TechRadar News

• Microsoft report warns of "the infinite workday" creeping in
• Workers are coming online earlier and finishing later than ever before
• They're also being interrupted by an email or chat message every few minutes

New research from Microsoft has revealed many of us are struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance - and that an overload of tasks could be what's stopping us from achieving any kind of productivity.

The company's June 2025 Work Trend Index Special Report has warned of "the infinite workday" which it says is a "significant shift" in the hours we work, largely thanks to the influence of hybrid working locations - and, of course, AI.

The report, based on "trillions" of productivity signals such as emails, chat messages and meetings gathered across Microsoft 365, warns the modern workday no longer has a clear beginning or end - and has urged for greater AI tool adoption to help lessen this burden on everyday workers.

Working...6am til 8pm? What a way to make a living

"Our research, based on trillions of globally aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, reveals a challenging new roadblock: a seemingly infinite workday," Microsoft noted.

"AI offers a way out of the mire, especially if paired with a reimagined rhythm of work. Otherwise, we risk using AI to accelerate a broken system."

Microsoft said it found a major increase in users coming online by 6am, when 40% of users are apparently scanning through their inbox to prioritize tasks for the day.

By 8am, Microsoft Teams chat has overtaken email, with half of all meetings then taking place between 9–11am and 1–3pm - notably, the time when most of us are the most focused and productive throughout the day.

Tuesdays were found to be the busiest day for meetings, with 23% - whereas Fridays have just 16% of all meetings. Troublingly, Microsoft found meetings being held after 8pm are up 16% year over year, showing late finishes are also becoming worryingly normal.

(Image credit: Pexels.com)

Weekend email usage also saw a major increase, with nearly 20% of employees checking their email before noon on Saturday and Sunday - and over 5% are back working on emails on Sunday evenings.

The report found the average worker receives 117 emails and 153 Teams messages daily, meaning they are disrupted by an email, chat, or meeting every 2 minutes. Most employees were now also found to send or receive over 50 chats outside of their core business hours, risking their winding-down time.

"This points to a larger truth: the modern workday for many has no clear start or finish," Microsoft concluded. "As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity."

"The signals are clear: it’s time to break the cycle. The future of work won’t be defined by how much drudgery we automate, but by what we choose to fundamentally reimagine. AI can give us the leverage to redesign the rhythm of work, refocus our teams on new and differentiating work, and fix what has become a seemingly infinite workday. The question isn’t whether work will change. It’s whether we will."

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• James Gunn has provided some big updates on the next two Batman movies
• The DC Studios co-CEO may have found a "way in" for The Brave and the Bold's story
• Gunn also reconfirmed that The Batman Part II hasn't been canceled

James Gunn has provided some exciting – and slightly worrisome – updates on the next two Batman movies.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, the DC Studios co-chief said he might have found a "way in" to finally get The Brave and The Bold's script up and running. That film, which is part of his and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU), is one of the company's biggest creative priorities.

It's not the only Batman flick in development. Matt Reeves' long-gestating The Batman Part II, which is currently slated to arrive in October 2027, is also moving forward, Gunn reconfirmed. However, other comments he made to Rolling Stone about this DCU-adjacent movie didn't provide clarity on a persistent question DC fans have about this Robert Pattinson-led franchise.

But let's start with what Gunn had to say about The Brave and the Bold. Announced as part of the initial DCU Chapter One line-up in January 2023, this movie, which is inspired by Frank Morrison's graphic novel namesake, has been a tough nut for Gunn and company to crack. Now, though, it sounds like Gunn and the film's yet-to-be-announced writer have made a breakthrough on the storytelling front.

The Brave and the Bold has been in development for over two years at this point (Image credit: DC Studios)

"Batman has to have a reason for existing, right?" Gunn said. "Batman can’t just be 'oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,' which he is... so, we’re dealing with that.

"I think I have a way in, by the way," Gunn added. "I think I really know what it’s – I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality."

It'll be a while before Batman makes his DCU debut – after all, Gunn and the unnamed scribe aside, the only talent attached to the project is Andy Muschietti (The Flash, It), as the DCU Chapter One film's director. Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear that there's been some movement on one of the most exciting DCU movies and TV shows on the DC Studios docket.

The two Batman problem

It's been three years since The Batman was released in theaters (Image credit: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.)

Okay, but what about The Batman's film sequel? Here's what Gunn said about the follow-up to The Batman Epic Crime Saga's first entry: "[The] Batman Part II is not canceled. That’s the other thing I hear all the time – that The Batman Part II is canceled. It’s not. We don’t have a script. Matt [Reeves] is slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he’s doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man."

That's great news! Well, until you start to consider the wider implications of having two different Batman projects on the go and comments Gunn has made about distinguishing one from the other.

Where the latter is concerned, Gunn has stressed that the DCU's Caped Crusader has to be distinct enough to separate him from the gritty, grounded, and almost realistic universe Reeves has co-created. However, that doesn't mean we should expect the DCU's iteration to channel the flamboyance of the '90s era of Batman movies or the slapstick nature of the Adam Scott-starring TV show from the '60s.

"[There's a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman," Gunn opined. "But he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really."

Comment from r/DC_Cinematic

And therein lies the first problem: how will Gunn and company differentiate their Dark Knight from the Reeves-Verse's one? You could incorporate the fantastical elements from Batman literature, but there's a fine line to be drawn between the extraordinary and the purposeful realism that the best Batman movies, shows, and comic books contain.

The easiest solution – according to some fans, anyway – would be to merge the Reeves-Verse with the DCU and install Pattinson's Bruce Wayne as the latter's billionaire vigilante. It's a topic of conversation that's dominated online and in-person discussions for months, so much so, in fact, that it came up during the last big DCU update Gunn and Safran gave in February.

While Gunn and Reeves have discussed such a possibility, they have always played down suggestions that it'll ever happen. Gunn did so again during his chat with Rolling Stone – "It’s not likely at all", Gunn said. However, that quote, coupled with another – "I would never say zero, because you just never know" – haven't exactly closed the door on Pattinson becoming the DCU's Caped Crusader.

Do I think that'll happen? No. If it was going to, it would've done by now. Each time that Gunn and/or Reeves leave the door ajar on it, though, it only reignites the perpetual debate about whether it should be done or not. So, here I am, Messrs Gunn, Safran, and Reeves: clarify this once and for all by ruling out a merging of the DCU and Reeves-Verse. Do so and we (including you three!) can all get on with our lives without having to read any more about this already tiresome discussion.

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I’d have placed a decent bet on Apple making a big deal about Apple Intelligence at WWDC this year, and from that I’d have predicted that the iPhone 17 would be Cupertino’s first proper AI phone.

