Technology

• YouTube might be planning a big redesign of its TV app's homepage
• The new layout will reportedly incorporate more streaming services
• Creators will be able to display their content in episodes and seasons

YouTube has been teasing some big changes to its TV app, and it looks like one of these new features might see the addition of more on-demand streaming content from the likes of third-party services such as Netflix.

That's according to a new report from The Information as seen by The Verge, which reveals that a new redesign of the homepage is expected to be launched in the "next few months."

The update is expected to make it easier to see which of the best streaming services you're subscribed to through the YouTube TV app, which you can access via Primetime Channels. The big difference that the change will make is instead of hiding away this content in the 'Movies and TV' tab, it will reportedly include it on the homepage alongside your favorite creators' videos.

That's similar to the interfaces of apps like Apple TV and Prime Video, which act as hubs for all your subscriptions. However, not every service is available via Primetime Channel, which varies depending on your region.

For example, US users can access Max on YouTube's Primetime Channels, while UK and Australian users can't. This is expected to change as part of the redesign's shift, though, as YouTube reportedly told The Information that it stopped offering new services due to its struggle to integrate paid content into the app.

YouTube's streaming dominance

YouTube has been the most popular streaming platform for a while now – it had an 11.1% majority share of TV and streaming viewership in the US in December 2024, according to a report by Neilsen.

That's not surprising when you consider that watching YouTube on TVs has become the preferred device to access the video sharing platform compared to phones and laptops, making it even more embedded into our home cinemas.

As part of YouTube's broader plans to make its app more like your favorite streamer, the service has also previously said that it will give its creators a new feature that lets them format their content into episodes and seasons – just like one of the best Netflix shows.

That change was announced in September last year and is expected to be further expanded with plans to add functionality that will let you automatically preview a movie or show on the homepage when scrolling over it – just like you would see on the homepage of Netflix.

Kurt Wilms, YouTube’s senior director of product management, told The Information that the service envisions these new automatic previews blending content from third-party apps with creators' videos.

What the new YouTube TV app will look like and whether these new features will become available is not yet definite, of course, but we'll be keeping an eye out for any updates and will report back as soon as we have more news from YouTube on the changes it plans to launch.

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The company is also adding six other games to the service.

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Right now, Apple’s iPad lineup is a strong four, two of which come in two sizes. Just this morning, Apple ushered in the next generation of the iPad Air and the entry-level iPad, which is now dubbed iPad (A16).

Even with the gorgeous Dynamic OLED display on the iPad Pro, the bite-sized build of the iPad mini, and the sheer value of the iPad Air – now with M3 – the entry-level iPad is still a perfect balancing act.

On paper, the most recent upgrade seems minimal – it’s a jump from the A14 Bionic chip to the A16, which Apple promises delivers up to 50% better performance and a doubling of the internal storage from 64GB to 128GB. Both of these keep this iPad ticking, but what it doesn’t bring is support for Apple Intelligence.

It's kind of a surprise, yes, but it also shows that Apple isn’t necessarily on a quest to bring it to every device, or at least not at this time. Further, I think it’s a sign of what this entry-level iPad is all about and a testament to the fact that the rest of the hardware here makes it a pretty perfect package.

High-end looks with likely stellar performance

(Image credit: Apple)

There is no knocking the iPad (A16) for its looks – it still comes in some fun colors and boasts an iPad Air-esque design with rounded edges and a healthy bezel around the now-called 11-inch Liquid Retina display that’s still 10.86 inches. It looks modern in every sense of the word, even though it’s stuck in the design language that was used when it was the tenth Generation.

This was also the first iPad with a front-facing camera on the landscape side and Apple’s still sticking with that placement on everything but the iPad mini. You also get an easy way of unlocking and purchasing with Touch ID built into the power button, and there is a camera on the back should you want to take photos with your iPad.

The Apple Pencil situation here is still a little complicated as the iPad (A16) has a USB-C port but supports the first-generation Apple Pencil even though it has a Lightning port built-in. To charge it, you’ll need an adapter and a USB-C to USB-C cable – it’s incredibly clunky, but it works.

A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

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You can also opt for the Apple Pencil with USB-C, which you can slide the top over to expose the USB-C port to plug it in for charge. That’s equally clunky. It does magnetically attach to the side of the iPad (A16) for safe-keeping, but that won’t charge it.

Once you figure out how to keep it charged, it works like an Apple Pencil should – giving you an experience that’s close to writing with pen to paper or drawing on a surface. Scribble is supported here, letting you write a message, and the iPad automatically translates it to text. It was kind of an Apple Intelligence-like feature before that was dubbed the name for Apple’s suite of AI functionality.

