TechRadar News

• Big changes are coming to watchOS and tvOS
• They'll apparently match updates to iOS and macOS
• Expect an official unveiling on June 9, at WWDC

We now know Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) for 2025 is getting underway on Monday, June 9, and now we've got more of an idea about the software updates likely to be announced at the showcase this year.

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is going to introduce a major interface refresh for watchOS 12 and tvOS 19 – as well as iOS 19 and macOS 16 – which is partly inspired by the look of the visionOS software on the Apple Vision Pro.

While iOS 19 and macOS 16 are likely to attract more of the headlines, Gurman already told us back in March that these operating systems were getting an overhaul in terms of their design. Now Apple Watches and Apple TVs have been added to the list.

The new look for Apple's software is apparently known as 'Solarium' internally, referencing those glass rooms that let in lots of sunlight, and it's said to be "slicker and more modern" in terms of its appearance than the current software.

A 'widely felt' overhaul

WWDC 2025 is on the way (Image credit: Apple)

We don't get much in the way of detail here, and Gurman hasn't provided any screenshots of what the software interface updates might look like, but it's fair to say that the visionOS platform does have a clean and elegant look that works well.

Even if the Apple Vision Pro hasn't exactly been breaking any sales records, its software is intuitive and user-friendly, and apparently Apple is keen to extend the look across all of its other devices throughout the rest of the year.

The company usually sticks to the same schedule every 12 months: a grand unveiling at WWDC, followed by several months of beta testing before the software is pushed out to everyone (usually in September for iOS and watchOS).

"While iOS 7 in 2013 was the biggest-ever visual change to the iPhone's software, the latest overhaul will be much more widely felt," says Gurman. We will of course be bringing you all the big announcements and news from WWDC as it happens next month.

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If you'd told me at the start of 2025 that a Seth Rogen comedy about a movie studio would be the best thing I'd seen halfway through the year, I wouldn’t have believed you.

The Studio on Apple TV+ is a sharp, inventive workplace comedy co-created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. On paper, it follows Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) as a new studio head who struggles to balance his love for film with actually doing his job.

I say “on paper” because it's more than that. It's a light-hearted satire of Hollywood that touches on its politically correct (and not-so-correct) practices, the human follies capable of ruining movies and the impact studios have on artists.

It's special in other ways, too. One episode depicts Matt on a film set where the director, under severe time constraints, tries to capture a one-shot at sunset – while the episode itself is a single shot. Or another one that's portrayed like a '40s crime noir as he and his right-hand man Sal (Ike Barenholtz) have to find missing film.

Indeed, The Studio highlights Apple's ongoing commitment to producing high-caliber content. While many other platforms are spraying content like tommy guns and hoping something sticks, Apple is a precise sniper that (usually) hits its target.

Last year, Apple TV+ beat Netflix and Prime Video for our Streaming Service of the Year award and it's continuing to prove its dominance in 2025.

Quality over quantity

(Image credit: Apple)

There's a big reason that Apple flies under the radar.

According to JustWatch, in the USA Paramount+ has 1,325 titles, Disney+ has 2,057, Netflix offers 7,270 and Prime Video boasts an industry-leading 24,184 – more than 20,000 movies and almost 3,000 TV shows (though this number may be boosted by rentable movies and inclusions from other platforms).

Apple TV+ has just 286.

This makes it hard to recommend it as a primary service. It won't let you watch 10 Things I Hate About You for the 17th time, the 30th spin-off of Real Housewives or every Seinfeld episode while you eat dinner.

I don't want to bad-talk other services too much. Just this year Disney+ and Max have added new seasons of great shows like Andor, The Last of Us and The White Lotus, while Prime and Netflix added new series in Narrow Road to the Deep North series and Adolescence.

But they're diamonds in the rough. Where other services spend billions on diverse libraries, Apple spends hundreds of millions on making sure its original content is elite.

And, if you're yet to subscribe to Apple TV+ (or haven't explored it since Ted Lasso), there's such an incredible wealth of content to discover. With shows like Black Bird, Shrinking, Maters of the Air, Bad Monkey, Slow Horses, Dickinson, Bad Sisters and a whole lot more, it could be your primary service – at least for a few months out of every year.

Still, despite it's quality, Apple TV+ offers a small content library. But, it makes up for that in a key way.

Better and cheaper with no ads

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

One time I casually mentioned in our guide to the best streaming services that Apple TV+ is the best-value streaming service on the market. My colleague questioned this by asking, "Isn't Prime Video… free?"

In a sense, that's true. Prime Video is a free inclusion with a $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$9.99 Amazon Prime subscription. That's with ads now, mind you – you now have to pay $2.99 / £2.99 / AU$2.99 to go ad free.

If you're a regular Amazon shopper, that value is hard to beat. But Prime Video also doesn’t have the nicest user experience.

Let's take a quick glance at the Prime Video app – and it’s a similar setup across many operating systems. There's the Featured Originals and Exclusives section at the top, followed by Subscriptions You Might Like featuring Apple TV+, MGM+, Bein Sports and many others. Then there's New Release movies for rent or purchase and Top TV Shows, many of which aren't even available on Prime.

It’s comparatively overwhelming and cluttered, which is the main reason I hardly ever use it… unless I'm watching a specific series like The Boys, Invincible or something new from The Inspired Unemployed boys.

Meanwhile, Apple TV+ offers a clean, intuitive UI. Items are easy to find, and its library is easy to explore. And – bonus – there's not thousands of titles to sift through. The store is also clearly separated from subscription-inclusive content.

And it does all this at a price that beats every other service (except perhaps Prime Video, depending on where in the world you live) out of the water.

How much cheaper is it?

(Image credit: Apple TV +)

An Apple TV+ subscription costs just $9.99 / £8.99 / AU$12.99 with no ads – competing with many competitors’ cheapest ad-based tiers, as you can see below.

Service

US Price

UK Price

AU Price

Netflix

$7.99

£5.99

AU$7.99

Disney+

$9.99

£4.99

Not available

HBO Max

$9.99

Not available

AU$11.99

The price discrepancy becomes even more stark when you look at the prices of a premium subscription from the services above.

Service

US Price

UK Price

AU Price

Netflix (Premium)

$24.99

£18.99

AU$25.99

Disney+ (Premium)

$19.99

£12.99

AU$20.99

HBO Max (Premium)

$20.99

Not available

AU$21.99

And that’s my argument for how its smaller library is offset by access to superior drama, thriller and comedy series at a compelling price point.

Consider recent acclaimed shows such as Adolescence, Baby Reindeer, and Beef from Netflix, or Shōgun and The Bear on Disney+, alongside the best shows on HBO Max. These are as good as TV gets, but such standouts are few and far between on most platforms – with perhaps the exception of HBO.

While Apple might not reach those highs with every new show, it certainly tries to be consistent with the quality it provides.

Even some of the worst series on Apple TV+ by IMDB rating – like Before, Prime Target, Government Cheese and Sunny – still have a maintain a level of quality that is too often absent from other services.

The flip side is that its smaller library is a big reason that its subscriber numbers are dwarfed by its competitors (according to FlixPatrol). And, while many of the best streaming services have recently become profitable (per Forbes), Apple TV+ is not.

However, given Apple is worth almost three trillion dollars – and Netflix is worth $500 billion – it can afford not to be. Which is good for its existing subscribers because, as well as a generally higher quality production, Apple's budget is most noticeable through its casts.

It's a star-led league

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

If The Studio was made by any other service, would it have worked? Probably, but I don’t think so.

We pondered back in 2020 – when Scorsese decided to sign with Apple over Netflix and other services – whether Scorsese signed simply because Apple has more cash to burn on a single director. It certainly has more cash to flash, but that's not the only reason that it attracts top-tier talent now.

It was a landmark occasion for Apple TV+ when CODA won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the Oscars in 2022. It proved that streaming services could go toe-to-toe with "real" movies if they tried.

It seems clear that people see Apple working with people like Scorsese, Tom Hanks and Ridley Scott – creating films like Killers of the Flower Moon – and want to get involved, even with projects they wouldn't usually. Just look at the highly-anticipated F1 starring Brad Pitt.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

That's why I don't think any other service could get Martin Scorsese to have his heart broken in The Studio when he realizes his new movie (Kool-Aid, based on the Jonestown Massacre) has been bought by Matt Remick and will never see the light of day.

