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As artificial intelligence becomes more integral to businesses across all industries, small and medium-sized companies are slowly integrating it. In 2024, only 26% of these types of businesses used the technology, despite 76% recognizing its value.However, as AI's benefits become more pronounced, these businesses will only benefit from integrating it into their operations. As a critical tool, AI can help these businesses build and foster stronger relationships with clients, develop innovative solutions that allow them to compete better with larger institutions and increase efficiency, allowing them to focus on business growth.

Transformative potential AI has for small-and medium-sized businesses

In the coming years, small and medium-sized businesses must incorporate AI to remain competitive in an ever-changing business landscape. The good news is that AI can enable smaller organizations to break through competitively and provide more personalized offerings to clients across industries.The impact across industries is telling. In the accounting and finance industry, the shift to AI can empower businesses to move from traditional number-crunching services to personalized advisory relationships. Within sales and marketing, AI can go beyond providing predictive insights and can offer real-time personalization to improve sales conversion rates.AI can provide employees with seamless service and connectivity in the IT industry, where building a digital workplace is the standard. Furthermore, within customer service, AI-powered agents and chatbots help maintain a consistent brand voice across all client engagements while automating inquiries and communications to provide answers at a previously impossible pace.The bottom line: no matter the industry, AI is improving business outcomes, and small- to medium-sized businesses have much to gain from the technology.

Where to start: clean data is crucial for successful AI integration

It is clear that AI has many benefits, but an AI algorithm is only as good as the data it learns from. Clean, well-structured data is essential for AI models to function accurately and efficiently. AI systems can produce biased, misleading or outright incorrect results without it. Data must be accurate, complete, consistent, unique, valid and timely.One of the most significant risks of poor data quality is bias. If an AI model is trained on incomplete, inconsistent or skewed data, it will replicate and even amplify those biases. Overrepresenting data from one source while unnecessarily reducing the representation of another can have serious consequences, from discriminatory hiring practices to inaccurate medical diagnoses.In short, AI models rely on patterns within datasets to make predictions and decisions. The outputs will be unreliable if the data contains errors—such as duplicates, missing values or incorrect labels.Furthermore, inconsistent and inaccurate data could slow down processing times, increase business costs, and require extensive human intervention to correct mistakes. On the other hand, when data is clean, AI models can train faster and operate more effectively, saving both time and resources. Whether it’s customer interactions, financial transactions or healthcare records, people need to know that AI-driven decisions are based on reliable information.Poor data quality erodes confidence, while clean data strengthens the credibility of AI systems. Good, clean data is the foundation of successful AI. Without it, even the most sophisticated models will fail to deliver meaningful results. Ensuring high data quality should be a top priority for any organization looking to use AI.

Steps to take to improve data quality

For small and medium-sized businesses to reap the benefits of AI, they must use modern data management tools to guard data quality, including implementing high data quality standards, data structuring and data governance policies.The first step is to clean and structure the data into a format that AI algorithms can efficiently process and analyze to extract meaningful insights and make accurate predictions. Data is gathered from various sources, including databases, files and application programming interfaces. Once collected, data cleaning is performed to remove inconsistencies, errors and irrelevant information. The data is then converted into a format suitable for AI algorithms, such as numerical values, vectors or graphs.Data structuring techniques vary based on the type and purpose of the data. For example, relational databases store data in tables with rows and columns, making them ideal for structured data. In contrast, NoSQL databases offer more flexibility by storing data in various formats, making them suitable for unstructured or semi-structured data.Finally, data storage ensures that the structured data is efficiently organized and accessible for AI processing. Each step is critical for optimizing AI performance and delivering accurate, meaningful insights.

Ensuring data governance

Organizations need a robust data governance framework to maintain high data quality. This internal governance structure—like a cross-functional committee or task force—sets policies, processes and accountability measures.First, this framework should assign clear roles and responsibilities for managing data, which will help ensure accountability and safeguard critical information. Next, businesses must enforce data controls and standardize formatting and data structures across systems to promote consistency.Once organizations have established their framework, they should maintain real-time updates and scheduled data refreshes, keeping data relevant. Additionally, compliance with validation rules and predefined formats must be maintained.Finally, businesses of all sizes must provide user-friendly interfaces, clear documentation and efficient retrieval systems to ensure data is accessible and valuable. Comprehensive data coverage across all relevant systems and processes is necessary.AI has the potential to transform small and medium-sized businesses significantly. However, the success of these AI initiatives depends heavily on the quality and structure of the data they utilize. By improving data quality through robust standards, effective structuring, comprehensive governance policies and modern management tools, these businesses can fully leverage AI to gain a competitive edge and drive innovation.

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The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar launches on 3 June 2025And it will set you back an almighty $1000 / £899Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and HDMI passthrough

Marshall, known for its amp-making heritage and rock ‘n’ roll-inspired speakers, is taking its first steps into an all-new product category: soundbars.The audio brand’s very first soundbar, the Marshall Heston 120, is coming to your living rooms from June 3 2025 and will be available for an eye-watering $999 / £899 (about AU$1599). Marshall’s Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar is over 100cm long – suitable for the best 55-inch TVs and up – and promises a “colossal audio experience” with both “immersive and spacious sound”.However, it doesn’t harness a separate sub or rear speakers to supply this, with Marshall instead opting for an all-in-one design. As a result, it feels that this is a natural competitor to the excellent-sounding Sonos Arc Ultra, which holds the title of ‘best all-in-one soundbar’ in our guide to the best soundbars available today.

Getting hands on with the Heston 120

(Image credit: Future)

I was lucky enough to be among the very first to hear the Marshall Heston 120 at Marshall’s headquarters in Stockholm. First of all, I was struck by its luxury, retro design – something I’ve always loved about products like the Marshall Monitor III ANC and the Marshall Emberton III.Its faux leather outer casing combined with sleek golden details makes it stand out in a market full of chunky black plastic bars.There’s a lot of attention to detail with design, too. For instance, Marshall has installed three tactile dials for controlling volume, EQ and source. These use haptic feedback for a satisfying user experience, and are made of knurled metal – another nod to Marshall’s amp-related roots. There are also buttons for different sound modes such as Music, Movie, Night, or Voice.But what you’re probably most keen to find out, is how did the Heston 120 sound? Well, I only got a brief demo in a space that almost mimicked a living room. But from what I heard, this thing is pretty impressive.Marshall showed off the Heston 120’s capabilities across three formats: stereo music; Dolby Atmos music; and Dolby Atmos movies. Ed Camphor, Audio Technology and Tuning Lead at Marshall Group, told me that “our focus was very much on getting a good level of polish on every format”, and that certainly seemed to be the case.

