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As we head into 2025, UK businesses are making strides in their digital transformation efforts. But with rapid evolutions in technologies such as AI, businesses are under increasing pressure to keep up.Economic turbulence, driven by factors like inflation and rising interest rates is putting a strain on budgets and many companies are facing higher operational costs, reduced consumer spending, and tighter access to capital. Over a quarter (28 per cent) of UK businesses responding to Zoho’s Digital Health Study * reported having ‘good’ digital health.Meanwhile, customers, feeling the financial squeeze themselves, are becoming more discerning, demanding greater value and efficiency from the businesses they interact with. In this landscape, companies that fail to accelerate their digital maturity risk losing competitiveness, struggling with inefficiencies, and ultimately falling behind more agile competitors.

The impact of digital maturity on AI adoption

AI is a hot topic in business and boardroom discussions, from the AI Actions Summit to regular government investments and governance debates. However, not all businesses are reaping the benefits of AI equally.Businesses that are lagging in digital health will struggle to gain any return from investment in AI as it demands a foundation of digital maturity. As a result they will, miss out on its potential to drive innovation and productivity. The benefits and efficiencies that AI systems can deliver are no secret, and the businesses that are struggling, or even neglecting to adopt, risk missing out on a competitive advantage.For example, when it comes to customer experience, many businesses are deploying AI to provide detailed insights in order to deliver personalized experiences, and boost efficiency through tools such as AI agents or chatbots. These systems increase the likelihood of a business anticipating customer needs and creating a smooth, seamless customer journey, all of which is built on the foundation of good digital health.

Navigating integration complexities

Integration complexities typically arise from fragmented IT ecosystems, outdated legacy systems, and inconsistent data structures that prevent smooth communication between platforms.Legacy ERP systems, for example, can struggle to integrate with modern cloud-based applications, which results in inefficiencies and data silos. The complexity also extends to customer-facing systems, where disconnected platforms lead to inconsistent user experiences.Businesses are increasingly turning to cloud platforms to overcome these integration hurdles.To address integration challenges, companies should adopt strategies like application programming interfaces and middleware solutions that promote interoperability, or should seek to use vendors who provide these, or provide easy ways to customize integration points.Additionally, consolidating platforms can streamline processes, reduce complexity, and enhance efficiency. However, with larger companies, it is usual that several platforms are in place, so more work needs to be done to optimize interoperability.Beyond technology, businesses should also invest in robust change management strategies and upskill their workforce to maximize the benefits of integration and ensure adoption.Ensuring that teams are equipped to work seamlessly across new digital ecosystems, as well as to understand how the changes can help them in their roles as well as the business overall, is just as critical as the technology itself.

Overcoming infrastructure management challenges

Managing digital infrastructure remains a significant challenge for business and technology leaders, with the difficulty lying in balancing scalability and cost-efficiency while maintaining high system performance. Traditional infrastructure does not have the flexibility for modern digital demands, which leads businesses towards cloud-based models.The rapid growth of IoT devices adds another layer of complexity, as businesses must manage a growing network of connected devices while maintaining data security and integrity.To maintain compliance and ensure data privacy, businesses need solutions that are transparent, user-friendly, and easily governed by technology leaders. Simplified tools should offer automated compliance monitoring and centralized dashboards, while robust security measures include encryption, access controls, and threat detection.

Good digital health means good digital transformation

Businesses that navigate the obstacles of digital transformation tend to see significant benefits and improvements in areas such as customer experience, operational efficiency, and employee engagement.Those with good digital health are more likely to be able to automate workflows effectively, integrate AI systems, and adopt cloud platforms to boost data-driven decision-making and overall employee productivity. These transformations drive agility and resilience, allowing businesses to adapt quickly to market shifts and competitive pressures.On the flip side, for businesses with poor digital health, resistance to change, skills gaps, and budget restraints are among the common barriers hindering the progress of digital transformation. These challenges, coupled with fragmented IT infrastructures, make integration complex and limit agility.Addressing them requires strategic investment in scalable technology and workforce upskilling, not just to modernize operations, but to optimize costs in an unpredictable economy and ensure resilience against evolving market demands.The real driver of digital transformation success lies in aligning technology with business goals. Consolidating platforms and fostering strong vendor partnerships are not just efficiency plays; they reduce operational complexity, enhance compliance with regulatory shifts, and position businesses to stay ahead of rapid technological advancements.Equally important is cultural alignment, which ensures that digital tools are not only implemented effectively but also fully adopted by users. Vendors play a crucial role in this process, as they must take a long-term view of their relationships with customers, providing the necessary support, education, and guidance to help businesses unlock the full value of their investment.Ultimately, digital transformation is a journey, not an immediate fix. Businesses must move away from the notion that simply switching on a tool will yield instant benefits. Instead, they should embrace a comprehensive, strategic approach to drive adoption, overcome challenges, and realize the significant opportunities that effective digitization can offer. With this, by next year, they’ll be far more likely to have good digital health.

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

Whoop is releasing new hardware for the first time since 2021It has unveiled its new Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG wearablesBoth feature 14-day battery life, ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and more

Whoop has announced two brand new wearables and a new subscription pricing structure, as the company heralds its first new hardware since 2021.The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG are both sleek screenless wearables with 14-day battery life, ECG, and even blood pressure estimates.Whoop CEO and founder Will Ahmed said the move wasn't just a product launch but "a new chapter for Whoop and for our members."A new Whoop Healthspan with 'Whoop Age' feature gives you insight into how your daily habits impact your long-term health, quantifying your physiological age using nine metrics to give you data that can slow your pace of ageing. It sounds similar to the 'Fitness Age' or 'Metabolic Age' metric used by the best Garmin watches and some of the best fitness trackers.The new FDA-cleared ECG lets you take a reading at any time from your wrist and share it with your healthcare provider, with a Heart Screener tool that can detect signs of Atrial Fibrillation and provide Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications.One headline is blood pressure insights, with new patent-pending technology that can deliver daily insights with estimated systolic (the first number in a blood pressure reading) and diastolic readings (the second number).There's also support for women's hormonal insights, sleep performance and a new Sleep Score, and the usual myriad of health tracking features.

Whoop 5.0 and MG: Explained

(Image credit: Whoop)

To understand the difference between the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG devices, you need to understand Whoop's new subscription structure. That's because the devices come free with each plan, but the amount you pay will determine which model you get.Perhaps more egregiously, some standard 5.0 features aren't available on the cheaper tier.