Similarly in Brian Cranston's performance as the completely unhinged and unforgettable Griffin Mill (in one of his best roles ever) for what must be 30 minutes of screentime across 10 episodes.

All you have to do is look at HBO's The Franchise, which, in a similar way to The Studio, follows the crew of a movie franchise fighting, which was promptly cancelled after one mediocre season.

Masters of the Air stars Austin Butler, Presumed Innocent is led by Jake Gyllenhaal and Gary Oldman heads Slow Horses. Then there's Cate Blanchett's fantastic performance in Disclaimer and one of my favorite Colin Farrell roles is as a brilliant private investigator in Sugar. There's no chance I'd have watched Wolfs or The Instigators if they weren't led by Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Admittedly Apple TV+ isn't for everyone, but I think its very best shows are. So while it might not be a service you subscribe to forever, the value you'll get in a short amount of time with Apple TV+ is undeniable.

And The Studio should be reason #1 that you check it out. All 10 episodes are out and bingeable, so you can watch it and cancel, only coming back to watch season two.

While you're subscribed, make sure you at least give the following series a chance: Pachinko, Bad Sisters, Silo, For All Mankind, Black Bird, Dark Matter and Trying.

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• More Google Pixel 10 leaks emerge
• Colors and wallpapers have appeared online
• The phones should launch in August

We've already seen the Google Pixel 10 being filmed for an advert on the streets of Canada, but the leaks aren't stopping: we now have unofficial information about some of the color options and wallpapers the flagship phone will bring with it.

According to tipster Mystic Leaks (via 9to5Google), the standard Pixel 10 will be available in Obsidian (black), Blue, Iris (purple), and Limoncello (yellow-ish) shades. Limoncello could be similar to the Lemongrass option we saw with the Google Pixel 7 in 2022.

As for the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the colors listed here are Obsidian (black), Green, Sterling (Gray), and Porcelain (white-ish). We've only got the names though, and there are no images showing what these colors actually look like.

The Pixel 9 offers Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), Wintergreen (green-ish), and Porcelain (white-ish). The Pro and Pro XL models come in Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white-ish), Rose Quartz (pink), and Hazel (gray).

Pixel 10 wallpapers

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

From the same source, we've got a host of high-resolution Pixel 10 wallpapers, and the team at Android Authority has collected them all together in a bundle, so you can install them on your current phone if you'd like to.

There are a lot of swirls and shapes and gradients here, and everything is very abstract. The colors of the backdrops also match the leaked colors of the phones, and each image has both a dark and a light option to match Android's visual modes.

We haven't heard too much about the Google Pixel 10 so far, apart from what was spotted at the recent promotional shoot, but it is expected to show up sometime in August – perhaps with a display upgrade and a significant speed boost.

Before then, Android 16 should begin to make its way out to the masses. The software is bringing with it numerous improvements, and is going to introduce a significant visual overhaul known as Material 3 Expressive.

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• Marks & Spencer suffered a cyber-incident in April 2025
• Reports claimed the attack was the work of ScatteredSpider
• Tata Consultancy Services is investigating if the attack came from its network

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), an Indian IT company and part of the massive Tata Group conglomerate, is currently investigating whether the recent cyberattack on Marks & Spencer (M&S) originated from its infrastructure.

In late April 2025, M&S confirmed suffering a “cyber incident” which affected its stores and resulted in changes to store operations.

Later reports said the company had to take some of its systems and processes offline, and was forced to disable contactless and Click and Collect services in stores, since the incident was, in fact, a ransomware attack. Online orders were also halted. The disruption persisted for weeks, M&S’ market capitalization dropped by £1 billion, and customer data was allegedly stolen by the actors.

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Targeting Tata

It had been reported the group known as Scattered Spider was behind the ordeal

Now, BBC News reports TCS, which has been servicing M&S for more than a decade, is investigating whether it was the stepping stone to the attack. Right now, both parties are staying silent, but the investigation should wrap up before June 2025.

TCS is part of the large Indian conglomerate Tata Group, which counts more than 100 companies across a wide range of industries. As such, it is a major target for all sorts of cybercriminals, and roughly two years ago, Hive Ransomware struck Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power company. Early this year, Tata Technologies, a global engineering services provider was also attacked.

The attack is reportedly the work of Scattered Spider, a ransomware organization usually targeting UK retailers, financial institutions, technology firms, and entertainment/gambling organizations. The group is not as tightly-knit as organizations such as LockBit or Cl0p.

It is relatively loose, and operates within a larger hacking community known as “the Com”. Its members engage in all kinds of attacks, from social engineering and SIM swapping, to ransomware.

We have reached out to TCS for comment and will update the article if we hear back.

Via BBC

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In today's digital economy, the ability to handle explosive growth without performance ramifications isn't just a technical consideration, it's now a business imperative. So when success arrives, systems must be ready.

Throughout my career advising technology and business leaders, I've witnessed a recurring scenario: a company experiences unexpected success - perhaps they had a successful viral marketing campaign, or suddenly face market interest, or even a random rapid uptick in customer adoption - only to have this triumph transform into a technical crisis as systems falter under the load and stress.

What should be a celebratory moment instead becomes an emergency. Performance levels considerably dip. Customer experience suffers. And the very success that should propel the business forward becomes its biggest operational challenge.

This phenomenon isn't limited to startups and it isn’t necessarily new. Established enterprises frequently encounter these issues during product launches, seasonal peaks, or when entering new markets. Black Friday becomes a nightmare for fresh retailers. The root cause is rarely insufficient hardware or lack of technical talent. More often than not it is that the architectural foundations weren't designed for rapid, unpredictable scaling.

Why traditional approaches can fail

Conventional technology stacks typically perform well under predictable, linear growth conditions. However, real-world business expansion is rarely so simple. Life and business comes in surges, spikes, and sometimes happens overnight.

Traditional databases particularly struggle with these dynamics. When transaction volumes multiply, these systems often hit performance bottlenecks that can't be resolved by simply adding more hardware and their scalability is limited by the biggest available box. Connection limits are reached, query performance deteriorates, and the costs for digital infrastructure climb without delivering proportional benefits.

This is a particular headache that many players in the cryptocurrency space face, where market volatility can trigger 5x transaction volume increases within a matter of minutes. Platforms built on rigid architectures simply cannot adapt quickly enough, leading to trading halts or poor functionality precisely when users need reliability most.

Similarly problematic are monolithic architectures, which are geared for initial speed-to-market rather than long-term flexibility. These approaches might launch quickly, but they rarely support sustainable hypergrowth.

Building from the ground up

Forward-thinking companies are increasingly adopting architectures specifically designed for unpredictable scaling patterns. At the core of this approach is the need for horizontal scalability. This is the ability to expand capacity by adding instances rather than continuously upgrading to larger, more expensive IT infrastructure. In short, flexibility and adaptability is prioritized.

One cryptocurrency exchange that we've worked with demonstrates this principle effectively. By implementing a distributed database architecture, they maintain sub-millisecond response times even during market volatility. So if a run on a certain coin dramatically leads to substantial trading volume fluctuations and customer demand, their platform can automatically scale to handle this without any impacts to the overall service offering.

Equally important is the adoption of cloud-native design patterns - be it deployed on a public cloud, private cloud or just on premises. Microservices, containerization, and orchestration tools all allow businesses to scale cloud computing components independently and recover quickly from failures or setbacks. This modularity essentially supports innovation without compromising stability.

Data model flexibility also plays a crucial role. When another trading platform needed to quickly add new cryptocurrencies to their exchange, their flexible schema approach allowed them to introduce new assets without database migrations or downtime. Understandably, this is a critical advantage in the fast-moving digital asset space.

What does this mean for technology leaders?

For executives preparing their organizations for potential hypergrowth, four priorities consistently make the difference. Firstly, they must design for horizontal scaling from day one. Systems should be built to scale outwardly, but not only in an upward direction. This approach will provide long-term resilience and cost efficiency, something that becomes increasingly valuable as businesses grow and develop.

Secondly, leaders should look to embrace automation. The past two decades have shown how manual processes rarely manage to scale well. Investing in automated provisioning, deployment, and monitoring will not only reduce errors, it allows engineering talent to focus on innovation rather than firefighting issues.

