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Those waiting for a good deal on Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air should check out Amazon now. The online retailer has the new MacBook Air for $150 off, down to $849 from $999, which is the best discount we've seen. At the moment, the discount is only available on the midnight color option.

Note that this price applies to the entry-level model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. If you're willing to pay extra for more storage space, a version with a 512GB SSD is also $150 off at $1,049. If you want more memory, a variant with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is similarly discounted at $1,249. Both of those deals represent all-time lows as well.

Apple only released the MacBook Air M4 in mid-March and we've since named it 2025's best MacBook overall. We gave it in a 92 in our review, as it still packs an accurate (albeit 60Hz) display and excellent keyboard in a slim, sturdy build that weighs 2.7 pounds and measures 0.44 inches thick. But it's the M4 chip that really gives the Air a boost; the 13-inch model has a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, all of which are more than fast enough for most everyday tasks. Battery life is another plus: The notebook lasted over 18 hours while playing HD video in our testing.

If you're looking for something a little bigger, then it might be worth getting the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. That one is also $150 off in several configurations, starting at $1,049 for 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD and moving up to $1,449 for 24GB of RAM and double the storage. Again, each of these deals mark new lows. Apart from its larger display, the 15-inch MacBook Air has a larger trackpad and better speakers than its 13-inch counterpart but is largely identical otherwise.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-is-back-on-sale-for-150-off-144625994.html?src=rss

Cisco surveyed 8,000 security and business leaders for a new reportMost firms suffered an AI-powered attack last yearFilling cybersecurity roles seems to be a major challenge

Most businesses cannot fill vacant roles for cybersecurity professionals, leaving huge gaps in their defenses which threat actors can easily exploit. These are some of the findings echoed in the 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, a report recently published by networking giants Cisco.The paper was drafted based on a double-blind survey of 8,000 private sector security and business leaders in 30 global markets. In it, Cisco said that almost nine in ten (86%) of the respondents identified the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals as a “major challenge”. Furthermore, it was said that more than half of the respondents reported having more than ten vacant positions.The shortage of skilled staff is not a new issue - TechRadar Pro has been reporting on it for years now. Even three years ago, Harvey Nash Group claimed that there is a shortfall of 10,000 people a year in the UK’s cybersecurity talent pool, alone. To make matters worse, those who remain in the industry are overwhelmed with work and often burnt out, resulting in health problems, as well.

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Investing in AI

To address the problem, Cisco’s new paper argues that businesses should “invest in AI-driven solutions, simplify security infrastructures, and enhance AI threat awareness.”“Prioritizing AI for threat detection, response, and recovery is essential, as is addressing talent shortages,” the company concluded.Artificial Intelligence seems to be the underlying theme of the entire paper. Cisco said the technology is both “revolutionizing security” and “escalating threat levels” adding that 86% of the respondents faced AI-related security incidents last year, and half (49%) were confident their employees are aware of the threat.Finally, Cisco warned that just 4% of organizations worldwide can be considered “mature” when it comes to the level of readiness needed to effectively withstand today’s cybersecurity threats."As AI transforms the enterprise, we are dealing with an entirely new class of risks at unprecedented scale - putting even more pressure on our infrastructure and those who defend it," said Cisco Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel.

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Peacemaker season 2: key information- Set to arrive in August 2025- Started shooting in April- Will stream on Max in the US- Likely to be available on Sky/Now TV (UK) and Binge (Australia)- Creator/showrunner James Gunn has written all eight episodes- John Cena returns as Christopher Smith/Peacemaker- Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, and Steve Agee also part of the cast- Frank Grillo, Tim Meadows, Sol Rodriguez, and David Denman among the show's newcomers- Story will pick up after season 1 finale- Set after 2025's Superman movie- Unclear how it'll impact the rest of the rebooted DCU

Peacemaker season 2 sees the return of an antihero who famously claimed to "cherish peace with all my heart. I don't care how many men, women and children I need to kill to get it".The return of John Cena's fan-favorite DC character has certainly raised eyebrows because, well, the second season of The Suicide Squad movie's spin-off series isn't set in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Instead, it's part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Cinematic Universe (DCU).Confused? So are we. Nonetheless, we've done our best to explain how Peacemaker's sophomore season will fit into – not to mention impact – the DCU Chapter One line-up. You'll also learn more about its August 2025 release date, confirmed cast, story details, and more in this guide, too.So, stick on the 'Star-Spangled Banner', grab your own Eagly (that's Peacemaker's bald eagle, for anyone not paying attention), and evoke your inner patriot as we break down everything worth knowing about Peacemaker season 2. Full spoilers follow for season 1, too!

Peacemaker season 2 release date

Counting the days until Peace on Earth. I just finished the DI & Mix on the Season Premiere yesterday and wow it’s one of my favorite things ever. DC Studios’ #Peacemaker Season 2 coming soon only on @StreamOnMax August 21. pic.twitter.com/df3yOcCsdnApril 7, 2025

Peacemaker season 2 is confirmed to arrive on Max in the US on August 21, 2025. This release date is inline with what the CEO of content at HBO and Max Casey Bloys had told journalists in early November 2024, when he teased that the release window for Peacemaker season 2 would be sometime in August 2025.

A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn)A photo posted by on

Gunn had previously confirmed on Instagram (see above) that filming of the series was underway in April 2024.That means the hit series – which debuted on Max (US), Sky/Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia) – will be released one month after Gunn's Superman movie, which flies into theaters next July.The film's events will precede what happens in this show's sophomore outing. Gunn confirmed as much (again, via Threads), writing: "Peacemaker season 2 will take place after the events in Superman", and that events in Superman impact Peacemaker.

Peacemaker season 2 trailer: is there one?

Yes, we finally have a Peacemaker season 2 teaser trailer, which was released on May 12, 2025.It confirms that John Cena will be back as the titular hero, but also shows Peacemaker coming face to face with another... Peacemaker. Whether that's the DCU Peacemaker and the DCEU Peacemaker is still not clear though.Peacemaker season 2's new cast is set to feature the live-action introduction of Rick Flag Sr, who will be "on a mission" for justice in James Gunn's Superman movie and Peacemaker season 2. Rick Flag Sr will be played by Creature Commandos star Frank Grillo (read below for more details about the show's casting).

Peacemaker season 2 cast: confirmed

Who's returning for Peacemaker season 2? (Image credit: Katie Yu/Max)

Full spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 1.

With the notable exception of Chukwudi Iwuji’s Clemson Murn/Ik Nobe Llok, who dies in season 1 episode 7, most of the show’s key characters will be back in action for Peacemaker season 2:

John Cena as Christopher Smith/PeacemakerDanielle Brooks as Leota AdebayoFreddie Stroma as Adrian Chase/VigilanteJennifer Holland as Emilia HarcourtSteve Agee as John EconomosNhut Le as JudomasterRobert Patrick as Auggie Smith/White DragonViola Davis as Amanda WallerFrank Grillo as Rick Flag SrTim Meadows as Langston FleurySol Rodriguez as Sasha BordeauxDavid Denman as TBC

The headline newcomer is Frank Grillo (best known for playing Brock 'Crossbones' Rumlow in the Captain America movies) as military man Rick Flag Sr. We’ll get our first glimpse of Flag Sr. in action in Creature Commandos, which will be the first DCU project to arrive when it launches this December. Given the murkiness of how events in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1 will fit into the wider DCU, we think Grillo's casting as Flag Sr. will make it harder to follow Gunn's cinematic universe.But we digress. Other new additions include Star Trek: Picard’s Sol Rodriguez as established DC comic-book character Sasha Bordeaux, Mean Girls’ Tim Meadows as government agent Langston Fleury, and The Office’s David Denman in a yet-to-be-confirmed role. It’s also all but confirmed that Peacemaker’s white supremacist dad Auggie will be back from the dead – in a manner of speaking, but more on this later – after Robert Patrick told PopVerse that he recently filmed a "big scene" for season 2.As for other potential newcomers, Gunn (via Instagram, see below) teased the appearance of a new mystery character in season 2. Get your guessing hat on now.

A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn)A photo posted by on

Elsewhere, there are rumors (per Cinemablend) that For All Mankind’s Joel Kinnaman could return as Rick Flag Jr. However, Task Force X's leader was killed by Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad so, like Patrick's Auggie, it's unclear how he'll return. The safest way to bring back the pair would be in flashback sequences but, hey, nobody's ever truly dead in the world of comic books and, by proxy, their big- and small-screen adaptations.

Peacemaker season 2 story

Peacemaker season 2 will pick up after its predecessor's final episode (Image credit: Katie Yu/Max)

Full spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 1. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 2.

