TechRadar News

• WiZ has launched a new device to rival the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
• The WiZ HDMI Sync Box uses the same tech, but is less than half the price
• It comes with an LED light strip, and can be synced with extra lights too

WiZ makes some of the best smart lights for home owners on a budget, and now it's taking the fight to Philips Hue with a new Sync Box that mirrors the colors on your TV screen, and mirrors them using a connected light strip or bars.

It's the same principle as Philips Ambilight technology, and effectively 'blurs' the edges of the screen for a more immersive movie or gaming experience.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is the best Ambilight alternative around today, but it's also the most expensive. The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K, which launched in September 2024, has a list price of $349.99 / £299.99 (about AU$520), while the 4K version is $249.99 / £229.99 (about AU$390).

That's before you add the cost of the lights themselves, whether that's a set of Philips Hue Play Light Bars, or a Gradient Light Strip to stick on the back of your TV.

There are several affordable options available from brands like Nanoleaf and Govee, but even the best Ambilight alternatives struggle to match the performance of the Philips Hue Play system. That's because most budget-friendly color-mirroring systems use a camera mounted on top of your TV to monitor what's being displayed on the screen, then replicate those colors.

Although this can work well, it often results in more latency than using HDMI, and can be affected by reflections and lighting conditions in the room. That can break the immersion, or even become a distraction.

(Image credit: Signify) More immersion, less cash

The new WiZ HDMI Sync Box uses HDMI input instead, which eliminates these problems and means there's no need to spend time calibrating the system either.

The WiZ HDMI Sync Box supports HDMI 2.0 and video formats up to 4K, and unlike the Philips Hue Play Sync Box 4K it comes with a light strip included. To extend the lighting throughout the rest of your room you can also pair it with the WiZ Gradient Light Bars and Gradient Floor Light.

The WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV backlight is available in two sizes. The kit for 55-inch to 65-inch TVs is £79.99 (about $110 / AU$170), while the version for 75-inch to 85-inch TVs is £99.99 (about $130 / AU$210).

The smaller kit is available now in the UK and Europe, while the larger set will go on sale in September. Prices and release dates for the rest of the world have yet to be announced.

We'll be testing the WiZ HDMI Sync Box very soon, and will bring you a full review so you can see how it compares with the pricier Philips Hue alternative, and decide which is the best companion for your home entertainment setup.

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At long last, Prime Video has finally unveiled its schedule for May 2025 and in addition to its usual roster of old favorites get ready for more original titles that are set to spruce up our array of best Prime Video movies and best Prime Video shows.

The most anticipated new Prime Video movie is Another Simple Favor, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. It serves as the sequel to their 2018 black comedy crime flick, and has debuted with a fairly decent Rotten Tomatoes score of 81% so far.

As for original TV shows, the brand new nature docuseries Octopus! narrated by Phoebe Waller-Bridge will also swim its way into the Prime Video library on May 8, followed by the Prime Video original series Molly Mae: Behind It All, which will be returning for a second installment on May 9.

This is just the beginning of Prime Video's May 2025 calendar, and before these new original titles land on one of the best streaming services you'll be able to stream over 50 new movies on May 1 alone, the perfect way for you to start your summer streaming schedule.

From the romantic sci-fi feature Her (2013) to one of my personal favorite comfort movies Legally Blonde (2001), here are all the new Prime Video titles you'll be able to stream in May 2025.

Everything new on Prime Video in May 2025

Arriving on May 1

Agent Cody Banks (movie)
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (movie)
All Quiet On The Western Front (movie)
All The Money In The World (movie)
Animal House (movie)
Another Simple Favor (movie)
Are We There Yet? (movie)
Babe (movie)
Babe: Pig in the City (movie)
Barbershop (movie)
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (movie)
Because I Said So (movie)
Blood Diamond (movie)
Body of Lies (movie)
Boo! A Madea Halloween (movie)
Born On The Fourth Of July (movie)
Cinderella Man (movie)
Coogan’s Bluff (movie)
Dante’s Peak (movie)
Death Wish (movie)
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (movie)
Earthquake (movie)
Fried Green Tomatoes (movie)
Fury (movie)
Gattaca (movie)
Get On Up (movie)
Her (movie)
Heroes (movie)
How High (movie)
In The Heat of the Night (movie)
It’s Kind of a Funny Story (movie)
Jarhead (movie)
Jersey Boys (movie)
John Q (movie)
Legally Blonde (movie)
Loving (movie)
Mallrats (movie)
Overboard (movie)
Play Misty For Me (movie)
R.I.P.D. - Rest in Peace Department (movie)
Ray (movie)
Ride Along With Gag Reel (movie)
Space Cowboys (movie)
Starsky & Hutch (movie)
The Beguiled (movie)
The Exorcist (movie)
The Flintstones (movie)
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (movie)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (movie)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (movie)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (movie)
The Karate Kid (movie)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (movie)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (movie)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (movie)
Traffic (movie)
Two Mules for Sister Sara (movie)
White House Down (movie)
You’ve Got Mail (movie)

Arriving on May 5

The Peanut Butter Falcon (movie)

Arriving on May 6

David Spade: Dandelion (TV show)
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (movie)

Arriving on May 8

Octopus! (TV show)

Arriving on May 9

Molly-Mae: Behind it All Part 2 (TV show)

Arriving on May 13

Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop (movie)

Arriving on May 20

Motorheads (TV show)

Arriving on May 22

Earnhardt (TV show)

Arriving on May 23

Clarkson’s Farm season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 27

September 5 (movie)
The Fire Inside (movie)
The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on May 29

The Better Sister (TV show)

Arriving on May 30

Chomp Squad season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 31

Good Boy (TV show)

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The modus operandi of the original electric Citroen Ami was to make motoring as affordable and as widely accessible as possible, with the diminutive and very basic quadricycle flaunting many automotive norms in favor of cost-cutting.

Now, Citroen has refreshed the line-up, including the addition of a funky Buggy version that shuns its doors and hard-top for an altogether more beach-ready vibe.

As a reminder, the petite Ami can only manage a top speed of 28mph, lacks any sort of infotainment system (you bring your smartphone) and offers an EV range of around 46 miles. But it can be driven by 14-year-olds in some countries and costs less than many modern eBikes.

