While we wait for the streaming release of Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie on Disney+, there's some good news for fans of buying or renting movies: the digital release comes with a bunch of bonus extras that enable you to spend "a bit of quality time with the cast and crew".
If you haven't already seen the movie, we'd really recommend it. In our Thunderbolts* review we said that "its incredibly touching tale, relatable characters, and likable cast – all of whom are firing on all cylinders – set it apart from its MCU brethren... [it] is an expectation-defying, incredibly moving MCU entry that unashamedly wears its heart on its sleeve".
What to expect from Thunderbolts* for home viewingIn the US, there will be a Walmart-exclusive pop-up edition of the Thunderbolts* Blu-ray (Image credit: Disney)There's an extensive list of bonus features as part of Thunderbolts* digital release (with the disclaimer that the features may vary by product and retailer), including deleted scenes that didn't make the final cut: 'Door Is Unliftable' and 'Gary Announcement', the latter of which features Congressman Gary from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier making an announcement about Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, aka Contessa.
There's also 'Assembling a Team to Remember', which delivers the promised quality time as the cast and crew divulge how the film's team of misfits and mavericks was assembled; 'Around the World and Back Again', which focuses on the eclectic locations and "astounding" production design, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where Florence Pugh performs stunts on some of Earth's tallest buildings; and 'All About Bob, Sentry & The Void', which is a deep dive into the making of Lewis Pullman's trio of characters.
In addition to these features there's also a director's commentary by Jake Schrier, and a gag reel of outtakes.
The digital release hits Prime Video, the Sky Store, Apple TV and Google TV today, July 1, and the 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD releases come out on July 29 in the US and a week later in the UK. There will also be a collectors' edition SteelBook release of the 4K UHD edition and a Walmart exclusive pop-up Blu-ray too.
You may also likeMultiple agencies of the Swiss federal government were affected by a supply chain attack that trickled down from Radix, a non-profit organization in the health promotion sector.
A short announcement published on the Swiss government website noted, “various administrative units of the Federal Administration” were among Radix’s customers.
It was further explained the company fell prey to a ransomware cyberattack in which attackers stole and encrypted data before publishing it on the dark web. After the fallout, Radix notified the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which kicked off an investigation to determine exactly what type of data was affected, and who the victims were.
Get 55% off Incogni's Data Removal service with code TECHRADAR
Wipe your personal data off the internet with the Incogni data removal service. Stop identity thieves
and protect your privacy from unwanted spam and scam calls.View Deal
“As Radix has no direct access to Federal Administration systems, the attackers did not gain entry to these systems at any time,” the government explained.
Radix also issued a statement on its own website, detailing what had happened.
“Unfortunately, we must confirm that despite high security standards and professional support, we have become the victim of a cyberattack,” the machine-translated notification reads. “On June 29, 2025, the hacker group Sarcoma published the stolen data on a leak site.”
Radix further explained the affected people were already notified, and stressed that the data from partner organizations were not compromised.
“Access to the affected data was immediately revoked after the attack was discovered. There was a confirmed data leak, and various data were encrypted. However, RADIX retains all data in an intact state on backups. The exact method of the attack is currently under investigation.”
Claiming all of the data was left intact on backups suggests the company is not interested in paying the ransom demand. This would make sense, since the attackers allegedly already leaked the spoils on the dark web.
Via BleepingComputer
You might also likeMark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has heated up the race towards AI superintelligence by restructuring the company’s artificial intelligence division with the main aim being to develop artificial superintelligence, that is, intelligence that is far beyond what humans are capable of.
Superintelligence could mean exponential leaps in medicine, science, and technology that dramatically change the course of humanity, but it doesn't come without risks.
In an memo to employees, Zuckerberg said he is creating a new group called Meta Superintelligence Labs, lead by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of data-labeling startup Scale AI, which Meta has recently acquired for $14.3 billion.
A new era for humanityAs reported by Bloomberg, the memo sent by Zuckerberg reads: “As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight. I believe this will be the beginning of a new era for humanity, and I am fully committed to doing what it takes for Meta to lead the way.”
The memo goes on to list 11 recent hires to the new division, which include ex-employees of OpenAI who worked on the last 12 months of OpenAI products, along with employees from Anthropic and Google.
The list includes Trapit Bansal, who pioneered RL on chain of thought and co-creator of o-series models at OpenAI, Shuchao Bi, co-creator of GPT-4o voice mode and o4-mini, and Huiwen Chang, co-creator of GPT-4o's image generation, who previously invented MaskIT and Muse text-to-image architectures at Google Research.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, has repeatedly posted about achieving superintelligence being the goal for his company on his blog.
As recently as June, he wrote, “We are past the event horizon; the takeoff has started. Humanity is close to building digital superintelligence, and at least so far it’s much less weird than it seems like it should be.”
However, it appears that Zuckerberg wants Meta to be the company that first claims to have achieved superintelligence, and he is certainly throwing an awful lot of money at this project, which has led some to question whether this is really the right approach and if achieving superintelligence is even possible.
Mark Zuckerberg paid $14.3 billion for Scale AI just to hire Alexandr Wang, and has even been offering OpenAI employees $100 million to join Meta, according to a report in the New York Times.
