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This week, OpenAI added Google Drive to your ChatGPT Library. You could already connect to Google Drive, but now it means you can select a whole Drive folder and ask ChatGPT to look for answers working across all the files it contains.

This can save a lot of time compared to uploading each file individually to ChatGPT’s library and asking ChatGPT to work with it, especially for working with images. Now they’re effectively all in there already.

Now, I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I tend to treat the root folder of my Google Drive like a very messy desktop. I’ve had my Google account for years, and I just chuck files in there without really organizing them into folders unless I really have to.

The result is that it has built up into one big mess of old and new files floating about in a kind of digital soup. I’m sure there are important things in there that I’m at risk of forgetting about forever.

So, when I heard that ChatGPT can now look at the documents your Drive folder contains and organize them for you too, I was intrigued.

10 years of junk

To test this out, I thought I’d ask ChatGPT to connect to my Google Drive and take a look at what it could find:

“I've got a load of files in my Google Drive that aren't in folders — go through everything here and identify things I’ve forgotten, unfinished tasks, contradictions, deadlines, duplicate work and anything that looks like it still needs action. Also suggest how it could be organized and what files should go where.”

The result was impressive. It thought for what felt like about 30 seconds, then came back with some results. I had to re-authorize it to connect to my Drive a couple of times first, but everything went smoothly.

It turns out that I have a real penchant for saving files called “Untitled document” into Drive. Chat was able to go through them all and work out what they were about and what was important.

It found a lot of material from various books I’d been writing and suggested how to organize them together. Old invoices were also collected, and there were a lot of forgotten idea fragments that it thought were worth reviewing.

It also found duplicate files and multiple versions of “household_budget_tracker”. Sadly, I never got that project off the ground!

A better structure

The whole process led me to discover things from the last 10 years that I’d pretty much forgotten about, and Chat suggested a folder structure for me to use to keep them more organized. Its ability to spot half-finished ideas and documents from years ago was incredibly useful. In particular, it found the outline of a book I'd started in 2018 and hadn't thought about for years. I've actually started looking at a few of those old writing projects again because of it.

But analyzing the mess and proposing a structure isn’t the only trick ChatGPT can do. I discovered it could actually make those changes itself. Just tell ChatGPT to create a new folder and put a load of files into it, and it will actually do it. So, for example, I asked, “Can you make a folder called Invoices and put all my invoices in there?” All this was possible from within ChatGPT, and I didn’t even need to touch Google Drive myself.

Sadly, the new features aren’t available to ChatGPT Free or Go users. You’ll need a Plus, Pro, or Business account. Another new feature is that it can keep Docs, Sheets, and Slides from your Drive open alongside the conversation while you interrogate them, but today I was more interested in how ChatGPT could help me organize the mess that is my Google Drive.

Seeing ChatGPT casually surface abandoned writing projects from years ago was a slightly strange experience, but I finally feel like I’ve cleaned out my digital junk drawer and got a handle on 10 years of clutter. Perhaps the most useful thing ChatGPT did wasn't organizing my Google Drive. It made the fact that I hadn't organized it properly for the last decade matter a lot less.

We've been internally holding the news that Outer Banks seasons 5 was going to be the end of Netflix's hit teen action drama for a lifetime (or that's what it feels like), but now, the end is here.

The Pogues will reunite one last time while still grieving in the aftermath of everything that went down in Morocco. Now that JJ is dead, they're actively seeking revenge against Chandler Groff while still hunting the legendary Blue Crown.

The final farewell will surely be explosive, but when does Outer Banks season 5 actually hit Netflix?

What time can I watch Outer Banks season 5 on Netflix?

Outer Banks season 5 drops on Thursday, August 20.

As for exact time, it should be the standard 12am PT / 3am ET release time that practically every other Netflix TV Original has.

For fans who don't live in North America, here's when you'll need to tune in for season 5:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 5pm AEST
• New Zealand – 7pm NZST

When do new episodes of Outer Banks season 5 come out?

(Image credit: Netflix)

All 10 episodes of this season will be released at the same time. Unlike weekly drops on the likes of Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+, then, you won't need to wait around for new installment of Outer Banks season 5.

As we've already touched on, this will be the final installment of the Netflix series, too, so there won't be another season after this one.

We've been internally holding the news that Outer Banks seasons 5 was going to be the end of Netflix's hit teen action drama for a lifetime (or that's what it feels like), but now, the end is here.

The Pogues will reunite one last time while still grieving in the aftermath of everything that went down in Morocco. Now that JJ is dead, they're actively seeking revenge against Chandler Groff while still hunting the legendary Blue Crown.

The final farewell will surely be explosive, but when does Outer Banks season 5 actually hit Netflix?

What time can I watch Outer Banks season 5 on Netflix?

Outer Banks season 5 drops on Thursday, August 20.

As for exact time, it should be the standard 12am PT / 3am ET release time that practically every other Netflix TV Original has.

For fans who don't live in North America, here's when you'll need to tune in for season 5:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 5pm AEST
• New Zealand – 7pm NZST

When do new episodes of Outer Banks season 5 come out?

(Image credit: Netflix)

All 10 episodes of this season will be released at the same time. Unlike weekly drops on the likes of Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+, then, you won't need to wait around for new installment of Outer Banks season 5.

As we've already touched on, this will be the final installment of the Netflix series, too, so there won't be another season after this one.

Open-weight AI does not need to beat frontier models to test the growth and margin assumptions behind OpenAI and Anthropic's soaring valuations.

The post Can Open-Weight AI Pressure OpenAI and Anthropic Valuations? appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski said, "It's not cool to like something" anymore in a recent Facebook post
• He thinks players' "minds are made up" before a game is even out, with some titles falling victim ot "dogpiling"
• He listed Highguard and the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering as examples

Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has lamented the current online culture where players' "minds are made up" before a game is even out, thanks to the "dogpiling" of certain titles like Concord, Highguard, and the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering.

In a recent Facebook post, Bleszinski, who was lead designer of the first three Gears of War games, said that he had been "sucked into the rabbit hole of takes on Concord's failure" while browsing YouTube.

A live-service hero arena shooter, Concord launched in 2024 and was an unprecedented flop. Its servers were shut down after just two weeks thanks to catastrophically low sales, with the few buyers refunded. Sony shut down its developer, Firewalk Studios, the next month.

