Technology

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Apple's WWDC 2025 did not disappoint, but it didn't inspire either. I wanted answers to some of my burning questions, like when is Siri going to glow up, what's the future of Apple Home, and how will you inspire consumers to buy into the Vision Pro...er..vision?

None of that was forthcoming. Instead, we got a new, glossy design language (Liquid Glass), a ton of minutiae on iOS 26 feature updates (camera app overhaul, background on group messages, edge-to-edge Safari), more intelligent Apple Intelligence, and a much-needed iPadOS reinvention.

Apple spent 90 minutes telling us how the world of iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and iPads would change, but unlike developers conference keynotes from Google or even Meta, they didn't tell us how they are changing the world. Apple's developers' conference was focused squarely on the platforms and how your experience with each of them would change.

No moment stood out as an "Oh, that's gonna change everything."

Not the star you expected

To be clear, there are big changes. iPadOS 26 in particular might be unrecognizable (but in a good way) to people who've been using Apple's tablet for well over a decade. If you asked me 48 hours ago the biggest story to come out of the keynote, I would've guessed the new naming convention (years but not the one you're in!), Liquid Glass (like glass but much Apple-ly-er), or a surprise. iPadOS 26 was not on my bingo card.

Apple kept the keynote neatly focused on software, which I thought might bode well for a hardware surprise at the end.

I had visions of Apple AR glasses tease, the unveiling of a new, tethered, and much more affordable Vision Pro Lite.

I lieu of those fanciful "one more things," I hoped that maybe Apple software engineering lead Craig Federighi would circle back to the dismissive Siri mention at the beginning, preview the full-realized Apple Intelligence Siri and deliver a blood-oath promise that it would arrive at the same time as the first iOS 26 Public betas.

None of that happened. Apple dismissed its challenging year and presented a, to be far, exhaustive collection of platform updates. At least now we know why Siri is delayed.

To be certain, everything that was unveiled at WWDC 2025 is a lot, and I struggle to wrap my mind around it all. There are bits in there, for instance, like the macOS Tahoe Spotlight update, which won't reveal the true depth of its impact until we test-drive the new platforms.

On that note, I know you're tempted to download all the developer betas, but use caution. They're usually buggy and, in the case of the iPhone, most dev betas tend to suck the life right out of your battery (mainly because they're not yet optimized).

It's about certainty

The larger issue here, though, is that, unlike previous years, where I knew Apple would deliver on its promises, I know that that's no longer a lock. I want to trust that the incredible Vision Pro personas update, the one that makes those floating heads look absolutely real, will arrive in the fall, that Spotlight with contextual awareness will work as demonstrated with the next new Mac, and the iPadOS 26's windowing and background activity prowess will be just as powerful as they looked during the keybote.

Even some of the stuff I'm reasonably certain will arrive will be limited. Digital IDs are expanding, but Apple is unable to get it working in all 50 US states (for now, nine support it), and watchOS 26's Workout Buddy, which relies on Apple Intelligence on the iPhone, will only support English, and what if it's only in the US?

There are now always limits to Apple's dream scenario, and I find that it's smart to wake up long before the first public beta drops.

Apple may surprise us and overdeliver, but if we've learned one thing from the WWDC 2025 keynote, it's that, for now, it's no longer in the business of big surprises that leave it in a position of underdelivering.

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• Colorful Smart 900 is the latest AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 mini PC
• 96GB of LPDDR5X could mean big things for AI and creative workloads
• Dell, Asus, and MSI might be missing a golden opportunity in compact AI desktops

Colorful is reportedly set to release the Smart 900, a new high-end mini PC powered by AMD’s top-tier Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor.

Until now, Colorful’s AMD-based mini PC offerings have been limited to older processors, such as the Ryzen 7 7735HS used in the Smart 500A.

The Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 in the Smart 900 is AMD’s current flagship APU, combining 16 Zen 5 cores with Radeon 8060S graphics, built on 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units. This makes it one of the best integrated GPUs available for workloads, creative tasks, and gaming.

Memory and AI performance

The system reportedly includes 96GB of LPDDR5X memory, which is lower than the 128GB maximum seen in some high-end PCs.

However, this figure may refer to a dedicated memory allocation for AI inference tasks, sometimes described as “VRAM” in translation.

Whether this is a hard cap or part of a split configuration remains unclear, but it highlights the system’s focus on AI and graphics-intensive use cases.

The Colorful Smart 900 has not yet been officially announced by the company, nor has it appeared on any of its social media channels, so we don't have too much more information, such as pricing.

It seems likely, however, that it will be positioned as a mini workstation for professionals working with large media projects.

As of now, only eleven brands have released products featuring Strix Halo. Notable models include the HP Z2 Mini G1a, Lenovo LCFC AI PC, and the GMKTec EVO-X2.

What remains puzzling is the complete silence from major brands like Dell, Asus, and MSI, who have yet to introduce any mini PCs using the chip.

These companies already offer high-performance, premium products that far exceed the price points of anything from Colorful or GMKTec, so pricing does not appear to be the limiting factor.

