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Peacock's The Office spin-off series has a release window but I'm feeling nervous

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:48
  • The Paper is expected to arrive on Peacock in September
  • A first-look image of Domhnall Gleeson has also been released
  • Oscar Nunez appears to be the only returning cast member from the original series

The Paper is Peacock's follow-up series to The Office, and we now known it's expected to arrive on one of the best streaming services in September 2025.

Considering The Office is such a comedy staple, this new series has some seriously big shoes to fill. That's not to say it won't work, but considering the disastrous Prime Video series The Office Australia, I am feeling a little nervous about what's to come.

While we don't have a trailer or a concrete release date, we do have the first look at Domhnall Gleeson (see above) standing on a desk with a very familiar face behind him. I recently reported that my favorite character from The Office was returning, and now we can see Oscar Nunez lurking in the background.

What do we know about The Paper?

The Paper is set in the same universe as The Office, and will once again be filmed in a mockumentary style. What connects the two shows is that it's the same documentary crew who followed Dunder Mifflin in the original series which, admittedly, is a fun way to go about it.

This documentary crew is hungry for more, and this time, they're focusing on a historic Toledo newspaper, The Truth Teller, and the publisher trying to revive it, so they've gone from a paper company to a newspaper – another nice connection.

In terms of casting, it appears Oscar Nunez is the only returning cast member. He'll be reprising his role as Oscar Sanchez, who has clearly changed jobs since we last saw him!

Joining him are Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and Tim Key, with an array of upcoming guest stars too.

I'll definitely be giving this one a go, I just hope it can reach the great heights of The Office, which I love dearly.

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Categories: Technology

Your Next Audible Audiobook Could Be Voiced by AI

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:31
Publishers will be able to choose from more than 100 voices across multiple languages to read their books.
Categories: Technology

ASUS DriverHub driver management tool targeted by RCE vulnerability

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:30
  • A security researcher discovered a major flaw in ASUS DriverHub
  • The flaw allows users to run malicious code remotely
  • A patch was already released

DriverHub, ASUS’ official driver management tool, was carrying a critical vulnerability that allowed threat actors to execute malicious code on affected devices, remotely. It was recently discovered, and a patch was released, so users are urged to apply it as soon as possible to mitigate potential risks.

ASUS DriverHub is a piece of software that automatically downloads and installs the latest drivers for ASUS devices including laptops, motherboards, and peripherals. Its goal is to keep the devices updated at all times, without needing too much manual intervention. According to BleepingComputer, DriverHub comes preinstalled on some devices, and constantly runs in the background (which makes sense if it is to keep software updated at all times).

Now, a security researcher with the alias MrBruh said that DriverHub suffered from poor validation of commands. This allowed him to chain together two vulnerabilities, now tracked as CVE-2025-3462, and CVE-2025-3463, and get the tool to run malicious software.

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Releasing the patch

He reported his findings on April 8, and ASUS came back with a patch ten days later, on April 18. Although, the company says the disruptive potential of the flaw is somewhat limited: "This issue is limited to motherboards and does not affect laptops, desktop computers, or other endpoints," ASUS said, describing the CVE.

It still “strongly recommended” users apply the patch. "This update includes important security updates and ASUS strongly recommends that users update their ASUS DriverHub installation to the latest version," the company said in a security advisory.

"The latest Software Update can be accessed by opening ASUS DriverHub, then clicking the "Update Now" button." Ironically enough, the tool that handles all driver installs automatically needs to be patched - manually.

According to CyberInsider, the vulnerability window has been open for “an indeterminate period” but since there are no reports of abuse in the wild, it’s safe to assume that MrBruh was the first one to spot the bug.

Via BleepingComputer

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Categories: Technology

4 Specialty Kitchen Knives I Can't Stop Using

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:27
These unconventional blades supplement my chef knife for specialized slicing, dicing and chopping.
Categories: Technology

New PS5 Pro rumor suggests that 'PSSR 2' is in the works and will reportedly add support for lower resolutions, plus 4K 120fps and 8K 60fps gaming

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:08
  • YouTuber and leaker Moore’s Law Is Dead claims the next PSSR update is "substantial" and will offer improvements to resolution scaling
  • It's said the next iteration of PSSR will offer 4K at 120 FPS and 8K at 60 FPS
  • Support for wider resolutions, like 1440p and 1080p, will also be added

Sony is reportedly developing the next major PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) update for the PS5 Pro that will offer major improvements to resolution scaling.

