TechRadar News

• Adjustable channels for 3D immersive audio
• Hi-res audio via TIDAL Connect and Google Cast
• New dialog enhancement mode

Sennheiser's flagship soundbar, the Ambeo Max, is getting a major firmware update called AMBEO OS2 that should deliver a serious audio upgrade to what's already a very impressive soundbar.

This is the most important upgrade since the Sennheiser Ambeo Max launched back in 2019, and it keeps the soundbar current with more recent high-end examples of the best soundbars from the likes of Sony and KEF.

There are three key components to the upgrade. There's customizable 3D audio; extended hi-res lossless audio performance; and a voice enhancement mode to deliver better vocal clarity in movies, TV shows and sports.

(Image credit: Sennheiser)Sennheiser Ambeo OS2: what's new and how to get it

OS2 delivers adjustable volume levels for the side, top and center channel speaker virtualization, enabling you to tweak the 3D audio to suit your room and your own personal preference.

The existing Dolby Atmos Music on TIDAL has been supplemented with support for audio up to 24-bit/192kHz via TIDAL Connect. And you can now stream at up to 24-bit/96kHz via Google Cast for Audio.

Last but not least, there's a new Voice Enhancement Mode that Sennheiser says "ensures dialog remains clear and intelligible even when sound effects or music dominate the mix". I wonder how that'll cope with Christopher Nolan's Interstellar.

Ambeo Max owners can get the new upgrade in two ways: via the Smart Control app on iOS or Android, or by downloading it to a USB drive from sennheiser-hearing.com.

This is obviously good news for Ambeo Max owners. But I think it's worth noting for prospective Sennheiser soundbar purchasers too, since a company delivering an update this significant after five and a bit years is a pretty impressive commitment to its customers.

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• Google released a study outlining how much energy and water its AI uses
• Experts say the figures lack important context
• Google insists these figures represent the average user experience

A new study from Google claims its Gemini AI model only uses very minimal water and energy for each prompt - with the median usage sitting at around 5 drops (0.26 milliliters) - the equivalent electricity used for 9 seconds of TV watching (roughly 0.24 watt-hours), resulting in around 0.003 grams of CO2 emissions.

Experts have been quick to dispute the claims, however, with The Verge claiming Google omitted key data points in its study, drastically under-reporting the environmental impacts of the model.

Whilst models and data centers have become more efficient, it seems there’s more to the story than Google is letting on.

The tip of the iceberg

One of the authors of a paper cited in the study, Shaolei Ren, associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of California told the publication; “They’re just hiding the critical information. This really spreads the wrong message to the world.”

AI models like Gemini are supported by data centers - huge warehouses full of servers which consume intense amounts of water and energy, straining local resources.

Governments across the globe have been sanctioning the building of these data centers, despite the destruction they could bring to local countryside - and consumers are likely to be the ones paying for the extra energy used.

One of the biggest concerns with Google's study is that it omits indirect water usage in the estimates, which form the majority of the use related to AI. Whilst the figures are technically correct, the missing context of the extreme energy use paints a misleading picture.

The study only looks at the water used by data centers to cool their servers, but left out is the electricity these data centers demand, which in turn leads to new gas and nuclear plants - which also cool their systems with water, or use steam to turn turbines.

Water isn’t the only metric Google misrepresented though, with the paper only outlining a ‘market based’ carbon emissions measure, which offsets the figure using Google’s promises to use renewable energy to support power grids. Savannah Goodman, Head of Advanced Energy Labs told TechRadar Pro,

"We hope to share environmental metrics that are representative of a typical user's behavior, and reasonably comparable over time. However, with the rapidly evolving landscape of AI model architectures and AI assistant user behavior, there are outliers either from small subsets of prompts served by models with low utilization or with high token counts."

"In order to share metrics that represent a typical user’s experience and are robust to this rapidly evolving field, we chose to measure metrics for the median prompt — which is robust to extreme values and provides a more accurate reflection of a typical prompt's energy impact."

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If you’re buying a flashy new pair of over-ear headphones, what are you looking for? Amazing sound quality, top-tier noise cancellation, and high levels of comfort are surely all crucial. But something I’m also keen to assess here at TechRadar is looks – how clean do a pair of headphones appear on the ear? What sets them apart from competitors?

Yep, if like me, you wear over-ear headphones all the time, even when taking public transport and out and about, I’m sure you’ll want them to look as good as they sound. So, I’ve compiled a list of 5 headphones that I and the wider TechRadar team have tested, all of which really are stunners.

And although this isn’t a list of the best headphones overall, I’ve made sure that each model listed supplies a strong audio performance, comes with a nice array of features, and feels pleasant in use. Interested? Then let’s get into the list.

1. The budget beauty: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

(Image credit: Future)

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are our pick for the best budget cans that money can buy, and their aesthetic plays a significant part in that.

Like a lot of 1More cans, they have an extremely sleek curved on-ear look, giving them a sharp, well-defined appearance. They combine that with an attractive matte black finish, red detailing on the ports and earcups, and a slim headband. Bring that all together, and you’re looking at a really attractive pair of over-ears.

They also offer surprisingly effective ANC, a highly customizable sound, and outrageously long battery life – 65 hours with ANC on and 100 hours with it off! All of that for less than $100 / £100? Oh, go on then.

Read our full 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review.

Not really your thing? Then how about the awesome value Sony WH-CH720N, which appear higher in quality than their low price may suggest.

2. The magnificent mid-ranger: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

(Image credit: TechRadar)Check this out

(Image credit: Future)

Want to know what tracks I use to test headphones here at TechRadar? These are the 7 failsafe tracks I use when reviewing audio gear

Right, a quick disclaimer, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are mid-rangers in my book for UK buyers – they’re regularly available for well under £200. In the US, they’re a fair bit pricier, but these are simply too suave for me to omit from the list.

These five star-rated headphones combine large oval-shaped earcups, a unique fabric headband, and a far smoother appearance than their predecessors, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. I specifically really like the variant that has copper-colored detailing around the outside of the earcups as well as the Sennheiser logo – it really makes this model pop.

Of course, you know that’s not all. They’ve got a pleasantly neutral, crisp sound signature, awesome battery life, and better noise cancelling than you might expect. Talk about the full package.

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review.

Want something a little different? Then how about the comfort kings that are the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

3. The majestic mid-to-premium model: Marshall Monitor III ANC

(Image credit: Future)

Even though the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the pair of headphones I use daily, they’re not my favorite headphones you can buy looks-wise. That award would go to the Marshall Monitor III ANC, which are absolutely stunning, in my opinion.

They have a faux-leather exterior, visible wires to represent the brand’s rock ‘n’ roll roots, and gorgeous golden details. I see a lot of stylish people donning the Marshall Major IV on-ears, and I don’t mind those, but I prefer the slimmer form of the Monitor III’s.

My colleague at Future, Nikita, wears these cans everyday, so I wanted to get her opinion. She said: “There's a very good reason why Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong is the posterboy for these headphones, and that's because they make me look and feel like a rockstar. They look like a million bucks and I love how sleek and compact they are as well. Based on looks alone, the Monitor III’s are the best-looking headphones I've owned”.

Pretty high praise, right? But there’s more! I adore the red-velvet-lined carry case, immersive sound, and seemingly endless playtime these headphones offer. They’re a true standout option in today’s market, but for all the right reasons.

