TechRadar News

• Nintendo has confirmed its attendance at Gamescom 2025
• The annual gaming event will take place in late August in Germany
• A whole bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 games are likely to be featured

Nintendo has confirmed that it will be returning to Gamescom this year. The annual event based in Cologne, Germany, is one of the largest on the gaming calendar.

And now that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be out by the time Gamescom occurs between August 20 - 24, it's something of a no-brainer for the company to be in attendance this year.

The news was confirmed by Nintendo's official German X / Twitter account. Using the website's built-in translation feature, the post reads: "Mark your calendar in red: Nintendo will be back at Gamescom in 2025. We look forward to welcoming you to Cologne from August 20th to 24th!"

Now, if you were hoping for a rundown on what Nintendo Switch 2 games will be featured at Nintendo's booth, that unfortunately hasn't been confirmed yet. It'll likely be a round-up of the usual suspects, particularly Metroid Prime 4: Beyond if that game hasn't been released by the time Gamescom occurs. Upcoming third-party releases like Hades 2 and Borderlands 4 could also make a potential appearance.

While I'm sure the likes of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will also be playable (even though these will have launched before August), Gamescom is also a great chance to preview games ahead of their release. That has me wondering if we can expect another Nintendo Direct presentation sometime between the Switch 2's June 5 launch and Gamescom's late-August dates.

Is the news of Nintendo's attendance at Gamescom this year surprising? No, not really. The company skipped out on last year's event, presumably because it didn't have much to showcase at the time for the aging Nintendo Switch hardware. Now that it has a fresh new console on the block, a return to Europe's largest gaming event should be a given.

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• GameStop and Best Buy have announced they will be restocking the Nintendo Switch 2
• Switch 2 units will be available in-store and online at both retailers during the console's launch on June 5, 2025
• In-person launch events will also be hosted in stores during the release

More Nintendo Switch 2 stock will be available at GameStop and Best Buy during the handheld's launch.

The Nintendo Switch 2 finally releases worldwide on June 5, 2025. Although UK and US pre-orders opened weeks in advance, some retailers have already run out of stock, and some fans have been unable to secure a console.

Fortunately, some retailers like GameStop and Best Buy will be offering new Switch 2 stock to those who missed out, but they'll only be available during the console's release.

"Didn't pre-order? Additional Switch 2 units will be available in-store and online at launch while supplies last," GameStop said in a social media post.

It will also be hosting a launch event, which begins in-store at 3 PM local time on June 4, with Switch 2 pickups starting at 12 AM EST / 9 PM PST.

Didn't pre-order Switch 2? We got you. pic.twitter.com/6Xa4QUzM3gMay 16, 2025

Best Buy also shared on its homepage that it will be hosting late-night store openings after midnight on June 5.

"In addition to fulfilling pre-orders, most stores will have limited inventory of systems, games and accessories for in-store purchase. Customers will also have the chance to receive a Nintendo collectible," the retailer said.

Although more stock will be available, Best Buy has warned buyers of crowds and long queues.

"Expect to see long lines at popular Best Buy stores in US cities hours in advance of the midnight release date, and some in the crowd may not be able to get the new console," Best Buy said in a statement to The Shortcut.

In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle which includes a digital copy of that game.

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• Intel has showcased its Panther Lake processors at Computex 2025
• It's hinted at a focus on power efficiency and 'next-gen iGPU performance' for the mobile processors
• It could spell great news for upcoming handheld gaming PCs and other portable gaming systems

Computex 2025 is underway, and we’re looking forward to seeing new hardware from the likes of Nvidia, AMD, and Intel – and the latter is already making an impression with its upcoming mobile processor lineup.

As reported by our friends at Tom's Hardware, Intel's demos at the big computing expo in Taipei included Panther Lake-powered systems, with Team Blue focusing on the power efficiency and gaming performance of its new mobile processor lineup – ultimately, aiming to match the power efficiency of the previous Lunar Lake lineup.

Intel's teasers and claims at the show add credibility to the rumors, based on leaked specifications, regarding upcoming Panther Lake processors using Cougar Cove P-cores (performance cores) and Darkmont E-cores (efficiency cores). It's also worth noting that the new processors are being built on Intel's new 18A node manufacturing process, which further helps improve performance.

We've previously seen the power efficiency of the Lunar Lake lineup, in particular in the Core Ultra 7 258V used in the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Power efficiency is one of the biggest highlights of the handheld gaming PC – to put it simply, gaming at 17W power consumption still yields great performance results while saving a lot of battery. Efficiency and performance were made even better with Intel's recent drivers, allowing better frame pacing.

Team Blue has also previously hinted at a “next-gen built-in iGPU”, which could prove to be a significant performance enhancer for portable gaming.

While Panther Lake is set primarily for the laptop platform, there's every chance we could see one of these iGPUs in an upcoming gaming handheld.

If Panther Lake is any better than this, I'll be more than happy (Image credit: Intel) The battle with AMD in the handheld gaming PC market is truly on

We're still awaiting the launch of a new handheld gaming PC powered by one of AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processors – I'm expecting this to happen at Computex, considering the prototype reveal of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 at CES earlier this year and rumors regarding an Xbox-styled Asus ROG Ally. Until then, Intel is in the lead, in terms of a balance between power efficiency and gaming performance, with its Core Ultra 7 258V.

While the AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 is an absolute powerhouse for gaming, and is used in the OneXPlayer X1 Pro handheld, I doubt that the X1 Pro’s battery life lives up to that of the Core Ultra 7 258V-powered MSI Claw 8 AI+. It's also far more expensive, heading into $1,000-plus territory (depending on the configuration).

Intel's Lunar Lake processor has been the most impressive to me for handheld gaming systems, as it appears to strike the perfect balance between great performance and enabling long gaming sessions thanks to its power efficiency.

If its Panther Lake processors take power efficiency and performance a step further, and AMD's Medusa Point struggles to match them in that department, I can only see Team Blue dominating the mobile processor market in the coming years, as handheld manufacturers won’t be forced to compromise on battery life.

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• Google's annual I/O event is live today at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 6 pm BST
• Expect lots of new announcements, including AI reveals, Android XR, and Project Astra
• Google showcased Android 16 last week, so don't expect much from Google's mobile OS today

This year's Google I/O event is set to bring major announcements showcasing the future of Android XR, Gemini, and everything else the tech giant is working on.

Google showcased Android 16 last week, leaving lots of people guessing at what to expect during its flagship keynote this year. As we expect the focus to be less about Android and more about XR and AI, this year's Google I/O could be the biggest yet.

From Google's new AI Mode to Gemini Live, we expect some huge announcements that could shift the way we interact with the internet.

Starting at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 6 pm BST, we'll be covering all the latest announcements from Google I/O 2025.