Citroen engineered the Ami so both of its doors are identical, mounted in a mirrored fashion so they open suicide-style for the driver and normally for the passenger, making it cheaper to manufacture and repair.

Everything is designed to be robust but affordable – it is basic city transport at its best and it has shifted more than 75,000 units in the past five years.

The refreshed line-up features a revised front and rear fascia with brand new lights, with moulded grooves in the front right and rear left wings, offering a nod to the original 2CV of the late 1940s.

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(Image credit: Citroen)

Three new color packs also join the fold, with Ami Spicy, Ami Icy, and Ami Minty (red, white and green) providing an alternative to the basic blue hue of the previous iteration.

But in order to cut costs, Citroen supplies the wheel trims and a set of decals so that customers can apply the very basic wrap themselves.

The Ami Buggy, on the other hand, wears its additional design touches on its sleeve, including gold 14-inch steel wheels, a small sports spoiler and black metal hoops that replace the standard doors. This makes sliding in and out easier, while zipped door covers are available to keep out the rain.

Equally, the soft fabric roof can be rolled back or removed, essentially creating a small electric Manx Buggy.

There’s also a Palmeira edition that adds colored floor mats and a little robot bobble head called Andy that sits on the dashboard. Why? We have no idea.

Electric micro mobility rules for many

(Image credit: Citroen)

It’s easy to pass off something like the Citroen Ami as a bit of a joke, but it is the sort of basic, electric micro-mobility option that helps many navigate the busy streets of European cities, as well as offering safer, four-wheeled freedom to teenagers.

The new design language moves away from the slightly cutesy look of the original electric Ami, yet the refreshed model still manages to start at just €7,990 in France. That’s around $9,000 / £6,800 / AU$14,200.

Now available in 18 markets, Ami is becoming a common sight on urban streets, where its 2.41m length ensures it easy to park and its 4-hour charge from a 3kWh outlet makes it a solid choice for inner-city car-sharing schemes.

The Buggy version is clearly a bit of a fun and a cool lifestyle accessory for someone that needs something simple to pop to the beach in, but electric micro-mobility in general has wider appeal.

The new Ami, for example, has been designed with disabilities in mind. There are specific stowage and lashing points for wheelchairs, as well as the option of a mechanical lever for manual control of both accelerator and brake functions.

With cities becoming ever-more populated, it's the sort of affordable solution that can keep us all moving... and parking.

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• Google has hinted that it could address PWM dimming issues later this year
• That likely means any improvements will come to the Pixel 10 series
• This could be good news for anyone who suffers headaches when using phones with low PWM dimming rates

Google’s Pixel phones have fantastic screens and there’s no reason to think the upcoming Google Pixel 10 series will be any exception, but one way in which they’ve so far been found lacking is their PWM (pulse-width modulation) dimming rates.

This refers to a method that some smartphones use to make their display appear dimmer. Essentially, rather than the voltage being adjusted, the display is rapidly turned off and on to give the appearance of decreased brightness.

This rapid switching on and off of the screen is imperceptible to most users, but for some it can cause headaches, and it’s at its worst when the PWM rate is quite low – which is the case with Pixel phones.

But that might change with the Google Pixel 10, as when Android Central asked Google whether it would consider upgrading the PWM dimming rate or adding a flicker-reduction accessibility option to Pixel phones, they were told by a Google representative that “their teams are aware and investigating this. You can expect updates later this year."

The Google Pixel 9 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Likely landing with the Pixel 10

That reference to “later this year” likely means any changes would come to the Pixel 10 series, which is expected to launch in or around August. That likely means older models won’t benefit, though it’s not impossible that these changes could land as a software update.

It’s also unclear whether this would mean changes to the PWM rate, moving away from PWM, or some other solution. But whatever the case, this is very promising news for anyone who struggles with PWM and particularly low PWM dimming rates.

Of course, this comment is a bit vague so we might be getting excited about nothing, but as Android Central notes, this isn’t the first time they’ve reached out to Google for comment on PWM over the last couple of years, but it is the first time they’ve had a meaningful response, which could be a sign that it’s finally something Google is addressing.

We should find out later this year, either with the Pixel 10 series or as part of a software update – perhaps Android 16.

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• The Apple Watch SE 3 is expected to launch in September
• A new report claims it has entered development with a major display upgrade
• Sizes of 1.6 and 1.8-inches have been tipped, hinting at a redesign based around the Apple Watch Series 9

The new Apple Watch SE 3, expected to arrive in September, has reportedly entered production sporting display size options of 1.6 and 1.8 inches, hinting at the long-rumored redesign we've been waiting for.

Apple should unveil its three new best Apple Watches for 2025 in September alongside the iPhone 17. While the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 should be the headliners, only the Apple Watch SE 3 is tipped to get a redesign, and we've just got our clearest hint yet at what that could entail.

As reported by 9to5Mac, the ultra-reliable supply chain leaker Ross Young has reportedly revealed that the new Apple Watch SE 3 displays have entered production. According to the report, "He estimates the displays as being around 1.6” and 1.8” each."

As the report notes, Apple gauges its Watch line by case size, not screen size. As such, it's difficult to pin down exactly what this means. However, the sizing mentioned is closest to that of the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch range pioneered by the Series 7 and phased out with the Series 10.

Coupled with prior reports of a new design for the SE 2, it's safe to say that the Apple Watch SE 3 is hopefully going to look an awful lot like the Apple Watch Series 9 – a much-needed design overhaul.

Apple Watch SE 3's new sizes

(Image credit: Future)

Boosting the display size to 41mm and 45mm makes a ton of sense. The Apple Watch SE 2's design is starting to look long in the tooth alongside the sleeker Series 10. Handily, because the Series 10 measures 42mm and 46mm, Apple can increase the SE 3's display size accordingly while keeping the size difference as a clear point of differentiation in the lineup.

Other features and upgrades of the Apple Watch SE 3 remain veiled at this point. The big story for Apple Watch this year should be the introduction of blood pressure/hypertension monitoring, a feature certain to be reserved for the premium models in the lineup.

