TechRadar News

Plug-in solar panels are now legal in the UK, and they could have a real impact on your energy bills, but before you install them, you should know what impact they're likely to have on your home insurance. The panels themselves are very easy to fit (see our complete guide to plug-in solar for more details), but it's worth taking the time to research all the effects on your home before buying your own.

To find out more, I spoke to Nathan Blackler, home insurance and utilities expert at Go.Compare. He explained that plug-in solar is new technology that insurers don't really have enough claims data on to price against, but says his main advice is to disclose any products and installations to your insurer, and check the policy documents to ensure there are no exclusions for your planned setup.

Will your insurance premium rise?

Blackler says that you might see a slight rise in your insurance premium after fitting plug-in solar panels, but it isn't guaranteed.

"Because plug-in solar panels add to the total value of your property’s assets, your coverage limits may need to be adjusted," he says. "However, some insurers may simply note the addition of the system on your file without charging you extra.

"The most important thing is keeping the insurer informed and ensuring there's nothing in your policy docs with your existing insurer excluding the use or installation of such systems."

Will your plug-in solar panels be covered?

Plug-in solar panels are a big investment (you can expect them to pay for themselves in three to five years), so you'll want to be sure that they're covered by your insurance.

"Yes, they are generally covered, but typically under your contents insurance rather than buildings insurance, as they are classified as portable equipment rather than permanent fixtures," says Blackler.

"However, coverage is strictly dependent on disclosure. Because plug-in panels feed energy directly into your home's electrical circuit, you are fundamentally adding a mini power station to your property. If you fail to tell your insurer about the installation and later suffer an electrical fire or fault, your policy could be invalidated."

How do they differ from traditional roof-mounted panels?

According to Blackler, from an insurer's perspective, the risk profiles for conventional roof-mounted solar panels and plug-in panels are completely different.

"Traditional roof-mounted solar panels are permanent structural fixtures (covered under buildings insurance) that require installation and sign-off by MCS-accredited electricians," he says. "These setups can also be complicated with different ownership models like leasing and subscriptions, meaning customers do not own the panels, but they may still create an additional structural risk that some insurers increase premiums for.

"Plug-in panels, on the other hand, are self-installed and exempt from mandatory electrician sign-offs. This introduces a new element of 'unmanaged electrical risk', especially in flats and leasehold properties where a poorly connected panel plugged into outdated wiring could push electrical fault and fire risks into communal parts of the building. Because installation quality is harder to verify with plug-and-play systems, insurers view them as a distinct and evolving category.

"All this becomes increasingly complex when you also start to consider a battery or power cell installation along with solar panels. This adds a high-value electrical item, and as most home batteries are lithium-ion, they carry a small but significant fire risk. Again, this technology is relatively new to the mass market, and insurers are still gathering the data necessary to effectively price against it."

Want to know more about plug-in solar panels and batteries? Find out why plug-in panels are now legal, but plug-in batteries are not — yet.

• Microduck is Pollen Robotics' new programmable robot
• It looks like a cute robo-duck, and has some adorable, pre-baked interactions
• It's up for pre-order priced at $399, and it should ship in time for Christmas

If the measure of a successful robot is cuteness, Microduck could be the most successful bot in ages. Unveiled this week by Pollen Robotics (a division of AI company Hugging Face — yes, that Hugging Face), Microduck is a 25-centimeter-tall educational robot that appears to arrive with surprising mobility, balance, and personality.

Pre-orders, which kicked off today (August 27) promise a $399 (that's the introductory price), roughly 1.7lb pre-built duck-like robot complete with a mouth that doubles as a gripper, a voice —duck calls, it seems — 15 degrees of freedom (basically a measure of the number of ways all the motors let it move), and motors that let it walk, waddle, move its head and, thanks to a pair of IMUs (inertial movement unit), stay upright even when pushed around.

(Image credit: Pollen Robotics)

There's a single-eye camera paired with a Lidar system for navigating its environment and, perhaps, recognizing its owner. Pollen Robotics has yet to specify the camera's megapixels. There are also speakers for voice, and microphones for it to hear. The robot runs on a relatively low-power Rockchip RK3566 ARM chip that's backed by 1GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. There's on-board Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a smallish 2,600mAh battery that promises roughly one hour of operation.

These are not killer specs, but the teaser videos show a highly engaged and undeniably adorable little bot. I was particularly taken with how it can recover and stand back up after a fall (or being pushed over). Microduck will arrive with a lot of pre-programmed interactions, but much of the cuteness may come via its open-source platform and your programming skills.

The Microduck kit will ship with an SDK that includes virtual training environments, along with training scripts and tools, and "a tested sim-to-real workflow." The idea, obviously, is that while you might grow to love Microducks' baked-in personality, it's what you can build with your kids that will really matter. This is an educational robot, after all.

It's almost familiarPollen RoboticsPollen Robotics

It's also worth mentioning Microduck's obvious resemblance to another extremely cute, though entirely unattainable robot: Disney's and Star Wars' BDX Droid. Both robots are bipedal with a somewhat squat posture and cute, oversized heads, and as with the BDX-Droid, it's hard to believe the Microsoduck can stay upright. But that's where the similarities end. That semi-autonomous/remote-controlled BDX Droid is much larger, probably far more expensive, and is currently only wandering around Disney World. Plus, there are currently no plans to bring it to consumers.

The $399 Microduck is just the base package, and Pollen Robotics also plans to ship an optional charger pack for $39, a dev pack that includes spare motors, cables, and batteries for $119, and an accessory pack that includes a laser pointer (perhaps for Microduck to chase), roller skates(!) that Microduck can wear and ride, and 10 NFC tags. One wonders if those tags might be used to trigger certain Microduck actions.

We have a huge news to share today!Today we are unveiling the first truly accessible RL robot - welcome MicroduckA 25 cm tiny open-source biped with 15 actuators and packed with sensors (camera, speaker, LiDAR, NFC, bluetooth, wifi, etc) that you train yourself with… pic.twitter.com/2SO4HgqxY3August 27, 2026

Microduck is Pollen Robotics' second edu-robot, the first being the Reach Mini, an almost equally cute but more or less stationary desk companion robot. Pollen Robotics claims it sold 10,000 units.

Microduck's success will likely depend on just how many of those endearing qualities are on display out of the box, and how much we have to code ourselves. Initially, you can fake some of it, since Microduck can be remote-controlled with a gaming controller; but the real fun happens when it starts to respond in unexpected ways.

The other X factor is how many people are willing to pay almost $400 for a plastic and semi-autonomous robot duck. I know I'm intrigued, and wouldn't mind trying to program it to create the duck-bot of my dreams.

Microduck is expected to ship by Christmas, and is available in Cream, Graphite. Lavender, and Sky.

Best Buy is certainly no stranger to providing decent price cuts on TCL TVs, but I've just spotted a particularly good deal on one of our favorite models here at TechRadar.

Right now, you can get the excellent TCL QM6K for as little as $499 (was $799) at the retailer. That's the price for the smaller 55-inch variant, but similar discounts apply to the 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch models.

I've had my eye on the QM6K for a while now, and this is the lowest price I've seen yet on a model that we called 'a solid mini-LED TV that punches above its price class' in our review.

As already suggested, what makes the QM6K a particular favorite is that it balances a heap of features and excellent picture quality without the huge price tag. It's not an expensive TV, but you still get Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos support, as well as support for 144Hz refresh rates at 4K. In short, it's a good option for movie lovers and gamers alike.

Excellent TCL TV deal at Best Buy

QM6K 55-inch 4K mini-LED TV: was $799.99 now $499.99
A truly great, budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality along with solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank. Upgrades here include support for 120Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, which is perfect for gamers. This deal knocks a decent $300 off the 55-inch model, making it a truly appealing option for those who want a premium display at a mid-range price. Need something a little bigger? Note that other sizes are also on sale today at Best Buy.

