TechRadar News

• These five Apple products have gone years without updates
• They include the Vision Pro, Studio Display, Mac Pro, and more
• Here's what the latest rumors are saying about the futures for each

Apple has a huge range of upcoming products in the pipeline and we'll see many of them at its big September 9 event, including new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. But there are also many existing products that feel like they're stuck in limbo, sometimes going years without updates or attention.

What are these devices, and what is Apple going to do about them? If you've been patiently waiting for some new AirPods Max or a fresh Studio Display, we've rounded up the latest speculation on those increasingly dusty models (and three other notable examples) below.

While this is still just speculation – and there's always the potential for an Apple surprise – it should help give you a steer on whether to keep waiting for these seemingly forgotten products...

1. AirPods Max

(Image credit: TechRadar)

As noted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and his recent Power On newsletter, the AirPods Max headphones haven’t had a significant update in close to five years.

Sure, Apple gave them a USB-C port in September 2024, but that was pretty much the only change of note (aside from lossless wired audio support). Other than that, they remain as they were when they launched in 2020.

Unfortunately, Gurman doesn’t believe the AirPods Max will be upgraded any time soon. In his newsletter, he states that despite being visibly popular, the headphones are "in an odd spot commercially" where they're too popular to discontinue, but apparently not popular enough to update significantly.

As we've argued, that seems strange when an H2 chip (to put them on par with the AirPods Pro 2) could largely suffice alongside some other minor upgrades. But it seems that AirPods Max owners will have to continue waiting for an update, or switch to some of the other best over-ear headphones instead.

• Verdict: Strangely, an update still looks unlikely in the near future

2. Apple Vision Pro

(Image credit: Future)

Apple’s Vision Pro headset arrived with a huge amount of fanfare in 2023, but it’s safe to say that it’s never lived up to the hype.

A lack of compelling apps, an uncomfortably heavy weight, and an astronomical price tag have all slowed sales and made potential customers think twice before pulling the trigger. As Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman recently said in his latest Power On newsletter, the Vision Pro risks becoming “a waste of a decade and billions of dollars for Apple.”

There are rumors that Apple is working on an updated version with a new chip, with a lighter, cheaper model following after that. Unfortunately, there are no rumored dates for either model, so an imminent update looks highly unlikely. It sounds like Apple's 'spatial computing' concept still needs a lot more time in the oven.

• Verdict: Apple is working on Vision Pro successors, but don't expect them until 2026 at the earliest

3. iMac Pro

(Image credit: Future)

The iMac Pro launched in 2017 but was officially discontinued four short years later in 2021. Yet almost since the day Apple stopped selling it, there have been rumors that it’s destined for a comeback.

So far, though, those whispers haven’t led anywhere, with the last significant rumors coming from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo just before Apple launched the Mac Studio back in 2022.

Since then, speculation has cooled, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writing in his Power On newsletter in 2023 that the iMac Pro “has been on and off Apple’s road map”.

Despite this, rumors have continued that Apple could be working on an iMac with a larger display of 27in, 30in or even 32 inches. But with Apple continuing to push the combination of a Mac mini or Mac Studio with a large external display, this still looks unlikely in the near future.

• Verdict: Right now, it looks like the iMac Pro will remain in Apple's graveyard

4. Mac Pro

(Image credit: Future)

The Mac Pro is easily Apple’s most expensive computer, yet despite that – or because of it – it’s not particularly compelling right now.

That’s because its M2 Ultra chip is outperformed by several of Apple’s other chips, and it missed out on both the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, which are more recent than anything the Mac Pro offers.

There are claims that Apple is working on an M4 Ultra version of the Mac Pro, and it can’t come soon enough. When you pay upwards of $6,999 / £7,199 / AU$11,999 for a computer like this, you shouldn’t be getting outdated hardware. Fortunately, it looks like that won't be the case for much longer.

• Verdict: An M4 Ultra version of the Mac Pro is looking increasingly likely for the end of 2025

5. Studio Display

(Image credit: Future)

Apple’s Studio Display was designed to be a monitor for creatives who didn’t want to splash out on the $4,999 Pro Display XDR, and for a while it did a great job.

However, it hasn’t been touched since March 2022, and that’s a long time in the technology world. It means the screen is really starting to show its age among a plethora of alternative options.

Fortunately, recent speculation from MacRumors suggests that Apple is working on a Studio Display 2, and that it could come with a mini-LED backlight. That should mean deeper blacks and lots of local dimming zones for high contrast and brightness.

If you're looking to upgrade soon, though, the bad news is that this new monitor isn't likely to arrive until early 2026.

• Verdict: A Studio Display 2 is still on the cards, but rumors suggest it won't launch until early 2026

You might also like

• Apple Vision Pro 2 tipped to fix two of its biggest flaws – here's why I might actually buy one
• Apple could be working on its fastest ever Mac if this Mac Pro with M4 Ultra rumor is true
• It's high time the Studio Display joined the mini-LED party, and rumors suggest Apple could use the tech in its next monitor for creative pros

• European banks freeze PayPal transactions after fraud system failure sparks disruption
• Merchants face delayed payments as billions in PayPal direct debits halted
• Suspicious surge forces lenders to suspend PayPal activity across Germany and Europe

European banks temporarily froze PayPal transactions worth billions after fraud system failure triggered widespread suspension of direct debits and delayed payments for online merchants and customers.

A number of German lenders, including Bayerische Landesbank, Hessische Landesbank and DZ-Bank, reportedly halted direct debits linked to the online payment platform after detecting suspicious activity.

German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung said the total amount involved could exceed €10 billion.

"Temporary service interruption"

The issue appears to have started late last week when PayPal submitted a wave of direct debits to banks without filtering them through its fraud checks.

That led to an unusual surge in transactions that looked suspicious or potentially fraudulent.

The banks’ own systems flagged the irregularities and many decided to freeze all PayPal activity for a period.

A spokesperson for PayPal confirmed the disruption, saying, “PayPal had a temporary service interruption that impacted certain transactions from our banking partners and possibly their customers. We quickly identified the cause and are working closely with our banking partners to ensure all accounts have been updated.”

On PayPal’s help page, a bright red banner currently says: “Over the weekend, we experienced a temporary service interruption that resulted in transactions being delayed for a small number of accounts. The issue has since been resolved.”

The German Banking Industry Committee noted that irregularities were observed on Monday and that individual institutions responded accordingly.

For merchants, the freeze meant payments did not arrive on time, even though customers still held onto their money. Insiders told SZ that reconciling the affected transactions could take days.

The scale of the disruption and the temporary freeze of payments underlines the risks of failures in systems that process such a large share of online commerce.

The new problem comes shortly after PayPal was linked to the appearance of millions of stolen account details on the dark web. That case was tied to past breaches rather than a fresh attack, but it still raises questions about the safety of online accounts.

(Image credit: PayPal)You might also like

• Take a look at our roundup of the best business VPNs available now
• Experts warn scammers are now loading your stolen details onto burner phones
• Massive data breach sees 16 million PayPal accounts leaked online

One of the hardest 'skills' in photography is often staying motivated to keep shooting. Once you've learnt the fundamentals, how do you keep that spark of beginner enthusiasm? It can be easy to fall into a rut and stop shooting completely. That's what happened to me, so a few months ago I took the nuclear option and gave my old Fujifilm X-T3 an infrared conversion.

There were definitely simpler, cheaper alternatives, but I justified the decision in a few ways. Firstly, my old X-T3 was gathering dust and I needed to either sell it or give it a new lease of life. Secondly, I have a bad habit of throwing money at creative blocks and couldn't justify buying any more lenses. But most importantly, I live in the UK and was summertime was on the horizon.

1/2000s at f/8, ISO 160. I soon learned that darker leading lines usually work best with infrared photography. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Photographers often recoil from the summer like vampires because of the harsh light and ludicrously early sunrises. But this is actually the season where infrared photography shines. Sunlight is bursting with 'near-infrared' light, whose wavelengths are invisible to the human eye. Yet with the right kit, you can capture this light – and see the world in new and strange ways.

It's still early days for my infrared adventure, but I'm very glad I took the plunge – and if you're similarly looking for a refreshing vacation into the surreal, then it could be for you too...

Instant snow mode

Infrared photography is, like astrophotography, a world unto itself. You could spend days learning the theory of 'false color', 'channel swapping' and 'hot spots' without even taking a photo. I wanted to keep things simple, so I took the easiest route.

There are broadly two kinds of infrared photography and two ways to get into it. The psychedelic kind, which was big on 1960s albums covers, is 'false color'. It's called 'false' because the human eye can't see infrared light, so color is added using editing techniques – and the results can be very strange indeed.

1/1000s at f/9, ISO 160. I've shot in London's Richmond Park many times, but it was refreshing to get infrared's almost graphical take on the cycling hotspot. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

For me, pink trees and blue grass is just too big a leap into the strange, so I leaned towards black-and-white infrared photography. This still has the surreal element of glowing leaves and dark skies, but without going full Salvador Dali. Plus, as someone who doesn't typically shoot in monochrome, it gave me a bonus challenge.

So how do you start an infrared adventure? The cheaper and arguably more sensible option is to use lens filters, which you can buy from the likes of Hoya and Urth. But the downside is that these drastically cut the amount of light coming into your lens, so you usually have to use a tripod and long exposures.

This didn't really work for me, because the big appeal of infrared was the simplicity – heading out at a reasonable hour on a sunny day and shooting black-and-white. So I took the other option of converting an old camera.

1/800s at f/8, ISO 160. Complex scenes don't always work well in infrared photography, but high-contrast light helps – and the XF70-300mm lens works well with IR cameras. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Being based in the UK, I found Protech Photographic, who converted my Fujifilm X-T3 for £300 (around $410 / AU$620).

The likes of Kolari offer a similar service in the US, though I can't vouch for the quality. The DIY route is also possible, but definitely not for the faint-hearted (or ham-fisted).

Image 1 of 5

1/640 at f/8, ISO 160. I'd like to return to Petworth Park in the UK as it's a bit of a goldmine for IR photography. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)What is infrared?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / petrroudny43)

Infrared has a longer wavelength than 'visible light', which is what the human eye can see. The world reflects infrared light differently, which is why trees glow and skies darken. Most IR-converted digital cameras capture 'near infrared' light, rather than the extreme end that's used by thermal cameras or night vision.

