Technology

Community and mid-size banks are the bedrock of local economies, but in today’s hyper-connected world, they are increasingly finding themselves on a dangerous digital battleground. While large financial institutions deploy formidable cyber defenses, smaller banks often grapple with limited resources, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals wielding ever more sophisticated weapons. Recent cybersecurity analyses reveal critical vulnerabilities and trends that demand immediate attention if these essential institutions are to protect their assets and maintain customer trust.

The compliance trap: reacting instead of preventing

One major hurdle is a tendency to prioritize reacting to breaches over proactively preventing them. In the heavily regulated banking sector, compliance with data breach notification rules is nonnegotiable. However, an overemphasis on ticking these post-incident boxes can divert critical resources and focus away from building robust, preventive security measures.

Neglecting fundamentals like comprehensive data encryption or rigorously tested incident response plans is like meticulously planning a fire escape route while forgetting to install smoke detectors — the focus is on the aftermath, not avoiding the fire itself. This reactive stance leaves banks perpetually vulnerable, always a step behind the attackers.

Third-party peril: the outsourced Achilles’ heel

The growing reliance on third-party vendors for IT functions, cybersecurity, and cutting-edge fintech solutions presents another significant risk. These partnerships offer expertise and scalability, but they also widen the potential attack surface. Worryingly, studies show a frequent lack of rigorous due diligence and ongoing oversight of these critical partners.

Banks may fail to thoroughly vet vendor security practices, secure strong contractual safeguards, or clearly define liability in the event of a breach originating from a third party. As sensitive customer data flows to external entities, ensuring vendors meet the same stringent security standards is paramount. Ultimately, the regulatory buck stops with the bank, making robust third-party risk management an underdeveloped but absolutely critical defense.

Calling for backup: bridging the expertise gap

The cyber threat landscape shifts constantly, with new attack vectors and complex regulations emerging at breakneck speed. Many community banks lack the dedicated in-house expertise to keep pace. This is where external cybersecurity specialists and legal counsel become invaluable allies.

Yet there is often an underutilization of this crucial support. Engaging seasoned experts provides vital guidance for developing comprehensive security programs, conducting realistic risk assessments, navigating compliance requirements, and effectively preparing for — and responding to — inevitable incidents.

Furthermore, involving legal counsel early can establish attorney-client privilege, offering essential protection during sensitive investigations or potential litigation. Ignoring this available expertise is like going into battle without all your available reinforcements.

The AI double-edged sword: hesitation and heightened threats

While banking giants increasingly harness artificial intelligence (AI) for advanced threat detection, fraud prevention, and anomaly identification, many community banks remain hesitant. Concerns about cost, complexity, and integration challenges are understandable, but this reluctance creates a widening gap in cyber resilience.

This hesitation is doubly dangerous because cybercriminals are embracing AI, using it to craft hyper-personalized phishing scams, automate attacks at unprecedented speed and scale, and develop malware designed to evade traditional defenses.

The AI threat to community banks is stark:

• Supercharged Social Engineering: AI crafts phishing emails and scams with uncanny personalization, making them harder for employees and customers to spot.
• Rapid Automated Attacks: AI enables attackers to scan for weaknesses and launch assaults faster than banks with limited monitoring can react.
• Evasive Malware: AI-driven malware can learn and adapt, potentially bypassing conventional security tools.
• “Swimming Away” Risk: As larger banks fortify themselves with AI, less-protected community banks become comparatively easier and more attractive targets.

The resource reality

Underpinning all these challenges is the fundamental reality of limited resources. Compared to their larger counterparts, community banks often struggle to fund cutting-edge security tech, hire specialized cyber defenders, or implement extensive, ongoing training. Employees frequently wear multiple hats, potentially diluting the focus needed for dedicated cybersecurity and third-party risk oversight.

Fortifying the front lines: a call for proactive defense

The message is clear: community banks face a formidable and evolving cyber threat. Weathering this storm requires a fundamental shift from reactive compliance to proactive, layered defense.

This means prioritizing robust preventive measures, implementing rigorous third-party vendor management, strategically leveraging external expertise, and thoughtfully engaging with new technologies like AI — understanding both their defensive potential and the threats they introduce.

By acknowledging vulnerabilities and taking decisive, strategic action, community banks can build stronger digital fortresses, safeguard their customers’ trust, and secure their vital role in our financial ecosystem.

