Technology

• Windows 11 has a redesign of the Start menu incoming
• Microsoft has shared info on the process of that revamp and how it took in a wide range of feedback
• We also get to see some of the abandoned designs for the Start menu

Windows 11 is getting a major revamp for the Start menu and in an interesting move, Microsoft has shared the feedback which drove that redesign, as well as some of the concepts that fell by the wayside.

In case you overlooked the emergence of that Start menu overhaul, Microsoft gave us a first look at it recently. Essentially, it changes the menu into a single scrollable panel (rather than two separate efforts) and applies some other useful tweaks.

Broadly speaking, I’m a fan and I think it’s a clear step forward (more so now that a point of doubt has apparently been clarified, and I’ll come back to that momentarily).

Windows Central picked up on the blog post Microsoft published about the process of redesigning the Start menu, explaining why the new layout was chosen, and also looking at other treatments that were discarded based on user feedback.

Indeed, Microsoft says it combed through a whole lot of notes on the Feedback Hub (where testers and enthusiasts give their opinions on Windows 11) as well as conducting “thousands of remote interviews” in order to get the redesign of this part of the interface right. On top of that, we’re told: “Over 300 Windows 11 fans joined unmoderated studies and dozens more hopped into live co-creation calls.”

Apparently, from all this, a key message repeatedly came through from those people: “Help me find my apps faster. Let me bend Start to fit the way I work. And please – keep the magic, don’t lose the soul.”

Yes, I’m guessing the final part of that quote was never something Microsoft heard – it sounds more like something Freddie Mercury sang in a Queen song back in the eighties – but the first two points fully make sense. Windows 11 users want the Start menu to be, most of all, the place where they find and fire up their apps, and a part of the interface that they can customize.

I think the latter is a particularly crucial factor, and elsewhere in the post, Microsoft talks about the Start menu providing: “Recommendations made just for you that learn in real time and a way to hide them if you don’t find them helpful.”

Regarding the second half of that sentence, I take this as confirmation that Microsoft is indeed incorporating a switch to remove the recommendations panel from the Start menu entirely, for those who don’t want it.

I don’t, and I know I’m not alone in that, and this option was spotted in testing with the Start menu revamp. So, this comment about giving users a ‘way to hide’ recommendations surely refers to turning them off. For me, this represents indirect confirmation that a key part of the redesign is indeed coming.

Analysis: What about the Start menu concepts that didn’t make the cut?

It’s also good to see Microsoft becoming more transparent here, and showing off the discarded Start menu concepts, too. Are any of them any good? Obviously, this is a subjective matter to an extent, but for me, some of them definitely deserved to be chucked in the bin, while others seem sensible enough.

Let’s take a look at the candidates which stand out from the efforts that ended up being dumped.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This is a more tablet-focused take on the Start menu (where the background is blurred out), although that’s not going to be ideal for traditional desktop PCs (obviously). I don’t like that it takes a step back in terms of still having the ‘All apps’ list as an entirely separate panel. It’s quite a clean layout to be fair, but there is some suggestion-related stuff here that I’m not so keen on. Pass.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Essentially, this is the Start menu from Windows 10 ported to Windows 11, although the design elements kind of clash for me (the category lists for apps, bottom-left, feel particularly out of place). Despite it all feeling shoehorned into Windows 11, I don’t mind the idea of just having the Windows 10 Start menu back in some ways. I’m surprised Microsoft even considered the idea, though.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Erk, what is this? It looks like someone’s lobbed a hand grenade into the guts of Windows 11’s Start menu, and this is the aftermath of the almighty explosion – bits of interface all over the place. It’s too busy, suggestion-heavy, and again like the first concept above, it grows limbs and splits off other sections into separate panels. No thanks.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This one I quite like – it keeps things simple, and it’s mainly focused on the apps, with some recommendations and reminders in the left panel. Note that Copilot has crept into the reminders, bottom-left, but overall, I think this is my favorite of the abandoned designs.

However, the Start menu redesign Microsoft has chosen is the winner for me, although you may well have a different opinion (Windows Central certainly does). Why? Because it keeps things simple, with everything on one panel, and the new category view for the full list of apps ensures that’s more tamed – plus you can (hopefully) drop the recommendations panel to make more space, too. (Worries about Phone Link have been swerved as well, with a simple button to retract the panel, for those who use this app).

