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• A complete specs list for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has leaked
• This largely lines up with what we've heard before, but includes new details like the presence of wireless charging
• Pricing has also leaked, and as with earlier leaks this puts the S25 Edge between the S25 Plus and Ultra

We’re likely less than two weeks away from the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, with May 13 rumored to be the big day. But ahead of that a major leak has tipped almost every spec and feature.

Reputable leaker Roland Quandt writing for WinFuture has claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be just 5.85mm thick, weigh 163g, and have a titanium frame, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 – which is said to be particularly durable – on the front.

Speaking of the front, that apparently holds a 6.7-inch 1440 x 3120 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and there’s said to be an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor.

Quandt also claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage.

For the cameras, there’s apparently a 200MP f/1.7 main one with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view and no OIS. It also apparently has a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera.

Rounding out the specs, Quandt claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900mAh battery, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

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(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt) Similar to what we've heard before

This is mostly stuff we’ve heard before, but there’s a little more detail here than in previous leaks, such as the mention of wireless charging, the exact build materials, and the details beyond megapixels in the camera specs.

Since we have largely heard this before and since it comes from a reputable source it may well be accurate, in which case – as expected – the main compromises Samsung has seemingly made to get the phone so thin include the absence of a telephoto camera, and the low battery capacity.

Despite these compromises, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge likely won’t be cheap, with Quandt claiming it will start at €1,249 (roughly $1,415 / £1,065 / AU$2,205) in Germany, for which you’ll get 256GB of storage, and saying it will rise to €1,369 (around $1,550 / £1,165 / AU$2,415) for 512GB.

The price conversions we’ve included are unlikely to be accurate, but notably that would put it between the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Germany, which is where we expect it to land globally based on other rumors.

You’ll supposedly be able to choose between Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Icy Blue, and Titanium Silver shades, as you can see in the renders above, and apparently it will ship in Germany around the end of May, which makes sense if it’s announced on May 13.

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A lot of relatively small changes and improvements make a big impact on this operating system.

• LinkedIn's Wire Program becomes BrandLink
• It focuses on delivering advertisement videos from creators and publishers
• AI, leadership and business advice will be the first topics to be covered

LinkedIn has announced some changes to its ad revenues with the rebrand of Wire Program to LinkedIn BrandLink, which it says is designed to "[help] brands reach their audiences in new ways with video from top creators and publishers."

Product Management VP Lindsey Edwards explained, "BrandLink delivers more relevant video content to members while also allowing advertisers to align with editorial content from trusted publishers and, now, some of the world’s top creator voices."

From launch, content themes will include artificial intelligence, leadership, small businesses, innovation and entrepreneurship.

LinkedIn launches updated BrandLink program

The Microsoft-owned social networking platform says advertisers see 130% higher video completion rate and 23% higher views compared with standard video ads when using BrandLink, adding that members who view those ads are 18% more likely to become a lead for their company.

The news comes after a series of LinkedIn video-related announcements over the past year or so, including full-screen vertical video displays, a refreshed carousel and an updated UI to make it easier for audiences to engage with brands.

Edwards referred to video as "one of the fastest growing formats on LinkedIn," and in February 2025, we learned the medium was growing twice as fast as any other post format.

Some of the early creators to join the program include B2B figures such as Steven Bartlett, Bernard Marr, Allie K. Miller, Rebecca Minkoff, Candace Nelson, Guy Raz, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Shelley Zalis.

The latest announcement highlights how 91% of B2B marketers believe that video will help them accelerate advertising ROI more than any other format.

With BrandLink, advertisers can target specific locations and languages, with LinkedIn boasting it "supports a growing list of global publishers who produce region-specific content."

The tool is available to use now on desktop and mobile applications.

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• AMD is reportedly prioritizing the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB GPU for retailers
• It corroborates rumors that it may cancel or discontinue the 8GB GPU
• If it's true, it could be a sign that Team Red won't make 8GB GPUs going forward

AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU is on the horizon (it's projected to launch in May), with 16GB and 8GB variants. However, a new report suggests one of them may not be readily available for consumers at launch.

As reported by Wccftech, AMD could be set to prioritize the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB variant over the 8GB counterpart in terms of availability for retailers at launch, according to Benchlife. It comes after the rumor that hinted at the 8GB model being cancelled or discontinued, and this new rumor certainly suggests that something is going on with the 8GB model.

Essentially, this means consumers may not see the 9060 XT 8GB available on shelves or online retailers apart from rare occasions. If this is true, it could be a huge indication of AMD's future stance on low VRAM capacity GPUs.

Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti recently launched with 16GB and 8GB variants, with the latter receiving a lot of flak; consumers have been expressing displeasure with 8GB graphics cards for a while, and Benchlife claims that this is AMD's reasoning behind the potential case of prioritizing the 16GB GPU.

The Radeon RX 9060 XT series is expected to be unveiled at Computex, with a potential May 21 launch - but apparently, it won't actually go on sale until June (considering AMD's Q2 2025 estimation). Regardless, this puts the GPUs in direct competition with the RTX 5060, expected to launch on May 19. So, we could be in for another fierce battle between these two tech giants.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Please, let this be the end of 8GB GPUs...

If this rumor is legitimate, it suggests to me that Team Red is well aware that PC gamers are increasingly of the opinion that 8GB of video memory is simply not enough for modern games at high resolutions. If there's anything good to come from this, it's that we could soon see the end of 8GB graphics cards.

