Technology

Not only is Spotify one of the go-to music streaming services, but it’s evolved into a reliable platform for audiobooks, and it’s just launched a new immersive experience that aims to help fans connect more with the artists and albums they love the most.

This new immersive feature called ‘Follow-Along’ is now available to use in the Spotify app and can be found in selected audiobooks in Bloomsbury’s 33 ⅓ series, a collection of short books about popular albums that was first released in 2003, including books about Oasis’ Definitely Maybe (1994), to Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love (1985).

So, how is Spotify merging popular music with audiobooks? Well, when you listen to one of the audiobooks in Bloomsbury’s 33 ⅓ series, you’ll see additional media such as photos, graphics, and songs appear in the Now Playing section. Imagine you’re listening to the audiobook that discusses The National’s Boxer (2007), when the narrator goes into detail about a specific song, Follow-Along will show you the track right for you to add it to your library.

(Image credit: Spotify)

In Spotify’s blog post, the music streamer stated that Follow-Along ‘marks the beginning of cross-functional collaboration between Spotify’s music and audiobooks teams’, with Manager of Audiobooks Licensing Henna Silvennoinen describing it as ‘a dream project’ for the audiobook side.

Out of the 192 books in the 33 ⅓ series, Spotify has released 51 audiobooks about some of the most influential albums and the artists behind them. But only a select number will come with Spotify’s new Follow-Along function, including Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly (2015) and Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) - though if it were up to me, it would be The Wall (1979).

I see the vision, but it needs to involve more audiobooks

Music and books go hand-in-hand, and I’m always coming across videos with book recommendations based on specific artists, as well as literature-inspired playlists in the Spotify app. I tested out the new Follow-Along feature, and while I see the vision, there’s one setback that’s preventing it from unlocking its full potential.

One of my favorite things about popular music is learning about its contextual framework, and Follow-Along hits the nail on the head with this, especially with Bloomsbury’s series of books. But wouldn’t it be great if Follow-Along were applied to fiction audiobooks as well?

Think about it; you’re listening to the audiobook of Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, a story set during a prime time for the evolution of music. Whenever the name of a band or artist is dropped, their Spotify profiles and albums appear, or even better, Follow-Along gives you an insight into the inspiration behind the characters and story, sending you into a discography deep dive of Fleetwood Mac or The Doors.

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• Wix announces standalone online design platform Wixel
• Acts as an alternative to Canva and Adobe Express
• Includes AI tools alongside traditional design features

Top website builder Wix has announced the release of Wixel, an AI-powered visual design suite that’s effectively an alternative to the likes of Canva and Adobe Express.

According to the company, Wixel aims to “democratize visual design” - in other words, designers and non-designers will now have the tools to create professional-grade content and assets.

Interestingly, Wixel is a standalone product, so even those who don’t use the website builder will be able to sign up to the design tool. And, much like Canva and Express, it’s free to use with an optional upgrade for premium features.

What is Wixel and what can users expect?

When it comes to visual design suites, it’s a pretty crowded market right now, an area notably dominated by Canva.

It may not have been the first to market, but it’s the one that captured the imagination of marketing teams and businesses, letting even non-designers spin up professional-grade images and videos. So popular is it that even Adobe upped the ante and brought much-needed improvements to its Express platform.

Given the popularity of these suites, I’m not completely surprised to see Wix get in on the action. But what can users expect to get from Wixel?

Wix has offered an insight on this. Armed with just a single product photo uploaded to the platform, users can now remove or add backgrounds, crop, convert, and edit images, include text, and customize the layout within a template.

Alongside this, Wixel is capable of AI-generating images across different styles that can better suit the user’s brand guidelines. And voila, a user has a post fit for social media posting or adding to their online store. According to Wix, the entire process can be complete in minutes.

(Image credit: Wix)

Discussing the launch, Avishai Abrahami, Wix CEO and co-founder, said: “AI is the foundation of Wixel. Design is in our DNA, and simplifying complex experiences is what we do best. We’re now determined to revolutionize design by democratizing access to powerful and creative tools for everyone, regardless of their design expertise.”