Google I/O 2025: What to expect

Everything we expect to see at Google I/O 2025 is still a mystery, here are some of the things we're hoping to get a glimpse of:

• Gemini AI updates, with more info on what the future of Google AI holds
• Android XR information, could we see some hardware?
• Another look at Project Astra, Google's AI assistant that can understand and interact with the world around it

Welcome to TechRadar's Google I/O 2025 live blog! John-Anthony Disotto, Senior AI Writer, here to take you through the first few hours of today as we build up to one of Google's biggest events of the year.

So grab a coffee, set this tab up to the side of your monitor, and get ready for a huge day in the world of tech!

(Image credit: Google)

Google I/O 2025 starts in around 9 hours, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 6 pm BST. That gives us loads of time to take you through everything we expect to see at Google's headline keynote.

There's going to be loads of AI, maybe some Android, and definitely some surprises, so you won't want to miss what the tech giant has up its sleeve.

On Google's official website for the event, it says, "Discover how we’re furthering our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful."

This makes me think we're going to see some big improvements to Google Search, and maybe even a wider roll-out of AI Mode.

AI Mode launched in beta earlier this year, bringing artificial intelligence to the forefront of the Google Search experience. Whether you love it or hate it, AI looks like it's here to stay, and Google Gemini is probably going to play a part.

(Image credit: Google AI Mode Screenshots)

One feature I expect Google to talk more about today is AI Mode. TechRadar writer Eric Hal Schwartz has tried Google's AI Mode and says it might be the end of Search as we know it.

In his feature about the user experience he says, "There's always a lot going on in my area, but finding information on what's on can often be tough. Instead of checking six different websites and hoping they’ve been updated, I asked Google through AI Mode: “What are some local events happening in the Hudson Valley this weekend?”

As you can see above, the AI responded almost instantly with a tidy roundup of events. The list of links to the right showed where it was pulling from, and each event had a short description and details of location and time, as well as a hyperlink to where the information came from. The diversity of sources stood out, and I can't deny it was faster than a regular search plus time spent opening each site to see what was listed."

Think of AI Mode as Google's take on ChatGPT Search, although, are we ready to fully embrace AI search yet? I'm not so sure.

Google I/O 2025 takes place over May 20 and May 21, but the main event is the Google keynote, which starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, which is 3am on May 21 for those in the AEST time zone.

The keynote will likely be around two hours long based on past form, and you’ll be able to live stream it from Google’s I/O website, and also on the Google YouTube channel.

We’ve embedded the YouTube video below, so you can watch it without even leaving this page if you want – and if you click the ‘Notify me’ button on the video, you can get a notification when the event is about to start.

Normally we get a look at the future of Android at Google I/O, but this year is different after Google showcased Android 16 last week.

If you want to see what the upcoming mobile software update looks like, we've covered the 5 most useful features coming with Android 16.

Google Gemini updates?

(Image credit: Shutterstock/ Sadi-Santos)

In March, Google revealed Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental, which the company called its 'Most intelligent AI model' yet.

I'm hoping to see more information on 2.5, and maybe a wider release. At the moment, naming schemes for AI models are getting increasingly hard to follow. Could Google rise up and find a way to simplify the process?

Gemini has so much to offer from Gemini Live, Deep Research, Canvas, Veo, the capabilities are almost endless. If Google could merge everything so that the AI can determine what you need, when you need it, that would be a major shift in the way we interact with artificial intelligence.

When it comes to the ultimate in home entertainment, bigger really is better – and there’s science behind it. Our eyes were made for wide, immersive viewing, and that means a 100-inch screen doesn’t just look amazing; it aligns with how we naturally see and focus, reducing eye strain and recreating the dynamic experience of a cinema.

With living spaces evolving to include bigger homes and larger living rooms, big-screen TVs are no longer a luxury: they’re rapidly becoming the new standard. And when it comes to big, beautiful TVs, Hisense is the undisputed market leader: in 2023 and 2024 it was the global number one for TVs sized 100 inches and higher.[1]

Super-sized TVs make your front room feel like the world's best cinema or stadium, and Hisense's models are packed with cutting-edge tech to make everything feel incredibly vivid, incredibly lifelike and incredibly immersive. With advanced AI picture processing, multi-channel audio, ultra-vivid Mini-LED displays and speedy, silky-smooth refresh rates they deliver a video and audio experience that's truly incredible for cinema, for gaming, for sports and more.

Discover 100 inches of wow

Hisense's ULED Mini-LED TVs bring you 100 inches of wow. At this scale movies and sports aren't things you watch; they're sensory spectaculars that transport you beyond the ordinary, delivering astonishingly vivid visuals and incredibly immersive audio.

(Image credit: Hisense)

The heart of Hisense's Mini-LED PRO models is their gorgeous Mini-LED PRO technology, where every frame comes to life with outstanding contrast and brightness. The precise backlight control ensures you never miss a single detail, no matter how dark or bright.

Compared to traditional LED TVs, Mini-LED PRO technology uses thousands of tiny light sources and precise full-array local dimming to deliver deeper blacks, dazzling highlights, and exceptional contrast. Whether you’re watching an intense night match or a dark cinematic scene, every frame pops with lifelike clarity. It’s a picture that pulls you in—rich in detail, vibrant in colour, and immersive from any seat in the room.

(Image credit: Hisense)

But there’s more behind the wow. Hisense’s Hi-View AI Engine PRO brings AI-powered precision to every scene, analysing content and surroundings in real time to fine-tune brightness, contrast, and colour—delivering a viewing experience that adapts to your space and what you love to watch.

Even at the recommended 3-metre (9.8-foot) viewing distance—typical in modern compact living rooms—Hisense’s AI ensures images remain sharp, vibrant, and immersive. Big screen, small room? No problem. With pixel-level analysis and intelligent optimisation, Hisense makes 100 inches of wow possible anywhere.

(Image credit: Hisense)

And for gamers, the thrill goes even deeper. Select Hisense models offer a lightning-fast 165Hz refresh rate and Auto Low Latency Mode, ensuring ultra-smooth motion and instant responsiveness—perfect for fast-paced matches, action-packed races, or cinematic adventures full of shadow and detail.

Sensational cinema and spectacular vision

(Image credit: Hisense)

Take the U8 Series, for example—it’s where Mini-LED PRO shines.

The Hisense U8 Series is made for cinema lovers who demand more than just a big screen: it's a cinema-grade experience in the heart of your home. Its Mini-LED PRO has a much higher density than typical TVs, with QLED Colour, Pantone Validated Colour and IMAX Enhanced certification delivering cinema-spec colour and contrast. With Dolby Vision and Filmmaker Mode built in, it brings you an extraordinary cinematic experience in three spectacular sizes: 75, 85 and 100 inches.