That's according to YouTuber 'Moore’s Law Is Dead', known for his accurate PS5 Pro and spec leaks, who claims that Sony is currently working on the next iteration of the console's AI-powered upscaling tech.

Even though PlayStation lead system architect Mark Cerny has confirmed that a new PSSR update is coming in 2026, Moore's doesn't know if it will be called a new version, but is classifying it as "PSSR 2" due to how "substantial" it is.

"I don't know if Sony will brand it, I don't know if they'll say anything," the leaker said, "In fact, to my memory, from what I've seen, there's been at least three or more versions of PSSR updated behind the scenes."

As for what this PSSR 2 update will feature, he claims that Sony is aiming to offer 4K at 120 FPS and 8K at 60 FPS, as well as support for wider resolutions, including 1440p and 1080p locked at 120 FPS.

Additionally, the update could also have the capability of upscaling from lower resolutions, including 720p, 540p, and 360p, which would allow developers to target higher performance.

"Sony has determined that the image quality they can achieve with PSSR looks pretty bad if you're upscaling from a base resolution lower than 864p, and so they want to improve that."

Moore's Law is Dead also claimed that he saw evidence that Sony is working on MFSR, which was the internal acronym for PSSR, to upscale for higher frame rates and make it an alternative to TAA to offer better image quality.

"They're also working to make this an alternative to TAA for pretty much any game enhanced for PS5 Pro, meaning even if you don't want to turn on, for higher frame-rates, PSSR, they want the image quality to be higher in any game that uses TAA," the YouTube explained.

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I test robot vacuums for a living, and this new bot has the best mopping system I've seen

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:01
  • Ecovacs has unveiled the new Deebot X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum
  • It features self-cleaning Ozmo roller mop and lifting brush rolls
  • It also introduces an innovative 'Blast' suction system

Ecovacs' new Deebot X9 Pro Omni is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop that looks like it could solve my hard-floor cleaning woes for good – I regularly test robovacs in my role as Homes Editor at TechRadar, and I've yet to find one that does a good job of scrubbing my hard floors.

A big issue with traditional robovac mopping systems is that because the mops are only cleaned at the end of the job (either by the dock or by hand) they tend to spread spillages around the floor rather than clearing them away.

Ecovacs' answer is the Ozmo roller mop. Most of today's best robot vacuums have either a fixed, D-shaped mop pad or two spinning discs, but the newest Deebot robovacs use a mop-wrapped roller.

The roller applies pressure as it rotates, and is able to extend out to the side to clean close to the edges of rooms. The really ingenious part is that there's a scraper that constantly siphons off the dirty water and any debris as the roller rotates, and the roller is then fed with clean water ready to continue mopping.

(Image credit: Ecovacs)

It's a relatively simple idea – inspired by today's best wet and dry vacuums – but it could make a massive difference to how effectively this robot vacuum can deal with spillages. The system was introduced in the Deebot X8 Pro Omni, which was launched at the start of 2025, and appears in the newly unveiled Deebot X9 Pro Omni and another new sister model, the T80 Omni.

While the idea of roller mops is still very new, Ecovacs isn't the only brand to explore this design – it also appears in the Eureka J20 and Narwal Flow. Where the X9 Pro Omni takes things a step further is that it combines the Ozmo mop with a brush roll that can lift up, solving another of my bug-bears with hybrid robovacs.

Having the brush roll down while the bot mops means the bristles quickly get damp and gunked up – dust and grime plus water is not a pleasant combination. Here, the roller is tucked up and out of the way, meaning I won't need to worry about mop mess finding its way onto my carpets next time I set the bot on a vacuuming run.

3, 2, 1, blast off

Another interesting addition with the X9 Pro Omni is a new 'BLAST' ('Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology') system, designed to offer better suction with less outright power.

“With the BLAST system, we didn’t just boost suction – we redesigned the entire airflow from the ground up," Michelle Jones, US associate brand marketing director at Ecovacs told TechRadar.

"Most robot vacuums rely on increasing motor wattage alone to improve suction, which can create more noise and drain battery life. BLAST takes a smarter, more efficient approach – starting with our new SuperBoost battery, continuing through a larger air inlet, optimized air ducts, and newly engineered fan blades. This system moves more air with less resistance, delivering consistently strong suction with less noise."