The A16 chip here should be plenty powerful for all the major tasks one would want to use an iPad for, like:

• Following a recipe
• Browsing the web
• Playing a game from the App Store or Apple Arcade
• FaceTiming with friends or family
• Reading a book
• Listening to Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run
• Scrolling through photos or editing some
• Typing a story … maybe even this one?
• Taking notes with an Apple Pencil
• Endless other things
• Streaming movies and TV shows

You get the point, but the vast majority of things that one can do on an iPad are all possible here (with the notable exception of Apple Intelligence). No, it might not replace a high-performance workflow that you’d need an iPad Air or iPad Pro for, but for the basics and even some more fun processes, the iPad (A16) is more than capable.

After all, to deserve the name of iPad, it needs to be an iPad. But when my friends or family ask me which one is best, if they aren’t doing anything crazy and simply want an iPad to join the bandwagon, as a secondary device, or as one for streaming content, this entry-level iPad checks off the boxes.

It has the better Magic Keyboard

(Image credit: Apple)

If you want to use the iPad for email, spreadsheets, or other productivity tasks, it also works with my favorite Apple keyboard accessory. The Magic Keyboard Folio has two parts: one that magnetically snaps to the back with a kickstand that you can prop up at various heights, and a keyboard on the front complete with function keys and a good-sized trackpad.

When you don’t need the keyboard, that front piece can snap to the back with the keys facing inward so you don’t accidentally have the keys pressed. It’s great and super functional; it’s not the cheapest, though, at $249.

The previous tenth-generation iPad is our pick for the ‘Best iPad’ overall, and on our Best Tablets page, is the best for most. I expect that this iPad (A16) will quickly shuffle into that spot with better performance after we go hands-on, even without Apple Intelligence.

So if you can live without Image Playground, summarized notifications, or writing tools and want an iPad for drawing, browsing the web, FaceTiming with friends or family, gaming, and streaming your favorite content, don’t dismiss the entry-level iPad … it’s pretty awesome. And I can’t wait to test one out, hopefully in Yellow or Pink.

Apple's taking preorders now for the iPad (A16) with a starting price of $349 / £329, and it will formally launch on March 12, 2025.

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The year's biggest phone show, Mobile World Congress, often has some wild handsets -- here's the cream of the bizarre crop.

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• Analysts says Microsoft has cancelled leases with at least two data center operators
• It could be reassessing AI infrastructure investments amid potential oversupply
• Despite adjustments, Microsoft maintains its $80 billion AI commitment

Microsoft may not be quite as all-in on investing in AI infrastructure as recent reports have suggested. MarketWatch reported on a research note written by TD Cowen analysts which claims Microsoft has cancelled leases in the US with at least two private data center operators.

The leases totaled “a couple hundred megawatts” and Microsoft is also is not converting “so-called statements of qualifications into leases”. The same analysts also report that Microsoft has moved a portion of planned international spending to the US.

This is despite a recent interview with Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who said AI supply and demand will have to meet and that tech firms will need to exponentially invest to make this happen.

Raising broader questions

“When coupled with our prior channel checks, it points to a potential oversupply position for Microsoft,” said lead analyst Michael Elias. The group believes the shift is linked to OpenAI which Microsoft has close ties to.

“Consider this: Microsoft was the most active lessee of capacity in 2023 and 1H24, at which time it was procuring capacity relative to a capacity forecast that contemplated incremental OpenAI workloads. However, as we believe is indicated by its decision to pause construction on a data center in Wisconsin - which our prior channel checks indicated was to support OpenAI - there is capacity that it has likely procured, particularly in areas where capacity is not fungible to cloud, where the company may have excess data center capacity relative to its new forecast,” the analysts said.

Writing about the news, Bloomberg said, "A potential lease pullback by Microsoft raises broader questions about whether the company - one of the frontrunners among Big Tech in AI - is growing cautious about the outlook for overall demand. The company has said it expects to spend $80 billion this fiscal year on AI data centers, and on a late January earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said Microsoft has to sustain spending to meet “exponentially more demand.”

“While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions," a Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg. "Our plans to spend over $80 billion on infrastructure this FY remains on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand.”

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• Pixel feature drop for March adds several new features to Google's tech
• Scam Detection is coming to Google Pixel 9 phones in the US
• Multimodal Gemini Live tools are coming to the Pixel 6 and newer phones

The latest Pixel feature drop update for March and Android update are bringing some impressive new tools to your Google Pixel phone and Watch devices, including improved scam protection and US FDA-cleared Loss of Pulse Detection.

Starting with the major new Pixel phone features, the headliner is AI-powered scam protection. Using on-device AI this tool will apparently alert you in real time if the person you’re calling or text messaging is using language that's common among scammers, and everyone with a Google Pixel 6 or later can access the tool for texts in the UK, US and Canada; meanwhile Google Pixel 9 phones in the US can also use the call protection tool. Note, however (as Google itself warns), that scammers can mix up their tactics, and so the AI won’t be 100% effective, so don’t over-rely on this protection and drop your guard.

