TechRadar News

The next phase of AI has emerged, and it goes by the name of Agentic AI. Operating with greater independence than standard GenAI solutions, Agentic AI tackles more complex tasks, handles ambiguity beyond traditional automation, makes decisions, and drives outcomes without human intervention.

It’s more than an efficiency booster – it represents a paradigm shift in how businesses operate, innovate, and scale.

Companies must now ask themselves: Are we ready to embrace AI that not only assists but autonomously executes? Up until now, most businesses have focused on AI tools as a way to accelerate and streamline workflows, improving efficiency, and optimizing processes. But the next phase promises a shift that will once again redefine the way we work.

In other words, the era of Agentic AI has arrived.

What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI moves beyond today’s conversational AI chatbots and robotic process automation (RPA). Instead of just responding to queries or processing predefined workflows, AI agents operate independently, make decisions, and take proactive action based on real-time data and learned behaviors.

These agents can collaborate, adapt, and execute complex sequences of tasks with minimal human intervention, bridging the gap between static automation and true autonomy.

Imagine a network monitoring system that doesn’t just identify a security vulnerability but actively remediates it. Or an AI-powered IT helpdesk that doesn’t just respond to a ticket but anticipates and resolves an issue before an employee even realizes there’s a problem. Well, these features aren’t the lofty, visionary promises of the future.

They’re already here.

The three phases of AI

However, rolling Agentic AI out to the mainstream requires a structured approach that aligns with how trust is built between humans and AI, ensuring that businesses move from simple automation to true autonomy in a way that builds confidence and trust – and ultimately, adoption. It’s easy to forget that AI adoption is not a switch we flip; it’s a progression.

This is where the ARC framework (Accelerate, Replace, Create) comes into play, offering a roadmap for AI adoption and a way to assess the ROI of an AI initiative. It serves as the key selection standard for identifying the right opportunities in the vast ocean of possibilities created by recent advancements in AI technology.

Accelerate: Focuses on AI-assisted automation, where AI enhances human decision-making by providing insights, recommendations, and analytics. Here, AI acts as a supportive tool, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency without replacing human oversight.

Replace: AI takes over specific tasks or processes. While humans still maintain control, AI supports them by enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness. During this phase, businesses typically still require mechanisms for human oversight—this fosters trust and ensures the reliability of AI before transitioning to full autonomy. Additionally, humans collaborate with AI, using it as an augmented analytics solution.

Create: This is where Agentic AI comes into play, with AI operating fully autonomously. It continuously learns from data, user input, and context, making complex decisions in real time and generating innovative solutions without direct human involvement. At this stage, AI becomes a trusted partner, driving unparalleled efficiency and innovation in business operations.

This framework offers a strategic roadmap for AI adoption and identifying ROI, guiding businesses from basic automation to the advanced, collaborative systems of Agentic AI. By following the ARC phases, organizations can move toward full autonomy, driving real ROI through enhanced efficiency, innovation, and smarter decision-making.

Bridging the trust gap

Standing in the way of the “Create” phase of AI adoption is trust – and trust is not linear. Businesses often assume that trust will increase steadily as AI systems prove their capabilities.

In reality, trust in AI ebbs and flows.

When AI is first introduced in an organization, users may find it helpful and intriguing. Still, when AI is given more tasks or decision-making power, some users may experience concerns about reliability and accuracy, which can affect trust levels.

This is why oversight and a phased adoption is critical. Companies must gradually build, reinforce, and validate trust at every deployment stage.

Additionally, trust varies by use case. Employees may trust AI to handle administrative tasks but hesitate regarding high-stakes decisions like security monitoring, compliance enforcement, or financial forecasting. And that’s why organizations must contextualize trust, ensuring AI is introduced in a way that aligns with employees’ comfort levels and expertise.

Adapting to the Agentic AI era

So, how do businesses adapt to this transformation?

For starters, investing in AI literacy is essential. Having the right talent with AI expertise ensures that leadership teams and employees understand AI's capabilities, limitations, and best use cases. These talents can also inform the company’s governance frameworks to provide ethical, transparent, and accountable deployment – essential for building trust and driving adoption.

Crucially, companies need to adopt a hybrid AI-human approach, using AI agents to work alongside people rather than replace them entirely. Businesses should also start small and scale strategically, beginning with pilot projects to test the effectiveness of AI agents before deploying at scale.

Instead of adopting AI simply for the sake of innovation, businesses should use the ARC framework to identify transformative applications that have a lasting impact. This ensures AI adoption is an ongoing, value-driven process, supporting strategic goals and ROI-focused investments.

The new era is now

AI is rapidly evolving from a passive assistant to an active decision-maker. It’s only a matter of time. The businesses that stand out and thrive in the coming years will be those that embrace Agentic AI, not just as a tool but as a fundamental part of how work gets done.

The bottom line? If your AI strategy is still focused on automation, it may be time to rethink your approach. The future will favor those ready to deploy, trust, and collaborate with AI agents. The time to adapt isn’t down the road–it’s now.

We've compiled a list of the best employee monitoring software.

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

• Victrola's once Sonos-only wireless Stream turntables got a big update
• A free software upgrade adds Bluetooth, UPnP and Roon-ready smarts
• …and given the year Sonos has had, it's a sensible expansion

Victrola's Sonos-connected turntables just got an important over-the-air upgrade to add thoroughly non-Sonos wireless connectivity – and given the disastrous past 12 months Sonos has had, it's hard to see the move as anything other than Victrola pulling Sonos for that awkward "I'm going to perfectly honest, I think it's time we started seeing other people" talk.

Victrola has expanded the wireless streaming capabilities of its Victrola Stream Carbon, Victrola Stream Pearl, Victrola Stream Onyx (not to be confused with the cheaper, non-Sonos-supporting but Bluetooth-aptX-toting Hi-Res Onyx) and Victrola Stream Sapphire turntables.

What's being added? Well, you could say that Victrola doesn't just want to see other wireless giants besides Sonos, it's actually going for a three-way (sorry). Alongside 'works with Sonos' support, the four Stream turntables now get:

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP): this allows your Stream turntable to automatically jump on a network of similarly-enabled products over Wi-Fi, to stream vinyl wirelessly to UPnP-enabled audio devices, including wireless speakers, A/V receivers, hi-fi streamers and smart TVs.

Bluetooth output – this (as you probably know) lets you stream directly to the best Bluetooth speakers and best wireless headphones, bringing simple wire-free audio to your home.

Roon Ready relay – stream vinyl up to 24-bit/48kHz lossless FLAC quality to any Roon endpoint.

Victrola tells us the update is already live in its Stream Sapphire model, but is rolling out automatically to all Victrola Stream Carbon, Onyx, and Pearl turntables very soon.

