Technology

A new antagonist for Ellie brought an explosive conclusion to episode 2.

• ChatGPT will now use The Washington Post to provide answers using the newspaper's reporting
• ChatGPT answers will now include summaries, quotes, and article links
• The move builds on OpenAI’s growing roster of news partners and The Post’s own AI initiatives

The Washington Post has inked a deal with OpenAI to make its journalism available directly inside ChatGPT. That means, the next time you ask ChatGPT something like “What’s going on with the Supreme Court this week?” or “How is the housing market today?” you might get an answer including a Post article summary, a relevant quote, and a clickable link to the full article.

For the companies, the pairing makes plenty of sense. Award-winning journalism, plus an AI tool used by more than 500 million people a week, has obvious appeal. An information pipeline that lives somewhere between a search engine, a news app, and a research assistant entices fans of either or both products. And the two companies insist their goal is to make factual, high-quality reporting more accessible in the age of conversational AI.

This partnership will shift ChatGPT’s answers to news-related queries so that relevant coverage from The Post will be a likely addition, complete with attribution and context. So when something major happens in Congress, or a new international conflict breaks out, users will be routed to The Post’s trusted reporting. In an ideal world, that would cut down on the speculation, paraphrased half-truths, and straight-up misinformation that sneaks into AI-generated responses.

This isn’t OpenAI’s first media rodeo. The company has already partnered with over 20 news publishers, including The Associated Press, Le Monde, The Guardian, and Axel Springer. These partnerships all have a similar shape: OpenAI licenses content so its models can generate responses that include accurate summaries and link back to source journalism, while also sharing some revenue with publishers.

For OpenAI, partnering with news organizations is more than just PR polish. It’s a practical step toward ensuring that the future of AI doesn’t just echo back what Reddit and Wikipedia had to say in 2021. Instead, it actively integrates ongoing, up-to-date journalism into how it responds to real-world questions.

WaPo AI

The Washington Post has its own ambitions around AI. The company has already tested ideas like its "Ask The Post AI" chatbot for answering questions using the newspaper's content. There's also the Climate Answers chatbot, which the publication released specifically to answer questions and share information based on the newspaper's climate journalism. Internally, the newsroom has been building tools like Haystacker, which helps journalists sift through massive datasets and find story leads buried in the numbers.

Starry-eyed idealism is nice, but there are some open questions. For instance, will the journalists who worked hard to report and write these stories be compensated for having their work embedded in ChatGPT? Sure, there's a link to their story, but that doesn't count as a view or help lead a reader to other pieces by the author or their colleagues.

From a broader perspective, won't making ChatGPT a layer between the reader and the newspaper simply continue the undermining of subscription and revenue necessary to keep a media company afloat? Whether this is a mutually supportive arrangement or just AI absorbing the best of a lot of people's hard work while discarding the actual people remains to be seen. Making ChatGPT more reliable with The Washington Post is a good idea, but we'll have to check future headlines to see if the AI benefits the newspaper.

You Might Also Like

• The Washington Post has an AI newsboy to answer all your questions
• This AI chatbot will answer all your climate change questions
• Meta AI is now a Reuters newsboy
• ChatGPT search can't find the real news, even with a publisher holding its hand

Our experts have found the fastest, cheapest and most reliable providers in Lafayette.

There's no word on when the free version of Copilot will also get the same viral image generator.

• Google has teased a redesign of the YouTube experience for TVs
• The update is coming "this summer" and includes improved navigation
• Google also announced a Multiview upgrade for YouTube TV subscribers

Twenty years ago today, the first video was uploaded to YouTube (the thrilling 'Me at the zoo'). To celebrate that milestone, Google has announced that YouTube's TV app experience is going to get a big upgrade soon. And as someone who watches a lot of big-screen YouTube, that's something I'm very much looking forward to.

Google hasn't revealed a lot about the "TV viewing upgrade" it has planned. It's apparently coming "this summer" (which means sometime between June and September, if you're in the southern hemisphere). But it has revealed a screenshot (below) of what it'll look like, plus a few hints of what's coming.

