Technology

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle, No. 1443, for June 1.

Practical Magic 2: key information

- Set for release on Sept 18, 2026
- Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprising their iconic roles
- Plot will follow Alice Hoffman's The Book of Magic novel
- No official trailer released yet
- Expected to stream on HBO Max after theatrical release
- Joey King "in talks" to play Sally's daughter

Practical Magic 2 is on its way and considering it's been nearly 30 years since we enjoyed the 1998 original, it's practically magical news – especially because Warner Bros. has already confirmed the release date as September 18, 2026.

Will Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman be reprising their iconic roles? Yes, they certainly will. The sequel is set to bring back at least that much of the original's spellbinding magic, with both Sally and Gillian Owens played by the original actors.

Marked as a theatrical release at first, it will almost certainly arrive on HBO Max after that, as a Warner movie – the original Practical Magic has found its home there.

And who knows, Practical Magic 2 may well find itself among the best Max movies to watch on one of the best streaming services. Here's everything we know so far about Practical Magic 2 from release date, to cast, to plot and so much more.

Practical Magic 2: release date?

The spell is cast. The date is set. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return. Only In Theaters September 18, 2026. Rewatch the original #PracticalMagic now streaming on MAX. pic.twitter.com/SfPT1DduLXMay 6, 2025

Practical Magic 2 will arrive in theaters on September 18, 2026. The news was confirmed by an official post on X in May by Warner Bros, accompanied by some magic words from the movie's stars, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.

They can be heard reciting a spell: "Tooth of wolf and morning dew. Something old and something new. Let the spell begin to mix. September 18, 2026."

While it says "only in theaters", it's all-but-certain to come to HBO Max after that, since that's Warner Bros. Discovery's official streaming platform. It's where the original 1998 Practical Magic just dropped too, if you want to remind yourself of the magic.

Practical Magic 2: has a trailer been released?

Will Aunt Franny and Aunt Jet return? (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

There's no official Practical Magic 2 trailer yet, which is not surprising considering the cast and crew haven't announced any notice of filming.

During an interview with Variety in February though, Kidman revealed that the sequel is "moving ahead rapidly", before shutting down any further questions. I'll be sure to update here when an official trailer drops.

Practical Magic 2: confirmed cast

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman will reprise their iconic roles (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

As far as the Practical Magic 2 cast list goes, it's pretty sparse. But, there's two crucial actors who will be reprising their role, as reported by Variety:

• Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens
• Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens

It feels as though Practical Magic 2 wouldn't be possible without the return of Bullock and Kidman as the Owens' sisters, so this casting announcement coming hand-in-hand with revealing the movie's existence makes total sense (and is a huge relief).

To tie the cast together perfectly, we're wondering if Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest will also reprise their iconic roles as Aunt Franny and Aunt Jet respectively. Both women are still acting, despite being 81 and 77 years old, respectively.

There is an important crew member returning, though, and that's Akiva Goldsman who co-wrote the original Practical Magic. And he's officially back on board for writing Practical Magic 2.

Finally, though yet to be confirmed, Joey King is reportedly "in talks" to play Sally's daughter (as per Variety) and we'll delve more into the importance of this role in the plot section below.

Practical Magic 2: story synopsis and rumors

Practical Magic 2 will be based on Alice Hoffman's The Book of Magic (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Full spoilers for Practical Magic to follow. Plus, potential spoilers for Practical Magic 2.

The original Practical Magic movie in 1998 is based on the first novel in the famed series by author, Alice Hoffman. It followed Sally and Gillian, two reluctant witch sisters, who are raised by their aunts in a small town tackling a curse that could stop them from ever finding love.

And, as they grow up, they use their gift of practical magic to try to break the wretched curse for good.

So, when it comes to the plot of Practical Magic 2, it marks a return to the books. Hoffman's series consists of four novels; Practical Magic (1995), The Rules of Magic (2017), Magic Lessons (2020) and The Book of Magic (2021). And Entertainment Weekly exclusively revealed in July 2024 that The Book of Magic would be the basis of the sequel's plot.

Speaking to EW, producer Denise Di Novi said: "I think [fans are] going to be very pleased. We're going to be very faithful. We're cognizant to how important those characters and that movie are to so many people. We're not going to reinvent the wheel."

