TechRadar News

• A federal judge rejected a ChatGPT user's petition against her order that OpenAI preserve all ChatGPT chats
• The order followed a request by The New York Times as part of its lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft
• OpenAI plans to continue arguing against the ruling

OpenAI will be holding onto all of your conversations with ChatGPT and possibly sharing them with a lot of lawyers, even the ones you thought you deleted. That's the upshot of an order from the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit brought against OpenAI by The New York Times over copyright infringement. Judge Ona Wang upheld her earlier order to preserve all ChatGPT conversations for evidence after rejecting a motion by ChatGPT user Aidan Hunt, one of several from ChatGPT users asking her to rescind the order over privacy and other concerns.

Judge Wang told OpenAI to “indefinitely” preserve ChatGPT’s outputs since the Times pointed out that would be a way to tell if the chatbot has illegally recreated articles without paying the original publishers. But finding those examples means hanging onto every intimate, awkward, or just private communication anyone's had with the chatbot. Though what users write isn't part of the order, it's not hard to imagine working out who was conversing with ChatGPT about what personal topic based on what the AI wrote. In fact, the more personal the discussion, the easier it would probably be to identify the user.

Hunt pointed out that he had no warning that this might happen until he saw a report about the order in an online forum. and is now concerned that his conversations with ChatGPT might be disseminated, including “highly sensitive personal and commercial information.” He asked the judge to vacate the order or modify it to leave out especially private content, like conversations conducted in private mode, or when there are medical or legal matters discussed.

According to Hunt, the judge was overstepping her bounds with the order because “this case involves important, novel constitutional questions about the privacy rights incident to artificial intelligence usage – a rapidly developing area of law – and the ability of a magistrate [judge] to institute a nationwide mass surveillance program by means of a discovery order in a civil case.”

Judge Wang rejected his request because they aren't related to the copyright issue at hand. She emphasized that it's about preservation, not disclosure, and that it's hardly unique or uncommon for the courts to tell a private company to hold onto certain records for litigation. That’s technically correct, but, understandably, an everyday person using ChatGPT might not feel that way.

She also seemed to particularly dislike the mass surveillance accusation, quoting that section of Hunt's petition and slamming it with the legal language equivalent of a diss track. Judge Wang added a "[sic]" to the quote from Hunt's filing and a footnote pointing out that the petition "does not explain how a court’s document retention order that directs the preservation, segregation, and retention of certain privately held data by a private company for the limited purposes of litigation is, or could be, a “nationwide mass surveillance program.” It is not. The judiciary is not a law enforcement agency."

That 'sic burn' aside, there's still a chance the order will be rescinded or modified after OpenAI goes to court this week to push back against it as part of the larger paperwork battle around the lawsuit.

Deleted but not gone

Hunt's other concern is that, regardless of how this case goes, OpenAI will now have the ability to retain chats that users believed were deleted and could use them in the future. There are concerns over whether OpenAI will lean into protecting user privacy over legal expedience. OpenAI has so far argued in favor of that privacy and has asked the court for oral arguments to challenge the retention order that will take place this week. The company has said it wants to push back hard on behalf of its users. But in the meantime, your chat logs are in limbo.

Many may have felt that writing into ChatGPT is like talking to a friend who can keep a secret. Perhaps more will now understand that it still acts like a computer program, and the equivalent of your browser history and Google search terms are still in there. At the very least, hopefully, there will be more transparency. Even if it's the courts demanding that AI companies retain sensitive data, users should be notified by the companies. We shouldn't discover it by chance on a web forum.

And if OpenAI really wants to protect its users, it could start offering more granular controls: clear toggles for anonymous mode, stronger deletion guarantees, and alerts when conversations are being preserved for legal reasons. Until then, it might be wise to treat ChatGPT a bit less like a therapist and a bit more like a coworker who might be wearing a wire.

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• The first 8K 120Hz monitor recently shown off at Display Week event
• Real-world use for 8K monitors still feels far out of reach though
• Display makers keep building while the market remains unconvinced

At the recent Display Week 2025 event, Chinese firm BOE showed off the first-ever 31.5-inch 8K monitor capable of running at 120Hz.

The CR3000 offers a contrast ratio of 8000:1, a color gamut of 99% DCI-P3, and also supports 240Hz in 4K mode.

BOE, which is the largest panel maker in the world and was also a sponsor of the show, told 8K Association it expects to begin mass production later in 2025, although details on pricing and final product integration are still unknown.

Other 8K panels on show

Display Week often serves as a glimpse into where display tech may be headed rather than where it currently is. That pattern continued this year with a number of other 8K panels on show.

TCL/CSOT brought an inkjet-printed OLED 8K TV panel, a project built partly from its acquisition of JOLED, and SEL surprised attendees with an 8.3-inch 8K LCD panel that offered over 1,000ppi, making it the sharpest full-color LCD shown to date.

As well as its 8K 120Hz beast, BOE had a number of other products on show. These included the latest version of its miniLED UB Cell 4.0 ADS Pro TVs, which aim to challenge OLED with deeper contrast and better efficiency, and an 85-inch 4K panel with an RGB backlight system running in a filterless mode that could one day reduce power usage and complexity, especially in 8K applications.

It also had a 3D display prototype with eye-tracking based on a 16K development. Although still early-stage, the image quality and parallax control impressed those who got to see it in action.

Still ahead of its time

BOE's CR3000 panel arrives at a time when the broader market is still catching up to high refresh 4K gaming, let alone 8K.

While PC gamers have begun to see mainstream GPUs offer stable 4K60 gameplay, pushing that four times over in resolution and double in refresh raises some difficult questions. Upscaling and frame generation may be more of a necessity than a feature if such a panel is to be usable for gaming or creative work.

While I can't help but be impressed by BOE's 8K 120Hz monitor, it feels like it’s ahead of its time. The hardware to drive it effectively doesn’t exist at scale, and most buyers likely aren’t ready for what would surely be a high-cost niche product.

8K monitors were expected to hit the mainstream a few years ago, but that didn’t happen. This latest panel might be technically impressive, but I for one am not convinced the world is ready for it.

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Whether for aesthetic reasons or to cut down on screen time, having a TV in the bedroom isn’t for everyone. I didn’t factor a TV in when I designed my bedroom, as it wasn’t worth sacrificing the space when I’ve already got one in my living room, but after a while, I found I missed having the option to curl up in bed and binge-watch my comfort shows on Netflix.

Having not always had the luxury of separate living spaces, I’d put a lot of work into curating my bedroom into a calming and visually pleasing environment, so the idea of sticking a big black rectangle in the middle wasn’t going to do my zen any favors. Therefore, I knew I had to think of an alternative solution that could cure my content cravings without taking up valuable space.

The concept of using a projector to watch shows in bed wasn’t new to me, as I’d racked up plenty of hours watching movies on the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE. Sadly, though, as impressive as that projector is, it proved impractical for bedroom use as it was a bit big and loud for the shelf above my headboard and, as I’m yet to find a tripod that can handle its weight, it just wasn’t the bedfellow I was looking for.