In the meantime, Apple should unveil watchOS 12 at WWDC 2025, which will reportedly feature a more transparent design reflective of Apple Vision Pro's visionOS.

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• Samsung has hinted that a new type of Samsung foldable is coming
• That most likely means the company's long-rumored tri-fold phone will launch this year
• However, based on previous rumors, it might not be widely available

We’ve been hearing for a while that Samsung could launch a tri-fold phone, possibly called the Samsung Galaxy G Fold, and now the company has strongly hinted that this device will launch in 2025.

As reported by SamMobile, the company stated during its Q1 2025 earnings call that it will “maximize product competitiveness based on form factor innovation.” Now, given that Samsung hasn’t released a phone with a new form factor since 2020, that suggests a new form factor is coming soon, with the tri-fold design being the only rumored candidate.

The company also stated that “Foldables will offer large-screen experiences for Fold”, which could be a reference to the rumored 9.9-inch screen of the Samsung Galaxy G Fold; that would make it a lot larger than the 7.6-inch Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Of course, we can’t be sure about any of this, but it’s already been rumored that the Samsung Galaxy G Fold will launch this year, so these comments further corroborate that prediction.

It could be coming soon, but maybe not everywhere

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

If the G Fold does land this year, it will most likely launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, both of which are expected in July.

However, it’s also possible that the Samsung Galaxy G Fold won’t get a global launch, with one report suggesting it will only be available in China and Korea. In which case, you might not be able to buy it.

Still, there’s always hope that it will go global, and even if this initial version doesn’t, subsequent models may well do.

We certainly hope the Galaxy G Fold will be widely available, though, because despite being one of the early pioneers of foldable phones, Samsung hasn’t done much to innovate in the space for quite a while now, so a tri-fold device could really freshen up its foldable line.

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• AMD’s RX 9060 XT is rumored for a May 21 launch at Computex
• The graphics card won’t go on sale until June, though, we’re told
• We do know that AMD intends to launch an RX 9060 offering at some point before the end of Q2, so June would be leaving it late

AMD’s RX 9060 XT is the next in line for the RDNA 4 range, rumor has it – at least outside of Asia (I’ll come back to that point later) – and we’ve just heard a possible release date for this GPU which will sit underneath the RX 9070 models.

VideoCardz reports that Chinese tech site Benchlife has the scoop on this one, claiming that the RX 9060 XT will be launched on May 21 (apply seasoning now).

This backs up a previous nugget of speculation from the grapevine contending that AMD is shooting for a mid-May launch. And it makes sense given that Team Red has its Computex keynote on May 21, which would be an obvious time to make a revelation like this.

I should clarify that this is just the reveal of the RX 9060 XT, we’re told, and these graphics cards won’t go on sale until later – in June, in fact, according to the report. (Assuming no translation issues are clouding the air here, which is always possible when the original material is in another language, Chinese in this case).

AMD itself has only confirmed that RX 9060 models are coming in Q2 2025, so June is at the late end of that timeframe.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff) Analysis: A sound bet for Computex

I wouldn’t bet against a Computex launch, because AMD has even said it will “announce key products and technology advancements” in the sphere of gaming at the show (among other areas, including AI PCs too). So, it seems likely enough, then, although arguably it’s also an easy target for an educated guess, if that’s what Benchlife is engaging in here.

The date also seems well placed to fire a shot back at Nvidia, in theory. The rumored release date for the RTX 5060 is May 19, so if that turns out to be correct, then AMD is perhaps looking to steal a bit of the thunder from Nvidia’s release here with a launch just a couple of days after. (Even if going by the rumored specs, the 9060 XT is going to be more pitched at the RTX 5060 Ti, rather than the vanilla RTX 5060).

So, again, all this makes some sense, and while I certainly think we should remain cautious, I’d be inclined to give Benchlife the benefit of the doubt here.

Pricing will of course be key, and we don’t yet have rumored pricing for the RX 9060 XT. Another key question that remains to be answered is whether AMD will release the RX 9060 XT in two flavors: 16GB and 8GB. Previous buzz has indicated that this might be the case, but more recent rumors are asserting that the 8GB model could be canceled before it flies the nest (due to the reaction to the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB).

The RX 9060 XT might be the next GPU to emerge globally as a more affordable RDNA 4 graphics card, but before then, gamers in Asia will get another product – the RX 9070 GRE. Like the GRE variants before it, this might be sold in other regions eventually, but for now, it’s a China-only prospect, with AMD having confirmed a May 8 on-sale date for this GPU.

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• OpenAI has rolled back the ChatGPT 4o update that caused the chatbot's AI personality to be 'sycophantic'
• CEO Sam Altman claims more fixes are coming
• We could see a personality selection option in ChatGPT in the future

Following Sam Altman claiming ChatGPT 4o's personality had become 'annoying', OpenAI has now made changes to the AI model, rolling back last week's update.

The company posted a blog post on its website highlighting the issue that had caused ChatGPT to become more 'flattering or agreeable – often described as sycophantic.'

Users found the update infuriating, with CEO Sam Altman sharing on X earlier this week that the company was working on a fix for the 'annoying' behaviour.

the last couple of GPT-4o updates have made the personality too sycophant-y and annoying (even though there are some very good parts of it), and we are working on fixes asap, some today and some this week.at some point will share our learnings from this, it's been interesting.April 27, 2025

In the blog post, OpenAI says, "In last week’s GPT‑4o update, we made adjustments aimed at improving the model’s default personality to make it feel more intuitive and effective across a variety of tasks."

"However, in this update, we focused too much on short-term feedback, and did not fully account for how users’ interactions with ChatGPT evolve over time. As a result, GPT‑4o skewed towards responses that were overly supportive but disingenuous."

In an effort to prevent this from happening moving forward, the company has highlighted how it looks to address sycophancy in the future.

For starters, training will be used to 'steer the model away from sycophancy' as well as added guardrails put in place to 'increase honesty and transparency'.

OpenAI also plans to add more ways for users to provide feedback on updates before they are rolled out to the wider public.

