Feed aggregator

You may want to monitor content on a webpage for various reasons. It could be that you're waiting for your favorite product to be back in stock, or looking for a job, or tracking a competitor to see what they're up to.

However, manually looking for updates every now and then is impractical and, quite honestly, a waste of time. You need someone to keep an eye on your behalf while you focus on your actual work. This is where an online website change monitoring tool comes in.

Change Detection is an easy, beginner-friendly website monitoring tool that lets you track up to 5,000 URLs at once. Every time there’s an update, you can get alerts via 85 various modes, including SMS, email, Discord, and so on.

In this guide, we will dive deep into ChangeDetector’s plans and pricing, features, customer support, and much more. We’ll also list down a couple of alternatives in case it doesn’t fit your needs.

Change Detection: Plans and pricing

Change Detection has a simple one-tier pricing, starting at only $8.99/month. You can track up to 5,000 URLs at once with a checking frequency of 5 minutes.

You can also track the target website from different virtual locations, get instant notifications on email (or your preferred communication app), and bulk import the list of URLs to be tracked.

The best thing is that everything the platform has to offer has been bundled into a single plan, which is pretty affordable, too, particularly when compared with the likes of Fluxguard or Visualping.

Change Detection: Features

Change Detection is an entry-level content monitoring tool just like Sken. It lets you track up to 5,000 URLs at once – a great add-on for businesses. Once you enter the page URL, the platform will track all changes, be they content changes or visual ones.

You will also be notified about all these changes in real-time. Notifications are unlimited and can be sent to over 85 different platforms, including Discord, email, Telegram, and Slack.

If you don't want to be bothered about every single update, there are a bunch of filters available to remove unwanted alerts, such as trigger text, CSS/XPath rules, and ignore text.

For instance, if you’re looking for a 3BHK for rent on a website, you can set up alerts for changes that include the words ‘3BHK.’ This way, you won’t be bombarded with all notifications, making your dashboard clutter-free.

You can also customize the time between subsequent checks as per your needs. For instance, you may want to check for news updates only during office hours. Let’s say you know your favorite shoes will be back in stock next Thursday. You can customize Change Detection to run checks only from 00:01 to 23:59 on Thursdays.

Change Detection can also help you identify valuable trends if the web page contains a number. Let’s say you’re looking for the number of apartment listings on a real estate website. You can instruct Change Detection to look over all previous change snapshots, extract the text, and send you a CSV with the time/date.

This can help you identify long-term trends, which can be useful for consumer-driven businesses.

(Image credit: Change Detection)

The platform also offers a lot of tools to simplify the website tracking process. For instance, if you have a list of URLs, you can import it on Change Detection through a CSV or Excel file. Another way to add new sites to be tracked is through the Chrome browser extension.

What's more, you can also use proxy servers to access a site from different geographical locations. For example, if you're in Asia but want to see what the European version of a certain page has, Change Detection can help you with that.

Change Detection: Interface and in use

The main dashboard is as simple as they come. At the center of the page, there’s an empty field for the new URL that you want to track. Just below that, there’s a list of all the URLs that you are currently tracking.

(Image credit: GitHub)

Changes depicted in text are highlighted in red (for the old version) and green (for the new version) to make it easy for you to spot the difference.

There’s also a settings page for each URL that you are tracking. You can access the settings page through the “Edit” button on the main dashboard. Once inside, you will find another dashboard with a set of menus on the top. The options on the menu are to help you configure how the tracking happens.

Overall, the site is fairly easy to use, but a new user will need some time to find out where all the features are and how to work them.

Change Detection: Support

Change Detection’s support is admittedly a little barebones. There’s a section of tutorials that can help you with basic issues.

Now, if you want to talk to the team directly, there’s a contact form on the home page. You need to share your email ID, existing login URL, and a short message about your concern. However, that’s it – we didn’t find any direct email support option or live chat.

Change Detection: The competition

Because Change Detection is a beginner-level tool, it lacks many advanced features. Two of its biggest competitors are Visualping and Wachete.

Visualping is best known for its AI automation tools that save you tons of time by streamlining mundane tasks. For example, there’s a summarization tool that summarizes all change reports, helping you extract the crux of the matter without having to read through countless pages.

You can also give feedback to this AI about irrelevant notifications, and it will ensure that all similar kinds of alerts are blocked in the future. There’s also another AI tool that helps you set up your account quickly through smart suggestions. Large businesses that have a lot of workload can really benefit from this automation.

Next, we have Wachete. The best thing about it is that it allows third-party integration with Zapier, which in turn allows you to connect with over 7,000 tools. Plus, along with tracking online pages, Wachete also lets you track text documents such as PDFs, Word files, DOCX, and so on. It's also a bit more affordable than Change Detection, with plans starting from $5.40/month.

Change Detection: Final verdict

Change Detection is a good content monitoring tool, best for beginners. It's affordable, too, starting at just $8.99/month. Plus, the interface is pretty simple with a minimum learning curve – you can navigate it even if you are not a tech expert.

Its biggest USP is that it lets you track 5,000 URLs at once – something you don’t get with many website monitoring tools. There are also unlimited notifications available on over 85 different types of platforms, such as Slack, Telegram, Discord, and so on.

