TechRadar News

• Disneyland is prepping for its 70th anniversary
• For the first time, park guests will be able to vote for which characters appear in a show
• World of Color Happiness! features fountains, lighting, lasers, fogs, mist sprays, and flame effects

Disneyland Resort is getting ready to celebrate a big anniversary – more specifically, its 70th anniversary. And, Disney is looking to pull out all the stops, including rolling out new and enhanced experiences at theme parks Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure.

While I hope that includes some new dance moves for the delightful BDX Droids, the upgrades and entirely new immersive experiences extend beyond Galaxy’s Edge at the park.

We already knew that Disney was prepping a new World of Color evening show – aka a ‘night-time spectacular’ – at Disney California Adventure dubbed ‘World of Color Happiness!'. It’ll still feature an impressive water show with jets, fountains, and mist sprays that turn into a screen on projections, lasers, and even flames that tell a story on. It looks very impressive, and the new show is promised to evoke ‘happiness’ and will be hosted by Joy from Inside Out and Inside Out 2.

(Image credit: Disney Parks/Future)

It’ll no doubt be an impressive event – but, even neater is the level of interactivity that Disney has announced for the show. Via the Disneyland app for Android or iOS, park guests can vote for which emotion from Inside Out will be featured in scenes. This means that each showing of ‘World of Color Happiness!’ could be different from the previous night in that you’ll be able to vote to see Sadness, Anger, Disgust, or Envy featured throughout.

You’ll likely need to have a park ticket registered to your Disneyland account to take part, and location services are required – this way, you can vote if you’re in the park. As Disney does and how Moritz Bächer, the Associate Lab Director of Disney’s Zurich-based robotics team previously told TechRadar, this is a case of technology being used for storytelling.

(Image credit: Disney/Pixar)

Disney has previously allowed MagicBand+ – a wearable bracelet that acts as your ticket for park entry and to ride well rides – to glow and vibrate for different experiences. In fact, with ‘World of Color’ at Disney California Adventure and fireworks shows at Disney Parks around the globe, we have been able to interact before.

But now, the Disneyland app, which is used for countless other things like ordering food, viewing photos, or making reservations, can let you have a say in the night-time spectacular. This is the first time Disney has used this interactive feature of voting for what character will be featured in a show.

It also comes at a time when Disney Parks is ushering in more immersive visuals. As part of Season of the Force at Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, you’ll see scenes from the Star Wars projected on the spires of Batuu at the park. It looks incredibly impressive and is a perfect use of the park's land.

No one’s seen ‘World of Color Happiness!’ just yet, but from the teaser image, it’s set to offer an immersive, happiness-inducing journey with some Disney characters, and you might just be pulled more into it thanks if you opt to vote.

Of course, it’ll also be neat to see a movie screen made of water with lasers for color, jets, and even flames in a lake.

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• HBO has renewed The Last of Us for a third season
• The popular series' second season doesn't premiere until this weekend (April 12-13)
• Previously, HBO's Head of TV said it could run for four seasons

It's official: The Last of Us season 3 is in the works at HBO.

The hugely popular post-apocalyptic drama's second season hasn't even begun to air yet. But, such is the confidence within the halls of power at HBO, the US cable network has seen fit to renew The Last of Us TV show for another installment.

It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6April 9, 2025

Frankly, the confirmation shouldn't come as a surprise. HBO's live-action adaptation of Naughty Dog's multi-award-winning game series namesake is not only one of the best Max shows around but also one of the most-watched HBO TV Originals of all time. And, with early reviews for The Last of Us season 2 largely praising it for yet another fantastic installment, it would've been a huge shock if the Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey-fronted program abruptly ended after two seasons.

That possibility was never really in the cards. Speaking in February, HBO's head of programming, drama, and film, Francesca Orsi, all but confirmed that The Last of Us would run for four seasons. The show's renewal, then, was always a case of when, not if.

"It can’t be overemphasized how proud HBO is for the outstanding achievement we believe the second season of The Last of Us is," Orsi said in a statement accompanying the season 3 renewal news. "[Co-showrunners] Craig [Mazin and] Neil [Druckmann], [producer] Carolyn [Strauss], and the entire executive producer team, cast, and crew have delivered a masterful follow-up and we’re thrilled to carry the power of Craig and Neil’s storytelling into what we know will be an equally moving and extraordinary third season."

Bella Ramsey will return as Ellie in season 3 (Image credit: HBO)

"We approached season 2 with the goal of creating something we could be proud of," Mazin also said. "The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of The Last of Us with season 3!”

"To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me, and I am grateful for the fans' enthusiastic and overwhelming support," Druckmann added. "Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Mazin, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast, and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We're thrilled to bring you more of The Last of Us!”

The Last of Us season 2 premieres in the US on Sunday, April 13, and the UK and Australia on Monday, April 14. It'll be available to stream on Max in the US and Australia, as well as Sky Atlantic in the UK.

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Google Cloud has unveiled the launch of several new AI agents focused on keeping your organization as safe as it can be.

The company revealed the new additions at its Google Cloud Next 25 event, promising a useful ally to protect your business from the latest threats.

The new agents will form part of Google Unified Security, the company's new combined offering, also launched this week to help provide better and more effective security protection for businesses everywhere.

Google security agents

The company says it sees a future approach to security where human analysts work alongside AI agents, meaning menial or resource-intensive basic tasks are offloaded to the latter, freeing up the former to focus on more complex tasks.

The new additions include an alert triage agent in Google Security Operations which is able to carry out dynamic investigations on behalf of users.

The always-on agent is able to analyze the context of each alert, before gathering relevant information and reaching a verdict, which is then delivered to the user, alongside data history covering exactly how the agent arrived at its decision, reducing the workload of analysts who otherwise are triaging and investigating hundreds of alerts per day.

The other new addition is a malware analysis agent, part of Google Threat Intelligence, which can investigate whether code is safe or harmful. It will also have the ability to create and execute scripts for deobfuscation, before summarizing its work and offering up a final verdict.

Both new agents will be rolling out to users in the second quarter of 2025.

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Google Cloud has unveiled a new unified security platform designed to take the stress out of keeping your business safe from the latest threats.

The company has unveiled Google Unified Security, affectionately known as GUS, at its Google Cloud Next 25 event in Las Vegas, promising a major step forward in threat detection and mitigation.

Unsurprisingly, Google Unified Security will be outfitted with the company's latest AI tools and services to maximize the options available to customers.

Google Unified Security

The launch of Google Unified Security comes as businesses around the globe face what the company calls a "new era of security and privacy".

The company says that as a business grows, its infrastructure inevitably becomes more complex, expanding the possible attack surface, and increasing the need for a unified security platform, as separate and disconnected security tools can leave data fragmented, as well as opening firms up to attack.

Customers will be able to use Google Unified Security to access a single interface for all their data, offering improving visibility, detection and response capabilities.

The company promises the latest Google Threat Intelligence findings will be made available to users, and Gemini will of course also be present to offer advice and guidance.