Before you get to go out and become obsessed with glowing trees, there is one final decision – what kind of IR conversion you want. These are categorized in wavelengths (measured in nanometers) and you'll need to choose the right one to match your preferred style of photography.

They start at 590nm and go up to 'full spectrum', but 720nm is often the most popular for black-and-white IR snapping because it strikes a good balance between letting through infrared light without going too extreme – so that's what I went for.

Beginner fun

So why bother with all of this? I've found infrared to be the spark I needed to get me shooting again and thinking about snapping in new ways. For me, it’s been like discovering a new guitar tuning – it doesn’t instantly make you ‘better’ in any way, but it does (quite literally) help you see something familiar in a new light.

Infrared naturally comes with its own pitfalls and learning curve. When I first looked through my viewfinder – using Fuji’s monochrome film simulation to preview the final image – everything looked incredible. It was like waking up to fresh snow, except snow rarely looks as good in photos as it does in real life.

1/800s at f/9, ISO 160. Having a darker anchor point definitely helps with infrared photos on bright days. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

I took reams of bad shots of glowing trees (an effect called ‘halation’) before I started to understand infrared’s strengths.

Good black-and-white photography comes from understanding luminosity and contrast, and infrared flips the world upside down. Bright skies turn black, and tree foliage glows. It takes a while to lock your eye in, but that’s part of the fun. It gives you a taste of that beginner joy again.

Once I'd got going, my other question was simply – what is the actual point of infrared photography? That's taken a bit longer to work out. There’s nothing wrong with taking surreal, pretty photos for the sake of it, but my best images came when I started to see scenes that worked with infrared's strengths – and that was helpful in a few particular cases.

Embrace the weirdness

I’d been looking to shoot a photogenic group of petrified oak trees in Essex, England which date back to around the year 900. The place definitely has an eerie atmosphere that apparently inspired the Martian landing scene in The War of the Worlds.

Shooting in early summer wasn't ideal, but this is where infrared can help – and it's also a good match for scenes that already have an otherworldly look. If your subject is dark and striking, then bright foliage can help support it and also bring out the 'personalities' of trees, if that doesn't sound too new age.

Image 1 of 7

1/500s at f/10, ISO 160. This is another scene I'd like to return to in different light, although the ancient trees are understandably protected now so a zoom lens like the XF70-300mm is a must. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 4 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 5 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 6 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 7 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Once I'd photographed almost every tree in south England, I found that infrared can also work in urban scenes too. Two places I wanted to try were London's Canary Wharf (a financial district that feels a bit like The Truman Show) and the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Because glass blocks most near-infrared light, any windows in your infrared scenes tend to go dark or black. That can be helpful if you're trying to capture intimidating skyscrapers in a financial capital, and also helps to strip out clutter and distractions.

Most windows turn black in infrared photography because glass absorbs or reflects the light, which can make buildings look more intimidating. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

The other benefit of urban IR snapping is that it helps tease out the strangeness of places that are a bit too man-made. The classic combo is bright foliage next to dark windows or water, but some materials reflect infrared light in surprising ways – and that can help add a slightly sci-fi look, if that's what you're going for.

Another fun side quest is finding pops of vegetation to highlight certain parts of a cityscape. I still haven't found my perfect combo of light and skyline, but even a backlit scene can like the one below (not traditionally great for infrared) can benefit from its slightly dreamy feel.

Image 1 of 4

1/3200s at f/5.6, ISO 160. Backlit scenes don't typically work well in infrared as the style thrives on high contrast, but you can get a slightly dreamy feel. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

I also saw the Wimbledon tennis championships as a good infrared challenge because I've never been particularly happy with the 'normal' shots I've taken there. It's hard to avoid falling into the strawberries-and-cream clichés, as it's such a bright and cheery place. But does Wimbledon have a dark side?

Okay, 'dark' is a bit strong, but for some players (as this year's women's final showed), the place probably feels pretty intimidating – and as a punter it feels like there are large sections of the grounds that are cordoned off for a special few. Infrared can even make anything look creepy with the right light, but it was fun to tease out a side of Wimbledon I hadn't previously captured.

Image 1 of 7

Shooting the Wimbledon tennis championships in infrared gave me some different shots to my previous visits, and it helps that everyone dresses in white. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 4 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 5 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 6 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 7 of 7

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Unfortunately, I realized too late that the end of a day, when most people have stumbled out of Wimbledon in a champagne-induced daze, is ideal for infrared. You don't always have to shoot around midday – a low sun casting deep shadows also creates the contrast that's great for black-and-white, so I'll definitely return to make more of that.

Glass ceiling

I'm still learning the infrared ropes, but if you're looking to try it out there are a few important things I've learned over the past few months.

One is lenses. Not all lenses play nicely with IR-converted cameras, as the coatings, materials and glass can interact differently with infrared light – which can create the dreaded 'hot spots' (bright circles in the middle of your photos). I found Rob Shea's crowd-sourced guide to X-mount lenses to be a helpful starting point, and he also has guides for Canon and Nikon.

I mostly used Fujifilm's Monochrome film simulation on my X-T3 to get a preview of black-and-white shots in the field, while shooting in raw for editing. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

I also asked Fujifilm for some guidance. It told me that its internal tests found the XF18-135mm and XF50-140mm to be great performers among its zooms, while for primes the XF30mm macro, XF50mm f/1, XF35mm f/2 and XF50mm f/2 are all highly rated (and I can vouch for the latter two). Older lenses are often best it seems, as the newer XF33mm f/1.4 gave me bright hot spots.

What about editing? The benefit of shooting black-and-white infrared photos is that this is a whole lot simpler than color. My converted Fujifilm camera came with a custom white balance already set, so I just shot in Fuji's monochrome film simulation to give me an idea of the final shot. Because you're often out in the middle of the day, it's very much a fun, point-and-shoot experience – just what I was looking for.

1/640 at f/5.6, ISO 160. Simple scenes with bright foliage and a black sky are ideal for infrared photography. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

I then just used Lightroom Classic to edit the raw files, though any of the best photo editors will do. Those raw files will look a muddy brown to start with, so it's then just a case of applying a profile to bring out the infrared goodness. I found Adobe's built-in B&W ones (go to Profile > Browse) generally did the trick, with B&W 01-04 usually being a good starting point.

One thing I have struggled with is pushing my edits harder towards infrared's natural sense of drama. I usually go for natural, subtle edits, but infrared raw files are crying out for a strong blast of contrast with deep blacks and bright highlights. If you're too careful, shots can end up with a flat, 'grey soup' look, so that's something I'm looking to improve. I'd also like to embrace infrared's abstract potential a lot more.

What is infrared good for?

After a few months with my IR-converted X-T3, and many mistakes, I've started to get a taste for what works best with infrared photography.

One lesson is that simplicity is everything. Choosing an uncluttered scene with a strong anchor is a good idea for all types of photography, but it's essential for infrared photos – otherwise that glowing scene that looked great in your viewfinder will look like post-snow slush.

1/400s at f/8, ISO 160. I tried this tribute to Bill Brandt's classic shot of the Cuckmere River in the UK, which instead has a white river surrounded by a black landscape. Rivers make good subjects as, like windows and the sea, they go dark in infrared. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

I also found that thinking about depth is even more important than usual. Again, using leading lines and layers is nothing new, but many shots that would have typically worked in standard color just fell flat in infrared.

Infrared is also at its most fun when it amplifies a subject or feeling that's already in a scene, rather than just flicking on the 'surreal' switch for the sake of it. In my never-ending quest for scenes that work, I took a trip to the Seven Sisters cliffs on England’s south coast. It ticks a lot of boxes – bright, white cliffs next to a black sea – and while definitely a photographic cliché, was a fun place to shoot.

Image 1 of 4

The white cliffs at Seven Sisters in the UK are an obvious subject for infrared, so I couldn't resist popping down to its popular postcard scenes. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Fortunately, a random patch of mist – not something you typically get in the middle of the day – came in to add some extra drama and I found that ethereal scenes are IR's bread and butter.

Unfortunately, infrared cameras also aren't particularly flexible if you want to also take a traditional street photo, so you may need to rock two cameras on some trips.

Image 1 of 2

Mist isn't so common in the middle of the day in the UK, which is the ideal time for infrared snapping, but it can help simplify a scene even more. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

But once my initial wave of infrared obsession had subsided – and it does come in waves – my main lesson was to stop looking for big, theatrical scenes and to try to find ones that suit infrared's ability to make the everyday look a bit weird and Hitchcock-like.

1/800s at f/8, ISO 160. A random phone box in a lavender field felt like a good match for infrared's naturally surreal look. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

For example, I found the phone box in the lavender field above, which I probably wouldn't have shot with a normal camera – yet it felt like it benefited from IR's surreal touch.

A break from the old

There are countless photography projects that can help you rediscover your snapping spark, many of which are less expensive than giving your camera an infrared conversion.

But if, like me, you have an older camera that's been gathering dust and isn't your main body, then an IR conversion can be a good way to breathe new life into it – and your photography.

Image 1 of 3

1/800s at f/7.1, ISO 160. Humans turn a ghostly white in infrared, but some animals look closer to normal. (Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Mark Wilson / Future)

Now that autumn is coming around again in the UK, I can feel the lure of 'normal' photography coming back again. There's also a good chance that, in a few years, I'll look back at my infrared experiments and wonder what I was thinking.

But I also feel rejuvenated by my vacation from the usual worries about 'accuracy', color theory and pesky tripods. A quote I recently saw from Outkast's André 3000 summed it up for me, when he told Rolling Stone about his recent musical experiments: "I'd rather go amateur interesting than master boring".

It's been to fun to hit the reset switch and be a complete beginner again, and that's made the cost of converting my camera feel like something of a bargain.

Do you have an infrared camera or been tempted to give it a go? Let us know in the comments below.