Is Microsoft’s chosen revamp too boring? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess it is the safe, not overly adventurous option, but it works for me. I don’t want a fancied-up Start menu. I want a functional one, a streamlined system, and yes, that crucial ability to customize and further trim anything I don’t need (while those who like recommendations can have them).

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• iOS 18.5 has just launched to iPhone users
• There are a few new features in the upgrade, including one for the iPhone 13
• iOS 18.5 also contains over 30 security fixes, so update your device now

Apple has just released iOS 18.5, and it comes with a raft of new features to improve all of the best iPhones that it’s compatible with. It’s not a huge update in terms of new additions, but it’s an important one to download, since it packs in over 30 vital security fixes.

In terms of new features, one of the most notable is a change relating to the Screen Time function. This can be used by parents to control how their child uses an iPhone, and it lets you place limits on app access and more. Now, parents will be alerted if their child has successfully entered a passcode to remove Screen Time’s restrictions.

Elsewhere, iOS 18.5 rolls out carrier-provided satellite services – such as T-Mobile’s collaboration with Starlink – to the iPhone 13, which wasn’t previously compatible with these features.

Apple has also tweaked the Mail app to make a few common controls easier to find. The Settings app now displays your AppleCare+ information more prominently, while Apple also released a new Pride Harmony wallpaper for its devices.

Security updates galore

(Image credit: Shutterstock / nikkimeel)

It’s usually a good idea to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS to get both new features and security fixes. But the iOS 18.5 update truly underscores the importance of getting your device on the newest software, as it packs in over 30 security patches that will help keep your Apple phone safe.

Many of the fixes listed on Apple’s website are intended to stop hackers from accessing your private data. For example, one patch prevents attackers with physical access to your iPhone and the Notes app from viewing documents on the Lock Screen. Another fixes a flaw that would let bad actors listen to deleted call recordings.

Elsewhere, iOS 18.5 addresses a bug that wouldn’t always mute FaceTime properly (which could reveal sensitive info on a call), while call history from deleted apps will no longer appear in Spotlight searches.

Bluetooth security has also been strengthened, and iCloud Document Sharing has been tightened up to stop attackers sharing folders without authentication. There are also patches for WebKit, denial-of-service attacks, Core Graphics bugs, out-of-bounds vulnerabilities, and more.

Interestingly, iOS 18.5 also contains the first known fix for Apple’s new C1 modem chip, which is currently only available in the iPhone 16e. There, iOS 18.5 now stops hackers who have got inside your wireless carrier from accessing network traffic.

Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that any of the bugs and vulnerabilities that Apple has patched have been actively exploited yet, unlike the fixes issued in iOS 18.3.2 and iOS 18.4.1. But that doesn’t lessen the importance of installing the iOS 18.5 update, as the more secure your device is, the less likely you are to suffer attacks from hackers and bad actors in the future.

Aside from iOS 18.5, Apple has also released security updates for older Macs and iPads. The specific versions – macOS 13.7.6, macOS 14.7.6, and iPadOS 17.7.7 – are available for Apple products that have not been updated to the latest operating systems, whether that’s due to hardware limitations or enterprise policies. You can find out exactly what was patched in these updates by browsing Apple’s security releases page.

Returning to iOS 18.5, there are many more security fixes than we have listed here on Apple’s website, so be sure to have a read if you’d like to know what the update patches in full. Combined with the new features that have also been added, it’s a notable update for your iPhone.

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• Nintendo has detailed a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature via the Nintendo Today app
• It caps the battery's charging level at around 90%
• This should help extend the battery's lifespan

Nintendo has revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have new charging settings intended to extend the battery's lifespan.

As detailed in the company's latest post to the Nintendo Today app, the 'Stop Charging Around 90%' feature will let you slow down the Nintendo Switch 2's charging speed when it hits about 90%.

This stops the battery from reaching its full capacity as often, which cuts down on the time that you can use the system unplugged, but helps extend the battery's longevity.

Generally, repeatedly charging a battery to full capacity before depleting leads to degradation and quicker loss of charge.

If you own a Nintendo Switch that you bought within the first few years of its release, then you're probably already familiar with this effect.

My first Nintendo Switch can now only last around an hour unplugged - significantly less than the around seven hours that it used to be able to achieve.

Similar settings to limit charging in this way are already available on most modern smartphones, tablets, and laptops, as it's becoming increasingly popular to help gadgets hold up better in the long term.

