Feed aggregator

The AI company acknowledges that an update to ChatGPT last week made it too informal and friendly, prompting it to pull its release.

Not all internet is created equal -- and for most folks in Richmond, you'll want to take advantage of fiber's symmetrical speeds.

• TSMC starts work on its third semiconductor manufacturing facility
• Easier permit acquisition and tariffs influenced the move, says US Commerce Secretary
• TSMC's quarterly revenue was up 41.6%, but it's still keeping an eye on tariff-induced worries

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has started construction of a third chip plant in Arizona according to South China Morning Post reporting, as the company continues to expand operations in the US.

The announcement coincided with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's visit to the site, highlighting the political significance of TSMC's US investment amid the ongoing trade war.

Driven by Trump's push for domestic manufacturing, supported by hefty tariffs on imports from certain countries, the project marks the largest foreign investment in US history.

TSMC invests in more US chip manufacturing

Though TSMC flies under the radar among consumers, the Taiwanese company is a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia. Domesticating manufacturing within the US would certainly help the companies that rely on TSMC keep costs down amid fears that tariffs could impact sales.

In March 2025, the company announced plans to invest $100 billion in the US semiconductor manufacturing industry over the next four years, adding to its existing $65 billion investment in Arizona.

Speaking with CNBC, Lutnick criticized slow permit and regulation processes that previously hampered companies' efforts to move to the US. "And what you saw today is they needed a couple of permits. We got those permits super fast. And here we go. They’re building it. So that’s the idea," Lutnick said.

Reiterating that TSMC's plans mark the "largest foreign direct investment ever made in the United States of America," Lutnick stressed that domesticating manufacturing acts in the name of national security.

Besides upcoming efforts, TSMC's CEO CC Wei confirmed in this month's quarterly earnings call that its second plant is already ramping up operations. Its first plant has also entered high-volume production, with yield matching those in Taiwan.

TSMC confirmed earlier this month that its first-quarter revenue rose a staggering 41.6%. CFO Wendell Huang added: "While we have not seen any changes in our customers’ behavior so far, uncertainties and risks from the potential impact from tariff policies exist."

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• Geopolitical tensions are impacting US companies especially
• Expectations about AI are not realistic
• Networks need major upgrades

Nearly one in five US organizations have experienced security incidents as a result of their AI deployments according to new research commissioned by Expereo.

The report reveals how two in five (41%) organizations struggle to find and retain cybersecurity talent, yet cybersecurity is a close second when it comes to investment priorities at 38%, compared with networking and connectivity (43%).

More broadly, ongoing geopolitical tensions are also affecting how organizations go about deploying artificial intelligence, with 50% noting the impact of such events on their growth strategies.

Rushed AI deployments are becoming costly

Before it even gets to the point of a potential breach, the research reveals how one in three global CIOs believe boards have unrealistic expectations about AI's impact - and more than a quarter (27%) of US tech leaders feel similarly.

This is a trend that appears to be more of a concern abroad, with 28% of global technology executives saying AI expectations are growing faster than their ability to meet them – above the US average of 23%.

Over half (52% globally, 53% in the US) agree that their network connectivity is not ready for new technologies like AI, with more respondents concerned about network performance limitations than last year.

As if AI-induced cybersecurity concerns aren't enough, ongoing trade wars continue to add further complexity. One-third (34%) of global tech leaders have had to reassess their infrastructure due to geopolitical risks, with 37% noting the affect of such disruptions on their growth strategies – a figure that climbs considerably to 50% in the US.

"While the potential of AI is immense, its successful integration requires careful planning. Technology leaders must recognize the need for robust networks and connectivity infrastructure to support AI at scale, while also ensuring consistent performance across these networks," Expire CEO Ben Elms commented.

Looking ahead, cybersecurity isn't the only consideration for businesses when it comes to adopting AI tools. AI governance, the pace of change and inadequate capabilities are among the three biggest external hurdles, with employee resistance still affecting companies internally.

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro: One-minute review

The Arctis Nova Pro is yet another impressive headset from SteelSeries and absolutely one of the best wired gaming headsets money can buy right now. With a sleek design and the ability to plug it in and use it straight out of the box, there’s a lot to praise here.

If you’ve ever felt limited by the number of features on a standard wired gaming headset, like a single scroll wheel for volume, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a headset worth considering adding to your setup.

Even though the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is by no means a budget-friendly headset, it’s well worth the money. Offering a comfortable listening experience alongside crystal clear audio, it’s hard to find a fault - even after hours upon hours of testing.

You can tailor your listening experience to your tastes through its desktop control panel, and the additional software available gives you the opportunity to take this further by opening the doors to adjusting your audio settings depending on which genre of game you're playing.

After using a wireless headset for some time (specifically the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro 7P), I was skeptical about going back to wireless. It took no time at all to adjust, and I felt like I had more control over my audio than ever before. I also appreciated not having to worry about battery life at any point. Everything was ready to go the second it was plugged in, so nothing could interrupt whatever I wanted to play.