AI empowers every moment

As one of the first TV brands to deeply integrate AI across its product range, Hisense is using intelligent processing to go far beyond static picture presentation. At the heart of this evolution is the Hi-View AI Engine PRO, a powerful chip that analyses content and surroundings in real time—automatically adjusting contrast, brightness, and colour to match not just what you’re watching, but where you’re watching it.

In both U7 and U8 series, this powerful processor intelligently analyses scenes in real time, optimising each frame for enhanced contrast, colour and motion. Combined with AI Sound and AI Sports Mode, this ensures both visuals and audio adjust dynamically to different content types, making every movie, game, or live match incredibly lifelike. And if you like to watch live sports with friends or family you'll love how bright the U8 Series is: with up to 5,000 nits of brightness and Hisense's Anti-Reflection PRO it performs brilliantly even in the very brightest rooms.

Whether it's fast-paced football or movie magic, the U8 Series's sound system will put you right where the action is. Side speakers, rear subwoofers, and upward-firing speakers combine to put you in the centre of a sensational 4.1.2 multi-channel experience that delivers truly immersive audio in perfect harmony with the on-screen visuals.

Next-gen experience for game enthusiasts

(Image credit: Hisense)

The Hisense U7 Series delivers the next level of immersive sports and gaming. It's an elite TV range designed for action lovers, and it delivers a lightning-fast 165Hz refresh rate with auto low latency mode for cutting-edge PC and console gaming. From split-second reactions on the track to high-speed football plays, every frame is rendered with fluid clarity –eliminating input lag and frame tearing for a smoother, more responsive experience from the moment you press start.

In addition to delivering video and audio that'll take your breath away, the U7 Series can also help you navigate your favourite streaming services: it comes complete with Google/VIDAA TV, which pulls content from all your favourite streamers into one convenient place and helps you find great new shows based on your viewing history.

The future of fantastic

Something even bigger is coming soon. Hisense is always innovating in the super-sized TV category, and it'll soon be launching a brand new and very large flagship in the form of the UX Series with RGB Mini-LED Technology. It'll deliver a new era of display excellence and intelligent technology, and its proprietary RGB Mini-LED and ultra-large screen design will push the limits of visual performance and engineering excellence.

Recognized as the global number one in the 100-inch TV category, Hisense is leading the way in picture quality, screen innovation, and immersive viewing. Aligned with global trends in big screen, AI, Mini-LED, and high refresh rates, the brand continues to drive its “Go Bigger, Aim Higher” strategy—showcasing standout advantages across its 100”, 85”, and 75” lineup and reinforcing its leadership in the premium large-screen segment.

While the new UX Series is still under wraps, you don't need to wait to experience the ultimate in big-screen entertainment: whether you're a movie buff, a sports fan, a gamer or all these things and more the Hisense U8 Series and U7 Series are available right now in a range of sizes to suit your space. And with Hisense proudly serving as the official partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ this year’s matches will be more than a tournament—they’ll be a celebration of big-screen immersion. From cinematic storytelling to edge-of-your-seat action, there’s never been a better time to bring stadium-sized thrills home.

If you'd like to know more about the incredible Hisense U8 Series and U7 Series or register for updates about the ultimate UX Series, click here for the big picture.

[1] Data source: Omdia

Most consumers have strong perspectives when it comes to sharing their personal data with an organization. Some are more open, happy to share information if it equates with a more personalized product experience. Others are more guarded, hesitant to give over details, usually due to security concerns. But what determines the standpoint any given person has on data sharing?

While generalizing can often be misleading, statistics reveal clear trends when examining attitudes by generation. Understanding these generational differences reveals how organizations can engage with customers of all ages in ways that build confidence and satisfaction with their data practices.

The generational gap in data sharing attitudes

Younger generations are much more open when it comes to data sharing. Research which examined how consumers feel about sharing their date of birth with an unfamiliar company backs this up. Among 18-24 year-olds, 21% feel comfortable doing this, compared to just 8% of those aged 45-54. That's nearly a threefold difference in comfort levels for sharing something as basic as a birth date. When it comes to more sensitive information, this difference becomes even more pronounced.

When asked if they'd share spending habits in exchange for potential benefits such as helping them to save money, 38% of 18-24 year-olds said they would, while only 15% of those over 55 agreed. This stark contrast highlights how differently generations approach their personal information.

Rather than treating data sharing primarily as a privacy and security risk, many younger consumers see it as a natural exchange that enhances their experiences. They've grown up in an environment where personalized recommendations and tailored experiences aren't just nice-to-have features, they're expected parts of everyday digital interactions.

Older generations take a markedly different approach. Having witnessed firsthand how privacy concerns have evolved over decades, they tend to need stronger reassurances and clearer benefits before sharing personal details. This isn't simply resistance to technology. It reflects genuine differences in how each generation fundamentally conceptualizes privacy and what constitutes a fair value exchange for their personal information.

The evolution of trust beyond security

Despite the clear generation gap in attitudes, there's one crucial factor that unites consumers of all ages: trust. This is the foundation upon which all data sharing decisions are built. According to research, an overwhelming 94% of consumers across every age bracket point to trust as the deciding factor in whether they'll share their information. The evidence is clear: 64% would readily share personal details with an organization they trust, while only 36% would do the same with a company they're unfamiliar with.

What's interesting is how the concept of trust itself has evolved over time. Basic security measures that were once seen as exceptional are now simply expected as standard practice. Today's consumers are more sophisticated in their evaluation, looking beyond just data protection. They want to know how transparent an organization is about their data practices and, perhaps most importantly, what tangible value they'll receive in return for their information.

We can see this shift reflected in changing consumer attitudes. Research from the Data Protection Networks shows that while "data pragmatists" (those willing to share information for clear benefits) remain the largest group, they've declined from 53% to 46%. At the same time, "data fundamentalists" who are highly protective of their data have decreased from 31% to 23%.

This doesn't mean consumers are becoming less concerned about privacy. Rather, it suggests they've developed a more nuanced understanding of the data value exchange. What modern consumers increasingly demand is transparency around "good use cases" for their data.

They want organizations to clearly explain not just how their information will be protected, and the tangible benefits they'll receive in return, from relevant product recommendations and timely offers tailored to their preferences, to streamlined checkout processes and personalized content that ultimately saves them time and effort and makes for a better customer experience.

The balancing act of personalization

At the heart of this evolving landscape sits personalization – the ability to craft experiences that feel genuinely tailored to individual preferences. When done effectively, personalization creates precisely the kind of value that justifies data sharing across all age groups.

Many consumers see data sharing as part of a broader economic ecosystem. Research reveals that 52% of UK consumers would be more willing to share personal data if they knew it would help smaller companies compete more effectively. This view is particularly strong among those under 45, suggesting younger generations may see their data sharing as contributing to a healthier, more dynamic marketplace – not just as a way to improve their own experience.

