Technology

Hints and answers for Connections for June 4, #724.

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The next step in smart home security transforms existing fixtures into batteries for your surveillance equipment.

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The AI chatbot will change its responses based on your message history -- even if you aren't a Plus or Pro subscriber.

Top accounts earn more than 10 times the national average.

Tech neck and poor posture are no joke. Experts share the best preventions and stretches for tech neck.

Nintendo's Paldean adventure often struggled to reach half that frame rate on the original Switch console.

There's still a chance benefits could be garnished in the future. Here's what to do in the meantime.

Bing Video Creator will come to desktops and Copilot Search, but for now it is only on the Bing Search mobile app.

Ever since Prime Video revealing they were doing a Carrie TV adaptation, I've been eagerly following along. The recent casting announcement has only made me more excited, too, as Scream and Five Nights at Freddy's star Matthew Lillard is stepping into the shoes of the horror story's well-meaning principal, aka Mister Morton.

I'm so excited to see Lillard's take on a character who's taken many forms over the years from the original Stephen King novel and the 1976 movie classic, to the not-so-good 2013 retelling. It'll be interesting to see if they stick to the novel or make changes his character, too.

I already had high hopes for this project, which has Netflix horror aficionado Mike Flanagan at the helm. He's well-known for his successful horror series such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, so I'm expecting his Amazon TV take on another of King's most iconic works to be another small screen hit.

Who else is going to appear in Amazon's Carrie TV adaptation?

Sissy Spacek as Carrie White in Carrie (1976) (Image credit: United Artists)

Alongside Lillard, there are numerous famous faces attached to appear.

For starters, Cult of Chucky's Summer Howell stepping into the shoes of the titular telekinetic teenager. Joining her is Samantha Sloyan, who recently starred in The Pitt, aka one of the best Max shows, as Carrie's domineering and god-fearing mother Margaret White.

Other names include Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, i.e. the popular schoolgirl and Carrie's major bully, Amber Midthunder as gym teacher Miss Desjardin, and Thalia Dudek, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, and Joel Oulette in supporting roles.

We still don't know a lot about this project yet, but it's likely we'll spend a lot more time getting to know these characters as Flanagan can do a lot more with a TV remake than, say, a film's two-hour runtime. Here's hoping it's a horrifying hoot that'll earn a spot on our best Prime Video shows list in due course.

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We spent hundreds of hours rigorously testing the latest robot vacuums so you can ditch that old vac for good. These are the ones that deserve your money.

• The 3i G10+ has a big onboard dust bin with dust compression
• It's designed to hold up to two months' worth of dirt in one go
• This removes the need for a bulky self-empty dock

If your home is on the smaller side but you still want a robot vacuum, typically you need to make a choice: opt for a bulky dock with a big dust cup that the robovac can automatically empty into, or take a compact, charge-only dock and commit to manually emptying the bot's small onboard bin on a regular basis.

3i has come up with a third option. Its newly announced G10+ robot vacuum has built-in dust compression, and aims to be the best robot vacuum for those with small homes.

Inside, you'll find a mechanical paddle that physically squishes the contents of the onboard dustbin as the bot goes about its cleaning, to maximise how much dirt it can carry. The onboard bin itself is also large at 950ml – bigger than that found on most cordless vacuums.

(Image credit: 3i)

All that means that even though there's nowhere for the robot to dump its dirt in the dock, it still shouldn't need emptying too often. In fact, 3i suggests it can hold up to eight weeks' worth of dust and debris… although that will vary by how much there is in your home that needs sucking up. (Pet owners should expect to have to empty it more regularly, for instance.) If you're worried about debris being stored for so long, 3i has added a built-in UV light to sterilize the bin's contents.

There are further benefits to this setup. The dust squishing happens in real time as the robot cleans, and it's silent. You'll never have to listen to the (sometimes noisy) sound of your robot vacuum auto-emptying every time it parks up. And there are no dock dust bags to dispose of, or to remember to buy.

