TechRadar News

• Thanko keyboard tries to do everything but ends up asking way too much money
• A 10-inch screen on a keyboard sounds cool until you check the resolution
• It’s foldable, space-saving, and touch-enabled, but only if you’re using Windows

Thanko has launched what might be one of the most unexpected entries in the increasingly niche world of peripherals: a mechanical keyboard integrated with a 10-inch touchscreen monitor.

The company says this full mechanical keyboard is designed for space-conscious users who still want both tactile input and an additional display.

“The combination of a customizable and highly durable mechanical keyboard with independent switches and a 10-inch monitor... saves space while improving work efficiency,” Thanko says.

Compact design, but with compromises

The keyboard integrates a 1,920 x 720 resolution TFT LCD touchscreen, which supports 10-point multi-touch and features a continuously adjustable angle. It occupies just 320 x 140 mm of space and can be folded when not in use.

The idea is to deliver a dual-purpose tool for coders or business users who need a second screen. However, the relatively low resolution and aspect ratio may limit how much useful content can actually be displayed.

The screen can function as a touch-enabled display if set as the main monitor, but Thanko quietly notes: “If it does not work properly even after changing the settings, it is a compatibility issue.”

Despite its promise of touch interaction, there’s no mention of macOS or Linux support, suggesting this device is designed solely for the Windows ecosystem. As a result, its usefulness outside that environment remains unknown.

While it could make for a decent business keyboard, or a keyboard for coding, it really needs broader compatibility.

The keyboard uses blue switches by default and allows full customization, including switch types and keycaps. It also includes an RGB LED backlight and ships with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable. Users can supplement power via an additional USB Type-C port if needed.

That said, it’s hard to determine whether the typing experience is truly premium or merely adequate with flair, as no typing latency or switch actuation specs are disclosed.

Designed for plug-and-play via USB 3.0, the keyboard weighs about 1.5 kg and is listed at 69,800 yen (around $445).

It certainly scores points for compactness and desk economy, but at nearly $450, buyers may wonder whether it’s worth the cost compared to purchasing a standalone mechanical keyboard and a separate secondary display.

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• Ballerina's final scene is a deliberate homage to John Wick: Chapter 2's ending, its director says
• Len Wiseman reveals it was Keanu Reeves' idea to create a near-identical ending
• Wiseman already has ideas for a follow-up film

Ballerina's director has revealed it was Keanu Reeves' idea to end the action-thriller in the same way as the second John Wick movie.

Speaking ahead of the film's global release on June 6, Len Wiseman told TechRadar that Reeves, who plays the franchise's titular hitman, suggested that Ballerina's final scene should mirror that of 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2.

Full spoilers immediately follow for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, so turn back if you haven't watched it yet.

Eve Macarro, seen here in an earlier Ballerina scene, has had a hit put out on her (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Ballerina ends with Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro watching her close friend, who was also a Ruska Roma assassin-in-training before she was kicked out by The Director, achieve her dream of becoming a fully-fledged ballet dancer.

However, as Macarro watches her performance at a local theater, the footage is interspersed with someone putting out a contract hit on the titular character. Numerous phones – owned by other hitmen, no less – start pinging and buzzing in the theater, which Macarro quickly becomes aware of. Knowing she's in danger if she sticks around, she quietly leaves via one of the venue's fire exits.

The ending isn't dissimilar to John Wick: Chapter 2's final scene. That movie, which takes place years prior to Ballerina (find out more about this franchise's timeline in my John Wick movies in order guide), closes with the eponymous hitman being forced to go on the run.

Keanu Reeves' titular assassin is forced to go on the run at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2 (Image credit: Lionsgate)

That's because Wick executed a fellow assassin on the grounds of the New York branch of The Continental, a chain of hitman safehouses, which is a big no-no. Subsequently, a bounty is reluctantly placed on Wick's head by Winston Scott, The Continental New York manager and Wick's ally. As Wick flees the scene, the phones of assassins in his vicinity start ringing to notify them of the reward for whoever successfully takes down Wick.

"When Keanu and I were wrapping up [his on-screen involvement] in Ballerina, we talked about how this movie would end," Wiseman told me, "And that ending was all Keanu's idea. He wanted that last moment to be a riff on the second film's final moment, which speaks to the 'actions and consequences' theme that runs through these movies."

As obvious as it is to say, the open-ended nature of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina's final scene teases the possibility that Macarro's journey will continue in Lionsgate's multi-billion-dollar enterprise. So, does Wiseman have any thoughts on where this de Armas-led film series could go next in the Wick-Verse?

"In a fantasy kind of way, yeah, I have my ideas [of where a follow-up could go]," Wiseman replied when I asked about potential sequel plans. "But, I'd like to hear what people respond to in this movie first. I hope there's speculation from fans about who they think is coming after Eve, too, because we don't actually know who that is."

Norman Reedus hopes to return as Daniel in a future Wick-verse project (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Wiseman isn't the only cast and crew member who wants one of 2025's new movies to set up a future installment in The World of Wick.

In a separate chat, Norman Reedus, who plays the criminally underused Daniel (read more about why I think that's the case in my Ballerina review), said he believes there's plenty more to explore with his character. Indeed, the only things we really know about Daniel are that he is the son of Gabriel Byrne's now-deceased cult leader known as the Chancellor, has a daughter, and survived Ballerina's events thanks to Macarro.

"I'd love to do all of those things," Reedus said when I asked if he'd like to have his own spin-off film, appear in Ballerina 2, and/or show up in John Wick Chapter 5. "Let's put that out there into the universe. I mean, it's a no-brainer and, if this film does well, who knows what the future holds?"

