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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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Marvel Rivals Chrono Shield Cards were just added to the game alongside the Galacta's Gift event. They're extremely useful, allowing you to charge up your Chrono Shield and prevent a point loss while playing ranked mode. This will make climbing to Platinum ranks faster and give you a safety net when things aren't quite going your way.

To use Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals, you'll need to unlock them. From there, it's just a case of jumping into Marvel Rivals Competitive Mode as usual, though you'll need to know how they activate to prevent yourself from losing points. So far, these new tokens are available to players Gold and below, in a change that should help make Marvel Rivals' ranked mode a bit more approachable to new players.

With changes like these, it's easy to see why I've ranked Marvel Rivals highly in our best free games to play in 2025 list. I've been playing since launch, and after putting together my very own Marvel Rivals tier list, I've been busy climbing the ranks in what is undoubtedly the most difficult season yet. Chrono Shield Cards will help ease things significantly for some, so here's everything you need to know.

How to use Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals

(Image credit: NetEase)

To use Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals, you'll need to be in Gold Rank or below. They will not activate in higher-ranked tiers. Upon losing a game, Chrono Shield Cards will automatically activate, preventing a point loss. If you already have a fully charged Chrono Shield, a card will not be used.

How to get Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals

Hey Rivals, Both Chrono Shield Tokens from ranked matches and Chrono Shield Cards from events will not be for sale and are only usable for Gold rank and below. The purpose is to allow lower-ranked players to enter ranked mode with even less pressure through this mechanism. https://t.co/vfqQo1NMgnMay 15, 2025

To get Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals, you will need to unlock them in the Galacta's Gift pass by playing games. This pass is available to all players, and you'll get four Chrono Shield Cards as part of the second and fourth rewards. This means you'll earn four after playing six games, and another four after finishing your twelfth. Make sure to redeem them from the pass, and they'll be added to your inventory ready to use.

In an X/Twitter post that I've embedded above, NetEase explains that Chrono Shield Cards won't be sold in the store, and are only available to those in Gold rank and below.

Marvel Rivals Chrono Shield Cards FAQ

(Image credit: NetEase) How do I activate Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals?

You don't need to activate Chrono Shield Cards for them to work. Once you've redeemed them from the Galacta's Gift event screen, they'll be placed in your inventory. As long as you're in Gold rank or below, the cards will automatically activate when you're about to lose points.

Can you buy Chrono Shield Cards?

No, Chrono Shield Cards are not for sale in Marvel Rivals. They can only be earned as part of the Galacta's Gift event, and aren't available in store or as an exchange of Units or Lattice.

How many Chrono Shield Cards can you have in Marvel Rivals?

You can hold 20 Chrono Shield Cards in Marvel Rivals at any one time. You'll need to hop into Competitive and spend them before you can earn more.

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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet President Trump today in an attempt to reset relations between the two countries. And, House Republicans are divided over Trump's massive bill.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

• Dell's unified private cloud manages multiple cloud stacks on Dell hardware
• The Dell Automation Platform can save customers 90% of steps
• New environments can be set up in 2.5 hours

Dell has introduced a new platform that allows customers to create private clouds using VMware, Natanix or Red Hat stacks, but instead of being a single private cloud, it acts as a unified system to manage multiple cloud stacks across Dell hardware.

Centralized management allows customers to take care of diverse deployments, and while different private clouds can't share a single node, they can co-exist across a shared fleet of servers and storage.

The company noted that customers deploying private clouds using its Dell Automation Platform could now be subject to 90% fewer steps, marking considerable efficiency improvements.

Dell unveils unified private cloud platform

The Dell Automation Platform is described as a "software platform designed to simplify how customers deploy and operate disaggregated solutions with secure, zero touch onboarding and centralized management."

Dell claims that new environments can be set up in just 2.5 hours, with the company supporting both bring-your-own-license and its own licensing.

Only VMware vSphere (not Cloud Foundation) will be supported to begin with, but more templates are said to be coming later this year.

The company said in an announcement: "Organizations can protect their investment with reusable infrastructure, simplify operations with full lifecycle management and support customer choice with a catalog of validated blueprints."

Referring to early adopter Nature Fresh Farms, Dell cited its VP for IT and Security, Keith Bradley: “The flexibility to transition between cloud ecosystems and the ability to repurpose hardware is a game-changer for us by providing investment protection and enabling us to respond to evolving business needs quickly."

“Our disaggregated infrastructure approach helps customers build secure, efficient modern data centers that turn data into intelligence and complexity into clarity," Dell's President for Infrastructure Solutions Group Arthur Lewis said.

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Zluri provides a comprehensive software asset management platform that helps IT teams see and control their SaaS applications from start to finish. We found it great for discovering apps across the organization, even the most elusive shadow IT. During our tests, Zluri's easy-to-use dashboard helped us track usage, manage licenses, and optimize spending on a range of business software.

The platform's main strength is its discovery engine. It uses 9 different methods to ensure 100% SaaS discoverability. We were impressed by how quickly Zluri connected with existing systems like SSO, financial tools, and browser extensions. The automated workflows for onboarding and offboarding employees can save your IT team a lot of time. It automatically manages access based on employee status changes, too.