(Image credit: Future)

For instance, when listening to stereo music, I was instantly smacked with punchy, impactful bass – the kind that so many soundbars struggle to replicate, particularly without the help of a dedicated sub.Dolby Atmos music impressed me too – when tuning into bury a friend by Billie Eilish, vocal pans were tracked accurately with rumbling, deep bass and haunting screams piercing through.Finally, we watched a portion of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace on Disney Plus. The directionality of soaring spaceships in one scene was delivered with precision, and the soundbar recreated big sound effects such stips overtaking and crashing cleanly, in a true-to-life manner. Unfortunately, Jar Jar Binks’ dialogue was crystal-clear, all the way through the scene.Of course, these are only my initial impressions from a demo, so if you want my full and unfiltered thoughts, you’ll have to wait for my full review. That’s coming soon…

Into the nitty gritty…

(Image credit: Future)

So, in terms of tech specs, the Marshall Heston 120 makes use of 11 active drivers, which includes height channels to capture the verticality needed for ‘true’ Dolby Atmos and side channels for truly expansive audio. Altogether, you’re getting a maximum power output of 150W in a 5.1.2 configuration. Of course, there’s Dolby Atmos compatibility for movies and music alike, but the Heston 120 also supports DTS:X content as well, which is an advantage it has over the Sonos Arc Ultra (Sonos continues to avoid DTS support).There are so many ways to play through the Heston 120 too. There are HDMI eARC and HDMI passthrough ports (another plus it has over the Arc Ultra, which only has one HDMI port), RCA stereo and mono slots, as well as both Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility.You can play music over Apple AirPlay 2, and Marshall has also integrated a range of streaming services, including Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Airable. These can also be bound to preset buttons for easy access. There’s even Auracast.One more nice little nugget of info is that Marshall will revamp its companion app in tandem with the launch of the Heston 120 soundbar. This unlocks detailed EQ options, remote control of volume, source and sound modes, as well as room calibration options to get the best sound for your living space.The app is so fleshed out, in fact, that the Heston 120 will not come with a separate remote – all you need is your phone and you’ll be ready to go.Marshall may be launching the Heston 120 as a standalone soundbar, but it has confirmed that later down the line, you’ll be able to snap up the Heston Sub 200 – a separate subwoofer – to really feel that low-end eruption.On top of that, a smaller soundbar, the Heston 60, will be available to those who are working with a little less room. Both will release later in 2025 and we’ll be sure to keep you updated with more details as they come.The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar is available for pre-order now and will go on sale from June 3rd 2025 via Marshall’s own website. It will later become available with select retailers from September 16th 2025.

(Image credit: Future)

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Want to get to grips with the Marshall Heston 120’s competition? Then take a look at our list of the best Dolby Atmos soundbarsWant a flashy new soundbar but working on a tight budget? Fear not – we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best cheap soundbars

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, May 20 (game #1212).

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 #1213) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1213) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1213) - 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 #1213 - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

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

Quordle today (game #1213) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

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

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

Quordle today (game #1213) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1213, are…

NOVELCHOSEDIRTYDONUT

If I had chosen COULD as a start word instead of WOULD I would/could have finished today’s Quordle a little more quickly, but that’s my only gripe.NOVEL was the only word I struggled to find, but with three letters in the correct positions it didn’t take long to uncover it. How was it for you?The Daily Sequence was far more challenging after I took seven tries to get the first word.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1213) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1213, are…

HOWDYSTOCKSILLYSHOWY

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURERQuordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVEQuordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNYQuordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESEQuordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAKQuordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKEQuordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKERQuordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARNQuordle #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, DRAPE

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, May 20 (game #709).

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 #710) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

TRASHPATCHLAPTOPBARREFUSEMUSICCOMPACTDESKTOPCLAMBLOCKTABLETPICTURESCREAMWAFFLE IRONDENYSPRAY

NYT Connections today (game #710) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: No way inGREEN: Computer storageBLUE: Pharmacy productsPURPLE: Type of hinge

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 #710) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: PROHIBIT, AS ENTRY GREEN: FOLDERS ON A MAC BLUE: MEDICINE FORMATS PURPLE: THINGS THAT OPEN LIKE A CLAM

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

NYT Connections today (game #710) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #710, are…

YELLOW: PROHIBIT, AS ENTRY BAR, BLOCK, DENY, REFUSEGREEN: FOLDERS ON A MAC DESKTOP, MUSIC, PICTURES, TRASHBLUE: MEDICINE FORMATS CREAM, PATCH, SPRAY, TABLETPURPLE: THINGS THAT OPEN LIKE A CLAM CLAM, COMPACT, LAPTOP, WAFFLE IRON

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

I found this Connections to be the easiest for a while – possibly because I own a MacBook that opens like a clam, and I'm forever blocking people, and I take a lot of medicine.Including CLAM in the category THINGS THAT OPEN LIKE A CLAM seems like a bit of a cheat and not a very Connections thing to do, but I’m struggling to think what could take its place other than describing very particular brands of backpack that open that way rather than the traditional duffel bag style.Still, it helped me get a purple group very early, which made me feel clever, so zero complaints from me.I’m guessing that some PC users may have found FOLDERS ON A MAC puzzling through pure dint of the fact that they find anything to do with a Mac puzzling.As a user of both operating systems I can reveal that having a “recycle bin” instead of TRASH aside they are both the same. Especially if you are just using them to play Connections on!How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, May 20, game #709)

YELLOW: ACCOUNT BOOK LEDGER, LOG, RECORD, REGISTERGREEN: SEEN IN A BARN BALE, HORSE, PITCHFORK, TROUGHBLUE: DETECTIVES OF KID-LIT BROWN, DREW, HARDY, HOLMESPURPLE: WORDS BEFORE "BED" CANOPY, DAY, MURPHY, WATER

What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, May 20 (game #443).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Three's a crowd

NYT Strands today (game #444) - hint #2 - clue words

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

PATCHDOMERENTCOLTCHIRPTINS

NYT Strands today (game #444) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #444) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 3rd rowLast side: right, 1st row

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

NYT Strands today (game #444) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #444, are…

MATCHPAIRPARTNERSTWINSTWOSOMECOUPLESPANGRAM: DOUBLE TROUBLE

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

Sometimes it can take a while to see the spangram in its entirety. I’d tapped out double, doubles, and doublers before I saw DOUBLE TROUBLE.Today’s theme is, of course, based around the phrase “two’s company, three’s a crowd” but I was uncertain what we were looking for originally – so began by looking for words that would give me a hint.After seeing the word PATCH I looked for other words with the same A-T-C-H ending and got MATCH, quickly followed by PAIR and PARTNERS.Incidentally, I asked Google who the most famous TWINS in the world are and it responded with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. My favorite British twins are Xand and Chris van Tulleken, two celebrity British doctors who I struggle to tell apart and whose names I struggle to spell, but who are both wonderful medical mythbusters and podcasters. Not as famous as the Olsens and unlikely to start a boho chic fashion empire, but equally interesting.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, May 20, game #443)

DESSERTSOUPSALADCHEESEAPPETIZERSENTREESPANGRAM: FINE DINING

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.

