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For organizations training AI models, access to sufficient volumes of high-quality data is quickly becoming a serious challenge. Privacy and regulatory compliance are among the biggest issues, with increasingly strict rules making accessing the information needed to train robust AI models difficult.

Even when data is available, quality is not always guaranteed. Real-world datasets can easily reflect existing inequalities or historic decisions that, left unaddressed, can lead to flawed results that can manifest in customer-facing applications. What’s more, in highly specialized industries or where rare events are involved, the volume of usable data may be too small to draw meaningful insights.

Then, there’s the cost. Preparing real-world data for AI training is a labor-intensive process, often involving large-scale collection, tagging and validation. This can be time-consuming and prone to setbacks, particularly when teams are under pressure to deliver quick results. Put all this together, and it’s hardly surprising that some businesses are struggling to get their AI projects off the ground.

Diverse use cases

To bridge the gap, many are turning to artificially generated or ‘synthetic’ data as an alternative to real-world sources. This comes in various formats, ranging from structured tables and records to unstructured content such as text, images and videos. It’s even possible to create synthetic users or behaviors for more sophisticated training and testing scenarios.

Designed to reflect the properties of real data without including any personally identifiable information (PII), it can provide a flexible solution that overcomes many of the challenges associated with live datasets.

For regulated industries, synthetic data is already proving valuable. In healthcare, for example, recreating realistic datasets without referencing patient data avoids many of the legal and ethical issues typically associated with these use cases. In practical terms, this means hospitals and research institutions can use AI platforms that replicate the characteristics of medical records without including personal details.

Elsewhere, researchers can explore complex questions, such as predicting disease progression or optimizing treatment plans by using synthetic datasets that behave like real patient populations. This means they can train AI models without putting privacy at risk, and because synthetic data maintains the core properties of the original, the output remains valid for modelling and analysis but with zero risk of re-identification.

The right datasets at the right time

In other settings, real-world datasets often reflect the limitations or inequalities present in the systems they were drawn from – whether that’s underrepresentation of certain demographics or skewed outcomes caused by historic decision-making. Left uncorrected, these issues can carry through to the AI models being trained, resulting in flawed or unfair outputs.

Synthetic data offers a way to correct that imbalance. Because it’s generated artificially, datasets can be adjusted to better reflect a more diverse or representative sample, such as different age groups, ethnicities or behavioral patterns. It also allows organizations to create realistic simulations of rare scenarios that would otherwise be too rare in real-world data to train against effectively.

Lack of data also manifests itself in other situations, such as those encountered by autonomous driving systems. In some countries, weather events such as hailstorms are rare, but when they do occur, can present a real hazard for vehicles and their occupants.

Rather than wait for such conditions to happen naturally, AI developers can create synthetic simulations of low-visibility conditions and other unusual scenarios, which are then used to train vehicle systems to respond appropriately in live situations.

In a similar way, images of people or objects suddenly appearing in the path of the car can be computer-generated and tested from all angles to ensure all possibilities are addressed. Without this level of training, the model may not recognize a potentially hazardous situation and fail to respond appropriately.

Cost and efficiency

Compared to the time, effort and budget needed to obtain and prepare large-scale real-world datasets, using synthetic data can offer a faster and more predictable alternative. In financial services, for example, using real customer transaction data typically requires extensive anonymization and compliance checks. In contrast, synthetic datasets that mimic transaction patterns without referencing any real customer data allow for quicker, lower-risk AI model development.

Out in the real world, synthetic data has been used by financial institutions to improve fraud detection model development without relying on sensitive customer transaction records. Accessing and using real financial data typically requires costly anonymization, compliance checks and legal reviews – a set of processes that inevitably drive up costs. By generating synthetic datasets replicating real transaction patterns, companies reduce the need for expensive data preparation and minimize regulatory hurdles, making their AI projects more cost-effective.

Looking ahead, this kind of work represents the tip of the iceberg, and we can expect to see many more organizations turn to synthetic data to power their AI projects. Indeed, if predictions from Gartner are accurate, by 2030, “synthetic data will completely overshadow real data in AI models.”

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, May 21 (game #710).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #711) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ASTERISK
• SHREK
• BRIDGE TROLL
• POOL
• HULK
• SPHINX
• CATCH
• GRINCH
• RIDDLER
• ELPHABA
• OBELISK
• STRINGS
• CAPITOL
• CONDITION
• MAD HATTER
• MALL

NYT Connections today (game #711) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: One more thing… 
• GREEN: It’s not easy being…
• BLUE: As seen in the capital
• PURPLE: Presenters of puzzles

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #711) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FINE PRINT 
• GREEN: CHARACTERS WITH GREEN SKIN 
• BLUE: FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL MALL IN D.C. 
• PURPLE: FAMOUS RIDDLE-GIVERS

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

NYT Connections today (game #711) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #711, are…

• YELLOW: FINE PRINT ASTERISK, CATCH, CONDITION, STRINGS
• GREEN: CHARACTERS WITH GREEN SKIN ELPHABA, GRINCH, HULK, SHREK
• BLUE: FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL MALL IN D.C. CAPITOL, MALL, OBELISK, POOL
• PURPLE: FAMOUS RIDDLE-GIVERS BRIDGE TROLL, MAD HATTER, RIDDLER, SPHINX

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Not my best day. I immediately thought that we had a group about CHARACTERS WITH GREEN SKIN, but only knew three for sure. Thinking that the category might extend beyond skin I added RIDDLER to GRINCH, HULK and SHREK because of his green suit. 