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips) SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro: Price and availability

• $249.99 / £179.99 / AU$405
• A worthy upgrade if you’re willing to splash out
• Wired version only available in black

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wired headset will set you back $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$405, which makes it far more expensive than even some of the best wired gaming headsets. But if you ask me, it justifies the price entirely through its performance and customization options.

If you’re in the market for an upgrade and you’re ready to invest in a product that won’t let you down and gives you the ability to alter your auditory experience entirely.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro: Specs

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips) SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro: Design and features

• Sleek, lightweight design
• One scroll wheel
• Control panel isn’t bulky

Straight out of the box, it’s easy to see and feel that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a high-quality headset. Its sleek black design is lightweight, and there are few features on the earcups which keep things neat and tidy.

The microphone tucks into the left earcup, which is one of my favourite features, and there’s only one scroll wheel on the cup, which you use to adjust volume. In addition, the earcups are very padded, which guarantees no discomfort, no matter how long I used them for. The floating headband also helps make the entire experience as comfortable as possible.

You’ll also find a mute button for your microphone on the left cup, but apart from that, there’s no additional flourishes. So, nothing to fumble around with if you’re trying to adjust your settings. Most of your audio adjustments are made via the control panel, too, which matches this sleek aesthetic.

With a small LED screen and a dial to adjust the audio settings, the whole panel easily fits in the palm of your hand. Or more reasonably, anywhere on your desktop.

Inputs and outputs are clearly labelled on the back of the unit to make the setup even easier. When you have plugged everything in, this control panel will display instructions and details in white. Even when the screen dims after a period of no use, it’s still easy to read thanks to the font choice and color.

Having this control panel on my desk made me realise just how much I change my audio settings. If anything, I change them more so now I don’t have to fiddle around with scroll wheels to try and get the perfect sound.

When buttons and wheels are too close together on an ear cup, I always find myself changing the wrong one. So when all I have to do is turn the dial on the control panel, use voice chat, or even immersing myself in the game I’m playing has never been so easy.

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips) SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro: Performance

• Crystal clear audio
• Noise-cancelling microphone
• Easy to set up

When using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for gaming, it’s hard not to fully immerse yourself in whatever you’re playing, thanks to the stellar audio quality on display. It’s so clear, every single sound in a game is easily picked up.

From the gentlest footstep in the distance to feeling like a character is breathing down your neck in real time, there’s an impressive spectrum of sound on display at all times.

The microphone, which I already adore for tucking into the ear cup rather than folding against the cup and headband like the Turtle Beach Stealth 500, also offered impressive sound. It’s easy to adjust, so when I received feedback from a call saying my audio felt a bit harsh, it was easy to move the mic around to rectify this.

The headset also comes with a foam pop filter, which can be slipped over the mic, which I used on more than one occasion for gaming and general voice chats.

With that said, the control panel really feels like the star of the show here. I’m so used to relying on ear cup controls with gaming headsets, especially because so many of the products I’ve used in the past have been wireless, having the ability to adjust my audio settings in the palm of my hand definitely made me feel more in control.

You can have multiple USB connections to the panel, too, which is ideal for anyone constantly switching between platforms. This makes the transition between platforms seamless.

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips)

If I wanted to jump from PC to console, I could do so with the press of a button. There was no need to unplug wires, faff around a bit, and then plug them back in to my desired platform. It’s clear this feature has been designed with the player in mind, since the whole experience, from the audio capabilities to the ease of set up and seamless connection, just makes life easier.

The addition of SteelSeries GG is worth mentioning, too. I’m quick to overlook additional software when it comes to headsets since it never feels like a necessity, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro doesn’t give you a choice. The headset won’t play any audio if it needs a firmware update, and the only way you can fix that is through the app.

I was initially frustrated about that since you expect a headset built with convenience in mind to make this a little easier, but I ended up using the app a lot more than I thought I would.

Not only can you sort your updates out here, but you can take your audio slightly further by toggling on features like spatial surround sound. Having this app will also let your headset clip parts of your gameplay when you’ve had a particular reaction, ridding you of the pressure to capture you and your friends’ best bits. It’s basically like having your own compilation video ready and waiting at the end of a gaming session.

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips) Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro? Buy it if...

You like having thorough control of your audio
You’re probably used to being able to control your audio through scroll wheels and buttons on the ear cups of a gaming headset. The control panel that comes with the Arctis Nova Pro is a breath of fresh air. You can alter volume, mic noise cancelling, and adjust your game audio vs mic audio from this single screen and dial.

You like a simpler design
SteelSeries no doubt knows how to make a sleek product. The Arctis Nova Pro is as simple as it comes in terms of design so you don’t have to worry about anything else bulking out the appearance.

Don't buy it if...

You appreciate the freedom of a wireless headset
If you’d rather not be tethered to your setup, be it a desk or a sofa, then a wired headset probably isn’t the best for you.

Also consider...

Still not sold on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wired gaming headset? Here’s how it stands against some similarly priced wired gaming headsets.

