ATH-CKS50TW2’s features is quite long. Despite a few flaws, there’s plenty to like here, including the two most important things for a lot of users: sound and battery life.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/audio-technica-ath-cks50tw2-review-long-battery-life-and-satisfying-sound-for-150-130042531.html?src=rss
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11481Marvel Rivals Mutants include some of the most iconic Heroes ever to grace the pages of the most illustrious comic book runs. It's fair to say that if you're a Marvel fan like me, you absolutely have a soft spot for the X-Men and regularly choose a Mutant Hero when loading into a match of Marvel Rivals.If you're new to Marvel comics lore, you may not be able to identify the Mutant Heroes in the now nearly 40-strong roster available in Marvel Rivals. You'll need to do so for some of the latest challenges, including one that tasks you to "deal 10K damage as any Mutant". If you'd like to unlock one of the best free skins in Marvel Rivals Season 2, then look no further, as I've put together a list of every Mutant Hero in the game.Even if you're not set on completing Mutant-related challenges, it's worth knowing which Heroes are labelled as such, as they're some of the best Heroes you can use in the game, like Emma Frost, a new Vanguard that's currently leading the Competitive Mode meta.Here's the Marvel Rivals Mutant list, so that you can identify which heroes get their extraordinary abilities from the X-Gene, making it easier to complete new challenges and limited-time event modes.
Marvel Rivals Mutant list
There are currently seven Mutant Heroes available in Marvel Rivals, counting only the playable ones:
Emma Frost (Vanguard)Magik (Duelist)Magneto (Vanguard)Namor (Duelist)Psylocke (Duelist)Storm (Duelist)Wolverine (Duelist)
Now, let's take a look at each Mutant in Marvel Rivals, so that you can understand which ones to use to suit certain play styles.
Emma Frost
(Image credit: NetEase)
Emma Frost is the newest Hero to be added to Marvel Rivals. She's a Vanguard that is able to dish out heaps of damage while tanking incoming fire with a diamond shield. The more damage you deal with primary fire, the higher its charge gets. At 100 charge, it's absolutely lethal, so make sure to keep that number as high as possible at all times.In terms of how to play Emma Frost efficiently, focus on charging your primary and recalling your shield before it breaks. Diamond Form opens up the chokeslam, which can pull certain Heroes out of their Ults. Pair this with a sweeping kick (extra damage for knocking enemies against walls) for one heck of a combo.
Magneto
(Image credit: NetEase)
Magneto is one of the most powerful Mutants in Marvel Rivals and is a great pick to use alongside Emma Frost. He's able to apply shields to teammates, tank damage with his own, and even push enemies back with a blast of metallic energy. He's great for protecting Strategists who are getting dived, and for shielding teammates as they make an offensive push. His Ultimate absorbs projectiles, so it can be used to completely negate an Iron-Man Ult.If you're going to run Magneto in Competitive Mode, get used to charging up his alternate fire and shielding teammates. Generally, I recommend using your shields on others unless you absolutely need to use them on yourself. If there's an Emma Frost on your team, use the Team Up to create a clone, and then shield a teammate. Your clone will then shield you, which is incredibly useful against high DPS compositions.
Magik
(Image credit: NetEase)
Magik is still one of the trickiest Duelists to master in Marvel Rivals, but well worth putting the time into. She's primarily used to dive backline enemies, using abilities to stack bonus health and dart around the field. Her Ultimate can take a bit of getting used to, but by spamming the whirlwind slash attack, you'll deal out massive damage across a wide area of effect.Head to the practice range with Magik and get some time in trying out her abilities. They can be strung together in interesting ways, allowing you to move around while dealing out damage. This makes Magik very difficult to hit, and if you're good at playing her, you'll dominate lower-ranked lobbies.
Namor
(Image credit: NetEase)
Namor is our next Mutant, and he's gotten a big change as part of Season 2. His Luna Snow Team Up is no more, and he's instead paired with Hulk and Iron Man. This means his squids get a gamma boost rather than an ice one, and to be honest, it's not quite as good. Still, Namor is absolutely essential if the other team is running a heavy dive composition, and if there's a Spider-Man on the other team, Namor makes him completely useless.If you're planning on playing as Namor, get used to placing his squids in hard-to-reach places, with good lines of sight. Enemies at higher ranks will know how to destroy them, so take other players by surprise by hiding them around corners, sticking them to the ceiling, and under the point. If there's a Groot on your team, consider coordinating their Ultimate with yours, as you'll take out multiple opponents with one blast if they're all crowded together.
