Technology

• The Flock backlash is growing, and city officials have started covering ALPR cameras with trash bags
• Some cameras are even being smashed up
• A handful of Flock cameras have been spotted inside speed signs out of sight from drivers

The recent backlash to security company Flock highlights severe privacy concerns with its Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems — and local authorities are taking matters into their own hands.

In an article by 404media, city officials of Verona, Wisconsin have been protesting Flock’s ubiquitous surveillance cameras by covering them with black bags. The move follows a council vote to remove three cameras from the area, which Flock refused to take down according to recently exchanged emails.

“We kind of looked at the contract, talked it over amongst staff, and the thing we felt most comfortable with was just covering them so they could stop spying on people … I’m 100% certain that they were still working," said Luke Diaz, Mayor of Verona.

But for some residents, covering Flock’s ALPR systems with trash bags simply isn’t enough to give them peace of mind — some are going the extra mile by smashing Flock’s surveillance cameras, according to an article shared to Reddit.

Comment from r/technology

Just yesterday (July 22), Flock decided to abandon its plans to roll out its ‘human distress detection’ feature beyond the trial period. This tool used Flock’s urban acoustic microphones to detect sounds such as human screaming, and would then alert local police allowing them to reach the incident quickly.

Though these detectors are still in place, they can no longer pick up on human activity, and instead listen out for sounds such as gun shots or vehicle crashes. For those who have actively campaigned against this, it’s a huge win, but the microphones that remain in place are still sparking widespread concern regarding civil privacy, even though Flock says these systems cannot understand or analyze speech.

The People vs Flock

Since Flock’s ALPR systems became a means of public surveillance, the tech firm has been met with waves of backlash to the extent where the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched campaigns against these types of systems — claiming Flock is “quietly trying to build a nationwide mass surveillance system”.

Public concern has become so heated, some local authorities are pumping the breaks on introducing Flock cameras to certain areas. The LAPD is one of the most recent police departments that has acted on this, making the decision not to renew its contract with the tech company.

However, there are countless cities across the US that still have these systems in place and not only is the number increasing, the tech is getting smarter. ALPR systems don’t just capture your license plate, they are designed to identify your vehicle’s make and model, as well as its color and things such as bumps, scratches, and accessories like bumper stickers.

As a result of the rapidly advancing technology, drivers have been seeking ways to avoid areas where these systems are in place — the website DeFlock allows you to plan routes that actively avoid Flock’s cameras. Naturally, some local authorities are camouflaging its Flock ALPR systems to prevent vandalism.

They are hiding Flock cameras now, secret compartment found in speed radar box pic.twitter.com/4kkeRsKufiJuly 22, 2026

In a video shared to X by @OrwellDay (see above), the user captured footage of what looks like a regular speed-display sign, but uncovered a hidden Flock camera placed around the back. “Someone did some custom metal fabricating,” they say.

Quite a sneaky tactic, right? It doesn’t end there, and according to the replies on Reddit, these systems aren’t just being concealed inside speed signs. One user claims that ALPR systems are being hidden in fake cacti in some parts of Arizona, making it more difficult for tools like DeFlock to list the locations of cameras.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the watchful eye of Flock's ALPR cameras, but it seems that residents will stop at nothing to find ways to combat the rise of these counteractive measures.

• NordVPN has begun a server-by-server upgrade until the end of 2026
• Every machine gets a newer Linux distribution, kernel, and IP address
• App users should notice little beyond the occasional reconnection

NordVPN has kicked off a months-long overhaul of the software running its VPN servers, a rollout that started in July and will continue, one server at a time, until the end of 2026.

Despite the scale, this isn't a feature update. TechRadar's best VPN pick is replacing the foundations beneath its network: every standard VPN server is moving to a newer Linux distribution, picking up an updated kernel, and getting a reworked software stack.

The one change users can actually see is the addressing. Every upgraded server is issued a new IP, which is harmless if you use the NordVPN app, but a headache if you don't.

NordVPN – the best VPN overall
NordVPN came out on top in our 2026 round of VPN tests. We think it's the best VPN for most people. We’re confident that virtually anyone can sign up for NordVPN and get what they need from it. It’s easy to use, very secure, fast enough for gaming, and offers flawless streaming service unblocking.

Subscriptions start from $3.49 per month, and you can try it out risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

A new Linux base for every server

NordVPN frames the work as maintenance rather than a redesign, and is explicit that it won't add features or change how the service behaves. The stated payoff is a more flexible environment for its engineers to automate, maintain, and scale.

Four things are changing: a newer Linux distribution carrying current security fixes, newer kernels, an optimised software stack aimed at server efficiency, and a different IP address on every upgraded machine.

Each server needs a brief reboot to get there, which is less disruptive than it sounds given NordVPN runs a diskless, RAM-only fleet on hardware it owns and colocates in third-party data centres. That architecture has been examined repeatedly in the provider's Deloitte no-logs audits.

What you'll actually notice

(Image credit: NordVPN)

Very little, for most people. NordVPN says app users don't need to do anything, and the client will reconnect automatically if the server you're on drops out mid-session. Expect a short interruption while that happens.

Recent releases were built with this in mind. The provider's July Linux release notes describe the app switching you to another server in the same country, city, or group when yours goes offline, with the kill switch standing guard during the handover.

There should be an upside once the dust settles: steadier performance at peak times, more traffic capacity per server, and fewer disruptions down the line.

That builds on April's milestone, when the network passed 100 Tbps of aggregate capacity across 211 locations in 135 countries, with servers deliberately run at roughly a third of their limit to leave headroom.

The exception: manual setups

If you connect manually, using OpenVPN config files on a router, a NAS, or a bare Linux box, your setup will stop working once the server it points at has been upgraded.

The fix is easy but not automatic — download replacement config files from the manual setup area of your Nord Account once the server is back online, then swap out the old ones. NordVPN says the new files carry a "Verified" badge so you can tell which are current.

• OpenAI has announced a 3.2 gigawatt AI data center in Georgia
• The campus will be built on an existing industrially-zoned warehouse project
• OpenAI has laid out four commitments to the local community

OpenAI is planning to build a new $30 billion AI data center campus in Effingham County, Georgia, that will deliver 3.2 gigawatts of compute once fully operational.

The site, named ‘Project Camellia’, will span 1,400 acres and is expected to be completed in phases between 2028 and 2032. The construction will take place on a pre-existing industrially-zoned warehouse project in the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub.

But OpenAI’s announcement significantly differs from previous data center announcements, with the focus being on how the project will benefit the local community, rather than the added capacity and compute it will offer to OpenAI’s models.

OpenAI wants to be accountable

In order to try and quell some of the local opposition to new data center projects, OpenAI’s announcement breaks down into a four point plan for community engagement.

The first focuses on one of the main concerns for Americans across the country: electricity. OpenAI pledges to “pay the full cost of the infrastructure and electric-service costs required to serve it.” But, as OpenAI highlights in the announcement, Georgia Public Service Commission rules prevent the company from passing on any costs to existing ratepayers in the first place. So it’s less of a pledge, and more an acknowledgement of the rules.

But OpenAI says it will “proactively reduce its power consumption before residential customers are impacted during periods of high demand” in order to “meaningfully support the reliability of Georgia Power’s electric system and support our neighbors.” How this will work in practice is not detailed.

OpenAI says the new data center will also operate using a closed-loop cooling system to prevent unnecessary water use through continuous withdrawing and discharging in the local water supply - so outside of the initial system flush and subsequent filling of the closed loop system, the actual water usage will be comparatively low. But things can still go wrong during these initial water intakes and discharges.

As a third benefit for the local community, OpenAI has pledged $80 million “in community benefits over the life of the project” on top of the “hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue” that OpenAI expects will make it the largest taxpayer in the county. OpenAI will also provide “eligible Georgia college, community college, and technical school students” with up to $71 million in credits for OpenAI Codex.

OpenAI does not give a timeframe for the lifespan of the project, so the $80 million in community benefits could be a relatively small annual amount depending on how long the project is expected to last.

Finally, OpenAI commits to being accountable. OpenAI says it has already been gathering feedback from state and local officials, community leaders, schools, and other regional partners “to learn about local priorities and gather feedback on the project.” To that end, OpenAI is holding a public open house on July 23, one day after the initial announcement was made. Feedback from this meeting, and subsequent engagements with the local community will be “memorialized” in a Georgia Community Compact to “translate community priorities into specific commitments and clear accountability measures as the project develops.”

If success is measured by commitment, then Samsung’s foldable business is now more successful than ever.

With the addition of the quirkily sized Galaxy Z Fold 8, introduced here at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, there are now three Samsung Galaxy Z smartphone options to choose from. Sure, foldables account for perhaps a single percentage point of the overall smartphone market, but Samsung is now more committed to the category than ever. So, success, right?

To understand that commitment, I, along with Tom’s Guide Global Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer, sat down in Samsung’s South Korea headquarters a few weeks before the Galaxy Unpacked with Jay Kim, Samsung’s EVP and Head of CX Office, to talk about the newest foldables, how Samsung measures success, and the pesky new folding phone competitor that might be waiting in the wings.

Getting to the Fold 8

(Image credit: Samsung)

Kim acknowledged the journey over now eight generations of foldable devices and told us that when the exquisite Galaxy Z Fold 7 arrived (it remains my favorite foldable but might be supplanted by the Z Fold 8 Ultra), something shifted.