You might also like

• I tested the minimalist Hasselblad X2D II 100C – it's my dream portrait and landscape photography camera that sets the image quality bar
• The Sony RX1R III could have been my total dream camera, instead it's a beautiful nightmare
• I'm a photographer, and after one month with the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, I know exactly why it beats the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro

While it doesn't come as a surprise, the drama has been fully kicking off in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Without giving too much away, episode 5 of the Starz show followed Julia (Hermione Corfield) losing her carefully assembled allies after the spilling of secrets, Henry's (Jeremy Irvine) little hope that he has left starting to slip away, and Ellen (Harriet Slater) and Brian (Jamie Roy) having a lovely time celebrating Beltane. Lucky for some.

We've still got no idea how, or if, the original Outlander cast are going to directly cross-over with Outlander: Blood of My Blood (though it is technically possible), and with another five episodes still to go, we can't rule anything out. But when I had a chance to ask Irvine and Corfield exactly what that might be, surprises are coming much sooner than we first thought.

Next week's episode 6 is going to be a particularly challenging one – both for us watching and when the cast initially filmed it. Outlander: Blood of My Blood fans should particularly keep an eye on on Julia, who's about to have "one of her biggest episodes."

Julia has her most challenging moment yet in Outlander: Blood of My Blood episode 6

The full cast of Outlander: Blood of My Blood. (Image credit: Starz)

"That was a big one for us. We both sort of hit rock bottom," Irvine tells me, gesturing to Corfield, "You really had a tough one."

"I did. She goes through a lot of that episode," she replies. Corfield had previously explained to Collider, “Episode 6, for me, was one of my biggest episodes, I would say. It's quite contained. That was a real acting exercise. After I finished that week of filming, because I think we just did it all in one week, because it's basically one massive scene, I got to the end of that week, and I went, ‘Oh, I feel like I've really left it all on the floor.’

"And I think that settled me into it. Because I think when you have something that's got a real rich acting exercise piece, then I think once you've done it, you feel such satisfaction and you're like, ‘Woohoo, I've done it.’”

Irvine continues in our conversation, "It's rare to see Hermione looking tired, but at the end of that week was a different story. The scenes that tough, they're often the ones that we enjoy the most. You get to do proper acting."

What on earth any of this means for the next episode of Outlander: Blood of My Blood remains to be seen. We've seen Henry and Julia both be pushed to the brink individually, but with their blossoming love built on such strong foundations (I'm still not over the love letters), it feels unlikely that the pair will split.

However, it's entirely possible. We know Claire (Caitriona Balfe) has already been born by this point in time, and that's prompted a slew of fan theories that may actually have some weight to them.

Popular theories currently include meeting Claire’s parents in Outlander season 8, which wrapped filming in September 2024, Julia’s baby (not Claire) being somebody we’ve already met in the main show, and Jamie’s dad Brian being more closely linked to the pair than we’ve been led to believe.

Will we see any of these in episode 6? Unlikely, but I bet Julia's unspoken challenges leads us directly into the drama of season 2.

You might also like

• Sullivan’s Crossing star says she’s game for a ‘fun’ Virgin River crossover episode and I think she’s a genius
• Netflix star rules out wild fan theory about her character in Sweet Magnolias season 5: 'I'm not wearing a pregnancy suit this season'
• I asked a major Netflix star if you should ditch the streaming service for Hallmark+’s romance dramas, and the answer might surprise you

• Opposition against the controversial child sexual abuse (CSAM) scanning bill is growing ahead of a crucial meeting on September 12
• The Danish version of the so-called Chat Control bill could be adopted as early as October 2025 if an agreement is found
• Experts are concerned about the negative impact the bill will have on citizens' communications privacy and security

Opposition against the controversial child sexual abuse (CSAM) scanning bill is growing among EU state members, just days away from a crucial meeting.

On September 12, the EU Council is expected to share its final positions on the Danish version of the so-called Chat Control. The proposal, which has attracted strong criticism so far, aims to introduce new obligations for all messaging services operating in Europe to scan users' chats, even if they're encrypted.

Both the Czech Republic and Belgium have now reportedly passed from being undecided to opposing the proposed law, according to the latest data, with the latter deeming the bill as "a monster that invades your privacy and cannot be tamed." They add to Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland in criticising the proposal's mandatory detection and encryption provisions.

The list of supporters is still much longer, though, counting 15 member states at the time of writing. These include crucial countries like France, alongside Italy, Spain, Sweden, Lithuania, Cyprus, Latvia, and Ireland.

Crucially, French MEPs said they could "basically support" the draft, a source with knowledge of the matter told TechRadar. While Germany, another decisive vote to either block or back the bill, may be considering abstaining from taking a position. This is something that will weaken the Danish mandate, "even if the Presidency gets the required votes to pass," explains TechRadar's source.

What's at stake for European's encrypted communications?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

First unveiled in 2022, the Chat Control proposal has never been so close to becoming law, with a vote set to take place on October 14, 2025, and the majority of EU member states currently being its supporters.

On a more practical level, this means that the EU could be scanning your chats by October 2025 – no matter if they are encrypted.

The major point of contention, in fact, is the provisions around encryption, which is the technology responsible for keeping our communications private and secure. The likes of WhatsApp, Signal, ProtonMail, and even the best VPN apps all use encryption to scramble the content of users' messages into an unreadable form and prevent unauthorized access.

If the Danish Chat Control text passes, all the multimedia files and URLs you sent via WhatsApp and similar services would have to be mandatorily scanned in the lookout for CSAM materials. Crucially, government and military accounts will be exempt from the scanning.

While the proposal mentions that cybersecurity and encryption should be "protected in a comprehensive way," a wealth of experts, including tech developers, cryptographers, and digital rights advocates, have been warning that, as it's intended, mandatory scanning cannot be done without weakening encryption protections. This will also make everyone de facto more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

At the time of writing, only seven countries remain undecided, namely Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Romania, and Slovenia.

If you're worried about this proposal and wish to put pressure on your country's MEPs, this website helps you do so within a few clicks.

You might also like

• Worried about Chat Control? This website can help you get your say
• FTC calls on big tech to resist UK and EU demands to weaken encryption and censor content
• Chat Control 2.0? Experts urge the EU not to undermine encryption with new ProtectEU plan

This week Apple teased the iPhone 17 launch, and Flipepr Devices disputed claims its tech is helping people steal cars.

To catch up on all this, and five more of the week's top tech news stories scroll down for the latest iteration of our weekly ICYMI recap.

Next week is IFA and we're sure to see some big announcements there (perhaps even from Samsung) so be sure to check back for next recap in seven days.

7. Could Eternals tease doom for Doomsday?

(Image credit: Disney/Marvel Studios)

Eternals was the 2021 Marvel movie that instantly flopped, with fans and critics alike criticizing its rushed character development over a shorter runtime. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, director Chloe Zhao claimed having unlimited money and resources was “actually quite dangerous,” adding it prepared her for upcoming November release, Hamnet.

But what if the same logic could be applied to Avengers: Doomsday? It’s the movie moment of the decade for the MCU, so of course the studio is throwing caution to the limitless wind, even if it doesn't make sense looking in from the outside. In dangerous entertainment times and seemingly no limits on what happens when making Doomsday, Zhao's comments should perhaps be heeded as a warning.

• Read more: Eternals’ director notes the ‘dangerous’ lack of limitations in Marvel movies

6. A new solar powered security cam debuted

(Image credit: Swann)

If you like the idea of having a smart security camera watching over your home, but you don’t like the thought of taking it down to charge, Swann has the solution. The Swann EVO Wireless Solar can keep running with just 45 minutes of sunlight per day, and is weather-resistant so you can mount it just about anywhere. There’s no need to pay a subscription fee either, because all your videos are stored locally on an SD card. Now that’s smart.

It’s not the cheapest home security camera around, but once you factor in the solar panel and absence of monthly membership fees to watch your videos, its price tag of $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95 looks very reasonable.

• Read more: Swann's new camera stays charged with just 45 minutes of sunlight per day

5. Samsung’s next Unpacked got a date

(Image credit: SAMSUNG)

We sometimes worry for the folks over at Samsung HQ. In 2025, the company has hosted separate launch events for the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Edge, and new Galaxy Z foldables, and it looks like we’re getting one more Galaxy showcase before the year is out.

Coinciding with IFA 2025 on September 4, Samsung’s next “Galaxy Event” will see “premium AI tablets” and “the newest member of the Galaxy S25 family” enter the fold. That almost certainly means the Galaxy Tab S11 series and the Galaxy S25 FE are just around the corner, and thanks to several leaks and rumors, we think we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from all three new devices.

• Read more: Samsung’s next big phone and tablet launch is on September 4

4. Flipper Devices responded to car theft claims

(Image credit: Flipper Zero)

Could a $200 device be the next big thing in car theft? One report discovered underground hacker networks are selling Flipper Zero software patches that can unlock all manner of cars – even major brands like Ford, Audi, and Volkswagen.

The "multi-tool device for geeks" is intended for security researchers to demonstrate vulnerabilities responsibly, but some bad actors are misusing the device to mess with Tesla charge ports, change traffic lights, and now seemingly hack into cars – though the silver lining is the reports says the exploit can only open a car, you can’t yet drive off with it.

Flipper Devices did reach out to us with a statement saying, “We are not aware of any officially confirmed cases of theft using a Flipper Zero.” and to dispute claims these hacks are even effective as the Flipper Zero lacks the “hardware to suppress the radio signals, which would be necessary to crack systems that properly utilize rolling codes” like a keyless entry system.

• Read more: New Flipper Zero craze sees car thieves use cheap hacking device

3. DJI launched a new mic

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI unveiled the Mic 3, the latest premium release in the company’s popular wearable wireless microphone range. It comes just 18 months after the DJI Mic 2 and it will supplant its predecessor at the top of TechRadar’s best wireless microphone guide thanks to some meaningful design and performance updates.

Our Cameras Editor Timothy Coleman only recently bought the Mic 2 and loves it, so he was a little skeptical about the need for a new model. After receiving our review sample of the DJI Mic 3, though, it only took him a few seconds to see why people might want to upgrade, and he admits to having a tinge of regret about the timing of his purchase.