Triple-A games aren't easy going regarding VRAM usage, and while 8GB of VRAM isn't completely useless, I'd say it's a limitation for those looking for better performance. Gaming at 1080p is still the most popular resolution (according to Steam's hardware survey), but more demanding games with higher graphics settings enabled, like Cyberpunk 2077 or Black Myth Wukong, will end up choking 8GB GPUs.

It's also worth mentioning the cost of GPUs in this current market with inflated pricing; a prime example is the XFX Speedster Radeon RX 7900 XTX, sold at $1,129.99 on Best Buy (it's a three-year-old GPU), despite its $999 launch price. Inflation like this makes other low-end graphics cards seem much less appealing, as they no longer have low prices that justify the compromises made to performance. If you're going to be spending that kind of money on a GPU, you'd be better off looking at more powerful cards.

At the very least, I feel that modern graphics cards should come with 12GB VRAM at a minimum, because anything less just won't suffice in 2025 and onwards...

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Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: two-minute review

Dash cam manufacturers are becoming ever more inventive in their quest to stay ahead of the pack. This has resulted in many different variations on the theme, with many models offering much more than just a forward-facing recorded view of the road.

One of the big features starting to appear in the specification of the best dash cams is 360-degree capture. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is a prime example of this, and I’ve been using it for a while to see if it’s worth considering.

I’ve already tried the decidedly bulbous 70mai 360 Omni, which adopts a slightly different approach to 360-degree capture by using a revolving lens – the latest incarnation has been beefed up to shoot 4K video too. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam isn’t quite as chunky, although it’s not far off, and it delivers a neat alternative for capturing more complete coverage of the road ahead, the road behind, and inside the vehicle cabin.

I’ve been testing the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam Ace bundle, which is a big box of tricks that includes the 5.2K, dual-lens 30fps unit that shoots with a 210-degree field of view from each lens to produce a 360-degree effect in playback mode. There’s also a more conventional rear-facing unit included for good measure, and the bundle also features a tripod stand, so the E360 can double as an action cam. The base-level package doesn't include the rear camera and the tripod if those are surplus to your requirements.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is its ease of setup and installation. I was impressed by this fact when testing the Vantrue E1 Pro recently, especially when it came to working through the configuration steps using the rear screen. You get the same ease of use with this model, despite the fact that the specification left me thinking there might be some tinkering involved. That's not the case however, and I was able to quickly pick my way through the touchscreen menus on the back of the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, if the rearward-facing camera is part of the picture, there will be some extra wiring to install. Either way, Vantrue packs everything needed into the box, with a well laid out instruction manual proving invaluable. I tend to favor using static film strips for mounting dash cams, as they make for easier removal, and Vantrue has the mounting bracket design process down to a tee too. In fact, the overall feeling I got from the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam was that everything was really well thought out.

If you go for the basic, non-Ace bundle, the box contains the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam, GPS mount, adhesive stickers, three cable clips, 3.3ft / 1m of USB data cable, 11.5ft / 3.5m of car charging cable, plus ancillaries including a dust cloth, electrostatic stickers, a plastic cable tool and a quick user guide. Choose the Ace bundle and you also get a rear-facing camera and a handheld mount / tripod for using the Vantrue E360 as a standalone action-style camera.

The Vantrue E360 is essentially a premium solution, so alongside the headline-grabbing 360-degree capture the Chinese brand also throws in every other essential. There's a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, 5G Wi-Fi for rapid-fire transfer, infrared night vision and impressive HDR capabilities, plus support for microSD cards up to 512GB. However, it’s worth remembering that the high-spec nature of this model means it generates lots of data.

Similarly, as is the standard, the parking and 24-hour monitoring features will require the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam to be hardwired into a vehicle, which can be done using an optional kit. Vantrue has a comprehensive supporting app, which is ideally suited for managing the large files generated by such a high-spec unit. Anyone who's concerned about monitoring their vehicle at all times can also invest in a Vantrue LTE module, which is an option for live streaming should it be needed.

Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: price and availability

The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is available now from Amazon and can be configured to suit your own needs. The standard Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is available for $270 / £268 from the Vantrue website.

The Vantrue E360 Ace Dash Cam bundle, which comes with the addition of a rearward camera and a tripod, costs from $350 via Amazon in the US. In the UK, the bundle has a RRP of £483, but it's currently on sale £383 from the Vantrue website or Amazon.

The LTE module for the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam can also be purchased as a standalone option, as can the hardwire kit.

Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: specs Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: Design

Vantrue appears to place a strong emphasis on quality, and I was very impressed with the overall look and feel of the E360. The main camera unit itself is a chunky little thing, which does tend to encroach into the windshield area, especially on cars with smaller screens, but it’s longer rather than wider, and feels very solid to the touch. The same goes for the mounting bracket, which lets the user unclip the camera easily so it can double up as an action cam.

The clean lines of the main camera unit aren’t spoilt by lots of buttons either. There’s a big button on the side, which can be used to power up the camera and also to record an emergency snapshot. There’s a power cable port on the top, and underneath the base is a slot for a microSD card, which accepts capacities up to 512GB.

