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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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, May 1 (game #1193).

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 #1194) - 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 #1194) - 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 #1194) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1194) - 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 #1194) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• R

• M

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1194) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1194, are…

• CAUSE
• RISEN
• MACAW
• SMELT

It took me a little while to get MACAW, but this small drawback aside I didn’t suffer from experimenting with my start words.

RISEN was my only gamble today – it could have been RISER – with the other two words gifted to me almost complete after my 15-letter opening.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1194) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1194, are…

• CRUDE
• MOLAR
• KNEAD
• CURVY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• 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

• Google Messages is bringing new design upgrades to its UI
• These include a PDF preview feature and an improved landscape mode
• We might also get an 'Unsubscribe' function for spam messages

It seems like Google has been working on improving the UI of its platforms. It’s just given its YouTube smart TV app a big upgrade, and now it looks like its Google Messages service is getting some much-needed attention too. Though the future of Gemini’s integration with Google Messages remains a mystery, Google has added even more non-AI related upgrades to its messaging app.

Following a series of tests for useful upgrades, Google has introduced four more UI changes, which have been spotted by Android Authority. Three of these have appeared in an APK teardown and the fourth is already available in the latest beta version.

These changes in Google Messages don't just offer an aesthetic boost, but they also provide long-awaited answers to questions that users have been asking for a while, and could improve your visual navigation of the Google Messages app.

1. A more balanced landscape mode

(Image credit: Android Authority )

The first of the four upgrades is a small adjustment to landscape mode in Google Messages. For a long time, users have found that Google Messages can look a little off when tilted and used in landscape mode, with the width of the chat screen being much larger than the width of the messages list.

This is one of the changes that Android Authority spotted in its teardown. It reveals that Google could possibly fix this in the near future, by making both sides of the screen even in size.

2. Previews for PDF files in RCS messages

When it comes to viewing media in RCS chats, videos and shared URL links come with a visual preview showing the reader a brief snippet of the shared content without opening the file. But many users have noticed that this doesn’t apply to PDF files shared in Google Messages.

An additional code has been found by Android Authority showing that this is another improvement that Google could be bringing to its Messages service, following in the footsteps of competitor messaging apps such as WhatsApp, which already offers PDF previews. However, Android Authority states that PDF files that require an access password will not have a preview.

3. An ‘Unsubscribe’ button to prevent SMS and RCS spam

Less a design feature and more a new managing tool, 9to5Google has spotted that Google could be implementing a new ‘Unsubscribe’ feature aimed at stopping unwanted SMS texts or RCS chats from business senders. This upgrade appears in the most recent release of Google Messages, and 9to5Google notes that it applies to:

• RCS for Business messages in the United States, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
• SMS or MMS messages in the United States from short codes (phone numbers with 5-6 digits) and alphanumeric senders.

The new button has been spotted above the text field at the bottom of chats, and in the conversation’s overflow menu.

This is how the new Unsubscribe feature looks when unsubscribing from RCS messages (Image credit: 9to5Google) 4. Changes to main action buttons

The final upgrade is a very minor change to Google Messages and is already available in the latest beta version: Google has added text to its main call, video, contact info, and search action buttons. We’re assuming this new addition is to provide a visual aid for users, making it easier to distinguish between these different functions.

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• Microsoft announced legally binding European Digital Resilience Commitment
• 200 data centres will be operated by Microsoft across the EU by 2027
• A new Deputy CISO for Europe has also been appointed

Microsoft has come out and opposed to any US government orders to suspend European cloud operations, viewing such a move as highly unlikely but a real and relevant concern.

In a blog post, Microsoft President Brad Smith confirmed the company would sue if ordered to halt services in Europe amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes.

"We are committing that Microsoft will promptly and vigorously contest such a measure using all legal avenues available," Smith declared.

Microsoft is committed to serving Europe amid trade wars

In the article, Smith laid out five key commitments Microsoft is making to European customers, promising "digital stability" and "to uphold Europe’s digital resilience."

Noting the "mutual economic growth and prosperity" that trans-Atlantic ties enable, Smith explained the company is "pleased" both President Trump and the European Union have reached an agreement to suspend further tariff escalation.

Microsoft's first commitment is that it will continue to expand cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe, increasing data center capacity by 40% in the next two years and expanding to 16 European countries.

By 2027, the company wants to be running over 200 data centers across the continent, all while respecting European laws and sovereignty demands.

Secondly, Microsoft will "uphold Europe’s digital resilience" throughout the ongoing volatility by including a new legally binding European Digital Resilience Commitment in all contracts with European national governments and the European Commission.

This includes storing back-up copies of its code in a secure repository in Switzerland, a country with strong data privacy and security laws.

The company has also committed to ensuring the privacy of European data by enabling local data storage and processing within the EU and the European Free Trade Association, as well as protecting the continent's cybersecurity with a newly appointed Deputy CISO for Europe.

Finally, Smith commented on Microsoft's plans to support competition in the region – possible a dig at the frequent investigations it faces from the European Commission as well as other antitrust regulators around the world.

Smith concluded: "Our support for Europe has always been – and always will be – steadfast."

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• A large healthcare organization has disclosed a data breach
• Ascension was also hit by two significant breaches in 2024
• The latest incident could be linked to the Cl0p ransomware attack

One of the biggest private healthcare systems in the US, Ascension, has notified patients that personally identifiable information (PII) including health data, was stolen in a previously unannounced attack affecting a former business partner in December 2024.

The incident follows a previous ransomware attack in May 2024, in which the sensitive data of six million patients, forcing the company to take systems offline, divert ambulances, and pause elective care in some places.

“On December 5, 2024, we learned that Ascension patient information may have been involved in a potential security incident. We immediately initiated an investigation to determine whether and how a security incident occurred,” Ascension confirmed in its breach notification.

Sensitive data exposed

Attackers reportedly gained access to sensitive information including the name, address, phone number(s), email address, date of birth, race, gender, and Social Security number (SSN), and even clinical and healthcare related information of some patients, depending on the individual.

“Our investigation determined on January 21, 2025, that Ascension inadvertently disclosed information to a former business partner, and some of this information was likely stolen from them due to a vulnerability in third-party software used by the former business partner. We have since reviewed our processes and are working to implement enhanced measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future," the company confirmed.

This leaves anyone exposed at serious risk of social engineering attacks or identity theft, especially given that SSNs are involved. To assist anyone affected, Ascension is offering two years of free identity monitoring services including credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity theft restoration.

Although nothing is confirmed about the details of the incident, the timing and description of the incident suggest this could be linked to the Cl0p ransomware attack that abused a flaw in Cleo File Transfer software.

The group claimed 59 organizations were affected in the incident, so it’s certainly possible that Ascension is part of that list.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Fujifilm expected to launch a half-frame digital camera called the X-Half
• Online leaks suggest a 1-inch sensor, 10mm f/2.8 lens and vertical LCD
• Teaser trailer hints at upcoming release, with ‘See you soon’ line

Fujifilm is working on something peculiar. If rumors are right, it's set to release a half-frame digital camera that puts a contemporary twist on the classic film photography format. It’s expected to be called the X-Half – and it could be Fujifilm’s most unusual camera in years.

Fujifilm recently teased the new model’s release in an official clip, with the tagline ‘Half the Size, Twice the Story’. That caption adds weight to online speculation that the camera will shoot half-frame stills using a digital sensor. A shadowy silhouette shown in that video also suggests the X-Half will adopt the retro analog styling of recent Fujifilm cameras, including the X100VI.

What else can we expect from the X-Half? Fujifilm has teased at an imminent release with the line ‘See you soon’, but we don’t know exactly when the camera will be revealed. What we do have is a list of leaked specs, shared by reliable online sources. Taken together, these suggest that the X-Half will be a fun camera with potentially viral retro appeal, designed to tempt smartphone photographers into camera ownership.

Here are five features we’re expecting to see on the weirdest camera of 2025.

1. Half-frame photography

The headline feature of the X-Half is expected to be half-frame photography. Traditionally, this technique allowed analog cameras to capture two portrait exposures on a single frame of 35mm film, giving photographers twice the number of stills from a roll. The resulting composite images became known as ‘diptychs’, with two vertical scenes combined side-by-side.

Exactly how Fujifilm will execute this effect in a digital camera isn’t clear, but it’s expected to be the key selling point of the X-Half. Based on information from unnamed sources, Fuji Rumors has suggested that the new camera will allow you to press the shutter once to capture the first half of the image, then again to shoot the second.