Using the tried and trusted technique of picking something that I had never seen or heard of before, I added ELPHABA, whom I now know is a character from Wicked, which I should have known as I’ve paid good money to see the stage musical. 

My second, on reflection, very dumb mistake was creating the FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL MALL IN D.C. group with the addition of SPHINX.

In my defence, Cleopatra’s Needle is a big obelisk in London, so I thought there might be some nod to ancient civilization among the US capital too. Oh well, I got there eventually.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, May 21, game #710)

• YELLOW: PROHIBIT, AS ENTRY BAR, BLOCK, DENY, REFUSE
• GREEN: FOLDERS ON A MAC DESKTOP, MUSIC, PICTURES, TRASH
• BLUE: MEDICINE FORMATS CREAM, PATCH, SPRAY, TABLET
• PURPLE: THINGS THAT OPEN LIKE A CLAM CLAM, COMPACT, LAPTOP, WAFFLE IRON

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, May 21 (game #1213).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1214) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1214) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1214) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1214 - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1214) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• G

• S

• E

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

Quordle today (game #1214) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1214, are…

• CLOSE
• GLOVE
• STINT
• EXCEL

This felt like a tough one and although getting CLOSE first unlocked the L-O combination in GLOVE I still struggled to get across the line.

It took me two goes to get STINT, but I spent the longest trying to fit a word into what became EXCEL.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1214) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1214, are…

• STAID
• PLUME
• CHUCK
• RUMOR

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE
• Quordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKER
• Quordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARN
• Quordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READY
• Quordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUE
• Quordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATIN
• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 21 (game #444).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #445) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Keeping an eye on things

NYT Strands today (game #445) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STRUT
• NEED
• CRUDE
• CURSE
• DINE
• TRAP

NYT Strands today (game #445) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #445) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 2nd column

Last side: bottom, 1st column

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

NYT Strands today (game #445) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #445, are…

• STEWARD
• GUARDIAN
• PROTECTOR
• CUSTODIAN
• TRUSTEE
• SPANGRAM: TAKE CARE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

The theme made me think that we were looking for things that watched over us – cameras, drones, spies.

After getting STEWARD as a hint word I settled on hunting down professions, although it took me a while to realize that it wasn't guard I was searching for, but GUARDIAN.

I got PROTECTOR next, but then got stuck before eventually finding the very twisty-turny CUSTODIAN.

All of these words sound very authoritative, law abiding, and solid, which is just as well as we need serious people to save us from the scammers and ne'er-do-wells who are also “keeping an eye on things”.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, May 21, game #444)

• MATCH
• PAIR
• PARTNERS
• TWINS
• TWOSOME
• COUPLE
• SPANGRAM: DOUBLE TROUBLE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• There is a way to verify fake messages as if they were legitimate
• The bug affects multiple versions of OpenPGP.js
• A patch is available

A security flaw in the JavaScript implementation of OpenPGP.js allows threat actors to verify fake messages as if they were legitimate, essentially breaking public key cryptography. This is according to security researchers Edoardo Geraci and Thomas Rinsma of Codean Labs, who found and recently reported the vulnerability.

OpenPGP.js is an open-source JavaScript library that allows developers to encrypt, decrypt, sign, and verify messages using the OpenPGP standard. Normally, when a user signs a message digitally, it makes sure the content wasn’t tampered.

But in this case, the vulnerability lets the threat actor change the message content, while still making it seem as if it had a valid signature.

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Applying the patch

In theory, the vulnerability could be used for fake payment authorization, among other things. If a company used OpenPGP.js to verify digitally signed payment requests from its clients, an attacker could obtain a valid signed request, modify the payment details, and send it back, effectively stealing the money.

Versions 5.0.1 to 5.12.2, and 6.0.0-alpha.0 to 6.1.0 of OpenPGP.js were said to be vulnerable, with the issue being patched in versions 5.11.3 and 6.1.1. Version 4 is safe, it was added.

Those who cannot apply the patch immediately should at least apply the workaround. Users can check signatures separately instead of just trusting the system’s verification, or decrypt messages in two steps to make sure the data is not tampered with.

The bug is now tracked as CVE-2025-47934 and has a severity score of 8.7/10 (high). There is currently no confirmed evidence of abuse in the wild. A proof-of-concept (PoC) and detailed analysis of the vulnerability is coming soon, the maintainers said, likely to give users enough time to apply the patch.

Via The Register

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From Target to Walmart, retailers are fighting two battles at once: a financial battle to keep costs low in the face of new tariffs, and a political one to avoid the president's wrath.