Apparently, we're going to get "easier navigation" alongside some "quality tweaks" and an improved playback experience. There will also be "streamlined access to comments, channel info, and subscribing". In other words, YouTube on your TV (not to be confused with YouTube TV) is going to become a lot more like the fully-featured browser experience.

(Image credit: Google)

Alongside the improved TV experience, YouTube TV subscribers will also gain the ability to build their own multiview experience. This four-way grid has traditionally been reserved for sports fans, but this is being opened up to non-sports content with a "small group of popular channels" in the "coming months". So if you aren't feeling quite distracted enough yet, this multiview update could be for you.

A subtle but important update

(Image credit: Google / YouTube)

I've been watching YouTube on TV for years and it's always felt a few steps behind the full experience. The Apple TV app, for example, was only given a comments section relatively recently – and while that might sound like a mixed blessing, I've always found comments to be an important part of the experience for the channels I follow.

The incoming YouTube update for TVs appears to be more about design than functionality, but still looks a lot more modern and in tune with its mobile apps. There's a new button for adding the video to your playlists and it also appears to be easier to subscribe from within videos. There are no doubt more tweaks not shown in the single teaser image.

YouTube is naturally reserving lots of features for Premium subscribers, too. As part of its 20th birthday announcements today, Google also revealed that a '4x playback speed' option is coming to smartphones for Premium subscribers (a service that costs $13.99 / £11.99 / AU$14.99 per month).

I'm still sorely tempted to upgrade to YouTube Premium (particularly after reading my colleague David Nield's strong arguments in favor of doing so), but I'm glad to see YouTube is still upgrading the TV experience for us non-Premium mortals. Let's just hope it happens in the earlier rather than later interpretation of "summer".

You might also like

• YouTube Premium is the only digital subscription I'm keeping for the whole of 2025 – here's why
• I was watching YouTube on my TV before it became more popular than phones – here are 3 reasons why it’s better on the big screen
• Best streaming service 2025: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Max, Disney Plus and more

• Roku has launched two new weather-resistant home security cameras
• The larger of the two has a battery life of up to two years on a single charge
• Roku hasn't revealed prices, but the cameras will go on sale later this year

Streaming specialist Roku has launched a pair of new wireless security cameras that can send video footage straight to your phone or TV, letting you watch your yard without leaving the couch.

The Roku Battery Camera can run for up to six months on a single charge, while the Battery Camera Plus runs up to two years. Both cameras are weather-resistant, and can be set up indoors or out in a few seconds.

You can use the Roku Smart Home app or Roku Web View to customize your camera's settings, set up schedules, and receive notifications. The cameras can also be used as motion-detectors to activate some of the best smart lights or other connected devices.

(Image credit: Future) Blink and you'll miss it

Real-world battery life will depend on which settings you choose and the weather (lithium-ion batteries tend to drain faster in cold conditions), but the Battery Camera Plus should be a serious rival to the Blink Outdoor 4, which also runs for up to two years before it needs recharging.

Both the Blink Outdoor 4 and Roku Battery Camera Plus boast 1080p resolution with motion detection and notifications, but the Roku camera also offers color night vision rather than black and white, which could give it the edge over the Blink model if the price is right.

You could also extend the Roku cameras' battery life even further by connecting an optional solar panel – something that's not possible with the Blink camera.

Roku has yet to announce official pricing for the two cameras, but it says they will be available "in the coming months". We're hoping to test both ourselves so we can see whether they deserve a place in our roundup of the best home security cameras to secure your smart home.

You might also like

• Eufy's new smart lock reads the veins in your palm for touchless entry – even if your hands are dirty
• Your Philips Hue cameras are getting a free upgrade to boost their battery life
• This renter-friendly smart lock fits over your existing door hardware, and costs less than you might expect

Those 30th anniversary themes for the PlayStation 5 proved much too popular for Sony to ignore.

