Technology

Money no object

We love to give practical buying advice on the latest gadgets here at TechRadar. But sometimes what we love even more is to indulge in the most outrageously high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious tech on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money No Object columns – you can read the whole series here.

The best stereo speakers sound fantastic but often underwhelm in the visual department; I know that I'd be hard-pushed to pick my bookshelf speakers out of a line-up, and I'm a working musician. So it's always a joy to see speakers that look as good as they're intended to sound – like the new Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8 speakers here.

These are not budget buys, with price tags of £15,000 / $20,000 (about AU$31,385) for the Element 6, £20,000 / $25,000 (about AU$41,850) for the Element 8 and £3,500 / $5,000 (about AU$7,323) for the stands. But just look at them. If I had the wealth to buy these for my mansion, I absolutely would. If I had a mansion.

(Image credit: Stratton Acoustics) Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8: not just a feast for the eyes

The star here, other than those enclosures, is Stratton's own, patented decoupled and waveguide loaded 29mm soft dome tweeter. That's paired with a six-inch mid/low driver in the Element 6 and an eight-inch unit in the Element 8, making the Element 6 more suited to smaller spaces or near-field listening positions.

The enclosures have dual-resistive port vents to reduce unwanted resonance from the bass reflex port, and they're made with acrylic-silica reinforced polymer matrices – again with claimed resonance-reducing powers – and aerospace-grade aluminum baffles.

According to Stratton, the combination of enclosures and baffles "ensures clean, transparent sound with a durable, luxurious finish that will last for decades to come."

As for the stands, they're precision-machined from aerospace-grade aluminum too. And Stratton is making big claims for their design: "Their sculptural form mirrors the jewel-like detailing of the front and rear baffles of the speakers, with a flawless finish that plays with light and reflection to striking effect, elevating the entire system to the level of modern art."

Stratton says that these speakers "offer a visually arresting presence, premium materials, class-leading electro-acoustic design, and engineering, delivering a luxurious experience for both the eyes and ears." I'm sure they do, although sadly I think it'll be a long, long time before I can afford a pair.

The new Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8 are available now.

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• Apple has just labeled the iPhone 6S as “vintage”
• The same designation has been applied to the 2018 Mac mini
• This means repairs are more limited should something go wrong

Are you still using an iPhone 6S or a 2018 Mac mini? If you are, we’ve got some bad news: Apple has just declared both products to be “vintage” on its vintage and obsolete products page, which means you’ll get much more limited service and repairs for them if anything goes wrong.

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus were released in 2015 and came with a few notable milestones. They were the first iPhones to come with Apple’s 3D Touch tech, while they were also the last to feature headphone jacks.

In addition, Apple strengthened the chassis of the devices to prevent the kind of 'bendgate' controversy that befell the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6S was last offered for sale by Apple in 2018.

The 2018 Mac mini, meanwhile, was the last Mac mini to come with an Intel processor rather than an Apple silicon chip (the first of which – the M1 – debuted in 2020). And it was the first (and so far only) Mac mini to come in a space gray finish.

What does this mean for you?

The 2018 Mac Mini (above) has joined the iPhone 6S on Apple's perilous 'vintage' list

Other than taking many of us on a trip down memory lane, this news has some practical implications for those who are still running an iPhone 6S or 2018 Mac mini.

Apple labels a product as “vintage” when at least five years have passed since the company last offered it for sale. Products that last went on sale seven or more years ago are designated as “obsolete.”

Now that the iPhone 6S and Mac mini have been declared “vintage,” that means your repair options are more limited. You can get them fixed at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs), but only if the required parts are available. Third-party shops might be able to repair your device if Apple or its AASPs won’t.

The next step – declaring a product to be “obsolete” – means that Apple Stores and AASPs generally will not repair your device, with Apple declining to provide replacement parts. In that case, you have no option but to either rely on a third-party repair shop or upgrade your device.

So, if you are still using an iPhone 6S or 2018 Mac mini, you’ve still got a little longer before Apple stops offering repairs. That said, with these devices getting long in the tooth – and products like the iPhone 16 and M4 Mac mini offering far better performance – now might be a good time to look at upgrading to one of the best iPhones and best Macs you can get.

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• Notorious online forum 4chan is currently offline
• A hacker reportedly took the site offline and leaked sensitive data
• "Rival" imageboard users are celebrating

Infamous anonymous imageboard 4chan has reportedly been hacked and taken offline, with the website unable to load.

A hacker was apparently dwelling on 4chan’s systems “for over a year” before deciding to pull the trigger.