Razer Blackshark V2 Pro
The Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is a fantastic headset with a plethora of features on PC, but it’s taken a while for consoles to get the same treatment. If you want consistency across all platforms, then the Arctis Nova Pro takes the cake, but if you’re looking to spend less money than the Blackshark V2 Pro is still a worthy competitor to consider.

For more information, check out our full Razer Blackshark V2 Pro review

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
A slightly more budget-friendly headset to consider, but with this price reduction, you’re also missing out on a lot of features. You won’t have such a customizable experience, and the audio quality isn’t as high, but you will be saving a significant amount of money.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 review

(Image credit: Future/Kara Phillips) How I tested the SteelSeries Arctis Arctis Nova Pro

• Test over multiple weeks
• Tried with both PC and console
• Explored the included software thoroughly

I spent two weeks with my Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro headset and spent hours upon hours each day using it for gaming, meetings, and music. Because of the wired setup, it was incredibly easy to plug in and use across platforms, but I predominantly used it with a gaming PC and Nintendo Switch.

To make the most out of its performance, I played a variety of games such as REPO and Content Warning to test the mic clarity within proximity chat, alongside Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 to test how large the spectrum of sound the headset picks up is.

For games where audio cues are so important, like The Outlast Trials and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro never failed to impress. This was also massively helped by the ability to customize every note through the GameDac Gen 2 panel and the audio presets available through SteelSeries GG.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is the latest premium Xbox controller from the gaming brand, and I think it’s the company’s best effort yet. Essentially an upgrade over the PS5-compatible Revolution 5 Pro (though sadly, there’s no PlayStation compatibility to be had with this new gamepad), the Unlimited offers a similar experience with some notable new features.

Your eyes will immediately be drawn to the Unlimited’s built-in LCD display. Typically, I’m not a fan of these on gamepads, as I feel they can often overcomplicate the play experience. On the Unlimited, though, the display is very intuitive. It trims the fat, strictly offering options for button mapping, connected gaming headsets, wireless pairing, and battery saving. As such, I find this to be a direct upgrade over the Revolution 5 Pro.

The Revolution X Unlimited does pack a premium price tag, but to sweeten the deal, Nacon has included a selection of swappable parts as well as a charging dock for quick and easy battery top-up. Throw in a pair of sublimely smooth Hall effect thumbsticks, tactile micro-switch face buttons, trigger locks, and a set of four remappable buttons, and you have a premium suite that’s worth the investment.

There are, sadly, some drawbacks that keep it outside of contention for the premium spot in our best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers guides. For one, it’s quite a bulky controller, and an over-reliance on plastic means that build quality isn’t quite what you’d expect from a luxury pad.

But overall, if you’re in the market for a high-end Xbox controller or PC controller with tons of features and intuitive on-the-fly customization for your favorite games, I still highly recommend considering the Revolution X Unlimited.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Price and availability

As a premium pad, the Revolution X Unlimited commands a price tag of $199.99 / £179.99. You can purchase one for yourself at Nacon’s own website as well as Amazon in the US and Argos in the UK. This is similar to the Revolution 5 Pro which retails at $199.99 / £199.99, albeit the X Unlimited is £20 cheaper in the UK.

That price puts the Unlimited in the ballpark of other premium Xbox controllers such as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199.99 / £179.99), the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 ($169.99 / £149.99), and the official Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 ($179.99 / £159.99).

All offer similar feature sets, including swappable stick and button modules, remappable keys, and controller layout profile creation.

I think the Revolution X Unlimited has the edge over the eSwap X2 and Elite Series 2, thanks to its inclusion of Hall effect sticks (they’re sold separately for Thrustmaster’s pad) and that built-in display that I found genuinely useful here. However, I do prefer the near-perfect build quality offered by the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: design and features

Aside from the controller itself, you’re getting quite a lot of goodies in the Revolution X Unlimited box. The pad is housed in a tidy carry case, where you’ll also find a charging dock, 2.4GHz USB dongle for wireless connectivity, a 3m USB-C cable, a thin dust cloth, and a small box that stores swappable accessories.

Said accessories include two D-pads (a four-way and an eight-way with the latter on the controller by default), six thumbstick caps (two concave, four convex of varying sizes), two metal stick rings for placing around the thumbsticks, and a set of six weights (two 0.35oz / 10g, two 0.49oz / 14g, and two 0.56oz / 16g) which can be slotted into the controller’s grips for some additional heft if you need the pad to rest in your hands a little more firmly.

The Unlimited itself has that recognizable Xbox Wireless Controller-esque silhouette, but it is ever so slightly wider and taller than Microsoft’s gamepad. This results in the Unlimited being better suited to players with larger hands.

Meanwhile, overall build quality certainly isn’t terrible, but I’ve never been a fan of the use of cheap-feeling plastic on Nacon’s controllers that’s also present here. I did get used to it, but it definitely feels less robust in the hands than my go-to Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

The standout feature this time is undoubtedly the built-in LCD display. As mentioned, I’m typically not keen to see these on controllers like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra or the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot. They’re usually quite sluggish and aren’t particularly intuitive in a pinch.