The two models both record 24-bit and 32-bit float audio, but the Mic 3 has a smaller, tidier design, better battery life and a raft of audio upgrades, including timecode support, two-level noise cancellation, and improved transmission range. Put simply, the DJI Mic 3 sets the bar for tiny wireless mics.

• Read more: The small and mighty DJI Mic 3 is a major improvement on its predecessor

2. Google told us what it isn’t making

(Image credit: Google)

We might have just been treated to six new Pixel devices – including four new phones – but if you were desperate for a flip foldable or a successor to the Pixel Tablet then you’ll need to keep waiting.

Google's Vice President of Devices and Services Shakil Barkat confirmed that there are no plans for a Google flip foldable to join the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Barkat also ruled out a smart ring, and says the Pixel tablet series is on pause until a "meaningful future" can be figured out for the product category.

The status on smart glasses, meanwhile, is "TBD".

• Read more: Google explains why it isn't making you a Pixel Flip phone

1. Apple set the iPhone 17 launch date

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We’ve all been expecting an Apple event in September, and the Cupertino-based technology giant has just made it official by sending out invites for a special event on September 9, with the tagline, “Awe dropping”.

It’ll start at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on September 9, 2025 (3am September 10 AEST) at Apple Park, and we’ll be covering it from the ground to break down all of the biggest announcements as they happen.

Judging by the rumors and what Apple has shown off at previous September special events, we’re expecting the iPhone 17 lineup – including the all-new, super-thin iPhone 17 Air – new Apple Watches, and even AirPods. So as always you won’t want to miss it!

• Read more: iPhone 17 launch date official as Apple sends out invites for ’Awe dropping’ event

If there’s any one word that describes the Macan EV, it’s refined. Porsche hit the ground running in 2019 with the release of its first modern electric, the Taycan – an expensive sports car that quickly proved legacy automakers could readily compete with Tesla on its own terms. That release also gave Porsche an advantage over other automakers in the then-burgeoning mainstream EV market, allowing them to refine their electric offering before other major car companies would even announce plans for electrification.

Conversely, the electric Macan arrived in early 2024 (late 2024 for Australians) to drastically different market conditions – interest in Tesla’s cars was feigning, particularly with challengers from China offering competitive products, with such market conditions carrying through to today. Indeed it feels like Porsche and similarly established automakers are now the ones playing defense, with Chinese rivals like Polestar, Xpeng and IM ready to snatch up the market of drivers excited about electrification now that the tech has progressed a bit, prices have come down and charging infrastructure is a bit further along.

These brands offer models that are competitively specced and priced to the Macan Electric… though they do all lack one key thing: they’re not Porsche.

Porsche Macan EV specs

Specs

Porsche Macan Electric

Country of manufacture

Germany

Price

Porsche Macan Electric: $78,000 / £68,500 / AU$128,400

Porsche Macan 4 Electric: $81,600 / £71,200 / AU$134,400

Porsche Macan 4S Electric: $88,000 / £76,900 / AU$149,300

Porsche Macan Turbo Electric: $109,500 / £96,900 / AU$184,400

Range

Porsche Macan Electric: 315mi (EPA) / 333mi – 398mi (WLTP) / 536km – 641km (WLTP)

Porsche Macan 4 Electric: 308mi (EPA) / 320mi – 380mi (WLTP) / 516km – 613km (WLTP)

Porsche Macan 4S Electric: 288mi (EPA) / 318mi – 376mi (WLTP) / 512km – 606km (WLTP)

Porsche Macan Turbo Electric: 288mi (EPA) / 321 mi – 233mi (WLTP) / 518km – 590km (WLTP)

Battery size

100kWh

Power / torque

Porsche Macan Electric: 250kW / 563Nm

Porsche Macan 4 Electric: 285kW / 650Nm

Porsche Macan 4S Electric: 330kW / 820Nm

Porsche Macan Turbo Electric: 470kW / 1,130Nm

Maximum charging capacity

11kW (AC) / 270kW (DC)

Quoted recharge speed (DC)

10% to 80% in around 21 minutes

Drivetrain

Porsche Macan Electric: RWD

Porsche Macan 4 / 4S / Turbo: AWD

Dimensions

4,784 x 1,938 x 1,623cm (L x W x H)

Boot capacity

540L / 1,348L including rear seating

The electric experience, refined

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

A big touchscreen, heads-up display and minimalist, digital-first user interface aren’t innovative things in the automotive industry anymore, not even for a luxury automaker like Porsche. Tech like this has simply become synonymous with EVs, and is now a bit of a heel when done poorly. This is why I’m so thrilled with the Porsche Macan EV – because it’s not just utilising all these things, it has mastered them.

The infotainment system in the Macan EV feels thoughtful. Text is rightly sized, icons aren’t too small for a fingerpress, and indeed there are enough physical controls (for things like air conditioning) for the car to properly be driven without ever needing to tap the screen.

The inbuilt navigation app is well-made and can be relied upon, though with the car’s well laid-out interface, it’s no hassle to connect your phone and fire up Android Auto or Apple CarPlay – though with the former, I found my phone would often be quite laggy when placed on the Macan’s wireless charging pad.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

One of the most impressive parts of the Macan’s dashboard is its concave instrument cluster. The screen behind the steering wheel is curved, giving it depth and ultimately making it look a lot better than similar digital clusters from other automakers. The screen can be adjusted to include up to three gauges, or it can simply be switched to portray a speed indication and a live map, giving you easy, glanceable directions on the road. It’s by far my favourite instrument cluster of any EV – or even any car – I’ve tested.

The heads-up display is the icing on the cake. In cruise control, the display will demonstrate the lines of distance you have between the car in front of you and yourself, which it will maintain like any other car with adaptive cruise. It’ll also visualise the lines it can currently see on the sides of the road – helpful for making sure lane assistance is enabled on a poorly-marked road.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Driving dynamics of the Porsche Macan are, as you’d expect, brilliant, with the car offering punchy acceleration and great road handling. It’s quite a big car and its turning circle suffers as a result, but it’s a brilliant vehicle regardless for comfortable travel in and out of town. It’s quite wide and has big 22-inch wheels, so if your idea of a Porsche is a low-to-the-ground track toy, I think you’ll be mostly disappointed with the electric Macan – though you won’t mind its exceptional handling, and with a lot of boot and rear seating space, it’d definitely be a comfortable car for holidaying.

Range and recharging speed are also a non-issue, with the gigantic 100kWh battery capable of facilitating a weekend-away’s worth of driving. A 270kW DC recharging capacity is also right for the price, though considering rivalling Chinese EVs in the luxury segment are besting this (or even EVs well below the luxury segment – the Xpeng G6 is half the Macan’s price and capable of 280kW) I’d note that this may seem unimpressive at some point in the near future. Not too near, though, as public DC chargers tend to max out at 350kW, and any greater capacities would require major infrastructure changes.

One last thing worthy of note. Thanks to having smaller motors, many electric cars are able to provide additional storage space under the bonnet. The Macan has a useful amount of under-bonnet space, but it outdoes other automakers by having a dedicated bonnet-open button on the keyfob. This gives the space actual utility, showing up other automakers that offer the space but lack an easy way to pop the hood. Cool!

But is it enough?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

A starting cost of $78,000 / £68,500 / AU$128,400 is going to be unreachable for most people and will no doubt keep many buyers away from the Macan – though I think it's unlikely that Porsche will change this any time soon. Porsche has earned the right to price the Macan like this: every aspect of the car is luxurious – although there are aspects that some potential purchasers may think are a bit much.

Similar to the preceding Taycan, there are charging ports on both sides of the car with only one equipped for fast DC charging. These ports open with the most overdesigned doors I’ve ever seen – via rolling motors that slide the ports open and closed. I think this is just unnecessary, even for a luxury car: it adds mechanical complexity to open the doors, which could break one day. A pop-open door will do.

Additionally, some of the more expensive Macan trims feature a third touchscreen display positioned in front of the front passenger seat for its occupant. It’s a cool idea, I guess, to give your passenger control over stuff like music playback from a convenient screen in front of them, but I don’t really see the point, especially with music streaming apps able to play music in groups, with multiple phones controlling the current song – it just seems excessive.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Moving onto the unexpected, I encountered a critical operating system freeze when starting the car one morning. The infotainment system locked up on the Porsche logo and I couldn’t interact with it, and needed to manually reset it. I’ve encountered this with cars in the past and it’s never not annoying, but I was kind of shocked to have dealt with it in such an expensive car.

Apart from these things, I don’t really think there’s much to dislike about the Porsche Macan Electric. The company has worked really hard to polish this car to a point of undeniable quality.

Should you buy the Porsche Macan Electric?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It’s easy for me to recommend something as expensive as the Porsche Macan Electric, but obviously it’s not for everyone. It has an unrivaled level of quality, and among luxury electric SUVs, it very much deserves to be at the upper-end of the market. My colleague Leon Poultney went hands-on with the Macan electric a bit before me and argued that it would be a shame if Porsche scaled back its EV ambitions when cars like the Macan feel so mastered – and I very much agree: Porsche has nailed the assignment and I think it offers some really special cars in the electric space.

If you’re chasing a similar level of quality, I’d recommend to you both the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, Audi Q6 e-tron or the BMW iX. Generally speaking, these cars each compete with the Macan Electric while also undercutting it on price.

You might also like…

• The Zeekr X EV offers a premium driving experience without the high cost – but too many little problems undermine its appeal
• I’ve driven the new electric Mercedes G-Wagen – and the rough-and-ready EV makes very little sense, which is why it’s perfect
• The Lucid Air just broke the world record for the longest EV journey on a single charge – across three countries without stopping

• Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is likely to arrive soon with LTE capability
• Rather than use a third-party data plan, leaks indicate Garmin is expanding its inReach messenger service
• In-app code reportedly reveals four new subscription tiers

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro looks set to be coming soon. While it's hard to improve on a five-star, super-premium watch like the Garmin Fenix 8, the 'Pro' tag seems to indicate a feature that the standard models don't already have: LTE capability.

For the uninitiated, LTE connectivity allows users to connect a device to the internet or a satellite network using a data plan. On the best Apple Watches and best Android watches, this is commonly done by extending your phone's data plan to also include your smartwatch for an additional fee.