Making new connections

The Victrola Stream range was, as Victrola states in its press release "previously designed exclusively for seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem", but you don't need to be a genius to see that the lineup is much more versatile (and desirable) now, thanks to this free update. We felt the Stream Sapphire struggled to validate its higher price-point under intense review, but this update may well change things.

It's no secret that 2024 was the year Sonos slipped, so it's fair to say that if a product doesn't have to honor a Sonos-only deal, its makers should certainly look to branch out and make new friends.

The automatic software update will be deployed, says the company, to all existing and future Victrola Stream Carbon, Onyx, Pearl, and Sapphire turntables, requiring no manual installation. Existing owners can expect to see the update automatically. In the app (where they would typically select a default Sonos speaker), users will now find toggles for additional options, including Bluetooth. The app will also provide "simple instructions for switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth using the knob" according to Victrola.

Full disclosure: I have a Victrola Stream Carbon, and a Sonos Five on which I listened to vinyl from 2022 until, ahem, right after the new Sonos app updates started causing big issues. I moved home in November last year, and both products are currently languishing in storage, for this very reason. Now though – alongside the news that Sonos seems to have fixed the awful lag on the volume control – I will be making a trip to that storage unit, to dig out my once-beloved Sonos/Victrola vinyl system.

I'll let you know how that goes – and please, if you also own a Victrola Stream, feel free to tell me in the comments what you think.

You may also like

• See our pick of the best turntables
• Need over-ears? Our best over-ear headphones guide is the place
• Considering earbuds? We get it: see the best earbuds you can buy right now, all tested by TechRadar

• Developer Dark Math Games has announced that the XXX Nightshift will be helmed by Grammy Award nominated songwriter and music producer John Cunningham
• The game is an upcoming detective RPG, similar to Disco Elysium
• Pre-orders open tomorrow via the game's official website

Developer Dark Math Games has revealed that the soundtrack for its upcoming sci-fi detective RPG XXX Nightshift will be helmed by Grammy Award nominated songwriter and music producer John Cunningham.

The game, which was first revealed at the end of last year, is something of a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium and is being created by a team of 20 developers - roughly half of which worked on Disco Elysium and Disco Elysium: The Final Cut. Set in a futuristic ski resort, the game promises to deliver "deep single-player role-playing" with choices that dramatically shape how the story unfolds.

Played from an isometric perspective, it certainly looks similar to Disco Elysium - though boasts a unique companion mechanic that allows you to progress in your investigation either solo or with company depending on your decisions.

Cunningham is known for his collaborations with artists including Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, and the late XXXTentacion. He will be working closely with the development team to lead the creation of music and sound for the game.

Regarding the partnership, Dark Math Games founder and XXX Nightshift art director said that "John’s innovative approach matches our energy perfectly.

"He knows how to get the best out of every artist, and we’re thrilled to have him as a hands-on collaborator with the development team," he continued. "He’s taking the lead on sound and music with his signature style—players are in for something unforgettable."

Cunningham said that he's "super curious and excited to be a part of XXX Nightshift."

He added that "the world has evolved so much, and our understanding of music and personalization has evolved alongside it. How is music created, listened to, shared, and loved in this world? And most importantly, how can I impart the feeling upon the player that we are all artists in our own right?"

The studio has also confirmed that pre-orders for the game, which is currently only slated for a PC release, will open tomorrow on March 8 via its official website. Those who pre-order it will receive an exclusive 34-page digital comic. You can get an early glimpse of the comic's cover below.

(Image credit: Dark Math Games) You might also like...

• This indie game gets cheaper when it's cold outside
• Styx the goblin returns in Styx: Blades of Greed later this year
• FragPunk drops tomorrow for PC, but its console launch has been delayed at the last minute

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, March 7 (game #635).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

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

NYT Connections today (game #636) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SPIN
• SHADOW
• EXCELLENT
• JUKE
• TOTALLY
• FAKE
• COTTON
• SOAP
• МОСК
• BOGUS
• CHATTER
• IMITATION
• DELICATE
• DUDE
• ARTIFICIAL
• BULKY

NYT Connections today (game #636) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Not real
• GREEN: Rinse
• BLUE: Alex and Keanu
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “knocks”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #636) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: FAUX 
• GREEN: WASHING MACHINE CYCLES/SETTINGS 
• BLUE: WORDS SAID FREQUENTLY IN THE "BILL AND TED" MOVIES 
• PURPLE: __BOX 

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

NYT Connections today (game #636) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #636, are…

• YELLOW: FAUX ARTIFICIAL, FAKE, IMITATION, MOCK
• GREEN: WASHING MACHINE CYCLES/SETTINGS BULKY, COTTON, DELICATE, SPIN
• BLUE: WORDS SAID FREQUENTLY IN THE "BILL AND TED" MOVIES BOGUS, DUDE, EXCELLENT, TOTALLY
• PURPLE: __BOX CHATTER, JUKE, SHADOW, SOAP

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

After initially thinking BOGUS belonged with FAKE, IMITATION and MOCK and getting “one away” twice, I switched focus and went for what was staring me in the face all along. EXCELLENT.

According to a YouTube compilation, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter say DUDE 44 times in first movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and 91 times in the sequel Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. Both are impressive but pale in comparison to the staggering 161 uses of “dude” in The Big Lebowski.

Dude, that’s a lot of dudes.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 7 March, game #635)

• YELLOW: EMBLEM LABEL, MARK, SEAL, STAMP
• GREEN: SUBJECTS OF ACCLAIMED MUSICAL BIOPICS BROWN, CASH, DYLAN, MERCURY
• BLUE: U.S. CITIES BUFFALO, HELENA, IRVING, PHOENIX
• PURPLE: FRUITS WITH THEIR SECOND LETTERS CHANGED AMPLE, DOTE, LUMON, POACH

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 7 (game #369).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #370) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Two thumbs up

NYT Strands today (game #370) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SLOT
• STOP
• LINT
• ROOM
• POOL
• STAMP

NYT Strands today (game #370) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Oscar winners

NYT Strands today (game #370) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #370) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #370, are…

• PLATOON
• PARASITE
• MOONLIGHT
• CODA
• SPOTLIGHT
• SPANGRAM: BEST PICTURE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

The film critic Roger Ebert, who died in 2013, coined the term “two thumbs up” as part of his grading system – a contemporary update on Roman Emperors giving gladiators a thumbs up or down depending on their performance.

What Mr Ebert would have made of this year’s Oscar nominees and BEST PICTURE Anora is unknown, but one doubts he would have been impressed with The Brutalist star Adrien Brody’s rambling, self-aggrandising acceptance speech.

As a Strands puzzle, this wasn't the easiest, because there are so many words that could be the answer; there have been 97 winners since the Academy Awards began in 1929. Finding the five included here therefore involved more than a little trial and error as much as movie knowledge!

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 7 March, game #369)

• CRIBBAGE
• POKER
• CANASTA
• RUMMY
• EUCHRE
• PINOCHLE
• SPANGRAM: CARD GAMES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, March 7 (game #1138).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1139) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 2*.