2. 1-inch sensor

Fuji Rumors has also reported that the X-Half will feature a 1-inch sensor. This fits with its positioning as a premium point-and-shoot: that sensor size would be smaller than APS-C, allowing Fujifilm to package the X-Half with compact proportions, yet still capture more light and detail than the best camera phones.

There’s been a lot of talk around the orientation of the sensor. Several sources have suggested that it could be positioned vertically, allowing the X-Half to natively shoot portrait stills which are then digitally composited into diptychs. This setup would also lend itself to content creation: assuming the camera has a standard mode, vertical images are ideal for sharing on social medial.

3. Fixed 10mm f/2.8 lens

Recent șpec leaks have suggested that Fujiiflm’s half-frame camera will feature a fixed 10mm lens with an aperture of f/2.8. Combined with a 1-inch sensor, that would give it a full-frame equivalent of 28mm – a focal length we’ve seen put to good use in other premium compacts, including the Ricoh GR III. It’s a natural fit for street photography and one familiar to smartphone users.

The f/2.8 aperture is fairly slow for a fixed lens, especially paired with a 1-inch sensor. That combination will limit both low-light performance and the shallow depth of field effect. If accurate, that probably reflects the positioning of the X-Half as a fun, entry-level point and shoot rather than a serious photography tool.

4. Vertical LCD display

Another rumor circulating online relates to the LCD display. According to Fuji Rumors, the X-Half will have at least one screen oriented vertically. Based on the teaser trailer, we think we know why. In that clip, a Provia film logo is visible on the rear of the camera. We think this suggests the X-Half will have a digital film preview window to show the selected film mode, emulating the physical equivalent found on some analog cameras.

It’s a feature we’ve seen before: on the X-Pro 3, a mini display showed the chosen Film Simulation recipe. Given the X-Half’s core focus on analog emulation, including a rumored ‘film roll mode’ that locks in settings for 36 exposures, we wouldn’t be surprised to see an LCD dedicated to displaying the logo of the selected film. This might sound gimmicky, but it leans heavily into the hybrid analog aesthetic.

5. Optical viewfinder

So, too, does the suggestion that the X-Half will feature an optical viewfinder rather than an EVF. This would be another nod to analog half-frame cameras, especially if oriented vertically (as it is on the Pentax 17, a recent revival of the half-frame film format and one of the best film cameras you can buy in 2025).

Together with a physical exposure compensation dial, an optical viewfinder could give users the impression that they are shooting on film with an analog camera, despite the digital sensor inside. The question is how effectively Fuji is able to execute and pitch this proposition, without the X-Half feeling like a novelty camera – which some purists are already calling it.

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• The latest version of Windhawk, a popular customization tool, supports Arm
• That means those with Snapdragon PCs can use it to put their own stamp on Windows 11
• There are some catches here, though, including that not every Windhawk mod will work on Arm PCs right out of the gate

Those with a Copilot+ PC that has a Snapdragon (Arm) processor now have more customization options for Windows 11 at their fingertips, because a popular third-party app now has a version that works on these devices.

Yes, anyone with an Arm-based PC who’s been enviously eyeing Windhawk, and the powers this tool boasts in terms of changing the Windows 11 desktop, can now enjoy the app – whereas previously only those with AMD and Intel CPUs could.

Windows Central picked up on the launch of a new version of Windhawk (v1.6) which is optimized for Snapdragon chips.

The release notes for Windhawk v1.6 inform us that: “Windhawk can now be installed on Arm64 versions of Windows, and customization of native Arm64 programs is fully supported. Customization of x86 and x64 programs on Arm64 Windows has some limitations, which might be improved in the future. Some mods may need to be adjusted by their authors to work correctly on Arm64 Windows.”

Windhawk is a base platform that allows you to browse an array of mods and apply any of them to Windows 11, letting you pick and choose the customizations that you want.

So, you can change the taskbar for example, or go to town on overhauling the Start menu, or apply an entire theme. A recent example of the latter is a Windows Vista-inspired theme for Windhawk, giving Windows 11 a retro vibe while still keeping its modern lines.

(Image credit: Ramen Software) Analysis: A powerful utility with a couple of caveats

It can’t be a bad thing that a popular piece of software which is truly bristling with options to make Windows 11 look different is now available more widely. After all, it isn’t just folks with AMD or Intel-powered PCs who might want to tweak and polish Windows 11 (or maybe even change it entirely).

That said, there are a couple of slight catches here. Firstly, as the release notes indicate, some mods might need tinkering with to work on an Arm-based PC with Windhawk 1.6 – and the authors may, or may not, get around to doing that. Your choices may still be more limited with a Snapdragon PC given that, especially in these early days for the Arm-friendly take on the utility.

Furthermore, I have to issue the usual warning here which is that Windhawk is a piece of third-party software, and you must always be cautious when installing such apps on your PC.

In this case, Windhawk has been around for some time and has a reputation as a secure enough prospect as far as third-party efforts go. But still, it must be said that you install anything on your system at your own risk – even if it’s an apparently low level of risk.

Aside from potential security concerns, there are also times when third-party apps that customize the Windows 11 interface considerably can throw spanners in the works when it comes to Microsoft’s monthly patches (or yearly upgrades for that matter).

Windhawk is particularly prized for its ability to refine the Start menu, and accomplish tricks like removing the Recommended panel from that part of the Windows 11 interface, a piece of the jigsaw that many feel gets in the way. (Although that ability may be provided by Microsoft, finally, based on clues hidden away in test builds of Windows 11 – but for now, you’ll need a workaround to do this, such as Windhawk).

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• Businesses can claim full refunds if Acer devices’ hardware fail under warranty in the first year
• Claims follow tight rules - hardware faults, warranty repair, and proper business registration
• Vero and SpatialLabs devices are covered - this isn’t just for budget business gear anymore

Acer has revealed a new offer that could reshape customer expectations across the business laptop and computing space.

Under the Acer Reliability Promise, customers in the EMEA region who purchase qualifying professional devices by the end of 2025 can receive a full refund of the original purchase price if the device experiences a hardware fault within the first year and is repaired under warranty.

Eligible categories include Chrome and Windows Pro devices, as well as select business monitors and projectors. Notably, products featuring Acer’s Vero sustainability technology and SpatialLabs 3D capabilities are also included, indicating that the offer isn’t limited to entry-level business models.

How does this new policy work?

The invoice date counts as Day 1, and buyers have 30 days to register their purchase. Up to 20 products per business are eligible, and the purchase must be for a new product made within the 2025 calendar year.

Any claim must be filed within 30 days of the product being repaired under warranty. The fault must be hardware-related and resolved by an Acer-authorized repair center. Software issues, external component failures, misuse, or accidental damage are excluded.

This offer is not available to individual consumers and is aimed exclusively at VAT-registered professionals and companies. To make a claim, customers must provide matching business credentials and bank details. The refund applies only once per product and is based on the net purchase price, excluding VAT and accessories.

By offering what is essentially a one-year satisfaction guarantee, Acer is challenging industry norms and prompting competitors to reassess their own warranty policies.

If widely adopted, this model could raise quality standards and build greater trust across the business tech sector.

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• Philips promises the new i9000 is its 'most intelligent shaver' yet
• Claims it can lift and cut hair -0.08mm below the skin’s surface
• Also offers real-time customization and pressure-activated lighting

If you’ve been wondering what’s next for premium electric shavers, Philips has an answer for you: the Norelco Shaver i9000 Prestige Ultra, the brand's most intelligent and powerful yet. It builds on the design and ergonomics that impressed us on previous models – this is the brand behind some of the best beard trimmers and electric razors on the market – as well as introducing a number of innovative new features.

I got a chance to check it out at a preview event, and I was intrigued. (Unfortunately, I was also clean-shaven, so while I did get a chance to see it in action, you'll have to wait for my upcoming review for my official verdict.) Here are three reasons why the Norelco i9000 stands out from the crowd...

1. It can shave below the skin

The most significant change between the i9000 and previous Norelco shavers is that Philips promises a root-level shave with the new model. Using what Philips has dubbed ‘Triple Action Lift & Cut Technology', it'll lift hair directly from the root, cutting up to -0.08mm below the skin’s surface, for the cleanest, smoothest shave of your life. It sounds painful, but I saw it in action and can confirm there was only hair being shaven, no one ended up taking their top layer of skin off.

With only a little stubble on my face, it easily took care of more short, fine hairs with ease. I look forward to putting this to the test when it's bit more grown out and see if it can solve for the tug-of-war feeling that some other shavers afford when getting their bearings around longer, more grown-out hair.