You might also like

• 'One of the hardest moments to film': Ballerina's most simple action sequence on paper ended up being the most challenging for a big reason, director says
• Ballerina star Norman Reedus didn't seek advice from Keanu Reeves about joining the John Wick universe for a pretty funny reason: 'I don't think he knew'
• John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development, but 'there are a lot of options' on the table about what its story could be, Ian McShane teases

• Ballerina's final scene is a deliberate homage to John Wick: Chapter 2's ending, its director says
• Len Wiseman reveals it was Keanu Reeves' idea to create a near-identical ending
• Wiseman already has ideas for a follow-up film

Ballerina's director has revealed it was Keanu Reeves' idea to end the action-thriller in the same way as the second John Wick movie.

Speaking ahead of the film's global release on June 6, Len Wiseman told TechRadar that Reeves, who plays the franchise's titular hitman, suggested that Ballerina's final scene should mirror that of 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2.

Full spoilers immediately follow for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, so turn back if you haven't watched it yet.

Eve Macarro, seen here in an earlier Ballerina scene, has had a hit put out on her (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Ballerina ends with Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro watching her close friend, who was also a Ruska Roma assassin-in-training before she was kicked out by The Director, achieve her dream of becoming a fully-fledged ballet dancer.

However, as Macarro watches her performance at a local theater, the footage is interspersed with someone putting out a contract hit on the titular character. Numerous phones – owned by other hitmen, no less – start pinging and buzzing in the theater, which Macarro quickly becomes aware of. Knowing she's in danger if she sticks around, she quietly leaves via one of the venue's fire exits.

The ending isn't dissimilar to John Wick: Chapter 2's final scene. That movie, which takes place years prior to Ballerina (find out more about this franchise's timeline in my John Wick movies in order guide), closes with the eponymous hitman being forced to go on the run.

Keanu Reeves' titular assassin is forced to go on the run at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2 (Image credit: Lionsgate)

That's because Wick executed a fellow assassin on the grounds of the New York branch of The Continental, a chain of hitman safehouses, which is a big no-no. Subsequently, a bounty is reluctantly placed on Wick's head by Winston Scott, The Continental New York manager and Wick's ally. As Wick flees the scene, the phones of assassins in his vicinity start ringing to notify them of the reward for whoever successfully takes down Wick.

"When Keanu and I were wrapping up [his on-screen involvement] in Ballerina, we talked about how this movie would end," Wiseman told me, "And that ending was all Keanu's idea. He wanted that last moment to be a riff on the second film's final moment, which speaks to the 'actions and consequences' theme that runs through these movies."

As obvious as it is to say, the open-ended nature of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina's final scene teases the possibility that Macarro's journey will continue in Lionsgate's multi-billion-dollar enterprise. So, does Wiseman have any thoughts on where this de Armas-led film series could go next in the Wick-Verse?

"In a fantasy kind of way, yeah, I have my ideas [of where a follow-up could go]," Wiseman replied when I asked about potential sequel plans. "But, I'd like to hear what people respond to in this movie first. I hope there's speculation from fans about who they think is coming after Eve, too, because we don't actually know who that is."

Norman Reedus hopes to return as Daniel in a future Wick-verse project (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Wiseman isn't the only cast and crew member who wants one of 2025's new movies to set up a future installment in The World of Wick.

In a separate chat, Norman Reedus, who plays the criminally underused Daniel (read more about why I think that's the case in my Ballerina review), said he believes there's plenty more to explore with his character. Indeed, the only things we really know about Daniel are that he is the son of Gabriel Byrne's now-deceased cult leader known as the Chancellor, has a daughter, and survived Ballerina's events thanks to Macarro.

"I'd love to do all of those things," Reedus said when I asked if he'd like to have his own spin-off film, appear in Ballerina 2, and/or show up in John Wick Chapter 5. "Let's put that out there into the universe. I mean, it's a no-brainer and, if this film does well, who knows what the future holds?"

You might also like

• 'One of the hardest moments to film': Ballerina's most simple action sequence on paper ended up being the most challenging for a big reason, director says
• Ballerina star Norman Reedus didn't seek advice from Keanu Reeves about joining the John Wick universe for a pretty funny reason: 'I don't think he knew'
• John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development, but 'there are a lot of options' on the table about what its story could be, Ian McShane teases

• Panasonic’s Let’s Note SC weighs under a kilo, yet packs a removable battery and Gigabit LAN port
• Includes a 56Wh battery held by screws, lasting up to 34.6 hours idle
• Unusual round touchpad returns, now larger and borrowed from a 14-inch sibling model

Panasonic has introduced the Let’s Note SC, a 12.4-inch notebook designed for business users, with a focus on portability, long battery life, and usability enhancements.

According to MyNavi (originally reported in Japanese), the device features a 12.4-inch LCD display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels.

The screen opens to 180 degrees without touching the surface beneath it, aided by a hinge design that keeps it slightly elevated.

Weighs less than a kilo and still has Ethernet and HDMI

The chassis features a pressure-resistant bonnet structure and has been tested to meet MIL standards.

Panasonic emphasizes the notebook’s durability, including resistance to both impact and vibration.

Available in Calm Gray and Black, the SC is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 processors, either the Ultra 7 255H or Ultra 5 255U, depending on the configuration.

Panasonic claims the notebook weighs 919g, though an independently tested unit reportedly came in at 901g, placing the SC among the lightest laptops in its class.

The device includes a 56Wh removable battery, now fastened with screws rather than the tool-less sliding lock used in previous models. While this improves structural integrity, it may make field maintenance less convenient.

Battery performance is rated at up to 12.7 hours of video playback and approximately 34.6 hours of idle time, according to JEITA 3.0 standards. In real-world usage, a 50% charge remained after 90+ minutes of light use and a 30-minute video call.

The keyboard retains a Japanese layout but introduces a notable change: the Ctrl key is now on the far left, having swapped positions with the Fn key. Users can revert to the previous configuration via BIOS settings.