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

• Since 2022, Fancy Bear was targeting logistics organizations in the west
• The goal was to monitor foreign aid coming to Ukraine
• CCTV cameras at border crossings were monitored, as well

Fancy Bear, the infamous Russian state-sponsored threat actor, has been spying on “dozens” of organizations from Western and NATO countries, monitoring foreign aid moving into Ukraine. This is according to a joint cybersecurity advisory [PDF], published by 21 government agencies from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

As per the report, Fancy Bear (also known as APT28) targeted logistics providers, technology companies, and government organizations involved in transporting aid to Ukraine.

All transportation modes were covered, including air, sea, and rail, and the organizations spanned different industries, from defense, to transportation, to maritime and air traffic management, and ultimately - to IT services.

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Credential stuffing

The targeted companies were operating in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. What’s more, the hackers were also monitoring CCTV cameras on border crossings for the same purpose.

To gain initial access, APT28 relied on credential guessing and brute-force attacks. They also ran spearphishing campaigns, and took advantage of software vulnerabilities.

By leveraging CVE-2023-23397, they targeted Microsoft Exchange, Roundcube Webmail, and WinRAR, allowing them to infiltrate the systems. Finally, they went for corporate VPNs and vulnerable SQL databases, and after compromising a network, moved laterally with tools such as PsExec and Impacket.

The attackers manipulated email mailbox permissions, and used Tor and VPNs to remain hidden while keeping tabs on sensitive communication.

The Russo-Ukrainian conflict demonstrated just how much warfare has changed in recent years. Besides the usual fronts - land, sea, and air, cyberspace has become a major battleground, with hackers and cybercriminals on both sides targeting sensitive information, and critical infrastructure.

The attack should “serve as a reminder that cyber-physical systems are now strategic targets for adversaries,” commented Andrew Lintell, General Manager, EMEA, at Claroty. “To combat this, organisations need full visibility into these environments and a risk-based approach to securing them. Many of these devices, such as security cameras, weren’t designed with modern threats in mind, so are increasingly vulnerable entry points.”

Via The Register

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, May 22 (game #711).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #712) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• STONE
• FIBER
• MARBLE
• EYELINER
• BLOWOUT
• MAKEUP
• POUND
• BASH
• NATURE
• GLASSES
• BLAST
• DRAM
• NEBULA
• OUNCE
• CHARACTER
• RAVE

NYT Connections today (game #712) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Going large
• GREEN: Your disposition
• BLUE: UK measurements 
• PURPLE: Feline style

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #712) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: QUITE THE PARTY
• GREEN: ONE'S CONSTITUTION
• BLUE: BRITISH IMPERIAL UNITS OF WEIGHT 
• PURPLE: WHAT "CAT'S EYE" CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE

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

NYT Connections today (game #712) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #712, are…

• YELLOW: QUITE THE PARTY BASH, BLAST, BLOWOUT, RAVE
• GREEN: ONE'S CONSTITUTION CHARACTER, FIBER, MAKEUP, NATURE
• BLUE: BRITISH IMPERIAL UNITS OF WEIGHT DRAM, OUNCE, POUND, STONE
• PURPLE: WHAT "CAT'S EYE" CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE EYELINER, GLASSES, MARBLE, NEBULA

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

BRITISH IMPERIAL UNITS OF WEIGHT is something some people in the UK get bizarrely exercised over – or at least they did about 20 years ago, when greengrocers feared that measuring potatoes in kilograms would lead to the collapse of society, and bar owners fretted over serving 700ml of lager instead of a pint.

For people like this, accepting the metric system was tantamount to surrendering to Hitler, Napoleon and Julius Caesar.

Years on we remain in a weird limbo where things are measured in both British imperial and metric, where some people think they weigh 15 STONE and other people think they weigh 95kg. A similar inertia over the metric system exists in the US, but unlike the UK it’s not tied up in ONE’S CONSTITUTION.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of MARBLE in WHAT "CAT'S EYE" CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE puzzled me initially, as I was thinking of the marble stone rather than the marble game.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, May 22, game #711)

• YELLOW: FINE PRINT ASTERISK, CATCH, CONDITION, STRINGS
• GREEN: CHARACTERS WITH GREEN SKIN ELPHABA, GRINCH, HULK, SHREK
• BLUE: FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL MALL IN D.C. CAPITOL, MALL, OBELISK, POOL
• PURPLE: FAMOUS RIDDLE-GIVERS BRIDGE TROLL, MAD HATTER, RIDDLER, SPHINX