Consumers stopped nitpicking core stumbling blocks of foldable phones like thickness or thinness. Instead, they were celebrating the core benefit, saying, in Kim's words, “I have a phone that actually can be a tablet, and then that full capability of a phone is not compromising anything. So, we felt,” continued Kim, “like, 'okay, now… consumers are really understanding why we're pushing the boundary for such a long time.'”

So instead of bystanders watching a man balance a chair on his chin for no reason, they were on the journey with Samsung and getting excited about a device that could slip into a pocket as effortlessly as your classic flagship phone but also double as a productivity powerhouse.

So, we felt like, okay, now… consumers are really understanding why we're pushing the boundary for such a long time.”

Samsung EVP Jay Kim

Sitting before us as we talked were all three of the latest Samsung Galaxy Z devices, but only one is a head-scratcher: the 4:3-ratio Galaxy Z Fold 8. Sure, its size makes it the lightest Fold ever, but the question remains: why? From the outside, it’s hard to understand how Samsung came to this design conclusion, let alone how consumers would react.

Samsung, though, tracks the demands and behaviours of its consumers, and Kim told us that the company saw signals that there was a market for this device, and it came to what sounds like a very scientific conclusion.

“When we looked at our consumer… insight on how people react to the products, almost over 50% are focused on media; they consume media, whether on the outside cover screen or the inside, the main screen; they engage in content, and we thought, ‘Why not?’”

That’s right, why not? It’s not necessarily a market research-tested conclusion, though Kim admitted that Samsung threw out a lot of designs before arriving on this content-friendly and still pocketable display size.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

“We put together the form factor where the media makes most sense, the content native [form factor], but in terms of, like, how do you engage with the device? So basically, we looked at when you engage with content, what is the best form factor [that doesn't] compromise anything on the full bar type,” recalled Kim. And by “bar type,” Kim is referring to slab phones like its Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

How does Samsung know it’s on to a winning design with the Galaxy Z Fold 8? Well, it did test it, at least internally, and the feedback appears to have been positive.

“I'm really happy how our hardware and the design team came out with the product, because it's beautiful, and when we test[ed] it with the market for the preview, everybody's asking about when it's coming,” said Kim.

Samsung may not have been excessively focused on the thinness of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 line, but it was, in one instance, acting on feedback about how hard it can be to open the Z Fold 7. "Folding and unfolding was some of the most important feedback we got [with last year's phones]." The result in the Z Fold 8 Ultra is a chamfered frame that's easier to pry open with a fingertip. "[They] spent days and nights changing the angles," recalled Kim.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar There will be thoughts

It’s also fair to say, though, that everyone will have an opinion about the Z Fold 8, which is arguably a confusing name because the follow-up to the Z Fold 7 is not the 8, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The Z Fold 8 is, essentially, a totally new animal. And that size — the wide and squat cover screen, and the internal display that essentially unfolds to a screen quite similar in size and shape to your average Kindle ereader — is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

Yes, content like ebooks, comics, and video look great with smaller black bezels around them, but does the Galaxy Z Fold 8's new aspect ratio help with things other than content consumption? Kim sees benefits there, too.

“How do people use a cover screen? Most of the time [what] they do is communication. So, you text a lot, and… [the cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold 8] is actually a pretty good size for texting.”

Kim told us he also thinks the cover screen is an optimal size for flicking through all that scrollable video content, too.

Since he has responsibility for not just these new foldables but for standard Galaxy phones (and XR glasses) too, I wondered how Kim (and therefore Samsung) explains to consumers that there might be value in a foldable device over a standard S26. After all, these flexi phones are priced at a considerable premium over standard smartphones.

Kim knows that most consumers are satisfied with standard phones: “At the same time, bar type is very confined to the screen size, so everything must be squeezed into the size, but I think there's a consumer who would love to leverage different sizes of the display. You know, you have a size, but you can actually expand it to the bigger screen, or you can actually engage with content better, or you could be more productive. You can actually play a game on a bigger screen.”

No compromises

(Image credit: Samsung)

So, yes, there’s a market for those who feel constrained by the single screen size idea, but — and this is an early lesson Samsung learned —it’s not enough to just give a second screen size option on a single device. Samsung has arguably been doing that since the first Fold, but it was a terrible device.

“I think the only condition is you can't compromise anything that you have on the bar type. So, on top of not compromising from bar type, if you can actually provide additional screen experience, I think there's a need for the consumers,” added Kim.

It’s probably the reason why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been so well-reviewed. It is a no-compromise dual-screen device.

While the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is by no means a compromise, it is a complication. We wondered how consumers might decide or be guided when they walk into, say, a Verizon store and consider the Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra.

“We’re happy for the consumer to make a choice,” said Kim, adding that the choice may boil down to where you spend most of your time on the phone.

People who like split screens and productivity — maybe they even set two phones side-by-side for double the productivity — they’ll gravitate toward the Galaxy Z 8 Ultra.

I think the only condition is you can't compromise anything.

Jay Kim

“If you use a lot of media, you read books, or you play games, you know, if that's like your focus area, then you take the Fold 8. And then if you are more, you know, very expressive, and you feel like you want to have a small phone in the pocket, and you want it to be glanceable, and then you want to have more of a native type of AI, a native type of experience, then you go with the Flip.”

There’s bound to be some market confusion as consumers adjust to the “Fold 8” being not the standard fold but the unusually shaped one, but Kim told us that Samsung spent a lot of time working on the names, and one thing was clear: “We weren’t trying to create a new category,” he said. This was still a Fold just in a different form factor and aspect ratio. "We went back to basics, saying it’s a Fold 8," said Kim.

And while Samsung wondered how the market would react, Kim says the company is pleased with the level of attention. “Whether it's a form factor, whether it's a name, or anything, it's a good sign [and] we were very happy that consumers and the market are very interested to get their hands on it.”

Kim, by the way, wouldn't talk pricing for any of the new folds, but he did reveal that, like the rest of the industry, Samsung is grappling with RAM crisis challenges. "The costs of components going up is not just our problem; it's an industry-wide problem... We take it pretty seriously, looking at [the] balance and [seeing] how to adjust based on the market situation. We’re not free from that and [are] addressing it very actively," he told us.

What's coming next and the Apple threat

(Image credit: Samsung)

While the Z Fold 8 is the exciting new look, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is now, at 4.1mm, essentially the same thickness as a USB-C port. It’s unlikely that the foldable could get any thinner without Samsung removing that port. I asked Kim if the company is considering doing so for future generations.

“Definitely, we look at all the options, but I think the most important thing is: do you need to make it thinner? That question is the most important. We made it thinner and lighter because that was the biggest sort of feedback we got for many, many years [...] So, I think now consumers are asking for different things.”

We made it thinner and lighter because that was the biggest sort of feedback we got for many, many years [...] So, I think now consumers are asking for different things.”

Samsung EVP Jay Kim

We also talked, naturally, about Apple. Most rumors point to a foldable iPhone Ultra possibly arriving in September, and it might even match the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s unusual aspect ratio.

Kim, though, doesn’t appear nervous about the industry’s most-watched company entering a market Samsung created.

“If our big sort of market player is coming into the market and bringing the fold type, then it proves that what I have been thinking and what I've been envisioning, and how much of the effort that we put in is actually the right direction. If not, they wouldn't really come into the market,” said Kim diplomatically.

Apple's anticipated entry will surely change the folding market, but only as a follow-up to the transformation Samsung has already wrought. “I think it’s important that we pushed the industry. [But] it's a collaborative effort. I don’t think we could’ve done it just ourselves.”

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

If you believe Kim, Apple’s folding entry, if it arrives, could be seen as a major validation of Samsung's years-long efforts. And, unless we are very mistaken, Apple will have one folding phone, while Samsung now has three. With that number of flexible devices and screen size and shape choices available on store shelves, that may be all the validation this still relatively young market needs.

We could even be approaching a foldables breakout moment. “I think we’re on the verge where [foldables] could actually become mainstream going forward. It has the potential,” Kim told us, “Because we had these two form factors for a very long time. Introducing another one is a bold move, actually, because that shows that we’re confident in the category and we’re confident in how the market is reacting to it. So I’m more excited about what’s to come than what we have achieved.”

The Halo series is in an awkward spot right now. With 2021’s Halo Infinite being the last major release, the franchise’s status as a system seller isn’t as strong as it was two decades ago. Halo: Campaign Evolved is a safe yet surprisingly competent remake of Halo: Combat Evolved that attempts to bring back the glory days.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: July 28, 2026

My earliest memory of Combat Evolved on the original Xbox was when I could barely read. My dad was visiting his university friends from back in the day, and he left me with their college-aged children. I remember getting absolutely cooked in PvP, as the only video game I had ever played before that point was Pokémon.

25 years later, I’ve played every major Halo release, and even revisited 2011’s Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remaster to see how it fared before diving into Campaign Evolved. When playing these two back-to-back, they really put into perspective how much small changes could yield substantially different experiences.

The same old story

(Image credit: Xbox)

Like the original game, Halo: Campaign Evolved follows the space marine Master Chief after his starship, the Pillar of Autumn, crash-lands on a large ring world. The Covenant alien race wants to destroy Earth, and it's up to Master Chief, along with his AI companion Cortana, to fight back against them. It’s the same exact story told in the original. Although it’s not particularly deep, it sets up an enticing universe that makes you eager to discover more about the Covenant, as well as the secrets of this new ring world.