The threat actor leaked a few screenshots to prove the website was hacked, and on those screenshots it showed the site’s alleged backend, source code, and banning templates. Furthermore, the hacker leaked a list of 4chan moderators and janitors, essentially the website’s operators.

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Praising the downfall

4chan is one of the world’s most popular anonymous imageboards. It is a forum where users cannot register an account, and in which threads disappear after a while (unless archived, which only happens in certain situations). It gained notoriety in the past when its users rallied to conduct “raids” - often promoting fascism, racism, and other destructive ideologies - “for the lulz” (for fun).

Memes like Pepe the Frog, Pedo Bear, the Anonymous Guy Fawkes mask, and many other trends, originated on 4chan. The “raids” included flooding live streams, massive multiplayer games and chat platforms, other forums, and similar. The forum and its users also had their “rivals”, mostly ebaumsworld (to which they always tried to shift the blame during the raids), and 8chan.

On social media, users of these boards are now gloating and praising 4chan’s “downfall”.

TechCrunch spoke to one of the janitors, who said the imageboard suffered hacks and DDoS attacks in the past, but stressed that this one might be particularly dangerous since it would seem the hacker has full control over the site.

“I’ve been most concerned with the leaked information, for obvious reasons,” said the janitor. “I’d wager that the fact that 4chan was effectively taken over by a hacker(s) is probably ‘worse’ than screenshots, at least from the perspective of the site’s continued operation.”

They also told the publication that the stolen data was probably authentic.

Whenever 4chan would go offline in the past, or whenever someone would threaten legal action against it, users would respond with a now-famous quote, which I’ll use here as well: “Nothing of value was lost.”

Via TechCrunch

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• The ChatGPT app and web interface is getting a new Library tab
• This is where all your AI-generated images are now kept
• The feature is rolling out now for all users

ChatGPT's recent image update almost broke the internet, and certainly put a ton of pressure on OpenAI's huge stack of graphics processors – and now users are getting a dedicated space inside the chatbot's interface for their AI pictures.

As announced by OpenAI (via The Verge), the new Library tab shows up across the mobile apps and the web interface for ChatGPT. It's available universally too, whether or not you pay for a subscription to the AI bot.

The update has already shown up inside the web interface for my own account, and it's all pretty straightforward to use: the tab collects every image you've generated, across every chat in your history, and you can click on a picture for edit and download options. You can also create a new image from the Library section.

Delete a chat, and the included images get wiped from the Library tab as well. There isn't anything in the way of image search or filtering as yet, but of course these features could be rolled out in time as the feature evolves.

The social aspect

All of your image creations, all in one place.Introducing the new library for your ChatGPT image creations—rolling out now to all Free, Plus, and Pro users on mobile and https://t.co/nYW5KO1aIg. pic.twitter.com/ADWuf5fPbjApril 15, 2025

It seems as though we're seeing a new AI image trend appearing every week, whether it's Studio Ghibli-inspired renderings, turning people into action figures, or imagining what your pet might look like as a human being.

Given the recent boost in the quality of the images ChatGPT can make, across free and paid tiers, it makes sense for OpenAI to create a separate space to hold them – previously users had to dig through individual conversations to find them.

It also links into the rumors we've heard about OpenAI working on a social network. These plans are apparently in their early stages, but if ChatGPT were to become more social, it's easy to see how image sharing could be a big part of that: like Instagram, but with AI-generated images and videos dominating.

The move would give OpenAI access to even more user data to train on, too. Would you sign up for yet another social media network, if it was focused around AI? And would your AI content have what it takes to go viral? Let us know in the comments.

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• The EU Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched a privacy investigation on X
• The Authority is investigating whether the platform uses publicly accessible posts to train its Grok AI model
• Last September, X agreed to limit the use of Europeans' data for AI training after being hit by several GDPR complaints

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched a privacy inquiry against X over the use of Europeans' personal data to train its AI model, Grok.

Beginning on Friday, April 11, 2025, the privacy Authority is investigating whether Elon Musk's platform uses publicly-accessible X posts to train its generative AI models to determine compliance with GDPR rules.

X was hit by at least nine privacy complaints in August 2024 for allegedly using people's data without consent to train AI. In September, Ireland's data regulator decided to end the court proceedings as the company agreed to permanently limit the use of EU users' data for AI training.

Ireland's privacy inquiry

Grok, a group of AI models developed by xAI, powers the generative AI chatbot on X. Users can chat with Grok directly in its dedicated tab or ask for AI-generated context underneath other users' posts.

Since December 2024, Grok has also been able to automatically write small biographies of whoever has an account on X without users asking for it.

It isn't yet clear, however, whether the system has processed some personal data contained in publicly accessible posts without people's consent, and this is exactly what the Irish DPC wants to find out.