Bleszinski wrote that there is "no lack of videos trying to pin the blame on a variety of factors" like "hero shooter fatigue, ugly character designs, timing, long dev cycle." This apparently led him to videos about the subsequent failure of Highguard, a free-to-play hero shooter that came out earlier this year and was shut down after just 45 days, having struggled to maintain a player base.

He argued that "gamers glommed onto" Highguard, branding it "the next Concord" before it had even come out. "I honestly thought Highguard looked pretty good," he continued, though he admits he was skeptical whether it had a strong enough unique selling point to succeed.

"Betting on 'well now you ride a horse' as a unique selling point for a title didn't make a lot of sense to me, just like 'well you fight in low gravity' wasn't enough for LawBreakers," he said, referring to the unsuccessful sci-fi hero shooter he himself directed that released in 2017 and shut down a little over a year later.

"In some of these hit piece videos I kept seeing glimpses of a really cool-looking title that I couldn't pin down until I located it," he added. The game in question was Horizon Hunters Gathering, an upcoming co-op Horizon Zero Dawn spinoff.

"I loved Horizon and I thought this looked really compelling; I dug the art style and a PvE game in that world seems like a good fit," he wrote. "And then I read the comments. [...] It was a nonstop barrage of wanting to hate something long before it even hit."

He added: "The new world order we live in is one of 'didn't have a chance before it even came out' - minds are made up before the title even ships and folks get a chance to play it and decide for themselves. The dogpiling is real. I can't imagine being a dev and seeing this."

To wrap up, he stated: "I get it. It's not cool to like something. And, if something becomes loved, it then becomes cool to hate it." He also questioned how this situation came about, though he didn't offer any definitive conclusion.

You might argue that titles like Highguard failed to compete in a crowded market due to a lack of quality, though I think it's still easy to see what Bleszinski is talking about. Upcoming games, particularly new live-service titles, often face a barrage of negative online sentiment on platforms like X and YouTube, which threatens to dominate the conversation surrounding them in the build-up to launch.

Whether the endless videos lambasting Horizon Hunters Gathering will dramatically affect the sales of the game is to be seen when it launches for PlayStation 5 and PC in the future.

• Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski said, "It's not cool to like something" anymore in a recent Facebook post
• He thinks players' "minds are made up" before a game is even out, with some titles falling victim ot "dogpiling"
• He listed Highguard and the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering as examples

Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has lamented the current online culture where players' "minds are made up" before a game is even out, thanks to the "dogpiling" of certain titles like Concord, Highguard, and the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering.

In a recent Facebook post, Bleszinski, who was lead designer of the first three Gears of War games, said that he had been "sucked into the rabbit hole of takes on Concord's failure" while browsing YouTube.

A live-service hero arena shooter, Concord launched in 2024 and was an unprecedented flop. Its servers were shut down after just two weeks thanks to catastrophically low sales, with the few buyers refunded. Sony shut down its developer, Firewalk Studios, the next month.

Bleszinski wrote that there is "no lack of videos trying to pin the blame on a variety of factors" like "hero shooter fatigue, ugly character designs, timing, long dev cycle." This apparently led him to videos about the subsequent failure of Highguard, a free-to-play hero shooter that came out earlier this year and was shut down after just 45 days, having struggled to maintain a player base.

He argued that "gamers glommed onto" Highguard, branding it "the next Concord" before it had even come out. "I honestly thought Highguard looked pretty good," he continued, though he admits he was skeptical whether it had a strong enough unique selling point to succeed.

"Betting on 'well now you ride a horse' as a unique selling point for a title didn't make a lot of sense to me, just like 'well you fight in low gravity' wasn't enough for LawBreakers," he said, referring to the unsuccessful sci-fi hero shooter he himself directed that released in 2017 and shut down a little over a year later.

"In some of these hit piece videos I kept seeing glimpses of a really cool-looking title that I couldn't pin down until I located it," he added. The game in question was Horizon Hunters Gathering, an upcoming co-op Horizon Zero Dawn spinoff.

"I loved Horizon and I thought this looked really compelling; I dug the art style and a PvE game in that world seems like a good fit," he wrote. "And then I read the comments. [...] It was a nonstop barrage of wanting to hate something long before it even hit."

He added: "The new world order we live in is one of 'didn't have a chance before it even came out' - minds are made up before the title even ships and folks get a chance to play it and decide for themselves. The dogpiling is real. I can't imagine being a dev and seeing this."

To wrap up, he stated: "I get it. It's not cool to like something. And, if something becomes loved, it then becomes cool to hate it." He also questioned how this situation came about, though he didn't offer any definitive conclusion.

You might argue that titles like Highguard failed to compete in a crowded market due to a lack of quality, though I think it's still easy to see what Bleszinski is talking about. Upcoming games, particularly new live-service titles, often face a barrage of negative online sentiment on platforms like X and YouTube, which threatens to dominate the conversation surrounding them in the build-up to launch.

Whether the endless videos lambasting Horizon Hunters Gathering will dramatically affect the sales of the game is to be seen when it launches for PlayStation 5 and PC in the future.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping cybersecurity. Much of the conversation has focused on how large language models are helping developers write code, but a more significant shift may be occurring elsewhere: security testing.

AI systems are becoming remarkably effective at identifying vulnerabilities, forcing organizations to rethink how they evaluate the security of both software and hardware products.

The reason lies in the nature of modern software. Large codebases are sprawling ecosystems of interconnected modules, third-party dependencies, legacy components, and undocumented assumptions.

Security flaws often emerge not from a single defective function, but from subtle interactions between components that may be separated by hundreds of files or years of development history. Human reviewers excel at deep analysis, but they are constrained by time and cognitive bandwidth.

AI systems, by contrast, can rapidly traverse vast amounts of code, correlate information across repositories, and identify patterns associated with known vulnerability classes.

Common software weaknesses

This capability is particularly powerful for common software weaknesses such as memory-safety issues, race conditions, authentication flaws, insecure API usage, and privilege-escalation paths. In many cases, AI is acting as an amplifier for established security techniques rather than inventing new ones. Yet the result is still significant: vulnerabilities that previously required substantial manual effort to uncover can now be identified at a much greater scale and speed.

The implications for product security are profound. Organizations can no longer assume that obscure vulnerabilities will remain undiscovered because finding them is too expensive. The cost of vulnerability discovery is falling, and it is falling for defenders and attackers alike. Security testing therefore becomes less about achieving a point-in-time assessment and more about maintaining continuous assurance throughout the development lifecycle.

