Technology

• Apple TV+'s Foundation has reportedly found a new showrunner
• Fear the Walking Dead showrunner Ian Goldberg has reportedly been hired to replace David Goyer
• The big-budget sci-fi series is also getting a fourth season, apparently

Apple has reportedly hired a new showrunner for its critically-acclaimed Foundation TV show – and secretly greenlit a fourth season.

Per Deadline, the tech giant has secured the services of Ian Goldberg, whose previous credits include helming seasons 4 through 8 of Fear The Walking Dead. A big-budget and oft-times narratively complex sci-fi series is a far cry from Goldberg's work on the dystopian horror spin-off of AMC's popular The Walking Dead TV adaptation. However, Goldberg has penned scripts for other sci-fi shows, including Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Krypton, so the genre won't be alien to him.

Goldberg's rumored hiring comes exactly one year (i.e. February 26, 2024) after reports emerged that Foundation had lost its previous showrunner/executive producer David S. Goyer. The US filmmaker is said to have clashed with Apple TV+ executives over the budget for Foundation season 3, which is currently in its post-production phase. Goyer is believed to have stepped back from his duties following those apparently tense conversations, with Bill Bost being asked to oversee the rest of season 3's lengthy shooting schedule.

Goldberg's installation as the series' new showrunner isn't the only new, erm, news that Deadline reported on. The US outlet also claims that Foundation has been internally renewed for a fourth season and that a writers room has already been assembled by Goldberg to start work on its screenplays.

I reached out to Apple for comment on Goldberg's hiring and the series' season 4 renewal, but hadn't received a response by the time of publication. I'll update this article if I hear back.

Laying the groundwork for a brighter future

Foundation's third season has faced plenty of hardships throughout its development (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

It's an understatement to say that one of the best Apple TV+ shows has run into development problems since its outstanding second season aired in 2023 (read my Foundation season 2 review to find out why I liked it so much).

Two months after Foundation's season 3 renewal in December 2023, reports started to emerge that its cast and crew faced an agonizing filming delay amid multiple development issues with its third season. Principal photography had already started before these problems arose, but the 2023 Hollywood strikes and aforementioned budget woes were blamed as the main culprits for the hold-up last February.

Filming restarted on Foundation season 3 on February 19, 2024, but its problems didn't end there. Goyer's departure notwithstanding, the loss of Mikael Persbrandt, who had been cast as The Mule, an incredibly important and dangerous antagonist in Isaac Asimov's Foundation book series, caused further issues. Game of Thrones' Pilou Asbaek was hired to play The Mule following a season 3 cast shake-up last March.

Thankfully, it doesn't appear that there have been any other significant issues that have hampered season 3's development. As long as its post-production phase continues to run as smoothly as possible, it's likely that Foundation's next chapter will debut on one of the world's best streaming services before 2025 ends.

For more details on its next season, read my dedicated Foundation season 3 guide or remind yourself what happened in its predecessor's last episode by way of my Foundation season 2 ending explained piece.

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This week, both new and existing Mint Mobile customers on the carrier's already great unlimited data plan have received an unexpected but welcome bonus.

The carrier has just announced that it's removing the strict 40GB data cap that was previously in place on the unlimited plan. This cap meant that customer speeds were dramatically reduced after you hit your cap - thankfully, that's not the case now.

Instead, the unlimited plan will now only be slowed when you're over 35GB of data usage and the local area is particularly busy. You won't get any deprioritized speeds unless you go over that cap - and your plan will go back to full speed if your local area isn't experiencing heavy traffic.

This makes the Mint Mobile unlimited data plan much more forgiving for high-data users since you won't get any permanent slow-downs on your data speeds until the next bill cycle. Mint hasn't hiked up the prices for its unlimited plan, so you're getting even more bang for the buck than you were previously. In fact, there is a deal on the unlimited plan that I've also attached below.

Today's best deals at Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile: unlimited plan for $30 $25/mo when you buy a year upfront
Mint Mobile's just launched a great deal for its excellent unlimited plan. Instead of paying the usual $360 upfront, you can now get a full year of unlimited data for just $300 right now. That brings the average monthly price down to just $25/mo - the same that you'd usually pay for the 20GB plan. Even better still, Mint has just removed the strict 40GB cap on its unlimited plan, which makes it an even better option regardless of this deal. View Deal

Google Pixel 9: was $799 now $399, plus one year of unlimited data for $180 at Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile's current promotion on the Google Pixel 9 is one of the best prepaid phone deals you'll find anywhere right now. For a limited time only, new customers can get a massive $400 discount on this excellent flagship as well as one full year of unlimited data for just $15/mo. Overall, this is a great plan and phone combo, although note that the Pixel 9 did briefly go down to just $299 over Black Friday. Still, this is an amazing deal and one that's hard to beat.View Deal

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: was $1799 now $1,449, plus one year of unlimited data for $180 at Mint Mobile
Another one of Mint's superb deals on Google Pixel phones, this time on the really, really high-end Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This particular foldable isn't for everyone with it's massive tablet-like display and high price tag but today's deal at Mint Mint will get you a nice $300 discount. You'll also be able to score a full year of unlimited data for just $15 per month, for an additional $180 saving. View Deal

You can see even more promotions over at our main Mint Mobile deals page. It's also worth checking out more cheap cell phone plans if you're thinking of making the switch to a more budget-friendly carrier.

It should come as no surprise to regular readers of TechRadar’s Computing section that I’m a big, big fan of Framework. It’s the laptop maker that does everything right: repairability, eco-friendly designs, great customization options, and a company ethos that puts employees first. I waxed lyrical about the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition’s awesome design back in 2023, and now I’m getting excited all over again - because Framework is finally making a desktop PC.