(Image credit: Ted Shaffrey)

• Nissan resurrects the Micra, which is now in its sixth generation
• Affordable city car has been given the EV treatment
• It is based on the recent Renault 5 and there’s a lot of crossover

Nissan has revealed details of the all-new electric Micra, which will eventually be joined by a heavily-revised Leaf, an electrified version of its Juke SUV and a soon-to-be-announced city car in a refreshed line-up.

The Japanese marque, which is feeling the pressure of increased competition and a tentative approach to electric vehicles, hopes that this refreshed model line-up can inject a bit of excitement.

The new Micra comes at a time when Nissan has stated that it will cut 20,000 jobs, close seven factories around the world and pause a number of new car developmental programs until it can steady the ship.

With over 40 years of history, the Micra certainly has the nameplate recognition to shift a few units and it is also based on same underpinnings that have already garnered multiple awards and accolades — the Renault AmpR Small platform.

Yep, that’s the very same one that it's used for the Renault 5 E-Tech and the recently-launched Renault 4 electric reboot. This means the new Micra gets two battery options, with 40kWh and 52kWh up for grabs.

In the smaller version, drivers get 121bhp to play with and a claimed range of 195 miles, but the compact Micra weighs in at just 1,400kg… not bad for a modern EV.

(Image credit: Nissan)

The larger battery option can manage 253 miles of range and packs a more potent 148bhp electric motor that powers the front wheels. That’s slightly heavier at 1,524kg, but recharging is faster, with the 80kW rate allowing for a 15-to-80% top-up in around 30 minutes.

Sister company Renault has also offered its suspension system, braking and numerous driving modes, so it should largely feel like the nippy and fantastically fun Renault 5 E-Tech to drive.

In fact, there’s a huge amount of Gallic influence here, including inside, where the dual-screen infotainment array, switchgear and dash all look largely similar.

(Image credit: Nissan)

To differentiate the two cars, Nissan has drawn on its past and added round LED daytime running lights that sort of echo those seen on the 2002 European Micra. However, these modern interpretations now perform a short choreographed “welcome wink” when you unlock the vehicle.

The wider wheel arches, massive alloy wheels and a lower lip at the front help give it a more aggressive stance on the road.

Oh, and there is what designers are calling the “ice cream scoop” that runs down the side, which is essentially an indent that has been pressed into the surface just under the windows, “reminiscent of the shape a scoop would make if dragged across the surface of untouched ice cream,” according to Nissan.

Analysis: Shaking the old-timer image

(Image credit: Nissan)

The Micra has been a hugely popular model for Nissan in Europe, shifting more than six million units in the 40-odd years it has been on sale, but its image has historically given off elderly driver and budget first-car vibes (in the UK, anyway), rather than ever being something truly desirable.

The latest version is the first in its long history to not be sold with a combustion engine and Nissan hopes that this fact, alongside co-development with Renault, will help it appeal to younger buyers.

Nissan’s European marketing boss, Arnaud Charpentier, also told Auto Car that the Micra would be more expensive than Renault’s offering, hoping that it would come across as a more premium option.

But it is difficult to get away from the many similarities between the new Micra and Renault 5, with the latter feeling more vibrant, funkier and carrying a lot more retro charm… particularly on the inside.

Borrowing numerous elements from one of the most successful EV launches in recent years probably isn’t such a bad thing and let’s face it, the all-new Micra certainly looks a lot more appealing than previous generations.

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Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international correspondents share moments from their lives and work around the world.

Prime Video’s new dramedy has become a hit with viewers and critics alike, and it’s a binge-worthy show you won’t want to miss.

Overcompensating has made its way up the Prime Video chart since dropping its full season on May 15th, and currently sits number one in its global chart, giving it a strong case for being one of the best Prime Video shows in the world right now.

But if you’re concerned it's just a case of audiences flocking to Prime Video’s latest offering, fear not – critics are loving Overcompensating too, with the show currently sitting at a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Covering similar ground to Hulu/Channel 4’s outstanding Big Boys , Overcompensating follows closeted former football player Benny (Benito Skinner) as he ventures out into the wide world of college.

TikTok star Skinner not only leads the ensemble cast, but created the show, basing the character on one of his most successful viral videos. Not feeling at home with the jocks and frat boys, but not yet ready to publicly be a part of the LGBTQ community, Benny’s struggle to find somewhere to fit in finds him drawn to high-school outsider Carmen (Wallay Baram), and the show portrays the pair’s efforts to find their people in the tribal college landscape.

With mentorship from Benny’s older sister Grace (Mary Beth Barone) and her boyfriend, college legend Peter (Adam DiMarco), Benny and Carmen set out on a path to discover, and love, who they really are.

Overcompensating is a breezy, funny and at times surprisingly touching trip through college self discovery that puts a refreshing spin on the raucous campus comedy.

What are the critics saying about Overcompensating?

With the show enjoying such a high Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s no surprise critics are almost unanimous in their praise.