Zuckerberg’s new push towards superintelligence comes after Meta’s own Chief AI Scientist, Yann Le Cun, talking about superintelligence said publicly last month that “It’s not going to happen within the next two years, there is no way in hell”, and cast doubt upon the whole idea of scaling up existing LLM models, like Meta AI or ChatGPT, to achieve superintelligence, which is the approach that companies like OpenAI seem to be following.
Meta AI is currently available inside all the Meta social media apps, like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and can also be used within the new Meta AI app.
You might also likeTo no one's surprise, Nintendo has finally officially confirmed that the upcoming action platformer Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the same team as Super Mario Odyssey.
The information comes from a recent hands-on preview event at Nintendo's UK office, where a representative explained that this is the case.
Interestingly, the representative would not indicate whether Odyssey director Kenta Motokura was also taking on a similar role this time around, or provide any other information about the team.
Many online commentators have speculated on the Donkey Kong Bananza development team since the game was first revealed, with many predicting that it is the same team responsible for Odyssey, given the apparent similarities between the two.
Having now spent a few hours with the game, I can confirm that there is a lot of Odyssey DNA apparent in what I've tried of Donkey Kong Bananza so far. Structurally, the two games seem almost identical - with the same focus on free-form exploration and collectible hunting within open-ended levels.
Many features, like the ability to buy outfits in shops using currency that is specific to each region, return, albeit augmented via new additions such as a skill tree and unique buffs associated with each item of clothing.
Donkey Kong Bananza is set to launch on July 17, 2025, and will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. For an in-depth look at the game, be sure to read our new Donkey Kong Bananza preview.
You might also like...Nintendo has announced that it will be increasing the prices of some of its products in Canada.
As reported by IGN, the company said that a "pricing update" will be implemented soon in Canada for certain Nintendo products, namely the original Switch, the Switch OLED, and the Switch Lite.
Notably, the cost of the new Nintendo Switch 2, which launched early last month, will not be impacted, and pricing will remain the same.
It also confirmed that physical and digital games will be affected, which will likely impact Switch 2 owners since most games are backwards compatible, as well as accessories, and Nintendo Switch Online memberships.
As for the reason for the sudden price hike, Nintendo explained that the pricing adjustments are "based on market conditions", but didn't offer any further details.
Nintendo of Canada issued an advisory warning that stated that the full details of adjusted prices will be revealed later today (July 1), which will be reflected on the official Nintendo Canada store.
We can't say for certain how much each product will increase by, but we'll keep you updated.
Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed in Canada in April, following the delays in the US, which were made so Nintendo could assess the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.
If you're hoping to get your hands on the new console, you can check out our live coverage of Nintendo Switch 2 restocks for the US and UK.
You might also like...If you’ve recently received a text message from UPS, be careful: it could be a scam. You need to be especially wary if the message has come out of the blue or if you’re not expecting a parcel, as phishers and scammers are on the hunt for your private info. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe.
Specifically, the UPS text message warns that you’ve missed a supposed parcel delivery and that if you don’t respond, the package will be returned to the sender. In reality, there is no parcel – something given away by the lack of delivery number in the message. In other words, the scammers are sending out blanket texts without any specifics in an attempt to trick any users they possibly can.
The deception becomes more suspicious the closer you look. The messages in question contain a link that goes to a fraudulent website, but because the texts come from an unknown sender, many of the best phones will disable the link. In iOS, for example, links are not tappable if they come from new senders.
However, as soon as you reply to a message, the link is re-enabled. To prompt this, the scammers sending the UPS messages encourage you to reply with the letter Y – when done, this activates the link. The messages also tell you to copy and paste the link into a web browser, just in case. Replying not only re-enables the link – it also tells the scammer that your number is active, potentially opening you up to further targeting.
What the scammers are really after is your personal information, as they urge you to enter your details into their website. This can then be used for identity theft and other criminal activity. Needless to say, if you receive this message or are suspicious about its intentions, you shouldn’t reply or follow its embedded links. Instead, just delete it and report it as spam.
How to stay safe(Image credit: Getty Images)Regardless of whether you’re expecting a UPS parcel, you should not respond to messages like this. Instead, go to the official UPS website and check the status of your parcel there using your provided tracking number.
Telltale signs of a scam message are the lack of any identifying information (such as a parcel number or your name and address), and a disabled link to a website with a suspicious address, such as one that contains an unusual domain extension (like .pro or .xyz), misspelled words, or extra characters like hyphens that are not found in the official web address. If any of these elements are present, delete the message and report it as spam. You can also report it at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by going to ic3.gov.
Scam messages will often try to rush you into a decision by applying pressure and including threats. They might tell you that you will be fined or will lose the supposed package if you don’t respond. This is intended to get you to act too quickly and not think your decision through. If a message contains anything like this, take a moment to read it again and think clearly about whether it is likely to be genuine.
Both iOS and Android have tools to help you combat scam messages. Aside from reporting them as spam, both Apple’s Messages app and Google Messages now come with built-in spam detection, which can automatically banish fraudulent texts so that they never reach you. The latest iOS 26 update also has a Call Screening feature that requires unknown callers to identify themselves before they can ring you, and this is something that also exists in Android.
Vigilance is key to avoiding text scams, as despite the best efforts of companies like Apple and Google, there are bound to be some messages that slip through the net. If you get a suspicious text, check your gut feeling – does the text ask you to activate a weird-looking link? Is it overly vague with no identifying details like tracking numbers? Don’t panic if it threatens you – instead, take a breath and ask yourself if it feels off. If it does, exile it to the spam folder.
