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The question of whether you should say please or thank you to ChatGPT is having something of a moment right now, and that’s made me consider my own interactions with the popular chatbot.

I’ve never really thought about it before, but on reflection I’m starting to wonder if I’m displaying sociopathic tendencies, because I never say please and thank you to ChatGPT, or am I being gaslit into thinking I'm at fault by well my well-meaning work colleagues who look at me in horror?

The news that I never say please or thank you is probably coming as a great relief to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who recently admitted that people saying please and thank you to ChatGPT are costing the company millions of dollars in processing power, not to mention the harm all that extra processing will be causing to the environment.

My reasons for no-frills approach to AI aren’t coming from a concern for OpenAI’s bottom line, or to do with environmental awareness issues: I simply can’t bring myself to be polite to machines, and also, like most of us, I’m in a hurry. I’ve got stuff to do, and it takes longer to be polite.

I like to think that this behavior stands in stark contrast to how I treat people in real life, especially my work colleagues (although you’re going to have to take my word for that).

Essentially, I’m a big 'please' and 'thank you' sayer in real life, but I don’t see ChatGPT as a person, in the same way that I don’t see Alexa as a person, or my car as a person. (Incidentally, I don’t say please and thank you to Alexa or my car, either.)

It’s not like adding a please or thank you to a ChatGPT, or Alexa, request makes any real difference to the answers you get, either. Does ChatGPT care that I’m polite? It doesn’t – you get exactly the same results from asking it to 'find me 10 examples of people in sport who quit after not getting a pay rise' as you do if you ask it the same question and add 'please' at the end. I know because I just tried it.

When you say 'please', ChatGPT starts its response with 'Certainly!', but you still get the same answers. The rest is just window dressing.

Also, I don’t feel like I’m actively being rude to ChatGPT. I’m just missing out unnecessary words that don’t make any real difference.

Our survey says...

So why do people say please and thank you to machines?

A 2024 study by Future (the publisher of TechRadar) revealed that 67% of US people are polite to AI. That’s staggeringly high.

I get that politeness is an ingrained habit that’s hard to break for some people, and that you get your answer framed in a slightly different way when you’re polite (see the 'Certainly!' example above), which means ChatGPT feels all warm and cuddly when you interact with it.

But beyond that, I think the logic starts to get a bit hazy. One person I know genuinely insists that they are polite to ChatGPT because one day it’s AI that will be in charge, and it will somehow remember them.

Yes, I'm sure that when the AI killer robots executing the last remains of the human race, they will pause and say, 'Stop, this is Kevin, he always said thank you. We’ll let him live.'

Ghost in the machine

What worries me is the tacit assumption that if you’re rude to ChatGPT then you must be rude to people in everyday life as well, as if a person can only exist in one mode of being. I'd argue that if your politeness is based purely on habit, then are you really being polite? Or are you just unthinkingly acting out patterns of behaviour without any genuine emotion behind them?

I can tell the difference between people and machines, and treat each accordingly.

If ChatGPT ever (and depending on who you talk to this is either inevitable, or impossible) reaches the level where it can be said to be conscious, rather than the pattern matching algorithm we know and love today, then yes, I’ll start using please and thank you.

Until then, I’m keeping my interactions with AI as short and limited as possible, and if that helps save the planet along the way then so much the better.

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• RIP: Privacy Sandbox, 2019-2025 – Google confirms it won’t go ahead with plans
• Third-party cookies continue, but Incognito mode offers enhanced protection
• Some tech, like Topics API, will continue to be used

Google is scaling back its Privacy Sandbox project, which was originally aimed at phasing out third-party cookies, after six years of hard work and its fair share of delays.

Launched in 2019 to address privacy concerns and to meet regulatory standards without impacting advertisers’ abilities to target specific users, we now know that Google will not phase out third-party cookies.

In a blog post confirming Privacy Sandbox’s demise, Google's Anthony Chavez blamed publishers, developers, regulators and the ads industry for resistance, as well as a changing landscape and increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

Google has pulled the plug on Privacy Sandbox

“Taking all of these factors into consideration, we’ve made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies,” Chavez confirmed.

Although Google will continue to support cookies in Chrome, the company has promised to “enhance tracking protections” in Incognito mode, which already blocks third-party cookies.

Some tech remains in development or use, though, including IP address protection in Incognito mode, which is planned for Q3 2025, and Topics API, which allows interest-based advertising without sharing full browsing history.

Google is now committed to working with the industry to gather feedback in order to inform an updated roadmap for the technologies it’s already been developing. “In light of this update, we understand that the Privacy Sandbox APIs may have a different role to play in supporting the ecosystem,” Chavez said.

Privacy advocates have argued that Google undermined its own privacy claims, noting that privacy came second to surveillance, with many users seeking to switch to alternative browsers like Firefox.

Movement for an Open Web also hailed the announcement as the end of Google’s attempt to monopolize digital advertising standards.

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• RIP: Privacy Sandbox, 2019-2025 – Google confirms it won’t go ahead with plans
• Third-party cookies continue, but Incognito mode offers enhanced protection
• Some tech, like Topics API, will continue to be used

Google is scaling back its Privacy Sandbox project, which was originally aimed at phasing out third-party cookies, after six years of hard work and its fair share of delays.

Launched in 2019 to address privacy concerns and to meet regulatory standards without impacting advertisers’ abilities to target specific users, we now know that Google will not phase out third-party cookies.

In a blog post confirming Privacy Sandbox’s demise, Google's Anthony Chavez blamed publishers, developers, regulators and the ads industry for resistance, as well as a changing landscape and increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

Google has pulled the plug on Privacy Sandbox

“Taking all of these factors into consideration, we’ve made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies,” Chavez confirmed.

Although Google will continue to support cookies in Chrome, the company has promised to “enhance tracking protections” in Incognito mode, which already blocks third-party cookies.

