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Nintendo Switch 2 dev kits don't have 4K output according to a new reportThe new rumor suggests the Switch 2 won't feature 4K output either, but contradicts earlier rumors that it will in docked modeThe Nintendo Switch 2 Direct tomorrow is expected to reveal new hardware details

A new Nintendo Switch 2 rumor suggests that the console might not feature 4K output at launch if reports of the capabilities of the dev kits are anything to go by.This comes from the latest episode of the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, where Tom Henderson shared some insight on the upcoming Switch console, saying that one source at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) told him that some dev kits don't offer 4K output."I heard this from one developer at GDC and also heard it separately in an email... but the dev kits, or some of the dev kits, don’t have a 4K output," Henderson said."So that tells me, does it mean that the Nintendo Switch 2 will also not have a 4K output when it's released?"It's important to note that although dev kits may not have this feature, it doesn't necessarily mean the final version of the Switch 2 won't, since the system won't offer the same specs as an unfinished product.

Henderson also stressed that this isn't confirmed and that fans should take this rumor with a pinch of salt, considering earlier reports claimed that the console will support 4K when in docked mode and 1080p resolution during handheld.The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase is scheduled to air tomorrow April 2, so we should get all our answers during the broadcast. The long-awaited event is also expected to offer fans a new look at the hardware, along with a final release date, pre-order, and pricing details.It's also speculated that we'll see new footage of the new Mario Kart game running on the console, as well as potential unannounced software, like the rumored Mario Kart Odyssey sequel or a new The Legend of Zelda game.We're covering the Switch 2 Direct build-up right here!

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Black Ops 6 Season 3 launches Wednesday, April 2, adding new maps, some new weapons, as well as a set of iconic tie-in skins (this one's for Kevin Smith fans). This means that next week, players will have a whole host of new features to check out, whether that's in Zombies, Warzone, or core Multiplayer.Even without extra Season Three, we're still having a blast with Black Ops 6, landing it a place on our list of the best FPS games to play in 2025. This upcoming refresh sees the return of Verdansk to Warzone, and it's looking very close to the original indeed.Here's what we know about Black Ops Season 3 so far, including a closer look at Wednesday's confirmed release time, as well as what's set to be added. It's worth noting that times do vary depending on your time zone, so be sure to check out the information below for when Season 3 launches in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan.Update (April 1, 2025): Added the news of the fresh zombies enemies coming to the game alongside tomorrow's update, as well as some info on new Gobblegums. We can't wait to unlock the Die Pitched Gobblegum, which gives all enemies high-pitched voices for three minutes!

Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time in your time zone

(Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time is April 2 at 9AM PST / 12PM EST / 5PM GMT. Here are some more specifics related to the release schedule per your timezone:

9AM PST: West Coast (US)12PM EST: East Coast (US)5PM BST: United Kingdom (UK)6PM CET: Europe2AM JST (Friday, February 21): Japan4AM AEDT: (Friday, February 21): Australia

Black Ops 6 Season 3 - what's being added?

(Image credit: Activision)

Activision has now announced what'll be added to Black Ops 6 as part of Season 3. This includes new maps, weapons, and modes, as well as big updates to Warzone. Here's a brief summary of what's being added:

Maps: Barrage (6v6), Nomad (6v6, 2v2), Firing Range (6v6)Weapons: CR-56 AMAX Assault Rifle, HDR Sniper Rifle, Nail Gun Special Weapon, Kali Sticks (Melee)Attachments: Monolithic Suppressor, SWAT 5.56 Grau Conversion, C9 10MM Auto 30-Round MagsModes: Sharpshooter, DemolitionPerk: Close Shave - Automatically use your Dedicated Melee attack when you perform a weapon butt attack. Simply tap the Melee button to attack. Like the old daysBundle: Jay & Silent Bob, Digital Dreamin', United Force Tracer PackWarzone: Return of Verdansk, back to basics gameplay tweaks. More in this blog.Zombies: Shattered Veil map, Double Tap Perk, Ray Gun Mark II & Wunderwaffle DG - 2 Wonder Weapons. Elder Disciple and Toxic Zombie enemies. New Gobblegums.Events: Black Ops TributeOperators: Hudson, Mace, R0-Z3

For a full breakdown of Black Ops 6 Season 3, visit the Call of Duty blog. You'll be able to see the specifics on the new maps and modes that'll arrive soon.

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If you ever needed a definitive example of how money doesn’t necessarily buy you success or taste, take a look at Amazon’s studio arm. The mega-retailer’s production division, now known as Amazon-MGM, has been making movies for more than a decade. Very few of the entries in its lineup have been world-beaters, but that hasn’t deterred the outfit from persisting. The New York Times is today reporting that under its new head, Courtney Valenti, Amazon’s movie division has plans to own the in-person cinema experience.

Amazon is apparently gearing up to release “up to 14 big, broad commercial films a year to theaters nationwide and around the world.” Each film would spend 45 days in the theaters before heading to pay-per-view and then to Prime Video at some point after. The move comes in the face of shrinking box office receipts and fewer people heading to the cinema in general. Not to mention it’s also planning to produce an equal number of films that’ll go direct to Prime, which seems counter-intuitive given the desire to push people toward theaters.

That doesn’t recognize the shift in viewing habits, especially among younger people, who’d much rather sit and watch YouTube for hours at a time. Or that the box office took a hit because of COVID-19 that it never really bounced back from. Or that a lot of people would rather wait for a film to become available “for free” on a service they already pay for.

It also doesn’t take into account the fact cinemas are becoming increasingly unaffordable, and not that nice a place to sit for multiple hours. Last year, the cinema industry said it would spend $2.2 billion renovating their facilities to lure wary customers back. The planned additions included renovations for chairs and carpets, as well as the construction of ziplines and pickleball courts. Nowhere on the list was mentioned “make cinema tickets cheaper” or “don’t make viewers sit through half an hour of TV adverts before the trailers.”

At the risk of sounding obvious, that’s one hell of a lot of material for one company to put out in a year. Especially when so many competitors with better track records are putting out far fewer films and seeing success. On paper, 14 movies a year feels like the sort of strategy you could last get away with in the 1980s. After all, people had fewer options, cinemas were busier and studios could rely on the triple-whammy of the box office, rental and VHS markets.

It doesn’t help Amazon isn’t pledging to make quality movies, just lots of them, which suggests a mindset that doesn’t value scarcity. After all, there are many instances of things made and sold in small, limited quantities that garner far more attention than something mass-produced. Think about how hard it is for one of those latter-day Marvel movies to stick in the consciousness when you know there’ll be another one along in a month or two.

It calls to mind Amazon’s battles with the Broccolis, until recently the custodians of the James Bond franchise. Let’s not overthink this, they are just silly spy movies — but ones made with a level of craft and attention rarely seen in the modern era. The fact there can be a multi year gap between entries in the series means each film gets far more attention. That was in conflict with Amazon’s apparent desire to use the Bond name to push out a thousand different streaming series, game shows and movies on a regular basis.

And, at the risk of sounding uncharitable, it’s not as if Amazon’s movie slate has been a hit parade thus far. Many of the studios’ buzzier hits were picked up at film festivals rather than coming from inside, while its homegrown fare has floundered. That’s not to say its rivals are doing any better on this front — just read the reviews of The Electric State to show you how badly Netflix is throwing mad money at C+-tier projects.

I often wonder if people look at the success of Disney’s big Marvel tentpoles and assume that it’s easy to replicate. A film like Avengers: Endgame was the payoff to a decade-long plan built from the ground-up on the backs of less successful films. Across 2024, Disney put 15 films into cinemas, but even a mega-behemoth like Disney does it across its seven or eight different divisions.

In terms of attractive pitches, 14 films a year from the people who spent more than $200 million on Red One isn’t particularly compelling. Amazon’s going to have to give people a reason to get out to the theaters, but that’s going to be a challenge if the emphasis is on putting more raw material into the pipeline rather than making anything halfway considered or compelling.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/amazons-new-cinema-plan-is-perfect-for-the-80s-150653674.html?src=rss

Apple’s Find My feature has finally been enabled in South Korea, according to a company announcement translated by Apple Insider. This comes after years of public demand in which the finding network tool was absent from the country. The omission was especially odd when you consider that Apple sold AirTags throughout the region. Without Find My, they are basically just puck-shaped paperweights.

The company never explicitly stated why it limited access to Find My in South Korea, but it appeared to be related to local laws that could have allowed the government access to the location data. The service first appeared during a beta test of iOS 18.4, but the official software update makes it available to everyone in the country. Find My has long been functional in South Korea’s outlying territories like Baengnyeongdo and Ulleungdo.

"Find My is an important tool that allows users to grasp the location of the most precious things to them, such as friends, family and personal items, and I am very happy to be able to introduce this function to Korea," said David Dorn, senior director of Apple's service products, in a statement on the company's local website.

The modern iteration of Find My launched in the US in 2019 as part of iOS 13. However, the tool actually dates back to a service called Find My iPhone that started in 2010. Apple recently expanded functionality to let users share the location of a lost item with other people on the network. This is helpful when negotiating the return of a lost item with a stranger.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-find-my-has-finally-launched-in-south-korea-151437244.html?src=rss

Researchers found an unprotected database containing sensitive customer dataIt belongs to APIsec, a company specializing in API security testingAffected customers were allegedly notified

APIsec, a company specializing in proactive, automated, and continuous API security testing, may have inadvertently leaked sensitive customer data online, experts have said.The discovery was first made by cybersecurity researchers UpGuard, and later confirmed by the company itself.The data was being stored in an internet-connected database that wasn’t password-protected, and has apparently remained like that for “several” days before being locked down as soon as UpGuard notified APIsec.

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Notifying affected customers

Since the company tracks its clients’ APIs for security weaknesses, most of the data was generated by its own products.Some of the data dated back to 2018, and included both customer employees and users’ names, email addresses, as well as API security posture information. Since this data included things like whether or not 2FA was activated, it is the type of information that can prove quite useful for a threat actor.APIsec reportedly first tried to downplay the importance of the incident, saying the database held “test data”, that it wasn’t the company’s production database, and that it didn’t hold customer data, but changed its stance when presented with information suggesting otherwise.Apparently, UpGuard found evidence that the database also held data from real-world corporate customers, including names and emails, and scan results.When TechCrunch shared the information with APIsec, it later said that it notified customers whose personal information was found in the data. However, it didn’t want to say how many people were affected, nor did it want to share a copy of the breach notification letter.Unprotected databases remain one of the key causes of sensitive data leaks. Many organizations use the cloud to host information about their employees, clients, or customers, forgetting the fact that cloud hosting works on a shared responsibility model.

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Deep Research is coming to the free tier of ChatGPT very soonThe Plus tier still offers considerable advantages over the free tierChatGPT Plus has much higher usage limits and features

ChatGPT’s Deep Research has proved to be incredibly popular. It acts like a team of researchers who head off online and research a complex subject for you before returning with a full report, including sources, on the subject you’ve asked it to investigate.For example, using Deep Research you could ask ChatGPT to compile a report on how the gaming industry has changed in the last three years and it would get back to you with a full report complete with data tables and sources.Deep Research falls under the category of an AI agent because it can act independently. You effectively give it a task and off it goes to research it for you before using its AI to apply reasoning before coming to conclusions.

From Pro to Plus

Deep Research started off on the Pro tier of ChatGPT, which costs a whopping $200 (£165 /AU$325) a month, but very quickly moved to the more reasonable $20 (£16 / AU$30) Plus tier, where I’ve been enjoying it for the last few weeks. It was always the plan that Deep Reasoning would move to the free tier of ChatGPT eventually, but it looks like this may happen sooner than later.X user Tibor Blaho recently noted, in a discussion about Deep Research with two of OpenAI's Technical Staff, that they revealed it was coming to the free tier very soon.

"We are launching [ChatGPT Deep Research] to free very soon!" https://t.co/xFm3MehVhF pic.twitter.com/LxfkJgj9lTMarch 29, 2025

While this is obviously great news for free tier users, it brings into question whether the Plus tier of ChatGPT is still worth paying for. I think it is, and I’ll give you a few reasons why:

1. Fewer limitations

Sure, Deep Research may be coming to the free tier of ChatGPT very soon, but I bet you it’s limited to just a small sample of uses a day.If you’ve been following ChatGPT’s recent server meltdown caused by the release of its native image generation abilities you’ll be aware that ChatGPT has limited its image generation allowances to just three images on the free tier.Being able to generate only three images a day is hopelessly restrictive, and while they may up the limit in the future, I would expect the release of Deep Research into the wild to elicit a similarly huge response from the public, causing yet another server meltdown and tough restrictions being imposed to the free tier.Basically, everything is limited in the free tier, including things like how many files you can upload to ChatGPT a day. On the Plus account, you don’t need to worry about that. While there are still some limits, you rarely ever get close to them.

2. More LLMs

Having a Plus account also comes with a whole range of benefits, but the main one is access to more LLMs. On the Plus tier, you can (currently) access ChatGPT 4o, 4o-mini, 4, 4o with scheduled tasks, 4.5, o1, o3-mini and o3. That’s a lot of choice! On the free tier, you only have access to ChatGPT 4o-mini, with some very limited access to 4o and o3-mini.You’ll find that these different LLMs are more useful when it comes to doing complex tasks that require more reasoning, not to mention that you get a chance to play around with the research preview of OpenAI’s very latest model, ChatGPT-4.5

Sora AI video generation (Image credit: Future)

3. Sora video generation

On a Plus account, you get limited access to Sora AI video generation. Sora is great, but to really use it properly and create clips that don’t have a watermark on you need a Pro account, (provided you are in the US) you can at least experiment with it in the Plus account, which is great fun.

Using ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Rokas Tenys)

4. You can talk to ChatGPT and have it talk back

Advanced Voice mode is one of the best ChatGPT features, and you need a Plus account to access it for more than 15 minutes a month. 15 minutes is really just a preview of the feature, and you'll find you run out of time before you've really had a chance to explore.There are a range of different voices available for you to choose from, and it makes ChatGPT feel more personal and intimate.You can access Advanced Voice mode from the ChatGPT website or its various apps, including mobile, and for many people, it’s their preferred way of using ChatGPT.

5. All the extras

Those are the main benefits to using ChatGPT Plus, but of course you get everything that you get in the free tier as well, including ChatGPT Canvas and ChatGPT search.While ChatGPT search is available in both the free and Plus accounts, there are some other features that you only get with Plus like projects, which is a way to group files and chats together, tasks, which can be scheduled for another time, and the ability to create custom GPTs, so you can create exactly the sort of chatbot you want for a specific task.All in all, there are more than enough good reasons to keep your ChatGPT Plus subscription, even if Deep Research becomes available on the free tier. I think you'd find that going back to the free tier from the joys of a Plus subscription would be a deeply frustrating experience.

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Whether you’re a true cord-cutter or you just want to watch the next season of Stranger Things when it (eventually? maybe?) drops, everyone’s on the lookout for streaming deals nowadays. Plenty have chosen VOD and live TV streaming services over traditional cable in recent years, but the savings that choice got you just a few years ago have somewhat evaporated now. Companies like Netflix, Disney, Max and others have been consistently raising prices to the point where you may question if streaming is even worth it anymore.

We at Engadget still think so, for many reasons, but you can (and should) be smart with your money at the same time. Streaming deals are an option, even if they don’t come around with the same regularity as discounts on AirPods do. If you’re looking to save money and still stream all of the content you want, Engadget can help by laying out the best streaming deals you can get right now, how you can save with bundles and everything you should know before paying for yet another streaming service.

Best streaming deals

True streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, they’ll pop up during the Black Friday shopping period. On occasion, we’ll see them sparingly throughout the year and they usually take the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, true streaming deals are typically on the ad-supported versions of a service, but once in a while you’ll find a unicorn of a deal on a tier that has ad-free viewing.