On top of this, they have to stress test beyond their expected peaks. Many systems fail because they're only tested to their current limits. Rigorous testing at 5-10x anticipated peak loads helps identify bottlenecks before they have the chance to impact customers.

Lastly, every leader seeking out hypergrowth must outline architectural efficiency as a key boardroom focus. What I mean here is that scaling isn't purely around performance. It’s as much about financial sustainability, meaning everything from granular resource management to efficient data architecture can help maintain steady growth.

The competitive edge of scalability

In markets where digital experience defines success, scalability is no longer just a technical consideration, it has to be a strategic business capability.

The most successful organizations recognize this. Technology foundations either enable or constrain their ability to capitalize on opportunities and markets. Thinking of recent conversations I’ve had with cryptocurrency executives, when markets surge with interest, exchanges with truly scalable architectures will be the ones that welcome new customers seamlessly. Competitors not following this approach will be forced to implement emergency registration freezes or they risk crumbling altogether.

Ultimately, scaling isn't just about handling growth. It's about being prepared for success, whenever and however that arrives. The question isn't whether your business will face a scaling challenge, but whether you'll be ready when opportunity presents itself.

We've compiled a list of the best cloud databases.

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

As the proud owner of an iPhone 15 for almost two years, I've had no issues with the handset since I bought it. It runs perfectly for my needs – music, YouTube, texting and aimless doomscrolling social media – and seamlessly integrates with my other Apple devices.

Other than its Pro siblings and a handful of Android competitors, the iPhone 15 was top of the line when I bought it. I’d just been paid, so I plonked down AU$1,499 ($799 / £799) to purchase it outright to replace my broken iPhone 12 Mini.

(That’s a purchase I cringe at after experiencing the value on offer from the best cheap phones, but I digress…)

The iPhone 16 marked a larger upgrade over its predecessor than usual thanks to the addition of Apple Intelligence – even if its launch has been less than smooth, with many parts of the promised Siri upgrade still up in the air.

Still, the iPhone 15 is an excellent smartphone in 2025, which is why it caught my eye when I found it for AU$1,077 here in Australia where I'm based (which converts to around $692 / £519). There's similarly enticing deals abroad, too – like in the US, where it's just $100 when switching to T-Mobile.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

However, in February, Apple threw a curveball at the iPhone 15 when it introduced another option for Cupertino loyalists looking to save on an upgrade when it launched the iPhone 16e for $599 / £599 / AU$999.

Like the iPhone 5c and the three iPhone SE models, this new ‘budget’ Apple handset has made small concessions to keep the price down, while still allowing buyers to purchase a truly new iPhone that can access the latest iOS features. The iPhone 16e is arguably even more enticing than its SE forebears, as it offers the power to handle Apple Intelligence.

This creates an interesting conundrum – if I needed a new phone and didn't want to splurge on the iPhone 16, which device is the better choice: the iPhone 15, or iPhone 16e?

TechRadar has an entire iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15 comparison article based on this question and it concludes that, for most people, it's worth spending a little extra and go for the older iPhone 15.

But after spending a week with the iPhone 16e, I disagree.

Better battery, baby

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

For many smartphone buyers, camera quality is key – but for me, battery life is far more important and the iPhone 16e dominates the iPhone 15 in this category.

While Apple doesn't disclose exact battery capacity, third-party reporting shows that the iPhone 16e has a 3,961mAh battery compared to the iPhone 15's 3,349mAh.

It's not just that larger size that makes the 16e longer lasting either. The iPhone 16e's C1 cellular chip – which is exclusive to the device – processes power more efficiently, resulting in a significantly improved stamina.

This was very noticeable in my time with it. Granted, my iPhone 15's battery capacity is slightly degraded down to 91% these days, but I limit its overnight charging to stop at 85%. As a result, after about three hours of listening, watching, scrolling and texting, my iPhone 15's often sitting at less than 30% by 9:30am.

It's 3:30pm as I write this, and with the same battery settings and general screen-on time, the iPhone 16e I'm currently using is sitting at 44%.

My experience seems to fully back up Apple’s own claims, with the brand boasting that the iPhone 16e offers 26 hours of video playback – 15% better than the iPhone 16's 22 hours and a 23% increase over the iPhone 15.

Apple Intelligence is already pretty smart, actually

Having fun creating AI-generated images in Apple's Playground app (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

We're still waiting for AI Siri – and Apple might have to let users swap Siri for another default voice assistant party alternatives – I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16e, a set of features the iPhone 15 lacks.

Visual Intelligence is helpful, letting you quickly search for or ask ChatGPT about any object you take a photo of. And the Clean Up feature is useful for removing photo bombers or objects from any given image, like Samsung's similar Object Remover tool as found on newest Galaxy devices.

And, while I rarely used them, I appreciated the (mostly) constructive AI-generated message replies and smarter phrasing suggestions. Highlighting your written text opens an array of AI-powered options by clicking the Apple Intelligence logo (or 'Writing Tools'). In any app it can proofread or rewrite your text to sound more friendly, professional or concise.

Image 1 of 3

Visual Intelligence analyzing potato chips (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Using Apple Intelligence to create a Genmoji of a dragon holding a hot dog (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

Using AI to editing and proofread text messages (Image credit: Future / Max Delaney)

Moreover, and especially helpful when writing up notes, is its ability to format text into key points, a list or a table. You also have the option to compose text with ChatGPT.

However, I think my favorite thing about Apple Intelligence is the ability to create my own emojis. Called Genmojis, it lets you turn anything – like my own face and other regularly found faces in my camera roll, or a highland cow surrounded by flowers – into an emoji or sticker.

As someone who uses emojis quite sparingly, I'm now a Genmoji-making dynamo. While the AI tools and features of the iPhone 16 family are far from revolutionary, they're both fun and generally useful. It's a small but significant advantage for the iPhone 16e over the iPhone 15.

Bring the action

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The last little feature that I think puts the 16e above the 15 is the Action Button. It, like Apple Intelligence, is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and the iPhone 16 series.

This handy little button replaces the mute/silent switch from older iPhones. There's nothing revolutionary here: all it does is offer shortcuts for commonly used features like Silent Mode, Focus, Camera, Visual Intelligence, Torch and any other app, like Instagram.

Personally, I didn't find myself using any of those preset options, and instead set the Action Button to control my Do Not Disturb mode.

It's such a small difference – after all, unlocking the device, bringing up the Control Center and activating Focus is hardly a laborious task. However, it's a small quality-of-life change that I thoroughly appreciated – letting me turn it on without even directly looking at my phone.

Winner by a split decision

The two phones are nearly identical apart from the camera array (Image credit: Future / Max Delaney)

The iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15 contest is by no means a knockout by the newer model. There are two main reasons that the older iPhone may be the better choice for some people: display and camera.

The iPhone 16e only has a single 48MP Fusion camera, while the iPhone 15 pairs a 48MP main camera with a 12MP ultrawide lens that's equally useful for grand nature shots and trying to fit the whole family into one photo. More importantly, the 16e's single lens means you can't take silly up-close photos of your friends or dog with the 0.5x zoom.

The 15 also has a (small) lead on the 16e in terms of display, as the latter reverts back to the iPhone 14’s notched display rather than the Dynamic Island found on subsequent devices. Personally, I don't mind it, but for some users it could be the reason to spend a little more for the iPhone 15. The latter’s display is brighter and (slightly) higher res too – 1179 x 2556 with a max brightness of 2,000 nits compared to the 16e's 1170 x 2532 and 1,200 nits.

MagSafe charging is also missing from the iPhone 16e. It was rumored this was to make room for the C1 chip, but that has since been denied by Apple according to Macworld. The 16e can still wirelessly charge, but it lacks the magnet.

I'd never much required MagSafe until I recently purchased a magnetic power bank – which is now all but useless with the iPhone 16e. And users who have a magnetic car mount will probably sorely miss this functionality.

The iPhone 15 still has a place, then, and it's a wonderful purchase if you can get it for close to the same price as the iPhone 16e.

It's still ultimately more expensive than its new sibling, though – and unless you really need a telephoto lens, I think the iPhone 16e is the budget iPhone to have.

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As businesses realized the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), the race began to incorporate machine learning operations (MLOps) into their commercial strategies. But integrating machine learning (ML) into the real world proved challenging, and the vast gap between development and deployment was made clear. In fact, research from Gartner tells us 85% of AI and ML fail to reach production.