Peacemaker season 2's official logline says that "the new season follows Christopher 'Chris' Smith, aka Peacemaker, the vigilante Super Hero as he struggles to reconcile his past with his newfound sense of purpose while continuing to kick righteous evil-doer butt in his misguided quest for peace at any cost".Before the plot synopsis was revealed, Gunn had teased what's to come in the show's next installment, saying: "It essentially picks up where season 1 left off," Gunn replied to a Threads user’s question about its plot, although he added that there’ll be "a couple of minor differences". That's to be expected, especially – as we keep saying – in light of the fact that seasons 1 and 2 exist in completely different comic book universes.Anyway, by the end of the first season, Christopher Smith and his "11th Street Kids" associates had defeated the world-ending threat of the alien Butterflies, but not without cost. Group leader Clemson Murn (and Ik Nobe Llok, the Butterfly revolutionary inside him) was dead and ARGUS (Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans) agents Emilia Harcourt and John Economos, plus Peacemaker sidekick Vigilante, were all badly injured. All three were well on the road to recovery by the time the final credits rolled – indeed, Economos had even gone back to work at the Belle Reve Penitentiary, former residence of Peacemaker and the rest of the Suicide Squad.

Auggie is back in season 2, but not as we know it (Image credit: Katie Yu/Max)

Having previously taken an extremely violent – some might say murderous – approach to maintaining peace and order, Smith finally found himself on the road to redemption, too. Expect that path to continue in season 2 of one of the best Max shows, albeit one with plenty of roadblocks in the way.One such hurdle is likely to be his late father, Auggie (aka White Dragon). Indeed, if season 1's final shot is anything to go by – a vision of Smith Sr. appeared to Peacemaker outside their trailer – he’s set to exert some influence from beyond the grave. If this turns out to be the case, Robert Patrick is clearly excited by the prospect, with the Terminator 2 star telling old the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast: "To be honest with you, I think this could be the funniest f***ing stuff ever. In my own mind I’m trying to think of the scenarios James [Gunn] is going to come up with, and there’s a lot he could do. It’s unlimited, because I’m a f***ing ghost, dude!”Rick Flag Sr. is also unlikely to see eye-to-eye with Peacemaker, seeing as the latter killed his son in The Suicide Squad to stop him from whistleblowing on Amanda Waller’s nefarious dealings. Speaking of Waller, the morally dubious government mastermind behind Task Force X, she’s unlikely to be too far from the action – though you can rest assured she’ll leave it to others to get their hands dirty. You know, unless things go south at some point.It remains to be seen which side newcomer Sasha Bordeaux will be on, too – the cyborg operative has worked for ARGUS in the comics, but started her DC career as bodyguard to a certain Bruce Wayne. Could Peacemaker season 2 set up some key story details for The Brave and the Bold, aka the DCU's first Batman flick? If anyone's going to drop some telling references about the direction of the DCU, it'll be Gunn. Speaking of where DCU Chapter One, also titled Gods and Monsters, will go after Peacemaker's next chapter...

How does Peacemaker season 2 fit into the wider DCU?

Peacemaker season 2 will dance its way onto a streaming platform near you next year (Image credit: Max)

Knowing how to watch DC movies in order, not to mention adding in its TV shows from various cinematic universes, is always a challenge – and things are about to get even trickier.Peacemaker made his live-action debut in The Suicide Squad, a quasi-sequel to Suicide Squad (2016), which was part of the deceased DCEU's continuity. Peacemaker season 1 followed on directly from The Suicide Squad. Since season 1 aired in early 2022, however, there have been big changes at DC. Gunn and Safran were appointed joint CEOs of a new-look DC Studios later that year and got to work trying to rebuild the comic titan's reputation (from a cinematic standpoint, anyhow) after years of box office bombs and projects people were less than enthused about.Where Peacemaker is concerned, the long and short of it is it'll straddle the DCEU and DCU which, as we keep saying, may make things confusing to follow. What aspects from season 1 and the wider DCEU have Gunn and Safran retained for Peacemaker? Will you need to watch season 1 to understand season 2? And why didn't they just reboot Peacemaker – albeit keeping Cena in the title role – to give themselves (and us!) a clean slate to work from as the DCU gets underway?

On this day, #Peacemaker aka Christopher Smith made his first comic appearance in Fightin’ 5 #40, in 1966, created by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette. It’s the role @JohnCena was born to play, and I can’t wait to show you all what we’re cooking up now for @Peacemaker Season 2! pic.twitter.com/LRkiIlHpERSeptember 2, 2024

We won't have answers to those queries until the show returns. But, responding to a Threads user asking if season 2 is going to be totally different than season 1, Gunn responded: "You’ll have to wait and see how that works out!". Subsequently asked why he didn’t just make this follow-up season a new show, Gunn replied: "Because it’s my favorite thing to do, it’s the biggest original Max show ever, and I have a way in. It won’t be confusing". We'll see, James, we'll see.As for Peacemaker season 2's potential impact on future DCU projects, another character making the jump between DC continuities is Amanda Waller. In fact, a Waller-focused show was part of the rebooted DCU slate Gunn first announced in January 2023, with the show set to arrive after Peacemaker season 2. Taking to Threads, Gunn reconfirmed Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol) are Waller's showrunners, too.

Looking at your phone or computer screen for that season 2 trailer drop like... (Image credit: HBO Max)

Little else is known about the effect Peacemaker's next adventure will have on other DCU Chapter One movies and shows. As we said, based on Sasha Bordeaux's inclusion, it may connect to The Brave and the Bold. Flag Sr.'s appearance might suggest that a second season of Creature Commandos could be born out of whatever happens once this show ends, too, especially if Flag Sr. ends up leading a new version of the team, or a new installment of the Suicide Squad/Task Force X. In short: we'll have to wait and see how Peacemaker season 2 will influence Gods and Monsters' slate of projects.

For more Max-based coverage, read our guides on House of the Dragon season 3, Euphoria season 3, and The Last of Us season 2.

Prime Video has no shortage of notable films and shows, but not all of them are free with your subscription. Some of these movies sometimes even disappear without warning, so the best Prime Video movies might not even be safe.It's hard to tell exactly what's leaving Prime Video because there isn't a dedicated filter that neatly lists expiring titles, including the best Prime Video shows. So, we've taken the time to comb through the library for the best movies you should watch before they leave the library.Rotten Tomatoes ratings are one of the most 'objective' ways to determine a film's critical reception. If it has a 'Certified Fresh' rating, it generally means critics liked it, even if the score isn't 90 or above. Here are three 'Certified Fresh' movies on Rotten Tomatoes that you should watch before they leave Prime Video.

Forrest Gump (1994)

RT score: 75%Directors: Robert ZemeckisAge Rating: PG-13Length: 2 hr 22 minLeaving on: TBA

Forrest Gump only has a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it's a fan-favorite film that's got more cultural appeal than most. It follows the life of Forrest Gump and his romance with his childhood friend, Jenny.Tom Hanks stars as the innocent yet simple Forrest Gump, who is bullied in his youth for a physical disability and below average intelligence. When his leg braces come off, folks realize he's an exceptionally fast runner, which helps him throughout his life in many situations like playing football, serving in the army, and running marathons. Thus, the iconic quote, "Run, Forest, run!".Unlike the usual 'Leaving Prime in XX days' label, it only has a caption that reads 'Limited time offer. Terms apply'. These types of promotions are unpredictable and may disappear at any time between the next few days to the next few weeks. Since we can't go back in time to confirm when it became a limited-time offer, I'd suggest watching it ASAP!

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

RT score: 79%Directors: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma TacconeAge Rating: RLength: 1 hr 26 minLeaving on: May 16

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a comedy mockumentary musical directed, produced, and starring the members of the The Lonely Island comedy group: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Andy Samberg. It stars the fictional rap star Connor Friel (played by Samberg) and follows his rise to fame, starting from his days as part of a rap group with his childhood friends to his lessons and struggles with stardom after his solo debut.While it received positive reviews from critics, it never quite reached the same popularity with viewers. If you want to see where you stand on the matter, you can watch (and hopefully laugh at) Popstar before it leaves Prime Video.

A Royal Affair (2017)

RT score: 90%Directors: Nikolaj ArcelAge Rating: RLength: 2 hr 17 minLeaving on: May 12

A Royal Affair is what it sounds like – a story about the relationship between Caroline Matilda of Great Britain and German doctor Johann Friedrich Struensee, who is the royal physician to Christian VII of Denmark.It not only follows the affair between the queen and the physician, but also the complications of politics within the Danish court. I'd especially recommend it for folks who enjoy dramatic romances and historical fiction.It received two Silver Bears (second highest honor) at the Berlin International Film Festival and multiple nominations as an international film. Just a heads up: You'll probably have to read, unless you know Danish. A Royal Affair is dubbed in Danish with English subtitles.

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IoT in the enterprise is a major liability, the UK government claimsMost organizations are running old and outdated softwareThey are also not adhering to security standards

Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the enterprise are a major security liability. This is according to a new report from the cybersecurity professionals NCC Group, on behalf of the UK’s government.“The government is concerned about the security of these products as vulnerable devices can provide a route for hostile actors to attack the IT systems used by businesses,” the UK government said in an announcement for the report. “As part of the government’s work to address this issue and improve cyber resilience across the UK economy, the government commissioned NCC Group to conduct a vulnerability assessment of some commonly-used enterprise connected devices.”The results have shown that UK businesses have plenty of reasons to be concerned. Apparently, NCC Group found a “number” of software and hardware vulnerabilities that could lead to remote code execution (RCE) attacks, granting threat actors full control of a device, over the network.