"The purpose of this inquiry is to determine whether this personal data was lawfully processed in order to train the Grok LLMs," wrote the DPC in an official announcement.

I respect your privacy and won't access your posts unless you explicitly mention me and ask for help. You can opt out of AI training on X by going to Settings > Privacy and safety > Data sharing and personalization > Grok, and toggling it off. Note that past posts might still be… pic.twitter.com/ZS9DtOfDsHApril 15, 2025

If found in breach of GDPR rules, X Internet Unlimited Company – the new name of X's data controller for US users based in Dublin – could be fined a maximum of 4% of its annual turnover.

Neither X nor Musk himself has yet commented on the DPC's announcement. Only Grok itself, after being challenged by one X user, has ensured that it "won't access your post unless you explicitly mention me."

The billionaire, however, has previously criticized EU laws and regulators. So, the results of this probe could end up further deteriorating the relationship.

Tension between the EU tech sector and the EU lawmakers could also intensify, though. As Proton (the provider of one of the best VPN and secure email services on the market) pointed out in a X post: "If it is found that public data still requires user consent to be used for training, this could have wider ramifications, both in Europe and beyond."

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• An auto-reboot feature is rolling out to Android phones and tablets
• This will automatically restart your device after three days of inactivity
• Your phone is more secure after a restart, helping to prevent unauthorized access

Not long ago we reported on how Android could get a thief-thwarting security feature already seen on iPhones, and now that feature is arriving.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the latest Google Play services update includes a feature that will restart your phone or tablet automatically after three days of inactivity. So in other words, if your device has remained locked for three consecutive days, it will shut down and restart, and there’s a good reason for this.

You see, after a restart, an Android phone or tablet will return to its ‘Before First Unlock’ state, in which its data is encrypted and it’s harder to unlock, as biometrics are disabled until after the first unlock – so a passcode is instead required.

This is set up to happen after three days of inactivity because it’s likely that if your phone is on but not being used for three days that someone else has it – such as a thief.

Your Android phone should soon be able to reboot on its own (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Coming soon

Google Play services 25.14 (which contains this auto-reboot feature) is now rolling out, but the rollout may take a week or so to reach all phones, and it’s possible that the auto-reboot feature may not be enabled until a while after that, with 9to5Google speculating that it could take a few weeks.

As such, we’re also not certain whether there will be a toggle or other option to enable this feature, or whether it will just happen automatically. We also don’t yet know whether this feature will come to all Android devices, but it’s likely that most recent phones will support this.

So, while it won’t stop your phone being stolen, you should at least soon have more reassurance that thieves won’t be able to access your data.

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• Notion Mail promises to redefine what we know about email apps
• AI enables email sorting, labelling and filtering for a clearer view
• Snippets for templates and easier email scheduling also feature

Popular productivity app Notion has come out with its own, AI-powered email service, and the company is making bold promises to change how we think about emails.

Despite emails being a staple in the workplace since the 1970s, Notion says the platforms have not keept up with other technological advancements, giving it a cluttered and inefficient feel.

“Notion Mail is designed to make email management simpler – a well-oiled machine that hums in the background of your day to day,” the company said in a blog post.

Notion launches new Mail app, backed by AI, of course

At the core of Notion Mail is artificial intelligence, which promises to automate tedious tasks like sorting, labelling and filtering.

Users can tell Notion AI what’s important (such as hiring emails for recruiters) and it will prioritize them accordingly.

On the front end, Notion Mail benefits from custom views for increased focus. Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsberg from the Notion Mail team noted that a users’s priorities might look different this month to next month, therefore it was imperative that the interface could change with time. Inbox categories like promotions, customer support and travel separate emails into distinct categories.

Acknowledging that emails can be repetitive and time-consuming, Notion has also added snippets to the app so that users can call on saved templates, with Notion AI stepping in to help users write intros, responses and more.

To tackle “scheduling ping-pong,” the app also integrates with Notion Calendar for senders to share their availabilities for quicker and more efficient scheduling.

“We built Notion Mail because we believe your relationship with email should empower your work, not impede it,” the Notion Mail workers concluded.

Notion Mail is available for free and forms part of the free tier that also includes Notion Calendar, the Notion workspace and third-party integrations with the like of Slack and GitHub. The app works with Gmail, but it’s unclear if further email services will be added at a later date.

macOS and Windows apps are already available to download, and there’s a web app for those who prefer to access Notion Mail via their chosen browser, however iOS and Android apps are still in the works for now.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed in Canada last week
• Now, a leaker claims they will begin on April 23, 2025
• This could also be the date that US pre-orders open

Good news Canadian gamers. It seems like Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders could begin this time next week.