3i isn't quite the first robovac brand to explore the idea of dust compression, but it does look like the best current option for those with limited space. The Narwal Freo X Plus has onboard compression, but that model still comes with a bulky dock; one that has water tanks but no dust bag. Another option to consider is the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo offers dust compression and a charge-only dock, although given the company's recent troubles, now might not be the best time to invest in a new Roomba.

(Image credit: 3i)

Elsewhere, the 3i G10+ features an extendable side brush and mop for effective edge cleaning (the latter via a mop pad with an unusual protrusion), and a very-decent 18,000 Pa of suction. There's automatic carpet detection and intelligent suction and water flow adjustment based on the type of dirt the bot encounters, and the same LiDAR navigation system and AI-powered obstacle avoidance as 3i’s flagship model (the S10 Ultra).

It's also relatively affordable – the list price is $499, but it's launching with a discount that takes it down to $399 (usually an indicator that it won't generally be sold at list price). One of the things that often bumps up the price of today's flagship robot vacuums is a fancy dock that offers things like mop pad cleaning; if you don't necessarily want those things but are still keen on an advanced robot vacuum, this could potentially be a great solution.

The 3i G10+ robot vacuum goes on sale at Amazon US on 29 May. We're in the process of testing it, and will have a review live for you to read as soon as possible.

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• Qualcomm has addressed three zero-days abused since January 2025
• The patches must now be applied by OEMs
• No details about in-the-wild abuse, but users should still be on guard

Qualcomm has finally patched three Adreno GPU zero-day vulnerabilities that were being abused in the wild.

According to the June 2025 Android Security Bulletin, the chipmaker has now fixed CVE-2025-21479, CVE-2025-21480, and CVE-2025-27038.

The first two are incorrect authorization flaws in the Graphics component. They were given a severity score of 8.6/10 (high), and could trigger memory corruption. They were first observed in January 2025. The third bug is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Graphics component that also leads to memory corruption. This one was given a lower severity score - 7.5/10.

Payment information intact

"There are indications from Google Threat Analysis Group that CVE-2025-21479, CVE-2025-21480, CVE-2025-27038 may be under limited, targeted exploitation," Qualcomm explained.

"Patches for the issues affecting the Adreno Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) driver have been made available to OEMs in May together with a strong recommendation to deploy the update on affected devices as soon as possible."

Now, it’s up to different device manufacturers, such as Samsung, Google OnePlus, or Xiaomi, to apply these patches in their products.

The affected devices span a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets, including flagship models like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3, as well as midrange and budget platforms such as the Snapdragon 695, 778G, and 4 Gen 1/2.

There are currently no details on who abused these flaws, against whom, and to what end, however similar vulnerabilities were seen used in the past in spyware campaigns such as Variston and Cy4Gate.

A separate Qualcomm bug (CVE-2024-43047) was used by Serbian secret service agency, BIA, in December 2024, to unlock Android devices seized from journalists, activists, and protestors, the same source claims.

Via The Hacker News

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• Genki has unveiled its new handheld gaming accessory collection, available exclusively online starting today (May 29)
• The collection is designed to eliminate the common frustrations while playing on the go
• All-new accessories include a Modular Grip Case, Minimalist Protective Case, a 30W Wireless Power Bank, and more

Genki, the innovative gaming accessories company, has unveiled its brand new handheld accessory lineup.

The collection, which Genki is calling "its most complete accessory lineup yet," is officially available exclusively at its online store starting today (May 29) and arrives just in time for the newest generation of handheld gaming consoles, like the Nintendo Switch 2.

The lineup includes a range of different accessories, including the Attack Vector Modular Grip Case, Force Field 2 Minimalist Protective Case, Sleeper Ultra Protective Zipper Carry Case, and Aegis Shield Perfect Screen Protector.

There's also the 30W MagSafe Wireless Power Bank, Detachable Controller Charging Station and Grips, Mimic Chest Game Cartridge Storage Case, and the Saya Carry bag.