Psylocke
(Image credit: NetEase)
Next up is Psylocke, who is currently one of the strongest Duelists in Marvel Rivals Season 2. Thanks to Emma Frost, she can now use a Team Up ability to create a clone of herself that mirrors attacks. This adds even more damage potential to Psylocke's combos, and is great for escaping after getting a kill.Psylocke is considered an assassin-like character, so you'll want to be picking out individual targets, moving in for a kill, then using invisibility to escape. Health Packs are going to be essential, so make sure you know roughly where they are at all times. One tip for making the most out of Psylocke's Ultimate is to only target two enemies at a time, three if they're all low HP Heroes. Damage is spread between them, so aim to get full kills rather than merely damaging half the team.
Storm
(Image credit: NetEase)
Storm was one of the top Duelists in the early seasons of Marvel Rivals. She still packs a punch, but has been overtaken by Human Torch in the current meta. Regardless, she's a great addition to any team thanks to her ability to buff damage and movement speed in a set area around her. Pair this with characters like Black Widow and Hela, and you've got a recipe for serious damage.One tip I have for Storm is to make sure you're familiar with her buff abilities. One is for movement speed, and is good to get teammates back to the fight quickly, while the other is a damage boost. Pair her Ult with Human Torch's to create huge fire tornadoes, melting even the most robust of tanks.
Wolverine
(Image credit: NetEase)
Finally, we have Wolverine, perhaps the most popular of the X-Men characters in the comics. In Marvel Rivals, he's a top pick for Competitive Mode, but is quite tricky to get right. His main job is as a Vanguard killer, as his damage output is based on a percentage of the target's overall health. His leap ability is great for kidnapping tanks, pulling them towards your team and away from the enemy healers.The main tip for Wolverine is to crank up your sensitivity, especially on a controller. You'll need to be able to whip the camera round towards your team quickly, before launching your Feral Leap. Dashing into an enemy makes the leap easier to land, and activating Undying Animal before engaging means you'll take less damage.
Marvel Rivals Mutant FAQs
(Image credit: NetEase)
Is Scarlet Witch a Mutant in Marvel Rivals?
Marvel Rivals does not consider Scarlet Witch to be a Mutant. This means she won't count for related challenges. In the comics, she's sometimes considered a Mutant, as a child of Magneto, while in the majority of stories, she is a kind of engineered creation that's not actually related to Magneto, and therefore doesn't carry the X-Gene. In Marvel Rivals, she's very much a Witch-first, hence her team-up with Doctor Strange.
Are there X-Men skins in Marvel Rivals?
In Marvel Rivals Season 2, there are two X-Men suits to earn in the Battle Pass. These are for Magik and Psylocke, and feature the classic yellow and blue stylings. Elsewhere, there's the classic yellow Wolverine skin from Deadpool and Wolverine, which you'll need to buy from the store.A cheaper option is Magneto's Master of Magnetism, which, while not an X-Men skin, is his classic comic book look that most players will recognize as his most iconic look.
You Might Also Like...
Here's when to expect the next season of Marvel RivalsBest free gamesWhen to expect the next season of Fortnite
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11482Real-time 8K 120fps gaming was shown from an AMD-powered gaming PCHorizon Forbidden West was the demo gameThe Samsung TV was a customized unit
Here's some exciting news that comes with an odd caveat that will maybe temper your excitement: a (seemingly) world-first demo was shown of 8K 120fps real-time gaming on a Samsung 8K TV over HDMI.That's impressive, but there are some odd questions about it, because even though all the tech involved appears to be available imminently in consumer products, the 8K Association said that the TV was custom modified (via FlatpanelsHD).The game itself was playing on a beefy AMD gaming PC – don't expect this performance on a PS5 Pro – and was rendered at 5K and upscaled to 8K.
HDMI 2.2 will double the available bandwidth for more demanding video such as 8K gaming, but this demo required DSC compression. (Image credit: HDMI Forum)
What did Samsung just show off?