More personality updates to come

we started rolling back the latest update to GPT-4o last night it's now 100% rolled back for free users and we'll update again when it's finished for paid users, hopefully later today we're working on additional fixes to model personality and will share more in the coming daysApril 29, 2025

Following the rollback of the ChatGPT 4o update, Altman wrote on X, "we're working on additional fixes to model personality and will share more in the coming days."

Putting two and two together, it looks like users might get a ChatGPT personality selection tool in the future. OpenAI's blog post mentions the company is "building new, easier ways for users to shape ChatGPT's behavior" beyond custom instructions.

If you want to go further and change ChatGPT's personality yourself, we recommend trying the following prompt Reddit user TedHoliday:

"Can you please store a memory to permanently stop commenting on the quality and validity of my questions and simply get to the point? I don't want to be manipulated with flattery by a robot, and I don't want to have to skip past the garbage to get to the answer l'm looking for."

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• Surfshark has unveiled a privacy-oriented, free public DNS service
• The service promises never to log or track any activity
• Surfshark plans to put its DNS no-log policy under test soon with an independent audit to validate its claims

Surfshark has just become the first VPN provider to unveil a privacy-first public DNS service.

Unlike DNS servers that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers you by default, Surfshark DNS promises never to log or track any activity, and it's completely free to use.

Already offering one of the best VPN services on the market, Surfshark's new service seeks to help privacy-conscious individuals and organizations avoid online tracking.

Surfshark public DNS

"By offering a free, privacy-oriented DNS service, we are not only seeking Surfshark’s commitment to make the internet a safer place for everyone but also encouraging individuals, organizations, as well as NGOs to take their first steps towards enhancing online privacy," said Karolis Kaciulis, Leading System Engineer at Surfshark.

Short for Domain Name System, DNS acts as the phone book of the Internet. It translates human-friendly domain names that we all type online into numerical IP addresses that computers can understand. DNS servers—dedicated machines that handle and respond to DNS requests—are then a vital part of how the Internet works.

Yet, DNS servers that ISPs offer by default aren't necessarily private.

ISPs may collect and log users' DNS queries for user identification. They can also monitor DNS traffic and even block specific domains. Users can then be subjected to targeted advertising, too.

Surfshark DNS promises to be different, though. It operates under a strict no-logs policy, which means no collection, storage, or sharing of browsing activity. It also supports secure DNS protocols such as DoT, DoH, and DoQ to keep browsing activity private.

We're introducing our free privacy-oriented DNS service, designed for those who value extra privacy without compromising the speeds of their daily browsing. Check it out. https://t.co/YaU0xvw5nfApril 28, 2025

Many tech enthusiasts are used to opting for alternative public DNS servers to improve their overall internet performance. Yet, none of them, Kaciulis explains, are provided by companies primarily focused on security and privacy.

He told TechRadar: "Recognizing this gap, Surfshark decided to offer its own public DNS servers, aligning with its core mission of providing a more secure and private connection."

A third-party DNS server like Surfshark DNS could improve overall network performance. For example, it is less likely to become overloaded. It also promises to offer a better understanding of geolocation, which can provide users with closer servers.

Such a service can also help users bypass online censorship that ISPs may enforce at the DNS level.

Despite these benefits, Kaciulis doesn't recommend using Surfshark DNS alongside Surfshark's virtual private network (VPN).

"Our VPN inherently includes DNS protection, making a separate DNS configuration redundant for users," he said.

Similarly to its no-log VPN, though, Surfshark now plans to put its DNS no-log policy under test soon with a third-party independent audit.

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Welcome to our 48 hour coverage of World Password Day 2025 - here we will be bringing you all the news, updates, and expert insights into the world of passwords and password security ahead of the big day on May 1st 2025!

Most of us use passwords almost every day to access and protect online accounts, files, and documents. But passwords are only as secure as you make them, and remembering multiple complex passwords can be such a hassle.

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• advice from our experts to help keep your accounts and passwords secure
• exclusive deals from our password manager partners to keep your data safe
• insights into how passwords are evolving and the future of passwords
• password security content from our extensive archive
• And much more!

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Telecommunications is an inherently data-driven industry. Traditionally, great focus has been placed on gaining data visibility into the core and transit areas of the network. This approach has provided valuable insights for throughput optimizations, speed, and general performance.

Regardless of promises of speed, customers are mainly concerned about whether or not they’re able to watch streaming services, play live games, and connect with colleagues and loved ones via video calling - sometimes simultaneously. To solve for optimized performance and a great customer experience, telecommunication companies are shifting their focus toward further enhancing their last-mile visibility.

Historically, service providers have used the last-mile data they collect to identify the worst-performing connections and pinpoint the group of customers most at risk of churning to another provider. However, if approached correctly, last-mile performance intelligence can offer more than just a way to mitigate churn.

Today, when consumers visit the marketing and sign-up pages of telcos or internet service providers, they are typically presented with maps showing broad network coverage and similar pricing between providers, indicative of both the competitiveness of the telecommunications landscape and the utility-like nature of many of its services. On paper, there is often little to differentiate providers from a marketing perspective.

This is where the opportunity lies. Service providers are in a unique position by virtue of owning and operating the networks that connect users with the applications and services they’ve come to rely on in their daily lives. By rethinking their relationship with last-mile data, additional benefits - beyond customer retention - are ripe for the taking when it comes to intelligent fault diagnosis, customer communication, and differentiated services.

How incomplete last-mile data can impact decisions

One of the most important aspects of data-driven decision-making is that the source data underpinning the decision is clean, comprehensive, and has good lineage. This goes to its quality and reliability as the foundation for decision-making.

With more comprehensive last-mile data, service providers and carriers can make better informed decisions regarding new product launches, network planning, capacity, and capital allocation. For example, telcos and service providers will make significant moves around optimization of services for the needs of specific market segments - such as gaming, or industrial companies with IoT needs, and so on.

This kind of optimization has long been a promise of network slicing technology, and many telcos and providers now have this in their arsenal. Yet, the biggest challenge may be determining the best customer cohorts to target with this level of optimized services. This is a problem that is addressable in part by having more comprehensive last-mile data to analyze and base these decisions on.

Incomplete last-mile data also makes it harder to determine where a proposed investment in network infrastructure or capacity would have the biggest performance improvement. By contrast, in circumstances where the telco or service provider is collecting last-mile data from every active service, from every home or premises, they have a much more comprehensive understanding of how their services land, and where improvements most need to be made.

