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Fireworks nights are full of pure magic. The bright, colorful explosions, loud whizzes, and the heavy smell of gunpowder in the air always make me feel like a kid again. They are also the perfect excuse to pull out your camera!

Last year, the iconic Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular over the Brooklyn Bridge reportedly cost $6 million. And for this historic 250th Independence Day on July 4, 2026, your own photos really could look a million bucks!

Taking pictures in low light, however, is no easy feat. Add in the complication of fast-paced explosions going off haphazardly and a tight time restriction, and capturing the perfect shot can feel stressful.

Fear not! I’ve compiled my favorite tips to help you take better photos of fireworks. Whether you shoot on a professional DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or plan to capture everything on your iPhone – I’ve got you covered.

1. Find a vantage point

(Image credit: Dan Mold)

Rather than shooting close up details of singular fireworks, it’s better instead, to include them in a wider landscape for extra context. You’ll only have a limited time to capture your shots before the fireworks display is over, so it pays dividends to do your research beforehand – try to figure out where the fireworks are going to be set off from and plan your shoot to make sure you can capture a wide landscape plus the fireworks in the sky above.

Some of the best vantage points for fireworks displays are well known and very popular so it can be well worth getting to the location well in advance of the display and setting up your gear to stake your claim in the best position before the crowds arrive.

2. Steady your camera or phone

For the best quality photos a dedicated camera such as an interchangeable mirrorless or DSLR camera is preferred. You’ll want to set up on a tripod to remove camera-shake caused by the vibrations picked up when shooting handheld. It’s also beneficial to switch off and disable any image stabilization your camera may have as this can actually introduce blur when your camera is locked off on a tripod as it might try to correct for motion that isn’t there.

Rather than trying to focus on each and every firework exploding, you’re best bet is to shoot a wider landscape and manually focus on something in the scene so that your camera isn’t struggling to autofocus on the fast action of a firework. If your scene has street lights in it, for example, use these as a guide to lock focus, thus preventing the camera from hunting in those high stakes split-second moments.

Apple’s latest iPhones automatically enable Night Mode in low light environments, as do most leading Android phones. While it is easier than ever to shoot handheld with recent phones, thanks to the latest and greatest image processing and stabilization tricks, for best results I'd still recommend using a tripod, fixing your phone to it with one of the best smartphone tripod adapters. Failing this, try to find a fence, railing or wall you can prop your phone up on to make it steadier.

3. Starting settings: DSLR & mirrorless cameras – the ‘card’ method

One of the best tricks to create incredible fireworks images is to use the ‘card’ method, for which you set your tripod-mounted DSLR / mirrorless camera to its bulb mode, in which the shutter is open for as long as the shutter button is held down. To minimize vibrations caused by your hand, you’ll want to use a tripod and plug in a shutter release cable to your camera, which allows you to keep the shutter open without directly touching the camera.

It’s called the ‘card’ method because you place a black piece of black card in front of the lens while the shutter is open. When a firework goes off you can quickly whip the card out of the way to expose for the firework and then cover the lens again.

It's possible to repeat this process multiple times for multiple fireworks, to build up a single exposure with lots of the best fireworks going off in it for a more impressive photo.

4. Starting settings: iPhone & Android – long exposure & burst modes

(Image credit: Dan Mold)

To capture an entire firework, with its long trail and then vibrant colorful burst when it explodes, go into your iPhone’s Live Photo mode and tweak the setting from Live to Long Exposure. To capture the split-second action with better sharpness your best bet is to use your iPhone’s Burst Mode and slide the shutter button to the left to take a brace of photos in fast succession. I’ll show you how to blend your best shots together in Photoshop in my final tip.

Android smartphones may also have something similar to the iPhone, for example my Android has a Light Painting picture mode which extends the shutter time in a similar way to the Long Exposure mode on the iPhone, while recent Pixel phones have a long exposure setting. Camera apps in Android phones vary between manufacturers, do the best settings will vary depending on the model. You should be able to find tips specific to your model through a simple internet search.

5. Blend your best fireworks together

To make your fireworks photos more impressive, it can be a good idea to blend the best fireworks into a single image with editing software — I recommend Adobe Photoshop or, if shooting on a phone, apps such as Photoleap, Snapseed or Adobe Photoshop Express.

If you use a mirrorless or DSLR camera I highly recommend shooting in the RAW file format as this will provide much more exposure information – essential for editing images especially in low light situations like a fireworks display. Select and edit all of your RAW files at once to make sure your edits are consistent, then stack them all together in Adobe Bridge using Tools>Photoshop>Load files into Photoshop Layers.

Now select all of the fireworks images in the layers panel and go to Edit>Auto Align Layers, to make sure all of the pictures are lined up perfectly (which only works if you have a consistent landmark in the frame, hence my advice for shooting wide and including the landscape).

Then in the layers panel, change each of the firework blending modes from Normal to Screen and you’ll see them become blended with the layer below. You may also want to add a Layer Mask and mask off each layer so only the firework is blended with the layer below and not the landscape – you can mask off unwanted areas with a soft black brush tool.

Et voila! You now have a single scene with all of your best firework explosions lighting up the night sky.

You can find more software options in the photography sections of our best Android apps, best free Android apps, best iPhone apps and best free iPhone apps guides.

(Image credit: Getty Images / Gary Hershorn)

Hayao Miyazaki has been at the helm of Studio Ghibli, the legendary Japanese animation studio, in one way or another for 40 years – now serving as honorary chairman and continuing to direct feature films. Over the last few decades, he's seen a dramatic change in culture and technology while sticking to his traditionalist guns.

The death of creativity

Miyazaki is known for aggressively high standards and a dedication to the craft of animation.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

For years, he has overseen teams of artists hand-painting beautiful visuals from films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away frame by frame. His reaction to learning that artists on his team were experimenting with AI was pretty much as you'd expect.

Filmed speaking to his team during the filming of the 2016 documentary Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki, the animator was unequivocal in his condemnation of the use of AI for an experiment during the production of the short film Boro the Caterpillar.

Rage against the machine

Miyazaki shared his thoughts in this documentary a year before Google released the seminal paper on the transformer architecture that now underpins today's dominant AI models – and six years before OpenAI first launched ChatGPT.

Despite airing his views so bluntly, nearly a decade on, OpenAI's image generator became embroiled in controversy when thousands of people took part in a viral craze that involved generating Ghibli-esque graphics within seconds.

The trend raised serious concerns about the role that AI plays in the modern creative landscape. While it was used primarily for fun in this instance, it's easy to see how executives may see the time-saving potential of automation tools and the allure of removing the blood, sweat, and toil that humans put into their creative endeavors.

• NASA's AI medical tool works where Earth-based doctors simply cannot reach
• Deep space has no signal — so NASA built its own offline doctor
• RamaLama runs AI models the same way containers run software — predictably

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) currently rely heavily on Earth-based doctors whenever medical issues emerge hundreds of kilometres overhead.

That arrangement works reasonably well in low Earth orbit, where communication delays remain short enough for near real-time consultation sessions.

It becomes far less practical once crews travel beyond Earth orbit, where signals can take minutes rather than seconds to arrive.

An AI doctor built to work without an internet connection

Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston are now testing a clinical decision support system called Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant, or CMO-DA.

The system is designed to help astronauts diagnose and treat medical conditions during deep space missions, where real-time communication with Earth-based doctors could be limited or entirely impossible.

Powering it is RamaLama, a Red Hat-backed open source tool built to simplify how developers run and serve AI models across diverse hardware environments.

According to Red Hat, RamaLama treats AI models like container images, running them in isolated, security-first environments using Open Container Initiative-compliant containers that are portable and predictable across hardware.