Cost optimization is another area where Zluri excels. It helps you spot underused subscriptions and duplicate apps. We liked the renewal monitoring feature, which tracks end dates and sends reminders. This prevents missed renewals and opens up chances for negotiation. AI-powered license forecasting helps with budgeting, allowing your team to make informed decisions about software.

Setting up Zluri needs some initial time, but the responsive customer support team makes it easier than you might expect. We found the multi-level access certification workflows very helpful for compliance. They ensure no access issues are missed. While the platform could use more detailed documentation and more integrations for niche apps, Zluri's ongoing improvements suggest these issues will be resolved in future updates.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Plans and pricing

Zluri has a flexible pricing model based on employee count. Plans start at about $4-8 per user each month for their core SaaS management platform. The pricing includes Standard, Professional, and Enterprise options. Higher tiers come with extra features like advanced automation, custom integrations, and dedicated support.

In our testing, the Professional plan stood out for mid-sized organizations. It strikes a good balance of features and value. This plan gives access to key tools such as application discovery, license management, and basic workflow automation.

Zluri also offers a free trial. This lets organizations test the platform before subscribing. We liked the clear pricing model — there were no hidden fees or surprises during our evaluation. For larger enterprises, Zluri offers custom pricing. This can be tailored to include specific modules or integration options based on needs.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Features

Zluri's complete SaaS management platform has many strong features. During testing, we found it great for spotting shadow IT and improving workflows for IT admins. Here are the key features that stood out during our evaluation:

Application discovery and management

Zluri's discovery engine was very effective at finding SaaS apps used in our testing, even those not approved by IT. We were impressed by how the platform connected with our financial systems, SSO providers, and browser agents to build a complete app inventory. The central dashboard simplified categorizing apps, tracking usage metrics, and spotting security risks. This gave us clear visibility into the whole SaaS landscape.

Automated workflows

The workflow automation features reduce admin work by simplifying onboarding, offboarding, and access management. The pre-built workflows were easy to customize, allowing us to automate license assignments and access revocations.

Another great thing is that the platform integrates with HR software systems, so employee status changes automatically trigger updates to software access. This reduces security risks and keeps you compliant with internal policies.

License optimization

Zluri's license management features uncovered major cost-saving opportunities in our sample portfolio. The platform's analytics showed us underused licenses, duplicate subscriptions, and chances to consolidate or downgrade. We especially liked the renewal calendar, which gave alerts for upcoming renewals. This could help the procurement team negotiate better and avoid unwanted auto-renewals.

Compliance safeguards

The security and compliance features give lots of useful insights into vulnerabilities in a software ecosystem. We found the risk assessment dashboard particularly helpful for spotting applications with poor security practices or compliance issues. The access certification workflows make it easy to review user permissions, so that regulatory requirements can be met even with less administrative work.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Analytics

Zluri's analytics offer deep insights via data visualization into SaaS usage, spending, and security. The easy-to-use dashboards provide both broad overviews and detailed views. This helps IT admins spot trends, anomalies, and chances for optimization quickly. We found the spend analytics especially useful. They clearly visualized costs by department, application category, and time period. This helped us find ways to combine redundant tools and renegotiate contracts.

User-level analytics give clear insights into application adoption and engagement across the organization. We were able to track inactive users, find power users, and monitor license usage. This data could help you make smart choices about resource allocation. The customizable reports also generate specific insights for different stakeholders, making it easier to get to the issues you care about.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Ease of use

Zluri's user interface balances strong functionality with an easy-to-use design. This makes it friendly for teams new to SaaS management. The dashboard is clean and organized, showing key metrics at a glance. You can navigate it easily to get detailed views for specific applications, departments, or users. During testing, we were able to master the interface quickly, after only a brief orientation. Contextual help features also offer useful guidance for complex tasks.

The platform’s workflow automation cuts down the learning curve even more by simplifying common tasks that usually need several steps. We liked the smart design of the application discovery process, which can integrate with various data sources without coding. Some of the advanced features, like custom integrations and complex workflows, need technical skills however. Still, Zluri offers templates and wizards to make these features easier to access.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Support

Zluri provides different support options based on pricing plans. All customers can access email support, knowledge base resources, and regular webinars. In our evaluation, we found the support team to be both responsive and knowledgeable. They usually reply to inquiries within a few hours and offer clear, actionable solutions. The platform's implementation specialists are especially helpful during setup. They give personalized guidance for integrating with your systems and customizing workflows to meet your needs.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Security

Zluri shows a strong commitment to security. It has SOC 2 Type II certification, regular penetration testing, and robust data encryption for data both in transit and at rest. The platform's handling of user permissions is also pretty robust. It offers granular role-based access controls, letting organizations define what team members can see and change in the system based on their jobs.

Zluri's clear security documentation was another highlight during our research. But it doesn't just commit to these security standards for its own platform. Zluri can proactively spot security risks in your existing SaaS ecosystem. This includes applications without proper security certifications or those storing sensitive data.

Zluri: The Competition

Zluri has many competitors, including BetterCloud, Torii, and Productiv. Each has its strengths and focus areas.