Last-mile intelligence as a differentiator

Telcos and service providers have always had options available to them to collect last-mile data: whether that’s TR-069 on customer premises equipment, or specific broadband monitoring boxes.

The key opportunity ahead lies in the improved capability within service provider environments to correlate and use last-mile intelligence.

For instance, last-mile network intelligence can significantly enhance the ability to deploy maintenance strategies proactively. By continuously monitoring the last-mile connections, service providers can identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems, reducing downtime and improving overall service reliability. This proactive approach not only helps in maintaining customer satisfaction but also reduces operational costs associated with emergency repairs and customer support.

Service providers can also use last-mile insight to analyze usage patterns and preferences to tailor their offerings for a higher level of personalization that can lead to deeper customer satisfaction and loyalty, as customers feel their specific needs are being met.

In a market where pricing and coverage are often similar, last-mile intelligence can be a key differentiator. Service providers that can demonstrate superior last-mile performance through transparent reporting, value-add services, and customer testimonials can gain a competitive edge. This transparency builds trust and can be a deciding factor for customers choosing between providers.

Where will richer data take you?

With insights into all last-mile connections, service providers can access a valuable dataset that has long been overlooked. This knowledge can enhance customer experience and inform a wider range of commercial decisions, resulting in comprehensive strategies that are supported by a clearer understanding of the last-mile situation and the needs of their subscribers.

We rate the best network monitoring tool.

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

Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) has become a hot commodity, with companies around the world enjoying access to multiple rapidly-growing, full-spectrum data marketplaces provided by the likes of IBM and Google, as well as S&P Global, Snowflake, and others.

What is underpinning their rising popularity is the fact that hedge funds, investors, and financial services companies are increasingly discovering how they can leverage these rich datasets to make informed decisions.

Governments around the world have also been quick to adopt DaaS practices, especially when it comes to data monetization drives in such fields as health care and smart city projects.

My aim with this article is to explain what DaaS is, what it is packing “under the hood”, and what data collection alternatives are currently available to businesses and organizations.

What is DaaS?

In a nutshell, Data-as-a-Service is a cloud-based type of software that provides users with multi-source data on demand via APIs, rather than as a standalone product. In other words, by paying a subscription fee based on data usage, businesses gain access to numerous data sets rated by other users, making it easy for them to find what they need.

DaaS facilitates the consolidation of enterprise data in one place and, unlike other data management frameworks, doesn’t require users to have extensive on-premises IT infrastructure or expertise to store, manage, retrieve, and otherwise handle massive amounts of data. As of 2024, there are a total of 60 publicly traded DaaS companies.

As with any other technology, DaaS comes with its own set of pros and cons. On the pro side, it has been used to reduce licensing costs, streamline workloads by leveraging cloud services, speed up software development, create enterprise benchmarking reports, and boost the efficiency of business intelligence.

DaaS’s cons, meanwhile, include risks like data privacy breaches, security violations when dealing with sensitive data, and the low quality of granular, niche data types.

What powers DaaS?

DaaS makes extensive use of alternative data. How do we define that though? Traditional data can be defined as pretty much all publicly available, structured data produced under legal and official supervision. This would include data from statistics departments, press releases, financial statements, and so forth.

Alternative data, on the other hand, is typically unstructured, stored in multiple different formats (from blocks of text to video clips), and extracted for specific purposes. Some businesses — particularly financial services and investment companies — are highly reliant on exactly this type of data already. A key reason for this is that alternative data often contains unique investment signals that aren’t present in its traditional counterpart.

The most common method of collecting alternative data is called web scraping, which dates back to around 1989. In basic terms, web scraping uses specialized software to copy large amounts of unstructured public data from websites automatically and transfer it to a central database or spreadsheet, where it is converted into structured data, for later analysis. This form of data gathering is arguably the main engine behind the power of DaaS marketplaces.

Web scraping has been rapidly rising in popularity over the past decade. As global competition continues to heat up, more and more companies are turning to web scraping to make better-informed business decisions and gain an edge over their market opponents. And with vast amounts of data being generated every single day — around 2.5 quintillion bytes, to be precise — the ways of collecting alternative data and putting it to good use are potentially limitless.

To sum up, DaaS marketplaces often use web scraping to collect alternative data, which may contain unique signals, and provide their customers with powerful cloud infrastructure they can use to analyze it according to their individual needs.

SaaS, DaaS, or… ?

Businesses and organizations have three ways of acquiring the alternative data they need. Let’s take a brief look at each in turn.

Web scraping with SaaS

The first method entails the use of web scraping software (e.g., via a customized scraper API) and an ethical proxy network from a reliable provider. This in-house approach comes with a substantial learning curve and requires a good deal of maintenance — e.g., when a website changes its HTML structure and content, the scraping pipelines can break. There are also potential legal issues, such as accidentally scraping sensitive data.

The main benefit of web scraping with SaaS is that you actually control the data you get. Which means that it’s easier to control its quality, to target specific data, and to maintain security, privacy, and compliance, especially if you’re gathering sensitive information. In addition, you get your data fast, at relatively low cost, and it comes in a structured form.

Buying ready-made datasets

The second method is to buy ready-made datasets that match your needs. While this does mean that you’ll be dependent on a specific vendor (or vendors) for updates and support, as well as somewhat limited customization options, you also get many benefits. For instance, since you’re buying a finished product, you can start using it immediately — no in-house data collection required, and no infrastructure-related overhead.

Ready-made datasets are relatively cheap, as licensing or subscription fees replace substantial upfront investments. Additionally, since you’re getting your data pre-packaged by a reputable vendor, it’s going to be of high quality. This is because companies that sell datasets use various data validation techniques to ensure its accuracy.

Sourcing from a DaaS marketplace

Finally, you may opt for getting your data from a DaaS marketplace, which combines data collection, storage, and management. Since we’ve already covered “vanilla” DaaS, it might be worthwhile mentioning Big Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS) here. In basic terms, what you get with BDaaS is not simply more data, but also a whole data analytics package designed to help companies extract the insights they need.