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

Quordle today (game #1139) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1139) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1139) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

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

Quordle today (game #1139) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• L

• W

• H

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

Quordle today (game #1139) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1139, are…

• WATCH
• LAPSE
• WREST
• HEFTY

Seven turns is as good as it gets when you're doing the three-starter-word method – unless you get super-lucky, of course.

Today was one of those green-light days where everything fell nicely into place, with WREST being a stab in the dark that fortunately gave me the starting letter for WATCH.

Right, I’m off to buy a lottery ticket.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1139) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1139, are…

• COVET
• MEANT
• CRICK
• NERVE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME
• Quordle #1126, Sunday 23 February: RABID, RELIC, SCRAM, BASIS
• Quordle #1125, Saturday 22 February: ETHER, SONIC, VAUNT, ROUSE
• Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT
• Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE
• Quordle #1122, Wednesday 19 February: ABATE, TROVE, VENUE, DRAPE
• Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT
• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM
• Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY

March has arrived (does anyone else feel like they blinked and February was over?), and the third month of 2025 has already given us lots of exciting new movies and TV shows to watch at home. Admittedly, most of them have debuted on four of the world's best streaming services, but I'm trying not to judge their rivals, such as Apple TV+, especially when the latter has served up one of 2025's best shows so far in Severance season 2.

Anyway, aside from a new episode of Severance, there's plenty more to stream this weekend, including the revival of Netflix's Daredevil TV show. So, scroll on to see our seven top picks for the week. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 (Disney+)

The devil's work is never done – and that's certainly the case for Matt Murdock and his crimefighting alter-ego. Almost six years after Netflix canceled its beloved TV adaptation starring The Man Without Fear, Marvel has revived it with Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.

Essentially, it's Daredevil season 4 is all but name, but that's a very good thing. The New York-based lawyer/vigilante's live-action series is not only as epic as it is brutal, but also one of my all-time favorite shows, so I'm delighted that it's had new life breathed into it as a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project. The first two episodes are out now but, before you stream them, read my Daredevil: Born Again review to see whether I think this Marvel Phase 5 program deserves to be added to our best Disney+ shows guide. – TP

• Watch Daredevil: Born Again season 1 on Disney+

With Love, Meghan (Netflix)

Looking for something a bit more wholesome? Why not cosy up on the couch with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, for eight episodes of cooking, gardening, and hosting advice on Netflix.

Originally due to air in January, Netflix delayed this series' release due to the wildfires that ravaged LA. Now, this show is out in full, but early reviews aren't overly favorable, which means it won't make the cut for our best Netflix shows guide. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch With Love, Meghan on Netflix

Heretic (Max)

I’m so excited that more people can experience this horror gem on Max. Heretic's major selling point is that Hugh Grant swapped his typical charming bachelor character for a creepy loner, but it's so much more than that.

Stylish, tense, and full of theological questions, Heretic is a great addition to A24's catalog. There's plenty to enjoy here, and it does enough for it to stand out among the endless sea of new horror movies in March. I'm also keen to re-watch this and spot things I might've missed the first time around as it feels like the kind of movie which benefits from a second viewing. Even though it wasn’t my favorite horror movie of 2024, I still enjoyed it and feel like it deserves a spot on our best Max movies round-up. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Heretic on Max

The Leopard (Netflix)

Netflix is somewhat of an expert when it comes to period dramas. That much is clear with Bridgerton, aka one of Netflix's most popular shows of all-time.

Now, the streamer has lined up a royal rival with Italian period drama The Leopard. Based on the classic novel of the same name by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the eponymous Leopard is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina (Kim Rossi Stuart) who grapples with the impact of his family’s ancient privilege and revolutionary change in 1860s Sicily. I can’t wait to be transported back in time with this sumptuous historical spectacle and, with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Leopard has a chance of gracing our best Netflix shows guide. – Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch The Leopard on Netflix

Fear (Prime Video)

Fear is Prime Video's latest thriller series and it's got a truly terrifying premise. Line of Duty star Martin Compston leads the cast as a father who has relocated his family from London to an idyllic location in Glasgow, hoping for a fresh start. It's the kind of scenario that provides the backdrop for plenty of thrillers where, unfortunately, someone's dream home becomes a living nightmare.

Things go terribly wrong when the family begins to be stalked by their neighbor, who begins to accuse them of horrible things and becomes a terrifying presence in their lives. Throughout three episodes, you'll unravel what's going on, making it the perfect weekend binge-watch. It hasn't got a Rotten Tomatoes score yet so we'll have to see if it's good enough for inclusion in our best Prime Video shows article. – LB

• Watch Fear on Prime Video

The Righteous Gemstones season 4 (Max)

The Righteous Gemstones return as the televangelist family go on their final religious outing in the hit Max comedy. For the uninformed: one of the best Max shows follows the Gemstones, who commit sinful acts and hide shocking secrets while trying to build their religious empire.

With its witty parody on spiritual grandiosity and Succession-like family dynamics, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the six Max movies and shows we’re most excited to watch in March. After watching Walton Goggins in The White Lotus season 3, I'm excited to see him at his comedic best in The Righteous Gemstones season 4 along with the rest of the misfit family. – GM

• Watch The Righteous Gemstones season 4 on Max

Chaos: The Manson Murders (Netflix)

Looking for a new documentary this weekend? As part of Netflix's March 2025 line-up, the streaming giant has released a chilling docufilm that completely upends what we thought we knew about the infamous Manson murders.

Adapted from a book by Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, Chaos: The Manson Murders brings new evidence from years of research, interviews and never-before-seen documents. Acclaimed documentary maker Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line; The Fog War: Eleven Lessons from the life of Robert S McNamara) revisits these interviews, including with Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor-turned-author that chronicled the trial, to unravel a potential conspiracy involving the CIA and others that surrounds the killings. – AS

• Watch Chaos: The Manson Murders on Netflix

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Apple TV+ shows, best Paramount+ movies, and best Hulu shows.

• AMD is rumored to be planning a faster take on its RX 9070 models
• This ‘Ultimate Navi 48’ GPU is supposedly being readied for a Q2 release
• AMD is apparently aiming for a performance level of between the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080

AMD could be releasing a faster take on its RX 9070 GPUs as soon as Q2 2025, according to a fresh rumor.

Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID) has a new video out on YouTube which discusses a range of topics across AMD’s new RDNA 4 GPUs, with the excellent RX 9070 XT and vanilla 9070 having gone on sale yesterday – and part of the chatter here is more reinforcement of what we’ve already heard about the MSRPs of these boards.

Before I get into that, though, the most interesting revelation here (in my book) is that AMD is purportedly set to produce a new RDNA 4 graphics card using the Navi 48 chip – the one RX 9070 models are built on – with the GPU pushed to the absolute max.

