TechRadar News

• 'Significant amount' of data stolen from Legal Aid Agency
• Up to 2.1 million records accessed, hacking group says
• Legal Aid online systems taken offline

The UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that a cyberattack on the Legal Aid system has led to the theft of a "significant amount" of data, including criminal records.

The MoJ was alerted to the attack on April 23 when data dating back as far as 2010 was accessed by the attackers.

Earlier this month, the MoJ said it was investigating a “security incident” and that payment information had potentially been accessed. The group responsible for the attack said they accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not confirmed this number.

‘Significant amount’ of data stolen

The MoJ said that the data accessed by the attackers “may have included contact details and addresses of applicants, their dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.”

Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle issued an apology for the breach, adding that the breach “will be shocking and upsetting for people”. The MoJ is working with the UK’s National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre to secure systems, and the Information Commissioner has been notified.

The Legal Aid Agency is responsible for providing legal aid funding to over 2,000 providers. The amount administered in 2023/24 amounted to around £2.3 billion. The Agency’s online digital services have been taken offline as a result of the attack.

The MoJ has recommended that anyone who has applied for legal aid since 2010 to take steps to protect themselves, including increased vigilance against unknown phone calls and text messages, as well as updating or replacing weak or reused passwords.

"If you are in doubt about anyone you are communicating with online or over the phone you should verify their identity independently before providing any information to them," the ministry said.

Outside of personal data, it is likely that information relating to the barristers, solicitors, and other organizations, including not-for-profit organizations, was accessed by the hackers during the attack.

“The recent cyber attack on the Legal Aid Agency is yet another example of the real-world impact from digital vulnerabilities. When criminal records and other sensitive personal data are exposed, it is not just a matter of IT failure, it’s a breach of trust, privacy and even safety in this case. Many of the individuals affected may already be in vulnerable situations and could now face the added stress of not knowing where their data will end up or how it might be used," said Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET.

“It highlights just how critical it is for public bodies and government agencies to invest in stronger cyber defences, quicker update times and better training as well as being transparent immediately when things go wrong. Delays in notifying victims or vague reassurances can often worsen the damage whether it’s a government agency or private company.”

Via BBC

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• "In response to EU regulatory pressure" Apple could be working to let users in Europe switch to third-party voice assistants over Siri
• The move comes amid indefinite delays to AI-powered Siri upgrades originally planned for March 31
• Executives are showing concern for the future of the company, as Apple falls behind competitors in the AI race

Apple is reportedly working on tweaking its iPhone operating system to allow European users to choose a third-party voice assistant as their default option over Siri.

The news comes via a bombshell Bloomberg Apple AI report by Mark Gurman and Drake Bennet, citing "a person with knowledge of the matter" and follows in the wake of Apple's public struggle to provide Siri with AI upgrades that were first revealed in June 2024.

It’s a situation that has already resulted in Apple pulling a range of AI-focused ads and "available now" claims from the Apple Intelligence webpage. These upgrades were originally supposed to launch in iOS 18.4 on March 31, but now appear to have been delayed with no firm release date.

This report also claims that Google Gemini is on track to be added in iOS 19 as a ChatGPT alternative, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

Alongside struggling to make Siri smarter, Apple is also now seemingly facing regulatory sanctions in the EU after already being fined for forcing users to use its own App Store.

Right now, if you ask Siri on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro or newer) something like "How does CRISPR DNA editing work?" the virtual assistant currently has no answer – except to ask users if they'd like ChatGPT to answer.

According to an Apple exec cited by Bloomberg, Apple's usual methodology is "we’re late, we have over a billion users, we’re going to grind it out, and we’re going to beat everyone", but that's not working this time around.

(Image credit: Apple) Where to now for Siri?

To back up its claims, Bloomberg’s report notes that Eddy Cue – Apple’s Senior Vice President for Services – is worried that "AI could do to Apple what the iPhone did to Nokia". Cue has recently been quoted during court testimony as saying it's possible the iPhone could be irrelevant 10 years from now, "as crazy as it sounds".

While it ultimately might not have a choice when it comes to changes in the EU, Apple would obviously prefer Siri to be able to compete with Gemini and ChatGPT head on, but at this point, it does not appear to have a clear path when it comes to closing the gap, with a senior member of Apple's AI team stating, “This is a crisis… It’s been sinking for a long time.”

While allowing users to ditch Siri for a third-party alternative would deal with the problem in the short term and could be a good thing for iPhone and Mac users, from Apple’s perspective it would also be an undesirable admittance of that current state of affairs.

(Image credit: Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

In his court testimony, Cue stated that for the first time in 22 years, Google searches on Apple devices fell last month. The provided reason was that users were turning away from search engines and towards AI tools for gathering information.

While Apple has a dedicated customer base that is going to continue to buy Apple devices almost no matter what, as AI becomes more integrated into people’s work and personal lives, it may be the deciding factor for less loyal users.

By comparison, Android devices have long allowed owners to switch to a different virtual assistant, something that’s continuing into the age of AI.

Apple has undeniably fallen behind when it comes to AI integration, but perhaps not disastrously so – and when it comes to such a world-changing technology, maybe that's not such a bad thing. Given how unreliable Google AI Overviews can be, it's certainly not an exact science.

Acknowledging that they need time to get Siri to a point where it can rival the others, and giving users further functionality in the meantime, seems like a win/win for Apple and its customers – if the iPhone maker can swallow its pride.

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The way security professionals and their businesses approach artificial intelligence is one of contrasts and contentions. We’re still in a state of flux as to whether AI will lead to true cyber safety, or leave us more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Optimists view AI as a gleaming opportunity to improve cybersecurity tools at a rate that helps us stay ahead of attackers. AI can strengthen defenses at unprecedented speeds and deliver automated threat intelligence that guides both immediate and long-term decision-making.

A more pessimistic view however presents AI as a weapon for adversaries to launch increasingly sophisticated new and dangerous threats on unprepared individuals and organizations.

In my view, our reality sits somewhere in between.

What it means to be AI-secure

There are always two sides to a coin. Where AI is considered, risks can arise both internally and externally. For instance, hackers use AI’s speed and scalability to launch widespread cyber attacks from outside the business, while any mishandling of AI technology within can hand valuable assets directly over to them.

A sound AI security strategy considers both sides.

AI’s efficacy in helping businesses automate the data collection process is a well known advantage. However, organizations must not forget that speed and efficiency do not surpass security as a priority. For example, automating data collection with AI still requires anonymization when sensitive information is included, and it must be controlled so only approved individuals can access it.

Here, zero-trust and multi-factor authentication can help ensure only the correct individuals within an organization can access it. This practice stems from the tide of mishandling, improper storage and data leaks - purposeful or otherwise.