For businesses, this creates both opportunity and responsibility. The challenge lies in developing personalization approaches that respect individual boundaries while delivering genuine value. Rather than relying on broad generational assumptions, forward-thinking companies are using their analytics capabilities to understand the specific preferences and comfort levels of each individual customer.

Data handling with care

Tomorrow's most successful organizations won't simply be those that amass the largest data repositories. They'll be those that build the most thoughtful relationships with that data – and more importantly, with the people behind it. That means creating flexible systems that allow individuals to share information on their own terms, while clearly communicating the benefits of doing so.

As consumer expectations continue to shift and regulatory frameworks evolve, the organizations that combine sophisticated data capabilities with genuine respect for consumer preferences will build the trust necessary to succeed across all generational segments. The reward for getting this right? More meaningful personalization, stronger customer relationships, and business outcomes that truly reflect the full potential of our data-driven world.

We've compiled a list of the best customer feedback tools.

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

Computex 2025 is now underway with companies and manufacturers set to showcase upcoming desktop and portable PC hardware – and MSI has just set the tone for the remainder of the biggest tech event.

After numerous rumors regarding a potential new AMD-powered handheld, MSI has officially announced the new MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM handheld gaming PC. As speculated, it will use AMD's latest Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, as MSI moves away from Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V used in the Claw 8 AI+.

It's certainly a big surprise despite the previous leaks, and there are some key takeaways to make – from its new design down to its potential performance capabilities. Here's everything you should look forward to with the Claw A8 handheld gaming PC.

1. It will be powered by AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU

(Image credit: MSI)

While AMD's latest handheld processor, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, has been included in the prototype version of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (and supposedly the rumored Xbox handheld), the new MSI Claw A8 will join it in doing so – and may even launch ahead of it.

However, the highlight is that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme is expected to be Team Red's most powerful handheld Z2 chip yet, and an upgrade from the original Ryzen Z1 Extreme (used in the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go). It has 8 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, a sizable jump from the previous 12 GPU cores on the Z1 Extreme.

We've not seen any handheld gaming PC officially use the Ryzen Z2 Extreme yet, besides the Legion Go prototype – and its specifications suggest it will be competing against Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V used in the MSI Claw 8 AI+, so it'll be exciting to see which device (between the Claw 8 AI+ and the Claw A8) comes out on top.

2. The Claw A8 may be a slightly cheaper alternative to the new Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition

(Image credit: MSI)

Since prices aren't announced yet, there's no clarity on the new MSI Claw A8's price. However, it may be the slightly cheaper alternative to the new Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition; it's using Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Intel's Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4 (which makes sense since there's no Intel chip here).

It will also have up to 24GB LPDDR5 RAM support, instead of the Claw 8 AI+'s 32GB RAM, which means there may be two different configurations of the Claw A8 to choose from.

We should have more clarity on pricing during Computex 2025, but the price difference may stem mostly from the Ryzen Z2 Extreme's performance versus the Core Ultra 7 258V.

3. It has a new design for hand comfort and a new green color scheme

(Image credit: MSI)

As you can see in the images, it looks like the MSI Claw A8 will feature a different design to provide more hand comfort. The handles appear to be curved inwards, which looks very similar to the Asus ROG Ally's, and this could go a long way in providing extra comfort for those long hours of gaming.

I'm happy to see that MSI has kept the 8-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) display with the Claw A8, as it's the ideal amount of screen space to get the best out of portable gaming. It'll also be interesting to see how the Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor tackles the resolution, and see how it fares against its counterpart's processor.

So far, it looks like we'll have the same snow-white color scheme from the Polar Tempest Claw 8 AI+ on the Claw A8, alongside an entirely new green color to choose from. There's currently no confirmation on a release date, price, or availability, but you can expect to see further details during Computex 2025.

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• The US has expressed concerns about Apple's AI deal with Alibaba in China
• Around one in five of Apple's sales are in China – its second-largest market
• Apple has also been slammed for manufacturing in India, not the US

The Trump administration and Congress are concerned about Apple's deal with Alibaba to power some of the AI features on iPhones in China, noting potential privacy concerns (via The New York Times).

Worries about data sharing and national security implications have been raised, with the potential legal requirements for Apple and Alibaba to adhere to Chinese regulator rules central to the discussion.

Moreover, only Alibaba has publicly confirmed the agreement, with Apple remaining silent – this could indicate potential uncertainty or an unfinished deal, or it could just be a typical Apple move of keeping developments under tight wraps until the final moment.

US worried about Apple's deal with Alibaba for AI tools

The deal is being scrutinized amid ongoing US-China tensions, with concerns about aiding China's AI development and improving Chinese military AI capabilities both noted.

"Alibaba is a poster child for the Chinese Communist Party’s military-civil fusion strategy, and why Apple would choose to work with them on A.I. is anyone’s guess," Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois proclaimed.

Apple has already dropped a deal with Chinese chipmaker YMTC over pressure from the US, and the Cupertino tech giant is also facing challenges from the trade war-induced tariffs and supply chain shifts out of China, with industry experts warning of sharp price hikes for consumers partaking in the next refresh cycle.

However, China is the company's second-largest market, accounting for around one-fifth of its sales, highlighting the importance of a deal so as not to miss out against local smartphone makers.

The US administration has considered restricting US companies from doing business with the likes of Alibaba and other Chinese firms, but no details have been confirmed.

Although the company has sought to diversify its supply chain, President Trump has criticized Tim Cook for increasing production in India, urging domestic US manufacturing instead – one of the President's ultimate goals.

Ultimately, Apple risks issues whichever way the deal swings, either missing out on millions of Chinese sales or potentially serious implications within the US. Apple had a 13% smartphone market share in China during the first three months of 2025 (via Canalys), putting it several paces behind Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO and vivo.

"The US smartphone market is expected to experience considerable volatility over the next two to three quarters, impacted by inventory corrections and weakening consumer confidence," Canalys Research Manager Le Xuan Chiew explained.

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• "AI is the new electricity", Michael Dell declares
• Opening Dell Technologies World 2025, he highlights importance of AI innovation
• "AI isn’t your product, but AI can power your purpose" Dell says

The founder and CEO of Dell Technologies has urged businesses of all sizes to fully embrace the potential offered by AI in order to stay competitive and thrive ahead of the competition.

Delivering the opening keynote at Dell Technologies World 2025, Michael Dell warned how, "the real danger is staying still,” as he highlighted several ways AI can benefit firms.

"AI is the new electricity - and Dell is the grid powering this transformation," he declared.

Making AI easier

During the keynote, the founder guided us along “Dell Technologies Way”, where the company’s services and systems power a wide range of businesses, industries and individuals alike.

“Our street is alive with your energy, and yes - your creativity and your data,” he declared, “whether you’re developing cancer treatments, or growing a business, data is at the center of everything, everywhere, all of the time.”

This included the company’s “AI Factory” platform, which saw its second generation unveiled as part of a long-standing partnership with Nvidia.