This approach allows the CMO-DA to perform what the team calls multimodal inference — processing both large language models for complex medical reasoning and Vision Language Models for image-based symptom analysis.

The system can therefore evaluate both written symptom descriptions and visual data without requiring any connection to a terrestrial cloud server.

That offline capability is not a convenience feature but a mission-critical requirement, since deep space communication delays make cloud dependency genuinely dangerous for crew health outcomes.

Testing is currently running on HPE hardware — specifically the terrestrial twin of the Spaceborne Computer already aboard the ISS — giving researchers a reliable Earth-based replica of the actual deployment environment.

By using open-source tools throughout, NASA researchers have built a system that is reproducible and auditable, which the team describes as essential for human safety in mission-critical environments.

From Earth testing to the ISS and beyond

Once the terrestrial testing phase is complete, the CMO-DA will be demonstrated to NASA leadership for evaluation of further deployment aboard the International Space Station.

The next iteration of the system will integrate Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI, known as RHEL AI.

This is to provide a stable, hardened foundation for scaling and managing containerized AI applications in remote and extreme environments.

RamaLama itself was built with a stated goal of making AI "boring" — meaning reliable, predictable, and unglamorous in the best possible sense for mission-critical applications.

The same architecture being tested for astronaut health could eventually serve as a blueprint for delivering medical support in the most remote areas on Earth.

Whether the CMO-DA eventually evolves into something resembling Star Trek's handheld Tricorder remains unknown.

What is known is that an open source AI tool is already diagnosing symptoms aboard a replica of hardware currently orbiting Earth.

Audeze's own Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator (SLAM, for short) tech has been a game-changer for the premium head-fi brand.

It's seen a superb boost for all its most recent lines of headphones and gaming headsets that have seen an enhancement to bass, a reduction in distortion, and a mastering of the pressure equalization within a headphone's architecture.

As Audeze describes it on its website, at its core, SLAM is a collection of "precisely engineered channels seamlessly integrated into the ring that connects the ear pads to the drivers."

This physically manifests in headphones as a "structure that you put between the ear part and the transducer that resonates," according to Audeze's chief technical officer, Dragoslav Colich ('Dr C' for short).

These channels relieve air pressure buildup — the air has somewhere to go — and also help with low-frequency response, to the point where it enhances bass significantly. It's proved so good and transformational for the brand; it's one of the biggest upgrades on offer in the Audeze Maxwell 2 over the original Maxwell, for example.

I started this for one primary reason; to relieve the pressure on headphones so we're not breaking diaphragms — that was the first objective"

But how did it come to be? Well, basically by accident, as I found out when speaking to Dr C last month when I visited Audeze's HQ in California.

"Well, I started this for one primary reason [and that] was to relieve the pressure on headphones, so we're not breaking diaphragms — that was the first objective," he began to tell me.

This is the characteristic of the SLAM channels funneling air out of the headphone and thus relieving pressure within; imagine the feeling of pushing your palm down on a headphone's ear cup, was the comparison Dr C gave me during our chat.

"Then when we were playing with these things, we kind of found out that we can tune these channels to resonate at low frequencies, and it was a really weird discovery."

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

It was this accidental finding that then led to a further 'SLAM-dunk' after Audeze discovered what these channels could do when sculpted purposefully: "We didn't plan for it, but I just [discovered by] surprise that when we shape the channels correctly [in terms of] cross section and length, we can tune the headphone chamber ... to whatever we want."

As a result, an even bigger 'SLAM-dunk' was the one-two punch the discovery offered: fixing reliability while tangibly changing and improving the sound output of Audeze headphones.

"What that does [is] basically solve the problem with reliability; diaphragms are not breaking anymore, because when you push it, basically air goes through these channels, there's no high pressure inside, but then we ended up having [a way] that we can tune the bass to get more output, pretty much for free — and it's not just bass, it translates into mid-range and high frequencies, [as] it's all connected to each other," he said, adding, "So, kill a couple of things at the same time: get more reliability, and we're tuning the headphones correctly for low bass extension."

And so SLAM was born. What started out as a means to stop diaphragms breaking "actually turned out into something spectacular," says Dr C, and from my ongoing use with the Audeze Maxwell 2 gaming headset as my everyday driver, and a new set of Audeze MM-520 headphones kept within arm's reach too, I'm inclined to agree.

• Comet Q’s controls iPhones remotely without installing anything on the device
• Hardware-level access survives screen locks, sleep states, and network interruptions
• One USB-C cable replaces cables normally required for traditional KVM setups

GL.iNet, the Hong Kong-based networking company behind a range of popular OpenWrt routers, has revealed the Comet Q, what it says is as the world's first browser-based, pocket-sized remote-control device built specifically for USB-C devices, covering laptops, phones, tablets, and Mac minis.

What separates the device, also known as the GL-RMQ1, from conventional remote desktop software is that it operates at the hardware level, meaning it keeps working even when the controlled device sleeps, locks, or loses its network connection.

Its control runs through a single USB-C cable carrying video, data, and power simultaneously, eliminating the HDMI dongles and USB hubs that traditional KVMs demand. A built-in USB-C passthrough port keeps the controlled device charged throughout every session, and its video output reaches up to 2K at 60 fps with two-way audio.

A single cable that replaces an entire KVM setup

The Comet Q works with iPhones from the iPhone 15 onward, excluding the iPhone 16e and later budget models, alongside iPads and a wide range of Android phones and tablets, provided their USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode.

GL.iNet claims the Comet Q is the first KVM solution ever built specifically for mobile devices, a category that previously had no dedicated remote control hardware at all.

Accessing the device requires no downloads, as any browser pointed to glkvm.com delivers full control without requiring account creation.

The GLKVM app, available across Windows, macOS, the App Store, and Google Play, handles touch gestures more precisely when controlling from another mobile device.

The Comet Q includes a 1.8-inch circular touchscreen, which makes initial setup possible without needing to open a laptop.

Cross-OS control with security embedded directly into the hardware

One of the more unusual aspects of the Comet Q is that the operating systems involved no longer need to match at all.

Users can remotely operate an iPhone from a Windows browser, control a MacBook from an Android tablet, or manage an iPad from a Linux device without complexity.

Wi-Fi credentials can also be preset before shipping, which means the person receiving it needs no technical knowledge to get started.

Developers can access testing hardware remotely, while IT teams can supervise multiple devices from a single interface without remaining physically present.

Security measures operate at the hardware level through support for WireGuard, Tailscale, and ZeroTier, alongside optional two-factor authentication.

GL.iNet also says that remote sessions terminate immediately after the dongle is disconnected, leaving no lingering background services or residual access permissions.

The Comet Q retails at $129.90 but is currently available on Kickstarter for $89, a 31% discount.

As of the time of writing, it has raised over $1 million from 6,628 backers against a $10,000 goal with just over two weeks remaining on the campaign.

Disclaimer: We do not recommend or endorse any crowdfunding project. All crowdfunding campaigns carry inherent risks, including the possibility of delays, changes, or non-delivery of products. Potential backers should carefully evaluate the details and proceed at their own discretion.

I spotted a lot of laptop deals on Amazon today - and I need to tell you this: So many of them are equipped with an impossibly sluggish 4GB RAM and vague 'Intel Processor' that aren't worth even a discount price if you're buying a new work laptop or one for the back to school season.

One laptop that I do fully recommend is the Dell 15 Laptop for $550 (was $640) at Amazon. This one of my favorite laptops for professionals and students, and it has all the right components for most users, including an Intel Core i5 chip and 16GB of memory.