Given that, according to current projections, the BDaaS market value will reach over $52 billion by 2026, you might want to keep an eye on this in the future. For now, however, if you don’t have much experience in working with data, it’s probably best to sit this one out.

Final word

Ultimately, which method is best depends on your needs. Can you get the data you require in the form of standalone datasets? Does it make sense to collect it yourself using a custom SaaS web scraper? Or perhaps you need access to larger pools of data via something like BDaaS?

Before making that all important decision, make sure you’ve established exactly what type of data you actually require, and what is the easiest, most cost-effective way of obtaining it.

We list the cheapest proxy services.

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

• New website
• New panel
• New products

A2 Hosting is now hosting.com with a whole new website, promising new features and an updated hosting panel.

Hosting.com started life as A2 Hosting in 2001. The (old) name is a reflection of the place where it all started, Ann Arbour, in Michigan. The company was founded by Bryan Muthig and grew into a successful hosting company hosting 2M+ websites in over 40+ locations.

On the surprise transition, CEO Seb De Lamos said, "Super excited that A2 Hosting which for so long has been this paramount of hosting performance, amazing customer support, and so much more, that we've been able to take it and turn it into something which takes it to the next level."

The move is a reflection of the growth that Hosting.com has sustained and is purported to boost the brand increasing global recognition and build a larger interconnected community which will provide more opportunities to connect and learn.

Different name same values

Change can be scary but Hosting.com reassures users, "while our name is changing, our dedication to providing fantastic support and the reliable products you've come to expect remains the same." Adding, "You'll still have access to the same robust hosting solutions and the same team of experts ready to assist you 24/7."

In a blog post, Hosting.com stresses that this isn't about abandoning roots but rather expanding and growing the business on a global stage. The core values of reliability, speed, and customer satisfaction at the heart of A2 Hosting remain in Hosting.com.

Along with the different name, Hosting.com says other changes include greater resources which will be invested in infrastructure and technology to better support customer needs.

There will also be a new hosting panel. At first glance and a poke around the website a lot seems to have changed. Product names are new, the features included in plans are different and older products like dedicated hosting are hidden from the home page.

(Image credit: Hosting.com)

Hidden services still exist, you just need to find them via site:hosting.com via Google because they're not readily available from the home page. For example, one Hosting.com user reported to be disappointed with not being able to find Node.js hosting but a quick site:hosting.com "Node.js" reveals that this is still a service from Hosting.com.

This is a significant rebrand for Hosting.com and I'm looking forward to reviewing new products and services and seeing whether the changes can deliver on the promise of enhanced hosting features and infrastructure of an already well known and liked host.

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• Meta has launched a new standalone app for its Meta AI assistant, powered by Llama 4
• The app connects across Meta platforms and devices, including Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses
• The Meta AI personalizes its behavior based on your Instagram and Facebook activity

Meta AI is moving into its own space with the launch of a new standalone app. Fueled by Meta's new Llama 4 AI model, the new app is simultaneously a standalone product and a replacement for Meta View, which was previously used to connect to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Meta’s making a big play here, positioning voice interactions as the most intuitive and natural way to interact with your AI. The app supports hands-free chatting and even includes a demo of full-duplex speech, a feature that lets you talk and listen at the same time.

That's very useful considering how keen Meta is to connect Meta AI with the company’s larger product portfolio, especially the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These AI-enabled spectacles will now operate through the Meta AI app, replacing the Meta View app they currently rely on.

That means you can start a conversation on one platform and easily transition to another. All you need to do is open the Devices tab on the app and replicate your settings and saved information.

(Image credit: Meta)

Ask a question through your smart glasses, get a reply from Meta AI, and then pick up that same thread on your phone or desktop later. You can switch from voice chat in your glasses to reading the conversation in your app's history tab. For example, you could be on a walk and ask Meta AI through your glasses to find a nearby bookstore. The answer will be saved in your Meta AI app for later review.

The other major element of the Meta AI app is the Discover feed. You can see publicly shared things like successful prompt ideas and images they've generated on the feed, then remix them for your own purposes.

Additionally, the desktop version of Meta AI is also getting revamped with a new interface and more image generation options. There's also an experimental document editor for composing and editing text, adding visuals, and exporting it as a PDF.

Meta AI all over

Meta has spent many months spreading Meta AI across Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp, but now, this is the first time Meta AI isn't hosted within another mobile app.

The AI’s connection to Meta’s other apps does give it an edge (or a flaw, depending on your view) by allowing it to adapt its behavior based on what you do on those other apps. Meta AI draws on your Instagram and Facebook activity to personalize its answers.

Ask it where to go for dinner, and it might suggest a ramen spot your friend posted about last week. Ask for tips on an upcoming vacation, and it’ll remember you once posted that you love to “travel light but overpack emotionally” and suggest an itinerary that might fit that attitude.

Meta clearly wants Meta AI to be central in all your digital activities. The way the company pitches the app, it seems like you'll always be checking in with it, whether on your phone or on your head.

There are obvious parallels with the ChatGPT app in terms of style. But Meta seems to want to differentiate its app from OpenAI’s creation by emphasizing the personal over the broader utility of an AI assistant.

And if there’s one thing Meta has more of than nearly anyone, it’s personal data. Meta AI tapping into your social data, voice habits, and even your smart glasses to deliver responses designed for you feels very on-brand.

The idea of Meta AI forming a mental scrapbook of your life based on what you liked on Instagram or posted on Facebook might not appeal to everyone, of course. But if you're concerned, you can always put on the smart glasses and ask Meta AI for help.

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• Iran has thwarted an attack against its critical infrastructure
• The attack was "widespread and complex"
• It's not confirmed who was behind the incident

Iran’s national infrastructure was hit with a “widespread and complex” cyberattack, which was repelled by the country’s cybersecurity experts, a senior official speaking to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency confirmed (via The Record).

Although the incident wasn’t described in detail, the head of the Iranian government’s Telecommunication Infrastructure Company (TIC), Behzad Akbari, said;

“By God's grace and the efforts of the security and technical teams of the Communications Infrastructure Company and the Ministry of Communications, yesterday one of the most widespread and complex cyber attacks against the country's infrastructure was identified and preventive measures were taken,” said Akbari on X (Translated from Persian by Google).