Some tech remains in development or use, though, including IP address protection in Incognito mode, which is planned for Q3 2025, and Topics API, which allows interest-based advertising without sharing full browsing history.

Google is now committed to working with the industry to gather feedback in order to inform an updated roadmap for the technologies it’s already been developing. “In light of this update, we understand that the Privacy Sandbox APIs may have a different role to play in supporting the ecosystem,” Chavez said.

Privacy advocates have argued that Google undermined its own privacy claims, noting that privacy came second to surveillance, with many users seeking to switch to alternative browsers like Firefox.

Movement for an Open Web also hailed the announcement as the end of Google’s attempt to monopolize digital advertising standards.

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• Honor Band 10 has been released in China
• The design looks very similar to the Band 9
• We don’t yet know when it’ll be released in other regions

If you like the idea of the band-style fitness tracker format popularised by Fitbit, but you want a cheaper model, we’ve got great news for you: the Honor Band 10 has appeared on Honor’s Chinese website, indicating it could soon be sold in other countries.

An alternative to the best Fitbit, the Honor Band series frequently appears on our list of the best cheap fitness trackers (although Huawei and Xiaomi have usurped its position for now) as perfectly good, functional fitness trackers with great battery life and deceptively large AMOLED displays.

The Honor Band 10 hasn’t reinvented the wheel, based on these initial listings: it retains the large 1.57-inch screen and buttonless design of its predecessor, the Honor Band 9.

Like its predecessor, it’s unlikely to be available in the US, but it’s on sale in China starting at 229 yuan, the equivalent of £23.50 / AU$49. It’s likely to be a little more expensive in other regions, to account for shipping costs, and a more premium version capable of NFC payments seems to be an option on the Honor website.

NFC questions

However, Honor watches struggle to use their NFC capabilities due to incompatibility with Google Wallet and Apple Pay, even though Honor phones support Google Wallet.

It remains to be seen whether Honor Band 10 suffers the same fate, but it’s very likely, leaving the NFC version to be virtually unusable outside of China, unless you use an Honor phone’s proprietary digital wallet service.

Nevertheless, expect heart rate, steps, sleep tracking, workout tracking, stress management, notification functionalities, and more, all wrapped up in an attractive-looking (and even more attractively-priced) total package.

It won’t have some of the advanced features we see on Fitbits and the best Garmin watches, but for a cheap-and-cheerful fitness tracker, it looks great. Stay tuned for a full review when it hits shelves outside of China.

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• Fujifilm teases new camera with tagline ‘Half the Size, Twice the Story’
• Hints at new half-frame digital camera, possible called the X-Half
• Silhouette appears to show a secondary film preview display

Fujifilm’s rumored half-frame camera appears to be one step closer to reality. Weeks after leaked images gave us our first look at the ‘X-Half’, an official teaser has now all but confirmed its existence.

Shared on Fujifilm’s YouTube channel on April 22, the 19-second clip teases the new camera with the tagline ‘Half the Size, Twice the Story’. That leans heavily into speculation that the model will play on the half-frame format.

The clip doesn’t confirm a launch date or name for the new model. It simply says ’See you soon’, hinting that we won’t have long to wait to find out more.

The video also gives us a silhouette of the camera, which looks consistent with images that circulated online earlier in April. The shadowy preview shows a camera that apes the retro design language channelled by other Fujifilm models, including a textured control dial and circular viewfinder.

Another detail in the teaser has fuelled further speculation: a blue Provia logo on the left side of the camera, beneath the viewfinder. This sits where the canister window would traditionally be positioned on a film camera. So what does that mean for the X-half?

A window to simulation

The half-frame format comes from analog photography. It traditionally refers to a camera that can capture two vertical exposures on a single frame of 35mm film, allowing you to get twice the number of stills from a roll. It’s also a natural fit for today’s content creators, producing portrait images that are easily shared on social media.

New film cameras such as the Pentax 17 and Kodak Ektar H35 have helped the half-frame format return to popularity in recent years. The question is how Fujifilm’s new camera will tie into this revival.

As we reported earlier this month, online sources suggest the X-Half will be a modern take on the half-frame format, combining the convenience of digital with the charm of analog. That’s a recipe familiar to Fujifilm, as seen in models like the virally popular X100VI.

Leaked specs suggest that the X-Half will continue that trend, with a vintage design featuring a manual exposure dial and an optical viewfinder. Fuji Rumors has also reported that the new camera will have a vertical LCD display on the rear, to help with composing shots.

Fuji Rumors has further speculated that the X-Half will have a 1-inch sensor. It’s not clear whether this will be oriented vertically or horizontally, but many believe it will allow users to create ‘diptych’ images, combining two side-by-side photos in one frame. The teaser clip adds weight to this, with the line ‘Twice the Story.’

Where will film come into that story? As above, the trailer shows a blue Provia banner on the rear bottom left of the camera. Provia is a type of 35mm film that was made by Fujifilm. It’s also one of the many Film Simulation recipes available on recent Fujifilm cameras, which digitally emulate the look of classic film.

Some analog cameras featured a canister window which showed the roll fitted inside. As several commenters have suggested online, this could be mimicked by a secondary LCD display on the X-Half. It’s something we’ve seen before: the X-Pro 3 featured a mini display on the back panel which could show the selected Film Simulation.

A film preview screen would certainly fit with the X-Half’s rumored blend of analog and digital, putting a contemporary twist on a design hallmark of 35mm cameras. It could also be a divisive one. As with the X-Pro 3, nostalgic flourishes can be seen as gimmicks by purists. Then again, the X-Half isn’t necessarily targeted at a purist audience.

We’ll only how Fujifilm’s half-frame camera is pitched when full specs and pricing are confirmed. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out.