According to one of MLID’s sources at a big US retailer, AMD’s graphics card making partners have been briefed on an ‘Ultimate Navi 48’ GPU which could be released in Q2, though I’d guess this would be more towards June than April (as this is the first whisper of such a board).

Team Red is apparently shooting for a performance level of between the RTX 5070 Ti and the RTX 5080. Naming-wise, this GPU would presumably be an RX 9070 XTX (or 9070 XT Extreme Edition as MLID suggests).

MLID doesn’t have anything else to share about this theoretical graphics card in terms of how the spec might pan out, so this is an early-stage rumor, for sure.

As mentioned, the YouTuber also talks about the RX 9070 launch supply, which was apparently triple the volume of the entire amount of Blackwell GPUs (all RTX 5000 models) that have arrived so far since the end of January.

MLID asserts that the supply of RX 9070 boards is going to be more robust than Nvidia’s RTX 5000 models going forward – not just at launch – with one obvious caveat.

That catch is that only a percentage of the entry-level RDNA 4 graphics cards were sold at MSRP, and as we saw yesterday, once that initial batch was gone, those baseline boards got a fair bit more expensive.

If you’re hoping to grab one of AMD’s new graphics cards, don’t forget, we’re here to give you a leg up with securing your purchase courtesy of our guide on where to buy the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070.

Analysis: An explosive Q2 beckons – and AMD is clearly off to a better start than Nvidia

Presumably with the supposed RX 9070 XTX, or Extreme Edition, we’d be looking at beefed up clock speeds, and possibly more VRAM (perhaps with the memory notched up on the speed front, too, MLID speculates). Whatever the case, however AMD might go with the spec, the intention is clear enough – to produce a GPU that would be roughly equivalent to a (theoretical) RTX 5070 Ti Super, or thereabouts.

What’s also planned for Q2 officially, as announced by AMD at the RX 9070 reveal at the end of February, is the debut of RX 9060 models, bringing more wallet-friendly fodder to the GPU world. So, in theory there’s plenty to look forward to as we head into Q2 which starts in only a few weeks.

As for the RX 9070 launch, from what I saw, stock did appear to be present in reasonable quantities – even if MSRP-level graphics cards sold out quite quickly (but not in the blink of an eye).

Is it fair that there aren’t any MSRP boards left now, because AMD is only willing to subsidize a limited number of RX 9070 graphics cards to get them at that price level for the on-sale day, so the recommended launch price is technically correct?

Well, it’s not an ideal situation, of course. We’re told by MLID that the entry-level price for the RX 9070 XT is likely to be around $670 going forward in the US, and looking at UK pricing now, entry-level 9070 XT boards are actually in stock, but they’re now 10% over the MSRP (roughly the same as that expected US price).

However, as MLID points out, at least a 10% hike isn’t terrible – when the 9070 XT looks good value in the first place, certainly – and there is still stock available in the UK at least (not in the US, mind, that I can see at the time of writing).

With restocking expected to be more robust, too, with AMD’s RDNA 4 graphics cards, this is at least a lot better than the situation with Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPUs. That said, it’d be difficult to imagine a launch scenario much worse than Blackwell has been, sadly.

Team Red has done okay here, then, on balance, but it remains disappointing to me that the MSRP of RX 9070 models has proved to be something of an illusion spell cast by AMD. Still, with some Black Friday or Prime Day magic, those asking prices may well return later this year…

You might also like...

• AMD warns its RX 9070 GPUs are strictly ‘UEFI-only’ – but don't panic, here's why this probably doesn’t affect you
• Nvidia retiring PhysX for its RTX 5000 GPUs has made some gamers furious - but I don't think it's a complete dealbreaker
• AMD vs Nvidia: who is the graphics card champion?

• A new Geekbench 6 benchmark hints at the M3 Ultra for the Mac Studio only being slightly faster than the M4 Max
• The benchmark reveals the M3 Ultra's supposed 8% performance lead in multi-core processes over the M4 Max
• Its 80-core GPU may be the highlight, specifically for gaming

Apple has finally introduced a new Ultra chip, not yet for its recent M4 lineup but rather for the M3 family. The new Mac Studio is slated for launch on March 12, with configurations using both the M4 Max and the new M3 Ultra - however, the latter may only be a slightly stronger processor, at least in some ways.

As reported by 9to5Mac, an early Geekbench 6 benchmark of the new M3 Ultra chip suggests it may only be 8% faster than the M4 Max in multi-core performance while being 20% slower in single-core performance. The benchmark indicates that this is the top-end configuration of the upcoming M3 Max Mac Studio (it utilizes a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU).

It's important to note that the comparison made here is with the MacBook Pro's M4 Max, with its top-end configuration using a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU. While we should wait for more benchmarks when the Mac Studio launches, it looks like the M3 Ultra's winnings over the powerful M4 chip could be present in its graphical processes, specifically gaming.

The high-end M4 Max model (using 1TB storage and 128GB of unified memory) is available for pre-order at $3,699.00 / £3,799.00 / AU$6,049.00, while the best M3 Ultra model (using 1TB storage and 96GB of unified memory) is available for pre-order at $5,499.00 / £5,699.00 / AU$9,249.00.

Based on the early benchmark (which should be taken with a grain of salt), the M3 Ultra may not be the ideal choice between the two chips for CPU processes (considering the supposed minor uplift and the significant gap in pricing), but should be right up the alley for gamers - and that may end up justifying its high cost.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Mykola Churpita) This might be the best Mac gaming experience yet...

While plenty of Apple's Mac devices have provided capable hardware for great gaming performance, it looks like the M3 Ultra Mac Studio may be the best yet.

An 80-core GPU is an exceptional amount dedicated to graphical processing (and its price doesn't surprise me in the slightest), which means it should be able to storm its way through demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077. That's not to say the CPU and unified memory won't matter here, but it's safe to suggest that the GPU will do the heavy lifting for gamers.

Now it's all well and good that gamers will have a monster GPU at their disposal, but there's still more that needs to be done for Mac gaming - games are often optimized for Microsoft's Windows operating system and games aren't coming to Mac devices day one.

The addition of titles like Cyberpunk 2077 is a great sign of the Mac gaming library's rapid growth, and I'm hoping the M3 Ultra is Apple's way of telling us that gaming is now one of its main focuses.

You may also like...

• I saw Apple's new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4, and here's why Sky Blue is my new favorite color
• The M3 MacBook Air is officially discontinued, but the M2 MacBook Air will live on elsewhere and that's good news
• The best MacBook Air (M4) preorder deal is at Best Buy – how to score the new Apple laptop for as little as $449

If there’s one thing that entices music lovers to sign up to Spotify Premium, it’s the seamless ad-free listening. However, a recent bug in the Spotify app has snuck in ads in between music streams, proving that even the best music streaming services have their faulty moments.