Read our TCL QM6K TV reviewView Deal

• See more: check out all of today's TV deals at Best Buy

Note, if you're interested, I've also included a few more of Best Buy's excellent deals on TCL TVs this week. A few of the 'L' series models are on sale, which are the latest 2026 iterations of the brand's Mini-LED range. In short, they're a little more pricey than the QM6K (which remains the value option), but you do get a few more features or a higher-end display.

More of today's TCL TV deals at Best Buy

65-inch QM7L Mini LED TV: was $1499.99 now $899.99
A massive $600 price cut makes this 65-inch TCL QM7L a great choice if you're on the hunt for a truly big-screen TV. This 2026 model features impressive brightness and plenty of pop thanks to its Super Quantum Dot (SQD) Mini-LED display, and it also features support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K gaming. This has to be one of the lowest prices yet on this excellent mid-range 2026 TV.View Deal

75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini LED TV: was $2999.99 now $1699.99
One of the best TV deals at Best Buy today is this massive $1,300 price cut on the TCL QM8L - one of the brand's higher-end models. In terms of specs, it's similar to the QM7L, but it offers higher peak brightness, deeper local dimming zones, an upgraded processor, and better audio. While both use Super Quantum Dot (SQD) technology, the QM8L features superior contrast and lower blooming. Of course, you pay extra for the privilege, so some may prefer to opt for one of TCL's more affordable displays.

Read our TCL QM6L reviewView Deal

Chuck Lorre might be considered to be the 'King of Sitcoms', but that doesn't mean all of his creations are well received. While Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Young Sheldon were all incredibly well-received, TBBT spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is proving to be a little more divisive.

Following awkward comic book store owner Stuart (Kevin Sussman) instead of the core TBBT cast, the new HBO Max show has been simultaneously branded as better than the main series and as "AI slop" (following online controversy surrounding its title sequence).

Is there an objective truth to a TV show being good? Probably not — but if people are intent on hating Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, then it's time to move our attention to another Chuck Lorre comedy that continues to fly under the radar.

If you miss the traditional multicam sitcom format, or are really enjoying its usage in the Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Leanne on Netflix is your next port of call... and season 2 is streaming now.

Leanne season 2 is now on Netflix — and this time, I hope more viewers appreciate it

When we first met her in season 1, Leanne (a fictional version of comedian Leanne Morgan) had her life turned upside down when her husband of 33 years unexpectedly left her for another woman. Fast-forward a year, and she's dealing with a milestone birthday, moving her parents into her home, and continuing to try out the world of modern dating.

Does this sound like something my mother would watch rather than me? On paper, yes — but there's something so overwhelmingly endearing about Leanne and its concept that I cannot help but be glued to my TV screen, rooting for her.

That starts with how intoxicating Morgan is herself. Her Southern accent is as thick as honey, and you'll be hard-pressed to believe that she's not putting it on (trust me, she's not). Her humor is the kind that speaks before she thinks, and that naturalistic tone only makes us want to be her best friend.

Then there's the fact that we're watching a woman in her sixties succeed on the world's biggest streaming service. If you're chronically online, you might remember the study conducted by Age Without Limits suggesting that projects are more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60 [via The Guardian]. Maybe it only takes a determined Southern woman to dismantle that.

Leanne is quiet about it, but the new sitcom is changing the landscape of entertainment right under our noses. Maybe, just maybe, that makes it Lorre's most important work of all.

• President Trump has reissued a national emergency banning foreign bulk‑power systems in the US
• Order targets risks from foreign hardware/software, likely focused on Chinese‑made equipment
• The US Energy Department has 120 days to set enforcement rules in consultation with other agencies

US President Donald Trump just declared a national emergency and banned all foreign bulk-power systems from being imported, installed, or used in the country - again. He also said the government will now analyze existing systems to see how many of them contain foreign-built hardware or software, how those parts could be isolated, eliminated, and then replaced with domestic alternatives.

Bulk-power systems are high-voltage infrastructure that generate and transmit electrical power throughout the country. They include power plants, transmission lines, substations, and the accompanying hardware and software gear. These systems are considered the backbone of the country’s electrical grid, and since disrupting them could cause widespread outages, they are seen as critical infrastructure.

The White House has now published an executive order in which Trump says that “certain foreign actors are increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in the United States bulk-power system.”

Reissuing the same ban

“During my first term, I found that the bulk-power system could be a target of those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States, including malicious cyber activities, because of the significant risks that a successful attack would have on our economy, human health and safety, and national defense,” the announcement reads.

President Trump also said there were “minimal restrictions” on both acquisition and operation of these foreign-produced systems. As a result, the situation “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat … to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”

Under the executive order, US citizens and companies are no longer allowed to buy, import, transfer, or install foreign-produced bulk-power systems that the Energy Department determines poses a national security risk, including software.

What the criteria for being a national security risk are, and how the Energy Department will enforce it, remains to be seen. It is also worth mentioning that this is not the first time Trump is doing this.

In mid-2020, Trump issued an almost identical executive order, declaring a national emergency over threats posed by foreign adversaries, and banning certain transactions of bulk-power gear. It was short-lived, though. President Joe Biden suspended it in January 2021 for 90 days, while the administration reviewed whether to replace it. It was later formally revoked by the Energy Department.

Taking aim at China (again)

Although it is not directly named anywhere in the executive order, the ban is most likely aimed primarily at China. Even during his first term, Trump was very vocal about China being a threat and spoke openly about the potential of Chinese hardware being used to eavesdrop on US citizens, companies, and the government.

During his first term, the Trump administration moved to eliminate Chinese firms from US 5G network infrastructure over national security and cyber-espionage concerns. Two companies bore the brunt of this campaign: Huawei and ZTE. In 2019, the former was placed on the Commerce Department’s Entity List, restricting its access to US technology. The FCC later labeled both as national security threats.

The administration also prohibited US telcos from using federal subsidies to buy Chinese gear and established a “rip and replace” program to eliminate whatever hardware was already installed.

This time around, the focus is mostly on electrical power. In its report, Cyberscoop says the executive order is a “response to fears of Chinese-made equipment housed within US energy infrastructure”. Citing the International Atomic Energy Agency, the same publication says China supplies 85% of solar supply chain production capacity and is a “major player” in the power transformer manufacturing business.

For this new order, the US Department of Energy now has a deadline of 120 days to develop rules on how to implement the order, and it will have to consult other key departments in the process.

For engineering students, CAD professionals, and anyone working on 3D rendering and AI, this is easily the best mobile workstation we've tested for that - especially with the current back-to-school discount.

Right now, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 for $4712 (was $7989) at Lenovo. Originally, we spotted this deal with an epic $3030 discount. That's dropped even further now, delivering a $3277 price cut on a 5-star desktop-class laptop we found to be "crafted just for those who need reliable performance on the go."

ThinkPad P16 Gen 3: was $7989 now $4711.05
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | 64GB DDR5 | 2TB Gen 5 SSD | Nvidia RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell

The P16 Gen 3 is one of the best workstation laptops we've ever tested, and its power genuinely impressed us throughout our time with it. The 16-inch 4K-class display covers 100% DCI-P3 with HDR 400 support and 800 nits of brightness. Ships with Windows 11 Pro, Wi-Fi 7, two Thunderbolt 5 ports, and a TB4 port.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 isn't just a high-end laptop; it's a genuine mobile workstation capable of replacing many desktop setups.

We reviewed this exact configuration and gave it the full (and rare) 5-stars, praising its combination of portability, screen quality, and raw power. We found it really was an ultra-practical workstation you can carry with you.

Due to its performance, it's our top pick in our guide to the best laptops for engineering students and professionals who need a powerful machine designed for heavy workloads.

The 16-inch display earned particular praise in testing, with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, HDR 400 support, and 800 nits of brightness, making it a strong option for creative and technical work that depends on color accuracy, not just raw compute.