WHOOP One: the cheapest tier, said to contain 'professional-grade fitness insights at our best price' at £169 / $199 / AU$299 per yearWHOOP Peak: said to contain 'advanced health, fitness and longevity insights designed to help you perform at your peak, longer' priced at £229 / $239 / AU$/419 per yearWHOOP Life: described as 'the most powerful WHOOP ever, delivering medical-grade health and performance insights' priced at £349 / $359 / AU$629 per year

The Whoop MG (MG stands for 'medical grade') features the aforementioned Heart Screener, ECG, and blood pressure insights. The MG is only available on Whoop Life, the most expensive tier.The Whoop 5.0 does not include those medical features and comes with the Whoop One or Whoop Peak memberships, the two cheaper tier options.Whoop told TechRadar that the Whoop One membership gives you access to core metrics like Strain, Recovery, Sleep, VO2 Max, heart rate zones, steps, and more. It also includes a Strength Trainer and Recovery metrics, as well as sleep tracking. On Whoop One, you get the Whoop 5.0 and a basic charger, as well as a CoreKnit band.Whoop Peak gives you the Whoop 5.0, but with more features. It includes Health Monitor and Stress Monitor, which let you see if your vitals are out of range. Peak also gives you Healthspan with Whoop Age, and you get the Wireless PowerPack and a nicer SuperKnit band. There is no hardware difference between Whoop Peak and Whoop One: it simply locks the extra features behind an additional paywall, like Fitbit Premium.As noted, Whoop Life is the most expensive tier and gets you the more premium Whoop MG with the aforementioned medical-grade health features. You get an even more premium band and a Wireless PowerPack for your device.

Analysis: Risking backlash?

In a wearables market where even Garmin's $6 Connect+ subscription has been met with user outcry, Whoop customers who have been waiting for these new devices might well be disappointed by the fact that Whoop is reserving the best features of its devices for its most expensive subscription tiers.The Whoop MG is at least a separate device in principle, but buying a Whoop 5.0 on the cheapest plan, only to miss out on some features ubiquitous to the best smartwatches on the market, is a tough pill to swallow.

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Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #1200).

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 #1201) - hint #1 - Vowels

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

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

Quordle today (game #1201) - 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 0.

Quordle today (game #1201) - 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 #1201) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

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

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

Quordle today (game #1201) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• M• C• N• S

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

Quordle today (game #1201) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1201, are…

MINUSCRIMENOSEYSLAIN

Sports coaches always talk about “fine margins” being the difference between victory and defeat.Although this round wasn’t really a defeat, guessing SNAIL instead of SLAIN is the finest of margins in the game of Quordle. It’s okay, though – I think I can bounce back and learn from this. “Trust the process” as the coaches say.Meanwhile, I managed to guess four correct words after six guesses in today’s Daily Sequence. That's something I've not managed to do in ages.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1201) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1201, are…

KITTYSOAPYHUMIDDENSE

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITEQuordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVEQuordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCHQuordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUEQuordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNYQuordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDOQuordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELTQuordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPEQuordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWNQuordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSEQuordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNTQuordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDEQuordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICKQuordle #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, EXULT

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #431).

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 #432) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Outsiders

NYT Strands today (game #432) - hint #2 - clue words

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

LORETRAILCRAMPCOOLGRITRENTAL

NYT Strands today (game #432) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #432) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 5th rowLast side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #432) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #432, are…

BACKPACKTENTGRILLCOOLERLANTERNTHERMOSSPANGRAM: CAMPING GEAR

My rating: EasyMy score: 1 hint

Am I overthinking this or is today’s spangram in the shape of a TENT?Camping is something that I have a love-hate relationship with. I have always liked the idea of it, communing with nature, bonhomie around the campfire, stripping life back to its essentials.However, I’ve always found the reality uncomfortable and cold. This is no doubt down to my lack of organizational skills, hardyness and equipment – and man do you need a lot of equipment, and not just a GRILL, a THERMOS and a LANTERN.When I was younger it gave me independence and freedom to misbehave. Now that I'm older and less resilient, I prefer concrete and the great indoors.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, May 8, game #431)

GAUDYSNAZZYEXTRAVAGANTDELUXEORNATELAVISHSPANGRAM: OOH SHINY

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

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, May 8 (game #697).

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 #698) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

DIMSUMPRODUCTSHADECOLORDRAPEREMOTEDIFFERENCECONTRASTFAINTSHUTTERTINTQUOTIENTBLINDBRIGHTNESSVAGUE

NYT Connections today (game #698) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: Pass the remote GREEN: FadedBLUE: MathematicsPURPLE: Curtain for certain

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 #698) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: TV DISPLAY SETTINGS GREEN: FUZZY, AS A MEMORY BLUE: RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC PURPLE: WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR

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

NYT Connections today (game #698) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #698, are…

YELLOW: TV DISPLAY SETTINGS BRIGHTNESS, COLOR, CONTRAST, TINTGREEN: FUZZY, AS A MEMORY DIM, FAINT, REMOTE, VAGUEBLUE: RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC DIFFERENCE, PRODUCT, QUOTIENT, SUMPURPLE: WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR BLIND, DRAPE, SHADE, SHUTTER

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

I’m all for thinking I’m clever, brushing that imaginary dust off my shoulder, putting a book on my head and pretending I’m a genius, etc but today’s so-called hardest group was not exactly hard?Or, hang on, maybe I am a genius?! Or perhaps the good people at Connections HQ want to give us all the buzz of getting a purple group?Not that the other colors were that much harder, although QUOTIENT is not a word you hear very often. When you do, it’s usually in association with PRODUCT, SUM and DIFFERENCE, as they all represent answers.I’m fully expecting Connections to take revenge on us all tomorrow.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, May 8, game #697)

YELLOW: COMMIT TO PAPER AUTHOR, COMPOSE, PEN, WRITEGREEN: NEEDS FOR PLAYING YAHTZEE CUP, DICE, PENCIL, SCORECARDBLUE: HEROES OF ACTION MOVIE FRANCHISES BOND, JONES, OCEAN, WICKPURPLE: ___STICK CANDLE, CHOP, JOY, YARD

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.

Netflix recently unveiled big updates to the design of its platform, and while there’s some interesting features to look forward to in the future, some subscribers remain unconvinced.While the streamer started life as a place to catch your favorite shows and movies without having to traipse to the rental store, the platform has evolved over the years to play host to a plethora of video games, and various live events, including weekly WWE shows and big NFL games. The content pivot from the streamer has led to some subscribers becoming frustrated with the one-size-fits-all approach of a UI that has barely changed since its inception.All that is due to change though, with a new homepage designed to give users the best experience with the media they mostly use the platform for, be that sports, gaming or TV and movies. Netflix's chief product officer Eunice Kim says of the project: “We wanted to create an experience that was more flexible for our broad entertainment offerings, more intuitive and responsive to our members’ needs.”Changes include real time recommendations based on current mood and interest, extra information on titles across the platform such as “Emmy Award Winner” or “#1 in TV shows” and a new, cleaner design for the platform’s landing page.

Are all these changes a good thing?