The company somewhat fluffed the launch of Apple Intelligence, with AI-powered features for the iPhone 16 family taking a long time to roll out after its launch, and a smarter ChatGPT-centric Siri still absent. With that in mind, I’d have thought Apple would have gone harder on AI at its yearly developer's conference.

I was wrong.

Apple Intelligence was mentioned, but more as a smart virtual icing to a cake consisting mostly of the Liquid Glass design material and feature updates across Apple’s software ecosystem.

So with that in mind it’s arguably hard to draw any big insights into what’ll be in store at the next Apple event, which is likely to be a September one centred around new iPhones. But I think I can have a good stab at what the next iPhone will be like.

It’ll be boring.

Send me now new iOS

(Image credit: Apple)

My theory here is that the iPhone 17, if Apple does go with that nomenclature, will be a vehicle for iOS 26 with hardware upgrades taking a back seat.

While a lot of the core iOS experience will broadly be the same as iOS 18, the design changes could take a little getting used to; plus there are a host of new features in the native apps that could offer users new ways to do things.

So I suspect Apple won’t do much on the hardware side to get in the way of that experience; there’s not likely to be any big changes to the core iPhone design, camera array or materials.

Depressingly, I even expect the standard iPhone 17 will still have a 60Hz display, as it seems like Apple is one of the few companies who can get away with this and still charge a premium price.

There are some rumors that tout changes such as the use of aluminum for the frame of the iPhone 17 Pro, but I don’t buy them; the rumored iPhone 17 Air could use the lighter material, though I don’t see that phone shaking up the core design of iPhones.

Rather than champion many hardware upgrades, which in recent years have become iterative to the point of being dull, I think Apple will position the iPhone 17 range as a new chapter in getting the most out of a fresh iOS.

And I think a lot of people will buy into it.

The iPhone’s new clothes

(Image credit: Apple)

Much like changing up an outfit with the addition of a new shirt or coat, or swapping the strap of a watch, redesigned software can make tried and tested hardware seem fresh and new, even if most of those changes are merely aesthetic.

But I think new features like an overhauled Phone app, smart tools for Maps, Wallet and Music, plus new dedicated Games app-meets-hub will make next-generation iPhones feel a lot newer than those that have simply had camera sensor or button upgrades over their predecessors.

I’m particularly intrigued to see how the Games app plays out, as Apple has quietly been strengthening the gaming experience on iPhone, with support for titles such as Death Stranding and a suite of original games in the growing Apple Arcade service, both of which I don’t feel Android has a strong answer for.

Add in a new chip, which is all but guaranteed for the next-gen iPhones, and you could be looking at some impressive stealthy gaming phones.

With that in mind, I can see the iPhone 17 offering a family of phones for people who’ve resisted upgrading to a new iPhone for a couple of years. That’s often the case, of course, but I feel iOS 26 will be more of an upgrade catalyst even though models dating back to the iPhone 11 can run this upcoming iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system.

I'd place a very solid bet that Apple will market the iPhone 17 range as the ideal vehicle for iOS 26, and I'm forecasting that'll suck in a lot of people; let me know in the comments if you don't agree.

All that being said, I’m totally open to Apple surprising me with an iPhone that’s being given a serious reworking or just has a good clutch of hardware upgrades. I don’t personally think this is the year for that – but I don’t think that matters either.

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• New QLED panels wouldn't need expensive barrier film layers
• Samsung doesn't yet know when the tech will be commercialized
• It's only for QLED; QD-OLEDs are made differently

One of the most expensive parts of a QLED display panel is about to get a whole lot cheaper, and that should mean even more affordable QLED televisions.

The component in question is the quantum dot sheet, which sits on top of the LCD panel to improve color reproduction – it's the actual quantum dot part of QLED TVs.

A QLED display currently has barrier film on either side of it to protect the quantum dot layer from oxygen and water. According to trade site The Elec, those films account for 40% of the cost of quantum dot sheets – and Samsung and its supplier Hansol Chemical have found a way to get rid of them.

What Samsung's tech means for QLED – and why it won't help QD-OLED TV

At the moment, a quantum dot sheet has five layers. With the new design there are three.

Samsung and Hansol's new quantum dot sheet design does away with the barrier films altogether without exposing the quantum dots to potential problems.

That should mean a huge drop in the price of QLED panels, but not immediately: Samsung doesn't yet know when the technology will be commercialized.

And even then, it doesn't necessarily mean that QLED TVs will definitely become cheaper – the savings might just be used to absorb rising costs and keep the TVs the same price, or the money from the saving might be invested in other areas of the TV, such as improving the backlight or speaker system.

As The Elec points out, while the new design is good news for QLED TVs, it's not going to make any difference to QD-OLED displays.

That's because QD-OLED panels use a different design. Whereas QLED panels put a quantum dot layer atop an LCD light source, QD-OLED TVs use a blue OLED light source with two red and green conversion layers added via inkjet printing rather than in their own separately manufactured layer.

That's a bit of a shame, because QLED TVs are already getting pretty low-priced, but QD-OLED TVs such as the Samsung S95F or Sony Bravia 8 II very much are not.

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• The Google Pixel 10 series could allow you to use the telephoto camera for macro photos
• This would allow you to shoot from further away, and help avoid you blocking the light
• However, macro shots will also apparently be possible with the ultra-wide camera

Macro photography on phones often seems to be a bit of an afterthought, but with the Pixel 10 series, Google might be taking it more seriously.

This is according to Android Headlines, which claims that the Pixel 10 and its siblings – which are expected to include the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold – will have a tele-macro mode.

In other words, if this rumor is right, then these phones will be able to use their telephoto cameras for macro shots. That’s in contrast to the Google Pixel 9 series and most other high-end handsets, which tend to use their ultra-wide cameras for macro photography.

The advantage of tele-macro is that you can take macro photos from further away. That can be more convenient, especially when photographing something that might not appreciate you looming over it, like an insect. And because you can be further away from the subject, you also won’t be blocking the light as much.

But you may still want to get closer sometimes, and the Pixel 10 series should have you covered there too, because according to this leak, it will also offer macro capabilities with its ultra-wide camera.

So, in other words the Google Pixel 10 series might be doubling down on macro modes, offering two options where most phones have just one at most.

A macro focus

The Google Pixel 9 Pro (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

That – and especially the tele-macro mode – is great news, as it should make it much easier to take high-quality macro photos, and as a photography fan that could tempt me to upgrade.

Phone companies understandably tend to focus on their main and ultra-wide snappers, with telephotos often coming in third place and macro being even less of a consideration.