Read our full Marshall Monitor III ANC review.

They’re divisive, but if you want something truly eye-catching, the Nothing Headphone (1) is an S-tier option.

4. The pretty and premium pick: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

OK, we’re getting into expensive territory now, but with headphones like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, you’re getting what you pay for. I could speak for hours on end about their spacey, hypnotic sound signature, but it's looks we’re talking about here, and these have them in abundance.

The earcups are slim and well built, there’s a satisfying feeling fabric headband, and stellar color options – there’s Anthracite Black, Canvas White, or Indigo Blue. If you want cans that indicate you value sound highly, these should be a go-to.

We love the audio quality, evolving feature-set, and enhanced ANC on the Px7 S3, so if you’ve got around $450 / £400 to spend, you can’t really do much better than this.

Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review.

If you’re not sold on the Bowers, I also personally like the Sonos Ace – they’re amazing for movies, very solid for music, and super stylish.

5. The luxurious looker: Dali IO-8

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

At the time of writing, our guide to the best over-ear headphones places the Dali IO-8 in first place for design. Yes, we’ve described them as “the best over-ear headphones for ultra-luxe looks as well as sound”.

These cans have exceptional build quality, using brushed, anodised metal on the exterior, memory foam lining the inside of the earcups, and a tasty choice of ‘iron’ black or ‘caramel’ white finishes. Their perfectly circular earcups also have a minimal, yet premium look that’s timeless.

One issue some may take with the IO-8 is that there’s leather on them. There’s no vegan alternative either, unfortunately, but the aforementioned Marshall Monitor III ANC are a nice vegan-friendly alternative.

The Dali IO-8 aren’t only beautiful, they’re also able to offer positive, detailed audio, with support for the hi-res aptX Adaptive codec also on the menu. They appear to be somewhat elusive and highly expensive in the US, but UK buyers should be able to scoop these up for less than £500.

Read our full Dali IO-8 review.

Apple fans, if you don’t own them already, the Apple AirPods Max are a seriously sexy pair of cans; they’re my alternate option in this bracket, no questions asked.

So, those are my personal picks, but I’d love to hear from you. Do you have any of these headphones? What do you make of them? Or are there some other models that you really like the look of? Let me know in the comments.

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I adore my Nintendo Switch 2, but as many predicted, it faces a familiar challenge: battery life. It's by no means dreadful, but I definitely find it runs out a little faster compared to my Switch OLED (and the original Switch before that).

Of course, it does feature a bigger battery than its predecessors, but that's mostly to account for improved performance. Still, I've not second-guessed my generational upgrade once.

However, since I travel often and frequently forget to charge up when there's the opportunity, even a slightly diminished handheld battery life can prove irritating. There are heaps of Switch 2 cases on sites like Amazon, and an ample supply of the best power banks on offer too, but given the Switch 2's innate portability, I'm loath to pack my bag with too many loose gadgets.

That's where Belkin's Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2 comes in. This bad boy packs a 10,000mAh battery pack complete with a display, and also comes with its own USB-C charger. I snagged one of the sage cases myself, and it's washed away my battery anxiety overnight – but there's a lot else to love.

The case is also available on Amazon in the UK here for £49.99, or from at Belkin Australia for AU$99.95.View Deal

First up, let's talk about protective measures. Now, it could be the slightly larger frame in contrast to its ever-thin profile (or the loftier price tag...), but I've been nursing my Nintendo Switch 2 like a newborn babe for fear of it being damaged, especially when I'm travelling.

Available in three chic colors (black, sand, and sage), Belkin's charging case is well-padded and made with a durable polyester outer shell and a wraparound zip. I adore the trendy sage colorway, which is slightly more green than grey and matches my largely matcha-influenced aesthetic for 2025.

Open up the case and you'll find a soft velvety interior as well as some built-in storage; namely, a mesh pocket for wires and other accessories (including a fitted Apple AirTag pocket), and a flat panel with 12 elasticated game card holders. On the other half, there's a recess to house the battery with a velcro strap to keep it secure, and the Switch 2 slots in neatly above this in a fitted bed to keep it snug.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

With the Switch 2 in tow, it weighs in at 2.6 lbs / 1.84kg; a little meaty, yes, but far more compact than the alternative loose portable battery. It's backed by a two-year warranty, too, so you're covered on multiple fronts.

All this contributes to far greater peace of mind for me when I'm out and about with my Switch 2, whether that's through keeping me charged and ready to play, protecting my case from damage, or offering peace of mind that, should it get lost, my Apple AirTag can easily help me relocate it.

You can grab Belkin's charge case for $69.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95, but there's also a non-charging version available for $29.99 / £17.99 / AU$39.95. If you've not yet bought Nintendo's latest handheld, you can read TechRadar’s full review of the Nintendo Switch 2 here.

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• Windows 10's extended support offer is currently rolling out
• A fair few people aren't seeing it, though - myself included
• Microsoft has said that the rollout is happening 'slowly' but that it will be available for everyone before Windows 10's End of Life in October 2025

If you're running Windows 10 and hoping to get extended support for the OS in order to avoid having to upgrade to Windows 11 come October 2025, you may be wondering exactly where the offer of that support is.

While it's officially rolling out, as of a month ago in limited form, Windows Latest reports that the extended security updates (ESU) scheme hasn't reached many people yet.

The button to kick off the enrolment wizard that allows you to sign up for the scheme - which can be done for free, as you may have seen - should appear in the Windows Update panel. However, a good few people - including Windows Latest readers - just aren't seeing this button at all, so they can't sign up.

The tech site contacted Microsoft about this and was told by the company that the enrolment wizard is indeed rolling out currently - as was officially announced recently - it's just that this is happening "slowly".

There's nothing you can do to prompt the button to appear in Windows Update; you just have to wait.

(Image credit: Shutterstock - Wachiwit)Analysis: a seemingly cautious rollout

I am still running Windows 10, and I'm planning to take the offer of extended support (for reasons I've discussed in-depth recently), but I also haven't yet seen it on my PC. There are scattered reports on various online forums from people wondering where the offer is, so it does seem like the rollout is on the cautious and slow side, as Microsoft indicates.

The good news is that Microsoft has assured Windows Latest that the enrollment wizard will arrive on all Windows 10 PCs before the End of Life of the older operating system, which is mid-October 2025. So, it's just a case of being patient, although personally I'd rather not leave signing up for the program until the last minute.

Hopefully, Microsoft will kick the ESU rollout into a higher gear with the next big update for Windows 10, which arrives on September 9, 2025. We shall see, and perhaps ironing out bugs in the wizard has been part of the issue here - there was a notable glitch whereby the sign-up process was failing for some folks, a problem Microsoft resolved the week before last.

Meanwhile, as Windows Latest points out elsewhere, Microsoft is stepping up its full-screen nags being displayed to Windows 10 users, urging them to upgrade to Windows 11, as of the most recent August update. These are pop-ups that have been seen before, and it's likely they'll be fired out again next month and when October rolls around, when support is cut off for those who haven't signed up for the ESU.

I'm going to avail myself of the free option for extended updates, which requires syncing PC settings to OneDrive, as this is something I already do anyway. For those who'd rather not do so - and remember, it is just your Windows settings, not your files and data that's synced - they can still pay $30 (or equivalent in their currency) to join the ESU (which was the only option initially).