“For most of us…AI isn’t your product, but AI can power your purpose,” Dell added, “you don’t need your own Colossus, but you do need AI, and we’re taking all the learnings from these massive systems to make AI easier for you.”

“From AI PCs to small, domain-specific models running on the edge to the planetary scale AI data centers, we’ve got you covered.”

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Dell noted how over 75% of enterprise data will soon be created and processed at the edge - “and AI will follow the data - not the other way around.”

"The future of AI will be decentralized, low-latency and hyper-efficiency - and that's why Dell is pioneering the edge AI revolution, bringing real-time intelligence to wherever the data lives.”

"Here at Dell, we love data,” he added, “we store it, we protect it, we organize it, and we transform it into actions and insights that drive human progress - and turbocharged by AI, that engine of progress is going faster than ever before," he added.

“The pace of innovation is at Mach 3 - we’re creating the future.”

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• 817 Microsoft software engineers lost their jobs in Washington state alone
• The redundancies were believed to be targeting inefficient management layers
• Around a third of Microsoft's code is AI-written, Google and Meta are also in a similar place

Microsoft recently confirmed around 6,000 to 7,000 job cuts globally, including an estimated 2,000 redundancies in its home state of Washington.

It's now come to light that over 40% of the Washington layoffs were related to software engineering (817 roles) (via Bloomberg), with the company previously stating that the layoffs were part of a broader cost cutting effort and a shift in investments into AI.

Together with software engineers, the heaviest affected roles in Washington were product management (373 roles) and technical program management (218 roles), with business program management (55 roles), customer experience program management (44 roles) and product design (31 roles) also on the table.

Over 800 Microsoft software engineers laid off in Washington state

Despite the clear and ongoing need for software engineers in an increasingly software-defined world, it has become apparent that Microsoft deer appropriate to replace human workers with artificial intelligence. CEO Satya Nadella recently confirmed that AI now writes around one third of some projects' code, with the recent layoffs raising concerns about AI's effects on human workers and software developers.

More broadly, this is a trend that we are seeing from other tech companies including Salesforce and Workday. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg have also noted how much of their code is now written by AI.

However, Microsoft has been criticized for mixed messaging. The company stated that the recent layoffs were primarily designed to reduce inefficiencies in middle management by removing unnecessary layers, and while 17% of the Washington redundancies did relate to managers, the loss of hundreds of software engineers raises alarm bells.

Microsoft Principal Software Engineering Manager Mike Droettboom suggested in a LinkedIn post that Python and open-source remain important roles even though companies are enacting major shifts: "Looking around the room, I saw so many faces – some I have known for almost 25 years – coming together again with the same shared purpose, even as the company names on our badges change."

"My heart goes out to the majority of the team that was laid off," Droettboom added.

TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft for further transparency into the roles affected by its redundancies.

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• Amazon's rollout of Alexa+ lacks much public evidence
• Technical issues may be delaying a wider release
• Amazon claims Alexa+ is in use by hundreds of thousands of homes

Amazon unveiled Alexa+ with great fanfare more than six weeks ago, but there hasn't been much of a conversation among AI and voice assistant users about it since. My informal check of more than a dozen heavy Alexa users around the U.S. found none with access to it, and a report from Reuters suggests it's far from the explosive event Amazon hyped it up to be at the debut presentation.

Alexa+ is supposed to be Amazon's infusion of AI into the eleven-year-old voice assistant. Using generative AI as a glow-up tool makes Alexa smarter, more useful, better at conversation, and just more intuitive as an assistant. Alexa+ is supposed to give the voice assistant many new and enhanced abilities to carry out your requests, such as processing multiple prompts at once and adapting to personalize its services. For instance, it should remember your dietary preferences while helping you order food.

Invites for early access were meant to start going out in late March. Anecdotally, none have arrived, and a look around social media doesn't reveal any buzz either. Here at TechRadar, Alexa has, for weeks, been telling Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff that he's "on the early access list," but there's still no sign of Alexa+.

Even a Reddit post covered by TechRadar has since been removed from the website. Amazon begs to differ about that conclusion. The company is expressing confidence over the current and future release of Alexa+.

"Early Access to Alexa+ is ramping up. It’s already open to hundreds of thousands of customers, and we expect it to roll out to millions over the coming month," an Amazon spokesperson told TechRadar. "This is no different than other invite programs we’ve run – we scale as we learn."

Alexa+ plans

As Amazon insists there is no slow-walking of Alexa+, the reasons behind an apparent delay aren't official either. That said, the Reuters report cited possible technical issues around the speed and accuracy of the revamped Alexa, as well as higher-than-preferred costs to run the new models. There's a bit of déjà vu here since Amazon made a lot of noise around an AI-enhanced Alexa in the fall of 2023, with an early preview promised in the weeks ahead that never actually happened.

It's a far cry from the 2014 reveal of the original Amazon Echo, which started shipping just a few weeks after it appeared on a stage. Amazon might feel the stakes are too high to prioritize timing over performance this time. If Alexa+ fumbles at launch, it could undercut Amazon’s entire smart home strategy. Worse, it might reinforce the idea that Alexa is more of a talking timer than a true digital assistant.

Amazon also recently made it so Alexa interactions are processed only in the cloud, removing the option for local processing. This change may boost Alexa+’s brainpower, but it also raises privacy flags that may need to be dealt with before a wide release.

So, Alexa+ technically exists, and Amazon swears it’s being used. But you'll have to wait for a review of Alexa+ from someone's home. Until then, Alexa+ is more ghost than AI ghost in the machine.

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2024 was a banner year for Qualcomm at Computex, with the massive launch of its Snapdragon X Elite laptop processors putting it at the forefront of the event. In fact, Qualcomm’s keynote presentation last year was so impressive that I declared them the winners of the event, with guest stars from makes of many of the best laptops including Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Asus appearing alongside Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.

During today’s keynote at Computex 2025, things were a little more subdued. No exciting chip announcements here; instead, Amon got up on stage and discussed the (admittedly quite good) progress Qualcomm has made with the Snapdragon platform over the past year. A key factor he pointed to was the rapid growth in apps supported on the Snapdragon X Elite platform, along with the now 1,400+ games that are playable on Snapdragon laptops.

CEO Cristiano Amon gave a slightly strange AI-powered Q&A during Qualcomm's keynote presentation. (Image credit: Future)

Much like last year, Amon showcased Qualcomm’s impressive pull in the Windows computing market despite only entering the CPU fight with Intel and AMD last year. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made a brief appearance in the presentation, along with executives from Asus and HP.

There were also some cheeky jabs at Intel and Apple (the latter regarding the fact that Fortnite is fully playable on Snapdragon hardware), plus the usual slew of corporate drivel about how AI is revolutionizing… something. Honestly, I kind of tuned out for a bit there, until Amon fired up a laptop live on stage which proceeded to ask him (presumably human-curated) questions about Qualcomm’s AI hardware in a synthy robot voice. Pretty cool, I guess, but what really caught my attention was a teaser at the very end of the keynote presentation.