Like with any new software, businesses must also consider the security of third-party AI services. Are you certain that the AI model you are using is truly secure? Here, diligence must come before investment - organizations can have the strongest internal defenses only to be let down by poor third-party security.

We saw a recent example of third-party security failure by UnitedHealth, when an attacker gained server access through Change Healthcare, a third-party affiliate. Breaching this side door meant UnitedHealth’s highly protected customer data could be accessed in a matter of days.

There’s also the need to continually train AI models with the latest information. Making decisions on out-of-date data opens the door for misguided defense strategies. Before businesses make any AI-based decisions, they must remember to account for the recency and relevancy of the data they are processing.

What features to look for in AI-secure security platforms

While the global battle for AI superiority rages, businesses must carefully consider which AI tools will bring them the most security. The best providers of AI-ready security tools and services have preempted the concerns laid out above, and innovated their services to limit errors in managing an AI-ready world. Microsoft Security Copilot is a great example approach to AI-security and a cyber safe outlook.

Here are four features to look out for:

1. Real-time monitoring

When it comes to identifying vulnerabilities, monitoring threats and repelling attacks, cyber teams rely on powerful platforms to do the heavy lifting; there simply isn’t enough time or resources to do this on a case-by-case basis. Through proprietary AI, businesses gain transparent, comprehensive views of internal and external activity, network traffic, user journeys and data access.

From here, intuitive machine learning can recognize anomalies from within and outside the organization, harnessing historical data to analyze minute-by-minute threat environments and predict when attacks might occur and in what form.

2. Immediate action

Even the hardest working security professional can’t be in two places at once. Microsoft Security Copilot, among other systems, accounts for this, leveraging AI to monitor the constant stream of business activity while also intelligently flagging real-time threats.

Naturally, as incident response becomes more automated - although human oversight remains crucial - security teams can receive threat data almost instantly, with less manually intensive requirements, freeing up resources to immediately respond.

For the past two decades, we have been one step behind cyber attackers; with real-time response, we level the playing field.

3. Automation to reduce time and error

While there is something to be said for automated processes reducing human error, especially from time and resource-poor cyber specialists, it’s my opinion that this risk will always exist. At least with this mindset, we’re not falling into the old adage of ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’. Microsoft Security Copilot and other systems, for all of their advantages, are only as robust and foolproof as the security specialist using them.

Does automation decrease the chance of human error? Definitely. Does it cure it altogether? Definitely not. We must enable powerful new systems to remove manual task intensity, but they must remain directed by boots-on-the-ground specialists.

4. System cohesion

Businesses use many different systems for vital day-to-day operations. Data migration between separate systems, failing to train and educate employees, and poor security integrity across the tech stack, all increase the attack surface and therefore the organization's vulnerability.

The tech giants hold a significant advantage here. Take Microsoft Security Copilot, which has been built to integrate into Microsoft’s existing suite of tools, such as Azure Cloud, Defender, and Office products. This level of ‘baked-in’ security reduces the attack surface. It’s a strategic advantage that cannot be underestimated, offering a greater degree of monitoring, control and transparency.

Becoming AI-secure is the first step

The best piece of advice I and many of my colleagues can provide is to adopt a constant, deliberate and thorough analysis of AI opportunities and challenges.

Is there a new capability from your chosen provider that can help plug a long-known vulnerability to a greater extent? Invest and move quickly.

Have attackers launched a new AI-based threat that challenges existing defenses? It’s time to quickly analyze current strategies and find ways to innovate in turn, relying on your network to formulate the best industry-wide approach.

An AI-secure organization is one that commits itself to proactive cyber safety. AI can be our greatest tool in the fight to come, but we must not forget that attackers are thinking the same.

We've compiled a list of the best endpoint protection software.

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

Sony recently launched one of its most-anticipated products of 2025 in the WH-1000XM6 headphones. The company’s previous efforts, namely the XM4 and XM5, have proven incredibly successful, so it’s unsurprising that Sony felt the need to continue the lineage.

Those previous models have actually proven to be so popular that both will remain on sale alongside their newly upgraded sibling.

I’ve been using the XM6 for about a week now to find out if they could dethrone my trusted Sonos Ace as my go-to over-ear cans. But, as you would have already guessed from the headline of this piece, they’ve fallen a bit short in that challenge for the top.

It’s got nothing to do with sound quality or noise cancellation, although I’ll touch on those features further down. Instead, it has everything to do with how they fit.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a fan of Sonos’ first attempt at producing a pair of headphones, predominantly because I find the Ace so darn comfortable, and that’s still true nearly a year after they launched in June 2024.

I’ve never worn the previous XM4 or the XM5 for prolonged periods, but having read my colleague Gerald Lynch's Sony WH-1000XM5 review, which praised the overall comfort level, I was expecting glorious things from the XM6.

According our new Sony WH-1000XM6 review, those expectations should have been met. For me, however, they've unfortunately missed the mark.

The different hinge designs of the Sony (left) and Sonos (right) headphones plays a big role in on-head comfort. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Perhaps I have a fussy head (hopefully not) or abnormally large ears (the shame) but, for me, the XM6 feel like they’re clamping down a little too much, at least when compared against the Sonos Ace. Sony has said it’s increased the clamping force of the new model compared to the XM5 to help aid with passive noise isolation, and it does indeed work on that front.

For my noggin, though, it’s just a little too forceful for comfort. They feel more akin to on-ear headphones when I wear them because the padding presses onto my ears a little too much. The Sonos Ace earcups, meanwhile, completely envelop my ears and feel much softer, and as a result feel way more comfortable.

I should add the realization that the Ace earcups envelop my ears more is an interesting one, because the openings are physically smaller than the Sony pair. I think the fact that the space inside the earcups of the Ace is deeper than on the XM6 is the reason for this peculiar phenomenon.

Despite weighing roughly 50g more than the Sony, I think the Sonos engineers have done a better job of distributing the weight of the Ace too. Again, I’m probably just being fussy, but it’s something I noticed as soon as I wore the XM6 for the first time and haven’t been able to shake.

In my opinion, one of the biggest factors to support my claim that the Sonos Ace feels more comfortable for me is the hinge mechanism used.

Both pairs feature hinges that integrate into the earcups, but the one on the Sonos Ace appears to have a greater range of flexibility, so it’s able to better conform to the shape of my head.

The Sony XM6 hinge integrated a folding mechanism for easier travel, but which I think limits its flexibility. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

In contrast, the hinge on the Sony XM6 has a more limited range and so can’t adjust to the shape of my head as freely. That said, Sony's said the XM6 are inspired by an older hinge design, inherited from the XM4, that allow them to better fold for traveling. The Sonos mechanism, meanwhile, doesn’t fold away as compactly, so that could have something to do with it.