Thankfully, I found the perfect alternative in the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 1080p Mini Google TV Projector, which has a list price of $529.99 / £499.99 / AU$1,599, so it doesn’t cost any more than a decent budget TV. The Nebula Capsule 3 uses the same Google TV operating system that I found so effortless to use with the Cosmos 4K SE, but this time in a conveniently compact package.

Below, you’ll find the reasons why I believe the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 1080p Mini Google TV Projector makes for an amazing alternative – and one reason why opting for a projector over a TV may not be the brightest move.

HighlightsPerfect placement isn't paramount

Finding space for a TV set can be tricky, but choices are far from limited when it comes to finding a home for the Anker Nebula Capsule 3.

Its dinky diameter of just 3.1 inches / 78mm makes it conveniently compact and easy to fit on shelves or tabletops, and it has a super convenient tripod mount thread on the base, so it’s easy to find a place for it even if surface space is limited.

And for those times when it isn’t possible to get the angle of the projection spot-on, the Nebula Capsule 3 will automatically adapt its settings to ensure it projects a well-focused image within the space provided, adjusting the keystone positions and avoiding any obstacles along the way.

I can go big and go home

The beauty of a projector like the Nebula Capsule 3 is that I can change the screen size to suit what I’m watching, and I can do so in a matter of moments.

This means that it’s super easy for me to go from watching TV on a 49-inch projection on the wall at the side of my bed to a projection of around 80 inches on my free-standing projector screen, if I’m in the mood for some big-screen entertainment, simply by rotating the Capsule 3 90 degrees and waiting for the settings to auto adapt based on the new position.

Pleasantly portable projection

Whether you’re staying at a friend's or going camping, the compact dimensions and light weight of 1.9lb / 850g combined with a built-in rechargeable battery make the Capsule 3 satisfyingly easy to pack up and take away.

These features can prove useful even if you don’t plan to take it away from home, especially if your bedroom is anything like mine, with its awkwardly located power outlets. While the 15,000 mAh battery only allows for about two and a half hours of screen time, the USB-C charging cable does mean that one of the best power banks could be used to stretch this duration a bit further.

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Low lightNight owls get the best view

Despite the space-saving and versatility on offer from the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 1080p Mini Google TV Projector, you’re going to be sacrificing deep blacks and the details in darker scenes if you opt for one over one of the best TVs.

This issue isn’t uncommon, even amongst some of the best projectors on the market, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want your shows to look picture-perfect when watching in the daytime without efficient blackout blinds.

With that being said, this hasn’t been a deal breaker for me personally, because as comfy as my bed is, it’s not my primary place for watching shows in the daytime. And during the times I’ve needed to curl up when it’s still light outside, I’ve learned that I can tolerate the picture looking a little washed out when the compromise is that I essentially have a pocket-sized 50-inch TV.

• AI tools are reshaping how we live, from morning chores to late-night admin
• Time isn’t just money anymore - it’s a function of how much tech you can manage
• AI promises more free time, but the wealth gap decides who gets to enjoy it

As AI continues to reshape how we work and live, the promise of regaining time is attracting growing interest.

New research from Lloyds Bank has claimed emerging technologies could help people reclaim up to 110 minutes of free time per day.

A focus on automating daily routines, such as chores, shopping, and travel, could help free up time, but the benefits appear skewed toward high earners. AI tools, including AI assistants, autonomous drones, and driverless vehicles, are framed as part of this shift toward a more efficient daily life, but these are not cheap.

AI tools free up time, but at a cost

The bank found in the UK, 86% of adults say having more time is important, rising to 99% among those earning over £100,000.

While 60% of the wider population is open to using new technologies to save time, this jumps sharply among affluent individuals, with nearly all saying they are willing to adopt such tools.

“We know life is hectic, with work, family, and personal commitments all vying for attention,” said Adam Rainey, Director of Mass Affluent at Lloyds.

“But our research shows people are becoming more comfortable with using technology to handle daily tasks.”

The most time-consuming responsibilities, according to the study, are cleaning, cooking, and managing finances.

Almost half (47%) of respondents identified household chores as their primary time drain, while 31% pointed to financial admin.

AI is being promoted as the solution through smart home devices or personal AI agents. These tools promise to handle repetitive work.

Yet many of the best AI tools come with steep costs or require a level of digital skill that remains out of reach for some.

Banking apps continue to lead among accessible time-saving tech, with 48% of adults relying on them. However, the gap widens when it comes to advanced tools; 49% of high earners are now using AI assistants, and 92% agree that wealth enables more free time.

It’s a compelling idea that could integrate everyone, but also one that raises the question - who has the means to work smarter?

As with the story of the Mexican fisherman, it’s worth asking whether we’re overengineering the pursuit of a simpler life some may already have, just without the premium subscription.

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When we wrote our XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review, which led to it being crowned as our favorite budget option among the best portable projectors, we noted three flaws: it didn't have a built-in battery, the speakers were weak, and it couldn't hold up well in bright conditions.

The last of these isn't unique to the MoGo series, and you have to pay a lot more for brightness that can stand up to sunlight, so that's fair enough.

The other two, however, are solvable problems – and in the MoGo 4, XGIMI has not only fixed them, it's made a better, tighter portable projector all around, based on my time with it so far.

This is far from a full review, but the improvements to the MoGo 4 were obvious to see just from my early time testing it. This is such an impressive portable entertainment device for its $499 / £509 price.

I pulled the MoGo 4 out of its box at home, and because of its new built-in battery, it was up and running within a handful of seconds, pointing at a convenient white wall. The design is actually even slicker than the last version, but still with the same smart 'fold-away' cylinder shape that protects the lens when you're not using it – and this is all despite adding the battery.

XGIMI says the battery should last for about 2.5 hours, and I haven't put this fully to the test yet (obviously, we'll check for our full review), but one thing I noted immediately is that being on battery power doesn't diminish the performance.

(Image credit: Future)

Sometimes with high-power devices that switch to batteries, you see some slow-down in the smart TV software or in other areas – but one of the elements that impressed me early here is how slick its Google TV integration is.

It responds instantly to every button press on the remote, so scrolling around is completely frustration-free – and there are some expensive options among the best TVs that I can't say that about.

During setup, the automatic keystone correction and focus didn't seem to kick in right away. Instead I had to hit the focus button on the remote early on to make the setup screens look clear, and the keystone fixing started working suddenly when I got to a certain point in the process.

After that, the keystone correction activated every time I moved the projector – even if I just wobbled it a bit too much. This again worked incredibly quickly – in under a second each time, it had a stable new picture.

(Image credit: Future)

The other element I noticed during this time, even before getting anything playing on it, was that the sound seemed to be massively improved. And once I fired up some movie images, it was clear that this is the case – the MoGo 4 sounds ridiculously good for speakers built into a small projector frame.

I tested the MoGo 4 in my spare room, where I have a TV with a Sonos Ray soundbar set up – my partner was confused about the type of projector it was, because she was convinced I must have connected it to the Sonos Ray given the sound she was hearing from downstairs.