However, these new features come with downsides too, with it being widely speculated that the removal of interactive TV specials such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Unbreakable Kimmy Scmidt finale Kimmy vs the Reverend is a result of the new software no longer being able to support these types of content.And that’s not the only thing subscribers are unhappy about, with one Reddit user stating the “NEW DESIGN SUCKS!!” and calling for the engineers responsible to be fired, comparing the new UI to the notoriously difficult to navigate Prime Video.

NEW DESIGN SUCKS!! from r/netflix

However, some responses to the original post were more positive, with one reply stating “I love the new design,” while others remained cautiously optimistic saying “I’m nervous but hopeful”.

Some of the new features look great

(Image credit: Netflix)

For my money though, while it’ll definitely take some getting used to, there are some very cool new features on the horizon.For starters, the small change of moving shortcuts for Search and My List away from the sidebar and to the top of the page will save getting bogged down in menus while trying to find basic features – I for one have changed profile more than once while trying to search for a particular show. Also intriguing is the use of Generative AI in the search function, meaning that users can use conversational phrases to zero in on the type of content they like to watch, for example “I want to watch a mid-2000s mumblecore movie” rather than scrolling through endless comedies.One of the features I hope makes it to the new design is the vertical discovery feed – illustrated above – which is set to be tested over the coming weeks. The new feed looks to replicate the feeling of scrolling through TikTok watching movie clips, except here, if one piques your interest, rather than engage in an infuriating search through the comments to find the title, you can simply tap on the video to be taken directly to the full movie or show.It’s definitely set to be a new era for Netflix, and one that understandably has some subscribers nervous, but with the site becoming increasingly overloaded by its breadth of content, it could be a very welcome update.

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The modern economy is built on data. Every business, from small enterprises to multinational corporations, relies on massive amounts of storage infrastructure to keep operations running smoothly.But what if the very foundation of this infrastructure—your hard drives—weren’t what they claimed to be? A growing crisis is emerging in the data storage market: fraudulent hard drives, falsely sold as new, are infiltrating the supply chain, putting businesses, government agencies, and data centers at risk.

The growing threat of counterfeit and fraudulent hard drives

The problem of counterfeit and fraudulently resold hard drives is escalating, and enterprise-grade drives such as Seagate Exos and IronWolf Pro HDDs are primary targets. Fraudsters manipulate serial numbers, QR codes, and firmware data to conceal prior usage, effectively repackaging used drives as new. Some reports indicate that these drives have logged over 27,000 hours of prior use—equivalent to more than three years of continuous operation—before being repurposed and resold.This issue has profound implications beyond mere financial loss. For industries where data integrity is paramount—such as finance, healthcare, and cloud services—using compromised drives can lead to catastrophic failures, security vulnerabilities, and compliance violations.

The hidden dangers of fraudulent drives

When businesses unknowingly purchase fraudulent drives, they expose themselves to several critical risks:1. Data security vulnerabilities Previously used drives may contain residual data, raising concerns about data leakage and cybersecurity threats. Even if formatted, data remnants can sometimes be recovered, posing compliance issues in regulated industries like healthcare (HIPAA) and finance (GDPR, PCI-DSS).2. Reliability and performance issuesHard drives degrade over time due to mechanical wear and tear. A drive that has already been in use for years has a significantly higher failure rate than a truly new drive, leading to unexpected downtime, data corruption, and loss of operational efficiency.3. Compliance and regulatory risksRegulatory compliance standards demand strict control over IT hardware procurement. Fraudulent drives introduce an unknown element into an organization's infrastructure, potentially violating compliance policies for data protection and hardware lifecycle management.4. Increased maintenance costsOrganizations that unknowingly install used drives in critical systems may face higher replacement costs, increased IT support requirements, and lost productivity due to premature failures. What initially seemed like a cost-saving purchase can quickly turn into a financial liability.

The root cause: unauthorized supply chains

Fraudulent drives often originate from unauthorized or gray-market resellers who source used hardware, repackage it, and sell it as new. Without robust verification mechanisms, even reputable procurement channels can unknowingly distribute counterfeit storage devices.Experts recommend buying only from manufacturer-authorized distributors, where drives arrive factory-sealed and untouched. But even this approach is not foolproof, as counterfeiters continue to refine their methods. Organizations must take a proactive stance in verifying the authenticity of their hardware purchases.

A solution: industry tools for hard drive verification

Recognizing the widespread nature of this problem, industry experts and organizations have developed drive verification tools that allow businesses to check the actual usage history of a hard drive. These tools extract key drive metrics such as:

Power-on hours: Identifying how long the drive has been in operation.SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data: Providing insights into drive health and past failures.Firmware authenticity checks: Detecting tampering with drive identification.

IT teams should look for solutions that are available as open-source utilities, allowing them to verify their hardware before installation. Organizations should incorporate these verification steps into their procurement and deployment processes.

A call for greater transparency in IT procurement

The rise of fraudulent hard drives represents a serious and growing challenge for businesses worldwide. As organizations continue to expand their digital infrastructure, ensuring the authenticity and reliability of hardware components is essential. Data security, regulatory compliance, and operational stability depend on it.The responsibility lies with both vendors and buyers to implement stricter verification processes. Businesses must insist on transparency from suppliers and leverage verification tools to confirm that they receive genuine, factory-new drives. By adopting a proactive approach, organizations can protect their data infrastructure from unseen threats and avoid the costly consequences of fraudulent hardware.

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

The Apple TV+ Original movie Echo Valley has a first-look trailerIt teases a huge star-studded cast from popular shows like The White Lotus and FalloutThe movie will be released exclusively on Apple TV+ on June 13

We've got the potential to add a new title to our best Apple TV+ movies list now that Echo Valley has its first trailer, and a confirmed release date of June 17.I'm a huge Apple TV+ fan, and I'm not alone as we crowned it Streaming Service of the Year in 2024. It's going from strength to strength whether it's the record-breaking Severance season 2 or comedy hit Ted Lasso, and I'm thrilled to see its movie library expanding too.I'm hoping for good things with Echo Valley especially since it's got a huge cast including Julianne Moore, The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney and Fallout's Kyle MacLachlan.

What do we know about Echo Valley?

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Echo Valley has a very gripping plot, as it follows Julianne Moore's character Kate Garrett who works on a farm training horses, living a fairly quiet life. But when her daughter Claire, played by Sydney Sweeney, arrives covered in blood that isn't hers, Kate has to decide how far she'll go to protect her.If you love a good thriller, I'd keep an eye on this one because it deals with a nightmarish situation and family bonds as we unravel what happened to Claire and why she's found herself in such a state. Right now we don't know much and that's a good thing, this is the kind of movie you want to go into knowing as little as possible!