What’s next for Snapdragon

So, while we got no new chips from Qualcomm at Computex, it looks like we now have a tacitly announced date for the next generation of Snapdragon X systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). It’s September 23: the date of Qualcomm’s own event, Snapdragon Summit, which will take place in Hawaii.

What exactly are we getting in September? Amon wouldn’t say, only that “the revolution continues” and “I promise you that you will be impressed”. Still, there are some pretty reasonable assumptions that I’m willing to make here.

Qualcomm's second-gen Snapdragon X chips were something I had hoped to see at Computex, but it seems we'll be waiting a while longer. (Image credit: Qualcomm)

While naming conventions are still a bit up in the air (since we’re only a single generation into Qualcomm’s Windows laptop chips), the current popular assumption is that the next-gen SoCs will use the ‘Snapdragon X2’ moniker, so I’ll just go with that here. I expect the initial launch to feature both X2 Elite and X2 Plus chips for the premium and midrange laptop markets, with broad integration across the majority of productivity laptop manufacturers; Dell’s XPS series, Asus’s Zenbooks, Lenovo’s Yoga line, the works.

A ‘basic’ Snapdragon X2 chip will likely follow a bit further down the line (similar to how the Snapdragon X chip was announced at CES in January this year), providing a more budget-conscious alternative. But I’m most interested in the rumored 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite chip for desktops…

A desktop revolution?

Will we get a non-integrated Snapdragon X2 Elite? I wouldn’t quite bet on that; so far, we’ve only seen Snapdragon chips in compact PCs from the likes of Lenovo. So don’t expect to see a third option beyond Intel and AMD when it comes to motherboards for DIY PCs - but do expect more mini PCs and systems like the best all-in-one computers.

It's mini PCs that arguably stand to gain the most from a proper desktop-focused Snapdragon chip. (Image credit: Geekom)

While ‘Team Q’ (still workshopping that name, I’m open to suggestions!) might be a relative newcomer to this particular industry arena, it’s made a serious impact. Cristiano Amon’s keynote included a somewhat surprising statistic: as of last quarter, Qualcomm now holds about 9% of the integrated processor market for the US and the top 5 European markets. Considering the fierce competition, it’s a seriously impressive showing.

Given how much Qualcomm changed the game with the arrival of its first X Elite chips last year, I think the use of the word ‘revolution’ might actually be somewhat justified here. I don’t say that lightly; it’s a phrase that I’m frequently annoyed to see used to describe extremely marginal changes. But with Qualcomm finally making Windows on Arm work with the Snapdragon X series, I’ve got high hopes for whatever Team Q does next.

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Sesame Street has a new address. When the iconic children's television program kicks off its 56th season later this year, it will be on Netflix, but, perhaps more importantly, it will also be on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the US.

The pair announced the exclusive deal with a brief and adorable video featuring Cookie Monster, who discovers and then eats the Netflix "N".

A decade ago, when HBO (yes, it was just called "HBO" back then) announced its historic deal with Sesame Street to bring the series to its premium cable programming, it also shifted the show's original home to second-tier status. All first-run episodes appeared first on HBO and then, nine months later, the same episodes would air on the freely available PBS.

Netflix's deal, however, fundamentally changes that equation. New season 56 episodes featuring Grover, Big Bird, Elmo, and the rest of the characters will air on Netflix and PBS at the same time.

Essentially, this is two levels of good news for the beloved show: One, Sesame Street, whose future was no longer certain, has a popular and well-funded new home; and two, all youngsters and homes engaged in the Sesame Street story, regardless of their access or financial status, will have full access to the season's show.

G is for Good News

Neither Netflix nor Sesame Street is revealing the terms of the deal, but without Netflix's support, it was unclear if Sesame Street would survive.

When I spoke to Sesame Street Execs a decade ago as they were inking the HBO deal, they revealed to me that viewers on PBS accounted for a small percentage of their funding.

"What people don’t understand is that PBS only funds less than 10% of production costs of show. The show was funded for many years by licensing income," said Jeff Dunn in 2015, who is now Executive Chairman at Sesame Workshop.

The key to people buying content and products revolving around the Sesame Street franchise and funding the non-profit Sesame Street Workshop, is a bigger audience devoted to its characters and themes. Netflix, which has roughly 310 million subscribers compared to Max's estimated 110 million, should help in that regard.

(Image credit: Netflix) Big changes

The season 56 Sesame Street Netflix subscribers (and those watching on PBS) will encounter later this year will be quite different from previous editions.

• Characters will be talking directly to viewers.
• Episodes will take viewers inside the apartment building where the characters live
• Elmo's World will return, and Cookie Monster will get a cookie cart
• Viewers will find more on-screen animations
• Longer story segments

Netflix has also committed to developing games for Sesame Street and Sesame Street Mecha Builders.

The streamer is planning to release Sesame Street Season 56's 35 episodes in three batches on Netflix. It will also add some 90 hours of classic episodes to the platform. As for how many episodes that represents, we'll leave that to The Count to figure out.

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• US generates 57% of global spam, VIPRE analysis of 1.45B emails shows
• Expanding US data centers make spam enforcement harder and threats worse
• Cybercriminals shift to simple, human-focused phishing using PDFs and SVGs

A new report has claimed the United States is now the largest source of spam emails in the world.

VIPRE’s Q1 2025 Email Threat Trends Report, the US was responsible for more than half (57%) of all spam sent worldwide during the first quarter of the 2025.

VIPRE analyzed 1.45 billion emails for its report, focusing on the geolocation of the origin IP address found in email headers, rather than on domain extensions like .com.

A problem that's going to get worse

While there is no single cause, the scale of data center infrastructure in the US makes it difficult to enforce spam regulations effectively and results in greater numbers of entry points for spam emails to spread.

With even more data centers being built across the US, this is a problem that’s only going to get worse in the coming years.

The report notes that of the spam analyzed, 67% was classified as malicious, linked to phishing or malware.

Callback phishing is rising fast, accounting for nearly one in five phishing attempts. Cybercriminals also appear to be opting for simpler, human-focused methods over more complex, technical ones.

SVG attachments were found to be climbing in popularity among attackers, coming in second place just behind PDFs, as they can be used to trick users into visiting malicious sites.

The manufacturing sector is the top target for email-based attacks, with retail and finance sharing second place.

VIPRE says the malware landscape has shifted recently, with the XRed backdoor-type malware family taking the top spot ahead of the second-most prominent malware family (Lumma) by a factor of three. StealC, AgentTesla, and Redline followed behind.