You might also likeGoogle has issued new usage guidance and best practices for its internal developers using generative AI to help them code, and it may not come as a surprise the tech giant is pushing the security agenda.
Following a period of experimenting with AI and determining its use cases, the document was actually created by engineers (via 9To5Google) before getting approved and disseminated.
The guidance broadly encourages developers to adopt AI to boost productivity, enable faster iteration and enhance product development, however the importance of humans in maintaining security is stressed.
Google shares AI coding guidelines with workersThe guidance reportedly covers using AI for coding assistance, its limitations and building AI-based systems. However, Google also noted it wants to see workers adopt AI in other regions of their work to help boost productivity further.
Nevertheless, humans clearly remain an integral part of the development process, with code review, security and maintenance all areas that require further work.
"Our engineering teams are already regularly using our AI tools for coding, fixing bugs, and much more," the company confirmed.
"These recommendations and best practices, developed by a group of software engineers at Google, are designed to help all SWEs across the company get the most out of AI in their day-to-day work."
The push comes amid growing industry-wide adoption of GenAI in software engineering. Earlier in 2025, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that around one-third of the company's code is now AI-generated.
Other companies, including Microsoft and Meta, are also increasing the amount of AI-generated code they use, and a recent study found that 30.1% of US Python code on GitHub was AI-generated.
Google's most formal guidance on AI in coding to date could also go on to inform policies for other companies. It also highlights the company's growing reliance on generative AI tools.
You might also likeGoing by the latest leak, the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL could be two of the more disappointing smartphone launches of the year, as it sounds like not much might be changing.
According to Android Headlines, the main upgrade might simply be to their batteries, with the Pixel 10 Pro said to have a 4,870mAh one (up from 4,700mAh in the Pixel 9 Pro), and the Pixel 10 Pro XL apparently set to have a 5,200mAh one (up from 5,060mAh in the Pixel 9 Pro XL).
To go along with that, both phones will apparently have marginally higher wired charging power, at 29W in the case of the Pixel 10 Pro and 39W in the case of the Pixel 10 Pro XL – but that’s only a 2W increase over last year in both cases. Wireless charging could deliver up to 3W more power, reaching 15W.
Beyond that, the specs mentioned in this leak are largely identical to those of the current models. That includes the screens, which will apparently be 6.3-inch in the case of the Pixel 10 Pro and 6.8 inches for the Pro XL, with both having 1-120Hz refresh rates, both having a 3,000-nit peak brightness, and both using Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The cameras will also apparently be largely unchanged, with both phones said to sport a 50MP primary sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto, with 5x optical zoom. There’s also once again said to be a 42MP front-facing camera.
However, both the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras might be able to take macro photos this year, while the current models can only use the ultra-wide for macro shots.
More power and a higher priceThe Pixel 10 Pro XL could cost more than the 9 Pro XL (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)These phones should at least get a power upgrade too, with this leak echoing others in saying they’ll have a new Tensor G5 chipset, as expected, but adding that they’ll once again have 16GB of RAM.
Finally, there’s a mention of storage, with the Google Pixel 10 Pro said to have the same configurations as its predecessor – namely 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. There’s a slight change mentioned for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, as this phone will apparently lack a 128GB option, but the site speculates that this will just be used as a way for Google to justify a price increase, so it’s not necessarily a good change.
We’ve previously heard that the Pixel 10 Pro XL might cost more than the Pixel 9 Pro XL, so this fits with that, but many of the other details in this leak are new, so we’d take these specs with a pinch of salt.
We should find out exactly what the Pixel 10 Pro series has to offer in under two months, with August 20 being tipped as the announcement date. Hopefully by then we’ll have heard some more exciting leaks, because based on the above, the Pixel 10 Pro line might not be worth upgrading to.
You might also like2025 is set to be a big year for Tech conferences around the world.
If you need help deciding which to attend, or if you'd just like to check out the conferences on offer, TechRadar Pro has put together a list of the most anticipated festivals and events to keep you up to date!
Reuters Events: Momentum AI San Jose 2025
July 15th-16th | San Jose, CA
This two day conference will explore AI and looks to help improve the way that companies operate and can deliver products and services. Join industry experts to discuss the insights into AI.
Why attend? Hear from Seth Cohen Chief Information Officer at Procter & Gamble, and Yao Morin Chief Technology Officer, at JLL.
ACM Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) Conference
July 5th-9th | Madeira, Portugal
The ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference will have five areas of focus; Critical Computing and Design Theory, Design Methods and Processes, Artifacts and Systems, Research Through Design, and AI and Design - join industry experts to find out more.
Why attend? Hear keynotes from the brightest minds with and gain invaluable insights into all things design.
Women Impact Tech West Regional Accelerate Conference
July 24th| Virtual
Over 1,000 women and leaders in tech to discuss AI, development, and engineering. Network and strategise with the best in your sector!
Why attend?
July 29th-31st | Nashville, TN
Global Technology Industry Association's (GTIA) ChannelCon is one of the biggest IT events in 2025. Meet with tech experts, vendors and providers to take your business to the next level.
Why attend? Hear from experts such as Noelle Russell, Keynote Speaker, Leading AI Innovator & Practitioner, and Dan Wensley, CEO, GTIA.