Outdated software

One of the bigger problems was outdated software. The report states that unpatched solutions were “prevalent across devices”, also stating that one of the analyzed devices ran a 15-year-old bootloader.The UK government also said that in “most cases”, an attacker with physical access to a device would be able to fully compromise it, installing a persistent backdoor to be used in future attacks. The majority of the tested devices ran all of their processes as the highly privileged “root” user, which means there’s no access granulation and the consequences of a breach could be dire.There is nothing particularly unique about these IoT devices, or the vulnerabilities they carried. The UK government said they were “generally insecure”, especially when it comes to configuration of services, applications, or features. It also warned that adherence to the NCSC’s Device Security Principles, and the ETSI EN 303 465 standard was “mixed”.

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MSI has a new Claw 8 AI+ model ready to ship for consumers on July 15The Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme, and an optional 2TB of storageIt will be available at $999 / around £990 / AU$1,890

MSI has quietly revealed a new model of its recent handheld on its main site, which features more powerful and beneficial specifications over the Nintendo Switch 2 - and it's coming shortly after the console's launch on June 5.As highlighted by VideoCardz, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme and an optional 2TB of storage available at $999 (around £990 / AU$1,890). It will reportedly ship to consumers on July 15.The base model starts at $900 / £899 / AU$1,799, and provides fantastic performance across several games using Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor. It's also worth noting that battery life is key with the Claw 8 AI+; it uses an 80 WHr battery and can still yield high frame rates at only 17W power usage.This could likely be significantly better than the Switch 2's 5220mAh battery, which should be roughly around 20 WHr. While the Claw 8 AI+ is undoubtedly the more expensive option, it's likely going to outperform the Switch 2 in every region in terms of hardware and game performance.In a world of inflated GPU prices, consumers looking to dive into PC gaming could potentially be spending over $1,000 for hardware parts alone - and that's without mentioning the cost of a pre-built system - and MSI's handheld seems to be in a league of its own versus competitors like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X.The only issue is that the base model already seems scarce in terms of availability in the US, and there's a chance the same could happen to this new Polar Tempest Edition. Even worse, it could see a major price jump due to US tariffs.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

If US tariffs affect the MSI Claw 8 AI+ price, then I'll take back everything I've said

Without sugarcoating it, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a very expensive piece of hardware - and it's quite possibly the only reason I wouldn't recommend it for most gamers. It's potentially only going to get worse if US tariffs impact its price; the 90-day pause on tariffs is keeping things steady for now, but if this changes, I'll eat my words.However, compared to buying parts for a desktop gaming PC, it's much cheaper, and its $450 (or more, depending on the configuration) higher cost over the Switch 2 is worth it considering the greater gaming performance capabilities. Traditionally, PC games are also cheaper to buy (especially since Nintendo revealed Switch 2 games could cost as much as $70), so if you want a large library, it could save you money in the long run (though, of course, you’ll be missing out on Nintendo’s first party exclusives, which could be a deal breaker).The Switch 2 is using Nvidia's T239 chip, which will give users access to DLSS upscaling, but it's hard to see this being enough to power demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, let alone compete with other handheld gaming PCs.I won't pretend that $900 / $899 / AU$1,799 isn't much, especially for most gamers on a budget, but if I had the choice of buying a Switch 2 or saving for an MSI Claw 8 AI+, I'm picking the latter.

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While we can usually expect two Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showcases a year, there's a surprise and somewhat low-key one taking place today (May 12 for US readers), where we expect to get the full reveal of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.Building on the back of the Galaxy S25 family, the Edge looks to take a lot of the features of the main line and put them in a super-slim package. The only compromise seems to be one less rear camera; not the biggest of deals.We'll be covering the Galaxy Unpacked show live so stay tuned for more information. Do check out our guide on how to watch the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch live.And read on for more about Unpacked as a whole.

Here's what happened at the last Samsung Galaxy Unpacked

Samsung's first Galaxy Unpacked event was held on January 22. And what a showcase it was. We got to see the new Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, all of which are rather minor upgrades over their predecessors but come packed with new Galaxy AI features.But there were some unexpected surprises including a roadmap that seemingly confirms Samsung will launch a tri-fold foldable phone at some point, and a reveal of the super-slim Galaxy S25 Edge.For a recap of all that was announced and discussed, check out our Samsung Galaxy S25 launch live blog and Samsung Galaxy Unpacked – 9 things we saw and learned, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Edge.

What is Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

Galaxy Unpacked is the name given to the big Samsung product showcase. Normally these revolve around new Galaxy S-series phones and Galaxy Fold and Flip series foldable phones.But Galaxy Unpacked events are also used to debut new Galaxy smartwatches and wireless earbuds, as well as laptops and tablets. There are also nods given to Samsung’s SmartThings smart home platform and its interoperability with the new Galaxy devices.In general, you can expect two Galaxy Unpacked events a year; one at the start, ranging between January and February, and the other in around July or August.

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Freepik unveils new AI plan for enterprise usersUnlimited users and legal protections among benefitsIt seems to me, the company's trying to take on Adobe's own "commercially-safe" AI generation

Freepik, the creative design suite, has unveiled a new plan aimed at attracting large B2B teams to its platform - and comparisons to Adobe’s own approach to AI tools for business users is hard to miss.Dubbed Freepik Enterprise, the plan offers a range of benefits to business users, including rights over their AI-created assets, third-party integrations with the likes of Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and that all important legal indemnity.On the face of it, this looks to me like the company is starting to park its tanks on Adobe’s lawn. As adoption of Adobe Firefly rises, Freepik will be keen to move some of its 64 million users over to the new enterprise plan with a host of business-centric features and benefits.

What can users expect from Freepik’s enterprise plan?

According to Freepik, this new tier is designed for those who need “secure, scalable creative tools,” with the company aiming to attract teams across media, marketing, and technology who want to integrate AI into the wider workflow.With this in mind, users are being offered, among other things, free reign to create on-brand assets, training AI with internal assets, single sign-on (SSO), and greater legal protections. Centralised management is also part of the package, with the company claiming this will help streamline account and asset administration.Arguably, the most attractive benefit is the unlimited aspects, where users will have full access to the AI suite for generating images, video, and content. Expect no user limits here, as Freepik states this plan is “built for real teams.” Firms will also own the rights over AI-generated content, with the option to use and modify what they create across the board, covered by legal indemnity, protecting users against possible lawsuits when deploying them in a commercial setting. What I especially like is the guarantee that neither Freepik, nor its third-party providers, will re-use enterprise subscribers’ AI-generated assets or data for future AI training.Support forms a large part of the offering. The company says it intends to deliver guidance, training, and legal assistance around IP and copyright - one of the chief concerns around AI usage in the workplace.Given this is targeting corporations, security and compliance are also topping the bill, where GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002, SOC 2 Type II are built into the service.Speaking about the new plan, José Florido, Chief Market Development Officer at Freepik, said: “It’s no longer just about downloading visual assets. Large companies are looking for solutions that help them integrate AI across all their processes, offering scalability, legal compliance, and deep customization of their resources. Freepik Enterprise directly addresses that need.”You can check out Freepik Enterprise by clicking here, and the company is currently giving users a three-month trial before an annual subscription is required.

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North Korean hackers have been impersonating job applicants These applicants gain employment in western firmsNew research suggests these campaigns have been going on since 2016

North Korean hackers have been making the headlines recently by fraudulently gaining employment in western firms. Research from Sophos’s Counter Threat Unit (CTU) has been tracking this as the Nickel Tapestry campaign, identifying infrastructure links that suggest money-making schemes have been operating since 2016.The research shows that the campaign is increasingly targeting European and Japanese organizations - probably thanks to increased awareness amongst American companies. These fraudulent job applicants have been observed impersonating Japanese, Vietnamese, and Singaporean professionals, as well as American personas.Previous research has shown that North Korean hackers are posing as software development recruiters to target freelancers, spreading malware through the recruitment scams and stealing cryptocurrency from victims.

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Dual objectives

The salaries earned by the hackers seem to help fund the government interests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - and record breaking crypto scams have also successfully earned the Lazarus hacking group $1.5 billion. Around $300 million of this was successfully converted by the group into unrecoverable funds from this one incident alone, so these campaigns are lucrative for the state.That’s not all though, as the fraudulent workers have also been observed stealing credentials and exfiltrating data, as well as deliberately gaining employment in industries with sensitive data, like defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity.These roles allow the workers to use remote access software and AI generated writing, CV building, image editing, and video enhancing tools to impersonate legitimate workers and circumvent default systems.Organizations are urged to remain vigilant and to check candidate identities thoroughly, and review their CVs and addresses thoroughly, even suggesting in-person interviews where possible.As remote positions become increasingly popular, companies should “monitor for traditional insider threat activity, suspicious usage of legitimate tools, and impossible travel alerts to detect activity often associated with fraudulent workers” Sophos confirms.