If you’re able to wait for a deal before subscribing to a streaming service, we recommend doing so. You’ll save money upfront and in the long run, and you also have the option to cancel your subscription before the price goes back up to the normal rate. Maybe you find you like the service so much that you’re fine paying full price for it — that’s the ideal situation. But if you’re not compelled to keep that app on rotation in your smart TV, most streaming services make it easy for you to cancel at any time. With that said, these are the best streaming deals you can snag right now.

Starz (one year) for $24 ($46 off): Starz's latest offer gives you one year of access for only $24, which shakes out to just $2 per month. This represents a 66-percent discount off the standard annual plan. This gives you access to all Starz content, including originals like Power Book III: Raising Kanan and movies like Fast X. If you'd prefer less of a commitment, you can get three months of access for only $9.

Paramount+ student discount - 50 percent off any plan: For March Madness, students can get half off any Paramount+ plan through April 8. To get the discount, scroll to the bottom of the Paramount+ homepage and click "Are you a student?" CBS shares broadcast rights with Warner Bros. Discovery this year for the men's tournament, so you'll be able to catch games on Paramount+ if you have the subscription tier that includes Showtime.

DirecTV Sports Pack - first month free ($15 off): When you sign up for an Entertainment, Choice or Ultimate package, you can get the first month of the DirecTV Sports Pack for free. This gives you access to NFL Network and NFL Red Zone, MLB Network, CBS Sports Network and TUDN and more.

Sling TV + MLB.TV for $30 off: New subscribers can get $30 off their first month of Sling TV when they sign up and add MLB.TV to their package. The offer applies to Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Sling Orange & Blue, and MLB.TV gives you access to MLB Network along with access to all out-of-market games during the regular season. This offer runs through May 31.

Sling Orange for $23/month for the first month (50 percent off): New customers can get Sling Orange or Sling Blue for half off the usual price for the first month, bringing the final prices to $23/month and $25.50/month, respectively. Orange is likely best for sports fans, with eight exclusive sports and family channels, while Blue includes 19 exclusive news and entertainment channels. You can get both Orange and Blue access also for half off for one month, or $33 total.

Fubo Essential for $55/month for the first month ($30 off): Fubo has introductory discounts on most of its packages, but Essential may be the best for most people. It offers access to 215 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams. Note that regional sports content is not included here; you’ll have to go up to Pro or Elite plans for that.

YouTube TV for $70/month for the first six months ($78 off): New subscribers can save a total of $78 when they sign up for YouTube TV’s base plan, which includes access to over 100 channels, unlimited DVR space and six household accounts with the ability to stream on three devices at once.

Spotify student discount - Premium + Hulu with ads for $6/month (72 percent off): Spotify’s student offer continues to be one of the best around, giving you access to the Premium tier of the music streamer and Hulu’s ad-supported plan for only $6 monthly. Purchased separately, you’d pay $22 per month for both of the services. Plus, the first month is free when you sign up.

Hulu student discount - subscribe for $2/month (75 percent off): Those with a valid student ID can get Hulu’s ad-supported tier for 75 percent off the typical rate. They’ll keep the same sale price for as long as they’re a student as well.

Max student discount - subscribe for $5/month (50 percent off): Max offers their ad-supported tier to students for half off the usual rate. You’ll just have to verify that you’re a student through Unidays, and make note that this offer is only good for up to 12 months of service.

Streaming bundle discounts

There’s more consolidation happening now than ever before in the streaming space, and that means there are more streaming bundle options. These bundles offer you access to more content with one subscription price, but those prices are typically higher than paying for a single service by itself (obviously). It may be tempting to just get the bundle, but if only one of those services in the bundle speaks to you, you’ll spend less overall by just paying for the single service.

Speaking of a deep love for a single streaming service: if all of your favorite shows are on Peacock or the latest releases on Max consistently bring you joy, consider paying for one year upfront. Subscribing with an annual plan usually saves you money in the long term over paying on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, not all streaming services (looking at you, Netflix) have an annual subscription option. Here are some of the best streaming bundles you can get right now.

Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle with ads for $17/month: Ad-supported Max is included here, along with full, ad-supported access to Disney+ and Hulu. You’ll save 43 percent with this bundle, as opposed to paying for all three services individually.

Sling TV + Max starting at $53/month: Sling TV and Max have partnered on a discount that gives new subscribers 50 percent off their first month of Sling TV, plus $5 off monthly when you subscribe to the Sling TV + Max bundle. The standard price for the Sling Blue + Max duo is roughly $58/month, so you'll get a monthly discount of $5 off that. In addition, for the first month only, you'll get half off the price of the bundle. The promotion also applies to the Sling Orange & Blue + Max package, which has a standard price of $73/month.

Paramount+ with Showtime for $13/month or $120/year: This includes everything in Paramount+’s Essential plan, except the ads, and also provides access to Showtime content, live CBS streams and download features.

Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $96/month: This streaming bundle amalgamation is a bit confusing but it does offer a lot: you get live TV streaming via Hulu’s service plus access to the following VOD services: Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+. Out of those three, only ESPN+ will have ads.

Disney+ and Hulu Duo Premium for $20/month: This bundle removes the ads from both Disney+ and Hulu (with the exception of select live and linear content) and allows you to download content for offline viewing. You’ll save 43 percent with this bundle, as opposed to paying for both ad-free tiers individually.

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Trio Basic for $17/month: You get full access to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ content with this package, albeit with ads across the board. This bundle price is 47 percent off the total price of all three separate subscriptions.

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Trio Premium for $27/month: Similarly to the Duo bundles, the Premium version of the Trio removes ads from most content in Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, and you can download content for offline viewing. This price represents a 43-percent savings when compared to paying for all three ad-free tiers separately.

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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-streaming-service-deals-133028980.html?src=rss

Android users have noticed a test that autoplays the first video in your feed when you open the YouTube app Users have expressed their negative feelings online, with some sharing tips and workarounds for avoiding this This is another of YouTube's recent experimental features, and follows the platform's 'recommended videos' list in the app's playback queue

Usually, when YouTube implements new experimental features, you can spot them from a mile away. However, the video platform has been quite discreet and sneaky with its latest test, and some users have noticed that it has been automatically playing the first video in their feed as they open the Android version of the app.Over the past month or so, several Android users have reported their experiences with this strange autoplay function, and though most believed it to be a bug at first, it turns out that it’s intentional on YouTube’s part. To say people are frustrated is an understatement, and they haven’t shied away from expressing their feelings in countless Reddit threads.

Video plays when I open App from r/youtube

"I opened my YouTube app on my Samsung phone today, and it immediately started playing a video. I checked that autoplay was disabled and restarted the app, and that didn't fix anything," said one user on Reddit, which attracted a roster of replies from fellow Android users with the same issue.There’s an existing YouTube feature that you can enable to automatically play videos one after the other, and this can easily be turned off in your settings, but one of the most annoying parts of YouTube’s mystery autoplay test is that it’s not as simple to avoid. Luckily, users who have been experiencing this issue have found a way to stop this by uninstalling the app’s latest update, or by clearing their data and cache.

YouTube is in an era of experimentation

It’s an interesting time for YouTube, which seems to be carrying out a new test every week. Autoplaying videos are just one of a cluster of experiments that could result in new features for the app, for better or worse.Other recent tests point to the possible arrival of new features for YouTube Premium subscribers, including a function that allows you to control audio quality in videos, as well as a new time-saving perk that shows you recommended content directly in your playback queue. YouTube has also been testing a fix for subscriber notifications, and while this could be a blessing for users, it could be a big risk for creators.

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Wild concept will draw crowds at the Seoul Mobility ShowAggressive bodywork and hydraulic handbrake signal sporting intentCould this be a more affordable alternative to the Renault 5 Turbo 3E?

Hyundai has unveiled its latest, attention-grabbing concept car and it’s so wild, we had to check in with a PR representative to make sure it wasn’t some sort of April Fool’s gag.Taking plenty of inspiration from retro video games, Insteroid is, as the name suggests, a diminutive Inster on, erm, steroids. But rather than beef it up with a raised ride height and a roof rack like the Cross variant did, Insteroid takes things in an altogether more sporting and thrill-seeking direction.The bodywork, for example, shares elements with the equally wild, hydrogen-powered N Vision 74, with an extra-wide stance, “track-optimized” wheels and an impressive rear wing you could happily eat a bucket of Korean fried chicken from when parked up at the local car meet.

Hyundai Insteroid EV concept car pumping out the beats pic.twitter.com/iRdeJhzKoSApril 1, 2025

Inside, it’s an interesting mix of racy bucket seats, a roll cage and a track-inspired steering wheel and adjustable column. Hyundai says every element of the stripped-out cockpit is fully adjustable and images show that the retro-futuristic instrument cluster, which looks like it has been designed by Teenage Engineering, can be adapted and adjusted to suit the individual.According to Simon Loasby, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center, it also offers an “immersive sound experience” that not only comes to life when being driven, but can also get the party started when stationary.This is aided by an integrated “Beat House” sound system and neat pixelated Message Grid on the lower bumper that acts as a digital ticker-tape for broadcasting messages to the outside world. Alternatively, it can display an interactive graphic equalizer when pumping out tunes.

Compact hot hatches are back in the limelight

Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Hyundai)

Although the Insteroid is very much a concept car for now, it gives a good indication of what a small, fun and affordable hot hatch could look like – something that fills the void left by Volkswagen’s Up! GTI and the infamous Renault Twingo RS, for example.Speaking of Renault, the French marque has also been exploring what is possible with electric motors and battery packs, pushing its latest Renault 5 to the extremes with its recently unveiled Turbo 3E model. Although most predict it will cost the same as most modern supercars.The Insteroid features a similar hydraulic handbrake and gaming-inspired interior that Renault debuted on its drifting R5 turbo concept of 2022, but shrinks it down into an even smaller package and, should it make it to production, could feature more affordable, watered-down performance tech borrowed from the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

(Image credit: Future)

Regardless of whether it ever makes it into showrooms or not, Insteroid is the sort of concept car that electric vehicles desperately need right now.Wild designs, innovative features and a promise of scintillating electric performance are things that have the potential to get people talking and the next generation genuinely excited about the future of motoring.Plus, it is tapping into a youth that is currently celebrating the Max Power era of obnoxious sound systems, Fast and the Furious-style underbody lighting and wider car tuning culture. The 90s are so in right now, just hit Instagram for proof.If Hyundai shuns the expensive in-wheel motors of Renault's Turbo 3E and borrows some of the more affordable elements of the Ioniq 5 N, we could well have our first wallet-friendly electric hot hatch in a high-performance Inster variant.It can then be up to the owner whether or not they want to fit a festival-spec sound system in the trunk.

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Apple was hit with an over €150 million fine in France on Monday, March 31, 2025 France's antitrust watchdog found Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework "neither necessary nor proportionate"Apple launched ATT in April 2021 to help users manage apps' data tracking permissions

Apple has been fined in France over its privacy framework that helps users stay on top of third-party online tracking.France's antitrust watchdog issued a fine of over €150 million on Monday, March 31, 2025, after finding Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework "neither necessary nor proportionate."Apple launched ATT in April 2021 to make it easier for users to manage data tracking permissions. Despite seeming a positive move for people's online privacy, France's watchdog found that the implementation could penalize smaller app publishers.

"An artificially complex framework"

The Autorité de la concurrence (France's Competition Authority) decided to issue the fine against Apple "for abusing its dominant position in the sector for the distribution of mobile applications on iOS and iPadOS devices between April 2021 and July 2023," the regulator wrote in an official statement.Starting in iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and tvOS 14.5, Apple's ATT feature requires all applications to obtain users' explicit consent before collecting data and targeting them with personalized ads.While the French watchdog doesn't find the ATT framework problematic per se, it does describe its implementation as neither necessary nor proportionate to Apple’s stated objective of protecting personal data.Specifically, the regulators found that such a consent pop-up system leads to an "artificially complex framework" for users that penalises publishers of third-party applications when operating in the iOS environment.That's because ATT consent pop-ups, the group explains, aren't valid under the French Data Protection Act. This means that third-party users will have to ask permission twice from their users.

(Image credit: Autorité de la concurrence)

The Autorité also criticized the rules for which users need to refuse advertising tracking only once, but they must always confirm their consent twice. This, according to the group, de-facto undermines the neutrality of the informed consent that ATT is supposed to facilitate.Furthermore, "While publishers were required to obtain double consent from users for tracking on third-party sites and applications, Apple did not ask for consent from users of its own applications (until the implementation of iOS 15)," wrote the Autorité, pointing out the disproportionate treatment existing between Apple and third-party developers.Commenting to the Associated Press, Apple said that ATT gives users more privacy control "through a required, clear, and easy-to-understand prompt about one thing: tracking," which is consistent for all developers, including Apple."We have received strong support for this feature from consumers, privacy advocates, and data protection authorities around the world," Apple also told the Associated Press, adding that France's Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT.

Not just France

This isn't the first time Apple's ATT has attracted criticism in Europe, either.In 2023, Italy's antitrust watchdog accused the US tech giant of abusing its market dominance by applying more restrictive and disadvantageous data privacy policies to non-Apple apps.Similar actions may continue across the European block as new Digital Markets Act rules are expected to thighthen up competition requirements for Big tech providers.

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Nintendo announces two Treehouse presentations for this weekThe first will air on April 3 and the second on April 4Both broadcasts will feature "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games"

Nintendo has announced that it will be airing two Treehouse presentations later this week, offering a new look at Switch 2 gameplay.The first broadcast will air on April 3 at 7AM PT / 10AM ET / 3PM BST, and the second will take place at the same time on April 4.We don't know how long each presentation will be, but Nintendo did say that both will feature "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games".Like previous Treehouse broadcasts, we can expect game developers and possibly even notable Nintendo employees to be in attendance, playing and discussing some of the games that will be featured.

Join us on April 3rd and April 4th at 7 a.m. PT each day for a Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 presentation featuring hands-on gameplay of #NintendoSwitch2 games! pic.twitter.com/gsi0MqyZyZApril 1, 2025

Both Treehouse presentations will air after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase, which is scheduled to take place on April 2 at 6AM PT / 9AM ET / 2AM BST.We're expecting a brand new look at the hardware, learn pricing and preorder details, as well as be treated to unannounced Switch 2 games.The new Mario Kart game, which was unveiled at the same time as the console, is likely to make an appearance, but there are also rumors of a Super Mario Odyssey sequel, with some fans speculating a new The Legend of Zelda reveal.Any games announced during the Direct Showcase will hopefully be featured during the Treehouse presentations later in the week, offering a deeper look at the console's launch titles.Nintendo has already confirmed that the Switch 2 will feature backwards compatibility, so we may learn if these games will be playable on the original Switch, as well.

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Researchers from Sucuri found malicious code hiding in the mu-plugins directoryThe malware redirected visitors, served spam, and could even drop malwareThe sites were compromised through vulnerable plugins, poor admin passwords, and more

A special directory in WordPress is being abused to host malicious code, researchers has claimed, warning the code allows threat actors to remain persistent on vulnerable websites, while executing arbitrary code, redirecting people to malicious websites, and displaying unwanted spam and ads.Researchers from Sucuri discovered threat actors were hiding malicious code in “mu-plugins” (short for Must-Use plugins), a directory that stores plugins that are activated automatically and cannot be deactivated through the admin panel.These are typically used for essential site functionality, custom modifications, or performance optimizations that should always run.