She added that BLAST could represent "a major step forward in both performance and everyday usability – especially for homes with pets, rugs, or heavy foot traffic.” The proof will be in the testing, and we'll report back once we've had a chance to review this model properly.

(Image credit: Ecovacs)

The Deebot X9 Pro Omni is available to buy now, at a list price of $1,599 but with an early bird deal that takes it down to $1,299.99. You can purchase it directly from Ecovacs or pick one up via Amazon. Ecovacs hasn't confirmed if or when Deebot X9 Pro Omni will be available outside the US.

It has been launched alongside another new robot vacuum – the T80 Omni, which still has the Ozmo roller mop, but doesn't feature lifting brushroll or the new Blast suction system. That model is a little cheaper (although still firmly in the premium price bracket) at $1,199.99 down to $1,079.99 at Ecovacs or Amazon.

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Categories: Technology

Spotify’s DJ feature has just got a much-needed upgrade, and it could totally change my mind on the AI music tool

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:00
  • Spotify AI DJ just got a huge upgrade, and now it can take your requests just by listening to your voice
  • This new feature is designed for users to have more of a say in their listening experiences, while interacting more with their personal AI DJ
  • The feature is being rolled out today in over 60 markets for Premium users

Spotify’s AI DJ tool has divided users since it was introduced in 2023, and now the platform’s resident maestro has just received its first major upgrade. As of today, your AI DJ will be able to take your requests in English, launching in more than 60 markets for Premium users.

That’s right, as well as curating a personalized listening experience based on your music habits, you can feed AI DJ voice prompts, and from there, it will use your request to update your listening session based on the music you want to hear at that moment.

For example, you can use the prompt 'Surprise me with some indie tracks I’ve never heard before' to discover new indie artists, or even “Play me some electronic beats for a midday run” so that DJ can motivate you during times of hard work.

(Image credit: Spotify)

For a while, Spotify users have been asking for more ways to interact with their AI DJs and have more say in what they play during their listening sessions. The DJ tool’s new ability to take requests from users is definitely a much-needed upgrade for the feature.

But despite this big change, Spotify has made it clear that it will continue to honor AI DJ’s original ethos of bringing you closer to new music, as well as reacquainting you with old favorites with "insights from (its) global editorial experts".

It’s no secret that Spotify’s AI DJ hasn’t been able to grab my attention, and that’s down to my preference for its Daylist feature, however, its new requests function is really tempting me to dip my toe back into AI DJ. I just hope I can get past its slightly jarring commentary this time.

How to use AI DJ’s request function

(Image credit: Spotify)

As of today AI DJ will be able to take your voice requests and vamp up your listening session in ways it hasn’t before, and one of the greatest things about it is that it’s very simple to use.

1. Go to Spotify's search tab and search for 'DJ'

Press to start a standard AI DJ- curated listening session.

2. Press and hold the DJ button to ask a request

In the right-hand corner, you'll find the DJ button. Press and hold until you hear a beep, and that means DJ is ready to take your request. From there, you can use your voice to ask DJ to play a specific kind of music, for example, 'Play me some music to soundtrack my life as a movie', or 'Play modern country songs for my cowboy era'.

3. Experiment to your heart's content

You can mix things up by holding the DJ button and asking it to switch up the vibe of your listening session and make new requests. If you don’t have a specific request but want to change the vibe, you can tap the DJ button to quickly skip to the next section.

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Categories: Technology

How to Spot AI Hype and Avoid The AI Con, According to Two Experts

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:00
In the new book The AI Con, AI critics Emily Bender and Alex Hanna break down the smoke and mirrors around generative AI.
Categories: Technology

Do You Trust AI to Shop for You? Credit Card Companies Are Betting You Do

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:00
Visa and Mastercard introduce artificial intelligence to automate card spending. But some alternatives may already exist.
Categories: Technology

5 Exercises Experts Recommend for a Strong, Healthy Heart

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 07:35
Looking to give your heart health a boost? These are the exercises you can add to your workout to support your ticker.
Categories: Technology

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Tested: The Best Camera Drone for Photo Pros, but Not in the US

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 07:00
I've tested the drone, and its new gimbal and image quality are seriously impressive. It's a shame you can't buy it in the US.
Categories: Technology

Apple Expands Accessibility Features Including Live Captions, Magnifier and Sound Recognition

CNET News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 07:00
Accessibility Nutrition Labels will help you understand which apps and games are accessible before downloading. Personal Voice, Music Haptics and other features also get an update.
Categories: Technology

United Airlines just unveiled its next-gen cabin with new Polaris seats – here are the biggest changes

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 06:40

Just two days before United Airlines is set to offer its first Starlink-equipped flight, which will deliver internet speeds up to 50 times faster and offer a ‘living room in the sky’ experience, the airline is making more waves by unveiling its next-generation cabin experience.