Their hesitation may instead stem from longer internal validation cycles, stricter thermal and reliability standards, or a delay in aligning with AMD's release schedule.

Another possibility is that these companies are prioritizing other AI hardware strategies, such as discrete GPUs or server-grade accelerators, over high-end APUs in compact desktops.

Via Videocardz

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• Kaspersky warns multiple DVR devices are being targeted with malware
• The malware assimilates the devices into a botnet, granting DDoS and proxy capabilities
• The victims are scattered all over the world, and there seems to be no patch

If you are using TBK DVR-4104, DVR-4216, or any digital video recording device that uses these instances as its basis, you might want to keep an eye on your hardware because it’s being actively hunted.

Cybersecurity researchers at Kaspersky claim to have seen a year-old vulnerability in these devices being abused to expand the dreaded Mirai botnet.

In April 2024, security researchers found a command injection flaw in the devices listed above. As per the NVD, the flaw is tracked as CVE-2024-3721, and was given a severity score of 6.3/10 (medium). It can be triggered remotely and grants the attackers full control over the vulnerable endpoint. Soon after discovery, the flaw also got a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploit.

Victims around the world

Now, a year later, Kaspersky says it saw this same PoC being used to expand the Mirai botnet. The attackers are using the bug to drop an ARM32 malware which assimilates the device and grants the owners the ability to run distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, proxy malicious traffic, and more.

The majority of victims Kaspersky is seeing are located in China, India, Egypt, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and Brazil. However as a Russian company, Kaspersky’s products are banned in many Western countries, so its analysis could be somewhat skewed.

The number of potentially vulnerable devices was more than 110,000 in 2024, and has since dropped to around 50,000. While most definitely an improvement, it still means that the attack surface is rather large.

Usually, when a vulnerability like this is discovered, a patch soon follows. However, multiple media sources are claiming that it is “unclear” if makers TBK Vision patched the bug.

CyberInsider reports that multiple third-party brands use these devices as a basis for their models, further complicating patch availability, and stating that “it’s very likely that for most, there is no patch.”

Some of the brands are Novo, CeNova, QSee, Pulnix, XVR 5 in 1, Securus, Night OWL, DVR Login, and others.

Via BleepingComputer

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Liquid Glass. It's an umbrella term for interface changes across virtually every Apple platform, but it's also evocative of an intangible thing; digital, transparent, amorphous glass that glides, flexes, and responds to touch in a way real glass could never do.

Just hours after Apple unveiled, at WWDC 2025, the biggest change to iOS since iOS 7 13 years ago, I, along with Tom's Guide Global Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer, sat down with Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and Apple Global VP of Marketing Greg Joswiak to talk about everything the company unveiled during its 90-minute keynote.

We talked about Siri, Apple Intelligence, and iPadOS's remarkable transformation, but it was when we asked about the inspiration for Liquid Glass that the pair became most animated.

Federighi first confirmed what rumors have been suggesting for months: that the toddler-aged visionOS, which runs on Apple's $3,500 mixed reality Vision Pro headset, was where it all started.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

"So I would say the most obvious inspiration is visionOS, which uses glass, and you say, 'Well, why did visionOS use glass? Well, glass is a material that allows interfaces to sit in the context, in this case, of a room, and feel like the chrome [or frame] – that is, the glass – is somehow consuming kind of less space. It's allowing more of the context to come through. That was very powerful in the concept of visionOS".

I found it hard to believe, though, that this still-new platform could be the full inspiration for Liquid Glass, a design approach that's set to appear in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26. I asked Federighi if they looked at visionOS and the lightbulb went off, or if there were other, older influences. It turns out that Apple's obsession with glassy interfaces goes back at least a dozen years.

Through the looking glassImage 1 of 2

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

"If you look back at even iOS, 7, we had started to work with translucent materials, and then you saw even in MacOS Yosemite, the sidebars and windows started to have this kind of translucency," he says. "So there was a glassness, already, that was finding its way as a building block material for interfaces."

Federighi also revealed the extent of real-world testing that went into developing the uncannily realistic look and responsiveness of Liquid Glass. "There [are these] designed rooms. You know, they bring [...] in different pieces of glass with different opacities, different lensing, it's quite interesting.".

He added that Apple has an industrial design studio which has the capability to fabricating almost anything. "There were certainly real material studies that were being done there."

The efforts to simulate real glass and its optical qualities were extensive, but then Liquid Glass also does things no real glass can do, like changing shape when you touch or move it. But it goes deeper than that.

"We found that because of the incredible diversity of content that you have on your device – you're scrolling through a feed and it's all white and then suddenly there's a dark sky image that comes and scrolls under the glass – but you want the glass to react in a way that a clear piece of light glass would.

Suddenly, the black thing comes in, and you can't read any of your text, or it looks poor. We were able to build adaptive glass that changes the way it's transmitting color that even can flip from a dark glass to a light glass adaptively, by understanding what's behind it. So, you know, it now becomes this incredibly malleable material that always fits in with whatever is beneath it."