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Europol announced shutting down multiple stresser/booter services in the EUFour people were arrested in PolandLaw enforcement in The Netherlands, Germany, the US, and Poland, participated in Operation PowerOFF

Law enforcement has dismantled a major DDoS-for-hire operation, and arrested four individuals suspected of running it.In a press release, the international police force said the arrests were part of Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing effort targeting the infrastructure behind DDoS-for-hire activity.Polish authorities arrested four people who are suspected of running multiple stresser/booter services: Cfxapi, Cfxsecurity, neostress, jetstress, quickdown and zapcut.

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month​Keeper 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

Chats leaked

These services are thought to have facilitated “widespread attacks on schools, government services, businesses, and gaming platforms” between 2022 and 2025.They featured a “slick” interface that lowered the barrier for entry: users didn’t need any particular technical knowledge to mount an attack. All they needed to do was know the victim’s IP address, and to have €10 to pay for the attack (the cost would increase depending on the desired length of the attack).As part of the effort, Dutch authorities were deploying fake booter sites, designed to warn users looking for DDoS-for-hire services. They also seized data from booter websites hosted in data centers in the Netherlands, providing their partners with crucial information needed to make the arrests.In the US, the police seized nine domains associated with booter services, and in Germany, the police identified one of the suspects. Europol said it provided analytical and operational support throughout the investigation.The difference between usual DDoS botnets and stresser/booter services is that DDoS botnets are usually run by a single threat actor, which also works on expanding the botnet by deploying backdoors and malware.Stresser/booter services, on the other hand, are advertised as a white hat solution, offering a “legitimate” service to test the resilience of a network or a website. However, in most cases, these are just cover-ups for obvious illegal activities, which is why law enforcement usually shuts them down.Via Infosecurity Magazine

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Mafia: The Old Country will be released on August 8 after being revealed at last year’s The Game Awards. The title will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam and NVIDIA GeForce Now. Fans of organized crime simulators can preorder the game right now.

This is a prequel to other titles in 2K Games’ Mafia franchise. It’s set in Sicily in the early 1900s and explores the origins of organized crime. This reminds me of the iconic young Vito Corleone scenes from The Godfather Part II, which begin in Sicily in 1901.

Mafia: The Old Country is a linear, narrative-driven game with stealth and gunplay mechanics. There’s a new protagonist called Enzo who “has the opportunity to join Don Torrisi's crime family.”

As usual with modern releases, there are a couple of versions to choose from. The Standard Edition just includes the base game and costs $50, which is a bargain in today’s gaming landscape. The Deluxe Edition offers a bunch of bonus items, like new weapons and outfits. It also comes with the digital score and a digital art book. This one costs $60.

The Mafia series started in 2002 and offered a serious take on the GTA formula. There have only been three real games in the franchise in all of that time, with Mafia III being released in 2017.

2K Games has a lot on its plate right now. Borderlands 4 comes out on September 12 and there’s likely to be a new NBA 2K edition this year. Of course, it’s also helping to publish the long-awaited GTA 6, which has been delayed until May 26, 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/mafia-the-old-country-arrives-on-august-8-150025179.html?src=rss

There are some great keyboard attachments for the iPad, but sometimes, you just want to physically write things down with a "pencil." While Apple's stylus lineup can be confusing, it's clear that the Apple Pencil Pro is the most advanced model of the bunch. If you've been looking to grab one, whether it's for note-taking or more intricate drawing, the device is back down to $99 at Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. That's $30 off Apple's list price, and while it's $10 more than the all-time low we saw last October, it matches the largest discount we've tracked since.

Apple released this top-end model last year. It offers features such as pressure sensitivity, a squeeze gesture to see menu options and a built-in gyroscope that improves the process of changing your pen's orientation and brush tools. The hardware is as comfy to hold as the older second-gen Pencil, plus it works with Apple's Find My network, so you can easily locate the tool at any time. The catch is that it's only compatible with select iPads: You'll need an iPad Pro with an M4 chip, an M2 or M3 iPad Air or the most recent iPad mini to take advantage.

If you don't want to spend quite that much, the USB-C Apple Pencil is technically on sale for $69 as well. That's $10 less than buying from Apple direct, though it's a price we've seen at third-party retailers fairly often over the past several months. This model has most of the basic features, including tilt sensitivity, the ability to attach to an iPad magnetically and a "hover" feature that lets you preview inputs before you make them. It also works with a wider range of iPads, including the base iPad (A16). However, it lacks pressure sensitivity — so it won't make darker marks when you press down harder — and it can't recharge while it's magnetically attached.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-pencil-pro-falls-back-to-its-lowest-price-this-year-134027593.html?src=rss

Windows 11’s search results will soon include apps from the Microsoft StoreYou’ll be served a button to directly grab and install any relevant appSome people are already unhappy about this, and are clamoring for the ability to disable this behavior (when it arrives)

Microsoft has been working on Windows 11’s search functionality a fair bit in recent times, bringing in some nifty ideas, but an incoming change that just popped up on the radar hasn’t been so well-received.In fact, the announcement that Microsoft Store apps will be surfaced in Windows 11 search results, made by Giorgio Sardo (VP of App Store at Microsoft) is causing some unhappiness already. See the post from Sardo on X below, as flagged up by Neowin, and note the immediate reaction.

Coming Soon: Microsoft Store integration with Windows Search! 🔎Quickly find and install apps right from your Start menu or Taskbar! Rolling out soon - let us know what you think! 💻#Windows #MicrosoftStore pic.twitter.com/ma9iB8EvrRMay 6, 2025

How this works is that when you fire up a search in Windows 11, using either the search box in the taskbar or in the Start menu, the Microsoft Store is fully integrated, and any apps from the store that fit your query will be highlighted in these results.As you can see from the example screenshot provided on X (expand the above post to see it), the Grammarly app is presented when typing in a search for ‘gram’ along with a big button to get the software. Click on that and you’ll be straight into a download of the app.(Note that there’s a link to ‘Open in the Microsoft Store’ tucked away, which will obviously send you to the app’s page in the store, so I presume that clicking the ‘Get’ button must directly initiate the download of the software).

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

Analysis: Can you turn it off?