Add Wi-Fi 7, enterprise-grade security, and ThinkPad build quality, and you get a workstation designed to handle sustained, demanding workloads rather than just burst performance.

Also consider

ThinkPad P16s Gen 4: was $5229 now $3229
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | 64GB DDR5 | 2TB

This the the more portable version of the P16, making it a more backpack-friendly alternative (it's not ultra-light, mind you). This model has the above specs, as well as an Nvidia RTX PRO 500 Blackwell Laptop GPU with 6GB GDDR7 VRAM.View Deal

ThinkPad P16v Gen 3: was $3819 now $3207.96
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD

The P16V is the value-spec version of the P16, equipped with a Core Ultra chip, DDR5 RAM, and Nvidia RTX PRO 200 Blackwell Laptop GPU with 6GB GDDR7 VRAM. In our review we called it "the Goldilocks of the ThinkPad line-up." View Deal

Price Context & Historical Value

The P16 Gen 3 originally dropped to $4959 - an amazing $3030 discount. But now it's fallen even further, pushing to one of the lowest prices I can remember seeing. And perfect timing for the back-to-school season if you're an engineering student or anyone running graphics-intensive workloads.

The price is a meaningfully deeper cut than what we found when we reviewed this same configuration. At that time, the Core Ultra 9 model was selling for $6,710.76, a $1,278 saving. The price has since fallen by well over another $1,700, making this the best price we've tracked on this exact build.

Workstations in this class rarely see discounts this large on a current-generation configuration, especially one with 64GB of RAM, RTX PRO Blackwell graphics, and a 2TB Gen5 SSD included as standard.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 if...

You need serious power for CAD, 3D rendering, or AI development, or working in any field that demands desktop-class power for graphically intensive workloads.

❌ Skip the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 if...

Your workload is limited to browsing, office documents, or light editing. This is absolute overkill for that, and it's not as portable as any standard business laptop either.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This workstation is built for performance first, not portability. At nearly 16 inches with high-end components inside, it's heavier and bulkier than a typical productivity laptop, and battery life will vary significantly under demanding workloads, especially with the dedicated RTX PRO graphics working hard. It's also still a four-figure purchase even at this price, so it's overkill if your day-to-day work does not go beyond web browsing, office documents, or light content creation.

• Shop all Lenovo ThinkPad laptops

• Meta's official GTA San Andreas VT port never launched
• So a modder has vibe-coded a port for the Meta Quest 3
• You can play it yourself, but it's not easy

The Resident Evil 4 VR remaster on the Oculus Quest 2 was the best the platform had to offer, so a Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas VR port was easily the most exciting news to come out of Meta’s 2021 Connect event. But it never arrived. So now modders are making up for Meta’s biggest letdown by finally bringing San Andreas to Quest systems.

In fact, there’s a whole VR porting community that connects via the Flat2VR Discord. One such member, called GeT_RiCh, has made it his mission to bring the long-promised GTA title to Quest headsets, though you will need a Meta Quest 3.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

It’s still a work in progress — you can follow updates on Discord — and installing this game isn’t as easy as pressing a button. As the mod’s GitHub explains you’ll need not only this mod but an original copy of GTA San Andreas from the Google Play Store (specifically version 2.11.311 exported as an APK), a PS2 sound pack for the game, a PC, a Quest 3 headset in Developer Mode (to authorize USB debugging), and around 15GB of space on your PC and 6GB on your headset.

Plus, you’ll need plenty of time and confidence that you can accurately go through the technical steps. I was considering trying to jump into the game before writing this piece up, but quickly realized that might be a challenge.

Despite the shortcomings, the effort is pretty incredible. It’s also, interestingly, being aided by Claude, which the modder is using to help him vibe-code aspects of the software.

Say what you will about vibe coding in the wider coding world, but the tool’s apparent effectiveness at helping someone complete a long-term passion project like this is pretty incredible.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)Better late than never

It’s never been officially confirmed what went wrong withMeta’s version of the GTA VR remaster but general development issues of converting all the flat games’ elements into first-person VR, problems with the Quest 2’s low processing power being able to handle the game world, profitability concerns (especially when faced with the massive profits GTA Online expansions or GTA 6 promise), or one of a dozen other possibilities have been floated.

Regardless, all we know is that after that tease, GTA San Andreas VR never managed to get out of the starting gates.

Many have questioned this decision over the years — GTA in VR would be a slam-dunk for plenty of gamers — and others have been perpetually frustrated at Meta for hyping them up into buying a Quest headset, then killing the project.

Thankfully there is now a way to sort of play San Andreas in VR on Quest. Yes, it’s a Quest 3, and yes, it’s not the simplest port to set up, but it’s better than nothing — which is what Meta and Rockstar gave us.

• The Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look will be 26-minutes long
• Netflix has released the first details ahead of its premiere later today
• It confirms that all footage shown is captured in-game on the base PS5

Netflix has revealed the first details of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look, including runtime, and confirmed all footage shown will be captured on the base PlayStation 5.

The much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look is scheduled to premiere later today on Netflix at at 3pm ET / 8pm BST / August 28 at 5am AEST, giving fans a deeper look at the most anticipated game of all time.

There's been much speculation leading up to the event about what the extended look will offer, with many fans hoping for the long-awaited look at gameplay and possibly Trailer 3.

Now, Netflix has revealed additional details just hours ahead of the event, confirming that everything showcased will be captured on the base PS5.

"The new iteration in the blockbuster series comes 13 years following the debut of Grand Theft Auto V, the same year that Netflix was beginning its push into original programming," the Netflix Tudum post reads.

"Captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5, this extended look at the next Grand Theft Auto showcases the biggest, most immersive evolution of the series yet."

the GTA 6 extended look will be 26 minutes long and captured on PS5 pic.twitter.com/5KWmSTeCwVAugust 27, 2026

What's more, it seems the runtime for the GTA 6 extended look will be 26 minutes, according to The Verge journalist Tom Warren, who shared a screenshot of the updated mobile page on X.

That's much shorter than I expected, but it's still long enough to offer a good amount of gameplay footage for fans to obsess over ahead of the game's launch on November 19.

If you're unable to watch the GTA 6 extended look as it premieres on Netflix, don't worry, because it will be available for free six hours later on YouTube at 9pm ET on August 27 / 2am BST / 11am AEST on August 28.

"Grand Theft Auto reveals have become cultural moments in their own right. The anticipation and fandom around Grand Theft Auto 6 is unprecedented, and we’re honored that Rockstar Games has partnered with us to debut the next part of the Grand Theft Auto story with Netflix members first," Brandon Riegg, VP of Nonfiction Series, said in the Tudum post.

"It’s a reflection of what we hope Netflix is becoming: a place where the most ambitious storytelling, from any medium, can find the biggest possible audience."

Plug-in solar panels became legal in the UK today, providing a quick and easy way to cut your electricity bill without any professional installation. Plug-in solar isn't right for every home (see my list of three places you can't install plug-in solar panels for details). Don't despair, though — you can still trim your bills by opting for clever solar-powered home tech, and as TechRadar's Homes Editor, I've put together a list of 12 top options to brighten your life.

Solar-powered lights are one of the most obvious options, and contain batteries that charge during the day then release the stored energy at night, when you need it. Smart home brands Nanoleaf and Govee both have some great solar smart lights, and if you're looking for something cheaper, IKEA sells excellent solar-powered string lights to add some whimsy to your garden.

You can also opt for solar video doorbells, security cameras, and motion-triggered floodlights to protect your home — without the need to clamber up ladders every month to replace or charge batteries. That's a bright idea for anyone. Read on for my full list of recommendations, and if you have any more solar-powered suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments.