GitHub's latest Copilot agent is embedded straight into the platformIt'll boot a secure dev environment and clone your repo before cracking onIf you need to make further changes, just leave a comment in the thread

Announced at Microsoft's annual developer conference, Build 2025, GitHub launched a new and updated version of its Copilot AI assistant designed to streamline the integration of computer-aided coding even further."GitHub Copilot now includes an asynchronous coding agent, embedded directly in GitHub and accessible from VS Code," the company wrote.GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke explained how the agent gets to work in the background when you assign a GitHub issue to Copilot or prompt it in VS Code, adding that it enhanced productivity without putting organizations' security at risk.

GitHub's Copilot agent sits quietly in the background, ready to spring into action

"Having Copilot on your team doesn’t mean weakening your security posture – existing policies like branch protections still apply in exactly the way you’d expect," Dohmke explained.The new tool works by booting a secure dev environment via GitHub Actions, cloning the repo, analyzing the codebase and pushing to a draft pull request. Users can observe session logs for greater visibility, validation and progress, with the Copilot agent promising to help across feature implementation, bug fixes, test extensions, refactoring and documentation improvements.Dohmke also noted that users can give the coding agent access to broader context outside of GitHub by using Model Context Protocol (MCP).The Copilot agent acts much like a human colleague in that it will tag you for review, where you can then leave a further comment asking it to make more changes, which it processes automatically.Emphasizing the enterprise-grade security measures, GitHub noted: "The agent’s internet access is tightly limited to a trusted list of destinations that you can customize." GitHub Actions workflows also need developer approval.Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Pro+ will be the first account types to get access to GitHub's new powerful agent, with each model request the agent makes costing one premium request from June 4, 2025.GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5 Pro each account for one premium request, however more powerful and complex models have considerably higher multipliers. For example, one question using o1 costs 10 premium requests, and GPT-4.5 has a 50x multiplier. On the flip side, Gemini 2.0 Flash has a 0.25x multiplier, meaning four questions cost one premium request.

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Amazon is updating Amazon Music with a a new "AI-powered search experience" that should make it easier to discover music based on the albums and artists you're already looking for. The company says the new beta feature "includes results for many of your favorite artists today," which is to say, not everyone, but it'll continue to expand to include more over time.

A traditional search uses a search term — an artist's name, a song or an album title — and tries to pull up results that are as close to whatever you entered as possible. You'll still be able to make those kinds of searches in Amazon Music, but now under a new "Explore" tab in the iOS Amazon Music app, you'll also be able to see new AI-powered recommendations. These include "curated music collections," an easy jumping-off-point for creating an AI-generated playlists and more.

Amazon

Amazon suggests these results will vary depending on what you search you do. Looking up Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" will show the album, but also "influential artists who influenced his sound" and other musicians he's collaborated with, the company says. A search for BLACKPINK, meanwhile, would highlight the K-pop group's early hits before surfacing solo work from members like Lisa or Jennie. It all sounds like a more flexible and expansive version of the X-Ray feature Amazon includes in Prime Video, which provides things like actors' names, trivia and related movies and TV shows with a button press.

This new search experience was built using Amazon Bedrock, Amazon's cloud service for hosting AI models. It's one of several ways the company is trying to incorporate more AI features into its products. Earlier this year, Amazon started rolling out Alexa+, a version of the popular voice assistant rebuilt around generative AI, to select Echo devices.

AI search in Amazon Music is available today on iOS for a select number of Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the US. If you're not included in this beta, you could be included in future tests.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/amazon-music-gets-ai-powered-search-results-in-new-beta-140055428.html?src=rss

When a company enters a new product category, it might as well swing for the fences. That's exactly what Marshall is doing with its first soundbar. The Heston 120 is a $1,000 Dolby Atmos and DTS-X living room speaker, equipped with 11 drivers to power that spatial audio. Like the company's headphones and speakers, there's plenty of the iconic guitar amplifier aesthetic to go around.

Inside, two subwoofers, two mid-range units, two tweeters and five full-range drivers produce the Heston 120's sound. There are also 11 Class D amplifiers (two 50W and nine 30W) inside and the soundbar has a total power output of 150 watts. Bluetooth (5.3) and Wi-Fi are also onboard, which means AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect are all available. For wired connectivity, there are two HDMI 2.1 ports (1 eARC) for your TV and other home theater gear, plus an RCA input allows you to hook up a turntable or other audio devices.

Marshall

The Heston 120 takes design cues from Marshall's line of guitar amps. This has been the case for the company's headphones, earbuds and speakers, and it will continue with soundbars. To that end, there's a mix of leather and metal, complete with the trademark gold script logo. There are also tactile controls you typically don't see on a soundbar, like the gold knobs and preset buttons akin to those that adorn an amplifier.

This soundbar doesn't come with a subwoofer, but Marshall says a standalone option is on the way. What's more, that Heston Sub 200 and a smaller Heston 60 are both due to arrive "at a later date." Lots of companies are bundling at least a sub with their high-end soundbars, so it's disappointing that Marshall didn't do the same. I look forward to getting a review unit to see if the company's promise of "bass rumbling from below like never before" from the soundbar itself hold true.

The Heston 120 will be available for purchase from Marshall's website on June 3.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-first-marshall-soundbar-is-the-1000-heston-120-with-dolby-atmos-140041873.html?src=rss

Ready to see Google's next big slate of AI announcements? That's precisely what we expect to be unveiled today at Google I/O 2025, the search giant's developer conference that kicks off today at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. Engadget will be covering it in real-time right here, via a liveblog and on-the-ground reporting from our very own Karissa Bell.

Ahead of I/O, Google already gave us some substantive details on the updated look and feel of its mobile operating system at The Android Show last week. Google included some Gemini news there as well: Its AI platform is coming to Wear OS, Android Auto and Google TV, too. But with that Android news out of the way, Google can use today's keynote to stay laser-focused on sharing its advances on the artificial intelligence front. Expect news about how Google is using AI in search to be featured prominently, along with some other surprises, like the possible debut of an AI-powered Pinterest alternative.

The company made it clear during its Android showcase that Android XR, its mixed reality platform, will also be featured during I/O. That could include the mixed reality headset Google and Samsung are collaborating on, or, as teased at the end of The Android Show, smart glasses with Google's Project Astra built-in.

As usual, there will be a developer-centric keynote following the main presentation (4:30PM ET / 1:30PM PT), and while we'll be paying attention to make sure we don't miss out any news there, our liveblog will predominantly focus on the headliner.

You can watch Google's keynote in the embedded livestream above or on the company's YouTube channel, and follow our liveblog embedded below starting at 1PM ET today. Note that the company plans to hold breakout sessions through May 21 on a variety of different topics relevant to developers.

Update, May 20 2025, 9:45AM ET: This story has been updated to include a liveblog of the event.

