Technology

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director has revealed how he shot scenes that are supposed to be set in space – and what differentiates those sequences from other cosmic Marvel movies, including Guardians of the Galaxy.

In an interview with TechRadar, Matt Shakman admitted he didn't use a zero gravity (Zero-G) simulator to film sequences that involved The Fantastic Four heading into space via their Excelsior star ship. The group do so on a couple of occasions in the flick, with the most notable space-based set-piece seeing them confront Galactus in deep space after he threatens to destroy their world. You can read more about why he wants to in my review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

It's during this intense intergalactic sequence that the film's crew needed to achieve the feeling of weightlessness for the eponymous team.

Indeed, as they flee in their spaceship (the Excelsior) after unsuccessfully attempting to negotiate with Galactus, the quartet are forced to act on the fly as they try to evade capture. Subsequently, there's no time to strap themselves into their seats, hence the need to carry out their actions in Zero-G.

First Steps' cast and crew used as many practical effects and sets as they could throughout its production (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

So, how did Shakman and company replicate the absence of gravity for this sequence? And what is it about the approach they took that separates it from the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy?

"One of the things I really wanted to do is imagine the Fantastic Four as the Apollo 11 astronauts," Shakman said. "When they go into space, it's zero gravity. It's not like Guardians, where they're able to walk around their ship like Star Trek. I wanted it to feel as real as possible.

"But shooting zero gravity is difficult," the Marvel Phase 6 film's director added. "It involves a lot of wire work and it's hard on the actors' bodies. It's very difficult for them to be able to perform and do what they need to do, while also dealing with that sort of physical discomfort. So, while it was a wonderful thing to execute and bring to life in an authentic way, it was challenging."

That scale of that challenge is more remarkable when you consider how much work goes into shooting a sequence like this.

#TheFantasticFour: First Steps is Certified Fresh at 88% on the Tomatometer, with 83 reviews: https://t.co/g632UvfMQK pic.twitter.com/BWhJdzUFMnJuly 22, 2025

For starters, over 10,000 feet of wire and almost 30 wire rigs were required throughout the Excelsior's interior. The ship's cockpit and fuselage were physically built by First Steps' production team to further underline the crew's commitment to use practical sets and effects wherever possible.

Once the actors portraying Marvel's First Family were hoisted up in harnesses and attached to various ceiling tracks via the aforementioned wires, they were taught to push off from the set itself without swinging harshly. Doing so would expose the wires and make it more difficult to delete the cables during the post-production phase.

Lastly, puppeteers in gray suits helped to control the speed and movement of each actor, and allow them to hit their marks. Add in the fact that each star had to remember their lines an actually act during this sequence, and you really get a sense of how demanding it was for the entire cast and crew to successfully execute.

Thankfully, all of their hard work pays off in the final product. It'll be interesting to see if a similar set-up will be used in future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects, including Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently in production and might feature one or more space-set sequences. You can read more about the aforementioned film via my dedicated Avengers: Doomsday hub.

There's less than 24 hours to go (at the time of publication) until First Steps is out in theaters, so get your last-minute lowdown on it by reading my ultimate guide to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Read the section below, too, for more exclusive coverage on it.

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• IT decision-makers see upgrading as a chance to get the latest AI PCs
• Advanced security and boosted productivity are especially attractive
• 62% would now consider an AI PC over a regular PC

New research on Windows 11 and AI PC Readiness says the timing couldn't be more perfect – Windows 10 end of life has coincided with a surge of AI PCs available on the market, making now the perfect time to upgrade for two reasons.

The study from Dell found with 80% of UK businesses migrating or having already migrated to Windows 11, they're seeing it as a strategic opportunity to adopt AI-ready PCs rather than just a simple OS update.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of IT decision-makers agree they've been presented with an opportunity to upgrade to more powerful AI PCs at the same time.

Windows 11 upgrade is causing many to consider AI PCs

Nearly half agreed AI PCs bring advanced security features (47%) and greater employee productivity (44%), with around two-thirds (64%) considering AI-capable hardware critical for future operations.

Those additional security features are much-needed, too, with a similar number (46%) citing security breaches as the main driver for refreshing PC fleets – more than the number of businesses refreshing due to the Windows 10 EOS (42%).

However, some factors continue to hold businesses back, and they're the same ones we see time and time again. Software compatibility (45%) was the most frequently cited concern, with many also concerned about hardware compatibility (34%) and operational disruption (32%).

That leaves 20% of the businesses surveyed not yet having started transitioning, even though the deadline is now less than four months away.