We know from the official book synopsis that this, the fourth in Hoffman's series, follows "three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother", as well as the "younger generation" including Kylie Owens, the daughter of Sally.

And, of course, there's already talks about casting Sally's daughter, but I won't delve into the synopsis of this book any further for fear of revealing too much. I don't want the same generational curse that haunts the Owens family coming down on me.

Will there be more Practical Magic movies?

Will a Practical Magic prequel be revisited? (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Never say never. While there's no suggestion that any more Practical Magic movies are on the way, I can't say for certain that this marks the end. That said, given that Practical Magic 2 is based around Alice Hoffman's conclusive novel of her series, then for Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman's story at least, it feels... well, conclusive.

But, while another movie might be out of the question, how about a TV show? The two prequel novels that came between Practical Magic and The Book of Magic have been a focus of previous, though failed, attempts to bring Practical Magic back to life.

The most recent by HBO Max as it hoped to create a TV series in 2019. Set to focus on the aunts, Franny and Jet, it failed to get the green light, but perhaps Practical Magic 2 can bring the magic back to life?

I imagine it will all depend on the success of the movie – if it's a big hit, spin-offs could be worked out pretty quickly.

For more Max TV show-based coverage, check out our guides on House of the Dragon season 3, Peacemaker season 2, Creature Commandos season 2, and The White Lotus season 4.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are here, and it’s safe to say that we’re big fans of Sony’s new flagship cans, awarding them our Recommended badge in our Sony WH-1000XM6 review – if you're buying new, they're clearly some of the best headphones you can buy right now. But what if you already own a pair of the legendary Sony WH-1000XM4? Is it really worth the upgrade considering the gap in price between each model?

Well, I’ll give it to you straight: yes, yes it is. I’ve spent weeks using the brand new Sony WH-1000XM6, during which time I’ve been able to test them side-by-side with the Sony WH-1000XM4. And Sony really has got it spot on this time, levelling up every part of the package without making any design decisions the feel like a step back (*ahem* Sony WH-1000XM5, looking at you).

The improvements are clear and make a big difference throughout the Sony WH-1000XM6, but I’ve selected the three most impactful factors that may convince you XM4 owners out there to upgrade. So, let’s dive straight into things.

(Image credit: Future)1. Sony has taken noise cancelling to new heights

It’s undeniable. These are the best Sony headphones ever for noise cancelling. When pitting the XM6 against the XM4 in an ANC test, it wasn’t even a contest. And that says a lot given that the XM4 still put up a strong performance as far as noise cancellation is concerned.

Look, the XM4 do well to dispel low-end sounds, and are great if you want to dull harsh noise. When using them, I rarely found it difficult to remain focused on my favorite tracks or TV shows. But the XM6 are a real cut above.

It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, these headphones almost always deliver silence, or at the least, near-silence. In busy, traffic-filled areas, I was totally detached from the world around me. When vacuuming my apartment, disruptive whirring sounds were utterly crushed. And on public transport, it was as if I was traveling alone.

The XM6 are kitted out to supply this class-leading ANC. That’s thanks to a new, drastically stronger QN3 HD noise-cancelling processor that channels the abilities of 12 microphones to phase out all ambient sounds.

The XM4, meanwhile, have seven fewer mics and a significantly weaker processor. Sure, they had wonderful ANC at the point of launch, but now, they’ve been outclassed by a wide array of rivals – of course the XM6, but also Sony’s own XM5 model and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, to name just a couple. We rate these as the best noise cancelling headphones when it comes to pure noise stopping power, and you absolutely will hear the difference if you choose to upgrade.

The Sony WH-1000XM6's class-leading ANC provides a true escape from the outside world (Image credit: Future)2. You get the sleekness of the XM5 with the XM4’s foldability

As I mentioned in my Sony WH-1000XM6 review, these headphones marry the very best design elements of their two predecessors to perfection. I’m sure a lot of XM4 owners love the foldability of their cans, which is ideal for throwing them in a bag when you’re on the go.

And I’m also sure that Sony is under no illusions that removing that feature from the XM5 model put off a lot of XM4 owners who might've considered an upgrade.

Thankfully for those people, Sony has listened to its critics and brought folding back from the dead – and improved it. The Sony WH-1000XM6 use fortified metal hinges that are more durable and enduring than those on the XM4.