This has not been a popular idea. As mentioned, the reaction on X has been mostly around the idea that this is ‘another feature to be disabled,’ but of course, it’s not clear if it’ll be something you can tell Windows 11 to stop doing. The hope is very much that this is the case, and I’d add my voice to those arguing that this needs to be an option here, if Microsoft is bringing this in.This twist on search does appear to be inbound for the OS, though, given that the Microsoft executive mentions it’s “coming soon” in no uncertain terms. This functionality was also covered in the recent in-depth look we got at new features coming for Windows 11, including that big Start menu redesign (and a pile of stuff for Copilot+ PCs, including an AI agent for changing settings in the OS).In the blog post relaying all those features which are about to enter testing for Windows 11, Microsoft mentioned something I completely missed when initially writing about this (the bolding is mine for emphasis): “We are also continuing to enhance and expand improved Windows search, helping you find what you are looking for in more places. Coming to Windows Insiders [testers] later this month, we’re introducing the ability to find Windows settings and to quickly find and install apps from the Microsoft Store.”This wrinkle aside, another introduction Microsoft is making to improve search on Windows 11 is actually pretty exciting, as it ushers in natural language functionality. The catch with this is that this conversational-style search uses AI, so it’s for Copilot+ PCs only. Not so long ago, a File Search app was also rumored, and this could be a potential step forward for Windows 11’s broader searching capabilities.In recent Windows 11 history, there’s also been a good deal of work done to pep up the performance of the Microsoft Store, but that’s grabbed less of the limelight than these search changes as you might imagine.

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Multiple ransomware groups seen abusing Windows Common Log File System bugAmong the abusers are RansomEXX and PlayThe bug is used to drop backdoors, encryptors, and more

Notorious ransomware actors have been abusing a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System to gain system privileges and deploy malware on target devices, multiple security researchers have confirmed.The zero-day flaw was discovered, and patched, as part of the Microsoft Patch Tuesday April 2024 cumulative update.Given a severity score of 7.8/10 (high), it is tracked as CVE-2025-29824, and described as a use after free bug in Windows Common Log File System Driver that allows an authorized attackers to elevate privileges locally.

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month​Keeper 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

Chats leaked

Microsoft was among the first companies to sound the alarm on the bug, saying that hackers are using it to target IT and real estate firms in the US, financial organizations in Venezuela, software firms in Spain, and retailers in Saudi Arabia.The researchers said the bug was used by a threat actor called RansomEXX, who used it to drop the PipeMagic backdoor and other malware, including an encryptor. However, Symantec also found Play, an infamous ransomware player, using the bug to access a US target."Although no ransomware payload was deployed in the intrusion, the attackers deployed the Grixba infostealer, which is a custom tool associated with Balloonfly, the attackers behind the Play ransomware operation," Symantec explained in its report."Balloonfly is a cybercrime group that has been active since at least June 2022 and uses the Play ransomware (also known as PlayCrypt) in attacks."Play, also known as Playcrypt, is a threat actor that emerged in mid-2022. In the first year and a half of its existence, it claimed roughly 300 victims, some of which were critical infrastructure organizations. In late 2023, the FBI, CISA, and other security agencies, published a joint security advisory, warning about the dangers posed by Play."Since June 2022, the Play (also known as Playcrypt) ransomware group has impacted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure in North America, South America, and Europe," the advisory read. "As of October 2023, the FBI was aware of approximately 300 affected entities allegedly exploited by the ransomware actors."Via BleepingComputer

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Tesla has just released a more affordable version of its recent refreshed Model Y in North America, which sees the All Wheel Drive Long Range variant joined by a single motor version that now costs $44,990 – $4,000 less than the faster and more powerful option.Since going on sale in the US, Tesla only offered the refreshed Model Y in a fully-loaded Launch Edition model, which came with exclusive paint colors, a rear spoiler and an aerodynamically optimized alloy wheel finish, but it cost a staggering $60,000.That car was then joined by a cheaper Long Range All Wheel Drive variant that started at $49,990, but many customers were crying out for an even more affordable option that might have compromised on the performance that dual motors provide, while still offering the most generous battery range... 357 miles in total.As a reaction to a general cooling of demand for Tesla vehicles in the US and Canada – with Electrek reporting that the company hasn't been enjoying its typical backlog of orders for new Model Y since it launched – the cut-price EV has arrived at a pivotal moment.However, the Long Range Rear Wheel Driver version has been on sale in Europe and China for a number of months, where sales have continued to plummet.According to CNN, April sales were down 62% in the UK, 67% in Denmark and 81% in Sweden. Sales from its plant in Shanghai fell 6% from the previous year in April.Perhaps the damage has been done and no matter how much Musk chooses to drop his prices, customers simply don't want to be seen in a Tesla.

Range rage for Cybertruck owners

(Image credit: Tesla)

News also surfaced this week that Tesla has now officially given up on its plans to mass produce a range-extending battery pack that would sit in Cybertruck’s load bed (eating into space) and deliver the sort of range figures that Elon Musk promised during its launch in 2023.Customers could put down a small deposit for the $16,000 optional extra, but Inside EVs says that these down payments are now being refunded, meaning the $100,000 tri-motor Cybertruck can only manage 320 miles in-between charging, not the 500 that was once promised.Just last month, Tesla quietly removed the option to place a $2,000 deposit on the range extending battery pack from its website, but it has now reached out to Cybertruck customers to inform them the project is shelved.Alas, this is just the latest in a long line of disappointment for Cybertruck owners, as alongside a massively over-egged range, it turns out that the vehicle will also not be receiving the firm’s Auto Steer technology, which autonomously detects road markings and remains in lane when cruise control is activated… similar to the Lane Departure Assist systems found on many modern vehicles.Instead, Tesla is offering Cybertruck customers access to free Full Self-Driving (FSD) for a year, but after that, the features disappear if the customer isn’t willing to continue coughing up the $99 a month subscription fee.Maybe Musk has been watching one too many episodes of Black Mirror, with 'Common People' clearly on repeat.

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Big movies like Moana 2 have been a big hit for Disney+: in its latest earnings call, The Walt Disney Company said that there were now 126 million Disney Plus subscribers in the second quarter of its 2025 financial year, an increase of 1.4 million compared to the first quarter.Those new sign-ups mean that the total number of Disney+ and Hulu subscribers is now more than 180 million, and revenues are up 8%.Moana 2 was a big driver of that: when it came to the streamer in March, it broke Disney+'s streaming records. In its first five days streaming it had 27.3 million views and became Disney+'s third-biggest animated theatrical premiere of all time. And according to Neilsen, the first Moana has been the most-watched Disney+ movie since the service launched in 2019.Of course there's another key driver of subscriber numbers and revenue growth: the Disney+ account sharing crackdown, which is now firmly in place in lots of key regions, and includes Hulu.While Disney expects subscriber growth to slow, predicting a "modest" increase in Disney+ subscribers as better weather gets us spending more time outdoors, CEO Bob Iger is excited about the movies coming to theaters and streaming in the year-and-a-bit to come.