Update, May 19 2025, 1:01PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on the developer keynote taking place later in the day, as well as tweak wording throughout for accuracy with the new timestamp.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-io-2025-live-updates-on-gemini-android-xr-android-16-updates-and-more-214622870.html?src=rss

Ransomware remains one of the most disruptive and costly cyber threats facing businesses and public sector organizations. In June 2024, a ransomware attack on Synnovis, an NHS laboratory services provider, resulted in £32.7 million in damages – over seven times its annual profits. This incident caused widespread disruption to medical procedures across London hospitals, further reinforcing the real-world consequences of such attacks.This is just one example of the many high-profile incidents that have occurred over the years, despite successful efforts by the UK Government and their allies to use various tools to disrupt and counter the operations of ransomware gangs.One tool under consideration by the UK Government is extending a ban on ransom payments beyond central government to all public sector bodies and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) operators.The aim is clear: reducing the financial incentives that sustain ransomware operations. While disrupting the revenue stream for cybercriminals is a logical step, it raises a critical question: will this make the public sector and CNI more resilient?

The pitfalls of paying ransom

While paying a ransom may seem an appealing way to quickly recover your operations, it is a risky gamble. There is no guarantee that cybercriminals will restore access to systems, refrain from selling your stolen data, or even re-exploit an organization. Furthermore, organizations risk making payments to a sanctioned entity that might have obfuscated their affiliationIf public sector organizations are stripped of the option to pay, they need to be equipped with the resources to defend against and recover from attacks. That might require additional funding to bolster security and resilience programs, timely access to specialist expertise, and the use of real-world threat intelligence to guide decisions. The NHS, for example, presents a particularly complex challenge - could a blanket ban on payments be maintained in cases where a ransomware attack might impact public safety?Additionally, if ransom payments become increasingly banned, they may be excluded from cyber insurance coverage. Organizations could face steeper premiums as insurers adjust for potentially increased recovery costs. Forensic investigations, system rebuilds, and operational downtime might exceed the cost of a ransom demand.

The supply chain dimension of ransomware attacks

Comprehensive supply chain security should be a critical part of an organization's resilience strategy. Even if an organization has strong cybersecurity defenses, it is still vulnerable if its suppliers do not.The government is weighing up whether to extend ransom payment prohibitions to critical suppliers of public sector bodies and CNI. If suppliers fall victim to ransomware, how confident can organizations be that those suppliers can recover quickly without paying?A ransomware attack on a critical supplier can trigger a domino effect. Many businesses lack visibility into these hidden dependencies, only realizing their exposure when a disruption occurs. A single compromised supplier could paralyze multiple organizations downstream, causing widespread outages and significant business challenges.Without clear visibility of supply chain risks, businesses can only prepare for a limited range of scenarios and are unable to identify and prepare for risks resulting from dependencies from suppliers existing at the 4th party level and beyond, i.e. subcontractors and suppliers’ suppliers.

Industry-wide collaboration can increase resilience

Regardless of whether ransom payments get banned, the key to enhancing operational resilience to ransomware attacks lies in proactive, collaborative defense. When businesses share information about suppliers, they may spot risks that a single company might miss on its own. By exchanging timely insights, organizations can detect and respond to emerging threats before they escalate into serious incidents.Mapping out these connections help reveal concentration risks where an attack could cause widespread damage. Organizations may then initiate discussions with targeted suppliers on their ability to recover from a ransomware attack without the ability to pay a ransom.Additionally, by taking a broad view across the industry, this enables organizations to make informed decisions on their overall supplier base. This may include whether to diversify their set of suppliers to reduce concentration risks or introduce additional controls to reduce exposure to ransomware attacks.Organizations can better prepare for additional risk scenarios that are only illuminated after consolidating supply chain information with their peers and seeing a comprehensive and holistic view of their supply chain. While many businesses recognize that a supplier might be the limiting factor in their overall security, it is imperative for them to understand that this potential limiting factor may be beyond their current visibility.Banning ransom payments may remove some of the financial incentives for cybercriminals, but it won’t make ransomware disappear. However, organizations are right to scrutinize their suppliers’ ability to resume operations without paying a ransom. Therefore, the real challenge lies in building organizational resilience – and that requires a shift in mindset.Businesses must move beyond siloed thinking and treat cybersecurity as a shared responsibility. Only by working collaboratively with peers, suppliers, and regulators, and by broadening visibility across the supply chain to identify and address potential risks, can we reduce the impact of ransomware and make it less viable business model for criminals.

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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

Windows 10’s May update carries a bug that could be a painful experienceMicrosoft has rushed out an emergency fix alreadyBe sure to apply that fix before you install the May update – but if you’ve already encountered this bug, there’s still a way out

Windows 10 users need to be aware of a fresh bug in the latest update for the OS, even though it’s a glitch that’s going to be much more prevalent with business laptops rather than consumer machines.That’s because if your Windows 10 PC does encounter the problem, it can be quite a nasty one to have to rescue your system from – and you can avoid any potentially technically traumatic episode by simply installing an emergency fix Microsoft has just rushed out.Windows Latest reported the issue with the May update for Windows 10, which causes an affected PC to fail to install the upgrade, and then run an automatic repair – a process that can happen several times, confusingly.Adding further to the confusion is that if you have BitLocker or Device Encryption turned on (so the data on your drive is encrypted), you’ll end up at the recovery screen. That recovery process asks for your key ID, and if you don’t have that info to hand, then you’re in something of a pickle, shall we say.Let’s cover those all-important caveats first, though, the main one being that to be affected, your PC must be running an Intel vPro processor (10th-gen or newer). This is because the bug relates to Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT for short) which is part of the vPro array of security measures.As the name suggests, vPro is a brand of chips mostly used for professional (business) notebooks, but they can be found in consumer laptops, too. As Microsoft notes: “Consumer devices typically do not use Intel vPro processors and are less likely to be impacted by this issue.”It’s worth checking if your PC has such an Intel vPro chip inside, and if it has, if you haven’t already installed the May update for Windows 10 22H2, whatever you do, push pause on that.Rather than grabbing the May cumulative update, to avoid the bug in question, make sure you install Microsoft’s emergency patch which was deployed yesterday.This is KB5061768, which you can only install manually – it won’t be delivered by Windows Update. Get it from Microsoft’s update catalog here, and download the ‘Windows 10 version 1903 and later’ variant which is correct for your PC. (That’s likely the 64-bit (or x64) version – check your processor type in the Device Specifications section of System > About in the Settings app, but if you don’t have a 64-bit CPU and OS, you want the x86 version, ignore the Arm variant).