It's fair to say Google app support for the Apple Watch isn't the most comprehensive, so the arrival of a new Google Calendar app for Apple's wearables would normally be something to celebrate – only the Google Keep app has disappeared at the same time.
The arrival of Google Calendar was spotted by the team at 9to5Google. It's a pretty basic app, but it does the job: you get a week's worth of events, plus current Google Tasks, and the color coding is carried over from the main app.
You can't create new events or reminders from the Apple Watch, but there are two complications available, for showing the next appointment and the current date. In fact, it seems to be almost an exact match for Google Calendar on Wear OS.
The news of Google Keep getting pulled from watchOS was also reported by 9to5Google. That takes the number of official Google apps on the Apple Watch back down to three – with Google Maps and YouTube Music the other two.
Users are losing out, againGoogle Calendar for the Apple Watch (Image credit: Google)It's disappointing to see that Google Keep is no longer available for the Apple Watch, because it's just the kind of app you want at-a-glance access to. It's perhaps not a surprise, though: the watchOS version of the app hadn't been updated for years.
And it's a shame that Google is so reluctant to put its apps on Apple's wearable. No doubt it would rather people went with Android and Wear OS, but Google's apps for the iPhone are some of the best in the business, and constantly updated.
That means the millions of users with an iPhone and an Apple Watch are missing out when it comes to getting their Google app info on their wrists. That's more likely to push the masses towards Apple's own native apps, rather than Android.
Perhaps the arrival of Google Calendar for watchOS is an indication that Google Keep will soon return in a new and improved form – perhaps to coincide with the rollout of watchOS 26 later in the year – but we're not going to be holding our breath.
You might also likeAmazon has revealed it now has nearly as many robots as humans in its workforce after deploying its millionth robot across its warehouses and operations, a WSJ report has claimed.
Helping to pick, sort, package and transport goods, robots now assist with around three in four global deliveries, however the effects on the workforce might not be as bad as it first sounds, and plenty of human jobs remain.
The company says it has gone from around 175 packages per employee to around 3,870 in the space of a decade, having seen considerable growth across its businesses.
Amazon's workforce is nearly half robotsOne of the areas robots have proven their worth is in smaller, same-day delivery facilities that have fewer employees, where they can increase output. Products typically move around 25% faster in heavily automated facilities compared with traditional warehouses, it's reported.
Besides launching new robots (Amazon is the world's largest manufacturer and operator of mobile robots), the company also recently introduced DeepFleet, a foundation model built on AWS tools designed to coordinate robot movements.
Already, Amazon says it has see robot fleet travel efficiency improve by 10% using the AI, reducing congestion in its warehouses.
Among its current fleet are Hercules, which can lift up to 1,250lbs, Pegasus, which handles packages via a conveyor belt, and Proteus, Amazon's first fully autonomous robot operating alongside humans.
However, at the same time, Amazon Robotics VP Scott Dresser boasted that more than 700,000 employees have been upskilled since 2019 through training in robotics, engineering and maintenance, suggesting that human roles at Amazon could be evolving rather than disappearing.
Dresser also noted that new fulfillment centers, including Shreveport, LA, require 30% more technical roles to look after the tech.
Looking ahead, Amazon plans to continue using AI and ML to create more intelligent and responsive robots. Dresser envisions them improving employee safety, creating new career opportunities and boosting customer satisfaction.
You might also likeOracle has signed a mystery cloud contract worth over $30 billion annually, which would effectively more than double the company's current cloud revenue.
CEO Safra Catz explained that the company had gotten off to a "strong start" this fiscal year, having signed multiple large cloud agreements already.
However, among those agreements is a mystery contract, according to a new SEC filing, said to be worth "more than $30 billion," leading investors speculating who the deal could be with.
Oracle's huge mystery cloud contractAlthough the contract was signed in the company's 2026 fiscal year, it won't come into play until 2028 – it's unclear whether further details could be shared before then.
Among the most common suggestions for partners include OpenAI, which is working together with Oracle on Project Stargate, Temu, which recently became an Oracle customer, and TikTok, which uses Oracle Cloud in the US.
Nevertheless, $30 billion in extra annual revenue is big news for Oracle. As of fiscal year 2025, Oracle's total cloud revenue was just $24.4 billion – less than this single mystery contract. Total company revenue was up 8% year-over-year to $57.4 billion.
In other news, Oracle has also confirmed plans to build a $40 billion AI data center campus near Dallas for Project Stargate, supplying 400,000 Nvidia GB200 GPUs for the project. The company also plans to spend up to $500 billion in infrastructure by 2029 to meet demand.
However, while the $30 billion contract will provide some stability for Oracle, capital expenditure increased threefold from $7 billion to $21 billion in just the space of one year.
Looking ahead, Oracle predicts cloud infrastructure revenue growth of 70% by the end of this fiscal year, with company revenue climbing to an estimated $104 billion by fiscal 2029.
TechRadar Pro has asked Oracle for more information on the contract, but we don't expect to get an answer.
You might also likeNintendo has denied claims that it pulled Nintendo Switch 2 stock from Amazon US during the console's launch period due to a dispute over third-party sellers.
In a new report from Bloomberg, it was claimed that the two companies have been caught up in a disagreement regarding unauthorized, third-party sales of Nintendo games that were undercutting the Switch creator.