That means you’ll have less to worry about around breakage or damage over the coming years. On top of that, there’s a new magnetic case for you to put the folded-up XM6 into – in my opinion, that’s more practical than the XM4’s zip-up one.

But not only do the XM6 fold, they look pretty cool while doing so. Sony’s new cans have largely maintained the slimmer, seamless, rounded design of the XM5 – which already had a more premium look than the XM4 in my view.

The headband is greatly improved from that of the XM4, with a less plasticky appearance, a smoother feel, and luxurious levels of comfort thanks to being wider. There’s also a neat paper-like matte consistency to the XM6’s exterior, which looks extremely clean. They feel like a real physical upgrade.

Foldability is back and better than ever (Image credit: Future)3. Upgraded audio, forged alongside leading mastering engineers

Let’s conclude by discussing what matters most on any pair of the best wireless headphones: sound quality. When we reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM4, we lauded their clean, expressive sound, punchy bass and impressive attention to detail.

Their 40mm dynamic drivers – similar to those used in the Sony WH-1000XM3 before them – are more than capable of handling heavy beats or delicate vocal ballads, with overall audio quality still satisfying me half a decade after launch.

But, as you’d hope, the Sony WH-1000XM6 do all of this and then some. In my comparison testing, I found the XM6 produced a more balanced sound, right out of the box. Sony’s new cans were developed alongside a number of well-renowned mastering engineers, and perhaps unsurprisingly, that means there’s a more even sound across all frequencies.

The end result is a combination of pumping yet disciplined bass, rich mids, and energetic highs. That new and improved sonic cocktail really makes the XM6 worth the step up in my view.

There’s also a ‘noise shaper’ in the XM6, which enhances digital to analog conversion and removes distortion from sudden sound changes, capping off a fantastically controlled listening experience.

Another crucial improvement from the XM4 is the XM6’s more nuanced, wider soundstage. Every instrumental element is given plenty of room to breathe, forging open, layered, and hypnotic listening experiences. Yes, the XM6 really are great at immersing you in the music… but also in movies too.

That’s thanks to a new feature called 360 Reality Audio Upmix. Just flick Cinema mode on in the Sony Sound Connect app, and the headphones will convert a basic stereo signal into a more expansive format, helping to create a three-dimensional spatial impression.

Finally, you’ve still got all the great sound-related features from the XM4. Whether that’s DSEE Extreme upscaling for lower-quality music files, LDAC for ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth listening, or EQ adjustment, you’ll be in for an absolute treat.

The XM6 do still have an advantage here, with a 10-band equalizer giving you elevated levels of control, and that improved ANC I mentioned will keep you even more engrossed in the music.

You get the picture – the XM6 really do have all bases covered, and you will immediately feel a clear difference moving from the old model to the new.

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• AI is fueling a huge increase in cyberattacks
• The US is the primary target for ransomware attacks
• Threat actors are turning to vulnerable assets

It won’t come as a surprise to many cybersecurity professionals, but AI is behind a drastic rise in the number of cyberattacks, with new research from Fortinet revealing the apparenty scale of the problem.

The study found that year-on-year, automated scanning activity has seen a 16.7% increase, with 36,000 scans per second recorded globally - with the research describing threat actors as “shifting left” towards vulnerable digital assets “earlier in the attack lifecycle”, in particular, Remote Desktop Protocol, IoT systems, and Session Initiation Protocols.

Infostealers have been threatening organizations for a long time, but this research has unveiled a staggering 500% increase in available logs from compromised systems - meaning over 1.7 billion stolen credentials are circulating on the dark web, noting, “this flood of stolen data has led to a sharp increase in targeted cyberattacks against businesses and individuals."

A call to action

The report warns cybercriminals are taking advantage of these login details too, with a 42% increase in compromised credentials observed for sale.

Interestingly, zero-day attacks only account for a “small percentage” of threats, and cybercriminals are increasingly using “live of the land” vulnerabilities to remain undetected.

The Ransomware-as-a-Service landscape is expanding, with new groups emerging and old players solidifying their gains. Ransomhub was the most active group in 2024, claiming 13% of victims, with LockBit 3.0 (12%), Play (8%) and Medusa (4%) all following close behind.

Such ransomware attacks are targeting one country in particular, with the United States taking 61% of incidents, followed by the UK at 6%, and Canada at 5% - a strong indication of the trend against American organizations.