2. Real-time AI shaving feedback

Like the previous model (which impressed us when we tested it for our Philips Shaver S9000 review), there are five modes: sensitive, foam, intense, regular, and custom. New with the i9000 is SenseIQ Pro – an upgraded version of the tech used in previous models, which uses AI to customize the shaving experience in real time, offering feedback and aiming to deliver a better shaving experience.

That combines with a new 360-degree 'Precision Flexing System' designed to offer 20 per cent more precision in use, thanks to three flexible heads that hide 72 blades and can perform 165,000 cutting actions in a minute.

(Image credit: Philips)

I got to try the i9000 on hair growing in various directions and of various lengths on boards that Philips had set up. There was no tug, even when the surface wasn't smooth. The i9000's flexible heads certainly let it navigate any area skin a bit easier, and the blades work quickly enough to let you move the shaver as you see fit.

3. Disco lighting and a bright, color screen

You’ll control and monitor all of this via a new, color screen on the front. I could see at the preview event it's considerably brighter than the one found on previous models. That screen will also greet you with a Good Morning or Good Evening, depending on when you pick the shaver up off the stand (and like most other devices, the i9000 also works with a connected app for Android or iOS).

Even cooler, though, is a ring of LEDs under three floating shaving heads that glow green or red depending on how hard you're pressing the shaver.

The LEDs get nice and bright, so they're easy to see in the mirror or in your peripheral vision, and they really do adjust on the fly based on how much pressure I apply. It's a really useful guiding tool, and even if you don't care to connect up the companion app, can provide that feedback right on the shaver.

The general gist here is that more intelligent features plus plenty of power help the Philips Norelco i9000 deliver the shave you need, in any environment at any time. The extra tech flair being thrown in is neat, and the use of AI for real-time personalization has already proven successful in earlier generations.

I’ve just unboxed the Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra and am excited to fully put it through its paces over the next few weeks. It’s out now with a starting price of $329.99, depending on the exact model – as of this publishing, I see the i9000 Prestige Ultra for $329.99 on Amazon with a charging stand, a carrying case, and an extra attachment. It will get as pricey as $499.99, though. We’re waiting for Philips to confirm pricing for the UK and Australia.

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Doctor Who has been on a roll – relatively speaking, anyway – over the last couple of weeks.

After a pretty generic start with its season 2 premiere, aka 'The Robot Revolution', the popular sci-fi show has delivered great back-to-back episodes in 'Lux' and 'The Well'. To keep its hot streak going, Doctor Who season 2's next episode will need to be just as good, if not better than that duo.

So, when will 'Lucky Day', which will reunite us with Ruby Sunday, be released? Below, I'll tell you when and where you can watch it. You'll also find a full release schedule at the end of this article to find out when the remaining three chapters will arrive, too.

When will Doctor Who season 2 episode 4 come out in the US?

Nucti Gatwa's iconic Time Lord will return to our screens with Varada Sethu's Bel (and Millie Gibson's Ruby!) on on Disney+ on Saturday, May 3 at 12am PT / 3am ET.

Where can I watch Doctor Who season 2 episode 4 in the UK?

Season 2's Ruby-centric episode arrives this Saturday (Image credit: BBC/Disney+)

The next installment of Doctor Who season 2 (or, for those who've been watching since its 2005 reboot, season 15) will make its UK debut on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, May 3 at 8am BST.

For those who prefer to watch Nu-Who via a terrestrial TV channel, episode 4 will also be available to watch on BBC One later on the same day at 7:10pm BST.

What time can I stream Doctor Who season 2's fourth episode in Australia?

What mystery will Ruby have to solve with UNIT's help? (Image credit: BBC/Disney+)

The legendary Gallifreyan's next adventure will arrive in Australia on Saturday, May 3 at 5pm AEST. One of the best Disney+ shows will be available to watch at home on, well, Disney+ (aka one of the world's best streaming services) Down Under.

When do new episodes of Doctor Who get released?

A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho)

A photo posted by on

If you've frequented these parts over the last three weeks, you'll know that new episodes of Doctor Who arrive every Saturday. For a full rundown of this season's release schedule, read on.

• Doctor Who season 2 episode 1 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 2 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 3 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 4 – Saturday, May 3
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 5 – Saturday, May 10
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 6 – Saturday, May 17
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 7 – Saturday, May 24
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 8 – Saturday, May 31

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• Amazon is spending $4 billion to improve its US rural delivery network
• 200 additional delivery stations will open up in rural areas
• Over 13,000 zip codes will be covered by the end of 2026

Amazon has announced plans to spend $4 billion by the end of 2026 to expand its delivery network across rural areas of the US.

As part of the package, the world's fourth-most valuable company will add over 200 additional delivery stations to its network, claiming to support more than 100,000 full- and part-time jobs both on the road and in warehouses.

"By having these programs and operating our own delivery network, we’ve been able to provide deliveries seven days a week and get packages to customers even faster," Amazon Worldwide Operations SVP Udit Madan proclaimed.

Amazon Prime rural deliveries

The multibillion-dollar investment will focus on the ecommerce giant's last-mile network, adding further delivery stations closer to customers.

This will include Amazon's own network as well as schemes like its Delivery Service Partner program, Amazon Flex, and Hub Delivery, which enables small businesses and members of the community to offer their support.

"Once this expansion is complete, our network will be able to deliver over a billion more packages each year to customers living in over 13,000 zip codes spanning 1,200,000 square miles," Madan added.

With the expansion, Amazon hopes to improve delivery speeds by up to 50% in rural areas.

Apart from the obvious – giving customers access to "over 300 million items" at an affordable price with quick delivery – Amazon also stressed that the company plays an important role in communities across the US. Each new facility is expected to create an average of 170 roles.

Madan cited research showing that Amazon's investments in its delivery network have "already led to $500 million in economic growth in small towns and rural communities." Hub Delivery partners are also said to be able to earn up to $27,000 in incremental income a year.

According to the company's most recent earnings report, it delivered its "fastest speeds ever for Prime members in 2024," delivering "over 65% more items to US Prime members the same day or overnight" compared with the year before.

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A shadow library might sound like something from a fantasy novel – but it’s real, and far more troubling.

It’s an online archive of pirated books, academic papers, and other people’s work, taken without permission. These libraries have always been controversial. But in the AI world, they’re an open secret – rich sources of high-quality writing used to train large language models.

The books in them are goldmines because they're long-form, emotional, diverse and generally well-written. Using them to ‘train’ AI is a shortcut to teaching these tools how humans think, feel, and express themselves. But licensing them properly would be expensive and messy. So tech companies just didn’t bother.

This quiet exploitation exploded into public view in March 2025 when The Atlantic released a tool that lets anyone search for their books in LibGen (Library Genesis), one of the biggest shadow libraries.

And there it was, my book Screen Time, along with millions of others.

It's been revealed in legal documents that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, used LibGen to train its large language models, including LLaMA 3. Not every title was necessarily used, but the possibility alone is enough to leave authors reeling.

As a tech journalist, I’ve always tried to stay level-headed about AI – curious but critical. But when it’s your book that’s been ‘stolen’ to train AI, it hits differently. You think about the hours, the edits, the emotion. The despair and euphoria of creating something from nothing.

It feels as if all of that has been swallowed whole by a system that mimics creativity while erasing the creator. The outrage from authors is real – the lack of consent, the lack of compensation. But what haunts me is something deeper, a grief for creativity itself, and the sense it's slipping away.

Fair use or foul play?

Meta has been under legal scrutiny about this for some time. In 2023, authors including Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, Andrew Sean Greer, and Junot Díaz took legal action against the company, alleging it used their books without consent to train its large language models.

Meta's defence has been that training its AI models on copyrighted material constitutes what's known as fair use. One of the company's arguments is that the process is transformative, as the AI doesn't reproduce the original works but instead learns patterns from them to generate new content.

Laws in the UK and US differ. In the UK, this is generally considered unlawful unless it falls under specific exceptions like "fair dealing," which has a narrower scope than the US's "fair use." In the US, the legality will hinge on how "fair use" is interpreted, which is currently being tested in ongoing legal disputes. The outcomes will likely set significant precedents for future AI copyright law.

Meta and other AI advocates insist these systems will bring us enormous benefits. Can't the means justify the ends? Personally, I can appreciate that argument. But let's not kid ourselves – Meta's primary motivation is profit. The company is leveraging creative works as raw material to scale its AI capabilities.