However, it would be a mistake to assume that all areas of cybersecurity will be transformed equally by AI. Hardware security, particularly side-channel analysis of cryptographic implementations, presents a very different challenge.

Unlike general-purpose software systems, cryptographic implementations operate within a comparatively narrow and mathematically defined problem space. Side-channel attacks do not typically exploit unexpected program behavior or complex interactions between software components. Instead, they target subtle information leakage through physical phenomena such as execution timing, power consumption, or electromagnetic emissions.

The challenge is not understanding millions of lines of source code; it is extracting meaningful signals from carefully collected measurements and applying sophisticated statistical techniques to reveal hidden secrets.

Side-channel analysis

This distinction matters because many of the strengths that make large language models effective in software security are less relevant in side-channel analysis. LLMs excel at connecting information across large bodies of text and code, identifying relationships that humans may overlook.

Side-channel research, by contrast, already relies heavily on structured datasets, statistical processing, signal analysis, and deep domain expertise. AI can certainly accelerate parts of the workflow—from automating experimentation to assisting with data interpretation—but the advantage is typically more incremental than transformational.

That does not make hardware security less important. If anything, it highlights the need for specialized testing approaches. As AI lowers the barriers to software vulnerability discovery, organizations may be tempted to assume that automated tools alone can provide comprehensive assurance.

The reality is that different classes of vulnerabilities require different forms of expertise. An AI-assisted code review may uncover a memory corruption bug, but it is unlikely to replace the specialist knowledge required to evaluate whether a cryptographic implementation leaks secrets through power analysis.

The broader lesson is that security testing is becoming more important, not less. AI is increasing the speed at which vulnerabilities can be found, but it is not eliminating the need for expert analysis. Instead, it is changing where that expertise delivers the most value.

Organizations that combine AI-assisted testing with rigorous human-led security evaluation will be best positioned to address the evolving threat landscape—whether the target is a cloud application, an embedded device, or the cryptographic hardware that underpins digital trust.

We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best internet security suites.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping cybersecurity. Much of the conversation has focused on how large language models are helping developers write code, but a more significant shift may be occurring elsewhere: security testing.

AI systems are becoming remarkably effective at identifying vulnerabilities, forcing organizations to rethink how they evaluate the security of both software and hardware products.

The reason lies in the nature of modern software. Large codebases are sprawling ecosystems of interconnected modules, third-party dependencies, legacy components, and undocumented assumptions.

Security flaws often emerge not from a single defective function, but from subtle interactions between components that may be separated by hundreds of files or years of development history. Human reviewers excel at deep analysis, but they are constrained by time and cognitive bandwidth.

AI systems, by contrast, can rapidly traverse vast amounts of code, correlate information across repositories, and identify patterns associated with known vulnerability classes.

Common software weaknesses

This capability is particularly powerful for common software weaknesses such as memory-safety issues, race conditions, authentication flaws, insecure API usage, and privilege-escalation paths. In many cases, AI is acting as an amplifier for established security techniques rather than inventing new ones. Yet the result is still significant: vulnerabilities that previously required substantial manual effort to uncover can now be identified at a much greater scale and speed.

The implications for product security are profound. Organizations can no longer assume that obscure vulnerabilities will remain undiscovered because finding them is too expensive. The cost of vulnerability discovery is falling, and it is falling for defenders and attackers alike. Security testing therefore becomes less about achieving a point-in-time assessment and more about maintaining continuous assurance throughout the development lifecycle.

However, it would be a mistake to assume that all areas of cybersecurity will be transformed equally by AI. Hardware security, particularly side-channel analysis of cryptographic implementations, presents a very different challenge.

Unlike general-purpose software systems, cryptographic implementations operate within a comparatively narrow and mathematically defined problem space. Side-channel attacks do not typically exploit unexpected program behavior or complex interactions between software components. Instead, they target subtle information leakage through physical phenomena such as execution timing, power consumption, or electromagnetic emissions.

The challenge is not understanding millions of lines of source code; it is extracting meaningful signals from carefully collected measurements and applying sophisticated statistical techniques to reveal hidden secrets.

Side-channel analysis

This distinction matters because many of the strengths that make large language models effective in software security are less relevant in side-channel analysis. LLMs excel at connecting information across large bodies of text and code, identifying relationships that humans may overlook.

Side-channel research, by contrast, already relies heavily on structured datasets, statistical processing, signal analysis, and deep domain expertise. AI can certainly accelerate parts of the workflow—from automating experimentation to assisting with data interpretation—but the advantage is typically more incremental than transformational.

That does not make hardware security less important. If anything, it highlights the need for specialized testing approaches. As AI lowers the barriers to software vulnerability discovery, organizations may be tempted to assume that automated tools alone can provide comprehensive assurance.

The reality is that different classes of vulnerabilities require different forms of expertise. An AI-assisted code review may uncover a memory corruption bug, but it is unlikely to replace the specialist knowledge required to evaluate whether a cryptographic implementation leaks secrets through power analysis.

The broader lesson is that security testing is becoming more important, not less. AI is increasing the speed at which vulnerabilities can be found, but it is not eliminating the need for expert analysis. Instead, it is changing where that expertise delivers the most value.

Organizations that combine AI-assisted testing with rigorous human-led security evaluation will be best positioned to address the evolving threat landscape—whether the target is a cloud application, an embedded device, or the cryptographic hardware that underpins digital trust.

We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best internet security suites.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

If you're looking for a portable power station that can keep essential equipment running through an outage or provide electricity on a road trip, I've found a huge $470 discount on the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 with a 100W solar panel for $629 (was $1099) at Amazon.

The Elite 100 V2 packs a 1024Wh LiFePO4 battery into a relatively compact 25-pound unit and delivers 1800W of continuous AC output. It can power up to 11 devices simultaneously, and Bluetti rates the battery for more than 4,000 cycles. It can reach 80% charge in around 45 minutes and fully recharge from AC power in about 70 minutes.

This bundle also includes a 100W solar panel, giving you a way to boost the battery when you're camping or away from the grid. A full solar charge lasts around seven hours, under suitable conditions obviously..

Solar Generator Elite 100 V2 With 100w Solar Panel, 1024wh 1800w: was $1099 now $629
This 1024Wh LiFePO4 power station delivers 1800W AC output, powers up to 11 devices, supports fast AC charging and 10ms UPS backup, and includes a 100W solar panel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his four-star review of the Elite 100 V2, our expert Jack called it a "small, light-weight, portable yet powerful power station" and liked that it is quiet when fans are running, has a very good app and high wattage output.