“Our 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report makes it clear: cybercriminals are scaling faster than ever, using AI and automation to gain the upper hand,” said Derek Manky, Chief Security Strategist and Global Vice President of Threat Intelligence at FortiGuard Labs.

“Defenders must abandon outdated security playbooks and transition to proactive, intelligence-driven strategies that incorporate AI, zero trust architectures, and continuous threat exposure management.”

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The rate of progress in the tech world has shown no signs of slowing down over the last seven days. Whether it's advances in the capabilities of AI video generators or a long-serving messaging app finally appearing on Apple's tablets, it's been quite a week.

As good as we try and make our journalism here on TechRadar, we know that not everyone has time to sit down and digest every story that we put up across the week – and so we present to you this In Case You Missed It recap so you can get yourself caught up.

We'll be back with another ICYMI for you at the same time next week, but for now let's dive into some of the stories that have been causing the biggest ripples in the tech pond over the last few days – there's a lot to get through, and a lot of topics to cover.

If you need more reading material, check out the best new movies and shows to stream this weekend.

8. Garmin’s Whoop-style ‘sleep band’ edged closer to reality

Could another Garmin product be on the way? (Image credit: Mike Sawh)

Garmin is already one of the biggest and most well-respected names in fitness wearables, and it seems a brand-new device is on the way: well-placed sources say they've seen signs of a screenless, sleep-tracking band that Garmin is planning to introduce soon.

It sounds a bit like a Whoop band, from the few details that have emerged so far, which would undoubtedly make it a more comfortable option for wearing in bed than a chunky smartwatch. As yet, however, we haven't heard anything official from Garmin.

• Read more: Garmin's long-rumored Whoop-style screenless 'sleep band' will reportedly break cover soon

7. A streaming login leak got us updating our Netflix passwords

You might want to change your Netflix password (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you're signed up for a Netflix account, be sure to reset your password at your earliest opportunity, as millions of login credentials have been leaked online. It's not just Netflix, either: accounts across Prime Video, Disney+, and other services are also affected.

The silver lining is that financial information related to these accounts seems to be safe, but there's no room for complacency, especially if you're using your streaming logins for other accounts as well.

It's best to assume you've been exposed and change your details.

• Read more: Time to change your Netflix password? Millions of login details have leaked, according to a cybersecurity report – and it's not just Netflix

6. Anker gave us earbuds that double as a phone battery pack

Meet the Anker Soundcore P41i (Image credit: Soundcore)

We're always keen to see tech that's a little bit different here at TechRadar, and that's the case with the Anker Soundcore P41i wireless earbuds. These little buds last up to 12 hours, which rises to a huge 192 hours if you include the charging case.

That's because the compact charging case doubles up as a general-purpose power bank that'll charge your phone too, if needed – it features a 3,000mAh capacity battery inside, so it may mean there's one less gadget or charging plug you need to carry around with you.

• Read more: Anker's new earbuds have a case that doubles as a phone battery pack – and, unsurprisingly, giant battery life for the buds

5. Sony handed indie filmmakers a new compact video camera

The new Sony FX2 camera (Image credit: Sony)

The Sony FX2 video camera was officially announced this week, bringing with it a tiltable EVF and a 33MP full-frame sensor. It's capable of filming in 4K at up to 60fps, and it's going to be available from July 2025, priced at $2,700 / £2,700 / AU$ 5,299 for the body only.

We still need to get our hands on the Sony FX2 and put it through some tests, but from what we can see, it looks ideal for anyone making movies on a small, low-budget scale. There are some limitations, though, including a lack of 32-bit float audio recording.

• Read more: Sony's new compact video camera is official – and it looks ideal for YouTubers and indie filmmakers

4. We tested Google’s mind-blowing AI video maker

Veo 3 can create all kinds of weird and wonderful clips (Image credit: Future)

AI video making has made a huge step forward with the arrival of the Veo 3 model from Google. Clips made by Veo 3 have been flooding onto the web and across social media, and it's now just about impossible to tell what's real and what's fake with these videos.

We've been able to run a few prompts through the Google Veo 3 engine, creating clips of dinosaurs painting and dramatic set pieces on the surface of Mars. It can take some work to get a result you'll be happy with, though, and we've also got some Veo 3 tips to share.

