News

What a week we've had. GTA 6 got a new trailer that looks stunning, Sonos and IKEA sadly ended their audio partnership, and Sony teased its new flagship headphones.To catch up on all this and more scroll down to see the week's seven biggest tech news stories with quickfire snippets on each and links to the larger story if you're keen to know more.When you're done be sure to check out seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (May 9).

7. YouTube Premium started seeing double

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

YouTube started to pilot a two-person YouTube Premium membership in select countries this week (namely France, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong).It will allow two people to split a subscription at a rate that’s cheaper than two individual plans, or splitting a family plan. In France an individual plan costs €12.99 per month and a family plan is €23.99, while a two-person plan is €19.99 – so we’d expect it to cost around $18.99 / £16.99 / AU$26.99 in the US, UK, and Australia.Apparently, this plan is part of YouTube’s ongoing experiments that look to find “new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers.” Though it’s yet to be seen if this will make YouTube Premium a better value proposition.

Read more: YouTube Premium's new two-person tier looks like a good deal – but it's still not enough to get me to pay for YouTube

6. The Netflix homepage got its biggest-ever upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

Netflix is finally acknowledging that it’s not just for movies and TV shows anymore, redesigning its home screen to accommodate live events and gaming in a way that should better connect you to real-time events.It’s also finally dabbling in generative AI in, perhaps, the smartest way possible: search. Now you can find your next binge using natural language queries.There are other big changes like labels on top of title images and a general reshuffling of interface elements. It’s too soon to say if everyone is loving the new Netflix.

Read more: Netflix is redesigning your TV homepage

5. Whoop revealed two new promising wearables

(Image credit: Whoop)

After four years without hardware, Whoop has unveiled not one but two new wearables for 2025. The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG are actually one and the same device, the latter a "medical-grade" variant with more intensive health features like ECG, blood pressure, and more. The wearables look great and boast a 14-day battery life, as well as a new design.Unfortunately, there's also a new pricing structure that means the very best features are reserved for those who pay the highest price. There is now a cheaper option and a more expensive one to the previous offering, but the Whoop 5.0 has some features disabled at the cheapest pricing tier.It's a tough pill to swallow for users who have waited four years for new Whoop wearables, but with Garmin and others taking subscriptions to another level, it's the direction the industry appears to be heading in with no remorse.

Read more: Whoop unveils two brand new wearables, but their best features are hidden behind a paywall

4. Sonos and IKEA ended their unlikely audio duet

(Image credit: IKEA)

Earlier this week, Sonos and IKEA announced that they would be parting ways after six years of collaborating on audio homeware tech which includes the popular Symfonisk bookshelf and lamp speakers. In an email sent to The Verge, Sonos spokesperson Erin Pategas broke the news and revealed that Symfonisk’s current inventory of products is being phased out globally at all IKEA locations, with no plans to release future products.Though the future of Sonos and IKEA will cease to exist, Sonos has offered reassurance that existing products in its Symfonisk range will still receive software updates despite the discontinuation of the partnership. The news come as quite the surprise since we’ve been very fond of Symfonisk’s speakers, but with the unpredictable future of new tariff laws looming over businesses, this is a measure that Sonos has had to carefully consider.

Read more: Sonos and IKEA have announced they are parting ways after a six year collaboration

3. Microsoft announced two new Surface devices

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft expanded its Surface lineup, with the all-new Surface Laptop 13-inch and the Surface Pro 12-inch 2-in-1 device using the Snapdragon X Plus processor. Most importantly, the former is the lightest and thinnest Surface Laptop to date. Battery life has also been upgraded for both, providing that extra time needed while you're away from your desk or power source.It’s worth noting that these new devices are much cheaper on this occasion; the Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,699, while the Surface Pro starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 – a huge fall from the previous versions for both, starting at $1,099 / AU$1,899. They’re available for pre-order right now.

Read more: Here are the 4 key things you need to know about Microsoft's new Surface devices

2. We got a launch date for Sony’s next flagship headphones

(Image credit: Sony)

It’s been three years since Sony debuted its top-end wireless headphones, the WH-1000XM5s. But after numerous leaks, the tech giant has confirmed exactly when we’ll be seeing its successors – on May 15, next week.What can we expect from them? The rumors so far point to improved noise cancelling and audio processing, plus the return of a hinged design that Sony skipped on the current model. On the downside, there will also likely be a small price hike. But despite that, May 15 (or May 16, if you’re in Australia), is a date for your diary if you’re in the market for some premium, travel-friendly cans.