The power button, now located behind the keyboard, is less prone to accidental presses and also functions as a fingerprint sensor.

The SC also includes a round touchpad, larger than in earlier models and borrowed from the 14-inch FC line. While still unconventional, this circular design remains a distinguishing feature of the series.

Connectivity includes a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, a rare inclusion in modern laptops and potentially appealing to those seeking robust mobile workstation capabilities.

However, the D-Sub and SD card slots have been removed, reflecting user trends toward HDMI and enhanced data security standards.

Most ports, including USB Type-A, dual Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB Type-C, and HDMI, are now positioned on the left side, helping to reduce cable clutter when using a mouse.

The starting price is approximately 295,000 yen (approx $1,880), with general sales expected to begin on June 20.

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While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

You might also like

• I’ve driven the Porsche Macan EV – and it shows why the classic brand should stick to its electric guns
• Mercedes-AMG just teased its 1,000bhp Porsche Taycan Turbo GT rival – and it'll need to dip deep into its performance past to beat it
• Porsche hits the brakes on its electric-only plan – and it’s not the only major manufacturer keeping gas engines running

While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

You might also like

• I’ve driven the Porsche Macan EV – and it shows why the classic brand should stick to its electric guns
• Mercedes-AMG just teased its 1,000bhp Porsche Taycan Turbo GT rival – and it'll need to dip deep into its performance past to beat it
• Porsche hits the brakes on its electric-only plan – and it’s not the only major manufacturer keeping gas engines running

• Beelink Mate adds ports and storage without changing your Mac mini’s footprint
• Choose between higher speed or maximum 16TB storage capacity option
• Quiet fan cooling and full port selection are offered in a sleek metal design

The Beelink Mate mini docking station offers Mac mini M4 users a sleek way to expand both connectivity and storage.

Designed to match Apple’s compact desktop, it attaches underneath the Mac mini, maintaining a tidy footprint while adding additional functionality.

At its core, the Mate mini supports Thunderbolt 5 with 80Gbps data transfer speeds, allowing for fast external SSD performance and seamless device connectivity.

Choice of models

There are two models on offer. Model A features dual PCIe x2 M.2 slots and supports up to 16TB of storage. Model B offers a single PCIe x4 slot that delivers higher speeds, up to 6228MB/s read, but with less total capacity.

That trade-off highlights the dock's main drawback. To reach the full 16TB, you need the version that uses PCIe x2, which is slightly less efficient than the x4 configuration. For most users, this is unlikely to create any real issues.

That said, professionals working with massive files or needing the fastest transfer speeds might feel the pinch.

Aside from storage, the Mate mini delivers a full range of ports. These include a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, USB-A 3.0 ports, an SD 4.0 card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

A Type-C PD port also allows power delivery for peripherals that exceed the Mac mini’s built-in 15W output. Two Thunderbolt 5 cables are included in the box.

A quiet fan and 360° cooling vents help keep the system cool and stable, even during heavy use. The all-aluminum design is finished in silver to match the Mac mini and weighs just 250g.

Priced at $279 (down from $339), the Mate mini targets users looking to extend their Mac mini’s capability without taking up extra space. It may not be perfect, but it does fill a useful role for those seeking extra ports and storage.

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• Nearly half of IT teams don’t fully know what their AI agents are accessing daily
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Despite growing enthusiasm for agentic AI across businesses, new research suggests that the rapid expansion of these tools is outpacing efforts to secure them.

A SailPoint survey of 353 IT professionals with enterprise security responsibilities has revealed a complex mix of optimism and anxiety over AI agents.

The survey reports 98% of organizations intend to expand their use of AI agents within the coming year.

AI Agents adoption outpaces security readiness

AI agents are being integrated into operations that handle sensitive enterprise data, from customer records and financials to legal documents and supply chain transactions - however, 96% of respondents said they view these very agents as a growing security threat.

One core issue is visibility: only 54% of professionals claim to have full awareness of the data their agents can access - which leaves nearly half of enterprise environments in the dark about how AI agents interact with critical information.

Compounding the problem, 92% of those surveyed agreed that governing AI agents is crucial for security, but just 44% have an actual policy in place.

Furthermore, eight in ten companies say their AI agents have taken actions they weren’t meant to - this includes accessing unauthorized systems (39%), sharing inappropriate data (33%), and downloading sensitive content (32%).

Even more troubling, 23% of respondents admitted their AI agents have been tricked into revealing access credentials, a potential goldmine for malicious actors.

One notable insight is that 72% believe AI agents present greater risks than traditional machine identities.

Part of the reason is that AI agents often require multiple identities to function efficiently, especially when integrated with high-performance AI tools or systems used for development and writing.

Calls for a shift to an identity-first model are growing louder, but SailPoint and others argue that organizations need to treat AI agents like human users, complete with access controls, accountability mechanisms, and full audit trails.

AI agents are a relatively new addition to the business space, and it will take time for organizations to fully integrate them into their operations.

“Many organizations are still early in this journey, and growing concerns around data control highlight the need for stronger, more comprehensive identity security strategies,” SailPoint concluded.

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• watchOS 26 is expected to be announced on Monday
• It should run on every watchOS 11-compatible watch
• A major visual overhaul is among the rumored changes

A new software update for the best Apple Watches is on the way, and we just got word about which models are going to be compatible with the new watchOS 26 (which is apparently the new name for watchOS 12).

According to a source "with a proven track record" in contact with MacRumors, every watch that's able to run watchOS 11 is also going to be able to run watchOS 26, so there won't be any devices that are left behind this year.

That means Apple smartwatches as far back as the Apple Watch Series 6 (launched in 2020) and the Apple Watch SE 2 (launched in 2022) are going to be eligible for the new update, as well as all the watches launched since.

If you remember back to last year, after the announcement of watchOS 11, we heard from Apple that the Series 5, Series 4 and the original SE wouldn't be getting the 2024 update. This time around, all the currently supported devices are included.