• Read more: I created these wild AI videos in Veo 3 and here's how you can do it too

3. Samsung launched the One UI 8 beta for early adopters

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the phones first in line for One UI 8 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Samsung's next big update is One UI 8, based on Android 16, and you can test it out now if you have a Galaxy S25 phone and live in the US, the UK, Germany, or South Korea. Find out how you can sign up now, and the headline features you can expect from the update.

More upgrades and tweaks will no doubt be added as the beta progresses. Samsung also told us that One UI 8 will launch in full in the coming months, alongside some brand-new foldables, which we expect to be the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

• Read more: Samsung launches the One UI 8 beta for Galaxy S25 phones – here's how you can get it

2. The first Dolby Atmos FlexConnect speaker landed

The TCL Z100 offers some clever surround sound tricks (Image credit: Dolby / TCL)

The TCL Z100 has the distinction of being the first speaker to be announced that works with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. That's the audio tech that can create dynamic surround sound in a room, no matter how many speakers you've got or how they're arranged.

Up to four TCL Z100 speakers can be combined in a single configuration, and while we've yet to hear pricing and release date details on this unit, it's great to see the dynamic technology making its way into speakers, two years after it was announced.

• Read more: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is one of the coolest bits of tech I've seen in years, and it's finally coming in a speaker you can buy

1. WhatsApp finally got an iPad app

WhatsApp, now on the iPad (Image credit: Shutterstock)

It's been a long time coming, but WhatsApp is finally available on the Apple iPad – so your chats can spread themselves out across a bigger screen. As well as sending and receiving messages, you'll be able to share your screen and video chat with up to 32 people at once.

You'll be able to sync conversations across from your other devices in just a few seconds, and WhatsApp promises there's more to come with WhatsApp on Apple's tablets. Is it too much to ask Meta to get around to making an iPad app for Instagram next?

• Read more: WhatsApp just finally launched its much anticipated iPad app

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• Sphotonix’s 5D optical storage media has appeared on the latest installment of Mission Impossible
• A rare feat for a new product, its appearance is central to the movie plot
• Like Microsoft Silica, it uses silica based material to store up to 360TB per glass platter

Storage startup Sphotonix has landed itself a money-can’t-buy starring role in the big-budget Hollywood movie "Mission Impossible, The Final Reckoning," where it ended up being part of the actual scenario rather than a disposable, forgettable prop.

(No spoiler alerts) In it, its core product, a 5D optical storage media is used to store a critical element of the movie plot, potentially for billions of years.

Having been used to back up the full human genome in January 2025, we know that it can store up to 360TB on a 5-inch rectangular glass platter and uses a proprietary laser-based nano etching technology called FemtoEtch.

That's far more than the largest SSD (the 122.88TB Solidigm P5-5336) or HDD (36TB models from Seagate or WD) currently on the market – more about how the technology works is in the promotional video below.

Other exotic storage competitors that want to rival cold storage, archiving media such as LTO tape, include ceramic (Cerabyte), Silicium (Microsoft Silica), DNA (Biomemory, Catalog), optical disc (Folio photonics, Optera Data).

This is a tough market as witnessed through the demise of Sony's legacy 5.5TB ODA media, but experts agree: the rapacious appetite of AI for bytes, at rest or on the move, has changed the dynamics of the ecosystem.

The worldwide enterprise information archiving market will balloon to more than $17 billion by 2031, according to research published by Verified Market Research in 2024.

SPhotonix expects that by 2028, the world will produce almost 400 Zettabytes of data, with thousands of data centres globally gobbling more than 1000TWh of power.

The storage startup was founded upon over 30 years of research by its Chief Science Officer, Prof. Kazansky, at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Center.

I reached out to SPhotonix to find out more about the performance and other related specs of the media, as well as any meaningful time frames and prices.

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• Echo Hunter is a new, fully AI-generated sci-fi short film created using Arcana AI
• The cast is SAG-AFTRA actors led by Breckin Meyer
• The film blends traditional voice performances with AI-rendered visuals

There’s a memorable moment in the new sci-fi short film Echo Hunter where a clone hunter starts questioning his place in a morally bankrupt world with blurred lines between man and machine. It feels particularly pointed since AI models generate all of the footage for Echo Hunter.