• Andor season 2 gives fans the Syril-Dedra partnership they've been craving
• It's a dynamic full of weird moments, according to the actors who play them
• Kyle Soller and Denise Gough have also teased what to expect from their characters' dynamic throughout this season

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 3.

Andor season 2 will take some very bold swings with the incredibly weird romantic relationship that develops between Syril Karn and Dedra Meero.

That's according to Kyle Soller and Denise Gough, who told TechRadar that they're still struggling to truly "work out" what's going on between their characters one year on after filming wrapped on the Star Wars show's latest season.

They aren't the only ones. Ever since Syril saving Dedra's life in Andor's season 1 finale – a moment that was infused with a strange romantic tension – fans have longed to learn if the pair would actually get together. Now that season 2's first three episodes are not only out, but also confirm they're involved in some form of romantic entanglement, viewers are equally fascinated by the dynamic that's played out thus far.

Indeed, threads on numerous Star Wars-based Reddit pages are filled with fans commenting on the curious atmosphere that arises whenever the Imperial officers are in the same room. Other social media platform are similarly awash with people trying to dissect the clearly uncomfortable nature of their dynamic.

Are Syril and Dedra really in love? Soller and Gough don't believe so (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

Fan examination of the romance between two members of Andor season 2's cast is sure to continue for weeks and months to come, too. Well, as long as some of them remain as fascinated by the relationship as Soller and Gough continue to be – the duo telling me they're still not sure what's actually going on between their characters in one of the best Disney+ shows' second and final season.

"I think it was really bold of [showrunner] Tony [Gilroy] to end season one with the two of them in this strange little cupboard [where they hide from the Ferrix rebellion]," Soller mused. "Now, going into the domestic intimacy of it all, and what that might look like for these two very strange animals, I think it's another masterstroke."

My biggest fear was 'Oh, great, they fall in love and then what?'

Denise Gough, Andor season 2 actor

"But he [Tony] doesn't change them," Gough interjected. "Going into this season, my biggest fear was 'Oh, great, they fall in love and then what? What does domestication look like to them?'. But, once I got the scripts for season two, I was like 'Okay, it still looks weird and it's even more surreal than before.'"

There was plenty for audiences to enjoy regarding the pair's relationship in one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows throughout its first three chapters, too.

Anybody else feel that Dedra wears the proverbial trousers in this relationship? (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

Whether it was the extremely uncomfortable nature of Dedra meeting Syril's overbearing mom Eedy in episode 3, or the general conversations that they engage in, it seems fans are smitten with this villainous duo enjoying some frivolity amid the evil nature of their day-to-day jobs as employees of the Galactic Empire.

So, will the good times last? Predictably, Gough and Soller wouldn't be drawn on how this dynamic will evolve over the next nine episodes. That said, they drop a couple of teases that viewers are sure to pore over during the wait for new episodes to air on one of the best streaming services every Tuesday (US) and Wednesday (UK and Australia).

"Relationships are all about power in one way or another," Soller said. "This is a beautiful realization of how that power imbalance can grow and take things in all kinds of directions. I always thought Syril wants Dedra, but I also think he wants to use her, so it's hard to get a read on where his motives truly lie."

The last thing I was expecting from #Andor S2 was a Syril and Dedra home life sitcom but I absolutely loved every second of it.Also, absolute mood: pic.twitter.com/Q5TRbjODtAApril 23, 2025

"At her core, Dedra is a monster," Gough added. "She does awful things based on where she's come from.

"Does she really care for Syril? I watch it as a viewer and I still don't know," Gough continued. "To me, she doesn't have that human programming inside her to make me think that she's in love with him. She's like a computer, but I also think that she definitely wants him. It's not a loving relationship where they turn down the lights and cuddle. It feels very transactional and strange. It baffles me and I still can't fully work it out."

My full review of Andor season 2 doesn't contain any spoilers about where Syril and Dedra's relationship goes next. Nevertheless, it'll give you some hints at what will happen in the weeks to come. Read that for more insights and then check out more of my exclusive coverage on the series below.