Here comes the sun

Ring Ring Solar Charger for Battery Video Doorbell

Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights (2 Pack)

Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights (10m)

Roberts Revival Uno Bluetooth Solar Digital Radio

EZVIZ Solar Battery Doorbell Camera, Wireless

Eva Solo Sunlight Solar LED Outdoor Lamp

Eva Solo Sunlight Bell Solar LED Outdoor Light

Kaemingk Solar-Powered Stone Effect Water Feature

Philips Nysil Solar Motion Sensor Security Light

Nordlux Alya Motion Sensor Solar Wall Light

IKEA Solarvet LED Lighting Chain With 24 Lights

House of Marley Roots Solar Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Self-hosted community projects are constantly growing in number, many of them operating under an open-source or fair-code license that saves you from paying costly subscriptions or usage-based fees.

With Docker, you can run any number of self-hosted applications on a standard web server or local workstation in completely separate environments using partitioned resources. Thanks to Docker Hub, you also gain access to a whole trove of community-maintained applications and projects that require very little effort to get working.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to self-host Docker apps using any Linux-based workstation or VPS server, all the way from installing Docker Engine to launching containerized applications with Docker Compose. We’ll even talk about some popular Docker apps to get you started, if you’re unsure what this setup can do for you. Let’s jump in.

What is Docker?

Docker is an open-source platform that packages your software into separate containers.

A container, in case you were wondering, is exactly what it sounds like — a walled-off section of your server or device that contains all the code, libraries, and settings associated with an application. Containers get their own separate resource allocations too, so you can be sure that an application isn’t drawing more from your system than it’s meant to.

Self-hosted applications rely on specific “dependencies,” like databases, programming languages, system tools, etc. That’s why most of them recommend installing through Docker, so that the dependencies installed for one application don’t break the dependencies of another application or service. Docker apps are completely isolated from each other so that they don’t pull from the same resources or interrupt one another during runtime.

You don’t need to learn everything about Docker just to self-host an app, but knowing some basics helps. Put simply, Docker Engine is the core platform that isolates your applications; images are the project libraries used to install an app or service, Docker Hub is a public library of images for apps you can run using Docker, and Docker Compose is an add-on that lets you launch multiple Docker containers at the same time for apps that are more complex.

Why do I need Docker Compose?

Elaborating on that last point, most applications aren’t simple enough to run from a single container. They usually have a frontend component, a backend for administrators, as well as databases they use to store and retrieve information.

Instead of having to launch each Docker container separately by typing docker run into your Linux terminal or SSH every time you need to rerun the app, you can create a compose.yaml file to specify which containers and services need to run together. This is what Docker Compose helps you do.

Once you create a compose.yaml file, Docker Compose can help you run the entire application using a single command:

docker compose up

You can also use docker compose stop to pause your application temporarily and docker compose down to fully stop and clear the containers to prepare for another deployment.

How to self-host a Docker app step-by-step

Now that you know the basics, let’s walk through the exact process of self-hosting a containerized application with Docker Engine and Docker Compose.

Prerequisites

• A Linux-based home server or VPS running a recent version of Ubuntu or Debian
• Root access to that server
• An SSH client on your own computer (built into macOS, Linux, and modern Windows terminals) to interact with your server
• Your server's IP address and SSH credentials

Step 1: Connect to your server over SSH

Access the terminal on your local macOS, Linux, or Windows device. We can log into your server from here by using your SSH credentials and server IP. Enter the following command to start:

ssh username@your-server-ip

Make sure to enter your SSH password when prompted. Now you’ve established a direct link from your current device to the server you’ll be installing Docker on.

Now update your server’s libraries and packages to the current version before proceeding. This way, you won’t run into any conflicts with the installation, and the latest security patches will be added immediately.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

(Image credit: Docker)Step 2: Install Docker Engine

You can pull the most recent version of Docker Engine from its official repository. Start by installing the necessary certificates and Docker’s GPG key:

sudo apt install ca-certificates curlsudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyringssudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.ascsudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

You also need to add the official Docker repo to your list of package sources:

echo \ "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \ $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \ sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Now update your packages and install Docker Engine with Compose:

sudo apt updatesudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin -y

After the process is complete, you can verify that Docker is installed correctly along with Compose with a quick version check:

docker --versiondocker compose version

If something went wrong during the installation, you’ll see a “command not found” error message in the terminal instead of the version numbers. That means you have to redo each step again in case you missed anything.

Step 3: Set up the project directory

Now that Docker is installed, we can move on to preparing the project directory for your self-hosted app. First, I like to run a quick command to make sure Docker is accessible to all users, not just restricted to those with sudo or root privileges. Here’s the command to help you change those permissions:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Log out, then restart your terminal to update the usage permissions. Now you can create the actual project directory and navigate into it:

mkdir ~/my-app && cd ~/my-app

(Image credit: Docker)Step 4: Write your YAML file

You’re ready to write the compose.yaml file into your project directory. Execute this command to launch into the Nano editor:

nano compose.yaml

Now paste in the contents of the compose.yaml as per your Docker app’s setup instructions. Typically, the compose.yaml file should include an image field for your project image, a container name, a volume field that maps out your project subfolders, and the specific port that the app will be launching in. Here’s an example of a YAML file for a status monitoring app called Uptime Kuma:

services: uptime-kuma: image: louislam/uptime-kuma:1 container_name: uptime-kuma volumes: - ./uptime-kuma-data:/app/data ports: - "3001:3001" restart: unless-stopped

Save the file and exit the editor. If this feels intimidating, don’t worry. You should find the specific instructions to create your YAML file in your Docker app’s setup instructions on Docker Hub or GitHub.

Step 5: Launch your application

All that remains is to launch your Docker app using Compose. You can spin up all your Docker containers in any given project directory by running this single command:

docker compose up -d

Once the containers are up and running, which usually takes less than a minute, you can access your app by visiting this address from your web browser: http://your-server-ip:3001. Make sure to replace your-server-ip with the actual IP address of your home server or VPS, which looks something like “192.168.1.1” (IPv4) or “[2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334]” (IPv6).

(Image credit: Docker)A few Docker apps worth trying

• Portainer: A visual interface for managing Docker containers without using your terminal or command line.
• Nextcloud: A privacy-first alternative to public cloud storage services like Google Drive.
• Pi-hole: A network-wide ad and tracker blocker. Works at the DNS level
• Jellyfin: A media server for streaming your own movies, shows, and music. It works similar to Netflix but with BYOD media management using your own media files.
• Vaultwarden: A self-hosted password manager that serves as an alternative to the Bitwarden API.
• AdGuard Home: Another popular DNS-based ad blocker with built-in encryption.
• Uptime Kuma: A simple status monitoring tool that alerts you when your self-hosted services or apps go down.

Apple’s big September event is under two weeks away at the time of writing, with invites having been sent out for a ‘Surprise and shine’ event on September 9.

So what surprises can you expect? Well, given how extensively Apple’s products and services tend to leak, there’s a chance there won’t be any major surprises at all. But there certainly will be some big announcements — likely to be headlined by the first foldable iPhone, which could be dubbed the iPhone Ultra.

That’s probably going to be joined by other iPhones, Apple Watches, and an assortment of other devices, so there could be lots to see even if none of it comes as a complete surprise. Below, we’ve detailed the most likely Apple announcements.

1. The iPhone Ultra

The iPhone Ultra could look a bit like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

The iPhone Ultra is likely to be the biggest announcement at Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event, as this is set to be the company’s first foldable phone — something we’ve heard rumors of for many years at this point.

In fact, it’s been so long now that it’s almost hard to believe it’s actually about to land, but all signs suggest it is.

Leaks point to the iPhone Ultra having a roughly 7.8-inch foldable screen and around a 5.5-inch cover display, with an overall design that’s somewhat similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — so more of a passport shape than the book-style Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

This will likely have a dual-lens camera and top-end power, and reports suggest the screen might not have a visible crease. It could be the phone you’ve been waiting for if you want an iPhone and an iPad mini all in one. But it’s also sure to be very expensive, with leaks pointing to a starting price of at least $2,000 (around £1,470 / AU$2,785).

2. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro's (pictured) successor is set to debut before the iPhone 18 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will almost certainly launch here too, for anyone who doesn’t want — or can’t afford — Apple’s foldable.

Based on leaks, these will probably sport broadly the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro series, complete with the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes — though the back glass might be closer in color to the aluminum frame, leaving them with less of a two-tone appearance than the current models.

You can of course expect a chipset upgrade, with the as-yet-unannounced A20 Pro chipset likely to be featured, and the Dynamic Island might be smaller this year.

These phones are also rumored to have a variable aperture on one of their cameras — though it’s possible that only the iPhone 18 Pro Max will get this — and they could have higher capacity batteries than their predecessors.

Though they’re likely to also cost more, with estimates putting the starting price at anywhere between $100 (roughly £75 / AU$140) and $300 (around £220 / AU$415) more than the iPhone 17 Pro line.

3. New Apple Watches

The next generation of the Apple Watch Series 11 (pictured) is rumored to be on the way (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

That’s all the iPhones we’re expecting — with the base iPhone 18 reportedly not arriving until 2027 — but Apple is also likely to unveil some new wearables.

Specifically, we’re expecting the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. The main upgrades for the Apple Watch 12 could be Touch ID on the side button, and a new S12 chip, likely delivering a noticeable performance improvement. But — other than the new software coming with watchOS 27 such as a dedicated Siri app — this might otherwise be similar to the Apple Watch Series 11, complete with a largely unchanged design.

As for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, this could similarly have a new chipset and gain Touch ID, but it might additionally have a slightly larger screen and a slimmer build than the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Some reports suggest the upcoming model could also have new sensors, which might increase its accuracy at tracking health and fitness metrics.

4. New AirPods

The AirPods 4 (pictured) could be replaced by two new AirPods 5 models (Image credit: Future)

Apple could also unveil some new AirPods at its next event, with talk of the AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with ANC landing at the September event. Sadly we probably won’t see the rumored AirPods Pro with cameras yet though.

Details on the AirPods 5 are slim so far, but they might prove a tempting — and more affordable — alternative to Apple’s AirPods Pro line.

5. Apple’s first smart home display

A mock-up of what an Apple Home Hub could look like, based on the Amazon Echo Show 10 (Image credit: Amazon / Apple)

Apple might finally launch a smart home display this September, as it’s rumored to be working on a home device with a seven-inch screen, and some reports suggest it will land this year — though don’t be surprised if we don’t see it until 2027.

This device — which might be called a Home Hub — will probably primarily be interacted with via Siri of course, and it will apparently use facial recognition to tell who is looking at it and serve up personalized content accordingly.

6. Other new devices for the home

The HomePod mini (pictured) might finally get a new model (Image credit: TechRadar)

Apple might also launch a new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K box at its September event. The former will probably support some Apple Intelligence features and is rumored to work with Wi-Fi 7 and have improved sound quality over its aging predecessor.

The latter could support Siri AI, Wi-Fi 7, have an improved chipset, more RAM, and come with an upgraded Siri remote.

7. New software

iOS 27 will launch in September (Image credit: Apple)

That’s probably it for hardware, but September is also when we’ll see the launch of Apple’s new software, much of which is currently in beta.

This includes iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27. The biggest feature on most of these will be Siri’s AI overhaul, bringing it more in line with the capabilities offered by the likes of Gemini and ChatGPT.

But you can expect tweaks to their interfaces and various other new and improved features too. So even if you’re not planning to buy one of the products above, your existing Apple devices should get a bit better soon.

• Accessory brand Dbrand has made a rugged Tank Case for the AirPods Pro 3
• It follows the Tank Cases for phones, which users didn't particularly like
• The company has been known to get into trouble, most notably with Sony and the PS5

If you’ve been wondering what Dbrand has been up to following its Sony and PS5 controversy, it’s now ventured into accessories for AirPods.

The Canadian company, which specializes in accessories across devices for Apple, Samsung, Google Pixel, and more, has just unveiled its new Tank Case for the AirPods Pro 3, which even the brand itself agrees is far from the best-looking tech accessory out there — but attractiveness isn’t what it was going for.

At $29.95 (about CA$40), the AirPods Pro 3 Tank Case is bulky to say the very least, because even owners of the best earbuds out there can be clumsy and prone to accidents.

This was intentional; in contrast to Apple’s accessories, which often puts design above protection, the Tank Case puts texture and grip first, designed with deep ridges and grooves so it doesn’t slip from between your fingers. With 10 different textures across its surface, the Tank Case is a piece of architecture, providing immunity to scratches and other damage.

(Image credit: Dbrand)

In fact, it has such a tight and secure grip around your AirPods that Dbrand built a removal tool to help you remove the ear buds from the case. That’s how you know it means business, but despite its snug fit it, doesn’t lock you out of using your AirPods altogether.

Impressively, the case’s ruggedness doesn’t get in the way of wireless charging — it "defies compromise", as Dbrand puts it. There’s also an opening to access the touch sensor for uninterrupted passthrough when pairing with devices.

Dbrand's decision to expand the Tank Case range into audio devices is surprising, since the Tank Case for mobile wasn't exactly popular when it launched last year. The original Tank Case was mocked for its bulky design and dull colors, but Dbrand has expressed a blatant disregard to the backlash. The company really said ‘whatever, we’re doing it anyway’, which a bit of a risky choice considering its past.

Dbrand has a history of getting itself into hot water with users and tech companies alike, its legal battle with Sony being one example. In addition to phone cases, Dbrand is a popular third-party gaming accessory retailer, and started selling its own ‘Darkplates’ for the PS5 back in 2021. However, it was forced to pull them from the shelves following a cease-and-desist threat from Sony.

Refusing to listen to and learn from user criticism is a bold move, but it’s pretty much part of Dbrand’s DNA at this point. Its owners must get a thrill from taking their own path with things, but the company often finds itself in the midst of some sort of drama as a result.

• Plaud One records and transcribes calls and conversations, but its broader agent capabilities will arrive in a future update
• High-stakes actions require approval, while recording is manually triggered, and users are responsible for obtaining consent
• It features built-in 4G connectivity at no additional cost

It’s certainly an interesting time for AI wearables, with smart glasses in particular attracting a lot of attention — and raising privacy concerns around the potential for users to video people without their permission.

Announced for pre-order today, Plaud One Explorer Edition is a new wearable AI device, primarily aimed at professionals, that's designed to capture your conversations, so that it can produce actions and reports based on the discussions you’re having during your working day

Worn as earbuds or used through its standalone case, Plaud One can capture calls and in-person conversations. Recordings are uploaded automatically for transcription and summarization as they happen, so (in theory at least) you’ll never need to write anything down again.

Plaud One also has agentic capabilities that Plaud says can take actions across tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion and Slack based on your conversations. However, when we quizzed Plaud about exactly what will be available at launch it told us: “Explorer Edition is the complete Plaud One hardware, but broader new Plaud Intelligence agent capabilities will be available in a future update.”

That caveat pushes the agentic features further into the future. So what agent abilities will work at launch, rather than arriving later in App 4.0? I spoke to the Plaud team to find out.

They told me that, “At launch, users can press and hold the Agent Button and speak to the agent. Hands-free 'Hey Plaud' activation through the earbuds is coming in a future firmware update.”

Privacy concerns

Given the obvious privacy concerns, I asked the team if recording is manually triggered, and how other people know it is happening.

“Yes, recording is manually triggered with the press of a button,” they told me. The team didn’t mention any audible or visible indication that recording is taking place, instead placing responsibility on the wearer to inform the people around them: “Plaud encourages users to follow local laws and best practices for recording consent," they added. "Where consent is required, users should inform participants before recording.”