First reports of the bug surfaced online four weeks ago in the Spotify Community forum, and it quickly proved to be a common occurrence for a lot of Premium subscribers, causing significant frustration among those who pay to hear ad-free music. A few days following the online complaints, Spotify acknowledged the issue and set about fixing the bug, sharing the following statement: “We have good news from our teams – a fix for the instances where Premium users noticed ads when listening to music has been deployed and you should notice a difference right away”.

But that was four weeks ago, and almost a month after the issue with ads in Spotify Premium was raised, it seemed many paying music fans were still finding ads playing between songs. Although Spotify has been vocal about running into promotional content mainly within podcasts, ads should still have no place in the Premium tier for those who subscribe.

At long last, Spotify finally addressed the issue (again) just this week by taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, March 6, to share the status of the problem (see below). This is the last update we’ve received from the company, therefore, we can only assume that Spotify is currently tackling the issue head-on.

We’re aware of some issues with the app right now and are checking them out! We'll keep you posted here: https://t.co/lOcqE1o9OeMarch 6, 2025

Could this bug indicate the arrival of Spotify HiFi?

Spotify has surely had its work cut out for it, especially following its crackdown on ‘cracked’ apps, but it’s awfully convenient that these bugs have surfaced - particularly in the wake of the recent rumors that Spotify HiFi could arrive later this year.

As opposed to launching a brand new tier for lossless audio, we can expect Spotify HiFi to be an add-on to its Premium tier. One of the more interesting parts of Spotify’s next business ventures is the possibility of a new ‘superfan’ tier, which promises enhanced fan experiences through deeper music catalogs and even deals on concert tickets.

Given that Spotify has experienced not one, but two bug issues within a short space of time, it only raises my suspicion that it could be in the middle of making room to introduce its next tiers and subscription add-ons. Spotify has borne the brunt of a lot of criticisms, not just because of its ads-in-Premium bug but also its five-year lossless audio delay. There’s a lot of pressure on Spotify to get it right, and I just hope it can redeem itself.

You might also like

• I streamed the totally silent AI protest album on Spotify and if you don't like AI stealing the voices of music icons, I think you should too
• Shazam now makes it super-easy to add identified songs to a Spotify or Apple Music playlist – here’s how it works
• Apple Music's awesome $2.99 deal is your reason to finally switch from Spotify

• Microsoft says it discovered a major malvertising campaign
• The goal was to deploy infostealers as wide as possible
• The company removed an undisclosed number of GitHub repositories in response

More than a million PCs have been infected by infostealers through a massive malvertising campaign, new research from Microsoft’s security researchers has revealed.

The campaign starts on illegal streaming sites where people can watch pirated content. Apparently, cybercriminals injected ads into those videos, which sent visitors through a roller coaster of redirects, before landing on one of many GitHub repositories under the attackers’ control.

There, they would download the first payload which would run system discovery and collect system information (operating system data, screen resolution, memory size, etc.), exfiltrate it to a server under the attackers’ control, while deploying the second-stage payload.

Infostealers in action

The second-stage payload depends on the compromised device. In some cases, it will be a NetSupport remote access trojan (RAT), followed by the Lumma Stealer or Doenerium infostealer. This malware can grab people’s login credentials, cryptocurrency information, banking details, and more. In other cases, the malware will download an executable file which runs a CMD and drops a renamed AutoIt interpreter with a .com extension.

AutoIt then runs a few additional steps which ultimately lead to the same outcome - the exfiltration of sensitive files from the target system.

In most cases, the payloads were hosted on GitHub, and Microsoft said it took down an undisclosed number of repositories. However, malware was also hosted on Dropbox and Discord. It did not attribute the campaign to any particular threat actor, and said that the victims were found in a wide range of industries.

"This activity is tracked under the umbrella name Storm-0408 that we use to track numerous threat actors associated with remote access or information-stealing malware and who use phishing, search engine optimization (SEO), or malvertising campaigns to distribute malicious payloads," Microsoft said.

"The campaign impacted a wide range of organizations and industries, including both consumer and enterprise devices, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack."

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Hundreds of GitHub repositories hijacked to trick users into downloading malware
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

• The UK Government's guidelines no longer include mentions of E2EE
• The move follows a dispute between the British Government and Apple
• Apple recently pulled its encryption service in the UK after a backdoor request

The dispute between the UK government and Apple continues, with the former quietly deciding to remove its recommendation in using the tech firm’s end-to-end encryption (E2EE), also known as Advanced Data Protection (ADP).

The move, spotted by blogger Alec Muffett, comes weeks after Apple pulled ADP from the country following the Government’s alleged request to build a backdoor into the encryption for law enforcement - which would have allowed agencies to access protected photos, messages, and other data.

Previously, in advice from the NCSC and GCHQ, the agencies recommended barristers, solicitors, and legal professionals turn on encryption, including ADP for iOS - but the encryption advice is no longer available.

The importance of encryption

Apple doubled down on its encryption, promising to “never build a backdoor”, and privacy campaigners argue that this “jeopardizes the security and privacy of millions.”

Encryption is a tool that scrambles information, and end-to-end means that this is done both as the information is sent, and received. Apple’s ADP means that even Apple cannot access the data.

The tech firm argues that once a backdoor, or ‘master key’, is built, that leaves the risk that the key will be stolen by threat actors, or that the information could fall into the wrong hands.

“With Apple removing Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for UK users, consumers need to focus on alternative ways to secure their data,” said Matt Aldridge, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity.

“While iMessages, Facetime, Health data and iCloud keychain remain secure, users should review what they store in iCloud, especially with backups no longer being encrypted. Sensitive files and data may need to be stored securely elsewhere, such as on external encrypted drives or alternative cloud services that still offer end-to-end encryption.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best VPN providers around
• Check out our recommendations for the best encrypted messaging apps for Android
• Apple to take legal action against British Government over backdoor request

• Android 16 beta 2.1 is reportedly causing major battery drain for some users
• Comments posted to Reddit complain about the need to charge as much as twice a day
• Android 16 is expected to release at some point between April and June

Android 16 is due to release some time between April and June this year, and as we get closer to that window Google is continuing to roll out beta versions of its latest mobile operating system.

However, these beta versions are still pre-release builds designed to trial and test new features, and as such can have unfortunate side effects – in fact, a recent Android 16 beta seems to be hitting users’ phone batteries’ harder than expected.

As Android Authority reports, users with Android 16 beta 2.1 installed have been reporting a serious impact on battery life as a result of updating.

A Reddit thread started by the official u/androidbetaprogram account in the r/android_beta subreddit contains multiple reports of this battery issue.

User u/jordanl171 said: “The battery life on 2.1 is so much worse than it was on 2.0 [on the] Pixel 9 Pro”.

Others complained of unspecified charging issues, while a now-deleted user said they were “forced to charge twice a day”.