But if you like taking photos of a wide variety of things from a range of perspectives, then it’s important to have a wide range of focal lengths that you can shoot at.

It sounds like the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL in particular could offer this, with wide, ultra-wide, telephoto (likely at 5x optical zoom), and two different macro modes potentially set to be offered – not to mention optical-quality 2x zoom, which is achieved on the Pixel 9 series through cropping the main sensor.

That could make for one of the most comprehensive cameras setups you’ll find on a smartphone, and might even tempt me back from the Apple side.

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The Pitt is my very favorite show of 2025, and HBO has confirmed that production has now started on season 2 of the hit medical drama.

The HBO Max Original has been a huge success, gaining a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics and sitting comfortably in Max's top three most-watched streaming shows worldwide.

The press release hasn't shared any more information, but a few days ago it was revealed that the second season would stream in January 2026 and would bring a host of new faces into the ER – including Skinny Pete from Breaking Bad, aka the actor Charles Baker. Baker will be joined by Irene Choie, Laëtitia Hollard, and Lucas Iverson.

What to expect from The Pitt season 2

As Hello magazine reports, Baker will be playing an unhoused man called Troy; Iren Choie will be Joy, a medical student "with strong boundaries"; Laëtitia Hollard plays a recent nursing school graduate; and Lucas Iverson will play James, a fourth year medical student.

Noah Wyle, the man with the saddest eyes on any streamer, will of course return as Dr Robbie, and he previously told Deadline that the second season will take place over the Fourth of July weekend. Dr King, Dr Abbot, Dr Langdon and charge nurse Dana Evans are confirmed to be returning too.

I genuinely loved every episode of season 1 of one of the best Max shows, and cried quite a lot in every single one of them: it's a show with a huge heart and the cast are exceptional. In a time when there are many horrible things happening it reminds me of Fred Rogers' famous line: "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."

The Pitt season 1 is streaming now on Max. Season 2 is scheduled for January 2026.

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• Salesforce research finds single-turn tasks see only 58% success, while multi-turn effectiveness drops to 35%
• Reasoning models like gemini-2.5-pro tend to outperform lighter models
• CRMArena-Pro has proven to be a challenging benchmark

Researchers from Salesforce AI Research have introduced a new benchmark – CRMArena-Pro – which uses synthetic enterprise data to access LLM agent performance in difference CRM scenarios.

It found LLM agents achieved around 58% success on tasks which can be completed in a single step, with tasks that require multiple interactions dropping in effectiveness to just 35% – barely more than one in three.

Although models like gemini-2.5-pro achieved over 83% success in workflow execution, the Salesforce researchers still highlighted some concerns with AI agents, suggesting they might not quite be up to scratch after all.

Are AI agents actually that good?

The paper, entitled 'Holistic Assessment of LLM Agents Across Diverse Business Scenarios and Interactions', explained that LLM agents displayed near-zero inherent confidentiality awareness, noting that their performance in handling sensitive information is only improved with explicit prompting (which often came at the expense of task success).

They also criticized previous and existing benchmarks for failing to capture multi-turn interactions, addressing B2B scenarios or confidentiality, and reflecting realistic data environments. CRMArena-Pro is build on synthetic data validated by CRM experts, covering B2B and B2C settings.

In terms of analysis results, reasoning models like gemini-2.5-pro and o1 outperformed lighter models most of the time – Salesforce's researchers concluded that models that seek more clarifications generally perform better, especially in multi-turn tasks.

For example, while the average performance across the nine models tested (three each from OpenAI, Google and Meta) resulted in a score of 35.1%, gemini-2.5-pro scored 54.5%.

"These findings suggest a significant gap between current LLM capabilities and the multifaceted demands of real-world enterprise scenarios, positioning CRMArena-Pro as a challenging testbed for guiding future advancements in developing more sophisticated, reliable, and confidentiality-aware LLM agents for professional use," the researchers concluded.

Looking ahead, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff views AI agents as a high-margin opportunities, with major corporate clients including governments betting on AI agents for boosted efficiency and further cost savings.

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• New Magnetic Switch to turn the earbuds on and off without the case
• Up to 65 hours of battery life with ANC off
• £125 / €149 / $149

If you're looking for earbuds to wear on a mission to space, Audio-Technica have just the things: their new ATH-CKS50TW earbuds have an extraordinary 65-hour battery life in total, which is just about long enough to fly to the moon. That makes my AirPods Pro 2 look pretty feeble.

The buds' own batteries deliver 25 hours of continuous playback, and the charging case adds another 40. Those figures are with active noise cancelling (ANC) off, but with ANC enabled the numbers are still astounding: 15 hours from the buds and a further 25 from the case.

Again, for comparison, the AirPods Pro 2 give you six hours from the buds alone. The Sony WF-1000XM5 give you eight hours. Audio-Technica's new earbuds absolutely crush any of the best earbuds in this measure.

(Image credit: Audio-Technica)Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2: key features and pricing

The icing on the long-lasting cake is that the new earbuds will cost only $149 / £125 (about AU$260).

One of the more unusual new features here is a magnetic switch, which powers the buds on or off by separating or joining their built-in magnets. The idea is to be able to turn off the buds without having to pop them in the case, although I'm not sure there are many people who've been cursing the tyranny of charging cases. It's nice to have the option, though.

The case is also compatible with Qi wireless chargers, which is somewhat rare among affordable earbuds – you don't get it from the Sony WF-C710N or the Nothing Ear (a) for example.

The earbuds feature hybrid ANC with hear-through and talk-through modes, Bluetooth LE Audio with the more advanced LC3 codec, custom-designed 9mm drivers with extended low-end response, and hybrid hard and soft silicone ear tips. They're waterproof and dustproof, rated IP55.

The specs and the battery specs in particular are impressive, but it's worth noting that Audio-Technica has had a few issues with earbud batteries in the past: its SQ1TW2 wireless earphones had a faulty batch that overheated and even produced smoke, and there has also been a recall of the charging case for the ATH-CK3TW earbuds – again due to overheating.

So while I'm glad to see game-changing battery life, if A-T is pushing the limits of battery tech here you might want to keep an eye out for any recalls, just in case. (No pun intended.)

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• We asked our readers about their Windows 11 plans
• Plenty of users are confident they could easily upgrade their devices
• Not all users have the RAM capacity, or know their RAM at all

As Microsoft's official Windows 10 End of Life comes ever nearer (October 14, 2025 for those of you who don't already know!), any stragglers must soon migrate to Windows 11.

Well, we say stragglers - but our exclusive statistics show over half (53%) of Windows users are still using the older software, potentially leaving them at risk of cyberattacks and other issues when support ends.