Due to this, Nintendo reportedly pulled its products from Amazon as people were buying cheaper stock in bulk from Southeast Asia and exporting and reselling them in the US at a cheaper price.
As a result, no first-party Nintendo Switch games, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Mario Kart World, have been unavailable for purchase, although Amazon US did recently add a listing for Donkey Kong Bananza (via IGN).
It's said that Amazon attempted to settle the matter by offering Nintendo authenticity labels on its products, but according to Bloomberg, "Nintendo ultimately opted to pull its products from Amazon in the US", which resulted in a lack of Switch 2 stock during its pre-order and release period.
However, Nintendo has denied Bloomberg's claims.
"There is no such fact," a Nintendo spokesperson said in a statement to Tom's Hardware. "We do not disclose details of negotiations or contracts with retailers."
Amazon has also come forward to deny the report, saying the claims about its relationship with Nintendo were "inaccurate" and that it is "pleased to offer Nintendo products directly to our customers as part of our commitment to providing an exceptional shopping experience with the widest selection possible."
Despite this latest development, Nintendo Switch 2 stock is still not available on Amazon US.
You might also like...Xbox players can look forward to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake in July. Beyond that there's Borderlands 4, expected to be a next-gen sequel to 2019's third entry. Then, we'll hopefully get some news as to when we can expect Gears of War: E-Day, which serves as a prequel to the very first game.
New Xbox Series X games will start arriving thick and fast once over the next few months, with new exclusives launching on Microsoft's most powerful consoles. There's certainly a lot to look forward to for Xbox fans.
From Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 +4 remake to Borderlands 4, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S players will have plenty of new Xbox games to keep them busy for the rest of the year, and beyond – and we're here to tell you exactly when you'll get your hands on them.
Below, we've rounded up all the release dates and windows for the biggest confirmed Xbox Series X games of 2025 and beyond. So, it's time to get your calendar out and start taking down some dates. As always, these release dates are subject to delays. If any games are pushed back, this page will be updated.
New Xbox games 2025: this year’s most anticipated releases(Image credit: Konami)Below, you'll find a brief list of the biggest video game releases on the horizon, all for Xbox Series X|S.
Finally, here's a list of Xbox games that have been announced, but either don't have more than a release year attached to them yet, or are much further out. For now, they're simply TBC, but once each game does receive a release date, this page will be updated.
Hyperkin's Drakong brand has teamed up with legend guitar maker Fender to create the Infinakore Telecaster Edition.
Much like the PDP Riffmaster, this is a guitar controller primarily designed for use with Fortnite Festival. However, a major selling point of the Infinakore is its broad compatibility with consoles both old and new. That means you'll be able to use it with most Guitar Hero and Rock Band games - as well as fan games such as Clone Hero on PC.
The Infinakore Telecaster Edition will have two versions - one for Xbox consoles, and another for multiplatform compatibility. The latter will work with PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles including PS5 and Switch 2, but not Xbox. However, both models will be compatible with PC and mobile devices.
What's looking particularly unique about the Infinakore Telecaster Edition is its modularity. The controller can be broken down into individual parts, including the head, fretboard and body. These parts can then be swapped out for your own, if you're into customization.
No price has been announced for the controller just yet, but it's due to release sometime in 2026, according to Drakong's website. It'll support both wired and wireless connections, via Bluetooth and 2.4GHz. Supposedly, it'll also sport a battery life of around 36 hours, which will definitely be impressive if true - pushing Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller numbers there.
You might also like...Dyson has launched a new version of its Airwrap, and it looks better than ever. The new Airwrap Co-anda 2x is smaller and lighter, but offers more air pressure and more power. The accessories have also been upgraded to amp up the styler's versatility.
There's now attachment recognition, and an all-new AirSmooth attachment that looks particularly interesting for those looking to create sleek, straight styles.
I reviewed the Dyson Airwrap i.d. and rated it the best hair styler on the market. I haven't tested this one yet, but if I were a betting woman, I'd say Dyson is about to dethrone its own styler with the upgraded version.
To create that smaller and lighter build, the Airwrap Co-anda 2x has had its internal mechanics completely redesigned, with a new Hyperdymium 2 motor. Two cool facts about this motor are that it can spin nine times faster than an F1 car engine, and that the wire powering the motor is just 90 microns wide – which is as thin as a strand of human hair. It can apparently deliver twice the air pressure and 30% more power than the Airwrap i.d., without increasing noise levels, which should mean faster drying, more efficient hair wrapping, and sleeker straightening.
(Image credit: Dyson)You're still getting the i.d.curl feature, which was such a game-changer on the Airwrap i.d. It enables you to launch a personalized curl sequence with the flick of a button. Here, the barrels can also apparently detect when hair is fully wrapped, and it's time to start the i.d. curl sequence.
Overall, it looks like the gap between Dyson and other Airwrap-alikes is widening – today's best Airwrap dupes can't even offer clockwise and anti-clockwise curls on the same barrel, let alone automating the entire process for you. However, I am slightly perturbed to see that Dyson seems to have redesigned the buttons here, swapping the Airwrap i.d.'s chunky, easy-to-use buttons for the fiddly, unnecessarily small switches found on the Dyson Supersonic r hair dryer.
It's all in the accessoriesAs I said up top, the accessories are where it's really at, so let's take a closer look at them. Previous versions of the Airwrap were mainly geared towards curling, but this latest iteration amps up the versatility and acts more like a true 'multi-styler'.