In this piece, we’ll discuss the importance of blending DevOps best practices with MLOps, bridging the gap between traditional software development and ML to enhance an enterprise’s competitive edge and improve decision-making with data-driven insights. We’ll expose the challenges of separate DevOps and MLOps pipelines and outline a case for integration.

Challenges of Separate Pipelines

Traditionally, DevOps and MLOps teams operate with separate workflows, tools, and objectives. Unfortunately, this trend of maintaining distinct DevOps and MLOps pipelines leads to numerous inefficiencies and redundancies that negatively impact software delivery.

1. Inefficiencies in Workflow Integration

DevOps pipelines are designed to optimize the software development lifecycle (SDLC), focusing on continuous integration, continuous delivery (CI/CD), and operational reliability.

While there are certainly overlaps between the traditional SDLC and that of model development, MLOps pipelines involve unique stages like data preprocessing, model training, experimentation, and deployment, which require specialized tools and workflows. This distinct separation creates bottlenecks when integrating ML models into traditional software applications.

For example, data scientists may work on Jupyter notebooks, while software engineers use CI/CD tools like Jenkins or GitLab CI. Integrating ML models into the overall application often requires a manual and error-prone process, as models need to be converted, validated, and deployed in a manner that fits within the existing DevOps framework.

2. Redundancies in Tooling and Resources

DevOps and MLOps have similar automation, versioning, and deployment goals, but they rely on separate tools and processes. DevOps commonly leverages tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform, while MLOps may use ML-specific tools like MLflow, Kubeflow, and TensorFlow Serving.

This lack of unified tooling means teams often duplicate efforts to achieve the same outcomes.

For instance, versioning in DevOps is typically done using source control systems like Git, while MLOps may use additional versioning for datasets and models. This redundancy leads to unnecessary overhead in terms of infrastructure, management, and cost, as both teams need to maintain different systems for essentially similar purposes—version control, reproducibility, and tracking.

3. Lack of Synergy Between Teams

The lack of integration between DevOps and MLOps pipelines also creates silos between engineering, data science, and operations teams. These silos result in poor communication, misaligned objectives, and delayed deployments. Data scientists may struggle to get their models production-ready due to the absence of consistent collaboration with software engineers and DevOps.

Moreover, because the ML models are not treated as standard software artefacts, they may bypass crucial steps of testing, security scanning, and quality assurance that are typical in a DevOps pipeline. This absence of consistency can lead to quality issues, unexpected model behavior in production, and a lack of trust between teams.

4. Deployment Challenges and Slower Iteration Cycles

The disjointed state of DevOps and MLOps also affects deployment speed and flexibility. In a traditional DevOps setting, CI/CD ensures frequent and reliable software updates. However, with ML, model deployment requires retraining, validation, and sometimes even re-architecting the integration. This mismatch results in slower iteration cycles, as each pipeline operates independently, with distinct sets of validation checks and approvals.

For instance, an engineering team might be ready to release a new feature, but if an updated ML model is needed, it might delay the release due to the separate MLOps workflow, which involves retraining and extensive testing. This leads to slower time-to-market for features that rely on machine learning components. Our State of the Union Report found organizations using our platform brought over 7 million new packages into their software supply chains in 2024, highlighting the scale and speed of development.

5. Difficulty in Maintaining Consistency and Traceability

Having separate DevOps and MLOps configurations makes it difficult to maintain a consistent approach to versioning, auditing, and traceability across the entire software system. In a typical DevOps pipeline, code changes are tracked and easily audited. In contrast, ML models have additional complexities like training data, hyperparameters, and experimentation, which often reside in separate systems with different logging mechanisms.

This lack of end-to-end traceability makes troubleshooting issues in production more complicated. For example, if a model behaves unexpectedly, tracking down whether the issue lies in the training data, model version, or a specific part of the codebase can become cumbersome without a unified pipeline.

The Case for Integration: Why Merge DevOps and MLOps?

As you can see, maintaining siloed DevOps and MLOps pipelines results in inefficiencies, redundancies, and a lack of collaboration between teams, leading to slower releases and inconsistent practices. Integrating these pipelines into a single, cohesive Software Supply Chain would help address these challenges by bringing consistency, reducing redundant work, and fostering better cross-team collaboration.

Shared End Goals of DevOps and MLOps

DevOps and MLOps share the same overarching goals: rapid delivery, automation, and reliability. Although their areas of focus differ—DevOps concentrates on traditional software development while MLOps focuses on machine learning workflows—their core objectives align in the following ways:

1.Rapid Delivery

• Both DevOps and MLOps strive to enable frequent, iterative releases to accelerate time-to-market. DevOps achieves this through the continuous integration and delivery of code changes, while MLOps aims to expedite the cycle of model development, training, and deployment.
• Rapid delivery in DevOps ensures that new software features are shipped as quickly as possible. Similarly, in MLOps, the ability to deliver updated models with improved accuracy or behaviour allows businesses to respond swiftly to changes in data or business needs.

2.Automation

• Automation is central to both practices as it reduces manual intervention and minimises the potential for human error. DevOps automates testing, building, and deploying software to ensure consistency, efficiency, and reliability.
• In MLOps, automation is equally crucial. Automating data ingestion, model training, hyperparameter tuning, and deployment allows data scientists to focus more on experimentation and improving model performance rather than dealing with repetitive tasks. Automation in MLOps also ensures reproducibility, which is critical for managing ML models in a production environment.

3.Reliability

• Both DevOps and MLOps emphasize reliability in production. DevOps uses practices like automated testing, monitoring, and infrastructure as code to maintain software stability and mitigate downtime.
• MLOps aims to maintain the reliability of deployed models, ensuring that they perform as expected in changing environments. Practices such as model monitoring, automatic retraining, and drift detection are part of MLOps that ensure the ML system stays robust and reliable over time.

Treating ML Models as Artifacts in the Software Supply Chain

In traditional DevOps, the concept of treating all software components as artefacts such as binaries, libraries, and configuration files, is well-established. These artifacts are versioned, tested, and promoted through different environments (e.g., staging, production) as part of a cohesive software supply chain. Applying the same approach to ML models can significantly streamline workflows and improve cross-functional collaboration. Here are four key benefits of treating ML models as artifacts:

1. Creates a Unified View of All Artifacts

Treating ML models as artifacts means integrating them into the same systems used for other software components, such as artifact repositories and CI/CD pipelines. This approach allows models to be versioned, tracked, and managed in the same way as code, binaries, and configurations. A unified view of all artifacts creates consistency, enhances traceability, and makes it easier to maintain control over the entire software supply chain.

For instance, versioning models alongside code means that when a new feature is released, the corresponding model version used for the feature is well-documented and reproducible. This reduces confusion, eliminates miscommunication, and allows teams to identify which versions of models and code work together seamlessly.

2. Streamlines Workflow Automation

Integrating ML models into the larger software supply chain ensures that the automation benefits seen in DevOps extend to MLOps as well. By automating the processes of training, validating, and deploying models, ML artifacts can move through a series of automated steps—from data preprocessing to final deployment—similar to the CI/CD pipelines used in traditional software delivery.

This integration means that when software engineers push a code change that affects the ML model, the same CI/CD system can trigger retraining, validation, and deployment of the model. By leveraging the existing automation infrastructure, organizations can achieve end-to-end delivery that includes all components—software and models—without adding unnecessary manual steps.

3. Enhances Collaboration Between Teams

A major challenge of maintaining separate DevOps and MLOps pipelines is the lack of cohesion between data science, engineering, and DevOps teams. Treating ML models as artifacts within the larger software supply chain fosters greater collaboration by standardizing processes and using shared tooling. When everyone uses the same infrastructure, communication improves, as there is a common understanding of how components move through development, testing, and deployment.

For example, data scientists can focus on developing high-quality models without worrying about the nuances of deployment, as the integrated pipeline will automatically take care of packaging and releasing the model artifact. Engineers, on the other hand, can treat the model as a component of the broader application, version-controlled and tested just like other parts of the software. This shared perspective enables more efficient handoffs, reduces friction between teams, and ensures alignment on project goals.