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Unconfirmed cause

Very little is known about the attack, nor about the Iranian security team’s success in stopping it - TechRadar Pro did reach out to the TIC, but has not yet received a reply.

This comes just a day after an explosion at the country's largest port, Shahid Rajaei, killing at least 28 people and injuring 800 more, authorities report - although there’s no indication these two incidents are linked.

This isn’t the first time Iranian national infrastructure has come under attack. In 2023, Iranian petrol stations were targeted in a controlled cyberattack, causing havoc across the country and affecting around 70% of petrol stations around the nation.

The Iranian government attributed this incident to a cybergroup named ‘Predatory Sparrow’, which it says has ties to Israel.

As geopolitical tensions rise, national infrastructure continues to be the top target for state-backed threat actors and cybercriminals, especially given the critical nature of the services they provide, and the chaos created by downtime. The consequences for compromised telecommunications, transportation, energy, or water networks could be severe or even life-threatening, so cybersecurity is more critical than ever.

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• Google’s NotebookLM now supports Audio Overviews in over 50 languages
• Users can generate AI podcasts based on uploaded information in their preferred languages
• The Gemini 2.5 Pro-powered feature maintains the same casual, conversational style regardless of language

It seems the AI 'podcasters' you create with Google's NotebookLM have been playing a lot of Duolingo. The AI-generated hosts of the Audio Overview feature can now perform in more than 50 languages. Audio Overview is the NotebookLM feature that transforms the documents, videos, books, and other information you give it into an audio show hosted by a couple of AI voices.

When you make the Audio Overview now, you can go to the settings and pick an Output Language ahead of generating the audio. You can also switch languages on the fly, generate summaries for friends or students in their native tongue, or prep multilingual study guides without hiring a translator or braving the often messy results of Google Translate.

The addition may not seem like a big deal among other AI spectacles, but it's potentially huge. Language plays a gatekeeper for so many things, especially technology. Now, Google can entice those who might be interested in playing with its AI toy without them having to learn a whole new language.

An entire global audience of people studying, teaching, researching, or just interested in learning new things can now better navigate a Google platform previously limited by English exclusivity. Teachers, for instance, can upload a hodgepodge of resources in different languages and generate a digestible audio recap in whatever language their students are most comfortable with.

Global AI podcasts

The feature is only in beta, and Google is keen to caution that there are still some problems. The voices might stumble, and you might encounter weird or wrong translations, especially in less frequently used languages. But the synthetic personalities will still discuss your research paper sources or complete home makeover guide and riff, recap, and remark on the content; it's just that English won't be the only tongue they do it in.

That tone matters. One of the reasons Audio Overviews clicked with users in the first place is that they don’t sound like a monotone robot trying to teach you tax law. The AI hosts crack jokes, pause for effect, and express amazement in (usually) appropriate spots.

There’s something deeply satisfying about hearing your own research about ancient Rome explained to you in Latin. It definitely makes learning the language feel more exciting. Amo audire podcasts novis linguis.

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• Panasonic just launched its new RB-F10 earphones
• They'll cost just £79.99 (around $110 / AU$165)
• They boast Bluetooth 5.4, a seven-hour battery life, and solid audio

Panasonic has just announced a new pair of cheap wireless earbuds with its open ear Panasonic RB-F10 earphones.

Like other open ear designs, rather than sitting inside your ear, these earbuds sit over your ear canal. This allows you to hear your music clearly, but also, because your ear isn’t blocked, you can hear what’s going on around you.

The Panasonic RB-F10s specifically come with a few handy features.

They boast Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, so you can easily switch their connection between two different devices. They also feature built-in microphones for voice calls with automatic background noise removal, allowing you to be heard more clearly.

Additionally, they have a seven-hour battery life, which can be extended by a further 18 hours using their charging case.

(Image credit: Panasonic )

Lastly, because open ear headphones are usually a little bigger than earbuds, they can boast bigger drivers, which should lead to a richer sound than you might be used to. At least, that’s what Panasonic is promising from its new RB-F10s.

Best of all, they come in at just £79.99 (around $110 / AU$165) which makes them one of the more affordable options in the open ear space – and if they can stick the landing could help them secure the best budget option spot in our pick of the best open ear headphones guide.

Open ear headphones are the best

(Image credit: Panasonic )

I adore open ear headphones, and recently converted my fiancée to the lifestyle as well.

We love to watch videos or listen to music on our phones, but it’s easy for it to become a competition as we each try to drown the other’s audio out by turning up our speakers louder and louder. We’ve tried using over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, but then it’s impossible for us to talk to one another, especially if one of us is trying to shout for the other from another room.

Open ear headphones strike the perfect balance because we can enjoy our own private audio, but still call out to each other or easily come in and start chatting without having to compete with noise cancelling tech.

They’re also ideal for working out (especially running, as you can enjoy your motivational audio and still hear what’s going on around you), or while traveling, as you can keep an ear out for any public transport announcements that you might miss if ANC is turned on.

I love the Shokz OpenFit Airs (Image credit: Shokz)

I’ve also found that they’re hooked design is generally comfortable yet secure. I’ve tested several open ear headphones designs, and I frequently forget to take them off even when I’m not playing any music because I just forget I have them on.

Lastly, as is true for other earbuds, their small case makes them so easy to carry with you. Unlike a pair of headphones, you can get away with your pockets rather than needing to bring a bag as you can transport your cans when you aren’t wearing them.

Now we haven’t yet tested the Panasonic RB-F10 earphones, but they look like they tick a lot of essential boxes on paper, which could make them a solid choice if you’re after the convenience of open ear headphones that I and others are already enjoying.

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• LG has announced pricing for its two flagship QNED TVs, the QNED9M and QNED92
• The QNED9M is the first non-OLED LG TV to get a wireless connection box
• The flagship QNED92 mini-LED is priced the same as the Samsung QN80F

LG has revealed US pricing for two of its flagship QNED TVs, the QNED9M and QNED92.

Pricing for the QNED9M, which features LG's Zero Connect Box (which previously was a feature exclusive to the LG M-series OLED TVs), is listed as $1,799 for the 65-inch model, $2,299 for the 75-inch model and $3,499 for the 86-inch model.