Firstly, the attachments now contain RFID sensors that enable the dryer part to recognize which one is clipped on. Then it'll automatically adjust to the optimal temperature and windspeed settings (the first time) or your last-used settings (thereafter) with each attachment. It's precisely the same as on the Supersonic Nural and Supersonic r hair dryers, where I found it massively helped to streamline the styling process, making it easier than ever to swap between tools.
Second, there's a new attachment geared specifically towards straightening: the AirSmooth2x, which looks like it's been inspired by the wet-to-dry Dyson Airstrait. Two unheated plates clamp together and blast the hair between them with air, with the tension helping smooth and straighten the strands as they dry. The plates will automatically unclamp once you reach the bottom of the hair.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Dyson)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Dyson)Dyson says the Airwrap Co-anda 2x is the only multi-styler on the market to come with six attachments included with purchase. I'm not sure that's true, but there is certainly a more comprehensive range than you'd usually get.
There are two bundles to choose from, with different attachments to suit different hair types:
Straight + Wavy bundle:
Curly + Coily bundle:
You can pick up most of the attachments individually if the one you want isn't included in your chosen bundle. Also available individually is a 20mm barrel for tighter curls (interestingly, Dyson seems to have already done away with the tapering barrel it introduced with the Airwrap i.d.).
“Traditional stylers can damage hair, but we have always focused on developing tools that protect hair health whilst enhancing without compromising precision and/or performance," comments brand founder James Dyson. "We harness our expertise in motors, fluid dynamics, and materials to continually improve... It’s about creating exciting long-lasting styles using smarter, more efficient technology."
(Image credit: Dyson)Price & availabilityThe Co-anda 2x is actually already available in some international markets, including Korea. However, it was unveiled in the US and UK today (July 1). Both markets will offer the styler in Ceramic Pink or Jasper Plum, and the option of Straight+Wavy or Curly+Coily bundles (priced the same).
It will go on sale in the US from July 8 at Dyson.com and Sephora.com for $699.99. For comparison, the i.d. has a list price of $599.99.
UK shoppers will have a bit longer to wait: the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x will go on sale in September with a list price of £579.99 (compared to £479.99 for the i.d.).
You might also like...There’s nothing quite like live sport. Globally, over half a billion (571 million) people tuned in to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. Demand for live sports is showing no signs of slowing. But throughout the entire sporting industry, from the field of play to the IT infrastructure beaming the events live to your living room, nothing stands still for long. For athletes and behind-the-scenes technicians alike, innovation is king.
In live sports broadcasting, the next innovation on the horizon revolves around photons and transmitting data at the speed of light. As data demand grows exponentially and current network infrastructure struggles under growing pressure and increasing demand, the broadcast industry must look toward All-Photonics Networks (APNs) to deliver the future of live broadcast.
The challenges facing the future of live broadcastingThe industry’s current infrastructure is struggling to deal with the increasing demand for media production. While technology has developed at an electrifying rate, the infrastructure we rely on to deliver media has not. Take, for example, the ongoing AI boom. There’s no doubt that AI will significantly add to video production network loads, but our current networks were not built with AI in mind. This isn’t sustainable.
As such, producing high-quality live broadcasts is becoming increasingly challenging. Couple this with skilled media professionals typically residing in urban areas and it quickly becomes apparent that delivering live content, like sports, that takes place in remote locations is not only becoming trickier, but more expensive.
So, the live broadcast industry, including live sports, is faced with a challenging question. How can the growing demand for engaging, live content be delivered without escalating costs or compromising on quality? The answer is All-Photonics Networks. Rather than using electrons, APNs utilize photons to transmit data. In doing so, APNs consume less power, facilitate higher quality and capacity data transfers, all with less delay.
The future is remoteAs the demand for high-quality, live content continues to grow and the traditional broadcasting infrastructure struggles to keep up, the next step in overcoming these challenges lies in transforming how media production is managed, remotely and with greater efficiency.
Currently, live broadcasting requires a significant in-person presence. Even for the world’s largest events, bringing the world’s best talent to remote locations can be a challenge. Not to mention expensive. But the need to be there, in person, is only dictated by technological restraints. APNs break free of this restraint.
Rather than needing to be in a broadcast van in or outside the venue, media operators can work remotely. APNs enable media production operators to access and control production resources as if they are on-site. This also allows broadcasters to stream more events from lower leagues or remote locations, increasing choice and accessibility for fans.
APNs offer low-latency, high-bandwidth connections that utilize photonics. By using photons, rather than electrons, to transmit data, this infrastructure supports the remote control of production resources, enabling seamless, real-time editing and switching. The technology equally supports resource sharing across networks, allowing broadcasters to access and allocate production assets efficiently.
By enabling remote work, All-Photonics Networks (APNs) can help address the growing skills gap in live sports broadcasting. Research shows that over half of professionals in the TV industry believe skills-related challenges have worsened in recent years. APNs provide a solution by allowing technicians to work from anywhere, breaking geographic barriers and tapping into a global talent pool.
This flexibility not only eases the skills shortage but also promotes diversity and inclusion, as it opens up opportunities for professionals from different regions and backgrounds to contribute to high-profile events.