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• M&S suffered a cyberattack that affected Click and Collect systems
• Stores were largely unaffected, except some contactless payment systems disabled
• It's not clear yet if any customer data is affected

Marks and Spencer (M&S) has suffered a “cyber incident” that has affected stores for the last few days, resulting in “small changes” to store operations in order to protect customers “and the business."

The retailer confirmed Click and Collect services were impacted by technical issues as a result, and some stores were unable to process contactless payments. It’s not yet clear if this incident has resulted in any breached customer or employee data, or if this was a ransomware attack, but customers should make sure to change their passwords and be on the lookout for suspicious activity just in case.

The retail giant has apologised for any inconvenience, and assures that it is working with “the best experts” to manage the incident - here’s what we know so far.

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Business as usual

In a note to customers, M&S Chief Executive Stuart Machin apologised, confirming that stores remain open, and the retailer’s website and app are operating as usual.

“There is no need for you to take any action at this time, and if the situation changes we will let you know. There may be some limited delays to your Click and Collect order, which we are working hard to resolve,” Machin writes.

The retail industry is a frequent target for cyberattacks, often holding personally identifiable information such as names, email addresses, and shipping addresses of customers. Criminals that can take control of systems can cost retail firms millions in downtime - gaining serious leverage in ransomware incidents.

M&S has confirmed to TechRadar Pro all contactless payments are now back online in all stores, and that it has seen “positive comments from customers thanking us for our transparency and for store colleague support.”

In 2024, a supply chain attack hit some of the UK’s largest grocery stores, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, as well as coffee shop Starbucks, taking some systems offline in a ransomware attack that saw over 680GB of data stolen.

For those affected

Marks and Spencer has not confirmed the nature of this incident, and so far no cybercrime group has taken responsibility for the incident, nor has any customer data been posted online.

That being said, customers would be wise to take some steps in the next few days just to be on the same side and to get ahead of any repercussions if their information has been affected.

In an incident like this where it isn't clear what, if any, data has been affected - the first thing to do is to change your password, and any other sites with the same credentials. We’ve put together a guide on how to create a secure password to make sure you’re as safe as possible.

The next, and probably most important step, is keeping vigilant. With your name and email address, a criminal can send sophisticated social engineering attacks, aimed to trick you into handing over more information, or into inadvertently downloading malware.

Make sure you double check any unexpected communications and email addresses - especially cross referencing these against the legitimate email addresses (these can be found on Google).

Be especially wary of any email that asks you to enter any information, click a link, or scan a QR code. Phishing attacks using QR codes are becoming more common, and are more dangerous than ever before, so make sure anything you scan is verified beforehand.

If a criminal does email you, there will most likely be signs. The first, is the email address the communication comes from - if it's G00gle or M1crosoft instead of their legitimate addresses, just delete the email. If you get an unexpected text, email, or phone call from anyone claiming to be a “friend”, from a number or address you don’t recognise, especially one that asks you to sign in, send money, buy a gift card, be very very suspicious.

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• New FOG ransomware is asking victims to justify their jobs
• FOG has been responsible for 173 attacks since June 2024
• The payload is initially delivered by email/phishing

A new ransomware attack appears to be channelling Elon Musk’s energy by demanding that workers share a recap of their weekly accomplishments, much like the Tesla CEO has demanded as part of his DOGE efforts.

The note references Musk’s controversial ‘five bullet points’ memo, asking victims to justify their jobs or cough up $1 trillion.

The original Musk policy was issued under Trump’s administration, and intended to drive accountability in federal departments. It quickly faced backlash and later became optional, however it’s now fuelling the latest round of scams according to a new Trend Micro report.

FOG ransomware inspired by Musk’s push for accountability

TrendMicro found nine ransomware samples between March 27 and April 2, which it has attributed to FOG Ransomware.

They “dropped a note containing key names related to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” says the report, which highlights DOGE’s position in the headlines.

The report cites recent Reuters reporting disclosing a DOGE technologist had previously been involved in providing support to a cybercrime gang linked to trafficking stolen data and cyberstalking an FBI agent.

FOG ransomware has been tied to 173 counts of ransomware activity since June 2024, and 53 in February 2025 alone. Individuals and organizations from the technology, education, manufacturing and transportation sectors are mostly at risk.

In the case of the current DOGE-inspired attack, malware is delivered via email or a phishing attempt using a ZIP file named ‘Pay Adjustment’, which contains a LNK file disguised as a PDF. Clicking the file runs a PowerShell script which retrieves ransomware payloads and plays political YouTube videos.

Although there are basic cybersecurity hygiene steps users can take to prevent attacks, such as not clicking on suspicious links, social engineering continues to be othe most exploited attack vector and humans are the weakest point of any company’s cybersecurity strategy, which is why Trend Micro is also recommending companies to monitor indicators of compromise.

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If you're struggling to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order, we're here to help. After a brief delay, pre-order stock will be going live in the US on April 24. And hopefully, that'll have a knock-on effect of more stock becoming available in regions like the UK, where it's been especially tough to track down a pre-order.

So what can you do about it if you're especially keen on learning how to pre-order Nintendo Switch 2? The stock situation (or lack thereof) right now may seem hopeless, but there are things you can do to maximize your chances of successfully putting a pre-order down before the June 5 launch.

That's what I'm here for today. I managed to get a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order in early doors, and as someone who's been covering hardware launches and pre-order events for close to half a decade, I'm in a decent position to help point you in the right direction. Without further ado, let's get into those Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order tips.

Refresh your favorite retailers

(Image credit: Kaleidoscope / Future)

When looking at Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders at your go-to retailer - be that Walmart or Best Buy in the US, or Argos and Very in the UK - it's tempting to throw in the towel once you see stock has sold out.

However, it's important to note that stock can come and go in waves, and there are plenty of folks who get cold feet and cancel their pre-orders entirely. It may take some webpage wrestling, particularly when you reach checkout, but it's entirely possible to get lucky here and take advantage of fresh stock waves or others' canceled orders.