A third route is to cash in 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, provided you have accumulated that many.

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When we sit down to watch our favorite TV series online, we rarely consider the streaming process – we just hit play. In reality, there’s a video codec seamlessly managing the compression and decompression of the data to deliver that effortless, high-quality viewing experience. For example, High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC or H.265) has been one of the more widely used video standards across streaming platforms and consumer devices for the last decade.

In more recent years, Versatile Video Coding (VVC or H.266), the next generation codec launched, offering significantly improved video compression efficiency and performance over HEVC. The benefits of using VVC include streaming higher resolution content at lower bitrates, improved data efficiency and better visual quality.

However, while VVC delivers a superior performance to HEVC, widespread adoption of new codecs often takes time due to standardization process timelines, compatibility conditions and hardware requirements.

VVC is gaining traction, particularly around the development of software decoders but hardware support is still playing catch up. Several steps must now happen for VVC to achieve full industry endorsement.

The benefits of VVC and catalysts to adoption:

As viewer expectations for quality increase and streaming platforms continue to develop, VVC is well positioned to meet future video compression needs. The codec has a robust technical architecture and clearly established intellectual property policies. It also delivers an impressive 50% bitrate reduction compared to HEVC, for the same perceived quality. The result? Reduced buffering and improved delivery of 4K and 8K content, without high data costs.

VVC can be used across many applications rather than one specific use case driving adoption. Technologies that would benefit most from VVC, such as 8K, VR (Virtual Reality), and volumetric video are growing in use cases, but are not yet widely adopted by consumers and businesses. While they definitely show promise, they haven't yet reached the scale of demand needed to drive immediate uptake of VVC.

The area showing most promise so far in driving VVC adoption is broadcast. VVC's superior compression efficiency makes it particularly valuable here, as bandwidth limitations mean that improved compression directly impacts cost efficiency.

In the broadcast sector, there's growing momentum from both European (DVB) and North American (ATSC) standards bodies supporting VVC, with Brazil launching experimental VVC-based transmissions in May, in advance of a subsequent commercial rollout. ATSC has recently incorporated VVC into its 3.0 specification.

Removing VVC adoption roadblocks:

Despite clearly demonstrating the capabilities of VVC, one obstacle to implementation is that firmware in some devices – such as certain Smart TVs - will require updating to enable it, despite already having the necessary hardware. This can create market fragmentation where some devices are provided with updates while others remain without VVC support.

In terms of mobile platforms, VVC has been proven to run efficiently on older mobile devices in software, easing concerns about its computational demands. However, this is an area where adoption is still slightly behind.

That said, creating a viable option to enable VVC via firmware updates in consumer electronics presents an opportunity to accelerate rollout without requiring hardware refreshes. But integration in devices must be accompanied by the availability of VVC content and services.

Overcoming regional differences:

Some markets have already integrated HEVC into their landscapes, meaning a new migration could take time and further investment. Yet regional discrepancies can also work as an advantage for VVC. For instance, broadcast markets such as Australia haven't yet completely migrated to Advanced Video Coding (AVC) - the codec that came before HEVC. This might mean that they bypass HEVC entirely and move directly to VVC, potentially speeding up uptake in these specific areas.

VVC also faces competition in the video codec landscape, particularly from AV1 (AOMedia Video 1). Developed by the Alliance for Open Media, AV1 has achieved significant adoption in streaming platforms and web-based applications, and the next generation codec, AV2, is expected to be finalized soon. However, AV1's performance characteristics make it less suited for complex content, meaning that, in terms of coding efficiency, AV1 and VVC aren't direct competitors in high-end applications.

The future for VVC development looks bright

We’ve recently seen VVC being demonstrated publicly. Most notably, the technology was used to power 8K trials at the Paris Olympics, with a private demonstration delivered to premier broadcasters. The practicality of VVC for streamers has been enhanced by Fraunhofer HHI’s release of the VVdeC/VVdeC software decoder (Versatile Video Encoder/ Decoder) in 2020. This software has been ported to various platforms and web browsers, so that developers wishing to integrate VVC don’t necessarily need to start from scratch.

Real-world deployment of VVC is still in its early stages. However, continued market education, industry collaboration, and integration into a variety of devices and applications will help drive implementation throughout 2025 and beyond. As a doorway to widespread VVC adoption, major streaming platforms need to begin offering VVC streams.

Even one major service adopting VVC could create a significant domino effect, where competitors follow suit and create momentum across the entire ecosystem. So the next time you sit down to stream your favorite series, you may just be pioneering the very latest video codec, in full 4k or even 8k glory.

VVC’s unique position at the intersection of broadcast, streaming, and emerging immersive media makes it a pivotal technology in the evolving digital video landscape. As content delivery networks face increasing bandwidth demands, VVC's compression advantages could become increasingly valuable, potentially reshaping how video is distributed across global networks. For businesses in these industries, it’s certainly a technology to monitor.

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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

New and sophisticated threat actors known collectively as "Scattered Spider" have emerged as one of the most concerning challenges facing organizations worldwide. These groups – including UNC3944, Oktapus, and Muddled Libra – have, yet again, fundamentally transformed the attack paradigm by prioritizing human psychology over traditional malware deployment.

A new breed of cyber adversary

What sets Scattered Spider groups apart from conventional cybercriminals is their masterful exploitation of human vulnerabilities rather than system weaknesses. These threat actors have perfected the art of social engineering, employing sophisticated techniques such as voice phishing (vishing), SMS phishing (smishing), and chat-based manipulation to convincingly impersonate legitimate employees and trusted contacts.

The success of these groups lies in their ability to establish initial network access through carefully orchestrated human interactions. By studying organizational structures and employee behaviors, they craft highly personalized approaches that bypass traditional security measures through the simple act of conversation. This ‘human-first’ methodology is proving remarkably effective against even well-defended networks.

The mechanics of deception

The true danger of Scattered Spider operations becomes apparent when examining their sophisticated approach to multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass. Through strategic SIM-swapping attacks and carefully orchestrated helpdesk manipulation, these criminals exploit the inherent trust relationships within organizations. They convince IT support personnel to reset MFA credentials or transfer system control, often using information gathered through extensive reconnaissance to appear legitimate.

Once inside target networks, Scattered Spider groups demonstrate exceptional operational security by employing "Living off the Land" tactics. This approach involves leveraging legitimate administrative tools already present within most enterprise environments – including PowerShell, PsExec, AnyDesk, and even credential-harvesting utilities like Mimikatz. By utilizing these ‘authorized’ tools for malicious purposes, the groups effectively operate beneath the detection threshold of traditional security solutions.

This minimal malware approach presents a significant challenge for organizations relying heavily on signature-based detection systems. Traditional antivirus solutions and legacy security tools may never register suspicious activity, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access while conducting their operations with impunity.

The attack unveiled

The Scattered Spider groups’ attack methodology follows a predictable, yet highly effective pattern. The process typically begins with extensive reconnaissance and credential harvesting, where attackers gather detailed information about target organizations, their employees, and internal processes.

