I feel I owe my Bose QuietComfort Headphones an apology after I allowed myself to be led astray by the allure of a pretty pink pair of Edifier ES850NB over-ears. This was but a brief hiatus, however, as despite my new pair being so aesthetically pleasing, something just wasn’t sitting quite right.
Available in black, pink, ivory or brown, the Edifier ES850NB headphones are available right now in the US at a list price of $169.99 (so around £132 or AU$262, give or take), and are due to be released in the UK at the end of June 2025.
It should come as no surprise that because the Edifiers are one third of the cost of my beloved Bose cans, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the audio quality. This is especially true considering I was directly comparing them to my Bose QuietComfort Headphones, which – despite being somewhat lowlier than their higher-spec sibling, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras (in our pick of the best over-ear headphones) – are a fantastic-sounding pair of headphones with great noise cancelling.
I must say that the Edifier ES850NB headphones do sound good for the price. This was the case straight out of the box, which makes a nice change, as cheaper options can often be a bit heavy on the bass in an attempt to sound fun and zealous – ie. to compensate for weaker sonic elements.
Upon first inspecting the Edifier ES850NBs, I noted the super-padded ear cups and soft and spongy headband. This made me wonder if this added plushness would make them even comfier than my QuietComfort, but they actually felt about the same, which was fortunate, as I was a little worried I’d really feel the difference when switching back.
We’ll be publishing a full review soon, but for now, here are three reasons why I won’t be retiring my trusty Bose QuietComforts in favor of the Edifier ES850NB headphones.
With their leather-like texture and metallic details, the Edifier ES850NB headphones do have a classy finish. I like how they look on, too, but I’m a little confused by their design choices where the headband meets the ear cups. The two components are connected by a bendy arm, similar to that of the outstanding Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, though not as well executed. I say this because Edifier has carved into the outside of the ear cup to allow the headband to sit flush when the headphones are being worn.
I’m not saying this looks bad aesthetically – it does look good, but this format seemed to cause an issue I’ve not experienced with other over-ears: an audible knocking sound. I encountered this issue a few times when out walking, finding that one ear cup would rock slightly, causing the little post at the bottom of the headband to knock against the ear cup.
It looks like Edifier made an attempt to negate this problem by placing a little rectangle of black silicone to provide some cushioning, but it appears to be too thin and small to be efficient. It’s worth mentioning that this may not be the case for everyone, though, as this problem may be exacerbated by the fact that I’m a relatively petite female, and so the headphones may be a little more prone to movement when I’m wearing them out and about.
(Image credit: Future)2. A pressing issueThis could all be down to personal preference, but I don’t find the Edifier ES850NB controls as intuitive or easy to use as the ones on my pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones. There’s a small slider switch on the outer surface of the right earcup on my pair of Bose, which also doubles as the Bluetooth pairing trigger when kept pulled forward. Then there are the volume and play/pause buttons on the back edge, and an action button on the back edge of the left ear cup that cycles through the different ANC modes, amongst other things.
In contrast, the Edifier ES850NB has fewer buttons. There’s a run of three buttons consisting of two volume buttons, separated by a power button, and a Bluetooth button, which also cycles through the different listening modes. The power button is identifiable by the raised tag, which, although fairly easy to recognise, feels somewhat rough and unpleasant under my fingertips.
Though I appreciate the color coordination of the buttons on the pale pink model I have, I have concerns that the silicone material used means they’re likely to discolor far quicker than a smoother, harder material would. This may be less of an issue for the darker-colored models, but I’d advise caution if you happen to be a person who wears makeup, as any foundation transferred from your fingertips would be a nightmare to clean off the textured surface here.
(Image credit: Future)3. Red light, blue lightWhen it comes to sticking my headphones on charge, I prefer the larger slot-like indicator light on my pair of Edifiers, as it’s easier to see when it turns red to confirm that they're charging. Having said this, it’s far easier to tell whether my QuietComforts are switched on at a glance, either from the position of the power switch or the small but steady white indicator light.
The reason it’s trickier with the Edifiers is because the power is indicated by a blue light that double-flashes every five seconds, which feels like a surprisingly long time when I’m used to getting instant confirmation of the power status. I also found it oddly irritating, both because the flashing blue light can be distracting when in eyeshot, and because it looks like the headphones are always in pairing mode when I’ve not got them on. The light does at least stop flashing once I’ve got music playing, not that I’d be able to see it even if it were.