The smartwatch user can then use their watch like a 'mini phone' of sorts, exchanging messages, accessing internet services such as email, and even taking calls without a connected mobile phone nearby. It seems like Garmin wants to get in on this action.

However, new leaks via Gadgets & Wearables seemingly reveal it's not doing this using third-party networks like other smartwatches. Instead, it sounds as though Garmin's going to be expanding its pre-existing inReach service, a satellite messaging functionality accessible on dedicated Garmin devices such as the InReach Mini 2 pictured below, used to find weather information, communicate location, and send messages outside of the reach of a normal cellphone.

Rather than streaming music and accessing emails for convenience, the Fenix 8 Pro is likely to be positioned as the best Garmin watch to keep you connected while deep on the most remote trails, able to go places other watches can't – hence the 'Pro' moniker.

(Image credit: Garmin)InReach subscription tiers

Gadgets & Wearables found, in the Garmin Connect app, lines of code detailing four new inReach tier names: Enabled, Essential, Standard, and Premium.

While nothing has been announced, this is likely a new expansion of the inReach service, and rather than allow the Fenix 8 Pro to be tied to a plan from the likes of EE or Mint Mobile, Garmin will be keeping everything in-house.

The multiple subscription tiers do, at first glance, raise eyebrows: while you pay to connect a watch to a data plan, multiple tiers means that rather than pay a set price to unlock all the LTE-enabled features on the watch, you're again paying by tier, with features artificially locked behind yet another paywall.

The situation has echoes of the backlash to the Garmin Connect+ premium tier we experienced earlier this year, when hundreds of readers emailed in to voice their displeasure that Garmin was locking features behind a paywall in its fitness app.

You might also like...

• Garmin Fenix 8 users are getting loads of new features for free – including one it should have had at launch
• A data scientist found the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is more accurate than Garmin, Samsung and even Whoop
• Strava-owned Runna just launched the feature I've been waiting for to plan my race calendar

Now that summer is coming to an unfortunate end, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to be streaming during the beginning of the fall months, and Paramount+ is the place to go in September 2025.

Out of all the 127 new movies, the first one that caught my eye was Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Arrival (2016), a personal favorite of mine. But it doesn't end there, and if you're a horror fan, hold on to your hats.

Not only are the first eight installments of the Friday the 13th franchise arriving on September 1, you can catch other exciting horror staples including The Woman in Black (2012) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). Alternatively, if horror isn't your thing but a good comedy movie is, you can always opt for the parody flick Scary Movie (2000) – a movie I can't wait to see return for its sixth chapter.

Everything new on Paramount+ in September 2025

Arriving on September 1

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (movie)
Addams Family Values (movie)
Afflicted (movie)
Along Came A Spider (movie)
Angel Heart (movie)
Approaching The Unknown (movie)
April Fool's Day (movie)
Area 51 (movie)
Arrival (movie)
Asylum (movie)
Below (movie)
Beneath (movie)
Blade (movie)
Blade II (movie)
Blade: Trinity (movie)
Body Cam (movie)
Brick Mansions (movie)
Burke & Hare (movie)
Cesar Chavez (movie)
Cloverfield (movie)
Cursed (movie)
Daybreakers (movie)
Disturbia (movie)
Dracula III: Legacy (movie)
Face/Off (movie)
Fatal Attraction (movie)
Frida (movie)
Friday the 13th (movie)
Friday the 13th Part II (movie)
Friday the 13th Part III (movie)
Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (movie)
Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (movie)
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (movie)
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (movie)
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (movie)
From Dusk Till Dawn (movie)
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (movie)
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (movie)
Galaxy Quest (movie)
Gattaca (movie)
Geostorm (movie)
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (movie)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (movie)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (movie)
Jacob's Ladder (movie)
John Carpenter's Escape From L.A. (movie)
Kiss The Girls (movie)
La Bamba (movie)
Labor Day (movie)
Life (movie)
Like Water for Chocolate (movie)
Loosies (movie)
Margaux (movie)
Mommie Dearest (movie)
Murder On The Orient Express (movie)
National Lampoon's Animal House (movie)
Nick of Time (movie)
Nobody's Fool (movie)
O (Othello) (movie)
Overlord (movie)
Patriot Games (movie)
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (movie)
Phantoms (movie)
Piñero (movie)
Quinceañera (movie)
Road to Perdition (movie)
Safe (movie)
Scary Movie (movie)
Scary Movie 2 (movie)
Scary Movie 3 (movie)
Scream 4 (movie)
Seven Psychopaths (movie)
Sleepy Hollow (movie)
Small Soldiers (movie)
Spell (movie)
Spontaneous (movie)
Student Bodies (movie)
Super 8 (movie)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (movie)
Sweet Dreams (movie)
Teaching Mrs. Tingle (movie)
The Addams Family (movie)
The Commuter (movie)
The Crow (movie)
The Crow: City of Angels (movie)
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (movie)
The Devil Inside (movie)
The Faculty (movie)
The Gift (movie)
The Grifters (movie)
The Haunting (movie)
The Hunter (movie)
The Island (movie)
The Last Exorcism Part II (movie)
The Longest Yard (movie)
The Loved Ones (movie)
The Mechanic (movie)
The Monster Squad (movie)
The Night Clerk (movie)
The Parallax View (movie)
The Reckoning (movie)
The Relic (movie)
The Ring (movie)
The Stepford Wives (movie)
The Sum of All Fears (movie)
The Terminal (movie)
The Uninvited (movie)
The Woman in Black (movie)
To Catch a Thief (movie)
Twisted (movie)
Universal Soldier (movie)
Up in Smoke (movie)
Vampire in Brooklyn (movie)
Venom (movie)
Vertical Limit (movie)
Virtuosity (movie)
Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 (movie)
Wes Craven Presents: They (movie)
Winter Spring Summer or Fall (movie)
Witness (movie)
World War Z (movie)

Arriving on September 3

Wolves (movie)

Arriving on September 4

NCIS: Tony & Ziva (TV show)

Arriving on September 5

Old Henry (movie)
Superhero Movie (movie)

Arriving on September 7

2025 Video Music Awards (live event)

Arriving on September 8

The Wedding Banquet (movie)

Arriving on September 9

Thirst Trap: The Fame. The Fantasy. The Fallout (documentary)

Arriving on September 10

Personal Shopper (movie)
The Tiny Chef Show season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on September 12

The Reunion season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on September 14

Primetime Emmy Awards (live event)

Arriving on September 17

Air Disasters season 22 (TV show)
The Adventures of Paddington season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on September 21

Tulsa King season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on September 22

A GRAMMY Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire Live: The 21st Night of September special (TV show)

Arriving on September 23

Bodyguard of Lies (documentary)

Arriving on September 24

Survivor season 49 (TV show)

Arriving on September 25

The Amazing Race season 38 (TV show)

Arriving on September 28

60 minutes season 58 (TV show)
48 hours season 38 (TV show)

You might also like

• Towelie wasn’t even the worst part of South Park season 27 episode 3 – just wait for the ending
• Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off: Everything we know about the sequel series to Yellowstone on Paramount+
• Yellowjackets season 4: everything we know so far about the hit Paramount+ show

• Qualcomm unveils Dragonwing Q-6690 with onboard RFID eliminating need for external modules
• Processor combines RFID, AI, and advanced wireless support for retail logistics and industry
• RAIN Alliance says integration could transform operations and create new connected markets

Qualcomm has announced a new enterprise mobile processor that integrates RFID directly onto the chip, something no other mobile CPU has offered previously.

The Dragonwing Q-6690 brings together RFID with built-in 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and ultra-wideband support.

The processor has been designed for use in devices across retail, logistics, and industrial environments, as Qualcomm says it can support rugged handhelds, point-of-sale systems, kiosks, and other commercial form factors.

Software-configurable packs

By embedding RFID directly, the processor does away with the need for separate RFID reader modules, resulting in slimmer devices.

“The Dragonwing Q-6690 combines integrated RFID, AI, and next-gen wireless capabilities in a single, scalable platform, designed to accelerate innovation across industries including retail, logistics, and manufacturing,” said Art Miller, vice president and head of retail at Qualcomm.

“We are particularly excited about working with retailers today that need platforms that are not only powerful and connected, but also adaptable to evolving customer expectations, from smarter kiosks and handhelds to real-time inventory analytics and contactless experiences.”

Qualcomm views the new platform as a tool for contactless applications such as access control, asset tracking, product authentication, and real-time inventory management.

The platform offers software-configurable packs which will allow manufacturers to customize computing power, multimedia support, camera capabilities, and peripheral options for specific devices.

These packs will be upgradable over the air, doing away with the need to redesign hardware, which should help in reducing certification demands, as well as speeding up product launches, and extending device lifecycles.

For retailers, the new chip could be used for product tracking and store operations, while for industrial and logistics settings the integration could speed up and simplify processes that rely on RFID scanning.

A number of device makers, including Zebra, Honeywell, Urovo, HMD Secure, and CipherLab, say they plan to release products powered by the processor, with commercial availability expected in the coming months.

You may also like

• Google urgently patches major Qualcomm security flaw hitting Android phones
• Is Qualcomm finally about to take the data center plunge? Report says yes
• Qualcomm has launched new, "breakthrough" IoT tech for industry

Yellowstone Universe shows: Key Information

- There are currently 3 shows that have finished their run, and 5 planned series in the Yellowstone Universe

- Shows that have already aired are: Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923

- Future shows are: 1944, a Beth and Rip Wheeler drama, The Madison, Y: Marshals and 6666

- Paramount’s CEO told showrunner Taylor Sheridan: “We can just make this his [Sheridan’s] home for as long as he wants to tell stories.

The success of neo-Western Yellowstone has now become so mighty, that the Yellowstone Universe is now starting to rival that of DC Comics or Marvel; a host of sequels, spin-offs, prequels and other series to arrive over the next few years, all mined from the original IP.

The five-season show – fronted by Kevin Costner – kicked off on Paramount+ in 2018, and showrunner Taylor Sheridan evolved it into an even bigger pop-culture juggernaut when the first prequel series, 1883, launched in 2021.