Following this intelligence-gathering phase, the group leverages AI-driven phishing techniques and sophisticated voice cloning technology to craft highly personalized smishing campaigns. These messages appear remarkably authentic, often incorporating specific organizational terminology, recent company events, or industry-relevant information scraped from LinkedIn and dark web data, which lends credibility to their deceptive communications.

The social engineering component represents perhaps the most insidious aspect of their operations. By impersonating legitimate employees, these criminals manipulate helpdesk staff and telephony personnel into performing security-compromising actions. They skillfully exploit the helpful nature of IT support teams, often creating artificial urgency or leveraging apparent authority to bypass standard verification procedures.

Once initial access is established, Scattered Spider groups focus on persistence through strategic deployment of remote management tools, using credential dump tools such as Mimikatz, secretdump, and ADRecon to escalate access. They also utilize internal tools and tunneling such as Ngrok, RSocx to hide movement, ultimately leading to data exfiltration or ransomware deployment, depending on the group's specific objectives for each engagement.

The warning signs

Security teams must develop heightened awareness of specific indicators that may signal Scattered Spider activity within their environments. Sudden increases in remote-access sessions, particularly those involving tools like AnyDesk or ScreenConnect, warrant immediate investigation, especially when these sessions occur outside normal business hours or originate from unfamiliar geographic locations.

Multiple MFA reset requests channeled through phone-based support within compressed timeframes often indicate systematic attempts to manipulate helpdesk personnel. Organizations should also monitor for unrecognized SIM-swap alerts or unexpected one-time password deliveries to employees, as these frequently signal active credential compromise attempts.

Perhaps most concerning are instances where security tools experience mysterious disabling or unauthorized administrative actions appearing in system consoles. These events, particularly when coupled with anomalous lateral movement patterns involving valid employee credentials used in atypical ways, strongly suggest advanced persistent threat activity.

Industry impact and future implications

While recent intelligence suggests Scattered Spider groups have begun targeting the aviation industry following successful retail sector exploits, security professionals must recognize that no industry remains immune to these sophisticated attacks. These groups’ methodology proves effective across diverse organizational structures and business models, making widespread vigilance essential.

Building defense strategies

Protecting against Scattered Spider groups requires a carefully orchestrated multi-layered approach that simultaneously addresses technical vulnerabilities and human factors. Email security solutions are needed to provide crucial frontline defense by intercepting phishing attempts, credential-harvesting campaigns, and smishing attacks before they reach employees. Advanced anti-impersonation features within these solutions help reduce CEO and CFO fraud schemes commonly leveraged in these sophisticated campaigns.

Modern endpoint security and endpoint detection and response solutions are the next layer of defense required for essential visibility, as they detect unauthorized remote access tools, identify credential dumping attempts, and flag unusual lateral movement patterns from compromised endpoints. Additionally, advanced behavioral analytics can identify "Living off the Land" techniques even when traditional malware signatures are absent, catching attackers who rely on legitimate system tools for malicious purposes.

However, technology alone cannot adequately address this rapidly evolving threat. These sophisticated attacks underscore a fundamental shift in cybersecurity: humans, not machines, have become the new perimeter that organisations must defend. Therefore, security awareness training serves as a critical human-layer defense, empowering staff to recognize deception tactics early in the attack chain.

The emergence of Scattered Spider groups represents more than just another type of cybercriminal outfit – it signals a paradigm shift requiring organizations to layer traditional technical controls with identity safeguards, behavior-based detection systems, and continuous employee education to create truly comprehensive protection against human-centric cyber threats.

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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

A critical development in artificial intelligence is agentic AI, and these tools are becoming a part of everyday life faster than we realize. Unlike traditional AI models that follow predefined rules, agentic AI systems can make decisions, perform actions, and adapt to situations based on their programming and the data they process, often without human input.

In comparison, traditional AI models are unable to adapt to unexpected changes without a form of retraining, testing and validation, which requires human intervention. A traditional AI model will typically be built to fulfil a specific role, such as a classification task where it will identify if a person is likely to default on a loan payment or not.

From self-instructed house robots to focused data analysis, agentic AI promises convenience and efficiency. However, with that shift comes much deeper access to our personal data, which raises new concerns over transparency, trust, and control.

Agentic AI: The shift from support to self-direction

Agentic AI behavior is goal-driven – it must determine how to achieve its primary goal and sub-goals, requiring it to prioritize tasks and solve problems independently of humans. For example, a house robot might be instructed to “keep the house clean”. The system will then act independently to assess different areas of the home and undertake tasks where appropriate, without requiring constant human intervention. As part of this process, the robot will identify individual sub goals, such as tidying the living room or vacuuming dirty floors, while making its own decisions to achieve the objectives.

Alternatively, businesses might employ agentic AI to analyze datasets over a specified period and identify trends and preferences, which can then be applied to other company strategies. For instance, creating targeted email campaigns. Automating the process brings instant access to valuable insights, increasing human capacity for time spent on more strategy-focused tasks.

These examples illustrate the power agentic systems have to identify opportunities, execute strategies, and adapt to different goals. But as the use of agentic AI increases, businesses and developers should carefully evaluate our trust in them and how they influence our human-machine relationships.

The evolving human-machine link

Agentic AI is fundamentally transforming the human role in tasks through automation, creating a more balanced human-to-machine relationship. As agentic systems utilize deep learning and complex image and object recognition, they can operate in increasingly dynamic environments and solve complex problems autonomously, without any human involvement.

Reduced human intervention not only offers greater efficiency in work, both at home and in businesses, but also frees up time to focus on more strategic initiatives. However, as trust builds towards these automation tools, reduced human oversight comes with a potential risk of over-reliance. While we benefit from agentic AI’s efficiency, we must also ensure we have the opportunity to upskill and educate ourselves.

Whilst agentic systems can operate independently, they still require value and goal alignment to maintain control over the outputs and ensure it aligns with the desired outcome, not just what was instructed of them. Otherwise, there is concern that these systems may take dangerous shortcuts or bypass other infrastructure to achieve efficiency.

The future of AI ethics and privacy demands

In turn, this raises numerous ethical concerns surrounding agentic AI. One key debate is data privacy and the security of sensitive data – this can vary in severity depending on the industry in which the organization operates.

For example, agentic AI has already been deployed by cybersecurity companies to detect and correlate threats by analyzing network activity in real-time and then autonomously responding to potential breaches.

However, organizations who implement this must provide data to the system, raising questions over the security and privacy of their information. Without human oversight, organizations must consider if they are comfortable with agentic AI making business-altering judgement and being on the frontier of their most valuable assets.

Bias in agentic AI can occur because of human input and data. When such a system is entrusted with making moral decisions that have real-world consequences, it faces significant ethical considerations. While existing or emerging legislation provides guidance, there is still much to be done to unpack and implement these concepts within operationalized AI systems fully.

Furthermore, systems with access to highly sensitive data have raised security concerns as they can have vulnerabilities exploited. This has been highlighted by recent cyber attacks, and information within digital environments is at risk. In such complex systems, who is held accountable if things go wrong?

Key considerations for ethical AI use

While we are guided by ethical principles and emerging legislation, it is essential that we have safeguards in place for both agentic and traditional AI systems. When automating manual tasks and analyzing datasets, it is crucial to identify and mitigate bias in both data and algorithms with consistent human oversight. Organizations that utilize agentic AI should strive for ethical practice which can be supported through training and continuous auditing. This helps ensure fairness and prevents harm while creating transparency around how automated decisions are made.