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 22 (game #445).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #446) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… The musical fruit

NYT Strands today (game #446) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BEGIN
• DINT
• LANE
• BAIT
• DINK
• REEK

NYT Strands today (game #446) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #446) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #446) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #446, are…

• FAVA
• KIDNEY
• BLACK
• GREEN
• NAVY
• CANNELLINI
• SPANGRAM: BEAN SALAD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The biggest challenge today was working out how to spell CANNELLINI. Other than that, this was one of the fastest games of Strands I’ve ever played – maybe because I eat so many beans.

I immediately knew what we were looking for from the theme “the musical fruit” as, well, beans do have a reputation of causing people to perform a few bum notes. The way to avoid this is to use dry beans that have been soaked overnight in a pinch of salt, but that’s quite a palaver if you’re just a casual BEAN SALAD chomper.

As to the argument over the classification of beans, the answer is that technically, beans are a type of fruit, specifically a legume. However, they are often categorized as vegetables and you’re unlikely to find them hanging out with bananas.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, May 22, game #445)

• STEWARD
• GUARDIAN
• PROTECTOR
• CUSTODIAN
• TRUSTEE
• SPANGRAM: TAKE CARE

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new 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 22 (game #1214).

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 #1215) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1215) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1215) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo 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 #1215 - 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 #1215) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• G

• A

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1215) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1215, are…

• SHIRE
• GIANT
• AWAIT
• CAPER

This was a no-hesitation, “first thought best thought” round for me, where I went with the first word that came into my head. 

Of course, breezing through games like this quickly has more to do with playing Quordle a lot than any actual skills, as all these words have appeared in the game before.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1215) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1215, are…

• DRAPE
• PRANK
• VALUE
• SWELL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE
• Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER
• Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN
• Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY
• Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE
• Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN
• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO

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• Thales surveyed more than 3,000 IT experts about Generative AI
• The researchers found plenty of concern about security
• Despite the worries, businesses are accelerating adoption

Despite seeing it as a major innovation driver, businesses are overwhelmingly concerned about the security threats of artificial intelligence (AI). This is according to the 2025 Thales Data Threat Report, the company’s annual report on the latest data security threats, trends, and emerging topics.

Based on a survey of more than 3,100 IT and security professionals in 20 countries and across 15 industries, the Thales report found that nearly 70% of organizations view the rapid advancement of AI as their biggest security risk. Generative AI, which can create text and images from simple text prompts, is a particular concern.

Drilling deeper into these ideas, integrity and trustworthiness issues emerge as major challenges. Almost two-thirds (64%) of the respondents worry about AI’s lack of integrity, while 57% cited ‘trustworthiness’ as a major challenge. Also, since different GenAI functions like training, inference, or content generation, depend on user-provided data, the respondents expressed their concerns about increasing exposure to data security risks.

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CISA added the flaws to KEV

Regardless of these worries, organizations are still accelerating their AI adoption, the report further explains, hinting that this puts them at unnecessary risk. In fact, a third of businesses are actively integrating GenAI into operations despite not ensuring full security of their systems. Spending on GenAI has become one of the key priorities for organizations, second only to cloud security.

“The fast-evolving GenAI landscape is pressuring enterprises to move quickly, sometimes at the cost of caution, as they race to stay ahead of the adoption curve,” Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research, said. “Many enterprises are deploying GenAI faster than they can fully understand their application architectures, compounded by the rapid spread of SaaS tools embedding GenAI capabilities, adding layers of complexity and risk.”

Almost three-quarters (73%) of professionals reported investing in AI-specific security tools with either new or existing budgets, Thales’ report concluded.

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Doctor Who season 2 – or season 15 for anyone who's watched the show since its 2005 revival – is almost over. With two episodes left before the legendary sci-fi series departs our screens once more, you'll want to know when this season's penultimate chapter will be released.

Below, I'll tell you when season 2 episode 7, titled 'Wish World', will be available to watch. You'll also find a full release schedule for Doctor Who's latest season, which includes details on when its finale will arrive.

What time can I watch Doctor Who season 2 episode 7?

Doctor Who season 2's second-to-last episode will be available to stream on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (UK) and Disney+ (internationally) on Saturday, May 24.