Don’t get me wrong, that extra compactness is absolutely a great feature to have – although one that’s admittedly a little lost on me, as I don’t travel that much – but my head is probably just a little too limiting. Perhaps the hinge will loosen up over time and the XM6 will fit me better? We’ll see.

Mind you, the carry case for the XM6 is, hands down, a winner over the Sonos design in my view. Sony has implemented a magnetic fastener this time around and it works a treat. The zip on the case of my Sonos Ace broke within a few months, rendering it next to useless – a trait I've noticed many other Sonos Ace owners have come across. I hope other headphone manufacturers follow Sony’s design choice with new pairs in the future.

The magnetic fastener on the Sony case (left) is a major design win in my book. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) One person’s music is another person’s sound

I’ve learned in my years writing about speakers, headphones and other hi-fi components, sound quality can be subjective and that, ultimately, if you like what you hear, then that’s the product for you.

There are instances where it’s impossible to say something sounds good. But more often than not, I’ve found that I don’t necessarily appreciate how a particular product sounds despite someone else thinking it’s great, or vice versa.

It’s a similar story here, because while our Sony WH-1000XM6 review heaps praise upon their sonic capabilities, I’m a little less enthusiastic. Or at least, I don’t think the Sonos Ace should be completely disregarded if your budget can afford either pair.

As I’ve said, though, sound is a personal preference and I actually prefer the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless to either of these competitors for outright sound quality. However, comfort is still at the top of my wishlist, which is why I keep returning to the Sonos Ace. If I could get the Sennheiser sound in the Sonos body, it could just be my dream set of headphones.

I will admit the Sony headphones sound objectively better than the Sonos Ace. They’re more energetic, unearth a bit more detail and have tighter control over particularly tricky songs such as The Darkness’ I Believe in a Thing Called Love, resulting in a more cohesive listen.

While the Sonos Ace don’t sound bad in any sense of the word, I find myself having fun and bopping my head with the Ace in place when listening to dance music, which is my go-to genre – far more than when I’m listening to the same tracks on the XM6.

This could boil down to the fact that my ears don’t feel as constrained when using the Ace, resulting in a more 3D-like soundstage.

The Sonos Ace look and feel like a premium pair of headphones and the integrated hinge is excellent. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) Silence is golden

Now, when it comes to ANC performance of headphones, I personally don’t notice much of a difference between many of the latest pairs from the top brands. That could be because I listen to music quite loudly (perhaps to my own future detriment) and can’t hear any ambient sounds over it, including colleagues sitting next to me in the office. So it’s hard for me to judge if the noise-canceling tech is working as promised or not.

However, going off the in-depth reviews on TechRadar and speaking with my colleagues, the consensus is the ANC performance of the Sonos Ace isn’t class-leading. The opposite is the case for the Sony XM6, which are “the real deal as far as ANC is concerned” according to our reviewer.

This, too, might well be a personal preference. The amount of external noise you want to be blocked out could be different to my preference. If I can hear a train announcer telling me what station is coming up next, it doesn’t particularly bother me. If anything, it’s proven to be helpful if I’m taking a journey for the first time and I’m not sure where I’m going.

If you do want total silence, however, then I have to give it the Sony XM6 – though you could also consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which have long been considered the class leader. The Sonos Ace are great, but ANC performance isn’t an area I can confidently defend them for.

Sony has redesigned the speaker driver for the XM6 headphones (left), which you can view when you take off the ear cushion. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

With both the Sonos and Sony pairs costing a not-insignificant amount of money – Sonos Ace retails for $449 / £449 / AU$699 and Sony XM6 come in at $449 / £400 / AU$699 – neither should be an impulse buy. If you’re looking to spend this kind of money on a new set of headphones, then I'd strongly recommend auditioning both pairs first if you’re able to.

While you’re at it, you should probably give the recently released Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 a listen too, along with the aforementioned Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. B&W’s premium over-ears have always been excellent where sound quality is concerned, but have often lacked in other areas such as ANC. That’s no longer the case with the Px7 S3, which have much-improved noise canceling capabilities. Combined with their gorgeous looks, they could be the ultimate pair in this price bracket.

The internal area of the ear cup of the Sonos Ace (right) is deeper compared to the XM6, which I find much more comfortable. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Therein lies a positive to take away from all of this: we now have so many quality choices when choosing a pair of headphones, that it’s hard for even experts like me to give a definitive answer on which brand one-ups the other. And given just how personal our choices are (one of my colleagues prefers the XM6 to the Ace for fit, for example), deciding upon and choosing the right pair is something only you can do for yourself.

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• MSI EdgeXpert sounds impressive, but calling it a supercomputer might be stretching reality
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MSI is the latest entrant in the race to miniaturize AI infrastructure with its upcoming EdgeXpert MS-C931, a compact desktop system positioned as an AI supercomputer.

Following the launches of the Dell Pro Max with GB10 and the Asus Ascent GX10, MSI’s new machine is built on Nvidia’s DGX Spark platform and will be showcased at COMPUTEX 2025.

While the hardware sounds formidable, questions remain about whether this device truly lives up to the lofty label of a "desktop AI supercomputer", or if it’s simply a case of marketing overreach.

A powerful machine built on familiar ground

The EdgeXpert MS-C931 is powered by Nvidia’s GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, delivering up to 1,000 TOPS of AI performance (FP4), 128 GB of unified memory, and ConnectX-7 high-speed networking.

MSI says the system targets sectors like education, finance, and healthcare, where data privacy and low latency could justify on-premise hardware over cloud-based services.

Given its specs, the MS-C931 could rank among the most capable workstation PCs currently in development. Its high memory bandwidth and AI-focused compute also suggest it could be a top-tier PC for coding, especially for machine learning or large-scale simulation tasks.

However, the real value of this product depends less on its raw specs and more on how grounded MSI’s claims about its purpose truly are.

The phrase “desktop AI supercomputer” continues to be used liberally, and MSI’s adoption of it raises similar concerns to those previously leveled at Asus and Dell.

A supercomputer, by definition, implies massive parallel processing power, usually deployed across large-scale server racks. Shrinking that concept down to a single desktop machine, even with cutting-edge components, feels more like branding than technical accuracy.

MSI isn’t alone in this; Nvidia’s DGX Spark framework itself seems at least partially designed to enable this kind of positioning.

For all the talk of supporting top-tier AI tools and delivering enterprise-grade performance at the edge, there’s currently little evidence that these systems approach the breadth or scalability of true supercomputing infrastructure.

Even 1,000 TOPS, while impressive, must be understood in the context of what modern AI teams actually require to train or run LLMs.

While MSI may succeed in delivering a dense, high-performance system for localized inferencing and AI prototyping, the real-world utility of the MS-C931 is likely narrower than the “supercomputer” label implies.

Until these machines prove their value in practice, calling them desktop supercomputers feels more like aspirational branding than a reflection of what they truly deliver.