So, the real 'world-first' element here appears to be the demo of 8K 120fps gaming over HDMI. HDMI 2.1 can't actually handle the full bandwidth of 8K at 120Hz, so a tech called DSC is used to compress the video – in the future, HDMI 2.2 should overcome this.In the meantime, however, it's necessary. And you might assume that this tech is what needed to be customized in the TV, since it hasn't generally been a feature of the best 8K TVs in the past – but actually the latest Samsung TVs, such as the Samsung QN900F, are rated to support DSC already. So it's unclear why the TV needed to be modified, leaving a bit of a question mark over the demo.The Samsung TV was connected to a Maingear PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU (the same as the one in our new 8K gaming PC) and an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, with the 5K picture it generated turned into 8K using AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.So there were a few fudges needed to get to 8K 120fps gaming, but that might be fine. There's already lots of upscaling going on in gaming anyway, so we can forgive that. And it may be that the latest Samsung 8K TVs do have the correct HDMI support for compressed 8K 120Hz transmission, and there was another reason for it to be customized.Perhaps this level of gaming clarity is coming to our front rooms soon… as long as you have the cash. That's $3,300 for the 65-inch 8K TV, $800 for the GPU, and $500 for the CPU – plus the rest of the PC. Although that's much cheaper than doing it with an Nvidia RTX 5090, at least.
You might also like
Nvidia RTX 5090 8K performance has blown me awayIndiana Jones and the Great Circle at 8KThe best 8K TVs for 2025
-

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11483 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11484Amazon-backed Slate Auto arrives out of the blue with tantalizing product Ultra-simple pick-up truck is designed for everyday useExpected EV range is up to 240 miles
Seemingly out of the blue, an Amazon-backed EV start-up has arrived on the scene, offering an ultra-simple, low-price electric pick-up truck for the North American market.With funding from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto is proposing a basic, highly configurable pick-up truck that bucks the trend of a gargantuan footprint and masses of wasted space, for a compact and highly configurable shell that is built for hard work.Sizing up more like a classic Toyota or Nissan truck from the early 1980s, the Slate pick-up features easily-wrapped composite panels that are refreshingly free of chrome and other decorative touches.Instead, Slate says it has made the panels as easy to wrap as possible and will sell custom decal and wrap kits for as little as $500 – no expensive metallic paint options here.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Slate Auto)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Slate Auto)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Slate Auto)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Slate Auto)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Slate Auto)
In addition to this, Slate is aiming for a base price of $27,000 (around £20,000 / AU$42,000), which could see some trucks sold for as little as $20,000 or less, depending on local incentives and tax breaks.The retro-styled two-seat pick-up truck comes with as 1047-liter load bay that is an easy height for both loading and hauling equipment, while the rear can be converted to a five-seat SUV with the appropriate kit and and rear tonneau cover, sold by Slate.In terms of power, this is handled by a single motor that is mounted on the rear axle. So far, Slate has said that the option of a 52.7kWh or a larger 84.3kWh battery will be on the table – both of which are mounted under the floor for maximum load space and interior roominess.The truck will have a relatively restrained (for an EV, anyway) 201bhp and 195 lb ft torque on tap, with the 0-60mph sprint time pegged at eight-seconds flat. The top speed is just 90mph.There’s a sizable ‘frunk’ at the front, which is large enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases, while the interior is deliberately basic: there’s a phone or tablet holder and the option of adding accessory speakers that sit inside the glovebox.
Analysis: The world's first practical electric pick-up?
(Image credit: Slate Auto)
Rather than attempting to compete with Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, Slate has deliberately taken the polar opposite approach – keeping things cheap and simple, offering a good old-fashioned pick-up truck that can be bought by the masses and worked hard.While the body style might now be a lifestyle choice, there are still vast swathes of North America (and beyond) that require a truck for daily use, whether that’s for work or simply hauling lots of lifestyle accessories.Granted, it won’t have the load or towing capacity of some of the largest trucks out there. But Slate's offering looks great and it touted to be comfortable and, above all else, really simple.The interior is stylish enough to not look completely utilitarian, but it is also refreshingly bereft of massive displays and soft surfaces that get chewed up with daily hard usage.It comes as standard with basic cruise control, central locking and a USB charging point, because everyone has a smartphone or tablet, right? So let the devices in our pockets take on infotainment duties.However, the company has ensured it has got the EV stuff right, namely a decent battery and useable daily range, as well as fast charging that it says will see a 10-80% top-up take just 30 minutes.Despite Slate seemingly springing out of nowhere, it ticks a lot of boxes for me. It’s everything the Tesla Cybertruck isn’t.Small, understated, neatly styled, practical, well considered and well within the reach of most folk’s budget. The Michigan-based EV start-up will commence production of its utilitarian truck next year and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a huge success.