4. Improves Compliance, Security, and Governance

When models are treated as standard artifacts in the software supply chain, they can undergo the same security checks, compliance reviews, and governance protocols as other software components. DevSecOps principles—embedding security into every part of the software lifecycle—can now be extended to ML models, ensuring that they are verified, tested, and deployed in compliance with organizational security policies.

This is particularly important as models become increasingly integral to business operations. By ensuring that models are scanned for vulnerabilities, validated for quality, and governed for compliance, organizations can mitigate risks associated with deploying AI/ML in production environments.

Conclusion

Treating ML models as artifacts within the larger software supply chain transforms the traditional approach of separating DevOps and MLOps into a unified, cohesive process. This integration streamlines workflows by leveraging existing CI/CD pipelines for all artifacts, enhances collaboration by standardizing processes and infrastructure, and ensures that both code and models meet the same standards for quality, reliability, and security. As organizations race to deploy more software and models, we need holistic governance.

Currently, only 60% of companies have full visibility into software provenance in production. By combining DevOps and MLOps into a single Software Supply Chain, organizations can better achieve their shared goals of rapid delivery, automation, and reliability, creating an efficient and secure environment for building, testing, and deploying the entire spectrum of software, from application code to machine learning models.

We've compiled a list of the best IT infrastructure management services.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 is out now – and, with it, the incredibly popular show's latest installment has come to an end.

Like its predecessor, season 2 of HBO's TV adaptation has been appointment viewing for all of us over the past seven weeks. And, as the dust settles on its near-50-minute finale, I imagine you've got some big questions about what happened and the show's future.

So, how does The Last of Us season 2 end? Are there any end credits scenes? And when do we think season 3 will arrive worldwide? I'll aim to answer those questions below, but bear in mind that full spoilers immediately follow for The Last of Us' season 2 finale. Make sure you've watched it before you proceed.

Who dies in The Last of Us season 2 episode 7?

RIP, Jesse (Image credit: HBO)

The Last of Us TV show's latest episode contains three big character deaths.

The most unexpected of those, and arguably the most shocking one since Joel's demise in season 2 episode 2, is Jesse's. The close friend of Ellie and Dina's ex-boyfriend (and father of Dina's unborn child) is killed by Abby when she single-handedly storms the Seattle theater that's been Ellie and Dina's base of operations since this season's fourth episode.

Jesse's death probably won't shock those who have played The Last of Us Part II, aka the Naughty Dog video game season 2 is based on. And if you'd been paying attention to the foreshadowing throughout season 2's final episode, such as Jesse constantly expressing his wish to get out of Seattle in one piece, I doubt you would've been stunned by his passing, either.

Mel and Owen are two of three big casualties in The Last of Us season 2 finale (Image credit: HBO)

But why does Abby kill him? The reason is simple: Ellie accidentally killed Owen and Mel, two members of Abby's party who helped her track down and murder Joel in episode 2. A vengeful Abby, then, wants revenge for Ellie murdering two of her closest friends.

Having learned of Abby's location from Nora in episode 5 – that being, Seattle's aquarium not too far from the city's unmissable Ferris wheel – Ellie infiltrates the building and encounters Owen and Mel while searching for Abby.

Still traumatized from how much she tortured Nora two episodes ago, Ellie claims she won't shoot Owen and Mel if they tell her where Abby is now. Owen initially refuses, but to buy himself and Mel some time, he eventually agrees to show Ellie where she can find Abby on a map.

However, as Owen approaches the map on a table, he makes a move to grab a handgun to shoot Ellie first. Unfortunately for Owen, Ellie's survival instincts kick in and she shoots him first.

Three down, two to go, eh Ellie? (Image credit: HBO)

The bullet passes through Owen's neck, killing him instantly. After exiting the back of Owen's throat, it hits Mel, who's standing behind him. The bullet slices her neck, nicking an artery in the process, which results in Mel collapsing and bleeding out.

Ordinarily, this would be a tragic accident in its own right – after all, Mel was unarmed and made no attempt to harm Ellie. However, Mel makes things even worse for Ellie (and, by proxy, us as viewers) before she dies by revealing she's heavily pregnant.

If Ellie felt incredible guilt and shame over what she'd done to Nora, she feels 50 times worse over not only taking Mel's life, but also that of her innocent unborn child. It's a moment that hits home even harder when you consider how much danger Ellie has put a pregnant Dina in since the pair left Jackson, Wyoming, too.

Abby tracks down Ellie and company to get revenge for Mel and Owen's deaths (Image credit: HBO)

Jesse, Owen, and Mel aren't the only casualties of season 2 episode 7 – well, that's what The Last of Us wants you to think. One of the finale's last shots shows Abby pointing her sidearm at an unarmed Ellie, who shouts "no no no!" before the screen cuts to black as a shot is fired.

There's no way that the hit Max show just bumped off another of its main characters in Ellie, right? In short: no, she doesn't die. Ellie is the protagonist of this TV series and The Last of Us Part II. Spoilers notwithstanding, her story is far from over in HBO's live-action adaptation.

So, who fired the shot that we hear? I'm not going to ruin that now. You'll just have to wait for season 3 (more on this later) to arrive. Or, you know, you could watch a playthrough of The Last of Us 2 on YouTube if you want an answer ASAP.

Is there a mid-credits scene in The Last of Us season 2 episode 7?

As of season 2 episode 7, Dina is still alive (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

There's no mid-credits scene to stick around for.

This season's final scene doesn't count as one, either. Sure, it drops a big hint about how season 3 will begin (more on this shortly), but it's a brief scene that takes place before the end credits start to roll. So, it can't be classed as a traditional mid-credits stinger.

Does The Last of Us season 2's final episode have a post-credits scene?

Expect to see more of Isaac in The Last of Us' third season (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Nope. The Last of Us season 2 doesn't have a post-credits scene, either. Based on how the show's latest episode ends, it doesn't need one.

When will The Last of Us season 3 be released?

Trying to get word on when season 3 will make its worldwide debut like... (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

We don't know. HBO only confirmed that The Last of Us season 2 wouldn't be the hit series' final chapter in April, so it'll be a few years before one of the best Max shows' third season is released.

It's likely that work has been going on behind the scenes on season 3 for some time. Indeed, I'd be surprised if the show's chief creative team hasn't been penning its scripts, location scouting, and conducting other pre-production elements for months at this point.

Nevertheless, with filming yet to begin on The Last of Us season 3, I suspect it'll be mid-2027 at the earliest before it launches worldwide.

What does The Last of Us' season 2 finale tell us about the plot of season 3?

Season 3's first few episodes will jump back in time to depict events from Abby's viewpoint (Image credit: HBO)

Season 2 episode 7's final scene suggests that next season will give us an entirely different perspective on the events that play out during Ellie and Dina's first 72 hours in Seattle.

After the screen cuts to black in this season's finale, many viewers might have expected the credits to roll, thereby leaving us on a cliffhanger.

Instead, a new scene begins seconds later, reuniting us with Abby as she's woken up by Manny. He tells her that "they" won't be happy if she keeps them waiting, to which Abby replies she'll be there in five minutes.

Once she's fully come to, Abby steps out onto a balcony overlooking a football stadium that's been repurposed as a headquarters for the Isaac-led antagonistic faction known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). After she surveys the scene, Abby heads back inside as the words 'Seattle, Day One' appear in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

We'll witness Ellie's first 72 hours in Seattle from Abby's perspective next season (Image credit: HBO)

This is the same location and time stamp that appeared in season 2 episode 4 when Ellie and Dina first arrive in Seattle. So, The Last of Us season 3's first few episodes, if not the entirety of next season, will travel back in time and cover the same three-day period in the US Pacific Northwest city through Abby's eyes.

That won't be a surprise to those who have played The Last of Us Part II. As the deuteragonist of the aforementioned video game, Abby was a playable character for half of the story depicted in the second entry of Naughty Dog's acclaimed and multi-award-winning game franchise. That means her side of the Seattle-based story, which runs concurrently to Ellie's, will be brought to life in season 3 of HBO's TV adaptation.

There's a lot of ground to cover in the Abby-centric part of the story, too. What were Owen and Mel planning to do before Ellie interrupted them? Who's the father of Mel's baby? How did Abby know where to find Ellie and co. in Seattle? What convinced Isaac to choose Abby as the WLF's new leader? Why does Isaac believe the WLF's current leadership is set to perish during the assault on the Seraphites' main headquarters? And does Manny meet the same fate as Owen, Mel, and Nora at Ellie's or someone else's hands, or is he still alive somewhere?