Users will be able to access telemetry and other data from Chrome Enterprise to ensure they stay safe from possible threats, which can be monitored from Security Command Center.

Employees can also benefit from new phishing protections in Chrome Enterprise Premium, with employers able to add their own branding and corporate assets in order to boost identification.

Google's Security Operations platform is also getting a boost thanks to new data pipeline management capabilities, helping users manage scale and reduce costs, while the new Mandiant Threat Defense service gives in-depth detection and response capabilities to all the latest threats.

Google Unified Security is rolling out now.

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• Nasuni report finds only 20% believe their data is AI-ready, and 96% face challenges
• The average downtime after a cyberattack is five weeks, experts warn
• Hybrid cloud promises to address these in one hit

Only one in five businesses believe their data is AI-ready, which means barely more than a quarter (27%) of AI projects are delivering any real measurable ROI, new research has claimed.

This is despite AI being a top area of business spending, however the usual hurdles and challenges still remain.

Nasuni’s report also reveals the damaging effects of cyberattacks on companies, with slow recovery stifling productivity as businesses lose an average of five weeks recovering.

We’re still facing the same old AI challenges

Despite best intentions, Nasuni found that data migration continues to be a primary hurdle preventing companies from fully adopting AI, with a staggering 96% facing challenges migrating their file data.

“Organisations are making AI a top priority and significantly ramping up their investments, but what we are finding is they are not always taking the critical steps necessary to ensure success when it comes to data management," noted Nasuni President David Grant.

The report also calls out companies for failing to prioritize their investments, with nearly half planning to invest in AI over the next 18 months compared with one in three when it comes to the necessary cloud data management facilities.

And that’s without considering the format of the data in the first place – only one-fifth (20%) agreed that their data is structured, accessible and ready for AI initiatives.

“A modern approach that unifies, organises, and makes unstructured data accessible is needed to reliably and securely harness AI, enabling teams to navigate the complexities of AI deployment Confidently,” Grant added.

Looking ahead, there’s a clear place for hybrid cloud storage models, which not only promise to be AI-ready but also look to improve companies’ security postures, with those who don’t adopt hybrid cloud 51% more likely to have data security and privacy concerns.

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• Canon has reportedly canceled some planned price drops for two cameras
• Tariffs are being blamed for the canned EOS R7 and EOS R10 drops in the US
• Blackmagic also recently confirmed price rises for its cameras in the US

If you're a tech fan, it's hard to escape worries about US tariffs right now – and cameras may have just experienced their real-world impact for the first time with the reported cancellation of some planned Canon price drops.

The reliable Canon Rumors says it's been told that "price drops that were scheduled for May on both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 have been canceled in the United States". Annoyingly for anyone who's been planning to buy an affordable mirrorless camera, it was also told that "the price drops were going to be significant."

On the plus side, if you live in the UK or EU, Canon Rumors says its source has claimed that the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 price drops "are still scheduled to happen."

That could change, but it's another sign of the significant geographical variances we might see this year regarding discounts and pricing.

Of course, nothing is certain right now, and if the USA and Japan did come to an arrangement that reduced the impact of the tariffs, the situation could change. However, as things stand, the Canon EOS R10 (which we still rate as the best camera for beginners) and its mid-range EOS R7 sibling won't be as temptingly affordable as they might have otherwise been this year.

Unfortunately, this will likely be just the start of another rollercoaster year for camera fans...

Analysis: It might get a lot worse

USA Price Updates! Due to new tariffs, most of our US prices have increased. Please check our US web site for details. Prices in other countries are currently unchanged. https://t.co/w40IiwMA02April 6, 2025

Clearly, missing out on potentially big camera price drops isn't great, particularly if you've been thinking of getting a new EOS R7 or EOS R10. But if the early signs are any indication, things could soon get much worse, particularly in the US.

Over the weekend, Blackmagic posted the notice above, confirming that its US prices had been increased "due to new tariffs." In some cases, the rise was pretty dramatic, with the new Blackmagic Pyxis 12K G2 seeing its tag hiked by 32%.

Is that a sign of things to come from other camera manufacturers? While it's hard to predict anything with real certainty right now, it's certainly possible. A lot of Canon's manufacturing takes place in Japan (hit with a 24% tariff), while Nikon's mid-range equipment is made in Thailand (which currently has a 36% tariff).

Unless we see some rapid trade deals that reduce these tariffs, it's fair to assume that many camera bodies, lenses, and accessories – perhaps most – will become much more expensive this year.

If that happens, we can expect to see used prices rise, too, as the number of bargain hunters increases and pre-tariff supply starts to dwindle. In other words, it might become a good time to delay your next camera upgrade or at least reframe the situation as a relief from gear acquisition syndrome (otherwise known as GAS in camera circles).

It's time to brace ourselves for a rocky ride.

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• Bigme B7 costs $229 and has full Android access and a nifty call recording-to-text feature
• Despite its low cost, it comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage but there's no dock for the stylus
• With its 3000mAh battery, it should last far longer than rivals but the jury is out there as there's no reviews

I really like the look of the Bigme B7, a 7-inch color ePaper device which runs Android and combines features commonly found in both tablets and smartphones.

Its E-Ink display offers a resolution of 1264x1680, 300PPI, for black and white content and 632x840, 150PPI, for color.

The screen uses Kaleido 3, the same technology Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft is based on.

Pen with wireless charging

The B7 is powered by an octa-core 2.3GHz processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable via TF card up to 1TB.

It supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and 4G connectivity via a Nano SIM slot, offering options for both data usage and voice calls when away from a wireless network. There's also a nifty call recording to text feature that supports 37 languages.

The B7 includes a 5-megapixel rear camera and a built-in microphone, supporting video calls and basic photo needs, including the scanning of documents.

The B7 has a built-in gravity sensor for automatic screen rotation, and navigation is aided by two customizable physical buttons.

The device comes with a capacitive stylus with 4096 pressure levels so you can make notes and drawings, as well as annotate or sign documents. The pen supports wireless charging, but there's no dock for it, which is a shame.

Weighing around 215g and measuring 156.6x138.6x5.8mm, the Bigme B7 is compact and portable. Its 3000mAh battery should allow the device to go a decent length of time between charges, and the product comes with a magnetic cover that can transform into a multi-angle stand, for hands-free reading.

The B7 is currently being offered at an early bird price of $229, a 23% saving off its standard $299 MSRP, and there are other discounts to be found on the site. There are no reviews available for the tablet yet, so while the Bigme B7 looks to offer a solid feature set for an affordable price, how well it performs in the real world remains to be seen.

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• Signify has released a firmware update for the Philips Hue Play Sync Box 8K
• The update will particularly benefit PS5 and PS5 Pro owners
• It also adds "seamless" compatibility for 3D content

If you have a Philips Hue Play setup at home, there's good news – a new software update is rolling out now for your Sync Box, and it's packed with features and fixes to improve your multimedia experience.