This setup is going to make a lot more sense than buying an ultra-cheap laptop if you don't want to get frustrated by slow machines struggling to load a few browser tabs and office software. As we've warned before, avoid Windows laptops with Intel N-series, Celeron, Pentium, older AMD A-series, or Ryzen 3 3200U/3250U processors. I'd also recommend buying a model with at least 16GB of RAM, as 8GB is no longer enough for most people in 2026.

Today's best Dell laptop deal

A 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz display, Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of memory, and a fast 512GB SSD make this an excellent everyday laptop for work, study, multitasking, and entertainment.View Deal

At the heart of the laptop is Intel's 13th Gen Core i5-1334U processor, which provides more than enough power for office work, web browsing, studying, and light creative tasks.

Paired with 16GB of DDR4 memory, it has plenty of headroom for juggling multiple applications and browser tabs without ever feeling sluggish.

A fast 512GB SSD keeps Windows 11 Home running problem free, helping the laptop boot quickly and providing plenty of free space for documents, photos, applications, and everyday files.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display has a 120Hz refresh rate which makes scrolling feel noticeably smoother than a standard 60Hz panel, while the anti-glare coating reduces distracting reflections when you're working near windows or under bright lighting.

Dell's ComfortView technology also helps reduce blue light emissions during long study or work sessions.

The full-size keyboard includes a dedicated numeric keypad for faster spreadsheet work and data entry, while the backlit keys make it easier to work in the evening or in dimly lit environments.

A lifted hinge also creates a more comfortable typing angle during extended sessions.

Modern connectivity is covered with built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and to round things off, Dell includes a one-year onsite service plan, meaning support comes to your home or workplace if a hardware issue can't be resolved remotely.

Students also receive a free bundle worth more than $500, including one year of Microsoft 365 Premium, one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a customizable Xbox Wireless Controller. A valid college .edu email address is required to redeem the offer.

For more top choices, we've also tested the best business laptops and the best Dell laptops.

• See all laptop deals at Amazon

There are a lot of monitors out there these days, and every one of them is touting how great it is in one way or another. Whether that is visual clarity or resolution, aspect ratio, custom zoning, colors, anything like that.

However, what isn't said is that even though there are iPads that you can buy with tandem OLED displays, most people in a business context or professional context just don't need that and probably don't even understand what they're looking at, even if they had all of the monitors at their disposal. I'm saying this from experience as well. It's not just me saying that as a tech reviewer isolated in a box, but as somebody who procures monitors for a growing business.

I've had several people who, when trying to figure out what they want for a monitor, simply just say they want a 27-inch screen because that's what they're used to and that's all they need and want. I've set up several workstations with much nicer setups, only to see the settings toned down to the point where they are using it as is: a 27-inch HD monitor rather than a fantastic 4K display with color accuracy.

The USB-C feature adds a layer of simplicity to this monitor: instead of needing a dock or an HDMI plug-in, you can simply train your team to plug in their company laptop with a single USB-C cable. One-cable setups are super easy, and this monitor does that very, very well.

For those who need simple and those who don't need anything fancy, this may just be one of the perfect monitors that fits that gap, while every other monitor seems to be trying to push for the best of the best of the best in some other area that may or may not matter to the masses.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Price and Availability

The Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C S2725DC is widely available from Dell in all regions, as well as retailers such as Amazon. It retails for around $250 / £250.

For what you're getting, that feels like a phenomenal price to me. Especially when buying these out in bulk across multiple locations, offices, or similar setups.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the gate, the unboxing for this one is very similar to the last Dell 27" HD monitor that I tested. It's a very simple white box. Inside is just as simple. There is a monitor, a three-piece stand, and some included cables. The only difference is that this box includes a USB-C cable as well. That is actually a surprising length, making it long enough for you to route into a desk, pull away, or mount somewhere as well, if needed. I would have expected probably a meter or two, but this one seems to be quite a bit longer in a good way.

Once set up, I was able to plug in a test device via USB-C to confirm it had power. Then I tested it with all sorts of different devices that I had. I tested it on my MacBook, my iPad, another iPad, and my iPhone. I tested it with several other laptops and a couple of desktops, and all of them worked out great. This USB-C is quick and responsive. The screen looks sharp, and the few times that you need to use the OSD, it works well.

One thing worth noting on this is that the pop-out ports on the bottom actually work really well. Of course, they're not Thunderbolt 5 speeds, but they're fast enough to get the work done you may need to do on this: charge quick devices, transfer some smaller files, things like that. Of course, it doesn't need to have crazy high-speed transfer rates, because that's not the design of this monitor. That would be like trying to cram 57 cup holders into a Ferrari. That's just not necessary, because that's not what that vehicle is designed for. Same thing here. Why would Dell spend money and time and resources on crazy high-speed USB-C on a device that isn't designed to work that way?

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Design & Build Quality

I've already mentioned it a little bit, but the design is simple. It's clean, and it's very work-friendly. This isn't the kind of monitor that's going to turn heads, and that's exactly what Dell was hoping for. This is the kind of monitor you would see on the desk of a data admin or an executive admin at a coworking space. Perhaps a hot desk scenario, maybe an accountant, account manager, or things of that nature.

The stand has some slight upgrades from past ones that I've griped about. Instead of a cable pass-through through the base, it actually has a little clip on the back. It's still not perfect, but it seems a little clearer and cleaner to use if you opt not to use the built-in stand. One thing to note is that the monitor is extremely light, so you will need to aggressively adjust your monitor arm to compensate for the reduced weight, which is not usually the case. Usually you have to account for heavier monitors.

There is an OSD joystick for selecting inputs, adjusting USB-C settings, or even choosing the original language when first setting up the monitor. Lastly, I do appreciate that this is a USB-C monitor, as that one-cable setup without needing another dock, another power, or another place to put a docking station really helps clean things up.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

This monitor has functioned well for everyday work. I’ll be the first to note that it wouldn't be ideal for color-accurate creative work. Nor would it be great for those who try to fit everything on their display at once, expecting a high-resolution screen to help by scaling. It’s not for video editors, photo editors, creatives, gamers, or those.

But for people who work on spreadsheets, project management, emails, web-based content, writing documents, working with AI, perhaps even basic coding, and things in this realm, those who don’t have a specialty niche when it comes to displays, this will work great. I immediately thought of my friends who work in finance and Insurance. These guys would kill for a monitor like this, as it does exactly what they need without any fluff. It’s not going to take their time to set up and understand.

Well, of course, the single USB-C is a huge benefit for this monitor. It's also super great for IT professionals who need a simple setup to run a server or plug into a server room or something like that. Other devices can be plugged into the HDMI ports, and then when they walk in with their laptop, they can plug in with USB-C. You could, of course, also plug in other devices via USB-C, like desktops, but that would also be just as easy to plug in an HDMI cable. That's not necessarily a huge selling point.

One of the many things that USB-C can transfer is audio, and while this monitor does have speakers, do not expect them to be anything fancy. You can potentially get away with some background audio, maybe some lo-fi beats on Spotify or a virtual meeting, but I wouldn't expect these to be anything crazy or clear. They'll get the job done in some scenarios, but not in many.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

All in all, I think it's pretty clear that this is a simple monitor for simple needs for those who don't have a niche need. Nor do they want to spend what some people spend on a car on a monitor.

Monitor technology has gotten incredible. I would know. I've tested most monitors out right now, and while I do love a fancy monitor, there is something to be said for a simple one that is just plug-and-play, without any bells and whistles, that still costs a very reasonable $200-$250.

There's still plenty of demand for that kind of display, and Dell putting out this monitor shows exactly that.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more top-performers, we've tested the best business monitors.

There are a lot of monitors out there these days, and every one of them is touting how great it is in one way or another. Whether that is visual clarity or resolution, aspect ratio, custom zoning, colors, anything like that.