"Adding the context of the Windows 11 transition means the AI PC isn't just a new product to sell; it is a gateway to higher-value services like strategic deployment, security hardening and workflow integration," Dell UK Channel and Distribution Lead Ian Heath explained.

Looking ahead, it's clear that AI PCs are gaining in popularity. Three in five (62%) IT decision-makers would choose a Copilot+ PC over a regular one, based on the promises of longer battery life, better performance, local AI processing and integrated productivity tools.

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There's Intel and AMD on the x86 side, with Apple and Qualcomm making Arm-based processors on the other. We break down the advantages and drawbacks of each to help you pick the right chip for your needs and budget.

The technology industry is always trying to tempt consumers into buying or upgrading to the latest offerings. However, where consumers once rushed to get their hands on the newest technology as soon as possible, the diminishing returns that come from upgrading most devices today makes people much more reluctant to part with their hard-earned cash.

With this in mind, technology companies have started looking for new ways to appeal to consumers and something that’s become more and more prevalent in recent years is the promotion of ‘rugged’ features on consumer grade devices, such as rugged phones and rugged laptops.

In particular, ingress protection (IP) ratings have become commonplace amongst the latest smart devices, with many now boasting ratings as high as IP68. But what exactly does this mean?

IP ratings explained

IP ratings are a useful standard for understanding how resistant a digital device is to the intrusion of dust and liquids. The rating is split into two numbers with the first denoting the level of resistance to dust and outside objects, measured on a scale from 0 to 6 (with 6 being the highest resistance). According to the IEC’s rating guide, 5 means “dust-protected” and 6 means “dust-tight.”

The second number in the IP rating represents the device’s water resistance and is measured on a scale of 0 to 9 (with 9 being the highest resistance). Devices rated 7 can be fully submerged in shallow water for a short period of time, while those with an 8 rating are certified to go a few meters deeper and remain unscathed, although the increase in depth is variable.

For example, a device rated as IP68 is sealed off from dust and can be submerged in water up to a depth of six meters for a short time (around 15-30 mins) without breaking.

If an IP rating uses an “X” in one of the two number slots, it means the device isn’t rated for water or dust protection accordingly.

IP rating alone does not make a device truly rugged

While something like an IP rating can help with consumer confidence in the event of the device accidentally falling in the sink or down the toilet, it’s important to realize that this alone doesn’t make a device ‘rugged’.

Modern rugged design is about optimizing device performance in challenging environments where consumer grade devices simply wouldn’t survive for any meaningful length of time. Consequently, an effective rugged device must excel in multiple categories, from damage resistance and excellent all-weather performance to comprehensive connectivity and manufacturer support. Below are some of the key considerations for anyone looking to purchase a truly rugged device.

1. Independent rugged certifications

All rugged devices are IP and MIL-STD certified but a lack of legislation around the certification process means many manufacturers self-certify their products, making it hard to know how rugged they really are. True rugged manufacturers always will have their devices independently certified, so be sure to look out for this when choosing a device.

When it comes to specific rugged standards to look for, MIL-STD 810H is considered the benchmark, meaning the product has passed rigorous US Military standard testing focused on environmental conditions. Extreme temperature, moisture, dust, shock and drop resistance are just a few of the 30 situations in which a device is tested before it can be MIL-STD 810H certified. Similarly, IP ratings remain key to the process, with most fully rugged devices now coming with IP67-IP68 as standard.

2. Excellent battery life

Long battery life is another key consideration for anyone that wants to use a rugged digital device for extended periods of time in the field, where there’s usually no access to charge facilities. As such, many rugged devices are designed to accommodate high-capacity batteries and allow users to hot swap batteries on the go without having to switch the device off first. This means many more hours of uninterrupted operation than would be possible from a device with a fixed battery capacity.

3. Multiple connectivity options

Rugged devices typically feature a diverse set of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and 4G/5G. This enables users to collect/share information and communicate with colleagues in a wide range of environments, from busy city centers to remote outdoor regions and everything in between. When it comes to connectivity options, the more a device has, the better.

4. Comprehensive aftermarket support and OS longevity

Before buying a rugged device, customers need to make sure it comes with a level of aftermarket support that fits their needs. This includes things like service and repair, diagnostic assistance, and provision of any software drivers that might be required, both now and at a later date. Another key thing to look at is OS longevity, particularly if their app ecosystem is built around a specific version.

5. A top-tier warranty

True rugged manufacturers stand behind their products. If a rugged device doesn’t come with a top-tier warranty, it’s best to steer clear.