(Image credit: Future)

Dominating the rear is the 1.54-inch touchscreen, which is made of really good-quality plastic and offers a clear view when it’s on. This is dotted with various icons that offer camera information as well as indicating when the unit is functioning correctly. The only downside is that these icons are quite small, especially if you’re glancing at them on the move. However, the main point of contact for interacting with this model is the Vantrue app, which packs in everything needed for complete file management, as well as allowing for more precise control of settings.

(Image credit: Future) Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: Performance

Given the bold claims made by Vantrue and the impressive specification of the E360 Dash Cam I was expecting a lot, and the main camera doesn’t disappoint in terms of the clarity it delivers. Even the view on the 1.54-inch rear touchscreen is impressive, but the footage looks even better when examined in the app or on a desktop computer or laptop. Alongside the excellent footage, the GPS data is also recorded and displayed along the foot of the video, so I was more than happy with that side of things.

(Image credit: Future)

Personally though, I’m not too keen on the rather fishbowl effect created by the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam. There’s no doubting that it does exactly what Vantrue promises, but I’m left wondering if I wouldn’t just prefer a standard-issue front-facing dash cam supplemented by a small rear-facing unit. Such bundles are widely available, and have become very affordable too. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is very good, but it feels a bit like overkill to me.

There’s no doubting the potency of the Sony Starvis 2 sensor, but the capture method might not appeal to everyone. On the upside, Vantrue does offer different options for the recording process, including 360-degree panorama, fisheye, and dual fisheye, but it still looks a little bit odd to me. The appeal, therefore, might be a bit on the niche side, but there’s no doubting that the hardware here is top-notch.

(Image credit: Future)

I can certainly see the appeal for anyone who wants a camera that can do a little bit of everything though. As mentioned, it's easy to unclip the camera unit and use it as an action cam shoot – it’s a great supplementary option that adds value, especially when using the option of the tripod contained in the Ace bundle.

Overall, then, I can’t really fault the shooting capabilities of the lens and sensor arrangement, and they deliver the goods both day and night. License plate details, for example, are as legible as you’d expect from a high-specification dash cam like this. Equally though, the Vantrue E1 Pro meets my needs just as well, and for a lot less money, although it doesn’t have the rearward-facing capability either.

Should you buy the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if...

You’re after a complete dash cam solution
If you purchase it in the Ace bundle, the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam comes with everything needed for total surveillance, and doubles as an action cam too.

A touchscreen makes all the difference
This model has an excellent though compact touchscreen, which makes setup and installation much easier than for models without one.

You value 4K video quality
Not everyone wants high-resolution dash cam video, but having crisper details including license plates in footage is always a bonus in case of incidents.

Don't buy it if...

You’re not keen on bulky dash cams
The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam isn’t exactly huge, but it does hang down enough to perhaps be a bit of an obstruction in a vehicle with a small windshield area.

You’d prefer a simpler solution
While this model isn’t overly complicated, there is more to do in terms of fitting the camera and wiring it in, especially if the hardwired parking surveillance is required.

You’re not sure about the 360-degree aspect
This is a bit of a niche product, and only makes sense if you’re keen to have unique 360 degree-effect video plus an action cam into the bargain.

How I tested the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam

• I installed the dash cam in two test cars for an initial period of three weeks
• I used it for numerous journeys during the day and at night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings to assess their quality

Vantrue loaned me the E360 Dash Cam and supplied everything I needed to test it. This included a 128GB microSD card and a hardwire kit, which is an optional extra. However, because I needed to move the camera between vehicles, I was unable to test the parking monitoring feature.

Aside from that, I installed and set up the E360 as per the instructions, and used it during a variety of journeys. This included journeys at different times of the day in order to test all the capabilities of the package, especially after dark.

I tested the accompanying Vantrue app on an Apple iPhone to check transfer rates, using both Wi-Fi and a cable connection to my laptop, and managed the larger 4K files using the same resources.

• First reviewed April 2025

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• Veeam study find budget increases for cybersecurity aren't enough; businesses need smarter resilience strategies
• Ransomware payments are dropping, but attackers are shifting tactics faster than businesses can adapt
• Declining attack rates don't mean ransomware is beaten

New research has revealed the scale of recent ransomware evolvution, warning it remains a dominant threat to organizations worldwide.

A Veeam study, which gathered insights from 1,300 CISOs, IT leaders, and security professionals across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, found nearly three-quarters of businesses were impacted by ransomware over the past year.

Cybersecurity measures seem to be having some effect, with businesses facing ransomware incidents dropping slightly from 75% to 69% - and ransomware payments are also decreasing, as in 2024, 36% of affected businesses chose not to pay, and 60% of those who did paid less than half of the demanded ransom.

Declining attack rates are no reason for complacency

"Organizations are improving their defenses against cyber-attacks, yet 7 out of 10 still experienced an attack in the past year. And of those attacked, only 10% recovered more than 90% of their data, while 57% recovered less than 50%," said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam.

Still, businesses cannot afford to relax. Major law enforcement actions against groups like LockBit and BlackCat have disrupted large-scale operations, but this has inadvertently led to a surge in smaller, independent attackers.

Companies still need to adopt proactive defenses and use anti-ransomware tools alongside the best endpoint protection solutions.

"As the nature and timing of attacks evolve, it is essential for every organization to transition from reactive security measures to proactive data resilience strategies. By adopting a proactive security approach, investing in strong recovery solutions, and fostering collaboration across departments, organizations can significantly reduce the impact of ransomware attacks," Eswaran added.