These questions will need answering in season 3 and beyond if The Last of Us officially ends with its rumored four-season plan. I could provide more details now, but again, I don't want to spoil anything significant about Ellie and Abby's journeys from this point on in the story. So, unless you scour the internet for answers now, you'll have to wait until season 3 arrives for them.

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• Intel’s Arc Pro B60 Dual offers pro-grade memory at a fraction of Nvidia’s price
• This dual-GPU rig from Maxsun delivers workstation power
• Each GPU gets one DisplayPort and one HDMI, avoiding OS overload in multi-GPU workstations

At Computex 2025, Maxsun unveiled a striking new entry in the AI hardware space: the Intel Arc Pro B60 Dual GPU, a graphics card pairing two 24GB B60 chips for a combined 48GB of memory.

Servethehomeclaims Maxsun envisions these cards powering dense workstation builds with up to four per system, yielding as much as 192GB of GPU memory in a desktop-class machine.

This development appears to have Intel's implicit approval, suggesting the company is looking to gain traction in the AI GPU market.

A dual-GPU card built for AI memory demands

The Arc Pro B60 Dual GPU is not designed for gaming. Instead, it focuses on AI, graphics, and virtualization tasks, offering a power-efficient profile.

Each card draws between 240W and 300W, keeping power and thermal demands within reach for standard workstation setups.

Unlike some alternatives, this card uses a blower-style cooler rather than a passive solution, helping it remain compatible with conventional workstation designs. That matters for users who want high-end performance without building custom cases or cooling systems.

Still, the architecture has trade-offs. The card relies on x8 PCIe lanes per GPU, bifurcated from a x16 connector. This simplifies design and installation but limits bandwidth compared to full x16 cards.

Each GPU also includes just one DisplayPort and one HDMI output. That design choice keeps multi-GPU setups manageable and avoids hitting OS-level limits, older Windows versions, for example, may have trouble handling more than 32 active display outputs in a single system.

The card’s most intriguing feature may be its pricing. With single-GPU B60 cards reportedly starting around $375 MSRP, the dual-GPU version could land near $1,000.

If that estimate holds, Maxsun’s card would represent a major shift in value. For comparison, Nvidia’s RTX 6000 Ada, with the same 48GB of VRAM, sells for over $5,500. Two of those cards can push costs north of $18,000.

Even so, Intel’s performance in professional applications remains an open question. Many creative professionals still favor Nvidia for its mature drivers and better software optimization.

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After many months of speculation, Google finally showed off its still-early-day Android XR smart glasses prototype. It was an impressive live demo, with a live translation portion that went off well but not without hitches. Still, it got the crowd at Google I/O going, and right after that opening keynote wrapped, I strolled around the Shoreline Amphitheater to find a pair to try.

Much like my time with Project Moohan, the prototype Android XR headset that Google and Samsung are working on, I only spent about five minutes with these prototype glasses. And no, it wasn’t a sleek frame made by Warby Parker or a wild one from Gentle Monsters – instead, it was the pair Google demoed on-stage, the prototype Android XR glasses made by Samsung.

As you can see above, much like Meta Ray-Bans and unlike Snapchat Spectacles (the first gen), these prototypes look like standard black frames. They're a bit thicker on either the left or right stems, but they’re also loaded with tech – though not in a way that screams it from the outside.

It was a short, pretty rushed demo, but certainly a compelling one.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

The tech here is mostly hidden – there is a screen baked into the lens, which, when worn, appears as a little box when it’s showing something larger. Otherwise, when I first turned the glasses on, I saw the time and the weather hovering at the top of my field of vision.

When I pressed the button on the right stem to capture a photo, it almost flashed transparently larger in my field of vision. Neat and a bit more present way of capturing than on the screen-less Meta Ray-Bans.

These are both cool, and during the keynote, Google also shared that the screens could be used for messaging, calls, and translating as well, but I didn’t get to try that. While I couldn’t ask for directions myself, a Google rep within my demo was able to toss up what navigation would like, and this feature has me more excited about smart glasses with a screen built-in.

Why? Well, it was that the experience of navigating doesn’t get in the way of my field of view – I can simply still look straight forward and see at the top that in 500-feet or 50-feet that I need to make a right onto a specific avenue. I don’t need to look down at my phone or glance at my wrist, it’s all housed in just one device.

If I need more details or want to see my route, I could glance down to see a mini version of the map, which moved as I moved my head. If I wore these in NYC, I could walk normally and glance at the top to see directions, but when safely stopped and not in the way of others, I could look down to see my full route. That’s pretty neat to me.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

The projected screen itself had good-enough quality, though I’m not sure how it performs in direct sunlight, as I tested these in a little room that Google had constructed. It’s important to remember that this is still a prototype – Google has several brands onboard to produce these, but there isn’t an exact timeframe. Developers will be able to start developing and testing by the end of the year, though.

This year, the Project Moohan headset, which also runs Android XR, will arrive. Samsung will ship the headset in a to-be-revealed final version, which could build support from third parties and let Google get more feedback on the platform.

Gemini, Google’s very wise AI assistant, blew me away on Project Moohan and was equally compelling on the Android XR glasses. I asked it for the weather, and got it to give me an audio report of the next few days, had it analyze a replica of a painting, and even look at a book, tell me the reviews, and where I could purchase it.

That power of having Gemini in my frame has me really excited for the future of the category – it’s the audio responses, the connection to the Google ecosystem, and how it plays with the onboard screen. It remains to be seen how Samsung’s final design might look, but it will likely sit alongside several other Android XR-powered smart glasses from the likes of Warby Parker, X-Real, and Gentle Monster, among others.

I’ve long worn Meta Ray-Bans and enjoy those for snapping unique shots or recording POVs like walking my dog Rosie or riding an attraction at a Disney Park. Similarly, I really enjoyed the original version of the Snapchat Spectacles, but the appeal wore off. Those both did only a short – or in the case of the Spectacles, very short – list of functions, but Android XR as a platform feels a heck of a lot more powerful, even from a short five-minute window.

While the design didn’t sell me on Samsung’s prototype, I have high hopes for the Warby Parker ones. Seeing how Gemini’s smarts can fit into such a small frame and how a screen can be genuinely useful but not overly distracting really has me excited. I have a feeling not all of the Android XR glasses will appeal to everyone, but with enough entries, I’m sure one of them will pair form with function in a correct balance.

Gemini in glasses feels less like the future, and considering this new entry, my eyes are set to see what Meta's does next and what Apple's much-rumored entry into the world of smart glasses will look like.

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• Nano SSD delivers 512GB storage and fingerprint security in a tiny size
• Works with iPhone, Android, Mac, and gaming devices, without extra software
• Drop-tested, IP65 rated, and supports 4K video on iPhone Pro

Twopan has launched the Nano SSD, a compact USB-C storage device with a built-in fingerprint reader, a feature we’d love to see more storage makers offer.

Weighing just 5g and the size of a stick of gum, the Twopan Nano SSD measures 20 x 13 x 5mm and offers 512GB of high-speed storage in a keychain-friendly design.

The product’s main appeal is, naturally, the biometric security it offers. The device supports up to 20 fingerprints and doesn't require apps or software. Twopan says plug it in and it just works.

Broad compatibility

The Nano SSD connects via a USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 port and will work with devices like iPhone 15/16 Pro, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, Steam Deck, PS5, and Canon and Sony cameras that support USB-C file transfer.

It supports direct 4K and HD recording on the newest iPhone Pro models using HEVC (H.265) at 60fps, making it a good choice for content creators working in high-resolution formats.

It is also compatible with Android phones from Samsung and Google, offering wide usability without the need for adapters or extra cables.

Twopan says it fits into phone cases that are 3mm thick or less, making it even easier to use on the go without removing protection.

Despite its tiny size, the Nano SSD delivers up to 450MB/s read and write speeds. It’s water and dust resistant with an IP65 rating and is drop-tested for up to 10 meters. The casing is made from aluminum and shockproof plastic, offering additional durability for users who travel or work outdoors.

Twopan Nano SSD is currently live on Kickstarter with a retail price around $99. The creators were seeking $1,277 in funding and managed to pull in over $197,000 from more than 1,600 backers. Shipping is expected in August 2025.