Say what you want about Apple in 2025, but I truly believe that iOS still represents the very best of mobile software design.
It's intuitive, with a great design language that permeates throughout the OS, and it’s just really fun to use. But if there’s one area that hangs like a lifeless limb from iOS' otherwise muscular frame, it’s Apple Intelligence.
I can’t blame Apple for wanting to go all-in with its own take on artificial intelligence. After all, AI features are becoming key USPs of today's flagship (and even not-so-flagship) devices – from Galaxy AI on the best Samsung phones to Google’s in-house AI systems on the best Pixel phones. To not join in with the current AI revolution is to run the risk of being seen as old-fashioned.
Despite Apple's best intentions, though, Apple Intelligence – in its current form, at least – is a dud.
Of course, it’s tricky to know exactly where Apple Intelligence has gone wrong if you’re accustomed to Apple’s way of doing things. That's why, over the last week, I’ve been using AI on the OnePlus Open to see what I’ve been missing. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but now the experience has shown me just how much ground Apple has given up to the competition.
Google Gemini is just on a whole other level(Image credit: Future)To give Siri some credit, when it comes to setting timers, calling contacts, or setting reminders, it can do the job just fine, and if your requests stay within those confines, then you won’t have an issue. It's when you go beyond those parameters that it starts to fall apart.
Somewhat laughably for a man in his early thirties, I’m now finally making an attempt to get into football after feeling like too much of a social outcast whenever conversations turn to last night’s match, and I’ve been trying to use AI to keep me in the loop with everything that’s going on.
For example, instead of scrolling through a timetable of upcoming fixtures, I instead decided to simply ask Siri when the next Liverpool match was set for. The assistant responded in kind, but when I asked if it could then add that match as an event in my calendar, it hadn’t the faintest idea what I was talking about.
Moving over to Google Gemini and following through the same set of questions, it did exactly what I asked of it in next to no time.
Dropping it down a tad and giving Siri a lowball that I thought it would knock out of the park, when asking who the current Liverpool manager is, it couldn't respond without asking if I wanted the results via a Google search or a ChatGPT request. I can understand Apple wanting to give me that option if I’d asked Siri something about theoretical physics, but not for something so basic, and I don’t understand why it's unable to differentiate between the two.
These are the features I want to use AI for: simple requests that make my day just that little bit easier. I do at least have some hope that Apple can catch up at this level. Where the real uphill battle lies is in Apple's fight to compete with Gemini Live.
Living with a true digital assistant(Image credit: Google)Using Gemini Live for the first time, I felt a kinship with those who must have marveled at the very first consumer-grade computers as they started to recognize all of the possibilities on the horizon.
This feature lets you talk to Gemini in the style of free-flowing conversation – there’s no need to type or press any buttons, just speak what’s on your mind, and Gemini will respond much like a normal person.
Gemini Live feels like the full realization of what having a digital assistant is supposed to be.
If you ask Gemini for a realistic schedule that lets you juggle both your full-time job and your side hustle, then it’ll create one for you. For when you want advice on how to talk to a friend who is struggling with their mental health, Gemini can be surprisingly insightful. At one point, it even mentioned that it could pick up on the nuances and tone of my voice to recognize whether I’d said something in anger or jubilation. This feels like the full realization of what having a digital assistant is supposed to be, and Siri (in its current form) doesn’t compare in the slightest.
The disparity is so cavernous here that I do wonder whether Apple should change tact and invest its resources in changes that make sense. For example, OnePlus is one of the few companies that hasn’t changed its entire outlook to focus on AI, but it has included meaningful AI features that are available (like AI summaries of web pages) on the OnePlus 13, but never thrown in your face.
Thankfully, with the introduction of Call Screening and Live Translation in iOS 26, it seems as though Apple is trying to gain back some ground where functional AI features are concerned, and that’s great.
Beyond that, I think it might be time for Apple to abandon any plans of getting Siri to compete – after what I’ve seen from Google, I’m going to assign the Gemini app to my Action button anyway.