Echo Hunter was created by Arcana Labs and written and directed by filmmaker Kavan Cardoza (better known as “Kavan the Kid”). However, unlike any other major AI-produced film, it features a fully unionized cast of SAG-AFTRA actors. You can see a bit of how it came together in the behind-the-scenes video below, but there are a few key things to know about Echo Hunter and its AI origins.

Real film with real actors

Clocking in at under 30 minutes, Echo Hunter isn’t just a tech demo; it's an actual story with a narrative, cohesive visual style, and directorial control. The plot isn't exactly unique; shades of Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and The Matrix are hard to avoid in a story about a clone hunter in a dystopian future who begins to unravel when memories of a forgotten life start surfacing. Existential thrillers with sci-fi flavor and a moody synth score are familiar, but the entire thing being generated using AI models is not.

Arcana Labs developed the eponymous AI model behind the film. The idea was to demonstrate that a high-quality movie could be made without hundreds of millions of dollars and a year in Atlanta. The director and his team fed performance data, audio, and prompts into the system, and Arcana AI did the heavy lifting of designing visuals, rendering scenes, and creating a coherent movie.

Echo Hunter's producers are keen to say they aren't trying to replace actors or sidestep their union. Breckin Meyer leads a fully paid-up group of union performers, including Taylor John Smith, Danielle Bisutti, Gedeon Burkhard, Hanna Balicki, and Xander Bailey. Their voices, performances, and likenesses are central to the experience. Their voices are attached to AI-generated virtual versions of themselves.

Kavan collaboration

If Kavan the Kid rings any bells, you may be familiar with his pioneering experiments with AI-produced short films. He's gone viral with very unauthorized but still impressive-looking shorts like Star Wars: The Ghost Apprentice and Batman: A Face of Clay, each seen by millions of people and propelling him to notoriety for AI-based filmmaking, for better or worse. Echo Hunter fits well with both his style and technical expertise, which makes sense since he both directed and wrote the film.

But it's far from a one-man show this time. Arcana produced Echo Hunter in collaboration with Phantom X, with Arcana co-founder Jonathan Yunger as executive producer. Counting them and the cast, it's still a fraction of the hundreds of people necessary for an equivalent production without AI. Arcana argues this is a positive as it reduces the amount of money and resources that prevent filmmakers from making the kinds of movies they want to make.

But, while it's good that the cast is unionized and paid and treated accordingly, it raises questions about the future of the many other hard-working and talented people who make epic, large-scale films. That's something to consider, even if AI flawlessly executed filmmaking requests every time without plenty of the finessing and fine-tuning that made Echo Hunter look as good as it does.

Future films

And Echo Hunter, flaws and all, shows that this isn't a far-off theoretical question to consider. Studios won't shut down all their productions in favor of AI-created films (with or without human actors) tomorrow or even in the next few years, but there's no way meetings about doing so aren't happening. The ethical implications are real and worth wrestling with, but on the optimistic side, smaller, independent creators now have a lot more options for making films without spending half a million dollars for a five-second shot of a futuristic skyline. And lack of corporate coffers doesn't have to stop a Phoenix-based director from adding rain-slicked streets to their noir film.

Including real actors in the union does show that synthetic productions aren't automatically soulless. The human performances, writing, and direction are what make the film engaging. Some might argue that AI just helps fill in the blanks between the dream and the budget. And no AI could perfectly mimic how one of the stars from Franklin & Bash delivers an emotional monologue about lost identity in a clone apocalypse.

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Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 250, for May 31.

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• Silicon Motion SM2324 9mm chip powers external SSDs with up to 32TB and
• It promises true USB4 speeds of 4,000MB/s
• Built for filmmakers and backup warriors, this chip supports Apple Pro workflows

Silicon Motion has revealed a potentially transformative piece of storage tech at Computex 2025: the SM2324, a single-chip USB4 SSD controller aimed at powering external drives with up to 32TB of storage and read speeds of 4,000MB/s.

The company says the SM2324 combines native USB4 support with an integrated Power Delivery controller, meaning fewer parts, reduced costs for OEMs, and more compact SSD enclosures.

This could, in theory, usher in a new class of ultra-high-capacity portable drives -though affordability and availability are still big questions.

A compact controller built for scale and cross-platform use

Unlike multi-chip designs, it’s built to simplify production without compromising on performance, thanks to sequential write speeds that can reach 3,809MB/s -assuming cooling is adequate.