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Rumors from supply chain suggest Nvidia’s hiked pricing for GeForce GPUsBlackwell gaming GPUs could be set for 5% to 10% price increasesTrump’s new deal with China over tariffs has just happened, but the rumored hikes could already be in the pipeline

A gloomy cloud of potential price hikes is hovering over Nvidia’s GeForce graphics cards, despite the news that there’s been a climbdown with Trump’s tariffs, which have been a major worry regarding the pricing of those (and other) GPUs.Tom’s Hardware highlighted a report from DigiTimes (the Taiwanese site – so bear in mind translation issues from Chinese) which contends that Nvidia recently raised its prices for “almost all of its products,” with partners hiking their own prices simultaneously.The report claims to have info from the supply chain over in Asia that indicates this is the case, and that Nvidia is facing “multiple crises” in terms of its overall business, with gaming graphics cards (GeForce models) affected as well as AI products.DigiTimes gives an example of an Asus RTX 5090 model which has just risen in price by 10%, while some of Nvidia’s other graphics cards are facing price hikes of between 5% to 10%. The serious business of AI GPUs is hit worse, with up to 15% price increases, we’re told (obviously sprinkle plenty of seasoning with all this).The causes of this trouble include the direct ban on AI GPUs being sold to China (which includes the RTX 5090, even though that’s a top-end consumer board, it’s also great for AI tasks), as well as the new trade tariffs of recent times. On top of that, another point to bear in mind is that Nvidia has moved the production of Blackwell (RTX 5000) chips to TSMC’s US factory, which has also inflated costs.

Analysis: Uncertain and turbulent times

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot)

That’s an unfortunate combination of factors, although as noted at the outset, there has just been a development in terms of Trump’s tariffs imposed on China (and vice versa) in the form of a 90-day pause (and reduction by 115% for imports in both markets).However, if the above chatter from the supply chain is true, these price hikes are already in the system. In other words, they’ll still potentially be coming through to increase prices on gaming graphics cards anyway. There’s still a lot of uncertainty around where these trade wars are going in the near future, too, despite this undoubted positive bit of relief to the situation.Besides, the tariffs aren’t the only element in this pricing equation, because there’s also the cost of Nvidia rejigging its production plans for Blackwell GPUs. More broadly, Nvidia’s graphics cards remain difficult to find – at least anywhere near their recommended prices – and it doesn’t feel like that situation is going to turn around anytime soon.We do have some hope for the future, though. When production disruption settles, and if the trade tariffs are addressed with longer-term positive policies to resolve the battle between the US and China, we should start to see GPU pricing improve. There’s still some way to go before I start feeling more optimistic about this, though.Meanwhile, AMD will hopefully attack with competitive pricing when its rumored RX 9060 XT graphics cards pitch up in (theoretically) just over a week. However, there’s speculation that Team Red may not go as low as I’d ideally like with those RDNA 4 GPUs. What with Nvidia’s current pricing, there isn’t a lot of pressure to drive AMD to be thinking about more affordable price tags itself, of course. (We’re not short of rumors to that effect, sadly – but we’d take them with a fistful of salt, to be fair).

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Purchasing V-Bucks using Epic Games' payment service on PC or mobile now grants a 20% Epic Rewards rateThis gives you 20% back as credit for each transactionThe company has also announced a limited-time 20% Epic Rewards rate for Epic Games Store purchases

Epic Games has revealed that those purchasing Fortnite in-game currency using the publisher's own payment service on PC or mobile will now benefit from a 20% Epic Rewards rate.This gives you 20% back on every purchase, which you could then save to spend on even more V-Bucks in the future, letting you get your most wanted skins for less.To give you a practical example of what this means, buying 2,800 V-Bucks for $22.99 using the Epic Games Store payment system will give you $4.60 back in Epic Rewards. Do that twice and you can get 1,000 extra V-Bucks (normally $8.99) effectively for free.This is absolutely fantastic and one of the most generous reward systems that I've seen in gaming yet. It's no coincidence, however, that this announcement comes ahead of the expected return of Fortnite to the US iOS App Store.It follows a landmark ruling that allows app developers to link to payments in external app stores, without giving any commission to Apple. The lack of commission, which is usually 30%, means that Epic Games is able to pass on some of the savings to consumers through this program while still increasing the revenue it receives from each transaction.Aside from Fortnite, that 20% rate will apply to purchases in other Epic Games titles such as Rocket League and Fall Guys.The company has also announced that purchases on the Epic Games Store using Epic's payment system will receive a boosted 20% Epic Rewards (up from the usual 5%) for a limited time. This is in place until August 31 and includes games from companies distributed via the store.If you've been waiting for the chance to add the likes of Alan Wake 2 to your PC games library, then this limited offer period could be the time to strike.

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Florida has rejected a bill to require mandatory encryption backdoors for social mediaThe Social Media Use By Minors bill was "indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration" on May 3, 2025Privacy experts have strongly criticized the proposal, warning that it would have made young people less safe instead

Florida has finally rejected a bill that would have required, among other things, mandatory encryption backdoors for all social media platforms that allow minors to open an account.The "Social Media Use By Minors" bill came as a way to improve children's safety online and also included obligations to prevent minors from using ephemeral messaging features, while providing full access to their activities to parents and legal guardians. Yet, privacy experts have strongly criticized the proposal, warning that it would have made young people less safe instead.On May 3, 2025, the bill was "indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration," as indicated on the official Florida Senate's website.

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"A win for privacy"

Encryption is the technology used by secure messaging apps and the best VPN services to keep users' online activities private.Signal, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Instagram use end-to-end encryption to scramble all messages leaving a device in an unreadable form to prevent unauthorized access.Florida lawmakers, however, wanted to force social media platforms "to provide a mechanism to decrypt end-to-end encryption when law enforcement obtains a warrant or subpoena."Yet, experts have long warned that it's impossible to create an encryption backdoor that only law enforcement can exploit, de facto undermining a crucial security feature for everyone.Despite the Senate voting for the "Social Media Use By Minors" bill (SB 868/HB 743) to pass, Florida's House of Representatives blocked it on May 3.Failing to attract the support of both legislative chambers means the proposal did not pass and was prevented from becoming law.

Update May 5, 2025: In a win for privacy and encryption, the Florida Legislature ended its regular 2025 session on May 2 without passing SB 868 / HB 743. https://t.co/jxAwOexDUGMay 5, 2025

"In a win for privacy and encryption, the Florida Legislature ended its regular 2025 session on May 2 without passing SB 868 / HB 743," digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) commented the decsion in a tweet on May 5.Experts at EFF have previously deemed the proposal "dangerous and dumb," arguing how lawmakers were "asking for the impossible" – an encryption backdoor only for minors that only good guys would have been able to use.This is not the first time a similar bill failed to receive the needed majority to become law across the world.In Europe, for example, France rejected the controversial encryption backdoor provision included in the Drug Trafficking Act in March on similar grounds.The EU Commission also consistently fails to agree on what's been nicknamed Chat Control, a bill that would use mandatory scans of all citizens' chats in a bid to halt the spread of sexual abuse material.Nonetheless, encryption remains at the crossroads globally – on one side, law enforcement sees it as an obstacle to criminal investigation, on the other, cybersecurity experts reiterate its importance for everyone's privacy and security online.

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A researcher claims a DOGE employee's data was found in four infostealer logsA security expert claims the employee wasn't actually hackedSince Waltz's Signal fiasco, US gov employees' security hygiene is being scrutinized

A DOGE worker has had his personal computer infected by infostealer malware on multiple occasions, a researcher claims, hinting that the US government’s security lapses go way past Mike Waltz’s Signal fiasco. Not everyone agrees with this assessment, however.As picked up by The Register, recently a security researcher named Micah Lee took a closer look at the security posture of one Kyle Schutt, allegedly a 37-year-old "DOGE software engineer". Wired also reported that Schutt was “on the CISA staff”.Lee claims that Schutt’s personal computer was compromised by infostealer malware at least four times so far, saying that they found his data in four different infostealer logs.

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Infostealing malware

“Stealer logs are collections of URLs paired with usernames and passwords, compiled with the help of malware. If malware infects your device, it can do things like log your keystrokes or record everything entered into forms in your web browser – building a list of your usernames and passwords for various websites – and then send this data back to the person who controls the malware. This is where stealer log data comes from,” Lee explained.Lee also said that he doesn’t know enough about these incidents - when they happened, and if they occurred on Schutt’s personal, or work devices (or a single device that does both).The media were quick to pick up on this information, but not everyone agrees with Lee’s assessment. For example, Alon Gal, CTO and co-founder of Hudson Rock, an Israeli cybersecurity company specializing in cybercrime intelligence, thinks Schutt was not infected by malware and believes that Lee’s research means nothing:“I checked the data myself, and this is not true,” Gal said in a LinkedIn post. “Since the article has been picked up and is currently going viral, I figured I'll make it clear that Kyle Schutt was in fact not infected by malware,” he added.Via The Register

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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, May 12 (game #1204).