I toyed with Wixel and, yes, if you’re familiar with either Canva or Express, you’ll have a pretty good idea what to expect. An intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate, customizable templates allowing users to swiftly edit designs and create assets, and, of course, AI tools for enhancing and generating on-brand content.

The company also confirmed that future tools are in the works, including story creation and video. Given trends, this is an absolute essential that can’t come quick enough.

You can check out Wixel now by clicking here.

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The latest trailer for James Gunn's Superman movie has taken flight and, hoo boy, is it a doozy.

There's quite a lot to unpack from the forthcoming comic book film's newest teaser, not least the fact that Supes will battle yet another villain who's not who everyone thinks they are (in my opinion, anyway). In fact, so much is crammed into trailer #2's two-minute runtime that there are numerous key details and Easter eggs you'll definitely have missed upon first viewing.

Below, I've rounded up seven of the biggest secrets hidden in Superman's latest round of footage. Potentially big spoilers immediately follow for the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) flick, so proceed with extreme caution.

1. Paging Walter Cronkite

The subtle vocal change between Kent and his superhero alias is also noticeable during this scene (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

The DCU movie's official trailer begins with David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Kal-El agreeing to be interviewed – as Superman, no less – by his perennial love interest and fellow Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (played here by Rachel Brosnahan).

It's a sequence that appears as though it'll start out as a fun idea, but soon turns into a more much dramatic affair. Indeed, as Lane politely interrogates the titular hero over recent incidents he's been involved in that haven't exactly put him or the US government in a good light, Kent gets increasingly agitated over her questioning of the good he's doing on his adoptive home, aka planet Earth.

Before the love birds' (if the rumors are to be believed, they've been secretly dating for three months by the time this film starts) interview becomes fraught, though, Kent playfully calls Lane "Cronkite" as the recorded conversation begins.

This is a tribute to the late and legendary US broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, who anchored CBS Evenings News almost 50 years between 1937 and 1981. He reported on some of the biggest real-life events of the past 50 years, too, including the Vietnam War, the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King, the 1969 moon landing, and the Watergate scandal.

2. War never changes

Superman intervenes in an ongoing conflict between two nations in his self-titled DCU film (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Part of the reason why Kent and Lane's interview quickly turns sour is their supposed disagreement over Superman's involvement in stopping a war in what appears to be the Middle East.

Now, there are obvious parallels between this conflict and one currently playing out in the real world, but this isn't the time or place to get into the political and humanitarian weeds of that. All I'll say is, in light of what's going on right now, I'm curious to see how much of Superman's fictional war we'll see in this Gunn-directed flick.

But I'm getting off-topic. What war did Supes stop to draw so much ire from the US government and other interested parties? According to X/Twitter fan account DCU Updates, plus an Instagram post from actor Fahim Fazli, who has a minor role in Superman (thanks to Reddit for the catch), the fictional nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur will be the countries involved in this conflict.

By all accounts, it seems Kal-El's intervention stopped the former from invading the latter, too. If true, it's not surprising that the so-called Hammer of Boravia would track down Superman and engage in a bout of fisticuffs in the skies above Metropolis.

3. Planting a Flag in a new government role

Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr, who he voiced in Creature Commandos last December, in Superman (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr has dealt with a lot before and since his DCU introduction. Not only was his son was murdered by Peacemaker in 2021's The Suicide Squad film (a movie many now consider to be a progenitor to the DCU's creation), but he was duped by Princess Ilana and almost beaten to death by Clayface in season 1 of Max's adult animated show Creature Commandos. Simply put, he deserves to catch a break.

Nevertheless, I don't think anyone of us expected him to be installed as the US' latest Secretary of Defence. Again, this is seemingly revealed during Kent and Lane's stress-inducing interview, with the trailer cutting to a brief shot of Flag Sr when Lane says "Secretary of Defence".

Now, this could be a bait and switch on Gunn's part. This wouldn't be the first time that some trailer trickery has been employed to suggest one thing (e.g. Flag Sr being Secretary of Defence) but mean another (e.g. he's not really). If he is, though, it'll be a surprise promotion for Grillo's gruff army veteran and one I certainly didn't seen coming.