Naturally, this isn’t the type of change you’d want to see with a newer version of any operating system, but I’m not particularly worried about this battery bug.

Beta versions of operating systems are bound to have some annoying or even experience-breaking issues every now and then – it’s part of the process, and much better for users and developers that these issues come to light before full release.

So long as Google follows up on its community outreach via platforms like Reddit and other social media, I’m fairly certain that this issue will be fixed before launch, and probably even in a later beta build.

Though I’ve not been affected by this battery drain issue myself – I don’t have a Google Pixel phone and at the moment you need one to access Android 16 betas – I don’t think this will still be a red light for anyone looking to update to Android 16 at release.

However, it might be worth skipping this particular build. Phone batteries are consumable components, with maximum lifespans that decay over time, so having to recharge more often might have an impact on your device’s longevity.

In any case, I’m still excited for Android 16 to make it to the best Android phones later this year. Let us know what you want to see from the new Android update in the comments below.

You might also like

• iPhone 17 Air leaks suggest it'll get next-gen battery – as offset the 17 Pro Max's weight gains
• Exclusive: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have durability to match its ‘sexy’ design
• New survey suggests the vast majority of iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users find AI useless – and I’m not surprised

• Google Maps has become the first app to support Live Updates in the latest Android 16 beta
• The new notification style allows some information to persist on the lock screen and status bar
• Android 16 is expected to release some time between April and June 2025

Though many of the best Android phones just recently got support for Android 15, beta versions of Android 16 are already available for Google Pixel users, bringing key upgrades to the operating system as well as to Google’s suite of default apps.

One of the most keenly anticipated upgrades coming with Android 16 is Live Updates, a new notification feature that allows notifications to display much more information as well as persist on the lock screen. A comparable feature, called Live Activities, rolled out to iOS devices last year.

As it turns out, Google Maps is the first app to support this new feature, with Android 16 adding the ability to see directions, time until your next turn, and your estimated time of arrival all in one Live Update notification.

This new Live Update is visible on the lock screen, and an estimated time of arrival persists in the status bar when the phone is unlocked, though as Android Authority notes, the new notification style is currently collapsed on the always-on display.

In a prior build of Android 16, Live Updates were available on the always-on display as an outline, so Google will likely re-enable this in the stable release or later betas.

Live Updates were technically introduced with the first beta of Android 16 back in January 2025, but as mentioned, no apps have supported them until now.

Android 16 is rolling out at a faster pace than normal, and we’ve previously heard that the next mainline update to Google’s mobile operating system will arrive sooner than usual in the second quarter of 2025 – that’s somewhere between April and June.

The update is due to bring Live Updates to a wide selection of the best Google Pixel phones as well as Android phones from other brands like Samsung and OnePlus. Of course, there’s much more on the way than a new style of notification – other keenly awaited Android 16 features include new camera tools and better app resizing for folding phones.

We’ll have the latest through our dedicated Android coverage, but for now, let us know what you’d like to see from Google’s next mobile operating system in the comments below.

You might also like

• Exclusive: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have durability to match its ‘sexy’ form
• The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could have a Motorola Razr-style full-sized cover screen – and I think it’s about time
• Android's Find My Device can now let you track your friends – and I can't decide if that's cool or creepy

• Researchers find malicious browser extensions can assume the appearance of any other installed in the browser
• It can also disable other extensions, completely tricking the victim
• The extension can steal sensitive passwords, cryptos, and more

Cybersecurity researchers have found malicious shapeshifting Google Chrome browser extensions in the wild, able to change their appearance to pretty much anything else installed on the target device, opening the doors for credential theft, cryptocurrency theft, and possibly even wire fraud.

Researchers from SquareX said they spotted a malicious browser extension which at first, seems benign. It can be an “unassuming AI tool”, or pretty much anything else. When it’s first installed, it will behave as expected, for at least a while, while it analyzes which other extensions are installed in the browser.

If it spots anything particularly interesting (such as a crypto wallet, for example), the extension will completely transform its appearance, including the interface, the shortcut icon, and everything else, to look exactly the same. It will then disable the legitimate extension, so that it is the only one offering that particular functionality - meaning it is almost impossible for the victim to realize they are being targeted.

Feature, not a bug

To make matters worse, the researchers said that the malware just abuses the design of browsers and extensions.

There is no bug, no vulnerability being exploited, meaning that cybersecurity solutions, antivirus programs, and other endpoint protection tools, cannot flag it or remove it. It gets worse, too - the extensions only require medium risk permissions, the same ones required by password managers and similar tools. Therefore, the malware cannot even be spotted by Chrome Store and other security teams simply looking at the code.

They are calling them “polymorphic extensions” and believe they are an entirely new class of malware. They said the malware impacts “most major browsers, including Chrome and Edge”.

“Browser extensions present a major risk to enterprises and users today,” commented SquareX founder, Vivek Ramachandran.

“Unfortunately, most organizations have no way of auditing their current extension footprint and to check whether they are malicious. This further underscores the need for a browser native security solution like Browser Detection and Response, similar to what an EDR is to the operating system.”

Google has been notified, but has yet to respond.

You might also like

• Google Chrome extensions hit in major attack - dozens of developers affected, so be on your guard
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

There seems to be a rather large elephant in the room of the smartphone industry right now. The likes of Samsung, Apple, and Google are investing heavily in the development (and marketing) of AI software, but consumers seem less than interested in a technology that has yet to be proven game-changing for their everyday lives.

At least, that’s the impression we get from reader comments, and a recent survey of more than 2,000 iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users found that 73% of iPhone-owning respondents and a whopping 87% of Galaxy-owning respondents feel that AI adds little to no value to their smartphone experience. That’s got to be tough reading for the technology executives who are collectively betting hundreds of billions on an AI-powered future.

Of course, adoption takes time, and Samsung, for its part, is committed to the long game. At MWC 2025, I spoke to Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience (MX) VP of Product and Marketing at Samsung UK, who spoke on the company’s “number one aim” with Galaxy AI – and whose own adoption figures paint a more optimistic picture.

“Last year we launched Galaxy AI into the market, and we've now got over 5 million people using it on a regular basis in the UK. It took the internet eight years to get to that figure," said Bizon. "Once you start using something, it becomes behavior, and our job is to change behavior, so people can see the benefits."

“Now,” Bizon continued, “you can only change behavior if people do see a benefit. So [that’s the] number one aim. The second thing for us: Galaxy AI is our hero messaging because we want to own that space and bring credibility to that space. But we also need to demystify it, right? Because AI means a million things. Look around today [at MWC]. What we're saying is: AI makes the mundane easier. It makes you more creative, giving you back time to do the things you love. However, you can't forget that people buy a phone for the camera, the battery life, the durability. Those are principles that will sit below every single product we bring to market.”