Writer and author Lauren Bravo, whose books Probably Nothing, Preloved and What Would the Spice Girls Do? were scraped into LibGen, told me: “I feel furious about my books being on there, for myriad reasons. It's hard enough to make a decent living from writing books these days – the average author's income is £7k! – so to know that a company worth over a trillion dollars felt it was reasonable to use our work without throwing us a few quid is so enraging there aren't even words for it.”

Historian, broadcaster and author Dr Fern Riddell, whose books Death in Ten Minutes, Sex: Lessons From History and The Victorian Guide to Sex were also in the LibGen database, said: “It’s absolutely devastating to see yours – and many others’ – life’s work stolen by a billion-dollar company. This is not the proliferation of ideas. It’s straightforward theft to make Meta money. The scale of it is almost incomprehensible – all my books have been stolen, along with my right to protect my work.”

Like Bravo and Riddell, other authors are understandably angry and confused what this means for the future. The Society of Authors and several other organizations are considering adding to the mounting legal action against Meta. Maybe change will come – new licensing rules, more transparency, opt-in models. But it feels too little, too late.

“Writing a book is a long and deeply personal process for any author. But because mine talks about losing both my parents at a young age – from coping with grief as a teenager to caring for my mum through cancer – it feels extra personal,” writer and corporate content consultant Rochelle Bugg tells me, whose book Handle With Care is also in the dataset. “I poured my heart and soul into my book, so the fact it has been taken, without my knowledge or consent, and used to train AI models that will generate profit for someone else seems totally unjust and completely indefensible.”

There's something uniquely painful about deeply personal work being scraped and repurposed, especially without permission.

The art of being human

These latest incidents have raised all sorts of questions not just about copyright, but about creativity – and how little we seem to value it.

"I fear it's symptomatic of something much larger that's been going on for decades," Lauren Bravo tells me. "The way creative work has been dramatically devalued by the internet."

"We've all participated in it," she adds. "In some ways, the democratization of content has been brilliant. But the sinister flipside is that we now expect to consume creative work for free – writing, music, art, even porn."

Generative AI tools take that mindset and dial it up to eleven. Why pay for anything when with a quick prompt you can make it instantly?

Take the viral AI-generated Studio Ghibli trend. It looks charming until you remember that Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki has publicly condemned it. Yes, AI can gobble up his art and copy its style anyway. But is that kind of mimicry creativity? Is it still art if it's made without permission, or without the human experience that shaped it?

Some of us obsess over these questions. But honestly? It's starting to look like few others care. Tech companies mine data. Users get the dopamine hit of jumping on a new trend. Everyone keeps scrolling.

Author Philip Ellis, whose books We Could Be Heroes and Love & Other Scams were scraped into LibGen, told me: "I see artists online trying to educate their followers about AI's environmental impact. But as the action figure trend has shown, your average person is still ignorant – maybe wilfully – of how bad generative AI is proving to be. Not just for the climate, but for culture."

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT), takes an unsurprisingly optimistic view. In a recent TED 2025 interview, he claimed generative AI can democratize creativity.

He acknowledges the ethical complexities – copying styles, lack of consent – and has floated ideas like opt-in revenue sharing. But even he admits that attribution, consent, and fair pay are still "big questions."

OpenAI blocks users from mimicking living artists directly, but broader genre imitation is still allowed. Altman insists that every leap in creative tech has led to "better output." But who decides what's "better"? And who benefits?

The danger next is that young creators might see this landscape and wonder if creating is still worth it.

"I'm scared that we'll lose a future generation of painters, authors, musicians," Ellis tells me. "That they won't feel the thrill of discovery. The joy of putting hours into a creative pursuit for its own sake. Because companies like Meta have told them a machine can do the hard part – as if the hard part isn't the whole point."

What we lose when we turn to AI to "create" for us isn’t just jobs or royalties. We also lose the messy, magical process that gives art its meaning. Creators aren’t prompt-fed machines. They're emotional, chaotic and alive. Every poem, novel, song or sketch is shaped by memory, trauma, boredom, desire. That’s what we connect to isn't it? Not polish, but meaning and soul.

As Ellis told me: "Even if I'm never published again, I'll still carry on writing. Because the act itself – of crafting characters and worlds that seem to exist almost independently of me – is what makes me happy."

AI can certainly produce something that resembles art. Sometimes it's clever. Sometimes it's even beautiful. But the AI tool you use doesn’t feel or care or know why it exists. Instead, we know it works by interpreting a prompt then borrowing, blending, remixing and regurgitating. So we have to ask whether what AI creates is still creativity in the absence of a human creator?

It’s the kind of question that keeps me up at night. And maybe ultimately it no longer matters. Maybe the very idea of creativity is being rewritten. Tech giants certainly promise us bold new forms of expression through AI. And many people are clearly excited by that prospect. But let’s at least be honest, these systems weren’t built to nurture our creativity. They were built to monetize it.

This isn’t just about my book, or even the 7.5 million others in LibGen. It’s about what we choose to value, like art, culture and the wild and weird richness of human experience. Because the truth is, we're not just training machines. We’re training ourselves to accept a world where our most meaningful expressions become raw material for someone else’s profit. And if we’re not careful, we’ll forget what it ever felt like to make something real.

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Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 is imminent, set to arrive following a period of scheduled downtime on May 2, 2025, at 2am ET / / 11pm PT (May 1) / 7am BST.

It'll be a Star Wars-focused affair called Galactic Battle, bringing a whole new Battle Pass to work through, and new map locations to visit. In the build-up to launch, I'll be covering things live, providing up-to-date details on scheduled downtime, the highlights set to arrive next season, and my initial impressions of things once it's all gone live.

Fortnite Galactic Battle - Key Info

Start date and time
Map changes
Battle Pass Skins
Update Schedule
Jump to Live Coverage

Epic Games has been busy teasing the next season of Fortnite over the last week or so, and we now know that it's entirely centered around Star Wars. So far, there's been a teaser trailer showing off some of the upcoming Battle Pass skins, a look at how the map is set to change as part of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, as well as the announcement of an in-game event that'll air shortly after the new season launches.

If early signs are anything to go on, the upcoming Star Wars updates to Fortnite could be a real high point for Chapter 6 so far. Hopefully, we'll get to fly some X-Wings, battle Samurai variants of iconic Star Wars villains, and even get to see Darth Jar-Jar in action.

Personally, I've found this Chapter a little bit lacking, so I'm excited to see how Epic Games delivers on the most involved Star Wars season yet. I'll be dropping in on launch day, checking out the new Battle Pass skins and testing the new weapon loot pool, seeing if the changes are good enough to keep Fortnite in TechRadar's best free games list.

Join me as I keep you up to date with the launch of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, including live coverage of the scheduled downtime, and my live impressions once I drop into my first few matches. As new info on the latest season drops, this page will be updated. Here's what you need to know about Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, now that we're on the eve of launch day..

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 - cut to the chase

Only have time for the basics? Here are the most important things to know about Fortnite Galactic Battle:

• Start time: May 2 at 2am ET / 11pm PT (May 1) / 7am GMT
• New skins: Darth Sidious, Rebel Evie, Poe Dameron, General Grievous, Chewbacca mask
• New map locations: Vader Samurai's Solitude, Resistance Base, Outpost Enclave, First Order Base
• Events: Tales of the Underworld episode screening, Live event finale

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 start date

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will start on May 2 at 2am ET / 11pm PT (May 1) / 7am BST. Well, sort of. This is when downtime will start, so it'll likely be a few hours before we're all able to jump back in.

Once we know more about how long downtime is set to last, we'll be able to make a prediction as to when the new season is going live. For now, assume downtime to be at least two or three hours, as has been the case for the last couple of seasons.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 map changes

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As you can see from the image above, there are four new major POIs (points of interest) set to be added alongside the new Fortnite Season. The first is Outpost Enclave, which is a rebel base looking similar in structure to Tatooine.

Then there's the First Order Base, which is set to be populated by Stormtroopers. Then, there's Vader Samurai's Solitude, which hints at a potential Vader mini-boss. Finally, the Resistance Base is set amongst the forest, and features the Millennium Falcon.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 Battle Pass skins

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There are five main skins on offer as part of the Fortnite Galactic Battle Pass. These include a new Emperor skin, General Grievous, Poe Dameron, a Resistance Fighter-variant of Evie, and a Wookie Team Leader outfit.

It's likely that we'll see alternate colors for these skins, included in the Battle Pass. What's unclear at present is what the Bonus Skin will be. I'm betting on Darth Jar-Jar, who has been shown off in the trailers so far.

