TechRadar News

• Samsung could unveil a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 this year
• A new leak claims it will debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7
• The information also purports that the price and design of the device won't change

A new leak claims that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could debut in July 2025 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, with no design change or price increase in sight.

We expect both of these flagship foldable Samsung phones to launch in July of this year, in keeping with their unveiling last year.

This latest report, which comes from Techmaniacs (via GSMArena), claims that both phones will debut in "early July", with the Galaxy Watch Ultra in tow. "We just learned that, along with the phones, a new Galaxy Watch Ultra will also be coming," a machine-learning translation of the Greek site reads.

According to the report, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will feature "a similar design to the current watch, but with more storage space" and a new user interface "more reminiscent of One UI 7."

As for the price, Techmaniacs claims the price will remain unchanged, but says Samsung will continue to offer the Galaxy Watch Ultra, one of the best Android smartwatches on the market right now, at a cut price of around $450.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 coming soon?

We've been expecting the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to debut this July for some time. It's perfectly natural if Samsung plans to make the model a yearly release, so there's no reason to dismiss the launch rumor at face value. However, we should take the rest with a pinch of salt. Techmaniacs is a lesser-known publication with a limited track record.

More specifically, its only previous foray in Galaxy Watch rumors – a claim the Ultra would be called the Galaxy Watch X – turned out to be hilariously wrong.

There's good reason to think Samsung won't try and increase the price of the Ultra 2, however. The first model is very expensive by Android smartwatch standards, crucially, however, it undercuts the Apple Watch Ultra 2, a key differentiator Samsung will be keen to keep.

All in all, this is a fairly plausible set of rumors, but not to be taken as gospel. Indeed, if Samsung is planning a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in July, we've only a matter of weeks to wait for the real thing. More information is sure to unfurl in the meantime.

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• Marvel has announced a comic-book tie-in for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
• The prequel story reveals how long Marvel's First Family has had their superpowers for
• A new Lego leak has also revealed a first full look at the movie's villain, Galactus

Marvel has announced a comic-book prequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps – and it reveals some crucial lore about the iconic quartet ahead of their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut.

Per Marvel.com, the literary tie-in will be released on July 2, i.e., just three weeks before The Fantastic Four's next big-screen adaptation takes flight in theaters globally.

The comic book, which has been penned by Matt Fraction and drawn by Mark Buckingham, also represents a first for the comic giant. Indeed, this marks the first time that Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics have collaborated on any literary tie-in for an MCU project.

First Steps' comic precursor features a callback to Marvel's First Family's debut on the page, too. Its Phil Noto-designed cover art is a near-identical replica of the group's first-ever comic – The Fantastic Four #1, which was released in November 1961 – that shows the iconic quartet battling Giganto.

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That isn't the most interesting tidbit hidden within this one-shot comic's pages, though. The prequel story reconfirms that First Steps won't be an origins story, as it reveals that the superteam will have been operating as heroes in their universe for four years by the time the Marvel Phase 6 film begins.

For those who might not realize it, the comic book also doubles down on the fact that First Steps won't be set in the MCU. Some fans already knew this following the unveiling of a Fantastic Four poster in February 2024 and Marvel teasing some key story details about the flick last April. In June of last year, Marvel President Kevin Feige confirmed that First Steps would be a period piece, too, with the movie being set on a parallel dimension's Earth in the 1960s.

A Galactus-sized leak or a mini spoiler?

Galactus is coming! (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Potentially big spoilers follow for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

That wasn't the only news concerning The Fantastic Four over the weekend (April 26-27).

On Saturday, one eagle-eyed fan snapped two images of a First Steps Lego set that revealed the first full look at the MCU movie's villain Galactus, who'll be voiced by The Office UK star Ralph Ineson.

76316 Randomly appears on the shelves in Tbilisi, Sakartvelo (credit: gionoir) from r/Legoleak

The photographs were uploaded to the Lego Leak Reddit page by lunaym_moscor, who credits a Georgia-based fan known online as gionoir with taking them.

The official box art shows the titular group battling the cosmic entity on the streets of New York City, and suggests Marvel has retained Galactus' iconic look from the comics. It seems that potentially disgruntled Marvel fans won't have anything to complain about when it comes to Galactus' design in Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, then.

As I wrote earlier, this is the first proper look we've received, albeit in Lego form, of Galactus. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first teaser and First Steps' official trailer have only teased what the planet-devouring extraterrestrial will look like.

However, with one of 2025's most anticipated new movies only months away from being released, leaks like this are inevitable as physical stores start to stock their shelves with toys ahead of the film's release.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released worldwide on Friday, July 25. While we wait, read about everything we know so far in my dedicated hub on The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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• Microsoft has finally made Recall available on Windows 11 for Copilot+ PCs – it’s rolling out with the April preview update
• Click to Do is also generally available now, as is an AI-supercharged version of Windows 11’s basic search functionality
• The latter improved search feature is what might interest many Copilot+ PC owners

Microsoft has finally unleashed its Recall feature on the general computing public after multiple misfires and backtracks since the functionality was first revealed almost a year ago.

In case it escaped your attention – which is unlikely, to say the least – Recall is the much talked about AI-powered feature that uses regularly saved screenshots to provide an in-depth, natural language search experience.

Microsoft announced that the general availability of Recall for Windows 11 is happening, with the feature now rolling out, albeit with the caveat that this is for Copilot+ PCs only. That’s because a chunky NPU is required to beef up the local processing power on hand to ensure the search works responsively enough.

Alongside Recall, the 'Click to Do' feature is also debuting in Windows 11 for Copilot+ PCs, which is a partner ability that offers up context-sensitive AI-powered actions (most recently a new reading coach integration is in testing, a nifty touch).

There’s also a boost for Windows 11 search in general on Copilot+ laptops, which now benefits from a natural language approach, as seen in testing recently. This means you can type a query in the taskbar search box to find images of “dogs on beaches” and any pics of your pets in the sand will be surfaced. (This also ties in cloud-based results with findings on your device locally).

Microsoft further notes that it has expanded Live Captions, its system-wide feature to provide captions for whatever content you’re experiencing, to include real-time translations in Chinese (Simplified) covering 27 languages (for audio or video content).

It’s Recall that’s the big development here, though, and while Microsoft doesn’t say anything new about the capability, the company underlines some key aspects (we were informed about in the past) regarding privacy.

Microsoft reminds us: “Recall is an opt-in experience with a rich set of privacy controls to filter content and customize what gets saved for you to find later. We’ve implemented extensive security considerations, such as Windows Hello sign-in, data encryption, and isolation in Recall to help keep your data safe and secure.

“Recall data is processed locally on your device, meaning it is not sent to the cloud and is not shared with Microsoft and Microsoft will not share your data with third parties.”