In the fast-paced technology industry, manufacturers are increasingly using ‘rugged features’ to promote and differentiate their latest consumer devices. But while the inclusion of something like an IP rating can be great for a little added peace of mind, that alone is not enough to turn a consumer-grade product into a truly rugged device.

Rugged manufacturers specialize in creating devices that can thrive in highly challenging environments and this is reflected in their exceptional build quality, overall specification and aftermarket support. Not everyone needs the all benefits that a true rugged devices offers, but for those that do, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

We list the best rugged hard drive and SSD.

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

Everyone’s talking about AI agents. From Manus to Gemma, they’re hailed as the next frontier in enterprise transformation. In fact, 25% of enterprises are forecast to deploy AI agents this year alone. But the rise of AI agents isn’t the real story—it’s a symptom of something far bigger.

AI is not just changing how we work. AI tools are disrupting entire industries. From healthcare to finance, retail to telecom, AI is reshaping not only the tools we use but the very foundations of how businesses operate, communicate, and compete.

Organizations that cautiously experiment will fall behind. It’s those who rebuild from the ground up that will lead in the future.

This article lays out the critical mindset shift separating those who browse AI from those who build with it and shows how organizations can move from pilots to real transformation by embedding intelligence into the heart of how they work.

Two distinct approaches to AI adoption

To understand this divide, let’s first explore the Browsers. These organizations tend to approach AI cautiously, treating it as a set of isolated tools or pilot projects. They might deploy a chatbot, automate a single workflow, or experiment with generative content creation. On the surface, this seems progressive as they’re engaging with the technology, running pilots, and holding conversations.

But these efforts often lack long-term impact.

Such initiatives rarely scale or become integrated into core business processes. They often reside in pockets owned by teams without clear accountability for ongoing adoption or improvement. The central question guiding these efforts tends to be: can AI solve this one problem?

While well-intentioned, this mindset limits AI’s potential.

Builders reimagine the entire organization

In contrast, Builders take a fundamentally different approach. For them, AI is not merely an add-on feature—it is the foundation of how the business operates. These organizations embed intelligence throughout every process, workflow, and decision point.

Rather than asking if AI can solve an isolated problem, Builders ask: how can AI be integral to everything we do?

This shift in mindset drives measurable outcomes, accelerating innovation, enhancing operational intelligence, and enabling scalable growth. Builders aren’t just improving the present; they are engineering the future.

A broader disruption is already underway

This distinction between Browsers and Builders grows more critical as AI’s impact deepens. Disruption is no longer confined to specific tasks or isolated sectors. Entire industries—from telecommunications and finance to logistics, sales, and creative fields—are being fundamentally transformed.

AI is remapping the fundamentals of language, logic, design, engineering, and decision-making science. No layer of the enterprise remains untouched, and no sector remains immune.

The stakes could not be higher. Organizations that linger in cautious experimentation risk being outpaced by those bold enough to rebuild their foundations with AI at the core.

Transformation begins with process, not technology

Yet one of the most common missteps businesses make is leading with tools rather than strategy. It’s tempting to jump straight into deploying AI solutions—whether chatbots, copilots, or large language models—without first understanding how work currently happens.

Meaningful transformation begins by gaining clarity on existing processes.

When organizations adopt a process-first, AI-second mindset, they can design solutions that truly amplify and complement the way work is done. Intelligence then becomes a force multiplier, not a disconnected experiment. Skip this critical step, and AI initiatives risk becoming isolated pilots that fail to realize their true potential.

From pilots to platforms, what sets builders apart

It’s common to hear leaders say they want to “lead with AI.” However, their strategies often reveal something different: a pattern of proof-of-concept projects that stall, responsibilities assigned without execution, and business cases that do not translate into action.

This pattern exemplifies the Browser trap: movement without momentum.

Builders, by contrast, go deeper. They tailor AI models to their unique data environments, invest in infrastructure built for scale, and weave AI into their organizational DNA—embedding it into products, systems, and services so it evolves with the business rather than running alongside it.

Talent as a critical enabler

None of this transformation is possible without people.

In recent conversations with enterprise leaders across the UK and Europe, talent consistently emerged as a major barrier, not due to a lack of belief in AI, but because of limited confidence in teams’ ability to build, implement, and manage AI solutions effectively.

The most successful Builders do more than train their teams. They rethink how their teams work by fostering internal fluency in AI principles, pairing internal champions with external experts, and transforming AI from a discrete innovation project into a cross-functional capability.

The choice facing every organization

Ultimately, the question for every leader is no longer whether AI is relevant—that is already settled. The real choice is whether you will build for disruption or wait to be disrupted.