Our Future survey of 1,027 users found just 43% say they have made the upgrade - so what is causing the delay?

Optimistic outlooks

Well, simply put - our research found it could partly be because many users simply don’t know that they need to upgrade.

The majority of people (55%) know ‘exactly what version’ they’re on, but that leaves 23% who are ‘fairly sure’, 10% who ‘could make an educated guess’, and a further 12% who aren’t sure at all.

(We're also pretty sure our audience at TechRadar Pro is obviously pretty tech-savvy, so the real percentage of those who are unsure is likely to be much higher...)

Most of those surveyed (61%) said they own two devices or more in their home, and 53% say all of their PCs/Laptops meet the requirements for Windows 11 upgrades - leaving 28% of respondents falling short of the requirements in some capacity.

The survey did find a bit of uncertainty though, with 14% not knowing the Windows 11 system requirements, and a further 4% not knowing their device system requirements. This is where the optimism comes in.

For those who don’t know, the RAM requirement for Windows 11 is 4GB - and just over half (53%) of those asked weren’t sure how much RAM their device has, but 40% said they were sure - although that’s not quite the whole picture.

We asked those 40% how much RAM they have, and about 1 in 4 respondents gave us an inconceivable answer - either far too high, or far too low.

Most were ridiculously optimistic, like 1TB, which even industrial set-ups would be jealous of, so it's really not clear how many of us are ready or able to upgrade.

While Windows 11 adoption may finally be on the rise, there are still plenty of users yet to make the change. Microsoft is still urging users to update though, as the firm has pushed endless AI features into desktops and laptops across the globe to try and entice users to switch.

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If you're anything like me since getting your hands on a PlayStation Portal, you'll have been constantly looking for ways to kit it out and make the most of the handheld device.

There are some obvious ways to add some bling or extra functionality, or protection to the Portal with an accessory. As soon as it was announced, third-party brands were clambering to try and offer solutions for screen protectors, cases, charging cables, wraps, and so on.

There were even two close-enough-to-dedicated audio accessories released by Sony in the form of the Pulse Explore earbuds and Pulse Elite headset.

However, if you always have the handheld out and want something convenient, functional, and aesthetically pleasing to sit your Portal on, then the array of custom charging docks that have been made has been an ideal fit.

And I may have finally found the one that will complete my setup, even though it's not actually that brand new.

Accessorizin'

In the absence of an official product, PowerA's officially licensed charging station looks set to be the last missing piece to my Portal setup-shaped puzzle.

Before now, I'd kitted my beloved Portal out with a screen protector, the Pulse Explore earbuds, a case that could also carry the earbuds and other bits, and even some Kontrol Freek thumb grips and wraps for accessibility reasons.

But the one thing that was missing was always a convenient means to charge my Portal - especially with its slightly awkward and sunken-in USB-C port - and a stand that meant I didn't have to scramble to get the Portal back into a case every time I was done with it.

This is one of the neatest and tidiest PlayStation Portal accessories I've seen and is the missing piece to my own Portal setup - could it be for you too?

UK price: was £34.99 now £29.99 at AmazonView Deal

As a result, PowerA's charging station is likely to be a game changer for me. Its design is already in keeping with the PlayStation 5 family aesthetic, it's powered by a USB cable only so there's no need for a wall socket, it sits robustly and solidly on a surface with a weighted base, houses the Portal incredibly easily, and it has the officially licensed stamp of approval from Sony. And it only costs $37.99 or £34.99!

What else could I possibly need for my Portal at this point?

Mine is arriving in the mail soon, and I can't wait for it to be the finishing touch to my Portal's setup - and for it to ensure I'm never running out of juice, while also looking the part.

If you're looking for prices on the PowerA dock wherever you are in the world, then check out the latest and lowest prices below, as found by our automatically updating deal-hunting tech.

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Wireless chargers make a super convenient accessory for any Apple gadget fans who want to keep their desktop looking tidy, especially when charging multiple devices at the same time. However, you may find that the same wireless charger that’s keeping your surfaces clutter-free quickly becomes an eyesore all of its own. Let me explain.

Two key considerations when shopping for a wireless charger tend to be charging speeds, naturally, and aesthetics, because it’s something we’ll likely be looking at every day. However, not long into my stint testing almost thirty of them, I learned that it doesn’t matter how much you may like the design of a wireless charger if the finish means it’ll look filthy fast and, worse still, if the materials are difficult to clean.

If you’re looking for a wireless charging station, for example, then it’s pretty likely it’ll be spending its life on your nightstand or your desk, so it’ll inevitably pick up dust day-to-day. That in itself isn’t a revelation, of course, but it turns out that some silicone areas can hold onto dust longer than Taylor Swift holds onto a grudge.

Now, I’m not entirely against silicone; it certainly has its uses, particularly when used over Qi and Qi2 charging pads to help keep devices in place as they charge. However, the way it’s used and the finish it has make all the difference when it comes to keeping a wireless charger dust-free.

(Image credit: Future)

For example, non-slip rings, like those pictured above, prove a nightmare for dusting, as lint loves to cling to the rougher finish and raised edges. Whereas the super-soft surfaces of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad didn’t pose a problem – though the pesky ridges on the silicone straps were another matter.

Even some of the best wireless chargers, like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand, can make things a little trickier than they need to be by sticking a silicone area in the middle of an otherwise wipeable surface. Instead, I much prefer when a design includes a recess to help keep wireless earbuds in place as they charge. The ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) is a prime example of this.

Another example of a satisfyingly silicon-free wireless charger is the UGreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station. Unfortunately, though, the surface of the Qi2 charging pad falls victim to my second-biggest bugbear – fingerprints.

(Image credit: Future)

I wish I could give you a straightforward answer on what material to avoid if smudges and fingerprints are going to get on your nerves, but I’m yet to find a definitive answer. You may assume that any matte black plastic is bound to show up fingerprints; some types certainly do, to the point that they never fully wipe clean again, but some eternally appear free of ever having been handled.

The easiest solution, if these imperfections are the sort of things that could prove bothersome to you, is to opt for a charging station that can be easily packed away when not in use. The design of the aforementioned 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station is ideal here, as it can be folded down into a neat little cube very easily.

Alternatively, if you’ve got an Apple Watch to charge too, the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set folds down flat, and proved really useful as both a desktop and a travel charger. Otherwise, keep an eye on my guide to the best wireless chargers, as I always take durability and ease of cleaning into account when evaluating potential additions.