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Remote code execution risks

"This approach represents a concerning trend, as the mu-plugins are not listed in the standard WordPress plugin interface, making them less noticeable and easier for users to ignore during routine security checks," Sucuri researchers explained.So far, the analysis uncovered three variants of malicious code - redirect.php (redirects visitors to malicious sites), index.php (remote code execution and malware dropper capabilities), and custom-js-loader.php (injects spam).“The potential impact ranges from minor inconveniences to severe security breaches, highlighting the importance of proactive website security measures,” Sucuri warned.Discussing how the sites might have been infected, the researchers said there were multiple ways to compromise a WordPress site. That includes exploiting a vulnerable plugin or a theme, compromised admin credentials, or abuse of poorly secured hosting environments.To mitigate the risk, website admins should scan their WP installation for malicious files (particularly in the mu-plugins directory), check for unauthorized admin accounts, audit installed plugins, update WordPress, plugins, and themes, change all admin passwords and set up 2FA if possible, and monitor file integrity by setting up a security plugin.WordPress is the world’s best website builder, powering the majority of the websites on the internet. As such, the platform is constantly under a barrage of cyberattacks.Via The Hacker News

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TikTok's deadline to sell off or cede its US operations is once again approaching. The 75-day extension delaying the enforcement of a nationwide TikTok ban is set to run out Saturday, April 5, unless the company finally reaches an agreement to find a new owner. Who might buy it, and what happens if no deal is reached? Here's the shape of things right now:

Potential buyers

President Donald Trump has suggested that “a deal” is imminent and could be reached before that deadline. What such an agreement will look like is still extremely unclear. A number of interested buyers have come forward, including YouTuber MrBeast, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian and Perplexity AI. Oracle, which almost bought TikTok in 2020 and was a key part of TikTok’s earlier negotiations to address national security concerns, is also in the running.

Depending on which bid wins out, TikTok could end up looking very different. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, won’t allow another company to take control of the app’s coveted recommendation algorithm. That means a new owner would have to rebuild TikTok’s central feature. Perplexity AI, for example, has said it would take on this task of reverse-engineering the app's “For You” feed, making it open source and implementing some kind of Community Notes-style fact checking feature. Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, who joined a group of investors known as “Project Liberty,” has hinted at a vision for TikTok that somehow ties in with blockchain technology.

Option 2

There’s also another, potentially less disruptive option on the table. The White House is also considering a deal that would allow TikTok’s existing US investors to “roll over their stakes into a new independent global TikTok company,” according to The New York Times. Under this arrangement, Oracle could also end up overseeing TikTok’s US data while ByteDance hangs onto its algorithm, as the Financial Times reported in March.

This would likely be a smoother transition than a full-on sale that would require a new owner to rebuild a significant part of the app. Aspects of it are also very similar to terms TikTok already agreed to under a previous agreement with Oracle known as Project Texas. However, this sort of deal may also not be entirely legal, as Politico recently pointed out. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the law passed by Congress and signed by former President Joe Biden last year, calls for a divestment of TikTok and its algorithm.

It’s also not clear whether Chinese officials would be willing to sign off on such an arrangement, though Trump has suggested he could use the threat of tariffs as negotiating leverage. “We’re dealing with China also on it because they may have something to do with it. And we’ll see how that goes,” Trump told reporters over the weekend.

No deal

So what happens if Trump’s “deal” isn’t finalized by Saturday? The answer, it seems, is… probably nothing. Trump has said he would likely extend the deadline again if the clock runs out on the current extension. (Once again, it's not entirely clear if another extension is legal, but CNN reports that a second extension might be an uphill battle if challenged in court.) In the meantime, TikTok is unlikely to go dark like it (briefly) did in January when the ban law first went into effect.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktoks-ban-deadline-is-coming-what-happens-next-162420478.html?src=rss

Mullvad VPN has rolled out an upgrade to its feature that protects against AI trackingThe second version of Defense Against AI-guided Traffic (DAITA) is now available for all VPN appsMullvad released DAITA in May 2024 as "the first step" in the battle against sophisticated traffic analysis

Mullvad VPN has just unveiled a considerable upgrade to its protections against AI surveillance.The second version of its Defense Against AI-guided Traffic (DIATA) is now available for all VPN apps, bringing two major improvements that "make it harder for attackers targeting DAITA."One of the best VPN providers for privacy-conscious users, Mullvad released DAITA in May 2024 as "the first step" in the battle against sophisticated traffic analysis powered by new generative AI software.

DAITA 2.0

Built entirely on an open-source framework, DAITA modifies the appearance of data packets sent over the VPN network to prevent snoopers from tracing activity back to you.It does so by making all data packets the same size, adding random background traffic, and distorting patterns.According to Jan Jonsson, CEO of Mullvad VPN, this capability is critical, as AI can be used to analyze traffic patterns. In simpler terms, this means your activities may be linked to you without the need to break the encryption offered by the virtual private network (VPN)."AI will be used both to collect data about people and to analyze that data. That’s why we developed DAITA, to counteract this right at the point of the data collection," Jonsson told me back in October.On March 28, 2025, however, Mullvad released the second version of DAITA across all its platforms to reduce attacks against the feature itself.

DAITA version 2 now available on all platforms: https://t.co/B77nm95UHkMarch 28, 2025

As per Mullvad's own words, "DAITA version 2 brings two major improvements: a large reduction in overhead traffic and dynamic configurations that vary VPN tunnel characteristics between connections."The first improvement refines one of the covert practices DAITA employs to confuse AI tracking – the addition of dummy packets to distort network patterns.DAITA 2.0 now inserts half the amount of these packets but promises to deliver the same level of defense. "As a customer using DAITA, the immediate benefit is improved speed," says the provider.In the new version, two VPN clients visiting the same webpage will now produce different in-tunnel data streams, too, to make it harder for attackers to circumvent DAITA protections. A new configuration is also selected every time a device recreates its VPN connection.If you want more technical details on how DAITA works, I suggest reading this post by Karlstad University's cybersecurity researchers on the matter.Mullvad's commitment to protecting your data against AI surveillance doesn't stop there, either. The team is already working on a new version of DAITA."DAITA version 3 is already on the roadmap and will introduce a new type of defense alongside the existing ones. Watch this space for more updates as we advance the state of accessible and performant network traffic defense."

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You could call Shinichiro Watanabe's Lazarus a retread of his masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop. That’s not to say the show is bad — based on the five episodes I’ve seen so far, Lazarus is still an entertaining and stylish ride. But I’ve just come to expect more from a legendary creator like Watanabe.

It’s set in the year 2052, a near-future when a renowned neuroscientist released Hapna, a drug that can erase all pain. If that sounds too good to be true, it is: Hapna’s creator Dr. Skinner reveals to the world that everyone who took the drug will eventually die. And then he disappears. Like an evil Willy Wonka, he announces one hope for survival: Find him in 30 days, or humanity is doomed.

To help find Skinner, the government sets up a covert group named Lazarus made up of convicted criminals. And that’s where the similarities come in. There’s the lead, Axel Gilberto, a parkour junkie who resembles Bebop’s reckless and carefree Spike Spiegel. Rounding out the team is Christine, a gorgeous femme fatale; Eleina, a bright young hacker; and Doug, a gruff investigator who has little patience for Axel’s shit. Those are all clear analogs to the Bebop crew of Faye, Ed and Jet. The one new element of the team is Leland, a cute college student who takes on various roles during the show (perhaps he’s just an anthropomorphized version of Bebop’s adorable pup Ein).

There’s a bit of Suicide Squad in the idea of using criminals to find humanity’s greatest villain, but Lazarus doesn’t really justify why that’s the case (that may be answered later in the show’s 13-episode run). And you’d think there would be more government efforts beyond a group of misfits to accomplish a humanity-saving mission. The Lazarus crew get a few chances to bond throughout each episode, but their interpersonal dynamics feel less organic than the Bebop characters, whose relationships were enriched by the pressure-cooker environment of an interplanetery spaceship, ever-present economic struggle and compelling backstories. By episode five of Lazarus, I didn't have any real understanding of these characters, whereas Bebop delivered the seminal episode Ballad of the Fallen Angels by then.

Like Watanabe's Samurai Champloo, Lazarus is best enjoyed if you don’t look too closely at its plot holes or contrivances (Axel’s inhuman parkour abilities make Spike Spiegel’s antics seem tame in comparison). It’s better to sit back and enjoy the incredibly stylish vibes. That includes wonderfully fluid animation by Mappa; a catchy soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Floating Points and Bonobo (with a great ending theme, “Lazarus” by The Boo Radleys); and bone-crunching action choreography by John Wick director Chad Stahelski. It’s hard not to appreciate all of the talent involved.

Adult Swim

But again, I just wish the whole project felt more original. Lazarus’s premise isn’t far off from Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, which involved a terrorist plot to deploy nanomachines that would kill everyone on Mars. It’s also funny to see the show arrive alongside a more inventive show like Max’s Common Side Effects, which deals with the real-world consequences of miracle drugs that could heal any illness or injury. That show’s characters are more grounded and relatable, and it explores why pharmaceutical companies would stop at nothing to kill such a miracle drug.

“The story began with Dr. Skinner... Is he a saint or a devil?” Watanabe said on the Engadget podcast via a translator (while he relaxed in shades with a mountain of records behind him, like the absolute boss he is). “Exactly what does he want to do? That was a big initial driving part of the story. ... What you initially thought of Skinner at [the] start may change throughout the 13 episodes.”

Adult Swim

It’s not a huge spoiler to say that Dr. Skinner isn’t always portrayed as a villain in the show. Before the release of Hapna, he was a famous neuroscientist who pushed humanity to respond to the climate crisis. But instead of listening to him, the world’s countries chose to pursue profit over the future of humanity. With that in mind, it's no shock Watanabe says the inspiration for Hapna was, in part, the opioid crisis.

Throughout flashbacks and short opening monologues, Lazarus gives us glimpses into Hapna’s effect on our main characters, all of which is more compelling than the actual quest to find Dr. Skinner. Did the pill really heal everyone’s pain, or did it just close off their ability to feel true emotions?

I’m sure newcomers to Watanabe’s work won’t have the same reservations with Lazarus as I do, I just wish the show had the same distinctive identity as his other series. Cowboy Bebop is a jazz-soaked noir; Space Dandy is a hilarious riff on the space opera genre; and Carol and Tuesday is a touching story of two young girls pursuing a pop music career. Lazarus is basically another action thriller, but this time it’s scored to modern jazz and electronic music.

I’m holding out hope that Lazarus matures into a more thoughtful show in its second half. But even if it doesn’t, it’s still worth celebrating anything new from Shinichiro Watanabe. There aren’t many anime directors and writers with his sense of style and excellent taste in music and action cinema. Even if it’s a lesser Watanabe project, it’s still more entertaining and creative than the vast majority of shows bombarding us in the streaming TV era, anime or otherwise.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/lazarus-review-wildly-stylish-but-its-no-cowboy-bebop-170300198.html?src=rss

Fake receipts are now easy to generate with ChatGPTThey're convincing and additional tweaking makes them look very realOpenAI says metadata and usage policies will protect us

Generative AI appears to be fixing one of the most obvious problems with AI-generated imagery: the text. And while that's welcome news for anyone fed up with seeing images containing absolute gibberish, it may have unintended consequences too – it turns out that ChatGPT is now pretty good at creating fake receipts.The fakes aren't completely convincing if you know what to look for: they're a little too clean, a little too CGI, and sometimes get the sums wrong (like in our example above). But they're also easy to miss – and with a bit of fiddling you can make them look more realistic with creases and food stains.

For now, it seems that the most effective way of doing this is to get ChatGPT to recreate an existing receipt, which can then be changed to show whatever prices you'd like.OpenAI says it isn't too worried, but it does appear to be an effective new tool for digital fraudsters and troublemakers.

Why OpenAI is okay with the fakes, for now

You can use 4o to generate fake receipts.There are too many real world verification flows that rely on “real images” as proof. That era is over. pic.twitter.com/9FORS1PWsbMarch 29, 2025

We reached out to OpenAI and a spokesperson told us it's keeping an eye on trends like AI-generated receipts. "We monitor image generations on and off our platform, use internal tools to verify they were created by our products, and take action when we identify violations of our usage policies," they told us."We're always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we'll continue refining our policies to balance creative freedom with preventing misuse. All images include industry-standard C2PA metadata indicating they were AI-generated by OpenAI," the OpenAI spokesperson added.However, OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson went a little further, telling TechCrunch that there was a positive potential use for fake receipts: "teaching people about financial literacy" in non-fraudulent situations.I can also imagine using it for illustrating articles, or for creating props for real or virtual staging. But fake receipts can also be used for fraud, and the more convincing the images, the more fraud they're likely to facilitate.Those 'made by ChatGPT' metadata safeguards are fine, but exporting an image without metadata is a one-click job. I'm not sure those safeguards will do the slightest thing to stop fake images being used for fraud any more than social media "be nice" policies have stopped people from being awful on the internet.But I have to admit, it'd be very funny if OpenAI's own employees started using the tech to inflate their expense claims.

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Physical reservoir computing is a muscle-powered Matrix-like conceptHuman tissue’s nonlinear behavior could support real-world data processingNew study imagines biology and machines merging into hybrid computers

In a study that blends biology and computing, a researcher from the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University has come up with a concept exploring how human muscles could be used as part of a computational system, processing data and solving problems.If the idea sounds like something out of The Matrix, that’s not far off. The study hints at a future where the human body becomes a part of the computing environment, blurring the line between man and machine.In a paper published on IEEE Xplore, Yo Kobayashi shares his research based on reservoir computing, a computational framework that uses a fixed, non-linear system (the "reservoir") to process time-based data, with only the output layer requiring training. It relies on the natural properties of physical systems to perform complex tasks and Kobayashi's research suggests human soft tissue could be used to process information.

(Image credit: Osaka University)

A different kind of machine

Instead of building a digital model, Yo Kobayashi looked at how real muscles respond under strain, using ultrasound to track wrist movements in volunteers.These recordings showed how muscle tissue deforms and returns to its original shape, offering a pattern that could be read as data."An ideal reservoir possesses both complexity and memory," explains Kobayashi in an article on Tech Xplore. "Since the mechanical responses of soft tissue inherently demonstrate stress–strain nonlinearity and viscoelasticity, muscular tissue easily satisfies these criteria."The system was tested on tasks typically used to benchmark machine learning models. It was able to predict outcomes in nonlinear dynamic systems, showing stronger performance than models that don’t consider internal tissue behavior."One potential application area of this technology is wearable devices," says Kobayashi. "In the future, it may be possible to use our own tissue as a convenient computational resource. Since soft tissue is present throughout the body, a wearable device could delegate calculations to the tissue, enhancing performance."The research is still in its early stages. “There are comparatively few studies that use living organisms as reservoirs, and until now, none that use in vivo human tissue,” Kobayashi says.It's a fascinating concept, and one that opens the door to a future where computing runs not just on silicon, but on people power.

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2025 may not be the year of the foldable phone, but if Apple finally enters the space in 2026, we could be in for a big turnaround.That's the latest message from analysts at Counterpoint Research, who explained that 2024 was a year of almost imperceptible foldable growth and, probably more worrisome, 2025 will be down slightly.Counterpoint Research has been ringing this bell since late last year when it produced a similar report. Now, almost five months into the year, they see no signs that 2025 will even meet 2024's flat sales numbers. It's likely a frustrating turn of events for Samsung, Google, Oppo, Huawei, and Motorola, all of which are now deeply invested in the category.Overall, foldable phones have never accounted for more than 2% of the entire smartphone market. One factor that might be holding back the foldable market is price. Some of the best folding phones cost double that of a standard flagship.Many of these companies have yet to make a compelling use case for folding phones, aside from "Do you want to have a tiny tablet in your pocket that doesn't take up more space than a standard phone?" [Author's Note: Yes. Yes, I do]

Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

While consumers remain uninspired, tech companies appear no less invested in the category. Honor and Oppo's recent entries are helping to grow the folding phones' tiny smartphone category market share, but mostly outside the US.Folding phones won't disappear from our digital landscape. In fact, Counterpoint Research indicates that the market is preparing for a resurgence."It is definitely not a sign of the market peaking; rather it is a sign of regrouping before 2026, which is expected to be exciting and rejuvenating for the segment with the entry of Apple and a slew of clamshells,” wrote Counterpoint Senior Analyst Jene Park.Most rumors now point to Apple entering the foldables market in 2026, which is a lynchpin of this resurgence.It's a familiar story.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posing for a selfie while someone else wears a Vision Pro (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's product category playbook is usually one where it watches other players flounder around with oddball and subpar entrants. Then it swoops in with something beautiful and seemingly obvious, a product that captivates consumers and media alike.It happened with MP3 players around the turn of the century (iPod) and later with screen-focused smartphones (iPhone) and then tablets (iPad). In each case, Apple was by no means the first, but it quickly became the best and most desirable.Foldables are somewhat different, though, because while the market is stagnant, the products are generally considered excellent. Sure, Samsung, Google, and others have done themselves no favors by not always putting the absolute best cameras and technology in every folding handset. Even so, these are otherwise excellent and versatile devices.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Porcelain (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I've tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and I love each of them. They're well-built, thin, comparatively light, powerful, full of AI, and generally fun to use as phones and as tiny tablets.Yes, they can be prohibitively expensive, but you know that prices will eventually tumble.Apple's entry, though, will prove to be a game changer. I bet even Samsung, Google, and others are desperate for them to enter the fray and reinvigorate the market. Counterpoint Research believes that a 2026 iPhone Fold will quickly eat a sizable chunk of the tiny folding phone market, but also instantly enlarge it.I tend to agree with them. When I ran an anecdotal poll on X asking who consumers might buy a smartphone from, Apple led the field with Samsung, which has been in the space longer than any other company, a close second.