Check back soon for a link to the TechRadar and Tom's Guide podcast featuring the full interview with Federighi and Joswiak.

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• Epson introduces ReadyPrint MAX, bundling printers and ink via subscription
• Plans can be customized based on your printing needs, including number of pages
• Ink ships automatically and the printer must stay online to track usage

Epson has introduced a new way for users to access printing, through a subscription model that closely resembles how many people already pay for phones or streaming services.

The new ReadyPrint MAX plan offers customers an EcoTank printer along with regular ink deliveries, starting from as low as the equivalent of $7.99 per month for a 50-page plan.

The model eliminates the need for upfront costs, making it easier to start printing without a large initial purchase.

A constant supply of ink

After selecting a printer that suits their needs, users choose a page plan based on how much they expect to print. The company sends the printer and keeps track of ink levels remotely, delivering new ink before it runs out.

ReadyPrint MAX is compatible with a range of Epson’s EcoTank printers. Models differ in features and price points, covering basic home printing up to higher-volume office use.

Options like the EcoTank ET-2870U and ET-M1170 focus on low-cost printing, while others like the ET-5850U and ET-16650U are aimed at users who need faster speeds, higher capacity, or A3 printouts.

Plans scale with use, offering monthly allowances from 50 to 3,000 pages. Users can change their plan each month if their needs shift, and once the 18-month commitment ends, subscriptions can continue on a monthly basis.

As you might expect, early cancellation fees apply if a user leaves before the minimum period is up, although Epson does offer a 14-day cancellation window at the start.

To keep everything running smoothly, the printer needs to stay connected to the internet, allowing firmware updates and ink tracking.

Ink is delivered proactively, so users don’t need to worry about ordering refills. If a customer chooses to end the plan, the printer must be returned in good condition to avoid a penalty.

ReadyPrint MAX reflects a shift toward service-based models, giving users flexibility in how they access and manage printing at home or in the office. It’s currently offered in select European countries, including the UK and Germany, and is expected to be launched in the USA, which already has ReadyPrint.

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They'll be standalone, so no phone is required. Google Gemini AI is coming but the glasses won't be Android XR-connected yet.

The race to put augmented reality smart glasses on your face is heating up. Snap Spectacles are transforming into "Specs" and will launch as lighter and more powerful AR wearables in 2026.

CEO Evan Spiegel announced the all-new Specs on stage at the XR event AWE, promising smart glasses that are smaller, considerably lighter, and "with a ton more capability."

The company didn't spell out a specific time frame or price, but the 2026 launch schedule does put Meta on notice, which is busy prepping its exciting Orion AR glasses for 2027. It appears, Snap Specs will face off with the Samsung/Google Android XR-based Glasses, which are also expected sometime in 2026.

As for what consumers can expect from Specs, Snap is building them on the same Snap OS used in its fifth-generation Spectacles (and likely still using a pair of Qualcomm Snapdragon XR chips). That means all the interface and interaction metaphors, like gesture-based controls, will remain. But there are a significant number of new features and integrations that will start showing up this year, long before Specs arrive, including AI.

Upgrading the platform

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Spiegel explained the updates by first revealing that Snap started working on glasses "before Snapchat" was even a thing and that the company's overarching goal is "making computers more human." He added that "with advances in AI, computers are thinking and acting like humans more than ever before."

Snap's plan with these updates to Snap OS is to bring AI platforms into the real world. They're bringing Gemini and OpenAI models into Snap OS, which means that some multi-model AI capabilities will soon be part of Fifth Generation Spectacles and, eventually, Specs. These tools might be used for on-the-fly text translation and currency conversion.

The updated platform also adds tools for Snap Lenses builders that will integrate with the Spectacles' and Specs' AR waveform-based display capabilities.

A new Snap3D API, for instance, will let developers use GenAI to create 3D objects in lenses.

The updates will include a Depth Module AI, which can read 2D information to create 3D maps that will help anchor virtual objects in a 3D world.

Businesses deploying Spectables (and eventually Specs) may appreciate the new Fleet Management app, which will let developers manage and remotely monitor multiple Specs at once, and the ability to deploy the Specs for guided navigation at, say, a museum.

Later, Snap OS will add WebXR support to build AR and VR experiences within Web browsers.

Let's make it interesting

Spiegel claimed that, through lenses in Snapchat, Snap has the largest AR platform in the world. "People use our AR lenses in our camera 8 billion times a day."

That is a lot, but it's virtually all through smartphones. At the moment, only developers are using the bulky Spectacles and their Lenses capabilities.

The consumer release of Specs could change that. When I tried Spectacles last year, I was impressed with the experience and found them, while not quite as good as Meta Orion glasses (the lack of gaze-tracking stood out for me), full of potential.

A lighter form factor that approaches or surpasses what I found with Orion and have seen in some Samsung Android XR glasses, could vault Snap Specs into the AR Glasses lead. That is, providing they do not cost $2000.

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Commentary: Last year's developer keynote was loaded with AI updates. This year's focus on design was a breath of fresh – and familiar – air.