Thunderbolts* is the shape of Disney films to come

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Bob Iger was in a bullish mood during the earnings call, saying that he had "a lot of confidence in our upcoming slate". That slate includes 2025's Lilo & Stitch on Memorial Day weekend – "I've seen the movie a few times. I can endorse it wholeheartedly" – Pixar's Elio, Fantastic Four, and the next Tron, Zootopia and Avatar movies."And then next year [we have] Avengers, Mandalorian, Toy Story and Moana live action," Iger added. "So we have a slate in the next year and a half that I not only have a lot of confidence in, but it's as strong as any slate I've seen in a long time."There was some indication that Disney is going to be more careful about the movies and shows it makes, with Iger admitting that "we all know that in our zeal to flood our streaming platform with more content.... quantity does not necessarily beget quality".He added: "And frankly, we've all admitted to ourselves that we lost a little focus by making too much". Iger mentioned Marvel specifically, and says that they are now consolidating and "focus[ing] more on their films [which] we believe will result in better quality."Thunderbolts* is the first film coming from that new focus, and Iger says he feels "very good about that".That's not all. Disney predicts double-digit growth in the income from its entertainment and sports divisions, where ESPN has been doing impressive numbers: despite high costs from buying college football and NFL games, Iger said that plans to move forward the launch of a new ESPN streaming service that combines linear TV programming with content from ESPN+ "soon".

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Heart Eyes is now streaming on Netflix in the USIt can be bought or rented in other territories, but there's no international streaming date yetThe movie has an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score

I've already recommended eight new horror movies on Netflix, Shudder, Max and more to stream this month, but now I'm throwing another one into the mix.I was delighted to find out Heart Eyes is now streaming in the US on Netflix, meaning we'll get more eyes (no pun intended) on this awesome horror-romance movie that has an impressive 81% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics.Seasonal horror movies are always fun, and while Valentine's Day has passed for another year, it's definitely going to be one I rewatch every February. But honestly, you can watch it whenever!

Why is Heart Eyes so good?

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

With so many slashers out there, you might be wondering what sets this apart from some of the best horror movies. This one is a great blend of genres, managing to mix sweet romantic comedy vibes with the blood and shock of a good slasher horror, and the result is something very special indeed.The link is a clever one, as the serial killer here is irritated by public displays of affection, giving that juxtaposition between romance and gross violence, making it a fun watch for those of us who don't like streaming rom-coms.Any good slasher needs an iconic villain too; we've had Ghostface, Jason's hockey mask and now, the Heart Eyes killer and their creepy glowing hearts. Much like Scream, you'll find yourself trying to figure out who did it, and the answer might surprise you. Or maybe you'll feel smug because you figured it out!It's got plenty of gore and shocking moments, with many scenes being quite over the top but it's definitely going to satisfy any horror cravings. It's not one for the more squeamish among us as it goes all out, but if you don't mind a little movie 'magic', it's one of the best Netflix movies to watch with a crowd.Unfortunately, Heart Eyes is not yet streaming in other territories other than the US but hopefully that will change soon.

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Ireland has pitched a law to force tech companies to vet ads before publishing them, according to reporting by Financial Times. This is part of a larger push by the EU Commission to make tech entities responsible for financial fraud that occurs on their platforms. It also comes as President Trump has begun pushing the EU to scale back regulation of big American tech companies.

While a proposal by the EU Commission would indeed put companies on the hook for financial fraud, Ireland’s plan hopes to get ahead of all that. It looks to stop fraudulent ads before they are even published. The Irish finance ministry submitted an amendment to the current EU proposal that would force tech platforms to check the legitimacy of advertisers before posting their ads.

Ireland leads charge to force Big Tech to vet financial ads for scams https://t.co/nqOXZjGOOt via @ft— Jude Webber (@jude_webber) May 8, 2025

The amendment would also make it so only registered financial service providers could post these types of ads. The Bank of Ireland says that more than 75 percent of losses last year came from investment fraud that were often linked to ads placed on social media. These ads can be posted at any time and, more importantly, taken down at any time. This allows the publishers to avoid legal scrutiny after the damage has been done. Data indicates that online scammers defrauded Europeans out of nearly $5 billion in 2022.

"We can’t leave glaringly obvious holes in legislation that are allowing criminals to defraud people of their life savings," said Regina Doherty, an Irish lawmaker.

Google has declined to discuss this measure, but told FT that it fights "financial fraud in ads through our tools, people and policies." It is true that it operates a financial services certification program to help combat fraud. Meta has declined to comment. We’ve pinged both companies and will update this post if we hear back.

Around half of EU countries have expressed support for Ireland’s proposed amendment, though there is a hurdle to overcome. The EU Commission already has a provision in the Digital Services Act that says that tech companies aren’t required to broadly monitor content, though proponents of the Irish initiative have countered that the requirement to vet advertisers could be designed in such a way that conforms with current law.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ireland-is-pitching-a-law-to-force-big-tech-companies-to-vet-ads-before-publication-154946970.html?src=rss

Experts predict that by 2035, AI will have remade society, altering everything from healthcare to jobs and human interaction, and, if you believe Apple's Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, it might also signal the end of our deepest tech relationship: the one we have with our iPhone.In testimony during the US Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google parent Alphabet, Cue, according to Bloomberg, shared this revelation: "You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now as crazy as it sounds."Queue Apple CEO Tim Cook spittake. While Cook wipes the coffee from his MacBook screen, let's discuss.I agree, that's crazy-talk from an Apple executive charged with expanding Apple Services far and wide, often with the iconic iPhone as the portal. However, Cue's comments came amid a larger discussion about the growing impact of AI and its place as a changemaker.In the near term, it's meant Apple is reportedly now looking at the possibility of shifting Google from its prime spot as the default search engine for iPhones, iPads, and Macs in Safari. The replacement? Possibly an AI search engine.This makes sense. We're already seeing people replace traditional search results and their endless pages of useful blue links with summaries from Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Copilot, etc. They may not all be accurate, but they are, it seems, good enough for most people.

This doesn't add up

I have trouble, though, squaring Cue's contention that we might not need the iPhone and (by extension) other smartphones in a decade. It's almost like he said it to signal, "Hey, we're all under threat from the rapid expansion of AI, even Apple's most profitable business segment [iPhone accounted for almost half the $95B Apple made last quarter], so when you think about – just spitballing here – monopolies and closed systems in any sector, don't look at us. We might be fighting for our lives by 2035."

Think about your relationship with your iPhone or Android. It's deep. It's personal. You hold it and cradle it like a loved one

AI is a fantastic tool, but it won't be floating in the ether 10 years from now. Artificial Intelligence, large language models (LLMs), and interfaces (text or voice) must live somewhere. We've already seen that most people are not interested in wearable AI. They still want screens, preferably ones that fit in their pockets, backpacks, or bags.We won't walk around a city shouting prompts into space, hoping that a local AI beacon hears us and responds. Will we?

The love of your life

Leaving aside AI for a second, just stop and think about your relationship with your iPhone or Android. It's deep. It's personal. You hold it and cradle it like a loved one – you certainly stare at your phone screen longer than you hold any other human's gaze. Is that relationship going to be any different in 10 years?I highly doubt we'll put all our critical information somewhere else – all those apps, services, and digital currency, we need them at our fingertips. What will you tap to pay if not your phone? Okay, maybe your watch, but the phone will still be in your hand in 2035, and I bet you'll still be using it.It's possible that Cue is trying to tell us something else, and this speaks to Apple's other long-term strategy: AR glasses.