Via TechPowerUp

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Dell Technologies World 2025.

We're on the ground in Las Vegas for this year's event, and are all set for an event which will be sure to be packed full of news and announcements.

The event starts tomorrow with a star-studded keynote from company founder and CEO Michael Dell, so check back then for all the updates as they happen.

Good morning from sunny Las Vegas!

TechRadar Pro is here and all set for Dell Technologies World 2025, which is set to kick off tomorrow, so check back then!

• Transparent Micro LED screen displays different content on either side simultaneously
• Ultra-thin 17.3-inch design blends futuristic aesthetics with real-world functionality
• Maker AUO hints at aviation, retail, and interior uses for dual display

Transparent screens on devices like smartphones and tablets have long been a staple of sci-fi films and TV shows because they look good, even if they aren’t always practical. Now, though, they’re starting to become a reality.

Taiwanese display manufacturer AUO (AU Optronics Corporation), which was formed in 2001 through the merger of Acer Display Technology and Unipac Optoelectronics Corporation, has demonstrated a dual-sided transparent Micro LED display at Touch Taiwan 2025.

This first of its kind display is a thin 17.3-inch screen that offers a transparent experience on both sides, and can present different content depending on the viewing angle.

For use on planes and in homes and stores

The screen can show separate images or data on each side, and AUO suggests one possible use case would be in first-class airline cabins, where passengers and flight attendants can each see their own interfaces.

AUO’s demo included a translation interface, presenting seamless multilingual communication through the display itself. Commercial scenarios such as store windows, museum exhibits, and digital signage are also seen as natural fits for the technology.

The ultra-thin design, combined with transparent Micro LED technology, represents a shift from traditional display use toward something closer to ambient computing.

Unlike single-sided transparent OLEDs, which often struggle with brightness and image clarity in direct light, AUO’s Micro LED tech offers higher brightness and color performance - potentially overcoming many of those limitations.

AUO has not revealed when it expects the display to go into production, nor has it given any hint at pricing, although it’s fair to say the screens won’t be cheap.

A video posted on YouTube shows the screen in use at the 50-second mark.

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Even though reviews of Bad Thoughts haven't ranked highly enough to earn it a place on our best Netflix shows roundup, the streamer's new anthology series does come highly recommended from me.

I'm a huge fan of darkly funny stories and anthologies, and I do place Black Mirror season 7 into that category, even if many of the tales in Charlie Brooker's series are downright bleak with no comedic relief.

In Bad Thoughts, however, the disturbing nature of the stories is offset by some gross-out, cringe comedy and usually I'm not a huge fan of that, but it really worked for me here.

Check out the trailer for the six-part series, now playing on one of the best streaming services.

Why I love Netflix's Bad Thoughts

(Image credit: Netflix)

The series is Tom Segura’s first go at sketch comedy. It sees him play various different roles including an incompetent assassin, a country singer who kidnaps his fans, and a difficult customer at a coffee shop. You never quite know what you're going to get as you jump between episodes, and it's guaranteed to shock you.

And seriously it's very shocking. The first episode alone made me think "oh, this is how dark we're getting, okay!", and even though you can kind of predict what's coming, it still fills you with this nervous sense of dread. You'll also laugh too, which is a strange sensation indeed.

There's some really great guest stars in this series too including Jurassic Park’s Daniella Pineda, The Sopranos’ Robert Iler and Boardwalk Empire’s Shea Whigham, accompanying Segura on this totally wild adventure.

The show is rated R for "crude humor" and "injury detail" and seriously, you will cringe in places. This is definitely an adults-only show and covers some topics that are not family friendly at all, so be warned! I wouldn't be surprised if you watch some of this behind your eyes, quite honestly.

Segura has got the balance between humour and horrifying stuff right here, in my opinion. He plays on stereotypes, parodies things like action flicks, disaster movies, and A24 movies, and isn't afraid to just go there.

The same as any anthology series, some episodes are stronger than others and people will have their own thoughts about each one, whether that's positive or not.

Bad Thoughts has a 55% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating, not high enough to be considered 'Fresh' by the review aggregrate site's standards, so it's become this weekend's 'Marmite' watch. It's going to delight some people and completely disgust others, and perhaps that's enough to convince you to give it a go!

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• Titanium is tipped for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and tri-fold
• The foldable phones may launch at the same time
• It should mean lighter and more durable foldables

We might see both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a new Samsung tri-fold phone this coming July, and the latest rumors from the supply chain are that both foldables might come with a titanium backplate that connects the hinge and display panels.

This comes from The Elec (via SamMobile), and should mean both a lighter and a tougher phone overall. While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (launched in July 2024) uses a carbon fiber backplate, titanium was used in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition (launched in October 2024).

There's definitely been a trend towards more titanium in smartphones in recent years, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – although that phone uses titanium in its frame rather than its backplate, as it doesn't have a hinge.

The material brings with it a number of appealing properties, including lightness and durability, but it is harder and more expensive to make than the alternatives. That might be reflected in the prices of Samsung's upcoming foldables.

Thinner and thinner

Titanium was previously used in the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition (Image credit: Samsung)

Another tidbit from the report from The Elec is that Samsung might do away with the digitizer part of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 display that would enable it to support S Pen inputs – and which would enable the handset to be thinner than ever.

Thin phones are having a moment, with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge now unveiled, the iPhone 17 Air on the way from Apple later this year, and the Oppo Find N5 recently claiming the honor of being the thinnest foldable phone in the market. It sounds as though this is a trend that Samsung's next foldables will follow.

There have been lots of leaks and rumors along the way already with these phones. The tri-fold (which may be called the Galaxy G Fold) is expected to share the same hinges and speakers as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, for example.

The two phones could also be announced at the same time, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 – which will most probably be at some point during July, although the tri-fold model might not go on sale at the same time as the other two foldables.

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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 18 (game #1210).

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 #1211) - hint #1 - Vowels How 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 #1211) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1211) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1211 - 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 #1211) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• H

• D

• W

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

Quordle today (game #1211) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1211, are…

• CLINK
• HANDY
• DITCH
• WAIVE

Sometimes Quordle feels as if you are performing a magic trick when the first word that pops into your head ends up being correct.

Of course, the reality is often that there is only one possible answer – as was the case for me today with CLINK – and the only magic taking place is that I have remembered it.

WAIVE was the only word I hesitated over, but I’ll put that down to my blindness around the letter V.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1211) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1211, are…

• STALE
• PALER
• SIGMA
• ANNEX

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE

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 18 (game #707).