• Chatbots are filling classrooms with fake students
• These chatbots are costing colleges millions in fraudulent loans
• AI is fueling a huge increase in identity theft

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has had a transformative impact on classrooms and college campuses across the world, but a new report from the Associated Press claims chatbots are now posing as students in order to collect financial aid, and are even “attending” online classes - and taking spaces from real students.

Analysis of fraud reports has uncovered a whopping 1.2 million fraudulent applications in California alone, leading to 223,000 suspected fake enrolments. California in particular is a target because of the large number of community colleges.

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Unrecoverable losses

These “ghost students” don’t just apply for a loan and hope for a payout, though. Chatbots have been deployed to online classrooms, where they stay “just long enough” to collect the financial aid check from the college.

Some lecturers even report having online classrooms with barely any real students as bots have filled the class to the enrollment limit.

According to researchers, criminals stole at least $11 million in local, state, and federal financial aid that ‘cannot be recovered,’ just from California colleges in the last year, so the problem is widespread.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of AI scams fueling a rise in identity theft and fraud, with hackers seen ‘leveling up’ their tactics, with more sophisticated attacks leveraged at a higher frequency than ever before.

Many of these scammers will use information obtained from data breaches, such as names, addresses, ages, and social security numbers. With this data they will apply for grants and loans using real credentials.

In March 2025, over 300 people were fired from the Federal Student Aid Office by the Trump administration, and the department’s fraud investigation unit has lost over 20% of its staff through attrition and retirements since October 2025.

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For years, users of the best iPads have been contending that their tablets aren’t as capable as they could be, and a big part of that argument centers on window management. After all, the discussion goes, how can you manage multiple apps and workflows if you struggle to keep them all under control?

Well, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this month, Apple attempted to answer those critics emphatically, bringing a huge update to iPadOS 26 that included improved productivity features and multiple overlapping windows, plus several Mac-like additions, including a menu bar and the multi-colored “traffic light” buttons for minimizing and maximizing app windows. It was a massive, long-awaited change.

This got me thinking: while I don’t believe that Apple has any intention of merging iPadOS and macOS for the time being (Craig Federighi even said as much in a recent interview), something is looming on the horizon that’s going to test that resolve to the limit. It might not be long before Apple is forced to reckon with the possibility of cannibalizing its own operating systems in order to make something better.

The foldable future

(Image credit: Future)

Despite unveiling a bunch of new features at WWDC that brought its iPad and Mac software releases closer together, Apple’s actual hardware remains solidly distinct. You’re unlikely to confuse an iPad tablet for one of the best MacBooks (unless you’ve attached it to a Magic Keyboard mount, of course).

Yet if the rumors are to be believed, this could all change in the next couple of years. That’s because according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple is set to release a 19-inch foldable device by 2028 that sits somewhere between Apple’s tablet and its laptop.

The idea is you can fold it out flat and use it like a giant tablet, or crease it along its hinge and use it as a laptop. Apple has never made something like this, but companies like Huawei have already launched their own attempts. We even reviewed the original Asus Zenbook Fold a couple of years back, when this tech was still in relative infancy. Don’t be surprised to see more in the coming years.

A product like this raises some serious questions regarding software. Right now, Apple says that merging iPadOS and macOS wouldn’t work because macOS isn’t designed for touch and iPadOS should retain its simplicity. In other words, a sturdy boundary should divide the two platforms. But what do you do to your software when your hardware has already obliterated those boundaries?

That might become the reality by late this decade. Depending on what Apple does to its software at that time, Federighi might have to eat his words.

Testing Apple’s resolve

(Image credit: Apple)

Over the years, Apple has given a few different reasons why it’s not planning to merge iPadOS and macOS, but they’ve all come back to the idea that the two systems are better off apart. By forcing tablets and computers to use the same platform, Apple says, you end up making too many compromises to get the operating system working well for everyone. The result is a bland mixture that loses everything that makes iPadOS and macOS unique and powerful.

But there might be another thought that’s holding Apple back: the fear of cannibalizing its own products. This makes a certain degree of sense – while neither the Mac nor the iPad bring in as much raw cash as the iPhone, they’re still massive moneymakers for Apple. Why jeopardize that?

Interestingly, this might not be a way of thinking that Apple founder Steve Jobs would have embraced. Under his watch, the company occasionally launched devices that overshadowed its other products (or made them outright obsolete). Take the iPhone, for example: for all of Apple’s rivals’ talk of releasing the next “iPod killer,” it was the iPhone itself that leapfrogged the iPod and led to its premature demise.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

That wasn’t some accident – it was a very deliberate decision on Apple’s part. I’m currently reading the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson, and coincidentally came across the following Jobs quote right around the time Apple was bringing Mac-like features to iPadOS 26: “If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will.” Destroying your own bestsellers every now and then was a way to keep your lineup fresh, embrace exciting advances, and avoid getting stuck in a technological rut.

When the foldable iPad-Mac hybrid arrives a few years down the road, will Apple be able to call upon that mindset when it comes to the software that runs on this device? Will it cannibalize iPadOS and macOS with something newer, stronger, and better suited to its foldable?

Or will it pick an existing operating system and maintain its insistence that iPadOS and macOS must be kept forever discrete, even on the clearest example yet of the company overlapping its hardware?

None of us can know for sure what will happen, but I’ve no doubt that Apple is frantically trying to work out the best approach inside its top-secret labs. This foldable will be the sternest test yet of Apple’s ability to craft a software experience that works for the hardware at hand – and could help us finally learn whether it will ever merge iPadOS and macOS.

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• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has been given a much cleaner and shorter title
• DC Studios co-chief James Gunn has confirmed the name change
• The superhero movie will be released in theaters worldwide in June 2026

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is no longer the official name of the forthcoming DC comic book movie, James Gunn has revealed.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, the DC Studios co-chief confirmed the Milly Alcock-starring film will now go by a much shorter title: Supergirl.

The surprise announcement came right at the start of Rolling Stone's profile piece on Gunn, which was conducted as part of the promotional campaign for the writer/director's upcoming Superman film. Asked by the interviewer if he could clarify what Woman of Tomorrow is being referred to as these days, Gunn paused before saying: "I think it’s just called Supergirl."

Elaborating on the title change, Gunn used Superman's next big-screen outing, which was originally called Superman: Legacy, to explain why Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow's name had been shortened.

"I’m always cutting [down project titles]," Gunn replied. "Legacy was really – we [DC Studios] do something called a premortem. A premortem is you get together with your group that’s doing the project. It’s usually about a couple months before shooting... [and] one of the things I brought up was, it [Gunn's Superman movie] was [originally] called Superman: Legacy.