Campaign Evolved offers three new bonus missions that, together, act as a prequel to the events of the main story. Here, Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson join up, and the duo infiltrates an enemy ship to steal some data that could point them towards the Covenant’s home world. In these missions, Master Chief doesn’t have Cortana yet and is surprisingly more of a chatterbox than his usual stoic self. He and Sergeant Johnson constantly exchange quips — Johnson’s sarcasm juxtaposes well with the Chief’s more nonchalant attitude.

However, it’s tonally inconsistent. Without going into spoilers, the ending doesn’t explain Master Chief’s stoicism in the following events of Campaign Evolved. Chief’s demeanor here would fit better in a post-Bungie universe, where the series became more character-driven beginning with Halo 4. But as a prequel to the original trilogy, his frequent yapping feels out of character.

Additionally, the three missions trade the original’s streamlined level design in favor of the more modern Halo combat arena approach. Large-scale firefights across long structures and domes are everywhere. Halo is no stranger to enemy skirmishes, but they were kept at close to medium range encounters. I won’t lie and say I didn’t have fun playing these, but I just wish Halo Studios kept the new levels more uniform with the original’s design philosophy.

The prequel missions also reintroduce the Jiralhanae brutes, which were first introduced in Halo 2. These furry monstrosities are a nice change of pace when considering that enemy variety was limited in the original.

Back to basics

(Image credit: Xbox)

The first-person-shooter gameplay isn’t as revolutionary as it was back in 2001, but I enjoyed going back to the more boots-on-the-ground experience compared to flying around everywhere with Chief’s grappling hook in Infinite. There are so many small adjustments and additions to the gameplay that actually made me take modern Halo gameplay mechanics for granted.

For starters, you can now hijack enemy vehicles, something you couldn’t do in the original or even the Anniversary remaster. You instead had to either shoot the enemy piloting the vehicle first, or blow it up, hoping that it was still operable afterwards. When I replayed Anniversary ahead of Campaign Evolved, years of muscle memory conditioned me to hijack a vehicle, only to remember that Chief can’t do that and subsequently get run over and die!

Along with the typical weapons like the pistols, assault rifles, and rocket launchers, Campaign Evolved includes new weapons found in later Halo games like the Needle Rifle and the Brute Spiker.

Best bit

(Image credit: Xbox)

Campaign Remix unlocks after completing the game once. This takes all of your discovered Skulls and randomly chooses at the start which ones to activate, providing a fun and unpredictable experience. It’s a zany approach to spice up subsequent playthroughs and increase replayability.

These new weapons actually feel more of a fit for the bonus missions. The Needle Rifle almost felt like a cheat code when I used it during the main campaign. Energy Swords were also in the original game, but Chief couldn’t pick those up. Now he can, and I never got tired of hearing the satisfying sizzling plasma every time I pulled it out. Effectively doubling the total weapon count, the minute-to-minute gunplay is more varied and fun than ever.

The radar now also shows an arrow up or down on red dots to indicate whether an enemy is above or below you. Verticality was always a personal issue for me in these games, so this is much appreciated. Power-ups can be held like in Infinite, letting you activate them when you want rather than in older Halo games where they activated upon pickup. This had a tangible impact on how I approached certain levels compared to the original, like Truth and Reconciliation, where I could choose the optimal time to turn invisible and sneak past enemies.

On the surface, these changes may seem minuscule. But when actually playing Campaign Evolved, I came to appreciate the gameplay iterations that came with later Halo games.

The human connection

(Image credit: Xbox)

Whereas the original only supported two-player co-op, Campaign Evolved can support up to four. This increase makes shootouts even more hectic and exciting, especially during the bonus missions where having a full team fits the combat design ethos. Online co-op is an easy process, as all you need to do is invite other players to your fireteam. Crossplay between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players is a big plus too.

Performance is solid, even with bullets and explosions going off every second, although cutscenes can lag sometimes.

You can also find skull collectibles scattered throughout the campaign, which are gameplay modifiers that make your runs easier or harder, like enabling infinite ammo or disabling your sprint function. There’s a whopping 42 skulls to find, so not only do finding the skulls add more replayability to the campaign, but also turning them on does too.

The biggest letdown of Campaign Evolved is the lack of any PvP multiplayer. It’s a staple of the Halo series that makes this remake feel a bit lesser.

Even with the lack of PvP multiplayer, Halo: Campaign Evolved is comfortably the best way to play the first Halo adventure with all the bells and whistles that come with the modernized features of later games. The new bonus missions are fun if not a bit uneven. Campaign Evolved feels good to play, whether solo or with friends.

Should I play Halo: Campaign Evolved?Play it if...

You love the series
This goes without saying, but if you’re a fan of Halo, it’s well worth checking out Campaign Evolved for its updated gameplay mechanics and revisiting a classic.

You like first-person shooters
Halo is the console-defining first-person shooter game that set the bar for many other modern franchises. The gunplay feels as slick and precise as ever in this remake.

You like a more streamlined experience
Compared to more recent Halo games like Halo Infinite, Campaign Evolved harkens back to more old-school level design rather than an open world.

Don't play it if...

You’re looking for PvP multiplayer
Unfortunately, as the game’s title suggests, this remake only includes the campaign. If you want to experience multiplayer, go play Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary via the Master Chief Collection.

Accessibility features

Halo: Campaign Evolved has an extensive suite of accessibility features. This includes text options like subtitles, HUD text, and voice chat text size. You can also adjust font, line spacing, and dialogue color for friends and foes.

There’s screen narration with volume and speed sliders, as well as color filters. You can adjust color correction strength, brightness, and contrast. Furthermore, you can turn on and off screen shake, flashing effects, and motion blur. For crosshairs, you can change the size, color, opacity, and thickness to see what works best for you.

There are also options to change directional damage indicators, navigation points, and even teammate markers to make finding things easier. Things like voice chat volume, widget opacity, and fade-out timer can be adjusted too.

How I reviewed Halo: Campaign Evolved

I played about 15 hours of Halo: Campaign Evolved (and counting) on Xbox Series X with a SANSUI 34-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor UWQHD. I finished the campaign, finding as many collectibles as I could along the way. I also played through the three prequel missions, as well as participated in a few missions with other reviewers in co-op.

First reviewed July 2026

A circuit breaker, bring back hope, do better – that’s what Andy Burnham promised Britain on Monday when he was sworn in as the new UK Prime Minister. And the digital rights community was watching closely as the seventh to stand in front of Downing Street in 10 years made his big, first-day promises. What will Burnham have planned for his predecessor’s divisive digital privacy policing?

It turned out that the tech world didn't have to wait long for the answer. In fact, on the previous Saturday, Burnham had already made almost three million Britons happy with the news that he would scrap the controversial national digital ID plan.

The new PM then sent shockwaves across the political benches on his first day in charge, when he dismantled the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) after only three years of service and merged it with the Business Department.

The question now is whether Burnham’s impetus for change will address the issues at the heart of the digital privacy debate.

According to the Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty, Anna Cardoso, the newly-formed cabinet now has the opportunity to set out a positive vision for tech.

"We hope to see a human-centred approach to digital policy that puts people, privacy and fundamental rights at its core," Cardoso told TechRadar.

But what changes do digital privacy experts exactly hope for? What might a "human-centred approach" really look like? And how likely is the new government to live up to the expectation?

Does Andy Burnham mean an end to Digital ID cards?

(Image credit: Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Keir Starmer’s BritCard was an unpopular policy among privacy-conscious citizens. Opponents to the programme then welcomed with excitement Burnham's decision to finally send the UK digital ID to the grave.

"We’ve done it," wrote Big Brother Watch's Director, Silkie Carlo, in a celebratory post on X, while Akiko Hart, Director at Liberty, called the move "a victory for civil liberties in the UK."

But Burnham's motivations to kill the proposal don't exactly come from privacy concerns. His decision was one of economics. Axing the BritCard means freeing up an estimated £600 million a year — from a policy no one wants — and using it for something citizens desperately desire, such as more support with the cost-of-living crisis.

In fact, Burnham told the Financial Times that he's not "arguing against the principle”. After all, he was a supporter of Tony Blair’s Identity Cards Act back in 2006.

"I think there’s a risk of an opportunity-cost situation here where something can consume a huge amount of time and actually doesn’t come through," he told the newspaper.

Does this mean that another form of BritCard be brought back when the time is right? Possibly.

Some commentators are already speculating that online ID checks may find a way to stick around.

Speaking with Al Jazeera, Alan Miller, co-founder of the campaign group Together, argues that other online government systems could evolve into a "de facto digital ID through creeping expansion".

Cardoso from Liberty agrees that killing one proposal isn't enough to sweep away all the concerns about digital forms of identification. Yet, she still considers it a huge step in the right direction. She told TechRadar:

"Whether or not digital ID returns in another form, any future proposal would need to demonstrate a clear public benefit, strong privacy protections, meaningful safeguards and robust democratic scrutiny. Those principles should apply regardless of who is in government."

Will Burnham really scrap Palantir's NHS deal?

The government's £330 million contract with Palantir to build the NHS's new Federated Data Platform (FDP) has also been a concern for Britain’s privacy-conscious citizens. Whether the wave of division on the subject has been one of geopolitics, morality or technical usability, data protection is at its core.

Some reports suggest that Burnham is already considering scrapping Palantir’s NHS contract. Something that, according to Palantir UK CEO Louis Mosley, "would be a terrible mistake".