The sound is full, it's wide, it's bass rich, and dialogue remains clear. Obviously, it still has the potential problem that if it's behind you, it'll sound behind you – but I had it in front and to the side of me, and I felt like I was getting a satisfying movie experience just by taking this thing out of its box, pointing it at the wall, and firing something up. No extra equipment, not a single cable involved.

(Image credit: Future)

The picture quality itself is very similar to the MoGo 3 Pro, and capable of producing really rich colors, good detail (though this is an HD projector, not 4K), and enough brightness to be clearly watchable even with a decent amount of ambient light – I had a (not particularly bright, but still normal) light on in the room, and it was perfectly watchable overall.

As you'd expect, dark tones are the problem, especially when projected onto a wall instead of a screen that can help with it. With ambient light, it's not really capable of anything you'd call 'black' – in the image below, the jellyfish is supposed to be on a black background, not a see-through one – but I don't hold this against it, because it's a problem with all portable projectors.

(Image credit: Future)

Watching brighter scenes, I was totally pulled in by the combination of the solid colors and rich sound, on a 65-inch-ish screen that I'd just instantly thrown up from about six feet away.

Given the quality of the viewing experience, and the convenience of the battery-packing design and elements such as having a full-size HDMI port, and a mini-remote that's attached to it (so you can leave the regular Google TV remote at home), I think this looks like a real winner for the price.

There is a more expensive laser version coming too, which is about 25% brighter, and that XGIMI says it's the most compact laser projector to date. I'm looking forward to seeing what that can do.

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• A team of Chinese researchers has achieved a 1Gbps data transmission from a satellite
• The satellite operates 22,807 miles above Earth, while Starlink satellites are at around 341 miles
• This kind of speed could be revolutionary for internet connections in remote areas on Earth, but also in space

It's no secret that getting a stable, reasonably fast internet connection in non-urban areas is still a challenge (and even those of us living in cities sometimes struggle). Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, goes a long way toward making internet more accessible all around the globe – but it just got majorly overshadowed by a small team of Chinese scientists.

This new breakthrough in satellite internet technology (via Interesting Engineering) was achieved by Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Wu Jian of Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications. The scientists developed a new method of combating the biggest hurdle faced by satellite laser connections: atmospheric turbulence.

Combining two already established technologies and using them in synergy resulted in shockingly fast data transmission. But this isn't just about speed (although that's arguably the best part for us, internet users). It's also about the distance to the satellite and the laughably low wattage of the laser used by the Chinese researchers.

Super-fast satellite speeds with a surprisingly low error rate

A key benefit of this method lies in the relatively low error rate during data transmission, increasing the chance of achieving usable signals by nearly 20% (previously 72%, now 91.1%). As we all know, speeds are just one part of the equation when it comes to internet connections, and anyone who's ever had to deal with an unreliable ISP knows that stable is often better than faster.

Still, the Chinese researchers were reportedly able to achieve both through a mix of Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR). The former sharpens distorted light, and the latter captures scattered signals. Only when combined did these two separate methods achieve 1Gbps in data transmission, though, and the scientists praise this method for successfully avoiding drops in communication quality.

(Image credit: T-Mobile)

They carried out the test at the Lijiang observatory in China, using a 5.9-foot telescope that contains hundreds of tiny mirrors – that's the adaptive optics system in play. These mirrors reshape incoming laser light to account for atmospheric turbulence. Speaking of lasers: the team used a two-watt laser for this experiment, which can be compared to a nightlight. Of course, this refers to laser power and not the satellite’s total energy use.

Once processed and extracted, the light splits into eight base-mode channels, and finally, a special algorithm decides which of these channels is the most promising, in real-time. Choosing the top three signals out of eight gave the researchers a major boost in signal strength, all the while dramatically outpacing Starlink’s downlink speeds – especially impressive given the much greater orbital distance.

This could be good news for internet users worldwide (and beyond)

(Image credit: Unsplash / Evgeny Opanasenko)

Comparing this new breakthrough to Starlink reveals a few key differences. First, data transmission speeds reaching up to 1Gbps are not something that Starlink can currently achieve; in our Starlink review, we found that the average for downloads sat at 71Mbps, and Starlink itself promises to deliver between 25 to 100 Mbps on the Standard plan. Second, signal strength and reduced errors in data transmission, despite the massive distance to the satellite, are both promising.

Cutting back on errors and snags in the connection is crucial for users who want to stream videos or send larger files. If this technology is ever made mainstream, we might be able to use the internet even in remote areas without having to compromise on what we can or cannot do. Goodbye, waiting for five minutes for that text to come through – we really wouldn't miss you.

But the implications here are huge, even if you think bigger than just having a reliable connection everywhere. Boosting signal speed, distance, and strength through this method of laser communication could spell great news for satellite navigation. It could even impact the ability to connect with space missions, such as with the ISS, more seamlessly and without delays.

Right now, this is just a proof of concept – an interesting achievement described in the Acta Optica Sinica journal. Let's hope that this picks up and gives Starlink a serious run for its money.

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If you’re having issues using iCloud.com and the various apps like Photos or Mail on the web, you’re not alone. Apple’s iCloud Status page is officially showing an outage for both ‘iCloud Web Apps’ and ‘iWork for iCloud’, as well as issues for two other facets of the wide-ranging service.

Apple officially notes the issues as starting at 2:36PM ET and TechRadar noticed that Down Detector is showing a spike nearing 1,000 reported outages as of 3:35PM ET. As of right now, I can sign into iCloud.com, though it’s a bit slow going.

Stick with us as we cover the issues hitting Apple’s iCloud right now with live reporting down below.

Additionally, we’ve reached out to Apple to request insight into this outage, but it’s reassuring that the status page at least acknowledges that something is wrong.

As of 2:36PM ET, Apple's iCloud status page shows an outage for 'iCloud Web Apps (iCloud.com)' and 'iWork for iCloud', noting that some users are affected with issues accessing or using parts of these services.

(Image credit: Apple)

While I was able to sign into iCloud.com just minutes ago, when I load it now nothing is appearing other than the logo in the top left.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

And, Apple at least instructs its services to notify you when something is wrong. I am now seeing a 'Connection Error' screen appear, informing me that something is up.

I've also heard from colleagues and at least one friend that they're seeing this same pop-up either before signing in or trying to return to an active session on iCloud.com.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Photos is also having issues

While 'Photos' is only listed as an issue with Apple noting that some user might be having problems with the service, TechRadar's Editor-At-Large Lance Ulanoff let me know that when viewing pictures in the Photos app on his iPhone, images were reneding at lower resolution potentially pointing to issues accessing the shots from iCloud.

This has resolved, though, for him, and is now being loaded in full resolution. Attempting to view Photos on iCloud.com isn't working at all right now, as I'm still seeing a connection error there.

Here are the impacted parts of iCloud

Apple's service status page is quite handy during outages, so here's a look at the currently impacted parts of iCloud.