As Hueblog.com explains, firmware version 2.5.0 makes several changes that should be music to gamers' ears. For example, the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K now works with Display Stream Compression (DSC), allowing 8K resolutions at 60Hz for the PS5 Pro.

In its release notes, Signify (the company behind Philips Hue) also promises optimized input source switching, which should reduce latency if you're using a PS5 connected to an LG TV.

3D content can now also be routed through the Sync Box 8K, with Signify promising "seamless compatibility" in case you're still holding onto your 2011 collection of 3D Blu-rays.

Bug patching

Signify has also fixed a bug that caused "issues with CEC power on/off functionality and auto off after 20 minutes" when the Sync Box's HDMI cable was connected to the second output of an AV receiver.

Automatic light syncing now works properly when the box is used in this configuration, too.

There is also new firmware for the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 4K. This makes "general bug fixes and improvements," though Signify hasn't provided more specific details. Both updates are rolling out now, and you should receive the new firmware in the next few days (if you haven't already).

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We're in the middle of a fast-developing global trade war sparked by punitive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, and the casualties appear to be some of our favorite tech gadgets, including the beloved iPhone.

Prices for the iPhone 16 are unlikely to rise in the short term, though. Instead, the biggest threat to Apple holding the line on current and future iPhone prices might be the calamitous idea of Apple attempting to build its handsets in the US.

First, let's look at the question of the short-term impact of tariffs on iPhone prices. Right now, Apple builds roughly 85% of its iPhones in China, a country on which Trump has now imposed a 104% tariff. China reciprocated with 84% tariffs on imported US goods.

I've seen some analysts predicting that tariffs could cause iPhone prices to double, putting the latest best iPhones at over $2,000. However, I don't see that happening.

Hold the line

In the short term, at least, Apple won't mess with iPhone 16 prices; Apple is too invested in moving built units into consumers' hands. It's true that Apple works on a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory model (build only what's needed/sold), so that it does not have millions of iPhones lying around in Apple Stores and supply centers, but it does have some stocks.

And for all we know, Apple may have ramped up production and delivery to the US in anticipation of these tariffs (Nintendo may have done just that with its new Switch 2).

There are so many pitfalls to bringing all manufacturing of iPhones to the US, including higher costs, more expensive labor, and the role of full automation, which is counter to the idea of adding more jobs.

Tim Bajarin

I think it's fair to worry that iPhone 17 prices could be higher as a result of the tariffs, but again, I think Apple will do what it can to hold the line, and part of that has to do with its services (Apple News, Apple TV+. iCloud, Fitness+, Apple Music, etc).

If you look at Apple earnings, its fastest-growing segment, and, aside from iPhones, its most reliable source of revenue, is services. You sell services by selling hardware, and Apple won't sell more hardware if it significantly raises iPhone prices in response to these tariffs.

There is, as I see it, though, a far greater threat to iPhone pricing, and it is related to tariffs. Trump enacted these tariffs in part to push American companies to bring manufacturing back to the US. He even believes that the US has the labor, workforce, and resources to build the iPhone in the US.

He's wrong.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Let's imagine, though, that he convinces or coerces Apple into a full-scale upheaval and transfer of iPhone production from China, India, and other countries to the US. How would that work? And what might that mean for the price of your next iPhone?

First, you need to understand that, even if the iPhone were assembled in the US, virtually all its parts would be manufactured elsewhere. A couple of years ago, ArcGIS StoryMaps produced a fascinating infographic that showed the manufacturing origins of each iPhone component. Here are some examples:

• Battery: South Korea (Samsung)
• Camera: Japan (Sony)
• Glass: Australia (Corning)
• Touchscreen: Greece (Boradcom)
• Audio chip: Singapore (Cirrus Logic)
• Gyroscope: Switzerland (STMicroelectronics)

Virtually every nation has now had a baseline 10% US tariff imposed upon it – and some countries, like Japan, face much higher ones. Components shipped directly to a US-based Apple iPhone plant could cost more than the same components sent to China based on these tariffs, unless they're exempted from tariffs in return for Apple bringing its manufacturing operations to the US. They certainly won't be less expensive.

I spoke to longtime Apple Watcher and analyst Creative Strategies Chairman Tim Bajarin about this over email, and he told me, "The idea of making iPhones in the US is a stretch. Apple’s components alone come from all over the world and then need to be assembled in the most cost-effective way. This is why the US lost manufacturing in the 1960s to countries like Japan and eventually China."

Most electronics are like this, built piecemeal around the world and assembled centrally in the most cost-efficient place.

Bajarin adds, "There are so many pitfalls to bringing all manufacturing of iPhones to the US, including higher costs, more expensive labor, and the role of full automation, which is counter to the idea of adding more jobs."

The majority of iPhones are still assembled by Foxconn in Shenzen, China, where employees make a little less than (in US dollars) $3 an hour. US workers would expect to make at least the minimum wage ($7.25 federally); and if factory workers are unionized, they would likely earn more and expect benefits.

It's hard to imagine how building an iPhone in the US, with US employees making fair wages, would not be more expensive than building it in India or China.

Apple's plan

Apple has not spoken directly about the tariffs or how it will respond to them (I've asked Apple for comment), but it has committed to investing $500 billion in constructing facilities and hiring employees in the US. Notably, none of that work is for factories that can build iPhones. Instead, the facilities will build servers that support Apple's big Apple Intelligence push and other AI cloud computing efforts.

Ultimately, the shorter-term existential threat to the costs of our iPhones is not these tariffs: it's the idea that anyone should build them in the US. It's a bad plan built upon false premises. I think Apple knows this, which is why it's not happening and, for now at least, why your iPhone prices might hold steady.

Will you pay more for your next iPhone?April 9, 2025

If the tariffs lock in and last through this year, that might change. Apple could do its best to hold the line, and even take a loss on the iPhone 17 in order to continue growing its user base and services audience. That's not a sustainable long-term plan, though, and at some point, I suspect even Apple will say, "We have to pass some of this pain along."

As for consumers, they, at least anecdotally, seem somewhat willing to pay a little more for iPhones. In a poll on X, I asked if people would pay more for their next iPhone. A little more than half predictably answered 'No', but almost 35% checked 'It depends how much.' iPhone fans will endure some pocketbook pain to get their favorite phone, as long as it's not too much.

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• Samsung reveals pricing for its 2025 OLED TV lineup
• Prices are cheaper than LG's 2025 OLEDs
• It also reveals prices for its Frame Pro TV and Samsung HW-QS700F soundbar

Samsung has revealed the US pricing for its 2025 OLED TV range and, surprisingly, they're cheaper than LG's OLEDs.