While nothing is as yet confirmed, the Head of Tech and Data at Good Law Project, Duncan McCann, sees the political reshuffle as the best chance for the group’s campaign to remove Palantir from the UK's healthcare system to succeed, commenting to TechRadar that Burnham now represents "a beacon of at least an opportunity".

(Image credit: Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)

Burnham's track record in this area looks hopeful, too. During his almost decade as Mayor of Greater Manchester, municipal or public health departments did not award any contracts to the US surveillance tech giant.

And while McCann explains that Burnham may not necessarily be the one to credit for the decisions the city's public sector took on Palantir, it is an opportunity for hope of change at a national level.

As reported by Al Jazeera, Manchester’s NHS leaders spent six years building their own analytics infrastructure instead of adopting Palantir's FDP system, something that for Palantir critics became proof that effective NHS data management can be achieved without the help of the American company.

"It offers some real opportunity to show Manchester as an innovation hub," explained McCann, saying that the Good Law Project remains hopeful that this could fit well on Burnham's political agenda.

"It proves that we can do it ourselves and save money by doing that, while creating new jobs."

The Prime Minister's press office has already confirmed to reporters the guiding principle remains "getting value for money for the taxpayer" alongside the "need to be safeguarding people’s data and British interests", both of which fit neatly into McCann’s hopes.

As with the BritCard, then, it could be the financial angle that leads the digital rights community to have their concerns on Palantir and patients' privacy finally addressed.

Don’t expect much change to the UK’s approach to children's online safety

Keir Starmer dropped a digital rights bombshell in his last days of governance — an upcoming under-16s social media ban that privacy experts have already dubbed "a cybersecurity disaster waiting to happen".

But don’t expect Andy Burnham’s rise to power to change much here.

In an interview with The Times in April 2025, Burnham talked about the urgency to regulate social media platforms for teens. A concept he reiterated more recently, when he backed the Tories' call for a ban on under-16s from social media last January — as reported by The Guardian.

According to Policy Manager at the Open Rights Group, James Baker, that’s a clear sign that policies on social media will most likely remain unchanged.

"However, I'm not convinced it's going to work because it doesn't tackle the underlying root cause of what makes these platforms harmful," Baker told TechRadar, adding that evidence coming from Australia shows that young people can easily circumvent restrictions.

Baker argues that to really reassure British parents over their children’s online safety, we need a complete shift in policy.

"We need to tackle structural causes for harm instead, like the advertising business model causing platforms to come up with harmful loops that keep people online as long as possible," Baker told TechRadar.

That said, it also looks unlikely that Burnham will address privacy advocates’ concerns on mandatory age verification.

Back in 2016 — during the discussions around the controversial Investigatory Powers Act — Burnham took a strong stance against what he defined as "simplistic loyalties to the security or privacy lobbies", arguing that "such debates are pitched as a clash between two absolutes of privacy and security, where there can be no compromise and only one winner".

Baker agrees that the new Prime Minister probably isn't going to be a huge supporter of privacy causes. But he remains hopeful.

"So much time and energy has been spent trying to solve online safety with policies that haven't actually worked. Perhaps he will take a more pragmatic look and consider other, more cost-effective measures."

Again, economics may prove to be the deciding factor, shifting the conversation away from policies that experts fear will threaten digital freedoms.

So, what can we expect for Burnham on digital privacy?

By binning the digital ID proposal and the entire tech ministry within his first 36 hours of leadership, Andy Burnham proved he isn't afraid to move fast and break things. But as digital rights experts have made clear, a true 'circuit breaker' requires more than just stopping bad policy.

"Liberty wants policymakers to move away from a ‘technology first, questions later’ approach and instead place human rights at the heart of decision-making," Policy and Campaigns Officer Anna Cardoso told TechRadar.

She said that the real tests are yet to come on whether the government will be "willing to grapple seriously with the risks posed by surveillance technologies, AI and large-scale data collection."

Whether it comes from genuine concerns for digital privacy or a pragmatic way for closing the gap between politics and the public, it doesn’t much matter at this stage. If Burnham’s administration can weave privacy protections into his broader economic agenda, he might just deliver the positive vision for tech that advocates are desperate to see.

Until then, the digital rights community remains cautiously optimistic — holding its breath for the next move. As Baker from Open Rights Group puts it:

"We’ll try to give him a chance. Maybe he can do things a bit better."

Imagine an automated torture chamber where one calamity after another is inflicted upon you. Worse yet, it’s all robots doing the pushing, pulling, pressing, switching, and lighting. A robot even delivers you to this house of horrors.

Of course, you’re a Samsung Galaxy phone, and you were actually built to take this kind of punishment, or at least expected to survive it. Housed in a basketball court-sized room, this is one of Samsung’s endlessly running test suites for its growing line of Samsung Galaxy S series and Galaxy Z folding phones.

A few weeks ago, Samsung flew me out to South Korea to visit its Gumi factory where, among other things, they build and stress test their newest phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z 8 Flip, all of which were introduced this week at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked in the UK.

(Image credit: Samsung)

As a lab engineer guided us through the space, a robot waited impatiently behind him while trying to deliver more phones to its Guantanamo of tech indignities. The engineer seemed unconcerned as the robot edged closer to us, but it always remained a safe distance away, finally delivering a phone to the first chamber when we’d cleared a path.

Of course, before Samsung checks the viability of these handsets, it builds them.

Make 'em and (try to) break 'emThe start of our tour. Note the roving robot on the far right.SamsungTesting touch on the new Z Fold UltraSamsungA wearables test suiteSamsung

When I visited the factory — one of nine dotted around the globe and where millions of units are assembled — for the first time a few years ago, I noticed a mix of robots (not humanoid, just automated platforms and a wide variety of robot arms) and humans. This time, however, there were just a handful of humans, who were often checking the robots’ work for imperfections.

As we walked the pristine aisles while wearing thin, blue protective covers on our shoes, I caught the eye of one factory worker and gave her a thumbs up. To my surprise, she smiled and nodded back at me before quickly returning to product inspections.

Across a series of metal and plexiglass boxes, I saw all manner of robots and mobile device manufacturing activity. There was never a pause or moment of indecision. In one enclosure, I watched as camera boards were robotically placed in a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra board and then expertly screwed into place.

The Camera component makes its way to a new phone chassis.SamsungBuilding an S26 Ultra. Watch those cables.SamsungBuilding the S26 UltraSamsung

Virtually every robot in every enclosure has a specific job, like the one that does nothing but remove thin-blue packing material from a phone circuit board. Its tiny fingers delicately grab a pair of thin blue tabs and strip away the filament. We found ourselves cheering on the little bot.

Robots are checking the build at every stepSamsungTesting out the Galaxy Z Fold 8SamsungTesting a Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraSamsungA robot arm with a Galaxy S26 UltraSamsungMore Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra testsSamsung

In another spot, a colleague noticed that a copper line wasn’t properly affixed to a phone’s main circuit board. I could see it bouncing freely and wondered if the error would be caught or end up in someone’s wonky Galaxy device. I needn’t have worried. Samsung’s automated systems are fully capable of both the build and error-catching. As we watched, the offending board shifted off course and was held at bay while other properly built boards moved along.

I saw many different enclosures with so many automated manufacturing capabilities that it was mind-boggling.

Box 'em up but test them firstPreparing to package Galaxy S26 UltrasSamsungBoxing the S26 UltraSamsungBoxing more of the S26 UltraSamsungA robot fills the palette with boxesSamsung

In another space, I saw sensors identifying phone IMEI numbers, while another robot printed out corresponding labels, and then a third affixed them to boxes that matched the packages to each phone.

Most of the robots I saw were small, but at the end of the line was an almost car-sized palletizer that takes the 10-per-box cardboard crates and stacks them on a pallet, placing the boxes first around the perimeter and then filling in the middle. The motorcycle-sized arm was remarkably fast and accurate.

Some of the phones never make it to the pallet. Instead, a select few are destined for a special test room where a large horseshoe of enclosures determines if the models in the current batch are fit for purpose.

There are two types of test systems in Gumi: the boxes that run the same test over and over again in a single device, and the U-shaped automated test bay where one phone is run in serial through the entire array of tests. These tests will often replicate what is done repeatedly in other enclosures.

The number of test systems and kinds of tests Samsung runs on its products is impressively comprehensive, though some of the boxes look downright bizarre.

Weird tests, reliable productsGetting a close look at one of the enclosuresSamsungWe examined everythingSamsungGalaxy Z 8 Flip folding testsSamsungSome more Z Fold 8 motion sensor testsSamsungGalaxy Z Fol 8 Ultra fold testsSamsungGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra touch testsSamsungMore S26 Ultra testsSamsungRobot arms test multiple devices at onceSamsungLet's test the fingerprint readersSamsung

Folding and unfolding the devices thousands of times is to be expected, as is pressure testing, but I also saw extreme heat and cold tests. There were also enclosures that do nothing but check AI vision systems, millimeter wave, waterproofing, and a facial recognition chamber with life-like mannequin heads that I can still see when I close my eyes.

There’s even a room where partners like Google can remotely access and run tests on Samsung phones.

More astonishing is that this is a living, ever-changing facility. Just imagine what happens every time, like now, Samsung unveils new phones and watches; they must retool. Walking the floor, I noticed how the brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 8 was already undergoing rigorous tests. The lab engineer told us, “For every new form factor, we develop new technology for it,” and they develop new automation to test it.

Look, I’m not saying other companies don’t put their mobile hardware through similar wringers, but I’m not sure any other tech giant has been so transparent about their process. It’s wild, bracing, and I must admit, gives me more than a bit of confidence about each new Galaxy device Samsung delivers.