(Image credit: MAYA LAB / Shutterstock)

Breaking down the problem – and what to do if you’re already hit, and locked out of your PC

What’s actually happening with this glitch? There’s some problem with the May update for Windows 10 which is causing a process (lsass.exe, a security-related service) to be terminated unexpectedly. This is prompting the automatic repair process to run to try and fix things, though as noted above, your Windows 10 PC may make several repeated failed attempts to install the update before it gives up and rolls back to the previous (April) update (hopefully).That’s messy, but things are worse for those using Device Encryption or BitLocker, who could end up stuck at the recovery screen if they don’t have their recovery key to hand.So, what happens if you’ve missed the boat to install this emergency fix from Microsoft, as you’ve already installed the May update for Windows 10, and now you can’t get into your system (past the recovery screen) to download and apply said fix?Well, in this case, Microsoft advises that to start Windows 10 successfully, you’ll need to turn off Intel Trusted Execution Technology and another setting, Intel VT for Direct I/O, in your PC’s BIOS. However, that apparently requires entering your BitLocker recovery key (again, problematic if you don’t have it on hand).If you’re stuck in this particular dead-end, according to Windows Latest, it’s possible to simply turn off Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) in your BIOS, without touching the other setting (Intel VT), and then you can successfully restart your PC to get back to the desktop.The first step here is to get into the BIOS, and the method to do this varies depending on your PC (check the manuals supplied with your machine). The key to access the BIOS can be one of a number of possibilities, but it’s often F2, F10, or F12, which you press repeatedly as the system just starts to boot up.Once in the BIOS, you need to find the Intel TXT (or Trusted Execution Technology) setting. This is likely in Security > Virtualization, or System Security Settings, or some label pertaining to Security or System Configuration. It’ll most likely be a security-related title, so check carefully through any such option screens looking for Intel TXT. When you locate this, turn it off, but as mentioned, you can leave Intel VT for Direct I/O alone.Now choose the option to save changes to the BIOS and reboot your PC, and you should be back in Windows 10, where you can now install Microsoft’s patch (KB5061768) from the update catalog. Once that’s done, you can go back into your BIOS and switch Intel TXT back on.All things considered, to avoid any potential messing around like this, it’s a far better idea to install the fix before you grab the May cumulative update for Windows 10.This is not the first time Microsoft has visited a bug like this on Windows 10 users (or indeed Windows 11 PCs). It’s also worth remembering that if you’re running Windows 11, and you upgrade to the latest version, 24H2, using a clean install, this applies the Device Encryption feature automatically. Note that an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 won’t do this, only a clean install of Windows 11 24H2. Furthermore, it has to be an installation linked to a Microsoft account, too, as that’s where the encryption recovery key info is saved (which is why you must be very careful about deleting a Microsoft account, as the key vanishes with it).Device Encryption is basically a ‘lite’ version of BitLocker, providing encryption for Windows 11 Home PCs, but it only covers the data on the main system drive.

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It might surprise you, but Memorial Day can be a great time to shop for tech. In years past, we've seen solid Memorial Day deals on all manner of gadgets including many of our favorite tablets, headphones, charging accessories, robot vacuums and more. That's on top of all the seasonal items that usually gets discounted at this time like smart grills and grilling gear, pizza ovens and outdoor tech.If you're on the market for any of those things, now's a good time to shop. And like most seasonal holidays as of late, you don't have to rush to make your purchase. Memorial Day deals are live now, and there's a good chance they'll be available until the holiday weekend has passed. Below, we've collected all of the best Memorial Day tech deals we could find for 2025, and we'll continue to update this post with the latest offers.We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Amazon Prime Day, though. The biggest iteration of the online retailer's annual shopping event typically happens in July, and Amazon confirmed it will be back again this year (although official dates remain unknown). Tech is usually heavily discounted on Prime Day for Prime members, so if you're unsure about a purchase, you could take the chance and wait a little while longer to see if that pair of earbuds you've been eyeing drops even further in price during Prime Day. If not, Memorial Day offers the next best opportunity this time of year to save on gadgets and gear.

Best Memorial Day tech sales: Top deals

Best Memorial Day tech deals

Peacock Premium (one year) for $25 ($55 off): The latest Peacock deal gives you one year of the Premium membership for only $25 when you use the code SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout. This ad-supported tier gives you access to some live sports content and more than 50 always-on channels, as well as the whole library of on-demand TV shows and movies Peacock has to offer. The deal runs through May 30.

ProtonVPN (two years) for $81 (66 percent off): ProtonVPN two-year plans are 66 percent off and down to only $81 right now. You'll save more than $150 on the total cost of the subscription with this deal, and in addition to VPN coverage for all your devices, you also get access to features that let you block ads, malware and other trackers.

Ooni Memorial Day sale — 20 percent off almost everything: Most of Ooni's pizza ovens are on sale for Memorial Day, including the second-gen Karu 2, which is down to $319 from $399. The company's indoor electric pizza oven, the Volt 12, is also included in the sale: you can grab it for $629 instead of the usual $899.

Anker On-the-Go sale — up to 50 percent off for members: It's free to sign up as an Anker member, and then you can get up to half off charging gear during this sale. For example, the Anker Prime 20K 200W power bank normally costs $130, but members can get it for $80 right now. Members will also get free gifts with some purchases, like a free 100W USB-C to C cable when you spend $79 or more.

Best Buy Memorial Day sale: Running through May 26, this sale includes big discounts on laptops, TVs, wearables, appliances and more. Standout deals include the Bose QuietComfort headphones for $229, a 75-inch LG 4K TV for $480 and the GoPro Hero 11 Mini for $130.

Apple iPad Air (M3, 13-inch) for $699 ($100 off): This is the larger version of our top pick for the best iPad for most people. Recently updated with the M3 chipset, the latest iPad Air is extra speedy and powerful, plus it now has a better display than before and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. If you're looking for a big-screen iPad but don't want to pay top dollar, this is the most budget-friendly option available.

MacBook Air (M4, 13-inch) for $899 ($100 off): Our top pick for the best laptop for most people, the latest MacBook Air has an impressively thin design and performance to match thanks to the M4 chipset. It also has excellent battery life and a comfortable keyboard-and-trackpad combo.

Apple Magic Mouse (USB-C) for $68 (14 percent off): Apple's Magic Mouse has a multi-touch surface that lets you swipe and scroll easily, and it connects quickly to your Mac over Bluetooth. This latest models charges up over USB-C, and you can even connect it to the USB-C port on your Mac when it needs more juice.

ThermoWorks RFX starter kit (four-probe) for $349 ($86 off): ThermoWorks' new smart grill probe is accurate and reliable, and the starter kit includes everything you need to get grilling immediately. We gave it a score of 92 in our review and declared that "the company simply does not miss."

Thermacell E-Series rechargeable mosquito repeller for $32 (20 percent off): Thermacell devices have long been some of our favorite outdoor gear, and the E-series is compact but powerful. It'll keep mosquitos away within its 20-foot range and now it comes with a fast-charging dock.

Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds for $45 ($35 off): Our top pick for the best budget wireless earbuds, the Space A40 punch above their weight in almost every way. They have excellent ANC, a good sound profile overall, a comfortable fit, multi-device connectivity and wireless charging support.