Plaud Agent uses the context of your conversations to identify possible actions, such as preparing a follow-up email after a client meeting or producing a finished report based on a discussion. But can it actually send an email, post to Slack or create a calendar event without confirmation from the user?

“It depends on what the action is”, said the Plaud team. “Anything that changes something or leaves your environment, the agent pauses and asks you first. For example, editing or deleting your files, sending an email on your behalf, pulling in outside data — those always need your approval. Reading and querying your own data inside Plaud is different. That's a closed, trusted environment, so the agent can do that on its own. That's what makes it actually useful. If it had to ask permission to look something up in your own notes, it wouldn't feel like an agent at all.”

What happens when the agent misunderstands a decision?

“The design assumes a misunderstanding can happen, so it's built to be caught before it turns into a wrong action," the team told me. "All higher-stakes actions — changing or deleting internal files, sending an email externally, or calling external data — require the user to approve them manually. So if you spot something the Agent got wrong, you can fix it yourself before it goes anywhere, or ask the Agent to revise it. Nothing high-stakes acts on its own

"On top of that, the Agent's outputs are grounded, not guesswork — they're built from the context the user actually provides, the real transcripts and recordings, so they trace back to what was genuinely said and a misread is easy to spot.

"And as with any AI, we're clear that important outputs should be checked before they're used — the same principle behind the 'AI can make mistakes, please verify' note you see across these tools. The point isn't that it never misunderstands; it's that the user stays in control, and the work stays grounded, reviewable, and correctable.”

That approval system is only one part of how Plaud says the agent will work. To handle different kinds of tasks, Plaud Agent draws on a library of workflows known as Skills, alongside curated collections designed for particular professional roles called Plugins. As well as agentic actions, Plaud Agent can also generate finished work products, from emails to documents and presentations.

Independent of your phone

Interestingly, Plaud One is designed to work independently of your phone thanks to a built-in eSIM and 4G LTE connectivity. That immediately raises another question: will the eSIM require a separate subscription?

The Plaud team told me it will not: “No, Plaud One comes with a built-in eSim, which is provided at no extra cost to the consumer.”

I also asked whether users can inspect, correct and delete the information Plaud retains about them, and the team told me: “Users retain full control over their data. Plaud processes user data to deliver core product functionality, and users can access, correct, export, and delete their data — and withdraw consent — at any time through the Plaud App.”

Finally, I asked if these are fully functional music and calling earbuds, or primarily recording devices, and the team explain that, “The earbuds are recording devices first, capturing what you hear and say, so they can be used for calls. The earbuds also have High-Res LDAC audio, however, Plaud One is first and foremost an AI notetaker.”

Availability

Plaud One is priced at $249.99 / £229 and includes $200 / £150 in Plaud credits; pricing and availability for Australia is TBC. That made me wonder exactly what those credits buy — and how much continued use will cost once they've been spent.

The team did not disclose the ongoing costs, but explained that, “credits are used for the new Agent capabilities across Plaud Intelligence: agent tasks, Routines, Skills and Plugins, and the Artefacts the Agent produces. Everything else about Plaud One works out of the box.”

Pre-orders are open now in the US and UK with shipping of the Explorer Edition expected in Q4 2026.

The new IKEA x Xbox collection is the talk of Gamescom, and while its absurd thumbstick stool and D-pad cushion might be head-turners, if it's affordable and actually useful gaming kit you're after, then I'd suggest looking at the existing IKEA range. The Swedish homeware titan already makes dozens of gaming-friendly products, including affordable furniture, clever storage solutions and quirky accessories.

I've rounded up my favorites below. I'm a big fan of the Malomrade desk with its built-in monitor arms, straps to stash your peripherals neatly on display, and sit-stand functionality to keep your back happy. In terms of functional storage, standouts are the Brannboll basket with its hinged arms that can turn into a stand or a handle, and the shelving unit from the same range, which has spots for all your kit and can be wheeled to exactly where it's needed.

Scroll down for more excellent gaming gear to tide you over until the official Xbox range drops at the start of October.

IKEA gaming gear — US

Jump straight to the UK range

IKEA Brannboll Shelving Unit on Castors

IKEA Malomrade Sit/stand Gaming Desk w/ Monitor Arms

IKEA Skaftsarv LED Decorative Light

IKEA Brannboll Gaming Lounge Chair

IKEA Huvudspelare Gaming Chair

IKEA Mojlighet Headset/tablet Stand

IKEA Brannboll Gaming Mouse Pad

IKEA Brannboll Inflatable Gaming Lounge Chair

IKEA Brannboll Side Table on Castors

IKEA Brannboll Gaming Easy Chair

IKEA Huvudspelare Gaming Desk

IKEA Brannboll Basket

IKEA Lanespelare Ring Light With Phone Holder

IKEA Loparbana Gaming Chair - Vissle Green

IKEA Lanespelare Accessories Stand

IKEA Kabbleka LED Lighting Strip With USB

IKEA Styrspel Gaming Chair

IKEA Övning Multifunctional Ergonomic Footrest

IKEA gaming gear — UK

IKEA Skaftsarv LED Decoration Lighting

IKEA Huvudspelare Gaming Chair

IKEA Brannboll Basket

IKEA Loparbana Gaming Chair

IKEA Brannboll Shelving Unit on Castors

IKEA Fredde Gaming Desk

IKEA Brannboll Gaming Lounge Chair

IKEA Blaskata Gaming Mouse Pad

IKEA Brannboll Side Table on Castors

IKEA Styrspel Gaming Chair

IKEA Mojlighet Headset/tablet Stand

IKEA Matchspel Gaming Chair

IKEA Huvudspelare Gaming Desk

IKEA Lanespelare Ring Light With Phone Holder

IKEA Brannboll Inflatable Gaming Lounge Chair

IKEA Malomrade Sit/stand Gaming Desk w/ Monitor Arms

IKEA Lanespelare Accessories Stand

IKEA Brannboll Gaming Mouse Pad

I've spent a long time warning people to avoid cheap 8GB laptop deals. In 2026, 16Gb is the baseline for multi-tasking, while 32GB gives you considerably more breathing room. But I've found a laptop deal that's even better.

Right now, the Acer Aspire Go 15 with a huge 48GB DDR4 RAM is down to $675 (was $1000) at Newegg. That's a welcome surprise in the middle of an ongoing memory crisis.

That 48GB memory paired with an eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. You also get a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, Wi-Fi 6 and Windows 11 Home.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 combines an eight-core Ryzen 7 5825U processor, 48GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, Wi-Fi 6 and USB-C connectivity.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his four-star review of the Aspire Go 15, our expert Lewis called it a "snappy performer," and said it was: "very good, handling light productivity and entertainment workloads with speed."

He added that it's "quite thin and light, which makes it easier to carry around than expected. The light silver finish and minimal aesthetic also imbue the Aspire Go 15 with some style."

The standout feature here is that this laptop comes with 48GB of DDR4-3200 memory. It's made up of 16GB plus a 32GB Lexar module, giving you substantially more headroom for heavy multitasking, content creation, and other memory-intensive work than you'd normally get at this price.

The Ryzen 7 5825U is an older processor, but its eight cores still make it a capable choice for everyday workloads. There's USB-C with DisplayPort and 65W Power Delivery, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet, plus Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

There's even a second M.2 slot so you can add additional storage which you'll need when you start nudging the limits of the 512GB SSD it comes with.

For more top picks, see our guide to the best business laptops we've tested.

Price context & historical value

Newegg currently lists this particular 48GB/512GB configuration at $674.99, down from $999.99. That's a $325 saving, or 32%, which is its lowest price for the laptop in the past 30 days.

There's some useful additional context here. The same listing was $714.99 very recently, so the latest reduction takes another $40 off.