Executive producer David Glasser told Variety at the time that there were big hopes for the Dutton Ranch franchise: “I think this universe as we’ve seen, with the success of 1883, it can grow and it can have other offshoots and build out a world around it. We’re going to keep our head down and keep making the content and hopefully audiences and our peers will recognize it the way they have been.

Keep ‘em coming, said David Ellison, Paramount’s CEO, buoyed by the roaring cowboy-centred hits: “We can just make this his [Sheridan’s] home for as long as he wants to tell stories.” In July 2025, Paramount took the commitment even further, when it was announced that Sheridan and Paramount were launching 450,000-square-foot production studios in Fort Worth, Texas.

But with so many TV shows coming from the same original series, it can get confusing as to what is what. So here, in chronological order as to when they’re set, is every show in the Yellowstone Universe, including series that have already been broadcast – and everything we know about future shows due to launch soon:

1883

1883 is the earliest of the Yellowstone prequels (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

The prequel series – set in the same year of its title – tells the story of how the Duttons managed to establish their Yellowstone ranch and the show began Paramount+ on December 2021. It starred Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May and LaMonica Garrett, and had some pretty stellar guest spots too, including Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton, Rita Wilson and even a cameo from the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.

The action follows the post–Civil War generation of the Duttons as they leave Tennessee and make the journey to Fort Worth, Texas, and join a wagon train undertaking the arduous journey west to Oregon, before finally settling in Montana.

1883 was a limited, 10-part series that finished in February 2022. Paramount’s commission of further episodes was reversed as they decided to focus on a sequel instead, 1923. Sheridan told Deadline that he considered 1883 done and dusted as the series ended: “We wanted to make a ten-hour movie that ended, and that’s what we did.”

1923

1923 only ran for two seasons. (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Another sequel series, set 40 years after 1883, that focuses on the challenges faced by the Duttons – in this case, the spectacular duo of Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton and Harrison Ford as her husband, Jacob Dutton.

If you’ve even a passing interest in American history, you’ll know that it was a turbulent time and the shock waves of the Prohibition, a drought and the early stages of the Great Depression hit Montana just as badly as elsewhere in the country.

The cast of 1923 also boasted Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann and Isabel May, who once again reprised her role as narrator, Elsa Dutton.

In the end, 1923 ran for just two eight-episode seasons – and the exorbitant costs might have had something to do with this. Each episode was estimated to have cost $30-35 million to make, and Sheridan told Deadline: “I would argue that 1883 was the most expensive first season of a TV show ever made. This was much more expensive. Much more expensive.”

1944

1944 will feature the ancestors of 1923. (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

This new historical prequel will have the life-altering event of World War II at its centre, and will explore the Dutton’s family experiences during that era. But details on this series are extremely scant at the moment, and there’s only really been the confirmation of the series announced back in November 2023, when it was also announced that Yellowstone would be wrapping up.

As for plot and characters, In previous storylines, we’ve been told that Spencer Dutton fought in the first World War before 1923, meaning that it's possible that his son, John Dutton II, will fight in World War II. And we could possibly see a return from Spencer too. Actor Brandon Sklenar told Variety: “I know they're planning on doing 1944, and maybe we'll see Spencer in 1944. I would be interested in doing it. I love this character."

There's no release details as yet for this, but we'll update when we know more.

Yellowstone

The series that launched (almost) a thousand spin-offs. (Image credit: Paramount Network)

The original series that birthed the entire, hefty universe. Yellowstone – co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson – premiered in September 2018 on the Paramount Network, and ran for five seasons, until it ended for good in December 2024.

Kevin Costner was the star talent here, playing John Dutton III, Governor of Montana and owner of one of the biggest cattle ranches, Dutton Ranch, in America, and the audience took the tales of family, legacy and the and the clash between old and new ways of life in the American West to heart, and the show stealthily built up a huge fan base.

But Costner dropped a bombshell in June 2024, and announced he was leaving the series, saying on his Instagram account: “Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season five or into the future.”

A post shared by Kevin Costner (@kevincostner)

A photo posted by on

But, on the show went, the season 5 premiere pulled in 12.1 million viewers, and Costner departed at the end of part one of season 5.

Beth and Rip Wheeler drama

The as-yet-unnamed series will likely be another hit with fans. (Image credit: Paramount Network)

Not called Dutton Ranch, as some first predicted – the title is still actually still TBA – but this series, set in the present day after the end of Yellowstone, will see Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser back in their legendary roles of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Finn Little who plays Carter will also be returning.

Deadline has reported that the spin-off will pick up where season five ended, which saw (spoiler alert) Dutton being sold to the Broken Rock Reservation. It will be “led by Yellowstone characters, played by the same actors in the same present-day time frame; the new offshoot shares the most DNA with the mothership of any shows in the Yellowstone universe to date.”

Bloomberg says to expect a late 2025 launch sometime in September, October and November for this one, but the network is still yet to reveal an exact date.

The Madison

The Madison will feature a very wealthy family from New York in Montana. (Image credit: Paramount Network)

The Madison – previously titled 2024 – is a present day spin-off, which will follow the McIntosh family, originally from New York City, who live in the Madison River valley of central Montana.

It’s being fronted by by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, the mother of two daughters, one who marries into the wealthy McIntosh family, and also features the likes of:

• Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh
• Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh
• Matthew Fox as Paul
• Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese
• Amiah Miller as Bridgette Reese
• Ben Schnetzer as Van
• Kevin Zegers as Cade
• Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks
• Alaina Pollack as Macy
• Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel

Filming began in September 2024 and wrapped by the end of the year, which means it won’t be long to wait until this one hits the screens, but there’s no exact date released yet. However, it's predicted for the end of 2025, or the beginning of 2026.

Deadline have also reported that The Madison has already been picked up for a second season, such is the faith that the network has in Sheridan.

Y: Marshals

Y: Marshals will focus on Yellowstone themes of family, loyalty and duty. (Image credit: Paramount)

Y: Marshals (apparently still a working title) is the spin-off with Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. With his days at the ranch behind him, Kayce joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana. Alongside themes of family, duty and loyalty – issues that run deep at the heart of every show in the Yellowstone universe – Dutton will find out, the logline promises, the “high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”

Alongside Grimes, the only other cast member confirmed so far is Logan Marshall-Green (last seen as Adam in And Just Like That…) would join the cast alongside Grimes. He will play Pete Calvin, a military veteran whom Kayce befriended during his time in the Navy SEALs.

The 13-episode show will be broadcast on CBS, and is pencilled in for late 2025 or early 2026.

6666

6666 will feature a rival cattle ranch to Yellowstone. (Image credit: Paramount+)

Paramount announced back in February 2021 that 6666 (again, likely a working title) was currently in development, and slated to be broadcast on Paramount+.

“Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666,” the announcement explained of the concept behind the series. “Still operating as it did two centuries before, and encompassing an entire county, the 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing… The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavor to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world class cowboys are born and made.”

The show will take place at the real 6666 (“Four Sixes”) ranch in Texas. It was featured in season 4 of Yellowstone, with Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) sent to work there, so while no cast have been confirmed as yet, it’s likely that it will be led by White and could potentially feature Jefferson White: as Jimmy Hurdstrom and Kathryn Kelly: as Emily, Jimmy’s girlfriend. But there’s no confirmation of the period this show will be set in – a historical era, or present day.

There’s also no release date as yet, but updated news announced that it will now be broadcast on Paramount Network first, and that the series will be executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari.

• Prime Video customers can now access Peacock Premium Plus directly through their existing app
• The plan costs $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year
• Prime Video sometimes does great deals on its 'channels'

As of August 28, 2025, Prime Video subscribers can now access Peacock Premium Plus directly through the app. It's part of an expanded partnership with NBC Universal, and basically means we're getting more ad-free streaming goodness. In fact, for many of us, it's the ad-free streaming goodness we're missing from Prime Video itself, but let's not complain.

In its own words, the new add-on offers "thousands of hours of on-demand entertainment, news, and sports content." Think TV shows including Poker Face, Yellowstone, and The Office's new spinoff, The Paper – all in one place alongside Prime Video's movies and shows. Dreamy.

Currently, the cost of Peacock Premium Plus (whether a standalone subscription or included with Prime Video) is $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year. But given Prime Video often has some of the best streaming deals around on its channels, just like this new Peacock option will be, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a fantastic deal on this option in the near future.

Peacock ad-free streaming on Prime Video is worth keeping an eye on for bargain prices

I already need to sort out a full Peacock subscription ahead of new episodes of The Paper, and now I'm more likely to do so through my existing Prime Video account. Currently, the Amazon streamer has one of the best free trial windows out of its competitors (30 days), a huge variety of expanded add-ons ranging from MGM+ and Starz to Paramount+, and some of the best streaming deals on the market – and as recently as July, we say some great deals on this kinds of add-ons.

Thanks to the formerly separate Freevee app that's now been fully integrated, there's even more movies you can watch at no extra cost on Prime Vudeo (as long as you're okay with a few short ad breaks). With limitless binge-worthy opportunities at rock bottom prices, ad-free streaming via Peacock is only the cherry on the cake – and I'd bet good money on plan prices coming down too.

This isn't all Prime Video has planned for its NBC Universal merger, though. You'll be able to get the Peacock app on all Fire TV devices, Xfinity X1 and Xumo customers will have seamless access to Prime Video, and more hit Universal Pictures Home Entertainment releases will be available to buy and/or rent through the streamer.

Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins said in a statement, "At Amazon, we are always working to make customers’ lives better every day and these new agreements with Comcast NBCU are fantastic for millions of customers, who are looking for the fastest and easiest way to find all their entertainment and sports in one place.

"Adding Peacock to our growing list of subscriptions – while renewing our long-standing agreements for Fire TV, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and Xfinity X1 – deepens an incredible working relationship with Comcast/NBCU, and we look forward to a future of mutual distribution that benefits our shared customers."

Frankly, I'm all for it. If you need me, I'm never getting up from my couch.