The financial and environmental case for APNsNot only does the shift to remote work bring operational advantages, but it also presents significant financial and environmental benefits, which are crucial as the sports industry looks for ways to optimize costs and reduce its environmental impact. Expanded coverage doesn't require extra travel or personnel, removing cost barriers that have long limited what fans can watch.
In elite-level sports, money talks. Whether it's signing top talent for a football team or developing a race-winning car in motorsport, the power of the dollar is evident throughout the industry. And the same is true when assessing the value of updating or overhauling infrastructure. There must be a financial benefit.
APNs will revolutionize cost efficiency. Compared to electron-based infrastructure, APNs will reduce both CapEx and OpEx by minimizing on-site infrastructure and personnel needs. Furthermore, APNs will be more resilient than current systems, not only will they facilitate uninterrupted broadcasts, it will also mean less is spent on repairs and fixes. This is because Photonics Networks are more durable and reliable, making them ideal for even the most challenging conditions.
And equally, like many other industries, the live broadcast sector is undergoing sustainable transitions. Through APNs, broadcasters will have access to more energy-efficient infrastructure that optimizes networking usage and ultimately reduces the broadcasters' carbon footprint.
While viewers may be more familiar with innovation on the pitch, racetrack, or field of play, APNs highlight that it is equally within the infrastructure and behind the scenes of live sports broadcasting that innovative new technologies are set to be revolutionary. Now, as broadcasters question how the growing demand for engaging, live content can be delivered without escalating costs or compromising on quality, it’s increasingly apparent that the answer is racing toward them, at the speed of light.
We list the best TVs for sport for all budgets. We've also listed the best sports streaming sites and services.
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
2023 was the breakout year of AI and since then it’s been going from strength to strength. It’s seen as the solution to everything from productivity and a skills gap to fixing the NHS, with Tony Blair calling for AI doctors and chatbots to ‘save’ the health service.
There has been an explosive growth of generative AI with most companies using it in at least one of their business functions. It’s gone from being a subject discussed by tech teams to something regularly mentioned in the boardroom.
According to a survey of C-suite executives, 40 percent say their companies will increase their investment in AI tools overall.
And whilst there is no doubt AI is developing in accuracy, I do not believe it can replace humans in every single area and one in particular – emotional intelligence.
Over-reliance on AI in businessOver-reliance on AI in business risks removing that vital input from key decision making and team building and runs the risk of making some areas of leadership redundant – at significant cost.
The costs might not immediately show up on a PNL spreadsheet, but they will be felt in other areas where it might not be so easy to quantify.
AI is a useful tool, but it's just that - a tool and it cannot replace that ‘gut feeling’ or connection that a great leader of any team has. That’s the magic which turns a group of disparate people into a team – the sum of which is greater than its parts.
My concern is that we need to strike the right balance between our use of technology and building and developing our own skills. If all we do is put resources into AI at the expense of other training and development, or replace people with machines, we will be the worse for it.
In short, I worry that people will become reliant on AI and could lose that innate human element that we bring to leadership and team building.
Leaders have understanding and insightsLeaders have understanding and insights built over many years which cannot be replaced by data or machines. If AI cannot find the answers to a question, it can make things up. Look at the infamous court case in America which made headlines in May 2023 when a law firm, Levidow, Levidow & Oberman got caught citing fake cases generated by ChatGPT.
The ‘soft skills’ which good leaders at all levels have make the difference between a good leader and a great leader can’t be replaced by software. These personal qualities enable people to interact effectively and successfully with others: communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability – not to mention empathy.
These should be highly valued in the workplace, and especially by leaders, as they contribute to improved teamwork, productivity and overall job satisfaction.
My experience of working in elite sports has shown me that humans cannot just be replaced by technology, no matter how smart.
AI has a role to playAI has a role to play in any team, particularly with more basic tasks of information gathering or data analysis, but it cannot replace the power of a human connection.
An emotionally intelligent leader goes beyond the numbers and knows their team. AI can’t pick up that real emotional response, and it can't read people like humans do.
It’s ‘machine learning’ for a reason – it uses whatever data you pump into it but there are just some cues and traits which cannot be quantified and that’s what cannot be replaced.
We've used technology and data in sport for a long time; elite sports is incredibly data driven. We've got all the information that says the players should train at this point because they are due to pull a hamstring or develop another injury or over train.
And whilst it's useful to have that information, it should be used as a guide.
I've seen many top-level coaches when the sports scientists are running over, saying ‘we need to stop training now.’
But the coach looks at the players and can see that the players can continue for another ten minutes, and he’s pushed the players through.
The data could also get it wrong and put players at risk by pushing them too much whereas a coach will see if his players look physically fatigued and need to stop training early.
Costs of bad investmentThe costs of misreading that at elite sports level go beyond the investment in a machine: we’re talking millions of pounds worth of players or the opportunity to achieve a lifetime goal of a medal on the world stage.
And even when Olympic golds aren’t in the picture, the impact of a toxic working environment is felt not only in the lower productivity or staff turnover but in more personal impacts on someone’s health and sense of value.
This knowledge and consequent decision making comes from the human understanding of people. In my 25 years’ of working in both a team and in a leadership role in sports I have yet to see a coach who has got that wrong.
Because we’ve used data in sports for so many years I think it provides a lesson for other areas on how we can use AI: as a way of gathering data, of making predictions or analysing patterns but only as a tool to help inform our own human-driven intelligence.