The Elite 100 V2 strikes a useful balance between capacity, output, and portability. At 25 pounds and around 12.6 x 8.5 x 9.8 inches, it's reasonably manageable for a 1kWh-class power station, with a hidden handle making it easier to carry.

The UPS function can switch over in 10ms or less during a power failure, helping keep equipment such as a PC or Wi-Fi router running. Bluetti also rates operating noise as low as 30dB, which should make it less intrusive indoors.

An AC connection can take the battery to 80% in around 45 minutes and fully recharge it in roughly 70 minutes, so you don't have to leave it plugged in for most of the day before it's ready to go.

For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best portable power stations.

Price context & historical value

The Bluetti Elite 100 V2 and 100W solar panel bundle is currently reduced from $1,099 to $629, a $470 cut of around 43%.

This isn't the lowest price we've seen it however. The bundle was reduced to $550 in November 2025, for Black Friday, making the current deal $79 more expensive than that previous low.

It's still a large reduction from the listed price though, and we'd definitely recommend considering buying it now.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 if...

You want a portable power station that can cover camping trips, road trips, and emergency backup duties at home. This model's 1024Wh capacity is more than enough for charging your various devices. The 1800W continuous output also allows it to run a wide range of household equipment.

The included solar panel will make the bundle especially appealing for camping and off-grid use. You can boost the battery without access to mains power, and the panel is included rather than being an additional purchase.

❌ Skip the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 if...

You only need something to keep phones, tablets, and other small electronics charged. A 1024Wh power station has more capacity than those jobs require, and a smaller model will be cheaper and considerably lighter.

The included 100W solar panel also isn't particularly powerful compared with the capacity of the battery. Bluetti quotes around seven hours for a full solar recharge under suitable conditions, so anyone relying heavily on solar power may want a higher-output compatible panel.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 100W solar panel ships separately from the power station, so don't be concerned if the entire bundle doesn't arrive in a single delivery.

It's also worth distinguishing between the various power figures in the listing. The Elite 100 V2 provides 1800W of normal AC output, while Bluetti also lists higher figures for Power Lifting and surge capability. Those shouldn't be treated as the amount of continuous power available for everyday use.

• Shop generators and portable power devices at Amazon

If you're looking for a portable power station that can keep essential equipment running through an outage or provide electricity on a road trip, I've found a huge $470 discount on the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 with a 100W solar panel for $629 (was $1099) at Amazon.

The Elite 100 V2 packs a 1024Wh LiFePO4 battery into a relatively compact 25-pound unit and delivers 1800W of continuous AC output. It can power up to 11 devices simultaneously, and Bluetti rates the battery for more than 4,000 cycles. It can reach 80% charge in around 45 minutes and fully recharge from AC power in about 70 minutes.

This bundle also includes a 100W solar panel, giving you a way to boost the battery when you're camping or away from the grid. A full solar charge lasts around seven hours, under suitable conditions obviously..

Solar Generator Elite 100 V2 With 100w Solar Panel, 1024wh 1800w: was $1099 now $629
This 1024Wh LiFePO4 power station delivers 1800W AC output, powers up to 11 devices, supports fast AC charging and 10ms UPS backup, and includes a 100W solar panel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

In his four-star review of the Elite 100 V2, our expert Jack called it a "small, light-weight, portable yet powerful power station" and liked that it is quiet when fans are running, has a very good app and high wattage output.

The Elite 100 V2 strikes a useful balance between capacity, output, and portability. At 25 pounds and around 12.6 x 8.5 x 9.8 inches, it's reasonably manageable for a 1kWh-class power station, with a hidden handle making it easier to carry.

The UPS function can switch over in 10ms or less during a power failure, helping keep equipment such as a PC or Wi-Fi router running. Bluetti also rates operating noise as low as 30dB, which should make it less intrusive indoors.

An AC connection can take the battery to 80% in around 45 minutes and fully recharge it in roughly 70 minutes, so you don't have to leave it plugged in for most of the day before it's ready to go.

For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best portable power stations.

Price context & historical value

The Bluetti Elite 100 V2 and 100W solar panel bundle is currently reduced from $1,099 to $629, a $470 cut of around 43%.

This isn't the lowest price we've seen it however. The bundle was reduced to $550 in November 2025, for Black Friday, making the current deal $79 more expensive than that previous low.

It's still a large reduction from the listed price though, and we'd definitely recommend considering buying it now.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 if...

You want a portable power station that can cover camping trips, road trips, and emergency backup duties at home. This model's 1024Wh capacity is more than enough for charging your various devices. The 1800W continuous output also allows it to run a wide range of household equipment.

The included solar panel will make the bundle especially appealing for camping and off-grid use. You can boost the battery without access to mains power, and the panel is included rather than being an additional purchase.

❌ Skip the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 if...

You only need something to keep phones, tablets, and other small electronics charged. A 1024Wh power station has more capacity than those jobs require, and a smaller model will be cheaper and considerably lighter.

The included 100W solar panel also isn't particularly powerful compared with the capacity of the battery. Bluetti quotes around seven hours for a full solar recharge under suitable conditions, so anyone relying heavily on solar power may want a higher-output compatible panel.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The 100W solar panel ships separately from the power station, so don't be concerned if the entire bundle doesn't arrive in a single delivery.

It's also worth distinguishing between the various power figures in the listing. The Elite 100 V2 provides 1800W of normal AC output, while Bluetti also lists higher figures for Power Lifting and surge capability. Those shouldn't be treated as the amount of continuous power available for everyday use.

• Shop generators and portable power devices at Amazon

• France’s highest court has struck down a bill banning social media for teens
• Judges ruled the ban disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression
• This decision also pauses evaluation of VPN usage in France

France's highest constitutional authority, the Constitutional Council, has blocked a controversial bill that would have banned social media access for children under the age of 15. Initially slated to take effect this September, the legislation was struck down on August 14 after judges ruled it severely infringed on fundamental rights.

Alongside free-speech concerns, the court raised major red flags regarding the privacy of all French internet users. The sweeping age verification measures required to enforce the ban would have forced adults to hand over sensitive personal data just to access everyday online platforms.

The overturning of the bill is also a massive sigh of relief for anyone using the best VPN to protect their online privacy.

French officials had previously stated that cracking down on virtual private networks would be the next logical step to prevent tech-savvy teenagers from bypassing the social media block. With the primary law now dead in the water, VPN usage in France remains safe from this looming regulatory threat.