• iCloud Mail - Issue
• iCloud Storage Upgrade - Issue
• iCloud Web Apps (iCloud.com) – Outage
• iWork for iCloud - Outage
• Photos - Issue

I've just checked the Photos app on my iPhone and on my Mac, and neither has synced in well over an hour for both. The iPhone shows it last synced at 2:03PM ET, while my Mac was slightly later at 2:11PM ET, and I can't force a sync for either.

I do back up my photos to iCloud, so I am in the impacted group, it seems, for now.

Find My is also having issues

Apple has updated its status page to note that 'Find My' as well as 'iCloud Account & Sign In' are both experiencing issues. The latter, pertaining to account and sign-in, have the same start time as the other issues and outage, but 'Find My' shows a start time of 3:57PM ET.

Find My appears to be working for me on my Mac, as it's pulling through updated locations. However, one of my friends just sent me a screenshot showing "Find My Unavailable."

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

iCloud.com is still loading, but it continues to display the same 'Connection Error' pop-up on my end. And here's a look at the current list of impacted issues on Apple's status page.

As of now, it's not spreading beyond iCloud, so there are no impacts on the App Store or Apple Music.

• Find My - Issue
• iCloud Account & Sign In - Issue
• iCloud Mail - Issue
• iCloud Storage Upgrade - Issue
• iCloud Web Apps (iCloud.com) – Outage
• iWork for iCloud - Outage
• Photos - Issue

The only non-iCloud issue or outage is with 'Apple Business Essentials' – that's currently listed as one issue, one resolved outage, and one resolved issue.

I still can't get iCloud.com to load fully, but on my iPhone, I just had a pop-up for Apple Account Verification for my account. I went into Settings, but then had that error out when I tried to complete the request.

My colleague Lance Ulanoff's Apple Account page in Settings is presenting a 'Verification Failed' splash screen on his iPhone.

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

• Built in California, powered by Linux, the Liberty Phone says no to tech giants
• With no Android or iOS, it’s the loneliest smartphone on the market today
• It costs more, does less, and still claims to be the best smartphone for privacy

Despite rising political pressure to bring tech manufacturing back to the US, building a premium smartphone domestically remains a costly and technically difficult challenge.

The Liberty Phone by Purism, priced at $1,999, offers a rare example of how close a company can get to building an America-made device, but it comes with significant trade-offs in performance and practicality.

Unlike the widely promoted but questionable $499 Trump Phone, the Liberty Phone is at least verifiably assembled in the US, although it lacks flagship-level features.

Still not 100% "Made In USA!"

Todd Weaver, Purism’s founder, is upfront about the limitations, noting, “Someone who needs a wicked-strong camera is not our audience.”

Weaver estimates the Liberty Phone costs around $650 to produce, higher than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which TechInsights says costs about $550 to build in China.

This discrepancy is driven largely by US labor costs, with savings made by using lower-spec components such as a basic camera and a low-resolution screen.

This may suit its core user base, including security geeks, older users, kids, and those who want to distance themselves from major tech brands, but it is nowhere near mainstream Android alternatives - for anyone expecting the best smartphone for business or multimedia tasks, the Liberty Phone is unlikely to compete.

Part of Purism’s appeal lies in its transparent and partially domestic supply chain - the motherboard is built at the company's California site, the chip is sourced from NXP’s Austin, Texas, facility, and the final assembly is local.

But some critical components, like the camera from South Korea and the display and battery from China, still depend on global sourcing.

“There are just some parts that don’t yet have a supply chain,” says Weaver. “We’re gonna keep incrementing there until we can get to that point.”

It runs PureOS, a Linux-based operating system that supports basic tasks like calling, texting, and web browsing, but without support for Android or iOS apps, it’s a hard sell for anyone needing a broad app ecosystem or high-end performance.

Nonetheless, Weaver believes a niche market exists and claims that about half of Purism’s customers are US government agencies.

Even though tariffs might someday narrow the cost gap, the continuity of this project is not certain.

“We don’t have factories here building application processors, high-end displays or most of the other things in your smartphone,” said Jeff Fieldhack of Counterpoint Research, showing his skepticism.

At the moment, the Liberty Phone is more of a philosophical gesture than a practical solution, and only Americans or those loyal to the US will give it a second look.

Via Wall Street Journal

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• Malware-ridden apps are sneaking on to official app stores
• SparkKitty will steal photos to crack into your crypto wallet
• One infected app was downloaded over 10,000 times

A dangerous new malware strain targeting smartphone users has managed to sneak on to both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store without being detected, experts have warned.

SparkKitty was first spotted by cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky in January 2025, and uses optical character recognition to scan through your photos and harvest cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases.

Most crypto currency exchanges will tell a user to write down a memorable phrase when creating an account for recovery purposes, but many users will simply screenshot their memorable phrase - making it super easy for SparkKitty to steal.

Snooping through photos and stealing crypto

Kaspersky says the SparkKitty malware has been actively distributed across both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store since February 2024, and has also been distributed through unofficial means as well.

The infected apps have since been removed from both app stores.

In many cases, the apps appeared to be legitimate and were designed for numerous purposes. One infected app called SOEX was downloaded over 10,000 times on the Google Play Store, and appeared to be a messaging app with cryptocurrency trading and exchange features - the perfect disguise for a malware designed to target cryptocurrency wallets.

Once installed on a user's device, the app will ask for permission to access and modify the image library on both iOS and Android devices. After being granted access, the app then scans the image library and will re-scan if it detects modifications being made to the image library, such as new images being added or deleted.

Obviously, outside of the threat to crypto wallets there is the threat of users being extorted using other images that could be found in their image library, but there is no evidence of this happening so far.

Hackers are constantly developing new tactics to hide their malware on applications that can be distributed through trusted platforms such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Always remember to double check that the application you are downloading is made by a trusted developer, is definitely the authentic version of the app you are looking for, and has trustworthy reviews. If in doubt, don’t download it.

Also be wary of apps that ask for more permissions than they actually need, or apps that request permission to create new configuration profiles and certificates. Finally, when creating a memorable phrase for recovering an account, don’t keep it stored where it can be easily stolen.

Many of the best cloud storage services and best password managers offer encrypted storage vaults for storing important phrases.

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• AMD’s MI400 GPU expected to offer 432GB HBM4 across 12 memory stacks
• 256-core EPYC Venice CPU to debut with PCIe Gen6 and 2nm process
• AMD’s Helios rack aims for 10x performance with double-wide AI architecture

AMD recently revealed its Instinct MI350 series of GPUs, but the bigger news is what the chip giant has planned for 2026.

The company is preparing a next-generation AI platform which includes the Instinct MI400 GPU, EPYC "Venice" CPU, and a major shift in rack design with its Helios infrastructure, an expansive, double-wide configuration aimed at scaling performance and bandwidth.

The MI400 GPU is expected to ship with up to 432GB of HBM4 memory, built using 12 stacks of 36GB HBM4, based on numbers shared by Micron and memory per-GPU estimates from AMD's rack capacity.

A direct response to Nvidia

This would be a considerable jump from the current MI350’s 8-stack setup, putting it on track to rival Nvidia’s upcoming Vera Rubin platform.