Furthermore, we’re also reminded that Recall can be stripped out of your Copilot+ PC completely if you don’t want the feature, and are paranoid about even its barebones being present (disabled) on your PC. There are instructions for removing Recall in this support document that also goes into depth about how the functionality works.

All of this is being delivered to Copilot+ PCs starting with the April 2025 preview update, which is out now. However, note that for certain regions, the release timing of the new features may vary. The European Economic Area won’t get these abilities until later in 2025, notably, as Microsoft already told us.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: The real gem for Copilot+ PC owners

The arrival of Recall is not surprising, because even though it’s been almost a year since Microsoft first unveiled the feature – and rapidly pulled the curtain back over it for some time, after the initial copious amounts of flak were fired at the idea – it was recently spotted in the Release Preview channel for Windows 11. That’s the final hurdle before release, of course, so the presence of Recall there clearly indicated it was close at hand.

I must admit I didn’t think it would be out quite so soon, though, and a relatively rapid progression through this final test phase would seem to suggest that things went well.

That said, Microsoft makes it clear that this is a ‘controlled feature rollout’ for Copilot+ PCs, so Recall will likely be released on a fairly limited basis to begin with. In short, you may not get it for a while, but if you do want it as soon as possible, you need to download the mentioned optional update for April 2025 (known as the non-security preview update). Also, ensure you’ve turned on the option to ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available’ (which is in Settings > Windows Update).

Even then, you may have to be patient for some time, as I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft was tentative about this rollout to start with. There’s a lot at stake here, after all, in terms of the reputation of Copilot+ PCs.

Arguably, however, the most important piece of the puzzle here isn’t Recall at all, although doubtless Microsoft would say otherwise. For me – if I had a Copilot+ PC (I don’t, so this is all hypothetical, I should make clear) – what I’d be really looking forward to is the souped-up version of Windows 11’s basic search functionality.

Recall? Well, it might be useful, granted, but I have too many trust issues still to be any kind of early adopter, and I suspect I won’t be alone. Click to Do? Meh, it’s a bit of a sideshow for Recall and while possibly handy, it looks far from earth-shattering in the main.

A better general Windows search experience overall, though? Yes please, sign me up now. Windows 11 search has been regarded as rather shoddy in many ways, and the same is broadly true for searching via the taskbar box in Windows 10. An all-new, more powerful natural language search could really help in this respect, and might be a much better reason for many people to grab a Copilot+ PC than Recall, which as noted is going to be steered clear of by a good many folks (in all likelihood).

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft’s own research (add seasoning) suggests this revamped basic Windows 11 search is a considerable step forward. The software giant informs us that on a Copilot+ device, the new Windows search means it “can take up to 70% less time to find an image and copy it to a new folder” compared to the same search and shift process on a Windows 10 PC.

Of course, an improved search for all Windows 11 PCs (not just Copilot+ models) would be even better – obviously – and hopefully that’s in the cards from an overarching perspective of the development roadmap for the OS. The catch is that this newly pepped-up search is built around the powerful NPU required for a Copilot+ laptop, of course, but that doesn’t stop Microsoft from enhancing Windows search in general for everyone.

Naturally, Microsoft is resting a lot of expectations on Copilot+ PCs, though, noting that it expects the ‘majority’ of PCs sold in the next few years to be these devices. Analyst firms have previously predicted big things for AI PCs, as they’re also known, as well.

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• Photos of iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro dummy units have leaked
• Going by these images, the iPhone 17 Pro looks large and chunky
• Despite having a sleeker design, the iPhone 17 Air is predicted to not sell as well

We’re still months away from the likely September launch of the iPhone 17 series, but we’ve already seen many images purported to show dummy units of these phones, giving us a good idea of their possible designs.

The latest such images have been shared by leaker Majin Bu, who's posted images said to show an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit and an iPhone 17 Pro one.

They don’t really show us anything that earlier leaks haven’t already, but you can see that the iPhone 17 Air looks quite sleek, while the iPhone 17 Pro has a huge camera bump, and looks like it might be larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which it’s shown next to in one image.

As ever, we’d take these images with a pinch of salt, as while these dummy units could be based on official information there’s no guarantee of that. However, they do match up with previous leaks, and, going by most of the leaks we’ve seen so far, the iPhone 17 Air arguably looks more visually appealing than the Pro. But that might not translate into better sales.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro in comparison pic.twitter.com/CGpxJSysGMApril 26, 2025

Substance over style

According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman in his latest newsletter for Bloomberg (via PhoneArena) the iPhone 17 Air is unlikely to “set any sales records”. That doesn’t mean it will be a failure – Gurman predicts that it will outsell Apple’s Plus and mini models, but he expects the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will prove the most popular.

That’s not particularly surprising though. Apple’s Pro handsets tend to outsell the other iPhone models, and while the iPhone 17 Air may well be the most stylish of the iPhone 17 series, it will probably be far from the best when it comes to specs.

Leaks have suggested that the iPhone 17 Air will have just one rear camera, for example, and there are also concerns over how good its battery life will be, given the likely very limited space for a battery.

Coupled with a probably fairly high price, the iPhone 17 Air could be a tough sell for anyone who cares about specs as much as design.

We probably won’t find out exactly how capable or popular the iPhone 17 Air is until September; but, given how extensively it and the other iPhone 17 models have already leaked, we’d expect to learn lots more unofficially in the meantime.

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The digital and physical worlds are increasingly intertwined, amplifying both the complexity and stakes for cybersecurity and risk management leaders. On top of that geopolitical tensions are escalating and regulatory requirements are evolving, which means SRM leaders need to move their organization beyond reactive security models.

Today, SRM leaders are integrating geopolitical awareness, cyber deterrence, and AI-driven security into their cybersecurity strategies, so they can swiftly counter threats and ensure operational continuity and resilience, protecting not just systems, but the trust and stability that fuel organizational success.

The growing influence of geopolitics on cybersecurity

Geopolitical instability is no longer a backdrop – it’s a direct driver of security decision-making. Gartner predicts that by 2029, geopolitics will be a significant consideration in security programs managed by global organizations. Three key forces drive this shift: regulatory fragmentation, increased cyber risks from third parties, and the growing importance of cyber resilience.

Governments worldwide are enforcing stricter data sovereignty laws, compelling businesses to reassess cloud computing strategies and third-party relationships. Regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and the US Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act illustrate how businesses need to now navigate increasingly stringent compliance mandates. Failure to comply can result in penalties, disruptions, and weakened market positioning.

Cyber deterrence: a proactive paradigm

Traditional cybersecurity strategies focus on detection and response, but this reactive model has limitations. Cyber deterrence is an underutilized strategy with transformative potential for mitigating cyber risk before attacks occur. Unlike conventional security measures, deterrence discourages attacks by increasing the perceived costs for adversaries, aligning with their motivations for profit and anonymity.