These all-new accessories are purpose-built for uninterrupted handheld gaming and designed to eliminate the common frustrations while playing on the go by introducing ergonomic upgrades, smart power solutions, and rugged protection, "all engineered with Genki’s signature focus on innovation and design."

"The problem with handheld consoles has always been the trade-off between portability and a complete gaming experience—whether it’s poor ergonomics, limited battery life, or inadequate protection. Genki, known for redefining portable play, is tackling these challenges head-on," Genki said.

You can check out the Genki handheld accessory collection pricing details below and see the collection here.

• Attack Vector Modular Grip Case - $49.99 / $59.99 with travel cover
• Force Field 2 Minimalist Protective Case - $29.99 / $39.99 with travel cover
• Sleeper Ultra Protective Zipper Carry Case - $42.99
• Aegis Shield Perfect Screen Protector - $19.99
• 30W MagSafe Wireless Power Bank - $69.99
• Detachable Controller Charging Station and Grips - $39.99
• Mimic Chest Game Cartridge Storage Case - $19.99
• Saya Carry Case - $139.99

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• CD Projekt Red has shared a new tech demo for The Witcher 4 at the State of Unreal 2025 showcase
• The demo revealed new cinematic and gameplay footage, which offered a first look at the region of Kovir and protagonist Ciri
• The gameplay footage captured is running on the base PS5 at 60 FPS with ray tracing

CD Projekt Red has shared a brand new look at The Witcher 4 with an impressive tech demo.

During the State of Unreal 2025 event today, we were treated to a technical demo that offered an early glimpse into the Unreal Engine 5.6 features that will be in The Witcher 4.

At the start of the livestream, we saw a short cinematic of a group of men being attacked by a monster, before the footage seamlessly transitions into gameplay. We then see Ciri, the game's titular Witcher and playable protagonist, emerging from a cave onto a cliff after investigating the attack and showing off the never-before-seen region of Kovir.

According to CD Projekt Red, the gameplay shown is running on the base PS5 at 60 FPS, with ray tracing enabled, and it looks incredible.

Just like Geralt of Rivia, Ciri also has her own horse companion named Kelpie, and the two of them can be seen riding through the mountains and dense forests of Kovir to the port town of Valdrest.

The town is bustling with crowds of NPCs, some of whom will react to certain instances created by the player, thanks to Unreal Engine's MetaHuman technology with Mass AI crowd scaling.

For instance, when Ciri knocks into a man carrying apples, she kicks off a chain reaction. She apologizes, and then a child can be seen running forward to steal some apples that fell on the ground, followed by a pig looking to eat them up.

We also see other NPCs interacting with each other and creating their reactive scenes, making the whole town feel alive. It also appears that gameplay will seamlessly transition back into cutscenes when Ciri reaches her destination and starts a conversation, suggesting there'll be no black loading screens in between these moments.

Tools like the new Unreal Animation Framework and Nanite Foliage rendering are being utilized in The Witcher 4 to help deliver an immersive world at 60 FPS without compromising on quality, according to the developer.

"We started our partnership with Epic Games to push open-world game technology forward," said CDPR co-CEO Michał Nowakowski. "To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone - and a testament of the great cooperation between our teams.

"But we're far from finished. I look forward to seeing more advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as development of The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 continues."

The studio also confirmed that while the tech demo was running on a PlayStation console, "the features and technology will be supported across all platforms the game will launch on", including Xbox and PC.

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For over two decades, Google has monopolized how and where people search online. From outfit ideas and travel tips to medical symptoms and product reviews, consumers have turned to Google to guide their decision-making. But we’re now witnessing a monumental shift in how people search. As antitrust pressures mount and tools like ChatGPT redefine the very nature of information discovery, a new contender has entered the ring: AI-powered search.

This isn’t just a blip on the radar - it’s a full-blown transformation. AI-driven platforms are not only gaining popularity, they’re also fundamentally changing consumer expectations and search behavior.