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 #1205) - 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 #1205) - 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 #1205) - 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 #1205) - 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 #1205) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• S• A• P• Y

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

Quordle today (game #1205) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1205, are…

SCENTAGAPEPOLARYEARN

I’m reeling from not seeing POLAR despite knowing all five letters it contained – somehow I found an alternative word by misspelling what I thought was the answer.Thankfully, I didn't make any more errors, although this was a far from easy Quordle round.Even though I knew it was incorrect I wanted to enter the word GRAPE, as it was taking me so long to think of anything else. Tapping in X-G-A-P-E finally unlocked my blocked thinking.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1205) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1205, are…

EMAILWOMENGLEANABLED

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READYQuordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUEQuordle #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, DRIFT

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 12 (game #435).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Keep on keeping on

NYT Strands today (game #436) - hint #2 - clue words

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

BEGSPESTSALTDUNEPATESNORE

NYT Strands today (game #436) - hint #3 - spangram letters

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

NYT Strands today (game #436) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th 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 #436) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #436, are…

LASTENDURESURVIVEABIDEPERSISTPERSEVERESPANGRAM: STAY STRONG

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

Today’s Strands theme immediately made me think about running the London Marathon a few years ago and all of the emotions you need to muster in order to get to the finish line.In fact, you need them to get to the starting line too – as that is half the battle with endurance events, especially running ones. Everyone I know will be yawning at the mention of the London Marathon. I do tend to go on about it a bit, but I see it as a metaphor for life’s eternal struggle. Plus, I like seeing the shock on people's faces that someone as unfit as me could run 26 miles.Of course, today’s search words are relevant to plenty of other situations. The human ability to SURVIVE and find a way forward is always something worth celebrating – even if it comes in the form of a word search.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, May 12, game #435)

STANDINGCHARACTERREPUTATIONSTATURENAMESPANGRAM: STREET CRED

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, May 12 (game #701).

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 #702) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

BAZAARSUPREMEVACUUMVEGGIEEVERGREENBATHROOMFAIRHAWAIIANPIPEINFRAREDPLAINOUTLETMARIGOLDMARKETDRYQUICKSILVER

NYT Connections today (game #702) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: Buy stuff here GREEN: Types of slice BLUE: Words with colorful endingsPURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “meaner”

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 #702) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: PLACES TO SHOP GREEN: KINDS OF PIZZA BLUE: ENDING WITH COLORS PURPLE: ____ CLEANER

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

NYT Connections today (game #702) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #702, are…

YELLOW: PLACES TO SHOP BAZAAR, FAIR, MARKET, OUTLETGREEN: KINDS OF PIZZA HAWAIIAN, PLAIN, SUPREME, VEGGIEBLUE: ENDING WITH COLORS EVERGREEN, INFRARED, MARIGOLD, QUICKSILVERPURPLE: ____ CLEANER BATHROOM, DRY, PIPE, VACUUM

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

I like getting the Connections groups in order of difficulty. I feel like my brain is slowly ratcheting through the gears in preparation of the hardest quartets.However, I can’t deny that I also feel a sense of disappointment when I get yellow first – especially on a day when all four seemed equally easy!The only group I felt doubt over was KINDS OF PIZZA, but this was due to cultural differences. PLAIN pizza is not something that exists in the UK, although I’m guessing it means cheese and tomato as opposed to dough with absolutely nothing on it.I met someone at a festival a couple of years ago who ran a pizza restaurant and he said that he banned anyone who asked for a HAWAIIAN or pineapple on their pizza.This seems incredibly snobbish and harsh, as cheese, pineapple and ham is a classic combo – or at least it was in the 1970s, when each of them would be found together on a cocktail stick. And as we know all the best food originates from the 1970s!How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, May 12, game #701)

PURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LIPS CURL, PUCKER, PURSE, SMACKBLUE: THINGS TRACKED BY WEB ANALYTICS CLICK, HIT, PAGE VIEW, VISITGREEN: REBOUND BANK, BOUNCE, CAROM, RICOCHETYELLOW: PLACES TO FIND PAPER MONEY ATM, CASH REGISTER, TIP JAR, WALLET

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.

An incoming version of Spotify's iOS app contains changes to audiobooksIf approved by Apple, it'll let you buy audiobooks via links from the appPremium subscribers will also be able to buy 'Top Up' hours for audiobooks

Spotify is looking to improve its iOS experience for audiobook fans in the US by enabling them to purchase audiobooks (via links) and 'Top Up' hours from within the Spotify app.The streaming giant has submitted an update to its App Store listing to Apple that would allow it to add links and pricing information for audiobooks to the Spotify app, allowing users in the US to use external links to purchase audiobooks.If Spotify’s iPhone app update gets approved by Apple, non-Premium users will be able to purchase individual audiobooks and Premium subscribers can purchase additional ‘Top Up’ hours for audiobook listening.Spotify already offers 15 free monthly hours of audiobook streaming for Premium users, and this update would allow them to access even more of Spotify’s library of audiobooks, if they’re willing to pay.This news follows Spotify’s recent iOS update, which it issued in response to the Epic Games vs Apple legal battle, which resulted in Apple having to ease its control over the App Store.

Why is this happening?

(Image credit: Spotify)

Apple had previously limited the extent to which developers could advertise and use link-to-payment options outside the App Store – where Apple could take a 30% cut from in-app purchases.Since this ruling, Apple has been ordered to stop taking commission from purchases made via external links, creating the opportunity for Spotify to seek to earn more revenue from App Store purchases.In a blog post Spotify said: “It helps level the playing field by allowing developers to offer basic pricing information and easy-to-access links to purchase digital goods through iPhones with no unnecessary steps or additional taxes levied by Apple.This change also unlocks new revenue opportunities for audiobook publishers and authors, allowing them to reach fans and access new audiences seamlessly.”Previously, Spotify tried to get around Apple’s App Store restrictions by not showing audiobook prices in the app, instead emailing links to users where they could purchase audiobooks on the web.This change would make a huge difference for Spotify’s audiobook library, and would mean that the streaming service wouldn’t have to take alternative measures to improve audiobook access and revenue opportunities. Now we’re just waiting for Spotify to display a similar sense of urgency in bringing us Spotify HiFi.

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It's finally that time of year where you can sit on the beach or by the pool without freezing — hallelujah. But that means you need a durable and portable speaker to accompany you. Right now, one of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers for 2025 is back down to its record-low price.

You can pick up the Beats Pill for $100, down from $150 — a 33 percent discount. We gave the Bluetooth speaker an 83 in our review thanks, in big part, to its durability. The Beats Pill has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, meaning it's dust tight and could last about three feet under water for up to 30 minutes. So, if it accidentally tumbles into the pool, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

The Beats Pill also offers a solid sound quality boost over its predecessor and 24 hours of battery life. Though the audio does suffer a bit if you have the speaker at very loud volumes and the bass tone can be inconsistent.

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-beats-pill-portable-speaker-drops-back-down-to-a-record-low-price-140421604.html?src=rss

Sir Keir Starmer has outlined what he considers ambitious plans for AI growth, positioning the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The AI Opportunities Action Plan, published in January, promises to significantly expand AI research resources by 2030, alongside the rapid development of AI Growth Zones to support data center expansion.However, there’s a critical challenge: Can the UK’s energy infrastructure keep pace with this exponential AI demand? AI infrastructure requires unprecedented power density — as much as 120 kW per rack with Nvidia’s technology today and plans for 600kW in 2027 — far exceeding traditional computing needs. The UK is already facing power shortages in major data center hubs, forcing a tough question:

Does the UK’s AI strategy align with today's realities?

To deliver, the government must balance innovation with sustainability, ensuring long-term success rather than short-term policy wins. There needs to be a clear overarching strategy on what success looks like: an AI driven economy at all costs, or a focus on UK net zero efforts which could mean a compromise on AI growth plans. Here are five key considerations that will determine whether the UK’s AI ambitions become a global success story or an infrastructure crisis.

1. Balancing AI growth with energy infrastructure

AI is an energy-intensive technology, and power constraints are already delaying new data center developments in key UK hubs. London remains the epicenter for datacenter deployments; a recent report from Cushman & Wakefield highlighted over 1GW of datacenter capacity in production today with a pipeline of over 1.5GW.Given the UK’s computing demands are increasing, concerns about grid stability and potential power shortages remain. The government must collaborate with energy providers to ensure that satisfying the demand data centers is balanced with increasing energy demands to support societal shifts. This may include dedicated, scalable and sustainable power sources for datacenters, as well as encouraging data center operators build facilities that include the necessary power generation.Investments in smart grid technology and demand-side response programs will be critical to managing energy loads efficiently. Without a long-term energy plan, AI’s expansion could put pressure on the broader grid, affecting homes, businesses, and essential public services.