"Even though I was the one that gave it that title, I just wasn’t sure," Gunn continued. "First of all, I’m sick of the superhero title, colon, other-name thing. Also, it seemed to be looking back when we’re looking forward, even though it does have to do with legacy in the movie itself. And everybody was like, 'Oh, yeah, no, change it.'"

Woman of Tomorrow, but a title for today

Milly Alcock will play Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in the DCU (Image credit: James Gunn/Twitter)

It might pain some DC comic book fans to learn about Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow's new, truncated titled. After all, the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) movie is basically adapting its eight-issue graphic novel namesake, which was created by comic book writer Tom King and drawn by Bilquis Eveley.

Nevertheless, in my view, renaming the DCU Chapter One film is the right decision. Supergirl has a much cleaner feel to it. Additionally, for non-DC comic devotees who don't already know it'll retell one of Kara Zor-El's best stories in a live-action format, its new title maintains an air of mystery about what its plot will actually entail.

Then there's the fact that, unlike more iconic DC heroes including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, there's only been one other Supergirl movie: 1984's Supergirl, which starred Helen Slater and is available to stream on Max. So the prospect of confusing viewers with an identically titled flick over 40 years on from the Maiden of Might's silver screen debut shouldn't be of major concern.

All in all, I'm pretty happy that Supergirl has dropped its subtitle. It certainly rolls off the tongue better than its previous moniker, but its title change does mean I'll need to give my Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow guide a major overhaul. Lucky me, eh?

Supergirl will take flight in theaters worldwide on June 26, 2026.

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If you're looking for some movies to really get your teeth into this summer, Peacock has a feast of fearsome finny fun for you: to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original movie, all four Jaws movies are now streaming on the service in the US.

That's a big deal for fans of the franchise who previously had to subscribe to multiple best streaming services to watch all four films. Indeed, for those in the UK and Australia, you'll need a subscription to Prime Video, Paramount+ and more to be able to do the same, which I've listed out below.

The first movie is the most famous and the best of the bunch, of course, but all four are well worth watching – albeit for very different reasons. The first movie effectively invented the summer blockbuster and is widely regarded as a milestone in modern cinema; Jaws 3-D, not so much. But whether you're looking for a marine-based masterpiece or one of the later films where you're on Team Shark, there's lots to enjoy here.

Jaws

• Where to watch: Peacock (US), Prime Video (UK), Paramount+ / Binge (AU)

The original 1975 movie is a masterpiece, thanks in no small part to an up-and-coming filmmaker called Steven Spielberg. Based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley, Jaws is a gripping tale of a sunny tourist resort menaced by an implacable predator that taps into our primal fear of things with sharp teeth hunting us for their dinner. The effects may look a big shonky compared to today's CGI-fests but Jaws still sinks its teeth into you: Empire Magazine suggests it could be Spielberg's finest moment, which is high praise indeed.

Jaws 2

• Where to watch: Peacock (US), Prime Video (UK), Binge (AU)

You'll never guess what's in the water... that's right! A shark! Roy Scheider returns as Chief Brody in a second and reasonably successful instalment of toothy terror, and while director Jeannot Schwarc is no Spielberg – his mid-80s Supergirl has just 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the lowest film ratings I've ever seen – if you approach Jaws 2 as a big silly scare it's still plenty of fun. As Newsweek put it, "It's better than most sequels. It's formula-ridden but slick, and the special effects work as intended."

Jaws 3-D

• Where to watch: Peacock (US), Prime Video (UK)

If you'd told me that Jaws 3D would outlive not one but two 3D crazes I'd have laughed, but it's true. Jaws 3D, renamed Jaws III for the 2D version that's streaming now, is pretty terrible and quite a lot of fun as a result. I've laughed a lot at the gratuitous use of 3D effects just for the sake of using 3D effects: what was funny then is even funnier in 2D now.

Can a film about a shark jump the shark? Film-Authority.com thinks so: it "makes a laughing stock of what was scary just once upon a time." And I love ScreenRush's take: "No movie with Dennis Quaid holding a basset hound's ears to keep them out of his water bowl while pouring himself some coffee can be all bad. Jaws 3-D comes pretty close."

Jaws: The Revenge

• Where to watch: Peacock (US), ITVX (UK), Paramount+ (AU)

Despite the title this isn't about a tourist town police chief swimming after a shark and trying to bite it. The setup here is that Chief Brody's widow is convinced that an angry shark is targeting her family. "This time," the posters said, "It's personal."

Remember a few moments ago I said Supergirl's 8% Rotten Tomatoes rating was the worst I'd ever seen? I was fibbing. Jaws: The Revenge has 2%. "Jaws is looking a bit long in the tooth these days," the Chicago Tribune chuckled. And Gene Siskel, also in the Tribune, was very clear about who he wanted to see churned into chum. "Let's put it this way: When you see and hear the nasal Lorraine Gary on screen you want the shark to eat her."

"A lot of the time, the people in this picture just stand around looking very sad, as if remembering happier days," the Orlando Sentinel wrote. "Watching this sorry film, you know how they must feel."

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• Victoria's Secret says it had fully restored its systems following attack
• The company continues to investigate the incident

Victoria’s Secret has said it has now restored all systems affected by the recent cyberattack against its business.

In a new 10-Q form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company confirmed restoring its IT network, and said it doesn’t expect the incident to have a material impact on its fiscal year.

In late May 2025, the retailer revealed it had experienced a “security incident” and that it would be shutting down its website and some in-store services “as a precaution.”

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Missing details

The lingerie giant did not discuss the nature of the attack, the identity of the attackers, or the methods used to compromise the systems, simply saying the attack triggered its incident response protocols.

“Third-party experts are engaged, and we took down our website and some in store services as a precaution," it added in a statement. "We are working to quickly and securely restore operations."

Usually, when a company is forced to shut down its IT network, either partially or completely, it is to contain a ransomware attack, and prevent threat actors from moving laterally and exfiltrating sensitive customer data.

The attack lasted days, but has now been completely resolved. “All critical systems are restored and fully operational,” it was said in the form. “We continue to assess the full scope and impact of the incident. This incident has not caused a material disruption to our operations to date and we do not believe it will have a material impact to our fiscal year 2025.”

Victoria’s Secret added that it is continuing the investigation which incurred (and may continue to incur), expenses and other financial impacts. These “could” negatively impact the company’s future financial results, it concluded.

The company is one of the world’s most popular lingerie and beauty retailers, running more than 1,300 retail stores in 70 countries around the world.

Via BleepingComputer

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All the health information we get from our wearables can feel nice to have or, worse, confusing. It rarely feels actionable. However, several major updates coming to the Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup could change how we view all this sensor-driven health intelligence, make the advice useful, and, most importantly, personal.