4. Where the streets have many names

You can just make out the name 'Ross' on the street sign in the top right hand corner of this image (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Walter Cronkite isn't the only individual to be honored with a blink and you'll miss it mention in the DCU Chapter One movie's latest trailer.

In shots where Corenswet's Man of Steel protects a child from falling debris and he's arrested by ARGUS chief Rick Flag (with the aid of Angela Spica/The Engineer and Ultraman (more on this duo later)), the names 'Ross' and 'Waid' can be seen on two street signposts.

The Waid Street sign is even more obvious in this picture (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

These are clear tributes to Alex Ross and Mark Waid, two of the most famous artists and writers who've worked for DC Comics since 1993 and 1985, respectively.

5. Engineering an entrance

Maria Gabriela de Faria will portray Angela Spica in her live-action DC comic book movie debut (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

But let's return to two of Superman's aforementioned villains: The Engineer and Ultraman.

The former was largely conspicuous by her absence in Superman's first official trailer – indeed, save for a missable moment where she's standing on the bridge that connects Luthercorp's two skyscrapers together in that teaser, she didn't feature as much as many people expected her to.

Thankfully, Maria Gabriela de Faria's nanotech-infused antagonist earns more screentime in trailer #2. She's seen going to town on the jaw-dropping Fortress of Solitude's android staffers before receiving a swift paw in the jaw from the adorable yet boisterous Krypto the Superdog. Spica can be spotted later in the trailer, too, when she's seen battling Superman alongside Ultraman.

Ultraman (second right) will surely be unmasked in the movie's third act, right? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Speaking of Ultraman – that's the name that fans have given this mysterious, black-clad villain, anyway – it seems he's going to have a more integral role in the story than many suspected.

Initially, it seemed he was going to be the muscle that Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor employs when things are about to get physical. However, some observers believe Ultraman will not only wind up being the primary villain in one of 2025's most anticipated new movies, but will also be unmasked as none other than a genetically-engineered clone of the eponymous Son of Krypton himself.

I've already sifted through much of the evidence that backs up this fan theory in my main Superman trailer #2 article, which I linked to in this piece's introduction. But, there's one more sign that suggests this hypothesis isn't as outlandish as it sounds.

How does Lex break into the Fortress of Solitude? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

This trailer confirms that Luthor and company will gain access to the Fortress of Solitude at some point. However, in the comics, there are only two ways that someone can enter Supes' secret hideout.

The first, which was used in the early years of Superman literature, involves finding and then using a giant key. Kal-El is the only being strong enough to lift it in the comics, though, and we already know this method won't be used in Superman's latest big-screen reboot. Indeed, the Fortress of Solitude clip article I linked to earlier confirms Krypton-originating individuals, such as Kent and Krypto, can gain entry to it via some form of vocal command.

I don't think that's the only way for anyone to enter the DCU's take on Superman's Arctic-based HQ, though. That's because, in the comics, the second method usually involves some form of highly advanced security system.

This is where Ultraman comes into play. If he is a clone of Kal-El, he could simply remove his face covering in front of the Fortress' likely hidden security cameras. They'll surely recognize him as Superman and allow him (plus Spica, Luthor, and the latter's girlfriend Eve, who can be briefly spotted when the group enters the Fortress) to set foot in it. It's that, or Ultraman utters a command that only Kryptonians would know, which would unlock the Fortress' front door. Either way, he seems key to the group's successful attempt to make their way inside.

6. Journeying to the Phantom Zone

Is this our first look at the DCU's take on the Phantom Zone or another pocket universe? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Later on in the teaser, we see Lane and Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific exploring what appears to be a cavernous, underground lair.

What if this isn't an Earth-based location, though? Instead, what if it's one of our first glimpses at the DCU's take on Pocket Universes (essentially, alternate realities that are tied to another dimension) and, more importantly, one called the Phantom Zone that Kryptonian criminals are banished to?

This isn't as big a stretch as you might think. For starters, Superman's two main trailers have included shots of him being incarcerated in an undisclosed location. It's likely that he's jailed following his arrest by Flag and company, too.

However, human prisons wouldn't be able to hold him. As such, I predict that, under Luthor's orders, Kent will be sent to and imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, i.e. a place where nobody should be able to find him. Well, unless you're a roving investigative reporter like Lane and a scientific genius like Mister Terrific...