2. Sustainable energy solutions for AI

Datacenters including those supporting AI workloads require a consistent energy supply that is at odds with the variable supply from renewable sources that vary by the amount of wind or sunshine. The UK must continue to develop a cohesive diversified energy strategy that integrates nuclear, wind, and solar power alongside advanced energy storage solutions. Clearly efforts to diversify energy production are advancing, but the combination of sources is key.Nuclear energy can provide a consistent baseload, but comes with large drawbacks in the form of the overall carbon footprint required to build, maintain and dispose of nuclear energy; the introduction of small modular reactors could be an important development here. Renewable sources are intermittent therefore grid-scale battery storage will be essential to stabilise the supply. Additionally, investments in AI-powered energy forecasting models could help optimize grid efficiency and balance energy supply and demand in real time.Another important sustainability angle that is being increasingly adopted is using heat from datacentres for district heating, thus reducing the overall energy demand for the area. An 80MW datacentre has the potential to provide heating for as many as 13,000 homes.Without a strategic approach to aligning AI expansion with sustainable energy generation, the UK risks jeopardizing its progress on the renewable make-up of the grid.

3. Optimizing data center efficiency

Unlike traditional enterprise data centers, AI data centers require higher-density compute, advanced cooling, and fast access to data. If UK data centers are not upgraded to meet these demands, issues with power, cooling, and efficiency will limit AI progress.Emerging cooling technologies such as liquid cooling and direct-to-chip cooling are fundamental to being able to use the most demanding GPUs. Without modern cooling methods, data centers will struggle to handle the thermal load of AI training and inference workloads.Storage will also play a key role. High-density flash storage is significantly more energy-efficient than legacy spinning disk drives and can provide the data throughput required to feed GPUs and keep them operating efficiently.Given that energy is the most important commodity when thinking about datacenters it’s essential that the equipment within the datacenter is as efficient as possible getting the most value out of every kW.

4. Policy and regulatory support

While the UK government is investing in AI infrastructure, policy gaps could slow progress. AI-friendly regulations should enable innovation rather than create additional bottlenecks.While AI Growth Zones (AIGZ) consider both datacenter growth from a land, planning and power perspective incentivizing energy-efficient AI data centers, through tax breaks and grants, could accelerate sustainable development based not only on the efficiency of the datacenter itself but also the technology deployed within it. The AI Opportunities Action Plan, while ambitious, lacks a clear roadmap for aligning AI’s energy consumption with net-zero commitments.Public-private collaboration will be essential to ensuring AI infrastructure aligns with national sustainability goals. At the same time, policymakers must address AI’s ethical and security challenges, ensuring that regulations protect data integrity, privacy, and public trust without stifling innovation.

5. Lessons from global AI leaders

The UK is competing with the US, China, and the EU, all of whom have massive AI infrastructure investments. To stay competitive, the UK must learn from other countries' strategies and adapt accordingly.France has committed €109 billion in AI investment, significantly outpacing the UK’s financial backing and positioning itself as a European AI hub. Meanwhile, the US and China continue to dominate AI innovation, leveraging government-backed infrastructure expansion and large-scale energy investments.If the UK cannot match these AI superpowers in raw infrastructure scale, it must instead focus on agility, efficiency, innovation, and regulatory leadership to carve out a competitive advantage. The UK’s AI success will depend not just on investment, but on smarter, more efficient execution.

Final thought: what could derail the UK’s AI vision?

The UK’s AI ambitions are bold, but without the right energy, storage, and compute infrastructure, these plans may struggle to materialize.AI will not just push the limits of existing energy grids and data centers; it will demand an entirely new approach to sustainability, efficiency, and scalability.If the UK is to lead in AI, it must move beyond policy ambitions and deliver real infrastructure advancements, before global AI leaders continue to look elsewhere.

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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 AI gold rush is pushing data centers to their limits. While power constraints have long been a challenge, the next major bottleneck is water. Well, the supply of it. As AI workloads skyrocket, traditional air-based cooling systems struggle to keep up. Liquid cooling - particularly seawater-based solutions - is emerging as a sustainable alternative. But can this sustainable approach scale with AI workloads?AI models are becoming increasingly more complex. Training a model like GPT-4 requires thousands of GPUs running for weeks, consuming vast amounts of energy and generating significant heat. This has led to a sharp increase in data centre power consumption. According to the International Energy Agency, global data center energy demand is expected to reach 1,000 TWh annually, up from 460 TWh in 2022, by 2026. To put that number into perspective, the UK consumed 266 TWh in 2023. Data centers in prime real estate areas are putting considerable strain on local power grids. But for data center structures near the coast, this is where water plays a critical role in efficient cooling.

The data center drought

Traditional cooling methods, such as air-cooled systems and evaporative cooling, are heavily reliant on water. A typical hyperscale data center can consume millions of liters of water daily. This is unsustainable in regions where the availability of groundwater is already stressed. There are already concerns about tech companies drawing significant amounts of water from local supplies, prompting increasing regulatory scrutiny.Liquid cooling, particularly direct-to-chip and immersion cooling, is gaining traction as a more efficient alternative. The market is expected to reach $48.42 billion by 2034. However, these solutions still rely on vast amounts of fresh water, leading operators to explore seawater-based cooling as a long-term strategy.Seawater cooling isn’t new, but its application in hyperscale data centers is relatively recent. The principle is straightforward: instead of drawing on freshwater, facilities near coastlines can use seawater as a heat sink. This method significantly reduces reliance on limited freshwater resources while maintaining efficient cooling.A 1.2GW AI data center campus could employ existing infrastructure from a decommissioned coal plant to implement a closed-loop seawater cooling system. Seawater is drawn through pipes, circulated through heat exchangers, and returned to the ocean under strict environmental controls.

Sink or swim

Seawater cooling significantly reduces reliance on groundwater and municipal supplies, conserving vital freshwater resources. Coastal locations provide unlimited cooling capacity, making this approach highly scalable for tech companies. However, these same coastal locations may present logistical difficulties related to connectivity, power availability, and security concerns.Liquid cooling is inherently more efficient than air cooling, helping to reduce overall power consumption and improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scores. Seawater cooling is environmentally compliant and ensures that marine ecosystems remain unharmed as the treated water returns to the sea. However, regulatory hurdles pose significant barriers, as governments enforce stringent rules on the temperature and chemical composition of water returned to the ocean, requiring continuous monitoring and compliance from colocation providers.Despite its potential, retrofitting existing data centers for seawater cooling is complex and costly, making new-build campuses the most practical candidates for this technology. While the advantages of this approach are clear, addressing these infrastructure and compliance challenges will be critical to its widespread adoption in the run-up to 2034.

Don’t break any dams

We are entering the "Intelligent Age," with AI-driven transformation across a plethora of industries. The demand for AI is not slowing down. As more organizations deploy AI-driven workloads, data center operators must balance performance with sustainability. The push for renewable energy sources, coupled with advances in cooling technology, will define the next decade of data centre infrastructure innovation.Seawater cooling is not a white whale, but it’s a crucial step in reducing the environmental footprint of AI data centers. As more operators experiment with large-scale liquid cooling solutions, the industry must work collaboratively to refine best practices and ensure these systems are both sustainable and commercially viable.For businesses relying on AI-driven insights, the future of data centers matters. Whether through energy efficiency, innovative cooling, or better resource management, sustainable AI infrastructure will shape the digital economy for years and the planet. The question is how quickly the industry can scale these solutions to meet the demands of this AI-powered world.

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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

A new Nvidia Shield update brings 120fps GeForce Now supportHowever, it's only at 1080p – 4K is available only at 60fpsYour TV will need to support 120Hz to benefit

Nvidia is rolling out a new update for the Shield TV with one big feature upgrade as well as the usual bug fixes. The update is for Shield and Shield Pro units, and the headline feature is the arrival of 120fps gaming on GeForce Now for subscribers to the GeForce Now Ultimate membership.The slightly less good news is that it's limited to 1080p, meaning it's not quite a true competitor to 4K 120Hz gaming on the PS5 Pro – although there's a good reason for this restriction.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

Why is 120fps gaming limited to 1080p?

The short answer: HDMI 2.0.The Shield has an HDMI 2.0 output, and that means it has the bandwidth for full quality 4K at 60fps but not 120fps: for that you need the higher bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, which has 48Gbps compared to HDMI 2.0's 18Gbps.You can adjust many PC video cards to force 120fps over HDMI 2.0, but doing so is really a hack: it involves reducing the amount of color information and adding subsampling, so the signal being sent at 120fps isn't as high quality as the un-tweaked 60fps version. Clearly Nvidia has chosen not to do that here.Although the update is welcome, it does demonstrate that the Shield is getting on a bit: it has similar hardware to the original Nintendo Switch and is still running Android 11, and while it's great that Nvidia keeps updating it it does feel that it's time for a new one – not least because it's facing ever more rivals.Here's Nvidia's release notes detailing what's been fixed in this latest update.