You might also like

• It’s a bad week to be Jeremiah as The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 8 stops the wedding of the season
• A shocking lawsuit against Amazon makes me want to cancel my Prime Video subscription immediately
• 007: Road to a Million season 2 is better than any new James Bond idea Amazon could ever come up with

• Scientists hope Surya extracts insights from the Sun’s complex magnetic processes
• Researchers processed nine years of imagery from the Solar Dynamics Observatory
• Surya achieved a reported 16% improvement in flare classification accuracy

IBM and NASA have introduced Surya, the first open source foundation model for solar physics.

IBM says the AI model, whose name comes from the Sanskrit word for the Sun, is trained to forecast solar activity such as flares and storms that can disrupt satellites, navigation systems, and power grids.

It has been made available through Hugging Face, GitHub, and IBM’s TerraTorch library, alongside a dataset collection called SuryaBench.

From Earth data to solar forecasts

The project comes as reliance on space-based technology expands, from aviation and communication to future deep space missions.

Predicting solar weather remains a difficult task, given that these events originate millions of miles away on a body whose physics are still only partly understood.

“We’ve been on this journey of pushing the limits of technology with NASA since 2023, delivering pioneering foundational AI models to gain an unprecedented understanding of our planet Earth,” said Juan Bernabé-Moreno, the IBM director in charge of the scientific collaboration with NASA.

“With Surya we have created the first foundation model to look the Sun in the eye and forecast its moods.”

This collaboration follows earlier work by IBM and NASA on AI-driven models for Earth and weather prediction, which led to the development of the Prithvi model that analyzed satellite data to aid studies of climate and atmospheric systems.

With Surya, they are attempting something similar for the Sun, turning years of high-resolution solar imagery from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory into a kind of digital twin.

Scientists hope the model will allow forecasts that go beyond whether a flare will happen.

Early reports suggest Surya can generate high-resolution visual predictions of flares up to two hours before they occur, doubling the lead time of traditional methods.

That would mean additional preparation time for astronauts and operators of critical infrastructure on Earth.

To build Surya, researchers processed nine years of imagery from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, which captures the Sun every 12 seconds at multiple wavelengths.

They employed a long-short vision transformer with spectral gating to manage the immense data load.

The model was trained not only to analyze current conditions but to infer what future observations would look like, testing its accuracy against real data.

“We want to give Earth the longest lead time possible,” said Andrés Muñoz-Jaramillo, a solar physicist at the Southwest Research Institute and a lead scientist on the project.

“Our hope is that the model has learned all the critical processes behind our star’s evolution through time so that we can extract actionable insights.”

Like other large language models and AI tools, Surya raises questions about whether its outputs should be treated as discovery or as augmentation of human expertise.

However, its backers emphasize automation and efficiency, pointing to a claimed 16% improvement in flare classification accuracy.

Still, forecasting remains far from certain, as the Sun’s activity involves many processes that remain poorly understood.

While Surya is described as a step toward better anticipation of solar threats, researchers are careful not to present it as a final answer.

Instead, they frame it as a bridge that may help scientists work with massive data more effectively.

As with any AI writer or LLM, its predictions are limited by the data it has been trained on and the assumptions built into its design.

You might also like

• Check out the best AI phones on the market
• Here is our list of the best AI website builders on the web
• AI in the workplace: the legal risks businesses can’t afford to ignore

• Workers between 22-25 years old seem to be most affected by AI
• Software development and customer service are highly affected
• Roles subject to higher automation are most at risk

A new paper by researchers at Stanford University has uncovered six truths about AI’s effects on the workforce, and it might not be so good for younger workers.

The data shows that younger workers, aged 22-25, in the most AI-exposed jobs have seen substantial declines in employment since late 2022 – this includes roles like software development and customer support.

This, the researchers say, has led to stagnant youth employment overall despite total US employment rates continuing to rise.

AI could be taking younger workers’ jobs

By July 2025, for example, employment for software developers in this age group was down nearly 20% compared with late 2022. On the whole, employment in the most AI-exposed roles declined by around 6% for this young demographic, but older workers (defined as 35-49) saw a 6-9% increase.

The Stanford paper goes some way to explaining why youth employment has been relatively flat despite some overall national growth.

Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen – the researchers behind the paper – go one sterp further by splitting AI into two distinct categories – automation and augmentation.

Younger workers were most affected by AI as automation, which substitutes tasks and leads to declines in entry-level jobs.

In contrast, older workers were more likely to be affected by AI as augmentation, where it supports human work. In this case, the researchers saw no decline, and sometimes even growth.

They found employment rates to be hit harder than wages in most cases, with headcount reductions more likely to occur than pay cuts. Already this calendar year, the tech industry has seen over 81,000 layoffs, though this is down from a 2023 high of 264,000+ (for the full year).

However, the paper suggests that all hope may not be lost, pointing to previous trends such as the IT revolution that “ultimately led to robust growth in employment and real wages following physical and human capital adjustments.”

With that in mind, it’s possible that AI could indeed enhance the labor market all-round, but only after an initial period of turbulence that affects lower-skilled workers disproportionately.

You might also like

• AI really is cutting out entry-level jobs for human workers, study claims
• Prepare for the future with the best online learning platforms
• Need a change? We’ve listed the best job sites

• Geekom A9 Mega launches on Kickstarter with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor
• Compact CNC aluminum chassis with dual USB4 ports, extensive connectivity, and strong cooling
• Supports up to 128GB memory and 8TB SSD storage for AI workloads

Geekom has announced the A9 Mega, a compact mini PC powered by AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor.

For those keeping track, this is the 20th product so far to feature this 16-core, 32-thread Strix Halo chip, and we’re still waiting for Dell to show us what it could do.

Geekom is bringing the A9 Mega to market via Kickstarter. Pricing is planned to start around $1,899, and although Geekom is an established name, backers should be aware that crowdfunding is not without its risks.

Plenty of ports

If you prefer to wait until the product arrives in Geekom’s store, there’s a good chance it may not cost too much more than the Kickstarter price, as the company often discounts its products shortly after launch. For example, the Geekom A9 Max, which runs an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370, is usually priced at $1,299 but is currently available for $999.

The A9 Mega’s CNC-machined aluminum body measures 171x171x71mm. Inside, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 includes Radeon 8060S graphics and an XDNA 2 NPU capable of 126 TOPS.

With support for up to 128GB of LPDDR5X 8000MHz memory, the integrated GPU can act as an accelerator with a large shared pool for AI models such as Stable Diffusion or LLaMA.

The system can house two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs, providing up to 8TB of storage.

Cooling is managed by IceBlast 5.0, which uses dual fans, copper heat pipes, and thermal controls to sustain a 120W TDP.

Geekom says the CPU, GPU, and NPU can run at peak simultaneously without throttling, and wireless support includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Connectivity is what you might expect for a system of this size. The front includes two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C for data, an SD card slot, and a power button with integrated fingerprint sensor.

On the back, there are two USB4 Type-C ports supporting 40Gbps with DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, two 2.5Gb Ethernet jacks, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 2.0, a 3.5mm headset jack, and DC power input.

The A9 Mega comes preloaded with Windows 11 Pro and is compatible with Linux, as Geekom is positioning it as an alternative to traditional workstations and Apple’s Mac Studio.

While details on broader availability remain unknown, the A9 Mega mini PC looks like a capable option for compact AI workloads and creative use cases.

(Image credit: Geekom)You might also like

• These are the best mobile workstations around right now
• And these are the best workstations available today
• Nearly 2 million people watched this spellbinding video of a mini PC being built

• A couple of Lenovo's concept products have been leaked on X
• One is a laptop with a screen that rotates into portrait mode
• The other is a self-adjusting laptop stand that seemingly uses AI to position the notebook for optimal ergonomics

Lenovo is apparently set to show off a new concept laptop at the IFA show next week which features a screen that can be rotated into a portrait position, along with an innovative laptop stand.

Lenovo has a habit of showing off concept devices at trade shows, some of which are precursors to shipping products -- a la the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 w/ rollable display -- while others will never see the light of day. At next week's IFA/Innovation Week, that concept will be a… pic.twitter.com/PMIJdowgHGAugust 28, 2025

As The Verge reports, according to renown leaker Evan Blass, the laptop is known as 'Project Pivo' (which is an internal codename) as per a post on X.

As you can see, the screen rotates independently of the lid, so you can twist it around 90-degrees so that it's upright in portrait mode. Presumably there's some slick mechanism to facilitate this movement, but obviously we don't get any clues as to what; just an image and basic explanation of the concept.

Blass also provides us with a glimpse of 'Project Ballet' from Lenovo, which is an AI-powered laptop stand, apparently. The leaker explains that the AI taps the laptop's internal sensors - microphone, camera, and more besides - to work out the user's position relative to the device and stand, then adjusts the positioning of the notebook appropriately.

(Image credit: Evan Blass / Lenovo)Analysis: An improbable duo - or a perfect combo?

I really like the idea of the laptop stand - this is AI fine-tuning the ergonomics of your laptop usage in real-time.

However, the concept is one thing, the execution entirely another. And there's clearly the possibility for a self-adjusting notebook stand to get things wrong and become extremely annoying.

The rotating screen laptop looks pretty nifty too, but this is rather a niche product. How many people really need to spin their screen round into a portrait orientation? Not that many, but of course it can be useful for some folks (coders, maybe writers, or graphic designers perhaps).

What worries me about these concepts that introduce fancy mechanisms is that those moving parts represent a lot more potential for stuff going wrong with your notebook. And, say, if your screen ends up stuck at a 65-degree angle midway between portrait and landscape; that's going to be no fun. Still, maybe the AI laptop stand will be able to fix all the wonky ergonomics for you - perhaps that's Lenovo's grand masterplan here?

In all seriousness, as Blass points out, a lot of laptop concepts are punted about and never realized, and that may well be the case with these ideas. Some of them do make the cut, though, like the ThinkBook laptop with a rollable screen which was released.

Hopefully we'll get a better idea of how these two fresh innovations might work at IFA next week, where TechRadar will be in attendance, furnishing you with all the pivotal developments - rotating laptop screens included.