To rely on AI wholly would be a mistake: nothing can replace that human intelligence.
We've compiled a list of the best data visualization tools and the best business intelligence platforms.
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
Time flies when you’re listening to some good music, right? Well, Apple Music has officially turned ten today, and since Apple got into the streaming music game, a lot has changed. We’ve seen design changes and new features – remember its annual replay functionality arrived in 2019 – but marking ten years of streaming is a new playlist that lets you look back.
Rolling out for Apple Music subscribers now is a ‘Replay All Time’ playlist, which gives you your top 100 most played tracks since you joined the service. That could be a very long way back if you’ve been streaming since 2015, or a more recent look, but either route, it’ll likely be a journey through taste.
I found the ‘Replay All Time’ playlist right on my home tab in the Music app on my iPhone and my Mac. The description for the playlists reads, “In honor of Apple Music’s first decade, take a look back. Relive your all-time favorite tracks, all in one playlist.” And as with any playlist on Apple Music, you can play it in sequence or shuffle it, as well as save it to your library and download for offline listening.
(Image credit: Apple)My All Time playlist did have a few surprises, and I expected that as I joined the service back on day one, June 30, 2015. There were plenty of previous songs of the summer – anyone remember Justin Timberlake’s ‘Can’t Stop This Feeling’ or ‘I Lived’ by OneRepublic? – but also many of my favorite tracks that I opt for quite a bit.
So, yes, for me, that means a lot of Bruce Springsteen, and I noticed some appearances that were used as a wake-up alarm on my HomePod and HomePod mini. It’s a neat walk down memory lane, though, and at an unexpected time of the year. Usually, Apple Music rolls out Replay towards the end of the year, offering a look back at your year in music.
Spotify also rolls out Wrapped yearly and adds in a lot more social elements, as well as categorization based on your music taste. And if you’re a Spotify user who wants a similar look back at the decade or since Spotify launched in your region – it was July of 2011 for the United States – you’ll need to look to a third-party to get the experience … though the service might end up copying a bit of Apple’s celebration here.
Stats.fm is always a good choice for learning a bit more about your listening habits and what you’re streaming the most on various cadences, and this would be an excellent route. If you sign in with your Spotify account and grant permissions, you can select for a “lifetime” look at your top genres, tracks, and artists – all of this without needing to subscribe to the “Plus” tier.
It will provide your top 50 tracks, and you can easily select one of those to play. You can opt to subscribe to Stats.fm to unlock more statistics and more than just your 50 top tracks from Spotify.
(Image credit: Apple)It’ll be interesting to see if Spotify rolls this out in a formal way, but it’s great that you can use a third-party to accomplish this. Still, Apple Music’s rollout of an All Time playlist is a nice touch, and it comes ahead of the music service debuting the top 500 most-streamed songs. That process will begin on July 1, 2025, and will announce a set of 100 tracks daily, days before dropping a full playlist for listeners to enjoy.
Apple’s also rolling out other playlists to celebrate the anniversary and some new Apple Music Radio specials. And there’s a new, over 15,000-square-foot Apple Music studio location opening in Los Angeles, California, which includes listening rooms kitted for immersive Spatial Audio playback. It’ll have larger stages and studios for artists to record and perform on.
You might also likeLenovo’s latest Chromebook Plus (14", 10) has introduced something unusual: a MediaTek Kompanio Ultra processor.
This is not a name typically seen in the business laptop world, especially not in premium machines aiming to balance performance and portability.
But Lenovo seems confident this unique CPU, paired with Google’s newest AI tools, can stand up to more familiar silicon from AMD and Intel.
Uncommon power in a familiar shellThe Lenovo Chromebook Plus promises an all-in-one experience tailored for professionals, students, and creators.
It supports up to 16GB of memory and 256GB of internal storage, but the real story lies in the chip powering it - the Kompanio Ultra processor features MediaTek’s NPU 890 and Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU, delivering 50 TOPS of AI performance.
While impressive on paper, the broader market has yet to demonstrate what this actually means for everyday users in real workflows.
The laptop also features an OLED 2K display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a battery life that reportedly reaches up to 17 hours.
At just under 1.17kg, it qualifies among the lightest laptop models with this much hardware inside, though real-world usage may paint a more tempered picture.
Lenovo and Google are pushing the AI story hard. Features like Smart Grouping, AI-assisted image editing in the Gallery app, and optical character recognition across documents aim to streamline digital life.
There’s also Gemini support directly on the shelf, allowing text summarization and tab management.
"The Lenovo Chromebook Plus (14", 10) delivers the most powerful AI capabilities ever on a Chromebook… this premium device is your perfect everyday companion," said Benny Zhang, Executive Director and General Manager of Chromebooks in Lenovo's Intelligent Devices Group.
The machine includes Chrome Enterprise Upgrade for IT control and the Chrome Education Upgrade for schools, both allow admins to manage updates, policies, apps, and security from the cloud.
Still, users comparing this device to more traditional options in the same price range might hesitate.
Starting at $649, it overlaps with more established Windows and macOS devices - so those looking for the best laptop for engineering students may find the limitations of ChromeOS, especially with software compatibility, a deal breaker.
And while its portability is a strength, the MediaTek processor still needs to prove itself under demanding professional use.
Via TechPowerUp
You might also like