Nintendo has stated that the Nintendo Switch 2 battery will last between two and six and a half hours - though this figure likely does not account for potential wear over time.

The upcoming console is set to launch on June 5, 2025. It costs $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World.

UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.

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• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the way you use AI differs depending on your age
• Speaking at an AI event, Altman explained how different age demographics use ChatGPT in their own way
• Older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement, while those in their 20s and 30s use it like a life advisor, according to Altman

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the way users interact with ChatGPT changes depending on the user's age.

Whether that's "older people who use ChatGPT as a Google replacement," or "people in their 20s and 30s who use it like a life advisor," Altman says the interactions with AI differ depending on when you were born.

Speaking at Sequoia Capital's AI Ascent event, Altman said that while it was a "gross oversimplification," real trends are appearing in terms of how individuals use ChatGPT. In the YouTube video, which you can watch below, Altman, most interestingly, says that "people in college use it as an operating system."

He goes into more detail by explaining how younger individuals interact with ChatGPT and AI as a whole by using it "to connect it to a bunch of files, and they have fairly complex prompts memorized in their head or in something where they paste in and out."

Altman adds, "There's this other thing where they don't really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do. It has the full context on every person in their life and what they've talked about."

More and more users are indeed turning to ChatGPT for life discussions and therapy, and I've even noticed friends and family opting for genuine conversations with the chatbot about major decisions.

Should you use ChatGPT to make life decisions?

Reading the headline to this article, you might be ready to dismiss the whole idea of using AI and ChatGPT as a genuine 'life tool'. However, there are some real benefits to continuously talking to AI before making a decision. I find ChatGPT to be a good starting point for researching a topic when I'm thinking about smaller life decisions.

For example, thanks to its memory features, ChatGPT can remember all of my discussions related to my hobbies, and give me tips when I need them. For example, I use ChatGPT to help motivate me with my Peloton use, and sometimes I need advice on what program or class to take next.

ChatGPT knows what I've used in the past, and what types of Peloton classes I enjoy doing, and helps me to make a decision based on my preferences. This same functionality can be used across a broad range of topics.

I'm a 30-year-old man who barely uses TikTok, so I can't even imagine how Gen Z interact with ChatGPT. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Altman is correct, and there are indeed many people out there who no longer make bigger life decisions without the input of AI, which to me sounds a little worrying.

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• More updates are apparently on the way to Samsung Messages
• Previously, it looked like the app was on the way out
• Google Messages was the default messaging app on the Galaxy S25

We feared the worst for Samsung Messages when the Galaxy S25 series launched without the app on board – Google Messages was preinstalled instead – but it seems Samsung Messages isn't actually going away, as a major batch of new updates have been spotted.

These updates haven't been officially announced or pushed out to users, but the team at Android Authority has seen them in the latest app code. The signs are that Samsung is keen to keep the rival to Google Messages alive after all.

The features that have been discovered include birthday reminders for the people in your contacts list, live location sharing (also apparently on the way to Google Messages), and support for emoji and sticker reactions to messages.

Another upcoming feature that's been spotted links Samsung Messages to Now Brief, the AI-powered update panel on the latest Samsung phones. It appears that Now Brief will soon be able to show alerts about suspicious, malicious, and blocked messages.

What happens next?

Samsung Messages lives on in the Galaxy Store (Image credit: Samsung)

That's quite the feature dump, including some big new upgrades, even if it's not live yet. It doesn't really fit with the idea of an app that's on the way out – and you might remember it got full support for RCS chats back in February as well.

It's mixed messaging from Samsung, because there's no doubt that Samsung Messages was, genuinely, on the way out. Samsung even used the word "sunsetting" in a statement issued in January, as the app was removed from the Google Play Store.

You can still get at Samsung Messages through the Galaxy Store, however, if you've got a Samsung phone. We'll have to wait and see whether these new features come with any fresh announcements from Samsung when they actually see the light of day.

It's also going to be interesting to see if Samsung Messages appears on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Flip 7, due in July. The 2024 versions of those phones were actually the first to come without Samsung Messages preloaded.

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• A new high-end Garmin watch has been spotted online
• It could be the successor to the D2 Mach 1 from 2022
• Several upgrades could be borrowed from the Garmin Fenix 8

We could soon get a new contender for the premium entry in our best Garmin watches list: there are signs that a high-end Garmin smartwatch is now close to launching, which might be built on the improvements ushered in with the Garmin Fenix 8.