You may also like

• The best laptop deals you can get right now
• If Windows 12 is anything like this concept, I'd switch from Windows 11 (or 10) in a heartbeat
• Microsoft promises to crack one of the biggest problems with Windows 11: slow performance

PC gaming giant Valve has started to bow to the UK’s Online Safety Act by requiring Steam users to verify their age with a credit card in order to access games with mature content.

“In order to access Steam store pages for mature content games as well as their associated community hubs, you need to be logged into an active user account and explicitly opt-in through the account settings page.” Steam’s Support page details. "For UK users, this opt-in process requires age verification. Your UK Steam user account is considered age verified for as long as a valid credit card is stored on the account.”

The Online Safety Act stems from a goal to prevent children from seeing inappropriate, sexual, or generally mature content across a myriad of online platforms and services. As such, users of services and sites that host mature content, even if not exclusively so, need to verify that they are 18 years of age or older.

Often this requires things like a facial scan or credit card details, which privacy-centric people might be concerned about parting with, given verification tools can be delivered via third-party organizations with their own rules on data collection and use. Notably, a credit card is asked for as in the UK you need to be 18 years old to apply for one.

“Having the credit card stored as a payment method acts as an additional deterrent against circumventing age verification by sharing a single Steam user account among multiple persons,” noted Valve.

While I understand the need for such verification, and do hope that it will protect young people from some of the more unsavory content one can find online if so inclined, as a 38-year-old Steam user, it’s a minor annoyance and another hurdle to hop when logging into the gaming platform on different PCs or devices.

It’s also a bit annoying as there are still people who don’t have credit cards; for example, I only got one that I actually use back last year.

Protecting privacy

For people like me who can be a little iffy about handing over credit card details, Valve’s process is to have the credit card stored as a payment method so it won’t be using an off-platform third-party verification service, which should mean your credit card details are kept secure.

“The data processed in the verification process is identical to that of the millions of other Steam users who make purchases or store their payment details for convenience,” said Valve. “The verification process therefore provides no information about a user's content preferences to payment providers or other third parties.”

So this makes me feel a little more comfortable with the whole thing, and should hopefully be a one-and-done process. I’ve become so used to how easy Steam is to use from making secure payment to logging in via the mobile app, so I do hope this adapting to the Online Safety Act won’t erode that feeling of ease.

It’ll be interesting to see if other countries follow the UK’s example or if Valve decides to roll out such verification for all users and a one-stop-shop way to allow ‘safe’ access to mature content. I guess time will tell.

You might also like

• A reliable leaker claims that there will be a PlayStation 6 handheld with one of my favorite Nintendo Switch 2 features
• Here are the three biggest things we learned from the Hollow Knight: Silksong release date trailer
• Final Fantasy 14 director issues warning about the use of mods that may 'infringe upon others', says NSFW add-ons could lead to legal troubles by regulators in certain countries

• SK Telecom suffered a data breach that was discovered in April 2025
• It affected roughly 27 million people
• The company was fined for it, and will need to make significant changes to its operations

SK Telecom (SKT), one of the biggest telecommunications services providers in South Korea, was fined almost $100 million for failing to protect user data.

In April 2025, the company discovered a malware breach that allowed threat actors to lurk within its systems for years. Some researchers even claim the attack started in August 2021.

The miscreants targeted SKT’s Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and other critical infrastructure, exposing sensitive subscriber data, including USIM authentication keys (KI), International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, IMEI device identifiers, phone numbers, email addresses, and possibly other personal data.

"Very weak condition"

Approximately 27 million people were affected by the breach.

Now, Reuters reports that the government-run Personal Information Protection Commission issued a statement, confirming the fine of about 134 billion won ($96.53 million) for “neglecting its duty to take safety measures” and for “delays in notifying the leak to customers”.

The statement also claims SKT’s systems were in a “very weak condition” which allowed threat actors to access the company’s intranet. There were no passwords, or other safety measures, defending the servers from outside influence, and operating systems were outdated and running without the latest security patches.

Besides being forced to pay the fine, the company will also have to “strengthen safety rules on information protection” and revamp its governance.

Responding to a Reuters inquiry, SK Telecom said it “felt a grave responsibility” and will make protecting customer information a “top priority”.

In response, it launched an “Information Security Innovation Plan”, that includes implementing zero-trust architecture, expanding encryption, forming a red team, elevating the CISO role to report directly to the CEO, and adding cybersecurity experts to the board.

Customers received free USIM card replacements, and were offered 50% off August subscription fees. Furthermore, whoever wanted to cancel their contract prematurely was allowed to do so without extra fees.

Via Reuters

You might also like

• Criminals are impersonating a popular online PDF converter service to trick users into downloading malware
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Minisforum's new mini workstation is powered by AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and Radeon graphics
• MS-S1 Max includes dual USB4 v2 ports offering 80Gbps plus dual 10Gb networking
• Tiny powerhouse supports PCIe GPU expansion and high efficiency 320W integrated PSU

Our favorite mini PC maker, Minisforum, has unveiled its forthcoming mini workstation, the MS-S1 Max.

Like a growing number of mini PCs, the new release is built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, part of the Strix Halo family, offering 16 Zen 5 cores and integrated Radeon 8060S graphics.

What’s interesting, however, is the processor here will reportedly run up to 160W, which is higher than most Strix Halo mini PCs, which peak at 120W. To keep temperatures under control, the system uses a dual-fan cooling design paired with six heat pipes.

Dual USB4 v2 ports

There are a couple of other features that set the MS-S1 Max apart. It includes a full PCIe x16 slot, allowing users to install a discrete GPU. This means the system can be configured as a compact workstation or scaled for AI workloads that require more power.

The MS-S1 Max also sports dual USB4 v2 ports, each capable of 80Gbps transfer speeds. This puts it on par with Thunderbolt 5 in terms of bandwidth while keeping the familiar USB-C form factor.

Alongside this, Minisforum includes dual 10Gb Ethernet ports for high-speed networking.

Power is handled by an internal 320W high-efficiency supply that is certified for safety. Since it is integrated, users only need a single cable connection, keeping setup simple.

The chassis design supports tool-free access, with a slide-out construction that makes upgrades and maintenance much easier - something we always look for in a good mini PC.

Minisforum says that the MS-S1 Max can work in desktop setups or as part of rack-mounted clusters, allowing multiple units to be connected for shared computing tasks.

The company notes that the MS-S1 Max is designed for AI workloads. It is described as supporting large-scale models up to 109B parameters.

Not all specifications have been revealed - there’s no mention of memory or storage capacity in the promotional material, although we’ve seen hints regarding a possible 128GB AI Max+ 395 beast previously, which is likely to be this one.

There’s also no word at the moment with regards to pricing or global availability.

Via Videocardz

(Image credit: Minisforum)You might also like

• These are the best business laptops around right now
• And these are the best workstations available today
• There are 14 AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 mini PCs in the world right now, this is where to buy them

• Surfshark has been hit by a class action lawsuit over alleged "illegal" auto-renewal fees
• A Californian customer accused Surfshark of automatically enrolling him in renewal without his consent
• Most popular VPN providers employ similar auto-renewal systems – a practice lawyers allege to go against California's consumer law

A Californian customer has dragged Surfshark into court, accusing the VPN provider of charging him allegedly "illegal" auto-renewal fees.

Plaintiff Arvin Garcia filed a class action lawsuit against Surfshark in California's Central District Court on July 17, arguing that the VPN firm enrolled him in three one-year-long plan renewals without his consent. Garcia has brought the case forward for himself and all other California consumers who happened to be charged illegal auto-renewal fees.

Despite a handful of exceptions, the majority of the best VPNs on the market operate their subscriptions according to similar auto-renewal systems. Two more providers, NordVPN and ExpressVPN, are, in fact, facing similar complaints in the US right now.

Is Surfshark breaching California's law?

(Image credit: Unsplash / Tingey Injury Law Firm)

As stated in the lawsuit, Garcia purchased a two-year subscription for the virtual private network (VPN) service in May 2020, believing he was making a one-time purchase.

After the plan expired, however, "unbeknownst to him and without his consent, Surfshark enrolled him in an automatically renewing plan," reads the suit.

Surfshark supposedly charged Garcia for yearly renewals in May of 2022, 2023, and 2024 – automatic charges that, according to the plaintiff's lawyers, "were illegal and should be refunded."

Specifically, lawyers argue that Surfshark is in breach of its obligations under California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL). The law requires companies adopting auto-renewal payments to provide "clear and conspicuous" disclosures about the auto-renewal plan and obtain "affirmative consent" to enroll consumers. Surfshark, the lawsuit claims, violated these terms in "multiple ways."

Surfshark is also accused of breaching the False Advertising Law "by disseminating misleading advertisements concerning the automatically renewing nature of Surfshark plans," wrote lawyers.

This July 2025 lawsuit follows similar accusations brought against Surfshark in 2024, always under California law.

TechRadar has approached Sursfhark for comments, but we are still waiting for a response at the time of publication.

Should VPNs axe auto-renewal plans?

In 2022, Mullvad VPN decided to axe all recurring subscriptions in the name of users' privacy (Image credit: Getty Images)

Surfshark is far from being the first popular VPN provider to face legal troubles in the US over allegedly deceptive auto-renewal pricing.

ExpressVPN is also facing a class action in California right now, in fact, after being hit with a similar legal complaint in June 2025.

While NordVPN has been taken to Court over alleged "illegal and deceptive" auto-renewal practices in at least four US states so far.

The Wittels McInturff Palikovic law firm presented legal complaints on behalf of four former NordVPN customers since April 2024 – and now urges all NordVPN users who were charged for a subscription they did not want to come forward.

The same law firm has previously opened investigations into auto-enrollment practices against ExpressVPN, too, alongside Proton VPN and Private Internet Access (PIA). Yet, lawyers filed no lawsuit against these providers.

We have to wait to see what the judges will eventually decide, but these legal actions clearly signal that a change in how VPN firms manage their payment subscriptions may be needed. The question now is whether providers are willing to amend their business model and ditch auto-renewal plans for good.

You might also like

• International VPN Day: a privacy solution or "a loophole that needs closing" – here's what's at stake
• Surfshark makes waves with 70% faster speeds thanks to new FastTrack feature
• Proton sues Apple over "anti-competitive and illegal" policies