That's according to reliable leaker 'billbil-kun', who has a good track record when it comes to revealing gaming stock information ahead of time. In a recent X / Twitter post, they claimed that pre-orders will begin on April 23, 2025 for both the Nintendo Switch 2 console and the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle based on what they "can see through some Canadian retailers".

They note that this date is likely subject to change, so there's a chance that it could still be pushed back. Of course, this is still just a rumor even if it comes from a credible source - so take it with a grain of salt.

If you need a quick refresher, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were reportedly delayed in Canada early last week ahead of their original April 9, 2025, date. According to a statement given to Canadian tech website MobileSyrup, the decision was taken "in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the US" though the console's release date would not be changed.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed indefinitely in the US on April 4, 2025. In a statement given to TechRadar Gaming, Nintendo cited "the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions".

The leaker is careful to say that they "can't confirm if it's the same for US," though I would suspect that this might be the case. Nintendo did state that the Canadian pre-order date would "align with the timing" of US pre-orders so if this April 23, 2025, prediction is accurate I would not be shocked if US retailers follow suit.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch worldwide on June 5, 2025. It will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a Mario Kart World bundle.

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The finale of Daredevil: Born Again season 1 has landed on Disney+ – and, Hell's bells, does it paint a bleak yet hopeful picture of New York City.

This season's ninth and final episode, titled 'Straight to Hell', has it all. Indeed, it's a heady mix of melodrama, ultra-violent action, and crime-based storytelling that sets up gripping events to come in the Marvel TV show's next installment.

As the dust settles on Daredevil's first standalone adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I imagine you've got plenty of questions about what happens in its latest entry. So, let's break down the who, what, and why of it all.

Full spoilers immediately follow for the final episode of Daredevil: Born Again's first season. Do not proceed if you haven't watched it yet.

Who dies in Daredevil: Born Again episode 9?

This isn't a *ahem* cop-out, Commissioner Gallo... (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Nobody of note. Well, unless you consider Police Commissioner Gallo to be an important character in the Marvel Phase 5 TV series. He had part of his head caved in and his lower jaw ripped from his skull by Wilson Fisk, who fully entered his Mayor Kingpin phase in the popular show's latest chapter.

Gallo aside, the only people who are bumped off in Born Again's ninth episode are a bunch of Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) officers. A number of them are executed by Frank Castle/The Punisher when, at Karen Page's request, he helps Matt Murdock/Daredevil escape Murdock's apartment when the AVTF hunt down the latter at his home.

Does The Punisher die in Daredevil: Born Again?

Frank will be back in Born Again's second season and/or his own TV special (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

No. As I said, nobody who's a part of the MCU TV show's main cast is killed in 'Straight to Hell'.

However, I can see why people might think The Punisher isn't long for this world. He tries to take on the AVTF single-handedly and, while Frank Castle is an expert fighter and marksman, not even he can fight an entire army of corrupt cops. That's proved as much when he's taken hostage by Fisk's militia and subsequently beaten up by them.

Thankfully for fans of Jon Bernthal's iconic take on the anti-hero, Castle lives to fight another day. Towards the end of this episode, we learn he's been imprisoned in Wilson Fisk's secret lair. With Castle set to appear in Born Again season 2 (more on this later) and/or his own Disney+ special presentation, we'll be seeing more of him in the future, too.

What is martial law and why does Mayor Fisk impose it in the Daredevil: Born Again season 1 finale?

'Mayor Kingpin of New York City' has a nice ring to it, doesn't it, Wilson? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Martial law has different meanings across the globe. In the US, it's defined as the temporary implementation of military authority over civilian rule, which is usually invoked during a time of war, rebellion, or natural disaster.

So, why does Mayor Fisk – or, as we'll now refer to him, Mayor Kingpin due to his criminal activities in a governmental position – impose martial law on the state of New York?

The main reason is to continue his battle against the so-called vigilante scourge. Kingpin has no time or patience for those who take the law into their own hands. Indeed, he's battled his fair share of vigilantes in Daredevil's TV shows on Disney+ and Netflix, aka two of the world's best streaming services, so outlawing them completely will allow him to fulfill one of his mayoral promises to clean up the streets of his home city.

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Implementing martial law will help with that aim. As a by-product of its enactment, Kingpin can enforce a daily curfew that'll prevent vigilantes from roaming the streets at night. It also allows his AVTF to use military force on anyone it suspects of being a criminal, whether they're a masked law enforcer or a simple crook. Lastly, martial law can restrict freedom of speech, which enables Kingpin to dictate the narrative if people try to voice opposition to his totalitarian leadership.