You might also like
Tesla really wants you to buy its Cybertruck, with huge discounts and perks thrown in to clear its growing inventoryI’ve driven the new Dacia Bigster – and it's the cult EV brand's best-value hybrid so farMG and Zeekr show us the future of electric SUVs – and it includes the return of pop-up headlights
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11485If you’re ready to enter the age of AI, you’re in for a treat. Offering exceptional efficiency and more productivity tools than ever before, AI laptops are ready to accelerate your projects to new heights, whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or a tech fanatic.And for next-generation AI prowess, look no further than the MSI Prestige A16 AI+. Featuring the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 Processor with up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance and Copilot+ built-in, the Prestige A16 AI+ brings cutting-edge AI capabilities, exceptional efficiency, and immersive display quality to your fingertips.Not already convinced? Here’s why the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ should be your AI-enhanced companion.
Premium performance
Not only is the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ a powerful all-rounder thanks to its AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, but specifically, it’s built with AI front and centre, owing to its AMD XDNA 2 Architecture.Thanks to this architecture, this powerhouse clamshell offers up to x5 TOPS performance compared to the first-generation AMD XDNA architecture. The Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside the AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series Processor also delivers up to 50 TOPs, making this laptop a true AI computing beast!In practice, this delivers exceptional compute performance, bandwidth, and energy efficiency, meaning you’ll never be left wanting when it comes to AI experiences. MSI’s exclusive Dynamics Cooler Boost also maximizes heat dissipation while keeping everything quiet, meaning you can focus on the task at hand.
(Image credit: MSI)
Whether you’re using intensive AI-enhanced editing software or even developing your own applications, the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ will see you through.Not only does that NPU offer lightning-fast AI task speeds, but you also benefit from Windows 11 and built-in Copilot+. From popular AI applications like “Cocreator” and “Live Captions”, Copilot+ allows you to speed up some of those smaller tasks in your day-to-day life.And if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know Copilot just got even better as part of Microsoft’s 50-year celebrations, featuring new Vision capabilities that allow it to engage with on-screen context. Genius.
(Image credit: MSI)
Bright, beautiful with bountiful battery
Power doesn’t always come at the expense of battery life, and that’s certainly the case here. The Prestige A16 AI+ offers an 82Whr battery with fast-charge technology, and thanks to the AMD Ryzen power-efficient Processor, it can see you through all the way up to 13hrs depending on usage. And, with 64 GB of speedy 7500 MHz RAM, multitasking is an absolute breeze.MSI has covered plenty of bases, even offering enterprise-grade security solutions in the Prestige A16 AI+. Not only do you benefit from an IR camera, fingerprint sensor, webcam shutter and smart guard, but there’s also a hardware TPM chip for robust, full-device security.
(Image credit: MSI)
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only what’s inside that counts; but thankfully, the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ is the full package.Creatives, gamers and eye-sore productivity users alike will be grateful for this laptop’s bright and vivid 4K 16:10 OLED display, which offers 100% DCI-P3 coverage for stunning visuals.So don’t hesitate, head over to Currys to snag a great deal on the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ advanced with AMD Ryzen AI 300 Processors for £1,599 and start your journey with AI today.
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11486Apple may shift all of its US iPhone production from China to India in an effort to avoid Trump's tariffs, according to a report from The Financial Times. The goal is to manufacture all 60 million iPhone devices sold to American customers in India by 2026, doubling current production numbers in the nation. That would be a stark shift, as Apple has manufactured the majority of its iPhone products in China since they debuted in 2007.
Apple first started building iPhones in India back in 2017 and late in 2023, pledged to build up to 50 million iPhones in the nation within three years with suppliers Foxconn and Tata. With that in mind, it would only have to boost that number by 10 million to achieve the new 60 million unit goal.
Those tariffs of up to 145 percent announced earlier this month have thrown electronic manufacturing into turmoil, despite announced exemptions for smartphones and computers. India, by contrast, has only been subject to a 10 percent US tariff. However, the nation could still be subject to a 26 percent tariff once a 90-day grace period is lifted, particularly as Trump has called India a “tariff abuser” and “tariff king.”