Depending on where you live, 'Wish World' will be released at different times. Here's a rundown on when you can watch via the BBC on British shores and Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, if you live outside of the UK (NB: if you live in a country that isn't listed below, use one of the following times to work out when you can watch it).

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST (BBC iPlayer) / 7:10pm BST (BBC One)
• Australia – 5pm AEST
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Brazil – 4am BRT
• India – 12:30pm IST
• New Zealand – 7pm NZST
• Japan – 4pm JST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT

Where can I stream Doctor Who season 2 episode 7?

A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho)

A photo posted by on

As I mentioned above, UK viewers can tune into BBC iPlayer or BBC One to catch 'Wish World'. If you want to avoid any major spoilers, I'd recommend watching it as soon as it's released on iPlayer. Otherwise, stay off social media so you don't have any big surprises ruined before you catch it in the evening on BBC One.

As for the rest of the world, Disney+ is the only place you can stream Doctor Who's next episode. So, no matter whether you live in the US, Australia, or any other nation that's not the UK, you can watch the penultimate chapter of one of the best Disney+ shows' latest season on that platform.

Doctor Who season 2 full episodic release schedule

Meet the Unholy Trinity.... Archie Panjabi joins #DoctorWho as legendary character the Rani! pic.twitter.com/byGN0vC1keMay 17, 2025

Unless you've skipped to the end of this article, you'll know that 'Wish World' is the second-to-last episode of Doctor Who season 2.

So, with only one chapter, titled 'The Reality War' left after this week's entry, when will episode 8 be available to watch? Read on to find out more:

• 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 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 5 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 6 – out now
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 7 – Saturday, May 24
• Doctor Who season 2 episode 8 – Saturday, May 31

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• Vertagear announces new collaboration with Audi to launch a gaming chair collection
• Three chairs, including the SL3800 Audi Edition, SL5800 RS Edition, and PL4800 Audi Sport Edition, are now available for pre-order
• The gaming chairs are fitted with Vertagear’s patented ergonomic innovations and are expected to ship by July 15

Vertagear, the ergonomic gaming chair specialist, has announced a new partnership with Audi to launch a gaming chair collection.

This new collaboration is said to combine Audi’s precision craftsmanship with Vertagear’s industry-leading expertise in adaptive seating design for both gamers and professionals.

Right now, there are three gaming chairs available to pre-order. There's the black and red SL3800 Audi Edition for $499, designed for everyday comfort, featuring plush microsuede and Audi's signature aesthetic.

The white and black SL5800 RS Edition for $599 for high-performance seating enhanced by HygennX technology for lasting freshness and comfort, and finally, the black and red PL4800 Audi Sport Edition priced at $699. This chair is designed specifically for tall users and offers durable microsuede and Audi Sport’s iconic design elements for maximum support and style.

Each chair is fitted with Vertagear’s patented ergonomic innovations to ensure superior comfort and support for extended gaming or work sessions.

These include ContourMax Lumbar support for the user's posture, which reduces tension and promotes natural spine alignment.

A VertaAir Seat system with air cushioning technology to enhance breathability, improve circulation, and provide optimal weight distribution, as well as the aforementioned HygennX Technology, for odor control and quick-drying, combined with antimicrobial silver-coated embroidery for long-lasting freshness.

All the gaming chairs are expected to ship out by July 15, 2025.

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• Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 is out now
• This includes Android's big Material 3 Expressive redesign
• However, these changes won't roll out with the first version of Android 16

Hot on the heels of Google’s Android Show, the company has now rolled out its new look Android in beta form.

If you have a compatible handset (meaning a Pixel phone from the Google Pixel 6 onwards), you can now download Android QPR1 (quarterly platform release 1) Beta 1, the headline feature of which is the new Material 3 Expressive redesign.

This gives Android a whole new look, with major visual changes to the lock screen, the launcher, the quick settings screen, and notifications. And these aren’t just static visuals, as Material 3 Expressive also includes new motion effects.

Examples of Material 3 Expressive (Image credit: Google)More sizes, more tiles, and new effects

Beyond that, this beta also features various other changes, many of which have been dug up by 9to5Google. These include things like new grid size options for the home screen, a reduction in the size of the At a Glance widget, the option to add more quick settings tiles, and the ability to add various effects – such as animated weather effects – to any wallpaper.

So there’s quite a lot here, though the main thing you’ll likely notice is just how different everything looks to on Android 15.