All of this, then, just made it much harder for the likes of Daredevil, The Punisher, and even Jack Duquesne/Swordsman – the latter of whom was also incarcerated alongside Castle – to carry out their personal crusades across New York City.

Is there a post-credits scene in Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale? And how does it set up The Punisher's Special Presentation?

Daredevil isn't the star of the season 1 finale's mid-credits scene (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Yes, but it's more of a mid-credits scene than an end credits stinger.

In it, we see Castle puts on a charm offensive to convince an AVTF officer, who's called Anthony Petruccio, that he's not as bad as he's been made out to be.

Once Petruccio is in striking range of Castle's prison cell, the latter grabs Petruccio's hand, breaks his arm, and strangles him to death. All Castle has to do now is grab the keys off Petruccio's body, free himself (and, potentially his fellow captives), and escape.

Armed with a newfound vengeance, I suspect Castle will go on the warpath to eradicate the AVTF. This could form the basis of The Punisher's special presentation, which is currently being co-written by Bernthal (per Collider) and could be released in 2026 (per The Hollywood Reporter).

Is Foggy actually alive in Daredevil: Born Again?

Fans still aren't convinced that Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson is actually dead (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

At this point, it's incredibly unlikely. Yes, we all saw him die at Bullseye's hands in Daredevil: Born Again's two-episode premiere, but that hasn't stopped a wild Marvel fan theory from spreading about him faking his own death. Indeed, following the release of last week's chapter, viewers continued to fiercely debate the fact that Foggy was alive.

Well, it seems like he isn't. Foggy doesn't make a surprise return before episode 9's end credits roll. Okay, this reveal could be held back for the show's sophomore season – and, with Marvel's head of TV Brad Winderbaum confirming Elden Henson is part of season 2's cast (via Phase Hero's Brandon Davis), this is a possibility.

As of 'Straight to Hell', though, we're none the wiser about the actual fate of Murdock's fellow lawyer and closest friend.

Where is Spider-Man in Daredevil: Born Again episode 9?

The world-famous wallcrawler is nowhere to be seen in Born Again episode 9 (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

Who knows? You would think that, with Kingpin imposing martial law and hunting down masked individuals, Peter Parker would, at the very least, be preparing to join Daredevil's cause to fight for New York's soul. After all, the city is as much his home as it is Daredevil and Kingpin's.

Despite clear references to the webslinger in Born Again episode 2 and Born Again episode 3, though, Spider-Man is conspicuous by his absence. However, that isn't a complete surprise. Sony owns the live-action rights to one of Marvel's most famous heroes, so the prospect of Spidey making a cameo in this show was never on the cards.

Does Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, or any other Netflix Marvel heroes appear in Born Again's season 1 finale?

Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist are also absent from the show's latest chapter (Image credit: Netflix)

Nope. Fans had hoped for a crowd-pleasing cameo from one of these heroes after Murdock and Page talked about assembling an underground resistance to take the fight to Kingpin.

So far, though, Murdock's army consists of himself, Page, Cherry, Josie, Angie Kim, and a couple more New York police officers. That group will grow in season 2 but, right now, Daredevil is the only superpowered being who's part of it.

How Daredevil: Born Again's latest episode sets up its second season

A new Battle for New York has begun... (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

The cameras started rolling on Daredevil: Born Again season 2, which will be part of the Marvel Phase 6 line-up, in late February. But, we've known that another installment has been in development since early 2023.

A lot will have changed narratively, though, since season 2's inception. Indeed, following Born Again's creative overhaul amid the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which led to the hiring of a new showrunner and directing team partway through season 1's development, one of the best Disney+ shows has gone in a different direction to its initial design.

So, how does 'Straight to Hell' set up the series' next chapter? Aside from everything I've already discussed, we don't know. A bunch of leaked Born Again season 2 images, which spoiled aspects of its forebear's ending, gave us some clues, but there's little else we know about what'll happen in season 2.

There are plenty of interesting plot threads left hanging, however. Will Sheila's guilt over Gallo's death convince her to join Murdock's group of renegades? How will Murdock react to Heather Glenn's defection to Fisk's team? What role will Bullseye play in season 2? Will Murdock's group succeed in bringing down Kingpin? And will all of this play out before Avengers: Doomsday completely flips the table on the MCU as we know it?

With Born Again season 2 reportedly eyeing a 2026 release, we won't have a ridiculously long wait to get answers to those questions. The devil, after all is in the details, so Marvel will want to provide as many as possible next time around.