Sign up to retailer mailing lists

(Image credit: GameStop)

Signing up for retailer mailing lists is a great way to be among the first to know about new waves of Switch 2 pre-order stock. Most retailers will have an option for this if they are currently out of Nintendo Switch 2 stock. Some may even offer priority to shoppers who click through to store pages via email.

Be sure to have notifications enabled for your preferred email client, too. Whether you're at the computer or on your phone, this will ensure you can respond as quickly as possible when those emails come in.

Do your best to prep your retailer accounts

(Image credit: Walmart)

I won't necessarily ask you to make accounts for a whole bunch of different retailers, as that can be time-consuming and quite stressful. Instead, if you already have accounts for retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Argos, or Very, it'll pay dividends to ensure they're in good shape for a quick and stress-free pre-order as and when stock becomes available.

The very last thing you want is to spot stock at your preferred retailer, only to fumble the account sign-in process with a forgotten password or Captcha security check. Time is of the essence here, naturally. So, making sure you're already signed in - or have your login credentials close to hand - will save you time and could be the difference maker.

My Nintendo Store is a good fallback option

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Currently, the official My Nintendo Store is allowing users with a Nintendo Account to register their interest in a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order. Simply head to the landing page, sign in with your Nintendo Account, select either the console by itself or the Mario Kart World bundle, and click 'register interest.'

It's important to note this won't guarantee you a pre-order slot. But you absolutely should register your interest regardless in case the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order situation continues to be dire in terms of overall stock. As a last resort, it's risk-free and could be the difference between you securing that pre-order or not.

Buying the bundle is preferable

(Image credit: Nintendo)

If you manage to find a listing in stock for the Nintendo Switch 2 console by itself, it can be all too tempting to get your pre-order in then and there. But in most cases, I would strongly recommend trying to secure the console bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World.

Why? It all comes down to pricing. The Nintendo Switch 2 console on its own costs $449.99 / £395.99. The bundle, meanwhile, retails at $499.99 / £429.99.

Given that Mario Kart World costs $79.99 / £74.99 by itself, you stand to save a ton of cash by opting for the bundle. In the US, you'll save $30, and around £41 if you're in the UK. You can then pocket that extra change and potentially put it towards a Nintendo Switch 2 accessory, such as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Switch 2 Camera, or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription if you need one.

Go to your local retailer in person

(Image credit: Currys)

Shopping online is one thing, but heading in-store is also a perfectly viable option. For example, UK retailer Currys doesn't seem to be bothering with online Switch 2 pre-orders at all, encouraging shoppers to instead visit their local outlet.

Registering interest by putting your name down in person at a retailer isn't as common a practice as it used to be, but it's still worth a try on the chance that staff could put a unit aside for you once stock comes in.

If in doubt, keep checking our live coverage

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Finally, I'll stress once again that we're here to help make your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order experience as seamless and stress-free as possible. While we can't whisk stock into existence out of thin air (we wish!), our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order live hub is going to be regularly updated by several members of the TechRadar team.

Myself and others will be keeping a very close eye on stock movements to the best of our ability. As a result, I recommend bookmarking our live coverage, especially considering stock drops can happen at a moment's notice.

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• The iPhone 17e is being tipped to arrive next year
• A slightly later launch date in May 2026 is rumored
• It suggests an annual refresh for the new 'e' series

Given we had to wait three years between the iPhone SE 3 and its sort-of successor the iPhone 16e, it was unclear what the upgrade cycle would be for the most affordable iPhone going forward – but now it seems we're set to get annual refreshes.

According to well-known tipster Fixed Focus Digital (via MacRumors), work on the iPhone 17e production line is now "on the agenda" (as per Google Translate), and we should see the phone in May 2026 according to a follow-up post.

That's a little later in the year than the iPhone 16e, which was of course unveiled in February of this year. Maybe Apple is rearranging its schedule to try and boost sales, or to accommodate the iPhone 17 and 18, or to deal with the ongoing US tariff issues.

This particular leak doesn't make any mention of what we can expect from the iPhone 17e, though a speed bump is likely. Apple probably won't change too much in terms of the look of the handset, considering it got a pretty big design revamp this year.

What we want to see

Google also launches a mid-ranger each year – most recently the Pixel 9a (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

If Apple does settle down to an annual refresh of its 'e' line-up – much like the 'a' line-up for the Google Pixels – then that's to be applauded. Having more options in terms of pricing and design when choosing smartphones is always good for consumers.

There are two rather obvious changes Apple could make with the iPhone 17e, however. The first is to add MagSafe, which was rather strangely left off the iPhone 16e and meant that the phone was instantly incompatible with a whole range of accessories.

The second change (which perhaps contradicts the other one) would be to drop the price to something truly budget. The iPhone 16e starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999, compared to the $429 / £419 / AU$719 of its predecessor (albeit for 64GB of storage rather than 128GB).

In our iPhone 16e review, we called the device "a bit of a frustrating conundrum", with some big pluses and some big minuses to talk about. In other words, there's definitely room for improvement with next year's iPhone 17e.

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• Strava has revealed new data to inspire London marathon runners
• It says that training with friends could have a massive impact on your performance
• People who run solo are much more likely to slow down towards the end of their race

With marathon season in full swing and the London Marathon fast approaching, new data revealed by Strava has confirmed that training with friends and in a social setting could be the key to unlocking a new PB and smashing your race.

Strava, one of the best fitness apps around – and newly-adopted parent company of Runna – says that 60% of London Marathon 2024 runners uploaded their activity to the platform, giving the company unparalleled insights into performance.

Alongside the usual splits between demographics, gender, and more, Strava has shared revealing insights into how your training and performance can be impacted by social interaction – and with some time left before the race, it's not too late to make the change.