The rise in data exfiltration-only attacks, where hackers bypass encryption to steal private data directly, is another alarming trend. In this environment, relying solely on antivirus software may not be enough.

Although 69% of companies say they are prepared for an attack, this confidence drops sharply after an incident. Only 44% have tested backup plans, and just 30% have a formal chain of command in place.

Regular training, cross-team cooperation, and investment in strong recovery frameworks are necessary. Although budgets for cybersecurity and recovery have increased, they remain insufficient.

As a result, Veeam advises companies to implement thorough procedures such as the 3-2-1-1-0 data rule, which ensures multiple immutable backups free of malware before restoration.

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Now that we've reached May, it's time for Disney+ to bring another wave of fresh movies and shows to the service, and if there's one thing we can rely on Disney+ for, it's for a real good bingeable series.

TV shows reign supreme this month on one of the best streaming services, one of them being the new series of Doctor Who whose episodes will come out weekly and will end with its finale on May 31. And let's not forget the abundance of new Star Wars titles landing on May 4 (appropriate), as well as more episodes of one of the best Disney+ shows, Andor.

And it doesn't end there, because at long last, Disney+ subscribers in the US will also finally be able to catch Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse this month, being one of the movies leaving Netflix in May 2025 and finding its new place in the library of best Disney+ movies.

Everything new on Disney+ in May 2025

Arriving on May 1

Rise Up, Sing Out season 2 (TV show)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (movie)

Arriving on May 2

Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 3

Doctor Who season 2, episode 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 4

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (TV show)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (TV show)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (TV show)

Arriving on May 6

Andor season 2, 3 more episodes (TV show)

Arriving on May 7

Broken Karaoke season 3 (TV show)
Firebuds season 2 (TV show)
Hamster & Gretel season 2 (TV show)
Big City Greens season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 9

History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning season 1 (TV show)
The Toys That Built America season 3 (TV show)
The UnXplained season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 10

Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 (TV show)

Arriving on May 13

Andor season 2 finale (TV show)

Arriving on May 17

Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 (TV show)

Arriving on May 19

Tucci in Italy (TV show)

Arriving on May 20

Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 24

Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 28

Me & Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on May 31

How Not to Draw season 3 (TV show)
Doctor Who season 2 season finale (TV show)

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When DeepSeek-R1 launched recently, it immediately captured the attention of the global artificial intelligence community, prompting major players such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta to investigate its seemingly novel approach to model distillation. Yet, beneath the excitement around distillation lies a more nuanced and impactful innovation: DeepSeek's strategic reliance on reinforcement learning (RL).

Traditionally, large language models (LLMs) have been refined through supervised fine-tuning (SFT), an expensive and resource-intensive method. DeepSeek, however, shifted towards reinforcement learning, optimizing its model through iterative feedback loops. This method dramatically reduced costs, up to 90% compared to traditional methods such as those used by ChatGPT, while delivering comparable or even superior performance in various benchmarks.

The Real Revolution: Democratizing AI Knowledge

While model distillation, the method of teaching smaller, efficient models (students) from larger, more complex ones (teachers), isn't new, DeepSeek’s implementation of it is groundbreaking. Its true innovation is transparency. By openly sharing comprehensive details of their methodology, DeepSeek turned a theoretically solid yet practically elusive technique into a widely accessible, practical tool.

This openness accelerated adoption exponentially. Within weeks, the initial 60 distilled models released by DeepSeek multiplied into around 6,000 models hosted by the Hugging Face community. Developers around the globe now have practical blueprints for creating powerful, specialized AI models at significantly reduced scales.

By reducing the barrier to entry, DeepSeek’s open source strategy enables organizations of various sizes and sectors to explore sophisticated AI solutions that previously seemed out of reach. The widespread availability of distilled models means more specialized applications can emerge rapidly, opening doors to innovation in fields such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education.

Implications for Businesses

For businesses, this marks a major turning point. The costly IT infrastructure required for traditional LLMs often barred smaller enterprises from adopting cutting-edge AI. DeepSeek’s distilled models promise powerful, tailored AI capabilities at a fraction of previous costs. Organizations can now easily leverage AI optimized specifically for their unique datasets, fostering deeper insights, operational efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness.

Moreover, these distilled models significantly lower the environmental impact associated with AI deployment. With sustainability becoming a central business imperative, companies can now align their AI strategies with broader corporate responsibility goals, reducing their carbon footprint without sacrificing technological capabilities.

Europe's Moment to Lead

Historically trailing behind AI powerhouses like the US and China, Europe is uniquely positioned to capitalize on DeepSeek’s approach. Europe's strength in open source collaboration, exemplified by initiatives like OpenEuroLLM and entities such as Mistral AI, aligns perfectly with DeepSeek’s ethos of openness.

Instead of competing in a costly arms race of extensive GPU infrastructure, European companies can lead by deploying energy-efficient, smaller-scale models. Given Europe’s significantly higher energy costs, this method of distillation presents a strategic advantage: sustainable and efficient AI solutions that are attractive to enterprises, consumers, and regulators alike.