When I last spoke to Samsung's Dr. Hon Pak, he told me that Samsung was working on a "goal-based experience" as it relates to Samsung Health, which Dr. Pak, a trained dermatologist, runs.

Now, it appears that Samsung is achieving that goal with a collection of updates that impact, run training, sleep, toxins, and more.

Better sleep

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Your Galaxy Watch and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, for instance, are already helping you keep track of things like sleep and even how ready you are for the day with an "Energy Score,' which mostly relates to the quality of sleep and how prepared you are for your day. However, a new Bedtime Guidance feature will help you craft a better sleeping experience. Dr. Pak told me it's designed to help shift workers who have unreliable schedules and want to "bring regularity back to their sleeping patterns".

The setting looks at circadian rhythms and accumulating sleep debt (not getting enough sleep over a series of days, which tends to build up a deficit). The system learns over three days and nights and then presents a score, but more importantly, gives you recommendations for bedtime. So instead of a bedtime setting that's set once and forgotten, the system is analyzing you and your sleep needs and providing variable bedtimes.

Run coach

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The second and most personalized health and fitness update is Running Coach. Like Bedtime Guidance, it uses a training activity to learn about your current skills and needs – in this case, using a 12-minute run (or walk, whatever, you can do). You start by telling the feature your running goals, say, a 5K in two months or a marathon before the end of the year.

"We want to give them a training program specifically designed for them," Dr. Pak told me, "Because what we're finding is that people either push themselves too much and get injured or they underpush and never get to the goals."

Samsung is working with sports medicine experts at various universities for guidance on what training to provide based on the 12-minute run results, which produce a score between 0 (non-runners) and 10 (marathoners), and the goal.

"It isn't just, 'Hey, go do these programs.' This is, as you're doing those programs, we're guiding you actively and saying that you need to push yourself a little further, or you need to step back a little bit," explained Dr. Pak.

Heart health

While Vascular Load doesn't provide as much personal guidance, it can provide, after three nights of sensing, a baseline about your cardiovascular and heart health. It also tracks trends as to whether the stress on your cardiovascular system is going up or down. Since it's continuously monitoring during sleep, you get the baseline and long-term trends that you can perhaps act on.

Finally, and as rumors have suggested, Samsung Galaxy Watch will add a sensor to look at your Antioxidant Index, an approximation of the levels of beneficial antioxidants in your diet. The LED sensor measures carotenoids, which is a form of beta-carotene: a powerful antioxidant. From this measurement, you get a number from 1-100.

"Using LED lights, we're able to test the adequacy of beta-keratin and, as a substitute, antioxidants, in your system," said Dr. Pak.

Instead of building a new sensor, Samsung took the BioActive Sensor it added to its Galaxy Watch last year and is now taking advantage of the additional LED sensors (especially certain wavelengths). This means antioxidant measurements will carry through last year's and this year's Galaxy Watch models.

Samsung let me quickly test drive the new Antioxidant Index by placing my finger on the back of a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. It only took a few seconds for my score, 52, to appear on the paired Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. From what I've been told, that's an average rating, so I feel pretty good about my antioxidant level.

Getting the score

(Image credit: Future)

It's been a year since Samsung launched its Energy Score and the Galaxy Ring, and I was curious what they've learned so far.

Dr. Pak told me that since Energy Scores' introduction, Samsung Health's weekly average users have gone up considerably. "I think people are very motivated and encouraged to come see their energy score; there's something about, as they get up, not only how do they sleep, but what should they do? It's the one new feature that looks forward and helps you plan for that day."

As for how the Galaxy Ring has been embraced, Dr. Pak told me people like the form factor, "and the simplicity of not having a screen, and just wear it and forget it because of the long battery life." He added that predominant use cases thus far have been for sleep and women's health (cycle tracking).

We also talked about wearable form factors and if there's a space between the screenless Galaxy Ring and the beefy Galaxy Watch Ultra. Dr. Pak reminded me of the low-profile Galaxy Fit 3 band but added, "Clearly, I agree that there's something, that the need is still there, that these two are not." Then he added, "So you'll see the newest watches that are very comfortable. You'll be surprised."

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• Ayaneo has announced a new handheld gaming PC, using AMD's Ryzen AI HX 370 processor
• The Ayaneo Flip 1S DS will feature two screens like its predecessor, but with a main 1080p OLED screen
• Pricing and battery specifications haven't been announced yet

While Ayaneo's Flip DS handheld gaming PC launched in 2024, providing a dual-screen portable gaming experience, it's taken another leap with a new device – and this time, I think it may just be enough to call it a vastly improved spiritual successor to the Nintendo DS (or 2DS).

As reported by VideoCardz, Ayaneo has announced the Flip 1S DS handheld gaming PC, using AMD's powerful Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and, perhaps most importantly, a 7-inch 1920x1080 144Hz OLED main display with up to 800 nits peak brightness. It will also feature a secondary LCD screen (hence the 'DS' name) with a 1620x1080 resolution.

While it might seem similar to its predecessor, the Flip DS, the upgrades are significant, to say the least. The shift to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 from the previous Ryzen 7 8840U processor will be of huge benefit to gaming performance, with the former using 12 cores and 24 threads – but, that's not the only highlight.

Not only is this set to fulfill the desire of a Nintendo DS experience (which, if it wasn't clear already, DS stands for Dual Screen), but it's also intent on providing an OLED visual experience; something that most modern handheld gaming PCs don't have besides a few.

With deeper black levels and fantastic contrast, it's more than enough to provide the ideal visual quality on a 7-inch 1080p screen. The addition of 800 nits peak brightness is just the icing on the cake for me; throw in the endless amount of games playable through Steam, Epic Games, and other popular launchers, and it's an easy choice – well, sort of.

I say this because I fully expect this to cost a fortune, based on Ayaneo's usual handheld prices. There's no word on pricing yet, but if the likes of the Asus ROG Ally X or the MSI Claw 8 AI+ (which use weaker processors compared to the HX 370) are over $700, then that should be enough to tell you that the Flip 1S DS will price most gamers out.

Analysis: A great compromise for a 7-inch screen

(Image credit: Ayaneo)

While the Flip 1S DS doesn't specifically scratch my itch of wanting an affordable, next-gen 8-inch handheld, it's certainly a great compromise; one that I'm tempted to save money for – but only if its price tag isn't absolutely obscene.

I've wanted an upgrade from my Asus ROG Ally's 7-inch display for a long while, but that doesn't mean that display size is bad. Don't get me wrong, a 7-inch screen for handhelds is great and is the sweet spot for most users, but can feel a bit lackluster, especially if you're gaming competitively.