For everyday users, this means you can continue browsing, streaming, and securing your data without the immediate fear of a nationwide crackdown on encryption tools or mandatory ID checks across major networks.

A victory for privacy, but the fight isn't over

In its ruling, the Constitutional Council did not pull its punches. The judges found the government's approach to be far too broad, noting that the legislation failed to distinguish between different types of platforms or the actual risks they posed to children.

According to a BBC report, the Council ruled that the ban "constitutes an infringement that is neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate" to the freedom of expression and communication of young people.

The court further warned that enforcing such a ban would inevitably demand widespread identity checks, raising major concerns about the legal safeguards needed to protect citizens' right to privacy.

Because of these sweeping data collection requirements, the Le Monde report noted the Council determined the provisions were "a disproportionate restriction" on freedom of expression.

What this means for your VPN

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As we previously reported, the French government was openly preparing to heavily scrutinize consumer VPN providers. Because a virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and spoofs your IP address, it is the perfect tool for bypassing local network restrictions, something French lawmakers feared teenagers would inevitably use to circumvent the nationwide social media ban.

Had the bill passed, the government was poised to evaluate and potentially restrict VPN usage, which could have led to aggressive app store removals or outright blocking of encrypted traffic.

Now, this constitutional roadblock means privacy advocates and cybersecurity enthusiasts can breathe easy. Without the foundational social media ban, the political momentum to regulate consumer security tools has stalled.

However, President Emmanuel Macron is not giving up on his flagship digital policy. In response to the court's decision, Macron told the Associated Press he has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu "with working as quickly as possible on a legally robust proposal that takes into account the decision of the Constitutional Council as well as the European legal framework."

We will continue to monitor the situation, but for now, your digital privacy tools remain entirely unhindered in France.

• France’s highest court has struck down a bill banning social media for teens
• Judges ruled the ban disproportionately infringed on freedom of expression
• This decision also pauses evaluation of VPN usage in France

France's highest constitutional authority, the Constitutional Council, has blocked a controversial bill that would have banned social media access for children under the age of 15. Initially slated to take effect this September, the legislation was struck down on August 14 after judges ruled it severely infringed on fundamental rights.

Alongside free-speech concerns, the court raised major red flags regarding the privacy of all French internet users. The sweeping age verification measures required to enforce the ban would have forced adults to hand over sensitive personal data just to access everyday online platforms.

The overturning of the bill is also a massive sigh of relief for anyone using the best VPN to protect their online privacy.

French officials had previously stated that cracking down on virtual private networks would be the next logical step to prevent tech-savvy teenagers from bypassing the social media block. With the primary law now dead in the water, VPN usage in France remains safe from this looming regulatory threat.

For everyday users, this means you can continue browsing, streaming, and securing your data without the immediate fear of a nationwide crackdown on encryption tools or mandatory ID checks across major networks.

A victory for privacy, but the fight isn't over

In its ruling, the Constitutional Council did not pull its punches. The judges found the government's approach to be far too broad, noting that the legislation failed to distinguish between different types of platforms or the actual risks they posed to children.

According to a BBC report, the Council ruled that the ban "constitutes an infringement that is neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate" to the freedom of expression and communication of young people.

The court further warned that enforcing such a ban would inevitably demand widespread identity checks, raising major concerns about the legal safeguards needed to protect citizens' right to privacy.

Because of these sweeping data collection requirements, the Le Monde report noted the Council determined the provisions were "a disproportionate restriction" on freedom of expression.

What this means for your VPN

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As we previously reported, the French government was openly preparing to heavily scrutinize consumer VPN providers. Because a virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and spoofs your IP address, it is the perfect tool for bypassing local network restrictions, something French lawmakers feared teenagers would inevitably use to circumvent the nationwide social media ban.

Had the bill passed, the government was poised to evaluate and potentially restrict VPN usage, which could have led to aggressive app store removals or outright blocking of encrypted traffic.

Now, this constitutional roadblock means privacy advocates and cybersecurity enthusiasts can breathe easy. Without the foundational social media ban, the political momentum to regulate consumer security tools has stalled.

However, President Emmanuel Macron is not giving up on his flagship digital policy. In response to the court's decision, Macron told the Associated Press he has tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu "with working as quickly as possible on a legally robust proposal that takes into account the decision of the Constitutional Council as well as the European legal framework."

We will continue to monitor the situation, but for now, your digital privacy tools remain entirely unhindered in France.

Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro is built for creative professionals who need considerably more power than an everyday laptop can hope to provide. And the 2026 MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip is currently discounted to $2760 (was $29990 at Amazon.

At a time when Apple has just increased prices across the board, that $239 is one worth jumping on. The M5 Pro chip has an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, backed by 24GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD that is up to twice as fast as the previous generation. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 7. In the UK, the M5 Pro MacBook Pro is down to £2746 (was £2999) at Amazon.

The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display remains one of the biggest reasons for creatives to choose the larger MacBook Pro. It can reach 1,600 nits of peak brightness and 1,000 nits of sustained brightness, with a claimed 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Macbook Pro Laptop (2026) With Apple M5 Pro Chip: was $2999 now $2759.99
This 16.2-inch MacBook Pro combines an 18-core M5 Pro CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Liquid Retina XDR display, and all-day battery life. Available at this price in both black or silver.

In the UK: now £2746 (was £2999)View Deal

Why we recommend it

The M5 Pro is the heart of the laptop and its 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU can handle even the most demanding workloads and hardware acceleration for AI which developers and creators running compatible models and tools locally will appreciate.

The 24GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD make it even more useful and the 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is beautiful with 1,600 nits peak brightness. Combined with the performance available whether you're plugged in or running from the battery, this is essentially a high-end desktop-class workstation you can carry with you.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has dropped this 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro from $2,999 to $2,759.99, taking $239 (and a cent) off the regular price, or around 8%.

That's not an enormous percentage discount, but $239 is a solid reduction on a brand new high-end Apple laptop. It isn't the cheapest it's ever been however. That was $2,430 back in June, which was before Apple increased prices across its entire tech range.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 16-inch MacBook Pro if...

You need a laptop for creative workloads that can actually take advantage of the M5 Pro's considerable processing power. The combination of an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, and 24GB of unified memory gives you a machine that can handle pretty much everything you might want to throw at it.

The large 16.2-inch XDR display gives you considerably more working space than Apple's smaller laptops, and its high brightness and contrast make it particularly attractive for photo and video work.