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 #708) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MELON
• BALL
• CHANCE
• BAWL
• SOUL
• BLUBBER
• FUNCTION
• FLUKE
• UTILITY
• TOW
• AVENUE
• BENEFIT
• FLIPPER
• RAILROAD
• GALA
• HEAL

NYT Connections today (game #708) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Big bash
• GREEN: Do not pass Go 
• BLUE: Parts of a marine mammal 
• PURPLE: Sound like body parts

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 #708) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FUNDRAISING EVENT 
• GREEN: SPACES ON A MONOPOLY BOARD 
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A TOOTHED WHALE 
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE FOOT 

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

NYT Connections today (game #708) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #708, are…

• YELLOW: FUNDRAISING EVENT BALL, BENEFIT, FUNCTION, GALA
• GREEN: SPACES ON A MONOPOLY BOARD AVENUE, CHANCE, RAILROAD, UTILITY
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A TOOTHED WHALE BLUBBER, FLIPPER, FLUKE, MELON
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE FOOT BAWL, HEAL, SOUL, TOW

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

After getting FUNDRAISING EVENT quite quickly I struggled to move forward and started shuffling the 12 remaining words. First, I thought that there was a group where luck was the connection – but I couldn’t get beyond FLUKE and CHANCE.

Then I guessed that BLUBBER and FLIPPER must be part of a group to do with marine biology. Out of sheer luck I added FLUKE and BAWL and got “one away”, so swapped the latter for MELON – which I now know is the name given for the tissue found in the foreheads of toothed whales. Every day’s a school day.

I am of course kicking myself with my heel, sole and toes that I didn’t get the relatively straightforward HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE FOOT.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 18, game #707)

• YELLOW: TASKS FOR A STUDENT ASSIGNMENT, DRILL, EXERCISE, LESSON
• GREEN: ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE, WARM
• BLUE: UP FOR ANYTHING EASY, FLEXIBLE, GAME, OPEN
• PURPLE: WHAT "A" MIGHT MEAN AREA, ATHLETIC, EXCELLENT, ONE

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 18 (game #441).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Taking the bait

NYT Strands today (game #442) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TURN
• SOFA
• TOUR
• PEST
• NIGHTS
• SMOKE

NYT Strands today (game #442) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 15 letters

NYT Strands today (game #442) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 5th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #442) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #442, are…

• MACKEREL
• TROUT
• SALMON
• SNAPPER
• HALIBUT
• SPANGRAM: SOMETHINGS FISHY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

About a quarter way through today’s search I thought to myself “there’s no way Strands would have a spangram as long as SOMETHINGS FISHY is there?”

But, oh how wrong I was and there it is taking up a third of the grid when we could be fishing for fishy words.

I also find it hard to look at without the apostrophe – as in 'something’s fishy' – even though that would not work in a word search, but maybe I’m alone with that.

MACKEREL was the easiest word to find thanks to the CK in its name, while SNAPPER proved the hardest to tap out as there were several variants to the order of the letters.

Other than that, today’s search was about as easy as shooting fish in a bucket, but in fairness it was limited to a tasty and fancy selection – none of these fine sources of omega 3 are likely to find themselves as an ingredient in a stick or a burger.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 18, game #441)

• HELM
• MAST
• RIGGING
• KEEL
• TILLER
• HULL
• RUDDER
• STERN
• SPANGRAM: SAILBOAT

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.

Get ready, folks: Nvidia's ever-charismatic CEO Jensen Huang is soon to return to the stage (and screen, if you're not lucky enough to be in Taiwan this week), no doubt preparing to don his trademark leather jacket to deliver Team Green's Computex keynote address.

What can we expect? Well, AI is likely to be at the forefront of this year's presentation - just like last year - with a high probability that the focus will be on the professional use cases of AI, as well as a bit of gaming scattered in there too (after all, Nvidia doesn't want us to forget its roots).

When is the Nvidia Computex 2024 keynote?

The Nvidia Computex keynote starts at 11AM Taipei time on May 19, which is 8PM PT/11PM EDT on May 18 for the US, and 4AM BST, on May 19 in the UK (sorry, Brits). The event will take place at the Taipei Music Center in Taiwan.

Last year's Nvidia keynote was a pre-Computex presentation delivered on the Sunday evening in local time, which made the viewing hours a lot more lenient for viewers in the UK and the eastern US - not so this time around, though.

How to watch the Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote

You'll be able to watch the Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote directly on Nvidia's website, as well as on the Nvidia YouTube page. We've also embedded the live stream below to make it easier to follow along with the keynote as it happens.

If you're not able to tune in directly, you can also follow our live blog of the event, which will start shortly before the keynote begins and include all of the juicy details from Jensen's presentation - so be sure to check back in with TechRadar to make sure you don't miss a thing.

Nvidia Computex 2025 keynote: what to expect

Much like last year, AI is expected to be the watchword of this keynote, with Nvidia once again making big strides in the commercial and consumer AI spaces since Computex 2024.

This will probably be mostly focused on professional use cases for artificial intelligence; we can expect to hear about some big, sweeping initiatives where AI is helping to run public transport systems, predict the weather, and fix global warming. No doubt there will also be some more focused examples; how AI can benefit professionals in scientific and creative industries, for example.

RTX 5000 is also likely to make an appearance, with the long-awaited RTX 5060 officially dropping on May 19, so there will no doubt be a section of the presentation dedicated to gaming.

• SZBOX M1 MINI Plus is part NAS, part soft router, part media center, possibly doing too much at once
• With 4 removable NVMes and 32TB storage, this tiny box punches far above its size
• Four 2.5GbE ports sound great, but can a $249 NAS deliver enterprise-level speed?

In the expanding market of compact network-attached storage (NAS) devices, the SZBOX M1 MINI Plus has emerged with an unusual combination of features that blur the line between a storage solution and a desktop PC.

The SZBOX M1 MINI Plus is available in two configurations: one powered by the energy-efficient Intel N100, and the other by the more powerful Intel Core i3-N305, which features an octa-core design and turbo speeds of up to 3.8 GHz.

This external unit supports up to four removable NVMe drives via front-facing PCIe 3.0 bays, offering up to 20TB of external storage, plus an additional internal NVMe slot. The i3 model allows users to scale storage further, up to 32TB using SSDs.

DisplayPort on a NAS: added value or overreach?

Equipped with four 2.5GbE LAN ports, the device signals a nod to enterprise-grade networking. This setup supports soft router functionality through Linux distributions like OpenWRT or iKuai, indicating SZBOX is targeting a technically savvy user base.

It also includes USB 3.0 and 3.2 ports for external drives and peripherals, an SD card slot, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.

Still, this level of network hardware is typically found in larger, more expensive systems. Whether the M1 MINI Plus can deliver performance on par with those systems, or simply overpromises, remains to be seen.

Its media-handling ambitions also warrant attention. On the rear panel are HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, both capable of 4K at 60 fps with HDR support.