You might also like

• 'It was extraordinary': Andor season 2 star had a big reaction to the Star Wars show's three-episode wedding extravaganza for two major reasons
• 'He's holding a lot of the cards': Andor actors tease Luthen's 'important' role in the evolution of Mon Mothma and Vel Sartha's familial dynamic in season 2
• 'Only gets more complicated': Andor season 2 will test the 'complex but beautiful' relationship between Cassian and Bix like never before, stars say

The world's most famous telescope is celebrating in style with new views of Mars, nebulas and a galaxy that reminds us of home.

• Western Digital targeting 40TB HDDs by late 2026 using HAMR tech
• OptiNAND and UltraSMR will boost capacity until HAMR adoption begins to drive growth
• Storage demand from AI boom is expected to arrive in late 2026

Western Digital recently held an investor day, with a primary focus on how it intends to supercharge hard drive capacity within a decade.

WD’s detailed roadmap showed a clear technological evolution from energy-assisted Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (ePMR) to Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR), and ultimately to Heat Dot Magnetic Recording (HDMR), at which point it will be targeting capacities in excess of 100TB.

By 2026, WD said its HDD capacity will reach 36TB-44TB thanks to HAMR technology which uses laser heating to temporarily lower the magnetic resistance (coercivity) of the disk, allowing for significantly denser data writing.

Waiting for demand

In a recent interview with PC Watch, Kimihiko Nishio, sales manager for Western Digital Japan, went into further details on the company’s plans.

“Other companies have started adopting HAMR with 30TB HDDs, but we believe HAMR’s true potential begins at 40TB," Nishio said.

"Until then, we'll continue using technologies like OptiNAND and UltraSMR to increase the capacity of existing HDDs up to 40TB.” OptiNAND, integrates flash memory with HDDs to boost capacity, performance, and reliability, while UltraSMR, uses advanced error correction to pack data tracks more densely than traditional SMR.

“We’re targeting the latter half of 2026 for the release of 40TB drives,” Nishio said, adding that WD is "currently developing HAMR with that goal in mind.” He explained that while data generation is booming, particularly due to AI advancements, storage demand is still catching up.

“Right now, there's a huge surge in demand for generative AI, but storage hasn't really benefited from it yet. Currently, the biggest beneficiaries are GPU servers. First, data is being generated in large volumes, and after that, it will need to be stored. That’s where we expect storage demand to spike.”

Western Digital is timing its production plans to coincide with this predicted demand. “We anticipate that spike will happen in the second half of 2026, which is why we're aligning our HAMR-based high-capacity HDD development to that timeframe,” Nishio said.

“Since HAMR production requires a complete overhaul of materials, starting production now while demand is still low (e.g., for 40TB drives) would result in high costs. But we expect that in 2–3 years, demand will rise, allowing us to offer them at reasonable prices.”

Nishio also shared Western Digital’s even more ambitious long-term vision. “Looking further ahead, we plan to release 100TB drives by 2030, after which we’ll pursue even greater capacities using new technologies,” he said.

You might also like

• These are the fastest hard drives you can buy right now
• And these are largest SSDs and HDDs on the planet
• Hundreds of the world's largest hard disk drive have gone on sale online

OpenAI is making its "GPU-melting" feature available for other developers and apps, including Adobe Firefly and Microsoft Copilot.

Whether you're giving your workouts a boost or just looking to be at your best, these hand-picked electrolyte sports drinks are exactly what you want in your bag.

The no-buy challenge was more eye-opening than I anticipated. (And more fun too)

You can always count on Max for a show-stopping drama, but you never know when it could get rid of that one movie you've been relying on it for. Luckily, that's what we're here for, and you can bet that we've had our eagle eyes peeled for the titles leaving Max soon.

There are five stand-outs that have limited time left on one of the best streaming services and now is the time to make the most of them. With two A24 movies on the chopping block (one of them a previous Best Picture Oscar winner), there's a beloved superhero movie, a British modern classic animated feature, and historical war biopic that Max have decided to let go.