Read more: Sony confirms launch date for flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones – here are 6 things to expect

1. GTA 6 got a brand new trailer

GTA 6 broke the internet this week with a brand new trailer focused on Vice City and the game's partners in crime, Jason and Lucia. But story teasers aside, it looks incredible.We’ve already called it one of the most beautiful games of this generation – it looks leagues ahead of what other studios have achieved – and most staggering of all the trailer was apparently captured entirely on a PS5.It clearly impressed many others too as the trailer has racked up over 94 million views in three days (at the time of writing) and Spotify streams of the song Hot Together which featured heavily in the trailer surged by 182,000% in the hours after the trailer released.All we have to do now is wait a little over a year until May 26, 2026 so we can play it for ourselves.

Read more: Grand Theft Auto 6 looks mind-blowingly beautiful in latest screenshots

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Google’s Pixel range comprises some of the best phones on the market right now, but it’s with the A series that the phonemaker really shines. Year on year, the company has produced one of the best affordable premium smartphones, beating out competitors on price while offering exceptional performance where it matters. In 2025, however, I’m feeling less energetic about the beloved handset.Don’t get me wrong – the Google Pixel 9a is a phenomenal phone and there are legitimately good reasons to buy it. It’s no doubt better than the iPhone 16e where it matters most and more accessible than the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.However, it’s only slightly higher specced than the Pixel 8a, and introduces a new design that looks more iPhone-like than anything else.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The Tensor G4 chip found in the Pixel 9a only offers gentle performance improvements over the G3 in the Pixel 8a. The larger battery only accounts for about two extra hours of battery life in our stress test – worthy of note and praise, but not enough to offset the Tensor’s habit of being a power hog.And so when collecting my thoughts on the Pixel 9a, a phone I’ve enjoyed using over the past month, I’ve really only been pushed back to the Pixel 8a – a phone I truly loved but scolded for a price bump it received in Australia (where I live) over the 7a. Weighing the differences, it’s tough for me to recommend the Pixel 9a as the phone to buy, when the previous model is now cheaper and technically similar. After all, the main focus of the A series device is to be accessible – so I’m naturally in favor of the less expensive device.

Old vs new

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The Pixel 8a is much the same beast as the Pixel 9a, but in fairness I think there are legitimate reasons for someone to upgrade. Looking at benchmarks passed through Geekbench and 3DMark, there’s not much of a performance argument to be made here, but there are odd features that may have you wanting the newer device, such as the new editing tools and the higher brightness.I’m just going to be efficient. Below I’ve listed the areas where the phones actually differ. I’m not listing the price, as they both had the exact same starting cost though retailers are now offering the Pixel 8a cheaper.

Additionally, the Pixel 9a also includes several editing features previously found on the more expensive Pixel 9 devices, such as Add Me, macro focus, auto frame, Reimagine and macro focus video. The charging time figures above were observed by the good folks at Android Authority.With retailers still offering the Pixel 8a, and often at a steeply discounted price, there’s not really a lot of improvement here that’d make me want the Pixel 9a instead. The screen is nicer and slightly larger, but not as large as the one found on the similarly priced Nothing Phone 3a Pro – a phone that I personally prefer over the Pixel 9a, also.The Pixel 9a has observably better gaming performance, but I’d argue that, if gaming’s a priority for you, you’d be better off with the iPhone 16 Plus or, hell, the Pixel 9 Pro XL – though obviously these don’t come cheap, and if you’re OK with a smaller display, the 9a might be fine.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The battery may be larger in the Pixel 9a than in the Pixel 8a, but that hasn’t really translated to a meaningful difference on testing (or in my day-to-day use). The same can be said of charging times, despite a 5W increase in capacity.The cameras are brilliant on both devices and I’m not prepared to say one is better than the other – Google’s really good at this specific thing and you’re getting a brilliant snapper either way.Finally, on the topic of ongoing support, it’s brilliant that phone companies are starting to support their devices for seven years. However I’d argue that, even if shopping for an affordable all-rounder like the Pixel 9a, you’d likely upgrade within that time. You’ll notice quality and battery alike degrade and you’ll probably be looking for the next thing within three or so years – but even if you want to keep your phone around for a while, six years of remaining support isn’t bad at all.

What's worth upgrading for?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Don’t take me as pessimistic – there are legitimate reasons for getting the Pixel 9a instead of the 8a.The brighter screen is a good one. The 700 nits difference in favor of the Pixel 9a is observable, although the 2,000 nits performance of the Pixel 8a still leaves many key competitors (looking at you, iPhone 16e) in the dark.The stronger IP rating of the Pixel 9a would give me greater peace of mind that it wouldn’t break as easily from contact with water. The same goes for the greater battery life – even if I may argue in the previous section that it’s not that big of a difference, you may personally be shopping for the biggest battery possible, and I can’t argue against that.There's also those earlier mentioned camera and editing tools that the Pixel 9a has – you might be particularly taken by some of them (Add Me is very cool), and although I don't think any of them are more worthwhile than a saving, you might prefer a more feature-rich handset.Finally, the phone looks great! I actually love the design – Google’s removal of the camera bar originally had me apprehensive, but I don’t mind what they’ve done with a more neutral shape. It’s more iPhone-like and generally might be preferred among some shoppers.