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• Google is retiring country-specific domains like google.co.uk
• Previously used for local content, Google now uses location to serve this
• The change will be happening over the next few months as shift to google.com

Google has confirmed it will be retiring country-specific domains (like google.co.uk) in favor of one single global domain – google.com.

Historically, country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) were used to provide locally relevant search results, but the company now uses technology that allows that regardless of the top-level domain.

Google used this reason to justify its decision to stop using country-specific domains: “Because of this improvement, country-level domains are no longer necessary.”

Google will only use google.com going forward

Citing a 2017 blog post, Google revisited an update that meant location would determine the content users saw in search results rather than the ccTLD.

Back then, one in five searches related to location, and that’s a figure that’s likely to have increased in recent years.

“Typing the relevant ccTLD in your browser will no longer bring you to the various country services—this preference should be managed directly in settings,” the company said in 2017. Therefore, users are already long accustomed to not having to use ccTLDs to access localized content.

Google confirmed on April 15, 2025, that it would be redirecting users to google.com as part of a change that’s set to roll out over the coming months.

“It’s important to note that while this update will change what people see in their browser address bar, it won’t affect the way Search works, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws.,” Google stressed.

Apart from a streamlining effort, it’s possible that the transition is a cost-cutting effort for Google, too. Keeping tens of unnecessary domains open is likely a costly business, and one that’s no longer necessary thanks to the location-based technology that enables localized search results regardless of TLD.

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• The foldable iPhone could cost between $2,100 and $2,500
• That would make it one of Apple's most expensive devices
• However, it might lack Face ID

There's never been any doubt that Apple’s anticipated foldable iPhone will be a very expensive device, and now new rumors suggest that it could be one of Apple’s priciest-ever products.

According to leaker Instant Digital (via MacRumors) the foldable iPhone will start at between $2,100 and $2,500 (that's roughly £1,580-£1,730 / AU$3,310-AU$3,625, though we wouldn’t expect those conversions to be accurate).

That would make it far more expensive than Apple’s current top phone, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, and would even make it more expensive than the $1,599 / £2,149 / AU$3,199 starting price of a MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 (2024).

It would also mean the foldable iPhone would exceed the price of rivals, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 for example starting at $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749.

The foldable iPhone could cost more than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) $2,000+ and no Face ID

So this could be a seriously expensive device, especially as that rumored price is apparently just the starting price. And while we’d take this rumor with a pinch of salt, others agree that it will cost a lot.

We’ve heard previously that the foldable iPhone’s price could be as low as $2,000 (around £1,540 / AU$3,175) or as high as $2,500 (roughly £1,730 / AU$3,625). So whatever the case, a $2,000-plus price is looking likely.

That’s perhaps unsurprising though. After all, this being an Apple device (albeit one that Apple has yet to confirm the existence of) it's always been expected that it'll come in at a higher price than other foldable phones.

But despite its likely high price, the foldable iPhone might lack some tech we’ve come to expect from Apple’s handsets, with leaker Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors) claiming that it won’t have Face ID – though apparently it will have an under-display camera, which would be a first for Apple.

If this is correct, then it’s likely that the phone will instead have Touch ID in a side button, as we’ve heard in a previous leak. That’s not the end of the world, but it might leave some feeling shortchanged if it does indeed come with a $2,000-plus price tag.

It'll likely be some time before we learn the actual price of Apple's first foldable, with reports suggesting it's unlikely to land before 2026 at the earliest.

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• Microsoft 365 will start blocking ActiveX by default
• The “powerful” tool put users at risk of remote code execution
• Users won’t be able to create or interact with ActiveX objects

Microsoft has revealed ActiveX will be disabled by default in Microsoft 365 starting this month, citing security as the company’s key deciding factor.

In a blog post, Microsoft Office Security Product Manager Zaeem Patel acknowledged while ActiveX, which enables rich interactions within Microsoft 365 applications, is a “powerful technology,” however it’s also one that comes with associated security risks thanks to the amount of access it has to a user’s system.

From April 2025, Microsoft will disable all controls without notification by default across Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Visio.

Microsoft starts blocking ActiveX by default this month

Patel criticized previous default settings for putting users at risk of being exploited by attackers through social engineering or malicious files.

A successful ActiveX attack could grant malicious actors access to remote code execution, putting a victim’s system and the entire organization’s network at risk.

Enabling ActiveX now requires manual action through the Trust Center, and that’s assuming system admin permissions allow access to this. Users without access will see the option greyed out, instead.

“When ActiveX is disabled, you will no longer be able to create or interact with ActiveX objects in Microsoft 365 files,” Patel confirmed.