“There’s a clear shift in cybercriminals’ preference towards low-tech, high-impact, human-centric tactics. This demands a fundamental rethink of email security - one that addresses the human element as vigilantly as the technological,” said Usman Choudhary, Chief Product and Technology Officer, VIPRE Security Group.

“With cybercriminals mastering the art of human deception, and crafting phishing attacks that bypass conventional defenses, email security in turn demands an approach that weaponizes cybercriminals’ own actions and uses their patterns to create a unique, future-proofed response,” he added.

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• New users who sign up for the IPVanish Advanced plan can claim a free eSIM
• The free eSIM includes 3GB of data and covers 200 destinations
• The eSIM comes with IPVanish's VPN features, like threat protection and cloud storage

IPVanish has announced the launch of a new eSIM offering 3GB of free data to first-time customers who sign up for its Advanced 1-year or 2-year plans.

The eSIM covers 200 countries and will provide instant connectivity when abroad. The eSIM comes bundled with IPVanish's core VPN features like threat protection, secure browser, and cloud storage.

This limited-time promotion is designed to provide secure, unrestricted internet access for travelers while also showcasing the full range of premium VPN features of the Advanced plan.

Is the eSIM market the next big move for VPN providers?

IPVanish has become the third major VPN service to launch its own eSIM. Previously, we have covered similar moves by NordVPN with Saily and ExpressVPN with holiday.com.

This growing trend signals that VPN providers are expanding their focus beyond just secure browsing—a comprehensive digital solution for travelers seems to be the approach.

When we spoke with the CEO of Saily, we discussed how eSIMs come with enhanced security features to protect users from the risks of connecting to public Wi-Fi networks abroad.

Subbu Sthanu, Chief Commercial Officer at IPVanish said, “Today’s travelers need more than just convenience—they need secure, uninterrupted connectivity wherever they go. By bundling a free eSIM with our VPN, we’re giving our customers a complete traveler’s toolkit to stay safe and connected on the move."

With this new eSIM, IPVanish users can travel worry-free, benefiting from features like threat protection, secure cloud storage, and advanced privacy tools.

“Whether you’re navigating unfamiliar networks or working remotely abroad, we believe digital freedom should never come at the cost of personal security,” he added.

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• HP has introduced the OmniBook 5 Series, using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors
• Both the OmniBook 5 14 and OmniBook 5 16, feature OLED displays
• They're both expected to be available in July

Computex 2025 is well underway, which means there's plenty of new tech ranging from new desktop PC hardware to portable devices – and we have a new lineup for the latter which is intent on improving productivity.

HP has announced its new OmniBook 5 Series, with the OmniBook 5 14-inch and the OmniBook 5 16-inch laptops providing significant leaps in processing power (using Snapdragon X Plus and X chips) and visual quality; most importantly, HP claims its new series has 'the world's longest battery life in a consumer AI PC notebook'.

As per HP's blog, each laptop will feature up to 34 hours of battery life, which should ensure consumers get the most out of their activities. When running low on battery, you'll be able to get right back up to speed with HP Fast Charge, which charges you up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

These impressive claims may not come as a surprise, since Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors are ideal for battery efficiency, providing exceptional performance that rivals some of Apple's M-based chips while ensuring battery life is at its best.

It's also worth noting that both laptops will have OLED displays, capable of providing excellent picture quality thanks to deep black levels stemming from a high contrast ratio. This will be ideal for video content, including creative tasks that require great color accuracy – and this is further supported with a 95.3 DCI-P3 color gamut and 0.2ms response time.

Perhaps the biggest highlight here, beyond power and capabilities, is the pricing. The HP OmniBook 14 is anticipated to launch in July, starting at $799 via HP's online store. Its counterpart, the HP OmniBook 16, is also expected to launch in July, starting at $849 – and both of these are affordable prices, considering the benefits available here.

(Image credit: HP) OLED is all I ever need...

At those sensible asking prices, OLED laptops that have great battery life and performance are all I need – and that's why I think this new OmniBook 5 Series is worth keeping an eye on.

Despite the concerns of burn-in and text fringing (which have been improved with next-gen OLED displays), using an OLED display has single-handedly uplifted my enjoyment while gaming and watching movies. And if you're lucky like me, you won't actually notice text fringing when working.

In my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x review, I highlighted how it's one of the best OLED displays I've ever seen; I won't be surprised if I end up saying the same about HP's new OmniBook Series.

With the claims of battery life that rival other Snapdragon laptops, it's a no-brainer starting at $749 – and the Snapdragon X Plus (8-core version) features 45 NPU TOPS for AI applications and tasks.

We'll have to wait for real-world performance results, but stick around and check out our Computex 2025 live blog to keep an eye out for more details.

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• Multiple researchers came up with a new method of location sharing
• The method keeps user privacy while sharing relevant data
• It could have big implications across industries

Researchers have come up with a new method to “prove” where you’re located, without actually having to share sensitive location data.

If adopted, the method could have major implications for businesses such as ride-sharing or delivery, smart cities and public transport, or digital advertising and marketing.

The paper, presented recently at the 2025 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, was drafted by authors Jens Ernstberger (Technical University of Munich), Chengru Zhang (University of Hong Kong), Luca Ciprian (Technical University of Munich), Philipp Jovanovic (University College London), and Sebastian Steinhorst (Technical University of Munich). It is called “Zero-Knowledge Location Privacy via Accurate Floating-Point SNARKs”.

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How it works and what are the downsides?

Simplified, it works like this: instead of revealing their exact location (as is the case today), the user creates a cryptographic commitment (essentially, the data is locked behind a crypto key). The data cannot be changed, but also cannot be viewed by third parties.

Then, the device runs a zero-knowledge proof algorithm, proving that the data locked behind the crypto key is accurate. Ultimately, the verifier (which can be an app, or a server) checks the zero-knowledge proof, and because of the cryptographic properties, they can confidently confirm the location meets the condition without ever seeing the exact coordinates.

The method’s key limitation is that it doesn’t inherently guarantee the authenticity of the location data. Since the system relies on the device, or user, to provide the location data in the first place, it can still be spoofed (if the GPS data is fake, for example).

In the paper, the researchers proposed a solution for verifying that a location proof isn’t forged, which involves network communication with a third party (for example, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals). In that case, data on where the device says it is located would no longer be non-interactive.

Via The Register

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The theme for Huawei’s global data storage product line’s flagship event, the Innovative Data Infrastructure (IDI) Forum 2025, was “Data Awakening, AI Rising”.

Xie Liming, Vice President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line, pulled the curtains on Huawei’s new flagship, the New-Gen OceanStor Dorado Converged All-Flash Storage, the ideal choice for enterprises' mission-critical services.

What you need to know

Businesses are rapidly embracing AI globally for their mission-critical applications and need an AI-ready data infrastructure that is both scalable and can rapidly deliver ROI to drive what we call Intelligent transformation.