Galaxy AI was a key feature of Samsung's latest Galaxy Unpacked showcase (Image credit: Samsung)

It’s clear, then, that Samsung hasn’t forgotten about the importance of hardware to consumers – despite the dizzying number of Galaxy AI-related ads you’ve likely seen over the past year. AI is Samsung’s “hero messaging”, but it’s a matter of synergy, not prioritization.

“If you think about hardware and software, they work together,” Bizon told me. “AI optimizes the battery on your phone, AI optimizes the camera on your phone – you can always iterate through hardware, but when you start adding AI into that, you really take the whole experience up to another level.

“[Our customers are using AI] because it's making their lives easier, whether that be Circle to Search, Live Interpreter, or the fact that I can book a restaurant through my voice and send an invite directly to my friend's calendar. That's all about saving time. If you save time, and you’ve got the best hardware [working alongside] the best software, you start to really change the customer experience. And that’s the important thing. Working in a way where technology works for you rather than you working for technology. AI is the space where we see all of our [technology] coming together – it’s like a PA in your pocket.”

Democratization is key to adoption

The mid-range Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 launched with AI last week (Image credit: Future)

Where smartphone-based AI was the preserve of the very best phones only a year or so ago, companies have now pivoted to offering AI at almost every step of the price ladder.

Google, for instance, offers the same AI features on the budget-friendly Google Pixel 8a as it does on the premium Google Pixel 9 Pro, while Apple recently debuted the Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone 16e, lowering the cost of entry to its AI feature suite. Removing the exclusivity from AI will allow these companies to refine and stress-test their AI features in a way that simply isn’t possible with a limited sample size, and Samsung, to its credit, realized this earlier than most.

After launching Galaxy AI in January 2024 on the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung rolled out the same features to the Galaxy S23 series just two months later. Galaxy AI compatibility now covers everything from the high-end Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to the mid-range Galaxy A55.

We've got over 5 million people using Galaxy AI on a regular basis in the UK.

Annika Bizon, Samsung

“AI for All is really important to us,” Bizon explained. “Everybody has a chance to use AI. Personally, I’m really proud of the fact that we took the step last year to take [Galaxy AI] onto previous-generation devices – that’s over 200 million devices globally, and we gave people the opportunity to experience it. You can only really get adoption when you've got a mass market to do that with.”

What’s more, the figures behind AI aren’t all bad. Those aforementioned survey results reflect the current sentiment towards smartphone-based AI, but recent research conducted by TechRadar publisher Future suggests people are increasingly swapping traditional search engines for AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Consumer habits are changing, and although Galaxy AI might seem gimmicky now, it won’t be long before millions of smartphone users really are using their voices to make restaurant reservations. Consider this: cars, laptops, and cheeseburgers were all perceived as dumb fads when they originally came to market. Now they’re crucial to the global economy.

You might also like

• Best Samsung phones: top Galaxy handsets ranked
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have durability to match its ‘sexy’ design
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: the ultimate Android

• King Charles III has pre-recorded a radio broadcast for Apple Music 1 to celebrate Commonwealth Day
• The broadcast features personal anecdotes and songs that have helped shape His Majesty's soundtrack to his life
• It will be available to listen on the 24/7 Apple Music 1 radio station on Monday March 10

As well as its stature of being one of the best music streaming services, Apple Music’s commitment to delivering top-notch listening experiences extends beyond albums, playlists and podcasts into radio, with stations such as Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits. For its next special radio broadcast Apple Music has enlisted a bona fide music lover, yet an unexpected one – King Charles III.

To celebrate Commonwealth Day happening on March 10, the sovereign himself will step into the role of emcee in a special broadcast for Apple Music 1 which was pre-recorded at Buckingham Palace.

Set to air at 6am GMT / 1am ET on March 10 on Apple Music 1, The King’s Music Room will take a dive into His Majesty’s experiences with music from around the Commonwealth and even reveal some hidden parts of his music identity.

The King’s Music Room has been described as “a musical journey that reflects His Majesty’s personal taste” as per Apple Music’s blog post, packing a recollection of personal anecdotes that recall His Majesty’s experiences with traveling Commonwealth countries and how these have impacted the evolution of the soundtrack to his life. Weaved in between these reflective moments are pockets of personal insights to his favorite songs and artists – and his taste might surprise you.

So, what will a playlist curated by the sovereign sound like? Well, it’s pretty much a given that there’ll be quite a bit of vintage, so you can expect to hear the sounds of smooth 1930s jazz. But what may come as a surprise is that King Charles III has his ear to the ground when it comes to new music releases, as artists such as Raye and Kylie Minogue have crept their way into the King’s Apple Music special.

In addition to music legends Grace Jones and Bob Marley, King Charles III’s Apple Music 1 broadcast promises a mixed-genre spectacle from Afrobeats, to Reggae, to modern pop and RnB.

There’s no denying that music has a very special place in His Majesty’s life, elaborating on his passion through a video statement: “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others. It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places”.

If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can listen to The King’s Music Room anytime on demand, after the initial broadcast. However, you don't need a subscription to listen to the broadcast live on Apple Music 1.

You might also like

• Shazam now makes it super-easy to add identified songs to a Spotify or Apple Music playlist – here’s how it works
• I switched through all the best music streamers for a month to compare them – here are the 7 biggest things I learned
• A cheaper YouTube Premium Lite tier could roll out soon – and as a Spotify fan I'm ready to sign up

• United Airlines has installed Starlink on its first regional aircraft
• The install time is just four days per aircraft versus 10+ days for other Wi-Fi systems
• The airline expects to install Starlink on over 40 aircraft a month starting in May

Back in January, right ahead of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, United Airlines announced that it was speeding up its rollout and installation of Starlink across its fleet. It was good news as Grant Milstead, VP of Digital Technology for the airline, told us that it was “kind of enabling the living room in the sky experience.”

How? Well, once Starlink is installed on United Airline’s aircraft, the result is free, fast Wi-Fi while on the ground and in the air as long as you are a member of MileagePlus, which is free to join. United Airlines sped up its planned rollout by confirming that the first commercial flight was expected on an Embraer E175 in the spring and that its entire regional fleet would be covered by the end of the year. Its first mainline aircraft would also have Starlink installed by the end of the year.

Now United Airlines has successfully installed Starlink on its first regional aircraft, learned some new lessons, and confirmed some theories about what this process would look like. And for anyone who flies United Airlines, it’s great news as you’re one step closer to getting this stronger, more stable connection in the sky.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

The most significant learning is that installing the Starlink antenna, the wiring, and the wireless access points inside the cabin of the aircraft is a lot less time-consuming than a typical antenna for traditional airline Wi-Fi. United says that it takes about eight hours to install the Starlink equipment, which is about 10 times faster than the current in-flight Wi-Fi equipment (though that eight-hour window doesn’t include de-installation or the testing equipment).