Deterrence measures include automated domain takedowns, bug bounty programs, and deception technologies such as honeypots. These tactics disrupt adversaries’ ability to conduct reconnaissance, execute attacks, or operate within compromised environments. By 2027, over 75% of large enterprises deploying deterrence tactics will expand these measures, creating new benchmarks for operational resilience.

Despite its potential, cyber deterrence remains underdeveloped in most organizations. Many businesses mistakenly conflate deterrence with active countermeasures, such as “hack back” strategies. However, effective deterrence does not require retaliation—it focuses on shaping adversary behavior by exploiting their motivations, including financial incentives, anonymity concerns, and operational costs.

The third-party cyber risk conundrum

One of the most overlooked risks in cybersecurity is the growing reliance on third-party vendors. Every supplier, cloud computing provider, and outsourced service introduces potential vulnerabilities, and many businesses lack full visibility into their extended attack surface. Traditional third-party cyber risk management (TPCRM) approaches – lengthy security questionnaires and periodic audits – are proving insufficient in today’s fast-moving threat landscape.

Organizations need new ways to assess and monitor third-party risk in real time. Tools like generative AI (GenAI) are beginning to play a role in automating risk assessments, identifying anomalies, and flagging potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. But adoption remains slow, and many security teams are still struggling to allocate the resources needed to manage third-party threats effectively.

Building a resilient cybersecurity framework

The ability to anticipate, withstand, and recover from cyber disruptions determines whether an organization can maintain operations in an increasingly volatile world.

Building resilience requires SRM leaders a shift in mindset to include:

1. Assess Geopolitical Risks: Analyze how global and regional dynamics impact both business operations and security programs and integrate into current planning.
2. Adopt Cyber Deterrence Tactics: Leverage tools like automated deception and domain takedowns to proactively counter threats, dissuade attackers and limit their ability to operate.
3. Strengthen Third-Party Risk Management: Focus on business continuity and compensating controls to mitigate vulnerabilities in extended ecosystems.
4. Implement GenAI for Cybersecurity: Invest in AI capabilities to address resource constraints and enhance efficiency and precision in threat detection and response.
5. Promote Crypto-Agility: Prepare for evolving cryptographic standards to ensure long-term data security in the face of advancing threats.

The path forward

The convergence of geopolitical risk, third-party vulnerabilities, and technological disruption presents a complex challenge—but also an opportunity. As cybersecurity evolves, SRM leaders that prioritize resilience, deterrence, and collaboration in their organization will be better positioned to navigate this dynamic landscape.

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

The UK government’s recently announced ban on public sector ransomware payments has received mixed reactions from industry.

With the aim of removing the financial incentives that fuel ransomware attacks and making public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure less attractive targets, the policy marks a significant step in the fight against cybercrime.

But the introduction of this new policy has not come without criticism. While supporters acknowledge that ransom payments reward criminals and fund more crime, others warn that it could lead to negative consequences such as promoting a secondary black market or impacting ransomware reporting.

Cybersecurity is a complex web with no straightforward solution. While it’s positive to see new ideas being explored, industry experts and policy makers must act with caution and consider all possible consequences before implementing measures to address security risks.

Loopholes in the ban

The legislation seeks to prohibit payments from public sector bodies, but organizations may seek out ways around the restrictions to enable the recovery of their services, minimize financial impact of an attack, or even ensure that their customers data is not leaked to the world.

One potential loophole is the use of overseas bank accounts or third-party intermediaries to facilitate payments without direct involvement. If I were a firm with offices in the UK and Germany, what’s to stop me using my German entity to pay? Or using a third party that I pay back for ‘security services rendered’? Loopholes will be found that businesses can exploit, meaning the ransomware ban will lose its effectiveness and essentially create an uneven playing field for organizations.

The dilemma of payment

Ransomware already provides an ethical dilemma for CISOs. None want to pay, recognising it for promoting the continuing cycle of cyber attacks, however many are hesitant to sign a blanket non-payment policy, fearing that in extreme circumstances, they may need to break it to ensure the survival of their organization.

This ban will amplify that dilemma for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and business leaders.

For organizations facing ransomware attacks, the reality is grim: pay the ransom and recover access to critical systems or refuse and risk prolonged service outages and uncontrolled data spills.

Will the government step in to support businesses that suffer from prolonged disruptions? How about if they face a stark choice between payment and business survival? And what if an organization is responsible for providing life-saving or critical public services, does the government bear some responsibility in ensuring operational continuity?

These are critical questions that remain unanswered.

CISOs may be hesitant to sign a blanket non-payment policy, fearing that in extreme circumstances, they may need to break it to protect their organization. A rigid stance against payment may be ideal in theory, but in practice, businesses need flexibility to respond to complex and evolving cyber threats.

Impact on intelligence gathering

Another significant concern is the impact on information sharing. If businesses are legally stopped from making ransomware payments, they may choose to mislabel such attacks or avoid reporting ransomware incidents altogether to avoid scrutiny or potential penalties. This would enable them to have more flexibility in their response.

This could have severe consequences for cybersecurity intelligence. Reduced reporting means a lack of visibility into attack patterns, techniques, and emerging threats – this could inadvertently benefit cybercriminals in the long run.

Bypassing the ban does not come without risk, however. Secretly paying a ransom could drive the emergence of a secondary blackmail market, where attackers threaten to expose victims who choose to pay in secret.

Organizations may find themselves not only negotiating with cybercriminals for data access but also facing extortion threats over the payment itself. This added layer of complexity could lead firms into worse financial situations, all in their attempts to restore their service in the most effective manner.

A roadmap forward

A rigid stance against payment may be ideal in theory, but in practice, businesses will demand flexibility to respond to complex and evolving cyber threats as they see fit – enabling them to manage the complex risks and issue that follow a cyber attack – such as service restoration and data privacy.

It’s evident that we should strongly dissuade firms from paying ransomware demands, however a need for flexibility is what businesses really need. As such, perhaps the government could embrace a model that permits a controlled path for payment in exceptional circumstances.

Firstly, mandatory reporting of ransomware attacks to a suitable authority should be enforced, regardless of whether a payment is made. This would ensure comprehensive tracking and analysis of ransomware incidents, contributing to a more robust understanding of the threat landscape.

If a firm wished to pay a ransom, this could be permitted but only with the express approval of UK government or National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This would keep track of the payments and provide oversight on regular victims who would benefit from resilience improvements.

Businesses should also be required to provide staff with proper training and education around cyber-attacks, ensuring they are ready to react appropriately if an attack occurs.

A measured response is needed

While the government's ban on ransomware payments aims to reduce the financial incentives behind cyberattacks, it also presents several critical issues. Payment dilemmas and impacts on intelligence gathering, for example, must be addressed.

A collaborative effort between businesses and the government, with mandatory reporting, flexible payment options and required training, is needed. By providing the necessary tools, support and a clear protocol for reporting and response, organizations can better navigate the complexities of ransomware attacks.