Samsung's OLED TV range consists of the flagship Samsung S95F (successor to one of 2024's best TVs, the Samsung S95D), the mid-range Samsung S90F and the entry-level Samsung S85F. Pricing for the range is as follows:

Samsung S95F

• Samsung S95F 55-inch: $2,299
• Samsung S95F 65-inch: $3,299
• Samsung S95F 77-inch: $4,499

Samsung S90F

• Samsung S90F 42-inch: $1,299
• Samsung S90F 48-inch: $1,499
• Samsung S90F 55-inch: $1,799
• Samsung S90F 65-inch: $2,499
• Samsung S90F 77-inch: $3,499
• Samsung S90F 83-inch: $5,399

Samsung S85F

• Samsung S85F 55-inch: $1,499
• Samsung S95F 65-inch: $1,999
• Samsung S85F 77-inch: $2,999
• Samsung S85F 83-inch: $4,499

Comparing the prices to the pricing for LG's 2025 OLED TV range shows that the Samsung S95F is cheaper than the rival LG G5 by roughly $1-200 across 55 and 65-inch models, and the Samsung S90F is $1-200 cheaper than the LG C5 across all models from 42-77 inches (83-inch is the same for both). LG has yet to reveal pricing for the LG B5, but it'll be interesting to see if it's the same as the Samsung S85F or if Samsung's set is also cheaper.

Pricing for the largest Samsung S95F, the 83-inch model, which is believed to use LG's Primary Tandem RGB OLED 'four-stack' panel', wasn't included in the initial announcement, but if it's mirroring the LG G5, it will cost roughly $6,499.

All models are now available to order through Samsung's website:

• Get the 65-inch Samsung S95F
• Get the 65-inch Samsung S90F
• Get the 55-icnh Samsung S85F

Samsung didn't just reveal pricing for its OLEDs but also for its 2025 The Frame Pro and The Frame TVs. Those prices are as follows:

The Samsung Frame Pro (Image credit: Future) Samsung The Frame Pro

• Samsung The Frame Pro 65-inch: $2,199
• Samsung The Frame Pro 77-inch: $3,199
• Samsung The Frame Pro 83-inch: $4,299

Samsung The Frame

• Samsung The Frame 43-inch: $899
• Samsung The Frame 50-inch: $1,099
• Samsung The Frame 55-inch: $1,299
• Samsung The Frame 65-inch: $1,799

Samsung's The Frame Pro marks the first time that the lifestyle TV series has incorporated a mini-LED backlight. It also uses Samsung's new Wireless One Connect Box, an external box that connects devices and wirelessly transmits signals to The Frame Pro TVs.

Samsung also revealed pricing for its latest soundbar, the QS700F, which is a 3.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos model that can be positioned for either wall or stand-mount placement. The QS700F will cost $699.99 at launch.

One thing worth noting is that these prices are likely to have been decided before the new US tariffs were announced. Although, as reported by Reuters, Samsung says it won't be affected by tariffs as its US TVs are made in Mexico, the tariffs are a developing situation that could have an affect on the final prices.

Good pricing news, but a shadow still looms

Just what OLED panel type will the Samsung S90F (pictured) use? (Image credit: Future)

There's no denying that LG has set the OLED TV bar high for 2025. In our LG C5 review, we gave it five-out-of-five stars thanks to its all-around versatility and performance. Also, from what we've seen of the LG G5, its fullscreen brightness boost over its predecessor could be a gamechanger.

So naturally, Samsung needed to answer in some way. By undercutting LG's prices, it has directly laid a challenge and given viewers another OLED TV choice. Even more surprising is that Samsung's 2025 OLEDs are cheaper than their 2024 predecessors!

We haven't fully tested Samsung's OLED TVs just yet, but from what we've seen, it's set to be an impressive lineup. The Samsung S95F's new OLED Glare Free 2.0 tech solves the black crush issues that the Samsung S95D suffered from and its 83-inch model combines this with mind-blowing brightness thanks LG's four-stack panel. The Samsung S95F already has the potential to be one of the best OLED TVs of 2025.

The Samsung S95F is shaping up to be one of 2025's most impressive TVs from our brief hands-on testing. (Image credit: Future)

There is an elephant in the room, however: the display panels used in the Samsung S90F series OLED TVs. Last year, the Samsung S90D was subject to a panel lottery where it wasn't clear if users were getting a QD-OLED or W-OLED panel (in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes, at least). The same appears to have happened again for 2025, with rumours circulating that only the 65-inch S90F will use a QD-OLED panel.

Given this, the pricing story looks a little different, as the S90F doesn't have quite the same value, despite being cheaper. It's worth noting that the rival C5 does have an OLED EX panel so if the S90F features the same, it does take the sting out of a bit. Still, it's frustrating that Samsung won't confirm which panels are used for the S90F series.

It's interesting to see Samsung directly undercutting its main rival on prices. If anything, this could encourage LG to drop its prices in an attempt to win over customers. Either way, it's great news for TV buyers.

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• Power Detector+ warns you if any of the pins on your graphics card’s power connector have too many amps flowing through them
• That could lead to a scenario where the power cable melts, as we’ve seen in reports, so the warning should help you avoid a potential bad outcome

Asus has released a new version of its GPU software suite that adds what could be a very useful – or indeed critical – warning for when temperatures run high with the graphics card, and a power connector melting disaster might occur.

The latest version of the GPU Tweak III software comes with the Power Detector+ warning function, which Asus notes is exclusive to ROG Astral and Matrix graphics cards.

The ROG Astral models are the RTX 5090 and 5080, and the ROG Matrix is the RTX 4090 last-gen flagship.

As VideoCardz reports, the idea is that the software monitors the power cable, specifically the amps value for the pins (inside the connector) plugged into the port on your graphics card. Should there be a problem with one (or more) of the pins not being seated properly – and the value either being zero or rising above 9 amps – the utility will flag up a warning.

The cable not being seated properly in this way is a possible scenario in which the power connector could end up seriously overheating to the point where it melts, as we’ve seen reported in the past with some Nvidia GPUs.

This means that when you get this warning, you can shut down your PC swiftly, and then check the power cable, perhaps disconnecting and then plugging it back in more firmly. Hopefully, that’ll resolve any issue and avoid a cable melt incident that could damage the GPU.

(Image credit: DisobeyArt / Shutterstock) Analysis: More of this kind of monitoring, please – although it’s in the pipeline elsewhere

Interestingly, the GPU Tweak software is a utility that can be used with all GPUs, AMD or Nvidia, and not just models from Asus either. However, there’s only support for this power-related warning provided for the Asus ROG RTX 5090 and 4090 flagships, and the RTX 5080 Astral, as noted – at least for now.

Perhaps the graphics card maker will expand this support in time, as it’s undoubtedly a useful warning system to have – and cable melting reports are not exclusive to these models.

(As well as reports of this issue with the RTX 5090, I should note that there have also been similar claims made with RTX 5080 models, too – but there could be all sorts of factors at play here, as we’ve discussed in the past. Clearly, though, the flagship GPUs will always be in the most perilous situations, power connector-wise, given the vast amount of wattage they command – particularly if you’re going to overclock these beasts of desktop graphics cards).