Would you buy a folding phone fromApril 1, 2025

Most rumors assume that while Apple will bring a lot of cutting-edge features like a liquid metal hinge and an extremely thin chassis likely borrowed from the rumored iPhone 17 Air, it won't be lowering the bar on price. Most think the iPhone Fold could be in the $2,000 range.That's a lot, not Vision Pro a lot, but it'll mean that a simple iPhone 16 Pro trade-in won't be enough to defray most of the costs. You'll have a high monthly payment for the pleasure of owning Apple's first foldable, and still, I think people will gladly pay that much for an iPhone Fold.There is a chance that Apple could go with a slightly different design direction with its iPhone Fold, and instead of chasing the Z Fold 6 and other folding tablets, it could deliver a true clamshell.Folded, the iPhone Fold X would be the size of a Z Flip 6 (but thinner). Unfolded, it would be the size of an ultra-thin iPhone 16 – so the thinness of an iPhone 17 Air, but the pocketable screen size of a 6.1-inch iPhone 16.That would be appealing on two fronts: a more portable form factor and likely a much more attractive price.For now, it's a waiting game. Apple hasn't hinted at its folding plans, and there are no indications of a surprise flexible phone unveiling in September. But WWDC 2025, Apple's upcoming developers' conference, is just weeks away, and it could be the perfect platform to tease those plans.Such a move could either turn around foldable's 2025 fortunes or further depress them as more potential foldable customers decide to hold off until Apple finally ships the iPhone Fold.

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Memorizing all of the past Wordle answers is nearly impossible – after all, there have now been more than 1,300 of them. But knowing what's gone before is important, because Wordle answers don't repeat – so you could easily be wasting guesses.What you need then, is a list of past Wordle answers, and that's what I've made for you here. It's organized by month and you can simply search the page to see whether the word you're thinking of has already been used.So pick one of the best Wordle starting words, take a look at today's Wordle answer if you need to and keep this list close when you're playing – your streak will thank you.

Past Wordle answers: The full list

Below you'll find a list of every Wordle so far – all 1,381 of them (and counting!)I've first organized the answers alphabetically, and then by month starting with the most recent. You can use the menus on the side (on desktop) or above (on mobile) to jump straight to the month you want.If you're trying to find out whether a specific word has already been an answer, there are easy ways to search for it:

Windows: click CTRL+FmacOS: click CMD+FiOS: click Share (the box with the arrow), then 'Find on page'Android: click the three dots in the top-right then 'Find in page'

In each case, simply type in the word you're looking for, and if it has already been an answer you can use the arrows to navigate to it. Right, on with the list…

Past Wordle answers: alphabetical list

ABACK | ABASE | ABATE | ABBEY | ABIDE | ABOUT | ABOVE | ABYSS | ACORN | ACRID | ACTOR | ACUTE | ADAGE | ADAPT | ADMIT | ADOBE | ADOPT | ADORE | ADULT | AFFIX | AFTER | AGAIN | AGAPE | AGATE | AGENT | AGILE | AGING | AGLOW | AGONY | AGREE | AHEAD | AISLE | ALBUM | ALERT | ALIEN | ALIKE | ALIVE | ALLOW | ALOFT | ALONE | ALOOF | ALOUD | ALPHA | ALTAR | ALTER | AMASS | AMBER | AMBLE | AMISS | AMPLE | ANGEL | ANGER | ANGLE | ANGRY | ANGST | ANODE | ANTIC | ANVIL | AORTA | APART | APHID | APPLE | APPLY | APRON | APTLY | ARBOR | ARDOR | ARGUE | AROMA | ASCOT | ASIDE | ASKEW | ASSET | ATLAS | ATOLL | ATONE | AUDIO | AUDIT | AVAIL | AVERT | AWAIT | AWAKE | AWARD | AWASH | AWFUL | AXIOM | AZURE | BACON | BADGE | BADLY | BAGEL | BAKER | BALSA | BANAL | BARGE | BASIC | BASIN | BASTE | BATHE | BATON | BATTY | BAWDY | BAYOU | BEACH | BEADY | BEAST | BEAUT | BEEFY | BEGET | BEGIN | BEING | BELCH | BELIE | BELLY | BELOW | BENCH | BERET | BERTH | BESET | BEVEL | BINGE | BIOME | BIRCH | BIRTH | BLACK | BLADE | BLAME | BLAND | BLARE | BLAZE | BLEAK | BLEED | BLEEP | BLIMP | BLOCK | BLOKE | BLOND | BLOWN | BLUFF | BLURB | BLURT | BLUSH | BOAST | BONUS | BOOBY | BOOST | BOOTY | BOOZE | BOOZY | BORAX | BOSSY | BOUGH | BOXER | BRACE | BRAID | BRAIN | BRAKE | BRASH | BRASS | BRAVE | BRAVO | BRAWN | BREAD | BREAK | BREED | BRIAR | BRIBE | BRIDE | BRIEF | BRINE | BRING | BRINK | BRINY | BRISK | BROAD | BROKE | BROOK | BROOM | BROTH | BROWN | BRUSH | BRUTE | BUDDY | BUGGY | BUGLE | BUILD | BUILT | BULKY | BULLY | BUNCH | BURLY | CABLE | CACAO | CACHE | CADET | CAMEL | CAMEO | CANDY | CANNY | CANOE | CANON | CAPER | CARAT | CARGO | CAROL | CARRY | CARVE | CATCH | CATER | CAULK | CAUSE | CEDAR | CHAFE | CHAIN | CHALK | CHAMP | CHANT | CHAOS | CHARD | CHARM | CHART | CHASE | CHEAP | CHEAT | CHECK | CHEEK | CHEER | CHEST | CHIEF | CHILD | CHILL | CHIME | CHOCK | CHOIR | CHOKE | CHORD | CHORE | CHOSE | CHUNK | CHUTE | CIDER | CIGAR | CINCH | CIRCA | CIVIC | CLASS | CLEAN | CLEAR | CLEFT | CLERK | CLICK | CLIMB | CLING | CLOAK | CLOCK | CLONE | CLOSE | CLOTH | CLOUD | CLOVE | CLOWN | CLUCK | COACH | COAST | COCOA | COLON | COMET | COMMA | CONDO | CONIC | CORER | CORNY | COULD | COUNT | COURT | COVER | COVET | COWER | COYLY | CRAFT | CRAMP | CRANE | CRANK | CRASS | CRATE | CRAVE | CRAWL | CRAZE | CRAZY | CREAK | CREAM | CREDO | CREPE | CREPT | CRIME | CRIMP | CRISP | CROAK | CRONE | CROOK | CROSS | CROWD | CROWN | CRUMB | CRUSH | CRUST | CRYPT | CUMIN | CURLY | CYBER | CYNIC | DADDY | DAISY | DANCE | DANDY | DEATH | DEBIT | DEBUG | DEBUT | DECAL | DECAY | DECOY | DECRY | DEITY | DELAY | DELTA | DELVE | DENIM | DEPOT | DEPTH | DETER | DEVIL | DIARY | DICEY | DIGIT | DINER | DINGO | DINGY | DISCO | DITTO | DITTY | DODGE | DOGMA | DOING | DOLLY | DONOR | DONUT | DOPEY | DOUBT | DOWRY | DOZEN | DRAFT | DRAIN | DRAWN | DREAM | DRINK | DRIVE | DROLL | DROOL | DROOP | DROVE | DRYER | DUCHY | DUTCH | DUVET | DWARF | DWELL | DWELT | EAGLE | EARLY | EARTH | EASEL | EBONY | EDICT | EGRET | EJECT | ELBOW | ELDER | ELOPE | ELUDE | EMAIL | EMBER | EMPTY | ENACT | ENDOW | ENEMA | ENJOY | ENNUI | ENSUE | ENTER | EPOCH | EPOXY | EQUAL | EQUIP | ERODE | ERROR | ERUPT | ESSAY | ETHER | ETHIC | ETHOS | EVADE | EVENT | EVERY | EVOKE | EXACT | EXALT | EXCEL | EXERT | EXIST | EXPEL | EXTRA | EXULT | FACET | FAINT | FAITH | FALSE | FANCY | FARCE | FAULT | FAVOR | FEAST | FEIGN | FERAL | FERRY | FEVER | FEWER | FIBER | FIELD | FIEND | FIFTY | FILET | FINAL | FINCH | FINER | FIRST | FISHY | FIXER | FJORD | FLAIL | FLAIR | FLAKE | FLAME | FLANK | FLARE | FLASH | FLASK | FLESH | FLICK | FLING | FLINT | FLIRT | FLOAT | FLOCK | FLOOD | FLOOR | FLORA | FLOSS | FLOUR | FLOUT | FLOWN | FLUFF | FLUME | FLUNG | FLUNK | FLYER | FOCAL | FOCUS | FOGGY | FOLLY | FORAY | FORCE | FORGE | FORGO | FORTE | FORTH | FORTY | FOUND | FOYER | FRAIL | FRAME | FRANK | FRESH | FRIED | FROCK | FROND | FRONT | FROST | FROTH | FROWN | FROZE | FULLY | FUNGI | FUNKY | FUNNY | FUZZY | GAMER | GAMMA | GAMUT | GAUDY | GAUNT | GAUZE | GAWKY | GECKO | GENRE | GHOUL | GIANT | GIDDY | GIRTH | GIVEN | GLAND | GLASS | GLAZE | GLEAM | GLEAN | GLIDE | GLOAT | GLOBE | GLOOM | GLORY | GLOVE | GLYPH | GNASH | GOING | GOLEM | GONER | GOODY | GOOFY | GOOSE | GORGE | GOUGE | GRACE | GRADE | GRAIL | GRAIN | GRAND | GRANT | GRAPH | GRASP | GRATE | GREAT | GREED | GREEN | GREET | GRIEF | GRIME | GRIMY | GRIND | GRIPE | GROIN | GROOM | GROUP | GROUT | GROVE | GROWL | GRUEL | GUANO | GUARD | GUEST | GUIDE | GUILD | GUILE | GULLY | GUMMY | GUPPY | GUSTY | HAIRY | HALVE | HANDY | HAPPY | HARSH | HATCH | HATER | HAVOC | HEADY | HEARD | HEART | HEATH | HEAVE | HEAVY | HEFTY | HEIST | HELIX | HELLO | HENCE | HERON | HILLY | HINGE | HIPPO | HITCH | HOARD | HOBBY | HOMER | HONEY | HORDE | HORSE | HOTEL | HOUND | HOUSE | HOVER | HOWDY | HUMAN | HUMID | HUMOR | HUMPH | HUNCH | HUNKY | HURRY | HUTCH | HYENA | HYPER | ICING | IGLOO | IMAGE | IMPEL | INANE | INDEX | INDIE | INEPT | INERT | INFER | INLAY | INNER | INPUT | INTER | INTRO | IONIC | IRATE | IRONY | ISLET | ITCHY | IVORY | JAUNT | JAZZY | JELLY | JERKY | JIFFY | JOINT | JOKER | JOLLY | JOUST | JUDGE | JUICE | KARMA | KAYAK | KAZOO | KEBAB | KHAKI | KIOSK | KNACK | KNAVE | KNEAD | KNEEL | KNELT | KNOCK | KNOLL | KOALA | LABEL | LABOR | LADLE | LAGER | LANKY | LAPEL | LAPSE | LARGE | LARVA | LASER | LASSO | LATTE | LAYER | LEAFY | LEAKY | LEAPT | LEARN | LEASH | LEAVE | LEDGE | LEECH | LEERY | LEGGY | LEMON | LEMUR | LIBEL | LIGHT | LILAC | LIMIT | LINEN | LINER | LINGO | LITHE | LIVER | LOCAL | LOCUS | LODGE | LOFTY | LOGIC | LOOPY | LOSER | LOUSE | LOVER | LOWER | LOWLY | LOYAL | LUCID | LUCKY | LUNAR | LUNCH | LUNGE | LUSTY | LYING | MACAW | MADAM | MADLY | MAGIC | MAGMA | MAIZE | MAJOR | MAMBO | MANGA | MANGO | MANIA | MANLY | MANOR | MAPLE | MARCH | MARRY | MARSH | MASON | MASSE | MATCH | MATEY | MAUVE | MAXIM | MAYBE | MAYOR | MEALY | MEANT | MEDAL | MEDIA | MEDIC | MELON | MERCY | MERGE | MERIT | MERRY | METAL | METER | METRO | MICRO | MIDGE | MIDST | MIMIC | MINCE | MINER | MINUS | MODEL | MODEM | MOIST | MOLAR | MOMMY | MONEY | MONTH | MOOSE | MOSSY | MOTOR | MOTTO | MOULT | MOUNT | MOURN | MOUSE | MOVIE | MUCKY | MULCH | MUMMY | MURAL | MUSHY | MUSIC | MUSTY | NAIVE | NANNY | NASTY | NATAL | NAVAL | NAVEL | NEEDY | NEIGH | NERDY | NERVE | NEVER | NICER | NICHE | NIGHT | NINJA | NINTH | NOBLE | NOISE | NORTH | NUDGE | NYMPH | OCCUR | OCEAN | OCTET | OFFAL | OFTEN | OLDER | OLIVE | ONION | ONSET | OPERA | ORDER | ORGAN | OTHER | OTTER | OUGHT | OUNCE | OUTDO | OUTER | OVERT | OWNER | OXIDE | PAINT | PANEL | PANIC | PAPAL | PAPER | PARER | PARRY | PARTY | PASTA | PATIO | PATTY | PAUSE | PEACE | PEACH | PEARL | PEDAL | PENNE | PERCH | PERKY | PESKY | PHASE | PHONE | PHONY | PHOTO | PIANO | PICKY | PIECE | PIETY | PILOT | PINCH | PINEY | PINKY | PINTO | PIOUS | PIPER | PIQUE | PITHY | PIXEL | PIXIE | PLACE | PLAIT | PLANK | PLANT | PLATE | PLAZA | PLEAT | PLUCK | PLUMB | PLUNK | POINT | POISE | POKER | POLKA | POLYP | PORCH | POUND | POWER | PRESS | PRICE | PRICK | PRIDE | PRIME | PRIMO | PRIMP | PRINT | PRIOR | PRIZE | PROBE | PRONE | PRONG | PROSE | PROUD | PROVE | PROWL | PROXY | PRUNE | PSALM | PULPY | PUPIL | PURGE | QUALM | QUART | QUEEN | QUERY | QUEST | QUEUE | QUICK | QUIET | QUIRK | QUITE | QUOTA | QUOTE | RADIO | RAINY | RAISE | RAMEN | RANCH | RANGE | RAPID | RATIO | RAYON | REACH | REACT | READY | REALM | REBEL | REBUS | REBUT | RECAP | RECUR | REFER | REGAL | RELAX | RELIC | RENEW | REPAY | REPEL | RERUN | RESIN | RETCH | RETRO | RETRY | REVEL | REVUE | RHINO | RHYME | RIDER | RIDGE | RIGHT | RIPER | RISEN | RIVAL | RIVET | ROACH | ROBIN | ROBOT | ROCKY | RODEO | ROGUE | ROOMY | ROUGE | ROUND | ROUSE | ROUTE | ROVER | ROWER | ROYAL | RUDDY | RUDER | RUMBA | RUPEE | RUSTY | SAINT | SALAD | SALLY | SALSA | SALTY | SANDY | SASSY | SAUCY | SAUNA | SAUTE | SAVOR | SCALD | SCALE | SCANT | SCARE | SCARF | SCENT | SCOFF | SCOLD | SCONE | SCOPE | SCORE | SCORN | SCOUR | SCOUT | SCOWL | SCRAM | SCRAP | SCRUB | SCRUM | SEDAN | SEEDY | SENSE | SERUM | SERVE | SEVEN | SEVER | SHADE | SHAFT | SHAKE | SHAKY | SHALL | SHAME | SHANK | SHAPE | SHARD | SHARE | SHARP | SHAVE | SHAWL | SHEET | SHELF | SHELL | SHIFT | SHINE | SHIRE | SHIRK | SHORE | SHORN | SHOUT | SHOVE | SHOWN | SHOWY | SHRUB | SHRUG | SHUNT | SHYLY | SIEGE | SIGHT | SILLY | SINCE | SISSY | SIXTH | SKATE | SKIER | SKIFF | SKILL | SKIMP | SKIRT | SKUNK | SLANG | SLATE | SLEEK | SLEEP | SLICE | SLOPE | SLOSH | SLOTH | SLUMP | SLUNG | SMALL | SMART | SMASH | SMEAR | SMELT | SMILE | SMIRK | SMITE | SMITH | SMOCK | SMOKE | SNACK | SNAFU | SNAIL | SNAKE | SNAKY | SNARE | SNARL | SNEAK | SNOOP | SNORT | SNOUT | SOGGY | SOLAR | SOLID | SOLVE | SONIC | SORRY | SOUND | SOWER | SPACE | SPADE | SPARK | SPEAK | SPEAR | SPECK | SPELL | SPELT | SPEND | SPENT | SPICE | SPICY | SPIEL | SPIKE | SPILL | SPINE | SPIRE | SPITE | SPLAT | SPOKE | SPOON | SPOUT | SPRAY | SPRIG | SPURT | SQUAD | SQUAT | SQUID | STAFF | STAGE | STAID | STAIN | STAIR | STAKE | STALE | STALL | STAMP | STAND | STARE | STARK | START | STASH | STATE | STEAD | STEAM | STEED | STEEL | STEEP | STEIN | STERN | STICK | STIFF | STILL | STING | STINK | STINT | STOCK | STOIC | STOLE | STOMP | STONE | STONY | STOOL | STORE | STORM | STORY | STOUT | STOVE | STRAP | STRAW | STRAY | STUDY | STUNG | STYLE | SUAVE | SUGAR | SULKY | SUNNY | SUPER | SURER | SURLY | SUSHI | SWATH | SWEAT | SWEEP | SWEET | SWELL | SWILL | SWINE | SWIRL | SWISH | SWOON | SWUNG | SYRUP | TABLE | TABOO | TACIT | TACKY | TAKEN | TALLY | TALON | TANGY | TAPER | TAPIR | TARDY | TASTE | TASTY | TAUNT | TAWNY | TEACH | TEARY | TEASE | TEMPO | TENTH | TEPID | TERSE | THANK | THEIR | THEME | THERE | THESE | THIEF | THIGH | THING | THINK | THIRD | THORN | THOSE | THREE | THREW | THROW | THUMB | THUMP | THYME | TIARA | TIBIA | TIDAL | TIGER | TILDE | TIMER | TIPSY | TITAN | TITHE | TITLE | TOAST | TODAY | TONIC | TOOTH | TOPAZ | TOPIC | TORCH | TORSO | TOTAL | TOTEM | TOUCH | TOUGH | TOWEL | TOXIC | TOXIN | TRACE | TRACK | TRACT | TRADE | TRAIL | TRAIN | TRAIT | TRASH | TRAWL | TREAT | TREND | TRIAD | TRICE | TRITE | TROLL | TROOP | TROPE | TROVE | TRULY | TRUSS | TRUST | TRUTH | TRYST | TUNIC | TUTOR | TWANG | TWEAK | TWEED | TWICE | TWINE | TWIRL | TWIST | UDDER | ULCER | ULTRA | UNCLE | UNDER | UNDUE | UNFED | UNFIT | UNIFY | UNITE | UNLIT | UNMET | UNTIE | UNTIL | UNZIP | UPPER | UPSET | URBAN | USAGE | USHER | USING | USUAL | USURP | UTTER | UVULA | VAGUE | VALET | VALID | VALUE | VAPID | VAULT | VENOM | VERGE | VERSE | VERVE | VIDEO | VIGOR | VINYL | VIOLA | VIRAL | VISOR | VITAL | VIVID | VODKA | VOICE | VOILA | VOTER | VOUCH | VYING | WACKY | WAFER | WAGON | WALTZ | WASTE | WATCH | WEARY | WEDGE | WEIRD | WHACK | WHALE | WHEEL | WHELP | WHERE | WHICH | WHIFF | WHILE | WHINE | WHINY | WHIRL | WHISK | WHOOP | WIDEN | WINCE | WINDY | WITCH | WOKEN | WOMAN | WOOER | WORDY | WORLD | WORRY | WORSE | WORST | WOULD | WOVEN | WRATH | WREAK | WRIST | WRITE | WRONG | WROTE | WRUNG | YACHT | YEARN | YIELD | YOUNG | YOUTH | ZEBRA | ZESTY