Moreover, Europe’s regulatory landscape, which emphasizes data privacy and consumer protection, is particularly well-suited to smaller, more transparent models. By embracing DeepSeek’s distillation practices, European organizations can not only comply with stringent regulations more easily but also differentiate themselves globally through responsible AI practices.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its promise, model distillation isn’t without pitfalls. Poor implementation can inadvertently amplify biases or errors present in teacher models. These biases, if unchecked, could lead to unfair outcomes, regulatory scrutiny, or loss of consumer trust. However, with careful attention, rigorous testing, and responsible governance, these risks can be mitigated effectively.

Another challenge lies in ensuring the ongoing quality and consistency of distilled models. As the model pool grows exponentially, maintaining standards becomes more complex. The AI community will need robust verification processes and continual improvements to distillation techniques to sustain quality across thousands of models.

Training expertise is also critical. Despite the democratization of access, skilled personnel are necessary to effectively apply these distilled models to specific use cases. Investment in workforce development, continuous education, and community knowledge-sharing will be essential components in realizing the full potential of DeepSeek’s innovations.

The overarching benefits of DeepSeek’s open-source distillation methodology—a combination of economic efficiency, sustainability, and transparency—far outweigh the potential drawbacks. As businesses and nations recognize the opportunity, this innovative approach could very well redefine the future trajectory of AI development worldwide.

DeepSeek's blend of reinforcement learning, model distillation, and open source accessibility is reshaping how artificial intelligence is developed and deployed. This revolutionary approach holds significant promise not only for technological advancement but also for democratizing AI, driving sustainable innovation, and positioning regions like Europe as leaders in the global AI landscape.

Check out our comprehensive list of the best AI tools.

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

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Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie is out now, and it's a film you won't want to miss.

I'm not just talking about how good it is, either (be sure to read my Thunderbolts* review to find out why). Indeed, it's far more important than many people realize, especially when it comes to setting up future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects.

Below, I'll explain how Thunderbolts* lays the foundation for events still to come. I'll also answer your biggest questions about the Marvel Phase 5 film, including the foremost one on everyone's minds prior to its release. That being, what's with the asterisk in its title?

Full spoilers immediately follow for Thunderbolts*. Turn back now if you haven't seen it yet.

What does the asterisk mean in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie?

Valentina (third left) uses her street smarts and marketing skills to turn the Thunderbolts* into The Avengers 2.0 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

In short, the group's unofficial name, The Thunderbolts, is replaced with an official moniker, The New Avengers.

So the reason for the asterisk in the title is due to the titular team being renamed in the film's final scene, which is reconfirmed by The New Avengers' logo appearing during the movie's end credits crawl. From that point on, Yelena Belova and company will go by their new team name.

That won't be a huge shock to some MCU devotees. Ever since Marvel added the asterisk to the movie's title, fans have theorized that the ragtag group would be renamed before Thunderbolts* ended.

However, considering that the eponymous team comprises anti-heroes, reformed villains, and superpowered misfits, some observers suggested they'd collectively be called The Dark Avengers. After all, this is the name given to a group of superpowered individuals in Marvel Comics that includes Bob Reynolds/Sentry and John Walker/US Agent, two of the characters who appear in this film.

Yep, you're looking at the latest version of Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The New Avengers' moniker is a better fit for the group in the MCU, though.

Indeed, The Avengers haven't existed since they defeated Thanos in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Sure, Sam Wilson, the second person to adopt the mantle of Captain America, plans to reform Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Captain America: Brave New World, but he's yet to do so before the events of Thunderbolts*.

That delay provides Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine with the perfect opportunity to introduce Belova and company to the world as The New Avengers.

After defeating Sentry's darker half (aka The Void) in his Shadow Realm, The Thunderbolts – a name derived from Belova's childhood soccer team that lost every match it played – find themselves back in New York. Moments after returning to their reality, they spot the power-hungry de Fontaine and quickly pursue her down Main Street.

"Wait... us?" (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Before they can arrest her for her crimes, though, the group stumbles into a street-based live press conference, which de Fontaine has hastily arranged. There, the CIA's duplicitous overlord tells the assembled press (and those watching the live broadcast) that Belova and company have not only saved the day, but are also a secret project she's been working on.

It's here that de Fontaine rechristens the group as The New Avengers. Confused but seemingly won over, the group accepts the new title, but not before Belova tells de Fontaine, "We own you now".

Essentially, the slippery CIA director has to do as she's told now. Otherwise, Belova and co. will come clean about de Fontaine's actual secret project, which involved Sentry/The Void's creation, her attempts to avoid impeachment, and so many other shady business dealings she made.

How does the titular team defeat The Void?

The Void is the physical representation of the dark part of Bob's split personality disorder (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Through the power of friendship and hugging!

I joke, of course – I don't mean to belittle the weighty thematic material explored in Thunderbolts*. As someone who's suffered with mental health issues in the past, I applaud its cast and crew for tackling such difficult subject matter, and for telling a story that'll strike an emotional chord with many cinephiles. It certainly did with me.

Anyway, the titular group beat The Void via unconventional means. Bob Reynolds' two superpowered alter-egos are arguably the strongest beings – human race-wise, anyway – in the entire MCU (sorry, Thor and The Hulk). That much is made clear by how easily Sentry deals with the rest of The Thunderbolts during their fight in the Watchtower.

The Void is even more powerful than Sentry. Again, that's evident by the ease with which his Shadow Realm spreads across New York City. (As an aside, I do wonder if Daredevil: Born Again season 2 will reference this event. After all, that Disney+ show is also set in New York, so, unless the series' sophomore season takes place prior to Thunderbolts*, it would be odd if it didn't mention the fact that a giant shadow literally overtook the city.)