United Airlines' Polaris seat offering is already impressive, with a large, bright screen, plenty of ports, and a full lie-flat seat. But the airline has put years of work into its next product, stretching beyond the flagship seat.

Arriving first on the new Boeing 787-9, which United expects to land before the end of 2025, is the next-generation of Polaris seat and the entirely new Polaris Studio, along with upgrades to Premium Plus, Economy Plus, and even Economy – yes, those who travel in standard extra legroom will also get some significant enhancements.

Polaris gets more ways to recharge, a larger screen, and a door for privacy

(Image credit: United Airlines)

Leading the enhancements with United’s core Polaris Business class seat are four ways to recharge your device, likely your phone, within your pod. You’ll still get a standard outlet, but United is promising three others, including a wireless charging pad supporting the Qi-standard baked into your counter space, meaning you could just lay your iPhone 16 or Galaxy S25 Edge on the surface and let it recharge without bringing out a wire.

In addition to the standard outlet, you also get USB-C and USB-A ports. Basically, it affords you plenty of power, which is handy if you’re hoping to work while at 35,000 feet.

The entertainment screen is again touch-enabled, and gives you access to a wide array of movies and TV shows, as well as a flight map if you’re an aviation geek like myself, but it’s now stretching to a full 19 inches diagonally and is a 4K OLED panel. This should mean that if you’re by a window the screen can get bright enough to compete with the sun, and it can also be angled or pulled out.

Bluetooth is of course supported, so you can connect your favorite Bluetooth headphones or some of the best true wireless earbuds directly to the infotainment system. You’ll also get a pair of Polaris-branded over-ear headphones in the amenity kit.

With the press of a button you’ll get a seat that can be transitioned to a bed for a lie-flat experience or various other positions. It’s now a wool-blend covered seat, with United promising that the new material is more breathable, and to top it all off there's now a door on the Polaris seat to afford you more privacy.

The Polaris seating configuration will also be in a 1-2-1 setup on the Boeing 787-9 when it arrives later this year, with 56 seats spread across 14 rows.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

United's brand-new Polaris Studio is larger-than-life if you’re looking for the best seating in the sky and are willing to pay for it. As United Airlines teased when it first announced Starlink, it’s our best look at the living room sky vision. You get the classic Polaris lie-flat seat, but you’re facing a massive 27-inch 4K OLED screen that should be excellent to watch. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity to listen with your own cans.

There are also four ways to charge, including the Qi-standard wireless charger, multiple wall plugs, and a USB-C port to plug right in. The real kicker, though, is that as the Studio nomenclature hints at, there’s an ottoman to have someone else join you in the Studio. You’ll also get more countertop space and more storage.

This one feels exceptional. Just imagine Starlink connectivity plus the ability to kick back and watch a favorite film on a 27-inch screen on an airplane. It’ll likely be costly, but for long trips you might think it's worth it.

More chargers for Premium Plus and Economy

(Image credit: United Airlines)

While Polaris is leading the news, United Airlines isn’t leaving Premium Plus – a step-up class for long-haul domestic and international flights – or Economy hanging. The ‘purple seats’, as they are known on the plane, get bigger, brighter 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreens with the aforementioned Bluetooth support, but more importantly, they give you more ways to charge your devices.

Each Premium Plus seat has a wall plug, a USB port, and a wireless charger – so you can charge how you want. You also have a dedicated spot next to your seat to hold your headphones.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

Passengers in Economy or Economy Plus will get 13-inch 4K OLED screens, but the real win is now six power outlets in each row. That’s way better than the two spread across three seats or three for four seats in some configurations, and should put an end to the dreaded fight over ports.

All in all, the focus on tech and making flying less stressful, at least in terms of the in-flight experience, is a major upgrade. And in addition to the new cabin tech, United has committed to bringing much faster, free for MileagePlus members Starlink internet to all of its regional jets by the end of 2025, and this is due to arrive on its first mainline jet by the end of the year.

Starlink will also be on the Boeing 787-9 when it arrives. The new aircraft will be fitted with 56 Polaris seats, eight Polaris Studios, and 35 Premium Plus, 33 Economy Plus, and 90 Economy seats.

The first of these planes will be delivered by the end of this year, and they'll go into service in 2026, starting with United's San Francisco to Singapore and San Francisco to London routes.

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AirPods with tiny AI cameras tipped to come in 2027, but that raises a question of what model they'll be in

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 06:24

We had strong indicators for a while that Apple is experimenting with in-ear cameras as inputs for Apple Intelligence. And according to a new report, Apple plans to have cameras in AirPods as soon as 2027. It'll also be adding a tiny camera to the Apple Watch in 2027, and launching its first camera-equipped smart glasses.

That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but another report suggests that the cameras might not be cameras as you might imagine them: last year, respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple was aiming to put infrared cameras in AirPods by the end of 2026.

Those cameras would be able to see gestures, which could then be used to control app or system features. It’s possible that Gurman and Kuo are describing the same buds.

Which AirPods are going to come with cameras?

Here's a puzzle: if Apple's on track to release AirPods Pro 3 this year, which is what we're expecting and has long been rumored, then 2027 seems too early for another iteration of AirPods Pro: the first-gen ran from 2019 to 2022, and the second generation is expected to have run from 2022 to 2025.

So on that basis, AirPods Pro 4 aren't due until late 2028 – quite some time after Gurman's reported camera timeline.

It's highly unlikely that Apple's going to put a premium new feature like this in less-than-premium AirPods, so if we assume AirPods Pro 4 won't come earlier than usual. that leaves us with two options: AirPods Max 2, or an even more premium kind of AirPods Pro – AirPods Ultra, anyone?

I'm betting against the cameras coming in AirPods Max, because all the reporting on cameras so far has been about camera-equipped earbuds, and they sell way better than AirPods Max.

But adding yet another tier to the AirPods range would set the late Steve Jobs spinning: rather than his preferred lineup of three – good, better, best – it could mean five different flavors of AirPod: standard AirPods, standard AirPods with ANC, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max and AirPods Ultra. That doesn't seem very Apple.

But perhaps the 2027 date is off, or there's some other twist coming. In any case, we'll have a while to wait and find out.

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Microsoft shows us discarded Windows 11 Start menu designs – and I’m so glad they were chucked in the bin in favor of the revamp we’re getting

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 06:19
  • Windows 11 has a redesign of the Start menu incoming
  • Microsoft has shared info on the process of that revamp and how it took in a wide range of feedback
  • We also get to see some of the abandoned designs for the Start menu

Windows 11 is getting a major revamp for the Start menu and in an interesting move, Microsoft has shared the feedback which drove that redesign, as well as some of the concepts that fell by the wayside.

In case you overlooked the emergence of that Start menu overhaul, Microsoft gave us a first look at it recently. Essentially, it changes the menu into a single scrollable panel (rather than two separate efforts) and applies some other useful tweaks.

Broadly speaking, I’m a fan and I think it’s a clear step forward (more so now that a point of doubt has apparently been clarified, and I’ll come back to that momentarily).

Windows Central picked up on the blog post Microsoft published about the process of redesigning the Start menu, explaining why the new layout was chosen, and also looking at other treatments that were discarded based on user feedback.

Indeed, Microsoft says it combed through a whole lot of notes on the Feedback Hub (where testers and enthusiasts give their opinions on Windows 11) as well as conducting “thousands of remote interviews” in order to get the redesign of this part of the interface right. On top of that, we’re told: “Over 300 Windows 11 fans joined unmoderated studies and dozens more hopped into live co-creation calls.”

Apparently, from all this, a key message repeatedly came through from those people: “Help me find my apps faster. Let me bend Start to fit the way I work. And please – keep the magic, don’t lose the soul.”

Yes, I’m guessing the final part of that quote was never something Microsoft heard – it sounds more like something Freddie Mercury sang in a Queen song back in the eighties – but the first two points fully make sense. Windows 11 users want the Start menu to be, most of all, the place where they find and fire up their apps, and a part of the interface that they can customize.

I think the latter is a particularly crucial factor, and elsewhere in the post, Microsoft talks about the Start menu providing: “Recommendations made just for you that learn in real time and a way to hide them if you don’t find them helpful.”

Regarding the second half of that sentence, I take this as confirmation that Microsoft is indeed incorporating a switch to remove the recommendations panel from the Start menu entirely, for those who don’t want it.