Past Wordle answers: March 2025

Past Wordle answers: February 2025

Past Wordle answers: January 2025

Past Wordle answers: December 2024

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Past Wordle answers: December 2023

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Past Wordle answers: December 2022

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Past Wordle answers: December 2021

Past Wordle answers: November 2021

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Past Wordle answers: September 2021

Past Wordle answers: August 2021

Past Wordle answers: July 2021

Past Wordle answers: June 2021

Past Wordle answers: Days with two answers

On which days have there been two Wordle answers?One of the key things about Wordle is that everyone gets the same answer each day. Or is it? There have been four occasions when the game has served up two different solutions, causing no end of consternation among players.The first two were victims of the New York Times' purchase of the game in February 2022. The NYT removed around a dozen words that it decided were too difficult for players, or that were in some way controversial.However, at that time people could play either via the NYT's games site, or via the original Wordle website created by Josh Wardle. And unfortunately, the changes made by the NYT didn't always filter through correctly to the original version.The result was that on February 15, 2022 some people got AROMA and some the much harder AGORA for puzzle #241. Then on March 30, the same thing happened with STOVE and HARRY for game #284; the NYT thought people would only consider HARRY to be a name, and not a verb (as in to harrass), so it removed it.The problem reoccurred in May 2022. On May 10 (game #324), the NYT removed the word FETUS in the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision to repeal Roe vs Wade, deeming it too controversial. Instead, most players got SHINE. The next day, some players got GECKO while others received BUTCH, due to the NYT's servers not yet having reset for everyone from the previous day's change.

Google’s Chrome installer for PCs with AMD and Intel CPUs has been broken for the past weekDetective work suggests that the version for these PCs was accidentally replaced by the Arm installer, which is for very different Snapdragon CPUsWhile the issue has now been fixed, Google took a long time to resolve it

Those trying to install the Chrome browser in Windows 11 or 10 over the course of the past week may well have been flummoxed by an error telling them the app won’t run on their PC – and I can’t quite believe how long it’s taken Google to fix this.Nonetheless, the good news is that the glitch is fixed, even if it took the company way longer than it should have.The problem, in case you missed it, was flagged on Reddit and by Windows Latest a week ago.What happened was that on firing up the Chrome Installer file (ChromeSetup.exe, download from Google’s website), people watched the process come to a screeching halt, with an error message that read: “This app can’t run on your PC: To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher.”As to the cause, Windows Latest did some detective work, and theorized that what Google had done here – somehow – was accidentally swap the Arm installer of Chrome with the x86 installer. Meaning that the version of Chrome for Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon (Arm-based) processors got swapped with the version for AMD or Intel CPUs.That conclusion was based on digging into the setup file and finding references to ‘Arm’ which surely wouldn’t be there with a non-Arm executable. Furthermore, 9 to 5 Google backs up this theory, as the tech site tried the faulty version of Chrome on a Snapdragon PC, and found it worked fine (as it would do if it was the Arm installer).9 to 5 Google was also on the ball in terms of noticing that the issue is finally cured, and you can now download the Chrome installer on a Windows PC with an AMD or Intel CPU, and it’ll work just as you’d expect.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Khosro)

Analysis: A bafflingly basic mistake with only one winner (Edge)

Okay, so mistakes can be made. Indeed, they happen all the time in the tech world, or elsewhere for that matter. But for such a basic glitch to be left in place to annoy a bunch of Windows users for the best part of a week is baffling – especially while reports were flying around about the problem.I can’t imagine this was something that was particularly difficult to resolve, either, as it looks like a simple mix up of files, as noted (unless there’s something I’m missing here). Apparently, the Arm version of Google Chrome wasn’t affected, and the installer still worked for those with a Snapdragon-powered machine.This could have cost Google some Chrome users potentially, who might have got fed up with the browser failing to install, and maybe even plumped for Microsoft Edge, its main rival, instead. (Incidentally, Edge is the best overall web browser as far as our roundup of the most compelling offerings out there is concerned).

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Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01S features a 4-inch touchscreen with a 0-90° flip mechanismMagnetically attached port covers create a clean and adaptable workstationDual-fan cooling system ensures optimal performance without overheating or throttling

There are plenty of mini PCs on the market, but few feature a 4-inch touchscreen on a hinge, magnetically attached port covers, and a 0-90° flip mechanism that allows them to operate both flat and upright like the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01S.Unlike many compact systems that rely solely on external monitors, the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC’s flip-up screen functions as a native Windows extended display, similar to the Aoostar G-Flip 370 and the G-Flip mini, providing quick access to performance monitoring, applications, and widgets.The magnetically attached port covers hide unused ports while keeping them accessible, creating a clean and adaptable workstation.

Dual-fan cooling with heat pipes and SSD fan for optimal performance

This business PC features the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a 12-core, 24-thread chip that enhances efficiency and speed while offering storage options, including DDR5 5600MT/s RAM, M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, and an SDXC card reader.It also comes with an integrated Radeon 890M GPU, built on RDNA 3.5 architecture with 16 compute units, delivering 20% better performance for smooth 1080p gaming and demanding creative workloads.To support its performance, the AM01S uses a dual-fan cooling system with heat pipes and a dedicated SSD fan, ensuring it sustains its 65W power output without overheating.For AI-driven tasks, the AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01S benefits from the NPU delivering 50 TOPS, providing three times faster responses for large language models.This device uses a CNC-machined aluminum frame for durability, while its connectivity options include dual 2.5G Ethernet ports and a full-speed USB4 connection, catering to professionals who need high-speed networking and ample storage.At press time, there's no official confirmations for a price or release date.Via Ayaneo

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It's a great time to find Apple Watch deals, thanks to the recent release of the Apple Watch 10, which is available to order. To help you find all the best Apple Watch deals around the web, I've created this guide to bring you the lowest prices available on the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch 9, the all-new Apple Watch 10, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and rare Apple Watch 10 deals.At last year's September Apple event, the tech giant unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10 with a starting price of $399 / £399 for the 42mm model and $429 / £429 for the larger 46mm display, which is the same starting price as the Apple Watch 9.This means that Apple Watch deals on older models, including the Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2, released last year, and the budget Apple Watch SE, launched in 2022, will be more frequent.Shop today's best Apple Watch deals below, which include the best prices around the web and more information on each Apple Watch so you can find the best smartwatch that meets your needs at the lowest available price.

Best cheap Apple Watch sales and deals

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch 10 (2024)Apple's latest and greatest smartwatchOS: watchOS 10 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 42mm - 46mm always-on | Processor: S10 dual-core | Onboard storage: 64GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSThe largest and most advanced displaySleep apnea detectionNew materials and colors.Expensive

The Apple Watch 10 is the successor to the Apple Watch 9, and pricing starts at $399 / £399. The Series 10 gets a significant design upgrade, and features the largest and most advanced display we've seen on an Apple Watch – it's a wide-angle OLED display that's 40% brighter than its predecessor, making it easier to read apps and texts.It's the thinest and lightest mainline Apple Watch yet, and other new features include Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, depth gauge, and water temperature sensor. The Watch 10 is also available in a range of stunning new materials and colors.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch 9 (2023)A great smartwatch often discountedOS: watchOS 10 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 41mm - 45mm always-on | Processor: S9 dual-core | Onboard storage: 64GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSNew double-tap gestureBrighter displayFaster on-device SiriStill pricey

The Apple Watch 9 was released in September of last year alongside the Ultra 2 with a starting price of $399 / £399 / AU$649 for the 41mm display and $429 / £429 / AU$1,199 for the larger 45mm display.The Apple Watch 9 is Apple's first carbon-neutral product, and it's more powerful than ever thanks to the all-new S9 SiP chip, which delivers increased performance and a long-lasting 18 hours of battery life. Apple's new chip also brings new capabilities to the Apple Watch, such as the double-tap gesture, which allows you to control your smartwatch by simply tapping your index and thumb together twice. You also get a brighter display, watchOS 10 with redesigned apps, and for the first time ever, Siri requests can now be processed from your smartwatch.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023)Apple's brightest and durable smartwatchOS: watchOS 10 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 49mm | Processor: S9 SiP | Onboard storage: 64GB | Battery: 36 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSApple's brightest displayDurableImpressive battery lifeExpensive

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was also released last year, with the Apple Watch 9 as an upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra. The premium smartwatch is Apple's most durable smartwatch, made with aerospace-grade titanium, which is also why the Ultra 2 is so expensive, with a retail price of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399. The Ultra 2 now includes Apple's new S9 SiP chip, which offers new features like the impressive hands-free Double Tap control and a 50% brighter display. You're still getting the adventure-seeking features users love about the Ultra Series, such as GPS tracking, durability in high and low temperatures, and the Oceanic+ app, which turns the watch into a working dive computer.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch SE (2022)A fantastic smartwatch at an affordable priceOS: watchOS 9 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 40mm - 44mm | Processor: S8 dual-core | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSAffordable priceLightweight designImpressive performanceLacks always-on display

The 2022 Apple Watch SE shares many of the same features as the Apple Watch 8 but with a much more affordable price tag, with a starting cost of $249 /£259/ AU$399. While the SE lacks the always-on display and ECG app (which many might find unnecessary), the smartwatch includes an improved chip for faster performance and new health and safety features such as fall detection and Emergency SOS.The smartwatch comes with all the features that people love about the Apple Watch, such as tracking heart rate, activity, sleep, and calories burned, and helps you stay connected with the ability to receive notifications, take calls, and reply to texts directly from your wrist.