Don't go solo

Strava says its data reveals that London marathon runners who trained with others ahead of the event were "significantly less likely" to bonk during the race compared to solo runners. Bonking, otherwise known as hitting the wall, is technically defined as slowing down by more than 10% during the last 10k of your race.

According to Strava, 29% of those who tagged at least one other person in their training activity bonked, compared with a massive 45% of those who did not.

Social training aside, Strava also said that nearly two-thirds of London Marathon runners uploaded at least one non-running activity during training, highlighting the importance of variety and cross-training in the run-up to the event.

Worried about your time? Don't be. Strava says that fewer than 10% of runners finished in under three hours, with less than half completing the race in four hours. 79% clocked times under five hours, which seems like the best benchmark to aim for.

Planning your next few days? Strava says that most runners two weeks out from the race are likely tapering off their mileage, dropping back down to around 30km (18.6mi) a week, with most runners only running around 12km the week before the event.

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• Strava has revealed new data to inspire London marathon runners
• It says that training with friends could have a massive impact on your performance
• People who run solo are much more likely to slow down towards the end of their race

With marathon season in full swing and the London Marathon fast approaching, new data revealed by Strava has confirmed that training with friends and in a social setting could be the key to unlocking a new PB and smashing your race.

Strava, one of the best fitness apps around – and newly-adopted parent company of Runna – says that 60% of London Marathon 2024 runners uploaded their activity to the platform, giving the company unparalleled insights into performance.

Alongside the usual splits between demographics, gender, and more, Strava has shared revealing insights into how your training and performance can be impacted by social interaction – and with some time left before the race, it's not too late to make the change.

Don't go solo

Strava says its data reveals that London marathon runners who trained with others ahead of the event were "significantly less likely" to bonk during the race compared to solo runners. Bonking, otherwise known as hitting the wall, is technically defined as slowing down by more than 10% during the last 10k of your race.

According to Strava, 29% of those who tagged at least one other person in their training activity bonked, compared with a massive 45% of those who did not.

Social training aside, Strava also said that nearly two-thirds of London Marathon runners uploaded at least one non-running activity during training, highlighting the importance of variety and cross-training in the run-up to the event.

Worried about your time? Don't be. Strava says that fewer than 10% of runners finished in under three hours, with less than half completing the race in four hours. 79% clocked times under five hours, which seems like the best benchmark to aim for.

Planning your next few days? Strava says that most runners two weeks out from the race are likely tapering off their mileage, dropping back down to around 30km (18.6mi) a week, with most runners only running around 12km the week before the event.

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• Intel reportedly preparing to lay off 21,000 workers - around 20% of its workforce
• It also laid off 15,000 workers less back in August 2024
• CEO Lip-Bu Tan wants to address the company’s current strategy

Intel could be set to announce one of the biggest rounds of tech layoffs we’ve seen in months, with thousands of workers set to leave.

A report from Bloomberg claims the Santa Clara chipmaker could be set to announce a 20% reduction to its workforce as soon as this week, which would equate to around 21,000 workers.

The company is set to announce its first-quarter financial – the perfect opportunity to confirm any cost-cutting measures such as layoffs.

Intel could be about to lay off 20% of its workforce

If they go ahead, the layoffs would streamline management, cut costs, reduce bureaucracy and help Intel to refocus on becoming an engineering-driven, product-focused company. All things Intel;s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has alluded to since taking on the role.

Intel had a particularly troubling fourth quarter, with revenue dropping 7% year-over-year. The full 12-month period wasn’t especially positive, either, with a 2% year-over-year decrease in revenue to $53.1 billion.

“The cost reduction plan we announced last year to improve the trajectory of the company is having an impact,” CFO David Zinsner explained.

Although quarter-one results have not yet been announced, Zinsner said he expected “macro uncertainties, further inventory digestion and competitive dynamics” to weaken performance.

Intel shares are down 43% over the past year alone, with the company currently sitting at a market cap of $85.07 billion.

To put that into perspective, AMD’s total valuation is currently $140.14 billion, and Nvidia is the third-most valuable company in the world and one of only eight to measure its market cap in trillions, not billions, at $2.412 trillion.

Looking back, Intel has already laid off thousands in the past couple of years, including a staggering 15,000 workers in August 2024.

Intel told us it won't be providing a comment on this because it does not comment on rumor or speculation.

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• A hands-on video shows how an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit compares to other iPhone 17 models
• The iPhone 17 Air is substantially slimmer than the rest of the iPhone 17 series
• It's so slim there are concerns it could easily bend

The iPhone 17 Air is going to be slim – that almost goes without saying – but a new hands-on video featuring a dummy unit provides perhaps our best sense yet of just how slim.

Unbox Therapy (via 9to5Mac) has shared a video in which they compare what's said to be an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit to iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max ones, and it’s fair to say they’re wowed by just how slim the Air is.

They say that with its 5.65mm thickness it feels “futuristic” and makes the iPhone 17 Pro Max (which is rumored to be 163.04 x 77.59 x 8.75mm) feel “antiquated” in comparison.

This iPhone 17 Air dummy unit is also a lot thinner than the 149.62 x 71.46 x 7.96mm iPhone 17 dummy unit they have.

Overall they seem seriously impressed, suggesting that it’s so slim that most people won’t care about any compromises – such as there reportedly being only one rear camera – once they feel it in their hands.

Bending and battery concerns

However, the phone being quite this slim also leaves them with concerns, with Unbox Therapy noting that bending could be a worry. They joke that you shouldn’t put it in your back pocket, and say “I just don’t know how they’re going to make it strong enough.”

Given that Apple already went through 'bendgate' with the iPhone 6, we’d think making the iPhone 17 Air stand up to pressure would be a priority for the company. So hopefully it won’t bend easily, but it will be interesting to see if and how Apple achieves that.