Nacon has nailed it here, though. A quick press of a button found next to the left bumper activates the display’s menu. The UI is incredibly responsive and limits options to the essentials: audio for gaming headsets (including volume, mic monitoring, and a game/chat mixer), button mapping, and wireless pairing options.

(Image credit: Future) Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: performance

I’m seriously impressed with the Revolution X Unlimited when it comes to overall gaming performance and play experience. I’m glad that Nacon has opted for Hall effect sticks here, of course, but the sticks themselves are some of the smoothest in the business. If you’ve read my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller impressions, it’s a similar story to that, where the sticks feel hyper-tuned for accuracy and responsiveness. Certainly, it’ll be a boon for the best FPS games where carefully-placed shots mean everything.

Micro-switch buttons are becoming increasingly common with contemporary gamepads, with even cheaper models like the GameSir T4 Kaleid offering them. They’re also present on the Revolution X Unlimited, and they’re satisfyingly tactile.

This is another element that positions the Unlimited as a competitive-focused controller. Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful for any kind of game, and I had a blast testing it with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Xbox Series X as well as A Hat in Time and Final Fantasy 14 Online on PC. But it really comes alive with multiplayer-oriented games like Tekken 8 and Fortnite, thanks to those buttery smooth thumbsticks and rapid button actuation.

Battery life is a slight letdown as you’re only getting around 10 hours on a full charge. It does charge up fairly quickly in around two and a half hours with the included charging dock, but do expect to have to top up the controller regularly if you prefer wireless play.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller? Buy it if...

You want a full premium controller package
Additions like a charging dock, multiple thumbstick and D-pad configurations, and that built-in display all make for a comfortable and robust play experience.

You’re primarily an online multiplayer gamer
The Revolution X Unlimited’s slick performance - from its friction-free sticks to tactile micro-switch buttons and trigger locks - makes it an excellent choice for competitive players in fighting games or shooters.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
It may seem obvious, but the Unlimited is absolutely a ‘money no object’ purchase at $200 / £180. I can only really recommend it if you’ve got the cash to spend or if you’ve been saving for a pad like this.

You want more battery life
At around 10 hours, the Revolution X Unlimited’s battery life pales when compared to the likes of the Xbox Wireless Controller (around 20-30 hours) or similar built-in display pads like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot (22 hours).

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Also consider

If the Revolution X Unlimited isn’t quite doing it for you, have a look at these Xbox and PC controller alternatives.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Right now, the V3 Pro is the final say in premium Xbox and PC controllers, and has a price tag to match. But if you do take the plunge, you’ll find a gamepad that simply does not miss, with it featuring best-in-class build quality and Razer mouse-click tech allowing for speedy button actuation. An absolute stunner of a controller.

Read our Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot
One to consider if you’re looking for a feature-rich controller in a more mid-range-friendly price bracket. While certainly not as impressive as the Unlimited, it also features a built-in display, great build quality, and a novel module pivot feature that lets you swap button layouts on the controller itself.

Read our Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review

How I tested the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller

• Tested for one week
• Tested across Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC
• Compared directly to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

I tested the Revolution X Unlimited controller over the course of a week, playing both single and multiplayer games across Xbox and PC. On my Xbox Series X Digital Edition, I took the controller for a spin with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered and Avowed. I went more multiplayer-focused on PC, with titles like Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Street Fighter 6 filling up much of my playtime with the controller.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

• Andor actor Faye Marsay has had her say on season 2 episode 6's most shocking moment
• The Star Wars show's latest act includes a moment that impacts Vel more than most
• Marsay says the event will impact Vel's character arc moving forward

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episode 6.

Andor star Faye Marsay has revealed how Cinta's death will impact her character Vel's story throughout the rest of season 2.

Speaking to TechRadar prior to Andor season 2's launch, Marsay suggested that the shocking event will leave a lasting impression on Vel, not least because of the Romeo and Juliet-style nature of the relationship she had with Varada Sethu's Cinta.

Cinta's demise is a heart-breaking and character-defining moment for Vel. Despite their estrangement in Andor season 1's latter half, and Cinta's decision not to contact Vel before suddenly appearing on Chandrila to kidnap (and presumably kill) Mon Mothma's long-time friend Tay in season 2 episode 3, the romantically entangled pair still clearly care for each other.

The evidence for that is on full display in their eventual reunion on Ghorman in this season's sixth chapter, titled 'What a Festive Evening'. After Cassian refuses to do Luthen's bidding – essentially, help to incite a riot that might lead to the death of hundreds of Ghorman's citizens – Luthen sends Vel and Cinta to Ghorman to aid its burgeoning resistance to the Galactic Empire.

Vel and Cinta's reunion is described as "beautifully human" by Marsay's co-star Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

It's a decision that proves fatal for Cinta, and might be devastating enough for Vel to reconsider her loyalty to Luthen.

Indeed, after a couple of heart-to-hearts that result in the duo rekindling their relationship, Vel and Cinta assist Ghorman's gang of freedom fighters in covertly disrupting an Empire convoy, stealing the arms that said convoy is shipping through Ghorman's streets, and escaping into the night.