And here’s the best part for me as someone who tends to fly United Airlines, and for any others who do – you can expect Wi-Fi speeds up to 250Mbps on these regional aircraft, which is 50 times faster than current internet speeds. That means, when connected, you won’t have to worry about missing a text – even one with images – being able to browse the web, stream a show, or be productive and accomplish some work while cruising in the sky. I, for one, can’t wait to put that to the test.

Additionally, the Starlink antenna and corresponding equipment weigh 85 pounds and are electronically steered, which means no moving parts inside. That makes it easier to move, and less likely to need maintenance. It’s also a lot lighter (other antennas weigh upwards of 300 pounds) and United Airlines says it “means the aircraft requires less fuel to operate than with other inflight providers.”

The faster installation process also means the aircraft will be out of service for a shorter time. Currently, non-Starlink Wi-Fi installations for United take over 10 days, meaning the plane will not be flying for that period. United Airlines expects the Starlink installation and testing to take just four days, and that includes removing the old equipment. Remember, it’s outside on the aircraft's hull and inside under panels, where access points are located.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

Here are the steps for the installation process as it stands for United Airlines regional aircraft:

• Uninstall the existing Wi-Fi system.
• Install the Starlink system, which consists of the main antenna, an internal reinforcement structure, wireless access points for the cabin, and a power supply.
• The install team tests the whole system before and after closing the aircraft's interior.

It’s clear that United Airlines is still operating on this sped-up schedule and is eager to get Starlink-powered internet to more passengers, starting with regional aircraft. It’s not a small set of flyers either – while United Airlines' entire fleet is over 1,000 aircraft, the regional fleet is over 300 airplanes.

With one of those airplanes already done, United Airlines expects to install Starlink on over 40 aircraft a month starting in May before wrapping at the end of 2025. The goal is to cover all regional aircraft and then at least one mainline airplane.

You might also like

• United Airlines and Apple AirTags are ready to help reunite you with your lost bags
• Delta Air Lines just announced its vision for the future of flying – here are my 3 favorite features coming to its planes and app
• No, iOS 18.3 doesn't install Starlink on your iPhone – here's what the latest update does, and why you should download it

• Garmin Fenix 6, Enduro, Marq and Tactix watches are getting a new update
• The update fixes a list of bugs, including a problem which could cause the watches to crash
• The update is currently in beta

If you've got a Garmin Fenix 6, original Garmin Enduro, Quatix, Tactix Delta or MARQ watch, a new update is on the horizon, although it's currently only available to those who've signed up to Garmin's public beta program.

The update, version 28.01, doesn't add any of the new software features present on the best Garmin watches to these older watches, so it might not seem terribly exciting at first glance. However, it does make a few vital fixes to some potential issues on these watches.

Notably, Notebookcheck reports at least one user complaining that accessing music controls on their Garmin Enduro watch resulted in the device unexpectedly crashing, and others mentioning that update 28.00 results in faster-than-expected battery drain. Both issues are reportedly fixed in beta, according to Garmin's change logs.

Other issues fixed during the update include a user interface problem on the Garmin MARQ Aviator, errors with loading courses saved to the watch, and slow notifications.

What if I'm not part of Garmin's public beta program?

If you're experiencing any of the problems above, and you're not part of Garmin's public beta, don't fret: this means the fix is being actively trialled on user watches, and will be coming to the wider community very soon.

Garmin's public beta program, like all beta testing, is a bit of a double-edged sword: yes, you can access new features to test before anyone else, but you also open up your watch to a lot of potential bugs, which helps Garmin solve these issues before pushing them out in wider updates.

It's a necessary service for a smoothly-run, regular update schedule, but it does mean your day-to-day experience can be a little inconsistent.

If you'd like to know more about signing up for Garmin's public beta program, our guide on how to sign up for the Garmin Beta Software program can get you started.

You might also like...

• Google rolls out major Pixel Watch upgrade for all users – here's what's new in Wear OS 5.1
• Garmin Instinct 3 review: Instinctively a winning fitness watch
• Strava does a u-turn as users are allowed to post external links again

Leading VPN firm, ExpressVPN, has just released its biggest ever update to its Linux app, promising to deliver a user-centric experience with usability and enhanced security at its core.

ExpressVPN's new Linux application finally introduces the much-requested Graphical User Interface (GUI), meaning that users will be able to interact with the same easy-to-use interface used across other platforms. The upgrade also includes some new features like an advanced kill switch, split tunneling, and more.

The new Linux VPN app is currently available for beta testing only and is compatible with Ubuntu 24.04+, Debian10, Fedora30, Raspberry Pi OS Buster, Mint 20, and Arch. If you wish to keep using the command-line interface (CLI) app, you can still benefit from the upgraded version and its new advanced features.

More customization and security, with an intuitive interface

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers on the market, known for its feature-packed and easy-to-use applications. The upgrade comes then as a response to the popularity of Linux products and the need for high-quality VPN solutions.

"We recognized that the rapidly growing Linux community needed a powerful and intuitive VPN experience and got to work immediately," said Himmat Bains, ExpressVPN Head of Desktop apps.

This is where the new GUI comes in. The improved interface, which is available in light and dark modes across 17 languages, allows users to take control of their digital life in just a few clicks.

As Bains points out, though, the GUI is only one part of the upgrade. He said: "The new app integrates a host of advanced features that enable users to tailor their digital security experience – for more control and privacy while benefitting from the ease of use that ExpressVPN is known for."

For the first time, in fact, also Linux users can benefit from a split tunneling feature to select specific apps or IPs to be routed through the VPN or bypass it. An advanced kill switch option (here called Network Lock) also allows them to prevent internet access at all times unless the VPN is connected.

Image 1 of 3

Thanks to the new light and dark modes, you can fully customize your app's look in 17 different languages. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)Image 2 of 3

Head on the network tab to enable the advanced kill switch protection and LAN access. The latter allows you to securely connect to local devices on your network. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)Image 3 of 3

From the split tunneling tab, you can select which apps and IP you want to either include or exclude from the VPN connections for better usability. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Other security features that come with the new ExpressVPN's Linux app also include post-quantum encryption, alongside some advanced protection features to block intrusive ads, web trackers, malicious websites and adult content.

As with other platforms, the Linux app also comes with a choice of VPN protocol options that include OpenVPN and ExpressVPN's very own Lightway. Users will also be able to choose across servers in 105 countries worldwide.

As mentioned earlier, ExpressVPN will keep supporting CLI users, too, extending many of the same upgrades also for its Linux CLI new version. The provider suggests uninstalling your existing ExpressVPN Linux app (v3 and older) before installing the new Linux app (v4) to avoid any issues.

ExpressVPN’s new Linux app is now available for download in beta from the ExpressVPN website.

All in all, Bains said: "At ExpressVPN, our users have always been the driving force behind our innovations. Our major Linux enhancements are just one example, and reinforce our mission of making robust privacy protection accessible to everyone."