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer for $330 ($100 off): This is the original Dyson Supersonic hair dryer that has been super popular since its debut. It includes five attachments for drying and styling, and it's billed as a fast dryer that protects hair from heat damage.

Ring Battery Doorbell for $55 (45 percent off): This 2024 battery-powered Ring video doorbell records 1440p video, sends motion alerts to your phone and supports two-way talk, live view and quick replies. It powers up via USB-C, and it can be installed with or without hardwiring it to your existing doorbell setup.

Blink Mini 2 (two-pack) for $38 (46 percent off): These are some of the best security cameras if you're looking for something cheap and only need basic functionality. They record 1080p video and send motion alerts to your phone, plus they work with Alexa voice commands. Blink Mini 2 cams are wired, but they can be placed outside with the right weather-resistant power adapter.

Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras, 5 camera system for $200 (50 percent off): This pack-up includes give weather-resistant Blink Outdoor 4 cameras plus a Sync Module 2 to connect them all. These are some of our favorite security cameras thanks to their wireless design, accurate and speedy motion alerts and the ability to save footage locally when you use a thumb drive with the Sync Module 2.

Google Nest (wired) security camera for $70 (30 percent off): One of our favorite security cameras, the wired Nest cam has an attractive design and a super simple setup process — both experienced and new security camera owners will be able to get it up and running in minutes. It'll send motion alerts to your phone, and pet/person detection is a standard feature — most other security cams make you pay for that.

Samsung 24-inch Essential monitor S30GD for $100 (23 percent off): This 1080p IPS display has a 100Hz refresh rate and can be adjusted via tilting. Its design is pretty slim with thin bezels, and it connect to your computer via HDMI port.

Lenovo ThinkVision 23.8-inch Monitor T24i-30 for $183 (46 percent off): This FHD IPS panel has a three-side, NearEdgeless bezel design and can be adjusted via tilt, lift, swivel and pivot. In addition to four USB-A ports for connecting peripherals, it also supports a number of display connections including HDMI, DP and VGA.

iRobot Combo Essential robot vacuum for $150 ($125 off): This is a great entry-level robot vacuum that has the added convenience of being a mopping machine, too. It'll suck up dirt, debris and pet hair while it vacuums, and you can use the included water reservoir when you want to mop hard floors.

Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Robot Vacuum and Mop for $700 (30 percent off): A version of one of our favorite robot vacuums, this Shark machine can vacuum and mop floors for you. Its self-emptying base station holds up to 30 days worth of debris, and it has a refill tank for the mopping reservoir as well.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaner for $150 (25 percent off): A top budget pick in our best cordless vacuums guide, this Levoit machine has a single-button start, tackles debris and pet hair with ease and it has a lightweight design that can be easily disassembled for convenient storage.

Tineco Pure ONE S11 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $140 ($60 off with coupon): Our top budget pick among the best cordless vacuums, this Tineco machine offers good suction and a relatively lightweight design at a great price. It also includes the company's iLoop smart sensor, which will auto-adjust suction power as you clean.

Expired deals

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $140 (22 percent off): This is the same, latest Kindle Paperwhite, just customized a bit for kids. You'll get the waterproof ereader in this bundle along with a protective case, a two-year warranty and six months of Amazon Kids+ for free.

Withings Thermo smart thermometer for $86 ($14 off): This FDA cleared, FSA/HSA/HRA eligible thermometer can take no-contact temperature readings in just a few seconds with a simple swipe across the forehead. It uses 16 infrared sensors to take over 4,000 measurements for the most accurate readings, and the built-in LED screen will show you color-coded results.

Anker 321 MagGo battery pack for $22 (15 percent off): This 5K magnetic charging brick can attach magnetically to the backs of compatible smartphones, including iPhones, and includes built-in technology that monitors temperatures for a safer charge. It'll work with MagSafe cases as well.

Ninja Artisan 5-in-1 outdoor electric pizza oven for $230 (23 percent off): This model from Ninja can create 12-inch pies in as little as three minutes, and it also has other cooking modes like bake, proof, broil and warm. You can choose from five unique pizza settings (Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, and Custom) and you can take control of cooking by adjusting the temperature from 90 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Also available at Amazon.

Beats Studio Pro for $170 (51 percent off): The latest version of the Beats Studio Pro have much-improved sound quality along with good voice performance and Transparency mode. While these are wireless headphones, you can also connect a USB-C cable to them to use them as wired headphones, too.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $200 (20 percent off): The new Powerbeats Pro 2 have a comfortable design, improved sound quality and bass performance and heart rate sensors on board that make them good workout companions. However, you'll only be able to get that heart rate data if you have these buds paired to an iOS device.

Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum for $280 (20 percent off): This is a slightly cheaper version of one of our favorite cordless stick vacuums and it comes with a self-emptying base. This Shark stick vacuum has good suction power, can easily convert to a hand vacuum and it docks neatly on its auto-empty base station that traps over 99 percent of dust and allergens.

EcoFlow Delta 2 Max 2048Wh power station for $999 (41 percent off): This is a higher-capacity version of the Delta 2, so it'll last longer and power gadgets and appliances for a longer period of time on a full charge. It also has 15 connectors and you can optionally add on solar panels for easy powering-up on the go.

EcoFlow Delta 2 1024Wh power station with waterproof bag for $479 (31 percent off): This EcoFlow power station provides 15 connectors to power up multiple devices at once — those include six AC outlets, two USB-C ports and four USB-A ports. It's versatile enough to take it camping or on a road trip, but it can also act as a home backup battery, powering a refrigerator, lights, CPAP machines and more.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-memorial-day-tech-sales-from-amazon-apple-dyson-and-others-that-you-can-shop-now-144526756.html?src=rss

Neil Druckmann has confirmed that Naughty Dog is working on a second unannounced gameDruckmann says he is acting in a producer role on the projectHe is currently the creative director on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet alongside game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau and co-writer Clair Carré

Naughty Dog is currently developing a second unannounced game alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.That's according to The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann, who shared in the latest episode of the Press X to Continue podcast (via VGC) that he is acting as a producer on the mystery game while also working on Intergalactic as a director."There’s another game that’s being worked on at Naughty Dog where I’m in more of a producer role and I get to mentor, watch this other team, and give feedback and be the executive in the room," Druckmann said. "I enjoy all those roles, and the fact that I jump from one to the next makes my job very exciting and always feeling fresh. I’m never bored."Druckmann also confirmed who is working on Intergalactic alongside him, including two game directors, Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, as well as co-writer Clair Carré."So there are times when I’m away and they are in charge, and I get to come back and be surprised and enjoy certain choices they made, and other ones I pull my hair out over and we have to change course or argue about it."VGC pointed out that this means Uncharted: The Lost Legacy director Shaun Escayg and The Last of Us: Part 2 director Anthony Newman are currently unattached to any announced title, suggesting they could be working on the new mystery project.Whether that's The Last of Us: Part 3 or something completely new, we'll have to wait and see.Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is set to launch on PS5, but the game reportedly won't launch until after 2026.