Alongside the MI400, AMD plans to debut its 256-core EPYC "Venice" server CPU, built on a 2nm process with PCIe Gen6 support and up to 1.6TB/s of memory bandwidth.

The platform will also feature the Vulcano 800G NIC and support open standards like UALink and Ultra Ethernet for improved scale-out connectivity.

AMD says the Helios rack and MI450 GPU will offer up to 10x the performance of the MI355X, positioning it as a direct response to Nvidia’s accelerated roadmap.

Sam Altman appeared on stage at the company's recent Advancing AI event alongside AMD's CEO Lisa Su to emphasize OpenAI’s early interest in the new platform, saying “I think it’s going to be an amazing thing.”

Although the hardware won’t arrive until 2026, AMD’s preview sets the tone for what could be a fierce race with Nvidia.

The Helios rack might not have an official name yet, but it’s clear AMD is thinking bigger - and wider! - as it moves toward next-gen AI infrastructure.

Via ServeTheHome

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• Microsoft has launched a wizard to help Windows 10 devices stay secure
• It’s only intended as a temporary solution, though
• Windows 10 support ends later this year

Windows 10 has been around for almost a decade now, but official support is due to end on October 14 this year. Yet that doesn’t have to be the end of the road, as Microsoft has just announced a new process for anyone who needs a little more time to switch to Windows 11.

The updates are part of Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which brings monthly critical and important security patches to Windows 10 users for one year after official support ends. Microsoft says this is only meant to be a short-term solution, as it doesn’t include non-security updates or new features.

With today’s change, there are now a few new ways to get started. For individuals, there’s a new enrollment wizard that will give you three options: use Windows Backup to sync all your settings to the cloud; redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to get started; or pay a one-off fee of $30.

After you’ve picked an option and followed the instructions, your Windows 10 PC will be enrolled. ESU coverage for personal computers lasts from October 15, 2025 until October 13, 2026. The enrollment wizard is currently available in the Windows Insider Program, made available to regular Windows 10 users in July, and will roll out on a wider basis in mid-August.

Time to upgrade

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)

The ESU changes aren’t just coming to individual Windows 10 users. Commercial organizations can pay $61 per device to subscribe to the ESU program for a year. This can be renewed annually for up to three years, although Microsoft warns that the cost will increase each year. Businesses can sign up today via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program, while Cloud Service Providers will begin offering enrollment starting September 1.

As for Windows 10 devices that are accessing Windows 11 Cloud PCs via Windows 365 and virtual machines, these will be granted access to ESU free of charge and will receive security updates automatically, with no extra actions required.

In a way, Microsoft’s announcement highlights the struggles the company has had with getting people to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft first announced that it would kill off Windows 10 way back in June 2021, and yet there are still people and organizations that have not made the switch, despite many years of prompts and warnings.

For some people – especially those with mission-critical devices or large fleets of computers – upgrading to Windows 11 might be a herculean task. But if you’re able to make the switch, you really should do so to ensure you keep getting all the latest updates. We’ve even got a guide on upgrading to Windows 11 to help you through the process.

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News has surfaced from China that Geely is poised to release the world’s first range-extender hybrid vehicle that is also compatible with the country’s growing network of battery-swapping stations.

Badged the Haoyue R7, Car News China says that it is essentially a rebadged version of the Geely Livan 7 all-electric flagship SUV, which was among the first Geely models to support battery swap.

The process of driving into a dedicated facility and having a robot autonomously replace the entire battery pack has been pushed by CATL, China’s largest EV battery maker, and the electric vehicle brand Nio, which has even started to introduce facilities to parts of Europe.

It is reported that the upcoming Haoyue R7 will be compatible with CATL’s battery swap technology, allowing owners to either juice-up from home, use the much faster public charging network, or take advantage of battery-swapping stations.

What’s more, the 1.5-liter, naturally-aspirated petrol engine can act as a generator to charge the onboard battery packs for longer journeys.

No official range figures have been released as of yet, but even the smallest battery pack on the Livan 7 can manage almost 280 miles on a single charge, so when you factor in the range extender, it could easily manage double that.

Although very much a niche powertrain in the Chinese market, it will offer customers an unparalleled choice of how they get around, opening up the idea of electric vehicles to more and attempting to prove that range anxiety should no longer be an issue.

Analysis: The more methods, the merrier

(Image credit: Nio)

According to a recent report by the BBC, Nio has now built over 3,300 battery swap stations in China, with the company looking to expand across the country over the next few years.

Currently, a number of taxis, buses and heavy-duty trucks are making use of battery-swap technology in China, as these vehicles tend to have more predictable movement patterns that make the entire process a lot easier to manage.

But through advances in software, it is also becoming far simpler for electric vehicle brands to manage entire EV fleets, with the ability to work out which vehicle needs its batteries brimmed and what the most effective way to do this is.

Tesla, for example, pioneered a “connected” Supercharger network that helps point drivers towards the most accessible and fastest charger in the vicinity, pre-conditioning the battery for the most efficient top-ups.

Battery swap stations are not just another quick method to get drivers moving again (the process takes around five minutes), it can also drastically reduce the initial cost of a new vehicle.

Geely says the Haoyue R7 will be offered without the battery pack, giving customers the opportunity to pay a small monthly fee to rent the batteries and take advantage of the CATL battery swap network.

This has proven extremely popular with Taiwanese company Gogoro’s battery swap network, which uses much smaller packs to power two-wheel scooters, mopeds and smaller capacity motorcycles in a number of global markets.

Not only is the cost of the motorcycle in question far less expensive to purchase outright – even when paired with partner Yamaha’s products – it’s also more convenient, with users able to pull up to a station, swap batteries out by hand (there’s no need for robots, as the packs are so small) and get on their way.

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• AI tools are more popular than ever - but so are the security risks
• Top tools are being leveraged by cybercriminals with malicious intent
• Grok and Mixtral were both found being used by crimianls

New research has warned top AI tools are powering 'WormGPT' variants, malicious GenAI tools which are generating malicious code, social engineering attacks, and even providing hacking tutorials.

With Large Language Models (LLMs) now widely used alongside tools like Mistral AI’s Mixtral and xAI's Grok, experts from Cato CTRL found this isn't always in the way they’re intended to be used.

“The emergence of WormGPT spurred the development and promotion of other uncensored LLMs, indicating a growing market for such tools within cybercrime. FraudGPT (also known as FraudBot) quickly rose as a prominent alternative and advertised with a broader array of malicious capabilities,” the researchers noted.

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WormGPT

WormGPT is a broader name for ‘uncensored’ LLMs that are leveraged by threat actors, and the researchers identified different strains with different capabilities and purposes.

For example, keanu-WormGPT, an uncensored assistant was able to create phishing emails when prompted. When researchers dug further, the LLM disclosed it was powered by Grok, but the platform's security features had been circumnavigated.

After this was revealed, the creator then added prompt-based guardrails to ensure this information was not disclosed to users, but other WormGPT variants were found to be based on Mixtral AI, so legitimate LLMs are clearly being jailbroken and leveraged by hackers.