That would be the case, anyway, if this wasn't a trap laid by the Empire's Imperial Security Bureau. Long story short, a Ghorman citizen loyal to the Empire interrupts the rebels' attack, a scuffle ensues and, amid the confusion, Cinta is accidentally shot and killed by a member of the Ghorman resistance.

RIP, Cinta (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

In a Star Wars TV series that's already delivered its fair share of tragedies – I'm still pouring one out for Basso following his death in this season's third episode – it's another telling blow to the resistance. For Vel, Cinta's death is even more personal, and it may prove to be a turning point in the Disney+ show that might force her to reconsider her allegiances to Luthen and the Rebel Alliance.

"For Vel, the rebellion has always comes first," Marsay told me when I asked about the latest soul-destroying event in one of the best Disney+ shows. "The only time that's really tested is with this relationship with Cinta. Other than the rebellion, it's the only thing she could've chosen.

Cinta and Vel's time together could have been so different (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

"But, Cinta is stuck in the mindset of 'the rebellion comes first' and Val suffers for that," Marsay continued. "It's a relationship that they want, but can't have.

"Once Cinta is no longer with us, Vel really doesn't have anything else to live for. In itself, that's really sad because now she has a decision to make. She can either put her energy into the thing that, right from the beginning, she's believed so passionately in, or walk away from it completely. You'll see what decision she makes in the episodes still to come."

Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 6 are out now. Three more episodes will arrive on May 6/7, with the final trio being released on May 13/14.

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• Spotify and record labels have been hyping "superfan" tiers for some time
• Spotify's Daniel Ek now appears to be managing expectations: it's not arriving imminently
• He says they need their partners to work with them on it

Has Spotify shelved its own 'Superfan' subscription tier? It certainly sounds like it: during the streamer's latest financial earnings call, Daniel Ek responded to a question about "a Superfan product" by saying that the existing subscription plans on offer were "plenty enough for us".

As we reported back in February, Spotify was expected to launch a "superfan" premium tier this year; record company bosses and Ek have talked about it a few times, and in November 2024 Ek responded to a question about it by saying, "I can’t get into specifics, but I think I’ve left enough breadcrumbs for you guys to get excited by."

The most likely reason for the sudden downgrade in the excitement department? Record companies and concert promoters.

Spotify has discussed offering early access to concert tickets for "superfan" users (Image credit: Spotify) What's stalling Superfan?

When asked "can you share more details about what makes you enthusiastic about the product and when it may be available in the market?", chief business officer Alex Nostrom replied:

"Now with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we've mentioned before. So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as a really opens up new opportunities to delight users matters. A new value-to-price ratio, if you will. And of course, we need alignment and support from our industry partners to offer these kinds of new experiences to our users."

Daniel Ek then explained how the superfan concept could be "a huge part for the music industry" but "this is really one where I would put, again, the emphasis is for the superfan, we do need the partners to come to the table and be part of this journey."

You don't need to be a weatherman to work out which way the wind is blowing here: everybody thinks superfan tiers will make a ton of money and the record companies want the lion's share of it.

According to Hypebot, Spotify – and other streamers – have also tried to get ticketing giant Live Nation on board so that superfans would get early access to concert tickets.

That could be a really big deal, because presales are big business. But Live Nation doesn't seem particularly excited at the prospect of getting yet another presale partner on board.

Asked about such deals, CEO Michael Rapino using a lot of words where he could probably have just shrugged instead: "Spotify and Apple and Amazon, they’ve approached us, we’ve talked to them all, about ideas on if they wanted inventory. There’s a cost to that and we would entertain and look at that option if it made sense for us in comparison to other options we have for that presale which is a very valuable asset.”

So until that impasse is, uh, passed it looks like there will be a wait for these new kinds of subscriptions. Ek said in the earnings call, "I think you should expect for the near term and midterm growth […] just working on our existing subscriptions, the family plans, all of these things [are] plenty enough for us."

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• Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak's charges in Greece have been dropped after a two year legal battle
• The charges were in connection to alleged internet offences by an unknown user in June 2023
• Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data"

Windscribe has won a landmark case in Greece after a two-year legal battle, in a win for no-log VPNs.

Windscribe's Co-Founder and CEO, Yegor Sak, was charged in connection with an alleged internet offence perpetrated by an unknown user in June 2023. On April 11, 2025, an Athens Court decided to dismiss the case against Sak for lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.

Our legal battle is over. A few years back, some idiot used our VPN to do idiot things. Greece then decided to charge the Windscribe CEO @yegor for the crimes because it was his name on the VPN server bill. No logs existed of anything. Case dismissed. https://t.co/IPw0RKWgnRApril 25, 2025

As per the official legal document shared by Windscribe with TechRadar, Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data" to send mass spam emails.

An anonymous user allegedly used a Windscribe-owned server in Finland to breach a website in Greece and launch the attacks.

According to Sak, however, Greek authorities didn't issue any subpoena to the VPN company, as the norm requires. Instead, they directly charged Sak, the account holder of the Finland data center involved in the criminal activity.