If you’ve signed up for the Android 16 beta program and have a Pixel 6 or newer then you should automatically gain access to this beta. If not, you can opt in on the Android beta page.

That said, this being a beta it won’t be as stable as a finished release, so unless you’re desperate to try out Android’s new look, we’d suggest waiting.

Android 16 is expected to roll out in finished form in the second quarter of the year – so by the end of June, but the Material 3 Expressive redesign seen in this beta won’t land until the first QPR update, which should land later this year.

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• Google Health Connect will soon support Garmin
• Mi Fitness and Runna will also be supported from June
• A few other updates are coming to Google Health Connect for developers

Google I/O always kicks off with an opening keynote, but the developer conference features big software announcements across its various talks and events – and one such reveal at Google I/O 2025 is that Google’s Health Connect will soon be compatible with Runna, Mi Fitness, and Garmin.

Google Health Connect, which launched back in 2022, is Android’s Apple Health equivalent. It allows you to easily share health metrics and fitness data across devices and between apps, while privacy controls allow you to choose what data is and isn’t shared.

Starting in June, Mi Fitness (Xiaomi’s fitness wearable app), Runna (the excellent running coach app that Strava recently acquired) and Garmin will be able to share data with Health Connect, as revealed on its Android Stage, and spotted by Android Central.

Google Health Connect can interface with many apps (Image credit: Google)

That’s not the only change coming to Health Connect. As is the case with most I/O announcements, these are app developer-focused, but there are some features we wanted to highlight.

First, Health Connect will support new medical records APIs. Users will be able to directly enter details into apps to highlight their allergies and immunizations, and apps can be designed to interface with clinics and practices to use a person’s medical records as a source for information

History reads should allow apps to more easily spot health trends over time, to keep users better informed.

These features will require app updates before they can be implemented, and will in most cases require you to grant permission for your data to be shared, but they mark a solid upgrade to Google’s Health Connect services.

They should help us squeeze more usefulness out of the best smartwatches, best smart rings, and perhaps soon (thanks to Android XR) best smart glasses that many of us are now wearing so we can monitor our health a little better.

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• Project Starline becomes Google Beam, and will be for enterprises only
• AI turns feed from six cameras into 3D video, while AI translates from supported languages
• We'll see the first HP hardware to support Google Beam at next month's InfoComm conference

After around four years of very few apparent developments, Google confirmed that its Project Starline is still going ahead at its annual developer conference, I/O, in 2025.

This time under the new and public-facing name of Beam, the concept revolves around life-like video calls that use advanced hardware, computer vision and machine learning to create 3D video conferencing experiences with no glasses or headsets needed.

Rather than gathering data from tens of cameras (it still uses six), Beam will use a state-of-the-art AI volumetric video model to convert 2D video into a realistic 3D feed.

Google's Project Starline becomes Beam

Besides six cameras, Google has confirmed that Beam will use a light field display for true depth and a sense of dimension. The AI merges the six video streams, tracking head movements and rendering the video call at 60fps. Beam can also support natural eye contact and subtle expression recognition to make the video call hyper realistic.

Being a flagship video conferencing tool, it should come as no surprise that this 3D holographic platform will get the same real-time speech translation that Meet gets, with the system able to maintain voice, tone and facial expressions for natural multilingual communication.

However, there's a big catch, and it's not the price (which is unconfirmed). It's that general consumers won't get to experience the tech unless they work for one of Google's enterprise clients. It'll launch to select customers later this year, with the first HP hardware devices being showcased at InfoComm next month.

For context, Logitech's Project Ghost, a similar pod-based system that aims to curb Zoom fatigue with a slightly less advanced 2D system, costs around $15,000-$20,000 per booth.

Google confirmed that Deloitte, Salesforce, Citadel, NEC, Hackensack Meridian Health, Duolingo and Recruit have all already registered their interest in Beam. Google Beam General Manager Andrew Nartker added: "We’re working with industry leading partners like Zoom and HP to bring Google Beam to enterprises."

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• The Ninja Luxe Café comes in two new colors: Trace Blue and Gunmetal Gray
• Trace Blue has proved particularly popular, and has already sold out
• They follow the launch of the updated Ninja Luxe Café Pro earlier this month

The Ninja Luxe Café is one of the best coffee makers we've tested in recent months, and it just got even better with two limited edition soft colorways to add a touch of class to your kitchen.