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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

I’ve come around on Nothing. Since its first device in 2022, the smartphone startup has provided an interesting but limited range of phones, mimicking the Google Pixel catalog in its small but mighty lineup. Nothing’s handsets are led by a strong commitment to aesthetics, both inside and out – and for a long time I thought it was extra and a bit cringe. That’s all changed with the brand’s latest release. I’ve come to love the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – and consider it a proper Pixel A rival.

Let me set the scene for why the (3a) Pro impresses me so much. For the past four years, Google has dominated the affordable-premium segment of the phone market. The company’s Pixel A range of devices, released typically around five to six months after its Pixel flagships, have long been considered so good that they've been worth placing alongside the top end Pixel Pro device. In 2024, with the Pixel 8a, the phone entered the premium segment after a price rise in some territories, though in others it’s still considered a mid-ranger.

This price increase diminished the Pixel A series’ value, and helped the Samsung Galaxy A55 (and this year's Galaxy A56) take the crown for best mid-ranger. Today in the affordable-premium segment, where handsets like the iPhone 16e and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE reside, the Google Pixel 9a is one of the less expensive picks – though it’s now seeing serious competition from smaller phone makers, with Nothing a great example.

Compared to the Google Pixel 9a, Nothing has two aces up its sleeve. The first is its focus on customization, and even though its phones lean more on blacks, whites and dot-based designs in widgets and menus, you’re able to unleash a fair amount of creativity when it comes to the lock and home screens.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Nothing’s cooked up the first phone to successfully pull me away from the Google Pixel A – and for the exact same reasons that I loved Google’s affordable-premium phones to begin with. Both manufacturers provide a comfortable off-ramp for Apple users looking to try something familiar (but ultimately not an iPhone) without an eye-watering price tag. Nothing’s real edge is its unique aesthetic and, despite offering lower performance than other affordable-premium phones when put through raw benchmarks, adequate day-to-day power that never left me wanting.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro feels like a pleasantly deviated interpretation of the ‘Apple but on an Android’ aspiration. The operating system is sleek, with a monotone-focused aesthetic that’s both recognizable and pleasant, while cutting down on bloatware.

On top of this, Nothing has an ace up its sleeve – the (3a) Pro isn’t your only option, and if you don’t mind trimming down on some camera capabilities and processing power, the standard 3a is also a worthwhile pick. We’ve previously compared the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro to the standard Phone (3a), and found them far more similar than different.

The Google Pixel 9a remains a great phone and I’ve enjoyed using it so far (and I’ll be writing an article on my experiences soon), but I’m left just so impressed with what Nothing has done here.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Beating Google at its own game

Customization has been a bit of a focus for phone companies as of late. Samsung and Apple both introduced sweeping aesthetic overhauls with their recent operating system versions, which I reflected on in my iPhone 16e and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra articles, and there’s more to it than just throwing on a fresh coat of paint – it’s about empowering the user to put their own spin on their device. Google understood this well when it introduced Material You back in 2021 as part of the Android 12 platform, and for this focus the Pixel range became the aesthetic heartthrob of the industry.

Nothing has obviously built upon Material You as it offers Android phones, but it’s done so with an uncompromising aesthetic. Apple and Google offer fairly neutral colours that could be appreciated by a wide audience, but Nothing wants you to commit to the monotone bit. You don’t have to – you can color the OS anyway you want – but this phone looks so damn gorgeous when you’re sticking to the blacks and whites.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The startup also offers some decent levels of customization that put it well ahead of many contemporaries, including a focus on icon packs (or Material You coloring), lock screen editing (with tons of room for widgets) and even the ability to toggle Google’s search bar on or off.

Nothing’s widgets are the most impressive part of this; they’re broadly interactive and there are many shipped with the base OS, including a compass, a step tracker and a ‘News Reporter’ that uses a choppy, AI-generated voice of Nothing’s CFO Tim Holbrow to read the latest news stories to you. (I personally think this is a crass implementation of AI that degrades the value of narrators and reporters alike, but maybe that’s just me.) My personal favorite is the in-built media player widget, which feels leaps ahead of any similar widget offered on a Samsung or Google device.

Moreover, similar to Google’s own handsets, there’s a pleasant lack of bloatware, with only Google apps and a small slew of Nothing’s own apps preinstalled.

Adding to this, Nothing’s assuming you’ll start to treat your phone a little differently than usual: there’s an extra button on the side of the phone that’s used for taking voice memos.

Hold the button and you’ll start recording – good for putting down reminders on the fly, which you can then access by double pressing the button, which launches the dedicated Essential Space app. To make navigation to your reminder easier, a screenshot is taken at the moment you begin recording, which is then used as the icon for your memo.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It’s a handy feature that I love the idea of, but I’d honestly prefer the ability to change that button to trigger another app – similar to the Action Button found on newer iPhones. Technically you can do this with a third party app like Key Remapper, but it’s such an obvious feature that it’s perplexing it’s not officially supported.

Nevertheless, it’s here, and whether or not you use it is down to your personal preferences.

Hardware where it matters (and some where it doesn’t)

The Nothing (3a) Pro has a great hardware offering that puts it in decent competition with other phones in its segment. Though its screen is lower resolution than many rivals, and it scores lower on benchmark tests, its display is noticeably bigger than most rivals and it has a brilliant camera array that I’ve come to love.

Originally I went into this article expecting the Phone (3a) Pro to blow the Pixel 9a out of the water in terms of processing power, but no, the Pixel 9a remains competitively robust at the lower-end of the affordable-premium price range. Google’s been improving its Tensor chip year-on-year, though it’s still a long way before it stands shoulder to shoulder with Samsung and Apple.

The Phone (3a) Pro really isn’t a phone for any intensive use – such as gaming, as indicated by the GPU-intensive 3D Mark test results. Despite this, Nothing has made meaningful strides in physical areas. The large screen speaks for itself – I barely notice the resolution difference, but I sure appreciate having more screen space. The UI is, as already discussed, very flexible, and despite lower benchmark scores and less impressive specs, this never translated to hangups in day-to-day use or unimpressive battery life.

I also appreciate the photos the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is able to capture. Close-up shots lack much of the macro detail that Google has gotten extremely good at snapping, but apart from that, these photos look brilliant, though with a bit more color injected into them than with a Pixel phone.

Image 1 of 6

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Here are some comparison photos from the Google Pixel 9a:

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I’m very impressed that Nothing has offered such a powerful array of cameras at this price point. This is normally Google’s bread and butter and while the Pixel range continues to lead on close-up detail, it’s cool to see Nothing pull off some great results.

It’s not all rosey, though. Those impressive cameras are in large part thanks to a gigantic camera housing, which protrudes far and wide out of the back of the phone. I recommend purchasing a case to help minimize the bulge.