Apple reportedly airlifted $2 billion worth of iPhones to the US from India in March to bypass impending China levies. Trump's stated goal with tariffs has been to shift more manufacturing to the US. However, many experts have said that would be virtually impossible, particularly in the electronics industry. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-may-shift-all-us-bound-iphone-production-from-china-to-india-133049630.html?src=rss
-

Picture from techcrunch.com
Rank 11487 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11488 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11489Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, April 25 (game #418).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #419) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Face time
NYT Strands today (game #419) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
DAPPERZEROPURERIPE PRUNEDREAM
NYT Strands today (game #419) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #419) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 4th columnLast side: bottom, 6th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #419) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #419, are…
POWDERBRONZERPRIMERCONCEALERFOUNDATIONSPANGRAM: MAKEUP EXAM
My rating: HardMy score: 2 hints
I really struggled with today’s search and needed a couple of hints to set me on my way. That said, I also struggled to find that many hint words – "exam" was one of them, but I didn’t spot that it could be part of the spangram.There were also some fun switchbacks today, with BRONZER particularly difficult to connect together.It was a similar confusing story trying to work out what the Spangram meant. Is mastering the application of these facial products essential to avoiding being a beauty school dropout?Fortunately, Google helped me see the double meaning of make-up exam being the name of an examination given to someone who has missed or failed a test.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, April 25, game #418)
CROSSDIPPERSWANMAIDENHUNTERCENTAURSPANGRAM: CONSTELLATIONS
What is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11490Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, April 25 (game #1187).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)
Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)
What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• L• L• T• C
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1188) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle, game #1188, are…
LINGOLOCUSTHROWCLICK
Yet another case of picking the wrong answer from a couple of alternatives. I’m going to put guessing CLIFF instead of CLICK down to (bad) luck, rather than intuition.In hindsight, commonality nearly always wins and a double-F is much less likely than a CK. According to Merriam-Webster there are 34 5-letter words ending FF and 80 ending CK.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1188) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1188, are…
MACAWLUNCHBRAIDSTAND
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPHQuordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRNQuordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFTQuordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEEQuordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACHQuordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUEQuordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULTQuordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTOQuordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURTQuordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUTQuordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAYQuordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCEQuordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOPQuordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THINGQuordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLYQuordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSEQuordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCHQuordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOKQuordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABINQuordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11491Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, April 25 (game #684).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #685) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
GLENGARYROSSCOLORHOPEHOLLOWSHADELUBEDELLDOLEGENRETONEHUEDREDALEMARLEY
NYT Connections today (game #685) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: PigmentGREEN: LandscapeBLUE: Short version of RobertPURPLE: Jumbled letters
Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #685) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: TINT GREEN: VALLEY BLUE: BOBS PURPLE: COLOR ANAGRAMS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #685) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #685, are…
YELLOW: TINT COLOR, HUE, SHADE, TONEGREEN: VALLEY DALE, DELL, GLEN, HOLLOWBLUE: BOBS DOLE, HOPE, MARLEY, ROSSPURPLE: COLOR ANAGRAMS DRE, GARY, GENRE, LUBE
My rating: ModerateMy score: Perfect
I didn’t make any mistakes today, but I wasn't fully confident in any of the groups.For TINT, I felt COLOR was too on the nose and perhaps one of the other words completed the quartet.For what became VALLEY, I thought I was just looking for geographical terms and thought that ROSS, which is used to describe rocky headlands, could have been included. And, although I knew I was looking for famous BOBS, I did wonder whether Dr DRE’s first name was Bob and if he should join MARLEY and HOPE.In hindsight, PURPLE should have been the most gettable group, but anagrams didn’t occur to me at all.Incidentally, nice to see a nod to the incredible film Glengarry Glen Ross hidden in today’s puzzle.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, April 25, game #684)
YELLOW: GUM FLAVORS BUBBLEGUM, CINNAMON, MENTHOL, WINTERGREENGREEN: STARTING POINT CATALYST, LAUNCHPAD, SPARK, SPRINGBOARDBLUE: GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SONGS AUTUMN LEAVES, SUMMERTIME, UNFORGETTABLE, WITCHCRAFTPURPLE: ___ TUBE FALLOPIAN, INNER, TEST, VACUUM
What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11492April 2025 is slowly starting to wind down. But, before it makes way for May, there are a number of great looking new movies and shows you'll want to watch over this month's final weekend.Disney+ and Netflix lead the pack with two new offerings apiece, but there are other options to choose from on some of the world's other leading streaming services. So, from the final seasons of two unmissable TV series to the debut of some engrossing film genre fare, here's what you'll want to stream before Monday arrives. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