Unbox Therapy also noted that “if this doesn’t bend in half just by you looking at it, then the battery life is going to be the next problem”, adding that “this thing’s going to have horrible battery life” due to how slim it is.

We’re a little less worried about that, since the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to use a high-density battery, so it might not need as much space for a decent capacity. Still, there are probably limits to what Apple can manage there. But if most people are as wowed by the thinness of the phone as Unbox Therapy seems to be – assuming that this dummy unit is the genuine article – they might be able to put up with just about any issue resulting from its design.

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• A hands-on video shows how an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit compares to other iPhone 17 models
• The iPhone 17 Air is substantially slimmer than the rest of the iPhone 17 series
• It's so slim there are concerns it could easily bend

The iPhone 17 Air is going to be slim – that almost goes without saying – but a new hands-on video featuring a dummy unit provides perhaps our best sense yet of just how slim.

Unbox Therapy (via 9to5Mac) has shared a video in which they compare what's said to be an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit to iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max ones, and it’s fair to say they’re wowed by just how slim the Air is.

They say that with its 5.65mm thickness it feels “futuristic” and makes the iPhone 17 Pro Max (which is rumored to be 163.04 x 77.59 x 8.75mm) feel “antiquated” in comparison.

This iPhone 17 Air dummy unit is also a lot thinner than the 149.62 x 71.46 x 7.96mm iPhone 17 dummy unit they have.

Overall they seem seriously impressed, suggesting that it’s so slim that most people won’t care about any compromises – such as there reportedly being only one rear camera – once they feel it in their hands.

Bending and battery concerns

However, the phone being quite this slim also leaves them with concerns, with Unbox Therapy noting that bending could be a worry. They joke that you shouldn’t put it in your back pocket, and say “I just don’t know how they’re going to make it strong enough.”

Given that Apple already went through 'bendgate' with the iPhone 6, we’d think making the iPhone 17 Air stand up to pressure would be a priority for the company. So hopefully it won’t bend easily, but it will be interesting to see if and how Apple achieves that.

Unbox Therapy also noted that “if this doesn’t bend in half just by you looking at it, then the battery life is going to be the next problem”, adding that “this thing’s going to have horrible battery life” due to how slim it is.

We’re a little less worried about that, since the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to use a high-density battery, so it might not need as much space for a decent capacity. Still, there are probably limits to what Apple can manage there. But if most people are as wowed by the thinness of the phone as Unbox Therapy seems to be – assuming that this dummy unit is the genuine article – they might be able to put up with just about any issue resulting from its design.

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• The iPhone 17 Pro could be sold in a pale Sky Blue shade, but don’t count on it
• New iPhone 17 Pro render ditches the two-tone design for a possibly more accurate appearance
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• Instagram Edits is out now as a free video editor on Android and iOS
• It's Meta's answer to CapCut with a major emphasis on integration with the main Instagram platform
• Edits also features some AI-powered tools like Cutouts and Animate

Instagram’s answer to CapCut is finally here. Edits was first teased by Adam Mosseri, the Meta-owned social media giant's head, in mid-January, as TikTok was facing its first ban in the US. It was originally supposed to launch in February, then March, but here we are in April, and today’s the day.

As initially promised, Instagram Edits is available for free on Android and iOS. It lands as a familiar timeline-based editor offering deep integration with Instagram, meaning you can view your metrics, watch other Reels, browse through all the available sounds and audio clips, and even apply popular effects.

Unlike CapCut, which is owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, or other video-editing apps for mobile, Instagram is billing Edits as a one-stop shop. As you can see from the screenshots below, there's a lot of focus on creation and ideation.

Beyond importing video, making cuts, adding text, and implementing effects, you can use sticky notes of sorts to create lists of ideas or manage various projects.

(Image credit: Instagram)

As noted above, you can watch other Reels and browse for them without leaving the app. Plus, you’ll have the ability to save notes associated with them – maybe it’s one you want to remix or just an excellent custom audio you want to use in your next video.

The big appeal, though, for the Instagram faithful is a promised high-quality camera for "enhanced video recording." This way, you can capture and edit right in the app, versus shooting in another app and then moving it into Instagram. Again, as a trend for Meta, the goal is to own the whole process.

Now, whether you shoot in the app or import, there are plenty of editing tools available. Mosseri initially teased that Edits would have all the tools you’d expect, and those are here. Instagram is tossing in some more unique ones, though, including the ability to pull from popular effects like a green screen.

More advanced effects, like Cutouts, which allows you to isolate a person or object on screen with tracking, or Antimate, which likely utilizes a Meta LLM, can turn images into video for engaging moments, are also included.

Both seem pretty handy, and are located at the very bottom of the interface as a row of tools. Above it, you’ll have a classic timeline that harkens back to iMovie and looks quite reminiscent of CapCut. You’ll have your main video track with audio below it, as well as room for on-screen elements like text or overlays.

(Image credit: Instagram)

While I haven’t tried Edits yet, the core functions seem to be on a par with those of other video editors, and it should be easy enough to quickly create an edit with drag-and-drop, cuts, splits, and more. Edits also has a Captions tool, as well as options to record a voiceover and add other elements.

Instagram is also promising to listen to feedback, and already has a list of features that are set to arrive in the next few updates to Edits, including the ability to use AI to modify videos, likely with a prompt; keyframes, collaboration features, and an expansion to built-in elements like fonts, filters, and voice effects, among other things.

The platform also promises to listen to feedback on Edits and use it to inform the development roadmap. I'm curious to see how Edits stacks up, given that CapCut, which I use quite a bit, disappeared for a while TikTok was banned. You can edit up to 10 minutes of video, and Instagram promises watermark-free exports to its own platform as well as general saves to the device.

Additionally, while the AI features aren’t make or break, they could let creators spice up content, and I like the promised functionality of Cutouts. So, yes, while the design does resemble CapCut, that platform didn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel of video editing on the fly.