7. Not faster than a speeding Kryptonite bullet

Anthony Carrigan's Metamorpho can create any element or substance he desires (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

The Phantom Zone should be the least of Superman's worries, mind you, because it seems he'll be injured by an Kryptonite bullet at some stage, too.

Before you scoff at the idea, hear me out. First, consider what Anthony Carrigan's Metamorpho – one of Supes' fellow imprisoned metahumans – is creating in the trailer. For the uninitiated, Metamorpho is a superpowered being who can make any substance in the known universe, so it's not outlandish to assume that he'd be able to craft Kryptonite (Superman's one and only major weakness) out of thin air.

Metamorpho is being forced to make some Kryptonite here, isn't he? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Next, take a good look at the above image. More importantly, look at Metamorpho's left hand. Why is it glowing green? There's only one logical solution: he's created a small amount of Kryptonite, whose primary color is – yep, you guessed it – green.

That's not all. In both trailers, we see Luthor brandishing a revolver whose cartridge chamber he's seen spinning. If Metamorpho has reluctantly crafted a Kryptonite bullet, it's logical to assume that Luthor would load his weapon with it and play a rigged game of Russian Roulette with Superman. If Supes works out that Luthor isn't playing fair, that could be the catalyst for him punching his way out of his glass box-based cell. Again, we see this in both trailers.

I'd be surprised if this scene doesn't occur after Kent is injured by Luthor's Kryptonite bullet (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

However, to paraphrase a classic Superman line from the comics, it seems he isn't faster than a speeding Kryptonite bullet.

Another clip in trailer #2 shows Kent's adoptive parents watching over their bed-bound surrogate son. Take a closer look at the upper left side of Kent's head, and you'll see what appears to be a bullet wound and some form of infection around his left temple.

This has to be the aftermath of not only Supes' escape from the Phantom Zone, but also the Kryptonite bullet striking the titular superhero. It's a good job, then, that Lane and Terrific seem to be on hand to help Supes escape and make his way back to the Kent residence to rest and recuperate.

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• Ubisoft has confirmed a new March 2026 release window for the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake
• The company said in an earnings call that the remake will release in fiscal year 2025-2026
• The game was announced in 2020 and was initially set to release in 2021

Ubisoft has finally shared a release window for the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.

During the company's latest earnings call on May 14, 2025, Ubisoft revealed that it plans on releasing the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake in fiscal year 2025-2026 (via GameSpot).

This means the game will release before March 31, 2026.

The remake was announced in 2020 alongside a teaser trailer for last-gen consoles, and by the time the game releases, it will mark six years since its initial unveiling.

The Sands of Time was scheduled to launch in January 2021, but was then delayed to March 2021, until Ubisoft delayed it indefinitely.

"This extra development time will enable our teams to deliver a remake that feels fresh while remaining faithful to the original," the company said at the time.

Ubisoft later shared an "important internal milestone" in 2023, but we've yet to receive a new trailer.

It's also unclear if the game will be coming to current-gen consoles, like PS5 and Xbox Series X, considering the long development cycle.

In the same earnings call, Ubisoft said that it is delaying some of its major unannounced titles to allow for better quality games.

According to Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot, an unspecified number of games from its biggest brands, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, The Division, and Ghost Recon, will now release between 2026 and 2028.

Guillemot pointed to Assassin's Creed Shadows' delay, calling it a "good decision" that allowed for the game's success.

"After a review of our pipeline, we have decided to provide additional development time to some of our biggest productions in order to create the best conditions for success," Guillemot said. "As a consequence, FY2026-27 and FY2027-28 will see significant content coming from our largest brands."

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• Dali V-16 F is its most powerful and precise subwoofer to date
• 1,500W (2,500W peak) with 18Hz bass reflex ports
• £4,499 / €4,999 (about $5,970 / AU$9,300.

Dali has unveiled the most powerful subwoofer it has ever built, with up to 2,500W of peak power thanks to its Class D amp. It features the strongest magnet ever connected to a Dali speaker, according to the company, and it's made specifically for the home entertainment systems of audiophiles.