However, what isn't said is that even though there are iPads that you can buy with tandem OLED displays, most people in a business context or professional context just don't need that and probably don't even understand what they're looking at, even if they had all of the monitors at their disposal. I'm saying this from experience as well. It's not just me saying that as a tech reviewer isolated in a box, but as somebody who procures monitors for a growing business.

I've had several people who, when trying to figure out what they want for a monitor, simply just say they want a 27-inch screen because that's what they're used to and that's all they need and want. I've set up several workstations with much nicer setups, only to see the settings toned down to the point where they are using it as is: a 27-inch HD monitor rather than a fantastic 4K display with color accuracy.

The USB-C feature adds a layer of simplicity to this monitor: instead of needing a dock or an HDMI plug-in, you can simply train your team to plug in their company laptop with a single USB-C cable. One-cable setups are super easy, and this monitor does that very, very well.

For those who need simple and those who don't need anything fancy, this may just be one of the perfect monitors that fits that gap, while every other monitor seems to be trying to push for the best of the best of the best in some other area that may or may not matter to the masses.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Price and Availability

The Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C S2725DC is widely available from Dell in all regions, as well as retailers such as Amazon. It retails for around $250 / £250.

For what you're getting, that feels like a phenomenal price to me. Especially when buying these out in bulk across multiple locations, offices, or similar setups.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the gate, the unboxing for this one is very similar to the last Dell 27" HD monitor that I tested. It's a very simple white box. Inside is just as simple. There is a monitor, a three-piece stand, and some included cables. The only difference is that this box includes a USB-C cable as well. That is actually a surprising length, making it long enough for you to route into a desk, pull away, or mount somewhere as well, if needed. I would have expected probably a meter or two, but this one seems to be quite a bit longer in a good way.

Once set up, I was able to plug in a test device via USB-C to confirm it had power. Then I tested it with all sorts of different devices that I had. I tested it on my MacBook, my iPad, another iPad, and my iPhone. I tested it with several other laptops and a couple of desktops, and all of them worked out great. This USB-C is quick and responsive. The screen looks sharp, and the few times that you need to use the OSD, it works well.

One thing worth noting on this is that the pop-out ports on the bottom actually work really well. Of course, they're not Thunderbolt 5 speeds, but they're fast enough to get the work done you may need to do on this: charge quick devices, transfer some smaller files, things like that. Of course, it doesn't need to have crazy high-speed transfer rates, because that's not the design of this monitor. That would be like trying to cram 57 cup holders into a Ferrari. That's just not necessary, because that's not what that vehicle is designed for. Same thing here. Why would Dell spend money and time and resources on crazy high-speed USB-C on a device that isn't designed to work that way?

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Design & Build Quality

I've already mentioned it a little bit, but the design is simple. It's clean, and it's very work-friendly. This isn't the kind of monitor that's going to turn heads, and that's exactly what Dell was hoping for. This is the kind of monitor you would see on the desk of a data admin or an executive admin at a coworking space. Perhaps a hot desk scenario, maybe an accountant, account manager, or things of that nature.

The stand has some slight upgrades from past ones that I've griped about. Instead of a cable pass-through through the base, it actually has a little clip on the back. It's still not perfect, but it seems a little clearer and cleaner to use if you opt not to use the built-in stand. One thing to note is that the monitor is extremely light, so you will need to aggressively adjust your monitor arm to compensate for the reduced weight, which is not usually the case. Usually you have to account for heavier monitors.

There is an OSD joystick for selecting inputs, adjusting USB-C settings, or even choosing the original language when first setting up the monitor. Lastly, I do appreciate that this is a USB-C monitor, as that one-cable setup without needing another dock, another power, or another place to put a docking station really helps clean things up.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

This monitor has functioned well for everyday work. I’ll be the first to note that it wouldn't be ideal for color-accurate creative work. Nor would it be great for those who try to fit everything on their display at once, expecting a high-resolution screen to help by scaling. It’s not for video editors, photo editors, creatives, gamers, or those.

But for people who work on spreadsheets, project management, emails, web-based content, writing documents, working with AI, perhaps even basic coding, and things in this realm, those who don’t have a specialty niche when it comes to displays, this will work great. I immediately thought of my friends who work in finance and Insurance. These guys would kill for a monitor like this, as it does exactly what they need without any fluff. It’s not going to take their time to set up and understand.

Well, of course, the single USB-C is a huge benefit for this monitor. It's also super great for IT professionals who need a simple setup to run a server or plug into a server room or something like that. Other devices can be plugged into the HDMI ports, and then when they walk in with their laptop, they can plug in with USB-C. You could, of course, also plug in other devices via USB-C, like desktops, but that would also be just as easy to plug in an HDMI cable. That's not necessarily a huge selling point.

One of the many things that USB-C can transfer is audio, and while this monitor does have speakers, do not expect them to be anything fancy. You can potentially get away with some background audio, maybe some lo-fi beats on Spotify or a virtual meeting, but I wouldn't expect these to be anything crazy or clear. They'll get the job done in some scenarios, but not in many.

Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

All in all, I think it's pretty clear that this is a simple monitor for simple needs for those who don't have a niche need. Nor do they want to spend what some people spend on a car on a monitor.

Monitor technology has gotten incredible. I would know. I've tested most monitors out right now, and while I do love a fancy monitor, there is something to be said for a simple one that is just plug-and-play, without any bells and whistles, that still costs a very reasonable $200-$250.

There's still plenty of demand for that kind of display, and Dell putting out this monitor shows exactly that.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more top-performers, we've tested the best business monitors.

I spend a lot of time traveling for work, testing laptops, accessories, and other hardware, so I've become very selective about what earns a permanent place in my bag.

These five gadgets are the ones I reach for every trip because they solve real problems without adding much weight, and right now they're all reduced in price on Amazon.

The first thing I never leave home without is Anker's compact 10,000mAh power bank. It's small enough to slip into any bag yet has enough capacity to keep my iPhone 17 Pro and Dell 15 Laptop running through long flights, delayed trains, or full days away from a power outlet. Fast USB-C charging makes topping up devices quick and convenient.

My top business travel gear

A slim, lightweight 10,000mAh power bank with fast USB-C charging, capable of recharging smartphones multiple times. Its durable, scratch-resistant design, two-way USB-C port, and compact size make it ideal for travel and everyday use.View Deal

Create a secure private Wi-Fi network wherever you travel with this compact Wi-Fi 7 router. It supports up to 90 devices, offers VPN protection, multi-mode connectivity, and fast 2.5GbE wired networking for work and entertainment.View Deal

Expand your workspace anywhere with this ultra-slim 15.6-inch Full HD portable monitor. It features an IPS display, built-in adjustable stand, USB-C and HDMI connectivity, HDR support, and a protective sleeve for travel.View Deal

Enjoy quiet, distraction-free working with this compact Bluetooth mouse, featuring 90% quieter clicks, smooth optical tracking, an ambidextrous design, and up to 18 months of battery life for laptops, tablets, and desktops.View Deal

Transfer, edit, and back up files at speeds of up to 2,000MB/s with this rugged portable SSD. It offers 1TB of storage, hardware encryption, advanced thermal management, and broad compatibility with PCs, Macs, cameras, consoles, and smartphones.View Deal

Don't travel without these devices

Reliable internet is incredibly important for me, and while I'll often opt for an eSim on my phone, TP-Link's Roam 7 BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Portable Travel Router lets me create a secure private network from hotel, airport, or public Wi-Fi.

Built-in VPN support adds another layer of security when I'm working remotely or accessing sensitive files.

InnoView's 15.6" portable monitor is another essential piece of my travel setup. The Full HD IPS display gives me a second screen for editing, writing, or managing multiple applications at once, while the integrated stand and protective sleeve make it easy to pack and use anywhere.