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Apple has sent the invites for its in-person WWDC 2025 festivities on Monday, June 9, featuring the keynote session at 1PM ET/10AM PT. Attendees will be able to watch the keynote presentation at the company's Cupertino campus, as well as meet with developers and participating in special activities. For everyone who hasn't received an invite to Apple Park, the keynote will stream online. Developers can also participate in the rest of WWDC's programming online for free.

We've already got pretty high hopes for the keynote announcements, with a lot of potential news expected about the upcoming redesign for iOS 19. We've heard that the operating system could have features including AI-powered battery management and improved public Wi-Fi sign ins, and our own Nathan Ingraham has penned an impassioned plea for a normal letter "a" in the Notes app. The full WWDC conference runs from June 9-13.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apples-wwdc-2025-keynote-will-be-june-9-at-1pm-et-150621700.html?src=rss

Slack is the latest software suite to get a huge US government discountSlack Enterprise Grid will cost 90% less, 70% less for AI add-onAdobe, Google and Microsoft have also offered discounts

Trump's effort to centralize US government IT spending and to cut costs, driven by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), seems to be working, because Slack is just the latest in a growing list of companies looking to win government contracts by offering hefty discounts.Salesforce confirmed it would offer Slack Enterprise Grid to US federal agencies at a significant 90% discount, with Slack AI for Enterprise also on the cards for government customers at a near-70% discount.The US General Services Administration (GSA) confirmed that the deal would be honored until November 30, 2025.

Slack to offer 90% discounts to US federal agencies

"Under OneGov, Salesforce is the latest company to provide price improvements and more are expected this year," the GSA noted.GSA Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum explained: "The private sector is experiencing first hand through the OneGov initiative that President Trump’s GSA is committed to being a good partner as we work together to deliver the best tools for the government at the best value for taxpayers."The government was previously eligible for significant discounts across multiple agencies, however by centralizing software acquisition, the US now has even more purchasing power, unlocking some serious discounts."This unified model reflects GSA’s central role in procurement, maximizing cost savings, reducing redundancy, and streamlining IT acquisition with consistent pricing and terms across the federal government," the GSA added.Part of a wider push under President Trump's March executive order to consolidate procurement, Salesforce-owned Slack is just one of a number of software deals being presented to the US government. Adobe, Google and Microsoft have also offered healthy savings to Trump's government.Apart from saving costs for the American taxpayer, the broader effort also plays into the US's technological transformation, in the hope that proper and effective tools could vastly improve efficiency, streamlining operations and removing operational inefficiencies."Paired with Salesforce’s robust ecosystem, data processes and AI agents, Slack enables government agencies to enhance productivity and deliver citizen-focused outcomes with precision and speed," Salesforce Public Sector President Dave Rey added.

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JPMorgan Chase joins Morgan Stanley and others in supporting BitcoinIt'll show on statements, but JPMorgan won't custody BitcoinCEO Jamie Dimon is still sceptical about cryptocurrency

JPMorgan Chase announced at the company's annual investor day that the banking giant will now allow clients to buy Bitcoin, however there is a catch.CEO Jamie Dimon remains personally skeptical about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies despite the bank's move to support the currencies: "We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients," he said.The leader cited concerns about money laundering, ownership clarity and Bitcoin's use in illicit activities like sex trafficking and terrorism, however he noted that his personal views shouldn't get in the way of what customers want.

JPMorgan Chase to support Bitcoin

“I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke,” Dimon commented, adding: “I defend your right to buy Bitcoin.”In past statements, the leader even called Bitcoin "worthless," noting that he would shut down the crypto industry if he ad the power.Revised FDIC guidance updated in March 2024 now allows institutions to engage in crypto activities without prior approval, marking more freedom compared with prior guidance. JPMorgan Chase's decision to support Bitcoin brings it up to pace with Morgan Stanley and others, but it doesn't bring Bitcoin in line with conventional currency.More broadly, the institutional adoption of digital assets, including but also extending beyond cryptocurrencies, is seen as inevitable, and to disregard customers' interests could see companies risk being left behind. However risks relating to unregulated industries remain a major concern.Under President Donald Trump's administration, US regulators have begun easing restrictions on crypto. However highly regulated industries have found it challenging to get on board with crypto quickly.Bitcoin is currently worth over $105,000, slightly below its all-time high but considerably higher than its 2022 dip when it approached around $16,000.

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The 2025 Europa League Final is here - Tottenham face off against Man Utd in all English final as both teams look to put behind dreadful domestic campaigns.The final will not only see one team lift the trophy, but also secure Champions League football for 2025-26 - a sweet reward for UEFA's second-tier competition.FREE coverage has been provided thanks to TNT Sports via Discovery Plus in the UK and Ireland.Ready to catch all the action? We'll keep you up-to-date with all the latest from Bilbao including highlights, replays and live updates.

(Image credit: Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Tottenham and Man Utd face off tomorrow night in one of the most highly anticipated Europa League Final's in many a year.The finalists have only received 15,000 tickets, but if you can't make it to Bilbao you can keep up with the action across a multitude of tv channels and streams.TNT Sports have made it FREE via Discovery Plus in the UK and Ireland. While those in the US can keep up with the action using Paramount Plus.

Ange Postecgolou denies being a 'clown'.The Australian has addressed the press 24 hours out from their crunch clash against Ruben Amorim's side tomorrow.We'll show you how to catch all the action wherever you are right here.

Ange Postecgolou denies being a 'clown'.The Australian has addressed the press 24 hours out from their crunch clash against Ruben Amorim's side tomorrow.We'll show you how to catch all the action wherever you are right here.

Hideo Kojima has said he'd like to make a film after Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Physint are completeHe says Physint is at least five or six years away from being releasedThe game director is also working on a horror game for Microsoft called oD

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach director Hideo Kojima has said that his next game, Physint, is still at least five to six years away from release.In a new interview with French magazine Le Film Français(via VGC), ahead of the launch of Death Stranding 2, Kojima was asked whether he would ever consider directing a film in the future.The game director said he would, and that he "received many offers after leaving Konami."Besides the Death Stranding sequel, Kojima is currently working on his action espionage game Physint, which he said will take another five to six years to finish before he can consider moving into filmmaking.“Besides Death Stranding 2, there is Physint in development," Kojima said. "That will take me another five or six years. Maybe after that, I could finally decide to tackle a film. I grew up with cinema. Directing would be a kind of homage to it. Besides, I’m getting older, and I would prefer to do it while still young.”Phyisint is a brand new "original IP" that was announced during the PlayStation State of Play in January 2024 and will be Kojima Productions' third major game.Kojima is also developing OD, his horror project for Microsoft that was revealed back in 2023. The director didn't mention anything new about OD during his interview, but it's said to be a "totally new style of game" being developed alongside Xbox Game Studios and will star actors Sophia Lillis, Udo Kier, and Hunter Schaffer.For now, Kojima fans can look forward to Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which is set to launch on June 26, 2025, for PS5.