If anything, Instagram launching Edits as a free video editor on iOS and Android should inspire some new features for competing apps to help level the playing field. If you’re interested in trying Edits, it’s rolling out now for Android and iOS.

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• The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has been officially revealed, and it's available right now
• The game is on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Game Pass
• It has been rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and features all-new character models, reworked mechanics, a lighting system, and more

Bethesda Softworks has officially unveiled The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, and it's playable right now.

Following a series of recent leaks, today's special Bethesda broadcast finally confirmed that the remaster of the 2006 game is real and is now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Game Pass.

The standard edition costs $49.99 / £49.99 and it's $59.99 / £59.99 for the Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition comes with the base game plus additional content in the form of new quests, armor, horse armor, and weapons.

According to Bethesda, the game has been rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 in collaboration with Virtuos to "achieve our visual goals" and features all-new character models, a new lighting system that simulates how light interacts with the environment, and a rework of the game mechanics.

Gameplay has also been completely modernized, along with UI and UX, audio, and environments, like cities, woodland, and dungeons, but still features the original game's identity.

"This is Oblivion in its most complete form," one developer said in the broadcast.

Bethesda boss Todd Howard also made an appearance to talk about the remaster 20 years after the original was released, and also reaffirmed that the studio is "working on the sixth chapter," aka The Elder Scrolls 6.

"...What's great about The Elder Scrolls is being able to look back at all of the chapters: Skyrim, Morrowind, Oblivion, Daggerfall, Arena. Each of them try to define role-playing games and open-world games for their generation," he said.

"Oblivion was a real defining moment in the series and how we make games as a studio."

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• The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has granted the first licenses to three companies to provide VPN services
• The new framework comes as Pakistanis increasingly use VPNs to bypass the X ban and other internet restrictions
• The Authority now urges all VPN providers to obtain a license to avoid potential service disruptions

Pakistan's telecom authority continues its quest to regulate the use of unlicensed VPNs across the country despite pushbacks.

On April 18, 2025, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) granted the needed license to three companies in order to provide their services in the country. The Authority now urges all VPN providers operating in Pakistan to obtain a license to avoid potential service disruptions.

All this comes as increasingly more Pakistanis have been using some of the best VPN services to access X, which has been blocked since February 2024, and other restricted social media platforms.

The end of unlicensed VPNs in Pakistan?

"The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has commenced the licensing of Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers under the Class License for the Provision of Data Services in Pakistan. As part of this process, PTA has already granted Class Licenses to provide VPN services to three companies," the PTA wrote in an official announcement.

The plan for a new licensing category for VPN providers was first unveiled in December last year in a bid to regulate Pakistan VPN usage. Companies need to apply for a permit to operate within the country and avoid potential blocks.

As the Pakistani English-speaking newspaper The Dawn pointed out at the time, the PTA plan envisages local companies to provide VPN or proxy services to citizens, instead of foreign companies, which are more difficult to control.

This may mean the anonymity of Pakistani VPN users could be compromised when using a licensed provider as authorities may be able to monitor VPN traffic.

A post shared by PTA (@ptaofficialpk)

A photo posted by on

As mentioned earlier, the Authority is now urging all VPN providers operating in the country to apply for the needed license.

"Timely licensing will help prevent potential service disruptions and ensure uninterrupted access for their customers," wrote the PTA.

VPN services remain a necessary tool at the time of writing to keep accessing all the main social media platforms in Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Bluesky.

Given last year's failures in successfully regulating VPN usage in Pakistan – authorities were forced to withdraw the ban on unregistered services due to a lack of legal grounds to ban VPNs – it's difficult to predict what's at stake for VPN users in the country.

Talking to TechRadar back in December, Proton VPN confirmed that if the PTA's VPN framework is eventually enforced for all providers, the company's response would be to replace its physical servers with its Smart Routing technology, as the company did in India in 2022.

TechRadar has approached some of the top providers for comment on the matter, but we are still waiting for a response at the time of writing.

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• The group struck government, air control, and telco firms in Southeast Asia
• Victims were not named
• Lotus Panda used never-before-seen infostealers and loaders

Lotus Panda, a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor, managed to compromise multiple organizations in a number of Southeast-Asian countries, in a campaign that took place between mid-2024 and early 2025.

Cybersecurity researchers from the Symantec Threat Hunter Team said the organizations included government agencies, air traffic control organizations, telecom operators, and a construction company in one country, a news agency in another, and an air freight organization in another. The victim countries, or organizations, were not named.

In the attack, the group used never-before-seen malware, loaders, credential stealers, and reverse SSH tools.

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​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.

It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.

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Chinese cyber-spies

Lotus Panda allegedly abused legitimate executables from antivirus companies Trend Micro and Bitdefender, using them to sideload malicious DLL files which dropped and decrypted second-stage payloads. The threat actor also allegedly updated Sagerunex, a group-exclusive tool that can steal sensitive information and exfiltrate it, encrypted, to a third-party server. We don’t know how the group made the initial breach, though.

Other notable tools used in this campaign are infostealers ChromeKatz and CredentialKatz.

"The attackers deployed the publicly available Zrok peer-to-peer tool, using the sharing function of the tool in order to provide remote access to services that were exposed internally," Symantec said. "Another legitimate tool used was called 'datechanger.exe.' It is capable of changing timestamps for files, presumably to muddy the waters for incident analysts.

Lotus Panda is a known state-sponsored group, sometimes reported as Billbug, Lotus Blossom, Thrip, Spring Dragon, and Bronze Elgin. The group has allegedly been active since 2009, and is focused primarily on cyber-espionage. Its usual targets are government agencies, defense organizations, telcos and the media in Southeast Asia.

There were also reports of Lotus Panda attacks in the United States and Australia, too, which could suggest that the group is looking to expand its reach.