While this particular model is a flagship sub with a price tag to match, Dali hinted during its launch that the tech and design featured here may make their way into smaller and less expensive (relatively speaking) options in the future.

Power and precision

(Image credit: Dali)

According to Dali, while the new V-16 F is capable of filling the largest rooms with staggering levels of bass, it has "all the precision and control needed to work in any audio system context and even in small rooms… Put simply, the V-16 F is the most powerful and least compromised subwoofer we have ever built."

The V-16 F driver has been created to defeat what Dali calls "the main enemies of accurate bass reproduction": distortion and compression. The V-16 F is engineered to minimize the losses from both of those things, and Dali says that its ability "to accelerate huge volumes of air to turn electrical signals into tangible, palpable, room-filling bass is absolutely unprecedented."

The driver is a 16-inch (406mm) unit with the largest ever Constant Surface Surround diaphragm design to date, powered by a 1500W (2500W peak) Class D amplifier. Constant Surface Surround, CSS for short, is different from the usual driver surrounds: it uses alternating positive and negative regions of stepped and curved sections to keep the surface area the same, to reduce distortion and suppress resonance. Dali said this is the only use of this technology in a subwoofer to date, though it's been used in other speaker types.

There are four Continuous Flare reflex ports tuned to a very low 18Hz, and their job is to reduce the need for bass driver excursion at low frequencies, again to reduce distortion. They also mean that the driver spends more time near the rest position, where its damping and motor force are more linear; Dali explains that that means more consistent and accurate low frequency performance across volume levels.

They're open by default, but the V-16F is supplied with optional port plugs if that better suits your listening space or preferences.

The Dali V-16 F will be available in July for £4,499 / €4,999 (about $5,970 / AU$9,300.

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• One UI 8 is coming in "summer" for the US
• Samsung first pushed out One UI 7 in January
• It's not clear yet which phones will get it

We've barely had a chance to check out One UI 7 (Samsung's take on Android 15), which first appeared on the Samsung Galaxy S25 phones in January, but One UI 8 (Samsung's take on Android 16) is going to be with us within the next few months.

This comes from Samsung VP and Head of Smartphone Planning, Minseok Kang (via GSMArena). Speaking at Google's recent Android Show event ahead of Google I/O next week, Kang said One UI 8 would launch "this summer" in the US.

That puts the launch date somewhere across June, July, or August. At the same event Google said Android 16 would be pushed out in June after months of beta testing, and previous leaks suggest Tuesday, June 3 will be the big day.

We've known for a while that Google has been planning to push out its big annual Android update earlier in the year, well ahead of the Pixel phone unveilings, and it seems as though Samsung is on board with the plan – and keen for One UI to keep up.

Which phones will get One UI 8?

Great News ‼️Galaxy S22 Ultra spotted running Android 16 with One UI 8 on GeekBench!!Single-Core: 1581Multi-Core: 3680Build Version: S908USQU8GYCB pic.twitter.com/p4aeOGAteHMay 14, 2025

The next question is: which Galaxy phones will get One UI 8? Samsung hasn't said much about this yet, and it's not immediately clear if there are any handsets that are eligible for One UI 7 but not for One UI 8.

Well-known tipster @tarunvats33 has spotted a benchmark showing the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra from 2022 running an early version of One UI 8 – suggesting that the new software will go back to phones that are three years old at least.

As the current flagships, there's no doubt that the Galaxy S25 series will get the One UI 8 update, and it's a fairly safe bet that the Samsung Galaxy S24 phones and other 2024 models will get it too. Beyond that, we're going to have to wait and see.

Earlier rumors had suggested the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, due in July, would come with One UI 8 out of the box. Based on the new comments from Minseok Kang, it looks like that'll be the case.

All of this means that, in theory, the Galaxy S25, S24, S23 and S22 series should all get One UI 8, and potentially also the Galaxy S21 FE.

The last three iterations of the Z Fold and Z Flip series should also be covered (from the Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 to today's models), alongside the Galaxy Tab range going back to the Galaxy Tab S8 from 2022, plus Galaxy A-series phones stretching back to the A23 from the same year. But we'll have to wait a little longer for that full official list.