The New Yorker commented of the deftness with which the show turns from something akin to an American Pie movie into something more profound, saying “Overcompensating gradually shifts from a straightforward sex comedy into something emotionally richer,” which the The Guardian echoed in its review: “Don’t come to Overcompensating expecting wall-to-wall comedy; this is a thoroughly charming show with a very sensitive soul.”

Other reviewers, meanwhile, noted the chemistry between the leads, with Mashable calling Skinner and Baram “wonderfully natural” together.

Adam DiMarco as Peter (Image credit: Prime Video)What's the subscriber's verdict?

Meanwhile, fans have been showing their love for the show, with the RT Audience Score currently landing at 79%. Reddit users are already calling for more episodes, with one stating: “I just binged all 8 episodes and wanted more,” while another said “I’ll take four more seasons as soon as possible.”

Comment from r/television

It wasn’t all praise though, with some Redditors criticising the use of older actors to portray college-age characters. “I only made it about 10 minutes because in no world does any of this cast pass for remotely close to the ages they’re playing,” said one post, while a second echoed “it's so distracting I can't tell if it's a parody or just such a vanity project.”

Viewers have also drawn comparisons to similar shows, with one post praising Overcompensating, but saying “it’s nowhere close to the first three seasons of Sex Education and the first two seasons of Never Have I Ever and Sex Lives of College Girls.”

Either way, Overcompensating looks like the latest must watch show over on Prime Video, with all eight episodes available to binge right now on one of the best streaming services.

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• Oura has updated its smart ring with improved health-tracking features
• There are tweaked algorithms, new features, and fresh integrations
• The changes are available today

The Oura Ring is one of the best smart rings around, giving you a slate of in-depth insights into your health, all from a high-tech ring on your finger. Now, its maker has announced a slew of updates to make activity and movement tracking more accurate and useful.

Oura says these changes, which it describes as “a suite of algorithm improvements and product updates”, have been prompted by the idea that “all movement counts.” To that end, you can expect a range of different adjustments and new features across a variety of activity types.

For instance, Oura’s step-counting algorithm has been updated to no longer estimate steps and instead work more like a pedometer, making it more accurate, while measurement of active calories has been improved to consider the intensity of the movement (gauged using your heart rate). Heart rate info from Oura’s partners (like Google Health Connect and Apple HealthKit) will now be included in activities you import from these partners’ apps and platforms.

(Image credit: Oura)

Elsewhere, Oura’s Automatic Activity Detection now works at any time of the day or night, including in the early hours. If you want to add an activity or workout from the last seven days manually, you can now do that too, and your Readiness and Activity scores will be tweaked accordingly.

There are also new views and metrics to be found in Automatic Activity Detection, such as running splits. Oura will use your phone’s data to add more detail to runs and walks, and there’s a new trend view for active minutes, which should give you more insight into your workouts.

While these changes all impact Oura’s own platform, there are also new integrations with third-party providers including CorePower Yoga, The Sculpt Society, Technogym, and Open. In each case, Oura users will be able to see data gathered from their wearable ring in each platform’s own app. Discounts are also being offered to Oura members.

Whether you want to stick to Oura’s own service or use one of these integrations, these updates should bring some intriguing new features to one of the best fitness trackers you can buy. Oura says all the new features are rolling out to users today, May 21, so be sure to check them out if they sound like they’re of interest.

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• CSE-protected Word documents are to be supported in Google Docs (currently in beta)
• Some features may not be fully functioning to begin with
• Admins must apply for beta access

Google has announced a handy new update coming to its online productivity suite, allowing users to view and edit client-side encrypted Microsoft Word (.docx) files from within the Google Docs interface.

The benefit for users is that edits will continue to be saved in the original Word format, enabling the use of Google Workspace with all the familiar Word tools and formats.

Google's updated feature also maintains data confidentiality by keeping the client-side encryption (CSE) active, however there are some restrictions in place.

Edit CSE-protected Word docs in Google Docs

"This update makes it easy for you to leverage Google Workspace with the tools and formats you already use while preserving confidentiality of your sensitive data with client-side encryption," Google's announcement reads.

While the feature remains in beta, users will need to work within the feature's limitations. For example, it only supports .docx files (not other Word file types), and a maximum file size of 20MB applies. Some feature incompatibles may also occur – some Word features may be view-only or non-editable in Docs, and others may be lost or altered after editing.

Google confirmed: "As we continue to improve Office editing in encrypted Google Docs, you may encounter incompatibilities for certain features." The company said that notifications will appear if edits are expected to cause feature loss.

Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Enterprise Plus and Frontline Plus will get access to the feature, however it requires admins to request access via a form. Once accepted, they'll get immediate access to the beta feature.

"Eligible Google Workspace admins can use this form to request access to the beta. We’ll share more specific instructions once you’re accepted into the beta," Google said.

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A Georgia woman declared brain dead is being kept on life support because she is pregnant. It raises complicated legal questions about restrictive abortion laws in Georgia and other states.