Do you own a lot of Samsung devices? If so, why not test yourself to see how well you know the brand's products and services by taking the quiz below?

Recruitment has always reflected the realities of the labor market it serves. For decades, those realities were relatively stable.

Roles were well defined, career paths followed familiar patterns, and organizations could afford to move at a measured pace when bringing in new talent. That context has changed, but many hiring practices have not.

Today, skills evolve quickly, business priorities shift frequently, and candidates expect a level of speed and transparency that traditional processes struggle to provide.

The result is a growing mismatch between what organizations need and how they go about finding it.

Hiring cycles stretch out, decisions are made with incomplete information, and opportunities to secure the right talent are often missed.

It is within this context that artificial intelligence has entered the conversation, often accompanied by a degree of unease. Questions about automation, control, and fairness are not only understandable but necessary. However, focusing too narrowly on whether AI might replace elements of HR risks overlooking the more important development taking place.

There has been a rapid rise in the technology, with 87% of companies now adopting AI to support recruitment . AI is reshaping how decisions are made, and in doing so, it is redefining the contribution HR can make to an organization.

Establishing talent architects

For many HR teams, a significant proportion of time is still absorbed by coordination and administration. Screening applications, arranging interviews, and managing workflows are essential tasks, but they rarely represent the highest-value use of expertise.

A recent study three quarters of recruiters are using AI to save time and improve sourcing candidates . AI has the potential to absorb much of this operational load, processing large volumes of information quickly and consistently, while identifying patterns that would be difficult to detect through manual methods alone.

The benefit generates efficiency, while also creating the opportunity for HR leaders to operate with greater strategic intent. As organizations adopt AI-enabled approaches, the role of HR begins to move away from managing transactions and towards shaping the workforce more deliberately.

The concept of the HR leader as a “talent architect” is increasingly relevant in this environment. It reflects a responsibility not just to fill roles, but to design teams around capability, potential, and long-term direction. This requires a different balance of skills, combining an understanding of data and technology with a strong grounding in judgement, experience, and organizational culture.

Improving fairness through greater visibility

Concerns around bias often sit at the center of discussions about AI in hiring. There is a legitimate fear that automated systems could reinforce existing inequalities if left unchecked. Yet it is also important to recognize that bias is not introduced by technology alone. It is already present in many traditional hiring processes, often in ways that are subtle and difficult to measure.

What AI offers, when implemented with care, is greater visibility. Patterns in decision-making can be analyzed, inconsistencies can be identified, and outcomes can be assessed against clear criteria. This does not remove the responsibility from organizations to act, but it does provide a stronger foundation for doing so. Effective governance, transparency in how systems are trained, and ongoing review are essential if these benefits are to be realized.

Alongside considerations of fairness, there is a broader question of how AI influences the human aspects of hiring. The risk is not that technology replaces judgement, but that it is relied upon too heavily without sufficient oversight. The most effective organizations will be those that treat AI as a source of insight rather than a substitute for decision-making.

When this balance is achieved, the impact is tangible. Hiring processes become more responsive, with fewer delays between stages. Decisions are supported by a richer evidence base, allowing for greater confidence in outcomes . Candidates experience a process that is more consistent and easier to understand, which in turn strengthens the organization's reputation as an employer.

A better outcome for businesses and candidates

There are also clear links to business performance. When hiring decisions are better aligned with the capabilities required, organizations are more likely to see improvements in productivity and retention. Teams are built with an eye on future needs as well as immediate demands, which is particularly important in sectors where change is constant.

At the same time, candidates benefit from a process that is more transparent and consistent. Decisions are grounded in evidence, and opportunities are matched more closely to individual strengths. The experience becomes more predictable and, ultimately, more credible.

For HR leaders, the priority now is to approach AI with both ambition and discipline. Introducing new tools without a clear understanding of the problem they are intended to solve will deliver limited value. Equally, adopting a cautious stance that delays progress may leave organizations at a disadvantage in a competitive talent market.

Clarity of purpose is therefore essential. Whether the objective is to reduce time-to-hire, improve the quality of matches, or strengthen diversity, the role of AI should be defined in relation to those outcomes. This should be supported by investment in capability, ensuring that HR teams are equipped to interpret and apply the insights generated.

Perhaps most importantly, there needs to be a shift in how the role of HR is perceived within the organization. The introduction of AI does not diminish the importance of human expertise; it places a greater emphasis on it. As routine tasks are streamlined, the expectation is that HR will contribute more directly to strategic decision-making, bringing a deeper understanding of talent, culture, and organizational dynamics.

A new chapter for hiring

Companies integrating technology into their recruitment operations have seen their hiring processes become faster, data-informed, and more closely aligned to business priorities. AI is a significant factor in that transition, but it is not the defining feature. Rather, HR existing with AI support depends on how organisations choose to integrate technology with human judgement.

For those that do this well, the outcome is greater than a more efficient hiring process. It is a more thoughtful and effective approach to building teams, one that recognises both the value of data and the importance of human insight.

That balance will shape the next phase of hiring, and it will determine the extent to which organizations are able to adapt to the demands of an increasingly dynamic labor market.

We've listed the best payroll software for small business.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• We just got a fresh info dump on Apple's incoming Macs from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman
• It includes the claim that the MacBook OLED may be on track for a debut later this year, and that it's now being tested with macOS 27.1
• The laptop would have the M5 Pro and Max chips, with a follow-up potentially arriving as early as the end of 2027 with the M7 Pro and Max

Apple will likely launch a whole load of new Macs over the next couple of years, and if you were wondering about the MacBook OLED, seemingly this laptop remains on target for a possible launch later this year.

Mark Gurman spilled a whole lot of info and updates in a Bloomberg report that details Apple's upcoming Mac overhauls, and how things stand right now (as ever, sprinkle seasoning on this liberally).

The model that many people are interested in is that MacBook OLED which will be a high-end effort in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, sporting a touchscreen for the first time (not everyone's so keen on the latter, mind). They will pack the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, not the M6.

Gurman says that this MacBook is currently being tested with macOS 27.1 by Apple, and that the device "remains on track for release between the end of this year and early next year". The leaker had previously asserted that we're looking at a late 2026 or early 2027 release (although there's a nuance here that I'll come back to shortly).

What about M6 MacBooks? We'll seemingly get a refresh of the low-end MacBook Pro 14-inch this year that packs the M6, and this will be the first launch to use the next-gen silicon. There will be new iMacs with the M6, too, all of which are supposedly arriving this fall (likely around October 2026, in other words, give or take a month).

The MacBook Air isn't being ignored, of course, and Gurman informs us that a refresh of this consumer lineup is coming in early 2027, with 13-inch and 15-inch models that "closely resemble the current version" — so don't expect much in the way of change.

Another MacBook Pro launch is, he says, planned for 2027 in the form of an entry-level 14-inch laptop with a new design that will be similar to the high-end OLED models, but this will have a major upgrade with the M7 (vanilla) chip.

Unsurprisingly, he adds that a refresh of the popular MacBook Neo is underway, which upgrades to an A19 Pro chip and offers more memory (new colors will be added, too).

Further down the line for MacBooks, there might be a more radical change coming for the MacBook Air, with an OLED take on the notebook that Gurman says could arrive in 2028, while a follow-up to the high-end MacBook OLED should debut between the end of 2027 and early 2028, with an upgrade from the M5 Pro and Max to the M7 Pro and Max.

Apple is also working on an iMac with OLED, Gurman believes, and we've heard about that before. (Much of this rumor dump is confirmation of previous speculation, it should be noted, with updates on timelines).

Gurman also tells us to expect refreshes in the realm of the Mac mini and Mac Studio. He claims the Mac mini is in testing with M5 Pro and M6 processors, while Apple looks to be going with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra for the Mac Studio. These would be trickier launches for Apple given the RAM crisis, and the need for beefier memory configurations causing additional headwinds for these particular Macs. Due to this, the launch timeframes for these purported products are, Gurman says, still up in the air.

Analysis: on track – but out of touch?

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

There's a lot in the pipeline, clearly, but the most interesting update here is that the high-end MacBook OLED is apparently still on target, and we could see it later this year – potentially in just a few months. Remember that not so long ago, Gurman appeared to waver on the idea of this touchscreen MacBook arriving in 2026 at all, but it seems that this is still very much in the cards (although not guaranteed, by any means).

This device is notably still missing a name, and the leaker isn't referring to it as the MacBook Ultra, as the broader rumor mill has been doing. That it packs the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips makes sense, because there will only be a vanilla version of the M6, according to what Gurman's heard on the grapevine before – Apple is apparently skipping swiftly over that generation to get to the M7 and more powerful AI capabilities therein. The follow-up to the high-end MacBook OLED will carry the Pro and Max chips from the M7 family, as noted.

In this report Gurman frames all these revamped Macs as Apple looking to "capitalize on demand for powerful laptops and desktops fueled by the artificial intelligence boom", underlining the recent emphasis the leaker has placed on how important AI is for Tim Cook's company now.

Predictably, this notion hasn't gone down well with some Mac fans, and the idea of a touchscreen on a MacBook (with that incoming OLED model) remains contentious, too, based on feedback from social media.

One Redditor puts it in particularly strong terms: "Touchscreen laptops are disgusting. I cannot fathom anyone actually using them. The ergonomics make no sense, the fingerprint factor is horrible, the OS is not built around touch the way tablets or phones are. Why are companies actively pursuing this technology in 2026?"