“Beyond malicious LLMs, the trend of threat actors attempting to jailbreak legitimate LLMs like ChatGPT and Google Bard / Gemini to circumvent their safety measures also gained traction," the researchers noted.

"Furthermore, there are indications that threat actors are actively recruiting AI experts to develop their own custom uncensored LLMs tailored to specific needs and attack vectors.“

Most in the cybersecurity field will be familiar with the idea that AI is ‘lowering the barriers of entry’ for cybercriminals, which can certainly be seen here.

If all it takes is asking a pre-existing chatbot a few well-phrased questions, then it’s pretty safe to assume that cybercrime might become a lot more common in the coming months and years.

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• MindsEye's disastrous launch has resulted in layoffs at developer Build A Rocket Boy
• Sources told IGN that layoffs are expected to affect over 100 employees
• Build A Rocket Boy has confirmed that the redundancy process has begun

Build A Rocket Boy has been hit with layoffs following MindsEye's disastrous launch.

The futuristic, single-player narrative game was released earlier this month for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, to an overwhelmingly poor reception.

From performance problems, bugs, and countless other technical issues, Mindseye's Steam page now sits at a 'Mostly Negative' rating with over 1840 user reviews, with Build A Rocket Boy promising fixes.

Now, two weeks after launch, sources tell IGN that the studio has begun the redundancy process amid the game's poor release, and layoffs are expected to affect over 100 employees.

An anonymous source told the publication that there's no word on how many people will be impacted, but that the standard 45-day consultation process started on June 23, which is triggered when an employer proposes 100 or more redundancies within 90 days in the UK.

It's understood that Build A Rocket Boy has roughly 300 UK employees currently working at the studio, and around 200 abroad.

"We can confirm that we have had to make the painful decision to notify our hardworking team of some internal changes at Build A Rocket Boy," the studio has now confirmed in a statement to IGN.

"While we are working to reassign roles for as many of those impacted by these changes as possible, sadly we are initiating a formal consultation process that may result in redundancies. This decision has not been made lightly, and we are committed to handling this process with transparency, fairness, and respect for all employees. We will provide further details to the team over the coming weeks."

"The launch of MindsEye has been a significant milestone for Build A Rocket Boy, but we know that we still have a lot more to do to grow our community in the coming years. The challenges we’ve faced have only strengthened our resolve and, while we are deeply saddened by today’s decision and thankful to our incredible team, this shift allows us to focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy’s future ambitions."

The studio has previously confirmed that it has post-launch plans "already in motion" for the game and that players can expect more updates and refinements "coming shortly after release".

It also said it had plans to support the game for years, but hasn't revealed its roadmap just yet.

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• Pre-owned Switch 2 consoles that have been modded are reportedly being bricked by Nintendo's anti-piracy policy
• Redditor Bimmytung says they bought a second-hand console from Walmart, only to discover that the Switch 2 is permanently offline
• Nintendo has been blocking access to online services on the console if players have modded the console using the MIG Flash tool

If you're thinking about purchasing a second-hand Nintendo Switch 2, you may want to think twice, as Nintendo's anti-piracy policy has reportedly left some consoles permanently offline.

As IGN reports, Redditor Bimmytung shared a post explaining how they bought a pre-owned Switch 2 from Walmart, only to find that it had been 'bricked' by Nintendo after booting it up.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Nintendo had been blocking access to online services on the console if players had used MIG Flash, a tool used to allow players to backup copies of games.

Before the Switch 2 launched, Nintendo suggested in its user agreement that it had the power to 'brick' devices that are modded.

"Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part", it reads.

Those affected will be presented with error code "2124-4508," which will permanently block players from accessing online services, which is exactly what Redditor Bimmytung has experienced.

Found one. Didn't end well. from r/switch2

"Been casually looking for a Switch 2. Today I was driving between work sites and stopped at two different Walmarts. At the second one I find a Mario Kart edition sitting in the case and couldn't believe my luck," Bimmytung said.

"Physically it's fine, everything seems there. Notice that the Mario Kart code is scratched off. Hmm. Naturally wonder if the original buyer redeemed the code and returned the system. They knocked $50 off the price so I figured I'd roll the dice and at least have the hardware. Bought a Pro Controller 2 while I was at it.

The Redditor continued, saying, "Get home and go to finish the setup - quickly get Error Code 2124-4508. A quick Google search shows me I'm screwed. FML. Thankfully my local Walmart accepted the return without any fuss but still... I wish nothing but enthusiastic double gonorrhea to the lowlife scum that did this."

Users with a 'bricked' Switch 2 would essentially be unable to access any multiplayer games like Mario Kart World, the eShop, Game Chat, and more.

Thankfully, stores like Walmart can accept refunds, but if you were to buy a second-hand console from eBay without knowing if it had been modded, you're out of luck.

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It's been five breakneck years since Apple unveiled Apple silicon during its first virtual WWDC keynote amid a global pandemic. Even without the visceral on-stage moment of CEO Tim Cook emerging from the shadows to unveil a huge helping of Apple platform excitement, this was momentous.

As I wrote back then:

"One world, one universe, one platform, unification. Apple’s momentous Worldwide Developer’s Conference keynote just painted a picture of a world in which the walls come down and, from the silicon underneath to the pixels in front of your face, Apple’s ecosystem becomes one."

What Apple Silicon will bring to the Mac. #WWDC20 #WWDC2020 pic.twitter.com/oqJ4MtG8zVJune 22, 2020

Apple switching hardware platforms was not unheard of – after all, only 14 years earlier, it had migrated its systems from IBM and Motorola's PowerPC to Intel.

This time, though, was different. Like an 'A' student preparing for finals, Apple was deeply prepped for this new transition. It used XCode to rewrite all its first-party apps, and worked with major partners like Microsoft and Adobe to ensure that core third-party apps were able to run on the revolutionary new hardware. There was even a Developers Transition Kit ready to go for app partners.

Rosetta 2, a software compatibility layer, was also released, promising to ease the transition for non-Arm-ready apps.

Silicon promise

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

Back then, I was well aware of the potential benefits of a five-nanometer, power-saving platform. It was the holy grail of mobile computing, one that Microsoft had already approached, though less successfully, with Windows on Arm in the Surface X Pro, which ran on the SQ2 chip.

Apple silicon would transform MacBooks from decent battery performers to 17-hour marathoners. I had my concerns about the integrated graphics, but also knew that graphics performance on Apple's bespoke A-series chips on the iPhone and iPad was always stellar, so I also had reason for hope.

I saw the potential, writing, "What Apple’s doing is switching all its systems from running on a variety of fuels, like wind, solar, and gas, to just one that might arguably be described as rocket fuel."

And yet, I had no intention of switching from Windows to Mac.

I had my reasons

It's not that I was unfamiliar with the Mac. I'd used the OG Macintosh in the 1980s but switched for good to Windows when I joined PCMag in the early 1990s.