(Image credit: Brynn Anderson/AP)

• Windows 11 is getting a new Cross Device Resume feature
• It’s like Apple’s Handoff ability for using apps across a phone and PC
• In this case, it’ll hook up a Windows 11 PC and Android phone, with Microsoft showing off the feature at Build 2025

Here’s some good news for Windows 11 users who are jealous of the convenience of Apple’s Handoff feature that lets you seamlessly resume what you were last doing in apps when you switch between iOS and Mac devices.

Microsoft has this functionality inbound, allowing for a similar way of working across Windows 11 and Android smartphones, as evidenced by a session from Build 2025 that was uploaded to YouTube.

As Windows Central reports, the demonstration of ‘Cross Device Resume’ in Windows 11 has been removed from the YouTube clip, with Microsoft editing the video to strip it out.

Luckily, well-known leaker on X, PhantomOfEarth, managed to grab a screenshot of the deleted demo which you can see below.

Taskbar hover card UI used for the upcoming taskbar recommendations feature + Resume on taskbar, w/ Spotify support, in Windows 11 (taken from a pre-recorded Build session*) pic.twitter.com/C8eUTyjTanMay 20, 2025

It showed how Cross Device Resume works with Spotify, kicking off with a song playing on an Android smartphone, and then moving to a Windows 11 PC.

After having switched over to the Windows 11 desktop, the Spotify app is flagged with a phone icon in the taskbar, and when hovered over, it offers a Resume option to continue playing the track that the user was listening to on their Android device.

It’ll resume from the exact spot where you left off on your mobile, as you might expect.

(Image credit: Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay)Analysis: Project Resume

So, Microsoft is apparently working on giving software developers the ability to include this Cross Device Resume functionality with their apps (for those who make both Android and Windows versions of their products, of course). From the info gleaned here, it looks like Spotify will use this feature, and apparently WhatsApp might, too.

That is assuming this Handoff doppelganger ever makes the cut for Windows 11. Clearly, it’s not quite ready to be publicly aired yet, given Microsoft yanked down the part of the video which showed the way Cross Device Resume works. However, it seems like a sensible idea to bring this functionality to Microsoft’s desktop OS – indeed, you might wonder why this hasn’t been done before.

That’s a good question, especially considering that it’s a very useful feature, and one that Apple has provided to Mac users for a decade now, so Microsoft looks very behind the times. Although as Windows Central pointed out, cross-device continuity is something Microsoft has been toying with for a long time, ever since Project Rome first came to light in 2016 – although that was a much grander vision of working across different devices.

One obvious element that needs improving is the name. I’m hoping Cross Device Resume is a placeholder for now, as it’s lacking a good deal in snappiness when compared to Handoff. Although it may just be shortened to Resume if the screenshot of the feature in action provided on X is anything to go by.

Interestingly, some keen-eyed Windows 11 watchers have previously flagged up a Cross Device Resume process running in the background of the operating system. This is seemingly a way of working on OneDrive files across devices, so it looks like Microsoft’s plan is to expand this groundwork to cover a range of apps, not just its cloud storage service.

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• New research points to flaws used in targets against cloud instances
• The flaws were previously found in on-prem attacks
• Ivanti released a patch so apply it now

Two bugs affecting Ivanti’s Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM), which were discovered and patched in mid-May, are still being abused in real-life attacks. In fact, they are now targeting cloud instances, as well.

This is according to cybersecurity researchers Wiz, who published a new report recently, detailing the new findings.

“Wiz Research has observed ongoing exploitation of these vulnerabilities in-the-wild targeting exposed and vulnerable EPMM instances in cloud environments since May 16th, 2025, coinciding with the publication of POCs by several sources including watchTowr and ProjectDiscovery,” the researchers said in their report.

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CISA added the flaws to KEV

The bugs in question are an authentication bypass flaw, and a post-authentication remote code execution (RCE) flaw. They are tracked as CVE-2025-4427, and CVE-2025-4428, and neither was given a critical severity score. “While neither of these vulnerabilities have been assigned critical severity, in combination they should certainly be treated as critical,” Wiz added.

Ivanti addressed the vulnerabilities in a patch released in mid-May this year and warned, in a security advisory, of ongoing attacks.

“We are aware of a very limited number of customers whose solution has been exploited at the time of disclosure,” the company said at the time. To address the issue, users should install Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile 11.12.0.5, 12.3.0.2, 12.4.0.2, or 12.5.0.1.

Initially, Ivanti thought the issue only affected on-prem EPMM products. “It is not present in Ivanti Neurons for MDM, Ivanti's cloud-based unified endpoint management solution, Ivanti Sentry, or any other Ivanti products," the company explained. "We urge all customers using the on-prem EPMM product to promptly install the patch."

In the meantime, CISA added the two bugs to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV), giving Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies a deadline to patch up. No threat actors claimed responsibility for any of the attacks so far.

Via The Register

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• Amazon’s Prime Air drones can now deliver more items to its early adopters
• That includes smartphones, AirTags, video doorbells, and more
• Customers also no longer need a QR code to tell the drone where to go

Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service has been available for a few years now, but it’s been limited in several key ways. Things are changing now, though, as the company has just gained approval to ferry new categories of items to customers in the US, including Apple AirTags and some of the best smartphones.