The Ninja Luxe Café is an unusual coffee maker, capable of making espresso, filter coffee, and cold-brew – and doing all three well (see our full Ninja Luxe Café review for more details). It was available in a sharp stainless steel finish when it launched last year, and now you can also pick it up in a subtle hue called Trace Blue, and a darker shade called Gunmetal Gray.

The two new colors are available in the US, but Trace Blue has proved particularly popular and is currently sold out in Ninja's online store, but Gunmetal Gray is still in stock, and you can register for email updates to be informed when Trace Blue is back.

(Image credit: SharkNinja)

These new shades follow a bigger trend for kitchen appliances in soft, muted colors rather than the usual black and silver. For example, Breville recently gave its best espresso machine, the Barista Touch Impress, a new look in shades of cream, navy, and olive green with brass accents.

Meanwhile, KitchenAid toned down its coffee makers with a creamy colorway called Porcelain White, and unveiled the Design Series Evergreen stand mixer with a matt green body and walnut wood bowl.

Tidy tamping

The designers at Ninja have been busy, and earlier this month the company unveiled a new version of the Luxe Café with a lever-operated tamping system that takes the effort and skill out of pressing ground coffee into the perfect puck.

The system also makes coffee-brewing tidier, because there's no need to move a portafilter full of loose grounds and risk spilling them on your kitchen counter.

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro is available now from Ninja for $749.99 / £699.99 (about AU$1,200).

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• Spotify has launched a new feature in its search hub called Upcoming Releases
• Users can now view and pre-save upcoming albums from two lists based on their listening history and the most pre-saved albums globally
• Upcoming Releases also provides listeners with a space to access Countdown Pages, merch, and more

Spotify is really doing its bit to prove that it’s still the best music streaming service, and its freshly-launched Upcoming Releases hub does just that. The platform has just rolled out the new feature, creating an in-app space dedicated to keeping tabs on new album releases.

Yesterday Spotify announced the feature in a blog post and, as the name suggests, it will allow you to view and pre-save recommended soon-to-be-released albums based on your personal listening habits all from one place. Additionally, you’ll also be able to view the top 10 anticipated new releases based on the number of global pre-saves.

One of the better parts of the Upcoming Releases hub is that it’s very easy to find in the Spotify app. Head to the main search hub and scroll down to ‘Browse all’, and there you’ll find the brand new Upcoming Releases section next to your ‘Made For You’ hub. From there, you can pre-save upcoming albums hassle-free, and can quickly access album Countdown Pages to view the tracklist, listen to singles, check out merch, and watch clips.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Upcoming Releases marks a first for Spotify and significantly enhances the music streamer’s approach to giving fans more ways of staying in the loop with new music. Last year Spotify introduced Countdown Pages for artists which not only breathed new life into album release strategies, but gave fans a new way of engaging with the pre-release hype.

Now that Spotify has launched the Upcoming Releases hub powered by Countdown Pages, it could give the platform a leg-up for bringing you closer to new music - and I’m already warming up to it.

I like what I see, I like it a lot

Like any music obsessive, having my ear to the ground with new music releases is in my nature, however it can be quite the task when it comes to keeping tabs on new albums especially if you listen to a lot of different genres and artists like myself.

But Spotify’s Upcoming Releases hub could be the answer to all my new music questions, and I don’t think I’ve taken to a new feature this quickly since Daylists landed in 2023.

So far Upcoming Releases is limited to two different categories, ‘For you’ and ‘Top 10 countdowns’, which is the only downside to the new feature but I’m hoping this is intentional.

It would make sense for Spotify to start small and then build on the feature as users get used to it, so with that said I’d like to see Spotify add genre-specific recommendations for example ‘Most popular indie upcoming releases’, or even a section that groups soon-to-be-released albums from artists touring your local area.

I think there's a lot of room for this new feature to evolve, but it’s still early days and at the moment, I’m just excited to test the waters with it and see how often the recommendations are updated. Besides, it will save me bags of time scrolling through Metacritic’s list of new releases to find out who's bringing out new material.

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• Android TV 16 will bring a few nice changes to Google TV devices
• Eclipsa Audio support, auto viewing mode optimization, better streaming, and HDMI-CEC improvements
• No launch date as yet; different manufacturers will have different timelines

Getting a TV operating system update sometimes feels like going to a restaurant where the chef is a psychopath: your dish will come with the finest ingredients cooked to perfection but there'll be something unspeakable on top of your steak. The Android 16 update for Google TV seems a bit like that.