As per the5krunner (via Notebookcheck), a mention of the D2 Mach 2 watch has appeared on Garmin's own website, as one of the models compatible with the Grade Adjusted Pace feature available in the Garmin app (a tool for more accurately measuring average pace).

It's the first time we've heard the Garmin D2 Mach 2 mentioned anywhere, so it looks as though this particular support page has been edited before it should have been – and the premium-level wearable could be launching very soon.

The Garmin D2 Mach 1 was unveiled back in March 2022, and was specifically designed for pilots (though of course you didn't have to be a pilot to use it). At the moment it's not clear exactly what upgrades the second-gen version might bring with it.

What we could get

The D2 Mach 2 could be based on the Fenix 8 (Image credit: Craig Hale)

According to the5krunner, we're looking at a watch that's a variant on the Fenix 8 that launched in August 2024 – a smartwatch that's so good we awarded it five stars out of five in our full Garmin Fenix 8 review.

Features we can expect to see on the D2 Mach 2 include a built-in database of worldwide airports, an altimeter with adjustable barometric setting, a 3-axis compass, weather updates on a moving map, and flight plan syncing from Garmin Pilot.

There's also talk that the watch may gain some diving features, which the D2 Mach 1 didn't have. Like the original version though, the D2 Mach 2 is thought to be missing out on features relating to golf and sailing, available in other models.

In the meantime, we're patiently waiting for the arrival of the Garmin Forerunner 975 too. Back in March we saw a regulatory filing suggesting another Garmin wearable was on the way, but we're still not sure what it is.

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• Windows 10 loses support, but M365 apps on Windows 10 don't... yet
• Support is limited, and users may experience performance issues
• Windows 11 adoption will soon surpass Windows 10

Although Windows 10 is set to lose support on October 14, 2025, Microsoft has confirmed it will carry on providing security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 for a further three years.

However, even though the company will continue to support its productivity apps, it's warning users of potential performance and reliability issues if they insist on using the outgoing OS, urging them instead to consider upgrading.

Moreover, no bug reports or feature requests will be accepted for issues exclusive to Windows 10, marking the demise of the OS.

Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 get three years of extra support

"To help maintain security while you transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support," Microsoft shared.

Only customers will a valid M365 subscription will be able to open new cases, but three limitations will be in place once Microsoft pulls the plug on Windows 10 this October.

Firstly, if the issue is exclusive to Windows 10, users will be asked to upgrade to Windows 11. Secondly, if the customer is unable to upgrade to Windows 11, maybe due to hardware restrictions, the technical assistance team may only be able to offer troubleshooting and workarounds. Finally, there will be no option to log a bug or other feature requests.

Industry analysts from Canalys have already indicated that 2025 could be the year when remaining users end up upgrading their devices for support for Windows 11 and future operating systems, however trade war-induced tariffs could flip that idea on its head. "Subsequent quarters this year are likely to see a slowdown as inventory levels normalize and customers face higher prices," Principal Analyst Ishan Dutt stated.

Despite a 9% year-over-year growth in PC shipments globally during the first three months of 2025, Canalys predicts just a 2% rise for 2025 as a whole for the US market.

Although it took many months for Windows 11 to pick up widespread popularity, the OS now accounts for 43.7% of all Windows installs (via Statcounter). Windows 10 still leads, with a 52.9% market share.

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• The LG B5 is available to order now in the UK and US
• UK retailers are listing the 55, 65 and 77-inch versions
• US options are just the 77 and 83-inch at the time of writing

The LG B5 is LG's most affordable 2025 OLED, and it's now available to buy – but some models are still to turn up on US retailers' virtual and actual shelves.

In the UK, retailers are offering the LG B5 in 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch versions for £1,399, £1,699, £2,499 and £3,499 respectively.

However in the US, LG US and Best Buy are only currently offering the 77-inch and 83-inch models. They're $2,999 and $4,499. LG has officially said that the 55-inch and 65-inch should also be available, but we're not seeing any sign of them so far in the US (though they're available in Canada).

But we can probably assume the other sizes are coming imminently to the US – just not quite as imminently as the big sizes.

One of the key differences between the B5 and the C5 (pictured) is that the C5 has a better OLED panel. (Image credit: Future) Is the LG B5 a good budget OLED to buy?

The LG B5 is the entry-level model in LG's 2025 OLED TV range, and there are some important differences between it and the mid-range LG C5 (which we gave five stars to in our LG C5 review).