This moment calls not for incremental gains but for fundamental re-architecture.

In a world where intelligence becomes the new infrastructure, organizations that remain Browsers, tentatively piloting without scaling, will quickly fall behind. The future belongs to the Builders who have the vision, discipline, and talent to engineer transformation at scale.

If you want to lead, start thinking like a Builder. Embed AI into your processes, invest in your people, and prepare to redefine your organization from the ground up. Because AI’s real disruption isn’t just about new tools; it’s about a new way of thinking, working, and winning.

An aggressive CEO isn’t exploring just four AI use cases a quarter—they’re aiming for over 1,000 AI-powered interventions in the next 365 days, each built, deployed, and monitored with intent. And AI budgets? They won’t be a sliver of IT spend. In the near term, expect them to rival 25% of your personnel costs, reflecting a shift in how businesses create, scale, and compete.

In the era of AI, leadership isn’t about adoption, it’s about ambition. The organizations that build boldly now will be the ones defining what’s next.

We list the best business intelligence platform.

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

• Palmer Luckey has asked: Would you buy a 'Made In America' laptop from his firm Anduril for 20% more than a MacBook?
• The results of that poll on X currently show almost two-thirds of respondents would
• How such a notebook might be realized at this cost level is, however, far from clear - and there are lots of question marks here

Would you buy a laptop that was fully made in America if it cost 20% more than an Apple notebook made in China?

Tom's Hardware reports that this is a question Palmer Luckey has posed on X (and elsewhere, such as the Reindustrialize Summit), complete with a poll to test the waters.

Would you buy a Made In America computer from Anduril for 20% more than Chinese-manufactured options from Apple?July 20, 2025

If you're scratching around in corners of your brain trying to remember what Luckey was famous for in the tech world, it was, of course, the creation of the Oculus Rift - though his company was eventually swallowed up by Facebook.

Since then, Luckey has been dabbling in a few things, including crypto and military tech, the latter of which is the mentioned Anduril Industries in the above post. So, given the poll, how many people on X would buy a 'Made In America computer from Anduril' if it was a fifth more pricey than a (presumably roughly equivalent spec) MacBook?

At the time of writing, with nearly 77,000 votes registered on X, almost two-thirds of respondents (63.5%) would purchase such an Anduril laptop.

The response was seemingly not quite as enthusiastic at the aforementioned Reindustrialize Summit, based on the clip below also posted on X (where Luckey is apparently speaking through a robot, yeah, don't ask).

Here's the moment where @PalmerLuckey interrupted @ashleevance at Reindustrialize to ask:"How many people in the audience would buy an American made computer if it was 20% more expensive?"The full clip is a great distillation of his thinking on the opportunity. https://t.co/aEvFdAxyBx pic.twitter.com/77qsvBJ52dJuly 20, 2025

However, commenters claim the rough count of raised hands was underestimated (as the audience was difficult to see due to the spotlights shining on the stage, which does make sense to be fair). According to the report, it was supposedly more than half in favor, which aligns more closely with Luckey's poll result.

(Image credit: NATNN / Shutterstock)Analysis: One laptop to rule US?

As Tom's Hardware points out, there's an important distinction here. Luckey talks about a laptop 'made' in the US, and that's very different from a notebook that's merely 'assembled' in America - with components like the key chips coming from elsewhere (like China).

Our sister site points to the definition of 'Made in USA' as put forward by the FTC, and that includes not just the assembly happening in a factory in the US, but that also "virtually all components of the product are made and sourced in the United States".

It may be different in the future, but at this point, it seems unlikely that Anduril could source entirely US-made components for the potential laptop. In fact, it seems highly improbable that this could be realized with only a 20% price hike over what Apple charges. (What with the MacBook maker's highly leveraged deals with the Asian supply chain, of course - not to mention any would-be rival would have to compete with the now impressively refined M-series silicon Apple has in its armory).

Hardware complications aside, the other bone of contention on X is what this hypothetical laptop would run by way of an operating system - Windows or Linux? Frankly, there are too many elements up in the air with this idea right now, and too many questions - although there is clearly some basic level of desire for such a product in the US.

Will that compel Luckey to reveal more about how he might achieve this feat? Or is this vague laptop concept just a bit of media hype? As mentioned, there are definitely more questions than answers, and it'll certainly be interesting to see whether anything more will be forthcoming in terms of the latter.

What Luckey has more recently done (on X) is to fire back at 'cynics' criticizing the idea as "some cross between impossible and nakedly political opportunism driven by current US tariffs", adding that: "Don't miss the point. This problem transcends administrations. Myself and others have said so for years."