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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

• Alfie Allen shares 3 Body Problem creators have "pretty epic" plans for season 2 episodes
• He's one of the main new additions to season 2's cast
• Production is still in its early stages

3 Body Problem season 2 is currently in production, with an expected release date yet to be confirmed (though common sense tells us we can expect it in mid 2026 at the earliest). I've already been honest about not being able to remember the Netflix show's complex lore now, let alone by the time new episodes do eventually appear. But someone who is going to need to get their head around it all very quickly is Alfie Allen.

The Game of Thrones actor has been cast in a currently unknown role, alongside fellow newcomers David Yip, Jordan Sunshine, Claudia Doumit and Ellie de Lange. I'm speaking to Allen about his new series, Atomic, starring alongside Shazad Latif as a drug deal who runs into trouble when the cartel wants him to smuggle uranium. Hopefully, there's not too many similarities between the two shows, but 3 Body Problem season 2 is certainly going to pile on some unexpected pressure.

But what that pressure is exactly is unknown. We left season 1 with civilization threatened to be wiped out by the San-Ti, with the launch of Will's brain towards their fleet failing to stay on course (that will make more sense when you watch it). The conflict is far from over, and I can't help asking Allen what we can expect from upcoming episodes.

3 Body Problem season 2 episodes set to be 'pretty epic' according to new star Alfie Allen

“I'd second that without a doubt,” Allen tells me as I ask the pair about the two major projects they have on the horizon. “I'm just starting on 3 Body Problem season 2, I've only done two days [of filming]. But it's great. The stuff they've got planned out is pretty epic. It’s all so good.”

Given that we currently have no idea who Allen is playing or exactly how he's involved with the show, this literally could mean anything. It's less likely, but not impossible, that he's going to be on the side of the San-Ti, with the alien fleet needing new foes to fact as their ominous threat looms ever closer.

“The tone really changes once you get to the second season,” co-creators, writers, and executive producers David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo said in a statement to the streamer. “It’s much bigger. Things get wilder, the conflicts get more cosmic. Once people see it on the screen, they’re going to understand why we’ve been so excited for this season, in particular.”

It's not even much help to read the original book series given how much changed between season 1 and the first installment. It also presents another question – if production is only just beginning and season 2 is going to be even more involved than the first... how long are we actually going to be waiting for it?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that season 2 won't be a repeat of Stranger Things season 5, but the fact that they have a similar level of sci-fi visual output, I'm nervous. Still, the cogs are moving, and I'm pretty sure we're all only just beginning to understand what we're letting ourselves in for.

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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, August 25 (game #540).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Bee friendly

NYT Strands today (game #541) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BULB
• FAME
• RAIL
• CLAY
• GAMES
• MALE

NYT Strands today (game #541) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #541) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 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 #541) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #541, are…

• DAISY
• BLUEBELL
• PRIMROSE
• MARIGOLD
• CHAMOMILE
• SPANGRAM: WILDFLOWER

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

When I saw the theme “Bee friendly” I automatically thought of nectar and flowers and quickly spotted the WILDFLOWER spangram.

Despite this being a relatively easy game I still struggled putting together a couple of the words.

I got DAISY and BLUEBELL easily enough, but it took me a while to see that the space between them was occupied by CHAMOMILE, which I associated with tea rather than flowers.

PRIMROSE I discovered in two parts – first “rose”, which even I know is not a wildflower, and then “prim”.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, August 25, game #540)

• LAPTOP
• NOTEBOOKS
• FOLDERS
• BACKPACK
• CALCULATOR
• SPANGRAM: SUPPLIES

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new 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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, August 25 (game #806).

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 #807) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TOAD
• RIDE
• TATTOO
• BAR
• MOLE
• FOOT
• HEEL
• BADGER
• RAT
• HARRY
• STEP
• SCAR
• CREEP
• PIERCING
• BUG
• SKUNK

NYT Connections today (game #807) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Useful ID features
• GREEN: A contemptible person
• BLUE: Nag, nag, nag
• PURPLE: Add a sit down word that rhymes with “fool”

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 #807) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
• GREEN: A REAL JERK
• BLUE: PESTER
• PURPLE: WORDS BEFORE "STOOL" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #807) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #807, are…

• YELLOW: DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS MOLE, PIERCING, SCAR, TATTOO
• GREEN: A REAL JERK CREEP, HEEL, RAT, SKUNK
• BLUE: PESTER BADGER, BUG, HARRY, RIDE
• PURPLE: WORDS BEFORE "STOOL" BAR, FOOT, STEP, TOAD

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

It took me two goes to get A REAL JERK, because I included MOLE instead of CREEP thinking this was a group made of criminal-related slang. And before that I foolishly lumped together HEEL, FOOT, and STEP (plus BAR) in the mistaken belief that there was some kind of podiatry connection.

After giving away these two mistakes I made progress with the green and blue groups, although I wasn’t sure how RIDE made it alongside BADGER, BUG, and HARRY.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS was probably a lot easier if you work in the emergency services or watch a lot of crime procedurals, but it took a lot of staring at the final eight tiles for the penny to drop for me. Arduous.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, August 25, game #806)

• YELLOW: PREDICAMENT FIX, JAM, MESS, PICKLE
• GREEN: SMALL SPHERICAL THINGS MOTHBALL, PEA, PEARL, POM-POM
• BLUE: PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIES FILTER, LIGHTER, PIPE CLEANER, TAMPER
• PURPLE: WHAT "DOWN" MIGHT MEAN FEATHERS, GUZZLE, SAD, WILLING

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, August 25 (game #1309).

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 #1310) - 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 #1310) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1310) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1310) - 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 #1310) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• W

• H

• I

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

Quordle today (game #1310) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1310, are…

• BEGET
• WRATH
• HEARD
• INDEX

I had a nice trouble-free run today until I hit my last word.

I had four letters with one in the correct position, but was struggling to think of anything that would fit. It was by moving the letters around that I finally got INDEX, although it always feels risky using a rare letter.

Daily Sequence today (game #1310) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1310, are…

• TWEET
• ADAPT
• OUGHT
• MYRRH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1309, Monday, 25 August: GEEKY, SHALT, CHIEF, JIFFY
• Quordle #1308, Sunday, 24 August: ROVER, GONER, ANTIC, OUTDO
• Quordle #1307, Saturday, 23 August: DEMON, GRATE, FLYER, SHEEP
• Quordle #1306, Friday, 22 August: TROOP, SCOPE, TORSO, BRINY
• Quordle #1305, Thursday, 21 August: QUEST, SPARK, WHITE, ACUTE
• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY

• Gadhouse launched retro-inspired USB-C Wesley headphones: $68 / £59
• The launch comes days after Google called wires 'sloppy' and 'embarrassing'
• Wireless buds typically last 2 years; I own wired cans that are 15 years old

Sometimes a product just launches at a great time, doesn't it? A pertinent time; an important time.

Now, I could fashion a perfectly worthy news piece just about the Gadhouse Wesley. They are, after all, beautiful new retro-inspired headphones that wouldn't look out of place over Max's ears in Stranger Things (or, in fact, in any show set in the 80s).