Described as “small building blocks that create applications that work over the Internet through Web browsers,” Microsoft explains in a separate support page how ActiveX controls can be used for command buttons, list boxes and dialog boxes.

“Some existing ActiveX objects will still be visible as a static image, but it will not be possible to interact with them,” Patel added.

Beta Channel users are already being affected with the change, with Current Channel (Preview) users running Version 2504 (Build 18730.20030) or later also experiencing the change this month.

In an apparent acknowledgement that some users may not be happy about the change and the fact that there’s no real direct replacement, Microsoft is offering to collect feedback via File > Feedback in any Microsoft 365 app.

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• Microsoft Teams adds "enhanced" spell check feature
• Users will be alerted to issues as they type in Teams
• Multi-language support means users can switch between up to three languages

Making embarassing spelling mistakes in crucial work conversations or Microsoft Teams calls could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new update.

The video conferencing service has announced it is rolling out "enhanced spell check", giving users the tools to make sure their messages are as accurate as possible.

Microsoft says the addition, "will help ensure that your messages are clear and professional" - something I'm sure we've all worried about in the past.

Microsoft Teams spell check

In a Microsoft 365 updates blog post, the company outlined how the feature will work, spotting any issues in the Teams compose box and marking or highlighting the problem immeidately.

Users will then be able to choose a correction from a dropdown menu, ignore the suggestion, or add a word to their dictionary.

The new spell check feature will also offer multi-language, support, with users able to switch between up to three languages. It isn't mentioned exactly which languages are supported at launch, but we'll hopefully get more information on this soon.

The feature is listed as rolling out now, and is generally available for all users on Windows desktop and Mac devices, across all platforms.

The launch is the latest in a series of recent improvements to Microsoft Teams announced by the company as it looks to make the platform more intuitive.

This includes the recent launch of real-time text (RTT) capabilities, allowing participants to type a message while someone else's speech is being transcribed, giving users who prefer typing to speaking another way to make sure their voices get out there.

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• A remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion seems imminent
• Screenshots have been sourced from developer Virtuos's website
• It could launch with a Deluxe Edition as early as next week

For me, the biggest news of the week isn't anything Nintendo Switch 2-related, or even Respawn's new Star Wars game. Nay, it's the notion that the long-rumored The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster may actually be completely real.

Potential images of the remaster have appeared over on the Oblivion subreddit, sourced from developer Virtuos's website. And even more images, including comparison shots to the original game and one showcasing a Deluxe Edition, have been collated in an Imgur post.

What's more, as reported by Eurogamer, the supposed remaster could be launching as early as next week (likely April 21 - 25) for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. If this is indeed true, it means I'll once again have to punt Baldur's Gate 3 back into the backlog mines despite receiving its massive final patch, because Oblivion is one of my all-time favorite games.

Oblivion images on Virtuos website from r/oblivion Remake Screenshots from Virtuos' Website: from r/oblivion

We've been hearing about a potential Oblivion remaster since 2023, back in the days of the FTC vs. Microsoft court case. But still, I can't shake the feeling that a shadow drop next week feels a little weird to me.

Microsoft has announced its next Xbox Games Showcase for June 8, right around the time of Summer Game Fest. I think it would probably make more sense to reveal the Oblivion remaster there. But hey, if this isn't all an elaborate hoax and it is indeed arriving next week, I certainly won't complain.

Why Oblivion?

Oblivion might just be the most divisive entry in The Elder Scrolls franchise. It was a mind-boggling showcase for 2006 and certainly helped to shift many an Xbox 360. But quite frankly, the game is the textbook definition of 'jank.'

Whether it's non-player characters (NPCs) talking absolute gibberish to one another, voice actors swapping between lines from the same character, a broken leveling system, or its horrifying Play-Doh-esque denizens, Oblivion's highly cursed nature is typically what people remember fondly of the game.

It can often feel like a bizarre fever dream as you witness the world of Cyrodiil and its characters behave in increasingly bizarre ways. All backed by Jeremy Soule's legendary soundtrack, Oblivion is a game that definitely has more than a few screws loose, but I'll be damned if it doesn't have heart.

Hopefully, that charm won't be lost in a polished-up remaster with more modern visuals and various quality-of-life updates. But still, if this whole thing does turn out to be an elaborate hoax, pretend I didn't say anything.

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Ransomware has always been an evolving threat, as criminal gangs experiment with new tactics to terrorize their victims and gain maximum leverage for making extortion demands. Weaponized AI is the latest addition to the arsenal, enabling high-level groups to launch more advanced attacks and opening the door for novice hackers. The NCSC has warned that AI is increasing the global threat posed by ransomware, and there has also been a reported increase in AI-powered phishing attacks.