What about wearables?

We know Tim Cook loves augmented reality, and while the Vision Pro has not been the global hit Apple hoped for, lightweight AR glasses are certainly in Apple's strategic plan. Assuming they have a wide field of view interface, voice and gesture control, and the excellent Apple Intelligence AI we've been promised (a Siri that can finally compete with ChatGPT), they could be an iPhone replacement for many.If, and it's a big if, Cue is really talking about Apple iGlasses, then the iPhone's loss of utility almost makes sense. But that's a big stretch. Making such a bold statement that we may not need iPhones in a decade is borderline irresponsible and assumes that AI will not only be ubiquitous but so good that we will no longer need hardware-based assistants.I think AI will be better and smarter, but even more fraught. There may, by 2035, be such a massive backlash that half the population is anti-AI and refusing to use it in any form. The iPhone might be their primary tool for communicating, organizing, and spreading the good anti-AI word. Good luck ripping that device from their sweaty grips.

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Two US lawmakers are warning against the security risks of the UK encryption backdoor order to AppleSuch a backdoor to encryption, they said, could be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimesApple killed its iCloud's end-to-end encryption feature in the UK in February and is now challenging the order in Court

Two US lawmakers have slammed the UK encryption backdoor order to Apple, arguing that this could lead to potential cybersecurity risks for all users worldwide.As reported by Reuters on May 7, 2025, US House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast wrote a joint letter to Britain's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to warn how such a backdoor would create "systemic vulnerabilities" that cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes would be able to exploit.Apple killed its iCloud's end-to-end encryption feature in the UK in February after being hit by a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act to allow law enforcement to assess users' data – no matter if these are encrypted. The Big Tech company is now challenging this request in Court.

At the time of writing, UK users cannot benefit from E2E protections on these data categories: iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks, Siri Shortcuts, Voice Memos, Wallet Passes, and Freeform. (Image credit: Shutterstock / nikkimeel)

"Systemic vulnerabilities" for everyone

"Creating a backdoor into end-to-end encrypted systems, as the TCN does, introduces systemic vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors, including cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes," reads Jordan and Mast's letter, as reported by Reuters."These vulnerabilities would not only affect UK users but also American citizens and others worldwide, given the global nature of Apple's services," Jordan and Mast added.Recent events like the Salt Typhoon attack on all the major US telecoms have shown the crucial role reliable encryption and encrypted tools (like the best VPN services and messaging apps) play for the privacy and safety of everyone's data. Even FBI and CISA experts have been calling citizens to switch to encrypted services in the aftermath of this unprecedented cyberattack.Jordan and Mast also urge the UK Home Secretary to disclose the full content of the order to the US Department of Justice so that lawmakers can check if it complies with current laws. As per the US/UK agreement made under the CLOUD ACT in 2023, law enforcement cannot require companies to decrypt data."We urge the Home Office to reconsider the issuance of TCNs that require the weakening of encryption, as such measures conflict with international human rights standards, including the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that undermining encryption violates privacy rights," conclude the US lawmakers.

Apple decided to kill its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature in the UK to avoid building a backdoor into its system.The ADP is an optional feature that provides an extra layer of protection on all iCloud-stored data by using end-to-end encryption technology. This means not even Apple can access these files.Apple's decision to remove Advanced Data Protection comes after experts warned that an iCloud backdoor "jeopardizes the security and privacy of millions."Apple has nevertheless ensured that all the iCloud data categories encrypted by default remain protected. These include users' health data, passwords, iCloud messages, and Apple Pay transactions, as well as iMessage and FaceTime data. You can see all the others on Apple's support page.The Big Tech firm has now sued the UK government, and the legal battle is currently ongoing behind closed doors.

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We're officially at the midpoint of Doctor Who season 2. Indeed, four episodes of the sci-fi show's latest installment have aired so far, so there are another four to go."But when will episode 5 of Doctor Who's latest season be available to watch?" I hear you cry. Worry not, for I'm here to tell you when and where you can stream it in the US, UK, and Australia.You'll also find a full release schedule for the remaining entries below, so you can schedule your weekend plans around each episode of Nu-Who.

When can I watch Doctor Who season 2 episode 5 in the US?

This season's fifth chapter, titled 'The Story and the Engine', will be released on Disney+ on Saturday, May 10 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

What time will Doctor Who season 2's fifth episode come out in the UK?

You know things are bad when The Doctor looks worried (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+/Bad Wolf Studios)

Just like its four predecessors, The Doctor and Bel's next adventure will air on BBC iPlayer. It'll be available to watch on Saturday, May 10 at 8am BST.Those of you who want to catch the legendary Time Lord's return via terrestrial broadcast can do so on BBC One. However, it won't be released until 7:10pm BST on the same day – Saturday May 10 – so, if you don't want any of its plot points ruined, I'd advise you to watch it on BBC iPlayer.

What is the release date for episode 5 of Doctor Who season 2 in Australia?

Arachnaphobes, turn away now! (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+/Bad Wolf Studios)

Everyone's favorite Gallifreyan will travel the cosmos in his famous Tardis once again in Australia on Saturday, May 10 at 11am AEST.Like their US counterparts, Whovians Down Under can stream it on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

Doctor Who season 2 full episode launch schedule

Bel and The Doctor have three more adventures to go on after this season's fifth chapter (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+/Bad Wolf Studios)

Want to know when new episodes of Doctor Who , aka one of the best Disney+ shows, will materialize where you live? Read the list below for more details.

Doctor Who season 2 episode 1 – out nowDoctor Who season 2 episode 2 – out nowDoctor Who season 2 episode 3 – out nowDoctor Who season 2 episode 4 – out nowDoctor Who season 2 episode 5 – Saturday, May 10Doctor Who season 2 episode 6 – Saturday, May 17Doctor Who season 2 episode 7 – Saturday, May 24Doctor Who season 2 episode 8 – Saturday, May 31

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The PINE Beat uses swappable, affordable, rechargeable batteriesThe manufacturer says you'll be able to install better Bluetooth tooIt costs £170 (about $225 / AU$351)

If you listen to lots of music, you'll know that there are many things that will never die – such as rock 'n' roll (according to both AC/DC and Neil Young), love (The Miracles), hardcore (Mogwai) and many more. But to the best of my knowledge there are no songs claiming that Bluetooth speakers will never die. Maybe someone should write one, because the UK-made Pine Beat speaker wants to do an Oasis and Live Forever.The idea behind the Pine Beat is simple enough. Most portable Bluetooth speakers are sealed units with rechargeable batteries somewhere inside, and when those batteries wear out it isn't easy or economic to swap them – so when your speaker doesn't have sufficient stamina for Metallica's black album it's less Enter Sandman, more Enter Landfill. So why not make the battery swappable?This is hardly a new idea: swappable batteries are as old as, well, batteries. But the way it's been implemented in the Pine Beat is smart.