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Watch 8 (2022)Renewed options availableOS: watchOS 8 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 41mm - 45mm always-on | Processor: S8 dual-core | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSFrequent dealsNew health featuresCar crash detection

Released in 2022, the Apple Watch 8 has a starting price of $399 / £419 / AU$ 629 for a GPS-only model and $499 / £529 / AU$ 749 for the cellular model. The 45mm model starts from $429 / £449 / AU$679, with the cellular model costing $529 / £549 / AU$779. Thanks to the recent release of the Apple Watch 9, you can easily find Apple Watch deals on the Series 8, so you shouldn't expect to pay the full retail price.The Apple Watch 8 includes health features such as a temperature sensor, an ECG function, and sleep tracking, plus safety features such as crash and fall detection. You're still getting all the fantastic features of the Series 7 smartwatch, including the Always-On display, activity tracking, an ECG app, and impressive all-day battery life.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch 7 (2021)Difficult to find in stockOS: watchOS 7 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 41mm - 45mm always-on | Processor: S7 dual-core | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP6X | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSLarger displayFaster chargingDifficult to find in stock

The Apple Watch 7 was unveiled in 2021 and includes a 70% brighter Always-On display, faster charging, and 20% more screen area, making it easier to use and read. The design also received a refresh with softer and more rounded edges and new sizes of 41mm and 45mm. The Apple Watch 7 still includes all the nifty features of the Series 6 smartwatch, such as blood oxygen monitoring, an ECG app, and activity tracking.Thanks to the release of the Apple Watch 9, Apple Watch 7 deals have been difficult to find if you're looking for a new model. If you don't mind a renewed smartwatch, plenty of offers are available.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Watch 6 (2020)A solid smartwatchOS: watchOS 7 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 40mm - 44mm always-on | Processor: S6 dual-core | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IPX7 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPSRegularly on saleAlways-on displayBlood oxygen monitoringDifficult to find in stock

The Apple Watch 6 debuted in September 2020 with an introductory price of $399 / £379 - the same baseline costs as the 2019 Series 5.The Apple Watch 6 comes with a few key upgrades over the Series 5 - namely, a new blood oxygen monitor (with an accompanying app) and a brand new S6 dual-core processor, which Apple claims is 20% faster than last year's model. Aside from these key upgrades, the always-on display is back, but it's been drastically improved with some neat new controls for notifications, allowing you to interact without fully waking up the watch.The Apple store no longer carries the Apple Watch 6, so like the Series 7, Apple Watch deals on the Series 6 are hard to come by if you're looking for a brand-new smartwatch.

Where to find Apple Watch deals

Amazon - USBest Buy - USWalmart - USAmazon - UKAO.com - UKArgos - UKVery - UKCurrys - UK

Apple Watch deals: is the price worth it?

Apple's hardware often comes with a high price tag, and the Apple Watch doesn't fall far from the tree. That said, if you're looking for a smartwatch to work with your iPhone, no other brand comes close to offering the functionality of Apple's own timepiece. While the Apple Watch price is still higher than many other brands, you're paying for integration with a massive number of apps you're already using on your iPhone. Plus, with all the Apple Watch deals happening and the recent software updates to older models, you can easily grab a great bargain.

Apple Watch deals from phone carriers

If you're looking for an Apple Watch deal with a Cellular plan, a phone carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile could be your best option. Purchasing an Apple Watch from a carrier allows you to make monthly payments, and you can typically find discounts, especially if you have an existing phone plan with them.

Apple Watch band/strap dealsBands are not one-size-fits-all-budgetsWide variety of sizes, colors and pricesIncredibly easy to slide onto your WatchCan't use normal watch strapsOfficial Apple Watch bands are pricey

Your Apple Watch literally isn’t complete without the best deals on Apple Watch bands. They make the geeky smartwatch stylish enough to show off to late adopters.In fact, you’re going to want multiple cheap Apple Watch straps simply because more elegant bands are far from ideal for the gym. Vice versa, Sport Bands don’t cut it at the fancy dinner table.Everyday in the news, we see new cheap Apple Watch bands trying to become the de facto alternative to the more expensive, official Apple Watch bands, and they’re usually just as good. Trust us, buying a trio of third-party, lookalike Apple Watch bands for the price of one official strap is a relief after paying so much for the smartwatch itself.

Straps in the US starting at $5.99Straps in the UK starting at £4.98Straps in Australia starting at AU$4.89

Don't know which watch to buy? Read our best Apple Watch guideYou can also see the best smartwatch prices and deals that are happening nowSee today's best Apple AirTag prices and sales

Apple Watch 8 (GPS, 41mm): was $399 now $309 at AmazonThe Apple Watch 8 is still one of the best smartwatches you can buy, thanks to its impressive display and safety and health features, such as fall detection and Emergency SOS. Today's deal from Amazon brings the best-selling smartwatch down to $309, which is the lowest price we've seen in months, and just $30 more than the record-low we briefly saw during this year's Prime Day sales.View Deal

It's an excellent time to find AirPods deals, thanks to the new release of the AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2. This means you can find fantastic AirPods sales on all models, including the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 2 and 3, the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max, and even rare AirPods 4 deals.The AirPods 4 and AirPods 2 were just unveiled at last year's September Apple Event and are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129. Thanks to holiday sales, you can find impressive discounts on Apple's newest AirPods and AirPods deals on older models, with prices as low as $69 / £69.Below, you'll find all the best AirPods deals, categorized by Apple's standard AirPods, which include the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the all-new AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 2, which include noise-canceling technology, and Apple's only over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2.Our price comparison tool automatically brings you the best savings from all your favorite retailers. You can shop the latest prices when they hit the shelves to ensure you get the best AirPods deals.

The best AirPods sales and deals

The best AirPods deals

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple's all-new AirPods 4 are available in two models: one with active noise cancellation, priced at $179 / £179, and one without, costing $129 / £129.Apple says the AirPods 4 are the best-fitting AirPods ever and feature a new refined contour and shorter stem. The AirPods include Apple's H2 chip that supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation to improve the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Other features include new controls for playing music and muting calls, a case that delivers 30 hours of battery life, and support for USB-C for wireless charging.

There are plenty of AirPods deals to be found for the 2019 AirPods that had a launch price of $159 / £159 / AU$249. But thanks to the AirPods 3 release, you can find frequent discounts on the 2nd generation AirPods, dropping as low as $99 / £99 / AU$99.While the AirPods 2 lack noise cancellation, the 2nd generation earbuds come with Apple's H1 chip to deliver quality sound and faster pairing with seamless connectivity. The H1 chip also offers voice control via Siri, so you can get directions, skip songs, and make calls completely hands-free. The earbuds come with a charging case that provides a further 20 hours of battery life in addition to the five hours in the buds themselves.

(Image credit: Apple)

The Apple AirPods 3 were released in 2021 and are the latest true wireless earbuds in Apple's line-up of AirPods. The earbuds feature a new design that resembles the AirPods Pro with shorter stems that include touch-capacitive force sensors for easy control. You're also getting improved sound with spatial audio, resulting in a more immersive experience, and a MagSafe charging case that provides more than 30 hours of total listening time.The 3rd generation AirPods have a starting retail price of $179 / £169 / AU$279, but you can regularly find the earbuds on sale since their release.

The best AirPods Pro deals

(Image credit: Apple)

In September of 2022, the long-awaited AirPods Pro 2 launched with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. You're getting enhanced noise cancellation and overall sound quality thanks to Apple's new H2 chip and improved in-ear detection and touch controls for volume adjustment. At the 2023 Apple September event, the AirPods Pro 2 received an upgrade and now come with a USB-C charging case, so you don't have to rely on a Lightning cable, plus additional dust resistance and Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro.Thanks to recent holiday sales, we've already seen impressive AirPods Pro deals, with record-low prices reaching $189.99 in the US.

The original AirPods Pro were released in 2019 with a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399. While the earbuds are no longer available to purchase from the Apple store, you can sometimes find the original AirPods Pro on sale at third-party retailers.The AirPods Pro were the first AirPods to include active noise-canceling technology to keep outside distractions away from your music, which is excellent for those noisy commutes or keeping your concentration going at work. The AirPods Pro are also water and sweat resistant, making them much better suited to the gym than the standard AirPods, and they come with multiple tips so you can adjust to the best fit for you.

Check out AirPods Pro deals direct from Apple

The best AirPods Max deals

Apple quietly released the AirPods Max in December of 2020 as Apple's most expensive headphones with a starting price of $549.99 / £549.The AirPods Max not only stand out because of their price, but the Apple headphones also feature an over-ear design, which is a first from the AirPods line. Apple claims the AirPods Max bring the magic of AirPods to an over-the-ear design, which means you're getting Active Noise Cancellation, powerful H1 Chips, and an enhanced audio experience.The AirPods Max also feature a unique design with a breathable knit mesh headband and a stainless steel frame with memory foam earcups for ultimate comfort. The Apple headphones come in several sleek color choices, such as space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink, and provide up to 20 hours of battery life.

Check out AirPods Max deals direct from Apple

How much are AirPods?

The official AirPods' price is $159 in the US and £159 in the UK and $249 in Australia. So you shouldn't pay any more. Although, we have seen some stores cheekily push the price up when stock thins out. If you're looking for the version with the wireless charging case, then prices shoot up to around $199 in the US and £199 in the UK.Expect the usual outlets to charge closer to the MSRP and, better yet, potentially dip below it around the key shopping seasons. Fingers crossed we don't have to wait long for some proper Apple AirPod sales though!As an alternative, there are lots of wireless earphone and headphone deals in our Beats headphone deals page and other brands are covered in our wireless headphone deals page.

What about the original 2016 Apple AirPods?

These models have been discontinued and phased out at most stores now. On the rare occasions that we do spot unused stock units, they're actually the same price as the new and improved 2019 versions.Short version: get the 2019 models instead via one of the deals in the comparison chart above. To be sure they are the new ones, look out for H1 chip and hands-free Siri functionality in the description if the title doesn't say something along the lines of '2019' or 'latest/newest version'.

Should I wait for a cheaper AirPods deal?

You might be waiting a while for seriously big discounts. Last year around Black Friday, we were seeing $20 discounts selling out in minutes, and it was one of the most popular deals we highlighted in our extensive roundups of the hottest offers. We saw similar discounts in the UK too - much better than last year's $7 discount but still no flash sales around right now.Things have actually been better overall this year though with much better deals available in various regions. We're regularly seeing discounts of $15/£20 outside of peak seasonal discounts, so you should be able to beat the recommended asking price to be honest.

Apple fan in general? Then take a look at the latest iPad deals and the best Apple AirTag prices and sales.

GoPro deals are offering up some excellent savings across the full Hero range right now, with the release of the Hero 13 Black and older models dropping even further in price. We've been watching these costs trickle down over the last few months, so anyone on the hunt for a cheap GoPro right now is well-catered for. Those GoPro sales aren't just reserved for those with the big bucks, though, we're also seeing older models taking steep savings these days. From the Hero 12 to the latest entry-level action camera, there are GoPro deals at every budget level available.If you're just after the newest release, however, you're shopping at the right time. The latest GoPro Hero action camera is on our best GoPro camera list, thanks to its affordable price tag of $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99. It's easy to use and features a compact and rugged design with an impressive battery life.We'll explain each model's specs, making it easy for you to compare them all. So whether you're after the smoothest 4K scene shooting or a reliable budget 1080p option, we've got the best GoPro deal for you.

The best GoPro prices right now

(Image credit: GoPro)

1: GoPro Hero Action CameraGoPro's cheapest action camera4K video: up to 30fps | Stills: 12MP | Waterproof: 5m | Battery life: 80 minutes estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99AffordableCompact designSimple to useLimited video options

If you want a cheap and easy-to-use action camera, the 2024 GoPro Hero is a fantastic option, priced at just $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.99. While it lacks some of the high-quality video options that GoPros are known for, the camera does include impressive features such as HyperSmooth video stabilization, ultra HD 4K video, and an LCD touch-screen display. It's also highly compact, with 35% less volume and 44% less mass than the Hero12 Black. It also has a battery life of up to 80 minutes and a rugged, waterproof design of up to 16ft under water.

(Image credit: GoPro)

1: GoPro Hero 12 Black dealsExtra features at a great price5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | Stills: 27.6MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1.5 to 2.5 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $399.99 / £399.99 / AU$649Frequently discountedSuberb stabilizationSupport for Bluetooth audioStill expensive

The GoPro Hero 12 Black was released in 2023 and sat at the top of our best GoPro list before the GoPro Hero 13 was released in 2024. It's feature-packed and still one of the best action cameras you can buy, and it's also frequently discounted thanks to newer releases. Compared to the Hero 11, new features include a 1/4-inch thread mount to handle mini tripods, HDR video capture for improved picture, and support for wireless audio from a Bluetooth microphone. You're also getting GoPro's excellent Hypersmooth stabilization to handle your action shots, 10m waterproofing, and a battery life lasting up to two and a half hours.

(Image credit: Gopro)

1: GoPro Hero 11 Black dealsThe best GoPro action camera for social media5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | Stills: 27MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-2 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $499.99 / £499.99 / AU$799HyperSmooth 5.0 with 360° horizon lock Support for 10-bit videoImproved battery lifeUser friendlyExpensive

GoPro's latest and greatest, the Hero 11 Black, was released in September of 2022 and is no longer available from the official GoPro store. The Hero 11 Black includes new updates over the Hero 11, like the 1/1.9in sensor, which helps boost versatility, including exporting videos in various formats, a feature that will please social media gurus. The Hero 11 Black also includes an improved Enduro rechargeable battery, support for 10-bit video, and HyperSmooth 5.0 for the smoothest and steadiest recording experience. The GoPro Hero 11 Black has a starting retail price of $499.99/ £499.99/ AU$799.95 and is now GoPro's most expensive camera. Thanks to recent holiday sales, we've already seen discounts on the camera, so you shouldn't expect to pay full price.

(Image credit: GoPro)

2: GoPro Hero 10 Black dealsOne of GoPro's best cameras at a discounted price5.3K video: up to 60fps | 4K video: up to 120fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 23MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-2 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$7495.3K at 60fps Snappier menus and interfacePowerful GP2 processorClass-leading stabilization

The GoPro Hero 10 Black launched back in 2021, but it still leads the market with its 5.3K 60fps recording quality and high-powered processor under the hood. Of course, all that grunt comes with a high asking price, and the MSRP here represents a considerable jump over the previous generation Hero 9.You're looking at a maximum cost of $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$749 for this professional level action camera, though we have seen GoPro deals dropping that price to as little as $399 / £379 in the past year. In fact, over the last few months we've been seeing that sub-$400 price position relatively regularly, so you're browsing at an excellent time.

(Image credit: GoPro)

3: GoPro Hero 9 Black dealsAn older generation is seeing some strong discounts5K video: up to 30fps | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 20MP | Waterproof: 10m | Battery life: 1-3 hours estimate | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Launch price: $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699.95Extra detail in 5K Additional front displayImproved batteryNew software tricks

The GoPro Hero 9 Black still comes with a range of new software features, an extended battery life, brand new 5K shooting capabilities, and a front facing display. That's a good list of upgrades that adds more to the value than the Hero 8 Black offered, but you'll find little improvement in 4K shooting here.That 5K option, however, makes up for the stasis of shooting 4K at 60fps. You'll get better clarity and more vivid details with the new shooting mode, and pair that with HyperSmooth Boost (GoPro's latest and most powerful stabilization tech) and it's possible to achieve some amazing footage with the GoPro Hero 9 Black.With all that new tech does come a shift in the GoPro price, with the new model launching for £100 / $200 more than the previous version now sits at. However, if you're shopping in the UK you can save that £100 by picking up GoPro's own launch bundle which offers up a year of the GoPro subscription (unlimited cloud storage, savings on accessories, and warranty replacement) with the new camera for far less than the action cam by itself.

(Image credit: GoPro)

4: GoPro Hero 8 dealsA more affordable GoPro if you can find stockFOV: SuperView, Wide, Linear, Narrow | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | 720p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Battery: 1220mAh | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Excellent image stabilizationFolding built-in mountBetter micNow superseded

This older GoPro was more about internal improvements over radical redesigns. But make no mistake, the GoPro Hero 8 Black is still one of the best action cameras GoPro has ever made.Image Stabilization 2.0 combats the most chaotic of scenes you can throw at it and there's a better microphone on the device now too. The water resistance is a solid 10m and the shock resistance rating of the Gorilla Glass lens cover has been doubled - especially handy if you're likely to make a mess of a landing or take a bit of a beating from the great outdoors.So, it's still a fantastic action camera for 2022, and now with two generations ahead of it there's plenty of room for discounts. You can currently pick it up for around $100 / £100 cheaper than the Hero 9 Black. A very tempting pick if you're not too bothered about the latest features.