Organizations now face increased threats from more sophisticated attacks, such as polymorphic malware that can mutate in real time to evade detection, enabling groups to strike with more accuracy and frequency.

As AI continues to rewrite the rules of ransomware attacks, organizations are still relying on traditional defenses are at a greater risk of falling victim to this next generation of cyber attacks.

How AI is making ransomware more accessible

Cybercriminals, like legitimate businesses, are finding new ways to use AI tools and this is making ransomware attacks more accessible and scalable. By automating critical attack processes, cybercriminals can launch faster, more sophisticated campaigns while minimizing human effort.

There are benefits for established and experienced criminal gangs which can now increase the scale of their operations. At the same time, because AI is lowering the barriers for entry, those with less technical expertise can access ransomware as a service (RaaS) to launch advanced attacks at a level that would normally be above their pay grade.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, confirmed it has detected and disrupted more than 20 operations using its popular generative AI tool for malicious activity. This ranged from writing copy for targeted phishing campaigns to directly coding and debugging malware.

The group known as FunkSec - a RaaS provider - is a recent example of how these tools are elevating the capabilities of criminal groups. It’s believed the gang only has a handful of members, and their human-created code has been fairly simplistic, with a very basic level of English.

However, since emerging in late 2024, FunkSec racked up more than 80 reported victims within a single month, with various AI tools helping them punch well above their weight.

Investigations have found signs of AI-generated code within the ransomware used by the gang alongside web and ransom copy clearly written by a Large Language Model (LLM). The group also used a generative AI tool called Miniapps to create a chatbot to support their operations.

AI-powered attacks are more precise and powerful

AI tools also enable attackers to research their victims and create targeted phishing campaigns far more efficiently. Malicious activity is easy to disguise as legitimate sales and marketing emails, enabling cybercriminals to slip past attempts by LLMs to block illegal and unethical activity. Some criminal groups are also starting to use LLM-powered chatbots to handle ransom negotiations. As these malicious models learn from experience, we may see more aggressive and effective psychological tactics ahead.

One of the most significant concerns is that attackers can create more sophisticated ransomware that moves faster, hits harder, and is designed to evade detection.

An example of this is polymorphic malware, which is programmed to automatically modify code each time the malware replicates or infects a new system and uses obfuscation and encryption to hide malicious payloads. This makes it extremely difficult for traditional signature-based detection tools to identify an active attack.

Polymorphic malware, such as Storm Worm, has been around for some time, but the AI revolution of the last two years had made it easier to create and deploy. Polymorphic ransomware is especially dangerous since attacks will cause more damage, the longer they can evade detection.

How can businesses defend against AI-driven ransomware?

With AI powering up ransomware gangs, businesses must evolve their defenses to stay protected. Traditional security tools alone are no longer enough, and organizations need to match their fast-moving adversaries with their own adaptive, AI-driven strategies to keep up.

One crucial step is considering how to fight AI with AI. Advanced AI-driven detection and response solutions can analyze behavioral patterns in real time, spotting anomalies that traditional signature-based tools might miss. This is essential for countering tactics like polymorphism that have been specifically developed to evade standard detection tools. Continuous network monitoring adds another layer of defense, helping to detect suspicious activity before ransomware can activate and spread.

Beyond detection, AI-powered solutions are also important for preventing data exfiltration as modern ransomware gangs almost always rely on data theft to pressure their victims. Our research found that 94% of reported ransomware attacks in 2024 involved exfiltration, underlining the need for Anti Data Exfiltration (ADX) solutions to be part of a layered security strategy. By blocking unauthorized data transfers organizations can shut down extortion attempts leaving attackers with no choice but to move on.

While advanced tools are essential for keeping up, it’s important not to neglect the fundamentals - at the foundation of a strong defense lies basic cybersecurity hygiene. Many attacks exploit simple security gaps, so businesses must patch vulnerabilities quickly and adopt Zero Trust security principles, enforcing MFA and least privilege access to limit lateral movement.

Facing the future of ransomware

AI is transforming ransomware into a more targeted threat that moves faster and is better at evading defenses. These increasingly efficient, scalable, and sophisticated ransomware campaigns are making businesses more vulnerable than ever.

But while cybercriminals evolve quickly, so can defenders. Although AI tools are rewriting many of the ransomware rules, the fundamentals of defense remain the same. Businesses need to anticipate AI-powered tactics and strengthen their defenses to match. Companies that can detect and stop incoming attacks and prevent attackers from accessing and exfiltrating their data will present hardened targets that disrupt the ransomware business model.

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

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