Hopefully, other vendors will climb aboard this power warning bandwagon, although some gamers have already been using the HWiNFO tool to monitor the amps of their power cable’s pins. Note that this functionality for HWiNFO is only in beta testing right now (and also requires a second utility, RivaTuner, to work).

The long and short of it is that fully fledged and tested support will hopefully be in HWiNFO before too long, with any luck. The more widespread this kind of monitoring can be made, the better.

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• Some Roku owners have seen the YouTube TV app disappear from devices
• Resetting the device doesn't work, but some have found alternative fixes
• Google and Roku have yet to respond to the reports

YouTube TV has rapidly become one of the best streaming services for live TV, particularly if you're looking to replace cable with a service that's available on a multitude of streaming devices. Over the past day, however, Roku users have noticed that the YouTube TV app has strangely disappeared from their devices.

Not only has the YouTube TV app gone missing, but some users have spotted that it’s not available to reinstall either. This had led owners of Roku streaming devices to head to Reddit to share their experiences with the issue, with some swarming Roku forums and also Google’s support page.

One of the first outlets to bring the issue to light was 9to5Google, which stated that the cause of the issue is still unconfirmed. We've reached out to Google to find out if there's any update and will update this story if we hear back.

YouTube TV not loading on Hisense/Roku 55R7G5 from r/youtubetv

The most frustrating part of YouTube TV’s app disappearance is that it’s taken a lot of trial and error for users to fix – and as it stands, neither Roku nor Google has come forward to address the problem.

Searching for the app in the installed list on your Roku device doesn’t seem to help, and neither does resetting the device. But luckily, there seems to be alternative ways that users have found.

How to recover the YouTube TV app on Roku

(Image credit: Roku)

According to a Roku community moderator, this issue can be resolved by checking for any Roku OS updates that may need installing. Updating the latest OS version has helped many users restore the YouTube TV app.

For those who have already downloaded the most recent version of Roku OS whose YouTube TV app is still missing, Android Police says that you can still use the standard YouTube app to access YouTube TV’s channels. When you open the left-hand menu, scroll down to the bottom and you’ll find an option for YouTube TV.

Over the past few months, YouTube has been teasing updates including two new features that allow users and creators to comment and interact with videos, and also a big Netflix update.

It’s unclear whether this recent issue is related to YouTube TV’s possible upgrades, but we’ve asked Google for any insights and will update this story if we get a response.

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• Doctor Who season 2's primary dynamic will differ wildly from last season's partnership
• The Doctor's friendship with new companion Bel won't be the same as the one he enjoyed with Ruby
• Ncuti Gatwa and Verada Sethu has explained why things won't always be rosy between their characters

Doctor Who's primary cast have revealed how the titular character's latest companion Bel differs from her predecessor Ruby Sunday.

Speaking to TechRadar, Ncuti Gatwa and Verada Sethu, who play The Doctor and Bel, explained that the pair's dynamic gets off to something of a fraught start in the Disney+ show's second season.

Compared to the immediately harmonious relationship that Gatwa's 15th Doctor enjoyed with Ruby – who will return in some capacity this season – it's a frosty start to what'll be a spicy, marriage of convenience-style friendship.

Indeed, while the duo learn to become a "really strong team" as the series' latest installment progresses, Bel's deep-rooted self of sense also means the titular Time Lord will have his hands full with her in Doctor Who season 2. You know, when he's not dealing with all manner of planetary and wider universal threats.

The 15th Doctor's friendship with Ruby got off to a better start than it will with Bel (Image credit: BBC/Disney Branded Television)

"Bel has such a strong sense of self and her own values," Sethu told me. "I love that she already owns herself and has so much going on in her own life that she feels responsible for. As a nurse, she's a caring, selfless person, so she wants to go back to being the person she was before she meets The Doctor. She's got no interest in floating around space and time with this guy!"

"[In the 2023 Christmas special], Ruby didn't think twice about jumping onto the goblin ship ladder," Gatwa interjected. "She very willingly wanted to go on this adventure and be part of The Doctor's world.

"Bel was plucked out of her own world and placed into his, so there's no interest on her part to follow in Ruby's footsteps," he continued. "So, what has to form is a real partnership built on an inherent equality and maturity between The Doctor and Bel. She understands the weight of responsibility, loss, and the hardships of life in general. But, by the end of this season's first episode, she's also well aware that The Doctor is a very dangerous man."

She holds him accountable for a lot of things

Varada Sethu, Doctor Who actor

"She holds him accountable for a lot of things," Sethu added. "He's not surrounded by yes people like he might have been before. Now, he's traveling with someone who'll say 'no, that is absolutely not okay'.

"But, they're able to grow together because they're able to fill in the gaps where the other falls short. They become a really strong team that has a great sense of trust and platonic love, which develops throughout the season."

Want to know what I thought of episode 1 of one of the best Disney+ shows' second season? My review of Doctor Who's season 2 premiere will tell you more. Be sure to check back with me later this week for more from my exclusive chat with Gatwa and Sethu, too.

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Sony has announced US pricing for its new high-end Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV – but unlike in the UK, where the pricing is highly competitive with the LG G5, Sony's US prices are far higher than the G5's.

Indeed, they're also much higher than the recently unveiled price of the Samsung S95F, which uses the same QD-OLED panel.

When I spoke to Sony at the UK launch of the Bravia 8 II I was told the price of the new TV would be lower than that of the Sony A95L, the company's previous high-end OLED. That appears to have only applied to the UK, though, because the Bravia 8 II is priced higher than the A95L was at launch in the US.

What we don't know is whether this price factors in expected tariff costs or not – it may be that Sony has included them, and that LG and Samsung will soon have to raise prices.

However, Sony has a history of its TV and audio products coming with a relatively high price tag for US customers, so these may be the originally planned prices, and they may go up further in the near future, though we don't yet know what the full effect of tariffs on prices will be.

Sony hasn't announced a release date for the TV yet either, though it's due for an early-June release in the UK.

Sony also released pricing for its new Bravia 5 mini-LED mid-range TV, and its budget Bravia 2 II (yes, that's Bravia 2 mark II, a horrible naming decision) TV.

The Bravia 2 II is a direct-led LED TV, and includes Sony's X1 processor, which used to be in its flagship TVs – although with no local backlight dimming, don't expect amazing contrast.

The Bravia 5 is a very interesting TV at its larger sizes, in particular. I've seen it in real life, though only briefly, and it's bright, and a decent mini-LED backlight should ensure solid contrast. But at larger sizes, Sony's excellent processing should help make sure you don't see the imperfections in streaming or HD video when viewing on a blown-up 4K screen.

Another uphill battle for Sony?

The Bravia 8 II (right) with the Sony A95L (left) (Image credit: Future)

In the UK, the pricing of the Bravia 8 II is really exciting – the 65-inch Sony is slightly less expensive than the LG G5, which could really shake up our rankings of the best OLED TVs there, because it means the choice is heavily down to image quality, and Sony gets rated really highly there.