(Image credit: GoPro)

5: GoPro Max pricesThe best GoPro with a 360 degree cameraFOV: Max SuperView, SuperView, Wide, Linear, Narrow | 5.6k video: up to 30fps | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | 720p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 16.6MP | Battery: 1600mAh | Launch Price: $499 / £479 / AU$799Film in full 360 modesNow with a proper displayCheap launch priceHero 8 Black has better camera

If you want to film your latest adventures in full 360-degree vision then the new GoPro Max is the action camera you've been looking for. Its launch price is much cheaper than the older GoPro Fusion was on day one too.We're glad to see a proper display screen on the GoPro Max as that was a feature we sorely missed on the older Fusion 360 degree camera. If filming in 360 isn't that high on your priorities, then the GoPro Hero 8 Black is the better camera for you, although the mic quality on the Max is better.The GoPro Max only requires one memory card now and stitches the footage together in-camera, making editing much simpler and the Max HyperSmooth technology does a much better job at leveling the horizon out - as long as you keep up your end of the deal by not flying over the handlebars and into a tree that is.

6: GoPro Hero 7 Black pricesA great camera, with falling pricesFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Linear | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS | Auto low light: Yes | Launch Price: $399 / £379 / AU$599HyperSmooth is a great additionLive streaming featuresTakes better still images tooExcellent value now

For even cheaper still (sometimes), you can sometimes pick up the Hero 7 Black - an older device, but one that still shoots 4K 60fps video, and was the first to feature GoPro's 'HyperSmooth' image stabilization.The resolution and frame-rates may be similar to the older 6 series (we were bound to hit a wall sooner or later), but GoPro HyperSmooth dramatically increases image stabilization with the Hero 7 Black. This motion smoothing technology can be used in numerous shooting modes to record the smoothest possible video running at 60fps. The voice-activated commands are more responsive than older models too. SuperPhoto tech performs automatic improvements on lighting colour and noise-reduction across multiple frames. ProTune options allow you to take the safety wheels off and tweak setting to your own particular style too.Right now, depending on stock levels, the Hero 7 Black can sometimes be picked up for around $50 / £50 cheaper than the Hero 8, and about $130 / £130 cheaper than the Hero 9.

7: GoPro Hero 7 Silver pricesCheaper but lacking some of the latest featuresFOV: Wide | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 15fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS | Auto low light: No | Launch price: $279 / £229 / AU$399Cheaper than the Hero7 Black4K shooting impressesDecent stills capabilitiesOnly 30fps at 4K

Even cheaper still is the GoPro Hero7 Silver - a fantastic budget action camera that still manages to shoot in 4K, albeit at a reduced 30fps.That's the main difference here between the Silver and Hero7 Black, which will of course shoot in 4K and 60fps. So, you're still getting 4K here and this is generally the most widely available cheap 4K GoPro in 2020 but the picture isn't quite as smooth as on the later or more premium models. The 1080p fps capabilities are slightly lower too and you also don't get the new HyperSmooth, SuperSmooth or Live Streaming features either.For the $150 / £150 odd price though, this is still an extremely capable, durable, and waterproof action camera. There are cheaper models available on this page though if some of the features seem like overkill or it's still a bit pricey.

8: GoPro Hero 7 White pricesNo 4K, but very cheap for a GoPro with a touchscreenFOV: Wide | 4K video: No | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 15fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, bluetooth | Auto low light: No | Launch price: $199 / £149 / AU$279Very, very cheapRecords 1080p at 60fpsGreat build qualityNo 4K video

The GoPro Hero7 White is perhaps the cheapest widely available GoPro device that's still around in 2020, going for as cheap as $149 / £149 at the retailers which still have stock. That's seriously cheap for a new GoPro camera, though as you can imagine this is definitely more of a stripped-down basic affair than the newer, more premium entries.This more entry-level GoPro has the main omission of 4K video shooting. You do get a touchscreen though, and plenty of fps for 1080p standard HD resolution. If you'd be happier with 4K shooting instead of a touchscreen though you might be able to get a similar price via one of our highlighted GoPro Hero5 Session deals further down this page.

9: GoPro Hero 6 Black pricesStill worth a look if the price is rightFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 60fps | 1080p video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Captures 4K video at 60fpsImproved image stabilizationWater-resistant without housingStill fairly pricey

If you can find it in stock, and for a decent price (we recommend around $200 / £200), the Hero 6 Black is a flagship of yesteryear that still manages to pack in a ton of quality.This is still an excellent GoPro camera with 4K recording at a super smooth 60 fps (frame per second). Image stabilization is super important given the active lifestyles most GoPros record, so it's great to see this model improve even further on older ones. Even the 1080p recording has been improved with a boost to 240fps - excellent for maximizing those slow-motion shots. We expect the price to drop on this one over time with the new Hero7 Black now on the scene. If the prices are still close though, you may as well opt for the new one.

10: GoPro Hero 5 Black pricesDecent 4K shooting (albeit at 30fps)FOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 120fps | WVGA video: up to 240fps | Stills: 12MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $399 / £379 / AU$599Captures 4K videoTouchscreen for easy controlsWater-resistant without housingOnly 30fps at 4K

The Hero5 Black wass the GoPro we wanted for years. It was the first GoPro to have a waterproof design out-of-the-box, making it more resilient and the camera has enough to make it a convincing update on the older models. The picture quality is better, it has video stabilization and the touchscreen makes it easier to use than any other GoPro before it. Sale items aside, it's often cheaper than the older GoPro Hero 4 Black now too.An oldie, but a goodie, the Hero 5 Black is unfortunately showing its age now but is still a worthwhile pickup if you can score a deal. We definitely wouldn't recommend spending more than $150 / £150 though since there are better, newer options now which are sometimes actually cheaper, depending on stock.

11: GoPro Hero deals (2018 model)Great value for a GoPro with a touchscreenFOV: Wide, Medium, Narrow | 1080p video: up to 60fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 10fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch price: $199 / £149 / AU$279Cheap for a GoProHas a touchscreenGreat HD footageLower availability in 2020

Update: We'd imagine this model is going to be phased out soon despite still being quite new. This is because it's pretty much identical to the ever newer GoPro Hero7 White in terms of capabilities. Actually, it's looking like the Hero7 White is currently cheaper! Always worth keeping an eye on this one though as clearance sales should mean potential discounts.The simply-named GoPro Hero is cheaper than most other Hero models. You're not getting 4K capture options, but you are getting a display and a touchscreen, features many of you might miss from the other budget GoPro option, the GoPro Hero Session. There was an older GoPro Hero released years ago and if you want to avoid getting that one by mistake, avoid models with a big, round, red light on the front as they can pop up in search results. They're not much cheaper, sometimes even more expensive and aren't as good as this 2018 version.

12: GoPro Hero 5 Session dealsThe small, but still 4K-capable GoProFOV: Super view, Wide, Medium, Narrow | 4K video: up to 30fps | 1080p video: up to 90fps | Stills: 10MP | Burst: up to 30fps | Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Auto low light: Yes | Launch Price: $299 / £249 / AU$429Small, unobtrusive designCaptures stabilized 4K videoSeveral new field of view modesOnly 30fps at 4K

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a capable 4K action camera with a minimalist design that pushes the specs to the max within its cube-shaped confines. The Hero5 Session is also a major specs boost for GoPro's tiniest action camera. It now shoots stabilized 4K video and has a variety of new field of view modes. It's more expensive than its predecessor, but it's well worth the upgrade.

13: GoPro Karma Drone prices

Looking to take to the skies with your GoPro camera? There are certainly cheaper camera drones available, but this is one of the best premium setups out there. You can buy the drone on its own (often listed as 'GoPro Karma Light' or 'GoPro Karma with harness'), or get it bundled with the excellent GoPro Hero5 Black camera (some retailers may start to replace these bundles with the more modern Hero6 or Hero7 models instead).We've also included price comparison charts for both below, but you may be able to save a bit of cash by buying the drone and camera separately (check out the various GoPro Hero Black deals near the top of this page). You'll find the best GoPro Karma prices below though.

You might also want to check out the best cheap dash cam deals and sales.

An Arkansas law requiring social media companies to verify the ages of their users has been struck down by a federal judge who ruled that it was unconstitutional. The decision is a significant victory for the social media companies and digital rights groups that have opposed the law and others like it.

Arkansas became the second state (after Utah) to pass an age verification law for social media in 2023. The Social Media Safety Act required companies to verify the games of users under 18 and get permission from their parents. The law was challenged by NetChoice, a lobbying group representing the tech industry whose membership includes Meta, Snap, X, Reddit and YouTube. NetChoice has also challenged laws restricting social media access in Utah, Texas and California.

In a ruling, Judge Timothy Brooks said that the law, known as Act 689, was overly broad. “Act 689 is a content-based restriction on speech, and it is not targeted to address the harms the State has identified,” Brooks wrote in his decision. “Arkansas takes a hatchet to adults’ and minors’ protected speech alike though the Constitution demands it use a scalpel.” Brooks also highlighted the “unconstitutionally vague” applicability of the law, which seemingly created obligations for some online services, but may have exempted services which had the "predominant or exclusive function [of]... direct messaging" like Snapchat.

“The court confirms what we have been arguing from the start: laws restricting access to protected speech violate the First Amendment,” NetChoice’s Chris Marchese said in a statement. “This ruling protects Americans from having to hand over their IDs or biometric data just to access constitutionally protected speech online.”

It’s not clear if state officials in Arkansas will appeal the ruling. “I respect the court’s decision, and we are evaluating our options,” Arkansas Attorney general Tim Griffin said in a statement.

Even with NetChoice’s latest victory, it seems that age verification laws are unlikely to go away anytime soon. Utah recently passed an age verification requirement for app stores. And a Texas law requiring porn sites to conduct age verification is currently before the Supreme Court.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/arkansas-social-media-age-verification-law-blocked-by-federal-judge-194614568.html?src=rss

Apple's ushered in a new continuity feature with iOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4You can now use an iPhone or iPad to help set up your MacWhile relatively small, this could be a huge time-saver

Part of what makes the Apple ecosystem so good – and appealing to newcomers or folks just buying new devices – is the continuity between them, even including set-up. For instance, to set up an Apple Watch or AirPods, just hold the device near your iPhone.Setting up an iPad? Hold it near your iPhone, follow the steps, and scan the glowing blue orb. Setting up a new iPhone? Hold it near your old iPhone. This takes a lot of the manual nature out of a new device setup and even helps authenticate your account.While iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 didn’t bring with them the next major set of Apple Intelligence features, they did bring with them something awesome. And if you are getting a new Mac, planning to get one, or frequently reset your old ones, you’re in for a treat.

As long as you’re up to date – meaning your Mac has the latest version of Sequoia and your iPhone or iPad is running iOS or iPadOS 18.4, you can now set up that new Mac with your other Apple device. Really neat, and it could save you time. As with the speedy setup, you’ll need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled for these two devices to connect.So, what does this quick setup speed up? All-important Wi-Fi credentials, design choices like dark mode or icon size, accessibility features, and more are included. Plus, since you’re authenticating and signing in with your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID), you can elect to turn on iCloud features like a shared desktop, your photo library, Messages in the Cloud, your long list of passwords, notes, and other items.

How setting up your Mac with an iPhone or iPad works

(Image credit: Apple)

Now, the good news is that this whole process really speeds up the setup process for your Mac – and that goes for whether it’s a desktop, like the Mac mini, Mac Studio, or iMac, or a laptop, like the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.You’ll still boot up the Mac and select your language, but then, under the familiar screen that asks “Transfer Your Data to this Mac,” you’ll find a new option:

From a Mac, Time Machine, or startup diskFrom a Windows PCSet up with iPhone or iPadSet up as new

(Image credit: Apple)

That third option – Set up with iPhone or iPad – is what you’ll need to select to do just that. From there, your Mac will then start looking for a nearby device, and you’ll want to unlock your iPhone or iPad and bring it close by.Then just like when setting up a new iPhone or an iPad, a splash screen will appear on the bottom asking if you want to use your Apple Account to “Set Up New Mac.” Simply hit continue and then you’ll scan a pattern displayed on your Mac with your iPhone. That’s the final step for authentication here.After that, you’ll be asked if you want to enable any accessibility settings and then create your Mac account. The last step is a bit of a waiting game as your Apple Account syncs up with your Mac, and then you can wrap up the setup.

(Image credit: Apple)

Basically, you’re speeding through the authentication process and getting some of the previously customized settings associated with your new Mac.It’s nice to have, and if you’ve ever dreaded setting up your new Mac, you might question how you’ve lived without it.

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GL.iNet Slate 7 dual external antennas boost range for stable & extended coverageQuad-core 1.1GHz CPU with 1GB RAM ensures smooth operationUSB-C power supports up to 12V/2.5A for efficiency

GL.iNet has introduced the Slate 7 (GL-BE3600), the first mobile Wi-Fi 7 router, offering high-speed wireless and wired networking for demanding applications like 4K and 8K streaming and video conferencing software.The Slate 7 delivers Wi-Fi 7 speeds of up to 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 2882 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, providing stable, high-speed performance even in crowded areasThe Slate 7 features a Qualcomm quad-core CPU running at 1.1GHz with 1GB of DDR4 RAM and 512MB of NAND Flash storage, while the two foldable external antennas enhance signal coverage, making it one of the best small business routers for both mobility and home networking

Powerful wired connectivity and flexible power options

Weighing 295g, this mobile router includes a 2.5Gbps WAN port and a 1Gbps LAN port for stable wired performance in bandwidth-intensive tasks while also featuring a USB 3.0 port for connecting external storage or a modem to expand its functionality.With its dual Ethernet ports, the Slate 7 can also function as a best network switch solution for users needing reliable wired connections alongside its advanced wireless capabilities.This device supports OpenVPN at up to 100 Mbps and WireGuard at up to 540 Mbps, offering secure and fast connections for remote work or private browsing while integrating compatibility with over 30 VPN services for extensive security options.It also features an interactive touchscreen for managing settings, toggling VPN connections, and monitoring real-time network performance.The device is powered through a USB-C port, supporting inputs of 5V/3A, 9V/3A, and 12V/2.5A, and is compatible with multiple power sources, including laptops, power banks, or smartphones, while maintaining power consumption under 18W (excluding USB usage) for efficiency even under heavy workloads.The Slate 7 supports the installation of plugins via OpenWrt 23.05 with Kernel 5.4.213 for enhanced network management, including traffic monitoring and firewall customization.It also features WPA3 encryption for protection against cyber threats and operates at temperatures between 0–40°C, with storage capability from -20°C to 70°C.The Slate 7 is available for pre-order at $120, with the standard retail price set at $149.90, and the earliest deliveries expected in May 2025.Via TechPowerUp

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3 points

In the wake of the Salt Typhoon attacks that compromised most of the major telecommunications providers in the US, many in the upper echelons of power are pushing for offensive cyber operations against China.The move would model a tit-for-tat strategy, in that China has struck the US, so the US should strike China, and vice-versa until they stop.The difficulty with that strategy, as legendary threat intelligence analyst Marcus Hutchins explains, is that the US is woefully under regulated and underprepared for any escalation of cyber warfare with China.