Additionally, and how could I forget, the Phone (3a) Pro comes with Nothing’s signature Glyph system – a set of lights across the back that flash to note a text coming through, an alarm going off, or flash when music plays. It’s a cool but limited feature, and although it’s one of Nothing’s drawcards (and the lights can be useful when holding the phone up to dimly lit spaces, like when I’m looking at the insides of my computer), I just can’t get too excited about it. I honestly find it a little pointless. Sorry!

So should I buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Nothing’s cooking here – the Phone (3a) Pro is now my preferred affordable-premium smartphone, a category I denote as a cut below flagship handsets and sporting the same name with an affordability indicator (e, a, FE, etc). I recommend it to anybody considering the Pixel 9a, the iPhone 16e or the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

That being said, these are all really good phones and each device has advantages in areas where others are lacking. I personally think that the unique styling of the Nothing (3a) Pro should be enough to draw you in, but it lacks the comfortable neutrality of Apple’s iOS or Google’s own version of Android.

It’s certainly worth considering if you want to detox from the big three, and if you can nab it on sale, it’s all the better. (I’ve already spotted it on sale in Australia but I can’t speak for other markets).

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• A massive DDoS attack was recently detected during a major NHL event
• Attack grew from 67Gbps to nearly 1Tbps in twenty minutes
• Multivector strike used UDP, SYN, IP, and TCP flood techniques

Cybersecurity firm Qrator Labs has claimed it successfully mitigated the largest DDoS attack so far recorded in 2025.

The April 3 attack targeted an unnamed online betting organization, lasting around 90 minutes, starting at 11:15 with a surge of 67Gbps, before escalating sharply to 217Gbps by 11:23, and peaked just short of 1Tbps at 965Gbps by 11:36.

Activity then slowly decreased to 549Gbps by 12:41, with the attack ending shortly afterwards. The DDoS attack was multivector in nature, featuring a peak of 965Gbps in UDP flood, 229Gbps in SYN flood, 214Gbps in IP flood, and 169Gbps in TCP flood.

Sporting events are major targets

Qrator notes that the attack happened on the same day that NHL star Alexander Ovechkin scored his 892nd goal, tying Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record. Ovechkin’s achievement was likely the trigger for the attack as the online betting sector is especially vulnerable during major sporting events.

A similar attack pattern was spotted during the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, held in Germany, where spikes in DDoS activity also targeted online betting sites.

“This new incident is a clear reminder that major industry-specific events can be exploited by malicious actors. Companies that work with them, such as online betting platforms, must prepare in advance to defend their digital infrastructure when attention is at its peak,” said Andrey Leskin, Chief Technology Officer at Qrator Labs.

With major sporting moments drawing massive audiences online, betting platforms continue to be a prime target for coordinated attacks such as this one.

Other noteworthy sporting events set to take place this year, which could prove to be a target for similar DDoS strikes, include the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

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• Google says UWB for Find My Device is coming soon
• There's been a 4x speed increase since last year
• Testing by The Verge shows some problems with coverage

Google gave the Android Find My Device network a significant upgrade last year, with improved support for third-party trackers and offline location access, and it sounds like another important update is almost here.

Speaking to The Verge, Android product manager Angela Hsiao said that support for ultra wide-band (UWB) technology would be coming "very soon" to Find My Device, which essentially enables a much more precise form of tracking.

If you're using a UWB-enabled device to locate another UWB-enabled device – so searching for an AirTag with an iPhone, in the Apple ecosystem – you get guided almost exactly to the right spot. You'll know the lost gadget is behind the sofa, not just somewhere inside your house, for example.

Earlier this month, signs hidden in the code for Find My Device suggested that UWB might soon be supported, and it seems that a launch is now imminent. We know Google I/O 2025 gets underway on May 20, and we may hear more about UWB then.

The need for speed

Google hasn't yet launched its own AirTag equivalent (Image credit: Future)

The Verge also ran some pretty comprehensive tests of the current state of the Find My Device network. Google's tech seems to perform as well as the Apple equivalent now, but only in busy areas with a lot of activity (and passing gadgets to locate lost items).

In more remote areas, the coverage and tracking time seems less than optimal, though it varies depending on the tracker used and the specific scenario. Bear in mind that Google doesn't yet have its own-brand version of the Apple AirTags, though the rumors are that some might be in the works.

Based on Google's internal testing, Hsiao says, the network is able to locate items around four times faster than it could when the major 2024 upgrade was rolled out – so it's getting better, even if it's not quite caught up to Apple yet.

For UWB to work, you also need a phone with the technology when you're looking for something, but a lot of the best Android phones now come with the technology on board (including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro).

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• Managers say AI boosts output, but they are still worried it could spark unrest among anxious workers
• More bosses think humans are irreplaceable, but AI might still change their pay
• Fear of AI hasn’t faded, even as daily use of the tech slightly declines

AI has shifted from a novelty to a mainstay in many workplaces, but its rise continues to stir concern among employees, new research has claimed.

A survey of 3,000 managers by Beautiful.ai revealed while managers generally see AI tools as a useful asset, most workers remain uneasy about their implications.

According to the survey, nearly two-thirds (64%) of managers believe their employees fear AI will make them less valuable, and 58% say staff are worried these tools could eventually cost them their jobs.

Human jobs appear secure, but only to an extent

Despite these concerns, workers may take some comfort in knowing that managers are becoming more cautious about replacing people with machines. Compared to last year, 15% more managers (now at 54%) oppose the idea of using AI to replace workers.

Only 23% believe that replacing workers with AI would benefit their company, while 63% feel their teams wouldn't function properly without human roles.

However, the tension around AI goes beyond potential job loss. Managers cited “fear of the unknown” and employee resistance as key challenges when introducing AI tools.

There is still cause for concern, as AI continues to evolve. 71% of managers said AI performs on par with, or better than, a novice manager. Even so, most believe AI excels at tedious or repetitive tasks but still falls short when it comes to high-level decision-making.

Managers primarily use AI to boost productivity and improve efficiency. For example, many of the best HR software and recruitment platforms now integrate AI features to help streamline hiring and internal processes, without fully replacing human judgment.

That said, salary remains a sensitive issue. While fears of AI-driven pay cuts have eased slightly, 41% of managers still see AI as a threat to wages. Increased efficiency could mean fewer roles or broader responsibilities for individuals, potentially lowering pay for others. In some cases, AI-assisted tasks may also be valued less.

While most human roles appear safe for now, the nature of work may change as AI becomes more embedded in daily operations.

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Finding a good outdoor projector for summer parties can be challenging. Bright sunlight can really hamper picture quality when viewing outdoors during the day, and while some projectors can handle the outdoors in the evening, the picture can still look a little washed out as it’s never truly pitch black outside.