"This sets a concerning precedent for anyone who owns servers that could be used by others," said Sak. "If upheld, it could have criminalised infrastructure ownership for actions taken by anonymous users."

Not only a Windscribe victory

The case against Windscribe was dismissed for lack of evidence that either the VPN company or Sak himself had committed any wrongdoing. This isn't only a victory for Windscribe, though.

"This was not just about me," said Sak. "It was about drawing a hard line around the role of privacy infrastructure providers. As we do not log user activity, we cannot hand over what we do not have."

Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approach

Yegor Sak, Windscribe

A no-log VPN is a guarantee that the provider never stores or tracks users' activities and any other data that can identify them. This means that providers cannot share any information with law enforcement when asked, as these details simply do not exist.

A few companies before Windscribe have proved the legitimacy of this feature in real life over the years. For example, Mullvad did so in 2023 after being hit by an inconclusive police raid. Private Internet Access (PIA) also proved its no-log claims twice in Court.

The main goal of virtual private network (VPN) software is to keep people anonymous when they browse the web. This is why EU experts have deemed these services a "key challenge" to the work of law enforcement, with lawmakers currently considering whether data retention requirements should be changed.

Sak, however, now reiterates Windscribe's commitment to users' privacy and transparency. He said: "Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approach. By that logic, we should also ban hammers and cars."

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• Google observed 75 zero-day bugs last year
• Most were used by state-sponsored actors
• Countries like China and North Korea were specifically mentioned

In 2024, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) discovered 75 zero-day vulnerabilities, and argued that the majority were used in state-sponsored hacking campaigns. The company made these claims in “Hello zero-day my old friend, a 2024 exploitation analysis” paper published recently.

In the report, Google says that the number of zero-day flaws dropped compared to 2023 (from 98 to 75). However, the four-year trend is that the rate of zero-day exploitation “continues to grow at a slow but steady pace.”

While consumer devices continue to be the most attacked targets, there is an increase in adversaries exploiting enterprise-specific technologies. In 2023, roughly a third (37%) of zero-days targeted enterprise products, jumping to 44% last year. This, Google says, is primarily fueled by the increased exploitation of security and networking software and appliances.

Governments at it again

In fact, zero-day vulnerabilities in security software and appliances were a high-value target in 2024. Google says it identified 20 security and networking flaws, which was over 60% of all zero-day exploitation of enterprise technologies. Since the exploitation of these products results in a more efficient and extensive system and network compromise, Google expects threat actors’ focus on these technologies to continue growing.

The biggest abusers of zero-day vulnerabilities are the governments, Google says. “Between government-backed groups and customers of commercial surveillance vendors, actors conducting cyber espionage operations accounted for over 50% of the vulnerabilities we could attribute in 2024,” the report says.

Google singled out China as a major player in this regard, but also mentioned North Korea, whose operatives mixed espionage with financially motivated operations.

The number of Windows exploits rose to 22 (from 16 the year before), while on Safari and iOS it fell (from 11 and 9 to 3 and 2). Android retained its “lucky number” 7, as did Chrome. Firefox was up from zero in 2023 to one in 2024.

Via Ars Technica

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• Broadband provider Virgin Media has issued advice for UK users of its hub
• The company warns against placing a router in direct sunlight
• This could cause the router to overheat and perform badly – or ‘grind to a halt’ even – and there are other placement issues to consider, too

You might not have ever thought much about the positioning of your Wi-Fi router, but it’s important – particularly as summer is knocking on the door, and some countries are experiencing their first taste of a heatwave.

The Independent reports that prompted by the unusually warm April temperatures in the UK, broadband provider Virgin Media has delivered a warning that it really isn’t a good idea to have your router placed in direct sunlight when the weather gets hot. (Or at any time for that matter).

Virgin Media issued a statement to say: “Although we test our [broadband] hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop. If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”

This underlines the point that your router is just like any other piece of hardware – it warms up when used, and has vents and needs to stay cool. Put the device in strong sunlight in a baking hot room, and the results may not be pretty, as Virgin Media suggests.

In a similar vein, the statement advises that you shouldn’t stick your router in a cupboard, where again, it might get overly warm due to a lack of ventilation in the heat. Not to mention the fact that placing it in an enclosed space is interfering with the Wi-Fi signal anyway.

Other placement advice to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi includes: “Keep the Hub at least 1m away from cordless phones or baby monitors, and as far as possible from big obstructions like cupboards and fish tanks.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Tricks to make your router quick (or at least a bit quicker)

Isn’t this all rather alarmist? No, in a word, if your router does get too hot, performance is indeed likely to be impaired. (And it’s not beyond consideration that damage could be caused, too, in cases of extreme heat conditions – something we’re getting more used to seeing these days).

Granted, this isn’t the first time Virgin Media has run this advisory, and in fact the company seems to trot this out on a yearly basis (ahead of summer in the UK). But it’s the first time I’ve seen it, and the advice given is good, plus more broadly, we should all think a bit more about the placement of our router.

Don’t put it in the sun, for sure, or in a cupboard, or in your TV cabinet, for all the heat-related reasons given above. Similarly, don’t shove the router under your desk – try to have it up reasonably high, not near the floor, and with as few obstructions as possible around the device. Any obstacles near the router will only diminish the Wi-Fi signal, just as sure as overheating will.

If you’re in the mood for improving your Wi-Fi in general, you might want to peruse our full guide on how to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength, which includes advice on positioning, as well as technical tweaks you can apply (such as changing Wi-Fi channels). It might be worth considering a Wi-Fi extender in some scenarios, too (such as getting a better signal in your garden for the summer, perhaps).

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The Smashing Machine sounds like the title of a Wallace & Gromit stop-motion comedy, but it's going to be a much more brutal experience than anything Feathers McGraw could come up with. It's a biographical drama based on real-life UFC legend Mark Kerr with Dwayne Johnson in the lead role.

Kerr himself is very excited: he shared the poster to his Instagram and wrote that he's "in disbelief that this is real". He is "so proud of the work DJ put into becoming The Smashing Machine. I have so much gratitude, humility and respect for every little detail production uncovered."

A post shared by Mark Kerr (@markkerrtsm)

A photo posted by on

This isn't the first time Kerr's story has been told on screen. There's another movie about his career which was made back in 2022 – but while the trailer is available to stream (and embedded below), you can't stream the movie, although I'll be amazed if one of the best streaming services doesn't buy the rights when the new movie's publicity starts to pick up steam.

What was the original Smashing Machine?

The 2002 movie, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, was critically acclaimed for its unflinching portrayal of the brutality of some of Kerr's earlier battles, and of Kerr's struggles with addiction.

It's a tough watch and of course, it's often very violent. And it sounds like it'll have very little in common tonally with A24's take on the same story.

While the new movie isn't out yet, some sites are running stories based on early viewings – and one of them, Worldofreel.com, says it could be the weirdest movie of 2025. According to Jordan Ruimy, "judging by what I’ve heard, there is zero doubt in my mind people are not ready for the type of film in store".

Ruimi describes it as "gonzo filmmaking", "not Oscar-bait in the least" and "one of the weirdest films A24 has ever produced." Given that this is the studio that gave us Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommar and The Lighthouse that's quite the claim.

(Image credit: A24)

The A24 movie will be released in theaters on October 3, 2025, and given Warner Bros. Discovery deal with the indie powerhouse, we can expect The Smashing Machine to stream on Max in the US after its box office run.

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Marvel Rivals patch notes arrive every couple of weeks or so, bringing bug fixes, Hero balancing changes, and more general updates. Sometimes, as is the case with the most recent patch, events are added, and certain Heroes receive buffs or nerfs to better bring them in line with the ongoing meta. Season 2's latest patch notes are now live, and they focus on improving the performance of a handful of Strategists.

These constant changes to Marvel Rivals help keep Competitive Mode fresh while providing a steady stream of reasons for players to check back in regularly. Since launch, Marvel Rivals has really proven itself as a worthy contender, landing on our list of the best free games and the best crossplay games.

Here are the latest Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025. These outline buffs to Strategists like Adam Warlock and Mantis, while Captain America receives a nerf to his survivability. Read on for more info.

Update (April 30, 2025): Detailed Patch Notes for Marvel Rivals build version 20250430, which adds a new event and some significant buffs to Strategists. There's also a much-welcome change to the ranked points scoring system. More below.

Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025

(Image credit: NetEase)

The latest Marvel Rivals patch notes detail changes added to the game on April 30 at 9:00 UTC. The main updates are as follows:

• All-New Event - Hellfire Gala: Moments
• Winter Soldier - Thunderbolts* Bundle (store)
• Black Panther - Damisa-Sarki Bundle (store)
• Thor's "Lord of Asgard" costume has been refined to improve visibility and ensure the crosshair isn't obstructed.
• Doctor Strange's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" costume now boasts enhanced visual details and voice effects to more accurately capture the essence of the costume theme.
• You can now switch all costume-specific sound effects back to the default ones via Settings.
• Using the latest S2.0 data, we've recalibrated the baseline data for calculating each hero's performance scores.
• Locked accounts can now initiate the account deletion process even from a logged-out state.
• Hero balancing changes (full info later in this page)

These are just the main updates that arrived in Marvel Rivals alongside the latest patch. For full detail on all bug fixes, visit the Marvel Rivals blog.

Marvel Rivals balancing changes

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Below, you'll find a list of the latest balancing changes in Marvel Rivals, detailing the buffs and nerfs that've been applied to each character.

• Captain America - Reduce base health from 650 to 600
• Doctor Strange - Decrease the energy cost to unleash the Eye of Agamotto (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 3100
• Groot - Reduce the health of Ironwood Wall from 700 to 600
• Spider-Man - Decrease the damage range of Amazing Combo from a 5m radius to a 4m radius
• Winter Soldier - Adjust the Tainted Voltage ability to have 2 charge levels, while keeping the cooldown time unchanged
• Adam Warlock - Add a new effect to Quantum Magic: When a critical hit lands on an enemy, reduce the cooldown time of Avatar Life Stream by 1s
• Cloak & Dagger - As Cloak, increase the damage of the Darkforce Cloak from 75/s to 80/s; As Dagger, increase the damage of the Lightforce Dagger on hit from 15 to 18
• Luna Snow - Adjust the Damage Falloff of Light & Dark Ice from 60% at 40m to 75%
• Mantis - Increase the hit damage of Life Energy Blast from 50 to 55
• Stars Aligned (Captain America - Winter Soldier Team Up) - Upon leaping to a teammate, Stellar Impact will provide 50 Bonus Health to allies within range

As you can see, the latest Marvel Rivals Hero balances apply to Strategists, upping their damage, or making their abilities more useful. Winter Soldier and Doctor Strange also get a buff, While Captain America, Groot and Spider-Man receive a slight nerf.

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• A new ChatGPT shopping experience is launching for all users
• Early users have expressed displeasure with the new recommendations
• Comparisons are being drawn to Corey Doctrow's "enshittification" concept

According to a new Reddit thread, some users are not happy with the new shopping features that are being integrated into ChatGPT and are rolling out now.

The new features make it easy to search for and buy consumer products online using ChatGPT's search feature combined with its rich natural-language prompts.

Reddit user 'Kjfitz', who started the thread, titled it, “the enshittification has arrived” in reference to the infamous neologism championed by Cory Doctrow in a 2022 essay about Amazon, which is generally used to describe how commercial pressures cause the experience of using platforms like Amazon, Google, and Facebook to gradually deteriorate over time as more monetization features are added.

The "Enshittification" has arrived from r/ChatGPT

“I asked ChatGPT about the impact of the current tariffs on inventories over the next few months. It returned a long list of links to toiletries I might want to buy”, said Kjfitz. “I asked it why it did that. It replied:

"As of April 28, 2025, OpenAI introduced new shopping features to ChatGPT, enhancing its capabilities to provide product recommendations complete with images, reviews, and direct purchase links. These features are available to all users, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, and even to users not logged in. The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives, relying instead on structured metadata from third-party sources such as pricing, product descriptions, and reviews.​

"This update aims to offer a more personalized and streamlined shopping experience directly within the ChatGPT interface, allowing users to explore products across various categories like fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods. If you have any specific preferences or need tailored recommendations, feel free to let me know!"

Other Reddit users were quick to express their displeasure with the new features. In reference to the notice that "The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives" User 'crystallin' commented, “I give it less than six months before that changes.”

“Good God. Imagine the people using ChatGPT for mental health advice and it starts saying “you know what’ll fix your relationship with your kids? Switching to Allstate”, said Reddit user 'rosencranberry'.

A gradual deterioration

In 2024, the Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, picked “enshittification” as its word of the year, describing it as “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.”

It should be noted that currently there are no paid adverts or sponsored links attached to any of the shopping features in ChatGPT; however there's nothing to stop these being added in the future.

We’re still in the early days of shopping features being added to chatbots, and the AI search engine Perplexity has already made some inroads into adding shopping features, but this is the first time e-commerce features have been added to ChatGPT search.

“We’ll continue to bring merchants along our journeys as we quickly learn and iterate”, said OpenAI commenting on the launch of the new features yesterday.

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• Security researchers found dozens of flaws in Apple's AirPlay protocol
• Some of them allowed remote code execution attacks
• Apple has released patches addressing the flaws

Apple’s AirPlay Protocol and AirPlay Software Development Kit (SDK) carried numerous vulnerabilities that could be abused to run remote code execution (RCE) attacks, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, or denial of service (DoS) attacks. To make matters worse, some of these vulnerabilities could be used in zero-click attacks, meaning to pull it off - no interaction from the victim is required.

Cybersecurity researchers Oligo Security found 23 flaws and collectively dubbed them AirBorne. Two of the flaws could be used in RCE attacks, which are now tracked as CVE-2025-24252, and CVE-2025-24132. There is also CVE-2025-24206, a user interaction bypass vulnerability that allows crooks to bypass “Accept” click requirements on AirPlay requests.

"This means that an attacker can take over certain AirPlay-enabled devices and do things like deploy malware that spreads to devices on any local network the infected device connects to. This could lead to the delivery of other sophisticated attacks related to espionage, ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and more," Oligo warned.

'Vast and concerning'

"Because AirPlay is a fundamental piece of software for Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, etc.) as well as third-party devices that leverage the AirPlay SDK, this class of vulnerabilities could have far-reaching impacts."

The potential reach of AirBorne exploitation is “vast and concerning”, CyberInsider argues. The publication claims Apple’s wireless streaming protocol is “critical” to the company’s ecosystem and is operating on 2.35 billion active devices all over the world.

It argues that, in theory, a threat actor could compromise a MacBook at a coffee shop, and later use it as a steppingstone into an enterprise network, once the compromised device connects to the company’s Wi-Fi.

Apple has since fixed the flaws with iOS and iPadOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4. The AirPlay audio SDK, the AirPlay video SDK, and the CarPlay Communication Plug-in have all been updated, as well.

Via BleepingComputer

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