Thankfully none of our picks for the best Max movies are leaving any time soon - but that's never guaranteed. On a brighter note, Max has a wave of new movies and shows on the way, and you can view our full list of everything new on Max in May 2025.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

RT score: 94%
Directors: Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
Age rating: R
Length: 132 minutes

One of the most-loved movies to come from the A24 studio that captured the hearts of millions of movie fans, and now it's running its course with Max. Though many were left utterly disappointed with Jamie Lee Curtis' Oscar victory over fellow nominee Stephanie Hsu, it certainly redeemed itself when it swept Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture.

In this surrealist comedy action drama Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant who is under IRS investigation. She uncovers a strange ability to transport through different universes and connect with her alternative timelines. Through this crazy journey across the multiverse she must stop a powerful being from destroying everything, but this wild ride turns into a touching story of self-discovery which leads her to rekindling her complicated relationship with her daughter.

The Imitation Game (2014)

RT score: 90%
Director: Morten Tyldum
Age rating: PG-13
Length: 113 minutes

When I started my monthly streaming diary roundups earlier this year, The Imitation Game was one of the nine movies I streamed in January 2025. As far as biopics go, Tyldum's retelling of Alan Turing's history-altering discovery is a gold standard British drama film despite its small handful of historical inaccuracies.

As much as its a war drama, The Imitation Game is an inspiring story of a queer genius who helped saved millions, but was still persecuted for his sexuality even in the events after his ground-breaking achievement.

It's the Second World War, and English mathematician Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) has been recruited by MI6 to help crack the Enigma Nazi code which professionals have failed time again to achieve. Behind him is a team of computer whizzes Hugh Alexander (Matthew Goode) and Joan Clarke (Kiera Knightley), who assist Turing in building a machine which he hopes will be the answer to saving the country from war.

The Florida Project (2017)

RT score: 96%
Director: Sean Baker
Age rating: R
Length: 111 minutes

If you loved recent Best Picture winner Anora (2024) you only have a few more weeks left to revisit this coming-of-age drama from the back catalog of Sean Baker.

Before he dabbled in comedy crime dramas, Baker put out his slice of life drama starring Willem Dafoe exploring the small joys in life and the means of creating your own fun and happiness with what you have. Six year-old girl Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) lives with her single mother at a motel in Florida who struggles to make ends meet and dips in and out of homelessness. Their world is a stark contrast from the one which surrounds them - the surreal and built-for-distraction Walt Disney World.

Paddington (2014)

RT score: 96%
Director: Paul King
Age rating: PG
Length: 95 minutes

The Paddington series of movies has sat very well with audiences, with its recent installment Paddington in Peru (2024) scoring 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. But its second movie Paddington 2 (2018) comes out on top with a near-perfect score of 99%.

Inspired by the classic British children's literature Paddington Bear (Ben Whishaw) lands himself in London after his Peru home is destroyed by an earthquake. He immediately warms to the family of Henry Brown (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins) and their two children, who decide to adapt him into the family, but shortly after settling into city life, he becomes the target of Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman), a taxidermist who will stop at nothing to get her hands on a bear as rare as he.

Deadpool (2016)

RT score: 85%
Director: Tim Miller
Age rating: R
Length: 108 minutes

Miller made his directorial debut with Deadpool in 2016 and went on to produce the Sonic trilogy of movies (we won't mention Borderlands).

In contrast to other Marvel movies and superheroes, Deadpool isn't the suave, put-together action hero you'd expect. Instead, he's irreverent and unserious, yet has smart comedic timing. After serving in the Special Forces Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is disfigured by evil scientist Ajax (Ed Skrein) and is turned into Deadpool. In spite of his disfigurement he's left with superhuman powers which he uses to his advantage to track down the man who ruined everything for him.