(Image credit: Epic Games) Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 schedule

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games has revealed that Fortnite Galactic Battle will receive weekly updates that add new weapons, and other content into the game. Here's the full schedule:

• Imperial Takeover – May 2, 2025
• Tales of the Underworld (watch first two episodes in Fortnite) - May 2, 2025
• The Pull of the Force – May 8, 2025
• Mandalorian Rising – May 22, 2025
• Star Destroyer Bombardment – May 29, 2025
• Death Star Sabotage – June 7, 2025

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 live coverage And we're live!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Hello and welcome to my live coverage of the Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 launch. We’re now on the eve of release day, and there’s still plenty we don’t know about the imminent Star Wars-centric season. First off, let’s cover what we do know.

When does the current season end?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The current season of Fortnite is set to end tomorrow (May 2) at 2AM ET / 7AM BST, and 11 PM for PT (May 1). At this point, the game will move offline for scheduled downtime. At present, there’s no info on how long downtime will be, but it's worth noting that last season's switch over took five hours. Hopefully it'll be a little shorter this time.

So, Fortnite Galactic Battle?

✔️ Star Wars Themed Battle Pass ✔️ Weekly Gameplay Content ✔️ Culminating in a Live End of Season Narrative Event ➡️ Fortnite Galactic Battle arrives May 2, 2025 pic.twitter.com/JmRStRA2UmApril 20, 2025

Fortnite Galactic Battle is the next season of Fortnite, and it's entirely themed around Star Wars. From the looks of things, this will be a shorter season, with weekly narrative updates that culminate in a live finale.

The new Battle Pass skins have been shown off

(Image credit: Epic Games)

So far, Epic Games has shown off five confirmed Battle Pass skins for Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3. Poe Dameron, Wookie Team Leader, Resistance Evie, Emperor Palpatine, and General Grievous will all be up for grabs. As in previous seasons, I'm betting on there being variants for each too, perhaps a Clone Wars-style for Grievous? One can hope.

Grab a free Star Wars skin before the new Season begins

(Image credit: Epic Games)

You can now connect your Epic and MyDisney accounts to earn a First Order Stormtrooper outfit to use in Fortnite. Follow these steps to do so:

• Sign into your Epic account. (You can do this from epicgames.com/id/login.)
• On your Account page, go to Apps and Accounts. (If you’re already signed in, go straight to Apps and Accounts!)
• Click “Connect” on the MyDisney Account option. You’ll be directed to the MyDisney website to continue the process. Not able to connect? Find more information on eligibility.
• Runs until August 31, 2025

That's no moon

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you drop into Fortnite now, as I just did, you'll spot a new addition to the skyline. The Death Star can be seen in the distance, signaling the arrival of the Empire and First Order.

Mace Windu finally joins Fortnite

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Despite Fortnite having featured Mace's lightsaber before as a mythic weapon, the character has never actually been added as a skin. He'll be available in the store at some point during Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, hopefully alongside his purple lightsaber as a harvesting tool (we'll see).

What about Darth Jar-Jar?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Finally, Darth Jar Jar is officially canon, well... in terms of Fortnite canon, I suppose. He's seemingly not included in the Battle Pass, so I'm betting he'll be the bonus skin for this season. We'll have to wait and see.

There's still time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

With less than a day left of Fortnite Lawless, you might want to make the most of the remaining hours and collect any Battle Pass skins you've yet to redeem. Tier 100 features Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero, though honestly, I'm happy with having just earned Big Dill.

Grab The Vaultbrella

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Speaking of making the most of Season 2 while it's still live, you can still pick up The Vaultbrella by getting a Victory Royale. Easier said than done, but worth giving a go while you wait for the Star Wars events to kick off.

Catch the first two episodes of Tales of the Underworld early

(Image credit: Disney)

Be among the first to view the first two episodes of the new Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld animated series, exclusive to the Star Wars Watch Party island in Fortnite for the first 48 hours before it hits Disney+! The island goes live on May 2 at 10AM ET / 3PM BST / 7AM PT.

There's set to be five weekly updates to enjoy

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will run through until early June, making it a condensed season when compared to the last two. Each week, there's going to be an update that'll kick off new narrative elements, and shift the focus of the season. Here's the update schedule:

• Imperial Takeover – May 2, 2025
• The Pull of the Force – May 8, 2025
• Mandalorian Rising – May 22, 2025
• Star Destroyer Bombardment – May 29, 2025
• Death Star Sabotage – June 7, 2025

Signing off for a short break

(Image credit: Epic Games)

I'll be taking a short break now, but I'll be back at 12PM ET / 5PM BST / 9AM PT to resume my live coverage of Fortnite Galactic Battle. There's still plenty to dive into, including the new map changes which tease the return of Vader Samurai.

• Microsoft and Du join forces on data center to fuel next-gen AI power
• AI adoption demands scale, and Microsoft and Du’s $544 million project meets the challenge head-on
• The new hyperscale data center will be built in phases, serving Microsoft’s cloud expansion

With AI adoption growing rapidly, hyperscale data centers are becoming essential to support the workloads of advanced AI tools, including those powering leading AI writing platforms.

At the recent Dubai AI Week, Microsoft and UAE-based telecom provider Du announced plans to build a $544.54 million hyperscale data center in the UAE.

“This marks a significant investment in digital infrastructure, reinforcing Dubai's leadership in adopting the latest technologies, innovations, and digital services,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, in a LinkedIn post celebrating the announcement.

Strengthening UAE AI infrastructure

The new data center will be a core component of Microsoft's ongoing effort to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in the Middle East. It follows earlier collaborations, including a partnership with the Abu Dhabi government and Core42 to offer AI services and sovereign cloud capabilities within the UAE.

Du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi noted the investment is, “a pivotal leap in our strategic goal to revolutionize the digital ecosystem of the UAE.”

The center’s capacity will be delivered to Microsoft in phases, although specific timelines and technical details have not yet been disclosed.

Du currently operates five data centers across the UAE, and earlier in 2025 signed a deal to extend the Peace subsea cable to the country.

Microsoft has steadily expanded its cloud presence in the Middle East since launching its UAE cloud region in 2019. The company has since announced similar regions in Qatar, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, with additional plans for a new cloud region in Kuwait.

The new UAE-based hyperscale data center will help meet growing demand for low-latency access to cloud platforms that power everything from top web hosting services to next-generation enterprise applications.

Via DataCenterDynamics

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• A Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge teaser image includes the date May 13, suggesting that's when the phone will launch
• That's in line with previous leaks, so is likely accurate
• We've also heard full rumored camera specs for the phone, and while the main sensor could impress, the ultra-wide is a disappointment

We’ve heard from multiple sources that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will launch on May 13, and now we’ve seen our clearest sign yet that this date is probably correct.

Evan Blass – a leaker with a superb track record – has posted an image on X that appears to show the side of a phone, along with the text “Beyond slim”. It looks very much like an official teaser image for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, and the image also includes the date May 13.

So, while we’d still take this with a pinch of salt, given that it comes from a reputable source, looks like it could well be an official image, and matches a date that’s already been tipped multiple times, we’re fairly confident that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will indeed launch on May 13.

FYI pic.twitter.com/Y9frwPeIvmApril 30, 2025

A 200MP main and a 12MP ultra-wide

That’s not the only new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge news though, as SammyGuru (via GSMArena) has also shared details of the phone’s cameras.

The site claims to have found these details on a regulatory database, and the highlight is the apparent presence of a 200-megapixel main camera. However, that spec isn’t at all surprising, as this is something else that has previously been tipped a number of times.

What we were less clear on is the remaining lenses, which according to SammyGuru include the same 12MP ultra-wide camera as you’ll find on the standard Samsung Galaxy S25, and the same 12MP selfie camera as every other Galaxy S25 model.

It’s no surprise that Samsung would stick with the same selfie camera, but it’s slightly disappointing that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge apparently won’t get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 50MP ultra-wide camera.

And of course, with only two rear lenses here there’s no dedicated telephoto camera, though it’s likely the 200MP main sensor will be capable of optical quality 2x zoom, since the 200MP camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra can achieve that.

In any case, SammyGuru isn’t a big name in leaks, so there’s a chance some of this is incorrect. But with so many other sources pointing to a 200MP main camera, and with all three current S25 models sporting the same 12MP selfie camera, we’d expect that much is accurate, so it’s only really the ultra-wide spec that has much chance of being wrong.

Assuming the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge really does launch on May 13 we’ll know for sure in under two weeks.

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It's not uncommon to bounce around streamers depending on what you are in the mood to watch every month. Subscription hopping has also proven to significantly help out when it comes to lessening the financial burden of maintaining access to all the best streaming services.