I always stow Logitech's compact M240 Silent Bluetooth Mouse in my bag. It's useful for navigating my screen and silent clicks are welcome when working in cafés, airport lounges, or shared workspaces.

The long battery life means I rarely need to think about replacing batteries between trips.

Finally, I always carry a Samsung T9 Portable SSD. With transfer speeds reaching up to 2,000MB/s, it's ideal for backing up photos, moving large video files, or carrying projects between devices.

Its rugged construction, hardware encryption, and broad compatibility with laptops, desktops, cameras, and even smartphones make it one of the most useful accessories I own.

None of these products are particularly flashy, but every one of them has earned a place in my travel bag by making work easier, more secure, and more productive.

I spend a lot of time traveling for work, testing laptops, accessories, and other hardware, so I've become very selective about what earns a permanent place in my bag.

These five gadgets are the ones I reach for every trip because they solve real problems without adding much weight, and right now they're all reduced in price on Amazon.

The first thing I never leave home without is Anker's compact 10,000mAh power bank. It's small enough to slip into any bag yet has enough capacity to keep my iPhone 17 Pro and Dell 15 Laptop running through long flights, delayed trains, or full days away from a power outlet. Fast USB-C charging makes topping up devices quick and convenient.

My top business travel gear

A slim, lightweight 10,000mAh power bank with fast USB-C charging, capable of recharging smartphones multiple times. Its durable, scratch-resistant design, two-way USB-C port, and compact size make it ideal for travel and everyday use.View Deal

Create a secure private Wi-Fi network wherever you travel with this compact Wi-Fi 7 router. It supports up to 90 devices, offers VPN protection, multi-mode connectivity, and fast 2.5GbE wired networking for work and entertainment.View Deal

Expand your workspace anywhere with this ultra-slim 15.6-inch Full HD portable monitor. It features an IPS display, built-in adjustable stand, USB-C and HDMI connectivity, HDR support, and a protective sleeve for travel.View Deal

Enjoy quiet, distraction-free working with this compact Bluetooth mouse, featuring 90% quieter clicks, smooth optical tracking, an ambidextrous design, and up to 18 months of battery life for laptops, tablets, and desktops.View Deal

Transfer, edit, and back up files at speeds of up to 2,000MB/s with this rugged portable SSD. It offers 1TB of storage, hardware encryption, advanced thermal management, and broad compatibility with PCs, Macs, cameras, consoles, and smartphones.View Deal

Don't travel without these devices

Reliable internet is incredibly important for me, and while I'll often opt for an eSim on my phone, TP-Link's Roam 7 BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Portable Travel Router lets me create a secure private network from hotel, airport, or public Wi-Fi.

Built-in VPN support adds another layer of security when I'm working remotely or accessing sensitive files.

InnoView's 15.6" portable monitor is another essential piece of my travel setup. The Full HD IPS display gives me a second screen for editing, writing, or managing multiple applications at once, while the integrated stand and protective sleeve make it easy to pack and use anywhere.

I always stow Logitech's compact M240 Silent Bluetooth Mouse in my bag. It's useful for navigating my screen and silent clicks are welcome when working in cafés, airport lounges, or shared workspaces.

The long battery life means I rarely need to think about replacing batteries between trips.

Finally, I always carry a Samsung T9 Portable SSD. With transfer speeds reaching up to 2,000MB/s, it's ideal for backing up photos, moving large video files, or carrying projects between devices.

Its rugged construction, hardware encryption, and broad compatibility with laptops, desktops, cameras, and even smartphones make it one of the most useful accessories I own.

None of these products are particularly flashy, but every one of them has earned a place in my travel bag by making work easier, more secure, and more productive.

• Sony teased a new RX10 on its Instagram, writing 'The Wait is over'
• Its previous bridge camera was the RX10 IV from 2017, which is discontinued
• This latest in the series will arrive on July 9 at 7am PT / 10am EDT / 3pm BST

Sony just dropped exciting news for fans of its versatile bridge cameras — a new RX10 camera will be revealed next week.

The teaser on Sony's Instagram reveals a surprising amount of detail, including the release date plus a silhouette of the next RX10, which from we can glean some info about its lens.

Perhaps the most surprising part of all is that Sony is launching a new RX10 in the first place. Its most recent bridge camera was the Cyber-Shot RX10 IV which was released all the way back in 2017, and has been discontinued for more than two years.

The RX10 IV is still regarded as the best bridge camera available, which tells you everything you need to know about this space, which has been largely dormant for years, save for a tired Lumix re-release and the occasional cheap Kodak model.

Despite the RX10 IV's skills, we can only hope that Sony has a little more in store for the next RX10, because an upgrade on the mark IV could be super interesting. The teaser (below) gives us a little snippet of what we can expect.

A post shared by Sony | Alpha (@sonyalpha)

A photo posted by on

The most obvious point to note is the release date, which will be July 9 at 7am PT / 10am EDT / 3pm BST. I predict that putting a Sony bridge camera back in stores will be a popular move, especially among enthusiast wildlife photographers desiring a versatile telephoto lens in a lightweight setup.

Otherwise, there's one little clue, and that's the part of the teaser when the lens is extending upwards. We can't see the focal length of the lens, but we can see the aperture range, which is f/2.4 to f/16.

That aperture range is identical to the RX10 IV, which features a 25x optical zoom with a 24-600mm focal length range. The other details in that lens silhouette also look the same as those in the RX10 IV; the Vario Sonnar T* and twin control rings.

It's harder to glean much else from the teaser — the silhouette of the camera body looks similar to the one before it, but it could very well be different.

We won't have long to wait to find out more, with the next RX10 coming in less than a week.

What do you think of Sony's teaser? Is this the next Sony camera you were hoping for? Have your say in the comments.

• Malaysia beefs up action against VPN used to facilitate crimes
• Misuse includes bypassing the new under-16 social media ban
• Officials have stressed that owning or using a VPN is not an offence

Malaysia is set to take action if VPN are used to facilitate criminal activities or help residents bypass the new social media age limit.

According to local reports, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the government is working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to counter VPNs and borrowed identities that are being used to slip past newly enforced social media age limits.

For the many people who reach for the best VPN services to protect their browsing, encrypt their traffic, or simply keep their data out of advertisers' hands, the reassuring takeaway is that the tool itself is not the target. What the authorities want to reach is the small share of activity where a VPN is used as a shield for something illegal.

What Malaysia actually announced

The comments came during a question-and-answer session on cybercrime and age verification. Shamsul Anuar explained that police would draw on public complaints and their own investigations to identify cases where VPNs or identity-masking tools are being abused, and that such misuse could be treated as an added element of an offence.

He was clear that the crackdown is aimed at conduct, not software. The minister framed the effort as part of Malaysia's wider push to protect children online, pointing to a sharp rise in offences.

This sits on top of Malaysia's under-16 social media ban, which took effect on 1 June 2026 under the Online Safety Act 2025. Large platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube must now verify users' ages and block under-16s from registering, with non-compliance carrying penalties reported at up to RM10 million.

VPNs enter the picture because they are an obvious way to make it look as though a user is somewhere the rules do not apply. Age verification laws elsewhere, such as Australia and the UK, have repeatedly triggered spikes in VPN sign-ups, with many often being adults looking to protect the sensitive documents these systems ask them to hand over.

What it means for everyday VPN users

For most people, this is not a reason to stop using a VPN, and it is not a ban in disguise.

Digital rights groups, however, have been sharply critical of the age-verification model underpinning the ban.

ARTICLE 19, alongside local partners, has argued the measure was rushed, is disproportionate, and risks normalising surveillance while exposing people's identity documents and biometric data to misuse.