You might also like

• 5 eye-opening movies about the climate crisis on Netflix, Prime Video, Max and more – all with over 93% on Rotten Tomatoes
• Max is launching in Australia soon – here are the top 5 HBO shows I think you should stream first
• Max has been adding some of Prime Video's most annoying features but also a load of better upgrades

• Zeekr and MG showcased new models at the Shanghai Motor Show
• The MG Cyber X brings back pop-up headlights
• Zeekr’s 9X is gunning for Bentley and Rolls-Royce with opulent styling

Both MG and Zeekr have joined a plethora of Chinese brands in showcasing exciting new models at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show.

Sitting at the more affordable end of the spectrum, MG unveiled the second in its fashion-forward ‘Cyber’ themed series, which includes the ground-breaking two seater Cyberster sports car.

While much of the current global MG range is stylish but a little restrained, the Cyber X is a full-on design showcase, boasting boxy proportions, a high-riding road presence and cool pop-up headlights that retract when the ignition is turned off.

Sporting a stealthy smoked black paint job, it is the work of ex-VW and Bugatti Veyron designer Jozef Kaban, who joined MG early last year to bring some design spice to the brand.

Speaking to Autocar, he said that the point of the Cyber X was to show how diverse the company is.

(Image credit: Zeekr)

Just around the corner from MG’s stand, Zeekr showcased its first every hybrid model in the gargantuan 9X – a car that the company hopes can legitimately take on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga in the ultra-luxury SUV space.

But unlike the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which costs well in excess of $400,000 (or £300,000 / AU$625,000) the 9X is slated to start at around $70,000 (about £53,000 / AU$110,000) and offer plenty in terms of intentions plushness and technology.

There’s a 43-inch cinema screen in the rear, allowing passengers to recline in plush surroundings, while Zeekr says it will be the first model to sport its G-Pilot autonomous driving technology.

According to the marque, its extensive camera, sensor and Lidar suite is good for true Level 3 autonomy – allowing drivers to take hands off the wheel and eyes off the road where legal to do so.

China refines its luxury tastes

(Image credit: SAIC Design)

Recent reports have suggested that the demand for premium Western brands is cooling in China, as the domestic market looks more towards its own start-ups for the latest and most innovative electric vehicle technology.

Sales of Porsche and Ferrari vehicles have dipped in recent years, while even the luxury watch, wines and spirits markets have seen an overall decrease in sales numbers, according to Finews.

This could be down to several factors, but Jing Daily, which covers China’s luxury market, claims that there has been a general societal shift away from showy signs of wealth, while younger buyers expect a much higher level of digital engagement in their products.

It is the reason that Audi has launched its own China-only brand in the confusingly-badged AUDI and Mercedes-Benz is showcasing its futuristic Vision V MPV concept at the Shanghai Motor show this year – not only is China producing some of the most advanced EVs on the planet, it is also exclusively receiving some of the newest and most innovative models from western brands.

But both Zeekr and MG sell far beyond their domestic markets, with the pair rapidly finding an audience in Europe and beyond. While it is unlikely the rest of the world will get to see the mammoth 9X on the roads any time soon, the MG Cyber X is highly likely to spawn a global production variant.

The Cyberster did a great job of establishing the brand as something more than just a budget offering, but the Cyber X could well be a volume seller that proves MG can also do desirable design.

You might also like

• Hyundai reveals wild Insteroid concept EV with Pac-Man interior – and it’s the exciting hot hatch that electric vehicles need right now
• CATL unveils its new battery tech that charges in five minutes, offers huge range but doesn’t cost a fortune
• These are the top four electric sports cars I’ve driven – and they show electrification doesn’t mean boring

• The latest Google Messages beta hides a working version of group chat muting
• The feature requires some effort to get working, but seems likely to be launching soon
• There's no word on a release date yet

Earlier this month we reported on rumors that suggested Google Messages would be getting a snooze feature so you can temporarily turn off group chat notifications, and now it looks even more likely that this feature is on the way.

That’s according to a new Android Authority teardown of the latest Google Messages build, in which the AA team actually managed to get the tool to work – suggesting it’s very close to release.

The snooze feature will see a new button added to the toolbar (which appears at the top of the screen when you long-press on a chat).