What's on the way?

WWDC 2025 is almost here (Image credit: Apple)

Apple hasn't said anything officially yet about watchOS 26 – not even that it's on the way or that it's getting a rebranding – but we've heard plenty of rumors about what the upcoming software update might be bringing with it.

As is mentioned in the same MacRumors article, there's a prediction that watchOS 26 is going to offer support for third-party shortcuts on the watch Control Center for the first time, which should mean an improved experience for users.

A new and improved visual interface is apparently on the way too, which would follow the lead of visionOS, with plenty of transparency and frosted glass effects. In fact, the same redesign is said to be coming for all of Apple's software platforms.

We're also hoping we might get a smattering of Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch. All of these new features are scheduled to be announced at WWDC 2025 on Monday, before watchOS 26 is released this September with the Apple Watch 11.

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• What you should expect from Apple WWDC 2025
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Fortnite Galactic Battle is now coming to an end, culminating in a live event later today (June 7). Death Star Sabotage will cap off this Star Wars mini-season, tasking players with jumping into X-Wings and TIE Fighters for a space battle. This will hopefully lead into some downtime for the next season, which is expected to be Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3.

Fortnite Galactic Battle - Key Info

Start date and time
Next Season release date
Downtime estimate
What to expect from the new season
Map Changes
Trailer
Jump to Live Coverage

Epic Games has been busy teasing the next season of Fortnite over the last week or so, but so far we've only had details on the live event that's set to start later today. If early signs are anything to go on, the upcoming Star Wars live event in Fortnite could be a real high point for Chapter 6 so far. We'll get to fly some X-Wings, take down the Death Star, and save the Island from certain destruction.

Personally, I've enjoyed Fortnite Galactic Battle, with the blaster-only weapon pool being a refreshing change from the norm. I've been dropping in as the Star Wars updates have released, checking out the new Battle Pass skins and testing the new Star Destroyer portals. In my opinion, the recent changes have absolutely been good enough to keep Fortnite in TechRadar's best free games list.

Here's TechRadar's coverage of the launch of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, including my live impressions of the Death Star Sabotage live event as it happens.

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event - cut to the chase

Only have time for the basics? Here are the most important things to know about Fortnite Galactic Battle ending:

• Start time: June 7 at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 7PM BST
• New event: Death Star Sabotage
• Servers open: 9AM PT / 12PM ET / 5PM BST
• Servers close: "Intel states that you’ll have a short window of time on June 7 when the Death Star will be most susceptible to attack"
• Rumored theme for Season 3: "Super"

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage start date and time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event kicks off today (June 7) at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 7PM BST. The event itself will enter the Discovery section two hours prior to this, meaning it'll be available to join at the following times:

• US (West Coast): 9AM PT
• US (East Coast): 12AM ET
• United Kingdom: 5PM BST
• Europe: 6PM CEST

Fortnite next season release date and time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games is yet to detail the next season of Fortnite, but we expect it to arrive following downtime once the live event has ended. In the past, downtime has lasted 2-5 hours on average, though has run a lot longer between Chapters. As such, we'd expect Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 to star on June 7 at some point, though we'll need more info before we can be certain.

Fortnite next season downtime estimate

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games is yet to detail Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, though we expect it to arrive following downtime. This downtime will kick in after the Death Star Sabotage live event has ended. In previous seasons, this has been just 30 minutes after the live event has started. As such, my prediction for when downtime will take Fortnite offline is June 7 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST.

Of course, this is just an estimation based on how things have worked in the past. Stay tuned for updates later today, once I hear more from Epic Games.

What to expect from the next Fortnite Season

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Official details on the next season of Fortnite are scarce currently, but some prominent leakers have claimed that Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will be superhero themed. In this Tweet from @HYPEX you can see that Superman skins have been leaked. This would make sense as a tie-in for the new movie coming out later in July.

Elsewhere, we have leaker @Shiina tweeting a summary of recent leaks for Chapter 6, also pointing to a superhero theme coming in next update. Of course, these details are in no way confirmed yet, however I've found these two sources to be reliable in the past, especially in the days leading up to a new season launch. We'll have to wait and see whether rumors of a "Super" season comes to fruition.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 map changes

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As you can see from the image above, there were four new major POIs (points of interest) added alongside the Fortnite Galactic Battle. While Epic is yet to reveal the map for Chapter 6 Season 3, we can expect these Star Wars locations to change. Whether they revert to their Season 2 states, or are updated alongside the new season's theme, will be revealed later today.

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage trailer

The full cinematic trailer for Fortnite Death Star Sabotage debuted during The Game Awards on June 6. This shows some space battle-action, as players pilot X-Wings and TIE Fighters in a bid to stop the Death Star from destroying Battle Royale Island. It's embedded above so be sure to check it out.

Fortnite Star Wars live event coverage as it happensHello and welcome

(Image credit: Epic Games)

And so begins my live coverage of the upcoming Fortnite live event, the following downtime, and the launch of a brand new Season. Death Star Sabotage starts at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / BST, so not long now to wait.

Just 2 hours until you can queue for Death Star Sabotage!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

While you’ll need to wait a little longer to actually jump into Death Star Sabotage, the queue will open at 9AM PT / 12PM ET / 5PM BST. I recommend joining this as soon as you can after it goes live, as queues have been long enough in the past that it’s been possible to miss the event completely.

Death Star Sabotage trailer aired during The Game Awards

A brand new trailer for Death Star Sabotage aired last night (June 6) at The Game Awards. It sets the stage for an epic space battle, as players race to destroy the Death Star. Primarily, it looks as though this will be a vehicle-based fight, though there's a tease in the trailer showing that you and your squad might kick off the event imprisoned somewhere inside the Death Star.