❌ Skip the 16-inch MacBook Pro if...

If your workload doesn't require anywhere near as much creative power then a MacBook Air or less powerful MacBook Pro with the general M5 chip would make considerably more financial sense.

Portability is another consideration. The 16-inch MacBook Pro gives you a large workspace, but if you're constantly carrying your laptop between meetings, classes, or while traveling, one of Apple's smaller models will be far easier to live with.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Even with the discount, you're spending more than $2,700 on a laptop, so it only really makes sense if you'll benefit from the M5 Pro's performance, large XDR display, or professional capabilities. This is a powerhouse that people with advanced creative needs will benefit from, other professionals less so.

Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro is built for creative professionals who need considerably more power than an everyday laptop can hope to provide. And the 2026 MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip is currently discounted to $2760 (was $29990 at Amazon.

At a time when Apple has just increased prices across the board, that $239 is one worth jumping on. The M5 Pro chip has an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, backed by 24GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD that is up to twice as fast as the previous generation. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 7. In the UK, the M5 Pro MacBook Pro is down to £2746 (was £2999) at Amazon.

The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display remains one of the biggest reasons for creatives to choose the larger MacBook Pro. It can reach 1,600 nits of peak brightness and 1,000 nits of sustained brightness, with a claimed 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Macbook Pro Laptop (2026) With Apple M5 Pro Chip: was $2999 now $2759.99
This 16.2-inch MacBook Pro combines an 18-core M5 Pro CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Liquid Retina XDR display, and all-day battery life. Available at this price in both black or silver.

In the UK: now £2746 (was £2999)View Deal

Why we recommend it

The M5 Pro is the heart of the laptop and its 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU can handle even the most demanding workloads and hardware acceleration for AI which developers and creators running compatible models and tools locally will appreciate.

The 24GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD make it even more useful and the 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is beautiful with 1,600 nits peak brightness. Combined with the performance available whether you're plugged in or running from the battery, this is essentially a high-end desktop-class workstation you can carry with you.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has dropped this 16-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro from $2,999 to $2,759.99, taking $239 (and a cent) off the regular price, or around 8%.

That's not an enormous percentage discount, but $239 is a solid reduction on a brand new high-end Apple laptop. It isn't the cheapest it's ever been however. That was $2,430 back in June, which was before Apple increased prices across its entire tech range.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 16-inch MacBook Pro if...

You need a laptop for creative workloads that can actually take advantage of the M5 Pro's considerable processing power. The combination of an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, and 24GB of unified memory gives you a machine that can handle pretty much everything you might want to throw at it.

The large 16.2-inch XDR display gives you considerably more working space than Apple's smaller laptops, and its high brightness and contrast make it particularly attractive for photo and video work.

❌ Skip the 16-inch MacBook Pro if...

If your workload doesn't require anywhere near as much creative power then a MacBook Air or less powerful MacBook Pro with the general M5 chip would make considerably more financial sense.

Portability is another consideration. The 16-inch MacBook Pro gives you a large workspace, but if you're constantly carrying your laptop between meetings, classes, or while traveling, one of Apple's smaller models will be far easier to live with.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Even with the discount, you're spending more than $2,700 on a laptop, so it only really makes sense if you'll benefit from the M5 Pro's performance, large XDR display, or professional capabilities. This is a powerhouse that people with advanced creative needs will benefit from, other professionals less so.

• Head to Have I Been Flocked? to see if you've been looked up
• You can read the details and reasons for each search
• Your license plate registration is deleted after the search is run

There's been an increasing level of pushback against Flock and its network of 120,000 or so license plate readers across the US in recent months, and if you want to know if your vehicle has been the subject of a search on Flock's system, there's a website just for that.

Head over to Have I Been Flocked? (via Dexerto), enter your license plate registration, and you'll get a report back. The site has amassed details of more than 241 million Flock searches, covering over 4.6 million license plates.

What's more, you can also see the reason that a plate was searched for — an auto theft or a traffic stop, for example. The site has a word cloud showing reasons for searches across the entire database, with words like "drugs" and "burglary" featuring prominently.

There's lots more to explore across the website as well, including audit reports, reports of non-criminal activities, searches run in partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and data on where the license plate readers are clustered.

Data collection and privacy

There are over 120,000 Flock cameras across the US (Image credit: Getty Images)

Have I Been Flocked? is the work of the independent editorial project Footnote4a, which reports on Flock's activities, the way that its technology is used, and the wider issues of mass surveillance and the privacy of citizens.

The extensive database has been compiled from audit logs released by local governments and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It's not a complete history of Flock searches across every state, but it's still pretty comprehensive.

License plate registrations entered into the site aren't saved and are immediately deleted once the query is run. In addition, any sensitive personal information (like addresses) included in the audit logs is redacted.

"We believe mass surveillance has no place in a free society, and this data should not be collected to begin with," write the site's operators, adding that if it is collected, "warrants should be used" and "lookups should be rare" when accessing it.

• Head to Have I Been Flocked? to see if you've been looked up
• You can read the details and reasons for each search
• Your license plate registration is deleted after the search is run

There's been an increasing level of pushback against Flock and its network of 120,000 or so license plate readers across the US in recent months, and if you want to know if your vehicle has been the subject of a search on Flock's system, there's a website just for that.

Head over to Have I Been Flocked? (via Dexerto), enter your license plate registration, and you'll get a report back. The site has amassed details of more than 241 million Flock searches, covering over 4.6 million license plates.

What's more, you can also see the reason that a plate was searched for — an auto theft or a traffic stop, for example. The site has a word cloud showing reasons for searches across the entire database, with words like "drugs" and "burglary" featuring prominently.

There's lots more to explore across the website as well, including audit reports, reports of non-criminal activities, searches run in partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and data on where the license plate readers are clustered.

Data collection and privacy

There are over 120,000 Flock cameras across the US (Image credit: Getty Images)

Have I Been Flocked? is the work of the independent editorial project Footnote4a, which reports on Flock's activities, the way that its technology is used, and the wider issues of mass surveillance and the privacy of citizens.

The extensive database has been compiled from audit logs released by local governments and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It's not a complete history of Flock searches across every state, but it's still pretty comprehensive.

License plate registrations entered into the site aren't saved and are immediately deleted once the query is run. In addition, any sensitive personal information (like addresses) included in the audit logs is redacted.

"We believe mass surveillance has no place in a free society, and this data should not be collected to begin with," write the site's operators, adding that if it is collected, "warrants should be used" and "lookups should be rare" when accessing it.