What can help with this? Super-high brightness, of course. So, when Anker announced its new 3,500 ANSI lumens Nebula X1 portable 4K projector, which it touts as an ‘outdoor projector’, it caught my interest. Not only because Anker has produced some of the best portable projectors, but because its predecessor, the Anker Nebula Mars 3, is a solid outdoor projector, though comparatively dim with its 1,000 lumens rated brightness.

Another thing that caught my attention was the Nebula X1’s bespoke, wireless speakers (part of its optional accessory kit), which promise a more immersive audio experience than what we’re used to getting from the best projectors. With summer approaching here in the UK, I was glad to get a chance to see the Nebula X1 in person.

A bold, bright image

The Anker Nebula X1 displayed a bright image throughout my demo. (Image credit: Future)

I caught a demo of the Nebula X1 in a screening room in London’s Soho Hotel. While the demo itself was short, it was clear that the projector’s 3,500 ANSI lumens made a difference in the demo video, primarily showing forests, natural landscapes and animals.

The greens of the trees and forest looked punchy and vivid, and the contrast was surprisingly powerful, giving the trees greater perceived depth. The balance of light and dark between a leopard’s yellow fur and black spots created the same sense of depth. The picture was crisp with the right level of sharpness, making textures look mostly natural.

Although we didn’t get to see the Nebula X1 outside or with Dolby Vision HDR content (which the Nebula X1 supports), it was still clear that the projector would do a decent job in brighter viewing conditions.

Wireless speakers add more

Despite their small size, the Nebula X1's wireless speakers sounded clear and immersive. (Image credit: Future)

While the Nebula X1 can be used with the best soundbars, the company developed wireless speakers to pair with it. The speakers, each of which contains a 40W amp plus up and side-firing drivers powered by 2 x 20W, create a 4.1.2-channel surround sound system with the X1 itself serving as a subwoofer. This was demoed at the event with a Dolby Atmos video.

The sound was immediately surprising. I was sitting a few rows up and back from the projector and speakers, and even then, surround effects such as a chirping bird in a jungle and heavy rainfall seemed to come from behind and above me. There was a solid sense of bass in the soundtrack’s rumbling thunder as well. Finally, the system sounded clear regardless of what was played through it, adding another layer to the Nebula X1 experience.

The speakers themselves are small and extremely portable, which made the sound they produced during the demo all the more surprising. These could be a game-changer for those looking to up the quality level of their outdoor movie nights.

The party projector to beat, but at a cost

The Anker Nebula X1 comes with microphones aimed at karaoke. (Image credit: Future)

A pair of wireless microphones is included in the X1’s accessory bundle, one of which was used to give the presentation I attended. Their real purpose, however, is for karaoke, adding to the projector’s summer party vibe.

Of course, the X1 is not just all about outdoors and summer parties (which come later in the year for our Australian readers). From what I briefly saw and from what I’ve come to expect from Anker’s projectors, it will still make a great addition to a home theater setup.

(Image credit: Future)

Cost is something to consider here, however. The Nebula X1 is by no means cheap for a portable projector, launching at $2,999 / £2,199 (roughly AU$4,695) for the projector itself and $999 / £499 (roughly AU$1,564) for the accessory bundle, meaning you’ll be paying $3,998 / £2,698 (roughly AU$6,260) in total for the full package. (There is a package offer for $3,298 in the US until June 20th, one month after the X1’s May 20th launch date.)

That makes the X1 a pricey ‘portable’ projector, one that’s in line with the Hisense PX3 Pro ultra-short-throw (UST) projector, and even a top-end OLED TV in a 65-inch screen size. But the X1’s optional speakers, and features such as Dolby Vision HDR support, almost put it in its own category.

While we haven’t fully reviewed the X1, based on my first impressions, it could be an excellent all-around projector for outdoor parties and indoor movie nights. We’ll have to see how it fares when we get one in and put it through our usual tests.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #1189).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1190) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

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

Quordle today (game #1190) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1190) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1190) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

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

Quordle today (game #1190) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• J

• A

• F

• B

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

Quordle today (game #1190) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1190, are…

• JAUNT
• ALLOW
• FRUIT
• BURNT

I gambled that today’s first word began with a rare appearance by the letter J for JAUNT rather than a common or garden letter T for TAUNT. From here, R-U letter combinations speeded me up, leading to FRUIT and BURNT.

The final word came to me by sounding out the letters I had (A-L-O) – resulting in ALLOW. No errors after my start words, but far from easy.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1190) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1190, are…

• MOURN
• WHINY
• PUPAL
• TAMER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #420).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… My bad!

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BLADE
• NUMB
• DIAL
• POWER
• STEAL
• HOOPS

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 8th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #421) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #421, are…

• SPILL
• TOPPLE
• SLIP
• FALTER
• BLUNDER
• STUMBLE
• SPANGRAM: WHOOPSIE DAISY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I am such a clumsy person that if I enter a store filled with breakable objects I will immediately reverse back out. Once, fearful of my propensity towards calamity, I removed my backpack in a souvenir store and in the process it grazed against a display of lucky china cats, which cascaded to the floor, breaking about six of them.

I did not BLUNDER through today’s search, though. In fact, it was one of the easiest for a while and one of those rare editions of Strands where finding the hint words for this page was tougher than finding the answers.

The Spangram was quite a throwback, the sort of thing an elderly aunt might say. It wasn’t what came out of my mouth when I knocked over those cats and cursed myself for life.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, April 27, game #420)

• MASK
• EARPLUGS
• MELATONIN
• MEDITATION
• MOUTHGUARD
• SPANGRAM: BEDTIME

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #686).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #687) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MOUSSE
• DRAIN
• BARE
• TIRE
• HAIR
• BORE
• TIRE MARK
• EXHAUST
• PLAIN
• SPRAY
• SPARE
• FIBER
• WAX
• SIMPLE
• FINGERPRINT
• GEL

NYT Connections today (game #687) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: For styling
• GREEN: Pared back 
• BLUE: Vital evidence
• PURPLE: Pooped

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #687) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS 
• GREEN: AUSTERE 
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE 
• PURPLE: WEARY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #687) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #687, are…

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, WAX
• GREEN: AUSTERE BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, SPARE
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE FIBER, FINGERPRINT, HAIR, TIRE MARK
• PURPLE: WEARY BORE, DRAIN, EXHAUST, TIRE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking car parts could be a common thread today, with EXHAUST and TIRE leading my thinking. Instead, it was the other meaning of both those words that made up a group.

I’m staggered that I got a purple group so early in the game. Usually it’s the quartet that baffles me and that I solve last when there are no other alternatives, but today it seemed rather obvious.

CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE was trickier, but thoughts that they were all things that could identify us led me to connect this group.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, April 27, game #686)

• YELLOW: CALCULATOR BUTTONS EQUALS, MINUS, PERCENT, TIMES
• GREEN: AMOUNTS OF HAIR LOCK, SHOCK, THATCH, TUFT
• BLUE: SALTY SNACK UNIT COMBO, GOLDFISH, RUFFLE, TAKI
• PURPLE: SWEDISH ____ CHEF, FISH, MASSAGE, MEATBALL

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• New DJI Mavic 4 Pro image leaks have appeared
• It looks like two extra sensors could be added
• We also get a preview of the combo accessory packs

Our DJI Mavic 3 Pro review will tell you that we have been hugely impressed with the flagship consumer drone DJI launched in April, 2023 – awarding it five stars out of five – and newly leaked images give us a really good look at its 2024 successor.

These pictures come from well-known tipster @Quadro_News (via Notebookcheck), and there are a lot of them to work through. As well as seeing the drone itself from a variety of angles, we also see some of the accessories that will be available with it.

As far as the design goes, it doesn't look as though much will be changing this year. However, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with a couple of extra sensors to work alongside the LiDAR tech for better obstacle avoidance.

It looks as though the new drone will get Fly More and Creator combos as well, just like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and these additional batteries, cellular dongles, propellers and other accessories. The inclusion of ND (Neutral Density) filters suggests this tech won't be built into the drone itself, as had been previously rumored.

Earlier leaks and rumors

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro launched in April 2023 (Image credit: Future)

The DJI Mavic Pro 4 had previously been tipped to launch on April 24, and a quick glance at your calendar will tell you that didn't happen. However, it shouldn't be too long now before all of this is made official.

We've also heard that the new drone is going to be sold for $2,250 when it appears, which is just a touch higher than the $2,199 / £1,879 / AU$3,099 price of the drone it's replacing – though combo packs and accessories will of course cost you extra.

Another earlier leak gave us a good look at the triple-camera module that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with. It also appears that the propellers are going to get some design tweaks to enable quieter operation and a longer flight time.

All in all, this seems like a pretty substantial upgrade from the 2023 version, and these latest image leaks mean we now have a much better idea of what's coming. As soon as anything is made official, we'll let you know.

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The Steam Deck is pretty cool, isn’t it? You may be wondering where I’ve been all this time, if I’m only just finding out about the brilliance of Valve’s handheld gaming PC. The truth is that I was waiting to see what the Nintendo Switch 2 had to offer before deciding if I’d get aboard the hype train. Now, after seeing exactly what’s coming on June 5, I think I’m happy to skip Nintendo’s upcoming console.

Very briefly, a word on prices. Because while I feel the backlash is entirely valid (especially when it comes to the cost of Switch 2 games), it’s been said more than enough times already. And it’s not the main reason my interest in the new console has plummeted.

It’s more the fact that the Steam Deck is just too damn good. It also helped that I paid £249 (about $370) for it through the Certified Refurbished Steam Deck program.

There’s always a concern with buying secondhand that you'll end up with an inferior product. But, as I found with my experience of the eBay Certified Refurbished program, steps have been taken to make these products as close to as good as new as possible for buyers.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived in a plain but functional box and included a surprisingly sturdy carry case. The handheld itself looked in top condition, free of any marks, scratches, nicks, or dents that might indicate it had been used or returned. Performance has been excellent, too, well in line with what you’d expect from a new system.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived with this useful carry case included (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

So, if you have any doubts about the quality of a Valve Certified Refurbished Steam Deck, then take my word for it – I was very impressed by the quality and condition of the handheld. I would have guessed it was a completely brand-new Steam Deck if I hadn’t known otherwise.

Decked out

Now, onto what it’s actually like to use. I’m sure fellow Deck owners will agree that it’s glorious, right? SteamOS is beautifully presented and easy to navigate, and a considerable number of games are verified and well-optimised to work on the system. Sure, you may have to make to graphical concessions here or there, but with the games I’m playing, that’s rarely an issue.

Given I now do most of my gaming on the PS5 – and my PC is still rocking an ancient GTX 1060 – I’ve been out of the loop with PC gaming for a good five years. I did miss the variety and inventiveness of many smaller games or indie darlings that never make their way to the major consoles, or don’t do so for many years down the line.

That was a huge draw of getting the Steam Deck: to play these unique, interesting and often fascinating games in reasonably good quality without needing to sit at the same desk I’d just worked at for the last eight hours.

It’s been a blast uncovering all the surprise gems of UFO 50, enjoying the explosive chaos of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, and reminding myself of the mystifying nature of the original Tomb Raider trilogy.

I've tried a whole array of games on the Steam Deck I might've otherwise missed (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

Adding my GOG and Epic Game Store library (mostly freebies I’ve claimed over the years just because I can) has also been a breeze, but an even bigger win has been setting up PS5 Remote Play so I can stream from the console to the Deck, much like the PS Portal. That’s been a huge bonus to chip away at monumental 100+ hour RPGs that Metaphor: Refanzaio without hogging the TV from my partner every evening.

While that would’ve been possible with the PS Portal, instead of spending £200 on that dedicated piece of hardware, I can also access my entire PC games library for just £50 more.

I’ve experienced all of that in the few dozen hours I’ve had with the Steam Deck so far. I know there’s even more to look forward to when I dig even further into my back catalog to finally play some of those Steam sale impulse buys from years ago, or rediscover a classic I thought I wouldn’t return to without a gaming PC.

Switched off

I weighed all of that up with what was shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase.

There’s a new version of Mario Kart that looks perfectly fine, an unexpected but welcome outing for DK in Donkey Kong Bananza, a surprising From Software exclusive in The Duskbloods, and the long-awaited release of Metroid Prime 4.

Alongside that is a lot of excitement about an online chat feature (that also works best with an extra camera accessory), a paid-for tech demo in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and various upgrade fees to play last-gen games at a better performance level.

Will I miss not playing the latest Mario, Metroid, or Zelda? For sure. But it seems many of these games will still be playable on the old console too, even if I have to fight with my OG Switch’s pathetic battery life. And, ultimately, there’s already so much awaiting on the Steam Deck that I don’t think I’ll be missing out on too much.

• AMD may be prioritizing price over specs with the Radeon PRO W9000’s 32GB limit
• AMD Radeon Pro W9000 targets real-world professionals rather than AI-heavy data science workflows
• With a 356mm² die size, the Radeon W9000 could still punch hard in real-world tasks

AMD is set to expand its workstation GPU lineup with the imminent release of the new Radeon PRO W9000 series, built on the RDNA 4 architecture. This chip is aimed at professionals working in demanding fields such as video editing, 3D rendering, and AI development.

A leak from Hoang Anh Phu claims the lineup will include a 32GB model based on the new Navi 48 XTW architecture.

AMD is supposed to be chasing Nvidia, but the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell boasts an enormous 96GB frame buffer and 24,064 CUDA cores. This is far beyond the 32GB configuration that AMD appears to be offering, suggesting the Radeon PRO W9000 may be targeting professionals who don’t require large datasets and instead value performance per dollar, along with efficiency and affordability.

Is AMD switching its approach?