Look for a sale

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It’s a safe bet the Pixel 8a will be discounted more and more as time goes on, and I’d encourage you to jump on it when the price suits. The Pixel 9a will also likely see a discount sometime in 2025 from some retailers (likely including Google itself come Pixel 10 season), but we’ll have to wait and see.I’d really love for Google to reshape its range around the A series – it’s a phenomenal device, but I can’t help but feel that they could make it more appealing. A cheaper variant is at the top of my list, but also a model with a larger screen would be nice – one that brings the fight to other Android phones that may offer larger displays but miss out on all the other great Google features.For now though, while I’m usually head over heels for new phones, I’ve long been of the mind that Google’s Pixel range should be just a tad more accessible, given a couple of price increases in the past five years. I’d certainly like the Pixel A to be cheaper, and it’s a shame that we can’t call the Pixel 9a ‘budget’. With price drops, however, the Pixel 8a is looking more and more attractive.

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TechRadar's experts regularly spend hours trying and testing all the most popular VPN services on the market. Our reporters closely follow the industry for the latest news, too, mapping how new online threats are shaping VPN usage.This work is pivotal in ensuring that we recommend only the best VPN apps available and keep you up to date with new trends across the industry. However, it still doesn't provide the full picture of what our readers actually need from our VPN content.This is why TechRadar needs you! We're interested to hear from you regardless of what you think about VPNs – even if you don't know what a VPN is or you aren't a fan of the technology. We then invite you to take our quick VPN survey and help us inform the content we create. Don't worry, though – it'll take less than five minutes to complete, and your answers are completely anonymous!

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than five minutes to complete!To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

Why more people just want a VPN

A VPN, short for virtual private network (VPN), emerged as a security tool to boost users' online privacy and security.It does so by both encrypting all internet connections to prevent third-party snooping, then rerouting these via its VPN servers dotted across the world to spoof users' real IP addresses for extra privacy.Around since the 1990s, VPNs were initially a technology reserved for businesses and IT nerds. As life increasingly moved online, however, the need for everyone to secure their online privacy became more relevant.Recent statistics show, in fact, that an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide used VPNs in 2024, with the global VPN market projected to reach $76 billion by 2027.

Do you know?(Image credit: Future)NordVPN is currently TechRadar's top recommendation. Our reviewers praised its many security features, great performance, and extensive server network. You can read our full NordVPN review here.

Besides being more private online, VPNs also turned out to be a great tool to bypass geo-restrictions you may find on the internet. That's because VPNs' IP-spoofing capabilities make you look as if you're browsing from a completely different country within a couple of clicks.More and more people have started using a streaming VPN to unlock foreign libraries enforced on Netflix catalogs and similar platforms.Likewise, VPNs also enable millions of people worldwide to access a free and uncensored web. As per Proton VPN data, 119 countries saw VPN usage soar in 2024 during times of political crisis, as citizens needed a way to evade government-imposed internet censorship.As new policies are stifling internet control everywhere across the world, and new tech like AI and quantum computing expose all of us to new threats, we expect to keep seeing the world of VPNs evolving and becoming increasingly relevant.We want to be the best place to be informed about everything VPNs, so please consider helping us shape our future content. If you want to contribute, please take our VPN survey here today.

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EuroNCAP will award high safety scores for cars with buttonsModern touchscreens have proven distracting for driversBut as cars get more complex, digital seems the logical way forward

There has been a fresh call from both the industry and drivers to reduce the amount of distraction found in many modern cars. A vast number are demanding more physical switches and easy-to-reach buttons to replace fiddly touchscreens and illogical menu systems.EuroNCAP, arguably the leading vehicle safety organization in Europe, has stated that it will “incentivize” those manufacturers that provide easy-to-locate, tactile switchgear for core functionality.This will mean that manufacturers might not be able to achieve the coveted five-star safety rating unless they meet this criteria.Ironically, the decision has come from the very same safety body that made it mandatory for manufacturers to provide a plethora of active safety systems should they want to gain top marks. To many at least (including this writer), these are more of a hinderance than a help.The endless bonging of a speed limit alert system, the erratic actions of automatic lane keep assist technology and the incidents of 'ghost braking' when a camera system misinterprets a non-existent hazard up ahead are all the bane of a modern motorist’s life. But it was EuroNCAP that actively encouraged such solutions in pursuit of safer roads.Dacia boss, Denis Le Vot – who has had to put up with lower-than-average EuroNCAP safety scores because his cut-price products couldn’t afford such systems – understands that they are essential for the public perception of safety but knows the vast majority of his customers turn them off.So the Renault Group as a whole has introduced a button that does just that… with a simple long press.But EuroNCAP’s director of strategic development Matthew Avery wants to take tackle the sticky issue of touchscreens and told Wired that major manufacturers are “on notice”. “They’ve got to bring back buttons,” he added.A sensible move, seeing as there has been a growing trend among carmakers to bury core car functionality under layers of touchscreen menus.