And thanks to their lovely USB-C wire, they can offer 48kHz Lossless Audio – which is something even the best Bluetooth codecs within the very best wireless earbuds still can't truly do, but that the best wired earbuds and wired headphones certainly can.

You could also get that level of audio detail using your AirPods Max wired up with their USB-C wire, of course, but Apple's 2020 cans still cost a lot of money – $549 or £499 for quick reference. And the Gadhouse Wesley cost just $68 / £59 (or around AU$123). I love the retro-meets-now look of these headphones, and I'll certainly be buying them when they arrive in September, to partner with my Android.

But this is about something much bigger, for me. In fact, it's about Big Tech and what Google said at its Made By Google Pixel event on Wednesday, August 20. In case you missed it, I'll link the two-minute sponsored segment from Kareem Rahma's popular talk show and podcast Subway Takes, which Google cut away to during its event, here…

Wired is ‘sloppy’? Surely li-ion batteries in buds are sloppier

Where to start? One could take issue with the notion that wired headphones look "sloppy" or "embarrassing" (although the two wires from those mics to get decent voice pickup look absolutely fine, though, I'm guessing?) or the blunt statement that "they don't do anything that you want them to do". Actually, mine play hi-res music with virtually no latency, and that is exactly what I want, thanks.

Or there's the slightly more sinister notion that if your daughter started wearing wired headphones, she'd be "kicked out of the house… until she got some buds in".

I struggle to believe that, in 2025, we're advocating throwing away battery-free headphones that might last your child long into adulthood in favor of wireless earbuds that only last as long as the lith-ion battery squirrelled into them. Let me be clear: however good the audio quality and feature-set is, this battery will gradually deteriorate to the point of failure within around three years from the time of purchase, depending on use.

And you can state that earbuds are recyclable all you want (Apple absolutely does affirm this, with its AirPods), the truth is that many buds will still end up in landfill, because people don't always recycle – and with such tiny components, it is difficult to recycle every small component of a set of earbuds. It can also become expensive, since it requires actual human disassembly.

(Image credit: Gadhouse)

OK, so Google has announced that its new Pixel Buds 2a do have a replaceable battery in the case, but it's the batteries in the buds that tend to go first. And let's not forget, this is a company that has made a huge and much-touted pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. So this clip? Not a good look, Google.

I have been a full-time audio writer since 2019, and I still own three pairs of wired IEMs from that first, glorious year when I decided this was my future and forte. How many pairs of wireless earbuds do I still own and use from that time, six years ago? I'll give you one guess.

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• Ghost guns highlight the darker side of modern 3D printing technology
• Fingerprinting systems can embed timestamps, geolocations, and printer identification data
• SIDE offers break-resilient embedding methods for forensic data recovery

The rise of 3D printing has offered new ways to produce tools, spare parts, and even art. Yet its darker use has gained attention through “ghost guns.”

These are firearms produced outside regulatory systems, which are difficult to trace and have already been implicated in violent crime, including the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Thankfully, researchers now believe that even if someone smashes such an object, investigators could still recover valuable forensic information.

Building a system of hidden fingerprints

The idea of fingerprinting in 3D printing is not entirely new. Various approaches embed unique information into printed items, often including details like timestamps, printer identification, and geolocation data.

Until now, a weakness has remained: what happens when a printed object is broken into pieces or deliberately tampered with?

A team led by Netanel Raviv at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a system designed to withstand such attempts.

Its framework, named Secure Information Embedding and Extraction (SIDE), uses mathematical methods that allow fragments to retain enough encoded detail for investigators to recover key information.

The SIDE system is built on earlier work presented at the IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory in 2024, which focused on encoding methods resilient enough to reconstruct data from partial remains.

By extending those ideas, the current study adds security mechanisms that can require 3D printers to include such fingerprints automatically.

According to the researchers, SIDE does not just add markings but uses loss-tolerant embedding techniques. This means that even a weapon deliberately broken into pieces may still yield identifiable data during forensic analysis.

On one hand, fingerprinting techniques could make it harder for illicit weapons to circulate undetected.

On the other hand, this raises questions about the scope of surveillance, control over personal manufacturing, and the balance between security and privacy.

A beginner 3D printer used for harmless home projects might soon be subject to the same requirements as industrial machines if regulators decide to mandate such systems.

While the debate will likely focus on ghost guns, SIDE has potential uses far beyond weapon tracing.

Any item produced with a 3D printer could, in theory, carry this invisible signature.

Combined with AI tools for pattern recognition and data recovery, investigators could reconstruct timelines and identities from fragments of plastic or resin.

"This work opens up new ways to protect the public from the harmful aspects of 3D printing through a combination of mathematical contributions and new security mechanisms," said Netanel Raviv, assistant professor of computer science & engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

"While SIDE has limitations in defending against resourceful attackers with strong expertise in 3D printing, it raises the level of sophistication, prior knowledge, and expertise required from the adversary to remain undetected after committing the crime."

Via Techxplore

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• The AirPods Pro 3 are predicted to launch this year
• They could come with heart rate monitors
• It's been three years since the Apple AirPods Pro 2 launched

There have been a lot of conflicting reports around whether Apple would get around to launching the AirPods Pro 3 this year, but one of the more reliable reporters on the Apple beat says the wireless earbuds are indeed coming before the end of 2025.

That reporter is Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who says the AirPods Pro 3 will also come with a significant upgrade: built-in heart rate monitoring. The same tech has previously been integrated into the Powerbeats Pro 2 which launched in February.

With the Powerbeats Pro 2, LED optical sensors pulse at over 100 times per second, measuring heart rate via blood flow. Presumably the AirPods Pro 3 will work in a similar way, and feed the stats back to the Apple Health app.

Gurman also reiterates his previous assertion that Apple is working on a paid Health+ subscription option for users, which may include the services of an AI fitness coach. The idea is you would get personalized advice on diet, exercise, and more.

Three years later

The AirPods 4 launched in September 2024 (Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

We've been waiting a long time for the AirPods Pro 3 to arrive, considering the Apple AirPods Pro 2 made their debut back in September 2022. The wireless earbuds market has changed quite a bit in that time – and we've since had the Apple AirPods 4, of course.

Most of the leaks and rumors we've heard around these earbuds are concerned with when they'll actually see the light of day. There have been hints in iOS 26 that the AirPods Pro 3 would arrive in 2025, though one reliable source has suggested a 2026 launch.

It seems clear that Apple wants health tracking to be a primary focus of the AirPods Pro 3, besides getting high-quality audio into your ears, and we may see the wireless earbuds able to track other vital statistics besides your heart rate.

The wireless earbuds are one of several devices "in the pipeline" for Apple "as early as this fall", which is typically September, October, and November. We're also of course expecting the iPhone 17 and the Apple Watch 11 sometime next month.

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• A Microsoft designer imagined a new Copilot wearable without a display and HUD
• The Copilot Veja concept transmits information entirely through audio feedback
• Dual cameras give the wearable stereoscopic vision and potential depth awareness

Microsoft designer Braz de Pina has created an unofficial concept for a Copilot-powered wearable that reimagines what a successor to the Hololens headset could be.

Called the Copilot Veja, the device is not a headset but instead takes the form of ear-worn stems equipped with cameras, microphones, and buttons for interaction.