Another says: "Apple is entering 'the touchbar phase' again. Dark days lay ahead. I'll wait until they inevitably walk back whatever changes they make."

So, while people love the idea of an OLED, the fact that it's touch-capable is certainly dampening enthusiasm in some quarters, not forgetting that it'll add to the price tag, which is one of the other big fears about this laptop.

Built for professional makers, workshops, and small businesses, the xTool F2 Ultra industrial-grade desktop laser engraver is currently selling for $3,998.99 at Amazon, down from its $4,999 list price.

It features a powerful 60W MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) fiber laser capable of deep engraving, 3D embossing, color engraving, and cutting metal up to 2mm thick. It also supports black marking on aluminum, laser cleaning, thin metal welding, and works with stainless steel, titanium, brass, gold, silver, and more.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the xTool F2 Ultra if...

This machine is designed for anyone producing custom products, industrial parts, jewelry, signage, or personalized gifts. It engraves at speeds up to 15,000mm/s, offers an 8.7 x 8.7-inch working area that can be expanded with an optional conveyor, and uses dual 48MP AI cameras to improve positioning accuracy to 0.2mm while automatically detecting materials and suggesting settings.

❌ Skip the xTool F2 Ultra if...

The F2 Ultra is far more machine than most hobbyists need. Its nearly $4,000 sale price remains a major investment, it requires space to operate safely, and as a Class 4 laser engraver it demands appropriate eye protection and safe working practices. If you only engrave occasionally or mainly work with wood and acrylic, a less powerful system may offer better value.

60W MOPA fiber laser engraver with speeds up to 15,000mm/s, dual 48MP AI cameras, 0.2mm positioning accuracy, 100-plus metal colors, 2mm metal cutting, 8.7 x 8.7-inch work area, expandable conveyor support.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Few desktop fiber laser engravers combine this level of power, speed, and automation. The ability to produce more than 100 consistent colors on metal, perform deep engraving and embossing, and streamline setup with AI-assisted cameras makes it a capable tool for businesses looking to increase productivity while keeping high-quality results.

In his review, our expert Alastair said: "The xTool F2 Ultra is far removed from many consumer-grade machines, with a high-end product-designed enclosure and streamlined user interface that make this one of the most powerful and easy-to-use machines of its type on the market."

Price Context & Historical Value

A $1,000 discount represents a solid saving on professional equipment, and the cheapest we've seen the xTool F2 Ultra selling for to date. It remains a premium purchase, but this price cut will make it considerably more accessible for professionals who were already planning to invest in a high-end fiber laser engraver.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This deal covers the single 60W MOPA fiber laser model only. Accessories including the automatic conveyor are sold separately, and you'll need suitable ventilation, a dedicated workspace, and proper laser safety precautions before putting this Class 4 engraver into regular use.

• Shop all craft cutting tools at Amazon

• SpaceXAI just launched a Grok add-in for Excel
• However OpenAI, Anthropic and others have already beaten Grok to it
• The latest Grok 4.5 model is said to be an Excel genius

SpaceXAI (formerly xAI) has launched Grok for Excel as an add-in which looks to put Grok's conversational AI abilities within a side panel to help with formulas, charts, analysis and more.

Although the add-in is technically free, it requires a paid account to use the features, with only SuperGrok, SuperGrok Heavy and Business/Enterprise plans capable of handling tasks within the add-in.

SpaceXAI also refers to the add-in as a 'free' Microsoft Marketplace tool, loosely implying its use is free despite current account limitations.

Grok now gets an Excel add-in, too

"Describe the outcome and Grok handles the syntax – averages, sorts, and fills land as normal edits in the formula bar," the company wrote in a post announcing the new tool.

Grok for Excel supports Excel 2019 or later on Mac as well as M365 versions and web versions, and joins similar Word, PowerPoint and Outlook add-ins. All the Office add-ins promise to interact with documents, understand data and draft new content, but there are no autonomous agentic features such as sending an email in Outlook.

Realistically, SpaceXAI is just the latest company to be acknowledging that individual sectors need role-specific support, with finance emerging as one of the priorities. OpenAI already has ChatGPT for Excel, Anthropic has Claude for Excel, and of course Microsoft has its own Copilot add-in for paid plans.

The news comes days after the company launched its latest Grok 4.5 model. "Grok Build is capable of building complex Excel models that involve research from the web, multi-sheet formula use, and even leaves stickies or notes behind for future reference," the company wrote.

SpaceXAI also praised the model's capabilities across Word and PowerPoint.

Before sending your college kid back to school, see how their tap water fares in this national ranking.

The Geekom IT13 provides solid desktop performance in a compact chassis. Usually priced at $599, it's currently down to $539.10 at Amazon. The mini PC is powered by a capable 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13600H processor with 12 cores, 16 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.8GHz.

It comes with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD, Windows 11 Pro, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, making it well equipped for productivity, creative work, and everyday computing.

Dual USB4 ports deliver transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and support external GPUs, while WiFi 6E, 2.5Gb Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.2, an SD card slot, and support for up to four displays provide plenty of flexibility for home and office setups.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom IT13 Mini PC if...

The Geekom IT13's processor, RAM, and generous 1TB SSD provide more than enough power for productivity, multitasking, photo editing, coding, and light video editing, while the generous selection of ports and support for four displays make it a flexible choice for home or office use.

❌ Skip the Geekom IT13 Mini PC if...

You may want to look elsewhere if your main priority is GPU-intensive creative work or a spot of AAA gaming. The Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics are perfectly capable for everyday computing and lighter workloads, but a mini PC with dedicated graphics will be a better fit for more demanding tasks.

Powered by an Intel Core i5-13600H processor, the Geekom IT13 includes 16GB RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, dual USB4 ports, WiFi 6E, 2.5Gb Ethernet, Windows 11 Pro, and quad-display support.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Geekom IT13 strikes an excellent balance between performance, connectivity, and upgradeability. Support for four displays, dual USB4 ports, fast networking, and expandable memory make it suitable for everything from home offices to content creation.

Durable construction, a compact footprint and a three-year warranty also helps it stand out from many rival mini PCs.

In his review of an earlier model, our mini PC expert Mark said, "This machine is excellent in providing an exceptionally flexible tool that can serve files from external storage, be a hardware firewall or do any job that involves external devices connected by USB or Thunderbolt."

Price Context & Historical Value

The 10% ($59.90) saving is modest rather than dramatic, but it's still a welcome reduction on a well-equipped mini PC with a strong feature set. It was $509 for a short period earlier this year, but it has been priced much, much higher in the past.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The Geekom IT13 relies on Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, so it isn't intended for demanding GPU-heavy workloads or AAA gaming. While it can comfortably handle everyday productivity and lighter creative applications, anyone needing high-end graphics performance should look at a system with a dedicated graphics card.

• Shop all mini PCs at Amazon

If you're looking for fast, dependable storage for a NAS or desktop computer, Seagate has you covered with a number of great brands. IronWolf is built for always-on network storage, while the BarraCuda is a terrific budget choice for everyday PCs.

The Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS hard drive is currently available for $235.99 at Newegg. Designed specifically for NAS systems, it combines 4TB of CMR storage with a 5400 RPM spindle speed, a generous 256MB cache, and SATA 6Gb/s connectivity.

AgileArray technology, rotational vibration sensors, and support for workloads of up to 180TB per year make it well suited to multi-bay NAS enclosures that stay powered on around the clock.

The 2TB Seagate BarraCuda hard drive costs $139.99, but you can get $10 off by applying coupon code EPF5424. The HDD spins at 7200 RPM, includes a 256MB cache, and offers SATA 6Gb/s connectivity.

Which HDD should you buy?

✅ Buy the 4TB IronWolf if...

If you run a NAS for backups, media streaming, or shared files, the IronWolf is the better investment. Features such as CMR recording, RAID-focused firmware, vibration protection, and three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services are all designed for continuous operation inside multi-drive systems.

See what our expert Mark thought about the larger 8TB model in his recent review.

✅ Buy the 2TB BarraCuda if...

The BarraCuda is aimed more at traditional desktop use rather than network storage, although it can be used in a NAS. Its faster 7200 RPM speed makes it a good choice for storing photos, videos, and large files, while keeping costs lower than high-capacity SSDs.

The IronWolf drive offers 4TB CMR storage, 5400 RPM performance, a 256MB cache, SATA 6Gb/s connectivity, rotational vibration sensors, and support for 24/7 operation.View Deal

The BarraCuda HDD delivers 2TB of storage, a 7200 RPM spindle speed, 256MB cache, SATA 6Gb/s connectivity, and energy-saving power modes for dependable everyday performance.View Deal

Why we recommend them

The IronWolf HDD is engineered specifically for NAS environments. It supports continuous 24/7 operation, includes health management features on compatible NAS platforms, and is designed to maintain reliable performance when several drives are working together.

The BarraCuda HDD focuses on versatility and offers plenty of capacity for everyday computing, a healthy 256MB cache, and dependable performance for general-purpose desktops, making it an easy recommendation if you simply need more space.

Take a look at our round up of the best NAS drives.

Price Context & Historical Value

The IronWolf's dedicated NAS features help justify its premium over standard desktop drives, especially if your data is stored in a RAID array or accessed throughout the day. The current price isn't the cheapest however. It was $169.99 at Newegg at the start of July and briefly dipped down to $154.99.