Bob was experimented on in Malaysia by de Fontaine's OXE group (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

But I digress! In a bid to stop The Void, Belova – and, some time later, the rest of the team – enter the Shadow Realm, fight their way through their worst memories and traumas, and eventually find Bob, who's hiding in his 'best' worst memory.

Working together, the group eventually finds a memory of Bob's that shows he's not only been experimented on by de Fontaine's OXE research group, but also marked the first time that The Void manifested.

Long story short, The Void overpowers everyone except for Bob, who eventually fights The Void for control of his mind. As Bob pummels his darker self, though, The Void starts to silently overtake his consciousness with its shadow powers – a move that'll wipe Bob out of existence because The Void will have absorbed him into itself.

In a Hail Mary move, Belova – with Red Guardian's help – breaks free of her shackles, parkours her way to Bob, hugs him from behind, and tells him he's not alone. The rest of the team soon follow and silently embrace Bob, too. Overwhelmed by their humanity and comradeship, Bob breaks down and, in doing so, stops physically and mentally beating himself up.

Free of the darkness that consumed them, the group is suddenly transported back to New York. Belova asks Bob if he's okay, to which he responds that he is but has no idea what just happened. From here, we lead into the above section's stuff about de Fontaine, the press conference, and The New Avengers reveal.

Who dies in Thunderbolts*?

Taskmaster's time in the MCU was short and not very sweet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There's only one major character death in Thunderbolts* and it's one that was foreseen by fans many months before the film's release.

While appearing in Thunderbolts* first trailer and initial slate of press images last August, Olga Kurylenko's Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster has been conspicuous by her absence in promotional materials ever since. In fact, in the weeks leading up to one of May 2025's new movies arriving in theaters, Taskmaster has been completely MIA.

Inevitably, that led MCU devotees to suspect she wasn't long for this world – and that proves to be the case. During the four-way fight between Belova, Walker, Ava Starr, and Dreykov in the film's first act, Taskmaster is shot in the head and killed by Starr. It's an unceremonious way for her to bow out of the MCU and, based on some early fan reactions following the launch of Thunderbolts*, it's a death that's not gone down well with some.

Are there any Marvel cameos in Thunderbolts*?

Anthony Mackie's Captain America is referenced, but he doesn't physically appear (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

No. Unlike Bucky Barnes' surprise cameo in Captain America 4, there are no unexpected appearances from new or returning MCU characters in Thunderbolts*.

There's the odd reference or two to those who populate Marvel's cinematic juggernaut. Wilson is namechecked a couple of times. Meanwhile, former US President Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross is briefly mentioned by de Fontaine during her Senate hearing; the CIA director reminding the assembled elected individuals of Ross Hulk-ing out in Brave New World.

Those rare occurrences aside, you won't see other Marvel characters at any point. Well, unless you count the appearance of a certain group by way of a space vessel, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Is Geraldine Viswanathan's Thunderbolts* character Mel going to become Songbird in the MCU?

There may be more to Mel (left) than meets the eye (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Geraldine Viswanathan's Mel, aka de Fontaine's assistant, might not seem like the superhero type. In fact, to the average viewer, one of the primary supporting characters in Thunderbolts* will be seen as nothing more than de Fontaine's diligent albeit emotionally torn lackey.

Diehard Marvel fans, though, may pick up on the fact that Mel isn't just a simple background character. If you were paying attention, you'll have noticed Mel wears a gold necklace – one that has a gold bird sitting in a ring – throughout the film. Hmm, I wonder where we've seen that before...

Alright, enough teasing. Some fans believe Viswanathan is another Marvel hero hiding in plain sight. That's because, in Marvel Comics, there's a superhero called Songbird whose civilian identity is – wait for it – Melissa Gold.

Songbird's powerset includes the ability to create supersonic soundwaves, fly, and use echolocation (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Now, this could be nothing more than a curious case of misdirection on Marvel Studios' part. That said, the fact that there's a character called Mel who wears a gold necklace with a songbird hanging at the end of it is too much of a coincidence in my and many other viewers' eyes.

It might not be a coincidence, either. In a January 2025 chat with ScreenRant, Viswanathan danced around a question about whether she's playing Songbird in the MCU.

Asked if she considers herself to be a songbird, she replied: "I have no idea what you're talking about. Never in my life have I heard something like that...Oh, look what you've done. Now, I'm all nervous."

Don't be surprised, then, if Viswanathan isn't just confirmed to be playing Songbird in the MCU at some point, but that she'll also return in the next Avengers movie as part of a yet-to-be-revealed second round of Avengers: Doomsday cast reveals. Sure, Doomsday may already have 27 confirmed characters, but there's always room for more!

Does Thunderbolts* have a mid-credits scene?

MCU fans won't want to leave their seats early for this Marvel movie (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There is – and it's a call-back to a humorous line of dialogue Alexei Shoshtakov/Red Guardian utters around the film's midpoint.

The scene opens with Shoshtakov loitering in the cereal aisle of a grocery store. Striking up a conversation with a fellow shopper, he tries to convince her to buy a box of Wheaties, which is adorned with images of The New Avengers. He even poses next to the box, hoping that she'll recognize him (FYI, it doesn't work).