(Image credit: Zeekr)

Call it the “Tesla effect”, but having to tap multiple icons to access the fog lights, turn up the heating or to adjust the side mirrors is infuriating, not to mention distracting. Don’t get me started on opening a modern glovebox.The same Wired article pays reference to a study carried out by British consultancy TRL, which concluded that infotainment systems impair reaction times behind the wheel more than alcohol and narcotics use.Driving is hard work, requires skill and a great deal of concentration, even if we feel we can do it with our eyes closed.Manufacturers will wax lyrical about their AI voice assistants' ability to assist with many functions, with everyone from VW to Mercedes-Benz innovating in that area. But real-world testing reveals they don’t always work and most of the time, the entire process takes longer and more brain power than relying on muscle memory to prod a switch.

Not everyone has got the memo

(Image credit: Volkswagen)

While many manufacturers have listened to customer feedback and have promised more physical buttons (VW is a good example), a number of others are pushing further into touchscreen territory.Many new EVs hailing from China seem to have “borrowed” from the Tesla infotainment handbook wholesale and most commit everything to menus and submenus.Mercedes-Benz has essentially introduced IMAX into its vehicles with the upcoming Supersceen system that’s to be debuted on the CLA.Similarly, BMW revealed an update of its once fantastically tactile iDrive system that’s soon to become largely screen-based, swapping any remaining physical buttons for annoying haptic surfaces on the steering wheel.In the US, Chevrolet just revealed an all-new interior for the iconic Corvette, which is now packed with screens. Although its original button layout was massively over-the-top.As a modern car designer, it’s not easy to balance a clean, stylish and architectural interior with something that is safe and easy to use – the default is to remove as much clutter as possible, including helpful switchgear.But it feels like the public has spoken and, finally, essential items like wipers, lights, indicators, horn, and hazard warning lights will be scrutinized by Europe’s leading vehicle safety organization.However, with automotive manufacturers already eyeing up a time when we will all be driven around in fully autonomous pods, the return of physical buttons won’t be for long.

Tesla launches cheaper Model Y in the US, but confirms it's ditched the Cybertruck's promised range extenderForget foldable phones – LG's 'stretchable' in-car display can grow physical buttons when you need them, and I can't stop watching itMercedes' new steer-by-wire tech is the next big EV trend – and I'll begrudgingly accept that it's the future

Dimensions for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 have leakedThe device apparently has super-thin bezelsIt could measure a mere 3.9 mm front to back

The rumors around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 are starting to seriously pick up, and a new leak suggests the new foldable will be taller, wider, and thinner than its predecessor, as well as having smaller bezels around the main display.This comes from well-known tipster @UniverseIce, who claims the bezels around the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be a mere 1 mm thick. That compares to 1.9 mm on the current Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, so it's a substantial difference.There's also a mention of the bezels around the display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, which apparently measure 1.2 mm. It seems that super-thin bezels are going to be a feature when Samsung gets around to unveiling these two foldables.If Samsung sticks to the same schedule as last year, we'll see these phones sometime in July. There has also been talk of a Samsung tri-fold phone which may be unveiled at the same time, though there's a good chance it'll go on sale later than the other two handsets.

Going thin

I made a table to compare the body sizes of Samsung Fold6, Fold SE, and Fold7. pic.twitter.com/VzjCZYGtjgMay 9, 2025

We also have some dimensions from @IceUniverse about the size of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Apparently it's going to measure 158.4 mm by 143.1 mm when opened out, and will be just 3.9 mm thick front to back.The current handset – see our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review for details – measures 153.5 mm x 132.6 mm x 5.6 mm. It seems Samsung's engineers have been busy getting the new foldable as thin as possible, reducing the thickness by almost a third.Head to our Oppo Find N5 review to read about the phone that currently has the title of the thinnest foldable on the market: it measures just 4.21 mm front to back. If these rumors are true, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be even thinner.That thinness might have an impact on battery life, but we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime we're looking forward to the launch of another super-thin phone from Samsung next week: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

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Google has agreed to pay the state of Texas $1.375 billion to settle two lawsuits accusing the company of violating its residents' data privacy rights. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Google in 2022, alleging that it collected users' biometrics without their express consent and continued to track their location even after they've disabled the feature. In the Attorney General's website, his office said that it's the biggest amount Google has agreed to pay to resolve similar lawsuits for data privacy violations. "For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won," Paxton said.