Andor season 2 (Disney+)
The best Star Wars show, not to mention the highest-rated Lucasfilm project in many a year, is back for its final season. Andor season 2 is finally out on Disney+ – and, if you haven't watched its three-episode premiere yet, you'll want to read my spoiler-free Andor season 2 review to find out why it's must-see television.Picking up a year after Andor's first season ended, the series' final installment is split into four, trilogy-style events that cover the four years leading up to Rogue One. I've seen all 12 episodes and, a couple of minor niggles aside, I can vouch for how devastatingly epic it is.So, transport yourself back to that famous galaxy far, far away to not only watch one of the best Disney+ shows' final chapter, but one of 2025's best TV series so far. Honestly, it's that good. – TP
Watch Andor season 2 on Disney+
You season 5 (Netflix)
You has returned for its fifth and final season. It's been quite a wild ride for viewers who've followed Penn Badgley's Joe while he fixates on various women, leading him down a very dangerous path of murder and obsession. It's taken him to various cities, and now he's found himself back in New York City alongside new wife Kate.He's hoping for a peaceful life with her, but this is Joe Goldberg we're talking about. You're not here to one of the best Netflix shows for a serene tale of domestic bliss, are you? No doubt it's going to go out with a bang as we say farewell to one of the creepiest characters out there.I'm going to miss this far-fetched thriller and I mean that in the best possible way. It's been so ridiculous and over the top at times, but it's nonetheless been a fantastic bit of escapism. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer
Watch You season 5 on Netflix
Havoc (Netflix)
Ready for this week's Friday night action flick? Havoc is one of the most high-octane films Tom Hardy has ever been in, so you've got the star's assurance that you can expect a lot of fisticuffs, shootouts, and explosive action stunts in this new Netflix movie.Written and directed by The Raid's Gareth Evans, one of April's new Netflix movies follows bruised detective Walker (Hardy) as he tries to protect a corrupt politician's (Forest Whitaker) son Charlie (Justin Cornwell), as well as his son's girlfriend Mia (Quelin Sepulveda), after a drug deal goes wrong.While it might not be one of the best Netflix movies, Evans' signature brutal action style is on full display here with the help of Hardy – and it might not be the duo's last team up. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor
Watch Havoc on Netflix
Babygirl (Max)
Babygirl is the latest A24 movie to hit Max It's another divisive one, too, because, despite its 76% Rotten Tomatoes score, general audiences have only given it an average of 48%.Nicole Kidman has definitely had a series of flops lately, with The Perfect Couple disappointing me and her Prime Video movie Holland bombing critically. I suppose you can't win them all, eh?If Babygirl disappoints you, don't worry, as there are plenty of other great new Max movies to stream instead. Alternatively, our best Max movies guide is home to a bunch of other options. – LB
Watch Babygirl on Max
WondLa season 2 (Apple TV+)
You might know Apple TV+ for hit sci-fi series like Severance – if you haven't already, make sure to read our Severance season 2 review – but did you know that it also has a growing animation offering in the genre?Like one of the best Apple TV+ shows, Silo, the animated sci-fi series WondLa follows a young woman as she ventures out of a state-of-the-art bunker to discover a world unlike anything she ever expected.Adapted from Tony DiTerlizzi’s 'The Search for WondLa' novels, the second season of this animated adventure show will pick up directly after season 1's cliffhanger ending. Will Eva find her home or will more discoveries set her on a new journey? – AS
Watch WondLa season 2 on Apple TV+
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (Prime Video)
Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr return in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera so, if you're in need of a good Amazon Original Movie, you need look no further.Curiously, it's inspired by the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist and follows a sheriff who tails a suspected thief in an attempt to team-up with him for a robbery. It's performed decently on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 62% so, while it won't go on our best Prime Video movies list, you can expect an entertaining ride at least.A third one might be on the way, too, with the movie's director telling the Hollywood Reporter it had "already been pitched." – LB
Watch Den of Thieves 2: Pantera on Prime Video
Flintoff (Disney+)
Disney+ is on a roll with its hit documentary films, many of which make up some of the best Disney+ movies you can stream on the platform.Its latest tells the life story of former England cricketer and TV presenter Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, who won two Ashes series with England before turning his hand to television, which led to the life-changing and near-fatal car crash on the UK edition of Top Gear in 2022.Alongside Flintoff and his wife Rachael, you can expect to also hear from some of the sporting icon's closest friends, including Michael Vaughan, James Corden, and Jack Whitehall in this 90-minute tell all. – AS
Watch Flintoff on Disney+
For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Prime Video shows, best Apple TV+ movies, best Max shows, and best Paramount+ movies.
-
Picture from o.aolcdn.com
Rank 11493While the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, Nintendo is releasing upgraded versions of its old games with enhanced framerates and resolution, as well as extra content. It's also selling upgrades cheaper than full games, which you can get for titles you already own. The upgrades for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will set you back $10. Now, the company has started revealing more upgrade prices for old games, and it looks like the ones for Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree will cost you twice as much at $20.