No scope for cyber war

Despite China’s claims that Volt Typhoon is actually a CIA asset, there is fairly reliable evidence to suggest that all of the ‘typhoon’ groups are Chinese state-sponsored actors, and it was Salt Typhoon that breached the US telecommunications networks by targeting and exploiting systems put in place under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, (or CALEA for short).This act, introduced in 1994, saw all major communications networks have ‘backdoors’ installed to monitor the communications of criminals.However, as John Ackerly, CEO and co-founder of Virtru told me, “It's the same doors that the good guys use, that the bad guys can walk through,” - and walk through they did.Hutchins writes that while the US certainly has the capability to launch offensive cyber operations on China, and would likely see success, the US is not prepared for the retaliation-in-turn that would come next.For example, US critical infrastructure is woefully underequipped to protect against cyber attacks and relies heavily on outdated tech that in some cases hasn’t received an update in over a decade.China and its Typhoons have been mapping this infrastructure for years, probing the defences and checking responses and recovery plans with small scale attacks in preparation for a much bigger strike that could be used should a hot conflict erupt between the two super powers.But equally, Hutchins argues, this large scale attack would be just as effective as a response to US cyber offensives in China, and it can’t be patched any time soon.Thanks to a lack of federal regulations governing cybersecurity in the US, the private sector has been largely left to its own devices to protect itself from cyber attacks, and Hutchins duly notes that its often cheaper for a company to ignore a cyber intrusion than it is to chase them down and evict them from the network.It's also cheaper to continue using outdated tech to run systems than to spend billions of dollars replacing everything and training your staff to operate new systems. Who could’ve guessed that the private sector wouldn’t regulate itself?Now throw into the mix a smattering of federal bodies that, because they are modelled on the US separation of powers, must rely on each other to get anything done.As Hutchins puts it, “Ultimately, cybersecurity in the United States feels like trying to put together a puzzle; except, there’s no picture on the box, each piece has been distributed to a random entity, half of the entities aren’t even willing to disclose that they have any puzzle pieces, and nobody is sure who’s actually supposed to be the one building the puzzle.”What’s more, China’s own regulations for cybersecurity at both the state and private sector levels are fairly robust, and have been for many years more than the US can hope to catch up to.Convincing an administration to establish a body with complete cyber-regulatory oversight in the age of DOGE is one thing, convincing the private sector to spend the ever increasing billions to give their networks even a fighting chance at being resilient is another."Personally, I think that trying to deter China through offensive cyber operations would not only be unsuccessful, but also a huge mistake," Hutchins concludes. "I am not arguing that the US should bow down to China, or that it should not be able to defend itself, only that increasing offense[ive] cyber operations without the defencive capabilities to back them up, is a horrible idea.”

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A hacker claims to be selling data stolen from Check PointSecurity firm says data is from an old breach that has been dealt with But some security experts aren't convinced by this explanation

A hacker is claiming to have stolen a “highly sensitive” dataset from Check Point - but the company is looking to play down any concerns users might have.The cybercriminal, going by the name of CoreInjection, posted about the dataset of compromised Check Point files on a cybercrime forum - and alleges that the information contains user credentials, employee contract information, and internal network maps, among other things.A spokesperson from Check Point told TechRadar Pro that they “really wouldn’t call it a breach”, and added that this was “one account with limited access on a portal”. The firm’s statement assures that this is an “old, known and very pinpointed event,” that only involved a few organizations, and “ does not include customers’ systems , production or security architecture.”

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“If this is completely fake, I’d be surprised”

However, concerns have been raised in the cybersecurity industry, with Hudson Rock CTO, Alon Gal saying that there is a “high certainty” that Check Point has been hacked, with a threat actor appearing to have “gained access to an administrator account with serious privileges.”Whilst the researcher argues he would be surprised, he also explains that the breach is “not yet officially confirmed”.In Check Point’s official response, it confirmed a breach did occur, but that this was a long time ago, and that the hacker is just recycling old information which “falsely implies exaggerated claims which never happened.”“This was handled months ago, and didn’t include the description detailed on this message. These organisations were updated and handled at that time, and this is not more than the regular recycling of old information. We believe that at no point was there a security risk to Check Point , its customers or employees,” the spokesperson told us.In 2024, Check Point VPN software was targeted by hackers in order to gain access to corporate networks, although these attempts were largely unsuccessful, and Check Point outlined a simple and easy fix.Via The Register

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The Washington Post reports that members of the White House's National Security Council have used personal Gmail accounts to conduct government business. National security advisor Michael Waltz and a senior aide of his both used their own accounts to discuss sensitive information with colleagues, according to the Post's review and interviews with government officials who spoke to the newspaper anonymously.

Email is not the best approach for sharing information meant to be kept private. That covers sensitive data for individuals such as social security numbers or passwords, much less confidential or classified government documents. It simply has too many potential paths for a bad actor to access information they shouldn't. Government departments typically use business-grade email services, rather than relying on consumer email services. The federal government also has its own internal communications systems with additional layers of security, making it all the more baffling that current officials are being so cavalier with how they handle important information.

“Unless you are using GPG, email is not end-to-end encrypted, and the contents of a message can be intercepted and read at many points, including on Google’s email servers," Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation told the Post.

Additionally, there are regulations requiring that certain official government communications be preserved and archived. Using a personal account could allow some messages to slip through the cracks, accidentally or intentionally.

This latest instance of dubious software use from the executive branch follows the discovery that several high-ranking national security leaders used Signal to discuss planned military actions in Yemen, then added a journalist from The Atlantic to the group chat. And while Signal is a more secure option than a public email client, even the encrypted messaging platform can be exploited, as the Pentagon warned its own team last week.

As with last week's Signal debacle, there have been no repercussions thus far for any federal employees taking risky data privacy actions. NSC spokesman Brian Hughes told the Post he hasn't seen evidence of Waltz using a personal account for government correspondence.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/national-security-council-adds-gmail-to-its-list-of-bad-decisions-222648613.html?src=rss

SpaceX apparently wants to block Globalstar's access to some satellite frequenciesGlobalstar receives Apple funding to help expand iPhone's satellite featuresApple and SpaceX may have previously failed to make a deal over a collaboration

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Apple are reportedly in a spat that could ultimately lead to spotty signals for services like Starlink and iPhone satellite communications or a homogenous monopolistic satellite service – neither of which would be great for anyone.The report comes from The Wall Street Journal (behind a paywall) who say sources familiar with the matter claim SpaceX is pushing US federal regulators to not allow Apple-funded satellite service Globalstar to expand its usage of limited satellite radio frequencies.This comes after SpaceX and Apple have reportedly been in conversations to more closely collaborate on Apple’s growing satellite communication service, but with talks ending with no direct deal – instead SpaceX and T-Mobile will be able to offer their alternative to Apple’s satellite service on iPhones (with the service due to debut this summer).Apple instead wants to rely on non-SpaceX networks to support its own satellite communication features – but if Musk’s company gets its way, Apple may struggle to expand without SpaceX’s backing.

Reach for the stars

A Starlink dish allowing internet access in a remote place (Image credit: Starlink)

As a quick and simple explanation: all satellites send signals to Earth using radio frequencies, and so to ensure service reliability, many parts of the world will license specific frequencies within the radio spectrum on a regional basis. This is to ensure two companies with satellites operating in the same place don’t get their signals all muddled together because they’re trying to use the same frequency.SpaceX (or any other satellite company) would want to try and control as many of these frequencies as possible because it allows it to send more data, or send data more quickly – which ultimately leads to a better service for its customers.But one company locking down too many frequencies in a region stops other companies from being able to offer satellite services there – leading to frustrating dead zones – or forces them to offer a worse service there because they can only use a limited band of frequencies. For consumers it also could lead to price gouging, as the service with the most (or total) satellite signal control can charge what it wants.This latest contest over satellite frequencies likely won’t be the last, but it highlights an issue with this important communication frontier.Getting reliable internet and signal service to remote services can only be a good thing – as we’ve already seen from people using their iPhone’s Emergency SOS via satellite tool to call for help when they had no other option – but if it isn’t handled with care we could end up with an overly fractured network or one that’s controlled by a lucky few that got there first.

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I review the best camera phones, but I recently bought myself a dedicated camera. I carry a Galaxy S25 Ultra and an iPhone 16 Pro daily, yet I just bought a camera that's intentionally simpler.My phones boast optical zoom up to 5X and digital reach well beyond that. I chose a camera with a fixed lens and a field of view slightly wider than my natural vision.I'm continually impressed by what the best camera phones achieve, but Samsung, Apple, and every phone maker could learn a lot from a camera like the Fujifilm X100VI and today’s best point-and-shoot cameras.

An iPhone 16 Pro (left) with a Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

My Galaxy S25 Ultra has five cameras, and the iPhone 16 Pro has four. Their largest sensors barely top three-quarters of an inch diagonally. The smallest, for the periscope zoom, are minuscule: 0.4 inches (Samsung) and 0.33 inches (iPhone).My Fujifilm X-T5 uses an APS-C sensor – smaller than a full-frame (35mm film size) but still around 1.12-inches diagonally. That dwarfs any smartphone sensor.The largest smartphone sensors currently are the one-inch sensors used by makers like Oppo and Xiaomi. Curiously, these aren't found in models you can buy in the US.

Camera phones do the opposite of what they should

Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Why this focus on sensor size? Because it's the spec that really counts, especially on phones where the difference between the smallest and largest sensors is vast, not marginal.So why don't Samsung or Apple use a full frame sensor? They demand power and physical space – luxuries smartphones lack.Unfortunately, smartphones often make the opposite error. Instead of one great sensor, they cram in so many tiny sensors that none produce genuinely memorable images.It’s ambitious what smartphones attempt. Today’s best range from wide-angle (near 18mm) to telephoto (200mm+), with a wide f/1.6 aperture and macro focus. You can buy an 18-200mm camera lens, but not a lens that is this fast (even f/2.8) without spending thousands.Every smartphone chases the holy grail: an ultra-wide to super-telephoto zoom with microscopic focus. It's unrealistic. To chase it, makers cut corners, yielding phones technically capable but often failing to capture keepers – photos worth saving, printing, and cherishing – real photos.

Apple and Samsung, meet my new friend Fujifilm

Fine details and soft bokeh, shot with my Fujifilm X-T5 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Fujifilm gets it. The camera world is buzzing about the Fujifilm X100VI – it's the blueprint smartphones should follow. It uses a large APS-C sensor and a fixed 23mm lens (a 35mm equivalent). It captures phenomenal photos.No magic here. Fujifilm pairs a great sensor with a versatile prime lens. A fixed lens often means fewer elements, yielding sharper, brighter images. With its 40MP, you can crop digitally and still have a print-worthy resolution.

Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my Fujifilm X-T5Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my iPhone 16 ProImage 3 of 3(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Shot with my Galaxy S25 Ultra

I crave this from camera phones: one large sensor, not five tiny ones. One superb lens, not a jumble of folded glass and pinholes. Use the space saved from extra sensors for one real camera with a resolution for digital zoom.The big problem with the Fujifilm X100VI is that you can't buy one. Every reputable retailer has the camera back ordered for months, and the aftermarket is rife with shady scams or folks selling the camera at a 25% markup.

Taking smartphone photography to the edge

Like this, but make the camera really good (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

That leaves an amazing opportunity for the smartphone market to step in with a stylish phone that focuses on high-quality photography instead of winning a spec war with megapixels and zoom.Ironically, the rumored thin smartphones might nudge things this way. We've seen Samsung's teased Galaxy S25 Edge with only two rear lenses. The latest iPhone 16e uses just one, with a wide f/1.6 aperture, but its sensor remains small. Still, closer.Give me an iPhone 17 with a massive sensor and a single wide lens – I’d be ecstatic. Forget the megapixel race and the lens count. Just give me light, captured beautifully through one great eye.

Right now, AI is the dumbest it will ever be. I hear that line all the time.Our favorite adjectives of “unprecedented” or “exponential growth” can’t quite capture the pace at which AI is learning, iterating, and advancing. The models that wow us today might be rudimentary tomorrow.It’s both a scary and thrilling thought. Scary, when we think of regulations playing catch up, the computational bandwidth it might require, and ensuring tech stack agility. But thrilling when we think of the innovation, scale, and productivity just on the horizon. For now, let’s focus on the latter.One of the most notable “up-and-coming” sectors of AI is in conversational voice and chat. Right now its market valuation is at $5.8 billion. In three years it’s expected to hit $31.9 billion – a 450% increase.AI-powered agents offer a level of precision in customer engagement we haven’t seen before. They’re simultaneously analyzing historical and behavioral data while keeping the natural flow of conversation – even understanding the nuance of a well-timed pause on a phone call.These capabilities seem incredible today, but as we know, the bar keeps getting higher. What advancements can we expect from conversational AI agents in the near future?

Adapting with human sentiment and responding to emotional cues

Sentiment is tricky to pick up on. Something as simple as receiving a one-word text can spark a moment of uncertainty – is this person upset? Is it just their style of communication? Usually, we navigate this by relying on our lived experiences and the context of the conversation.Can AI do the same?In the past, sentiment analysis was usually done by categorizing words as either positive, negative or neutral (i.e., a polarity score), which created a framework for AI to learn within. Businesses could then analyze social media comments or product reviews at scale to gauge brand sentiment.Now, advanced machine learning algorithms are starting to go beyond these preset categories. It can understand how sarcasm changes the meaning of a normally positive word – e.g., the difference between an enthusiastic or jaded “wow” – or sense someone’s urgency in their rapid responses. In text, AI can look at punctuation or even historical data to glean emotional subtext; like the difference between “that’s great!” versus “that’s just great…”By picking up on these subtle emotional cues, AI could start to adjust its responses in real time. This could range from simply acknowledging a person’s frustration to recognizing replies are becoming gradually more delayed, hinting at a waning interest. By weaving in predictive analytics, AI agents could even start to connect sentiment to things like churn or lifetime values.Emotionally intelligent AI isn’t a net-new concept – in 1995 Rosalind Picard, an MIT lab professor, published “Affective Computing” on the subject. But this once-futuristic sounding idea is now within reach. It’ll be interesting to see customers' reaction. Emotionally intelligent AI can create better customer experiences, but will an AI agent that’s too perceptive come across as eerie and off-putting? I imagine, much like personalization, its effectiveness will ultimately come down to transparency and customer trust.

AI representatives in the metaverse

When generative AI catapulted into the spotlight it pulled focus from another burgeoning technology and channel: the metaverse. Described as a digital playground and a virtual marketplace, the metaverse is reimagining everything from how we purchase products, to education, and collaboration.Just look to Roblox, the virtual 3D gaming platform worth ~$49 billion, whose growth has predominantly been organic. Its success has cemented immersive, digital experiences as a channel worth investing in. The NFL, Walmart, and Paramount all saw the potential in Roblox to reach new audiences and blend entertainment and commerce.Even luxury brands are following suit. Gucci has created several metaverse experiences, like their 2023 Gucci Cosmos Land hosted in The Sandbox. As part of the experience, visitors could explore themed rooms, complete quests, and even purchase digital Gucci clothing. (It was reported that Gucci made over 1 million in revenue by selling digital items through Cosmos Land.)I expect we’ll continue to see brands build in the metaverse, whether it’s a digital equivalent of a physical storefront or a standalone virtual experience. And AI agents will play a pivotal role. They could be personal shoppers, tutors, or run a 24/7 virtual concierge desk. With advanced language models, AI agents could switch between languages and incorporate accessibility features to make experiences more accessible and inclusive.Even more meta, consumers could have their own AI agents acting on their behalf, like evaluating the best product or offer from multiple brands at once. It’s a completely new dynamic.However, AI representatives will only be as effective as the data (and the data architecture) behind them. Real-time personalization hinges on the ability of an AI agent to process multiple data streams in milliseconds – analyzing everything from purchase history to user intent.There might even be certain scenarios where a customer needs to share sensitive information (e.g., payment details, their home address to coordinate shipping, etc.). Success in the metaverse will depend not just on creating engaging experiences, but on maintaining user trust and compliance through responsible and privacy-conscious data handling.

Closing thoughts

Conversational AI is redefining how and where customers interact with brands. In the coming months or years, I expect conversational AI will become increasingly multimodal – able to process and respond to things like spatial awareness, a person’s tone and speech patterns, and even subtle cues like body language and gestures with greater precision.The use cases we’re already seeing are brimming with potential, from top-tier customer service to integrating AI voice assistants into cars to help with navigation or even monitor driver fatigue.When we think of what’s possible, there’s often a far-off feeling attached. But AI is rapidly reducing the time between idea and implementation. That horizon, of what AI will be capable of, is much closer than we think.

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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