Fixes night mode being skipped when DAP is ON.Fixes Dolby Vision content stutters when frame match feature is enabled.Fixes match content audio resolution while using an USB DAC.Adds back HQS / Maxrate option for USB audio.USB TV Tuner fix with Live Channel app.Fixes playback issues in PLEX when using AAC 5.1 audio.Fixes connection issues with third-party remotes after sleep or reboot.

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Pro-Ject Peanuts turntable is based on the T1 BTAvailable from June 2025 for £579 (about $763 / AU$1,190)Built-in phono stage and Bluetooth transmission

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the very first Peanuts comic, and to mark it Pro-Ject has created a Peanuts-themed turntable with Charlie Brown on the acrylic record plate and music-inspired Peanuts panels on the turntable plinth. All you need to do is find an appropriate record to play on it, such as – ahem – Snoop-y Doggy Dogg.Underneath the comic capers you'll find a belt-driven turntable based on Pro-Ject's excellent T1 BT turntables. That's the model with a built-in phono stage as well as Bluetooth transmission for transmitting to wireless speakers or headphones.

(Image credit: Pro-Ject)

Pro-Ject Peanuts turntable: key features and price

The Pro-Ject Peanuts turntable is hand-made in Europe and features a precision CNC-machined chassis, and Pro-Ject's signature one-piece aluminum tonearm. It comes pre-fitted with an Ortofon OM 10 cartridge.The Peanuts turntable is a limited-edition release and while it's based on the T1 BT there are a few changes – that acrylic record plate, for one, but there's also a newly designed sub-platter for the belt system. That's mounted into an ultra-precise 0.001mm main bearing with a hardened steel axle and brass bushing. The glass platter that sits beneath Charlie Brown's face is a heavy, zero-resonance design.The turntable will be launched at High End Munich this week and will be available in June from Pro-Ject and authorized retailers. The official price is £579 / €599 (about $763 / AU$1,190)

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Panasonic has announced its 2025 TV lineup, and there’s something for everyone, from flagship OLEDs to entry-level LEDs, gaming TVs and more. I recently got to see the full range at an event, and it featured in-depth demonstrations of particular sets.Panasonic is known for making some of the best TVs on the market, with its flagship Panasonic Z95A scoring four and a half out of five stars in our review and earning a place on our list for best OLED TVs. 2024 was an exciting year for Panasonic as it not only began to use Fire TV as its new smart TV platform but it re-entered the US market for the first time in almost a decade.We’d already seen the Panasonic Z95B, the 2025 flagship OLED, in action at CES 2025 and were suitably impressed with its picture quality. Now that I’ve seen the 2025 range in action, I’ve picked three models that I think you should get excited for.

1. Panasonic Z95B

(Image credit: Future)

Panasonic’s OLED TVs rank among the top TVs every year for their picture quality, dynamic sound and full array of features. The Panasonic Z95B, the company's new flagship OLED, looks to take things even further.Seeing the Z95B in person, it demonstrated the vibrant colors and rich blacks I’ve come to expect from Panasonic’s flagship OLEDs, but it also showcased stunning new brightness levels. The Z95B features a new Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel, the same used in the LG G5, and seeing it next to its predecessor, the Z95A, which uses a micro lens array (MLA) OLED panel, the brightness boost and improved color was obvious.A clip of dancers in colored outfits showed the Z95B's extra vivid punch compared to the Z95A, and the white droplets of water reflecting light demonstrated its brightness boost in areas around the screen. Even black levels were deeper.

The Panasonic Z95B (right) demonstrates higher brightness and bolder colors than its predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A (left) (Image credit: Future)

The Z95B also features a new ThermalFlow cooling system to regulate airflow, which Panasonic says allows for better brightness retention on screen.Even the Z95B’s audio system has been tweaked. Although still the same 5.1.2 channel speaker array from the Z95A, the rear effects have been more accurately positioned, and an audio demo proved this. During the demo, where the same clips were played through the Z95B and Z95A, it was clear that the Z95B had a wider soundstage and a more dynamic sound. It also felt more powerful, which Panasonic explained was thanks to the new, larger drivers and side-firing and up-firing speakers.The Z95B has also gone through a design change, taking on a more uniform look across the whole unit. It uses fabric around its frame and across its front external speaker array, and the corners have been rounded to give it a more premium look overall.Put all this together with a list of gaming features expected from the best gaming TVs (4K 144Hz, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia GSync, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM) and you have one powerhouse OLED TV. Get the price right, Panasonic, and this could be a TV of the year contender!

2. Panasonic Z90B

(Image credit: Future)

The Z90B, the step-down OLED model from the flagship Z95B, doesn’t have that model's Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel, but it still has the Z95B's HCX AI Processor MK II and the same list of gaming features. It also comes in a wider array of sizes.In Panasonic's demo, the Z90B sat amongst the Z95B and Z80B OLEDs in different sizes, and still showed exceptional contrast, dynamic colors and solid brightness. A clip of colored glass showed the Z90B's precise detail and accurate color, along with its inky black levels.Where the Z90B gets interesting, though, is in its smaller 42 and 48-inch sizes. That OLED size range is usually dominated by the LG C-series OLEDs, but the Z90B includes a front speaker array that could give it the edge over its LG rivals. The LG C5 earned five out of five stars in our LG C5 review, but the built-in sound was its biggest disappointment. If Panasonic can get the Z90B's price right, then it could give the C5 a run for its money.It’s worth noting for our US readers that the Z90B is only available in the UK and Europe, so if you’re looking for a mid-range OLED, the C5 is likely to be your best option. Just add one of the best soundbars to make it a more complete package.

3. Panasonic W95B

The Panasonic W95B (right) demonstrates better backlight control and higher brightness than its predecessor, the Panasonic W95A (left) (Image credit: Future)

The last of the three models is the Panasonic W95B, the brand’s only mini-LED offering for 2025. In an extremely competitive market, the best mini-LED TVs are often made by brands like Samsung, TCL, Hisense and even Sony. Panasonic is not a company that immediately comes to mind, as it's often known for OLED TVs.The W95B is a feature-stacked mini-LED that again comes with the flagship HCX AI Processor MK II, a comprehensive list of gaming features, and the new Prime Video Calibrated picture mode and Calman Ready AutoCal (both in the Z95B as well).Seeing the W95B next to its predecessor, the Panasonic W95A, it showed better backlight control with less blooming (an artifact of LED TV tech) and better black levels with more accurate colors. A demo of a fire handler showed brighter oranges and reds on the W95B than on the W95A. Not only were colors and contrast more powerful, but the W95B had brighter highlights, as seen in the ball on the staff at the center of the flame (shown in the picture above).From the demo I saw, the W95B could be a great entry in the Mini-LED TV market.

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OpenAI is reportedly exploring going public, but the nonprofit will remain in chargeMicrosoft's side of the deal could be affected with a change in structureSam Altman says OpenAI can't handle the world's hunger for AI

OpenAI and Microsoft are believed to be negotiating their partnership terms to enable OpenAI to potentially go public, while ensuring that Microsoft can continue accessing the AI startup's technology.Reuters explained that the two companies could be in the midst of rewriting their terms, however Redmond's extensive involvement in the ChatGPT-maker's recent history could be adding further complexities to any potential IPO.Details of the alleged deal could have considerable consequences for Microsoft, which currently has an agreement allowing it to access OpenAI's models until the end of the decade.

Exploring the future of their partnership

Being a private company, we have no real indication of how much OpenAI might be worth and how much it may wish to list for, however Microsoft's estimated $13.75 billion stake in the company is certainly a considerable sum.It's been reported that OpenAI is reconsidering its transformation from a nonprofit to a fully commercial enterprise after pushback from employees, academics and competitors, including Elon Musk."OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit, and is today overseen and controlled by that nonprofit. Going forward, it will continue to be overseen and controlled by that nonprofit," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a letter to staff."We currently cannot supply nearly as much AI as the world wants and we have to put usage limits on our systems and run them slowly," Altman explained.The letter details how the for-profit LLC will transition to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), much like Anthropic and X.ai have done, however the nonprofit division will remain in control of the PBC, maintaining its position as a "big shareholder."TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft and OpenAI about the implications of a potential deal, but neither company replied to our email.

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The upcoming Mercedes-AMG EV could boast upward of 1,000bhpIt will be the first Mercedes-AMG product built from the ground upPorsche, Audi and Xiaomi could finally have another fiery rival

Mercedes-AMG has teased its first electric ‘super sedan’ via a series of images released on its social media channels that show the large, imposing four-door fastback wearing a thin camouflage.Both the front and rear lamps have been inspired by the star design used on the upcoming CLA – causing somewhat of a furore on socials – while the low-slung ride height and enormous aero-enhanced wheels signify its performance intentions.Above all else, the design already sets apart from the slightly confusing Mercedes-AMG’s EQE and EQS mash-up models that have arrived to date.But the good news is, this is tipped to be the first dedicated, high-performance electric Mercedes-AMG product, complete with its very own platform (dubbed AMG.EA) and in-house tweaked electric motors.Where AMG was once the final word in high-performance combustion engines, arguably peaking with its fantastic and ferocious naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V8 (I’ve personally owned one and it was amazing before the fuel bills financially ruined me), it has yet to be permitted to properly have its wicked way with an electrified powertrain.