Meanwhile, the BarraCuda delivers excellent value for anyone looking to add affordable high-capacity storage without moving to a more expensive SSD. $129.99 is a good price, although in May it was available for $110, and in April it was just $89.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

These are mechanical hard drives, which makes them great for NAS purposes. Neither can match the speed of an NVMe SSD for booting Windows or launching demanding applications.

The IronWolf is intended for NAS systems, so many of its specialist features provide little benefit in a standard desktop PC. The BarraCuda is more versatile, but it lacks the workload rating and RAID optimizations, which is where the IronWolf shines.

• Shop all internal desktop hard drives at Newegg

Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x is down to $1,411.24 at Best Buy, saving you $423.37 from its usual $1,834.61 price.

This premium 14.5-inch Copilot+ laptop combines Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor with a sharp high-resolution touchscreen, alongside 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 512GB SSD. Its 14.5-inch IPS touchscreen offers a crisp 2944 x 1840 resolution, while Windows 11 Pro provides business-ready features.

Weighing just 2.9 pounds, it's designed to easily slip into a backpack.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x if...

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a solid choice if you want a lightweight premium notebook for office work, web browsing, video meetings, coding, and creative tasks. The high-resolution touchscreen, 16GB of memory, and Snapdragon X Elite processor make it well equipped for multitasking, while Windows 11 Pro adds extra flexibility for business tasks.

❌ Skip the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x if...

You may want to look elsewhere if you rely on software that still performs best on traditional x86 processors or need plenty of built-in storage. The integrated graphics are suited to everyday workloads rather than demanding gaming or professional 3D applications, and the 512GB SSD could fill up quickly if you work with large media files.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 12-core processor, this laptop pairs 16GB LPDDR5X memory with a 512GB SSD, 14.5-inch 2944x1840 touchscreen, Windows 11 Pro, integrated graphics, backlit keyboard, weighing 2.9 pounds.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Yoga Slim 7x balances performance, portability, and display quality in a slim premium chassis. The combination of a sharp 14.5-inch touchscreen, modern Snapdragon X Elite platform, 16GB of fast LPDDR5X memory, and a lightweight design makes it an attractive everyday laptop for anyone who spends long hours working away from a desk.

In his four and a half star review, our expert Isaiah said the Yoga Slim 7x was "a spectacular laptop built for AI using Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite X CPU" and the OLED screen meant it was "one of the best-looking I've ever used". He was also impressed that the Slim 7x "truly can provide all-day battery life depending on your activity and screen brightness levels, keeping your charger stored away for a while."

Price Context & Historical Value

A saving of more than $420 makes this one of the more substantial discounts seen on a premium Copilot+ laptop with these specifications. Considering its premium display, Windows 11 Pro, and Snapdragon X Elite processor, the current price represents much better value than paying full retail.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This upgraded model is sold with a one-year warranty from Velztorm rather than Lenovo, and it doesn't include dedicated graphics or external display connectors. Those limitations are worth keeping in mind if your workload depends on high-end graphics performance or extensive wired connectivity.

It's also worth noting that there's a newer Gen 11 version of the Yoga Slim 7x with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. This model received a four star review from our expert Lewis.

• Shop all laptops at Best Buy

With the new school year approaching, it's the ideal time to check that your tech is up to the task. One area you may be looking at for an upgrade is your laptop, and fortunately, there are dozens of deals available in the back-to-school sales. So, I've taken a look and picked out 10 of the best laptop deals I'd recommend right now.

The biggest battle when it comes to bagging the best bargain is between these two options: the Dell XPS 13 or the MacBook Neo. With a student discount, both can be yours for $599.99, which is outstanding value for money for a pair of powerful and efficient laptops.

The choice, ultimately, comes down to whether you prefer a Windows or an Apple device, as I really don't think you can go wrong with either if you want a capable laptop for school, college, and general use.

Alternatively, if you have less (or more) to spend, then I've picked out several other options that are on sale and I think are worth buying in the back-to-school sales. There's everything from super-cheap Chromebooks for basic use starting at $159, to performance powerhouses that come with the extra juice you might need for more demanding or creative tasks such as coding, photo editing, or video editing.

Have a browse through all of my recommendations below, which I've chosen based on the opinions of our expert testers, my experience hunting down laptop deals for TechRadar, and exactly what you get for your cash.

Today's best back-to-school laptop sales

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $600 off laptops
• Dell: up to $900 off
• Lenovo: up to 33% off laptops & tablets
• Walmart: laptops from $199.99

10 of the best back-to-school laptop deals

Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and this brand-new version continues that trend. With an Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college. Students can also save an extra $100, bringing the price down to a ridiculously low $599.99.View Deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Neo just got a price bump, but students can get it cheaper again thanks to Apple's education discount. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600, which is fantastic value. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think these will be rarer to see over the coming months and this price likely won't be beaten over Black Friday.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

This is a solid discount on a modern laptop powered by one of the efficient Snapdragon X CPUs. As well as excellent levels of all-around performance, this device boasts a huge all-day battery life, so you won't need to worry about being attached to a charger at all times. There's even 512GB of SSD storage, which you don't often see in combination with those other strong performance components at this price point. This is an all-around excellent laptop for everyday, college and business use.View Deal

Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel i3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

This version of the Acer Chromebook Plus offers a solid amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel i3 processor, boosting performance, boot times and load times. Storage of 128GB is a bit underwhelming, but you do get a large and bright IPS display, and decent battery life of around 12 hours — that's more than enough to last a full working day. At a little under $350, it's a smart buy for school or college, or just as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

Here's one of the best deals on a modern, all-purpose, and well-rated laptop in Dell's latest sale. You can now get $550 off this machine, which features a powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM, and a decent 512GB SSD. With all of those components, you'll have no issues with all of your everyday computing and work needs. And at 14 inches, it's an easily portable device, too. Altogether, it's an excellent value all-around option and a laptop we scored 4.5/5 in our review.View Deal

Display - 16 inches
Processor - AMD Ryzen AI 9
RAM - 32GB
Storage - 1TB

There's a massive $500 price cut on this powerful high-end laptop, which boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 9, a performance-boosting 32GB of RAM and a large 1TB SSD. This is a great pick for business and productivity needs, with enough power to multitask with ease and battery life that lasts a full day.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 256GB

If you want a flexible device that's just as easy to use for work and admin jobs as well as casual web browsing and streaming media, then this Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 14 is an excellent buy. It mainly features entry-to-mid-level components, but there's enough power to keep up with light daily use. Plus, you get the added benefit of a versatile 14-inch touchscreen, effectively giving you a laptop and tablet in one.View Deal

Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

This powerful and versatile HP OmniBook Flip offers impressive performance for the price, with powerful components such as a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a decent 1TB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 16-inch touchscreen tablet when needed, too.View Deal

Display - 13.6 inches
Processor - Apple M5
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB

Our reviewer called the newest MacBook Air M5 "the best ultraportable I've ever used" and awarded it 4.5-stars, so it's every bit as good as its already excellent predecessor. As well as the powerful and efficient M5 chip, the latest MacBook Air boasts a slick 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD as standard. Those are solid overall specs for all-around use, productivity, and creative tasks. This is the best offer we've seen since the recent price hike, too.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel Celeron N4500
RAM - 4GB
Storage - 64GB

This HP Chromebook 14 is a basic device, but it's cheap, making it a great buy for light use such as general browsing and schoolwork. It also boasts full-day battery life thanks to the lean but perfectly functional Chrome OS from Google, meaning it's best suited for students or those always on the move. If you have around $200 to spend and need a cheap laptop, then it's one of the best options right now.View Deal

Engineering discipline in software development has been under the spotlight since AI started being used by devs to generate code, with many teams worried it’s causing unnecessary risk. Headlines have been full of cautionary tales about bugs created by hastily shipped code or senior executives taking vibe coding into their own hands.

Nevertheless, teams are finding ways to build trust in AI-generated code. Google’s 2025 DORA survey concluded that AI has an amplifying effect on organizations' processes - quality processes enhanced by AI lead to higher quality outputs, and more of them.

Our own research shows that most teams aren’t being haphazard with safeguards or accepting AI outputs at face value. Most teams are being more rigorous and giving their outputs the same scrutiny as the work of a teammate. That tells us a lot about how the best-performing teams are learning how to work with AI.

Seventy-six percent of enterprise teams are reviewing AI-generated work at least as rigorously as human-written work. Teams using AI to accelerate their work are seeing results from using proven engineering practices to ensure code is reviewed and tested sufficiently.

Rather than being inherently unstable, the rise of AI-generated code has emphasized that guardrails are the bedrock of consistently reliable software.

Treat AI as a virtual teammate

Teams treating AI-generated code as if it was produced by a human tells us something about how mature teams are using AI. The engineers using AI most effectively treat it as a virtual teammate. They stay in charge of the decisions and they use AI to accelerate the execution.

To make AI adoption an iterative process that improves over time, starting with low-stakes, repeatable tasks and applying stringent checks to outputs gives the tech a chance to work properly without expecting immediate results.

As MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory reported, AI coding’s widespread adoption doesn’t mean it can handle all aspects of large-scale software engineering by itself. Releasing to production is higher stakes than writing code, for example. Scrutiny from real humans is vital to prevent errors and hallucinations from impacting the business.

At this early stage of AI being used in workflows, it’s positive that 43% of teams are treating AI code like human-written code, with 33% applying even stricter checks. Even the best developers on a team aren’t above the processes and guardrails that guarantee reliable software deployment at speed. AI should be approached in the same way.