When the Attorney General filed the lawsuit, Google told Engadget that Paxton mischaracterized its products. One of Paxton's complaints, for instance, was that Google used features in Photos and Assistant to scan people's faces. The company's spokesperson told us that Photos only scanned faces so that users can group images of the same person for organization. Google representative Jose Castaneda told CNBC that the company is not admitting any wrongdoing or liability by agreeing to settle. He said Google doesn't have to make any changes to its products as part of the agreement. "This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed," he said.

In July 2024, Meta also agreed to pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle a similar lawsuit that accused the company of collecting its residents' facial recognition data. Paxton said Meta violated the state's Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act "billions of times" by tagging photos and videos without users' consent. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-will-pay-texas-14-billion-to-settle-data-privacy-violation-lawsuits-120044844.html?src=rss

Welcome to our first weekly roundup of indie game releases, news and trailers. It's impossible to cover the indie scene completely comprehensively — dozens of games hit Steam alone every single day. There are so many indies we'd love to highlight, but we don't have the time to cover each individually. Our goal is to shine a spotlight on the games that grab our attention each week, one way or another. (Feel free to email me about your projects too!)

This time around, we've got a spreadsheet-based puzzler, a pirate hack-and-slash title that was first announced 22 years ago, two solo-developed games and more.

New releases

Comedy puzzle game SpreadCheat has an early '90s/Windows 3.11 vibe and a Clippy-style assistant that definitely won't get annoying. Along with trying to Excel (I'm so sorry) at bending the rules of spreadsheets to solve brainteasers, you can venture into side quests like cleaning up viruses. I'm not sure I'll try this one myself, as math has no place in my video games (except for you, Balatro, you're cool), but the concept is intriguing. SpreadCheat is out now on Steam.

From solo developer Andrea Cavuoto, Spear sounds a little like the movie Free Guy in that it's up to a non-player character to save the day. After a critical error deletes the hero of his game and threatens the existence of his reality, an NPC named Default has to step up. Default uses a makeshift spear to solve puzzles, battle foes and traverse the environment in this action-platformer. Spear is out now on Steam.

Captain Blood is very much a throwback. It's a hack-and-slash game that looks straight out of the PS2 era (albeit with more refined visuals). Perhaps that shouldn't be a surprise, since the game was first announced in 2003. In fact, the original pitch was to make an old-school God of War, but with pirates.

After several reboots, the game was canceled when the original publisher went bust. Legal issues prevented the developers from releasing the game themselves. SNEG later secured the rights to Captain Blood and over two decades since it was revealed, the game has formally been released. It's had mixed reviews, but I'd like to check it out all the same. That title is pretty great too. Captain Blood is out now on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC and macOS.

We covered this one a few weeks ago, but here's a quick reminder that Geoguessr is now on Steam in early access. The Steam version was supposed to arrive in April, but it landed on May 8 instead. Nevertheless, it should now be easier for you to play the geography guessing game on Steam Deck. Elsewhere, Among Us 3D is out, while the super-charming Little Kitty, Big City has made its way to PS4 and PS5.

Upcoming

Another game from a solo developer, Zefyr: A Thief's Melody looks like a blend of The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, '90s Final Fantasy and one of my favorite games of the last few years, Tchia. Mathias Fontmarty says it took 12 years to make this stealth adventure. Who wouldn't want to explore a world on the back of a giant turtle? Zefyr will hit Steam on June 2.

It's always worth keeping an eye on whatever Devolver Digital is up to and this past week, the publisher revealed Botsu. It feels like another spin on Fall Guys, albeit with voxel-based robots. Botsu, which is from developer Peculiar Pixels, is slated to arrive between July and September. A Steam demo is available now.

However you slice it, virtual reality is still a relatively niche market, so it's always welcome to see games make the transition from VR to 2D formats (still side-eyeing you, Half-Life: Alyx) and perhaps find a wider audience. Survios is (Xeno)morphing Alien: Rogue Incursion into a PS5 and PC game. The studio says the flattened version, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition, will have full HD, 60 fps gameplay. It's set to arrive on September 30.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/spreadsheet-puzzles-metatextual-platformers-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-130035266.html?src=rss

I can't blame you if you've been spending more time outside lately instead of reading gadget reviews. Spring has sprung, at least for us at Engadget HQ in the US, and there's a lot of touching grass going on amongst our staff. Still, if you've missed any of our reviews over the last two weeks, this condensed list has everything you need to catch up quickly.

Surface Pro (12-inch)

For basic computing in a highly portable device, the 12-inch Surface Pro does just fine. Senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar argued that you won't want this device for it's power anyway, and you'll probably be able to overlook its lower-spec display too. "You're not buying a tiny laptop for speed, you're buying it because it's cute and super portable," he said. "And in that respect, the 12-inch Surface Pro succeeds."