Like most crowdfunded hardware, there’s always a chance for delays or changes. But if it delivers on promises, this could well be one of the most secure portable drives around.

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Another Netflix library reshuffle is about to happen and, while we're excited to see the return of Squid Game season 3, aka one of the best Netflix shows, we mustn't forget about the movies being removed from the streamer's back catalog.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy stands out like a sore thumb among the films leaving Netflix this June, and you don't have too long left to catch them as they'll vanish come June 1. The same goes for these three movies with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, so catch some of the best Netflix movies (from a third-party perspective, anyway) before they depart.

TV shows are usually up for the chopping block, too, but seasons 1 to 3 of The Equalizer is the only casualty of the best streaming service's June 2025 culling. So, TV buffs can sit back without worrying that your favorite shows will be axed.

Everything leaving Netflix in June 2025

Leaving on June 1

Batman Begins (movie)
Beginners (movie)
Burlesque (movie)
Closer (movie)
Cult of Chucky (movie)
Daddy Day Care (movie)
The Dark Knight (movie)
The Dark Knight Rises (movie)
Den of Thieves (movie)
From Prada to Nada (movie)
GoodFellas (movie)
Ma (movie)
Magic Mike XXL (movie)
Pride & Prejudice (movie)
Ted (movie)
Ted 2 (movie)
Two Weeks Notice (movie)

Leaving on June 11

Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story (movie)
Trap (movie)

Leaving on June 14

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (movie)

Leaving on June 16

The Equalizer seasons 1-3 (TV show)
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (movie)

Leaving on June 17

Carol (movie)

Leaving on June 19

Migration (movie)

Leaving on June 21

American Sniper (movie)

Leaving on June 22

Brain on Fire (movie)

Leaving on June 26

Ordinary People (movie)

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• TeamGroup’s 64TB SSD aims for enterprise dominance with AI-ready specs and Gen5 speed
• PCIe Gen5 promises speed, but real-world benchmarks will tell the true performance story
• Massive storage meets modern AI demands, but price remains the elephant in the room

In a market where storage capacities and speeds are constantly evolving to meet the needs of AI and cloud infrastructure, another player has stepped forward with a bold offering.

TeamGroup has announced its entry into the 64TB SSD space with the T-CREATE MASTER Ai I5U U.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD, a high-capacity solid-state drive built with enterprise workloads in mind.

This launch comes about a year after Western Digital teased a similar PCIe Gen5 model for AI applications, and five years after Nimbus Data introduced the first 64TB SSD, the ExaDrive NL series.

Enterprise-first design with next-gen performance specs

Unlike consumer SSDs competing for a spot among the best portable drives, TeamGroup’s latest entry is aimed squarely at enterprise environments.

With support for the U.2 PCIe 5.0 interface and storage capacity maxing out at 64TB, the I5U is positioned as a tool for cloud-based databases and edge computing.

According to TeamGroup, it is “designed specifically for cloud infrastructure and database applications” and optimized for the demands of “large language models” and intensive AI-driven workloads.

PCIe Gen5 has become the benchmark for future-proof performance in both consumer and enterprise sectors, but claims such as “ultra-fast PCIe Gen5 speeds with enterprise-grade endurance” should be treated with caution.

Until third-party benchmarks emerge, it’s difficult to evaluate the drive’s real-world reliability and performance.

Past efforts to identify the best SSDs based purely on theoretical throughput have often ignored key factors like thermal performance, latency under load, and sustained write consistency, all of which are critical in large-scale deployments.

TeamGroup’s entry also arrives amid a broader trend of high-capacity SSDs hitting the market. From Solidigm’s 61.44TB D5-P5336 to Micron’s 6.144TB 6550 Ion SSD, competition in the ultra-high-capacity segment is heating up.

One element that remains unclear for TeamGroup’s I5U is pricing. Enterprise-grade drives at this scale rarely come cheap, but TeamGroup is known for value-oriented options.

This raises speculation that its 64TB SSD might come closer to affordability than previous alternatives.

While it's unlikely to ever replace the best external HDDs in terms of raw cost per gigabyte, it signals that ultra-high-capacity SSDs are edging closer to broader adoption.

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• One UI 8 could be available in beta very soon
• The software update is based on Android 16
• A new Running Coach feature could be included

While One UI 7 has only just recently been pushed out to the masses by Samsung, it looks as though One UI 8 will be following it very shortly – and the software upgrade could well come with a new Running Coach feature included.

As spotted by tipster @tarunvats33 (via Android Central), a message sent through the Samsung Members app on Galaxy devices gives instructions for joining the One UI 8 beta program, suggesting it's going to be opened up in the near future.

One UI 8 is Samsung's take on Android 16, and it makes sense for Samsung to try to get as close to Google's software update cycle as possible. Google has hinted at a June launch for Android 16, with rumors pointing to Tuesday, June 3 as the big day.

Samsung hasn't said anything officially about dates or availability, but it seems likely that the Samsung Galaxy S25 series will be the first devices eligible to be signed up for the beta program, for those who want to try it ahead of the full release.

Getting running coaching

Samsung Running Coach#OneUI8 #Samsung #OneUI pic.twitter.com/EPF2ZiP4hwMay 23, 2025

As the One UI 8 beta program gets closer to opening up, we've also got a tip about a new Running Coach feature, which was spotted by @GerwinvGiessen (via SamMobile). It's possible the feature will be part of the Samsung Health app, or a standalone app.

Based on screenshots posted to social media, the coach uses the tracking capabilities of your phone or smartwatch to analyze your current running level, and then makes personalized recommendations about improvements.

"Running Coach uses 'level up' assessments to determine your fitness level and adjust your running program accordingly," one of the information screens says. "This helps track your progress and keep the risk of injury low as you gradually improve your fitness."

There's been no announcement about any of this from Samsung, but we might get one in July sometime: that's when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are expected to arrive, and they're rumored to be coming with One UI 8 on board.

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Pistachio is the hottest flavor of 2025, and if you've walked past a high street coffee shop recently, you'll almost certainly have seen ads for green-tinted lattes in the window. The trend started last year, when pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate (initially created to satisfy pregnancy cravings) began appearing in social media videos, and now Nespresso has got in on the act with a vanilla and pistachio-flavored coffee pod.

I spotted the green and cream-colored Nespresso Vertuo Vanilla Pistachio capsules on the Nespresso website a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't resist adding a pack to my order. So what are they like, and can they compete with the likes of Starbucks?

First, a word on serving. Each Vertuo pod produces a double shot of flavored espresso, and is intended to be enjoyed as a long drink over ice. I wouldn't recommend drinking the shot straight – although it's based on sweet arabica beans that would probably be delicious alone, the natural vanilla and pistachio flavor is pretty powerful, allowing it to withstand being diluted.

(Image credit: Future)

I inserted a pod into my trusty Nespresso Vertuo Pop (one of the best Nespresso machines around if you have a small kitchen), attached the drip tray platform to raise my measuring cup to the appropriate height, locked the lid and hit the brew button.

A few seconds later, I had a sweet-smelling double espresso ready to be poured over a generous helping of ice. I'm fond of an iced latte, so I finished my drink with cold foam made using the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic, which I'm currently testing.

If you don't have a milk frother for your Nespresso machine, take a look at the Nespresso Aeroccino 4, which is a compact standalone device that can produce hot or cold foam using dairy or plant-based milk.

(Image credit: Future)

I tried the Vanilla Pistachio Nespresso coffee as an iced caffe latte and an iced latte macchiato. Overall, I'd recommend the first option, as the potent flavor benefits from being combined thoroughly with the milk. There's no need to worry about watering down the taste.

When you get the balance right, the result is one of the tastiest Nespresso drinks I've tried so far. Sometimes flavored coffees can have a bitter or artificial-tasting edge, but that's not the case here. With plenty of ice and cold milk, you get a refreshing and well-rounded flavor that's tasty but not excessively sweet.

If you feel like something more dessert-like, Nespresso has a recipe for an iced pistachio vanilla oat latte using the capsules, which includes marshmallows for extra indulgence.

(Image credit: Future)

It's delicious, but I also picked up a pack of Nespresso's Coconut Vanilla pods with my order, so I'm interested to see how the two compare. These are also intended to be served cold over ice, but unlike the pistachio pods, they brew a long black coffee to be savored like cold brew. Will they be as refreshing? I'll find out soon.