BetterCloud excels in workflow automation and has been around longer. However, Zluri's discovery engine is better at spotting shadow IT. Its interface is also more user-friendly for daily tasks.

Torii offers similar core features, focusing on automated workflows and a sleek interface. Still, Zluri stands out with stronger financial optimization and vendor management.

Productiv is all about application engagement analytics and benchmarking. This appeals to organizations that value adoption metrics and ROI analysis. For enterprises using ServiceNow, Productiv's SaaS Operations Management module provides integration benefits. However, it lacks the same depth and specialization as Zluri.

While each competitor has unique strengths, Zluri provides the best mix of discovery, cost optimization, workflow automation, and ease of use.

Zluri: Final Verdict

Zluri delivers on its promise of great SaaS management. It offers strong discovery features, an easy-to-use interface, and useful cost optimization tools.

During our evaluation, we found the platform excels at finding shadow IT, improving workflows, and giving insights to optimize software spending.

The initial setup does take time and resources. Some advanced features can be harder to learn. Still, Zluri's ongoing improvements and helpful support team make it a strong option for organizations with a complex tech stack.

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I spent yesterday walking the floor of Computex 2025, checking out the latest and greatest computing tech of the year, and I got to spend a lot of time at the MSI booth.

As one of the biggest PC component makers in the world, MSI had a lot to show off on the components front, from cases to power supplies to graphics cards to motherboards, and all of it was either what I expected from MSI (their components are great), or even better, some limited edition and concept products that anyone would want to include in their own PC build.

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Starting on the premium build side of things, the MSI MEG Maestro 900L is a real showpiece of a PC case with a three-sided curved glass enclosure with diamond chamfer edges and support for a custom liquid cooling loop. It's more or less a perfect case for a high-end build that isn't a completely custom design.

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Next, the IRONMOUSE VTuber-themed PC build with IRONMOUSE-branded components looked fantastic, and is the kind of build and component design that should inspire a lot of builders out there to go for a similar look.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Obviously, graphics cards were a big part of MSI's booth this year, and that makes sense, seeing as it consistently makes some of the best graphics cards on the market, especially on the higher end of the stack, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Liquid SOC, but also smaller form factor cards on the lower end of the stack like the new MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Inspire 2X OC.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Of course, with so many components, you could build a whole PC out of just MSI parts, and MSI went out of its way to showcase some of its DIY innovations that aim to make PC building easier and less intimidating for first-time builders.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In addition to its mainstream graphics card lineup, MSI also showed off new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 Expert OC and RTX 4080 Super Expert OC cards with a cool-looking grill design built into their shrouds.

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There were also some awesome special edition cards being shown off, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Cyclone Visual OC, which is a single, large-fan design that has an LCD display in the center.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Of course, there was also the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Titanium Edition SOC card with a lux golden-colored finish. How much this card would set you back I can't say, but I can't imagine it's cheap even by RTX 5090 standards.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

But the component that really stole my heart at the MSI booth yesterday was a simple bracket, one that I'm not even sure you'd be able to buy on its own, but which would come with the MSI MPG Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

See, here's the thing. I test a lot of processors for my reviews and features, and this often involves me swapping out motherboards with different chipsets. But in order to keep results comparable between Intel and AMD processors, I really need everything else on the testbench to stay the same, including the AIO cooler.

The problem, though, is that the mounting for CPU coolers between AMD and Intel isn't standardized. Instead, both chipmakers have their mounting screws oriented differently. Intel's CPU cooler mountings form a square, while AMD's form a rectangle with uneven length and height.

This means that I have to swap out the mounting bracket for the AIO cooler every time I switch between the two chip brands, and losing one of those brackets is an absolute nightmare that could wreck days of testing. I know this because it's happened to me more than once.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Enter the MSI Unibracket. A single bracket that works with both Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 motherboard mountings.

As soon as I saw the Unibracket, I wanted to scream, because the solution to the problem is so blindingly obvious, I don't understand how this part isn't standardized across every CPU cooler manufacturer.

Their loss is MSI's gain, however, as once I get a Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler in the lab, it's all but guaranteed to be my go-to CPU cooler for the testbench for the foreseeable future.

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ServiceNow is a powerful cloud-based ITSM tool that streamlines workflows and service management in IT, HR, and customer service. During our testing, we were impressed with its ability to automate complex processes. This feature lets organizations swap manual tasks for advanced digital workflows without any coding knowledge. The platform's flexibility helps businesses define, design, and automate their service delivery, enhancing operational efficiency for larger enterprises.

ServiceNow connects easily with popular tools like Jira, DocuSign, Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce. We liked how the customization options allowed us to tailor it to our needs. However, this flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve than we expected. The self-service portals were particularly useful, letting end-users create tickets and report incidents easily.

While researching the platform, we noticed how many reviews mention that the user interface feels dated. While the recent upgrade to the Next Experience UI addresses much of these issues, some occasional clunkiness still remains. And the reporting and business intelligence features, while functional, were not as strong as some competing systems we looked at.