According to our latest research at adMarketplace, one in five consumers already prefers AI-powered search tools over traditional methods, drawn to their ability to deliver seamless, personalized, and conversational results. For advertisers, this presents a golden opportunity should they seize it. The age of AI search is here, and brands that fail to evolve with it risk being left behind.

AI search: redefining relevancy and intent

The foundation of search advertising has always been built on intent - understanding what consumers want and delivering relevant results in real-time. AI supercharges this. Unlike traditional keyword-based systems, AI search engines use natural language processing, machine learning, and real-time data to understand user intent more deeply and deliver results in a way that feels intuitive and tailored.

Consumers are no longer satisfied with a list of blue links on the legacy search engine results page. They want responses to their queries delivered natively on the sites, apps, and platforms they use daily. Whether it's product comparisons, local food recommendations, or answers to complex questions, AI search tools are meeting users where they are. This is a major leap forward for the consumer search experience and a powerful opportunity for advertisers to capitalize on.

Search is no longer confined to traditional platforms

Discovery is increasingly happening natively within the apps, websites, and digital ecosystems consumers already engage with daily, whether it's through AI-driven assistants, retail apps, or vertical-specific platforms. This decentralization of search represents a major change for advertisers. It's no longer enough to focus campaigns exclusively on legacy search engines.

To reach consumers effectively, brands must expand their search strategies to meet audiences where they are, across multiple platforms that are integrated with AI-driven discovery tools. As the search landscape modernizes, advertisers who diversify their investments and embrace this broader, AI-enhanced environment will be best positioned to capture attention and drive engagement.

A seamless, conversational experience

One of the key differentiators of AI search is its ability to make searching feel more engaging, relevant and intuitive. Instead of fragmented queries and manual refinement, users can engage in a natural, back-and-forth dialogue with AI tools, refining results through follow-up questions, contextual cues, and real-time data to find answers that fit their needs more efficiently.

This conversational approach is already proving to be a game-changer. It simplifies the path to discovery, reduces friction, and increases the likelihood that consumers will find - and act on - what they’re looking for. For brands, this opens up new creative formats and interaction points within search, allowing for more immersive and persuasive ad experiences.

Capturing the next generation of consumers

AI-powered search isn’t just a novelty. It’s quickly becoming the de facto method for specific types of discovery, especially among the younger, tech-native generations. Gen Z and younger Millennials are already leaning into tools like ChatGPT and AI-enhanced assistants for everything from shopping advice to academic support. These demographics expect search experiences to be fast, intuitive, and tailored to their needs.

For advertisers, this presents a crucial opportunity. If you want to engage the next wave of digital consumers, your search strategy must evolve. That means embracing AI-powered experiences, diversifying search media investment, and prioritizing how you approach consumer search intent.

What this means for advertisers

So, how should advertisers respond to this AI-powered revolution?

1. Reevaluate search strategies – Traditional search advertising, placing ads at the top of search pages, is no longer sufficient. It's time to experiment with native search integrations that leverage AI to deliver personalized, intent-driven results and enable conversational, real-time interactions between users and your brand.

2. Invest in personalization – Use AI to analyze behavior, preferences, and context to create more targeted and meaningful search experiences.

3. Reach next-generation consumers today – Target the younger demographics that are already adopting AI search. Meet them on the platforms they prefer with messaging and formats that resonate.

4. Stay agile and curious – AI search is evolving fast. Keep testing, learning, and adapting your campaigns to remain relevant in this rapidly shifting environment.

The bottom line

We’re on the cusp of a new era in digital discovery. AI is not just changing how consumers search, it’s redefining what they expect from every brand interaction. Advertisers that lean into this transformation will be able to connect with consumers in smarter, more personal ways, capturing attention and loyalty in a crowded market.

The crown of search is up for grabs. It’s time for advertisers to claim their place in the AI-powered future.

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

Is the conversation around remote work models finally petering out? Data suggests a shift in focus, with many firms reassessing their approach to the modern workplace. The reasons for these changes are myriad and nuanced. But while businesses and employees adapt to new ways of working, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the crucial factor that could actually shape the future of hybrid work.