Announcing the news, Amazon said that its Prime Air service has received FAA approval to handle devices like “Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells, and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers.”

That should give you a lot more choice when it comes to ordering these items. Amazon says that it aims to get them into your hands within 60 minutes of checkout, making it a tempting option if you really urgently need one of the best iPhones on your doorstep (an unlikely scenario, but anyway) or you just can’t wait.

There are a few caveats to the recent changes. For one thing, the item due for delivery must weigh five pounds or less. For another, you need to be in one of the locations covered by Amazon’s drone service, which includes College Station in Texas and the West Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona.

As well as that, the weather must be suitable for the drone to fly in, and you must choose from one of the 60,000 items available for delivery via drone.

How the Prime Air ordering process works

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon also revealed how Prime Air deliveries look in its Shopping app. If you live in an eligible area and are ordering something that weighs under five pounds, you'll see a drone delivery option in the check out section. You then choose a delivery spot at your address, which can be set as your default (just like a typical 'safe space').

Amazon also says it has improved its delivery estimates so that it can provide a more accurate delivery window to you – typically accurate to within five minutes. The company will also let you know if your package can’t be delivered, and the accompanying reason.

If the process can go ahead, the drone identifies suitable delivery areas that are free of obstacles like buildings, trees and cars. Then, once it’s found a spot close to where you live, it will descend to about 13 feet, which Amazon says is “low enough to deliver an item safety and securely.” Unlike before, you no longer need to place a QR code on your delivery location, as the drone will automatically know where to stop.

So, if you live in the right area and are desperate for a new phone, smart doorbell, or set of AirPods, Amazon’s Prime Air service could be what you need – if just walking to the shops isn’t an option, of course.

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• The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are available for pre-order right now
• They're actually shipping from 10th June 2025
• The US price is $449 – we gave them 5 stars in our review

In the battle for the best headphones, Sony and Bowers & Wilkins are high on our list – and of the two pairs, we think the B&W headphones sound better than the Sonys. And now they're available for US customers to order, having already launched elsewhere in the world.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones are available to order from today, and will start shipping in a few weeks time on June 10th. We think they're the best premium headphones you can buy right now – you can read our five-star Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review to go in-depth on why.

Sony's price hike on the new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones compared to the previous model means the B&W pair are the same price as them – but the B&W have a clear edge on sound quality.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)What's so great about the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3?

To be fair to Sony, the XM6's active noise cancellation is better – although the B&W's ANC is very good. But if you're serious about sound, then the B&W cans are the better buy.

The B&W Px7 S3 headphones deliver truly exceptional sound, and as we said in our review the only thing we can imagine being improved in future versions is wind noise suppression. It's testament to how good the B&W PX7 S3 sound that we had to go that deep to find something to complain about.

In our review, we praised the unity and singularity to the presentation in all genres, whether we were listening to Aphex Twin or Aretha Franklin. As my colleague Simon Lucas explained: "As well as the impeccable tonal balance, the Px7 S3 retrieve and contextualize a huge amount of fine detail, which contributes no end to the sensation of a complete and unexpurgated account of recordings."

Tech-wise you're looking at Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, 40mm biocellulose drivers with discrete amplification, and up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC switched on. Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast are promised to arrive soon in a free firmware update, as is spatial audio.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are available to order now from bowerswilkins.com for $449. In the UK, the Px7 S3 are usually £399 but we've spotted some deals taking them down to £365 already.

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• Netflix support for first-gen Fire TV is ending in June
• Older Fire TV devices can't play more modern video codecs
• Try Amazon Trade-In to get money off a newer model

After a decade, Netflix is ending support for first-generation Fire TV streaming devices. From June 3, 2025, first generation versions of the following models will no longer be Netflix-compatible:

• Fire TV (2014)
• Fire TV Stick (2014)
• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (2016)

The announcement, which Netflix has emailed its customers about, isn't a huge surprise: Amazon hasn't updated them for some time now, and the early Fire TV devices don't support the most modern video and audio formats.

Even in 2023, some users on the FireTV subreddit were advising against buying them new.

Need a new TV stick? The Fire TV Stick 4K Max would be our choice, but don't pay full price (Image credit: Amazon) Why is Netflix stopping support for the Fire TV models?

Netflix hasn't said specifically, but the most likely explanation is that the devices don't support the audio and video codecs Netflix is using. As PC World, whose sister title PC-WELT broke the news, reported: "It could have something to do with Netflix using newer standards – such as the AV1 codec – to stream with better picture quality, particularly for customers who are on the Premium plan." The now-discontinued devices can't be upgraded to support newer codecs.

If you're the owner of one of the affected models and want to keep streaming Netflix, you'll need to buy one of the current range instead. And as ever with Amazon devices, try not to pay full price for it: Amazon discounts its Fire TV devices constantly throughout the year, and I wouldn't be surprised if the retailer reacts to the Netflix news by discounting them accordingly. At the time of writing, my preferred upgrade is 33% off in the US among the Memorial Day deals.