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• Kobo recently pushed out a fully redesigned reading app for iPhones
• Several new features have been added, including a listening bar for audiobook control, vertical scrolling and guest mode
• Instapaper integration is coming soon to replace Pocket support on Kobo ereaders

I've been a massive Kobo fan since I first started using the Kobo Glo way back when. I've always preferred the Rakuten-owned company's UI over Kindle, although I will admit I wasn't particularly keen on its phone app – whether iOS or Android.

I might be inclined to give the reading app a try now, given that the iOS version has been fully redesigned – its first major overhaul since it was released back in 2010.

Several new features have been added, key among them being vertical scrolling. Behaving more like infinite scroll on web pages, you can now read an entire book by just scrolling down and the pages will just keep loading. This, in my opinion, is a more seamless reading method on a phone, although I think I might still prefer the tap-to-turn on an iPad (not that I use one, I read on the Kobo Elipsa 2E).

Screenshots of the old Kobo iOS app (Image credit: TechRadar)

Other features include a new Listening Bar for audiobooks that 'freezes' the controls in place for easy access, even if you veer away from the listening pane to browse the rest of the application.

A new guest mode will let you "browse books, save previews and discover your next read" according to the Japanese-Canadian ereader maker, without you needing to sign into your Kobo account. This, in fact, is an ingenious way to pull new customers into the Kobo ecosystem.

Kobo also says that you will no longer need to manually sync your notes, highlights and bookmarks – it should get done automatically. There's still one major missing feature in the app: there's no way to find your handwritten notes on the app.

And, finally, to replace Pocket integration – which was a fantastic read-it-later service for long-form web articles – the brand is partnering with Instapaper and support will be rolled out to all Kobo ereaders later this year. A confirmed date has not yet been announced.

(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)Take note, Kobo – we need a new Elipsa

As much as I appreciate the newly redesigned Kobo app for iPhones, I'm wondering if the ereader maker will release any new hardware this year.

Around the merry month of May is typically when Kobo has announced new ereaders, with the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW arriving on schedule in 2024. This year, there's been radio silence, although it could be possible that the company is waiting for the Instapaper integration to be completed before releasing new devices.

That would be marvelous because it's time the Kobo Elipsa 2E got an overhaul. In fact, I wouldn't mind a new version of the Kobo Sage as well, but I'm partial to the larger epaper writing tablet.

Compared to newer models from the competition, like the several Boox options and the Kindle Scribe (2024), the Elipsa 2E – which launched in April 2023 – feels very dated now. They have better performance thanks to newer processors and the screens also feel fresher – sharper and better optimized.

I'd love to see the Elipsa adopt the E Ink Carta 1300 screen (the current 2E model uses the Carta 1200) that also features an ambient light sensor, much like the 2024 Kindle Scribe does, and has a 300ppi resolution (it's currently 227ppi). I'd also prefer a softer nib than the Kobo Stylus 2 currently uses as it can detract from a smooth writing experience, but that's a minor quibble.

While I wouldn't want to change very much in the UI, and I'm still a fan of Kobo's Advanced Notebooks, the only request I have is to allow subfolders within the library's Collections to organize ebooks better.

Pretty please, Kobo, I'm asking nicely so I can fall back in love with the Elipsa again.

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Amazon is looking to make AI part of your daily life and has turned to the world of wearables to help. The tech giant has just acquired Bee AI, the maker of the eponymous device for your wrist or lapel that listens to everything happening around you.

Bee’s microphones and built-in AI transcribe it all in real time and make personalized summaries of your day and your stated upcoming tasks, and then make recommendations to improve your life based not only on what it hears, but the emails, calendar, contacts, photos, locations, and other data you allow it to access.

People already make jokes about how they will be discussing a product with someone else in person and, seemingly by magic, it will appear in their recommended products on Amazon. That can usually be chalked up to coincidence and forgetting previous searches, along with being unaware of your app permissions.

However, this may become part of Amazon's business model, prompting people to wear microphones to listen all day and pay $50, plus a $19 monthly subscription, for the privilege.

Bee listening

Naturally, Amazon saw potential in Bee. Alexa has mostly been stuck inside the house despite attempts at smart glasses and other wearables. Bee is a chance for Amazon to make its AI a real-world concern, part of your actual conversations and routines, not just what you yell across the kitchen. That might be helpful, but it's impossible not to think about what it might mean in terms of privacy and trust.