Trust in AI follows the risk curve

As with any new technology, introducing AI to the software lifecycle is a learning process. Our data shows trust in AI varies greatly depending on the stage of the software lifecycle, indicating that teams are building confidence with appropriate caution.

A pragmatic approach is being taken at the best-performing enterprises. Thought leaders from Gartner, Forrester and Google’s DORA team all highlight that organizations seeing success from AI-assisted development are strengthening their engineering controls and building up success over time.

This tallies with where AI is trusted to perform. The vast majority (82%) now use AI during the build stage, dropping to 58% at release where production risk is highest. Using AI primarily for earlier stages of software development is a rational step to make sure failures don’t impact the wider business.

This doesn’t betray a lack of confidence in the technology. Almost half (46%) of teams are confident in the performance of AI-generated code, indicating that its more cautious use in production is a measured business decision rather than skepticism.

Outputs are much easier to review and refine before the release stage. With many businesses still lacking full observability, teams often only hear about mistakes in live code once users notify them. Despite claims that software development could eventually be fully automated, teams are showing a clear awareness of where human oversight is essential.

Rather than making blanket judgments about AI’s capabilities, they are taking a more nuanced view, which bodes well for the future of AI-assisted software delivery.

Combine speed with discipline to win

There is continuity in how mature teams are making sure AI-generated code is fit for purpose, but it’s still having a seismic impact on the role of software engineers. When I speak with developers, their feedback is unanimous: the time AI saves is invaluable for focusing on neglected parts of their process.

AI moves the cognitive load from writing code and building configuration to reviewing and directing it. With time freed up, teams have more scope to prioritize observability, test coverage or disaster recovery scenarios - crucial elements of software hygiene that too often get overlooked.

AI adoption is increasing documentation quality according to the DORA report, suggesting that many teams are taking the opportunity to improve the broader engineering practices that support reliable software delivery.

As it takes on more of the mechanical aspects of software development, engineers become increasingly responsible for the work that matters most: validating outputs, understanding risk, and ensuring outputs align with business objectives. If someone asks “why did we build it this way?” it’s a problem if no one can answer the question without asking AI. Humans must be in the loop.

The organizations that benefit most from AI will not be those with more automation, they will be the ones that combine AI-driven speed with engineering discipline and a strict adherence to repeatable processes.

AI adoption is a DevOps challenge

The debate around AI-generated code often focuses on whether the technology can be trusted in DevOps. In most cases, teams have been building this trust iteratively without throwing away human judgment to get the best results.

As AI capabilities continue to improve, the gap between high-performing teams and everyone else is unlikely to be determined by access to the latest model.

The engineers and teams that will thrive are the ones who pair AI’s capabilities with their own judgement.

We list the 10 best vibe coding tools.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Star Wars Zero Company will take 30-40 hours to beat the main campaign
• The game won't feature New Game Plus mode, romance systems, or branching story paths
• Post-launch content is also unconfirmed at this time

Bit Reactor has confirmed that Star Wars Zero Company will take up to 40 hours to finish, and it won't have a New Game Plus mode.

The single-player turn-based tactics game is one of my most anticipated titles of the year, and ahead of its launch next month, the studio has conducted a community Q&A to answer a long series of questions.

One of the first questions asked how long the campaign will be, and lead producer Caydence Funk has confirmed that "Depending on your difficulty level and experience with the strategy genre," it's estimated that it can take between 30 and 40 hours for the average player to beat.

It's also confirmed that the story will be linear with no romance systems or branching paths.

"While we are excited about pushing the genre forward with a more cinematic approach, this is still a turn-based tactics game at its heart where adept skill and strategy are needed to overcome tense combat challenges," Bit Reactor said. "That said, there are story moments that can alter based on who you have in your squad, but the overall story is a linear one from beginning to end."

Personally, 40 hours is the ideal length, and a linear story means I can experience everything the story without having to worry about missing out on additional storylines.

"As far as exploration goes, yes, you’ll have the ability to explore a section of some planets prior to engaging in turn-based combat on them," the studio added.

"This is a minor facet of the game that we feel adds a unique, immersive quality to Star Wars Zero Company. These small segments are a chance for you, as Hawks, to conduct the espionage that Zero Company excels at, and are main-story-only segments that can affect the subsequent combat by granting Intel and Advantage Points."

Unfortunately, the game won't launch with New Game Plus mode, so new playthroughs will have to be completely fresh, "but players will unlock certain customization options on subsequent playthroughs" through progress.

Zero Company is set during one of my favorite Star Wars eras, the Clone Wars, so I'm very excited to experience a new story during this time period.

We can expect battles across the galaxy with the Separatist Alliance, a team consisting of a Clone Trooper, a Mandalorian, a Jedi Padawan, an Umbaran sniper, and more, as well as the appearance of Anakin Skywalker.

Customization will also play a big role in the game, and while players can't have an entire team of Clone Troopers, Bit Reactor confirmed that you'll have access to Clone armor cosmetics with the ability to customize your team's armor from the start. Outfits don't impact gameplay, but Clone Trooper helmets will provide a voice modulation effect, which sounds neat!

Even cooler, The Clone Wars TV series voice actor Dee Bradley Baker will provide his iconic voice to the character Trick and additional Clone Troopers, but the full cast has yet to be announced.

As for additional content, good news, there are no plans for microtransactions to be added to the game; however, the "Arc Trooper" Armor Set is only part of the "Grand Army of the Republic" Cosmetic Pack for the Deluxe Edition, but players will still have access to other cosmetic options in the base game.

The game also won't have mod support, and "right now" post-launch content isn't confirmed because Bit Reactor is "focused on making the best game we can at launch."

Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.

• Varonis Threat Labs uncovered Dolphin X, a powerful RAT with 329 features across 10 categories
• Its standout “AI Profiler” ranks victims by usage and sends summaries to attackers daily
• Malware is sold on the dark web via subscription tiers, starting at $80 per month

What if malware could talk to its operator and tell it which of the infected victims is worth paying attention to, and which not? A few years ago, this might have been science fiction but today, thanks to breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), not only is it possible, it’s also already available on the black market.

Security researchers Varonis Threat Labs recently disclosed finding a rather revolutionary remote access trojan (RAT) called Dolphin X.

Even without advanced AI capabilities, the RAT is quite potent, acting as an infostealer, a Hidden Virtual Network Computing (HVNC), a DDoS botnet, or a loader. Just its infostealer capabilities are nothing short of impressive - it can target more than 300 applications to steal browser passwords, enterprise credentials, cryptocurrency wallet data, DevOps secrets, and different sensitive files, and it comes with 329 features split into 10 categories.

AI Profiler

However, the AI capability is the one that stunned the researchers. Called “AI Profiler”, the feature ranks victims by app usage, browsing history, and more, sending a daily summary to the attackers.

The malware is now being offered on the dark web, where other criminals can subscribe to one of three tiers. The basic tier costs $80 per month, while the top tier is around $230 per month. Lifetime subscription costs $1,140 for basic access, and goes up to $3,420 for the top tier.

"Dolphin X’s collection scope reaches well beyond browser passwords to SSH keys, cloud tokens, and DevOps credentials," Varonis said in its write-up. "On the wrong machine, a single infection could expose access to an entire production environment."

"Its use of AI is also interesting because it shows us how AI is being integrated into more cybercrime tooling."

• Live heart rate data will be free for Garmin Cirqa users
• Early testers noticed it had been put behind the Connect+ subscription
• The new tracker costs $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$299.99

We've already put the newly unveiled Garmin Cirqa through an extensive hands-on testing session, and came away very impressed. However, there were complaints from those who had early access to the device that live heart rate data was locked behind a paywall.

Now Garmin is taking that negative feedback on board: as reported by seasoned tech reporter Ray Maker (via Android Police), live heart rate data will be available to every Cirqa user "in the coming days", with or without a Garmin Connect+ subscription.

The subscription, which applies across all of Garmin's wearables, has been the subject of much debate since it launched last year. For $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$12 per month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$120 a year, it gives you access to more metrics and more insights about the fitness data you're amassing.

Live heart rate readings aren't usually locked behind Connect+, so it's strange that Garmin initially made this the case with the Cirqa. Whatever the reasoning or confusion, the anomaly is now being dealt with, which is good news.

The rise of subscriptions

Good news update! Garmin will be making a change to Garmin Connect Mobile in the coming days, so you'll now be able to see Live HR from Cirqa during a workout (previously, you could only see workout Average HR unless you had Garmin Connect+). See...feedback works. Sometimes. :) https://t.co/q5qL8T4YhZJuly 22, 2026

If you're new to the Garmin Cirqa (and it was only announced a few days ago), it takes on the likes of the Whoop wearables and the Fitbit Air by giving you a capable, lightweight wrist tracker without the distraction (and battery drain) of a display.

Both the Cirqa and the Fitbit Air offer basic tracking features and functionality for free, with a pile of extras available if you sign up for a subscription. With Whoop bands, like the Whoop MG, a subscription is compulsory, otherwise it's pretty much useless — plans start at $199 / £169 / AU$299 per year.

As we've written about before, it's a sign of the times that so many tech devices, from smartwatches to security cameras, now come with monthly subscriptions attached — usually stealing away the best features for the device in question.

If you're tempted by a Garmin Cirqa and its display-free design, it's available for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$299.99 direct from Garmin, with availability from tomorrow, July 24 — and you will be able to record real time heart rate data, via the accompanying Garmin app.