You might also likeMidjourney has long been a popular AI image wizard, but now the company is making moves and movies with its first-ever video model, simply named V1.
This image-to-video tool is now available to Midjourney's 20 million-strong community, who want to see five-second clips based on their images, and up to 20 seconds of them extended in five-second increments.
Despite being a brand new venture for Midjourney, the V1 model has enough going on to at least draw comparisons to rival models like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo 3, especially when you consider the price.
For now, Midjourney V1 is in web beta, where you can spend credits to animate any image you create on the platform or upload yourself.
To make a video, you simply generate an image in Midjourney like usual, hit “Animate,” choose your motion settings, and let the AI go to work.
The same goes with uploading an image; you just have to mark it as the start frame and type in a custom motion prompt.
You can let the AI decide how to move it, or you can take the reins and describe how you want the motion to play out. You can pick between low motion or high motion depending on whether you want a calm movement or a more frenetic scene, respectively.
The results I've seen certainly fit into the current moment in AI video production, both good and bad. The uncanny valley is always waiting to ensnare users, but there are some surprisingly good examples from both Midjourney and initial users.
AI video battlesMidjourney video is really fun from r/midjourneyMidjourney isn’t trying to compete head-on with Sora or Veo in terms of technical horsepower. Those models are rendering cinematic-quality 4K footage with photorealistic lighting and long-form narratives based solely on text. They’re trained on terabytes of data and emphasize frame consistency and temporal stability that Midjourney is not claiming to offer.
Midjourney’s video tool isn’t pretending to be Hollywood’s next CGI pipeline. The pitch is more about being easy and fun to use for independent artists or tinkerers in AI media.
And it really does come out as pretty cheap. According to Midjourney, one video job costs about the same as upscaling, or one image’s worth of cost per second of video.
That’s 25 times cheaper than most AI video services on the market, according to Midjourney and a cursory examination of other alternatives.
That's probably for the best since a lot of Hollywood is going after Midjourney in court. The company is currently facing a high-stakes lawsuit from several Disney, Universal, and other studios over claims it trained its models on copyrighted content.
For now, Midjourney's AI generators for images and video remain active, and the company has plans to expand its video production capabilities. Midjourney is teasing long-term plans for full 3D rendering, scene control, and even immersive world exploration. This first version is just a stepping stone.
Advocates for Sora and Veo probably don't have to panic just yet, but maybe they should be keeping an eye on Midjourney's plans, because while they’re busy building the AI version of a studio camera crew, Midjourney just handed a magic flipbook to anyone with a little cash for its credits.
You might also likeSuperman is less than a month away from flying into theaters and, according to James Gunn, the superhero movie's full cast still hasn't been revealed yet.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Gunn confirmed that there are characters in the DC Universe (DCU) film, which arrives on July 11, whose identities haven't been publicly revealed. Asked if there are individuals who'll appear in Superman who haven't been announced yet, the DC Studios co-chief simply replied: "Yes."
Predictably, Gunn's one-word response set tongues wagging among DC comic book fans. Could Batman and/or Wonder Woman make unexpected yet crowd-pleasing cameos? What about other members of The Justice League, such as The Flash or Aquaman? Or how about Peacemaker, whose second season will launch on Max just over a month (August 21, to be exact) after Superman's theatrical release?
I don't think it'll be any of those metahumans. If Gunn is to be believed, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince haven't even been cast in their standalone DCU Chapter One projects yet. Meanwhile, The Flash and Aquaman haven't been mentioned by Gunn during his two and a half year stint (at the time of publication) as co-CEO of DC Studios. As for Peacemaker, I'd be very surprised if he makes his official DCU debut before Peacemaker season 2 is released. So, who could Gunn be referring to?
A not so cryptic Kryptonian cameoMilly Alcock's Kara Zor-El is my top pick for a Superman cameo (Image credit: James Gunn/Twitter)In my opinion, there's only one individual that Gunn's reply applies to: Supergirl, aka Kara Zor-El.
Think about it. Per DC Comics lore, Kara is the only other person who survived Krypton's destruction, is Kal-El/Superman's cousin, and was supposed to join her blood relative on Earth to not only help raise him, but protect him while he grew up. Unfortunately, according to DC literature, her ship was knocked off-course by Krypton's explosion and didn't make it to Earth for another 24 years. By then, Kal-El was, unsurprisingly, all grown-up, had adopted the alias Superman, and had become one of the planet's mightiest heroes.