This setup would make sense for a compact media center or light desktop PC. However, in the context of a NAS device, the inclusion of a DisplayPort feels somewhat out of place.

One might ask: Who’s actually plugging a NAS directly into a monitor, and for what purpose?

But SZBOX seems to enjoy unconventional combinations; its SZBOX S9, for instance, similarly blurs the line between tablet and mini PC.

On the software front, the SZBOX M1 MINI Plus ships with Windows 11, unless purchased as a barebones unit. Linux distributions are also supported, expanding its versatility.

As a result, the M1 MINI Plus can function as more than just a NAS, it could also serve as a basic workstation or multimedia hub, running Kodi, IPTV, or even retro gaming emulators.

That said, this hybrid identity might confuse more than it clarifies, raising questions about what the device is truly optimized for.

The SZBOX M1 MINI Plus is currently available for purchase on AliExpress for $249.

Via Androidpctv

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• Google will launch Wear OS 6 this year
• It'll update the OS' visuals, bring Gemini to non-Google hardware, and more
• The update was revealed this week at Android Show

As we covered earlier this week, Google held its Android Show as a precursor to the main event of Google I/O next week, and it's clear the tech giant has big plans for Wear OS 6.

While we're expecting the company to add more meat on the bones of what it showed this week with its flagship event in the coming days, there are already plenty of reasons to be excited.

From the rollout of Gemini features to the best Samsung watches and beyond to a huge visual update, here's everything we know about that's coming to the platform soon.

1. Gemini on non-Google devices

(Image credit: Shutterstock/mundissima)

Gemini will roll out to Google's devices, but also to devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

From retaining small pieces of information like which locker you're using at the gym, to creating a bespoke playlist with a quick request or tapping into personal context, Gemini on your wrist could be super helpful in a bunch of small ways.

Better still, it'll run on your current device as long as your wearable supports Google Assistant, which means you won't need to splurge on a new model unless you really want to.

2. A visual revamp

(Image credit: Google)

Android 16's new 'Material 3 Expressive' look is expected to modernize Google's OS on phones, and that's extending to Wear OS, too.

Users can expect a change to more rounded UI elements, reducing the boxiness of the interface and updating animations to make better use of the space available.

Examples such as the above have shown the UI shrinking as it leaves the view of the user, focusing more closely on what's in the center of the screen.

3. Information at a glance

(Image credit: Google)

That updated UI ties into a new set of buttons that can display key information.

These are intended to be glanceable, so they'll grow to fill the available space on display to allow users to read things like calendar appointments and messages more clearly in a split second.

With all these changes, it certainly feels like Google is honing in on its circular display, and it's definitely something that helps it offer something a little different to the squircle offered by the best Apple watches.

4. Better battery life

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

One of our biggest concerns with all these slick new animations and AI features was having Wear OS 6 eat into the battery life of our devices, particularly since we're not necessarily having to buy a new one.

Thankfully, it sounds as though Google heard our prayers.

"With Wear OS 6, we’re continuing to improve performance and optimize power — in fact, this update delivers up to 10% more battery life," it said.

It might sound like a small margin, but in practice, that's an extra 2.4 hours of wear for a device like the Google Pixel Watch 3, which has a 24-hour battery life.

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• Silicon-batteries are arriving from TDK this year
• Apple is one of TDK's biggest customers
• The improved batteries could power the iPhone 17 Air

We're expecting the iPhone 17 Air to replace the iPhone 16 Plus this year, and it's expected to be super-slim – which has raised some questions about battery life. Now a new leak suggests those questions could be answered using next-gen silicon battery technology.

According to a report from Bloomberg, battery maker TDK is ahead of schedule with a significant upgrade, where silicon is used for the battery anode rather than the conventional graphite. This means 15% more energy can be packed into the same space.

Shipping for these batteries will begin by the end of June, which may just give Apple enough time to incorporate the batteries into its iPhone 17 series – including the iPhone 17 Air, which will have less space for a battery than the other models in the range.

Now we're being pretty speculative about joining up these particular dots, but we know that TDK supplies both Apple and Samsung. Samsung has of course just unveiled its own ultra-slim handset in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

Battery capacity and battery life

The Galaxy S25 Edge from Samsung (Image credit: Future)

If the most recent leak is accurate, then the iPhone 17 Air is going to come with a battery capacity of 2,800 mAh. That's some way short of the 3,651 mAh battery you'll find in the current iPhone 16 model, for example.

And previous rumors about the iPhone 17 Air battery life have contradicted each other. One recent report suggested that all-day battery life isn't guaranteed for the new phone, and that Apple might offer a battery case accessory for it.

However, back in March, a well-placed source said that battery life would be comparable to current iPhone 16 models. Bear in mind that the device will still be in testing at this point, which may explain the conflicting accounts.

We have previously heard that the iPhone 17 Air might use next-gen battery tech of some description, and that the upcoming iOS 19 is also going to deliver an AI-powered battery optimization tool that should boost battery life further.

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Slasher fans rejoice! The next installment in the Scream franchise recently wrapped filming and is slated to hit theaters worldwide February 2026.

This sequel follows the series timeline, albeit in a slightly-tweaked fashion. Scream (2022) and Scream 6 directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepped down and were temporarily replaced by Happy Death Day helmer Christopher Landon. He then exited the project along with Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, making way for original screenwriter Kevin Williamson to take residence in the director's chair.

While the path from Scream 6 to 7 has been tumultuous to say the least, some steadiness is ensured: franchise stalwarts Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox return as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers respectively and a swathe of recognisable cast members poised to reprise their roles.

With this fresh stab, ahem, heading to theaters in ten months, that gives us plenty of time to embark on speculation galore amid our own desires for the new movie and the future of the series. Here's what I want to see:

1. Innovative ways to bring back the returning cast

(Image credit: Dimension Films / IMDb )

In an ideal world, Scream 7 would see us finally deliver a New Nightmare-inspired take on the franchise. After initial set photos hit the web from Scream 5, I was convinced that's what was in store for us back in 2022. (The jock wearing the letterman jacket on the porch at Stu's house? Could have been a screenshot from the 1996 original!)

Alas, from what we've seen of Scream 7 this isn't the case.

So now we know they're probably not playing versions of themselves in "the real world", how does Williamson plan to bring back characters who are very much dead? David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley are confirmed but Dewey, Stu, and Roman all died on screen.

Roman engineered a voice changer that allowed him to sound like any person, living or dead, so there's the chance they could all have voice cameos. I wouldn't be opposed to that brand of twist.

(Image credit: Miramax)

With the Scream series' continued push into tech, it makes sense that we might even see AI versions of past characters. The idea of AI deepfakes hitting the web to imply that Stu didn't die or something, to toy with Sidney's sanity, makes sense.