Still, ServiceNow's AI-powered intelligence is quite impressive. It automatically categorizes, prioritizes, and routes incoming tickets based on historical data, cutting response times. For large organizations with complex IT environments, ServiceNow provides great value due to its service management tools and automation features. However, smaller businesses might find the platform's complexity and high licensing costs challenging.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Plans and pricing

ServiceNow uses a subscription-based pricing model. Prices vary based on modules, features, and the number of users. We found that the company does not share pricing publicly. Instead, potential customers must contact the sales team for a tailored quote based on their needs. That said, current users mention that annual contracts usually start at $75-$100 per user per month for companies with 50 to over 100 users.

The platform has several product lines, including IT Service Management, IT Operations Management, Customer Service Management, and HR Service Delivery. Each line has its own pricing structure. Most organizations begin with the IT Service Management (ITSM) package, with the option to add more modules later. ServiceNow also provides a limited free trial, which is helpful for testing basic functions, but it does not include all features available in paid subscriptions.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Features

ServiceNow offers a complete set of tools to improve workflows and service delivery across departments. In our tests, we were impressed by how well the platform automates complex processes. It also allows for easy customization. Here are the key features that stood out to us:

Workflow automation

ServiceNow's workflow automation is key to its offerings. It let us design, implement, and optimize complex workflows with little to no coding. We found the visual workflow editor easy for business analysts to use for basic processes. It also offers the depth developers need for complex automation. The platform triggers actions based on set conditions, cutting down manual work during testing. Automated escalations and notifications helped ensure nothing was missed.

Service catalog and request management

ServiceNow's service catalog can create a central marketplace for all your services. During our evaluation, we made a number of custom request forms. These forms had dynamic fields that changed based on user selections, making requests intuitive for end-users. The approval workflows were strong. They allowed multi-level approvals and delegation, ensuring business continuity even when key approvers were unavailable.

Knowledge management

The knowledge management system in ServiceNow offers strong tools to create, organize, and share information. We liked how the platform suggests relevant articles to service desk agents based on incident details. This feature greatly reduces resolution times. The knowledge base also has solid version control and review workflows that keep content accurate. Plus, the self-service portal helps users find solutions before submitting tickets.

Configuration management database (CMDB)

ServiceNow's CMDB gave us a clear view of the IT infrastructure and service links. This was crucial for change management and solving problems. During our review, we saw that the discovery tools mapped relationships between configuration items well. They created a visual map of how systems work together. The platform tracked changes to configuration items over time. This feature added important context for troubleshooting. And its integration with incident and problem management modules made managing IT services seamless.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Analytics

ServiceNow's reporting and analytics tools give clear insights into service performance and operations. They offer both pre-built and customizable dashboards. We found the Performance Analytics module very helpful for tracking key performance indicators. We used it to monitor metrics like mean time to resolution, SLA compliance, and ticket volume trends over time. The platform also let us dig into specific metrics, helping us spot bottlenecks in service delivery and make informed decisions on resource use.

The platform includes predictive intelligence features. These use machine learning to find patterns and predict future service demands based on past data. We were impressed by how the system can automatically categorize and prioritize incoming requests. This significantly lessened the manual workload for any service desk team. However, creating custom reports sometimes needed more technical skills than we expected. Additionally, the visualization options were not as flexible as those in some dedicated business intelligence tools we have used.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Ease of use

ServiceNow offers a mixed experience with usability. Its comprehensive interface can be overwhelming for new users. Our testing revealed a steep learning curve, especially for administrators and developers. The navigation structure is logical, but it has many menus and options. End-users may sometimes struggle to find specific services in the portal.

The platform does include features that improve usability, like role-based views. These views show only relevant information and functions for each user type. We also liked the mobile app, which simplified approving requests and checking status updates. Recent updates have brought many UI improvements, but some parts of the system still feel like traditional enterprise software.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Support

ServiceNow provides tiered support options based on subscription levels, including Standard, Enterprise, and Elite packages. During our evaluation, we found the knowledge base and active community forums helpful for troubleshooting common issues. This allowed us to solve problems without contacting official support.

But the Elite support package offers 24/7 assistance, with quicker response times for critical issues. But complex customization questions still sometimes needed escalation to specialized technical teams. ServiceNow also offers professional services for implementation and optimization. Smaller organizations with limited IT resources may find these helpful due to the platform's complexity.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Security

ServiceNow has SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certifications for its cloud infrastructure. It also offers strong role-based access controls.

Apart from that, the platform provides detailed audit trails that record all system changes to make compliance reporting easy. ServiceNow's data encryption, both in transit and at rest, meets industry security standards. It also offers regular security updates and strong vulnerability management tools to keep pace with growing security threats.

ServiceNow: The Competition

The enterprise service management market has several alternatives to ServiceNow. Atlassian's Jira Service Management is a popular choice for organizations using the Atlassian ecosystem. In fact, Jira Service Management is easier for smaller teams and much cheaper. But it lacks some of ServiceNow's advanced workflow features.

BMC Helix is another strong competitor. It has similar enterprise functionality and a more modern user interface than ServiceNow. But, it requires a similar effort for implementation.

For those seeking simpler solutions, Freshservice stands out. It has an intuitive interface and a faster implementation timeline, making it great for mid-sized businesses with basic needs. Zendesk also competes in this space. Its service management offerings are excellent for customer service but lack depth in IT operations management compared to ServiceNow.