For more savings, these are the best business laptop deals we've found this week.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Acer Aspire Go 15 if...

If you want a Windows laptop with lots of memory for work, heavy multitasking or running numerous applications simultaneously, $674.99 is a really good price. The combination of 48GB RAM, Ryzen 7 processor, Full HD IPS display and upgradable storage gives you plenty to work with.

❌ Skip the Acer Aspire Go 15 if...

If GPU-heavy creative work or maximum battery efficiency are priorities, I'd look elsewhere. The integrated Radeon graphics and older Ryzen architecture make this much more of a productivity machine than a performance laptop.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

48GB RAM is excellent, but it's DDR4 rather than DDR5, the graphics are integrated rather than discrete, and the Ryzen 7 5825U dates from an older AMD generation. The 15.6-inch display is also a straightforward 1920 x 1080 non-touch IPS panel rather than a high-resolution or premium OLED screen.

At 3.92lb, it's portable enough, but there are much lighter laptops available.

• Shop all laptops on sale at Newegg

I spend a lot of time working with laptops, accessories and other hardware, so I know exactly how much difference the right tech can make to a home office or small business setup.

Amazon has launched a surprise Tech Week sale in the UK, and I've picked out twelve unmissable deals that can make working from home easier, improve an existing setup or provide a useful upgrade without spending a fortune.

My picks cover everything from printers and laptops to webcams and SSDs from the likes of Dell, Epson, Logitech, and Crucial. There's something here for almost any home office or small business.

My top 12 must-buys in Amazon's surprise Tech Week sale

MX Master 3S Performance Wireless Mouse: was £78.05 now £68.99
Logitech's wireless mouse features silent clicks, MagSpeed scrolling, a thumb wheel, an 8K DPI optical sensor, programmable buttons and Easy-Switch, with Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility across multiple operating systems.View Deal

Ecotank ET-2861 Ink Tank Printer: was £239.99 now £129.99
This cartridge-free Ink Tank prints, copies and scans, with Wi-Fi connectivity, borderless photo printing, a 100-sheet paper tray and up to three years of ink included in the box.View Deal

This is one of our favourite productivity-boosting gadgets. The compact Elgato Stream Deck Neo features eight customisable buttons so you can open up key software at the push of a button. View Deal

2TB X9 Portable External SSD: was £219.99 now £177.99
This compact 2TB portable SSD delivers read speeds up to 1,050MB/s over USB-C, with plug-and-play support for PCs, and Macs, plus drop, shock, vibration and temperature resistance.View Deal

6+ mesh Wi-Fi router: was £229.99 now £169.99
This two-pack Wi-Fi 6 mesh system covers up to 280m², supports 75+ devices and gigabit speeds, with 160MHz channels, dual Gigabit Ethernet, TrueMesh technology and a built-in smart home hub.View Deal

Shipping Label Printer: was £79.99 now £59.99
This Bluetooth thermal printer handles 4 x 6-inch shipping and postage labels, works with major selling platforms and UK couriers, and includes 25 labels to get you started.View Deal

Height Adjustable Monitor Stand: was £12.59 now £10.7
For anyone working at their desk all day, a monitor stand or riser is, to my mind, essential for maintaining good posture (and preventing the neck ache as I suffered from looking down at my laptop all the time). An absolute home office essential. View Deal

15 Laptop: was £899 now £499
This 15-inch laptop combines a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, alongside a Full HD 120Hz IPS display and Windows 11 Home.View Deal

C920S HD Pro Webcam: was £84.99 now £42.49
An upgrade on arguably the best webcam in its price range - we rated the C920 4.5-stars in our review. This full HD camera features built-in mics, HD light correction, and a physical privacy shutter. View Deal

27-Inch WQHD Monitor: was £149.99 now £93.98
A business monitor under £100 is well worth a look, especially a 27-inch WQHD HDR10 model from a brand like Philips. This one doubles as a gaming display, too, with 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response times. View Deal

Evolve 65 TE Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset With Mic: was £119.39 now £98.99
We're big fans of Jabra's business headset line - our hardware editor has used his daily for several years now. Expect crisp audio quality on video calls and a comfortable, lightweight design. View Deal

K400 Plus Wireless Touch Keyboard: was £39.99 now £27.99
As a lover of interesting office gear, this budget keyboard from Logitech stood out to me for including a touchpad for use across a range of devices.View Deal

Why I recommend these products

I recently bought the Epson EcoTank ET-2861 printer for my home office, and definitely recommend it. The refillable ink tanks mean I don’t have to keep buying ridiculously expensive ink cartridges, which I had to do with my previous HP printer (especially since yellow kept running out and I couldn't print without it). Wireless printing, scanning and copying cover pretty much everything I need day to day.

For anyone looking to replace an aging computer, the Dell 15 Laptop packs a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD and it's currently under £500. It pairs those specs with a 15-inch Full HD 120Hz display, making it a solid everyday machine for work.

The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is another straightforward home office upgrade. Silent clicks keep noise down, while the MagSpeed scroll wheel, thumb wheel and 8K DPI sensor make navigating documents, spreadsheets and large screens easier.

If you run a small business that regularly sends out orders, the Munbyn thermal label printer could save you time and hassle. It prints 4 x 6-inch shipping labels without ink or toner and supports major selling platforms and UK delivery companies including Royal Mail, DPD and Evri.

The 2TB Crucial X9 Portable SSD is my storage pick because it combines plenty of capacity with read speeds of up to 1,050MB/s. I have a few of these SSDs and they are great and work with PCs and Macs.

Finally, the Amazon eero 6+ two-pack tackles one of the more frustrating home office problems: unreliable Wi-Fi. It can cover up to 280m², handle more than 75 connected devices and uses mesh technology to reduce dead zones. I live in an old house with very thick walls, and this is the perfect solution to the problems that causes me.

They’re very different products, but between them they cover computing, printing, storage, networking, navigation and shipping — the everyday technology that can dramatically impact a home office or small business.

• Boston Scientific confirmed a cyberattack disrupting global operations and IT systems
• Incident response activated; SEC filing notes ongoing impact on order processing and shipping
• Nature of attack undisclosed, but disruption suggests ransomware; no group claimed responsibility yet

Boston Scientific, a US-based global medical technology company, has confirmed it was the target of a cyberattack which disrupted operations worldwide and disrupted its IT systems.

In a new 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Boston Scientific said it detected an intrusion and activated its incident response protocols. It called in third-party cybersecurity experts to assist in assessing and containing the threat, as well.

Boston Scientific builds devices used to diagnose different health issues. It was founded in 1979, headquartered in Massachusetts, and operates in more than 100 countries around the world. Its core business areas include cardiology, endoscopy, urology, and peripheral interventions. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is considered as one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Medtronic, Abbott, and Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

Causing disruptions

In the 8-K form, the company said the incident “caused, and is expected to continue to cause, disruptions and limitations to access to certain of the company’s information systems and business applications that support aspects of the company’s operations, including the ability to process and ship customer orders.”

It did not discuss the nature of the attack, or the identity of the attackers, but this kind of disruption is usually only caused by a ransomware infection. Ransomware operators are known for encrypting entire networks and rendering them useless until either a decryption key is applied, or it gets restored via a backup.

Businesses also sometimes shut down parts of their infrastructure to stop data exfiltration efforts, which are an indispensable part of ransomware attacks.

“While the company is working diligently to restore affected functions and systems access, the timeline for a full restoration is not yet known,” it stressed in the form.

So far, no hacking groups claimed responsibility for the attack and there is no evidence of any stolen data.

Via The Register

Samsung took to its own stage at Gamescom today to announce a slew of new Odyssey OLED gaming screens for 2027, including some very tasty world firsts.

Top of the new range is the Odyssey OLED G6 G60H, which boasts a 1440p Fast IPS panel, complete with a 600Hz refresh rate.