Prepare for sabotage!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Before Death Star Sabotage, the Star Wars season approaches its end with special log-in rewards for all players. Log into Fortnite between June 3 at 9 AM ET and June 10 at 9 AM ET to immediately receive the Assault on the Death Star Loading Screen and Captain Phasma’s personal melee weapon: the Quicksilver Baton Spear Pickaxe.

There’s still time to check out Galactic Battle

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Galactic Battle comes to an end later today, but there’s still a few hours left for you to play. Currently, a Star Destroyer portal will spawn once per match, allowing you to take control of the hulking spacecraft’s turbo-lasers. This gives you a bird’s eye view of the map, marking nearby enemies and giving you time to blast them from above. This is a seriously powerful bonus to have, setting you up nicely for the final couple of circles.

The Battle Pass comes to an end soon

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There’s just a few hours left to redeem Battle Pass rewards. The final section gives you an Emperor Palpatine skin, as well as a Force Lightning emote.

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #727).

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 #728) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LAST
• BULL
• BORN
• BRED
• DOE
• STAND
• SPOUSE
• BEAR
• EDUCATION
• CACHE
• DOVE
• HOLD
• LUTE
• STAY
• OCCUPATION
• HAWK

NYT Connections today (game #728) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Relentless
• GREEN: Wildlife traders
• BLUE: Part of the biog
• PURPLE: Sounds like dollars

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 #728) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PERSIST 
• GREEN: ANIMAL METAPHORS IN ECONOMICS 
• BLUE: SIDEBAR INFO ON A PERSON'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE 
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #728) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #728, are…

• YELLOW: PERSIST HOLD, LAST, STAND, STAY
• GREEN: ANIMAL METAPHORS IN ECONOMICS BEAR, BULL, DOVE, HAWK
• BLUE: SIDEBAR INFO ON A PERSON'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE BORN, EDUCATION, OCCUPATION, SPOUSE
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY BRED, CACHE, DOE, LUTE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Sometimes Connections can be frustrating, but other times, like today for me, it’s the most satisfying daily game there is.

What began as a 16-word grid where I could not see a single link all gradually fitted into place. It’s a great feeling.

I’m really pleased that I saw, or should I say heard, the purple group HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY – many times in the past wordplay like this has gone over my head, so I’m delighted to have combined BRED (bread), CACHE (cash), DOE (dough) and LUTE (loot). 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 7, game #727)

• YELLOW: TIPS FOR WORKING OUT SAFELY BREATHE, HYDRATE, REST, STRETCH
• GREEN: ESTABLISH FOUND, INSTITUTE, LAUNCH, START
• BLUE: DITTY AIR, NUMBER, SONG, STRAIN
• PURPLE: SPRING____ CHICKEN, EQUINOX, FLING, ONION

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 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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #1230).

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 #1231) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1231) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1231) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1231) - 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 0.

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 #1231) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• A

• P

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1231, are…

• REBAR
• ALERT
• PAYEE
• FLUME

A muddling-through game for me today, where working out three-letter combinations got me over the line.

REBAR took me the longest. I tried every combination of the letters I had left and it was the only actual word I managed to find – a classic final word.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1231, are…

• FLESH
• WIDTH
• GUARD
• RALPH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
• Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
• Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
• Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #461).

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 #462) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On Broadway

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SHINER
• MELTS
• CRISIS
• TRACE
• CHAD
• STING

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #462) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #462, are…

• CAST
• SCORE
• LIGHTS
• SINGING
• DANCING
• COSTUMES
• SPANGRAM: ITS SHOWTIME

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

When I saw that the theme was “On Broadway”, I was convinced that today’s search would be about classic shows such as Evita. So, I began by spotting Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that ran for 18 years, from 1982 to 2000. I was shocked when the letters didn’t turn blue and the answer instead turned out to be CAST.

Here, instead, were some of the elements that it takes to put  on a production minus a couple of omissions – stage and script, both of which are crucial to most Broadway hits. Well, unless your idea of a night out at the theater is an improv in a parking lot,

Getting the spangram early always feels a little weird. I got it today as my second correct guess and it helped unlock the rest of the board.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 7, game #461)

• HUMAN
• SOUL
• MORTAL
• SOMEONE
• INDIVIDUAL
• SPANGRAM: BE YOURSELF

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.

• Ballerina's director has revealed which fight sequence was the most difficult to film
• It wasn't the flamethrower or club-based action set-pieces
• The duel between Eve and John Wick was also an "incredible day on set"

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina's director has revealed which fight sequence was the most challenging to film.

Speaking to TechRadar ahead of Ballerina's June 6 release, Len Wiseman admitted "one of the hardest moments" of the entire shoot is one that audiences won't expect it to be, either.

Full spoilers immediately follow for the Ana de Armas-led action thriller. Do not proceed unless you've watched it.

Ballerina's action is as violently fun as we've come to expect from the John Wick film series (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Okay, which set-piece caused the most headaches? It's got nothing to do with the third act's lethal flamethrower-based sequence. Act 1's nightclub brawl, a classic staple of the John Wick movie series, wasn't as taxing as the scene that Wiseman has in mind, either.

According to the filmmaker behind one of June 2025's new movies, the most difficult moment to capture was part of the alpine restaurant duel between de Armas' Eve Macarro and a member of the cult led by Gabriel Byrne's Chancellor. The reason it was so challenging? The plates, which Eve and her fellow combatant attack each other with during a smirk-inducing sequence, kept breaking when they shouldn't have.

"The restaurant fight is a favorite of mine because there were a lot of important story beats that were landing, and it was incredibly fun to shoot," Wiseman told me.

"But the plate sequence was one of the hardest moments to film. They're breakaway plates, so they have one job [to break upon impact without hurting the actors], and they do it well.