• Malaysia beefs up action against VPN used to facilitate crimes
• Misuse includes bypassing the new under-16 social media ban
• Officials have stressed that owning or using a VPN is not an offence

Malaysia is set to take action if VPN are used to facilitate criminal activities or help residents bypass the new social media age limit.

According to local reports, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the government is working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to counter VPNs and borrowed identities that are being used to slip past newly enforced social media age limits.

For the many people who reach for the best VPN services to protect their browsing, encrypt their traffic, or simply keep their data out of advertisers' hands, the reassuring takeaway is that the tool itself is not the target. What the authorities want to reach is the small share of activity where a VPN is used as a shield for something illegal.

What Malaysia actually announced

The comments came during a question-and-answer session on cybercrime and age verification. Shamsul Anuar explained that police would draw on public complaints and their own investigations to identify cases where VPNs or identity-masking tools are being abused, and that such misuse could be treated as an added element of an offence.

He was clear that the crackdown is aimed at conduct, not software. The minister framed the effort as part of Malaysia's wider push to protect children online, pointing to a sharp rise in offences.

This sits on top of Malaysia's under-16 social media ban, which took effect on 1 June 2026 under the Online Safety Act 2025. Large platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube must now verify users' ages and block under-16s from registering, with non-compliance carrying penalties reported at up to RM10 million.

VPNs enter the picture because they are an obvious way to make it look as though a user is somewhere the rules do not apply. Age verification laws elsewhere, such as Australia and the UK, have repeatedly triggered spikes in VPN sign-ups, with many often being adults looking to protect the sensitive documents these systems ask them to hand over.

What it means for everyday VPN users

For most people, this is not a reason to stop using a VPN, and it is not a ban in disguise.

Digital rights groups, however, have been sharply critical of the age-verification model underpinning the ban.

ARTICLE 19, alongside local partners, has argued the measure was rushed, is disproportionate, and risks normalising surveillance while exposing people's identity documents and biometric data to misuse.

• Rockstar Games has been accused of enabling crunch conditions through employee contracts
• Union members say there is a lack of transparency around pay and bonuses at the Grand Theft 6 studio
• The union accuses the studio of scrapping initiatives aimed at addressing gender-based pay inequity

Grand Theft Auto 6 studio and industry giant Rockstar Games has been accused of unfair working conditions that include enabling crunch culture, failing to address gender-based pay inequity, and weaponizing bonuses.

Three members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) spoke to Game Developer in a huge interview - though they wished to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals - and claimed that the studio attempts to normalize crunch.

"Crunch is prevalent enough that the company built into our contracts, as standard, an opt out of the Working Time Regulations that stops your employer being able to ask you to do more than about 10 hours extra each week," one source explained, referring to the UK protection that can be voluntarily relinquished by employees.

"The union successfully ran a campaign to inform people they could opt back in to the regulations at any time, which resulted in Rockstar management simplifying the process and removing the obligation to meet with HR," the source added.

"Part of the problem with crunch is that there is not an agreed definition, and now it seems the company thinks that offering specific and limited compensation as an incentive for overtime means it no longer qualifies as crunch."

While some teams at Rockstar never crunch, it's claimed that there are also departments that "seem to never get out of it — and often colleagues do not realize the opposite group exists."

The interview also includes claims that workers were forced to return to the office and relinquish hybrid or remote work benefits, a mandate which allegedly didn't apply to company leaders, and there is a lack of transparency around pay and bonuses.

A "considerable portion" of most employees' compensation packages comes in the form of bonuses that fluctuate, often without obvious justification. It's claimed that the compensation workers receive falls below the market rate when compared to adjacent industry work, with one source saying, "When the bonus is particularly good, it can be a windfall, but often the bonus is disappointing and one can end up being paid considerably less than expected for the year.

"The reasoning given for this is often nebulous, inconsistent between departments, even inconsistent between team members within the same department, and sometimes hinges on completely subjective or retroactive criticisms."

It's said promotions are also hard to secure at the studio because Rockstar regularly shifts the goalposts when career progression is discussed.

"The main problem is that [bonuses and progression are] all completely discretionary for the company, and they are under no obligation to show their working," the source added. "Employees want good pay, and if literally anything they do that year could affect it, they will naturally feel they have to be as pliable as possible to their boss's whims. Imagine [how you might feel if] a fifth of your salary could be withheld without any justification or based on a single surprise factor."

Gender-based pay inequity is another issue that the union members discussed, informing Game Developer that the gap between median wages for different genders has widened at Rockstar and that initiatives aimed to address that imbalance have been scrapped.

Union workers say all these issues have created a sense of imbalance and injustice at the studio and feel that employees are not adequately compensated for GTA 6, which is set to be the biggest game launch of all time.

A Take-Two Interactive spokesperson provided a statement to Game Developer in response to the claims. It reads: "We strive to make the best games possible by giving our talented teams world-class work environments and ongoing career opportunities. We have fostered a culture which is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness, and where we support and reward the team across all levels of the business through competitive compensation and benefits policies.

"We are proud that as a result, our employee retention is well above the industry standard. We have received a request from a union seeking to discuss voluntary recognition. We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will arrange to meet."

• Rockstar Games has been accused of enabling crunch conditions through employee contracts
• Union members say there is a lack of transparency around pay and bonuses at the Grand Theft 6 studio
• The union accuses the studio of scrapping initiatives aimed at addressing gender-based pay inequity

Grand Theft Auto 6 studio and industry giant Rockstar Games has been accused of unfair working conditions that include enabling crunch culture, failing to address gender-based pay inequity, and weaponizing bonuses.

Three members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) spoke to Game Developer in a huge interview - though they wished to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals - and claimed that the studio attempts to normalize crunch.

"Crunch is prevalent enough that the company built into our contracts, as standard, an opt out of the Working Time Regulations that stops your employer being able to ask you to do more than about 10 hours extra each week," one source explained, referring to the UK protection that can be voluntarily relinquished by employees.

"The union successfully ran a campaign to inform people they could opt back in to the regulations at any time, which resulted in Rockstar management simplifying the process and removing the obligation to meet with HR," the source added.

"Part of the problem with crunch is that there is not an agreed definition, and now it seems the company thinks that offering specific and limited compensation as an incentive for overtime means it no longer qualifies as crunch."

While some teams at Rockstar never crunch, it's claimed that there are also departments that "seem to never get out of it — and often colleagues do not realize the opposite group exists."

The interview also includes claims that workers were forced to return to the office and relinquish hybrid or remote work benefits, a mandate which allegedly didn't apply to company leaders, and there is a lack of transparency around pay and bonuses.

A "considerable portion" of most employees' compensation packages comes in the form of bonuses that fluctuate, often without obvious justification. It's claimed that the compensation workers receive falls below the market rate when compared to adjacent industry work, with one source saying, "When the bonus is particularly good, it can be a windfall, but often the bonus is disappointing and one can end up being paid considerably less than expected for the year.

"The reasoning given for this is often nebulous, inconsistent between departments, even inconsistent between team members within the same department, and sometimes hinges on completely subjective or retroactive criticisms."

It's said promotions are also hard to secure at the studio because Rockstar regularly shifts the goalposts when career progression is discussed.

"The main problem is that [bonuses and progression are] all completely discretionary for the company, and they are under no obligation to show their working," the source added. "Employees want good pay, and if literally anything they do that year could affect it, they will naturally feel they have to be as pliable as possible to their boss's whims. Imagine [how you might feel if] a fifth of your salary could be withheld without any justification or based on a single surprise factor."