If that ridiculous refresh speed isn't enough, you can dial down the resolution to HD and benefit from 1100Hz, making this Samsung screen the fastest we've ever seen in that respect.

It also features AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR and is Nvidia G-Sync compatible.

If you want something bigger, the Odyssey OLED G7 marks the world's first 42-inch curved gaming screen in a classic 16:9 aspect ratio. It's a 4K OLED panel with up to a 165Hz refresh rate and an aggressive 1000R curve for an immersive finish.

For reference, Samsung says the G7 is some 72% larger than a typical 32-inch curved panel in its range for greater immersion, so it can fill even more of your field of vision.

(Image credit: Future)Bigger and better?

The new Odyssey OLED G8 is stacked with cool-sounding features – a 32-inch 4K tandem OLED with a 360Hz refresh rate that features Samsung's latest fifth-gen QD-OLED panel with its Penta Tandem tech and an RGB stripe sub-pixel layout for greater power efficiency, longevity, and sharper text.

The G8 also supports 'triple mode', so 4K/360hz isn't your only option. Drop down to 1440p, and the screen yields a 520Hz refresh rate. Or, if that's not enough, then Full HD output at 680Hz is possible.

Port-wise, Samsung has kitted it out with DP 2.1 UHBR20, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C with up to 98W of power delivery, plus a USB hub with two downstream ports and KVM support.

For ultrawide fans, the new Odyssey OLED G9 offers a 49-inch panel with a 5120 x 1440 resolution and up to 360Hz. It also has dual-mode power with 720Hz at 'dual HD' (2560 x 720) and a fifth-gen QD-OLED panel with Penta Tandem tech.

Samsung says the Odyssey OLED G9 offers up to 1300 nits of peak brightness at a 4K resolution in a 3% window for some punchy output.

Alongside the slew of new screens, it also reaffirmed its commitment to glasses-free 3D tech, with wider support mentioned for some of the biggest titles and the presence of HDR10+ gaming in some big releases, including the new Call of Duty, and upwards of 20 games supporting the standard by the first half of 2027.

• Nvidia GPUs are about to run out of road in Windows 10
• Game Ready Driver support finishes in just two months
• With the last such driver coming in October, you need to bear in mind issues around game performance optimization and fixes – but you'll still get security updates

Gamers running Windows 10 need to be aware that if they have an Nvidia GPU, they're only two months away from that graphics card running out of road for support with drivers.

VideoCardz reminded us that Nvidia's deadline for ditching Windows 10 support is now nearly upon us, with the final Game Ready Driver that supports the older operating system arriving in October 2026.

Does that mean you need to be thinking about upgrading to Windows 11 if you have an Nvidia graphics card?

No, it doesn't – well, not necessarily, although there is a major downside to remaining on Windows 10 after October of this year. In case you're at all unsure, let's dive into the exact ins-and-outs of what's happening here – as well as touching on the subject of whether Nvidia might just have a change of heart here.

You'll still be secure with an Nvidia GPU

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The key point to remember is that while the Game Ready Driver that comes out in November 2026 won't support Windows 10, Nvidia will still provide security updates for your graphics card. As Team Green explained in a short FAQ: "Windows 10 driver support will transition to a quarterly security update for a period of three years where critical bug fixes will be delivered to end users through October 2029."

That means Windows 10 users will get an update every three months to fix any critical bugs or security flaws with the Nvidia drivers. This will continue for another three years, so effectively to the end of the decade.

At that point, when 2030 is about to roll around, you will then potentially be risking exposure to a vulnerability as any driver security holes will no longer be patched. But that's still a good long way off.

So what does the end of Game Ready Driver support really mean?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot)

After October, Windows 10 PCs will only get the benefit of these quarterly security updates, and they won't be covered by Nvidia's regular Game Ready Driver packages. That means as new games come out, Windows 10 users won't get the performance optimizations that these driver releases contain – or bug fixes for these titles.

As time goes on, then, more and more PC games will be left out in the cold in terms of that tweaking and optimization. That's bad news, of course, although it doesn't mean those games will be somehow unplayable. In fact, in many cases they might be just fine – but there are no guarantees, and you may get subpar frame rates (indeed, that's quite likely to be the case to some extent).

Of course, existing games will continue to run just as they always have, and you shouldn't run into any issues on that score.

Could there yet be a reprieve from Nvidia?

(Image credit: Future)

If you're not happy about the idea of not getting the latest patches, tweaks, and optimizations for new PC games, then you'll have to seriously start to think about planning your upgrade to Windows 11.

Assuming you have an upgrade path, that is, because your PC may not meet the hardware requirements of the newer OS. (Although bear in mind that a simple BIOS tweak may be all that's needed to ensure compatibility with the TPM requirement). If you're looking at a major PC upgrade, or an entirely new rig, that's a painful prospect given the RAM crisis and all the price hikes around that.

As one Redditor puts it: "'This is terrible news considering PC prices."

However, as another gamer on that Reddit thread observes, there may yet be a glimmer of hope of a reprieve from Nvidia. If you recall, just a couple of months ago, Microsoft quietly extended consumer support for Windows 10 for a further year, through to October 2027.

Now, when Nvidia announced the end of driver support for October 2026, which happened last year, as far as Team Green was concerned, it was aligning the curtailment of Game Ready Driver releases for Windows 10 with Microsoft's original consumer support extension. But now Microsoft has pushed out extended support for another additional year to October 2027 – could Nvidia mirror this move?

It doesn't seem likely, in all honesty, and I'd think Nvidia would have announced this already if it was the intention. Concrete driver plans are likely already in place that can't be changed. That said, you never know – and we can't fully rule out the notion of a last-minute reprieve. Watch this space.

• Yamaha unveils two new compact streaming hi-fi products, due for release in November
• The WXC-70A is a compact streamer with Spotify, AirPlay, Roon, Tidal and HDMI connectivity, among others
• The WXA-70A has all that, and built-in amplification as well

Is there any kind of audio tech that Yamaha doesn't make? For a while, compact streaming gear was one, but after a decade, the brand is returning to the space.

These new gadgets are called the WXA-70A, and WXC-70A, which seems unnecessarily confusing, but here we are. You'll be able to buy Yamaha's new offerings from some time in November 2026, though an exact release date hasn't been offered yet.

Let's start with the Yamaha WXC-70, which you can see pictured above: the compact streamer. This is due to sell for £859 (about $1, 170, AU$1,700), so it's the cheaper of the two models.

It's designed to connect and empower a range of household audio devices such as turntables, speakers, and TVs, with an in-built calibration microphone which can analyze your room to best optimize its acoustic output.

The WXC-70A is controlled via the MusicCast app, which lets you manage your sources and outputs, and play music from various services. It also supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay and it's Roon Ready. It can also be tied into your smart home gadgets.

A big draw to the device is its range of connections. Input-wise, it takes RCA, optical, HDMI (including eARC), USB-A, ethernet and Bluetooth (but only SBC/AAC), and its outputs include various RCA, optical, coax, a Sub Out port, and of course Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Getting amped up

(Image credit: Yamaha)

The WXA-70A offers a little more, and costs more too at £1,199 (about $1, 630, AU$2,400). It measures the same size as the WXC-70A, at 22 x 26.7 x 7.3cm, but its 2.6kg weight (compared to the C's 1.9kg) shows there's more going under the hood.

Many of the features here are the same. It has the same calibration microphone, the same dials, the same MusicCast and smart home connections. It has the same inputs and largely the same outputs. You're paying more for its amplification skills.

The WXA-70A can output at 70W two-channel at 8 ohms, or 105W two-channel at 4 ohms, so it can pair nicely with bookshelf speakers or floorstanders. Basically, it's a powerful just-add-speakers small streaming hi-fi brain.

If you want something with even fewer boxes, Yamaha recently unveiled its latest streaming stereo speakers, which have all the connections built right in.