Last but not least, it comes with a Google Chrome browser extension for JavaScript websites, simplifying the process of adding new pages to be tracked.

However, it does have a few shortcomings. For instance, there are no AI features, password-page tracking, or an option to track pages locked behind pre-defined actions. All this makes Change Detection a little less ideal for large businesses. In that case, you can try alternatives like Wachete or Visualping.

FAQs What is a content monitoring tool?

A content monitoring tool lets you keep an eye on other webpages, such as your competitors, and see what’s going on. Instead of manually looking for updates, you can use this tool to be notified anytime there’s a major change.

The change could be related to content, visual elements, or the code of the page. Many of these tools, including Change Detection, also offer real-time alerts for such changes so that you can make timely decisions.

Who is Change Detection best for?

Change Detection is best for personal use and small businesses with limited needs. The pricing is quite affordable; any small business can afford to shell out $8.99/month, and such a low price still gives you the ability to track 5,000 URLs with 5-minute checking intervals.

You can also set up a custom check schedule and pull out informative trend reports in a jiffy. Large businesses, however, may feel the lack of advanced tracking options such as password-protected pages or pages that need a pre-defined action to be tracked.

We've ranked the best website builder service.

• Amazon’s Alexa+ AI has just hit 100,000 users in the US
• Yet the firm’s CEO has warned agentic technology is still “primitive”
• Alexa+ is rolling out in waves, but is still missing some key features

Like many other Big Tech firms, Amazon jumped on the artificial intelligence (AI) bandwagon by launching its own AI assistant named Alexa+ in February. Now, the company has announced that the tool has been rolled out to 100,000 users.

Right now, Alexa+ focuses on providing a conversational experience with an AI chatbot, although Amazon aims to imbue it with “agentic” abilities in the future. That would enable it to work as an agent on your behalf, interacting with third-party apps in order to carry out the tasks you ask of it.

That little tidbit came from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy during the company’s recent earnings call. There, Jassy explained that “Our intention is for agents to perform wide-ranging complex, multi-step tasks,” and that “there haven't been action-oriented agents like this until Alexa+.”

Yet the most recent update to Alexa+ is missing some of the key features that Amazon demonstrated in February, as pointed out by The Washington Post. It wouldn’t be the first AI to arrive without promised abilities – Apple’s AI-powered Siri has faced numerous delays and disruptions – and it shows how difficult it can be to pull ahead in the ongoing AI arms race.

Even Jassy admitted that Alexa+ was facing challenges. In general, agentic AI tools are still “primitive,” the Amazon CEO noted, with Amazon’s own Nova Act AI model aiming to improve their accuracy from a mere 30% to 60%. Eventually, the goal is to achieve over 90% accuracy, but clearly Alexa+ isn’t there yet.

Limited availability

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon has previously stated that it aims to launch Alexa+ in waves, so we should expect to see availability increase in the US over the coming months. There's no news about an international rollout yet.

Of those users who have tried it out so far, few have shared their thoughts or given insights into how well it works. That changed recently, though, when user Pretty2be took to Reddit to answer questions on the AI chatbot.

During the session, Pretty2be stated that Alexa+ is good at interpreting natural speech and is able to avoid interrupting you. Other positive feedback included its speech synthesis capabilities, although the user criticized its tendency to push you towards Amazon Music, even when you try to use Spotify.

We don’t know when Alexa+ will roll out to more users, but it’s clear that there’s still work to be done, judging by both Pretty2be’s feedback and Amazon CEO Jassy’s comments. Hopefully the missing features will arrive before the next 100,000 users sign up.

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Your Mail app can sort messages into categories, but you don't have to use them if you don't want to.

• New Microsoft accounts will use passkeys by default, company reveals
• Existing users can also delete their passwords
• The login experience has an updated interface

Microsoft will be making all new accounts passwordless by default in a bid to push users towards more secure authentication methods that revolve around passkeys, push notifications and security keys.

"Microsoft and dozens of other organizations have taken the Passkey Pledge to work toward increasing the implementation and adoption of passkeys over the coming year," Microsoft explained in a blog post.

Naturally, existing users can also opt in to delete their traditional passwords via account settings in favor of more secure options.

Microsoft goes passwordless by default

Claiming that it "helped lay the foundation for an entirely new era of authentication," Microsoft's blog post takes us back ten years to the launch of Microsoft Hello, which allowed users to log into machines with secure biometrics.

"To keep your digital life safe, you need a way to sign into any account without a password," Joy Chik and Vasu Jakkal explained.

But why is it important to move away from less secure simple passwords?

Apparently, Microsoft observed more than 7,000 password attacks per second last year, marking a twofold year-over-year increase.

However, while passkeys make for a more secure account, the company noted that old-style accounts with basic passwords can expect to see even more attack attempts. All the more reason to go passwordless across all accounts – not just your Microsoft account.

They're also speedier, offering a log-in experience eight times quicker compared with the password and MFA combination.

Passkeys for consumer apps like Xbox and Copilot already became available in 2024, and now, more than a million are being registered each day.