Although the name Veja comes from the Portuguese word for “see” (making the absence of any eye cameras appear especially odd), not having a heads up display was a deliberate decision. Most people already have screens in their pockets and on their wrists, and adding another was considered unnecessary by de Pina.

(Image credit: Braz de Pina )Audio-first

De Pina describes the Copilot Veja as a “fan-made concept”, designed around the idea of making Copilot portable, conversational, and practical without the need for a head-up display.

Instead of delivering information visually, the Veja uses audio as its main channel.

“I keep thinking about how AI has changed the course of the metaverse hype and the AR/VR universe. I know Meta is heavily investing in smart glasses and similar devices, not to mention all the exciting VR and AR headsets out there. But my question is: with capable agentic AI, do I really need to see what the AI tells me? Or is it enough to just hear it,” de Pina asked in a post on Instagram.

"In that case, glasses wouldn’t be necessary," he continued. "We’d simply be fixing one of AI’s flaws: the inability to read context in real time. An AI that can see what you see and provide instant feedback about your surroundings would allow for quick, natural communication. That’s what Copilot Veja is about.”

The ear stems are designed with comfort in mind. Each one carries a set of controls, including a power button, a volume knob, a Copilot button, and a camera trigger.

De Pina imagined the dual cameras working together to replicate stereoscopic vision, giving the AI the ability to analyze the world in depth while also allowing the user to capture content.

Although this isn't something that Microsoft would ever likely make, it's a great idea and one we'd love to see go beyond being a mere concept.

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The third-party controller market shows no sign of slowing down, with innovative new models continuing to release at a rapid pace, promising more features and improved performance with each subsequent release.

Mobapad and GameSir are well-known in the space for their mid-range offerings, but both brands have recently released high-end pads that could vie for the best PC controller crown.

Both occupy the same price point, and both are compatible with multiple platforms (albeit with different consoles supported). They also offer similar levels of performance – but after testing both side-by-side, there’s one clear winner for me.

Design and features

(Image credit: Future)

The Huben 2 made a great first impression before I’d even seen it: its hard-shell case was sturdier and more premium than I was expecting, with its insides perfectly modeled to the contours of the controller, spare D-pad hat, and USB dongle. It also has a netted area to store the USB cable, complete with an integrated hook-and-loop fastener to keep it coiled in place.

The controller itself lives up to its high quality packaging. It looks very sleek and smart with its transparent faceplate revealing the brilliant white colorway of my review unit, which is nicely accented by the red sticks and face buttons.

All of its materials look and feel premium, and the overall build quality is excellent, with the moving parts being smooth to operate yet solidly fitted. The material behind the handles is textured to offer grip, although it’s a slight shame it’s still made from a hard plastic material.

The G7 Pro has a slightly smaller form than the Huben 2, so those with smaller hands might find it preferable to hold. Build quality is similar to that of Huben 2, although it’s perhaps not quite as sharp looking or as premium.

Nevertheless, it still feels very nice in the hand, and it has better grips, thanks to the soft-touch material on their undersides that provide more grip than the Huben 2’s. The texture and even the color are very similar on both pads, though.

There’s no included case for the G7 Pro, but it does come with a charging dock, which is made to a similarly high standard and fits the pad seamlessly, offering plenty of security while being easy to set and release. It’s also pleasingly slight, so it takes up minimal space.

Both controllers adopt the familiar Xbox controller style, although there are some differences in their features. The G7 Pro has a headset jack, the Huben 2 doesn’t. But the Huben 2 has four back buttons, while the G7 Pro only has two. However, the G7 Pro has a further two extra buttons nestled between the triggers and bumpers.

(Image credit: Future)

This is a choice location for them, as they’re very easy to use – easier than using back buttons. There’s also less chance of accidentally triggering them when gripping the pad, as I often did with the Huben 2’s back buttons.

What’s more, the two back buttons of the G7 Pro have an adjacent slider to disable them, which is far more convenient than having to use its accompanying software, as is the case with the Huben 2.

Speaking of which, the software for both gamepads offers plenty of customization options, beyond those accessible on-board. Both have mobile and Windows apps, although in the case of GameSir, its app for the latter system (GameSir Nexus) is far more capable than its app for the former.

The Mobapad mobile app, on the other hand, does feature plenty of tweaking potential to please serious tinkerers. As with Nexus, it allows buttons to be remapped and stick deadzones and curve profiles to be altered.

Other adjustments for motion controls and Turbo functions are also possible in both Nexus and the Moboapad app, although the latter offers slightly more depth. In reality, though, you won’t find many other software that offer as many customizations as these two.

Both are also easy to use, although it’s a shame the Huben 2 itself can’t be used to navigate the Mobapad app – even though it can be used to navigate your phone’s UI.

While both controllers have Bluetooth and USB dongles for multiple wireless connections, there are some differences in the platforms they support. Both work with PC and Android devices, but the Huben 2 has added iOS compatibility. And as for consoles, the G7 Pro is compatible with the Xbox Series X and Series S and the Xbox One, while the Huben 2 works with Switch.

Performance

(Image credit: Future)

In action, the Huben 2 really shines. The face buttons are clicky, lacking the heavily damped feel of many other controllers, but still just as tactile; they’re more akin to the clicks of the best gaming mice. They’re also very snappy and responsive as a result.

Even better is the D-pad: it feels very similar to the face buttons, and is just as quick and easy to use. Rapid, multiple inputs were a cinch in Tekken 8, while maintaining high levels of accuracy. There’s a small amount of dampening in each direction, which helps to make presses more controlled.

The default hat also helped in this regard. It adopts a very similar design to that of the latest Xbox controller, with its prominent middle dip and clearly squared-off segments, which provide plenty of feedback and stability.

The D-pad on the G7 Pro is, if anything, even easier and more clicky in its actuation than the Huben 2’s. However, it lacks any discernable dampening, which can result in less control over presses. I also found the hat too small and flat to provide sufficient grip, resulting in my thumb frequently falling off its left edge.

Both controllers have similar shoulder buttons, adopting the familiar shape and placement of those adorning the best Xbox controllers. I did find the bumpers of the Huben 2 a tad too high for my liking, but this is a minor gripe.

Both sets of triggers offer sufficient travel and feel, although those on the G7 Pro offer more resistance and have greater dampening. You might think this would make them easier to control than the Huben 2’s, but the latter’s more rounded shape compensates for their light actuation.

(Image credit: Future)

This is because a larger portion of your fingers is in contact with the physical buttons, which in turn allows you to control their depression more easily, at least in my experience. They’re also more comfortable as a result of this shape, allowing me to play with the Huben 2 for longer periods without fatigue.

I certainly welcomed this aspect when playing games requiring constant use of the triggers, such Assetto Corsa and titles requiring vehicle control. However, all of this isn’t to say that the triggers of the G7 Pro are poor, as they’re still perfectly enjoyable to use.

Each trigger also has its own travel lock switch next to it, allowing you to switch it from analog to digital modes, which is useful in the case of shooters where quick taps are required.

Both controllers also feature motion controls. The Huben 2’s work excellently on Switch: when I aimed bows in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, their tracking and precision rivalled that of the best Nintendo Switch controllers. I experienced no drop outs or lag, either.