As with all unconfirmed rumors, the details should be taken with a grain of salt - but if accurate, the leak suggests a shift in how AMD prioritizes performance relative to cost. The previous-generation Radeon PRO W7900 featured 48GB of memory, so the 32GB - likely GDDR6 - is a reduction.

While the capacity is lower, the Navi 48 XTW die, measuring 356mm², is still expected to deliver performance improvements across a wide range of tasks.

It is also likely to bring benefits to CAD workloads, CGI rendering, and real-time simulations, areas where the best laptops for video editing or Photoshop also show gains.

The chip is expected to come in XL, XT, and XTX variants, each tuned for different professional needs. The XTW model is believed to feature hardware enhancements optimized for pro workflows, making it a strong option for users needing a GPU for production-grade tasks.

As Phu, a known hardware leaker, noted, “It’s not as beefy as the last generation, but pricing remains key.”

One remaining question is software support. RDNA 4 does not yet have full integration with AMD’s ROCm platform, which is critical for AI and machine learning developers.

Although final specs and an official name are still under wraps, all signs point to a strategic reveal aligned with Computex 2025 and AMD’s “Advancing AI” event in June 2025.

Via Toms Hardware

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• Adata Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card needs a special reader for full performance
• 1,600MB/s speeds push this SD card beyond UHS and Express 7.0
• ECC error correction and durability features protect data in harsh conditions

Adata has introduced the world’s first SD 8.0 Express memory card, alongside a high-speed USB flash drive and a tool-free M.2 SSD enclosure, targeting mobile professionals and content creators who demand top-tier portable performance.

The Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card features a PCIe Gen3 x2 interface and adopts the NVMe protocol. It offers 512GB of storage and delivers read speeds of up to 1,600MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,200MB/s.

Those numbers aren’t just high for an SD card - they put it in direct competition with many of the best portable SSDs on the market. It also easily outpaces high-performance microSD cards.

Designed for 4K, RAW, multitasking

Adata says the card doubles the speed of the SD Express 7.0 standard and leaves UHS-I and UHS-II cards far behind.

The Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express card is designed for durability, offering resistance to shock, water, static, and extreme temperatures. It also features LDPC ECC error correction to safeguard data integrity.

With support for the U3 and V30 video speed classes and a 512GB capacity, the card is aimed at creators who need speed and reliability in a compact form - particularly for 4K video, RAW photography, and mobile editing workflows.

One key limitation is that the SD 8.0 Express format requires a compatible reader to unlock its full performance. Standard SD card readers won’t support its maximum throughput.

In addition to the SD card, Adata also unveiled the UE720, a USB 3.2 Gen2 flash drive delivering read and write speeds of 550MB/s and 450MB/s, respectively. It is available in capacities up to 256GB and features a compact, mobile-friendly design.

Rounding out the trio is the EC680 M.2 SSD enclosure, which offers tool-free installation and transfer rates of up to 1,050MB/s via a Type-C interface. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and modern gaming consoles.

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• Chinese researchers have developed super-fast non volatile flash memory
• Graphene channel enables 400 picosecond write speed and persistent storage
• "PoX" device targets AI bottlenecks with low power, high speed performance

A research team in China has developed what claims is the fastest reported non-volatile semiconductor memory device to date, with a write speed of one bit every 400 picoseconds.

The unfortunately named “PoX” (Phase-change Oxide), is a two-dimensional graphene-channel flash device developed at Fudan University in Shanghai.

The team built the device using a Dirac graphene channel combined with a charge-trapping stack. It operates faster than the system-level access times typically associated with volatile memory types like SRAM and DRAM, which usually fall between 1 and 10 nanoseconds. A picosecond is one-thousandth of a nanosecond.

Paving the way for its future applications

Volatile memory like SRAM and DRAM offers high speed but loses data when power is removed. Non-volatile flash retains data without power but tends to operate at higher latencies, often in the tens of microseconds at the NAND level. This makes it less suited for low-latency workloads such as AI inference. The PoX device aims to bridge that gap by combining speed and persistent storage.

The graphene-based device uses a two-dimensional hot-carrier injection mechanism. Its thin-body structure enhances horizontal electric fields, improving carrier acceleration and injection efficiency. At 5V, it achieved write speeds of 400ps and maintained performance over 5.5 million cycles. Long-term retention tests showed data stability over a simulated 10-year period.

“By using AI algorithms to optimize process testing conditions, we have significantly advanced this innovation and paved the way for its future applications,” said Zhou Peng, lead researcher of the study.

"Our technology breakthrough is expected to not only reshape the global storage technology landscape, drive industrial upgrades, and foster new application scenarios, but also provide robust support for China to lead in relevant fields."

Liu Chunsen, also involved in the research, said the team has created a fully functional chip and now aims to integrate it into existing devices.

“The next step involves integrating it into existing smartphones and computers,” he said.

“This way, when deploying local models, we will no longer encounter bottlenecks such as lagging and heating caused by existing storage technology.”

Via Nature

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• Canalys reveals over a third of SMBs have no clear plan to leave Windows 10 behind
• Shockingly, 14% of SMBs don’t even know Windows 10 support is ending soon
• Lack of upgrade plans could cost SMBs more when tariffs and demand spikes hit hard

Microsoft has repeatedly announced it will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 - however, a surprising number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are still unprepared.

A poll conducted by Canalys revealed over a third (35%) of channel partners said their SMB customers are either unaware of the Windows 10 end-of-service (EoS) deadline or have no plans to upgrade their PCs.

Of that 35%, 21% of SMB customers are aware of the impending Windows 10 EoS but have no upgrade plans, while 14% are completely unaware. Given the security and compliance risks of operating outdated systems after support ends, this lack of awareness and preparation is alarming.

What will this mean for SMBs and users?

On the other side of the spectrum, 30% of SMB customers are aware and currently evaluating upgrade options, while only 35% have actively planned to upgrade their systems.

This means nearly two-thirds of SMBs remain passive or uncertain in their approach to the upcoming change. Unfortunately, many businesses do not treat EoS management as an ongoing responsibility, an outlook that urgently needs to shift.

“For customers in these situations, the delay in planning means they are likely to face a higher cost environment when the time comes to refresh their PC fleets,” said Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys.

The firm added global business PC shipments rose 9.4% year-on-year to reach 62.7 million units in Q1 2025, but despite this hardware growth, many businesses are still lagging behind in software preparedness.

The end-of-service will leave millions of business laptops without updates or security patches. Dutt also warned that, as higher tariffs take effect, "subsequent quarters this year are likely to see a slowdown" as prices rise and demand softens.

Businesses waiting much longer may face supply constraints just as endpoint security becomes more critical than ever.

While Microsoft still has work to do in making Windows 11 more appealing, that doesn’t change the reality of Windows 10’s looming deadline - here is a six-step countdown to Windows 10 EoS and how to prepare for it.

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