Via The Hacker News

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• 1Password has revealed new tools for its XAM platform
• Users will benefit from compliance and governance features
• Agentic AI security has also been improved with new SDK

1Password, a leader in Extended Access Management (XAM) and creator of one of the best password managers, has unveiled a swathe of new security and Agentic AI capabilities in its XAM platform.

Among the new updates are enhanced governance and compliance capabilities, and one-click app access, alongside new Agentic AI features including a 1Password SDK, service accounts, and the ability to store AI Agent secrets in the 1Password Enterprise password manager.

1Password have also announced a new partnership with Drata to further boost 1Password’s compliance offerings.

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New XAM capabilities

From June 2025, the platform will also offer extended device compliance to allow IT teams additional visibility into the devices employees are using to access web and AI applications, whether they are work-provided or personal devices. A one-click app launcher will also be made available in June, providing employees with a single access point to all the managed and unmanaged applications they need.

In fall 2025, the platform will additionally offer access governance for SaaS applications, allowing IT teams to fully monitor and automate access and discover unauthorized shadow IT. IT admins will be able to access an XAM console that will provide visibility on user lifecycle, surface insights, policies across users, their devices, and the applications they access.

"The way people work has fundamentally changed, and security needs to catch up quickly,” said David Faugno, Co-CEO at 1Password. “The explosion of SaaS has increased access management and governance complexity, and now, agentic AI is compounding that challenge.”

“Organizations need a new approach, one that not only secures managed devices and applications but also the unmanaged tools that employees and AI agents actually use to get work done. That’s exactly what 1Password Extended Access Management is built for. We’re not just solving today’s problems; we’re shaping the future of identity and access management security - one that empowers productivity without compromising protection,” Faugno added.

Agentic AI security from 1Password

From today, 1Password has made an SDK for Agentic AI available to help developers build secure AI workflows through programmatic management of vault items. What’s more, developers and IT admins will be able to create scoped API keys to allow AI agents to access vaults without exposing credentials, and allow AI agents to perform efficiently without exposing businesses to additional risk.

The 1Password enterprise password manager now also offers secure vaults for AI agents, where they can retrieve information needed to access service providers, while also providing audit logs.

“AI agents will rapidly become the hardest-working members of today’s workforce,” said Jeff Shiner, Co-CEO at 1Password. “They operate non-stop at machine speed, scaling workflows in ways we’ve never seen—but they don’t fit neatly into old security models. That’s why we created Agentic AI Security: to help businesses move fast and stay secure, giving developers the tools to innovate confidently while providing security teams the visibility they need.”

1Password partners with Drata

1Password has also announced that it has partnered with Drata to offer enhanced compliance through continuous monitoring, secure access enforcement, and real-time insights across the edge, AI-driven tools, and employee-owned devices.

“Security and compliance are inseparable, especially as SaaS sprawl and AI adoption introduce new layers of complexity and risk,” said David Faugno, Co-CEO of 1Password. “Organizations can’t achieve lasting compliance without securing how people, devices, applications, and AI agents access their critical business data, and you can’t secure access without continuously verifying compliance.”

“This partnership with Drata helps unify these efforts, giving companies the ability to enforce strong security policies across all identities, applications, and devices—both managed and unmanaged—while staying continuously audit-ready. It’s a step toward a more modern, automated, and resilient approach to trust at scale,” Faugno concluded.

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• CATL unveils second generation of its "Shenxing" fast-charging battery
• A five-minute charge can add over 320-miles of range
• The lithium-iron phosphate battery cells are cheaper than nickel-rich rivals

China’s EV giants are currently embroiled in a battery charging arms race, as the likes of BYD, Huawei, and Zeekr all recently announced that they had cracked 1MW charging speeds for five-minute battery top-ups.

CATL, which is the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer by a long way, has also joined in the competition, announcing that its next-generation 'Shenxing' LFP (lithium-ion phosphate) battery can add over 320 miles in just five minutes from the appropriate but currently thin-on-the-ground 1MW fast charging outlets.

Boasting that the batteries will feature in more than 67 new EVs due to arrive this year, CATL’s Chief Technology Officer, Gao Huan, said the goal is to make the Shenxing technology "the standard" for electric vehicles.

But alongside the company’s range-topping technology, it also announced a more energy-dense sodium battery, branded as Naxtra. This will deliver a range of over 300 miles, offering a much more affordable and safer option to current lithium and lead-acid-based batteries.

CATL says the technology achieves an energy density of 175Wh per kg, which puts it on par with many of today’s premium LFP battery packs found in the likes of BYD, Tesla, and Volvo products.

Plus, with an abundance of sodium, it reduces the reliance on rare earth materials, making it much cheaper to manufacture, and could therefore be introduced to more affordable, entry-level EVs in the future.

China continues to push EV tech forward

(Image credit: CATL)

Alongside its more affordable, sodium-based batteries and ultra-fast charging packs, the company’s CTO also hinted at a new "dual-power" pack design, which would allow for two different battery chemical make-ups to run in parallel.

Although there was little in the way of real-world examples at the firm’s recent Tech Day in Shanghai, CATL stated that two lithium-ion units with nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathodes could potentially offer a capacity of 180kWh - far eclipsing the 100 or so kWh touted by today’s costliest EVs.

This would effectively be able to power a small electric sedan for almost 950 miles before the battery packs run dry, practically doubling the range touted by some of the most advanced electric vehicles on sale today.

Of course, this sort of technology is going to be reserved for the wealthiest of CATL’s automotive clientele and embedded into premium models that the masses can only dream of affording.

But the company’s constant 'leveling up' of battery tech means that even the most basic technology it offers is now becoming more energy dense, safer, and faster to charge.

Could the days of lengthy charging stops and constantly interrupted electric road trips be soon behind us? Let's hope so.

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