The update, coming to Google TV this year, will bring Android 16 to supported TVs and will include some really useful improvements. It'll also include what could be quite the irritant.

Android 16 TV apps will also be available for Android XR headsets (Image credit: Google)What to expect from the Google TV Android update

One of the most important new features is support for Eclipsa Audio, the much-anticipated rival to Dolby Atmos being promoted by Google and Samsung. It'll be coming to YouTube to begin with, and the firms hope it's going to be embraced by the wider industry as another immersive audio option.

Another useful new addition is the MediaQualityManager, which is designed to give streaming apps the ability to tweak your TV's settings. This is a system-wide equivalent to app-specific features such as Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which currently enables owners of some Sony Bravia TVs to automatically optimize their TV settings for the Prime Video show or movie they're about to watch – so it'll tweak the brightness, color temperature and motion smoothing.

Having it available in the operating system should mean more streaming apps offering a calibration option, and calibration being available on more TVs.

Google's Gemini AI assistant will be rolling out to Google TVs in the fall, enabling you to ask for movie recommendations or get information about things from your TV.

There's a visual refresh coming too, with the update delivering the latest iteration of Google's interface, called Material 3 Expressive. It's not a huge redesign but it's a clearer, more modern look.

Those are the top four, and Google says there will also be various improvements to media handling including playback speed, consistency and efficiency, and there will be improved HDMI-CEC reliability too. And it'll be bringing Google TV to Android XR, it's virtual/augmented reality platform, so app developers will be able to bring their apps to the platform effortlessly (although some, like Netflix, are likely to opt out).

The chocolate bar in the swimming pool of Android TV updates is the arrival of pop-up rating requests. You know those annoying "Rate this app" popups on your phone? Google is enabling app makers to bring them to your TV too.

There's no release date for Android TV 16 yet, and as ever with this kind of update some manufacturers are likely to roll it out more quickly than others.

As soon as we know likely launch dates we'll let you know. You can see the full list of features and changes on the Android developers website. (via FlatpanelsHD)

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• The first Skullcandy Crusher headphones made for the gym
• Sweat and water resistance, plus a nano-coating and silicone band
• Lots of bass promised, but no active noise cancellation

Skullcandy's new Crusher 540 Active headphones look like nearly perfect over-ears for the gym: they're sweat-resistant, they've got great battery life, and they promise to deliver pumping and motivational sound, too. But there's one big feature missing: active noise cancellation.

That's an odd choice for headphones when many gyms have a pretty loud soundtrack, and given the price tag – £169.99 / $199.99 (about AU$353) – that means the lack of ANC is all the more apparent; our list of the best headphones has options half the price that come with very good ANC.

That's a shame, because the rest of the specifications are very good.

He's got a serious face because his headphones don't have ANC (Image credit: Skullcandy)Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active headphones: key features

The key features here are focused more on comfort and longevity: the headphones are sweat and water resistant with a nano-coating and silicone TPU band to cope with even the heaviest workouts.

The ear cushions are made from a breathable fabric and have enhanced clamping so they'll stay in place. Skullcandy says the cups feature a "noise-isolating over-ear design" to reduce distractions even without ANC.

Sound-wise the big feature is Skullcandy's own Crusher technology, which enables you to drive the bass up to match the intensity of your activity, and there's built-in Tile finding so you won't lose them if you leave them in the locker room. Drivers are 40mm with dual bass drivers, and there's Bluetooth 5.0 with integrated controls on the headphones as well as full Skullcandy app integration – including the ability to dial back the bass if you prefer.

Battery life is 40 hours, with 10-minute rapid charging delivering four hours of playback from flat.

It all sounds great, but other great headphones at this price offer ANC, such as the Sony ULT Wear headphones or the Sennheiser Accentum Plus. It's true that Beats' gym-focused headphones, the Beats Solo 4, are a similar price and don't have ANC either – but we also slammed those for the omission.

There might be lots of people who don't want to use ANC in the gym, to keep more aware of their surroundings – but you'd want to use these headphones at other times, and wouldn't you want ANC when on public transport or in the office? There's a reason the best noise cancelling headphones are so popular.

Still, if the comfort and sound are good, these could be very popular – sweat-resistant over-ears aren't that common. The new Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active headphones are available worldwide from Skullcandy and the usual retailers.

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