Other recent announcements include an updated login user experience, with a simpler style introduced in March 2025 prioritizing passworldess methods, all of which just in time for yesterday's World Password Day.

From now, "new users will have several passwordless options for signing into their account and they’ll never need to enroll a password."

If Microsoft's decision to go passwordless has got you inspired to transition to passkeys across more services, check out the entire list of participators across the FIDO Alliance's Passkey Pledge, including Amazon, Apple, Dashlane, Google and tens more.

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Businesses need content monitoring to keep an eye on competitors, stay abreast of the latest customer trends and news updates, and ensure regulatory compliance. If you’re looking for reliable content monitoring software, OnWebChange can be a good fit.

OnWebChange is one of the most affordable website monitoring software options, starting at just $0.92/month. It comes with 5 different plans, including a free one, and lets you track both websites and offline files like PDFs and images.

You can choose to track an entire page or just a part of it, track pages from various locations, and keep an eye on PDFs and text files.

Read on as we explore in detail this affordable content monitoring tool, discussing its best features, pricing, pros, and cons. We’ll also suggest a couple of alternatives if OnWebChange doesn’t suit your needs.

OnWebChange: Plans and pricing

OnWebChange offers 5 plans, ensuring there’s something for everyone. You can get started with a limited free plan, which, in all honesty, is pretty basic. It allows you to track 3 pages at once and check 30 times a month with a 24-hour interval. You can also track PDFs (limited to 0.5 MB in size) and ‘plain texts’ – something free plans don’t usually offer.

Next, there’s the Lite Plan priced at €0.89 ($0.92), allowing you to monitor 10 pages at once and run 20K checks a month with 60-minute intervals. Here, you can track PDFs up to a size of 4MB. Costing less than a dollar a month, this is one of the cheapest content monitors out there.

The Standard plan, priced at €2.79 ($2.88), allows you to track unlimited pages and run 100k checks a month. Plus, you get tracker history, a highlighted version of the check reports, a whole suite of tracker management tools, and much more.

This is the cheapest plan we’ve seen that allows unlimited page checks. However, the check interval still remains 60 minutes, which may not be ideal for mid-sized or large businesses.

In that case, you can upgrade to the Turbo-50 plan priced at €4.99 ($5.15). Although you cannot track unlimited pages here (capped at 50 pages), you can run unlimited checks per month at 5-minute intervals. Other than this, you get all the benefits from the standard plan.

Lastly, there’s the Turbo-100 plan priced at €8.99 ($9.28), where you can track 100 pages instead of 50 on the last plan.

Choosing a plan requires you to make a simple decision – do you want to track an unlimited number of pages at a 60-minute interval or a limited number of pages (50 or 100) at 5-minute intervals?

Even the most expensive OnWebChange plan is cheaper than most other content monitoring websites around, such as Verionista or Distill.io.

OnWebChange: Features

The first thing to be noted is that OnWebChange, despite its name, can track both online web pages as well as offline PDFs and images. If you want to track multiple pages, you can simply bulk import all the URLs in a single .CSV file and create multiple page trackers in just a few clicks.

To fine-tune your tracking, it offers customization tools that help you narrow down your radar to specific parts of the page instead of tracking the whole page. This will help keep out unnecessary notifications and focus on material changes.

(Image credit: OnWebChange)

Speaking of unnecessary notifications, OnWebChange lets you set custom rules so that you only get notified about changes that matter to you. For instance, you can choose to be notified only when a specific keyword appears in a change. And if you want to put all notifications on hold for a while, simply put your account on “Holiday Mode.”

You also have the option of choosing between different geographic tracking regions. Sometimes, the same page may display different content based on your location. If you want to track changes on the foreign version of a page, OnWebChange can do that for you.

One of our favorite things about OnWebChange is its highlighted reports. You get detailed change reports with the new changes highlighted so you can easily spot the difference. You can also organize your trackers into groups, then filter & order by groups, labels, creation date, and more.

OnWebChange stores tracker history in case you need it in the future. This stored data can be exported to Excel in bulk or converted to graphs and charts. All this makes it super easy to compare all the different changes in a given period.

Last but not least, there’s also an Intelligent Warning System that notifies you if a page goes through a structural change and is no longer available for tracking.

OnWebChange: Interface and in use

OnWebChange’s interface is very plain. Upon signing up, you’ll see a simple white and blue page containing your account information, some new updates about the platform, and an option to create a new tracker. Compared to other content monitors and website defacement monitoring services, the interface seems to be a bit too bland and like it's stuck in the 90s.

(Image credit: OnWebChange)

There’s no separate dashboard, so organizing your content might be a little challenging. Once you enter a URL to be tracked, you’ll get a snapshot of the current version of that page. You will also be able to access all the other settings by scrolling down the page.

Once you configure and save the settings, you’ll get a plain dashboard that will have a list of the pages you are tracking along with some basic settings and sorting and filtering options.

Overall, the dashboard is very vanilla, which makes it easy to navigate, but it's not as compact as you would have liked. So, you’ll need a couple of days getting used to it, especially if you’re switching over from another content tracker.