But in the US, if the Bravia 8 II stays at $600-$1,000 more than LG's and Samsung's equivalents, it's going to have a very tough time breaking through. Yes, the Sony almost certainly has better built-in sound, but that's not going to matter if you can buy a great soundbar for less than the price difference between them.

And I said that the Bravia 8 II looks like it'll have some of the best picture quality on the planet from my early demo, but will the difference be large enough to justify that kind of price gap? I'm having trouble believing it, though we'll be testing the LG G5, Samsung S95F, and Sony Bravia 8 II side by side when they've all launch to decide which is the best TV, so watch this space.

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Imagine if your gadgets talked to each other over coffee in the kitchen. After pleasantries and “pass the pastries,” what would they discuss? Well, you, of course. “Did Jeremy sleep well last night?” my air purifier might ask my smartwatch, comparing notes about breathing, air circulation, and whatever else. "Can we keep him happier and healthier?" they ask each other. "He’s obviously overstressed… can we help him deal with that?"

That oddball vision of the future was presented during Samsung’s big CES press conference in Las Vegas in January, and frankly, it felt a little goofy. The dishwasher doesn’t have googly eyes and a personality, after all. Like the animatronic robots at Disney World, it described a future both wonderfully impossible and as far off as a dream. But here’s the thing: It’s not.

On Wednesday, April 9, Samsung unveiled a major update to the SmartThings app (release 3.28.25 – whatever happened to cool code names?). It includes expanded support for Matter 1.4 and energy management devices, a new intercom functionality and expanded Routine functions. And, for the first time, it all integrates directly with the Samsung Health app to help your gadgets make personalized decisions to improve your health and wellbeing.

The amount of data we generate in society today vastly exceeds the amount we are able to use

Jonathan Gabrio

“The amount of data we are generating in society today vastly exceeds the amount we are able to use,” Jonathan Gabrio, Head of the Connected Experience Center at Samsung, told me a few weeks ago. “How do we use AI and different kinds of connective technologies to make that useful to the average human being? And sleep is one of those huge opportunities.”

Gabrio leads the Connected Experience Center, where he examines how AI and IoT technologies come together. Your robovac and smart ring might not have goofy personalities, but they collect enormous amounts of data.

One of the biggest challenges the technology world faces is turning all that information into something meaningful and actionable, a fact I’ve seen first-hand: After half a decade, I recently retired my Oura ring. Daily checking into my sleep cycles revealed exactly nothing I felt I could use. Samsung thinks the power of SmartThings can make it easier to learn about our sleep patterns – and by learning, improve them.

“How do we not just make better things but make things better,” Gabrio said. “That’s the interesting part of the conversation we’re at as a society now.”

A new bedtime routine

Screen shots show the new Sleep functionality within Samsung Health, enabled by SmartThings (Image credit: Samsung)

SmartThings today lets you create Routines, a way to tie together your devices: You can set the mood for dinner by dimming the lighting and putting on mood music, for example. A sleep Routine might adjust lighting, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors to optimize for that deep slumber you can’t seem to get any more.

With the new update, these Routines can be triggered automatically when your body actually dials down for the evening or wakes up in the morning, rather than on a fixed schedule.

A good night’s sleep is dependent on more than just closing your eyes and counting sheep: There are biological factors like when you last ate and how much wine you consumed before bed, for example, as well as environmental factors. Thanks to smart devices, a huge data stream about your environment is possible that simply didn’t exist before. Think lumens, CO2 levels, humidity and temperature, and so on.

Samsung’s SmartThings can optimize based on data from all of those things, not just the biometric data from your Galaxy Watch. It can detect if you sleep best when the temperature is between 61-65 degrees Fahrenheit / 16-18 degrees Celsius and adjust your heat pump to actively maintain that range. The same Routine can detect when you wake and automatically warm the room up, brighten the lights, and turn on your morning news.

Here’s the best part: Track that info for a few days – you can see it in a new Sleep Environment Report – and a brand new Routine Creation Assistant (at last!) will use generative AI to build a routine for you. You won’t have to mine through the data to figure out what keeps you snoring, in other words. And if you have a newer Samsung TV, which can act as a SmartThings hub, it’ll suggest you turn off the basketball and get ready for bed.

Sleep Science 2.0

Sound a little crazy? It’s more popular than you might think. Sleep tracking has increased 17% since 2020 among younger users of Samsung’s wearable lineup of Watches and Rings, Gabrio tells me. 30% of these folks use the feature, according to Samsung, meaning sleep tracking isn’t just a problem for harried parents and overworked employees. It’s a big concern for everyone. But strangely, our modern obsession with sleep hasn’t really changed the fundamentals.

“Interestingly, our understanding of healthy sleep has not really changed even with all this new data,” Vanessa Hill, an Australian sleep researcher, tells TechRadar. “The recommendation remains 7–9 hours for adults, varying by age … What has evolved is our understanding of sleep health as multidimensional (going beyond just duration).

Our understanding of healthy sleep has not really changed even with all this new data

Vanessa Hill, sleep scientist

“Recent research suggests that sleep regularity, maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake time, may be more predictive of long-term health than sleep duration alone.”

Hill doesn’t recommend poring over your stats on a daily basis, as I had done for years with my Oura ring. For some, continuous data can heighten stress or lead to orthosomnia (anxiety-driven sleep disturbances from obsessing over metrics), she notes. That was me in a nutshell, but thanks to AI, and its broader ability to analyze multiple data points longitudinally, we can gradually improve behaviors.

“AI can turn health data (which is often complex) into personalized insights that help make it easier to understand,” she says. Applying those insights and keeping to a new routine can be tough, as anyone who’s tried to diet will tell you. Samsung’s app cleverly sorts people into categories with cute animal avatars – I’m a penguin, apparently. Automated Routines should make it easier to stick to our convictions. And all of it might help you drift off easier and stay asleep longer. Dreamland awaits!

• Hackers are increasingly targeting social media influencers and content creators
• Their accounts have enormous reach, which crooks can use to deploy malware
• Followers are often drawn into crypto scams and identity theft

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting social media influencers and other popular individuals in an attempt to infect their followers with malware, draw them into crypto scams, or steal their sensitive information.

A new report from Bitdefender has warned the trend was widespread in 2024, and has now continued into 2025 too.

Threat actors would first approach social media influencers and content creators in different ways, the report notes - they might offer fake sponsorship deals, fake advanced AI-powered video software, or through simple phishing attacks. If the victim falls for the trick and downloads malware, the attackers get ahold of the login credentials for the different platforms they’re using (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others).

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Millions of people at risk

The platforms are then used to target the followers in different ways.

For example, Bitdefender says there were more than 9,000 malicious live streams on YouTube alone.

“These streams often appear legitimate at first glance, but they are controlled by hackers who have rebranded compromised channels,” they said. Rebrands often spoof major names such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk (a favorite among crypto scammers), Michael Saylor, or Brad Garlinghouse.