Rivian R1S Gen 2

Rivian has become a popular option for EV shoppers looking for either a truck or a three-row SUV. Senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford recently spent some time behind the wheel of the company's second-generation R1S and came away impressed. "Its size may be imposing, but it certainly delivers on the look and feel of a car that's just as happy on asphalt as it is on unpaved trails," he wrote. "The only thing that might give me pause is that for people who aren't interested in off-roading, alternatives like the Kia EV9 offer similar passenger capacity for a much lower starting price."

Canon Powershot V1

Compact cameras are making a comeback. Canon's Powershot V1 may be designed for vlogging, but reporter Steve Dent discovered its also great for stills. "The problem is that it’s still primarily a vlogging camera and a lot of content creators have abandoned this type of compact model in favor of the Osmo Pocket 3," he explained. "At the end of the day, the PowerShot V1 is bound to be a hit because it delivers when it comes to video and photo quality."

Alienware AW2725Q

If you're looking for a new gaming display that can pull double duty as an everyday monitor, Alienware's AW2725Q may be worth a look. Senior reporter Igor Bonifacic particularly noted the display's overall image quality and motion clarity, but there's a lot to like here. "The best thing I can say about the Alienware AW2725Q is that I'm not looking forward to sending it back," he said. "It is an amazing display that has made one of my favorite hobbies more enjoyable."

Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Cheap TV streaming devices are typically easy to recommend, and the fact that Roku's new Streaming Stick Plus draws power from the TV is icing on the cake. "This is also the stick I want to take with me on my next trip," senior buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim wrote. "I can plug it in at the Airbnb and, instead of logging in to whatever random apps the TV happens to have, I can watch more Doctor Who. I won’t have to worry about where the nearest outlet is and I’ll be spared the effort of typing in my stupidly long Disney+ password."

Framework Laptop 13 (2025)

Framework offers a way for you to easily upgrade your laptop as needed, which means you can swap out the mainboard for a new one when the company makes them available. However, the upgrade might not always be worth it, even if it is easy, but Framework's overall premise still shows promise. "But while it may not have the razzle or dazzle, it does have the staying power, and that’s going to be a bigger asset in the next few years," senior editor Daniel Cooper argued. "If you’re the sort of person who would buy a Lenovo Thinkpad and run it until it falls apart, then this is a better option."

Light Phone III

The Light Phone III seeks to offer a distraction-free smartphone existence, but as deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham found, the lack of polish in the company's bare-bones UI is a hindrance. "I can blame the music player or lack of autocorrect, but ultimately I was not ready for how radically different the Light Phone III experience is," he admitted. "But, for a few weeks, I left my iPhone at home when I left the house as much as possible and there was something freeing about the complete lack of notifications and general siren-call for attention that I usually deal with."

Doom: The Dark Ages, Despelote and Suborbital Salvage

For all the gamers, we've published reviews of several titles over the last two weeks. Most recently, senior editor Jessica Conditt spent some time with Doom: The Dark Ages, where she noted the "blood-soaked and beautiful" game offered "a well-rounded romp through the bowels of hell." She also opined on Despelote, a game that explores memories, magic moments and being a kid. And for the Playdate fans, weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald found out what it's like to have a cat serve as your very opinionated supervisor in Suborbital Salvage.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-surface-pro-rivian-canon-light-phone-and-more-130003232.html?src=rss

The High End Munich 2025 show kicks off soon on May 15Chord Electronics and iFi Audio have teased mysterious new productsLuxury cartridges, headphones and Qobuz Connect will star too

High End Munich is where the audio world shows off some of the latest and greatest audio equipment for audiophiles, often with price tags of the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" variety.And while it's true that some of the equipment you'll see at the show costs more than a helicopter made of diamonds, it's a fascinating insight into the world of ultra-high-end hi-fi.This final event from Munich – it's moving to Vienna next year – is genuinely exciting, and some manufacturers are already teasing what they'll be showing next week. Here are five teasers of hi-fi heaven worth looking out for.

High End Munich 2025 show: 5 debuts to expect

(Image credit: High End Society)

1. A "groundbreaking" Chord Electronics "showstopper"

(Image credit: Chord Electronics)

British high-end pro audio brand Chord Electronics describes its Ultima Reference range of pre-amps and power amps as "our absolute pinnacle of audio engineering", and it's teasing a "groundbreaking" new product that will be a "showstopper" at High End Munich.So what is it? It's definitely analogue, it's going to be a flagship product, and it's apparently state-of-the-art, too. That's all we know so far, but it'll be unveiled by company founder John Franks, and we'll see it on the first day of the event, May 15.

2. Meze Audio 105 SILVA headphones

(Image credit: Meze Audio)

Meze Audio make some beautiful and unusual headphones, and the new 105 SILVA promise "exquisite design" and "the next major step forward for audio innovation".The new headphones have 50mm dynamic drivers with cellulose composite domes and titanium-covered surrounds, and Meze says the sound signature "is a new take on Meze Audio’s iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER."They're likely to be somewhat pricier than the more consumer-focused, open-backed and wired 105 AER cans ($399 / £369 / AU$799 a pair) we saw recently, but we're intrigued all the same.