OnWebChange: Support

OnWebChange comes with a detailed help center where you get video tutorials, step-by-step guides, and a list of frequently asked questions. There’s also email support (info@onwebchange.com) if you want to directly get in touch with someone from the team.

We particularly like that OnWebChange offers email support on all their plans, even on the free one. However, there’s no phone support, but that’s pretty much the norm for website monitoring services.

OnWebChange: The competition

OnWebChange is a good basic content monitor. However, it does have a few shortcomings, which is why you can consider other monitors like Wachete and Visualping.

Wachete integrates with Zapier, allowing you to access 7,000+ apps to establish seamless workflows for businesses. You can also track password-protected pages and use proxy servers to monitor pages from various geographical locations. Wachete is fairly affordable, too, with plans starting at just $5.40/month. It also comes with a free plan.

The other option is Visualping. Its fantastic AI tool automates a bunch of mundane tasks for you. For example, it can summarize change reports, help you quickly set up your account with smart suggestions, and filter through unnecessary notifications. If you find an alert unnecessary, share that feedback with the AI, and it will block all similar alerts in the future.

OnWebChange: Final verdict

OnWebChange is a robust monitoring tool ideal for personal and small business needs. You can track both web pages and offline files like PDFs and images. It also allows tracking web pages from different proxy servers, allowing you to monitor region-specific content.

You can even import large lists of URLs to be tracked in a single CSV (Excel/Calc) file or export your trackers and manage them externally as a CSV file.

The prices are extremely low, with the paid plans starting at just $0.92/month. For just $2.88/month, you can track an unlimited number of pages.

Overall, the tool is a good investment. However, it does lack advanced features like report summarization tools and third-party integrations. If that's something you just can't do without, consider alternatives like Watchete and Visualping.

FAQs Which is the most affordable content monitoring tool?

OnWebChange is one of the most affordable content monitoring websites, as its paid plans start at less than $1. This starter-level plan lets you monitor 10 pages and run 20,000 checks a month with a 60-minute interval. This should be more than enough for an individual or even a small business.

If you upgrade, though, you can track unlimited pages at just $2.88/month – a proposition you’ll not see any other content monitor offer. OnWebChange also has a completely free plan using which you can track 3 pages with 30 monthly checks.

Who is OnWebChange best for?

OnWebChange is ideal for personal and small to medium businesses. It's one of the cheapest content monitors going around, with plans starting at less than a dollar.

The tool also offers excellent value for money thanks to features like custom notifications, location-based tracking, and email customer support on all plans.

However, it lacks advanced features such as AI tools or third-party integrations. Large businesses with complex needs may, therefore, need to look at alternatives like Visualping.

We rate the best website builder service.

• A complete specs list for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has leaked
• This largely lines up with what we've heard before, but includes new details like the presence of wireless charging
• Pricing has also leaked, and as with earlier leaks this puts the S25 Edge between the S25 Plus and Ultra

We’re likely less than two weeks away from the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, with May 13 rumored to be the big day. But ahead of that a major leak has tipped almost every spec and feature.

Reputable leaker Roland Quandt writing for WinFuture has claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be just 5.85mm thick, weigh 163g, and have a titanium frame, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 – which is said to be particularly durable – on the front.

Speaking of the front, that apparently holds a 6.7-inch 1440 x 3120 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and there’s said to be an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor.

Quandt also claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage.

For the cameras, there’s apparently a 200MP f/1.7 main one with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view and no OIS. It also apparently has a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera.

Rounding out the specs, Quandt claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900mAh battery, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt) Similar to what we've heard before

This is mostly stuff we’ve heard before, but there’s a little more detail here than in previous leaks, such as the mention of wireless charging, the exact build materials, and the details beyond megapixels in the camera specs.

Since we have largely heard this before and since it comes from a reputable source it may well be accurate, in which case – as expected – the main compromises Samsung has seemingly made to get the phone so thin include the absence of a telephoto camera, and the low battery capacity.

Despite these compromises, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge likely won’t be cheap, with Quandt claiming it will start at €1,249 (roughly $1,415 / £1,065 / AU$2,205) in Germany, for which you’ll get 256GB of storage, and saying it will rise to €1,369 (around $1,550 / £1,165 / AU$2,415) for 512GB.

The price conversions we’ve included are unlikely to be accurate, but notably that would put it between the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Germany, which is where we expect it to land globally based on other rumors.

You’ll supposedly be able to choose between Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Icy Blue, and Titanium Silver shades, as you can see in the renders above, and apparently it will ship in Germany around the end of May, which makes sense if it’s announced on May 13.

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A lot of relatively small changes and improvements make a big impact on this operating system.

• LinkedIn's Wire Program becomes BrandLink
• It focuses on delivering advertisement videos from creators and publishers
• AI, leadership and business advice will be the first topics to be covered

LinkedIn has announced some changes to its ad revenues with the rebrand of Wire Program to LinkedIn BrandLink, which it says is designed to "[help] brands reach their audiences in new ways with video from top creators and publishers."

Product Management VP Lindsey Edwards explained, "BrandLink delivers more relevant video content to members while also allowing advertisers to align with editorial content from trusted publishers and, now, some of the world’s top creator voices."

From launch, content themes will include artificial intelligence, leadership, small businesses, innovation and entrepreneurship.

LinkedIn launches updated BrandLink program

The Microsoft-owned social networking platform says advertisers see 130% higher video completion rate and 23% higher views compared with standard video ads when using BrandLink, adding that members who view those ads are 18% more likely to become a lead for their company.

The news comes after a series of LinkedIn video-related announcements over the past year or so, including full-screen vertical video displays, a refreshed carousel and an updated UI to make it easier for audiences to engage with brands.

Edwards referred to video as "one of the fastest growing formats on LinkedIn," and in February 2025, we learned the medium was growing twice as fast as any other post format.

Some of the early creators to join the program include B2B figures such as Steven Bartlett, Bernard Marr, Allie K. Miller, Rebecca Minkoff, Candace Nelson, Guy Raz, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Shelley Zalis.

The latest announcement highlights how 91% of B2B marketers believe that video will help them accelerate advertising ROI more than any other format.

With BrandLink, advertisers can target specific locations and languages, with LinkedIn boasting it "supports a growing list of global publishers who produce region-specific content."

The tool is available to use now on desktop and mobile applications.

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• AMD is reportedly prioritizing the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB GPU for retailers
• It corroborates rumors that it may cancel or discontinue the 8GB GPU
• If it's true, it could be a sign that Team Red won't make 8GB GPUs going forward

AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU is on the horizon (it's projected to launch in May), with 16GB and 8GB variants. However, a new report suggests one of them may not be readily available for consumers at launch.

As reported by Wccftech, AMD could be set to prioritize the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB variant over the 8GB counterpart in terms of availability for retailers at launch, according to Benchlife. It comes after the rumor that hinted at the 8GB model being cancelled or discontinued, and this new rumor certainly suggests that something is going on with the 8GB model.

Essentially, this means consumers may not see the 9060 XT 8GB available on shelves or online retailers apart from rare occasions. If this is true, it could be a huge indication of AMD's future stance on low VRAM capacity GPUs.

Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti recently launched with 16GB and 8GB variants, with the latter receiving a lot of flak; consumers have been expressing displeasure with 8GB graphics cards for a while, and Benchlife claims that this is AMD's reasoning behind the potential case of prioritizing the 16GB GPU.

The Radeon RX 9060 XT series is expected to be unveiled at Computex, with a potential May 21 launch - but apparently, it won't actually go on sale until June (considering AMD's Q2 2025 estimation). Regardless, this puts the GPUs in direct competition with the RTX 5060, expected to launch on May 19. So, we could be in for another fierce battle between these two tech giants.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Please, let this be the end of 8GB GPUs...

If this rumor is legitimate, it suggests to me that Team Red is well aware that PC gamers are increasingly of the opinion that 8GB of video memory is simply not enough for modern games at high resolutions. If there's anything good to come from this, it's that we could soon see the end of 8GB graphics cards.

Triple-A games aren't easy going regarding VRAM usage, and while 8GB of VRAM isn't completely useless, I'd say it's a limitation for those looking for better performance. Gaming at 1080p is still the most popular resolution (according to Steam's hardware survey), but more demanding games with higher graphics settings enabled, like Cyberpunk 2077 or Black Myth Wukong, will end up choking 8GB GPUs.

It's also worth mentioning the cost of GPUs in this current market with inflated pricing; a prime example is the XFX Speedster Radeon RX 7900 XTX, sold at $1,129.99 on Best Buy (it's a three-year-old GPU), despite its $999 launch price. Inflation like this makes other low-end graphics cards seem much less appealing, as they no longer have low prices that justify the compromises made to performance. If you're going to be spending that kind of money on a GPU, you'd be better off looking at more powerful cards.

At the very least, I feel that modern graphics cards should come with 12GB VRAM at a minimum, because anything less just won't suffice in 2025 and onwards...

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Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: two-minute review

Dash cam manufacturers are becoming ever more inventive in their quest to stay ahead of the pack. This has resulted in many different variations on the theme, with many models offering much more than just a forward-facing recorded view of the road.

One of the big features starting to appear in the specification of the best dash cams is 360-degree capture. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is a prime example of this, and I’ve been using it for a while to see if it’s worth considering.

I’ve already tried the decidedly bulbous 70mai 360 Omni, which adopts a slightly different approach to 360-degree capture by using a revolving lens – the latest incarnation has been beefed up to shoot 4K video too. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam isn’t quite as chunky, although it’s not far off, and it delivers a neat alternative for capturing more complete coverage of the road ahead, the road behind, and inside the vehicle cabin.

I’ve been testing the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam Ace bundle, which is a big box of tricks that includes the 5.2K, dual-lens 30fps unit that shoots with a 210-degree field of view from each lens to produce a 360-degree effect in playback mode. There’s also a more conventional rear-facing unit included for good measure, and the bundle also features a tripod stand, so the E360 can double as an action cam. The base-level package doesn't include the rear camera and the tripod if those are surplus to your requirements.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is its ease of setup and installation. I was impressed by this fact when testing the Vantrue E1 Pro recently, especially when it came to working through the configuration steps using the rear screen. You get the same ease of use with this model, despite the fact that the specification left me thinking there might be some tinkering involved. That's not the case however, and I was able to quickly pick my way through the touchscreen menus on the back of the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, if the rearward-facing camera is part of the picture, there will be some extra wiring to install. Either way, Vantrue packs everything needed into the box, with a well laid out instruction manual proving invaluable. I tend to favor using static film strips for mounting dash cams, as they make for easier removal, and Vantrue has the mounting bracket design process down to a tee too. In fact, the overall feeling I got from the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam was that everything was really well thought out.

If you go for the basic, non-Ace bundle, the box contains the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam, GPS mount, adhesive stickers, three cable clips, 3.3ft / 1m of USB data cable, 11.5ft / 3.5m of car charging cable, plus ancillaries including a dust cloth, electrostatic stickers, a plastic cable tool and a quick user guide. Choose the Ace bundle and you also get a rear-facing camera and a handheld mount / tripod for using the Vantrue E360 as a standalone action-style camera.

The Vantrue E360 is essentially a premium solution, so alongside the headline-grabbing 360-degree capture the Chinese brand also throws in every other essential. There's a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, 5G Wi-Fi for rapid-fire transfer, infrared night vision and impressive HDR capabilities, plus support for microSD cards up to 512GB. However, it’s worth remembering that the high-spec nature of this model means it generates lots of data.

Similarly, as is the standard, the parking and 24-hour monitoring features will require the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam to be hardwired into a vehicle, which can be done using an optional kit. Vantrue has a comprehensive supporting app, which is ideally suited for managing the large files generated by such a high-spec unit. Anyone who's concerned about monitoring their vehicle at all times can also invest in a Vantrue LTE module, which is an option for live streaming should it be needed.

Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: price and availability

The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is available now from Amazon and can be configured to suit your own needs. The standard Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is available for $270 / £268 from the Vantrue website.

The Vantrue E360 Ace Dash Cam bundle, which comes with the addition of a rearward camera and a tripod, costs from $350 via Amazon in the US. In the UK, the bundle has a RRP of £483, but it's currently on sale £383 from the Vantrue website or Amazon.

The LTE module for the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam can also be purchased as a standalone option, as can the hardwire kit.

Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: specs Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: Design

Vantrue appears to place a strong emphasis on quality, and I was very impressed with the overall look and feel of the E360. The main camera unit itself is a chunky little thing, which does tend to encroach into the windshield area, especially on cars with smaller screens, but it’s longer rather than wider, and feels very solid to the touch. The same goes for the mounting bracket, which lets the user unclip the camera easily so it can double up as an action cam.

The clean lines of the main camera unit aren’t spoilt by lots of buttons either. There’s a big button on the side, which can be used to power up the camera and also to record an emergency snapshot. There’s a power cable port on the top, and underneath the base is a slot for a microSD card, which accepts capacities up to 512GB.

(Image credit: Future)

Dominating the rear is the 1.54-inch touchscreen, which is made of really good-quality plastic and offers a clear view when it’s on. This is dotted with various icons that offer camera information as well as indicating when the unit is functioning correctly. The only downside is that these icons are quite small, especially if you’re glancing at them on the move. However, the main point of contact for interacting with this model is the Vantrue app, which packs in everything needed for complete file management, as well as allowing for more precise control of settings.

(Image credit: Future) Vantrue E360 Dash Cam: Performance

Given the bold claims made by Vantrue and the impressive specification of the E360 Dash Cam I was expecting a lot, and the main camera doesn’t disappoint in terms of the clarity it delivers. Even the view on the 1.54-inch rear touchscreen is impressive, but the footage looks even better when examined in the app or on a desktop computer or laptop. Alongside the excellent footage, the GPS data is also recorded and displayed along the foot of the video, so I was more than happy with that side of things.

(Image credit: Future)

Personally though, I’m not too keen on the rather fishbowl effect created by the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam. There’s no doubting that it does exactly what Vantrue promises, but I’m left wondering if I wouldn’t just prefer a standard-issue front-facing dash cam supplemented by a small rear-facing unit. Such bundles are widely available, and have become very affordable too. The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam is very good, but it feels a bit like overkill to me.

There’s no doubting the potency of the Sony Starvis 2 sensor, but the capture method might not appeal to everyone. On the upside, Vantrue does offer different options for the recording process, including 360-degree panorama, fisheye, and dual fisheye, but it still looks a little bit odd to me. The appeal, therefore, might be a bit on the niche side, but there’s no doubting that the hardware here is top-notch.

(Image credit: Future)

I can certainly see the appeal for anyone who wants a camera that can do a little bit of everything though. As mentioned, it's easy to unclip the camera unit and use it as an action cam shoot – it’s a great supplementary option that adds value, especially when using the option of the tripod contained in the Ace bundle.

Overall, then, I can’t really fault the shooting capabilities of the lens and sensor arrangement, and they deliver the goods both day and night. License plate details, for example, are as legible as you’d expect from a high-specification dash cam like this. Equally though, the Vantrue E1 Pro meets my needs just as well, and for a lot less money, although it doesn’t have the rearward-facing capability either.

Should you buy the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam?

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

You’re after a complete dash cam solution
If you purchase it in the Ace bundle, the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam comes with everything needed for total surveillance, and doubles as an action cam too.

A touchscreen makes all the difference
This model has an excellent though compact touchscreen, which makes setup and installation much easier than for models without one.

You value 4K video quality
Not everyone wants high-resolution dash cam video, but having crisper details including license plates in footage is always a bonus in case of incidents.

Don't buy it if...

You’re not keen on bulky dash cams
The Vantrue E360 Dash Cam isn’t exactly huge, but it does hang down enough to perhaps be a bit of an obstruction in a vehicle with a small windshield area.

You’d prefer a simpler solution
While this model isn’t overly complicated, there is more to do in terms of fitting the camera and wiring it in, especially if the hardwired parking surveillance is required.

You’re not sure about the 360-degree aspect
This is a bit of a niche product, and only makes sense if you’re keen to have unique 360 degree-effect video plus an action cam into the bargain.

How I tested the Vantrue E360 Dash Cam

• I installed the dash cam in two test cars for an initial period of three weeks
• I used it for numerous journeys during the day and at night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings to assess their quality

Vantrue loaned me the E360 Dash Cam and supplied everything I needed to test it. This included a 128GB microSD card and a hardwire kit, which is an optional extra. However, because I needed to move the camera between vehicles, I was unable to test the parking monitoring feature.

Aside from that, I installed and set up the E360 as per the instructions, and used it during a variety of journeys. This included journeys at different times of the day in order to test all the capabilities of the package, especially after dark.

I tested the accompanying Vantrue app on an Apple iPhone to check transfer rates, using both Wi-Fi and a cable connection to my laptop, and managed the larger 4K files using the same resources.

• First reviewed April 2025

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This week, the internet was up in arms over who would win in battle: 100 men or a single silverback gorilla? One expert says the real fight is much bigger.

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• Veeam study find budget increases for cybersecurity aren't enough; businesses need smarter resilience strategies
• Ransomware payments are dropping, but attackers are shifting tactics faster than businesses can adapt
• Declining attack rates don't mean ransomware is beaten

New research has revealed the scale of recent ransomware evolvution, warning it remains a dominant threat to organizations worldwide.

A Veeam study, which gathered insights from 1,300 CISOs, IT leaders, and security professionals across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, found nearly three-quarters of businesses were impacted by ransomware over the past year.

Cybersecurity measures seem to be having some effect, with businesses facing ransomware incidents dropping slightly from 75% to 69% - and ransomware payments are also decreasing, as in 2024, 36% of affected businesses chose not to pay, and 60% of those who did paid less than half of the demanded ransom.

Declining attack rates are no reason for complacency

"Organizations are improving their defenses against cyber-attacks, yet 7 out of 10 still experienced an attack in the past year. And of those attacked, only 10% recovered more than 90% of their data, while 57% recovered less than 50%," said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam.

Still, businesses cannot afford to relax. Major law enforcement actions against groups like LockBit and BlackCat have disrupted large-scale operations, but this has inadvertently led to a surge in smaller, independent attackers.

Companies still need to adopt proactive defenses and use anti-ransomware tools alongside the best endpoint protection solutions.

"As the nature and timing of attacks evolve, it is essential for every organization to transition from reactive security measures to proactive data resilience strategies. By adopting a proactive security approach, investing in strong recovery solutions, and fostering collaboration across departments, organizations can significantly reduce the impact of ransomware attacks," Eswaran added.

The rise in data exfiltration-only attacks, where hackers bypass encryption to steal private data directly, is another alarming trend. In this environment, relying solely on antivirus software may not be enough.

Although 69% of companies say they are prepared for an attack, this confidence drops sharply after an incident. Only 44% have tested backup plans, and just 30% have a formal chain of command in place.

Regular training, cross-team cooperation, and investment in strong recovery frameworks are necessary. Although budgets for cybersecurity and recovery have increased, they remain insufficient.

As a result, Veeam advises companies to implement thorough procedures such as the 3-2-1-1-0 data rule, which ensures multiple immutable backups free of malware before restoration.

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Now that we've reached May, it's time for Disney+ to bring another wave of fresh movies and shows to the service, and if there's one thing we can rely on Disney+ for, it's for a real good bingeable series.

TV shows reign supreme this month on one of the best streaming services, one of them being the new series of Doctor Who whose episodes will come out weekly and will end with its finale on May 31. And let's not forget the abundance of new Star Wars titles landing on May 4 (appropriate), as well as more episodes of one of the best Disney+ shows, Andor.

And it doesn't end there, because at long last, Disney+ subscribers in the US will also finally be able to catch Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse this month, being one of the movies leaving Netflix in May 2025 and finding its new place in the library of best Disney+ movies.