First of all, there are no 42-inch or 48-inch models in the US, though the UK gets a 48-inch model; if you want those sizes in the US, you'll need the C5 (or the 48-inch LG B4 is still around for now).

The most important difference is in the panels. The C5 has LG's Evo panel, which is solidly bright for a mid-range OLED; the B5 makes do with a more basic which we'd expect to be less eye-popping. We're not expecting much of a brightness boost over the B4 (if any), and we measured as being nearly half as bright as the LG C5.

Both the B5 and the C5 run webOS 25, with all the obligatory apps. But the C5 has a more powerful processor – the Alpha 9 Gen 8 – while the B5 has the Alpha 8 Gen 2.

It runs at up to 120Hz compared to the C5's 144Hz, which will only make a difference if you're a PC gamer. Better news for gamers, though, is that the B5 has four HDMI 2.1 inputs all supporting 4K 120Hz with variable refresh rate.

We'll be assessing the LG B5 for inclusion in our list of the best OLED TVs with a full review soon.

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• The Nintendo Switch 2 Home Menu can be navigated using Joy-Con 2 mouse controls
• Nintendo released a new demonstration video showing how it works
• Users can simply detach a Joy-Con 2 and place it on a flat surface to automatically bring up the mouse function

Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used for Home Menu navigation.

The new feature was revealed on the Nintendo Today app alongside a demonstration video that showed the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls being used on the handheld like a PC mouse.

Users will be able to detach a Joy-Con 2, place it on a flat surface, and move it around like a wireless mouse.

According to the on-screen instructions, the cursor will automatically appear when placed sideways with the attachment side facing down, and the analog sticks can be used to scroll through menus.

To return to regular controls, users will only need to pick the Joy-Con 2 up again, as demonstrated in the video.

"To display the cursor, set the Joy-Con 2 on a table or flat surface and move it as shown," the post explained. "While using mouse controls, you can tilt the control stick to scroll through menus."

It also states that players can "use mouse controls on the Home Menu and in compatible software", like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Nintendo Today showed how the mouse controls will work on the Switch 2 home screen. pic.twitter.com/qpyCsxbGBMMay 11, 2025

A ton of third-party titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, including Cyberpunk 2077. Last week, CD Projekt Red confirmed that the game will also offer mouse functionality, allowing players to detach a Joy-Con 2 to wield a katana to attack enemies and deflect incoming attacks.

If you're not caught up, the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle.

UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.

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Last night was Amazon 2025 Upfront, a star-studded showcase for the streamer's best Prime Video shows.

The event featured EDM from DJ Steve Aoki and appearances by Lizzo, Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, Travis and Jason Kelce as well as a chorus line of showgirls to announce the renewal of Fallout season 3 alongside Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten. Other celebs lighting up the night included Michael B Jordan and Jamie Lee Curtism.

But of course the shows are the real stars, and there were seven announcements in particular that I think are really interesting. From Nic Cage in a noir to hot people in hot pants, here are the Amazon Upfront announcements to be excited about.

1. A first look at Spider-Noir

(Image credit: Amazon)

It's just an image. But what an image it is. The image above is the first look at Spider-Noir, starring Nicolas Cage as the titular web-slinger. There's no premiere date as yet so this is the teasiest of teasers, but given its star and the people behind it this is enormously exciting.

Here's the pitch: "Spider-Noir is a live-action series based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir. The story follows an aging and down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York, played by Academy Award winner Cage, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero."

Rather brilliantly, the show will be available in both color and black and white when it debuts. And it's been developed in collaboration with the Academy Award-winning team behind Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.

2. A premiere date for Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde prequel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Elle, the Legally Blonde prequel series, has got a premiere date: summer 2026, which is slightly later than we'd hoped. The original movie is one of the most-loved movies of the aughts.

It comes from Reese Witherspoon's company, and of course she was the original Elle in the movie. Lexi Minetree is the star this time around and the show follows Elle during her high school days to show how she became the iconic character we loved in the movie.

3. More Creed is coming

(Image credit: Eli Ade/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Prime Video has ordered the new series Delphi, the very first live-action extension of the Creed universe. It'll focus on young boxers at the Delphi gym, and while there's no premiere date as yet the show has Michael B Jordan as executive producer and it's being made by Outlier Society, whose Creed III attracted stellar reviews and made tons of money in theaters.