I don’t, and I know I’m not alone in that, and this option was spotted in testing with the Start menu revamp. So, this comment about giving users a ‘way to hide’ recommendations surely refers to turning them off. For me, this represents indirect confirmation that a key part of the redesign is indeed coming.

Analysis: What about the Start menu concepts that didn’t make the cut?

It’s also good to see Microsoft becoming more transparent here, and showing off the discarded Start menu concepts, too. Are any of them any good? Obviously, this is a subjective matter to an extent, but for me, some of them definitely deserved to be chucked in the bin, while others seem sensible enough.

Let’s take a look at the candidates which stand out from the efforts that ended up being dumped.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This is a more tablet-focused take on the Start menu (where the background is blurred out), although that’s not going to be ideal for traditional desktop PCs (obviously). I don’t like that it takes a step back in terms of still having the ‘All apps’ list as an entirely separate panel. It’s quite a clean layout to be fair, but there is some suggestion-related stuff here that I’m not so keen on. Pass.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Essentially, this is the Start menu from Windows 10 ported to Windows 11, although the design elements kind of clash for me (the category lists for apps, bottom-left, feel particularly out of place). Despite it all feeling shoehorned into Windows 11, I don’t mind the idea of just having the Windows 10 Start menu back in some ways. I’m surprised Microsoft even considered the idea, though.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Erk, what is this? It looks like someone’s lobbed a hand grenade into the guts of Windows 11’s Start menu, and this is the aftermath of the almighty explosion – bits of interface all over the place. It’s too busy, suggestion-heavy, and again like the first concept above, it grows limbs and splits off other sections into separate panels. No thanks.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This one I quite like – it keeps things simple, and it’s mainly focused on the apps, with some recommendations and reminders in the left panel. Note that Copilot has crept into the reminders, bottom-left, but overall, I think this is my favorite of the abandoned designs.

However, the Start menu redesign Microsoft has chosen is the winner for me, although you may well have a different opinion (Windows Central certainly does). Why? Because it keeps things simple, with everything on one panel, and the new category view for the full list of apps ensures that’s more tamed – plus you can (hopefully) drop the recommendations panel to make more space, too. (Worries about Phone Link have been swerved as well, with a simple button to retract the panel, for those who use this app).

Is Microsoft’s chosen revamp too boring? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess it is the safe, not overly adventurous option, but it works for me. I don’t want a fancied-up Start menu. I want a functional one, a streamlined system, and yes, that crucial ability to customize and further trim anything I don’t need (while those who like recommendations can have them).

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iOS 18.5 is out now – here are 4 new features it brings alongside some big security fixes

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 05:58
  • iOS 18.5 has just launched to iPhone users
  • There are a few new features in the upgrade, including one for the iPhone 13
  • iOS 18.5 also contains over 30 security fixes, so update your device now

Apple has just released iOS 18.5, and it comes with a raft of new features to improve all of the best iPhones that it’s compatible with. It’s not a huge update in terms of new additions, but it’s an important one to download, since it packs in over 30 vital security fixes.

In terms of new features, one of the most notable is a change relating to the Screen Time function. This can be used by parents to control how their child uses an iPhone, and it lets you place limits on app access and more. Now, parents will be alerted if their child has successfully entered a passcode to remove Screen Time’s restrictions.

Elsewhere, iOS 18.5 rolls out carrier-provided satellite services – such as T-Mobile’s collaboration with Starlink – to the iPhone 13, which wasn’t previously compatible with these features.

Apple has also tweaked the Mail app to make a few common controls easier to find. The Settings app now displays your AppleCare+ information more prominently, while Apple also released a new Pride Harmony wallpaper for its devices.

Security updates galore

(Image credit: Shutterstock / nikkimeel)

It’s usually a good idea to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS to get both new features and security fixes. But the iOS 18.5 update truly underscores the importance of getting your device on the newest software, as it packs in over 30 security patches that will help keep your Apple phone safe.

Many of the fixes listed on Apple’s website are intended to stop hackers from accessing your private data. For example, one patch prevents attackers with physical access to your iPhone and the Notes app from viewing documents on the Lock Screen. Another fixes a flaw that would let bad actors listen to deleted call recordings.

Elsewhere, iOS 18.5 addresses a bug that wouldn’t always mute FaceTime properly (which could reveal sensitive info on a call), while call history from deleted apps will no longer appear in Spotlight searches.