ServiceNow: Final Verdict

ServiceNow is a powerful platform that offers great value for large businesses ready to invest time and resources. During our testing, we were impressed by its customization options and strong workflow automation. But the learning curve is steep and the costs high. Hopefully, ServiceNow's added efficiency will make the price worthwhile for large-scale IT operations.

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• Nvidia lost around $5.5 billion in costs and $15 billion in revenue due to H20 export bans
• CEO Jensen Huang celebrates Trump's decision to reverse some restrictions
• The AI market in China could reach $50 billion this year

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has criticized the US AI chip export controls to China, calling them a "failure" that ultimately ended up costing American businesses billions.

Speaking at this year's Computex event, the leader praised Trump's move to modify the Biden-era export curbs (via Reuters), stating that "President Trump realizes it's exactly the wrong goal."

In April, the world's most valuable chipmaker declared it would accrue an estimated $5.5 billion in costs solely relating to the export of H20 chips to China and other restricted nations.

Nvidia praises chip export ban reversal

Huang said the original export assumptions were flawed, and didn't stop AI research in China, which continues with heavy local investment. However, while the country continues virtually unaffected, Nvidia's market share in China dropped from 95% to 50% in the period after Biden's export restrictions were introduced.

Intense competition from domestic firms, like Huawei, has already filled the gaps left by US suppliers.

The CEO explained that China's AI market could reach a staggering $50 billion this year, marking a major opportunity for Nvidia if access to the nation is restored via lifted restrictions. Apart from the $5.5 billion in estimated costs, Nvidia expected $15 billion in lost revenues due to export restrictions on its H20 chips.

Nvidia is also developing a compliant version of its Blackwell AI chip with downgraded memory to meet US restrictions.

Despite reversing some Biden-era bans, the Trump administration is considering replacing the tiered export system with a global licensing regime for better leverage in trade talks. Earlier this week, China responded to US actions by demanding an end to "discriminatory" policies.

"AI is advancing at light speed as agentic AI and physical AI set the stage for the next wave of AI to revolutionize the largest industries," Huang said in the company's most recent earnings report, when it revealed a 78% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue.

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• Video and browser apps are "coming soon" to Android Auto
• The apps will only be available when you're parked
• We should also now see more weather apps for the platform

The Google news just keeps on coming: as we enter the second day of Google I/O 2025, Google has flagged up "new in-car app experiences" for Android Auto, which will include video players and browser apps for the first time.

As per the official blog post, support for both video and browsers is "coming soon" to Android Auto. However, like games on Android Auto, these apps will only work when your vehicle is parked to prevent them from distracting you on the road.

For video players, the roll-out will initially be for Android 16 devices and "select compatible cars", so it sounds as though this might depend a little bit on the hardware you're using and the dashboard you're connecting up to.

Google does mention being able to listen to the audio from videos while you're driving, but this is still at the "early access" stage for now, and there's more work to do here for Google, car makers, and app developers.

Take the weather with you

The current state of play with Android Auto apps (Image credit: Google)

In the same blog post, Google says the weather app category has now graduated from beta, which means they don't need specific approval to run on Android Auto – look for more weather apps appearing soon.

For cars with Google dashboards already built in (which isn't many, at the moment), the development is even further ahead: the video app category is now open for submissions, while the browser category is currently in beta.

The blog post also mentions that the Gemini assistant will be coming to Android Auto in the "coming months", which is something we'd already seen signs of. Eventually, it'll take over all voice control duties on the dashboard.

Being able to sit and watch a video with passengers on Android Auto would be a very welcome upgrade. For me, web browsing on a car dashboard is less appealing, but it's good to see the platform being upgraded and expanded over time.

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Spiceworks offers a complete IT service management solution that's packed with features — for free. We found it very easy to set up, needing little configuration to manage tickets. The clean interface is very easy to navigate, but the ads can be a bit distracting.

The ticketing system is central to Spiceworks' functions. It lets your team track and manage IT support requests via email and a customizable self-service portal. We liked the automated notifications and response templates. They made the overall workflow smoother and improved communication with users. The platform also has useful asset management tools that work well with the help desk, giving you a full view of our tech setup.

Spiceworks impressed us with its strong reporting tools and customization options. However, we did face some performance issues during testing. Sometimes, the system took longer than expected to restart after shutdowns. We also experienced a few moments where the app became unresponsive. Despite these issues, the overall value is compelling, especially for smaller organizations with tight budgets that don't need enterprise-level features.

The cloud-based version of Spiceworks replaced the desktop app after December 2021. It provides the same core functions with the added benefit of access from anywhere. The mobile apps offered easy access to tickets, though they had limited functionality compared to the full web interface. For organizations looking for a free way into help desk automation, Spiceworks strikes a strong balance of features, usability, and community support. And for those wanting more than that, there's a Premium version at $6 per user per month.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Plans and pricing

Spiceworks has a unique pricing model. It offers a free tier and a new Premium option for teams needing more features. The Core plan is free for up to 5 seats. There are no limits on tickets, users, or storage. This makes it great for small to medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources. Our testing showed this approach is clear and easy to understand. However, the free version does show ads, which can distract from support tasks.