NintendoLife first posted about the upgrades' potential prices based on their eShop listings for Europe. The company has updated its US eShop since then to show that they're also being sold for $20 in the country. If you buy the upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, you're getting access to a new part of the game called Star-Crossed World, wherein you have to uncover the mystery surrounding the meteor that struck the world. Meanwhile Super Mario Party Jamboree comes with Jamboree TV, a game show hosted by Toad. The Switch 2 version of the title uses the console's Joy-Con 2 and microphone, and if you use its camera, you can also put your face into the action during mini-games.
Super Mario Party Jamboree for the Switch 2 will be available on July 24, while Kirby's Switch 2 edition will be available on August 28. Both games will set you back $80 if you buy the full Switch 2 version instead of upgrading an old copy. Nintendo has yet to release the prices for the Switch 2 editions of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which will be available later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-charges-20-for-mario-party-jamboree-and-kirby-switch-2-upgrades-140031152.html?src=rss
-

Picture from techcrunch.com
Rank 11494 -

Picture from techcrunch.com
Rank 11495 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11496 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11497 -

Picture from ichef.bbci.co.uk
Rank 11498 -

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11499Why is it that so many organizations are still holding back from upgrading to Windows 11-compatible desktop devices when the benefits seem obvious?While any new system achieves slow uptake in the early months, Windows 11 still only stands at 38% (link) globally, despite having entered the market in 2021. It is likely that companies are postponing upgrades so they can extend the device lifespan for longer, hoping their devices can cope with the new operating system’s demands for more CPU power. But by following this course of inaction, they run some serious risks.Organizations need to see Windows 11 as less intimidating, troublesome and costly, taking a closer look at new device lifecycle management approaches that can help them achieve a seamless transition. The topic is becoming more urgent by the day as the October 2025 deadline looms when Microsoft will cease free security patching for Windows 10 and start charging for support. Many even predict a shortage of Windows 11 devices in the immediate run-up to the deadline.Admittedly, in a company with large numbers of devices, it is not just the cost of Windows 11 devices that is off-putting. There is the potential for disruption to business-as-usual, and the drain on the time and resources of IT teams. Working out how many Windows 11 devices are required, which new models are suitable and then negotiating the best deal, is all time-consuming. But it does not end there – each device must be provisioned and set up, which is a major undertaking in an organization with hundreds or thousands of employees.
Remember the security benefits of Windows 11
But it is worth remembering the immediate benefits of an upgrade to Windows 11 – especially in greater security. This is important because of the changing nature of threats and the growth of remote workforces, which offer more potential points of weakness. Windows 11 devices are more secure through the use of TPM 2.0 processors to provide a constantly-active authenticator, guarding against remote tampering or malware infection.The Secure Boot feature means start-up times are also faster to prevent rootkits and boot-time malware. Microsoft claims its out-of-the-box security features such as credential safeguards, malware shields and application protection have led to a 58% (link) fall in security incidents and that firmware attacks have fallen by more than a factor of three.Ignoring these security benefits is ill-advised for UK companies because it will put their Cyber Essentials certification at risk, with significant consequences for their reputations among potential partners and customers. In many public sector organizations, loss of certification is a serious compliance failure.
AI and streamlined efficiency in Windows 11
The efficiency gains triggered by a Windows 11 upgrade come from the use of AI-powered solutions and features. The central in-built tool is Microsoft Copilot, based on the GPT4 large language model. The benefits include search-acceleration and automated content drafting, with greater memory and processing power so that organizations can deploy more sophisticated business process automation and work collaboration platforms.Delaying adoption of Windows 11 is yet another mistake for maintaining competitiveness. Competing organizations that have made the move are likely to embed greater efficiencies, be more secure, and have more time for strategic work. Under-performing desktop devices also lead to dissatisfied and frustrated employees.Organizations must acknowledge that older operating systems use more energy and are slower. In the health sector, reliance on out-of-support devices is simply too dangerous, putting patient security and care delivery in jeopardy.