Because, even though we might want to keep everything going, with the costs of each steamer undergoing regular revision – Plex, Netflix, Fubo TV and Discovery+ have all announced price hikes so far this year – now's a great time to re-evaluate. Not sure where to start? That's what I'm here for!

This month, I'm going out on a limb and dropping one of my favorite streamers in favor of the granddaddy service, Netflix. There's a slew of cracking TV shows and movies arriving on Netflix in May 2025, and here's a few I'm gosh darn giddy for!

Here's why I'm keeping my Netflix subscription

Alright, first up on May 1st we have a brand-new Netflix miniseries called The Four Seasons from creators Tina Fey (30 Rock), Lang Fisher (Never Have I Ever), and Tracey Wigfield (The Mindy Project). The show is based on the 1981 Alan Alda movie and is poised to follow six friends who plan a fun weekend getaway together, only to learn that one of the couples is on the verge of splitting up.

Fey stars alongside Will Forte, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Erika Henningsen, Marco Calvani, and Kerri Kenney-Silver. To be fair, I love Fey's brand of humor and her previous onscreen chemistry with Forte, so this is a no-brainer watch for me.

Another short-run show is on the horizon for later in May. Sirens limited series is dubbed a 'dark comedy' and unravels over the course of a weekend at an affluent seaside estate.

Meghann Fahy (hot off The White Lotus and this year's Drop) plays Devon who decides to step in and help out her sister Simone (House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock) whose relationship with her boss is getting out of hand. While she means well, her younger sister insists that her employer, wealthy socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore) won't take this interception well at all.

Honestly, I need know nothing else. This sounds like it's following this new trend of 'rich white women going off the rails' dramedies such as Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The White Lotus, et al.

Arguably one of Netflix's biggest fan draws is the Nick Kroll-led animated series Big Mouth, which returns for its eighth and final season on May 23.

While I'm excited to revisit Josh Ruben's romantic slasher Heart Eyes on May 8, my heart really belongs to the prom queen. I'm talkin' the long-awaited follow-up to 2021's nostalgia slasher trilogy based on the Fear Street novels. Yep, Fear Street: Prom Queen arrives on May 23 and I'm ready, especially after seeing the trailer for this school-themed horror.

Like the previous entries in the franchise, the film takes place at Shadyside High during their prom season as hordes of popular girls desperate to earn the title of prom queen start to mysteriously disappear.

The movie takes inspiration from the novel of the same name by R.L. Stine, which is a classic piece of YA, and stars stalwart genre actors, Lili Taylor and Katherine Waterston. I loved the original trilogy, mostly because it never shied away from getting a bit gory and getting a tad scary. Bring it on!

On the library front – the streamer is adding a raft of critically acclaimed movies to the docket for May, including five that snagged more than 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. One of those is last year's The Wild Robot that proved popular with both children and adults (well, everyone bawled watching it, if that counts?) so be sure to add that to your watchlist.

For recognizable warm and fuzzies – or as I call them, the 'rebingeables' cause they're in constant rotation– there's Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven trilogy and the Twilight franchise. What? They're fun. Check out everything new on Netflix in May in the US for even more reasons why you'll want to sign up.

Here's why I'm canceling Paramount+

Yellowjackets season 3 has ended on Paramount+. (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Last month, I mentioned that I was dropping Paramount+ because of one reason and one reason only: those girls stuck out in the wilderness! Well, now that one of the best Paramount+ shows is all done for the year– yep. Yellowjackets season 3 dropped its finale – it's time to drop this streamer for May.

Also, no sign of a season four renewal for Yellowjackets? Wild.

Really, there's not a whole heck of a lot new that I'm excited about – but, as I mentioned last month – sometimes personal preference plays a factor. For me, I like a mix of new titles and a bunch of fun older catalog shows and movies to keep me going. While there's a few of the latter, there's nothing really on the former. My gut on these matters sways toward newer titles hitting streaming and there isn’t anything pressing that’s must-see TV this month.

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AI agents are everywhere today and are reshaping how social engineering works. These autonomous systems now independently launch coordinated phishing campaigns across multiple channels simultaneously, operating with an efficiency human attackers cannot match. They work continuously, make fewer mistakes, and require no supervision to effectively target organizations.

And they are effective. AI-generated phishing emails achieve a 54% click-through rate compared to just 12% for their human-crafted counterparts. What makes these attacks so effective? Unlike batch-and-blast approaches, AI agents build detailed psychological profiles from vast datasets, crafting messages that speak directly to individual fears, habits and vulnerabilities.

More troubling is their adaptive intelligence. These systems learn from each interaction, adjusting tactics based on your responses in real-time across email, text, voice calls and social platforms simultaneously. A hesitant reply becomes valuable feedback that sharpens the next approach.

Security teams find themselves outpaced as conventional defenses crumble against threats that evolve by the minute. The production scale is equally concerning: thousands of personalized phishing attempts generated in seconds, each one refined by previous successes and failures.

Leading organizations are responding with their own AI-powered defensive systems that detect subtle patterns human analysts might miss. This arms race has also accelerated interest in fundamentally different authentication approaches and cybersecurity awareness programs that address these new psychological vectors.

The question isn't whether your organization will face these advanced attacks, but whether you'll recognize them when they arrive.

But What The Heck Are AI Agents Anyway?

Between marketing hype and technical jargon, understanding what constitutes an "AI agent" has become unnecessarily complicated. At its core, an AI agent is simply software that can act independently toward specific goals without constant human guidance.

Unlike traditional automation tools that follow rigid instructions, agents perceive their environment, make decisions based on what they observe, and adapt their approach as circumstances change. The most sophisticated agents can plan multi-step sequences, learn from mistakes, and improve strategies over time.

These capabilities come in different forms. Basic reactive agents respond to triggers without memory or context. More advanced proactive agents initiate actions to accomplish specific objectives. Learning agents continuously refine their performance through feedback, while fully autonomous agents operate with minimal human oversight.

What separates modern AI agents from previous technologies is their ability to handle uncertainty and complexity. Using large language models and other AI tools, today's agents can understand natural language, recognize patterns across massive datasets, and navigate ambiguous situations with remarkably human-like reasoning.

This flexibility makes agents valuable for legitimate tasks like customer service, data analysis, and process automation. However, these same characteristics—autonomous operation, adaptability, and social intelligence—create perfect tools for sophisticated social engineering when repurposed for attacks.

Why AI Agents Excel at Social Engineering

The marriage of AI agents with social engineering creates uniquely effective attacks that traditional security measures struggle to counter. Their advantage comes from automating the most labor-intensive parts of social engineering while simultaneously improving the quality of each interaction.

Reconnaissance, traditionally the most time-consuming phase, happens automatically as agents collect and analyze digital breadcrumbs scattered across social media, company websites, and public records. These systems build comprehensive profiles of potential targets without human effort, identifying vulnerabilities in seconds rather than days.

The resulting attacks achieve unprecedented personalization. Rather than generic "Dear Customer" messages, AI agents craft communications that reference specific projects, colleagues, interests, or recent activities. This contextual awareness makes phishing attempts nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communications.

Perhaps most concerning is their ability to adapt in real-time. When a target hesitates or questions an initial approach, agents adjust their tactics immediately based on the response. This continuous refinement makes each interaction more convincing than the last, wearing down even skeptical targets through persistence and learning.

The economics also shift dramatically in the attacker's favor. AI-generated campaigns achieve higher success rates at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. A single operator can now orchestrate thousands of simultaneous, personalized attacks across email, voice, text, and social platforms—each one polished and grammatically perfect.

These capabilities create a democratizing effect in cybercrime. Advanced social engineering no longer requires elite skills or resources. The technical barriers have fallen, allowing even inexperienced attackers to execute sophisticated campaigns with minimal investment or expertise.

Most alarming is how these systems improve over time. Each successful or failed attempt becomes valuable training data that refines future attacks. AI agents effectively learn which approaches work best for specific demographics, industries, or individuals, making each campaign more effective than the last.

AI Agents Expand Your Attack Surface

The introduction of AI agents into business operations creates new entry points for attackers while also expanding the scope of what they can target. Each AI-powered system, tool, or service becomes another potential vector requiring protection and monitoring.

Security leaders need comprehensive exposure management strategies that account for these expanded attack surfaces. With over 80% of breaches involving external actors, organizations must prioritize defensive measures that address these new vulnerabilities:

Focus on external exposures. Continuously monitor internet-facing assets, especially AI endpoints and related infrastructure, where the majority of initial compromises occur.

Find everything: Conduct exhaustive discovery across all business units, subsidiaries, cloud services, and third-party integrations. AI systems often create complex dependency chains that introduce unexpected exposure points.