4. Barbershop gets a series

The Barbershop movie franchise is coming to a slightly smaller screen: it's getting a series, and it'll feature Jermaine Fowler as Travis 'Trav' Porter. Travis wants to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a legendary barber at the iconic Chicago barbershop Calvin's.

The show is being written and executive produced by Marshall Todd, who also wrote Barbershop.

5. Beast Games is coming back, and then it's coming back again

(Image credit: Beast Games)

The strangely smiling Mr Beast is coming back twice for more faintly disturbing game show action: Beast Games has been renewed for two more seasons where hundreds more contestants will compete for massive cash prizes.

Despite Mr Beast's unsettling facial expressions and truly terrible reviews – the show is currently sitting at 20% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes – Beast Games has been a hit with viewers, who've awarded it 88% on the RT popcornometer.

Perhaps we should consider it less of a game show and more of a satire on consumerism: as The Age put it, the show is "a mostly unenjoyable and often disagreeable gamification of late-era capitalism" while The Guardian wrote that "It exists solely to show us the worst of the human condition, as obnoxiously as possible."

6. Oh. What. Fun. Gets. A. Date.

The Michelle Pfeiffer-starring Oh. What. Fun. is coming to screens on December 3, 2025. It's a star-studded affair that also features Denis Leary, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dominic Sessa, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Danielle Brooks, with Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, and Joan Chen.

7. American Gladiators is coming back

(Image credit: FOUR POINTS ENTERTAINMENT / COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION)

Sometimes all you need to make life better is to watch beautiful people in peak physical condition knocking lumps out of each other in a safe and respectful way – and if those beautiful people are in spandex, even better.

No doubt inspired by the success of the rebooted UK version of Gladiators, American Gladiators is returning and rebooting with WWE superstar Mike "The Miz" Mizanin hosting. According to Amazon "The featured Gladiators on the upcoming series will range from professional bodybuilders, former D1 Athletes, Pro CrossFit Champions, and Pro Fitness Trainers from around the globe all ecstatic to put their abilities to the test."

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• Suunto has unveiled a new running watch, fittingly called the Suunto Run
• It's lightweight at just 35g, and costs just $249 / £199 / around AU$400
• Smart features include real-time predicted marathon pacing and a new 'Ghost Runner' mode

Finnish adventure gear maker Suunto has unveiled the Suunto Run, a lightweight, high-performance and – crucially, for these expensive times – cheap running watch, priced at $249 / £199 (around AU$400). Suunto seems to be gunning for top billing in 2025's best cheap running watches list, with AI-powered features and up to 12 days of battery life.

At just 35g with textile straps, it's got a "brightest in class" (according to Suunto) 1.32-inch Gorilla Glass AMOLED display and is packing some innovative-sounding features, including a real-time marathon race prediction tool.

Most sports watches now have virtual pacers that you can set in advance to keep you on track for your ideal race time, but you usually have to calculate the right pace yourself before you set it on the watch. The Suunto Run's marathon mode will reportedly do those calculations for you, clocking how fast you're running and producing a predictive time that changes during the course of your race. Clever stuff.

A Ghost Runner mode allows you to virtually race your friends along the same route or segment, and the Suunto Run also sports a track mode optimized for speedwork.

The 32 pre-loaded sports modes are customizable, and the Suunto app contains additional training and recovery insights that'll be familiar to you if you've used Coros, Polar or the best Garmin watches.

(Image credit: Suunto)

Hardware-wise, the Suunto Run is primarily plastic with a slim stainless steel bezel offering an iota of additional protection for the display. It sports two buttons and a central rotating crown. Unlike most chunky running watches, its light nature and inclusion of two strap sizes in the box makes it ideal for runners with smaller wrists. Having unboxed and tried it on, it's comfortable to wear.

It packs a dual-frequency GNSS satellite connection for activity tracking and navigation, is swim-friendly (but not dive-friendly) with 5ATM waterproofing, and offers 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. In GPS mode, that shortens to around 20 hours of use with multi-band GNSS enabled, or 16 hours with its always-on display enabled as well.

It's very much a sports- and health-specific tool first and foremost. While it does offer simple notification features, don't expect NFC payments, email management, third-party apps or any of the usual 'true' smartwatch features.

At this price (cheaper than a GPS and cellular-enabled Apple Watch SE 2), that's totally fine; the Suunto Run isn't trying to replace an Apple Watch day-to-day. It does, however, seem to be a comprehensive budget running tool, and with gadgets getting ever more expensive (not to mention constantly trying to flog additional subscription fees for premium features) the Suunto Run will likely prove popular. Stay tuned for our full review.