The researchers believe this is a major problem, with millions of people at risk. In fact, one compromised YouTube account was followed by more than 28 million people, and another compromised account has had more than 12 billion views in total.

“The staggering number underscores the global reach that threat actors can access,” Bitdefender added. “If cybercriminals convert just 1% of those views, that equates to a staggering 124 million potential victims exposed to scams, malware, or data theft.”

During these live streams, crooks would promote malicious domains, which they can use to steal credentials, people’s cryptocurrency holdings, or personal information.

Content creators are advised to tighten up on security, while followers should be skeptical of everything they see online, including information coming from their favorite influencer.

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The tech industry is driving civilization forward at a breathtaking pace. In the past 50 years, humanity has witnessed an extraordinary leap in technological evolution, from the early days of personal computing and the internet to the rise of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology, breakthroughs that have reshaped medicine and daily life

Alongside these advances, society has made significant strides in gender and racial equality, fostering more inclusive workplaces, legal protections and shifting cultural attitudes that empower diverse voices.

Yet, for all these laudable advancements, the IT sector continues to struggle with an age-old issue: gender disparity. Despite ongoing conversations around diversity, women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles.

According to the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, women make up only 25% of the workforce in the technology sector, with a mere 10% occupying senior positions. The gap is not just a moral issue, it’s a business problem and a significant one at that.

The need for gender diversity in tech goes beyond equality, it directly impacts innovation, problem-solving and financial performance. Research has repeatedly shown that companies with diverse teams outperform their homogenous counterparts. To bridge this gap, organizations must actively work to dismantle the barriers preventing women from advancing in the industry.

Innovation and creativity flourish in diverse teams

One of the most compelling reasons for increasing gender diversity in tech is its impact on innovation. A 2023 study by McKinsey found that companies with high representation of women and ethnic minorities in leadership positions had 39% higher financial performance. Furthermore, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability.

When teams include people from different backgrounds, perspectives collide in ways that lead to fresh ideas. Women in tech bring unique insights shaped by their experiences, which can lead to innovations that better serve diverse markets. The inclusion of varied viewpoints encourages out-of-the-box thinking, which is essential in an industry that thrives on cutting-edge advancements.

In addition to these internal advantages, external investors and other stakeholders are also increasingly considering diversity as a marker of a company’s long-term success. Organizations that actively cultivate diverse leadership teams are perceived as more forward-thinking and adaptable, which strengthens their position in the market.

Better decision-making and problem-solving

Diverse teams don’t just come up with better ideas, they also make better decisions. A white paper by Cloverpop has found that inclusive teams actually make better business decisions up to 87% of the time, and they make those decisions twice as fast within half as many meetings. Cognitive diversity, differences in perspective and problem-solving approaches enable teams to assess situations from multiple angles, ultimately leading to more informed and effective decision-making.

In tech, where rapid decision-making is required, the ability to analyze situations through different lenses can be a game-changer. A more diverse team is better equipped to anticipate risks, troubleshoot problems and develop solutions that take multiple user experiences into account. The more perspectives available in a room, the greater the chance of catching flaws before they become costly mistakes.

A stronger connection to a broader market

Gender diversity in tech isn’t just beneficial internally, it also translates to a competitive edge in the marketplace. A diverse workforce allows companies to better understand and connect with a wide range of customers. According to a study by McKinsey, organizations with more diverse teams are better positioned to meet the needs of diverse customer bases, which can translate to improved market share and revenue growth.

Women make up nearly half of global consumers, yet when tech teams are male-dominated, products and services often fail to address the needs of female users effectively. The rise of female-driven innovation, such as wearable tech designed for women’s health, illustrates how a gender-balanced workforce leads to products that are more inclusive and marketable. Companies that prioritize diversity are more likely to design solutions that resonate with a broader customer demographic, giving them an undeniable business advantage.

Higher employee satisfaction and retention

A study by Glassdoor found a workplace that values diversity fosters an environment of inclusion and belonging, leading to higher employee satisfaction and retention. When employees feel valued and represented, they are more likely to stay with their employer long-term. In tech, where talent retention is a significant challenge, this is a crucial factor. Women in particular often cite workplace culture and lack of advancement opportunities as key reasons for leaving the industry. Companies that actively support career progression for women, through mentorship programs, flexible work policies and equitable pay, see higher levels of engagement and loyalty across the workforce.

A boost to company reputation and brand perception

Diversity isn’t just good for business, it’s also good for branding. Organizations that foster an inclusive culture enjoy stronger reputations and greater appeal to top talent. Research from Catalyst found that companies with inclusive business cultures are 57.8% more likely to enhance their reputations.

In the tech industry, which faces a continuous battle for skilled workers, reputation matters. Companies known for prioritizing diversity attract top-tier talent from a wider pool, giving them a competitive advantage. Additionally, today’s consumers and clients are increasingly aligning with brands that uphold values of inclusivity and social responsibility. By committing to gender diversity, tech companies position themselves as progressive industry leaders.

Kaspersky’s commitment to bridging the gender gap

Acknowledging the importance of gender diversity, Kaspersky has been working to raise awareness and drive an industry-wide change through educational projects. To coincide with International Women’s Day in March 2025, the company launched “Confronting IT’s Career Barriers,” an interactive test designed to explore gender and work-life balance barriers in IT. This initiative invited professionals to navigate common workplace challenges, gaining insight into the real impact of these barriers and discovering strategies for overcoming them.

By highlighting these obstacles, Kaspersky aims to spark conversations and inspire meaningful change within the industry. The test also showcases the company’s own diversity and inclusion initiatives, including equal pay policies, mentorship programs and flexible work arrangements designed to support career progression for women in tech.

Beyond this initiative, Kaspersky continues to champion gender diversity through projects such as the Empower Women platform, which shares stories of female professionals excelling in the cybersecurity sector. The company is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where talent is recognized and rewarded, regardless of gender.

The road to gender equality in tech is long, but it is a journey worth taking. Companies that embrace diversity will not only drive innovation and profitability, but also help shape a more inclusive and equitable future for the entire industry. By supporting initiatives like Kaspersky’s, organizations can take a crucial step toward creating workplaces where everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive.

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After three years away, Love, Death + Robots is back for an exciting new volume – and its streaming date is just a few weeks away. Volume 4 comes to Netflix on May 15, and if the teaser trailer is any indication it's going to be epic, edge-of-the-seat TV.

As with previous seasons of one of the best Netflix shows, volume 4 consists of self-contained animated shorts with their own characters and distinctive visual styles. And as you'll see from the trailer, this looks like it'll be a ton of robot-related fun.

Love, Death & Robots Volume 4: what to expect

Here are some of the things you'll see in volume 4 based on the trailer: an apparently sentient sex toy with googly eyes; what looks like a giant rock concert; a scary, sweary cyborg; a giant baby; dinosaurs fighting; half of the Golden Gate going missing... and that's just the first 12 seconds of the trailer.