Considering Kal-El is already operating as a superhero as soon as Superman's story begins, we won't see much, if any, of Kara's backstory in one of 2025's most eagerly awaited new movies. Nevertheless, a brief cameo from the Maiden of Might – either before Superman's end credits roll or in a post-credits scene – would be a fun way to introduce her to audiences and tease the familial dynamic she has with her younger cousin.
Supergirl's brief appearance in Superman would also pave the way for her own solo movie. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – it's now known by its simpler title Supergirl, which Gunn recently confirmed – will take flight on June 26, 2026 and, therefore, is the second DCU film that'll arrive in theaters. It would make perfect sense, then, for Milly Alcock's Supergirl to cameo in Superman ahead of the character's first feature film in over 40 years.
There's one more piece of evidence that's convinced me Kara Zor-El will show up in Gunn's Superman movie.
Supergirl takes its inspiration from the 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' comic book series (Image credit: DC Comics/Warner Bros. Discovery)Supergirl is heavily inspired by Tom King and Bilquis Eveley's 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' comic book. In it, Krypto the Superdog joins Kara as she embarks on a mission to help a young warrior exact revenge on the man who killed the warrior's father. You can read more DC Studios' film adaptation of this graphic novel via my dedicated Supergirl movie guide.
As Superman's first trailer and subsequent follow-up teasers have revealed, Krypto is part of this film's roster. If he's also going to appear in next year's Supergirl film, there's no better way for Kal-El to pass him onto his only surviving relative than by Kara making a brief appearance in the Man of Steel's latest big-screen reboot.
Do you agree with me that Supergirl is all but confirmed to appear in Superman? If not here, who else could Gunn be referring to, in your view? Let me know in the comments.
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New data from Indeed claims that despite stronger regulations, corporate image and branding are primarily driving responsible AI mentions in job ads – not policy compliance.
The job platform's analysis – which searched for terms like “responsible AI," “ethical AI," “AI ethics," “AI governance” and “AI – found there was a weak correlation (0.21) between national AI regulation strength and responsible AI mentions in job postings.
Human-centered occupations in legal, education, mathematics and R&D were among the most likely sectors to be using such terms, with tech firms more likely to discuss AI more broadly.
Responsible AI is just a keywordAlthough responsible AI terms are rising globally (from close to 0% in 2019), they still only account for less than 1% of related ads on average.
The Netherlands, the UK, Canada, the US and Australia lead the way, however Indeed noted high AI-regulation countries such as the UK and those within the European Union do not have significantly higher mentions of those keywords compared with lighter-regulated countries.
In fact, differences were more noticeable between job sectors rather than regions, with legal (6.5%) way above the average.
Indeed's further analysis of responsible AI mentions across job listings globally suggests that regulatory pressure alone could be insufficient to drive widespread keyword adoption, suggesting '"responsible AI" mentions are more likely to be part of market-based incentives and corporate responsibility strategies.
"This suggests that other factors, including reputational concerns or international business strategies, might be driving Responsible AI adoption as much, or more, than regulatory requirements," the researchers shared.
With rising public concern around AI risks, these terms may serve as signalling tools aimed at clients, investors and the wider market, rather than reflecting deep internal change and commitment.
You might also likeThe third-party supplier many have blamed for the major cyberattack against Marks and Spencer (M&S) has revealed its first findings of an internal investigation into its role in the incident.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has said none of its "systems or users were compromised" as part of the cyberattack.
"As no TCS systems or users were compromised, none of our other customers are impacted" independent director Keki Mistry told its annual shareholder meeting, Reuters reports.
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TCS role and investigationM&S was apparently hit by the attack on April 22, revealing news of the incident several days later.
Following an initial probe, experts proposed that the attackers were able to break into its systems by compromising workers at TCS, which has provided third-party services to M&S for over a decade on Sparks, the retailer's customer reward scheme.
In 2023, TCS also reportedly secured a $1 billion contract to modernize M&S' legacy technology across its supply chain and omni-channel sales, aiming to boost online sales.