Artificial intelligence alters this data into something more important for any business: an intangible asset.

Proprietary data is at the heart of this AI revolution and requires AI-ready data storage: legacy, conventional storage technologies are just not good enough.

Huawei has identified three major focuses of primary storage in the AI era:

• Converged cloud-native capabilities: Enterprise-class block, file, and object services are provided to reduce business complexity and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Intrinsic resilience: Ransomware protection is integrated into production storage to enable early detection and rapid response against ransomware attacks, minimizing data loss and downtime while accelerating service recovery.
• AI agents: Self-optimized AI agents greatly improve efficiency and user experience.

The direction of travel of the entire tech industry is towards all flash storage, a no-compromise, best-in-class media technology based.

Huawei has developed a bespoke, industry-leading hardware stack with its own DPU (data processing units), NICs (network interface cards), large capacity SSDs (solid state drives) and controllers.

Meet the New-Gen OceanStor Dorado Converged All-Flash Storage

The converged and resilient all-flash storage with AI agents brings mission-critical applications into the AI era. This New-Gen storage has three features:

• Converged: This new product is the first within the industry to integrate block/file/object parallel architecture in order to reduce complexity and total cost of ownership. A unified, multi-protocol resource pool cuts the TCO by 25%, and performance is improved by 20% thanks to multi-protocol parallel IO paths.

• Resilient: The product delivers 99.99999% single-system reliability thanks to its SmartMatrix full-mesh architecture and supports active-active solutions for SAN, NAS, and S3, ensuring zero data loss. It provides business continuity even if seven out of eight controller enclosures are faulty. The system provides built-in ransomware protection for both blocks and files with 99.99% ransomware detection accuracy.
• AI Agent: The industry's first storage with AI agents boosts management efficiency and streamlines operations. For example, the ransomware protection AI agent can deploy the solution in just 1 minute and prevent ransomware attacks with no latency.

Moreover, the New-Gen OceanStor Dorado Converged All-Flash Storage offers seamless upgrades across controllers or entire clusters with zero data migration or service interruption thanks to the FlashEver guarantee.

But it is the first step of a journey. Integrating data storage, data management, resource management and the AI toolchain, Huawei’s just-released AI Data Lake solution aims to deliver a high-quality AI corpus and speed up model training and inference.

The aim is to empower enterprises to embrace AI, the next logical step to digital transformation.

Huawei is one of a handful of players worldwide that can deliver the full AI stack: inference and training, across hardware, software and services. Having a one-stop-shop approach allows businesses to increase efficiency by reducing friction that’s inherent when dealing with many parties.

• Find out more about the game-changing New-Gen OceanStor Dorado Converged All-Flash Storage offering from Huawei.

• Rumor suggests new FX2 Cinema Line camera incoming with 33MP full-frame sensor
• Large, tilting EVF and 32-bit float audio recording toted as features
• $3,500 price tag and May 28 launch date suggested

Last week we reported on a rumor claiming Sony would be launching a new camera on May 28. We may now know what that camera is: a premium, full-frame video-centric mirrorless model called the Sony FX2 – and it might be coming with advanced cinema-focused features like 32-bit float audio recording.

Of course, this all comes courtesy of another unconfirmed rumor, albeit from the relatively reliable Canon Rumors news site. Still, please take everything below as speculation rather than fact; until we hear the official word from Sony, nothing is definite.

With that said, Canon Rumors’ story is packed with interesting information. Firstly, it states that the FX2 will have a large tilting electronic viewfinder (EVF), which ties in with last week’s claim from Sony Alpha Rumors. It also says that the camera will use the same 33MP BSI full-frame sensor as found on Sony’s existing A7 IV and A7C II models.

Is a new type of viewfinder set to be unveiled with the launching of Sony's next mirrorless camera? (Image credit: Sony) Floating some interesting new feature ideas...

Other potential Sony FX2 specifications and features include a dedicated AI chip, AI-assisted autofocus, a mechanical shutter (by no means a given in a video-focused camera these days), an active cooling system to reduce overheating issues, 32-bit float audio – which would be a first for Sony, albeit present in recent Lumix cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH7 – and a 4K 60fps Super 35 video recording mode.

The story also says the FX2 will feature the same physical connectivity and storage options as the current Sony FX3 model (which means it’ll have XLR audio inputs as well as two CFexpress Type A/ SD card slots).

The Sony FX3 is a powerful filmmaker-focussed camera – but the FX2 could be even better. (Image credit: Sony)

As for the price, Canon Rumors states that the FX2 will cost $3,500 (around £2,670 or AU$5,430 if directly converted), putting this camera very much in premium territory in the Sony FX line-up, which also includes the FX3, FX30 and FX6.

There's some confusion among Sony fans, though, surrounding the 33MP sensor being touted for the FX2. It is a high resolution sensor typically associated with Sony's hybrid cameras and not its video focused FX models like the FX3, which typically feature less pixels for better low light performance and handling of rolling shutter distortion.

That sensor feels like a strange choice for Sony's FX Cinema Line but, again, the aformentioned features are based purely on rumors and could be inaccurate. Stay tuned for more news on Sony’s upcoming camera launch, which multiple sources have said will be happening on May 28 2025.

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• Meta's $10 billion Louisiana datacenter could require 2,300MW of energy
• That power will come from three gas-fired power plants
• Questions have been raised about Meta's net-zero commitment

Meta's plans to build a four-million-square-foot AI datacenter have come and fire over the potential greenhouse gas emission implications relating to its power source.

The company's $10 billion site in Richland Parish, Louisiana, could require up to 2,300MW of energy coming from three new gas-fired power plants.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter, published online, to the company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, demanding transparency about energy use and emissions.

Meta's gas-powered datacenter has been criticized by a US Senator

Whitehouse criticized for social media giant's strategy as being contradictory to its own climate pledges, which revolve around meeting net zero emissions by the end of the decade. The Senator specifically questioned the lack of details on Meta's carbon capture contributions and renewable energy offsets.

"I am concerned by reports that Meta plans to power a data center in northeastern Louisiana with new and unabated natural gas generation," Whitehouse wrote. "Neither Entergy nor Meta have disclosed details about the carbon capture project or the amount of Meta’s financial contribution, raising doubt as to whether Meta is meaningfully offsetting its emissions."

The Senator demanded five separate pieces of information from the company, noting a deadline of May 28, 2025: detailed energy consumption and emission estimates for the datacenter; justification for choosing gas over other energy sources such as renewables, nuclear or geothermal; financial details and the impact of Meta's carbon capture investments; an explanation for not installing carbon capture at the new plants; and data showing how these actions align with the 2030 net zero goal.

A Meta spokesperson told The Verge: "We believe a diverse set of energy solutions are necessary to power our AI ambitions – and we continue to explore innovative technology solutions." TechRadar Pro has asked the company for a response.

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