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• M&S confirms customer information has been taken following a cyberattack
• The attack has caused significant disruption
• Online orders are still affected weeks later

In a letter to customers, retail giant Marks and Spencer has revealed that personally identifiable information (PII) has been stolen by cybercriminals. This follows the cyberattack that hit M&S which forced the firm to disable online shopping orders, click and collect, and contactless payments in some stores.

A statement, posted on LinkedIn, confirms that “unfortunately, some personal customer information has been taken,” but that "importantly, there is no evidence that the information has been shared and it does not include usable card or payment details, or account passwords, so there is no need for customers to take any action.”

Online orders are still suspended for the shopping site, and some product availability has been affected. The incident, which seems to have been a ransomware attack, took systems offline and caused undeniable disruption to the retailer’s operation.

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Continued disruption

Returning customers will be prompted to reset their passwords on the M&S online site next time they visit “to give customers an extra piece of mind,” and the firm has assured customers it is “working around the clock to get things back to normal” for its customers.

“The attack on M&S is another stark reminder that ransomware gangs are evolving faster than traditional defences can cope,” says Camellia Chan, CEO and co-founder of AI cybersecurity firm X-PHY.

“Prevention must be built in from the ground up. Businesses need a multi-layered approach that combines hardware-level security to detect and block attacks early. This should be combined with an AI-driven threat detection layer that automate detection and enforce policies in real time. With human-error contributing to 95% of data breaches, this removes the burden of constant vigilance from employees and constant resilience testing.“

If anyone is concerned their data may have been taken, we recommend using a dark web monitoring service, or using a breach monitor such as Have I Been Pwned to check for potential exposures.

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• Apple is expected to reveal a new AI-powered battery tool as part of iOS 19
• The Apple Intelligence-branded tool could extend battery life on all iPhones running iOS 19
• The new software tool has been built with the upcoming iPhone 17 Air in mind

Apple is expected to unveil a new AI-powered battery tool that will increase your iPhone's battery life in iOS 19.

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is expected to reveal an "AI-powered battery management mode for iOS 19." iOS 19 will likely be unveiled at WWDC 2025 in June and launch in September alongside the iPhone 17.

Gurman's sources state, "The enhancement will analyze how a person uses their device and make adjustments to conserve energy." Apple will likely bring this AI tool to market as part of Apple Intelligence, which ties back to code in iOS 18.2 referencing Battery Intelligence.

While the iPhone already has some machine-learning capabilities that help improve battery life, such as low-power mode and optimized charging, this new AI feature is expected to continuously analyze how a device is used and make on-the-fly decisions to improve battery.

Gurman says, "The company is using battery data it has collected from users’ devices to understand trends and make predictions for when it should lower the power draw of certain applications or features."

NEW: Apple prepares a new Apple Intelligence feature for iOS 19 coming this fall — an AI-powered battery optimization mode to extend battery life. This will be particularly aimed at the iPhone 17 Air, which will use the feature to offset a smaller battery. https://t.co/tWDZlUClbdMay 12, 2025

Why now?

According to the report, Apple is planning to bring these Apple Intelligence-powered battery features into the fray in order to boost the run time of the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

According to reports, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be impressively thin, yet due to its thinner design will lack battery capacity. By adding an AI-powered battery tool Apple will be able to offset some of the drawbacks of the thinner design, allowing for extended performance despite a thinner chassis.

Gurman states that the Apple Intelligence tool will be available for "all iPhones that have iOS 19," meaning owners of the iPhone 16 series of devices, as well as some older iPhones will also reap the benefits.

While Gurman has an excellent track record in revealing new Apple products and software early, we'll need to wait until next month at WWDC to get a true representation of iOS 19 and everything it has to offer, including this AI-powered battery tool as well as a complete redesign.

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 13.

At 5.8mm thick and 163 grams, this slim phone packs many of the features you'll find on other S25 series devices. But the unique design is a breath of fresh air.

Expect this Spidey to hit TV in 2026.

The streamer has already renewed the post-apocalyptic drama for season 3.

The $2.75B program was created to boost digital skills and spur greater broadband adoption -- but one expert says it was canceled because its name included the "new four-letter word."

The US Copyright Office's report comes as the agency is under political fire, with President Trump reportedly firing its head this weekend.