"The problem is, when you pick them up, they immediately shatter. So, they [the actors] had to delicately pick up each one and then bring them down on their opponent with real force. The amount of times they grabbed a plate and they'd shatter... I lost count of how many times we had to glue them back together. I remember the props department asking me if 100 plates would be enough, and I said 'yeah'. Well, we went through all 100 plates multiple times, so you can imagine what state they were in when we were done!"

Ballerina's director didn't want Eve's showdown with John Wick to be a duel for fighting's sake (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Understandably, each action sequence in the fourth John Wick film (chronologically, anyway – read my John Wick movies in order guide for more details) came with its own set of challenges. That included the one-on-one between Eve and Keanu Reeves' iconic hitman, which takes place in Ballerina's final act.

"That was an incredible day on the set," Wiseman said of shooting the confrontation between Eve and the franchise's titular assassin.

"It's a moment in the movie that's really fun and tense, but we were well aware that we needed to ensure there was a balance to the fight. John Wick is the so-called Baba Yaga, and while he's more experienced and skilled than Eve, we didn't want her to feel upstaged in her own movie. So, we wanted her to hold her own at times, and for this fight to have a purpose for what he's offering her in terms of her character development. It's not just a fight, it's a fight that has meaning."

Ballerina is out now in theaters worldwide. If you've watched it, see if you agree with my thoughts on the latest Wick flick by reading my Ballerina review. Alternatively, check out more exclusive content from my chats with Wiseman, plus actors Ian McShane and Norman Reedus, below.

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• From the World of John Wick: Ballerina was delayed a whole year for a highly unusual but 'awesome' reason, its director says
• Ballerina star Norman Reedus didn't seek advice from Keanu Reeves about joining the John Wick universe for a pretty funny reason: 'I don't think he knew'
• John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development, but 'there are a lot of options' on the table about what its story could be, Ian McShane teases

• YouTube's opt-in AI training is turning creators into silent architects of future tech tools
• Many creators say yes to AI training access, even when there's no money involved
• Oxylabs gathered millions of videos into a dataset that AI developers can ethically trust

An increasing number of YouTubers are allowing AI companies to train models using their videos, and surprisingly, many are doing so without direct compensation.

Under YouTube’s current setup, creators are given the option to opt in by ticking boxes that grant permission to around 18 major AI developers.

If no box is selected, YouTube does not permit the use of that video for AI training purposes. This means the default stance is non-participation, and any inclusion is fully voluntary.

Creators choose influence over income

The lack of payment may seem unusual, and the motivation appears to hinge on influence rather than income.

Creators opting in might see it as a strategic move to shape how generative AI tools interpret and present information - by contributing their content, they are effectively making it more visible in AI-generated responses.

As a result, their work could shape how questions are answered by everything from AI writers to large language models (LLM) for coding.

Oxylabs has now launched the first consent-based YouTube dataset, comprising four million videos from one million distinct channels.

All contributors explicitly agreed to the use of their content for AI training, and according to Oxylabs, these videos, complete with transcripts and metadata, have been carefully curated to be particularly useful for training AI in image and video generation tasks.

“In the ecosystem aiming to find a fair balance between respecting copyright and facilitating innovation, YouTube streamlining consent giving for AI training and providing creators with flexibility is an important step forward,” said Julius Černiauskas, CEO of Oxylabs.

This model not only simplifies the process for AI developers seeking ethically sourced data but also reassures creators about the use of their work.

“Many channel owners have already opted in for their videos to be used in developing the next generation of AI tools. This enables us to create and provide high-quality, structured video datasets. Meanwhile, AI developers have no trouble verifying the data’s legitimate origin.”

However, broader concerns persist about how government organizations and legislatures handle similar issues.

For instance, the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Bill has stalled in Parliament, prompting figures like Elton John to criticize the government’s handling of creator rights.

In this legislative vacuum, creators and developers will likely face uncertainty.

Oxylabs presents itself as filling that gap with a consent-based model, but critics will still question whether such initiatives genuinely address deeper issues of value and fairness.

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• A mysterious leaker is exposing ransomware hackers to the world

Look, I love my Nintendo Switch. It’s a great little device - hell, I might not have made it through the pandemic lockdowns with my sanity intact had it not been for the lovely, calming influence of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. So it’s fair to say that I’m interested in the Switch 2, but I won’t be getting one on launch day for one very simple reason.

Where’s my damn Pokémon launch title, Nintendo? With every new console generation, I sit and eagerly await the possibility that you’ve finally learned your lesson and decided to put a mainline Pokémon game in the launch lineup. And with every new console generation, I am disappointed.

The closest we’ve ever come was Pokémon Dash for the Nintendo DS, which was more of a glorified tech demo for the new handheld’s dual-screen mechanics than a fully-fledged game.

I’ll admit it, I’m that type of Pokémon fan who complains about how crap the modern games look and run, but then merrily presents my credit card whenever a new one comes out. Does that make me a hypocrite? Probably, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to both love something and also wish it were better. In any case, a Pokémon launch title for the Switch 2 would have me lining up to get my hands on the new console - but as it stands, I’m just not interested.

The launch title problem

If I can be frank for a moment here, the Switch 2 launch lineup is… pretty feeble, honestly. What do we have? A heap of triple-A third-party games are being re-released, but the unspectacular footage of Cyberpunk 2077 running on the new console hasn’t exactly lit a fire underneath me. Some OG Switch upgrades for an extra ten bucks - oh wow, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet doesn’t run like garbage now?

Great, I’m sooo impressed. We’ve got some smaller series titles and a smattering of first-party names headlining, but arguably none of the biggest franchises. Forgive me for not being uncontrollably excited about Puyo Pop Tetris 2S.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Mario Kart, but it's not exactly an earth-shattering launch title for a new handheld. (Image credit: Nintendo)

We’re getting a new Mario Kart, but no mainline Mario game. Super Mario Party Jamboree, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A are all inbound, but not for a few months - oh, and Z-A will be available on the Switch I already own, though it’ll probably look terrible.