Rising demand and environmental concerns are driving governments around the world to secure resilient and scalable energy supplies.

The transition to alternative, sustainable solutions is accelerating as the limitations of traditional energy sources become increasingly apparent.

At the same time, net-zero commitments, regulatory pressures, and growing public demand for climate-conscious policies are driving an unprecedented surge in offshore wind development.

This boom in demand is in turn driving a significant shift in what the offshore workforce looks like.

As companies strive to attract the next generation of talent, offshore roles are increasingly moving onshore, creating new opportunities and transforming industry expectations.

More flexible careers

Traditionally, marine engineering careers often meant tough, hands-on work out at sea, away from home and frequently in challenging weather conditions. Today, advances in technology and connectivity are transforming those roles.

Many professionals now divide their time between offshore assignments, remote operations centers (ROCs) and office-based work, creating more flexibility and opening up new career opportunities.

ROCs are locations from which uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), ocean-going ships which can operate without a human onboard, are controlled through a satellite connection.

They are increasingly deployed for complex offshore work including inspection and maintenance, remote mapping of the seafloor, or environmental monitoring of water quality, marine habitats or other ecological data.

USVs can be used for detailed subsea inspections, ensuring the integrity and safety of underwater infrastructure, or precisely map the seafloor of a proposed location for an offshore wind farm to determine suitability.

The flexibility provided by remote operations unlocks a wider talent pool, creating career opportunities for individuals who may have personal or medical constraints that prevent them from working offshore.

At the same time, automation is improving workforce safety by reducing exposure to offshore hazards and lowering accident risk, while allowing more work to be carried out from shore-based environments.

Rich datasets

More broadly, the infusion of new technologies into the sector means the boundaries between IT and engineering are blurring as client demand for near real-time data on ocean conditions, seabed characteristics and weather patterns continues to grow.

That data can range from bathymetry and water-column data to acoustic backscatter, to understand the characteristics of the seabed’s topography and geology across a given site.

These datasets are essential to optimizing the installation and operation of offshore assets, including offshore wind farm infrastructure. Providers are under pressure to speed up the acquisition, analysis and delivery of these datasets, which can often be huge in scale, making it essential to balance the task of data management and sharing with seeking efficiencies in data analysis wherever possible.

Cloud data talent

To that end, talent is needed to help build cloud data pipelines, data lakes and the associated workflows back at base, drawing on skills in everything from data science and software engineering to project management and user experience design.

The USVs themselves accelerate the delivery of Geo-data, enabling faster access to results and recommendations so client project teams can make informed decisions sooner, compressing project timelines, reducing overall campaign costs, and cutting the time to financial return.

For the data scientists themselves, the remote nature of their role means they may be working on projects taking place anywhere in the world during their working week. From analysing near real-time data from an offshore project in the Middle East in the morning to building visualizations and client reports for projects in the North Sea later in the day.

Because ROCs are networked across multiple time zones, work can be handed over seamlessly between teams around the clock, helping to deliver insights and outcomes more quickly.

Remote responsibilities

One useful way of seeing remote operations is as a spectrum. Over time, operators may eventually oversee multiple vessels and project outcomes simultaneously, gradually shifting from direct control towards more of a monitoring and intervention role.

Importantly, remote operations do not mean the removal of responsibility. International maritime guidance already requires that every remotely operated vessel have a designated operator responsible for it, and that the operator can intervene when required.

The success of the offshore wind and broader marine engineering industry depends on rethinking traditional workforce models – bringing on board new talent skilled in data science, software engineering, and AI - as well as ensuring long-term sustainability in recruitment and talent retention.

Strategically embracing these changes will allow the marine and Geo-data industry to position itself for long-term success.

We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best data recovery software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Rising demand and environmental concerns are driving governments around the world to secure resilient and scalable energy supplies.

The transition to alternative, sustainable solutions is accelerating as the limitations of traditional energy sources become increasingly apparent.

At the same time, net-zero commitments, regulatory pressures, and growing public demand for climate-conscious policies are driving an unprecedented surge in offshore wind development.

This boom in demand is in turn driving a significant shift in what the offshore workforce looks like.

As companies strive to attract the next generation of talent, offshore roles are increasingly moving onshore, creating new opportunities and transforming industry expectations.

More flexible careers

Traditionally, marine engineering careers often meant tough, hands-on work out at sea, away from home and frequently in challenging weather conditions. Today, advances in technology and connectivity are transforming those roles.

Many professionals now divide their time between offshore assignments, remote operations centers (ROCs) and office-based work, creating more flexibility and opening up new career opportunities.

ROCs are locations from which uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), ocean-going ships which can operate without a human onboard, are controlled through a satellite connection.

They are increasingly deployed for complex offshore work including inspection and maintenance, remote mapping of the seafloor, or environmental monitoring of water quality, marine habitats or other ecological data.

USVs can be used for detailed subsea inspections, ensuring the integrity and safety of underwater infrastructure, or precisely map the seafloor of a proposed location for an offshore wind farm to determine suitability.

The flexibility provided by remote operations unlocks a wider talent pool, creating career opportunities for individuals who may have personal or medical constraints that prevent them from working offshore.

At the same time, automation is improving workforce safety by reducing exposure to offshore hazards and lowering accident risk, while allowing more work to be carried out from shore-based environments.

Rich datasets

More broadly, the infusion of new technologies into the sector means the boundaries between IT and engineering are blurring as client demand for near real-time data on ocean conditions, seabed characteristics and weather patterns continues to grow.

That data can range from bathymetry and water-column data to acoustic backscatter, to understand the characteristics of the seabed’s topography and geology across a given site.

These datasets are essential to optimizing the installation and operation of offshore assets, including offshore wind farm infrastructure. Providers are under pressure to speed up the acquisition, analysis and delivery of these datasets, which can often be huge in scale, making it essential to balance the task of data management and sharing with seeking efficiencies in data analysis wherever possible.

Cloud data talent

To that end, talent is needed to help build cloud data pipelines, data lakes and the associated workflows back at base, drawing on skills in everything from data science and software engineering to project management and user experience design.

The USVs themselves accelerate the delivery of Geo-data, enabling faster access to results and recommendations so client project teams can make informed decisions sooner, compressing project timelines, reducing overall campaign costs, and cutting the time to financial return.

For the data scientists themselves, the remote nature of their role means they may be working on projects taking place anywhere in the world during their working week. From analysing near real-time data from an offshore project in the Middle East in the morning to building visualizations and client reports for projects in the North Sea later in the day.