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• Google just made some major changes to Android Auto
• The introduction of Gemini allows for easy conversational voice prompts
• But tweaks to media controls have frustrated some

Google has introduced a number of updates recently, including bringing its AI-powered assistant Gemini to smartwatches, televisions and into the vehicle environment through updates to Android Auto.

Software update 14.4, which is available now in the beta testing program, has made a number of subtle tweaks to its so-called ‘Coolwalk screen’, which essentially offers a number of applications in one, easy-to-navigate interface on Android Auto-compatible vehicle head units and vehicles running the Android Automotive OS.

The main issue lies with the media playback controls, which have been shuffled around just to annoy those that have formed enough muscle memory to play, pause and rewind without having to even look at the infotainment display.

Auto Evolution reported that the play/pause button is now aligned to the left off the screen on left-hand-drive vehicles, placing it closer to the driver but switching it with where the rewind/previous button used to reside.

However, seeing as the updates are currently only available in the beta testing program, the search giant still has plenty of time to listen to user feedback and make further changes if it deems them necessary.

Gemini jumps in on the road trip

Google is pushing its AI assistant to a number of smart devices, including watches, headphones and smart glasses, allowing users to receive recommendations and answers to common questions using conversational voice prompts.

The feature is also upgrading the current Google Assistant voice commands that feature in Android Auto infotainment systems and those cars running a native Android Automotive operating system.

This means that both drivers and passengers can request specific locations along the route, such as service stations that are good for walking dogs or locating the fastest charging stations in the vicinity.

When users connect their favoured messaging app, Google says that Gemini can summarize any messages received and even go so far as translating them into another language before sending – should you have lots of bilingual buddies.

Gemini looks set to take away some of the awkward app shuffling that motorists are tasked with, thanks to the ability to now ask the AI assistant to summarize the news headlines (with or without sports) and even answer those difficult questions that kids inevitably pose on a long journey.

Google says Gemini will be available on Android Auto in the "coming months", followed by those cars running the native Android Automotive OS.

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• We Are Rewind's GB-001 is a real cassette boombox, but it's got Bluetooth too
• More than enough power to rock reasonably sized blocks
• £379 / €449 (about $505 / AU$781)

One of the things I miss about the 1980s, other than my youth, my waistline and my faith in humanity, is the boombox. The boombox is one of the most important bits of audio tech ever made: it took music out of the bedroom or living room and into the streets, soundtracking rap battles and breakdancing and changing pop culture for the better.

And now it's back! Back! BACK!

The new We Are Rewind GB-001 looks like a boombox. It plays tapes like a boombox. And it records onto those tapes like a boombox. But it also comes with some very welcome improvements over the '80s devices it's so clearly inspired by.

That's the stuff… (Image credit: We Are Rewind) We Are Rewind GB-001 boombox: key features and pricing

The big differences this time around are batteries and Bluetooth. The former means your boombox won't have the battery-munching habit I remember from my long-gone Sanyo: the 3,000mAh rechargeable and user-replaceable battery is good for 10 hours on speakers and 15 with headphones.

Secondly, there's Bluetooth 5.4 so you can stream from your smartphone if you'd rather not carry a satchel full of audio tapes around with you. You can also connect an external sound source via the 3.5mm jack or use an external mic for recording.

It's a lot louder than my boombox ever was, too: 104W of power courtesy of Class D amplification.

The spec includes dynamic power control to reduce distortion, Dolby B emulation for those noise-reduced cassettes, and support for both normal (Type I) and chrome (Type II) tapes. And at 6.81kg (just under 15lbs) it's not so heavy you won't want to take it anywhere.

The new boombox is unveiled today, 15 May, at the High End Munich 2025 hi-fi show – we're planning to track it down there ASAP. There's no confirmed release date yet, but the official price is very reasonable at £379 / €449 (about $505 / AU$781).

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Cyber threats have evolved far beyond the domain of the IT department. With the introduction of the  Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to the UK parliament, cyber security is now a national priority, and the stakes for businesses are higher than ever.

The bill proposes tougher regulations and potential fines of up to £100,000 for failing to address specific threats, making proactive cyber defense a financial imperative for businesses when the legislation is passed. Although many organizations invest in digital safeguards, the method that offers a genuine test of trust resilience is Red Teaming.