(Image credit: Mercedes-AMG Instagram)

Reports suggest that the upcoming electric super sedan will use axial flux motors, which are much lighter and more energy dense than the radial motors used in most of today’s high-performance EVs.According to Autocar, a total power output of 1,000bhp and 1,000lb-ft of torque are quite feasible from a twin-axial flux motor set-up. But we will have to wait for a full reveal to find out.However, this would bring it directly in the firing line of the Taycan Turbo GT, which is capable of smashing the 0-62mph sprint in just 2.3 seconds thanks to its 1,020bhp power. It can also return an impressive 347 miles on a single charge.

Analysis: Porsche will be tough to beat

(Image credit: Porsche)

Since the automotive industry made the switch towards an increasingly electric future, Mercedes-AMG has been downsizing and turbocharging its internal combustion engines, as well as adding plug-in hybrid options in order to meet more stringent emissions regulations.Speak to any AMG fan and they will likely admit that this has had a negative effect on the products leaving the famous Affalterbach factory. Let’s not get started on the expensive, bizarrely-styled and slightly disappointing Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 and EQS models.But this latest project could be the first time we really see what the famous tuning arm of Mercedes-Benz can do when it gets its hands on the brand’s battery and motor technology, with the results finally able to take on the might of Porsche and Audi.The former would likely be its closest rival, as it has been pushing its EV tech to the limits for years, with the Taycan Turbo GT arguably one of the most mind-bending and impressive high-performance electric vehicles I have ever been lucky enough to drive.Simply imbuing an EV with enormous amounts of power isn’t good enough, as so much work has to be done in order to translate that into useable, real-world performance.

(Image credit: Porsche)

The Taycan Turbo GT – complete with the Weissach Package that removes the rear seats and adds a fixed carbon rear wing in pursuit of lightness – is arguably too much for the road, but it redefines what it means to go fast.The handling is exquisite, the feedback through the steering wheel pure Porsche and the acceleration with Overboost activated borderline painful.Launch Control is so aggressive that the driver can only handle a handful of runs before they throw in the towel… or throw up. However, it can make even ham-fisted drivers look like the GOAT, thanks to its seemingly endless amounts of grip and poise.But despite this, the market is still relatively slow for high-performance EVs, with sales of Taycan reportedly plummeting by 49% in 2024. The poor residual values are also knocking consumer confidence in new cars.Mercedes-AMG entering the game should help prove to the market that this really is the future of high-performance motoring, building on the work that Audi, Porsche and Xiaomi (in China at least) have already done.What’s more, it will hopefully signal a return to AMG doing what it does best when it is left to its own devices… chiefly creating phenomenal driver’s cars.

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Rumor story claims May 28 announcement 'confirmed'New launch will be an E-mount mirrorless camera, possibly with tilting EVFTwo camera models recently registered by Sony in China

Is Sony about to announce a new camera? Or maybe even two? The evidence is pointing that way, even if details are extremely thin on the ground.Sony Alpha Rumors has today updated a short news story, adding ‘confirmation’ that the company will unveil a new E-mount mirrorless camera on May 28, 2025. As to what that camera might be, the story barely speculates – although it does say that it will not be a successor for the Sony A7 IV.We’ve long suspected that a new Sony A7 model is on its way, however, and the fact that the price of the current Sony A7 IV, released back in 2021, has recently dropped to record lows strongly suggests that something is in the offing. So, we’re still expecting a new baseline full-frame model from Sony to be announced this year – just maybe not as soon as May 28.

The Sony A7 IV is ripe for replacement – but there could be another camera announced first on May 28. (Image credit: Future)

A view to a tilt

While the piece is light on detail, Sony Alpha Rumors’ story does mention that the new camera may feature a reworked ‘tilting EVF design’. Tilting viewfinders are a rarity on mirrorless cameras, but we have seen them before – perhaps most notably on the 2018-released Panasonic Lumix GX9.The GX9 has a compact rangefinder-style design, where allowing the viewfinder to tilt up makes it more comfortable to use, so perhaps Sony’s rumored camera will have a similarly compact body. Sony has released plenty of APS-C E-mount cameras with this sort of design over the years, such as the A6500 and A6100. Could the model supposedly being announced on May 28 be something new in that line?

Will we be getting a new APS-C Sony camera with tilting electronic viewfinder? (Image credit: Future)

But the Sony news doesn’t stop there. A second story on Sony Alpha Rumors seemingly reveals that Sony has recently registered two new cameras in China: one on 21 April and another on 9 May. Both models will feature dual-band Wi-Fi but the first will be manufactured in China while the second will be manufactured in Japan.If the May 28 launch claims are true, one of these cameras will likely be announced on that day. Could the other also be revealed at the same time, or will it be held back until the autumn, another popular time of the year for new cameras launches?We’ll be waiting to report on any concrete news or further rumors, but in the meantime let us know what you’d like to see from Sony’s reveals in the comments below.

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Google will pay its biggest ever state settlement over data privacy issuesThe company had been tracking users' geolocation without consentIt was also collecting biometrics and incognito searches

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the state of Texas to settle lawsuits over unauthorized tracking and data collection.It was deemed that the company had been unlawfully tracking users' geolocation, including while 'Location History' was disabled.Google had also been collecting biometric data, such as facial geometry and voiceprints, without consent, as well as tracking incognito searches and other private user activity.

Google to pay out $1.4 billion for unauthorized data collection

The colossal sum might not be much to a company that generated $350 billion in revenue in the most recent fiscal year, but it's still a sum that could hit the company hard, marking the largest ever state settlement that Google has had to pay out of data privacy issues.In September 2023, Google paid out its then-largest-ever state settlement of $93 million over allegations of misleading users about how their location data was collected. Earlier in November 2022, the company settled a similar data collection complaint in a payout worth $391 million, but that was to 40 states – not one."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,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton, who declared that "Big Tech is not above the law."Google's 10-figure settlement follows a similar payout from Meta in July 2024, when it coughed up $1.4 billion over unlawfully collecting and using facial recognition data.Paxton added: "This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust."A Google spokesperson told TechRadar Pro: "This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed. We are pleased to put them behind us and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services."

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The wait is almost over: Samsung’s next Unpacked shindig happens tonight. This time, the company isn’t even being coy about what it will reveal. The ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge will make its long-awaited debut. Here’s how to tune in.

You can stream the event live here today — Monday, May 12, at 8 PM ET. We've embedded Samsung's YouTube stream below, or you can click over to Samsung's newsroom if you prefer. Want real-time commentary, too? Open up a second window for Engadget's liveblog during the event.

While the Galaxy S25 Edge has remained largely under wraps, some leaks are popping up just ahead of gametime. A credible (albeit unconfirmed) set of photos from Android Headlines (spotted via 9to5Google) shows the purported S25 Edge in comparison to the S25 Ultra, looking noticeably slimmer indeed. If that whets your appetite, a more comprehensive accounting of Galaxy S25 Edge rumors and info (including its supposed AI-powered "smart lens") is available from Engadget’s Lawrence Bonk.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/watch-samsung-unveil-the-galaxy-s25-edge-at-unpacked-today-130052709.html?src=rss

Fox is releasing its very own streaming service, according to a report by Variety. It’s appropriately called Fox One and the company plans to launch the platform by the start of the NFL season, which is in early September.

This will be something of a one-stop shop for Fox content, as it’ll air sporting events like NFL games, traditional TV shows and, of course, Fox News programming. CEO Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert, says it will be "holistic of all of our content, sports and news." Finally, a platform for both Bob's Burgers and angry rants about men with painted nails or whatever.

FOX unveils the name of its new streaming service – FOX One. It's set to feature all of FOX’s premium news, sports and entertainment programming in one dynamic platform. 🔗: https://t.co/uKSkpmE1En pic.twitter.com/mVHWHgsKDN— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) May 12, 2025

Fox is a fairly decent network for sports. There are NFL games on Sunday afternoons and a spate of MLB and LIV Golf events. However, if you want to stream every NFL game, you'll need a combination of several platforms. Matches air on Peacock, Prime Video and ESPN, among others.

Disney is also planning a standalone streaming platform for sports, which will just be called ESPN. This all-access streaming service should launch in the near future, with availability and pricing details arriving this week.

There seems to be some confusion regarding the potential price of Fox One. Murdoch suggested today that it "will be healthy. It will not be a discounted price." However, in February the CEO said the cost would be "relatively low." We'll have to wait and see.

All of these new streaming services are popping up after the demise of Venu Sports. This platform was supposed to be a joint effort by Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery and would have allowed access to sporting events from all over the cable landscape. It was preemptively axed back in January.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/fox-one-is-a-new-streaming-service-that-should-launch-before-september-152650429.html?src=rss