However, the Flip 1S DS provides two screens, with one of them being a 1080p OLED, and if you've read my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x review, you'll know that I'm a sucker for OLED displays. The performance in games isn't a concern either, considering how well we've seen the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip perform in other handhelds like the OneXPlayer X1 Pro – spoiler alert, it handles demanding games like Black Myth: Wukong pretty well.

If Ayaneo can keep pricing between $800 and $999, then I can see myself holding out and saving for this one, but if the price tag is any higher, I'd likely be looking elsewhere.

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Over the past year, my company – a fast-scaling startup – put ourselves on a “software diet” and we saw transformative results for our bottom line, employee engagement, and our business culture. Here’s the paradox: in tech, growth often means more software and tooling, but for us, it means less.

As our team grew, so did the number of tools, platforms, and subscriptions we used. Most SaaS tools start as a fast fix, solving a specific need quickly when time or resources are tight. But over time, they stick around, collecting more seats and budget – even if their original value fades. That’s exactly what we saw happening. And while our software costs grew, we had a hunch that our productivity wasn’t meaningfully changing alongside it.

Our software diet wasn’t about cutting corners or making our teams work harder. It was about spending intentionally and empowering teams to root out waste. That mindset became the foundation of our internal initiative. The program encouraged employees to think critically about which tools added the most value in their day-to-day work, and to eliminate the rest.

What happened? To start, we saved $1.3 million (and counting), but we are also creating a more efficient and aligned tech stack that supports our growth, instead of hindering it with unnecessary technology. Here’s how we did it, what we learned, and why I believe every company should consider a software diet.

Launching a Software Diet

We tied the initiative to a clear incentive: any employee who helped cancel a contract or switch to a significantly cheaper tool got a $1,000 bonus. To be eligible, the contract had to be

a) Active for at least six months

b) Worth $10,000 or more annually

c) Either cancelled outright, replaced with something $20,000+ cheaper, or rebuilt in-house

Crucially, employees had to meaningfully contribute to identifying alternatives, supporting the switch, and helping with adoption. This wasn’t about surface-level suggestions, but true ownership and collaboration.

The engine: Our “Spend Money Wisely” team

While this is a grassroots effort that every part of the business touches, we needed a team to drive our software diet forward. We brought together a dedicated group from our finance and IT teams to create a new organization called “Spend Money Wisely”.

The way we see it, the Spend Money Wisely (SMW) team acts as internal consultants for responsible tech and services investment across the company. They’re a small–but–mighty team that has been key to creating a new culture around software consumption.

The results: What $1.3 million (and growing) looks like

Since launching the initiative in late 2024, we have been able to shed 12 tools entirely and replace four tools with more cost-effective alternatives. This has resulted in $1.3M in savings to date, and we have paid $36,000 in cash bonuses to the employees who drove this efficiency.

But beyond the numbers, streamlining our providers allows us to save time on vendor management, improve employee experience, and build a more effective technology and services portfolio.

For example, we consolidated our employee engagement survey tool with our performance review platform. This streamlined the employee experience so our people can share feedback in one place. This also gave us a clearer picture of feedback spanning both the employee experience and professional development.

Lessons learned

SaaS bloat is real, but fixable. Start by auditing everything you pay for with a zero-based mindset and try not to let inertia dictate contract renewals. Justify every tool as if starting from scratch.

Incentives work. The incentive captured attention — and spurred action. The cash bonus motivated people to take a fresh look at what they really needed.

Clear rules matter. Clear criteria and structured eligibility prevented any cherry-picking, ensuring that the program inspired sustainable, lasting change – the ideal outcome of any diet.

Migrations are hard. Change management was key. Some tools had heavy adoption or long-term lock-in, which meant patience and planning. Cross-functional dependencies made some migrations more challenging, requiring a longer transition plan.

Centralize oversight but decentralize action. The SMW team was essential. A dedicated team drives action and process, but employees drive real change in their own corners of the business.

Spending wisely doesn’t necessarily mean spending less. It’s important to not just cut costs, but instead to optimize spending. Maybe a software platform that seemed expensive at the outset could serve more than one team? Ultimately, the goal is to spend with intention. “Less software” shouldn’t mean fewer capabilities.

Consider building in-house. In-house solutions, while requiring investment, can be tailored and cost-effective for teams building exactly what they need. We've also seen first-hand that building bespoke tools internally often sparks greater passion and engagement compared to relying on third-party platforms. That said, companies need to consider long-term support and overall maintenance and replacement costs.

Make cost accountability everyone’s job. Foster a culture where questioning spending (or broader solutions) is celebrated, not penalized. Regularly evaluating these tools builds the muscle for teams to be disciplined about consumption in the long term.

Diets are hard – but this one works

Diets require discipline, support, incentives, and a goal for sustainable, lasting change. Our software diet sparked a cultural shift across our business around software spending that’s required in the age of easy SaaS adoption, and the results demonstrated a significant impact on our overall financial health, cross-functional collaboration, and operational clarity.

What would your company save if everyone were paid to cancel software they don’t really need?

We've featured the best small business software.

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• WestJet says it is experiencing a cyber-incident
• Airline confirms it is addressing the issue, but disruptions are possible
• No one assumed responsibility yet

WestJet has apparently suffered a cyberattack which has disrupted some of its services, including impacting the airline’s website and mobile app.

The company confirmed the news in a security advisory posted on its website, noting, "WestJet is aware of a cybersecurity incident involving internal systems and the WestJet app, which has restricted access for several users."

"We have activated specialized internal teams in cooperation with law enforcement and Transport Canada to investigate the matter and limit impacts."

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Operations stable

The company did not share any other additional details - so we don’t know who the threat actors are, when the breach actually took place, how it happened, or what its goal was.

No one has assumed responsibility for the attack as of press time.

In an update published on June 15, the airline said some guests may “temporarily encounter intermittent interruptions or errors while using the WestJet app and/or WestJet.com,” adding that it is working on resolving the issues.

“Our operations remain safe and stable and are not impacted by the situation. WestJet is grateful to our guests, our people and our partners for their support and patience. Regular updates will continue to be provided as more details can be shared.”

Although not specifically stated, when cyberattacks disrupt networks in this way, and render some services unusable, it usually ends up being a ransomware attack. These attacks encrypt data on key systems, making them inaccessible. At the same time, the attackers exfiltrate key information to use as leverage during the negotiation process.

Companies shut down their systems to prevent further damage, additional encryptions, or file transfer.

WestJet is one of Canada’s biggest airlines, operating around 180 aircraft and serving around 100 destinations in almost 30 countries.

Via BleepingComputer

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