During Red Teaming simulations, an independent ‘Red Team’ assumes the role of real attackers, probing systems, processes, and personnel to expose vulnerabilities. However, when treated solely as a technical exercise, Red Teaming can fail to result in meaningful action. Without executive engagement, even serious vulnerabilities may go unresolved.

Converting technical insights into business impact

One of the biggest challenges in Red Teaming is making sure that insights connect with senior stakeholders. Often, reports focus on niche technical exploits or zero-day vulnerabilities. While these details matter to security engineers, they don’t paint the broader picture of a successful attack.

Organizations that understand it map technical findings to financial, operational, and reputational risks. Instead of discussing abstract vulnerabilities, Red Team outputs highlight and articulate real-world consequences, such as: “A compromise of this server could disrupt our online platform for 48 hours, costing an estimated £X in lost sales,” or “An attacker could access 200,000 customer records, risking regulatory penalties of up to 4% of global turnover.” This type of language cuts through the technical jargon and positions the issues in terms that grab board-level attention.

This approach can even help shape an organization's risk appetite. By working closely with security teams, C-suite leaders and directors can begin to define thresholds around acceptable risk. For instance, once they see the severity and ease with which specific systems can be breached, many executives quickly realize that “low probability”  vulnerabilities may still represent  “high impact”  scenarios that must be addressed.

Facilitating concrete security advancements

Ensuring that Red Team results spur real change requires more than technical remediation lists. It calls for clear, focused advice that aligns with the organization's primary goals. This guidance often shapes how future incidents will be handled and informs security spending.

Crucially, an iterative feedback loop is needed. After a Red Team engagement finishes, forward-thinking companies should schedule post-engagement debriefs that gather board members, department heads, and security leaders around the same table.

Together, they can examine what went wrong and what went right. This culture of transparency turns Red Team insights into targeted, high-level decisions. For instance, if a simulated attack revealed weaknesses in cloud services, senior leaders might pivot the budget to upgrade protections and work with external suppliers to strengthen service-level agreements.

In the UK, major financial institutions were among the first to adopt advanced threat-led testing under programs such as CBEST. Lessons from these exercises demonstrate how immediate executive action can be pivotal. Reports are not simply filed away; boards commission follow-up work to verify that vulnerabilities have been adequately fixed and introduce ongoing mini-tests to measure improvement. Ultimately, this keeps cybersecurity elevated as a business priority rather than dropping off the radar until major incidents occur.

Presenting the business value of Red Teaming

Business leaders often grapple with the return on investment when it comes to cyber security. However, linking Red Teaming directly to measurable risk reduction helps ease those concerns. The cost of a Red Team exercise is typically much less than the fallout from a data breach or ransomware attack. By helping organizations tackle weaknesses before attackers do, Red Teaming can prevent costly incidents that cause disruptions and damaged reputations.

In a landscape where customer and investor trust is invaluable, proactive efforts to strengthen defenses can make a competitive difference. Many organizations now see cyber security as an enabler of digital transformation. By identifying weaknesses within new technologies, be they cloud services, Internet of Things devices, or mobile applications, Red Team engagements provide a safety net for innovation. Executive teams can confidently pursue new products or service offerings, knowing potential security pitfalls will be flagged early.

There is growing recognition that Red Teaming provides unique validation for cyber security investments. Boards commonly ask if the millions spent on firewalls and endpoint detection tools are genuinely effective. Red Team exercises offer a reality check. If attackers easily circumvent defenses without detection, it becomes clear where future resources should be focused. Over time, regular Red Team engagements create a measurable decline in critical findings, demonstrating tangible improvement in security posture.

Turning security into a strategic priority

Red Teaming goes far beyond a routine security audit. It exposes an organization's technical and strategic vulnerabilities, offering leadership a holistic view of their risk landscape. When its findings are translated into business impact, Red Teaming helps leaders understand cyber risk in terms of financial loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage. This reframing moves cyber security out of the IT silo and firmly onto the strategic agenda.