Pine Beat speaker: why you might want your speaker to live forever

Dun dun dun... DUN DUNNNNNN! (Image credit: POCA Audio)

With the Pine Beat, a 30-hour battery pack only costs £25 – comparable to a budget power bank – and you can swap it instantly, so if you're going on a long trip far from a power socket then packing a spare will give you a week's worth of daytime listening. And because the Pine Beat is also a power bank, you can charge other things, too.The key goal here is to keep your speaker out of landfill, so when the battery goes you can recycle it without having to put the entire speaker in the trash. And according to creator Poca Audio, the circuit board has also been designed with future upgrades in mind. The example given is swapping in a new, better Bluetooth module when the next generation arrives.What Poca is offering here is essentially what some luxury hi-fi brands offer, which is the promise that your purchase won't become obsolete in the foreseeable future – although of course to deliver on that promise the manufacturer needs to stay in business and needs to keep on making the relevant parts.While the unique selling point here is longevity, the Pine Beat is no slouch in the specs department. It's a 40W speaker with a woofer, tweeter and bass radiator, a frequency response of 58Hz to 20KHz and the ability to pair with up to 100 more speakers. There's a custom EQ as well as multiple presets, a range of accessories for hanging it up, attaching it to things and securing it in sand or grass, and a generous 30-month warranty.The Pine Beat is available now for £170 (about $225 / AU$351) from Poca Audio.

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The transition from high school to young adulthood is usually as overwhelming as it is exciting. If you know a recent graduate and want to celebrate this milestone, the right gift can make their next chapter a little more manageable. Below we’ve compiled a few of our favorite gadgets, gear and other gift ideas that should help them out, whether they’re off to college or heading straight into the workforce.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-high-school-graduation-gifts-130013153.html?src=rss

CISA warns of 'unsophisticated' attacks targeting oil and gas industries'Basic and elementary' techniques are being usedCritical infrastructure is increasingly at risk from cyberattacks

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a warning outlining an increase in ‘unsophisticated’ and ‘basic’ cyberattacks targeting Industrial Control Systems and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ICS/SCADA) systems in critical infrastructure sectors - the oil and gas industries.This isn’t entirely unexpected, as critical infrastructure has long been a top target for cybercriminals. The services that these industries provide are often key to the daily lives of many, so any downtime can be catastrophic and costly - meaning that attackers have serious leverage if they are able to gain systems access.The attacks that have been observed, particularly against Energy and Transportation Systems, often include ‘basic and elementary intrusion techniques’, CISA confirms - but even basic attacks can harm an organization in the right conditions.

Cyber Hygiene

Poor cyber hygiene and exposed assets can escalate these threats, CISA warns, and can lead to “significant consequences such as defacement, configuration changes, operational disruptions and, in severe cases, physical damage.”Guidance for critical infrastructure on threat protection often includes robust detection capabilities, frequent and up-to-date patching of known vulnerabilities, enforcing strict password policies mandating strong and unique passwords are used at all times, and training staff on all levels in the basics of cybersecurity.“The authoring organizations urge critical infrastructure entities to review and act now to improve their cybersecurity posture against cyber threat activities specifically and intentionally targeting internet connected OT and ICS,” CISA’s guidance fact sheet outlines.Critical infrastructure is facing a difficult set of challenges as rising geopolitical tensions see hackers increasingly target key industries, and developments in AI tools mean that the barriers of entry are now lower for cybercriminals, who are able to send out attacks at a much higher frequency and that require much less skill - perhaps explaining the increase in ‘‘basic and elementary” techniques.

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ASUS is now outfitting its NUC 14 Pro mini PC with a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of reaching 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS). The new model, the ASUS NUC Pro AI, will have up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor. With a height of only 1.3 inches, this mini PC can be carried anywhere and won’t get in your way. Most of the features like ports and internals should be similar compared to its predecessor.

To prevent overheating, ASUS installed some advanced thermal management solutions built for the computer's tiny footprint. Other features include Secure Boot, built-in speakers and voice command-ready microphones. There’s also a fingerprint reader for extra security, along with a trusted platform module (TPM). The latter is designed to secure the PC further using cryptography. Upgrading the ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI doesn’t require tools, and the mini PC can be controlled with ASUS Control Center.

This mini PC might be convenient, but it’s likely not going to run AAA games at higher settings. Fortunately, ASUS does have some NUC PCs capable of gaming.

As of now, there’s no release date for the ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI, but its announcement is less than a year following the first ASUS-built NUC that we saw at CES 2024.

Update, May 8, 2025, 12:40PM ET: More than six months after this story was originally published on September 4, 2024, ASUS reached out and requested that Engadget remove the reference to this product meeting EPEAT's Climate+ energy efficiency standards. The company confirmed it was a mistake on its part; it has filed for and is in the process of getting the certification but it hasn't been confirmed yet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/asus-equips-its-nuc-14-pro-mini-pc-with-ai-capabilities-160052047.html?src=rss

Google Chrome is the most data hungry mobile web browser, with 20 data types being collectedMost other mobile browsers collect an average of 6 data typesChrome and Safari command a 90% mobile browser market share

The world’s most popular web browsers are also the most data hungry, new research from Surfshark has found.Analyzing download statistics from AppMagic, Surfshark found Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari account for 90% of the world's mobile browser downloads.However, Chrome sucks up 20 different types of data while being used, including contact info, location, browsing history, and user content, and is the only browser to collect payment methods, card numbers, or bank account details.

Chrome data collection

Surfshark does point out the reason some financial information may be stored by Chrome is because users can opt in to store their banking information for easier transactions, however.Microsoft's Bing took second place for data collection, hoovering up 12 types of data, closely followed by Pi Browser in third place with nine data types, with Safari and Firefox collecting eight types and sharing fourth place.At the other end of the scale, both Brave and Tor are the least data hungry browsers, with Brave requiring identifiers and usage data, and Tor collecting no data at all.When it comes to the types of data collected, Pi Browser, Edge, and Bing all collected the most tracking data, usually sold to third parties to be used for targeted advertising.Pi Browser collects browsing history, search history, device ID, product interaction, and advertisement data, while Edge collects customer support request data, and Bing collects user ID data.In the US, Safari takes a 50% mobile browser usage share, with Chrome filling another 43% - and the UK follows a similar trend, with Chrome at 47% and Safari at 43%.Luckily, there are ways to prevent data collection, and if you’re looking to keep your data safe while browsing, it may be worth taking a look at our guide to the best VPN.

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