It's clearly going to be visually stunning, and as ever the changes of style between each short are striking: there's classic comic book-esque action, photorealistic CGI and much more.

There will be ten shorts in volume 4, and while Netflix isn't giving too much away it promises "Dinosaur gladiators, messianic cats [and] string-puppet rock stars". The official synopsis says:

"The fourth volume, presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher, sees Jennifer Yuh Nelson return as supervising director for 10 startling shorts showcasing the series's signature, award-winning style of bleeding-edge animation, horror, sci-fi and humour. Buckle up."

Love, Death + Robots volume 4 will be streaming on Netflix from May 15.

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CRM is a brilliant way to boost your business, connect with customers, and generally make life easier. But let's be honest, sometimes CRM implementations can feel a bit like navigating a maze blindfolded. Things like unclear goals, resistance from users, data disasters, and integration headaches can quickly turn CRM dreams into CRM nightmares.

CRM needs to work for you, not against you. This guide will tackle those tricky bits head-on and give you practical tips to sail smoothly through the process.

Challenge 1: Lack of clear objectives and strategy

More often than not, jumping into CRM implementation without clear goals will end up costing you time, money, and probably a bit of sanity. Many businesses adopt CRM with a vague idea of "improving customer relationships," but that's not specific enough. This often leads to poor user adoption (because no one knows why they're using it) and a whole lot of wasted investment.

The solution

Before you even think about which CRM to choose, you need to define exactly what you want to achieve and create a roadmap for your CRM journey.

Ask yourself:

What are our biggest business challenges? Are we struggling with lead management? Do we need better visibility into customer interactions? Are we looking to streamline our sales process?

How can CRM help us overcome these challenges? Be specific — instead of "improve customer relationships," think "increase customer retention by 10% within six months".

What are our KPIs? How will we measure the success of our CRM implementation? This could include things like increased sales, improved customer satisfaction scores, or reduced support costs.

Once you have a clear understanding of your objectives, you can align them with your overall business needs. This will ensure that your CRM implementation is not just an ad-hoc project, but a strategic initiative that drives real business value. And that's where the magic happens.

Challenge 2: Getting everyone on board

When it comes to CRM, one of the biggest hurdles is getting your team to actually use the system. Many businesses invest in a top-range CRM, only to find it gathering dust because employees are resistant to change. This can be due to several reasons — fear of complexity, concerns about workflow disruption, or simply a lack of understanding about the benefits.

The solution

Getting your team on board is crucial for CRM success. It's not enough to just roll out the system and expect everyone to embrace it — you need to actively advocate for user adoption and address any concerns.

Here’s how:

Invest in thorough training. Don't just give your team a quick overview and expect them to become CRM experts overnight.

Be there to answer questions, provide guidance, and troubleshoot any issues that arise. A dedicated support team or internal CRM champion can make a huge difference.

Don't just tell your team what the CRM does, show them how it will make their lives easier. Will it help them close more deals? Will it streamline their workflows? Will it give them better insights into customer behavior? Focus on the positive impact on their day-to-day work.

Encourage your team to provide feedback on the CRM and be willing to make adjustments as needed.

Address user adoption head-on and you can transform your CRM from a source of frustration into a powerful tool that empowers your team and drives business success.

Challenge 3: Taming the data beast

Migrating existing customer data into a new CRM can be a messy business. Outdated records, duplicate entries, inconsistent formatting – it's not a pretty picture. And if your data is a mess going in, it's going to be a mess coming out. Inconsistencies and inaccuracies can lead to all sorts of problems, from inaccurate reporting to missed opportunities.

The solution

The key to a successful data migration is preparation. You can't just dump your existing data into the new CRM and hope for the best. You need a structured plan and a commitment to data quality.

Here's the playbook:

Conduct a thorough data audit. Take a close look at your existing data. Identify any inconsistencies, outdated records, or duplicate entries. This is your chance to clean things up and ensure that you're migrating only the good stuff.

Cleanse outdated records. Get rid of any data that's no longer relevant or accurate. This will not only improve the quality of your CRM data but also make the migration process smoother.

Ensure a structured migration plan. Don't just wing it! Develop a detailed plan that outlines how you'll migrate your data. This should include timelines, responsibilities, and contingency plans. Think of it as your data migration roadmap.

Before you migrate all of your data, test the process with a smaller sample. This will help you identify any potential issues and make sure everything goes smoothly when you do the real thing.

Take a proactive approach to data quality and your CRM will be populated with accurate, reliable data that you can actually use to make informed business decisions.

Challenge 4: Integration with existing systems

Your CRM isn't an island. It needs to work in harmony with your other business systems, like your ERP, marketing automation platform, and accounting software. The problem is, sometimes these systems don't speak the same language. Integrating them can be a technical challenge, and if it's not done right, you can end up with data silos and duplicated efforts.

The solution

Seamless integration is key to maximizing the value of your CRM. You want a system that can easily connect with your other business tools, allowing data to flow freely between them.

Here's what to look for:

Choose a CRM with robust integration capabilities. Some offer limited integration options, while others are designed to connect with a wide range of systems. Do your research and choose a CRM that can handle your specific integration needs.

Ensure IT alignment early on. Integration is a technical undertaking, so it's essential to involve your IT team from the very beginning.

Consider APIs and pre-built integrations. APIs allow different systems to communicate with each other. Look for a CRM that offers robust APIs or pre-built integrations with the systems you use. This will make the integration process much smoother.

Once you've integrated your systems, test them thoroughly to make sure everything is working as expected. Then make sure you’re monitoring the integration regularly to identify and address any issues that may arise.

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

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 9 (game #1171).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1172) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1172) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1172) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1172) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1172) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• S

• U

• N

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1172) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1172, are…

• LEAST
• SEWER
• UNTIE
• NOOSE

Faced with two possible words – unite or UNTIE – I chose the wrong one, but that was my only piece of misfortune on an otherwise easy run where I was virtually gifted my first two correct words (LEAST and SEWER).

The final word – NOOSE – took a little bit of thinking time, but the only other two words I could think of that started N-O and ended S-E were impossible (noise and norse).

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1172) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1172, are…

• MAPLE
• DUTCH
• BANAL
• HUMPH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
• Quordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGAT
• Quordle #1166, Friday 4 April: OAKEN, LOOPY, CURIO, BUTTE
• Quordle #1165, Thursday 3 April: ASCOT, JETTY, DRUNK, JOLLY
• Quordle #1164, Wednesday 2 April: INDEX, QUEEN, INCUR, STOLE
• Quordle #1163, Tuesday 1 April: HUMUS, BALMY, WORRY, ERECT
• Quordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACE
• Quordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUER
• Quordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREE
• Quordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FROND
• Quordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKE
• Quordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIAD
• Quordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAIN
• Quordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALL
• Quordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADII
• Quordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLY
• Quordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISS