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A promising new HIV vaccine was set to start trials. Then came Trump's latest cuts

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:16

On May 30, a team of researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health got the word: Funding for their vaccine development program will end next year.

(Image credit: Luke Dray)

Categories: News

Activision is reportedly still 'committed' to bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 to Nintendo Switch 2

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:07
  • Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 7 was revealed at the latest Xbox Games Showcase
  • The game is set to come to Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC
  • That said, the team is reportedly still "committed" to a Nintendo Switch 2 version

The next Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, was revealed at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and is expected to launch for Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The current lack of a Nintendo Switch 2 version is certainly interesting, as Microsoft and Nintendo entered into a binding 10-year legal agreement back in 2023, which Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith promised would bring Call of Duty games to Nintendo platforms.

The games would allegedly launch "the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity" and came as part of a move towards "providing long-term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms".

The announcement came in the shadow of an impending Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit against Microsoft, which argued that the tech giant's purchase of Call of Duty owner Activision Blizzard would breach US anti-trust laws.

The case was eventually dropped by the FTC, with the $75.4 billion acquisition completed on October 13, 2023.

Although there is currently no official word on a Black Ops 7 Nintendo Switch 2 version, a source told Eurogamer that the company was "committed to getting the franchise on Switch" with "both [development] teams working on it."

With Black Ops 7 details set to release throughout the year, I would expect some more concrete news on a Nintendo Switch 2 port in the weeks and months to come.

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Categories: Technology

Bridging the AI adoption gap: turning experiments into enterprise value

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:05

AI is more than a buzzword. Across various industries, it’s proving value by streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making and unlocking new levels of efficiency. But despite its potential, many businesses are still struggling to realize their AI ambitions— caught in limbo between experimentation and execution.

According to a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, only 26% of companies have successfully moved beyond proofs of concept to achieve tangible results. Bridging this AI adoption gap goes beyond technology; it's dependent on a clear strategy, organizational readiness and employee engagement.

Start with clear objectives

One of the main reasons AI initiatives fail is an absence of well-defined objectives. It's easy to be swept up in the hype — launching pilot projects or deploying experimental chatbots simply to ‘get started’. But without clear understanding of the areas AI can most effectively enhance, investments will likely devolve into fragmented, siloed initiatives with little long-term impact.

A useful starting point is to ask: “what are the pain points within my business?” Depending on the size and structure of the company, these can vary significantly, but common objectives for AI implementation include streamlining internal processes, automating repetitive tasks and saving time finding and analyzing information. In any case, businesses should approach AI like any other digital transformation initiative: begin with strategy, not software.

Create a north star with centralized knowledge

Even the most advanced AI models are only as good as the quality of the data they have to work with. In many organizations, valuable information is scattered across various platforms, locked in legacy systems or buried in disorganized documents. This fragmentation not only causes frustration due to information being time-consuming to access, but it also stifles AI's ability to deliver accurate and meaningful insights at scale.

To remedy this, businesses should ensure that company knowledge is maintained in a centralized system. Accessible and well-structured data stored within a unified platform makes it easier for AI to process vast amounts of information quickly, surface relevant insights and inform decision-making across the organization. If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without reliable, high-quality data, that engine can’t take you far.

Bring employees on the AI journey

Another hurdle for AI adoption is how the roll-out strategy is received. Recent research indicates that around 70-80% of AI initiatives fail, and lack of employee buy-in is a key contributing factor. Some employee apprehension is understandable and can be due to numerous factors, such as feeling excluded from the decision-making process or struggling to comprehend how AI fits into day-to-day roles.

That’s why actively engaging teams throughout the process is crucial. While support and clear communication on the AI strategy from company leadership is essential, you also need to identify champions to help drive change across the organization. These ‘builders’ - enthusiastic early adopters - will be instrumental in showing tangible use cases and building trust among their peers. Their support, alongside continuous investment in training and an inclusive approach, will facilitate a successful roll-out.

Measure impact and stay flexible

Employee engagement is also key to measuring results: the more people use and benefit from AI tools, the more you see a return on investment. Look at the usage data - how many people are using AI, and how often? - and pair this with surveys to gauge time savings and quality of work improvements. Talking to the most active users on what value they’re seeing allows you to replicate it across the business.

This ongoing dialogue also sheds light on evolving use cases for AI, helping you to refine the strategy further. For example, I’ve seen that customers who initially used AI tools mainly for writing support are now using it for project management and customized tasks. Companies that succeed with AI treat it as a living system, not a static tool.

Converting potential into performance

The promise of AI is real — but it’s not an automatic outcome. Bridging the AI adoption gap requires more than just experimenting with the latest tools or following trends. With clear strategic intent, robust data foundations, inclusive implementation practices and a culture of continuous improvement, companies will be on the right track to convert experimentation to enterprise value.

We've featured the best AI writer.

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

Categories: Technology

NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, June 11 (game #465)

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:00
Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, June 10 (game #464).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #465) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… If you build it …

NYT Strands today (game #465) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • BRAT
  • ARCH
  • BARB
  • SALTS
  • LAST
NYT Strands today (game #465) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #465) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #465) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #465, are…

  • REVIVAL
  • DECO
  • BAROQUE
  • BRUTALIST
  • CLASSICAL
  • SPANGRAM: ARCHITECTURE
  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 1 hint

My first thought about today’s theme was the incantation from the movie Field of Dreams that “if you build it, they will come”. A sentiment that has, no doubt, inspired many an out-of-town sports stadium. However, it was immediately apparent that we were looking for something to do with ARCHITECTURE.

My eyes were drawn to the corners today. To the word "list" – which became BRUTALIST – and to the two letter Vs in the top right-hand corner of the grid, which formed themselves into the word REVIVAL. 

I got DECO next, but that’s when I hit the brakes. I spent far too long trying to form a word that began E-Q-U before taking a hint and seeing the error of my ways with BAROQUE. From here, the building was virtually complete. And kudos to the NYT Strands team on that front, too; it's always nice when the spangram makes a pretty picture.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, June 10, game #464)
  • APOLOGIZE
  • RESPECT
  • SHARE
  • THANK
  • LISTEN
  • CONSIDER
  • SPANGRAM: BE POLITE
What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Categories: Technology

NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, June 11 (game #731)

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:00
Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, June 10 (game #730).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #731) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

  • EYEBROW
  • NUMBER
  • RAINBOW
  • ROOSTER
  • LEPRECHAUN
  • DAGGER
  • COUNT
  • CROW
  • ASTERISK
  • FLIGHT PATH
  • STRUT
  • BANANA
  • SHOW OFF
  • PARENS
  • ELVES
  • BLUSTER
NYT Connections today (game #731) - hint #1 - group hints

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

  • YELLOW: Display of arrogance 
  • GREEN: In an arch 
  • BLUE: Breakfast stars 
  • PURPLE: Reference point

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #731) - hint #2 - group answers

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

  • YELLOW: BOAST 
  • GREEN: ARC-SHAPED THINGS 
  • BLUE: CEREAL MASCOTS 
  • PURPLE: WAYS TO DENOTE A CITATION 

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

NYT Connections today (game #731) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #731, are…

  • YELLOW: BOAST BLUSTER, CROW, SHOW OFF, STRUT
  • GREEN: ARC-SHAPED THINGS BANANA, EYEBROW, FLIGHT PATH, RAINBOW
  • BLUE: CEREAL MASCOTS COUNT, ELVES, LEPRECHAUN, ROOSTER
  • PURPLE: WAYS TO DENOTE A CITATION ASTERISK, DAGGER, NUMBER, PARENS
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: Fail

They say a little bit of knowledge can go a long way, but in my case a little bit of semi-useful hunches got me absolutely nowhere as I crashed out after getting obsessed over two groupings.

First off, despite knowing nothing about American breakfast cereals I was convinced there was a group about Lucky Charms and the shapes of the cereal. So I thought RAINBOW, LEPRECHAUN, ASTERISK, BANANA. I appreciate now that just one of these is a Lucky Charms shape,

Then, after abandoning that, I thought we were looking for an emoticon of a face or something similar. An assumption based off the fact that I knew PARENS was a rounded bracket and most emoticons featured asterisks.

How wrong I was, but I should have known we were looking for a group from the exciting world of word processing (see WAYS TO DENOTE A CITATION), an area the crazy spreadsheet heads at Connections HQ are constantly returning to.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, June 10, game #730)
  • YELLOW: ARBITRATE CHAIR, JUDGE, MEDIATE, MODERATE
  • BLUE: '80S SLANG CHILL, PSYCH, RADICAL, WORD
  • GREEN: THINGS YOU CAN INSERT IN A DOCUMENT CHART, IMAGE, TABLE, TEXT BOX
  • PURPLE: __ DUTY CIVIC, CUSTOMS, HEAVY, JURY
What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Categories: Technology

Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, June 11 (game #1234)

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 09:00
Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, June 10 (game #1233).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• R

• A

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1234) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1234, are…

  • CRAVE
  • ROOST
  • ANGLE
  • FLOOD

It’s a familiar frustration in Quordle, but one that also makes it a fun game, when you think you’ve got the right word and you excitedly tap it out only to be one letter out.

Such was the case for me today when I was dead certain that my final word would be BLOOD and completely overlooked any alternatives – such as FLOOD. Had this error come in my 9th go I might have been a little less upbeat about it!

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1234) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1234, are…

  • DILLY
  • GRASP
  • MOLAR
  • FILER
Quordle answers: The past 20
  • Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
  • Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
  • Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
  • Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
  • Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
  • Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
  • Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
  • Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
  • Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
  • Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
  • Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
  • Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
  • Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
  • Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
  • Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
  • Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
  • Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
  • Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
  • Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
  • Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
Categories: Technology

How the U.S. Open Drives Cisco's Connectivity Innovation

CNET News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:30
Keeping a major golf championship connected and secure is a unique technical challenge. Here's how Cisco's network solutions pull it off.
Categories: Technology

Key Whole Foods supplier hit by major cyberattack - delays possibly on the way

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:26
  • United Natural Foods confirms cyberattack
  • It said parts of its infrastructure were forced offline, and delays might occur
  • No threat actors have assumed responsibility yet

United Natural Foods, North America’s largest wholesale distributor, has confirmed it suffered a cyberattack which forced it to pull parts of its IT infrastructure offline.

In a new 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said it was working with third-party cybersecurity experts to assess and mitigate the damage.

The incident caused “temporary disruptions” to United Natural Foods’ business operations, it was further said, as the company works on assessing, mitigating, and remediating the incident with the help of third-party experts. The police were also notified of the attack.

Unknown culprits

“On June 5, 2025, United Natural Foods became aware of unauthorized activity on certain of its Information Technology (IT) systems,” the filing states.

“The company promptly activated its incident response plan and implemented containment measures, including proactively taking certain systems offline, which has temporarily impacted the company’s ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders.”

While other details were not shared, businesses usually take systems offline when they suffer a ransomware attack, as that is the best way to prevent additional devices from being encrypted. It also prevents the threat actors from exfiltrating sensitive files from the network, which is the standard practice with ransomware attackers these days.

“The company is continuing to work to restore its systems to safely bring them back online,” the document concludes. “The investigation to assess the impact and scope of the incident remains ongoing and is in its early stages.”

Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and supplies more than 30,000 retail locations across the US and Canada, United Natural Foods is the largest wholesale distributor of natural, organic, and conventional grocery products in North America, including being the main supplier for Amazon-owned Whole Foods.

No hacking groups have yet claimed responsibility for this attack.

Via BleepingComputer

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Categories: Technology

HubSpot enables deep research through ChatGPT

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:21
  • The new integration is easy to activate
  • It is available to all HubSpot users with a paid ChatGPT plan
  • It is designed for go-to-market teams

HubSpot, one of the best CRM platforms, has just announced a new integration with ChatGPT, giving go-to-market teams a new tool capable of creating actionable insights, based on business-generated data. In a recent press release, HubSpot stated that the deep research connector is a “game-changer” that allows teams to apply “powerful, doctorate-level research and analysis to their own customer data and context.”

“The HubSpot connector is like having an extra analyst on the team, empowering sales reps to identify risks, opportunities, and next best actions,” said Colin Johnson, Senior Manager, CRM at Youth Enrichment Brands. “For a non-technical user, the fact that it’s easy to use and talks directly to my data is huge.”

To use the new integration, HubSpot users should navigate to ChatGPT and turn on the HubSpot deep research connector function. From there, they can select HubSpot as a data source, authenticate their account, and start asking questions. The company also says the deep research connector is “easy to trust”.

"Easy to trust"

“We built it to ensure users only see the CRM data they’re allowed to access in HubSpot. For example, individual sales reps will only see pipeline data for deals they own or manage. With the HubSpot deep research connector, customer data is not used for AI training in ChatGPT.”

The new offering will be available to all HubSpot customers across all tiers with a paid ChatGPT plan (EU: Team, Enterprise, and Edu; all other regions: Team, Enterprise, Pro, Plus, and Edu). The list of available languages can be found here.

Further explaining who the new integration is tailored for, HubSpot mentioned marketers (who can use the insights to launch automated workflows, for example), sales teams (who can find new opportunities), customer success teams (who can use the tool to drive retention), and support teams to handle spikes in support tickets.

Via Financial Times

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Categories: Technology

Surfshark unveils a new tool to minimize the impact of lost VPN connections – but don't call it a kill switch

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:13
  • Surfshark has unveiled "an industry-first technology" for greater VPN connection stability
  • Surfshark Everlink works in the background to recover dropped VPN connections
  • The provider also promises to reduce the risk of IP address exposure

Surfshark has just unveiled an "industry-first" patented technology designed to minimize the impact of lost VPN connections – but don't call it a VPN kill switch.

Surfshark Everlink comes as a "self-healing infrastructure," the provider explains to TechRadar, which works in the background to recover dropped VPN connections while reducing the risk of IP address exposure. The new technology is now available by default on the WireGuard protocol across all platforms.

"We wanted to improve this industry standard and take it to the next level – instead of killing the connection, we want users to stay securely connected and private," said Chief Technology Officer at Surfshark, Donatas Budvytis.

Surfshark Everlink: more privacy and convenience

Already one of the best VPN providers on the market, according to TechRadar's testing, Surfshark now promises to deliver even more stable and secure performance. Surfshark Everlink is indeed a technology designed to enhance what the provider considers the most critical VPN quality metric – connection stability.

"While other shiny metrics, such as the number of servers, might seem important, connection stability is something that truly makes the difference to the user experience,” explains Budvytis.

Put it simply, Everlink acts as an additional layer of security to help recover lost VPN connections.

This means that every time you connect to your Surfshark VPN service, you'll also connect to the Everlink infrastructure. The tool promises to revive your connections when they drop by reconfiguring the VPN tunnel without the need to disconnect and reconnect from the virtual private network (VPN).

"If the VPN is a tunnel that secures your traffic, imagine Surfshark Everlink as another one that secures that VPN tunnel. If one connection goes down, you're automatically switched to another, so you stay connected and secure,” said Budvytis.

This ability to self-heal lost VPN connections can also ensure a stable performance even when the provider undergoes some network maintenance. Everlink will simply route all traffic to the closest available server without any interruption to your experience.

Surfing safely just got smoother! We’ve launched Everlink — a new feature that keeps your VPN connection stable and your data safe, even when something goes wrong behind the scenes. Learn how it works (and why it matters) in our blog! https://t.co/QK8tixnOhDJune 10, 2025

Besides greater VPN connection stability, Surfshark Everlink also promises to boost the level of security and privacy protection.

As Budvytis explains, an unstable VPN connection isn't just an annoyance, but can also lead to IP address exposure, leaving users traceable and vulnerable.

He said: "For journalists, activists, whistleblowers and anyone who values online privacy, this can be a significant risk."

All of the most private and secure VPN services, however, already have a feature to minimize the risk of IP exposure – a VPN kill switch. This feature, as the name suggests, kills your device's internet access every time your connection drops.

Yet, Everlink seeks to prevent leaks while ensuring users are securely connected.

"Users can still choose to use the Kill Switch feature, but we wanted to offer something in addition to this," said Budvytis.

Surfshark Everlink was built on a patented technology (US11190491B1) and is now available by default on the WireGuard protocol across all platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux VPN apps.

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Categories: Technology

Sonos just added 4 big free upgrades for its Ace headphones, including one of their most-requested features from fans

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:01
  • There's a new update rolling out now for the Sonos Ace headphones
  • It brings the long-awaited TrueCinema feature, and TV Audio Swap can now support two Ace headphones
  • Sonos also promises more natural calls and enhanced noise cancellation

Sonos is marking a year since the launch of the Sonos Ace – the first and long-anticipated pair of over-ear headphones from the company – with a significant software update that delivers on a much-anticipated feature set.

Rolling out now as a free update, the release introduces several new features and expands existing ones to help the Ace stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

Over-ear headphones are a crowded space, with major players like the newly launched Sony WH-1000XM6, and Sonos is leaning into what sets the Ace apart: deep integration with the company’s home audio ecosystem, particularly its soundbars.

In our review we called the Ace the best headphones for movie watching – and this update only enhances that capability. One of the headline improvements builds on TV Audio Swap, a feature that allows users to wirelessly send audio from a Sonos soundbar (like the Arc, Beam, or Ray) directly to the Ace.

With the update, this feature now supports two pairs of headphones simultaneously. That means two users can listen in sync via their own Ace headphones without disturbing anyone else in the room – it was one of the most-requested features from Sonos fans after the Ace's launch.

(Image credit: sonos)

Arguably even more exciting is the debut of TrueCinema for the Sonos Ace. This feature is designed to create a more immersive, spatial audio experience that feels less like headphone playback and more like full home theater sound.

Better yet, Sonos promises that the audio produced, well played back in the headphones, will be close to what you get from the soundbar setup for your own space. Working in tandem with TV Audio Swap, TrueCinema requires a Sonos Arc, Arc Ultra, Beam, or Ray connected to your TV, with the resulting experience delivering more natural, room-accurate sound.

Also included in the update are enhancements to active noise cancellation (ANC). Sonos is using onboard sensors to detect variables such as hair, hats, and glasses, which can affect the seal around the ear and therefore the effectiveness of noise canceling. The Ace headphones then make real-time adjustments to refine noise cancellation, based on testing across a diverse group of users.

Finally, Sonos is introducing SideTone, a feature that makes phone calls sound more natural when noise cancellation is enabled. With SideTone, you’ll hear a bit of your own voice fed back through the headphones, preventing the disorienting 'vacuum' effect that often accompanies full ANC during calls.

(Image credit: Sonos)

Altogether, these updates – TV Audio Swap for two, TrueCinema, enhanced ANC, and SideTone – mark a meaningful evolution for the Sonos Ace. With most of the serious app problems fixed and a new CEO at the helm, this update both rewards early adopters and could convince those who are still undecided to give the Ace a closer look. The Sonos Ace remain priced at $449 / £449 / AU$699.

The update begins rolling out today, June 10, and can be installed through the Sonos app on iOS or Android – just make sure your Ace headphones are connected via Bluetooth. I do hope it's a trend that Sonos continues with the Ace, eventually rolling out more features and introducing more products.

There is still a feature that Sonos fans want most, but that we haven't seen yet: support for them to act as a full speaker option within the Sonos multi-room ecosystem. Sonos told TechRadar at the Ace's launch that this could be technically possible, but it hasn't appeared yet.

It would be useful for people who have one of the best turntables or another music player as part of their Sonos system, because then you could listen to it on the Ace in high quality wirelessly. Perhaps that will be the next big upgrade.

You can read our full review of the Sonos Ace headphones, and we’ll be sharing hands-on impressions of TrueCinema as soon as we’ve tested it.

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IO Interactive says 007 First Light is the 'ultimate Bond experience' and 'definitely not a reskin' of Hitman

TechRadar News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:01
  • Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive, has said that 007 First Light is "definitely not a reskin of Hitman" and will play differently to the stealth series
  • The game will emphasize the action compared to Hitman's critical planning and stealth
  • Abrak said 007 First Light will be the "ultimate Bond experience"

IO Interactive has said that 007 First Light is "definitely not a re-skin" of Hitman despite their similarities.

Speaking in a recent interview with IGN following the official reveal of the James Bond game, Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive, said that First Light will have a different tone to the Hitman series.

"It is very, very important to get the humor right. In Denmark, we love dark humor and the silliness because it takes away from the seriousness of being an assassin," Abrak said.

"Bond is different. Bond, the humor is first of all very British. And the humor there is to support the energy and his personality, which is much more front and center. So I would say less silly. It's not flamingo disguises, as you said, but still entertaining."

Abrak continued, saying that 007 First Light "plays differently" from games in the Hitman series and is "emphasizing more action", compared to Hitman's critical planning and stealth gameplay.

"Like there are more linear parts where you have the spectacle moments and exotic vehicles. And then we also give space in Bond to open up a bit and breathe a bit," the CEO explained.

"It's less of an analytical mind, chess play, where you sit and meticulously plan. All the clockwork things in Hitman where if you do this or do this, where Bond is more impulsive, more reckless sometimes. It's more like he's just taking things and acting and handling it more as they arise."

It's hard not to compare the new James Bond game to Hitman. They're both agents, both games are third-person action games that take players around the globe to take on various missions. However, Abrak has promised that 007 First Light is not a copy-paste of Hitman and is the "ultimate Bond experience."

"So it's a different dynamism, because we want to make something that feels true for a Bond fantasy," Abrak explained. "So it's definitely not a reskin of a Hitman kind of thing, but I feel that people will see IO Interactive, that is a game made by Interactive, but they will also see that this game is something else. It's something that's true to what we are hopefully going to deliver 360, an ultimate Bond experience."

007 First Light is set to launch in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

The action game will follow a 26-year-old James Bond, played by actor Patrick Gibson, in a re-imagined origin story that led him to become MI6's best agent.

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A New 'Stranger Things' VR Game Is Coming. I'm More Than Ready to Head to the Upside Down

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I tested the successor to my favorite cheap Earfun headphones and sadly, there's one major problem

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 08:00
Earfun Tune Pro: Two minute review

Budget audio brand Earfun has continued its foray into the over-ear headphone game with the Earfun Tune Pro, an affordable pair of over-ears which unfortunately don’t live up to Earfun’s usually-impressive track record. Some of the best cheap headphones I've tested, they are not.

Earfun’s first over-ears, the Wave Pro, were some of our top-rated affordable headphones, easily earning (for a while, at least) a place on our list of the best headphones you can buy. And they were always going to be a tough act to follow. The fact that they’re still available to buy now also makes them a big (and honestly, more viable) rival to the Tune Pro.

I won’t beat around the bush: the big problem with the headphones is that they just don’t sound good. Earfun’s typical ability to punch well above its weight somehow didn’t grace the new and rather ironically-named Tune Pro. The cans lack serious bass, endure frequent peaking that ruins percussion, and don’t offer much in the way of an organised, layered soundstage to let you appreciate the separation and detail of instruments.

You can’t expect Bose- or Sony-tier audio in cans that cost under $/£100 but there are plenty of budget headphones for the same price that outstrip the Tune Pro. So as you'll see as we get into the meat of this review, it's hard to recommend the cans.

I also found the Earfuns pretty uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. The pressure they exerted on my head grew noticeable after only a few hours of use. It’s not great and neither of these are concerns was something I experienced with the Wave Pro.

Why not go lower than 3 stars? Well, the Earfun magic is present in a few other areas. Take, for example, the battery life: these headphones will last a monumental 120 hours (with ANC turned off) before you’ll need to charge them. That’s five straight days of music before they need powering up and I don’t need to tell you how important a long battery life can be for certain subsets of users. There are very few headphones on the market that come even close to this score.

Earfun has also included its usual range of features on its app: multiple ANC modes (perhaps too many – more on this later), an in-depth equalizer and a feature that’s all too uncommon on headphones: a listening test to automatically create your own sound mix. This latter is a lovely little extra that lots of rivals don’t have.

While the audio quality lets things down big-time, I can see the admirable battery life and listening test drawing in some users who prefer functionality over sound quality. It’s just that those are more caveats than I usually have to add in an Earfun review – a brand I usually champion in the ‘cheap and cheerful’ stakes.

Earfun Tune Pro review: Specifications

Component

Value

Water resistant

N/A

Battery life (quoted)

120 hours (ANC off) 80 hours (ANC on)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

289g

Driver

40mm + 10mm

Earfun Tune Pro review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)
  • Released in May 2025
  • RRP of $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160)
  • Already available at $69.99 / £59.99 (no AU sales)

The Earfun Tune Pro were announced in May 2025 for a retail price of $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160 though they're not on sale in Australia at the time of writing, unlike many other products from the company).

Don’t tell Amazon that though, because the retailer lists in multiple regions that the cans were released in September 2024. It offers them for the discounted price of $69.99 / £59.99 (at the time of writing) despite them being new.

However much you pay for them, the Earfun Tune Pro are clearly budget headphones. They’re the middle of Earfun’s three over-ear options, sitting equally between the more expensive Wave Pro and cheaper Wave Life.

Earfun Tune Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Future)
  • Chunky cans with 3.5mm jack and physical buttons
  • Uncomfortable for long play sessions
  • No IP rating for waterproofing

As you can see from pictures, Earfun has kept things simple with the Tune Pro, playing close to the formula for over-ear headphones.

The cans weigh 289g and are made from plastic, so they don’t feel too heavy when you’re wearing them. That doesn’t mean they’re exactly comfortable though, and I could only listen for a few hours before needing to give my head a break.

The ear cups are quite thick, sticking from your head about 50% more than your average pair of over-ears (judging by the few pairs I had on hand). I don’t imagine this is to blame for the comfort issues but it does make the cans look imposing when you wear them.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)

Earfun has ensured that the Tune Pro have some versatility in size as the band can be extended or retracted quite a distance (if you do have a larger head, check out our roundup feature of headphones with longer extendable arms) while the cups can be rotated around 100 degrees – and they also fold up if you want to put them in a bag.

Onto the buttons. On the right cup you’ve got a volume rocker, power button and 3.5mm headphone jack – yes, the Tune Pro supports wired audio – while the left earpiece has an ANC button and the USB-C charging port.

The buttons don’t stick out that far from the casework and so, despite little knobs to make them a bit more prominent, I still found them pretty hard to locate just with my fingers. Instead, I generally relied on my phone to change volume and ANC.

Earfun’s website makes no mention of any kind of IP rating for the Tune Pro so I’d recommend keeping them high and dry.

  • Design score: 3.5/5
Earfun Tune Pro review: Features

(Image credit: Future)
  • Incredbly battery life
  • Range of ANC modes, all fine
  • Equalizer with listening test

Earfun headphones always out-rep the competition in the features department and things are no different for the Tune Pro. The real highlight of these cans is the battery life, which according to Earfun stretches to an incredible 120 hours with ANC turned off and a still-admirable 80 hours with it turned on.

I can count on one hand the number of sets of headphones that beat or match that battery life, and it’s a vital figure for people who rarely get time to charge up their headphones for one reason or another. I would’ve loved cans like these when I last went travelling.

Next up, ANC is… present, I’ll say that much. It’s fine, but far from best-in-class and about what you’d expect for the price. It’s useful for covering up certain annoying background noises like a dishwasher in another room or distant traffic going past your house, but it won’t make your commute near-silent or ensure you can hear your music when vacuuming at home.

A few different ANC presets are available in the Earfun app. Default, which I take to be ‘off’, is Normal but there’s Ambient Sound to allow nearby noises through, Wind noise cancellation which is just designed for the infuriating sound of wind that always baffles headphone ANC, and lastly Comfort ANC and Strong ANC. I take these latter to be ‘medium’ and ‘high’ strengths to Normal’s ‘off’, but this is based purely on the icons in the app and nothing else.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve complained in past reviews about Earfun’s array of ANC modes being a bit overwhelming. Why? Because it’s hard to know which mode you should be using at any one time, and it’s also a chore to open up the Earfun app to switch if you decide you want to (the ANC button on the cans only cycles through the first three options, not the two full-blooded ANC ones).

A few more features available through the the Earfun app include the ability to toggle low-latency modes for gaming or a wide-soundstage mode for movies and TV, and a way to change what the buttons on the ear cups do. However, the major one to note is an equalizer.

As with past Earfuns, the Tune Pro offers a wide range of EQ modes based on different genres of music or increasing or decreasing bass or treble. There are plenty of options and it’s worth playing around to find your perfect preset, though a 10-band custom EQ mode lets you create your own mix too. A brief test also creates a bespoke equalizer mix for you and I was pretty happy with the mix it created for me.

For call handling, the Earfun Tune Pro feature five mics (presumably per earpiece, although Earfun doesn't express this as such. But anything else would be odd) as well as an algorithm to clear up your voice when others hear you.

  • Features score: 4/5
Earfun Tune Pro review: Sound performance

(Image credit: Future)
  • 40mm + 10mm drivers
  • Distorting sound, lacking bass
  • Limited sound stage

Given the price you’re paying for the Tune Pro, you’re probably not expecting the most ear-pleasing audio in the world, and it’s a good thing to set your expectations low because these Earfun headphones don’t sound great, even for the money.

Specs-wise, the headphones pack both a 40mm and 10mm driver in each can which should ostensibly provide extra oomph in the bass department, but theory is a far cry from fact.

Perhaps the biggest issue, noticeable constantly, is the audio peaking through the treble, which crushes hi-hats into mere hisses and devolves powerful guitar lines into crunchy oblivion. At the other end of the frequency scale, the tuning here boosts the bass drum so much that it frequently overrides vocals. It’s hard to enjoy songs without percussion and detail through the mids to provide rhythm, and the Tune Pro don’t offer much of that.

You’re not getting much expansion or detail through the soundstage here either, with music presented as a somewhat homogenous mush instead of a collection of separate, distinct and layered instruments given enough room to be impactful. The confusing mix here also masks the detail and dynamic nuance in my music, while also sapping some of the charm and emotion from vocals. If you care about the musicality within your favorite songs, these sadly aren’t the cans for you.

If there’s anything to be said for the Earfun Tune Pro's audio quality, it’s that the max volume goes pretty loud, so you’re never going to struggle to hear songs even if you turn ANC off.

  • Sound performance score: 2.5/5
Earfun Tune Pro: Value

(Image credit: Future)

Usually when qualifying the value of cheap headphones, I simply point to the price and say “yes”, but it’s not quite as easy as that for the Tune Pro.

While the headphones are admittedly very affordable, they’re not the only cheap headphones in existence, and others will get you more bang for your buck. That’s literal, with many other low-cost options getting you better audio quality.

The only other important factor is the feature set, which admittedly is pretty competitive on the Earfun Tune Pro. So if you aren’t that bothered about the sound and care more about longevity and the presence of an equalizer, these claw back some value points.

  • Value score: 3.5/5
Earfun Tune Pro review: scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

You get what you pay for, but you're not too far out of pocket for the Earfuns.

3.5/5

Design

The Tune Pro is a bit too big and bulky to be fully comfortable to wear, but it has 3.5mm.

3.5/5

Features

For budget cans, the feature set is solid. The battery life is laudable and the EQ (and its test) are too.

4/5

Sound

A range of issues with the audio quality makes it hard to award many points in this department.

2.5/5

Earfun Tune Pro: Should I buy?

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

You need lots of battery power

With 120 hours in the tank, the Earfun Tune Pro are great headphones for people who can't find themselves to a charging point every day, or simply forget to do so regularly.

The EQ tuner sounds useful

A listening test is a mode we don't often see in budget headphones, so if you want a digital way of improving your music, this may be enough to sway you.

You need headphones that fold down

Not every pair of headphones on the market folds down to be easily transportable, and some are really hard to fit in a bag. Not these Earfuns!

Don't buy them if...

You care about audio quality

It's unfair to say that audio quality is the only important factor of a pair of headphones... but if you prioritise sound-per-pound value, skip these particular Earfuns.

You have a large noggin

People with small heads may not have the uncomfortable wear problem that I did, but if your cranium is medium or large sized, you'll struggle to listen to the Earfuns for a few hours.

Also consider

Component

Earfun Tune Pro

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

Earfun Wave Pro

Water resistant

NA

NA

NA

Battery life

120 hours (ANC off) 80 hours (ANC on)

100 hours (ANC off) 65 hours (ANC on)

80 hours (ANC off) 55 hours (ANC on)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

289g

246g

268g

Driver

40mm + 10mm

40mm

40mm

Earfun Wave Pro

Everything we wanted the Tune to be: these cheap headphones cost pretty good, feel more comfortable to wear and mostly match the Tune's feature set. The battery life isn't as good though.

Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 

The cans that displaced the Wave Pro as our top-rated budget headphones. The 1More have good sound and great ANC, with a battery life that's not much shorter than the Earfun. However there are a few build concerns.

Read our full 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review

How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

I used the Earfun Tune Pro for three weeks in order to write this review, and some extra time during the writing process itself.

During testing I used the Earfun alongside a few devices, most frequently my Android smartphone via Bluetooth but sometimes an iPod Classic via 3.5mm. Listening was generally music but I also listened to some some spoken-word, games and TV shows too. Testing was done at home and around my neighborhood.

I've been testing audio products for TechRadar for over 6 years and currently test several headphones or earbuds each month. This has included many past Earfun products – including the slightly older Wave Pro.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: June 2025
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I used the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 to carry my photography gear – and it's the best budget camera bag I've traveled with

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 07:48
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150: two-minute review

The temptation for most photographers is to carry as much gear as possible. After all, you don’t want to get caught without the right kit for the situation. Many of the best camera bags will let you do exactly that: pack your entire arsenal of lenses and accessories, so you’ll never miss a shot.

That’s not what the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is about. This is a neatly packaged backpack with just enough space for your shooting essentials, plus a handful of extras. That limited capacity means most enthusiasts will need to leave a couple of lenses at home. But the pay-off is a pack that majors in portability.

It’s also one that balances functionality with affordability. One of the cheapest Lowepro backpacks you can buy, the Tahoe BP 150 is a no-nonsense solution for toting a lean photography setup on your travels. Impressively for the money, it’s also one that comes with very few compromises.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

The main compartment might be relatively modest, but clever division allows you to make the most of the available space. The top third is taken up by a zippered box pocket which is stitched in place, with a flexible base that can be moved using velcro tabs. So can the padded walls which structure the rest of the space.

Depending on what you shoot with, you’ll need to spend a bit of time playing with the position of these dividers to find a layout which best suits your setup. With some experimenting, you’ll discover that the Tahoe BP 150 can carry quite a lot more than you’d first expect, although a couple more of the small dividers would make the space even more versatile.

As it is, the bag can comfortably fit an APS-C mirrorless body with a prime lens attached, along with a telephoto and a standard zoom, plus a charger with room to spare. You could squeeze a pancake lens and a small flashgun in there, too. A larger DSLR body makes for more of an awkward fit, while enthusiasts with top-tier glass will find that the capacity soon evaporates.

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

This might be a backpack for traveling light, but Lowepro has still put thought into optimizing it. There’s an SD card slot on the inside of the main flap, while the front panel is angled slightly to create a usable space in the secondary pocket. That’s where you’ll find a key clip, accessory slots and a tablet sleeve that’s just big enough to fit a 13-inch MacBook Air.

There’s also a solution for traveling with tripods. Elasticated mesh pockets sit on either side of the pack, together with clips for securing tripods in place. Realistically, the shallow depth of the pockets means you wouldn’t want to risk keeping anything taller than a mini-tripod on the outside of the Tahoe BP 150.

The only design blunder to speak of is the position of the tripod clips. These fasten across the zipper for the main compartment, which means you have to undo them every time you want to access your camera kit. This isn’t a quick-access pack at the best of times, with a fair bit of unzipping needed to get at your gear. Having clips in the mix quickly becomes frustrating.

Still, the LowePro Tahoe BP 150 is otherwise a camera bag that hits the sweet spot of practicality, price and protection. Despite its compact dimensions, the shell benefits from padding in all the right places. Granted, I wouldn’t want it chucked around on a baggage carousel, but I never felt that my gear was at risk while wearing it.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

The same goes for the straps and back panel. This is far from a technical pack and you don’t get the kind of support or adjustment found on the Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III, but there’s enough cushioning to make the Tahoe BP 150 comfortable to carry fully loaded on a journey.

From the zips to the seams, the whole thing feels durable. That’s not a surprise from Lowepro, but it’s a welcome fact for the price. And it’s all the more impressive when you consider that the Tahoe BP 150 weighs just 800g, making it one of the lightest camera bags you can buy.

The one thing missing is a rain cover. The backpack is water-resistant enough to shake off a summer shower, but it’s not fully waterproof. Then again, given how affordable it is, you could always buy a third-party rain cover if you’re worried about downpours.

If you want an unfussy backpack with minimal bloat and travel-friendly dimensions, it’s hard to go wrong with the LowePro Tahoe BP 150. Other camera bags might be bigger and more adaptable, but this one gets the basics right at the right price.

Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: price

The Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 has been available to buy since 2015. At launch, it was priced around $95 / £85 / AU$175. The backpack’s price has dropped several times over the last few years and it can now be found online for around $75 / £65 / AU$100.

A quick look at price tracking websites also confirms that the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is regularly discounted during sale events, such as Amazon Prime Day. It’s already a great-value camera bag, but if you want an even better deal, we suggest holding out in case it’s reduced again in the next seasonal sale.

The Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is available in four color variations: blue (as tested here), black, red and green (which features urban camouflage pattern detailing).

Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: specs

External dimensions

27.5 x 21.7 x 40.3cm

Internal dimensions

25.5 x 12.8 x 36cm

Weight

800g

Total volume

11L

Carry-on friendly

Yes

Tablet sleeve

Yes

Waterproofing

Water-resistant

 Should I buy the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150? 

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)Buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
Reasonably priced and often discounted, the Lowepro Tahoe 150 is the best-value camera bag you can buy. You won’t find a quality backpack with the same features for less.

You have a compact setup
Tidily designed with no wasted space, the Tahoe 150’s internal velcro dividers can be rearranged to fit an APS-C mirrorless camera body, plus a couple of lenses and accessories.

You travel with your camera
Padded straps make the Tahoe 150 a comfortable bag to carry. A lightweight build doesn’t add much to the load, while its compact dimensions meet most airline carry-on restrictions.

Don't buy it if...

You have a lot of gear
The Tahoe 150 is designed for traveling light. Photographers with a lot of gear will find its storage capacity too modest to fit their full setup, especially with larger lenses.

You use large tripods
Mesh pockets and securing clips mean you can stash mini tripods on the outside of the Tahoe BP 150, but this isn’t a practical solution for carrying full-size stands.

You shoot in all weathers
The Tahoe BP 150’s padded body has enough water-resistance to shield your gear from unexpected showers, but it’s not fully waterproof. You’ll need to look elsewhere for total protection.

Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: Also consider

Lowepro Tahoe 150

Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III

Mindshift Backlight 26L

External dimensions

27.5 x 21.7 x 40.3cm

27 x 22 x 50cm

29 x 51.5 x 20cm

Internal dimensions

25.5 x 12.8 x 36cm

26 x 13 x 48cm

26 x 49 x 15cm

Weight

800g

1500g

1800g

Total volume

11L

24L

26L

Carry-on friendly

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tablet sleeve

Yes

No

Yes

Waterproofing

Water-resistant

Rain cover

Rain cover

Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III
Another lightweight camera backpack from Lowepro, the PhotoSport BP 24L AW III is a premium solution for adventurous photographers. Technical straps and back support mean it’s comfortable to trek with. The padded insert has limited capacity, but packing space and a rain cover make it a good choice for expeditions.
Read more in our
in-depth Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III review

Mindshift Backlight 26L
If you want a camera backpack with more capacity, the Mindshift Backlight 26L is a functional solution for toting your gear. Its main compartment has plenty of space, while a device sleeve, bottle pockets and nine liters of personal storage mean you don’t have to pack light for your trip.
Read more in our in-depth Mindshift Backlight 26L review

How I tested the Lowepro Tahoe 150
  • Packed with a DSLR and two lenses, plus accessories
  • Carried around daily for a fortnight
  • Wore in all weather conditions

When testing the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150, my aim was to assess its real-world practicality for different photographers. That started with loading it up. To get an idea of its true capacity, I played around with fitting both APS-C and DSLR shooting setups into it. I re-arranged the internal dividers several times, to see what combinations of camera body, lenses and accessories it could take.

I also packed out the Tahoe BP 150 with as many accessories as possible, including a mini trip on the side and a laptop in the front sleeve. This was partly to see just how much gear it was realistically able to accommodate, but also to get a feel for how comfortable the bag was to carry when fully laden.

With that in mind, I walked with the Lowepro on my back every day for a few weeks. This first-hand experience gave me a genuine impression of what the Tahoe BP 150 is like to work and travel with, including how easy it is to access the various pockets and compartments on the move. I also wore the backpack in different weather conditions, to put its water-resistance to the test.

First reviewed June 2025

Categories: Reviews

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CNET News - Tue, 06/10/2025 - 07:00
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