Matthew Lillard's elation at being able to return was captured at a recent con event, where he confirmed he's back and jokingly referenced coming back as 'a fairy godmother'. He went on to discuss working on set with both Williamson and Campbell– which would suggest he does have scenes with Sidney.

Likewise, Foley appeared on Kelly and Mark Live and confirmed he IS playing Roman.

So this suggests that they are playing their original characters (no sneaky little cameos in the background like Lillard did in Scream 2?) . I wasn't the biggest fan of the spectre of Billy Loomis appearing to his daughter – for many reasons – so I'd rather not have a de-aged Skeet Ulrich situation again.

What if instead, the ghosts of Sidney's past are literally haunting her? Speaking of…

2. Let's get supernatural

(Image credit: Miramax)

Alright, hear me out. Am I the only person who liked Sid's mom returning from the grave in Scream 3? I get it; it was Sid's mind playing tricks on her combined with her brother's shenanigans. So, not exactly a return from the grave. But still, it hinted at the idea of an otherworldly element.

We're entering the late-stages of a slasher franchise– if there's ever a time to push the boat out, it's now. Jason literally pushed the boat out when he went to Manhattan. Freddy's backstory grew out of control in the latter portions by incorporating dream demons into his whole schtick. Michael Myers turned out to be… well there was a cult and a summoning ritual involved.

I can see why fans would loathe this approach– it's jumping the shark, it's doing something none of the other movies have done. But at this point? Why not expand Scream into the last frontier it’s yet to explore? We've repeated the same formula over and over for the previous five sequels. If handled right, the idea of a whole slew of Ghostfaces from the past coming to haunt Sidney could really be quite terrifying. Which segues nicely into my next point!

3. More scary set pieces!

(Image credit: Miramax)

Arguably one thing all Scream fans can agree on – because ranking the Scream movies is not one of them – is that the earlier entries knew how to execute truly scary setpieces. Naturally, the opening of the 1996 original is the top shelf example, followed by Cici's death and Gale in the AV room, both superior moments from Scream 2.

The most recent sequels failed to really crank up the tension, and explored the action and gore over genuine fear-building. Granted, I do like some gore – Scream 4 wins the award for nastiest entry – but not at the expense of a damn good nerve-jangling. I want that hold-your-breath, peek-behind-your-hand sort of feeling. Some of these aspects were hinted at, certainly, but never explored in depth.

4. Less of the self-congratulatory barbs, back to incisive genre commentary

(Image credit: Miramax)

To put it plainly – the Scream sequels have a woody for Woodsboro.

Whereas the first film and its immediate successor dealt with eviscerating both innocent teens *and* genre tropes, the subsequent films have careened into the quagmire of their own making. It's the sort of metatextuality that lacks depth and staying power. Scream thrives when it skewers the horror genre and modern cultural mores as a whole; not simply the Scream in-universe of Woodsboro and Stab.

But here's the rub: how do we do that when the horror genre barely has time to evolve between sequels? Well, here's what I'm hoping is in store for Scream 7. What if Williamson and writer Guy Busick dive into the late-stage franchise slashers for inspiration. Yes, sure, Scream 6 kinda did that, with Mindy's "rules speech", but it was the weakest part of the film and not particularly memorable. Let's explore those wacky Chucky, Freddy, Michael and Jason sequels and rip 'em apart. (And yes, this would tie in nicely to my earlier idea to bring in supernatural elements!)

5. Give Sidney a happy ending

While the open back door of Scream 3's closing shots hinted at a perfect ending for Sidney– she's been yanked out of peace and back into the mayhem only a Ghostface can bring over and over again. How can we tell a new story?

From the looks of leaked set footage, this sequel takes place in an entirely new location– the fictional Pine Grove, Indiana. Sidney is married (not to Mark Kincaid, alas) to Joel McHale's character, Mark. We know there's a time jump; Sidney's daughter is at an age where she's played by a 24 year-old, so that suggests she's portraying a teen. This whole setup would hint that Sid's had a while out of the spotlight. Presumably we've had no more killings between 6 and this one.

Scream 5 alluded to the torch being passed in quite a comical moment and it sort of happened? But with Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega unfortunately both leaving the franchise, that shot that idea in the foot. This new cast is absolutely stacked – so why not have someone new anchor the series?

I want Sidney to have a happy ending that doesn't involve an armoured fortress a la Laurie Strode in Halloween 2018 or a life on the run like The Terminator's Sarah Connor. She deserves a truly peaceful life, yes, but that doesn't mean it can't be interesting or therapeutic for her.

She's provided counselling services for women experiencing trauma (Scream 3), she wrote a book about her own wranglings (Scream 4), and she flat-out left town (Scream 5 and 6). What if she sticks around and makes peace in a new way?

We'll find out when Scream 7 opens in theaters on February 27, 2026. In the meantime, you can stream the Scream movies on Max in the US, Paramount+ in the UK and Netflix in Australia.

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The world's biggest computing tech show, Computex 2025, is back - and once again we'll be on the ground in Taipei, Taiwan to bring you all the latest news, reviews and opinions on all the coolest gadgets, laptops, components, and more.

Some of the biggest names in computing, including Nvidia, AMD and Qualcomm, will be holding keynote presentations - and in this live blog we'll be reporting direct from the event, so you'll get the very latest updates on what the future holds for laptops, PCs, networking and much more.

A key theme of this year's Computex event is Artificial Intelligence (AI), so we expect a lot of companies will take the opportunity to show how putting AI in their products will help improve our lives. Will it finally convince consumers that AI laptops are worth buying? Hopefully, we'll find out this week.

So, keep this page bookmarked to find out all the latest consumer and B2B news and launches from Computex 2025.

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Matt Hanson reporting in! I've arrived in Taipei and ready to see what Computex 2025 has in store.

(Image credit: Computex / Future)

If you're wondering what I'm looking forward to seeing at Computex 2025, then check out my article on what I expect to see. Spoiler alert: I think there's going to be A LOT of AI.

(Image credit: Future)

First stop is visiting Acer's pre-Computex preview. The company announced all of its new devices a few days ago, and now I get a chance to see them in the flesh.

(Image credit: Future)

I'm currently taking a look at the Acer Swift X 14 - a great looking thin and light laptop with an OLED screen that looks fantastic in real life. It comes with the latest Intel Core Ultra chips (up to an Ultra 9), and can even fit in an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU.

That's pretty impressive for such a thin laptop - I can easily hold it in one hand. This isn't a gaming laptop, however, and is more aimed at content creators and digital creatives.

(Image credit: Future)

Always good to see a laptop for creatives that comes with a microSD slot.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also the Acer Swift X 14 AI. As far as I can tell, it's pretty much identical to the Swift X 14, but with AMD processors instead - up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365.