Windows was for me like an old but beloved car. It could be clunky and even sometimes break down in the middle of the road, but I knew every control and contour. It molded to me, and I, a bit, to it. I knew its foibles, but also knew how to work around them. That no Windows laptop could ever give me more than five hours of battery life (on a good day) was something I accepted, along with the fact that I felt like the blue screen of death was always lurking around some unforeseen corner.

Barely five months after the announcement, and developers got their hands on the transition kit, which, among other things, helped them build Universal apps for all systems running Apple silicon. I reviewed the first Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip. I called it "an astonishing breakthrough."

Benchmarks made a mockery of even Intel Core i7 systems, especially in the area of integrated graphics. Battery life was incredible, ranging between 15 and 20 hours. I knew, intuitively, that such a system could transform my life.

Even so, the idea of switching from Windows to macOS (the operating system Macs run) was daunting. I think I worried that, with time, I might discover that most of my key apps didn't work on Apple silicon or that Apple wouldn't meet its two-year deadline of fully transitioning away from Intel, and that it might even abandon the project altogether and return to Intel.

I needn't have worried. By 2023, even the Mac Pro had switched to an M2 Ultra. I was impressed with Apple's innovative approach to producing ever more powerful Apple silicon chips, often by clustering them together (the M2 Ultra really is two M2 Max chips). What's more, I never found an app that wouldn't run on Apple silicon.

Making the change and what might have been

The first time I touched a MacBook Air M2, until I started using it permanently. (Image credit: Future)

Three years into the Apple silicon journey, I switched to the M2 MacBook Air and documented the effort in a journal. There were some struggles, but almost all of them revolved around long-standing differences between macOS and Windows. I was forced to learn many new keyboard commands and shortcuts.

Two weeks into my journey, I wrote:

"Becoming second nature to use the Mac. Will I ever go back?"

Spoiler alert: I never did.

If Apple had failed to deliver on the Apple silicon promise it made on June 22, 2020, this would've been a different story (one that might more closely resemble Apple Intelligence). The fact that it made the effort early on to make the hard stuff look easy (supporting all those apps, making different platform apps work on different systems, making it rock-solid stable, and providing industry-leading efficiency) put the wind at Apple silicon's back. Apple showed immediate commitment by unveiling the MacBook Air M1, along with an iMac and a Mac Mini in those first six months.

Apple has never looked back and continues to build and innovate on the Apple silicon platform to deliver more powerful mobile CPUs. It's only in the last year or so that, with the help of Qualcomm, the Windows world has started to catch up, nearly matching Apple silicon in performance, efficiency, and stability.

Apple silicon changed the computing world, but it also changed me. I walked away from a platform I loved (and still have affection for) and have not looked back. Apple's market share has grown on the back of Apple silicon, and, and least in that Mac space, I think the best is yet to come.

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• Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its first full-resolution image
• It was captured using an ultra-powerful 3,200-megapixel digital camera
• The telescope will scan the sky for dark matter, asteroids, and Planet Nine

The world’s most powerful digital camera has taken its first photos, and they reveal the cosmos in stunning detail. Shared as part of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s ‘First Look’ campaign, the composite image captures a panoramic view of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae – a region where new stars are being formed.

The stills come from the largest digital camera ever made. With a resolution of 3,200MP, it’s the central component of the telescope at the Rubin Observatory in Chile. By capturing a scene some 4-5,000 light years from Earth, the images offer a spectacular glimpse of the star-making machinery of our universe.

The full-size image, which you can download here, is made up of 678 individual exposures, measuring around five gigapixels in total. A closer look reveals stellar clouds of dust and gas in breathtaking color and detail. More impressive than the scale, though, is how quickly the observatory produced the image: it took just 7.2 hours.

That makes the Rubin unique among space telescopes. By working fast and covering an ultra-wide field of view in each frame, it’s able to map large areas in a short amount of time. The results are as scientifically valuable as they are beautiful. By revealing regions of the universe in new depth, they allow researchers to advance their understanding of our cosmic surroundings.

All eyes to the sky

Vera C. Rubin Observatory telescope pictured during the First Look observing campaign. (Image credit: RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/T. Matsopoulos)

These early images mark the start of a new era in astronomy. The Rubin Observatory is about to begin the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a ten-year mission to map the night sky in unprecedented detail. It’s a project which could fundamentally change our understanding of the universe – not just because of what it reveals, but because of how often.

Unlike traditional observatories which target narrow slices of space, the Rubin telescope is designed to scan the entire Southern Hemisphere sky every three nights. The dome repositions quickly to cover the heavens, capturing images more than once a minute for around ten hours. This regular cadence will allow astronomers to detect changes more readily.

The observatory is situated atop Cerro Pachón, a mountain peak in northern Chile. The remote location, high altitude and dry climate create near perfect conditions for astronomy: the thinner air and lack of light pollution allow the telescope to take advantage of clearer, darker night skies. That gives the Rubin Observatory a wide observational window.

During its testing phase, it detected more than 2,000 previously unknown asteroids in just 10 hours, highlighting the telescope’s potential as an early-warning system for our planet.

The observatory is also expected to play a leading role in the hunt for the hypothetical Planet Nine, a massive celestial body which some scientists believe to be hiding on the distant edge of our solar system. Its powerful optics and sweeping reach make the Rubin telescope the perfect tool for spotting what's lurking beyond Pluto’s orbit.

But perhaps Rubin’s most ambitious goal relates to what can’t be seen. By capturing data from countless galaxies, the observatory will help researchers to build a better picture of the invisible dark matter that makes up most of the universe – and the mysterious dark energy that’s causing its expansion.

Key to the mission is the camera itself, which is the largest ever installed on a telescope. The size of a small car, it captures a portion of the sky equivalent to 45 full moons in a single shot.

Over the course of its survey, Rubin is expected to generate more than 60 petabytes of data. It will be up to the world’s scientific community to analyze the results and decipher their secrets.

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• Canadian telecom firms have been hit with a cyberattack
• Chinese threat actor Salt Typhoon is suspected to be behind the attacks
• Hackers exploited an existing Cisco flaw to gain access

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, alongside the FBI, have confirmed hackers were able to gain access to three network devices registered to a Canadian Telecommunications company.

“The Cyber Centre is aware of malicious cyber activities currently targeting Canadian telecommunications companies. The responsible actors are almost certainly PRC state-sponsored actors, specifically Salt Typhoon,” The Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity said in a statement.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Salt Typhoon, as the group compromised at least eight US telco giants earlier in 2025, with the hackers allegedly having access to these networks for months in a mass surveillance campaign affecting dozens of countries and targeting several high-level officials.

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A long running campaign

The hackers, apparently exploited a high severity Cisco flaw, tracked as CVE-2023-20198 to gain access, allowing them to retrieve running configuration files from the compromised devices, which were then modified in order to create a GRE tunnel, enabling traffic collection from the network the devices were connected to.

A patch for this flaw has been available since October 2023, which indicates a serious security oversight in Canadian Telecom cybersecurity.

The threat actors most likely targeted these devices in order to ‘collect information from the victim’s internal network, or use the victim’s device to enable the compromise of further victims,’ which could explain how Salt Typhoon has been so successful in compromising large organizations.