Since the G7 Pro isn’t compatible with the console, its motion controls can only be used on PC as a substitute for the sticks or even mouse inputs (something the Huben 2 is capable of, too). While they’re accurate enough, few PC games were designed with these controls in mind, so they don’t work as seamlessly. This isn’t exactly the G7 Pro’s fault, but it does beg the question as to why it has gyro capabilities if it’s not compatible with the platform that makes best use of them.

When it comes to sticks, I prefer the smoother, softer material on the Huben 2’s, as well as their deeper indentations which offer more purchase, and overall feel more satisfying to use than the G7 Pro’s.

It’s not that their hall effect technology seems more accurate than the TMR sensors in the G7 Pro’s sticks, but they feel more responsive as well as being easier to wrangle, moving in precisely the way you want them to.

As for connectivity, both controllers worked with their respective devices without issue during my testing. Switching between devices is also easy, since both feature sliders on the rear for changing platforms, although it can take a few moments and press of the power button to connect to the new device.

Verdict

(Image credit: Future)

Both the Huben 2 and the G7 Pro are great controllers. They’re expensive – and there are plenty of great budget alternatives out there (including other models from the two brands) – but if you’re looking for something a little more upmarket, neither is likely to disappoint.

However, I think the Huben 2 has the slight edge, feeling just that little more premium and satisfying to use, with the D-pad deserving special mention. A large part of your decision may come down to the specific platform support, but if you’re playing on PC, Android, or Switch – or all three – the Huben 2 is the superior choice as far as I’m concerned.

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• Windows 11 has a Resume feature in test builds
• For now it's just for Spotify, but more developers will get on board in time
• If you're listening to a track on your Android phone, you can resume that playback on your Windows 11 PC seamlessly

Windows 11 is getting a new ability whereby the desktop operating system will allow you to resume what you were previously doing in an app on your Android phone.

This is only available in testing for now - in Windows 11 preview builds in the Dev and Beta channels - and while it will eventually come to a range of apps, to begin with it only works with Spotify.

As Microsoft explains in a blog post, the way the feature works is as follows: say you're listening to a playlist or podcast on Spotify on your smartphone, and you stop it, then head to your desktop PC.

When you fire up Windows 11, you'll see a ‘Resume alert’ pop up from your taskbar at the bottom of the screen, letting you know that you can continue your Spotify listening on the PC. Just click on that alert, and the Spotify app will be opened, continuing playback exactly where you left off on your Android smartphone.

Microsoft reminds us that we'll need to have the Spotify app installed on the PC and be logged into the same account as the one running on the smartphone, as you'd expect. If you haven't got Spotify installed in Windows 11, a button to install the software from the Microsoft Store will pop up - then you just have to log in to your Spotify account.

Also, you must have the Link to Windows app running on your smartphone, and have access to your mobile enabled on your Windows 11 PC, as per Microsoft's instructions in its blog post.

(Image credit: Microsoft)Analysis: A great addition - but Microsoft's really taken its time

This is essentially Microsoft's take on Apple's Handoff feature, and it looks to be a streamlined and useful ability that I'm keen to see debut on Windows 11. Its revelation is no surprise, though, seeing as Microsoft accidentally gave us a glimpse of the functionality in a pre-recorded Build session earlier this year, the video of which was swiftly edited to remove this. It worked pretty much exactly the same as we see in testing now (with Spotify also being used in this early demo).

The technical name for this trick is Cross Device Resume and hopefully a number of software developers will be getting on board with bringing in support for this - those who have apps available on both Windows 11 and Android, of course. Microsoft will doubtless be prodding some of the bigger names out there, and besides Spotify we've also heard that WhatsApp might be in line for this treatment.

Clearly, the Resume feature is going to try to push installations from the Microsoft Store as well, which won't hurt traffic there - something the company has been working on improving of late.

While resuming Android apps on Windows 11 is clearly a great feature, and one that it's good to see inbound, the main question here is why has it taken so long for Microsoft to implement this?

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• Some key details of the folding iPhone have leaked
• Expect four cameras, two colors, and Touch ID
• We'll probably see the handset launch in 2026

At this point it seems almost certain that Apple is going to bring out a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and we just got a few more details about what to expect from an Apple tipster who is usually more reliable than most.

That tipster is Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who says that the folding Apple phone is going to use Touch ID rather than Face ID. While all the current iPhones now use Face ID, the thinking is that the required sensors would add too much thickness to the foldable.

Apple is therefore going to go with Touch ID to keep the device as thin as possible, Gurman says, and there'll be no SIM card slot for the same reason – this is going to be eSIM only. Previous leaks have predicted the phone will be 4.8 mm thick when unfolded, compared to the 4.2 mm of the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

This latest report also states we're going to get four cameras on the folding iPhone: one on the outer screen, one on the inner screen, and two on the back (which will both be 48MP cameras, according to an earlier rumor).

Creasing up

The Apple iPhone 16 is about to get a successor (Image credit: Future)

If past reports are to be believed, one of the reasons a foldable iPhone has taken so long is because Apple is very keen to make the screen crease as invisible as possible, and it seems the company now has a display setup it's happy with.

As per Gurman, the folding iPhone is going to use what's known as an in-cell touchscreen, with an integrated display and digitizer layer. That would make the screen tech similar to what we have on the current iPhone models, ensuring a "less obvious" crease and improving touch accuracy.

Other tidbits from the report: the folding iPhone will be available in black or white, and will include Apple's own C2 modem chip that's expected to debut in the iPhone 17 (and which should lead to improved efficiency and battery life).

Gurman says the foldable iPhone will be a "game changer" for Apple, and his belief is that anyone who makes the switch to a folding iPhone won't want to go back. First though, we're got this year's iPhone 17 launch coming up next month.

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• A new phishing scheme successfully bypasses most security tools
• It abuses ads and Microsoft's Active Directory Federation Services tool
• It is designed to steal login credentials, so users should take care

Cybercriminals have found a clever way to make phishing sites look like legitimate login pages, successfully stealing Microsoft credentials, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers at Push Security recently published an in-depth report on how the scam works, outlining how the attackers created fake login pages that mimicked authentic Microsoft 365 sign-in screens.

Then, instead of sending victims directly to the site, which would probably get flagged by security solutions and quickly blocked, they used a Microsoft feature called Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS). Companies normally use it to connect their internal systems to Microsoft services.

How to stay safe

By setting up their own Microsoft account, and configuring it with ADFS, Microsoft’s service is tricked to redirect users to the phishing site, while making the link look legitimate because it starts with something like ‘outlook.office.com’.

Furthermore, the phishing link was not being distributed by email, but rather - malvertising. Victims were searching for “Office 265” which was presumably a typo, and were then taken to an Office login page. The ad also used a fake travel blog - bluegraintours[.]com - as a middle step to hide the attack.

The way the entire campaign was set up made it particularly dangerous. With the link looking like it was coming from Microsoft, and it successfully bypassing many security tools checking for bad links - its success rate was probably higher compared to “traditional” phishing.

Furthermore, since it doesn’t rely on email, the usual email filters couldn’t catch it. Finally, the landing page could even bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA), which made it even more dangerous.

In order to prevent such scams from causing any real harm, IT teams should block ads, or at least monitor ad traffic, and watch for redirects from MIcrosoft login pages to unknown domains.

Finally, users should be careful when typing in search terms - a simple typo can lead to a fake ad that can result in device compromise and account takeover.

Via BleepingComputer

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