For teams with 5 or more users who want an ad-free experience, Spiceworks offers a Premium tier. It costs $6 per seat per month. This option includes all the features of the free version without ads. It provides better value than many competitors in the help desk market. We liked that Spiceworks keeps its pricing simple with just two tiers. There are no complex features or hidden costs, making budgeting easy for organizations of any size.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Features

Spiceworks offers a complete set of help desk tools for IT support teams. In our tests, we found the platform balances functionality and ease of use well. It has intuitive workflows without losing depth. Here are the standout features that impressed us the most.

Ticket management

The ticket management system is key to Spiceworks. It provides flexible options for creating, assigning, and tracking support requests. We found the email integration very useful. It automatically turns incoming messages into tickets while keeping the entire conversation history. The customizable ticket fields and status workflows let our team tailor the system to our needs. However, we sometimes wanted more advanced automation for complex routing scenarios.

Knowledge base

Spiceworks has a strong knowledge base feature. It helped our team cut down on repetitive support requests by offering self-service options. We liked how simple it was to turn resolved tickets into knowledge base articles. These articles included rich formatting, attachments, and internal notes. The platform also provides public and private knowledge base options. This lets us share some information with end users while keeping other documents for internal use only.

Asset management

The integrated asset management tools give clear insights into your IT infrastructure and support activities. In testing, the network scanning tool successfully found and listed our devices. It gathered detailed data on hardware specs, installed software, and warranty status. Linking tickets to specific assets helped our support team understand issues better. However, we noticed that the scanning sometimes missed devices or provided incomplete information.

Community support

Spiceworks has a unique advantage with its large IT community. This community acts as a support resource and a professional network. Our team often found answers to technical issues in the community forums. Thousands of IT professionals share advice and troubleshooting tips there. The link between the help desk and the community lets you search for solutions while working on tickets. This can save you a lot of research time.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Analytics

Spiceworks offers strong reporting tools that show help desk performance and workload distribution. During testing, we found that the pre-built reports covered most key metrics we needed. These included ticket volume, resolution times, and support team performance. The dashboard gives quick insights through customizable widgets. However, we sometimes wanted more flexibility to create fully custom visualizations.

The platform also has advanced reporting features. You can add filters or mix filters to make reports that fit your needs. We liked generating reports that ranged from simple overviews of open tickets to detailed analyses of pending tickets over specific timeframes. For organizations needing deeper data analysis, Spiceworks provides a custom Power BI Desktop Data Connector. This tool lets you pull data directly from your Cloud Help Desk account and refresh it into your Power BI report template with one click after setup.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Ease of use

Spiceworks has an easy-to-use interface. Even team members with limited tech skills found it simple to navigate. The dashboard gives a clear view of ticket status, recent activities, and key metrics. The menu structure is logical, making it easy to access different features. During testing, we liked the contextual help tips and the option to customize views. However, we sometimes had to click through multiple screens to finish tasks.

The ticket creation and management process is straightforward. It has clear status indicators and lets users quickly assign, prioritize, and categorize support requests. We found the email integration user-friendly. It allows users to create and respond to tickets without logging into the system. The knowledge base editor feels like a familiar word processor, making it easy to create and format documentation. However, the search function sometimes struggled to return the most relevant articles when using partial keywords.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Support

Spiceworks offers different support channels, each with varying response times based on your tier. We found the knowledge base and community forums to be the most useful. They often provide solutions faster than direct support. Premium users enjoy priority email support, which has quicker response times. Free users can submit tickets but may wait longer for complex issues. The company also provides regular webinars and training resources to help users maximize the platform.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Security

Spiceworks takes security seriously. They use industry-standard measures to protect sensitive help desk data. Our testing showed that the platform uses TLS encryption for data in transit. Regular security audits and SOC 2 compliance add extra reassurance. The granular permission system lets administrators control which team members can access certain information and perform specific actions. However, we would have liked more detailed audit logging to track user activities in the system.

Spiceworks: The Competition

For organizations looking for alternatives to Spiceworks, Freshdesk is a strong choice. It has a better ticketing system with advanced automation and a clean, ad-free interface, even at lower tiers. In our testing, we found Freshdesk's multichannel support and AI features to be more comprehensive. However, its pricing can rise quickly, especially as you add users and features, making it pricier than Spiceworks' Premium tier.

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is another solid alternative, especially for larger organizations needing ITIL compliance and better workflow customization.

For teams focused on project management but with some help desk needs, Jira Service Management offers better integration with development workflows and more customization. Zendesk is also a strong competitor, providing better omnichannel support and advanced reporting tools, but it comes at a significantly higher cost than Spiceworks.

But for organizations on tight budgets, Spiceworks' free tier stands out for its functionality without any financial commitment.

Spiceworks: Final Verdict

Spiceworks offers great value as a help desk solution, especially for small to medium-sized organizations with tight IT budgets. In our testing, we saw that the platform balances functionality and simplicity well. It provides essential help desk features in an easy-to-use package that doesn't need a lot of training.

While the ads in the free tier can be distracting, and some advanced features from premium competitors are absent, the affordable Premium tier is a strong option. It makes Spiceworks appealing for growing teams that need dependable ticket management without overspending.