It also offers full support for 3D TLC and QLC NAND, as well as compatibility with Power Delivery 3.1, and is built using TSMC’s 12nm low-power node to keep power demands reasonable.

With support for up to 32TB and compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Apple ProRes workflows on iPhones, the controller clearly targets a wide market -everyone from mobile filmmakers to enterprise backup users.

Whether it ends up in the drives competing for best portable hard drive or best SSD status depends not just on its specs, but on how it's implemented.

Still, there are caveats. While single-chip simplicity lowers BOM costs, there's no promise that 32TB USB4 SSDs based on the SM2324 will be priced for mainstream users.

NAND prices, thermal management requirements, and power delivery constraints could all push the final product into specialist territory.

So while it might eventually sit alongside the best external SSD options in performance, it may not do so in price.

This device comes with security features which include support for AES 128/256-bit encryption, hardware SHA-384, a TRNG, and full TCG Opal 2.0 compliance.

There’s even optional support for fingerprint-based authentication, though integration details are vague.

It also integrates Silicon Motion’s NANDXtend LDPC ECC engine, improving endurance and reliability for both TLC and QLC memory.

In terms of design, the chip is compact, just 9mm by 9mm, and includes an aluminum heat spreader, making it viable for slim external enclosures.

"At Silicon Motion, we're focused on delivering SSD controller solutions that lead in both performance and power efficiency," said Nelson Duann, Senior VP of Client & Automotive Storage Business at Silicon Motion.

"…the SM2324 redefines portable storage with a fully integrated single-chip USB4 solution. These technologies reflect our commitment to helping customers build faster, smaller, and more efficient SSDs for next-generation applications."

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• Dummy loads burn up to 45% of energy just to keep power levels stable
• Skeleton’s GrapheneGPU delivers up to 40% more computing with the same hardware
• AI workloads are killing energy efficiency, GrapheneGPU smooths power draw in real time

As artificial intelligence systems grow more demanding, many data centers have found themselves consuming nearly twice the energy they technically need.

This overuse isn’t due to system flaws or outdated hardware, it’s rooted in how GPUs behave, as their power demand can swing drastically within seconds, from full throttle to idle.

To cope, operators often deploy dummy loads, deliberate energy wasters, to maintain a stable power draw - but these data centers deliberately slow the performance of tens of thousands of GPUs to prevent power outages

Dummy loads mean massive wastage of energy

While this avoids damage and blackouts, it means up to 45% of energy is lost as heat, performing no useful computation.

Skeleton Technologies now claims it may have a more efficient alternative, one that allows GPUs to run at full capacity without overwhelming the grid.

The Estonian company developed GrapheneGPU, a peak-shaving system using proprietary Curved Graphene supercapacitors.

Unlike lithium-based systems, these capacitors can respond in just 10 microseconds, absorbing energy during idle periods and discharging it instantly when GPU loads spike.

The result, according to Skeleton, is the ability to maintain consistent GPU performance without stressing the grid or resorting to throttling.

Their tests suggest the system can deliver up to 40% more FLOPS - floating point operations per second - using the same GPUs, simply by removing the performance penalties associated with thermal de-rating and power instability.

“GrapheneGPU delivers up to 40% more computing with the same energy footprint, while cutting both capital and operating costs by reducing grid upgrade needs, energy waste, and cooling,” said Taavi Madiberk, CEO of Skeleton Technologies.

“Powered by our patented Curved Graphene, this is a fundamental shift in how AI infrastructure can scale - sustainably and economically”.

The company also reports up to a 44% reduction in the power capacity that data centers must reserve from the grid.

The core unit, the GrapheneGPU PCS 50, delivers up to 80 kW of peak power in a standard 1OU form factor, compatible with existing infrastructure and cooled by air or liquid.

Importantly, it avoids lithium entirely, using Skeleton’s patented graphene-based material instead.

According to Skeleton, this technology has been tested under rigorous hyperscaler-grade GPU workloads with positive results. However, it has not been independently tested for real-world performance and durability.

The first shipment of this technology will commence in Germany by June 2025. The company also has a U.S. production site planned for early 2026.

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Here are hints -- and the answer -- for today's Wordle No. 1,442 for May 31.