Test everything: Implement regular security testing on all exposed assets, not just "crown jewel" systems. Traditional approaches miss how seemingly low-priority systems can provide backdoor access when connected to AI infrastructure.

Prioritize based on risk: Evaluate threats based on business impact rather than technical severity alone. Consider data sensitivity, operational dependencies, and regulatory implications when allocating remediation resources.

Share broadly: Integrate findings into existing security operations through automation and clear communication channels. Ensure relevant stakeholders receive information that informs broader security operations and incident response processes.

AI agents are already accelerating social engineering attacks beyond what traditional defenses can handle. Security teams must implement robust exposure management now, while building AI-specific detection capabilities, or risk finding themselves outmatched by attacks they can't distinguish from legitimate communications.

Check out the best antivirus software.

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

• LG Display announced “commercialization level” performance of a blue phosphorescent OLED panel
• The new panel is a hybrid fluorescent/phosphorescent design that consumes about 15% less power than typical OLED displays
• The new tech will be demonstrated in a "small and medium-sized panel that can be applied to IT devices such as smartphones and tablets”

Korean manufacturer LG Display today announced it has successfully verified the “commercialization level” performance of blue phosphorescent OLED panels.

The announcement comes eight months after LG Display partnered with OLED technology company Universal Display Corporation on the development of blue phosphorescence, a necessary next step in creating a “Dream OLED” display.

According to LG Display’s release, the company was able to make the technology mass production-ready using a “hybrid two-stack Tandem OLED structure, with blue fluorescence in the lower stack and blue phosphorescence in the upper stack.” This approach differs from previous OLED display panels, which use a blue fluorescent layer paired with red and green phosphorescent layers.

(Image credit: LG Display)

The issue with using a fluorescent layer in OLED panels is that it provides only 25% light efficiency compared to a phosphorescent layer, which provides 100% light efficiency. LG Display’s hybrid approach changes things up in “combining the stability of fluorescence with the lower power consumption of phosphorescence.” By doing so, it “consumes about 15% less power while maintaining a similar level of stability to existing OLED panels,” according to the company.

LG plans to demonstrate its blue phosphorescent OLED panel with two-stack Tandem technology at SID Display Week, an event that gets underway on May 11, 2025 in San Jose, California.

Has the Dream OLED TV finally arrived?

While LG Display’s announcement is intriguing, the blue phosphorescent OLED panel it plans to display at SID Display Week will showcase the technology in “a small and medium-sized panel that can be applied to IT devices such as smartphones and tablets.”

That means the current iteration of the tech, while mass production-ready (LG Display says it has “completed commercialization verification with UDC”) remains in prototype form, and is not ready for introduction in larger displays such as the best OLED TVs.

We’ve been following the news on blue PHOLED, a term used for the phosphorescent layer in OLED displays, for some time, and previously reported on LG Display’s having "successfully developed an OLED panel based on blue phosphorescence."

Today’s news goes further in certifying that a similar OLED display panel is ready for prime time, but this version uses a hybrid approach that doesn’t yet meet the full light efficiency expectations of a “Dream OLED.”

Meanwhile, LG Display’s “four-stack” OLED display panel, a design that doesn’t rely on blue phosphorescent tech, hybrid or otherwise, but instead utilizes separate red, green, and blue elements to enhance color purity and boost brightness, can be found in the impressive new LG C5 OLED, one of the best TVs to arrive so far in 2025.

We expect this panel to remain the cutting edge for OLED TVs for some time to come, while the new hybrid two-stack Tandem OLED structure with blue phosphorescence gets developed for devices like phones and tablets.

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• LG is finally shutting down the update servers for its phones in June
• This will mark the final end of LG's phones, a market it quit in 2021
• We've ranked our favorite LG phones from the last 25 years

Remember LG phones? Not too long ago, the Korean tech giant was one of the most exciting phone makers around, dazzling us innovators like the LG Chocolate 'slider' phone and the swivel-screened LG Wing.

But sadly, no more – as spotted by Android Authority, LG plans to finally shut down the update servers for its phones on June 30. On a practical level, this means that if you still own an LG phone (a gold star for your commitment, if so), you have exactly two months left to download a final Android update on it before the cord is cut.

Yet, the news is arguably more symbolic than practical. It's now four years since LG confirmed that it would stop making smartphones, after an impressive 25-year run of doing so.

Indeed, LG was one of the first tech giants to step into the phone space in the 1990s, alongside Samsung and Sony, when it took on Nokia and Motorola and became a big player in the 'feature phones' space.

So what exactly were LG's biggest phone hits, and the ones we look back on most fondly? Here's our list – let us know which ones you think are missing in the comments below.

7. LG G Flex (2013) Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

The most human phone ever. That was LG’s slogan for the wonderfully crazy LG G Flex - a handset that featured a ‘flexible’ display and ‘self-healing’ back.

The device itself was also ‘flexible’. The G Flex had a natural curvature, which LG said allowed it to sit more comfortably against your face, and position the microphone closer to your mouth – who remembers the Nokia 8110 ‘banana phone?

However, as I said in my review of the phone, “don't get too excited about its flexible abilities...you can't actually go about folding it up.

“Lay the LG G Flex face down on a flat surface and at its most curved point the screen is still just a few millimeters above the surface. But then comes the fun part. Apply a decent amount of pressure to the rear of the G Flex and you can flatten the handset out.”

And the reaction it got when I showed people this flexible feat? “I was met - without fail – by a sea of wincing faces as the G Flex made seriously concerning creaking and crunching sounds. Sure the handset does flex, slightly, but it never sounds like it's enjoying the workout.”

Then there was the ‘self-healing’ back, which was able to soak up minor bumps and knocks, but it certainly wasn’t immune to a scratch or two.

The LG G Flex wasn’t the best phone, and it was extremely expensive, but it did what LG did best – something different, something unique, something wild. And that’s what I love.

By John McCann

6. LG KU990 Viewty (2007)

(Image credit: Mobile Phone Museum)

The very fact that I refuse to throw this phone away – 18 years after its release – shows the love I have for it. This phone had a 5MP camera, Xenon flash, DVD(ish) quality video recording, a manual zoom button – and a touchscreen.

For all you kids out there, you don’t know how exciting this was to use when you’d been only used to tapping away at keys. A keyboard that could move and become a movie screen? Amazing! (Skipping past the fact that there was very little video content out there to actually watch).

There was a stylus that you could attach with a little cord (although that quickly got annoying) and I’m certain that if I fired up the phone now, the resistive touchscreen would drive me up the wall (where it senses pressure over spotting the electrical conduct in your fingertips) by inaccurately guessing which part of the screen I wanted to prod.

It was rumored that this phone actually outsold the initial iPhone, thanks to the higher spec, lower price (and the fact Apple wasn’t officially reporting sales figures…), and while that lead didn’t last long, it was entirely deserved in my eyes.

By Gareth Beavis

5. LG Cookie (2008)

(Image credit: Destructive Dan)

When the LG Cookie launched in 2008, it took youngsters by storm. I know that, because I was one, and it marked the first phone I could actually call my own. In hindsight, the Cookie wasn’t all that spectacular, and in fact, LG used it to target the entry-level touchscreen market by keeping the cost of the device as low as possible.

That scrimping resulted in a 3-inch, 240 x 400 pixel touchscreen powered by an ARM9E CPU with a clock rate of 175 MHz. It also had a 3.15MP camera capable of capturing videos at 12 frame/s, and no flash option.

Pretty impressive, right? No, not really, but the combination of super cool looks (yes, I had the white version) and a neat little stylus hidden away in the phone’s body meant the LG Cookie was, for me, the height of style and innovation during my formative years.

By Axel Metz

4. LG enV2 (2008) Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

It may not have been my first phone, but the enV2 was definitely one of the first – and one I still have in a closet somewhere.

The LG enV2 wasn't the original clamshell, but it did have a large number pad with a tiny screen on the front and the ability to fold open to a bigger screen (well, big by non-smartphone standards). With speakers on either side and a closer to full-size QWERTY keyboard, it was a real BlackBerry rival.

The LG enV2 offered some smartphone-esque, BlackBerry-esque flair without the smarts, and it was quite fun to use and served me well, even with a removable battery on the back. It also has a decent camera, though not with shots I’d want to share now. But I remember getting pretty good at typing on the inside keys and had a lot of fun responding to text messages on it.

In the years since, I reviewed a number of other LG phones. In my early blogging days, I fondly remember chatting with Mr. Mobile – aka Michael Fisher – at LG G3 Day. But the LG enV2 offered a lot of features, even some mini mobile games, in a durable, not-so-smart package.