3. A new flagship cartridge from Nagaoka

(Image credit: Nagaoka)

Nagaoka makes the highly regarded MP-200 cartridge as well as the MP-110 that came pre-fitted in the Fluance RT85N turntable.For the High End Munich 2025 show it'll be unveiling its new flagship, the MP-700, which will apparently deliver "ever more refined and accurate sound reproduction, bringing listeners closer to the original performance."Naturally, it won't exactly be a bargain, with the price expected to be $1,399 / £1,149 (around AU$2,400) when it becomes available later this month. But it certainly looks a fitting way for the company to celebrate its 85th birthday.

4. iFi Audio portable products

Your travel experience is about to get a whole lot better...✈️Find out more on 15.05.25 📆#highendaudio #ifiaudio #highendmunich2025 pic.twitter.com/pEN7Ax3IbVMay 9, 2025

iFi Audio promises to launch "two new travel audio essentials – both for in-flight and in-car sound".We're excited about that, because we really rate iFi's DACs: our most recent iFi review, of its flagship Valkyrie DAC, raved about its "staggeringly complete sound". It's not exactly portable, though, so we're all ears when it comes to these new products.

5. Qobuz Connect

(Image credit: Qobuz)

Qobuz, which is arguably the best music streaming platform for hi-res audio, is having a press conference on Thursday 15 May. Could this finally be the official launch of the long-awaited Qobuz Connect?The feature is similar to Spotify Connect in that it lets you control your Qobuz playback remotely on compatible hardware. It's been in beta for a while and started appearing for non-beta app users earlier this week, which would make the High End Munich 2025 show a good place for a bigger reveal.An official launch would likely coincide with more manufacturers announcing support and releasing the appropriate firmware updates.

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Last year, I finally upgraded from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 16 Pro, and to say it was a big step up would be an understatement. From the speedy performance and improved camera system to the Dynamic Island and super-smooth 120Hz display, I’ve found a lot to love about the best iPhone money can buy in 2025.Since getting an iPhone 16 Pro, one thing I’ve really grown fond of is Camera Control. This built-in tool lets me quickly open the Camera app when time is of the essence, and I can even do it as I’m taking my phone out of my pocket. There’s no need to look at the display or fumble with on-screen controls – it’s just a quick, snappy way to start shooting.Yet there’s one new feature in my iPhone 16 Pro that I really haven’t taken to: the Action button. Simply put, I’ve never found a compelling use case for it.Part of my indifference towards the Action button comes down to how little time it might save me. Lots of the pre-defined options that Apple proposes – like activating the flashlight and setting off Shazam – are easy enough for me to get to in other ways, either via the Lock Screen or in the Control Center.Likewise, I’ve set my Focus modes to start up automatically, so I never really need to do so manually using the Action button. I don’t use Visual Intelligence or Voice Memos enough to warrant adding them instead. And I’ve found nothing in Apple’s suggested list of controls, shortcuts, or accessibility features that I’ve wanted to add to the button.In the end, I’ve spent most of my time with the Action button set up as a mute toggle, which is exactly what the feature replaced on my old iPhone 12 Pro.

Shortcuts to success

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Part of the problem is that the thing I’d really love to use the Action button for is incredibly fiddly (or downright impossible) right now.For me, it would be great to use the side-mounted toggle for contextual shortcuts – where, at a certain time of day or a specified location, the Action button does one thing, and at another time or location, it does something else. I haven’t found a way to do that yet.And while there are ways to have multiple shortcuts run when you press the button, setting them up is an involved, complex process. I’d like to see a native option to do so from Apple, but that doesn’t seem to be forthcoming, unless the company has something up its sleeve for the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June.Sure, maybe this is a “me” problem – after all, my colleagues John-Anthony and Axel have found some excellent uses for the Action button involving artificial intelligence and language translation. But neither of their setups really appeals to me and my lifestyle. Right now, I’m still looking for something to change my mind.

Still searching

(Image credit: Apple)

Perhaps the only thing that might convince me of the Action button’s utility is Shazam – like Camera Control, it’s something that’s designed to be used quickly. But even so, adding it to the Action button is only likely to save me a second or two compared to opening Shazam from the Control Center. Yes, identifying a song can be time-sensitive, but not quite as much as snapping a photo before the moment’s gone.At the end of the day, I’m fine with the Action button and my minimal use of it. After all, it doesn’t get in the way or slow down my day-to-day life. Most of the time, I simply forget it’s there.But it would be great to find a really convincing reason to use it that can revolutionize how I use my iPhone 16 Pro. If anyone can suggest one to me, I’m all ears.