To be fair, Bee has a mute button you can hold down to pause recording when you need a moment of peace. But that assumes you realize you’re about to say something you might not want permanently archived by Amazon. Bee listens and turns your life into searchable text. Although the company claims it doesn’t retain the raw audio, the transcripts remain unless you delete them.

I don't know if I want everything I mutter under my breath to be a searchable note. Not to mention whatever it might overhear from when I watch TV or movies at home.

I get the appeal of a little AI that remembers everything so you don’t have to. Remembering every chore and birthday would be great. But the line between deliberate memory aid and surveillance feels blurry with it. Especially when Amazon already has so much information.

Although Amazon has promised to work with Bee, allowing users to have control over their data, the actual shape of that control remains unclear for now. And control is too often translated into a complex settings menu and paragraph of boilerplate text in the terms and conditions.

I know plenty of people who would at least try out Bee, especially when it becomes an Amazon device with all the special sales and integration with the e-commerce site that implies. Perfect recall is a tempting commodity, but it has its price. If you're willing to pay it, then I say go for it. Not every microphone is the gateway to Skynet. But skepticism and caution are essential if you want something to sit on your wrist and transform the events of your life into data points that might help sell you products.

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 24.

• OpenAI is expected to release the Sora 2 AI video model soon
• Sora 2 will face stiff competition from Google’s Veo 3 model
• Veo 3 already offers features that Sora does not, and OpenAI will need to enhance both what Sora can do and how easy it is to use to entice possible customers

OpenAI appears to be finalizing plans to release Sora 2, the next iteration of its text-to-video model, based on references spotted in OpenAI's servers.

Nothing has been officially confirmed, but there are signs that Sora 2 will be a major upgrade aimed squarely at Google’s Veo 3 AI video model. It’s not just a race to generate prettier pixels; it's about sound and the experience of producing what the user is imagining when writing a prompt.

OpenAI’s Sora impressed many when it debuted with its high-quality images. They were silent films, however. But, when Veo 3 debuted this year, it showcased short clips with speech and environmental audio baked in and synced up. Not only could you watch a man pour coffee in slow motion, but you could also hear the gentle splash of liquid, the clink of ceramic, and even the hum of a diner around the digital character.

To make Sora 2 stand out as more than just a lesser option to Veo 3, OpenAI will need to figure out how to stitch believable voices, sound effects, and ambient noise into even better versions of its visuals. Getting audio right, particularly lip-sync, is tricky. Most AI video models can show you a face saying words. The magic trick is making it look like those words actually came from that face.

It's not that Veo 3 is perfect at matching sound to picture, but there are examples of videos with surprisingly tight audio-to-mouth coordination, background music that matches the mood, and effects that fit the intent of the video.

Granted, a maximum of eight seconds per video limits the scope for success or failure, but fidelity to the scene is necessary before considering duration. And it's hard to deny that it can make videos that both look and sound like real cats jumping off high dives into a pool. Though if Sora 2 can extend to 30 seconds or more with a steady quality, it's easy to see it attracting users looking for more room for creating AI videos.

Sora 2's movie mission

OpenAI’s Sora can stretch up to 20 seconds or more of high-quality video. And as it's embedded into ChatGPT, you can make it part of a larger project. This flexibility is significant for helping Sora stand out, but the audio absence is notable. To compete directly with Veo 3, Sora 2 will have to find its voice. Not only find it, but weave it smoothly into the videos it produces. Sora 2 might have great audio, but if it can't outmatch the seamless way Veo 3's audio connects with its visuals, it might not matter.

At the same time, making Sora 2 too good might cause its own issues. With every new generation of AI video model, there's more concern about blurring the line with reality. Sora and Veo 3 both don't allow prompts involving real people, violence, or copyrighted content. But adding audio offers a whole new dimension of scrutiny over the origin and use of realistic voices.

The other big question is pricing. Google has Veo 3 behind the Gemini Advanced paywall, and you really need to subscribe to the $250 a month AI Ultra tier if you want to use Veo 3 all the time. OpenAI might bundle access to Sora 2 into the ChatGPT Plus and Pro tiers in a similar manner, but if it can offer more to the cheaper tier, it's likely to quickly expand its userbase.

For the average person, the AI video tool they turn to will hinge on that price, as well as ease of use, as much as the features and quality of video. There's a lot OpenAI needs to do if Sora 2 is going to be more than a silent blip in the AI race, but it looks like we will find out how well it can compete soon.

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Lego’s recreated some iconic pieces of tech over the years in brick-built form, but this surprise debut at San Diego Comic Con might just take the cake. You might have heard rumblings, but the Lego Game Boy is real, and I’ve held it.