The digital transformation opportunity is here
Rather than fall behind, companies seeking digital transformation should step back and use the end of support for Windows 10 as the ideal opportunity to review how they can upgrade their IT infrastructure.To do this effectively, organizations in the public or private sectors alike need to rethink how they approach device lifecycle management. In doing so, it’s important to work out what each staff member in the business needs to be more productive in their role, which ensures optimal performance without unnecessary expenditure. Discovery tools will also inform organizations where they have legacy applications, probably custom-built, that need adaptation to work effectively with Windows 11.They’ll need to conduct technology audits, involve all relevant internal stakeholders and match device-provision to the organisation’s aims and resolution of pain-points, setting a timeline, if required, for quantifiable outcomes. This is something that can be helped by drawing on the objective expertise and skillsets of third-party providers, which also saves time for in-house staff while ensuring employees have the most current device they need.The requirement for Windows 11 upgrades is upon businesses now as a major opportunity to accelerate digital transformation. Instead of having to extend device lifespan beyond its optimal performance, organizations should acquire higher-performing technology as soon as they can. Windows 11 will make them more secure, more agile, competitive and ready for the future.
We've featured the best productivity tool.
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
-

Picture from cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net
Rank 11500A new DJI Mini 5 drone seems to be in the worksOnline leaks suggest it could have LiDAR sensorsDJI appears to be testing the drone ahead of a summer launch
DJI isn’t one to rest on its laurels. The Mini 4 Pro might top the bill in our round-up of the best drones you can buy right now, but new images leaked online appear to show that the manufacturer is well underway with developing a successor.The images, shared on DroneXL, appear to show the DJI Mini 5 being tested on public streets in China. Included in an article written by Jasper Ellens, a reliable drone industry source, the grainy shots feature a quadcopter resembling the Mini 4 Pro, albeit with a larger front camera lens and what appears to be a pair of LiDAR sensors above.This backs up an earlier post from Ellens, shared on X in December 2024, which claims that the Mini 5 will feature LiDAR sensors and “stronger (vented) motors”.Front-facing LiDAR sensors would give the new model a more effective collision avoidance system. As we saw on the Air 3S last year, LiDAR is better able to navigate obstacles and terrain at night, compared to standard vision tech. Their presence on the Mini 5 would be a first for any sub-250g drone, assuming that the rumored model stays within the same weight class as previous versions.The pictured drone also has guards around its blades, although these could be in place as a safety measure during testing, rather than a permanent feature.While DJI hasn’t officially announced a release date for the Mini 5, the appearance of a test unit in public suggests that the company is in the later stages of development. Some sources anticipate that the new drone will break cover in summer 2025. A reveal around August or September would fit with DJI’s established launch cycles, marking two years since the DJI Mini 4 Pro hit the market.Other features remain the subject of much speculation. Some websites have reported that the DJI Mini 5 could feature a 1-inch sensor and a 50-minute flight time, both of which would be a significant step up from the 1/1.3-inch sensor and 34-minute flight time of the DJI Mini 4 Pro. That said, there’s little in the way of hard evidence to support these claims at present.
I have been extremely skeptical towards the release of a #DJIMINI5. I couldn't find any reason why they should update the Mini 4 without exceeding the 249 gram mark. But today I stand corrected. This summer we will see a new Mini with LiDAR and stronger (vented) motors. Cheers pic.twitter.com/v3kcSasJfODecember 10, 2024
LiDAR, LiDAR?
(Image credit: DroneXL)
The Mini 5 isn’t the only upcoming DJI drone rumored to be getting LiDAR capabilities. Recent intel also suggests that the Mavic 4 Pro will benefit from enhanced obstacle-avoidance sensors. This could indicate that DJI has managed to developed a more compact LiDAR module that can be more easily packaged into drones across its range.While its presence on a sub-250g would be a game-changer, whether LiDAR alone will warrant an upgrade for owners of the Mini 4 Pro remains to be seen. It would certainly be another feather in a well-strung bow, but LiDAR is of limited use to users who only fly their drones in open space on clear days.Of course, it’s not the only rumored upgrade for the DJI Mini 5. Stronger or more efficient motors could give the drone improved performance in all conditions, while enhanced flight times would take the series meaningfully forward where the Mini 4 Pro didn’t. A 1-inch sensor also points towards clearer low-light imaging.Taken together, these enhancements would make a stronger case for investing in the new model. If it really is in testing already, we shouldn’t have too long to wait for more concrete specs. If previous DJI drone development cycles are anything to go by, leaked info about the Mini 5 won’t be in short supply.
You might also like...
Camera rumors for 2025: new gear we're expecting soon from DJI, Sony, Canon and moreBest DJI drone: the finest flying cameras from its impressive rangeUpcoming DJI Mavic 4 Pro premium drone could deliver new camera skills and LiDAR