Because ROCs are networked across multiple time zones, work can be handed over seamlessly between teams around the clock, helping to deliver insights and outcomes more quickly.

Remote responsibilities

One useful way of seeing remote operations is as a spectrum. Over time, operators may eventually oversee multiple vessels and project outcomes simultaneously, gradually shifting from direct control towards more of a monitoring and intervention role.

Importantly, remote operations do not mean the removal of responsibility. International maritime guidance already requires that every remotely operated vessel have a designated operator responsible for it, and that the operator can intervene when required.

The success of the offshore wind and broader marine engineering industry depends on rethinking traditional workforce models – bringing on board new talent skilled in data science, software engineering, and AI - as well as ensuring long-term sustainability in recruitment and talent retention.

Strategically embracing these changes will allow the marine and Geo-data industry to position itself for long-term success.

We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best data recovery software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• DDR5 RAM pricing has risen swiftly again in Germany
• That means two months of sharp increases, backing up recent rumors that memory is going to get pricier
• An exec from the storage world has also said that SSD-related pricing pain is seemingly going to last until 2030

I've recently been writing about how the RAM crisis appears to be reaching new levels of severity, and unfortunately there's more evidence that the situation is worsening with the price of system memory and storage.

Wccftech noticed that 3D Center has a new set of monthly figures for the German retail market which shows that as of mid-August, DDR5 RAM pricing has risen to 486% of the cost it was in July 2025. So, effectively it's five times pricier than before the crisis began a year ago.

That's a substantial jump from the 445% level seen last month, and an even bigger increase than the previous month, in which prices were at 419%. To look at it another way, prices have risen 16% in August compared to the cost of DDR5 in mid-June.

Internal SSD prices have also increased 7.7% month-on-month in the German retail market – and those drives are now 2.2 times as expensive as they were pre-crisis – and Wccftech also picked up another interesting but bleak storage revelation.

Pua Khein-Seng, the CEO of Phison, which makes controllers for SSDs, observed that the NAND market (flash memory chips for SSDs) is in deeper trouble than was previously believed in terms of the time needed to ramp up production.

Taiwan's Commercial Times reports that Pua said he recently had a conversation with senior executives from a NAND manufacturer, and that he asked about how long it would take from investment (being made now) to actual mass production being realized.

The CEO noted (bear in mind translation issues): "He originally estimated it would take about two years, but the answer they gave was 'four years.'"

What this means is that the expectation is now that NAND supply difficulties are going to persist through to 2030 (rather than 2028).

Analysis: there may be trouble ahead…

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Eshma)

That's an unsettling prediction from the storage world, coming as it does on top of a lot of other recent bad news suggesting that the RAM crisis will last a long time, and possibly to 2030 and beyond – and that the remainder of this year, and 2027, are going to see matters get worse.

The German retail market appears to be a clear indicator of how things are going, seeing as DDR5 pricing had dropped slightly and then plateaued (more or less) since the beginning of 2026, but started a sharp climb in July as noted. Yes, this is just one source of info, but it's a snapshot of the market of a large European country, and it correlates with all the gloomy predictions we're hearing of late.

As 3D Center points out (again, this is translated): "The bigger picture now points to a worrying price trend, which is likely to break exorbitant levels very soon, unless this trend is halted – for which there are currently no indications."

Sadly, it seems that RAM and storage prices really are going to increase as 2026 rolls on. While there would appear to still be room for further hikes to SSDs (sadly), with system RAM it's arguable how much more consumers can take before they completely refuse to buy until costs come down at least somewhat. That said, new desktops and laptops are still going to be sold, so this isn't just about refusing to upgrade your home PC's memory, of course.

• DDR5 RAM pricing has risen swiftly again in Germany
• That means two months of sharp increases, backing up recent rumors that memory is going to get pricier
• An exec from the storage world has also said that SSD-related pricing pain is seemingly going to last until 2030

I've recently been writing about how the RAM crisis appears to be reaching new levels of severity, and unfortunately there's more evidence that the situation is worsening with the price of system memory and storage.

Wccftech noticed that 3D Center has a new set of monthly figures for the German retail market which shows that as of mid-August, DDR5 RAM pricing has risen to 486% of the cost it was in July 2025. So, effectively it's five times pricier than before the crisis began a year ago.

That's a substantial jump from the 445% level seen last month, and an even bigger increase than the previous month, in which prices were at 419%. To look at it another way, prices have risen 16% in August compared to the cost of DDR5 in mid-June.

Internal SSD prices have also increased 7.7% month-on-month in the German retail market – and those drives are now 2.2 times as expensive as they were pre-crisis – and Wccftech also picked up another interesting but bleak storage revelation.

Pua Khein-Seng, the CEO of Phison, which makes controllers for SSDs, observed that the NAND market (flash memory chips for SSDs) is in deeper trouble than was previously believed in terms of the time needed to ramp up production.

Taiwan's Commercial Times reports that Pua said he recently had a conversation with senior executives from a NAND manufacturer, and that he asked about how long it would take from investment (being made now) to actual mass production being realized.

The CEO noted (bear in mind translation issues): "He originally estimated it would take about two years, but the answer they gave was 'four years.'"

What this means is that the expectation is now that NAND supply difficulties are going to persist through to 2030 (rather than 2028).

Analysis: there may be trouble ahead…

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Eshma)

That's an unsettling prediction from the storage world, coming as it does on top of a lot of other recent bad news suggesting that the RAM crisis will last a long time, and possibly to 2030 and beyond – and that the remainder of this year, and 2027, are going to see matters get worse.

The German retail market appears to be a clear indicator of how things are going, seeing as DDR5 pricing had dropped slightly and then plateaued (more or less) since the beginning of 2026, but started a sharp climb in July as noted. Yes, this is just one source of info, but it's a snapshot of the market of a large European country, and it correlates with all the gloomy predictions we're hearing of late.

As 3D Center points out (again, this is translated): "The bigger picture now points to a worrying price trend, which is likely to break exorbitant levels very soon, unless this trend is halted – for which there are currently no indications."

Sadly, it seems that RAM and storage prices really are going to increase as 2026 rolls on. While there would appear to still be room for further hikes to SSDs (sadly), with system RAM it's arguable how much more consumers can take before they completely refuse to buy until costs come down at least somewhat. That said, new desktops and laptops are still going to be sold, so this isn't just about refusing to upgrade your home PC's memory, of course.