Driving meaningful improvements requires cross-functional collaboration and shared accountability. With the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill raising the bar for organizational preparedness, Red Teaming offers a practical, repeatable way to measure and improve cyber resilience over time. It gives leaders the confidence to act early, adapt quickly, and strengthen their defenses before a real adversary strikes. Those who embrace it will not only reduce risk but also build a more agile, trusted, and future-ready organization.

We list the best forensic and pentesting Linux distro.

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

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Glyph has unveiled its Blackbox Plus U.2 External SSD, a high-capacity, high-speed storage solution aimed at professional content creators, data-intensive workflows, and enterprise users.

Its standout 30.72TB capacity exceeds even the largest external HDD models, which typically top out around 24TB.

Measuring just over five inches in length and under an inch thick, the device is about the size of a rugged smartphone and easily fits in one hand.

Blackbox Plus U.2 still lags behind PCIe Gen4 internal SSDs

The Blackbox Plus U.2 is built on enterprise-grade NVMe technology and offers sustained data transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s, fast, though notably slower than top-tier PCIe Gen4 internal SSDs.

That said, this portable SSD connects via a 10Gb USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface, which is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3. This ensures broad compatibility across various hardware setups.

The drive ships preformatted for macOS but can be reformatted for Windows. Still, setup may pose a challenge for users unfamiliar with drive formatting or cross-platform configurations.

Cooling is handled through a fanless aluminum enclosure that doubles as a heatsink. While this passive system eliminates mechanical noise, it may not be ideal in high-temperature environments under sustained loads.

The device requires an external power supply, which impacts portability. Compared to bus-powered SSDs, this setup is bulkier and less convenient for mobile or casual users.

In the box, Glyph includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a three-pronged power adapter. Buyers also get a three-year hardware warranty, two years of Level-1 data recovery, and a one-year advance replacement program.

The Blackbox Plus U.2 is available in 7.6TB, 15.36TB, and 30.72TB models, priced at $899.95 (with a $200 discount), $2,399.95, and $4,999.95, respectively. Preorders are now open on Glyph’s official website.

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• Apple announced plans to support Switch Control for Brain-Computer Interfaces
• The tool would make devices like iPhones and Vision Pro headsets accessible for people with conditions like ALS
• Combined with Apple’s AI-powered Personal Voice feature, brain-computer interfaces could allow people to think words and hear them spoken in a synthetic version of their voice

Our smartphones and other devices are key to so many personal and professional tasks throughout the day. Using these devices can be difficult or outright impossible for those with ALS and other conditions. Apple thinks it has a possible solution: thinking. Specifically, a brain-computer interface (BCI) built with Australian neurotech startup Synchron that could provide hands-free, thought-controlled versions of the operating systems for iPhones, iPads, and the Vision Pro headset.

A brain implant for controlling your phone may seem extreme, but it could be the key for those with severe spinal cord injuries or related injuries to engage with the world. Apple will support Switch Control for those with the implant embedded near the brain’s motor cortex. The implant picks up the brain’s electrical signals when a person thinks about moving. It translates that electrical activity and feeds it to Apple's Switch Control software, becoming digital actions like selecting icons on a screen or navigating a virtual environment.

Brain implants, AI voices

Of course, it's still early days for the system. It can be slow compared to tapping, and it will take time for developers to build better BCI tools. But speed isn’t the point right now. The point is that people could use the brain implant and an iPhone to interact with a world they were otherwise locked out of.

The possibilities are even greater when looking at how it might mesh with AI-generated personal voice clones. Apple's Personal Voice feature lets users record a sample of their own speech so that, if they lose their ability to speak, they can generate synthetic speech that still sounds like them. It’s not quite indistinguishable from the real thing, but it’s close, and much more human than the robotic imitation familiar from old movies and TV shows.

Right now, those voices are triggered by touch, eye tracking, or other assistive tech. But with BCI integration, those same people could “think” their voice into existence. They could speak just by intending to speak, and the system would do the rest. Imagine someone with ALS not only navigating their iPhone with their thoughts but also speaking again through the same device by "typing" statements for their synthetic voice clone to say.

While it's incredible that a brain implant can let someone control a computer with their mind, AI could take it to another level. It wouldn't just help people use tech, but also to be themselves in a digital world.

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