If I were upgrading from an old Fire TV device I'd skip the 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K and go for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. There's not a huge price difference – the non-Max version has an official price of $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$79 while the Max is $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119. For a little more, you get more storage, a faster processor, better Wi-Fi and Amazon's Ambient experience.

In the US, that model gone down to $39.99 four times this year – including today, May 21st. For UK customers, the Max has been discounted to £50 or below three times this year so far.

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The Google Android XR can’t do very much… yet. At Google I/O 2025, I got to wear the new glasses and try some key features – three features exactly – and then my time was up. These Android XR glasses aren’t the future, but I can certainly see the future through them, and my Meta Ray Ban smart glasses can’t match anything I saw.

The Android XR glasses I tried had a single display, and it did not fill the entire lens. The glasses projected onto a small frame in front of my vision that was invisible unless filled with content.

To start, a tiny digital clock showed me the time and local temperature, information drawn from my phone. It was small and unobtrusive enough that I could imagine letting it stay active at the periphery.

Google Gemini is very responsive on this Android XR prototype

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The first feature I tried was Google Gemini, which is making its way onto every device Google touches. Gemini on the Android XR prototype glasses is already more advanced than what you might have tried on your smartphone.

I approached a painting on the wall and asked Gemini to tell me about it. It described the pointillist artwork and the artist. I said I wanted to look at the art very closely and I asked for suggestions on interesting aspects to consider. It gave me suggestions about pointillism and the artist’s use of color.

The conversation was very natural. Google’s latest voice models for Gemini sound like a real human. The glasses also did a nice job pausing Gemini when somebody else was speaking to me. There wasn’t a long delay or any frustration. When I asked Gemini to resume, it said ‘no problem’ and started up quickly.

That’s a big deal! The responsiveness of smart glasses is a metric I haven’t considered before, but it matters. My Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses have an AI agent that can look through the camera, but it works very slowly. It responds slowly at first, and then it takes a long time to answer the question. Google’s Gemini on Android XR was much faster and that made it feel more natural.

Google Maps on Android XR wasn’t like any Google Maps I’ve seen

Celebrities Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dieter Bohn wear Android XR glasses and shake hands with the crowd (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Then I tried Google Maps on the Android XR prototype. I did not get a big map dominating my view. Instead, I got a simple direction sign with an arrow telling me to turn right in a half mile. The coolest part of the whole XR demo was when the sign changed as I moved my head.

If I looked straight down at the ground, I could see a circular map from Google with an arrow showing me where I am and where I should be heading. The map moved smoothly as I turned around in circles to get my bearings. It wasn’t a very large map – about the size of a big cookie (or biscuit for UK friends) in my field of view.

As I lifted my head, the cookie-map moved upward. The Android XR glasses don’t just stick a map in front of my face. The map is an object in space. It is a circle that seems to remain parallel with the floor. If I look straight down, I can see the whole map. As I move my head upward, the map moves up and I see it from a diagonal angle as it lifts higher and higher with my field of view.

By the time I am looking straight ahead, the map has entirely disappeared and has been replaced by the directions and arrow. It’s a very natural way to get an update on my route. Instead of opening and turning on my phone, I just look towards my feet and Android XR shows me where they should be pointing.

Showing off the colorful display with a photograph

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The final demo I saw was a simple photograph using the camera on the Android XR glasses. After I took the shot, I got a small preview on the display in front of me. It was about 80% transparent, so I could see details clearly, but it didn’t entirely block my view.

Sadly that was all the time Google gave me with the glasses today, and the experience was underwhelming. In fact, my first thought was to wonder if the Google Glass I had in 2014 had the exact same features as today’s Android XR prototype glasses. It was pretty close.

My old Google Glass could take photos and video, but it did not offer a preview on its tiny, head-mounted display. It had Google Maps with turn directions, but it did not have the animation or head-tracking that Android XR offers.

There was obviously no conversational AI like Gemini on Google Glass, and it could not look at what you see and offer information or suggestions. What makes the two similar? They both lack apps and features.

Which comes first, the Android XR software or the smart glasses to run it?

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Should developers code for a device that doesn’t exist? Or should Google sell smart glasses even though there are no developers yet? Neither. The problem with AR glasses isn’t just a chicken and egg problem of what comes first, the software or the device. That’s because AR hardware isn’t ready to lay eggs. We don’t have a chicken or eggs, so it’s no use debating what comes first.

Google’s Android XR prototype glasses are not the chicken, but they are a fine looking bird. The glasses are incredibly lightweight, considering the display and all the tech inside. They are relatively stylish for now, and Google has great partners lined up in Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.

The display itself is the best smart glasses display I’ve seen, by far. It isn’t huge, but it has a better field of view than the rest; it’s positioned nicely just off-center from your right eye’s field of vision; and the images are bright, colorful (if translucent), and flicker-free.