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Apple's next WWDC Keynote is official, with Apple CEO Tim Cook set to take the stage at Apple Park at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM UK on June 9, 2025.Invites to the event, which will cover all of Apple's major platforms and may include some surprises, went out on May 20 (yes, on Google I/O keynote day 🤦‍♂️). TechRadar received invites, and we'll cover it from the ground.What, though, should you expect from one of Apple's biggest events of the year? While product launches are unusual and unexpected, but not unheard of, at the event, this is the keynote that sets the tone for Apple's entire year. In particular, by showing us what the next version of iOS will look like, it sets the stage for the release of the iPhone 17 lineup, which most expect to happen in September.WWDC 2025 will also mark the first anniversary of the introduction of Apple Intelligence. Considering that Apple only managed to deliver a portion of what was promised in June 2024, it's unclear how Apple will approach this AI conundrum.There are numerous reports of turmoil behind the scenes as Apple reshuffles its Apple Intelligence team and tries to revive efforts to deliver a transformed Siri that can compete with Gemini and ChatGPT.Some believe Apple won't mention Siri, but will focus on Apple Intelligence as it is, and mention some feature enhancements. It's unlikely they will promise any eye-opening generative features, especially after over-promising a year ago.Let's take a look at what we do expect Tim Cook and company to reveal.

iOS 19

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Even though Apple might not commit at WWDC 2025 to an all-new Siri, we might get a hint at what's coming. After all, how can Apple deliver iOS 19 without a fresh Apple Intelligence-filled Siri experience?Expect Apple to walk us through a long list of iOS 19 design changes, including a new Camera app and more powerful and fresh-looking widgets.The biggest reveal might be a new home screen that aligns a bit more with how the Vision Pro looks. Why Apple would use its faltering mixed reality headset platform as a base look is a conundrum to be solved on June 9.There may be numerous communication updates, such end-to-end RCS messaging encryption and the ability to sync public Wi-Fi registrations across devices.

iPadOS 19

(Image credit: Future)

It'll be fascinating to hear how Apple execs explain what we assume will be a deeper merge between the functionality of iPadOS and macOS in iPadOS 19.Apple might do this because there has long been a demand to make the iPad match Macs in desktop capabilities. Yes, we know it's a tablet, but many are now using iPads with a physical keyboard and treating them like lightweight laptops. However, the inability to support more than, say, four windows open at once and interface customization that matches a Mac is a frustration.The messaging here, though, will be critical. Apple has to inspire new iPad converts while satisfying and not scaring away iPad stalwarts who've been using the tablet since its inception in 2010.

macOS 16

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Most expect Apple Software Lead Craig Federighi to unveil a major macOS redesign, one that, as with iOS 19, is expected to borrow from the Vision Pro interface. While the gaze and gesture-based interface of the headset is well-regarded, it's hard to understand exactly how this will work on Mac. Certainly, Federighi will have some exciting demos to share.There is a thought that this could be the moment Apple finally unveils a touch-friendly macOS. After all, we do expect Apple to push iPadOS and macOS closer together (see above).Other areas of focus for the macOS 16 portion of the keynote are said to be better Wi-Fi management, new battery controls, Google Gemini integration, and, of course, the reveal of the all-important name. We're currently on 'Sequoia'.

watchOS 12

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

This could be an exciting moment for Apple Watch fans with watchOS 12 possibly delivering blood pressure measurement support and a new AI health coach (no word on if it'll be an "Apple Intelligence Health Coach" or just "AI Health Coach").Health and Fitness Editor Matt Evans added some color, "Blood pressure via LED remains the holy grail of watches, but the Whoop MG gets around this by using a cuff to measure BP as a baseline, then estimates fluctuations based on other vital signs like heart health."Evans also noted that Apple Intelligence for control of basic functions may be coming to Apple Watch. Again, this is unlikely to be a major update of Apple Intelligence functionality but rather a port of what you can do in iOS, but with a wearable flavor.

tvOS and AirPods

(Image credit: Future)

I asked Matt Bolton, our Managing Editor, Entertainment, about what might be announced for the next version of tvOS, the platform running inside your Apple TV streaming box. He told me we should expect some intelligence in tvOS and AirPods."In tvOS, you'll probably be able to ask for movies and shows more organically, even if you don’t know the name – or ask for recommendations based on what you like. This is really common in other AI-touting smart streaming devices."On AirPods, Bolton expects "AI-based live translation and generally a smarter Siri conversationalist," depending on how far Apple Intelligence goes in Siri.That's what's most likely to happen. What Bolton is hoping is announced is "Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast support built into iOS, with matching AirPods support. This would allow higher-quality wireless music quality and better accessibility."

One more thing

When it comes to an Apple keynote, never rule out a surprise. In the past, we've gotten glimpses of a new Mac Pro, new MacBooks, and the Vision Pro.This year, new Macs are a possibility, as is mixed reality and AR headgear, like a Vision Pro Lite and Apple Glasses, respectively.There's also the tiniest chance that Tim Cook could tease Apple's first folding iPhone or even the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.Let's face it, Apple needs some razzle-dazzle this year to distract from what's been a somewhat bumpy 12-month ride.Stick with TechRadar.com for all the latest news from the developer event.

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Amazon will now deliver a bunch of new products via drone, as mentioned in a company blog post. This includes stuff like smartphones, video doorbells and food thermometers. This is thanks to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) giving approval to several new item categories.

Newly-available items include Apple iPhones, AirTags and AirPods, in addition to Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Ring doorbells and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers. All told, customers can now choose from more than 60,000 items for drone delivery.

Exciting update in drone delivery from Amazon: Prime Air is now expanding its selection to include popular electronics with lithium-ion batteries, like phones, AirTags, and even grilling thermometers.Customers who are in eligible areas for drone delivery in Texas and Arizona… pic.twitter.com/wQSpUTE4tu— Amazon (@amazon) May 20, 2025

These deliveries will typically arrive within an hour, assuming the package is under five pounds and the customer lives in a drone service area. Unfortunately, these areas are extremely limited. As of this writing, Amazon only offers drone deliveries to parts of Texas and Arizona. The company plans on expanding to the UK and Italy in the near future.

Weather also plays a part when determining the availability of a drone delivery. Amazon won't offer the service “during heavy winds, or during heavy rain,” the company wrote in another blog post. It isn't being overly cautious here. The drones can get into serious trouble when trying to navigate foul weather, as shown by recent crashes that forced the company to put the platform on hold for a while.

Last year, the FAA gave Amazon permission for its drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS). This has allowed the company to use its newest MK30 model to make deliveries within an hour.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/amazon-drones-can-now-deliver-smartphones-airtags-and-more-164413100.html?src=rss