By Jacob Krol

3. LG Wing (2020)

(Image credit: Future)

The LG Wing was supposed to be unlike any other smartphone the world had ever seen. It was the first device in LG’s 'Explorer' series of devices, which would have been a series of products meant to explore unconventional form-factors – such as the LG Rollable.

The LG Wing broke every rule of the textbook, with a big and bulky design, far too many moving parts, and at a premium price point for mid-range specs. While it was not really the best phone for the price, it was among the most enjoyable devices that I ever laid my hands on.

It was a cool party trick to reveal the second display with just a swipe, in what was probably the most polarizing design of its time. Notably, even for a first-gen product with an unfamiliar form factor, it was surprisingly not bad, with a decent number of features and third-party apps optimized to make use of the dual-screen approach.

The Wing is a fitting swansong for LG’s smartphone journey, cementing its place in the history books as one of the most innovative brands in this space, being unafraid of experimenting and going against the norms; while serving as a reminder of how unforgiving the smartphone market can be.

By Aakash Jhaveri

2. Google Nexus 5 (2013)

(Image credit: TechRadar)

2013 was a big year for LG in the smartphone world. Alongside its G2 flagship and its first bendy phone, it was invited to make the next iteration of Google's Nexus line of smartphones.

Nexus was a project from Google that brought in Android phone manufacturers to make hardware designed to show off what the software can do in its purest form. The Nexus 5 was one of the best handsets in the series, and a big part of that is down to LG's impact.

The Nexus 5 had a lot of similarities with the LG G2 we've mentioned below (spoiler alert), but this used Android software in a way that Google intended. It felt even sleeker than the LG G2, and it had an affordable price, too.

As one of the first smartphones I used as a technology journalist, I began to see what Google was aiming for with its Nexus line on the Nexus 5. I also spotted what LG was capable of in one of the best time periods for LG smartphones, and I'll always have a fondness for this specific phone because of that.

By James Peckham

1. LG G2 (2013)

(Image credit: TechRadar)

There have been a few smartphones over the years that have almost exquisitely got the blend of features, hardware, and price right, and the LG G2 (or Optimus G2 in some regions, as the company inexplicably kept jamming a clunky extra word into the title) was just that.

This was just a great handset. A 5.2-inch screen was huge at the time, and the 13MP camera was right in the race for the best out there, with loads of great features to tweak and some top snaps being possible. The shiny, rounded plastic shell felt robust in the hand, and the overall interface was brimming with clever little tweaks to improve the basic Android experience.

But the main star was the placement of the rear buttons – a power key that was flanked above and below by the volume buttons on the back of the phone!

The idea was that this would be more of a natural, ergonomic fit in the hand, given its ‘huge’ size, and therefore you’d be less likely to drop it. Some reviewers found that it was too hard to reprogram the brain to look for the unlock key there, but they weren’t using it for long enough. I sometimes still yearn for it now, and keep wondering why phone brands aren’t using the rear of the phone for some kind of touch interface.

Of course, I’m pretty sure the annals of time are making me remember this phone with a rosy hue – Android overlays were often buggy back then, the fiddly camera settings probably irked, and the buttons probably fell off or something. But I remember this phone with true fondness – for a time, it looked like the success of this phone was going to keep LG at the top table of the smartphone world for years to come, but sadly, that never materialized.

By Gareth Beavis

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• Amazon's flagship Fire TV Omni with Mini-LED is getting two new features
• Interactive Art adds some motion-triggered movement to your ambient screen
• Dual-Audio arrives and lets the TV send out audio to a hearing aid and its speakers simultaneously

Amazon only entered the Mini-LED TV market with its own Fire TV Omni brand last year, yet its first entry into a crowded market proved to be not just the best in its line-up, but a compelling budget option.

Now Amazon’s rolling out two upgrades to its best TV, and you won’t need to pay anything extra to use either of them. As we’ve seen from the likes of Roku to Amazon in the past, this is a free upgrade for the platform that powers the television.

Up until now, you’ve been able to set a static scene for the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED to display when not in active use. These came in the form of works of art, photographs – akin to Samsung’s Frame TV or Hisense’s Art TV – or even stack widgets to make the TV into a giant smart display. But with the new update, Amazon is injecting some motion into the artwork.

(Image credit: Amazon)

There are now 12 pieces of ‘Interactive Art’ that Amazon promises will make the Fire TV into a "dynamic art piece." These will interact with movement in the space where the TV is, as it tracks motion using a high-fidelity radar sensor built into the unit. Meaning that if you select a koi fish scene, these creatures might swim across the screen, or a butterfly might flutter in via another choice.

It seems pretty neat and lives within the Fire TV’s Ambient Experience, and as with anything on the Fire TV, you can ask Alexa to open it up and then select an Interactive Art option. You can also use the remote and, via ‘Quick Settings’, suggest a new Art type to choose from one of the 12.

Interactive Art isn’t replacing the pre-existing options either – you can still pick from works of art and photographs, but you can also ask the TV to whip up a work of art through “AI Art.”

(Image credit: Amazon)

The second upgrade is one that Amazon first announced back in December of 2024, and it’s that the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED can send out two streams of sound.

One stream of sound can be outputted from the TV’s built-in speakers, while another can be streamed to hearing aids via the 'Dual-Audio' feature. This is a long-awaited, customer-requested addition to the Fire TV’s Accessibility feature set.

It’s nice to see Amazon now rolling this out to the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, and it will work with any compatible hearing aid.

First, you’ll connect the hearing aid to the TV, but to turn on Dual Audio, you can do it in Quick Settings or the main Settings panel under Accessibility and select the feature.

To find Dual Audio or Interactive Art, ensure your Fire TV Omni Mini-LED is running the latest version of the operating system. Amazon has recently rolled out a software update, so check for it and trigger an update if available. From there, you’ll find these two new features that make Amazon’s best TV even better.

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• Google will roll out a version of Gemini AI for kids under 13
• The app will include parental controls and safety features via Family Link
• Google is pitching Gemini to parents as a way for kids to learn, be creative, and get help with homework

Google is keen to widen the usage of its Gemini AI assistant and is creating a version of the Gemini app for children, including parental controls on content. The company sent an email to parents about its plans for a Gemini designed for children under 13, first spotted by 9to5Google.

Google's email cites comments encouraging managed access to AI from parents, teachers, and experts on kids as the reason for the new app. The child-friendly AI assistant will supposedly help kids with homework, answer idle questions, and help them with creative writing. Parents will be able to set Gemini as the child’s default assistant on Android devices.

Of course, as Google is often quick to point out, Gemini can make mistakes. Any kid using Gemini should check with their parents about any facts (and frankly, adults should confirm anything Gemini tells them as well). So if Gemini tells your child that Abe Lincoln invented peanut butter, hopefully they will ask you before they turn in their essay on how the Gettysburg Address was so short because Lincoln had a mouthful of peanut butter and nothing to wash it down.

The idea is that if AI tools are going to shape the future of learning, kids should be introduced to them under controlled circumstances. Those digital training wheels will help kids learn how to use AI safely before the parental limits are removed when they're older.

The Gemini for Kids app will come with many extra safety and parental control features, powered by Google's Family Link, which provides tools for parents to limit their children's activities online. Parents will be able to monitor their child's Gemini activity and be alerted if their kid starts using it for less-than-pure purposes, asking questions like, “Can you do my science fair project?” or “How can I start betting on football games?"

Schools will also have protections in place. If kids access Gemini through school-issued accounts, administrators can set usage policies and supervise interactions using the Google Admin Console.

Gemini kids

This is arguably much more than just another checkmark in Google's plans for Gemini. It marks a real push by Google to normalize AI for the whole family, specifically Gemini. Google is planting a flag with the app. If Gemini is a child's first AI app, the one they grow up with, they're more likely to trust it and keep using it in their adult lives too.

There are serious questions about deploying AI to kids. Making sure Gemini doesn't mislead kids or mess with their critical thinking development is critical. And Gemini is not where kids should find answers to their deepest emotional questions, but it's hard to imagine a child not at least trying to ask Gemini about drama with their friends.

To assuage some of those concerns, Google told parents there will be no ads or data harvested from the kids version of Gemini. Instead, the focus will be on learning and creative expression. That it might conveniently train a generation to be comfortable using Google's AI tools is not brought up by the company, but it feels a lot like a very elaborate and high-tech version of a college giving out branded pens to second graders to get them thinking about applying in a decade every time they reach for a pen.

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