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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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, May 10 (game #699).

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 #700) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

BOSSGOOSETICKLESUITDUCKHEALTHSHAKESKIRTPLEASEMAY ISUPERIORLEVELDODGEDELIGHTEARTHPOWER-UP

NYT Connections today (game #700) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: Put a smile on your faceGREEN: Watch outBLUE: Mario must havesPURPLE: [Not a father] blank

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 #700) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: MAKE HAPPYGREEN: EVADEBLUE: COMMON VIDEO GAME FEATURESPURPLE: MOTHER ___

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

NYT Connections today (game #700) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #700, are…

YELLOW: MAKE HAPPY DELIGHT, PLEASE, SUIT, TICKLEGREEN: EVADE DODGE, DUCK, SHAKE, SKIRTBLUE: COMMON VIDEO GAME FEATURES BOSS, HEALTH, LEVEL, POWER-UPPURPLE: MOTHER ___ EARTH, GOOSE, MAY I, SUPERIOR

My rating: EasyMy score: 1 mistake

I might be missing something here (in fact I am definitely missing something here) but what on earth does MOTHER MAY I mean? That one caught me out today, which was a shame because otherwise I spotted all of the elements of the MOTHER ___ group, EARTH, GOOSE and SUPERIOR, which would have given me purple before any of the others.As it happened I only solved that one by default, but fortunately none of the other groups were too tricky either. I got blue, COMMON VIDEO GAME FEATURES first – POWER-UP and LEVEL made it too obvious – then whizzed through yellow and green without any problems. If only they were all so easy.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 10, game #699)

YELLOW: LETTER SIGN-OFFS BEST, CHEERS, LOVE, SINCERELYGREEN: WITHOUT ABSENT, MINUS, SANS, WANTINGBLUE: VIGOR BEANS, ENERGY, PEP, ZIPPURPLE: __ STRIP BACON, COMIC, LANDING, SUNSET

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.

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 10 (game #1202).

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 #1203) - 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 #1203) - 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 #1203) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1203) - 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 #1203) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• Q• M• A• U

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

Quordle today (game #1203) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1203, are…

QUASHMUNCHALTERUNDUE

Quordle threw a couple of curveballs our way today, in the shape of QUASH and UNDUE. There aren't many words that contain two Us, so that one in particular may have been tricky to spot.But the hardest word here was MUNCH, simply because there are so many -UNCH words: PUNCH, LUNCH, HUNCH and BUNCH, as well as the answer itself. I solved it, but needed to play HIMBO to rule out three of those words in one go.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1203) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1203, are…

FREAKINNERWHARFBATCH

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATINQuordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAINQuordle #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, LEACH

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 10 (game #433).

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #434) - hint #2 - clue words

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

LOFTFLOWBEARBEAKFASTTHAT

NYT Strands today (game #434) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #434) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 3rd columnLast side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #434) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #434, are…

FLOWERSBREAKFASTPARTYHUGSCARDSDRAWINGSSPANGRAM: MOTHERS DAY

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

I'm writing this from the UK, where we have Mother's Day earlier in the year, but it still didn't take me long to spot the theme here. Mostly that was because I found FLOWERS first, and coupled with the theme clue of 'Happy…' it was rather obvious.Finding the remaining words was more difficult. DRAWINGS, in particular, really surprised me – until I remembered that children give their mothers gifts on this day too, not just old geezers like me.I'm pretty sure I've never made my mum BREAKFAST on MOTHER'S DAY either, but then again she only really eats porridge in the morning, and I don't think it really works in that regard. "Happy Mother's Day, mum – here's a bowl of warmed oats!" Nah, I think she'd prefer FLOWERS and HUGS.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 10, game #433)

CHORIZOSALAMILIVERWURSTKIELBASAANDOUILLESPANGRAM: SAUSAGES

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.

The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Maps within the United States. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said during a press conference that the lawsuit has already been filed, but as The Guardian notes, she didn't say when and where it was submitted. Sheinbaum argued that the Trump administration's order for a name change only applies to the US portion of the oceanic basin and that the US government doesn't have the authority to rename the whole body of water. "All we want is for the decree issued by the US government to be complied with," she said.

Google renamed the Gulf of Mexico into the Gulf of America for users who open Maps in the US back in February. It first announced that it was going to do so the previous month and said it was only waiting for the US government to make the change official in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which serves as the "federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature." BBC said the Mexican government wrote to Google at the time to get it to reconsider before eventually threatening legal action.

When Google announced the name change for US users, it explained that it was following a longstanding practice to show official local names for places in Maps when they vary between countries. In Mexico, the basin is still called the Gulf of Mexico, while it shows up as "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)" for users outside both countries. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/mexico-is-suing-google-over-gulf-of-america-name-change-for-us-users-150012599.html?src=rss