Earlier in the film, Shoshtakov jokes that, if The Thunderbolts save the day by putting a stop to de Fontaine's nefarious plans, they could not only end up on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes, but also be the "little kiddie toy" that children find among the cereal itself.

Despite appearing to convince his fellow cereal enthusiast to buy a box of Wheaties, though, Red Guardian doesn't realize that the person puts it back on a different shelf when he's not looking. Clearly, he put them off with his over-the-top persuasive tone!

What is the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene? And how does it set up The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

The Fantastic Four are seen – well, their starship is – in Thunderbolts* end credits stinger (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thunderbolts' end credits stinger takes place 14 months after the film's primary narrative.

Initially, it reunites us with Bucky Barnes, Belova, Walker, and Starr, who have returned to The New Avengers' headquarters – they might be stationed in The Watchtower, aka the building formerly known as Avengers Tower, but it's hard to tell. The quartet is sporting new costumes that look a bit corny (I'm hoping this is down to the corporate or commercial nature of The New Avengers, rather than the suits they actually decided to wear!).

Anyway, as they enter the main room of their HQ, they discuss the fact that Wilson/Cap 2.0 is suing them for trademark infringement. Wilson is upset they've snatched the Avengers moniker from under his nose. Despite Bucky meeting Wilson to smooth things over, Bucky reveals the conversation "went poorly".

As the conversation continues, Belova mentions some form of "space crisis," but, before we learn more, Shoshtakov interrupts to say he's fashioned a new, garish-looking tracksuit they can all wear. It's littered with sponsors, such as Tide, and has a giant 'New AvengerZ' logo on the front, which Shoshtakov suggests can circumvent Wilson's attempts to sue them for the team's new name.

Will we see The New Avengers greet The Fantastic Four in one of First Steps' likely end credits scenes? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Bob is also present, but he hasn't – and doesn't want to – use his powers to fight anyone (if it comes to that) because he's worried The Void will return. He says he "did the dishes", though, so at least he's of some use.

Suddenly, a data pad held by Belova lights up. Moments earlier, Bucky told Belova to use Earth's satellite system to learn more about these "space anomalies" they've been made aware of. Lo and behold, Bucky's idea works – and it's here that Thunderbolts* reveals its ties to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which arrives in theaters on July 25.

The data pad alerts the group that a mysterious space vessel has appeared above Earth-616 via a multidimensional portal. Belova pulls up the footage on her tablet and, as a short motif of The Fantastic Four's MCU theme plays, we see the group's futuristic-looking rocket ship, complete with a huge 'F4' logo on it, barreling towards Earth.

Downey Jr's Doctor Doom will be the Multiverse Saga's primary antagonist (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios)

So, how does this film's post-credits scene set up what'll happen in The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen reboot?

The short answer is: I'm not sure, but we know First Steps is set in an alternate reality. That much was made clear last April when Marvel teased some key story details about the film and then released a poster that confirmed to fans that it wouldn't be set in the MCU. So, Marvel's First Family will exist in another universe for much of First Steps' runtime.

"For much of" are the key words here. Again, we've no idea about how First Steps, aka the first Marvel Phase 6 movie will end, but fans have speculated that the titular team will be forced to flee their universe – because First Steps' main villain Galactus destroys it, Robert Downey Jr's Victor von Doom (who'll be the Big Bad of Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars) casts them out, or for some other reason.

Regardless, Thunderbolts* confirms The Fantastic Four will find themselves in the MCU by the time First Steps' story ends. The *ahem* steps taken to get there, though, are still up for debate.

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(Image credit: Charles Dharapak)

A content monitoring tool is essential for business purposes, like regulatory compliance, competitor monitoring, and brand protection. It also helps identify market trends and consumer preferences. Individuals may also use these monitors to track online sales, offers, job applications, and more.

PageCrawl is one such popular online content monitoring software best known for its customizable plans. Its free plan is one of the most comprehensive, offering features like unlimited alerts, custom notifications, and third-party integrations that are usually available under paid plans.

Apart from online pages and websites, you can also track PDFs, Excel, and Word files using PageCrawl. Plus, all these pages can be managed, imported, and modified in bulk.

Come take a dive with us as we explore in detail PageCrawl and its features, pricing, competition, and support.

PageCrawl: Plans and pricing

PageCrawl offers one of the most comprehensive free plans we have seen in the industry. It allows you to track 6 pages and run up to 180 checks a month. Plus, you get screenshots for the last 3 checks and a 90-day view history.

What we liked the most was the unlimited alerts you get on this plan through email, Discord, Telegram, Slack, and Teams. You can also automate workflows through Zapier integration. The only downside is that the frequency of each check is only once per day.

Next, the Standard plan gives you an option to choose the number of pages you want to track – 100, 200, or 300. The basic 100-page plan allows you to run 15,000 checks per month and costs $8. The 200-page plan (with 30,000 checks/month) is priced at $16/month, while the 300-page plan (with 45,000 checks/month) will cost you $24/month.

The plan allows you to check for changes every 15 minutes. You also get a 12-month view history, email support, API & Webhooks, and Review Boards. This plan allows you to track online-hosted PDF, Excel, and Word files.

Lastly, the Enterprise plan starts at $30/month for 500 pages and 100,000 checks a month. You get 8 plan options to choose from here; the upper ceiling is 4,000 pages per month with 800,000 checks. This makes PageCrawl ideal for even large businesses.