It’s nearly a 1:1 replica of the iconic gaming handheld that you’ll assemble out of 421 pieces. You’ll not just build the console, though, as you’ll also build Game Paks for two legendary titles: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Super Mario Land. While these aren’t exactly playable, you can swap out the ‘screen’ for the console's loading system or moments from the games.

The best news here, beyond the rest of the details which I’ll get too, might just be the price. While this is a collaboration with Nintendo, Lego’s kept the price on the more affordable side at $59.99 / £54.99 / AU$99.99 – yes, a lot for an only slightly above 400-piece set, but it’s a unique collaboration.

The Lego Game Boy goes up for preorder tomorrow and will start shipping on October 1, 2025. I suspect this will be a highly popular gift as we enter the holiday season, and it’s for the attention to detail that Lego has done here. As a 1:1 replica, you’ll build dial controls for contrast and volume as well as all the main buttons: SELECT, START, +Control Pad, A, and B Buttons.

The Lego Game Boy was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 alongside the Lego Batman Arkham Asylum – which you can see TechRadar’s reveal of here – inside a booth that contained a shrunk-down, but still quite large, made-out-of-Lego replica of the convention center.

You can see a gallery of that below, plus a look at the eight other sets that premiered at the show. Those include Stranger Things BrickHeadz and several new sets themed to Wicked, ahead of Wicked for Good arriving later in 2025.

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(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Lego's San Diego Comic Con 2025 Reveals

We're all counting down the days for Season 5 of Stranger Things, and Lego's latest BrickHeadz treatment pays homage to some of the show's iconic characters. Courtesy of 542 bricks, you'll build Will, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. Best of all, this one is up for order right now at Lego.com.

You can get a deep dive on everything you need to know about Lego's latest Batman set here, but here's the TLDR. The Lego DC Batman Arkham Asylum is filled with intricate details and includes 16 Minifigures. You'll build the Arkham Asylum out of nearly 3,000 bricks, and it contains over 60 stickers. It's up for preorder in September.

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• Exclusive: Lego’s Batman Arkham Asylum set is official – with stunning details and 16 Minifigures

New Stranger Things, Batman and Wicked bricks are rolling out, along with a Game Boy pack.

• Lego’s next DC Batman set is official: Arkham Asylum
• The 2,953 piece set was unveiled at San Diego Comic Con
• It’s a three-level set and comes with 16 Minifigures

Yes, it’s the eve of San Diego Comic Con 2025, and Lego is wasting no time ushering in new sets – and TechRadar is exclusively showing off one of the most exciting additions to the Lego Batman theme in recent memory.

The Lego DC Batmobile has long been impressive, but the brand new Lego DC Batman Arkham Asylum set is a towering build with heaps of Minifigures – 16 to be exact.

The set is built from 2,953 pieces, and is designed as a display piece that stands 12.5 inches high and nearly 10 inches deep. It will come together as a two-story building plus a roof, and the Asylum can be split apart to customize the look. I have a feeling collectors and fans alike who opt for this set will do plenty of that to arrange the Minifigures inside.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

There are plenty of cells to house the likes of Harley Quinn, Bane, or The Joker, but there’s also the outer shell of the building, complete with red brick and plenty of details. In fact, the designers at Lego are shipping this set with 65 stickers – that’s a lot of custom options. There’s even the cement sign out front and other details pulled straight from the Batman universe, and wider DC brand.

Of course, Arkham Asylum wouldn’t be complete without a delivery van for inmate transport, so that's included too, along with various accessories for the Minifigures.

Let’s break down the Minifigures here as well. There are 16 in total, including Batman, Batwoman, Batwing, Robin, Mr Freeze, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, Bane, The Joker, The Penguin, Killer Croc, and two security guards.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Furthermore, and somewhat of a rarity for Lego sets, you’ll get transparent elements to help pose characters, including the ability to have Batman coming down off the roof or perched up top.

You can see a full gallery of shots of Lego’s DC Batman Arkham Asylum set below, and it will launch ahead of the holiday season on September 12 for $299.99 / £269.99 (Australian price TBC). If you’re a member of Lego Insiders – the brand's free-to-join rewards program – you can order the set early on September 9.

Considering it’s built from nearly 3,000 pieces and is launching before the holidays, Lego is also suggesting this could be used as a Batman advent calendar of sorts. How? Well, you’d build a part of each day for 24 days, as it comes with that number of bags to make up the building instruction booklet.

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If you're just after a new Lego set, here are a few of my favorites on sale at Amazon right now.