Bluetooth security has also been strengthened, and iCloud Document Sharing has been tightened up to stop attackers sharing folders without authentication. There are also patches for WebKit, denial-of-service attacks, Core Graphics bugs, out-of-bounds vulnerabilities, and more.

Interestingly, iOS 18.5 also contains the first known fix for Apple’s new C1 modem chip, which is currently only available in the iPhone 16e. There, iOS 18.5 now stops hackers who have got inside your wireless carrier from accessing network traffic.

Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that any of the bugs and vulnerabilities that Apple has patched have been actively exploited yet, unlike the fixes issued in iOS 18.3.2 and iOS 18.4.1. But that doesn’t lessen the importance of installing the iOS 18.5 update, as the more secure your device is, the less likely you are to suffer attacks from hackers and bad actors in the future.

Aside from iOS 18.5, Apple has also released security updates for older Macs and iPads. The specific versions – macOS 13.7.6, macOS 14.7.6, and iPadOS 17.7.7 – are available for Apple products that have not been updated to the latest operating systems, whether that’s due to hardware limitations or enterprise policies. You can find out exactly what was patched in these updates by browsing Apple’s security releases page.

Returning to iOS 18.5, there are many more security fixes than we have listed here on Apple’s website, so be sure to have a read if you’d like to know what the update patches in full. Combined with the new features that have also been added, it’s a notable update for your iPhone.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 will let you cap the battery charge level in order to increase its lifespan

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 05:56
  • Nintendo has detailed a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature via the Nintendo Today app
  • It caps the battery's charging level at around 90%
  • This should help extend the battery's lifespan

Nintendo has revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have new charging settings intended to extend the battery's lifespan.

As detailed in the company's latest post to the Nintendo Today app, the 'Stop Charging Around 90%' feature will let you slow down the Nintendo Switch 2's charging speed when it hits about 90%.

This stops the battery from reaching its full capacity as often, which cuts down on the time that you can use the system unplugged, but helps extend the battery's longevity.

Generally, repeatedly charging a battery to full capacity before depleting leads to degradation and quicker loss of charge.

If you own a Nintendo Switch that you bought within the first few years of its release, then you're probably already familiar with this effect.

My first Nintendo Switch can now only last around an hour unplugged - significantly less than the around seven hours that it used to be able to achieve.

Similar settings to limit charging in this way are already available on most modern smartphones, tablets, and laptops, as it's becoming increasingly popular to help gadgets hold up better in the long term.

Nintendo has stated that the Nintendo Switch 2 battery will last between two and six and a half hours - though this figure likely does not account for potential wear over time.

The upcoming console is set to launch on June 5, 2025. It costs $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World.

UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.

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Sam Altman says how people use ChatGPT reflects their age – and college students are relying on it to make ‘life decisions’

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 05:52
  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the way you use AI differs depending on your age
  • Speaking at an AI event, Altman explained how different age demographics use ChatGPT in their own way
  • Older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement, while those in their 20s and 30s use it like a life advisor, according to Altman

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the way users interact with ChatGPT changes depending on the user's age.

Whether that's "older people who use ChatGPT as a Google replacement," or "people in their 20s and 30s who use it like a life advisor," Altman says the interactions with AI differ depending on when you were born.

Speaking at Sequoia Capital's AI Ascent event, Altman said that while it was a "gross oversimplification," real trends are appearing in terms of how individuals use ChatGPT. In the YouTube video, which you can watch below, Altman, most interestingly, says that "people in college use it as an operating system."

He goes into more detail by explaining how younger individuals interact with ChatGPT and AI as a whole by using it "to connect it to a bunch of files, and they have fairly complex prompts memorized in their head or in something where they paste in and out."

Altman adds, "There's this other thing where they don't really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do. It has the full context on every person in their life and what they've talked about."

More and more users are indeed turning to ChatGPT for life discussions and therapy, and I've even noticed friends and family opting for genuine conversations with the chatbot about major decisions.

Should you use ChatGPT to make life decisions?

Reading the headline to this article, you might be ready to dismiss the whole idea of using AI and ChatGPT as a genuine 'life tool'. However, there are some real benefits to continuously talking to AI before making a decision. I find ChatGPT to be a good starting point for researching a topic when I'm thinking about smaller life decisions.

For example, thanks to its memory features, ChatGPT can remember all of my discussions related to my hobbies, and give me tips when I need them. For example, I use ChatGPT to help motivate me with my Peloton use, and sometimes I need advice on what program or class to take next.