Here, you get a check frequency of 5 minutes, a premium proxy tool, user access roles, and premium email support. What's more, you can also bypass CAPTCHA on websites by paying just a small additional fee.

Note: The pricing mentioned above is for a monthly subscription. If you pay annually, you get two months for free. So, if you’re paying $8/month for the Standard monthly plan, you’ll only need to pay $80 if you choose the annual option.

PageCrawl: Features

Much like other trackers, PageCrawl also gives you the option to either track the whole page or select elements you specifically want to track.

Sometimes, the pages you want to track may be locked behind passwords. In such cases, you’ll only need to configure authentication on PageCrawl. Once done, you can use the same configuration to track multiple pages. This also works for PDFs, Excel sheets, Word, or CSV documents protected by passwords.

(Image credit: PageCrawl)

Besides this, PageCrawl also circumvents bot detection safeguards employed by Cloudflare for seamless tracking. You can even bypass reCAPTCHA/hCAPTCHA authentication for an additional fee.

What we liked the most about PageCrawl is that there are a lot of organization options. You can set up a folder hierarchy that allows you to group tracked pages by categories. Pagecrael also lets you attach custom labels to group pages by keywords or tracking status.

If you work in teams, you can create team-specific workspaces where employees can only monitor pages relevant to their needs. This enhances collaboration and prevents dual work.

To add to this, there are various templates. For instance, if a specific team is tracking only product listings, they can stick to one template to avoid confusion. The same goes for other pages like blog posts or service pages.

Taking this a step ahead, PageCrawl offers a “Review Board” – Kanban-like dashboards that streamline your monitoring process. There are also options to customize the reporting frequency. You can either choose to get real-time updates for time-sensitive changes or get daily or weekly reports for non-urgent changes.

These updates can be received through email alerts, SMS, Slack, Telegram, or Discord. You can also set up conditional notifications to only get alerts when certain words appear. This narrows down the search and prevents false positives.

Other notable features include proxy servers to track geo-restricted pages, third-party integrations, storage for view history and screenshots, auto page discovery, data export and reporting, and so on.

PageCrawl: Interface and in use

The most interesting thing about PageCrawl is that you can start tracking without creating an account. On its homepage, there’s a field to enter the URL of your website.

Once you do, it will show you a snapshot of the current version of the page and send all future updates to your email. However, this way, you won't be able to access any of the other features. So, we recommend registering your account.

(Image credit: PageCrawl)

Once you create an account, you’ll get a dashboard where on the left side you’ll have the menu. This is where you can manage your integrations, notifications, labels, and templates. Here, you will also find the option to create a new workspace or add a new user.

In the center, you will see a list of all the pages you are tracking along with their current status and last update.

Overall, the interface is simple. All the features are in plain sight, and everything you'll need is on one page.

PageCrawl: Support

PageCrawl offers decent support. There’s a help center containing tutorials and guides on almost every query you might have. And if you want to get in touch with the team directly, you can email them your support inquiries at help_me@pagecrawl.io. Please note that email support is only available on paid plans.

The response time depends on the plan you are subscribed to. If you have the Standard plan, the typical response time is 72 hours, whereas if you have the Enterprise plan, the standard response time is 24 hours, excluding weekends.

PageCrawl: The competition

PageCrawl is an all-in-one content monitoring tool. However, if it still doesn’t suit your needs, here are a few options you can look at.

Fluxguard has some of the best AI tools in the industry. It has an AI tool for translating websites to English, one for summarization, one for filtering irrelevant updates, and another for creating custom AI prompts to narrow down your search. However, it's a little expensive. If you want the same benefits for an even lower price, try Visualping.

Visualping has similar AI features. Its AI can help you summarize reports, filter notifications, and speed up setup with smart suggestions. Plus, it's cheaper than Fluxguard. What’s more, its plans are customizable just like PageCrawl.

PageCrawl: Final verdict

PageCrawl is a great tool for all businesses, thanks to its wide array of plan options – you can track from 6 pages to 4,000 pages per month. It's also one of the few tools that offers a comprehensive free plan with unlimited alerts, folders, and label categorization. The interface is simple and navigable, and the customer support is decent.

It also has a lot of organization options, which makes it easy for inter- and intra-team collaboration. There’s even a Kanban-like dashboard for better tracking and monitoring.

You can track websites, PDFs, Excel sheets, Word, or CSV files locked behind passwords.

Plus, PageCrawl sends you alerts through various modes such as SMS, emails, Telegram, Slack, and Discord, the frequency of which can be customized. Having said that, PageCrawl doesn’t offer AI features, which is why you may want to consider alternatives like Fluxguard or Visualping.

FAQs What is a content monitoring tool?

A content monitoring tool tracks a website or a page and notifies you of any changes on it. Whether it's a change in the content, code, or interface, you will be notified instantly. Most of these tools also create daily or weekly change reports for you so that you can get consolidated information.

Who is PageCrawl ideal for?

PageCrawl, thanks to its mind-blowing free plan, is best for those looking to try out a content monitoring tool – or folks who have limited needs. You can track 6 pages and get unlimited alerts without paying a single penny. Plus, you even set up conditional alerts, organize your work through folders and labels, and connect with 2,000+ apps for a seamless workflow.

Beyond this, even small and large businesses find PageCrawl worth the money. The paid plans start at $8/month, going all the way up to $240/month.

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