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• AMD has officially unveiled the RX 9060 XT graphics card
• It comes in 8GB and 16GB versions priced at $299 and $349
• That pricing, and a peppy spec, outguns Nvidia’s rival RTX 5060 Ti

AMD has revealed its latest RDNA 4 graphics card over at Computex 2025, with the RX 9060 XT coming in both 8GB and 16GB flavors, as has been rumored for a while now.

The RX 9060 XT has 32 compute units (CUs) – compared to 56 CUs in the RX 9070 – as we also heard via the grapevine, and in fact, the rumor mill was pretty spot on about the specs here.

The main piece of key info we were lacking was the price, and we now have that: the 8GB model will sell at $299, and if you want the 16GB version of this graphics card, that’ll run to $349.

Other specs include the 9060 XT using GDDR6 VRAM and having a boost clock of 3.1GHz, with a TDP of 180W.

AMD provided some early performance teasers, and apparently, the RX 9060 XT is going to edge out Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti in gaming when not using frame generation.

As VideoCardz reports, AMD let us know that the new graphics card will go on sale come June 5 (which was again predicted via rumors).

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: A value-packed GPU with a lot of promise

AMD’s benchmarks must be taken with some caution – as with any marketing materials, some cherry-picking can be involved – but the RX 9060 XT is looking sharp going by this testing. It’s shown as 6% faster than the RTX 5060 Ti in a suite of 40 games at 1440p resolution with ‘ultra’ graphics details.

Coupled with that competitive pricing, the RX 9060 XT is a very welcome addition to the lower-mid-range of the GPU market. Indeed, AMD also showed a presentation slide declaring that the RX 9060 XT gives buyers 15% more performance-per-dollar than the RTX 5060 Ti (working with that same battery of tests over 40 games).

I should note that AMD is comparing the 8GB version of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti to the 16GB flavor of the 9060 XT, which does cast something of a different light on those performance metrics – but the relative pricing still looks good value from Team Red here.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you do go with the 9060 XT 8GB, this uses the full complement of PCIe lanes, whereas that’s cut in half with the 5060 Ti 8GB – and that can be important for older PCs that don’t have PCIe 5.0. Mainly because (last-gen) PCIe 4.0 proves a bottleneck on the bandwidth available to the GPU with only half of those lanes active (but not with the full set of 16 lanes, as per AMD’s design choice).

So, that’s another win for AMD, and it has a strong offering on the table with the RX 9060 XT. The remaining question is, with no reference boards from Team Red, and the company relying entirely on third-party graphics card makers, are we going to see the MSRP adhered to? Or, if the RX 9060 XT models turn out popular, will pricing be inflated by those board-making partners?

A lot of the answer to that may be tied up in stock levels, which is another variable here: how robust will initial supply levels be? The good news is that rumor has it that AMD won’t leave us in the lurch for stock, and much of the speculation around these new RDNA 4 models has proved correct, so hopefully that assertion will pan out, too.

We won’t know for a couple of weeks yet, though, and real pricing on the shelves, as opposed to target MSRPs set by AMD, will still be a critical part of the equation here with the initial launch of the RX 9060 XT.

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Every pool owner knows that there’s nothing better than a cool dip on a hot day – and nothing more dull than the chore of cleaning your pool. Wouldn’t it be great if you could relax while a robot quietly cleans from the floor to the waterline to make your pool crystal-clear and debris-free? That’s exactly what the Dreame Z1 Pro delivers. It takes care of the cleaning so you can enjoy your pool even more.

AI power for incredible cleaning

(Image credit: Dreame)

Dreame are experts in making robots that make humans' lives easier, and the Dreame Z1 Series brings the power of AI to efficiently and quietly clean pools of any kind. It's been designed for above ground and recessed pools, saltwater and freshwater pools, and pools of every shape and size.

The Z1 Series comes with Advance PoolSense, powered by AI. It's the world's first robotic pool cleaner with a Triple Surround Fusion Perception System – and that means intelligent navigation and path planning, optimal zoning and adaptive cleaning routes, specially created S-shaped and Z-shaped routes for floor and wall cleaning respectively, and smart obstacle avoidance to steer clear of pool noodles and other obstacles – even really small ones.

It's clever stuff, combining ultrasound, 3D structured light and time-of-flight (TOF) sensing to deliver exceptional environmental awareness: the Z1 Pro knows where to go and what path to take to deliver the best results each and every time. It automatically detects the shape of the pool and intelligently creates cleaning zones for targeted cleaning.

Serious suction and brilliant brushing

(Image credit: Dreame)

The Z1 Pro's AI smarts are teamed up with a really powerful cleaning system with a whopping 8,000GPH of suction power, dual brushless pump motors, active dual brushing and horizontal waterline cleaning. That system effortlessly eliminates leaves, dirt, algae and other debris, creating a cleaner, safer swimming environment all year long – including the icky bits along the waterline.

The Dreame Z1 Pro is packed with clever technology, but it's been designed with ease of use in mind. It's the world's first pool cleaner with a poolside-operable remote, and it comes with a smart app that makes it easy to control and to choose cleaning modes. There are four cleaning modes, enabling you to choose between deep cleans and targeted cleaning for your pool floor, walls and waterlines.