ChatGPT knows what I've used in the past, and what types of Peloton classes I enjoy doing, and helps me to make a decision based on my preferences. This same functionality can be used across a broad range of topics.

I'm a 30-year-old man who barely uses TikTok, so I can't even imagine how Gen Z interact with ChatGPT. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Altman is correct, and there are indeed many people out there who no longer make bigger life decisions without the input of AI, which to me sounds a little worrying.

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We thought Samsung Messages was being retired – but it could now get 4 new features to take on Google Messages

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 05:47
  • More updates are apparently on the way to Samsung Messages
  • Previously, it looked like the app was on the way out
  • Google Messages was the default messaging app on the Galaxy S25

We feared the worst for Samsung Messages when the Galaxy S25 series launched without the app on board – Google Messages was preinstalled instead – but it seems Samsung Messages isn't actually going away, as a major batch of new updates have been spotted.

These updates haven't been officially announced or pushed out to users, but the team at Android Authority has seen them in the latest app code. The signs are that Samsung is keen to keep the rival to Google Messages alive after all.

The features that have been discovered include birthday reminders for the people in your contacts list, live location sharing (also apparently on the way to Google Messages), and support for emoji and sticker reactions to messages.

Another upcoming feature that's been spotted links Samsung Messages to Now Brief, the AI-powered update panel on the latest Samsung phones. It appears that Now Brief will soon be able to show alerts about suspicious, malicious, and blocked messages.

What happens next?

Samsung Messages lives on in the Galaxy Store (Image credit: Samsung)

That's quite the feature dump, including some big new upgrades, even if it's not live yet. It doesn't really fit with the idea of an app that's on the way out – and you might remember it got full support for RCS chats back in February as well.

It's mixed messaging from Samsung, because there's no doubt that Samsung Messages was, genuinely, on the way out. Samsung even used the word "sunsetting" in a statement issued in January, as the app was removed from the Google Play Store.

You can still get at Samsung Messages through the Galaxy Store, however, if you've got a Samsung phone. We'll have to wait and see whether these new features come with any fresh announcements from Samsung when they actually see the light of day.

It's also going to be interesting to see if Samsung Messages appears on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Flip 7, due in July. The 2024 versions of those phones were actually the first to come without Samsung Messages preloaded.

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It looks as though Garmin is working on another high-end smartwatch as a Fenix 8 spin-off

TechRadar News - Tue, 05/13/2025 - 05:42
  • A new high-end Garmin watch has been spotted online
  • It could be the successor to the D2 Mach 1 from 2022
  • Several upgrades could be borrowed from the Garmin Fenix 8

We could soon get a new contender for the premium entry in our best Garmin watches list: there are signs that a high-end Garmin smartwatch is now close to launching, which might be built on the improvements ushered in with the Garmin Fenix 8.

As per the5krunner (via Notebookcheck), a mention of the D2 Mach 2 watch has appeared on Garmin's own website, as one of the models compatible with the Grade Adjusted Pace feature available in the Garmin app (a tool for more accurately measuring average pace).

It's the first time we've heard the Garmin D2 Mach 2 mentioned anywhere, so it looks as though this particular support page has been edited before it should have been – and the premium-level wearable could be launching very soon.

The Garmin D2 Mach 1 was unveiled back in March 2022, and was specifically designed for pilots (though of course you didn't have to be a pilot to use it). At the moment it's not clear exactly what upgrades the second-gen version might bring with it.

What we could get

The D2 Mach 2 could be based on the Fenix 8 (Image credit: Craig Hale)

According to the5krunner, we're looking at a watch that's a variant on the Fenix 8 that launched in August 2024 – a smartwatch that's so good we awarded it five stars out of five in our full Garmin Fenix 8 review.

Features we can expect to see on the D2 Mach 2 include a built-in database of worldwide airports, an altimeter with adjustable barometric setting, a 3-axis compass, weather updates on a moving map, and flight plan syncing from Garmin Pilot.

There's also talk that the watch may gain some diving features, which the D2 Mach 1 didn't have. Like the original version though, the D2 Mach 2 is thought to be missing out on features relating to golf and sailing, available in other models.

In the meantime, we're patiently waiting for the arrival of the Garmin Forerunner 975 too. Back in March we saw a regulatory filing suggesting another Garmin wearable was on the way, but we're still not sure what it is.

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