Choosing snooze will cause a second menu to appear, where you can choose to mute a group chain for one hour, eight hours, 24 hours, or 'always'. The menu also reveals that “other members will not see that you snoozed this chat.”

(Image credit: Google)

You can also tweak your snooze options within user profiles, with this option giving you the ability to fine-tune notifications – such as muting everything except direct @ mentions in the chat.

A group chat essential

Muting can be an invaluable group chat function. Sometimes you just need to focus on something for a few hours and don’t want your phone to be bombarded with notifications. And we’ve all been in the family group chat which might be just a few very active relatives pinging messages back and forth – it would feel rude to leave, but only about 5% of the messages are relevant to you (and if a message is relevant the sender can always @ you).

Muting allows you to remove some distractions from your life without completely shutting yourself off socially.

As with all leaked features, there’s no guarantee that this will launch; however, given how in-depth the muting feature already appears to be, it seems likely that it’s not only on the way, but on the way soon.

If and when it does eventually launch, it looks like it could be joined by two other very useful Google Messages features that are also being teased by the latest beta.

You might also like

• Google search engine monopoly could expand using AI, DOJ warns
• There's no need to wait for Google's Android XR smart glasses – here are two amazing AR glasses I’ve tested that you can try now
• 5 things the Google Pixel 10 needs to do to beat the Apple iPhone 17 in 2025

Help the grad in your life get started on this next chapter of their life.

• Roku's Pro and Plus Series TV models are getting some upgrades
• Custom factory calibration is arriving on the Roku Pro Series
• The Plus Series is getting mini-LED backlighting and a host of software improvements

Today, streaming stick and smart TV maker Roku announced a range of enhancements for its current Roku Pro and Roku Plus Series models, as well as a new 85-inch screen size option for its entry-level Select Series TVs.

The Roku Pro series, the budget choice in our best TVs guide, will now get custom factory calibration, a process designed to ensure that “every TV delivers a stunning picture right out of the box.”

The most significant announced changes are for the mid-range Roku Plus Series TVs, which now feature mini-LED backlighting. Combined with the TV’s QLED display panel, this should bring the brightness and color benefits of the Pro Series to a much cheaper price point. Plus Series TVs will also get Roku Smart Picture Max, a feature that performs picture adjustments on a scene-by-scene basis, so you don’t have to fuss with picture settings.

Roku's Plus Series TVs will additionally get a remote finder button, first introduced in the Pro Series. This feature lets you easily locate a remote control buried between couch cushions or left in a different room.

Additionally, the Pro Series’ integrated cable management, a design highlight we appreciated in our Roku Pro Series TV review, is also migrating to the Plus Series.

Finally, the full Roku TV lineup will now feature a Bluetooth Headphone Mode, allowing for an easy wireless connection from the TV for private viewing.

A new best budget TV?

Roku's new Pro Series TVs will now be getting a custom factory calibration prior to shipment (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Roku’s Pro Series has been among our regular go-to recommendations for viewers looking to upgrade their TV to one with a mini-LED backlight without having to take on excess credit card debt.

At under $1,000 for a 65-inch screen size, the Pro Series is an exceptional value, offering additional benefits such as 4K 120Hz support for gaming, a sleek design, and, of course, Roku’s excellent smart TV interface.

With mini-LED backlighting now on the Plus Series, along with Smart Picture Max, remote finder, and integrated cable management, we may now have a new best budget TV option.

Roku’s announcement indicated that the upgraded Plus Series TVs would be available at the “same affordable price.” With the current 65-inch Plus Series model priced at $649 (and now selling for $499), the new Plus series should be a compelling value, competing head-to-head with other high-value mini-LED TVs such as the Hisense U6N.

We look forward to getting our hands on the new Roku TVs to conduct a full review. In the meantime, check out our coverage of the new Roku streaming sticks introduced at today’s event.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar You might also like

• The best mini-LED TVs for all budgets
• Your aging Roku TV is about to get a beautiful, free update
• OLED vs Mini-LED: which TV type is best?