Its application holds the potential to shift the focus away from location to how employee experience can be optimized and unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity. Our recent research highlights this shift, noting that 70% of businesses have integrated AI to enhance communication and workflows.

AI is driving the evolution of hybrid work, from intelligent workspaces to enhanced collaboration and personalized work experiences. As organizations move beyond traditional models, AI is enabling a workplace that is more dynamic, efficient, and ultimately, more human-centric.

The rise of intelligent workspaces

As hybrid work has become an established norm, many workplace tools have struggled to keep at pace with its demands. Standard video conferencing struggles to create truly inclusive meetings between office and remote participants. Calendar systems can also fail to account for complex hybrid schedules. Communication platforms often create information silos between in-office and remote teams, while productivity tools lack the intelligence to adapt to different working environments.

The challenge isn't just about managing hybrid schedules, but creating consistent, engaging experiences for employees splitting their time between home and office. Our research shows that AI is becoming a key focus for businesses looking to improve hybrid work, with a significant majority experimenting with or fully utilizing AI to enhance communication and workflows.

Rather than enforcing rigid systems, AI-powered platforms are introducing new levels of personalization. These systems learn from individual work patterns, automatically adjusting to personal preferences and optimizing workflows based on when and where employees are working. Data indicates that 88% of teams are already using AI tools at least weekly, demonstrating widespread adoption and reliance on AI to improve working practices.

The implications are far-reaching. AI can now predict when employees are most productive, suggest optimal meeting times that respect work-life balance, and even pre-emptively organize digital workspaces based on upcoming projects. For organizations embracing hybrid work policies, this level of intelligent adaptation is proving transformative.

Breaking down collaboration barriers

Business leaders and employees often share a common challenge: making collaboration work seamlessly across dispersed teams. Many employees in hybrid settings often struggle with feelings of disconnection and unequal participation between in-office and remote workers.

AI is helping address these challenges head-on. Advanced communications solutions provide real-time translation for global teams, intelligent meeting scheduling accounting for time zones and personal preferences, and automated note-taking that ensures everyone stays aligned regardless of location.

These tools are transforming how teams interact, making file sharing, team messaging, and real-time document editing more intuitive and accessible. Further, our research indicates that businesses are recognizing the value of these AI-driven solutions, with an overwhelming 97% of leaders anticipating increased investment in AI tools.

More significantly, AI is levelling the playing field between remote and in-office workers. Leading platforms can now analyze meeting dynamics to ensure equal participation, automatically enhance video and audio quality for remote participants, and even suggest optimal times for in-person collaboration based on team patterns. For global operations and mobile workforces, these capabilities are essential for maintaining productivity and team cohesion within a flexible work environment.

The benefits aren’t just limited to improved efficiency. AI is also helping managers and HR teams better support employee wellbeing. By analyzing communication patterns and workload distribution, AI can identify potential burnout risks before they become serious issues. These systems can recommend breaks, suggest more efficient working patterns, and help managers better understand their teams' needs.

Embracing the shift with AI

In short, the binary in/out debate is becoming less relevant. Organizations preoccupied with tracking office attendance have missed the bigger picture: AI is fundamentally changing how teams work together, regardless of the location.

Modern workplaces use intelligent systems to eliminate the mechanical aspects of coordination, allowing teams to focus on creative problem-solving and meaningful collaboration. A workplace with AI at its core removes the traditional tension between flexibility and productivity, between remote efficiency and in-person connection.

A future in which intelligent agents empower individuals to shape their workday is close. Our collective evolution towards agentic AI means work becomes less about rigid mandates and more about personal agency. By removing friction and enhancing individual experience, AI can foster the next era of work, where even the decision to go to the office is less about obligation and more about genuine choice.

As we embrace this shift, the workplace of tomorrow will be defined not by where we work, but by how effectively we can work together, augmented by the intelligent systems that empower us.

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