Continuing with the safety trend, Google’s Find My Device service is getting a new live location-sharing tool in-app, so you can easily update your friends and family on your whereabouts – either to let them know you got home safe, or to help coordinate a meetup. The app will also regularly remind you that you’re sharing your location, and with who, so you can remember to turn it off when it’s not needed. This feature isn’t a Pixel-exclusive – it’s coming to all Find my Device-compatible Android phones.

Beyond safety, the Pixel drop also includes new creative tools. New text-to-image tools in Pixel studio will let you create stickers and images of people and scenes on the Google Pixel 9, and if you love to stream your activities on YouTube, TikTok and other platforms from your phone, there's a new multi-cam feature – using a Pixel 9 phone as the primary device you can sync with a Pixel 6 or later Google phone, or a GoPro Hero10 Black or newer camera, to stream with a multi-cam setup.

Three features for the Pixel Watch 3

The (Image credit: Future)

Google Pixel Watch 3 users are also getting some nifty tools, starting with its Loss of Pulse Detection feature, which is launching in the US after being cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. This feature can detect when you experience a loss of pulse (perhaps due to cardiac arrest, circulatory failure, or an overdose or poisoning) and will contact emergency services, and it’ll start rolling out to Watch 3 users at the end of the month.

Pixel Watch 3 users can also now take advantage of new on-device menstrual tracking. This can help you monitor your period, and perhaps even predict when you might get your next one, all from your wrist.

Finally, all Pixel Watch devices are now set to offer improved step tracking precision, as the devices are now supposedly better at detecting when your walking pattern deviates – being able to tell the difference between someone jogging, pushing a shopping cart, or hiking with poles.

There are also a few more minor improvements coming to Google Pixel and Android devices, which you can check out in full on the official Google website, but the above features are the ones we’re most excited to try out – scam protection seems especially useful, and I’m excited to see how well it works.

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• A travel tracking software firm has suffered a data breach
• The researcher discovered 10 open Lost & Found databases
• Over 800,000 Lost & Found customers could be exposed

A dataset containing 820,750 records totaling 122GB has been discovered online, most likely belonging to German tracking software firm Lost & Found, which primarily services the aviation industry.

As revealed by security researcher, Jeremiah Fowler, this was in an unprotected and publicly exposed dataset of 14 databases in total, 10 that were accessible and 4 that were restricted. Within these, the researcher found shipping labels, lost item reports, and screenshots, ranging from personal electronics, wallets, bags, medical devices, and other personal effects travelers often take on flights.

That’s not all though, as a number of personally identifiable documents were also included, such as passport scans, drivers licenses, employment documents, and more. The researcher suggests these could either be lost and uploaded by airport staff, or used to file claims and identify ownership of lost documents.

Customers at risk

Once a disclosure notice was sent, the databases were restricted “within hours”. It’s not yet known whether the databases were owned and managed directly by Lost & Found, or if a third-party contractor had control. It’s also unclear how long the dataset was exposed, or if threat actors accessed the information.

Since there is a possibility that the information was accessed by threat actors, this leaves anyone exposed in the breach at risk. Since IDs and passports were included, this means the primary risk is identity theft, as criminals could use these scans to apply for loans, credit cards, or bank accounts.

To protect against this, anyone concerned they may be affected should closely monitor their account, transactions, and statements, and immediately report any suspicious activity to their bank.

Alongside this, be vigilant against any social engineering attacks by carefully inspecting any unexpected communications you receive from unknown sources - especially those prompting action.

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• Microsoft has patched a loophole in Windows Copilot
• Copilot will no longer inadvertently aid in unlicensed OS copies
• The company has yet to tackle the wider issue available online

Microsoft has updated Windows Copilot to prevent the AI-powered assistant from recommending third-party tools to aid in the piracy of its popular operating system.

Previously, it's claimed that Windows Copilot was not only recommending the use of third-party tools, but was also outlining ways to bypass Microsoft's licensing system where other AI programs, such as ChatGPT, were not generating activation keys for the operating system.

When testing Windows Copilot for workarounds, it will now completely reject any prompts for activation codes, third-party tools, and how-to information. Additionally, it stresses how unauthorized copies of the operating system are illegal, violate the terms of service, and recommends contacting official Microsoft support to get a legitimate copy.

Despite the Windows Copilot loophole getting plugged, it goes to show Microsoft's commitment to refining its AI assistant, which has been a core component of the operating system as laptops (and newer desktop processors) have utilized dedicated NPUs to better aid AI workloads. However, the technology is still in its infancy, which is causing some embarrassing issues, such as this one.