TCS, part of the massive Tata Group conglomerate, was reported to be carrying out a full investigation, but has remained quiet until this unexpected (and brief) mention.
M&S has forecast the attack could cost it around £300 million in lost operating profit in its financial year.
It was recently revealed the hackers contacted M&S CEO Stuart Machin in a mocking email the day after the attack, demanding payment for the attack.
This email was sent from the DragonForce hacking collective, which carries out such attacks in return for payment or reward from other parties in exchange for a cut of any ransom payments.
M&S has not confirmed whether it has paid a ransom to the hackers, but did admit some customer data was stolen in the attack. This did not include any passwords or card or payment details, but home addressess, phone numbers and dates of birth may have been affected.
Anyone concerned their data may have been taken, we recommend using a dark web monitoring service, or using a breach monitor such as Have I Been Pwned to check for potential exposures.
TCS has not yet responded to a TechRadar Pro request for comment.
You might also likeWith each passing day, AI is becoming more intelligent, more sophisticated, and more valuable to businesses worldwide. The opportunities it presents are endless – but only if brands are willing to embrace the new tech-driven business landscape and keep pace with rapid change.
There are many ways AI tools can be leveraged to work smarter, save time, reduce costs, and unlock new opportunities. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started…
1. Use AI to Cut Through the Data NoiseRecent breakthroughs in machine learning, natural language processing, and IT automation mean businesses can now access vast amounts of valuable internal and external data. High-quality data is critical to understanding your audience, spotting unmet needs, and tailoring strategies that truly resonate, but simply having access to more data doesn’t automatically translate into better outcomes.
Businesses must find ways to sift through the noise - and that’s where AI becomes invaluable. By using AI-powered tools, companies can extract actionable insights faster, more accurately, and at a larger scale, providing business leaders with a clear understanding of the steps needed to drive growth within their sector.
2. Accelerate Decision-Making with AI InsightsWhen applied correctly, AI-powered insights can dramatically enhance decision-making. Machine learning algorithms can process extensive datasets in seconds, allowing businesses to swiftly adapt to market changes and optimize pricing strategies.
AI can also analyze consumer behavior and competitor activity in real time, automatically adjusting pricing, marketing, and inventory strategies to maintain competitiveness - all while freeing your teams to focus on higher-value work that directly impacts profitability and operational efficiency.
3. Stay Ahead by Predicting Emerging TrendsOne of AI’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to predict shifts before they happen. Traditional market research relies on historical data, while AI-powered research looks forward, identifying emerging trends early.
Businesses can monitor social media, search behavior, and purchasing patterns with AI to predict what’s coming next — whether that's the next retail craze or the next big opportunity in your sector.
Companies are already capitalizing on AI to help them do this. For example, fashion brands are using AI to forecast style trends from TikTok, while FMCG companies are tracking real-time sentiment to guide product innovation.
4. Personalize Customer Experiences at ScalePersonalization has become the gold standard in customer engagement, and AI is the ultimate engine behind it. Ecommerce platforms use AI-powered recommendation engines to suggest products based on past behavior. Streaming giants like Netflix and Spotify use it to curate content that keeps users coming back.
By tapping into consumer data, AI allows businesses to deliver highly personalized experiences - increasing customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, revenue. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants also ensure faster, more consistent customer support, minimizing human error while boosting brand connectivity.
5. Prioritize Ethical AI and Empower Your WorkforceAs AI becomes central to operations, businesses must also prioritize responsible use. Machines are only as effective as the ethical frameworks behind them. Rather than replacing your workforce, AI should equip your employees with powerful tools to help them perform at their very best. Forward-thinking companies are investing in reskilling programs, ensuring their employees understand AI’s role and can work alongside it to create even greater value.
Meanwhile, AI companies must also stay at the cutting edge of innovation, continuously adapting our services to meet the changing needs of businesses operating in an increasingly complex, tech-driven world.
The Bottom LineIntelligent application of AI is rapidly becoming the new foundation of business success. Companies that integrate AI into their strategy, decision-making, and customer engagement processes today will be the ones leading their industries tomorrow. Those who act now will gain a competitive edge: operating with greater agility, efficiency, and precision, freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on innovation and growth.
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