Today's best Lego deals

If you simply want an easy and fun Lego build, this Sunflowers set is for you. And it's a massive 47% off at just $7.94. Using 191 pieces, you can create two lovely Lego sunflowers.View Deal

R2-D2 is the most iconic droid around, and right now you can build your own version out of 1,050 bricks for just $79.99. That's a 20% discount from the $99.99 MSRP, and Prime members get free fast shipping. This set is themed to the 25th anniversary of Lego Star Wars, and comes with a mini R2-D2, a display plate, and a Darth Malak minifigure.View Deal

@tomsguide

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• FFmpeg’s biggest speedup yet affects only one function few people will have heard of
• Handwritten Assembly makes a comeback in a niche filter that most users will never even touch
• AVX512 gives FFmpeg an absurd 100x gain - but only if your CPU supports it

The FFmpeg project, known for powering some of the most widely used video editing software and media tools, is making headlines again.

Developers claim to have achieved what they call “the biggest speedup so far,” delivering a 100x performance gain in a recent update.

The catch? It only applies to a single, obscure function, and the means of achieving it is raising eyebrows - handwritten Assembly code, a technique largely seen as outdated by most of today’s developers.

Assembly coding sparks both nostalgia and skepticism

Assembly language, once essential for getting the most out of limited hardware in the 1980s and 1990s, has become a niche practice.

Yet FFmpeg developers continue to rely on it for extreme optimization, calling themselves “assembly evangelists.”

In their latest patch, they rewrote a filter called rangedetect8_avx512 using AVX512 instructions, part of a modern SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) toolkit that helps CPUs perform multiple tasks in parallel.

On systems without AVX512 support, the AVX2 variant still delivers a 65.63% improvement.

As the team points out, “It’s a single function that’s now 100x faster, not the whole of FFmpeg.”

This news follows a similar boost reported in November 2024, where another patch brought certain operations up to 94x faster.

In that case, part of the earlier performance gap stemmed from mismatched filter complexity: the generic C version used an 8-tap convolution, while the SIMD version used a simpler 6-tap approach.

Even compiling the C version in release mode with a better compiler like Clang could close over 50% of the gap, suggesting that some of the claimed speed gains may have been exaggerated by comparing worst-case with best-case conditions.

“Register allocator sucks on compilers,” the devs quipped on social media, highlighting compiler inefficiencies.

Despite the caveats, this renewed focus on low-level coding has sparked fresh conversations around performance optimization.

FFmpeg powers everything from VLC Media Player to countless YouTube downloader tools, so even small improvements in isolated filters can ripple through widely used software.

However, it’s worth noting that such results are often difficult to replicate and apply across broader parts of the codebase.

While these kinds of deep optimizations are impressive, they may not reflect real-world improvements for everyday users editing footage with video editing software.

Unless other core functions receive similar treatment, the promise of a faster FFmpeg might remain limited to technical benchmarks.

Via TomsHardware

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• Don’t expect global availability just yet; it’s only shipping in China for now

Peladn has announced the Link S-3, a compact eGPU dock that introduces Thunderbolt 5 connectivity at a relatively low price.

Priced at CNY 1,599 (around $223), the dock is set to begin shipping in China on July 26, although international release details remain unknown.

Designed to support desktop GPUs externally, the Link S-3 is aimed at users looking to boost graphics performance on devices like video editing laptops or compact desktops without internal expansion options.

Unusual design prioritizes form and airflow over protection

Unlike traditional GPU enclosures with bulky cases, the Link S-3 features a flat, open-air design, which helps reduce both size and cost, relying on ambient airflow to cool the graphics card.

While the design looks sleek, it may feel risky to leave the most expensive part of your setup fully exposed to the environment.

The Peladn Link S-3 does not include a built-in power supply but supports standard ATX or SFX units, with up to 140W power delivery through its Thunderbolt 5 port, meaning users will need to connect an external PSU to power the setup.

Connectivity is a key feature of the Link S-3. It includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports offering up to 80Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth.

However, GPU data transfer is limited to 64Gbps due to the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.

While Thunderbolt 5 offers more bandwidth than previous standards, the real-world performance advantage over OCuLink may be marginal for most workloads.

Still, Thunderbolt brings added features that many OCuLink-based docks lack.

The dock also includes a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port powered by Realtek's RTL8156B controller, a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an SD card reader, and a PCIe 3.0 x1 M.2 slot for SSD storage.

These additions could make it especially appealing for content creators using a video editing PC or mobile workstation, where fast access to external drives and networks is essential.

Via Techpowerup

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