Quiet, clever and incredibly easy to live with

(Image credit: Dreame)

The Z1 Pro is also extremely easy to live with. Its advanced filtration means there's minimal debris, because it can capture even very small items such as small stones, leaves, sand, gravel and hair. It even filters particles as small as 180 micrometers, ensuring your pool stays crystal clear and impeccably clean. Those filters are also really easy to clean, as they live in a filter basket that can be removed with a single click.

The Z1 Pro's powerful battery delivers cordless convenience with long-lasting power, with a working time of up to 4 hours from a single charge. And when it's done, its auto poolside parking means it even tidies itself away when the pool is back to its sparkling best.

That makes the Dreame Z1 Pro the perfect present for any pool owner – including you! Click here to find out more about the smartest and easiest way to keep any pool crystal clear.

Speculation around a thinner iPhone raises questions about battery capacity and camera features. Here's what we know so far.

• PNY has revealed microSD Express cards compatible with Nintendo Switch 2
• They're available now in 128GB and 256GB capacities
• Expect to pay $44.99 for the 128GB card and $55.99 for the 256GB option

Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is just a couple of weeks away from launch on June 5 (no, we can hardly believe it, either), you may already be looking at storage options if you've managed to successfully place a pre-order.

Manufacturer PNY might just have you covered there, as it has just announced and released its new lineup of microSD Express cards. Compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 (and replacing the previous microSD format), PNY's memory cards can be purchased from the brand's website now or at participating retailers soon.

PNY's microSD Express options come in two sizes. The 128GB card is available to buy for $44.99 (around £39.99), while the 256GB card - which matches the size of Switch 2's internal storage - can be picked up for $55.99 (around £49.99).

Furthermore, the 128GB card has read and write speeds of 890MB/s and 550MB/s, respectively. Meanwhile, the 256GB card has the same read speed but an improved write speed of 750MB/s, making it the faster of the two.

So, why would you want to buy a microSD Express card at or around the launch of Nintendo Switch 2? After all, the system itself boasts 256GB, which is a huge improvement over the original Nintendo Switch's 32GB (or 64GB on Nintendo Switch OLED).

Well, when you factor in that Switch games are compatible with Switch 2, you may want that extra peace of mind if you're transferring your library and saves over to your new console. Especially as your old microSD cards won't be compatible with Switch 2. If you want to carry the whole lot over without issue, having a microSD Express card ready to go will save you the headache of picking and choosing which games you want to carry over.

That said, if you're just planning on getting stuck in with one or two games at launch, such as Mario Kart World or Street Fighter 6, you can afford to hold off picking up a microSD Express card until the Switch 2's library grows over the next couple of years.

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• Nothing has confirmed that the Nothing Phone 3 will land in July
• The company's teaser doesn't reveal much else
• Previous teasers and leaks point to this being a true flagship

We knew the Nothing Phone 3 was coming sometime this ‘summer’, but now the makers have got a bit more specific, saying that the phone will land in July.

This was revealed in a teaser on Nothing’s X account, which… doesn’t tell us much else. Below text with the July launch window the number ‘3’ simply flashes on the screen several times, followed by text saying “it’s a magic number”.

That ‘3’ is created from a series of white blocks that are reminiscent of the glyph lighting system on the back of Nothing’s phones, so that will probably be making a return here, but that was always expected.

Phone (3). It's a magic number. Coming July 2025. pic.twitter.com/WEQ7Vcf72HMay 20, 2025

A top-end chipset and a reworked camera

Still, while this teaser doesn’t tell us much else, previous teasers and leaks do give us some idea of what to expect.

Nothing itself has previously said that the Nothing Phone 3 will be the company’s “first true flagship”, and that it will have a price to match, coming in at around £800 (roughly $1,060 / AU$1,640). That price will apparently be justified through “premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that really levels things up.”

Beyond that, a recent rumor pointed to the Nothing Phone 3 having a “flagship Snapdragon chipset”, which might mean the Snapdragon 8 Elite, also found in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series.

The same tip also pointed to a significantly reworked triple-lens camera, complete with a larger primary sensor than the Nothing Phone 2 and a periscope telephoto lens, suggesting this phone could offer long-distance optical zoom.

The battery could be in for a boost too, with this said to possibly exceed 5,000mAh – up from 4,700mAh in the Nothing Phone 2.

So, the Nothing Phone 3 could be quite an exciting handset, and if you’ve liked the look of Nothing’s phones but wanted something higher end, this could finally be the device for you. We’ll find out in July.

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NPR spoke with two international students about their decision to continue speaking out despite the government's aggressive effort to deport pro-Palestinian activists.

(Image credit: Keren Carrión/NPR)

Agents have typically taken a commission on the sale of a home that totals 5% to 6% of the price. But new rules have created an opening for brokers who charge much less.

(Image credit: Jim Xiao)

The weekend bombing of a Palm Springs, Calif., fertility clinic has cast a fresh spotlight on a 19th century philosophy linked to Russian revolutionaries. What does "nihilism" mean?

(Image credit: David McNew)