“While our understanding of this activity continues to evolve, we assess that PRC cyber actors will almost certainly continue to target Canadian organizations as part of this espionage campaign, including telecommunications service providers and their clients, over the next two years,” the statement confirms.

Telecommunication companies are a high-priority for threat actors as they store large amounts of customer data and have useful intelligence value for cyber-espionage campaigns.

Via: ArsTechnica

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• Skullcandy has announced the first-ever gaming headset to feature its patented Crusher multi-sensory bass technology
• The Crusher PLYR 720 is made for multiplatform gaming
• It's available right now for $259.99

Skullcandy has unveiled the Crusher PLYR 720, its first multiplatform gaming headset, and it's available right now.

The Crusher PLYR 720 is the first-ever gaming headset to feature the company's patented Crusher multi-sensory bass technology and an open-back design, which is intended for a more immersive experience.

Alongside the multi-sensory bass, the headset will also offer THX Spatial Audio for console and mobile gamers, open-back acoustics, audio control via the Skull-HQ app, and advanced positional tuning for a "realistic, expansive soundstage," which results in a heightened level of hearing and sensation for gamers.

"This isn’t just immersive - it’s 4D gaming," said Justin Regan, vice president of marketing at Skullcandy. "This is a winning combination of features, advanced app customization, and crisp audio."

The headset's bass drivers fire sound directly into the user's ears - not just around them like other haptic headphones on the market - which delivers a "more natural, visceral sound you can truly feel."

"Crusher PLYR 720 users become immersed in a more realistic game experience with THX Spatial Audio," said Mike Henein, director of product development, THX Ltd. "THX Spatial Audio brings the precision and pinpoint accuracy of advanced audio positioning that allows gamers to more accurately locate sneaking enemies, avoid whizzing bullets, and gain early detection of nearby threats.

"Plus, the thrill of hearing the immersive environment also elevates emotional realism. Stay mentally sharp, survive longer, and improve your score with Crusher PLYR 720 by toggling on THX Spatial Audio."

Skullcandy's new headset also features a Clear Voice Smart Mic, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and up to 48 hours of battery life.

The Crusher PLYR 720 comes in two models. The first is a wireless, multi-platform headset for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile, plus wired Xbox support. The other is specifically designed for Xbox, which offers wireless play on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC, and mobile.

Nintendo Switch 2 support hasn't been confirmed officially yet, but we're hopefuly it'll work with the new console right out of the box too.

Both models are now available exclusively at Skullcandy and Amazon for $259.99.

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As a business founder in the tech space I am spending increasing amounts of time thinking about AI and its impact. Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the beginning of the end of humanity? Or is it our savior?

The truth almost certainly lies somewhere in the middle, but that said, I believe there are very clear reasons why businesses really should be worried about AI.

Amara’s Law

Amara’s Law states that the impact of technologies is overestimated in the short term but underestimated in the long term. Driverless cars, which have been coming out next year every year since 2016, is an example of overestimation.

Artificial neural networks, the key technology behind almost all AI systems you’ve heard of, might be good at playing Breakout and even predicting how proteins fold, but it cannot (yet) cope with the chaos of roads that, in my home village of Greenwich, were laid down by feet and hooves hundreds of years ago.

Amara’s Law works because researchers and practitioners, some driven by greed, others by fortune and others still by curiosity, but all of them nonetheless driven, find ways to improve the technology, find uses for it and eventually batter it into shape.

For business this is a worry for two reasons. On the one hand, if managers overestimate the readiness of a technology, then they tend to allocate too many resources to implementing it immediately at scale. Such quick ramp-ups are always followed by embarrassing climb downs.

On the other hand, if a technology is underestimated, like many did with the cloud and are doing right now with Artificial Intelligence, then all of a sudden they will find themselves playing catch up to their competitors.

A general-purpose technology’s destiny lies in users’ hands

The second reason to worry is that general purpose systems, like the content of Pandora’s box, cannot be put back once let out. For example, in the hands of Tim Berners-Lee, the personal computer and the Internet became the web. In the hands of a failed physicist in a garage in Seattle, the web gave birth to Amazon.com. What will artificial neural networks become in the hands of a hacker?

The box has been opened and we cannot put back the knowledge, the discoveries or the opportunities, good and bad, that opening the box created.

The end of the world of work as we know it

The third reason is the dramatic and continued effects on the labor market. Way before 2025 raised its head, McKinsey and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPCC) were worrying about job losses and what the latter called the upcoming ‘job apocalypse’.

As I see it the job apocalypse seems to be coming to pass. Announcements are made daily about governments opening up their data to private firms to train their artificial neural networks and of companies shedding their workforces and replacing them with AI ‘agents’. We all know talented people who have never previously been out of a job but now can’t find one.

Businesses have a triple challenge: rearranging their teams to work alongside AI agents, reassuring those left in the workforce, even though realistically there is nothing reassuring about what is happening, and doing so whilst the Damoclean Sword of Artificial Intelligence is suspended not by a horse’s hair but by something much less tenuous: the whims of a man in an office looking at a spreadsheet.

Reaping what we all sowed

The fourth reason is probably the worst of all.

In the early part of the 2010s, Cambridge Analytica illegally collected the personal data of millions of Facebook users. From that data, psychographics, a portmanteau of psychology and demographics, were used to place targeted political advertisements into the social media streams of millions of people.

These political messages nudged enough people to vote for Donald Trump in the US presidential election of 2016. For their role in the Cambridge Analytica scandals, Facebook was fined $5 billion by the Federal Trade commission. By the time that happened, Donald Trump had already won the election.

Since 2016, sustained upheaval in the labor market continues to cause a remarkable amount of misery. In the UK, the latest reports state that 5.2 million children live in poverty. That’s 1 in every 3 children. In the United States, in 2023, the child poverty rate increased to 13.7 per cent.

Class tensions have always preceded the rise of populist, strong-men leaders. In 2016, when good old fashion propaganda collided with good old fashioned data theft, web technologies graduated from tools of commerce to… the ultimate tool of propaganda on planet Earth.

Artificial Intelligence, including the creation of deep fakes, is coming of age at the exact same moment when content moderation teams are being dismantled and strong man politics is on the rise. This new, unfettered age of disinformation has collided with people that are so desperately poor and devoid of hope that they will vote for anyone who promises to take down the elites who made them suffer so much. Politicians of all stripes sowed the wind. We all now have to reap the whirlwind.

Business leaders might not think they have the luxury of thinking about politics, yet if they work in technology they are simultaneously part of the problem and potentially the solution. Ignorance is no defense!

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence is a tidal wave that is currently breaking, and breaking things, all around us. Because it’s already here, commentary on AI is a peculiar, often confusing and an almost always out of date, mixture of description and prediction.

There’s some consensus on the past but not much consensus on the future. AI is likely to become cheaper and easier to wield and exactly where it takes us will depend on the politics and ethics (or lack thereof) of the user.

And Amara’s Law tells us that AI is about to get really practical any moment. Welcome to the future.

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