Everything new on Disney+ in May 2025

Arriving on May 1

Rise Up, Sing Out season 2 (TV show)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (movie)

Arriving on May 2

Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 3

Doctor Who season 2, episode 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 4

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (TV show)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (TV show)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (TV show)

Arriving on May 6

Andor season 2, 3 more episodes (TV show)

Arriving on May 7

Broken Karaoke season 3 (TV show)
Firebuds season 2 (TV show)
Hamster & Gretel season 2 (TV show)
Big City Greens season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 9

History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning season 1 (TV show)
The Toys That Built America season 3 (TV show)
The UnXplained season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 10

Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 (TV show)

Arriving on May 13

Andor season 2 finale (TV show)

Arriving on May 17

Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 (TV show)

Arriving on May 19

Tucci in Italy (TV show)

Arriving on May 20

Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 24

Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 28

Me & Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on May 31

How Not to Draw season 3 (TV show)
Doctor Who season 2 season finale (TV show)

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When DeepSeek-R1 launched recently, it immediately captured the attention of the global artificial intelligence community, prompting major players such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta to investigate its seemingly novel approach to model distillation. Yet, beneath the excitement around distillation lies a more nuanced and impactful innovation: DeepSeek's strategic reliance on reinforcement learning (RL).

Traditionally, large language models (LLMs) have been refined through supervised fine-tuning (SFT), an expensive and resource-intensive method. DeepSeek, however, shifted towards reinforcement learning, optimizing its model through iterative feedback loops. This method dramatically reduced costs, up to 90% compared to traditional methods such as those used by ChatGPT, while delivering comparable or even superior performance in various benchmarks.

The Real Revolution: Democratizing AI Knowledge

While model distillation, the method of teaching smaller, efficient models (students) from larger, more complex ones (teachers), isn't new, DeepSeek’s implementation of it is groundbreaking. Its true innovation is transparency. By openly sharing comprehensive details of their methodology, DeepSeek turned a theoretically solid yet practically elusive technique into a widely accessible, practical tool.

This openness accelerated adoption exponentially. Within weeks, the initial 60 distilled models released by DeepSeek multiplied into around 6,000 models hosted by the Hugging Face community. Developers around the globe now have practical blueprints for creating powerful, specialized AI models at significantly reduced scales.

By reducing the barrier to entry, DeepSeek’s open source strategy enables organizations of various sizes and sectors to explore sophisticated AI solutions that previously seemed out of reach. The widespread availability of distilled models means more specialized applications can emerge rapidly, opening doors to innovation in fields such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education.

Implications for Businesses

For businesses, this marks a major turning point. The costly IT infrastructure required for traditional LLMs often barred smaller enterprises from adopting cutting-edge AI. DeepSeek’s distilled models promise powerful, tailored AI capabilities at a fraction of previous costs. Organizations can now easily leverage AI optimized specifically for their unique datasets, fostering deeper insights, operational efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness.

Moreover, these distilled models significantly lower the environmental impact associated with AI deployment. With sustainability becoming a central business imperative, companies can now align their AI strategies with broader corporate responsibility goals, reducing their carbon footprint without sacrificing technological capabilities.

Europe's Moment to Lead

Historically trailing behind AI powerhouses like the US and China, Europe is uniquely positioned to capitalize on DeepSeek’s approach. Europe's strength in open source collaboration, exemplified by initiatives like OpenEuroLLM and entities such as Mistral AI, aligns perfectly with DeepSeek’s ethos of openness.

Instead of competing in a costly arms race of extensive GPU infrastructure, European companies can lead by deploying energy-efficient, smaller-scale models. Given Europe’s significantly higher energy costs, this method of distillation presents a strategic advantage: sustainable and efficient AI solutions that are attractive to enterprises, consumers, and regulators alike.

Moreover, Europe’s regulatory landscape, which emphasizes data privacy and consumer protection, is particularly well-suited to smaller, more transparent models. By embracing DeepSeek’s distillation practices, European organizations can not only comply with stringent regulations more easily but also differentiate themselves globally through responsible AI practices.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its promise, model distillation isn’t without pitfalls. Poor implementation can inadvertently amplify biases or errors present in teacher models. These biases, if unchecked, could lead to unfair outcomes, regulatory scrutiny, or loss of consumer trust. However, with careful attention, rigorous testing, and responsible governance, these risks can be mitigated effectively.

Another challenge lies in ensuring the ongoing quality and consistency of distilled models. As the model pool grows exponentially, maintaining standards becomes more complex. The AI community will need robust verification processes and continual improvements to distillation techniques to sustain quality across thousands of models.

Training expertise is also critical. Despite the democratization of access, skilled personnel are necessary to effectively apply these distilled models to specific use cases. Investment in workforce development, continuous education, and community knowledge-sharing will be essential components in realizing the full potential of DeepSeek’s innovations.

The overarching benefits of DeepSeek’s open-source distillation methodology—a combination of economic efficiency, sustainability, and transparency—far outweigh the potential drawbacks. As businesses and nations recognize the opportunity, this innovative approach could very well redefine the future trajectory of AI development worldwide.

DeepSeek's blend of reinforcement learning, model distillation, and open source accessibility is reshaping how artificial intelligence is developed and deployed. This revolutionary approach holds significant promise not only for technological advancement but also for democratizing AI, driving sustainable innovation, and positioning regions like Europe as leaders in the global AI landscape.

Check out our comprehensive list of the best AI tools.

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