A new Zelda game is nowhere in sight, and Metroid Prime 4 is, uh… well, it’s coming, but only Samus knows when. I’d like to take a moment to remind you that it’s been eight whole years since that game was originally announced - and it's also a Switch 1 game too. Very cool, Nintendo.

It’s something of a recurring theme for Nintendo, frankly. Launch lineups have rarely been impressive for the gaming giant’s consoles; almost half of the Wii launch titles were mediocre movie and TV show tie-ins, while the two biggest DS launch titles were both Nintendo 64 remakes (Mario and Rayman). To be clear, I’m not saying those remakes were bad, but come on.

Why does Pokémon get snubbed?

I’ve been trying to understand the logic behind Nintendo’s consistent refusal to include Pokémon - which, lest we forget, is the single biggest intellectual property on the planet, worth more than Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Grant Theft Auto combined - in the launches of its consoles. On paper, it makes zero sense.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks like a fun spin-off jaunt - but it isn't going to be available on the Switch 2's launch day, let alone a mainline Pokémon title. (Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

I have some theories. First up is that Nintendo’s hardware development team simply doesn’t have the sway with the many-headed serpent of corporations that jointly manage the Pokémon franchise (Game Freak, The Pokemon Company, Creatures Inc.) to ensure that a new title is always ready for the relevant console launch. Another theory is that Nintendo intentionally uses new Pokémon releases to bump post-launch sales of its consoles, or spaces out those third-party games to prevent attention from being split by a new Zelda or Mario title.

I’d love to believe that the main reason is simply that Game Freak would rather spend a bit more time with the hardware to release a game that looks and runs great, but… well, let’s be honest, that seems unlikely. In truth, it’s probably a combination of all these factors and more, never to be properly understood by mere mortals like us.

All I can really say is this: Nintendo, if you had Pokémon Tides and Gales (or whatever it’s called) to launch with the Switch 2, it would sell better. Simple as that. I’d buy it immediately; I was one of the six people who bought both a Pokémon Mini. I’m not hard to please.

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• Yadea is forging ahead with a number of sodium-ion powered two-wheelers
• Sodium will play a key role in China’s wider battery swap systems
• The country is already pushing mass production of the technology

The presence of sodium in batteries is nothing new, as the first documented use of it dates back to the 1960s, when the Ford Motor Company considered using them for very early EVs.

But last year, Chinese automaker JAC (a joint venture with Volkswagen in China) produced the world’s first sodium-ion battery production car in the Hua Xianzi (it roughly translates to 'Flower Fairy'), which uses a tiny 25kWh sodium-ion battery that can travel up to 155 miles on a single charge.

While not exactly a global sales success, the technology has found a place among China’s booming microcar economy and, perhaps more important still, its rampant demand for diminutive two-wheeled scooters.

In somewhere like Shenzhen, a megacity with a population of some 17.8 million people, the humble scooter is one of the most popular forms of transport, with over 55 million sold in 2023 alone, and Yadea is among the most popular brands.

The global leader in electric two-wheelers has released three sodium-ion powered electric scooters to date, according to the BBC, with plans in the pipeline to offer a lot more.

These battery packs are constructed in a similar way to their lithium-ion counterparts, but transfer sodium ions between electrodes during charging and discharging, rather than other rare earth materials.

Currently, lead-acid batteries continue to dominate the electric scooter landscape, as the technology is cheap and produced on a mass scale, but the demand for sodium-ion units is gradually increasing.

By 2030, 15% of China's electric scooters will be powered by them, compared to 0.04% in 2023, according to an analysis by the Shenzhen-based Starting Point Research Institute, which assesses China's battery industry.

Analysis: sodium-ion reaches well beyond transport

(Image credit: Yadea)

Electric two-wheel manufacturer Yadea is also building out one of the most robust electric scooter charging networks in China, with plans to install more than 1,000 fast-charging pillars that have been specifically designed for sodium-ion batteries this year in Hangzhou, which would enable commuters to find a station every 2km (1.2 miles).

It is also pushing forward with a massive battery swap program in Shenzen, with an aim of 20,000 swapping stations this year, which allow riders to replace a spent battery for a fully-charged unit in around 30 seconds. This number will grow to 50,000 by 2027.

Right now, sodium-ion batteries are still very much in ascendance, as the price, and demand for lithium-ion units, has dropped since its all-time high post-pandemic.

A relatively low energy density (some pitch sodium-ion batteries as being 30% less energy dense than lithium-ion counterparts) has also put off the major automotive players, all of whom are constantly looking for the lightest, most energy dense options on the market.

But China’s vision for salty batteries goes well beyond transport, with the BBC reporting that it is already on track for mass-scale sodium-based energy storage solutions, which help balance the grid and store excess energy from renewable sources when not in use – all without competing with the auto industry and its voracious appetite for lithium.

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• A lot of changes are rumored for iOS 26
• Here's what TechRadar readers are looking forward to
• Everything will be announced on Monday

With Apple WWDC 2025 now just a couple of days away, we're seeing a rapidly increasing number of leaks around iOS 26 (the rumored new name for iOS 19) – and in the opinion of TechRadar readers, one of these rumors is much more exciting than the rest.

Over 1,000 of you responded to a poll on our WhatsApp channel – which is well worth signing up to for the latest tech news and chat – to say that you were most looking forward to the visionOS-style redesign that's been predicted for the iPhone.

This redesign has been leaked by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who is usually one of the more reliable tipsters when it comes to Apple. Apparently the iOS interface will be more transparent, more modern-looking, and more glass-y – just like visionOS.

It's a visual overhaul that has been teased by Apple's own official invite for WWDC, and 43% of our respondents say it's what they're looking forward to the most when it comes to reveals we're anticipating this coming Monday.