(Image credit: Future)

Here's the Swift Go 16 AI. Has a 2K OLED display and an Intel Core Ultra CPU capable of 120 TOPS (essentially how good the NPU is at AI tasks). Most Copilot+ PCs at the moment offer around 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second), so this should be quite a bit faster at on-device AI tasks.

Will anyone care though?

(Image credit: Future)

One thing I really like about this laptop is that the touchpad features quick-access icons to launch apps, mute the volume and more. It's a nice touch.

Touch... get it?

(Image credit: Future)

This is the Swift Edge 14 AI. It's main selling point (apart from the AI features, again this comes with an Intel CPU capable of 120 TOPS), is it's ultra-light weight.

It's less than 1KG and feels really light. You'd hardly notice carrying it around with you. This comes at a slight cost, as it feels a bit cheaper than some of the other laptops here. But, as with the LG gram lineup of laptops, the fact you get a powerful laptop that feels so light is really impressive. Definitely one to look out for.

Right, going to move on from the Swift laptops for a while and take a look at Acer's Predator lineup of gaming laptops.

Look at these beauties. We have the Nitro 18 AI (notice a trend?), which comes with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070Ti GPU, and 2560 x 1600 18-inch screen.

(Image credit: Future)

I played a bit of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on it, as you'd expect with an RTX 5070Ti GPU, it runs brilliantly at 1440p.

(Image credit: Future)

We also have the Nitro 16S AI (above) and the Nitro 16 AI (below). I wonder what the S stands for...

(Image credit: Future)

All of these laptops come with liquid metal thermal grease to keep them cool when gaming. It's a noisy environment here so can't really tell if they are loud. There doesn't seem to be any noticable fan noise.

OK, so figured out the 'S' means 'slim'. The Nitro 16S AI is less than 19.9mm thick. However, I don't see too much difference between that and the standard Nitro 16 AI (on the left).

(Image credit: Future)

It might be quite hard to see but I placed the Nitro 16 AI on top of the 'S' version and you can see there is a slight difference in thickness. Not enough to justify a much higher price, though.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

Next up is the Nitro V 16S AI. This is a more affordable version of the 16S. It has the same 'slim' design, and is a bit lighter than the 16S. However, the GPU choice tops out at an RTX 5070 - still a very good laptop GPU, but not as powerful as the RTX 5070 Ti that the 16S can come with.

• Liquid cooling isn't optional anymore, it's the only way to survive AI's thermal onslaught
• The jump to 400VDC borrows heavily from electric vehicle supply chains and design logic
• Google’s TPU supercomputers now run at gigawatt scale with 99.999% uptime

As demand for artificial intelligence workloads intensifies, the physical infrastructure of data centers is undergoing rapid and radical transformation.

The likes of Google, Microsoft, and Meta are now drawing on technologies initially developed for electric vehicles (EVs), particularly 400VDC systems, to address the dual challenges of high-density power delivery and thermal management.

The emerging vision is of data center racks capable of delivering up to 1 megawatt of power, paired with liquid cooling systems engineered to manage the resulting heat.

Borrowing EV technology for data center evolution

The shift to 400VDC power distribution marks a decisive break from legacy systems. Google previously championed the industry's move from 12VDC to 48VDC, but the current transition to +/-400VDC is being enabled by EV supply chains and propelled by necessity.

The Mt. Diablo initiative, supported by Meta, Microsoft, and the Open Compute Project (OCP), aims to standardize interfaces at this voltage level.

Google says this architecture is a pragmatic move that frees up valuable rack space for compute resources by decoupling power delivery from IT racks via AC-to-DC sidecar units. It also improves efficiency by approximately 3%.

Cooling, however, has become an equally pressing issue. With next-generation chips consuming upwards of 1,000 watts each, traditional air cooling is rapidly becoming obsolete.

Liquid cooling has emerged as the only scalable solution for managing heat in high-density compute environments.

Google has embraced this approach with full-scale deployments; its liquid-cooled TPU pods now operate at gigawatt scale and have delivered 99.999% uptime over the past seven years.

These systems have replaced large heatsinks with compact cold plates, effectively halving the physical footprint of server hardware and quadrupling compute density compared to previous generations.

Yet, despite these technical achievements, skepticism is warranted. The push toward 1MW racks is based on the assumption of continuously rising demand, a trend that may not materialize as expected.

While Google's roadmap highlights AI's growing power needs - projecting more than 500 kW per rack by 2030 - it remains uncertain whether these projections will hold across the broader market.

It’s also worth noting that the integration of EV-related technologies into data centers brings not only efficiency gains but also new complexities, particularly concerning safety and serviceability at high voltages.

Nonetheless, the collaboration between hyperscalers and the open hardware community signals a shared recognition that existing paradigms are no longer sufficient.

Via Storagereview

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• Built-in Google TV turns this monitor into a streaming hub without needing a separate device
• HDR10 sounds nice, but 300 nits brightness limits any real visual punch
• Great resolution, but the 60Hz refresh rate won’t impress serious gamers or creatives

Most portable monitors focus solely on display quality, but the Kinhank K18 Pro takes a different approach by integrating Google TV 12, and transforming it into a standalone entertainment hub with access to Netflix, YouTube, and other apps, without the need for a separate device.

The Kinhank K18 Pro is DRM-certified, meaning it supports high-quality playback from paid streaming services. It also includes a Bluetooth remote and a microphone to enable voice control.

However, the product listing lacks information about the processor, RAM, and storage, suggesting that it may simply function as an output device for a connected computer rather than a fully independent smart display.

Display falls short in some aspects

This device features an 18.4-inch 4K UHD display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which may not satisfy users seeking smoother motion, especially in gaming scenarios.

The monitor uses an IPS panel with 8-bit + FRC technology, simulating 10.7 billion colors. It covers 85% of the NTSC color gamut and claims 120% sRGB coverage, adequate for everyday tasks but insufficient for professional color-critical work that demands AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 accuracy.

The screen has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 300 cd/m², which limits the effectiveness of its HDR10 support, particularly in brightly lit environments.

In terms of connectivity, the monitor includes two USB Type-C ports, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and both HDMI input and output, making it suitable for devices like the Mac mini.

Additionally, the monitor features a swivel bracket that allows tilt adjustments up to 165 degrees, along with integrated stereo speakers. However, it lacks both a built-in battery and touchscreen functionality, requiring constant power and offering no touch input.

It is also bulkier and heavier than most portable monitors, weighing 5.5 pounds and measuring 2 x 18 x 16 inches.

On Amazon, the K18 Pro has received a single customer rating of just 1.0 out of 5, which raises concerns about potential issues with build quality and software stability, so buyer beware.

For budget-conscious buyers, the Kinhank K18G Pro offers entry-level display capabilities, retailing for $329.03 on AliExpress and $429.99 on Amazon.

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