Gender-based pay inequity is another issue that the union members discussed, informing Game Developer that the gap between median wages for different genders has widened at Rockstar and that initiatives aimed to address that imbalance have been scrapped.

Union workers say all these issues have created a sense of imbalance and injustice at the studio and feel that employees are not adequately compensated for GTA 6, which is set to be the biggest game launch of all time.

A Take-Two Interactive spokesperson provided a statement to Game Developer in response to the claims. It reads: "We strive to make the best games possible by giving our talented teams world-class work environments and ongoing career opportunities. We have fostered a culture which is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness, and where we support and reward the team across all levels of the business through competitive compensation and benefits policies.

"We are proud that as a result, our employee retention is well above the industry standard. We have received a request from a union seeking to discuss voluntary recognition. We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will arrange to meet."

• Audio Pro has just unveiled the A15 W (yes, late on a Friday afternoon)
• The Danish brand's progeny offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and portability
• Available now, priced at $400 / £299 / around AU$579

If the 2022 Audio Pro A15 was a natural Sonos Move rival, the newly launched 2026 Audio Pro A15 W might happily butt heads with the Sonos Move 2.

It could also compete with a new series of Bluetooth-only 'HYG' speakers from Jamo, the Denon Home 400 (which it resembles rather strongly), something from WiiM's expanding arsenal of products or the new Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker — top tip on that one: a review will be going live over the weekend and it's worth a read...

Back to the A15 W, though, and what you've got here is a portable wireless speaker that boasts room-filling sound, flexible streaming options and battery-powered portability that's built for both indoor and outdoor listening.

And that's where it has the edge over some (if not all of the competition), because your average Wi-Fi enabled speaker usually needs to remain hooked up to a power socket within your home.

Not so here — in fact, alongside Bluetooth capability and an 11-hour battery life, you also get a 'water resistant' IPX2 rating, so it'll survive a European shower (if not the deluges we've been seeing during World Cup matches in the US this week).

Audio Pro tells me it can also be used as a multi-room system with other A15 W speakers (or in fact any W series speaker from the Audio Pro range) but because it also supports both Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, it should be easy to welcome it into existing Apple or Android-based multi-room systems.

The (Audio) Pro mindset

(Image credit: Audio Pro)

I've long been a fan of Audio Pro speakers, starting with the Bluetooth only T3+ I listen to every day, but having tested the five-star, Wi-Fi enabled Audio Pro C20, I know very well about the decidedly 'Hygge' adjacent firm's admirable way with HDMI ARC-toting, sub-out sporting, RCA hook-up-able AirPlay and Google Cast speakers.

Interestingly, the grille looks fixed on this model, and I've always been a fan of removing the grilles on my Audio Pro speakers to see the relaxed, rock-chic driver configurations underneath.

The A15 W features a two-way speaker system with a dedicated tweeter alongside a 4.5-inch woofer. You can stream music via Bluetooth too, with better-quality aptX support, and if using Wi-Fi you'll be aided by the latest Audio Pro app, to access compatible music streaming services directly. I've used it before, and I like it a lot.

For instant access to playlists and internet radio stations, six preset buttons across the top plate are there to offer one-touch playback without working out where you've left your phone. A 3.5mm aux input also enables connection to portable music players and compatible turntables or CD players. So, no HDMI ARC, sub-out or RCA this time (its newest rival, the Denon 400 also lacks these things), but there's the same contemporary fabric finish and contrasting aluminium control buttons as I've come to expect from the brand.

The Audio Pro A15 W is available in Dark Grey and Light Grey finishes, and it'll set you back $400 / £299 (which is around AU$579), whichever color you go for.

How good does it sound? I can't vouch for that yet. But I'll be working on it…

• Tesla regains momentum after two years of sales decline
• China and Europe both see an increase in Tesla sales
• Tesla shares still fluctuated, despite the positive news

Tesla’s second-quarter sales results have far exceeded market expectations, with growth in both Europe and China helping to drive a 25% rise compared to the same period last year.

According to The Financial Times, the electric vehicle pioneer delivered 480,126 vehicles in the three months to the end of June, up from 384,122 in the same period last year and well above analysts’ forecasts of 404,000.

Despite shifting its focus to artificial intelligence and robotics in recent years, as well as trimming its model line-up down to just two cars, Tesla has seen huge growth in Europe, aided in part by government EV incentives.

The Guardian reports that the rising cost of fuel and the rapid adoption of electric vehicles on corporate fleets could have also played an important role in boosting sales, while the consumer backlash to CEO Elon Musk’s political statements last year could also have eased.

Despite the vast improvement in sales, BYD once again surpassed Tesla to regain its position as the world’s largest battery-electric vehicle manufacturer.

BYD sold roughly 867,000 electric vehicles in the first six months of the year, compared with 838,149 vehicles for Tesla, according to The Financial Times.

“Tesla has not surprised to the upside to this degree in a while, a healthy sign the auto business is here to stay,” William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer told the paper.

Analysis: Demand for EVs booms in Europe

(Image credit: BYD)

Despite the CEO’s questionable political decisions and the company’s reputation for over-promising and often under-delivering, it is still difficult to argue that Tesla’s current crop of electric vehicles is anything short of excellent.

The company’s charging network remains one of the best, even if charging speeds are now being eclipsed by numerous Charge Point Operators, while its latest Model 3 and Model Y are the most comfortable, tech-focussed and luxurious they have ever been.

Thanks to increased competition from both up-and-coming Chinese EV companies and legacy automakers, Tesla has been forced to get competitive with its pricing, offering enticing monthly deals on the Model 3 and Model Y.

It has also recently started to roll-out its Supervised Full Self-Driving system in select European countries for the first time, another factor that could help improve sales further.

• Proton, Windscribe, and PureVPN launched a satirical campaign to make fun of the gaming sector's digital shift
• PlayStation said it will stop releasing games on discs in 2028
• The satirical stunt highlights growing consumer concerns about digital ownership, server shutdowns, and game preservation

The ongoing debate over digital ownership in the gaming industry, which follows Sony's announcement to stop releasing PlayStation games on discs by 2028, has found an unlikely group of critics in VPN firms.

In a coordinated display of industry satire, several of the market's best VPN providers have begun openly trolling the gaming sector's controversial shift away from physical media.

Leading the charge is Swiss privacy company Proton, which first released a parody announcement on Thursday declaring that "in response to the gaming industry removing physical offerings moving forward, we've decided to fill in the gap by making our services entirely physical, starting 1st April 2027."

The stunt took direct aim at the frustrations gamers face as digital storefronts increasingly replace physical discs.

Rival providers quickly jumped on the bandwagon. Both Windscribe and PureVPN also took to X to join the trend, adding their own satirical jabs at the gaming industry's expense.

Earlier this week, Windscribe sparked a different conversation online when it parodied Mullvad's recent political donation crisis.

Encrypted letters and human password managers

Proton's fake announcement outlined a hilarious reverse-digitalization strategy, presenting the idea of making completely physical versions of inherently digital services.

According to the satirical campaign, Proton Mail will soon post "encrypted letters hand-delivered by team," while its passcode service will be replaced by "someone who follows you around and remembers your passwords for you."

The jokes extended to the company's flagship networking and storage products. Proton VPN humorously claimed it would send its clients to one of their 90 plus server locations so they could browse online "like a local." Meanwhile, Proton Drive users were promised a folder would be shipped to them with "an additional folder available on request".

Artificial intelligence wasn't spared from the joke, either. The company announced its AI assistant, Lumo, would become an actual "smart" employee sent to a user's location to "answer questions, help with work, and draw things."

Please note that using the Secure Core option to fly you via Iceland is the most private option, but may cause some latency.https://t.co/qyK4ZJVWXPJuly 2, 2026

Even David Peterson, Proton VPN General Manager, joined in the fun and said that "using the Secure Core option to fly you via Iceland is the most private option, but may cause some latency."