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 25 (game #448).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Body language

NYT Strands today (game #449) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STEW
• WORN
• GROW
• TEAK
• TASTE
• WROTE

NYT Strands today (game #449) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #449) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #449) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #449, are…

• HANDSHAKE
• SALUTE
• SHRUG
• KOWTOW
• NAMASTE
• CURTSEY
• SPANGRAM: GESTURES

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

I struggled with today’s Strands, after a great start seeing HANDSHAKE and SALUTE immediately and then the GESTURES spangram.

A hint gave me SHRUG, but I struggled to see NAMASTE among the seven letters before me. I think this may be due to thinking that namaste was just a greeting rather than a gesture – although thinking about it, I realize it’s something that's never said without the palms coming together at the chest and a slight bow of the head.

Meanwhile, KOWTOW is a word that really should be used more commonly to describe political discourse in various countries around the globe – once a prominent part of Chinese rituals where underlings would suffer the indignity of submission, now kowtowing goes on everywhere.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 25, game #448)

• SELL
• DONATE
• LABEL
• DECLUTTER
• REORGANIZE
• SPANGRAM: SPRING CLEANING

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, May 25 (game #714).

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 #715) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• JOKER
• TEDDY
• SHEET
• FRIDGE
• POLAR
• TOWEL
• COUNTER
• GUMMY
• SLIP
• DIN
• WASHCLOTH
• HOSE
• REVERSE
• PILLOWCASE
• GARTER
• OPPOSITE

NYT Connections today (game #715) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Stacked together
• GREEN: The flip side
• BLUE: Garments
• PURPLE: Gamble on changing the first letter

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 #715) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ITEMS IN A LINEN CLOSET 
• GREEN: DIAMETRIC 
• BLUE: LINGERIE 
• PURPLE: CARD GAMES WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

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

NYT Connections today (game #715) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #715, are…

• YELLOW: ITEMS IN A LINEN CLOSET PILLOWCASE, SHEET, TOWEL, WASHCLOTH
• GREEN: DIAMETRIC COUNTER, OPPOSITE, POLAR, REVERSE
• BLUE: LINGERIE GARTER, HOSE, SLIP, TEDDY
• PURPLE: CARD GAMES WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED DIN, FRIDGE, GUMMY, JOKER

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

I immediately thought that JOKER must have something to do with cards – and I wasn’t wrong. However, I didn’t see CARD GAMES WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED; kudos if you’re one of those clever people who did.

ITEMS IN A LINEN CLOSET was easier to spot, although I had “white wash load” in my mind, as that’s when I tend to see them together rather than a designated area.

I made my mistake with DIAMETRIC, thinking that POLAR didn’t fit. I took a stab in the dark with SLIP, thinking the group had something to do with evasion or trickery before seeing sense.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 25, game #714)

• YELLOW: PLAYING CARDS ACE, JACK, KING, QUEEN
• GREEN: DOPPELGÄNGER CLONE, DOUBLE, RINGER, TWIN
• BLUE: EAR PIERCING SITES CONCH, HELIX, LOBE, ROOK
• PURPLE: __ MAIL CHAIN, ELECTRONIC, JUNK, SNAIL

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, May 25 (game #1217).

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 #1218) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1218) - 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 #1218) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1218) - 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 #1218) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• H

• A

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1218) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1218, are…

• BLEAT
• HOWDY
• ASIDE
• SCOOP

A terrible round for me today with one bad guess – LEAPT instead of BLEAT and one unlucky one – HOODY instead of HOWDY.

The pair of errors took me close to the edge, something I’m not used to since finally discovering the three-starter-word technique. Ah, memories.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1218) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1218, are…

• TRASH
• NOVEL
• VIGIL
• ELFIN

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE
• Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER
• Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN
• Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY
• Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE
• Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN
• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH

• Minisforum reveals Ryzen-powered rack server which could rewrite AMD’s playbook entirely
• Ryzen in the rack? AMD’s clean product lines might never be the same again
• A mobile chip in a server chassis - Minisforum’s MS-S1 Max isn’t playing by the rules

Minisforum has announced what it calls a game-changer for AI deployment in compact computing environments: the MS-S1 Max, a 2U rackmount system powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

Minisforum says this system is designed to "revolutionize your AI workflow," but it marks an unusual departure from established norms.

While its 3.2-liter form factor and all-in-one design are drawing praise for efficiency, the core configuration raises uncomfortable questions for AMD.

Minisforum’s approach threatens AMD’s server ecosystem

Minisforum has opted not to use AMD’s EPYC processors, designed explicitly for server tasks, and instead fitted what is effectively a mobile-class chip into a server chassis.

Although the MS-S1 Max is marketed as the best SMB server and even hints at broader enterprise ambitions, it’s difficult to ignore that this is a repurposing of hardware intended for a different context.

The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is not a server CPU by design. It’s optimized for client workloads, featuring integrated Radeon graphics and an AI NPU.

What it offers, however, is a cost-effective and power-efficient solution for companies seeking local AI inference or the ability to run large models like DeepSeek 70B without the overhead of traditional infrastructure.

That edge makes it appealing to universities, labs, and AI startups, but it also turns the system into a wildcard in AMD’s carefully managed product segmentation. This unconventional use could complicate AMD’s broader strategy. EPYC chips are built for reliability, scalability, and intensive server workloads, and they command higher margins.

A surge of mini PC makers embedding consumer-grade Ryzen chips into rackmount systems might blur the line between consumer and enterprise offerings.

Still, the MS-S1 Max’s value proposition is hard to ignore. By delivering strong on-chip graphics and directing substantial memory bandwidth to its GPU, it offers a local AI engine at a fraction of the cost of traditional server gear.

That said, the catch lies in support, reliability, and long-term performance. Ryzen chips, while powerful, lack ECC memory support and validated server-grade features.

This makes them a questionable fit for mission-critical deployments, and puts AMD in a tough position. If demand grows, AMD may be forced to either restrict such uses or embrace them, potentially undermining its EPYC business.

This mobile workstation is expected to launch in the second half of the year.

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• TeamGroup P35S SSD can wipe your data permanently and irreversibly with a few clicks
• Designed for spies, journalists, and execs, this SSD values secrecy over raw performance numbers
• Accidental erasure is a real concern with hardware that erases data in two simple motions

In a tech landscape where external drives often blur into a sea of similar features and designs, TeamGroup’s new portable SSD takes a sharp detour into espionage territory.

The T-Create Expert P35S Destroyed Portable SSD introduces something previously unheard of in the mainstream consumer market: a one-click data destruction mechanism.

While the concept may sound like something pulled straight from a spy thriller, TeamGroup says the device is intended for professionals who handle sensitive or classified information.

A self-destruct SSD that promises true data erasure

This external SSD stands out thanks to its patented “physical chip destruction circuit.”

Unlike standard data wipes, this feature claims to electrically destroy the data stored on the drive, making it completely irretrievable.

Triggered by a two-step process TeamGroup calls an “anti-mistouch” system, users must both click and slide to activate the wipe.

It’s not exactly a big red button, but the dramatic undertone is part of the appeal.

The P35S, which weighs just 42 grams and measures 90 x 40 x 18 mm, offers 1,000MB/s transfer speeds via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

This led to the bold “transfer 10GB in just 10 seconds - ready for anything” slogan on TeamGroup’s display at Computex 2025.

While it won’t top charts for the best SSD in terms of performance alone, it offers enough throughput for on-the-go file handling.

What’s most notable is the P35S’s target audience. TeamGroup references users such as journalists, corporate executives, and government officials, people who might need to dispose of confidential data instantly.

“Designed for end-users who carry highly confidential documents, the SSD prevents data breaches and ensures that personal and confidential information remains protected under all circumstances,” the company says.

There’s even a nod toward “defense use,” which, depending on your level of cynicism, could either suggest genuine intent or feel like a PR stretch, especially in light of recent high-profile data mishandling cases.

The SSD’s compact size and data wipe feature make it easy to picture in the hands of an undercover agent or whistleblower.

But in practical terms, it may also raise concerns about accidental erasure, especially for users prone to fidgeting. That’s one reason I’d love to test this device myself.

This isn't likely to be a top choice for gamers or media creators, but for users who prioritize security over speed, it may offer real value.

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