Battery life, live translation, and more

WWDC 2025 is almost here (Image credit: Future)

Second place in our poll, with 17% of the vote, went to the rumored AI optimizations that will extend iPhone battery life. More battery life is always welcome, and apparently iOS 26 is going to make efficiency improvements based on how you use your handset.

The stats show 12% of our readers are most excited about the live translation features that are said to be coming to the AirPods with the next software update, while 11% of you are most looking forward to the rumored new gaming hub that's supposedly on the way.

Rounding out the poll, we have the CarPlay redesign (9%), the polls feature in Messages (5%), and the simplified Camera app (3%). None of these changes have been confirmed yet, but they've all been predicted by reliable sources.

The TechRadar team will be bringing you all the announcements as they happen, and you can watch the whole event live online. The all-important keynote is getting underway at 10 am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on June 9 (so 3am AEST on June 10 in Australia).

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• First images of the rumored Hasselblad X2D 100C II surface
• Leaked specs suggest a new LiDAR autofocus system on board
• FCC application reveals further details, including refined controls

If money were no object, the stunning Hasselblad X2D 100C would probably be my first choice of camera for photography. The minimalist 100MP medium-format camera's looks, handling, and image quality are top drawer.

It's far from the perfect camera, though. I don't mind that it's a photography-only camera (that's right, no video recording capabilities whatsoever). But what did spoil my experience somewhat was its sluggish autofocus performance during testing – a drawback that could be addressed with its rumored upcoming successor.

MirrorlessRumors has flagged an FCC application for a Hasselblad X2D 100C II, which not only contains the first proper images of the second-gen model but also outlines various new features. Chief among those is LiDAR autofocus.

Should an upcoming Hasselblad X2D 100C II gain LiDAR autofocus, it would represent the first meaningful update courtesy of DJI since the Chinese-tech giant and leading drone maker acquired Hasselblad, and it couldn't have picked a better upgrade.

Getting up to speed

I love the X2D 100C II's image quality, so much so that it puts my full-frame Nikon camera in the shade. However, unlike my humble Z6 II, I couldn't rely on its autofocus for sharp focus where it wanted it, such as a person's eyes in a portrait.

Yes, improved autofocus tops my X2D 100C II upgrade wishlist, and the promise of pricey LiDAR autofocus, which is utilized by DJI's Ronin 4D and will presumably deliver a huge boost in autofocus performance, is exciting news.

Hands-on with the X2D 100C, during my in-depth test (Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, the new images reveal a new joystick control and refined button layout, while internal SSD storage could again be up to 1TB, together with a CFExpress B card slot.

Otherwise, I'm not expecting many other meaningful improvements, not that many were needed – the X2D 100C II will seemingly feature the same or similar 100MP sensor with class-leading 8EV in-body image stabilization, 16-bit color depth and 15-stops dynamic range, for probably the best photo quality you can get on the affordable side of $10k / £10k.

Depending on how you look at it, the rumored X2D 100C II is a minor update of the X2D 100C. But for me, it looks set to fulfill my "if I had one wish". How does the rumored X2D 100C II sound to you? Let me know in the comments below.

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• Apple will reveal further details about CarPlay updates next week
• Rumors suggest iOS 26 will bring with it design changes
• Increased accessibility features have so far been unearthed

Apple is due to announce some updates to its CarPlay infotainment software at its WWDC 2025 event next week, with the next major iOS release scheduled to feature a number of in-car changes.

Apple has been relatively slow at releasing CarPlay updates over recent years, with only the addition of an extra row of icons appearing for those lucky enough to sport enormous, portrait infotainment displays in their vehicles.

It appears that CarPlay Ultra, which expands the CarPlay experience to the driver display and was recently announced by Aston Martin, has been the focus of the Californian tech giant’s attentions.

But next week (specifically, Monday June 9) could bring some welcome news to those of us who have to make do with good old-fashioned CarPlay, as Apple is rumored to be refreshing the look of its operating system across all devices with iOS 26, including those that are tethered to a vehicle’s head unit.

Details remain scarce, but MacRumors reports that the new UI will feature a more "glass-like, Vision-OS-inspired design", alongside some new accessibility features, such as the ability to activate a Large Text option and the expansion of Sound Recognition for CarPlay.

This feature was launched with iOS 18 last year and can alert passengers or drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing to horns or sirens outside of the car, as well as detect babies crying within the vehicle, highlighting this with a notification on the screen.

Analysis: New designs are nice, but Ultra nails UX

(Image credit: Apple)

While the introduction of an overall design change and some new accessibility features are likely just the tip of the Apple CarPlay update iceberg, it is difficult to see how any further tweaks can better what the company has achieved with CarPlay Ultra.

Finally, the system allows the sort of control over key car functionality (without having to leave the CarPlay ecosystem) that many drivers have been demanding for years.

Porsche introduced a sort of CarPlay Ultra-lite with the launch of its new Macan, but Aston Martin is the first to relinquish full control of its digital displays, including those in front of the driver.

Purists will argue that Aston has perhaps lost a certain charm with the disappearance of beautiful, hand-finished analogue binnacles, but it is difficult to get away from the user-friendliness of CarPlay Ultra's UI.

The ability to display the mapping application of your choosing in glorious resolution before the driver’s eyes is a delight and the option to tweak vehicle safety settings without leaving CarPlay just makes sense.

Without the automotive manufacturer’s permissions, it will be very difficult for Apple to implement these sort of features in any upcoming generic CarPlay update. But we do know that the likes of Hyundai, Kia, Renault, Porsche and Ford are all in line to receive CarPlay Ultra in the near future.

Let’s just hope Apple reveals some juicy CarPlay user-experience features to make up for the fact we can't all afford new, expensive cars. Stay tuned for our full WWDC 2025 coverage next week.

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