While Proton has no intention of substituting its digital services for physical ones, the broader message resonated strongly with the gaming community.

A joke with a serious message for gamers

Behind the coordinated trolling from Proton, Windscribe, and PureVPN lies a genuine consumer rights issue. The gaming industry has aggressively pivoted toward digital storefronts and subscription models, leaving players increasingly concerned that purchasing digital titles merely grants a license for using games, not owning them.

The problem of game preservation has become a hot-button topic. As noted by the campaign's underlying message, there is a very real danger that digital games could become permanently unavailable in the case of "server shutdowns, changes in licensing agreements, or the publisher removing their products from online stores."

IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING OUR SERVICE pic.twitter.com/Z8O2qR1MnwJuly 3, 2026

Physical media, while fading from retail shelves, offer tangible, long-term ownership, a stark contrast to the volatile nature of digital libraries. Many players argue that physical copies provide much stronger consumer protections.

By playing on the irony of current digitalization trends, Proton and its peers successfully weaponized satire to champion consumer rights.

The campaign aligned perfectly with the VPN companies' overarching aim of protecting users' privacy and giving them more freedom regarding their personal data. Ultimately, it proves that these privacy giants aren't afraid to have a little fun while sparking a crucial conversation around digital ownership.

• Proton, Windscribe, and PureVPN launched a satirical campaign to make fun of the gaming sector's digital shift
• PlayStation said it will stop releasing games on discs in 2028
• The satirical stunt highlights growing consumer concerns about digital ownership, server shutdowns, and game preservation

The ongoing debate over digital ownership in the gaming industry, which follows Sony's announcement to stop releasing PlayStation games on discs by 2028, has found an unlikely group of critics in VPN firms.

In a coordinated display of industry satire, several of the market's best VPN providers have begun openly trolling the gaming sector's controversial shift away from physical media.

Leading the charge is Swiss privacy company Proton, which first released a parody announcement on Thursday declaring that "in response to the gaming industry removing physical offerings moving forward, we've decided to fill in the gap by making our services entirely physical, starting 1st April 2027."

The stunt took direct aim at the frustrations gamers face as digital storefronts increasingly replace physical discs.

Rival providers quickly jumped on the bandwagon. Both Windscribe and PureVPN also took to X to join the trend, adding their own satirical jabs at the gaming industry's expense.

Earlier this week, Windscribe sparked a different conversation online when it parodied Mullvad's recent political donation crisis.

Encrypted letters and human password managers

Proton's fake announcement outlined a hilarious reverse-digitalization strategy, presenting the idea of making completely physical versions of inherently digital services.

According to the satirical campaign, Proton Mail will soon post "encrypted letters hand-delivered by team," while its passcode service will be replaced by "someone who follows you around and remembers your passwords for you."

The jokes extended to the company's flagship networking and storage products. Proton VPN humorously claimed it would send its clients to one of their 90 plus server locations so they could browse online "like a local." Meanwhile, Proton Drive users were promised a folder would be shipped to them with "an additional folder available on request".

Artificial intelligence wasn't spared from the joke, either. The company announced its AI assistant, Lumo, would become an actual "smart" employee sent to a user's location to "answer questions, help with work, and draw things."

Please note that using the Secure Core option to fly you via Iceland is the most private option, but may cause some latency.https://t.co/qyK4ZJVWXPJuly 2, 2026

Even David Peterson, Proton VPN General Manager, joined in the fun and said that "using the Secure Core option to fly you via Iceland is the most private option, but may cause some latency."

While Proton has no intention of substituting its digital services for physical ones, the broader message resonated strongly with the gaming community.

A joke with a serious message for gamers

Behind the coordinated trolling from Proton, Windscribe, and PureVPN lies a genuine consumer rights issue. The gaming industry has aggressively pivoted toward digital storefronts and subscription models, leaving players increasingly concerned that purchasing digital titles merely grants a license for using games, not owning them.

The problem of game preservation has become a hot-button topic. As noted by the campaign's underlying message, there is a very real danger that digital games could become permanently unavailable in the case of "server shutdowns, changes in licensing agreements, or the publisher removing their products from online stores."

IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING OUR SERVICE pic.twitter.com/Z8O2qR1MnwJuly 3, 2026

Physical media, while fading from retail shelves, offer tangible, long-term ownership, a stark contrast to the volatile nature of digital libraries. Many players argue that physical copies provide much stronger consumer protections.

By playing on the irony of current digitalization trends, Proton and its peers successfully weaponized satire to champion consumer rights.

The campaign aligned perfectly with the VPN companies' overarching aim of protecting users' privacy and giving them more freedom regarding their personal data. Ultimately, it proves that these privacy giants aren't afraid to have a little fun while sparking a crucial conversation around digital ownership.

We've had a couple of early reports of Steam Machine failures, describing a red light indicator of a problem that means the PC won't turn on, which is something that'll be very familiar to those who've had an Xbox in the past.

A Redditor posted (see below) that their "Steam Machine was pretty cool for the 20 minutes that it worked", detailing how things went wrong, and how the PC ended up displaying a 'Red Line of Death' and not booting – reminiscent of the 'Red Ring of Death' visited upon some unfortunate Xbox 360 owners (myself included).

The Redditor tells us that they played five minutes of No Man's Sky before noticing an update for the Steam Machine, which they installed — and then the device fell over.

Well, the Steam Machine was pretty cool for the 20 minutes that it worked from r/steammachine

Post-update it failed to boot, and the owner was left looking at a red light on the right-hand side of the Steam Machine's light bar. After a bit of digging, it was discovered that this indicates a 'GPU failure', as per Valve's troubleshooting info on the Steam Machine's LED.

The owner has contacted Valve for help, but at the time of writing, support hasn't yet got back to them (or at least they haven't updated the Reddit thread with the details of what's happening).

This isn't quite a sole complaint, as there's another report of a GPU failure with the Steam Machine on the Steam Forums. But clearly, we shouldn't go running for the hills in panic that this is going to be Valve's very own 'red ring' controversy that casts a hellish blight across this hardware launch just yet.

Analysis: faulty KITT

(Image credit: Valve)

While talk of the Redditor's Steam Machine being 'bricked', meaning permanently dead, is premature, it's not clear where things might go from here. Given that in the Redditor's case it happened after an update, perhaps it's reversible (the other post on Valve's forums, where the PC immediately failed on first boot, sounds more definitively terminal).

In both cases, though, a GPU failure doesn't sound good, and while it may be possible to resolve that via poking around and attempting a recovery with the PC, the buyer on Reddit is wisely awaiting instructions from Valve's support team.

I'm betting this will be a return in the end (with both PCs), and I think that's for the best, as I'd be worried if a device I bought had an initial problem like this, as I'd fear that it's something that might resurface later on.

Of course, some point out that the problem is that furnishing the purchaser with a new unit may not be a speedy process, given the limited stock of the Steam Machine so far. But Valve will obviously have some contingency plans in place for potential returns, as they will inevitably happen.

That's another thing to make clear here: just because we've seen a Red Line of Death (well, two) doesn't mean everyone should be panicking about the quality of Valve's hardware. There will be a percentage of faulty devices, that's just reality, and currently, we have just a pair of reports.

If these problems keep on coming, though, that's obviously a different matter, and we could be looking at a more difficult situation for Valve. Time will tell, but for now, let's stay well clear of the mentioned hills.

At any rate, at least the red line looks a lot cooler than the red ring. It reminds me of KITT in Knight Rider, or the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica, though the light really should be pulsing from side to side, of course.