Pricing for the QNED92, the only mini-LED model in LG's 2025 QNED lineup, is listed as $2,299 for the 75-inch model and $3,499 for the 85-inch model. It will also be available in a 65-inch size, though no price was given for this model.

However, based on how its pricing is identical in 75 and 85-inch sizes to the rival Samsung QN80F, we'd guess it'll be roughly $1,799, the same as the 65-inch Samsung QN80F. Samsung, maker of some of the best mini-LED TVs available, announced pricing for its entire mini-LED lineup in March.

The LG QNED9M will feature the Zero Connect Box, an external connection box that wirelessly transmits signals from all sources to the TV, which will only require a power cable. The QNED9M will use an LED panel with a QNED color solution and it features the Alpha 9 AI processor Gen 8, the same found in the LG C4 OLED TV, one of the best TVs. It will support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and 4K 144Hz – all wirelessly.

The LG QNED92, successor to the LG QNED90/91T from 2024, features a mini-LED backlight and the Alpha 8 AI processor Gen 2, the same used in the LG B4 OLED TV. It will also support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and 4K 120Hz for gaming, just to highlight some of its features.

Is LG looking to further shake up the mini-LED TV market?

The LG QNED92 (left) is a big upgrade over its predecessor the LG QNED90 (right) (Image credit: Future)

It's no secret that the mini-LED TV market is fiercely competitive, with Samsung, Hisense, TCL and Sony all big players in the category. LG has never really targeted the market like it does the OLED TV one, but that could be about to change.

I got the chance to see the QNED93 next to its predecessor earlier this year, and it was a significant upgrade, with improved backlight control, higher brightness and better detail overall. Its picture quality reminded me of some of Samsung's mini-LED sets, namely the Samsung QN85D from 2024.

So it's interesting that LG's QNED93 is priced exactly the same as the Samsung QN80F, the 2025 'equivalent' of the Samsung QN85D. It now seems LG has seriously thrown its hat into the mini-LED ring, creating a direct rival for Samsung.

Also, bringing the Zero Connect Box to the LG QNED9M takes aim at Samsung's Frame Pro series, one of the first TVs to use Samsung's own Wireless One Connect Box. It's worth noting the QNED9M is cheaper in all sizes than the Frame Pro, but the Frame Pro has its Art Mode, a mini-LED backlight, and unique design, all things that contribute to a more premium price.

We'll need a more detailed look at the new LG and Samsung TVs to get an idea of which reigns supreme, but it's interesting that LG has laid down the marker with the features and pricing of these two flagship TVs.

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• 55% of the businesses that made AI-induced redundancies regret it
• 38% of leaders still don't understand AI's impact on their business
• Humans are essential, but AI investments continue to rise

According to organizational planning platform Orgvue, two in five (39%) UK businesses made redundancies due to their AI adoption and hopes for the technology, however more than half (55%) of them are now admitted those redundancy decisions were wrong.

Consequences of the AI-induced redundancies include widespread internal confusion, leading to employees quitting and a drop in productivity – the exact opposite of what businesses had initially hoped for with the deployment of artificial intelligence.

Having seen how it's played out, businesses are now less likely to believe that AI will replace human workers after all.

Business leaders regret prioritizing AI over human workers

The report uncovers huge amounts of uncertainty over AI's impacts on the workforce. Two in five (38%) leaders still don't understand AI's impact on the businesses, with 25% unsure which roles are most at risk from AI.

Despite only 48% of managers expecting AI will replace some workers compared with 54% last year, leaders reportedly feel less responsible in protecting their workforce from redundancies.

"While 2024 was the year of investment and optimism, businesses are learning the hard way that replacing people with AI without fully understanding the impact on their workforce can go badly wrong," Orgvue CEO Oliver Shaw noted.

"We’re facing the worst global skills shortage in a generation and dismissing employees without a clear plan for workforce transformation is reckless."

Looking ahead, nearly half (47%) fear uncontrolled AI usage by employees, with four in five planning to retrain employees to use the tools properly. Two in five (41%) have already increased their learning and development budgets accordingly, with half (51%) introducing internal AI usage policies and 43% working with third-party AI specialists.

Although it's apparent that human workers are fundamental to businesses, 80% plan to increase AI investments in 2025, yet 27% still lack a clear roadmap.

Overall, Orgvue's research paints a troubling picture of the state of AI, highlighting a total lack of understanding. "While it’s encouraging to see investment in AI continue to grow, businesses need a better understanding of how the technology will change their workforce in the coming months and years," Shaw concluded.

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• FAVM unveils its FA-EX9 mini PC with AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 chip
• 96GB GPU memory and 128GB total RAM makes it ideal for creative professionals
• Compact AI-focused mini PC is a challenger for Nvidia DGX Spark

Chinese hardware manufacturer FAVM has announced the FA-EX9, a compact AI-focused mini PC powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor. Based on the Strix Halo platform, the chip features 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units (Radeon 8060S).

The diminutive device measures just 192 x 190 x 55mm and with a total chassis volume of just 2 liters, FAVM claims the system is among the smallest of its kind.

The FA-EX9 is squarely aimed at AI professionals and is positioned as a challenger to platforms like Nvidia’s DGX Spark. It supports the MAX+ 395 processor at a sustained 120W power draw, which the company says offers performance comparable to a Ryzen 9 9955HX paired with a GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.

OCuLink connector

The system uses LPDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, offering 128GB of total memory. Up to 96GB can be allocated as GPU memory, so it can handle large language model workloads without requiring discrete GPUs.

FAVM claims that the integrated GPU and NPU architecture in the FA-EX9 delivers 2.2 times the AI performance of an RTX 4090 in LM Studio when running locally. The system uses dual turbine fans and phase-change thermal materials to manage heat while keeping noise levels low during high-load tasks.

FA-EX9’s connectivity includes HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and two USB4 ports, with support for up to four 8K displays. It also features an OCuLink connector with a bundled adapter for high-performance external GPU expansion.

Although no release date or pricing has been confirmed, VideoCardz reports teaser campaigns are currently underway in China.

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