Are you looking for the best internet in the City of Fountains? We've got all the answers you're looking for right here at CNET.

Black Mirror season 7 is sitting right at the top of Netflix's streaming TV chart. With 10.6 million views in the past week, it's even more popular than Ransom Canyon, which is clocking in at 7.2 million views so far.

It's clear that when it comes to viewing numbers, Black Mirror is pretty much review-proof: it's racking up big numbers, despite some critics suggesting that one of the best Netflix series feels like it's running out of ideas. Those critics include us: in our Black Mirror season 7 review we said that perhaps Charlie Brooker and co should quit while they're still ahead.

That said, the series does still deliver some great episodes: we really liked Common People and Hotel Reverie in our Black Mirror season 7 episode ranking. Both episodes stick to Black Mirror's most resonant theme: that technology can really mess with your head.

Sometimes, of course, you actually want technology to mess with your head. It's why some of the most enjoyable shows are also some of the weirdest – and why I'm recommending these highly rated sci-fi and supernatural shows for you to stream.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things isn't so much a show as a phenomenon, and the world owes it a big thanks for introducing a new generation to Kate Bush's sublime Running Up That Hill. Oh, and for making some utterly compelling television too.

Stranger Things is set in a sleepy midwestern town in the 1980s where weird things are going on. It's smart, it's scary and it often feels like a love letter to a much-maligned decade. As someone who was a teen back then, I'm well aware that growing up then was as much about expecting World War III as it was big pop songs and highly flammable clothes. And ST absolutely nails that.

It's "a fascinating stew that juggles numerous genres and influences," Keith & The Movies says. "Yet it all comes together to form an enthralling eight-episode television season that plays like one well-paced and impressively conceived movie."

"It's scary when it means to be scary," Rogues Portal says. "It's endearing when it's meant to be endearing. And overall, it's a delight to watch." And the LA Times raved: "Stranger Things honors its source material in the best way possible: By telling a sweet 'n' scary story in which monsters are real but so are the transformative powers of love and fealty."

The first season achieved 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and while later seasons haven't quite reached that high point they're still great, gripping TV.

Dark

"Having Stranger Things withdrawals?" asks CNET. "Tune in to the eerie supernatural German Netflix show that will make you think twice about stepping into caves."

Stranger Things comparisons are common for this, well, Dark drama. Here's the Sydney Morning Herald: "If Stranger Things is a big bowl of macaroni and cheese made with that lurid orange cheddar you can only get in America, Dark is a gamy Old World stew ladled out from a pot that has been bubbling away for centuries."

Dark has consistently scored highly on the Tomatometer, with the second season hitting the full 100% and season 3 getting a still exceptional 97%. It's an extremely twisty drama that centers on the disappearance of two children in a small German town – a disappearance that unearths the town's sinful past and something supernatural.

Dark is the first German original series made for Netflix and has been described as being rather like Lost, without just being another Lost. "Dark’s creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s have crafted a remarkable, labyrinthian series of interconnected characters, events, and consequences," says Loud and Clear Reviews, while CNET said "For my money, it's the best show on Netflix."

Russian Doll

Natasha Lyonne is Nadia, a young woman who finds herself out of time: en route to a fancy New York party, she gets trapped in a mysterious time loop that has her attending the same event again and again and again.

Season 1 and 2 both racked up a 97% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and clearly delighted many reviewers: "The show is perfect," said LatinaMedia.co, while Consequence said that "It offers philosophy, humor, a strong cast, and sci-fi-esque twists and turns that feel intentional rather than hokey."

Lyonne is remarkable, ScreenCrush says: "Natasha Lyonne gives a terrifically layered performance that ranges from hilariously funny in the early episodes to brutally emotional." And Collider loved it. "A brilliant tale of morality and mortality that finds an expert balance between sincerity, cutting comedy, and wild genre flourish."

You might also like

• Netflix's most-watched movie is leaving viewers' tear ducts dry
• Netflix's #2 most-watched movie is a new buddy comedy
• This new hitman series is a streaming hit on Netflix