The author in Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses looking dumbfounded (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

When I first saw the time and weather, it was a small bit of text and it didn’t block my view. I could imagine keeping a tiny heads-up display on my glasses all the time, just to give me a quick flash of info.

This is just the start, but it’s a very good start. Other smart glasses haven’t felt like they belonged at the starting line, let alone on retail shelves. Eventually, the display will get bigger, and there will be more software. Or any software, because the feature set felt incredibly limited.

Still, with just Gemini’s impressive new multi-modal capabilities and the intuitive (and very fun) Google Maps on XR, I wouldn’t mind being an early adopter if the price isn’t terrible.

How the Android XR prototype compares to Meta’s Ray Ban Smart Glasses

My Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are mostly just sunglasses now (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Of course, Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses lack a display, so they can’t do most of this. The Meta Smart Glasses have a camera, but the images are beamed to your phone. From there, your phone can save them to your gallery, or even use the Smart Glasses to broadcast live directly to Facebook. Just Facebook – this is Meta, after all.

With its Android provenance, I’m hoping whatever Android XR smart glasses we get will be much more open than Meta’s gear. It must be. Android XR runs apps, while Meta’s Smart Glasses are run by an app. Google intends Android XR to be a platform. Meta wants to gather information from cameras and microphones you wear on your head.

I’ve had a lot of fun with the Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses, but I honestly haven’t turned them on and used the features in months. I was already a Ray Ban Wayfarer fan, so I wear them as my sunglasses, but I never had much luck getting the voice recognition to wake up and respond on command. I liked using them as open ear headphones, but not when I’m in New York City and the street noise overpowers them.

I can’t imagine that I will stick with my Meta glasses once there is a full platform with apps and extensibility – the promise of Android XR. I’m not saying that I saw the future in Google’s smart glasses prototype, but I have a much better view of what I want that smart glasses future to look like.

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• Fortnite has returned to the App Store in the US after a 5-year absence
• iPhone and iPad users can now download the massively popular battle royale shooter once again
• The legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple is still ongoing

Fortnite has returned to the App Store in the US after a five-year absence, bringing one of the world’s most popular games back to iPhone and iPad.

As of right now, iPhone and iPad users can head to the iOS or iPadOS App Store and find Epic Games’ battle royale shooter and virtual experience platform available for free download.

As mentioned, Fortnite is one of the world's most-played games. Its most popular mode is a third-person shooter, which pits up to 100 players against each other on an island filled with unique locations and quirky weaponry.

Fortnite was first added to the App Store in 2018, but just two years later, Epic Games and Apple would begin a legal dispute that continues to this day.

Fortnite’s return to iPhone and iPad is a major milestone in said dispute, which revolves around the commission Apple charges on apps and in-app purchases.

In general, Epic has accused Apple of trying to form a monopoly through the App Store, while Apple has sought to protect its right to charge commission on in-app transactions. Apple charges a 30% commission on purchases made through the App Store, which extends to in-app purchases that use Apple's payment system.

The official Fortnite X account shared news of the game's return in a post that reads “Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads”.

Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads... and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It’ll show up in Search soon! Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ https://t.co/HQu3pYCXFm pic.twitter.com/w74QPFFkOSMay 20, 2025

According to ActivePlayer, Fortnite had been downloaded from the App Store 133 million times before it was removed – and with an estimated 500 million downloads across all platforms, it’s likely to rank amongst the most popular games of all time.

A lot has changed since Fortnite was last available on the App Store – the game has grown from a battle royale only to a Roblox-style platform for official and user-generated experiences, including tie-ins with Lego and Rocket League.

Fortnite has been available on iPhone and iPad in the EU since August 2024, but that’s because the EU's Digital Markets Act forces phone makers to support third-party storefronts – including the Epic Games Store.

And in other regions, such as Australia where Epic Games and Apple are engaged in a separate legal dispute for similar reasons, the game hasn't returned to the App Store yet.

A new chapter?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As we previously covered, Fortnite was originally removed from the App Store following a dispute between Epic Games and Apple over the way in-app purchases are handled.

Fortnite’s in-app purchases, consisting of subscriptions and the iconic V-Bucks virtual currency, are how the free game makes money from users.

In 2020, Epic Games added its own payment system to the app to circumvent the commission Apple charges on these in-app purchases – between 15% and 30% according to the Associated Press.

Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, and Epic Games suspended support for the iOS and iPadOS versions of the game soon after, and after further legal battles eventually allowed alternative payment systems to operate at a 27% commission.

After an appeal from Epic Games, Apple was ordered to stop collecting commission on alternative payment systems, and on May 19 US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers asked Apple why it was still blocking Fortnite without authorization from the court.

While Fortnite is now officially back on the App Store, the dispute between these tech titans isn’t over just yet – another hearing is scheduled to take place on May 27. We'll have the latest updates via our mobile gaming coverage.

Still, this is major news for Fortnite fans across the US, who can now get back to looting and shooting from their iPhone or iPad. Let us know if you’ll be dropping in in the comments below.

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