With that all said, many methods of unlicensed and authorized Windows 11 activations are still available online, they are just not being actively promoted by Microsoft's own AI assistant. It's about getting things under control as AI-generated content becomes more widely adopted.

A step forward for policing AI content

One of the major privacy concerns around AI has been the unregulated and unauthorized way that it can scrape and produce content for the end user. With Microsoft's Copilot, it was previously (inadvertently) being tricked into showing users ways of bypassing Windows licensing protocols. While it never directly gave out working activation codes, it was making things as easy as possible in other respects. Certainly not something Microsoft would like.

There have been discussions around updates, upgrading and alleged downgrading of Copilot since it first emerged in November 2023. In October 2024, it received a substantial visual makeover, and was able to interact with online and local (on the device) content.

It's a bid to make Copilot stand out against the bulk of its AI-powered rivals such as X's Grok, Google Gemini, and Open AI's ChatGPT. While some of its alternatives may help users bypass Microsoft's security measures, at least it won't be happening on its own platform anymore.

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• Wireless direct-to-phone design with 100ft range
• Four available polar patterns for different scenarios
• Available now from $299 / £289

Creators looking for better sound for their vlogs and podcasts have no shortage of wireless microphones to choose from – but Shure’s latest mic takes things in a different direction to the wearable likes of the DJI Mic Mini and Saramonic Ultra.

Unveiled today, the Shure MoveMic 88+ is a wireless mic designed to be mounted on tripods or microphone stands rather than clipped to your shirt collar or lapel. It's designed for video professionals or journalists who need a small, lightweight mic with enough flexibility to be used for everything from nature documentaries to short films and two-header interviews – it can link up directly with the user’s smartphone over a range of up to 100 feet.

With the user running the Shure Motiv Video app, they’ll be able to select one of four polar patterns – stereo, mono cardioid, mono bi-directional or raw mid-side – and fine-tune the mic’s audio performance by adjusting gain, EQ, noise reduction or engaging a high pass filter. Recordings can be stored directly on the phone, or live streamed to platforms including YouTube and Facebook.

The MoveMic receiver (on the left) is an optional accessory that expands the MoveMic 88+'s compatibility (Image credit: Shure)

The direct-to-phone wireless link keeps things simple while offering superior audio performance to a phone’s on-board microphone, particularly in environments with wind or traffic noise. Shure also suggests the MoveMic 88+’s size and range could prove invaluable for remote recording scenarios, giving the example of clearly capturing the sounds from a bird’s nest while sitting at a distance; the mic’s discreet size means it could be placed close to the nest without disturbing its inhabitants.

The MoveMic 88+ has a built-in rechargeable battery delivering up to eight hours of use, topping up via USB-C when required, and comes supplied with two mounting clips – one for camera cold shoes and another for 5/8” mic stands. It can also work when handheld directly, according to Shure – but does seem a little small to hold comfortably.

The Shure MoveMic 88+ can be purchased solo for $299 / £289, or in a bundle with the MoveMic Receiver ($449 / £439), which allows it to connect to cameras, computers and smartphones (for third-party app recording) via USB-C or 3.5mm cable.

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• Apple has released new Apple Watch bands for spring 2025
• There are new Sport Loop and Sport Band shades
• There are also new Solo and Braided Solo Loop options, and impressive new Hermès options

Alongside its new M3 iPad Air and A16 iPad, Apple has quietly unveiled a series of new shades for many of its best Apple Watch bands just in time for spring (if you're in the US or UK that is).

Apple continually updates its Apple Watch band palette with various shades and colors throughout the seasons, and we've now got our first look at the Spring 2025 collection.

First up, there are new Sport Loops in Periwinkle blue (a quiet nod to Guy Ritchie fans) and Sage green, both priced at $49.

For sport users, there's a new Aquamarine green Sport Band, as well as a Tangerine orange and a Periwinkle option, again priced at $49. Sadly, there are no new Nike options, but the Solo Loop is available in three new colors including the aforementioned Periwinkle, Northern Lights (a fluorescent green), and pink Peony (club, I'm gonna keep on danci... sorry).

More Apple Watch bands for 2025

(Image credit: Apple)

Also new for 2025 are Tangerine, Aquamarine, and Peony braided Solo Loop bands priced at $99.

Finally, for the premium buyers, you can now get a new Hermès band for the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, in a new Bleu Hydra En Mer, which costs a cool $449 – that's more than the Apple Watch Series 10.

There's also a new Hermès Toile H Single Tour in black, and a new Hermès Twill Jump Attelage Single Tour in three new shades, all priced at $349. New colors are also available for the Hermès Kilim Single Tour and Hermès Bridon Single Tour and Attelage Double Tour ranges as well.

You can see every new available color, size, and band on Apple's website.

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