The Framework Desktop, showcased in a blog post on the manufacturer’s website, does admittedly feel slightly counterintuitive to Framework’s mission statement. After all, desktop PCs are already more customizable, repairable, and upgradable than laptops, a set of benefits Framework was keen to bring to the laptop space with its main product line. The blog post addresses this, though, saying that the reason it’s finally decided to make a tower PC is because of the new AMD Ryzen AI Max processors - chips so good that Framework shifted its roadmap a year ago to incorporate them into a desktop system to “unlock every bit of its performance”.

AMD’s latest are some seriously meaty CPUs, so it makes perfect sense to see this happen. With up to 16 CPU cores at a 5.1GHz boost clock and newly powered-up Radeon 8060S integrated graphics plus an NPU for running local AI workloads, AMD isn’t messing around, potentially making the Framework Desktop a candidate for our list of the best workstation PCs. Framework claims that the top-spec Ryzen AI Max+ 395 configuration is capable of 1440p gaming in even “the heaviest titles”, something I’m keen to put to the test.

Good things come in small packages

Also… this is just the cutest little desktop system I’ve seen in my life. Seriously, look at it. It’s adorable. Fit to be one of the best mini PCs ever seen, frankly. The front panel is formed of 21 swappable colored tiles, and Framework has open-sourced the design so you can 3D-print your own too. You can choose between a solid black or glass side panel, pick an RGB fan, and even add an optional carry handle for those of us who still go to LAN parties.

(Image credit: Framework)

All that is great, and I adore how sleek and compact this thing is, but there’s one more design choice here that is far more important: Framework has included the hot-swappable ‘Expansion Cards’ used for customizing the ports on its laptops, meaning that you can choose exactly which two ports you want on your front I/O. That’s neat.

The top-spec Ryzen AI Max+ 395 configuration starts at $1,999 (£1,999 / about AU$3,160), which is a fairly high price of admission for a desktop PC, but as I noted in my review of Framework’s Chromebook, you’re getting a lot of computer for your cash and you’re making a socially and ecologically responsible purchase. For those who don’t need that peak performance, the 8-core Ryzen AI Max 385 configuration will start at $1,099 (£1,099 / about AU$1,740). Framework has also confirmed that there will be new models of its flagship 13-inch laptop, plus the new 2-in-1 touchscreen 12-inch model.

Framework describes its desktop PC as “the easiest PC you’ll ever build”, and even offers the mainboard - which is the motherboard, CPU, and RAM - as a standalone unit starting at $799 (£799 / about AU$1,265), so you can install it your own custom-build compact PC instead if you’d prefer. Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on the whole PC.

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• Kaspersky research finds "hundreds" of malicious GitHub commits
• Commits pretend to be useful software but trick victims into downloading malware
• At least one person lost 5 BTC because of the campaign

Cybersecurity researchers Kaspersky have iscovered a longstanding, widespread criminal campaign targeting software developers with information-stealing malware.

Kaspersky said it observed hundreds of fake GitHub repositories, some posing as tools and automation mechanisms, others as hacks and cracks, that were actually delivering different sorts of malware to their victims. They dubbed the campaign ‘GitVenom’. Apparently, someone has been very thorough, carefully setting up commits, writing accompanying documentation and readme files, all in order to avoid being flagged as malware.

However, beneath the fake documents lies malicious code built in Python, JavaScript, C, C++. and C#. Kaspersky saw Node.js stealer, AsyncRAT, Qasar backdoor, and a clipboard hijacker. The malware has been circulating across GitHub for at least two years, Kaspersky stressed, with targets and victims located all over the world, but some countries are targeted more than others: with Russia, Brazil, and Turkey hit especially hard.

Losing bitcoin

There is no telling how many victims fell for the ruse, but Kaspersky singled out one case in which someone lost 5 BTC to the scam, equivalent to just under half a million dollars.

GitHub is one of the most popular code repositories in the world, used every day by millions of software developers. It is an important platform that helps speed up and simplify software development, while at the same time improves security by allowing countless security experts to scrutinize the code.

However, the popularity also draws in the wrong crowd. GitHub is constantly being bombarded with malware, as hackers employ typosquatting, impersonation, and outright fraud, to try and trick people into downloading malware instead of legitimate code.

GitHub’s maintainers work hard to keep the platform clean, and were forced on multiple occasions to suspend new account creation and new commits submissions, due to an onslaught of malware.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti is again rumored to have 16GB and 8GB versions
• It’s now claimed the 16GB version will arrive first, later in March, and the 8GB model in the first half of April
• There’ll be worries about that 8GB loadout, but we mustn’t forget the other VRAM specs that are pertinent here

Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti is seemingly the next Blackwell graphics card to go on sale – well, following the imminent RTX 5070 which arrives early in March – and it’ll be produced in 16GB and 8GB flavors.

Wccftech brings word – grab the saltshaker and use liberally – from unnamed sources that Nvidia reportedly intends to release the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB version first, in the latter half of March. The 8GB model will supposedly then arrive the following month, though it should be in the first half of April.

Core spec details are not provided here, notably, save for a guess that these graphics cards will be built on the GB206 chip as previously rumored (the Blackwell silicon which is a tier below GB205, the engine of the RTX 5070).

What we do learn, though, is that Nvidia is said to be sticking with a 128-bit memory bus, which is the same as the RTX 4060 Ti models.

If you think it’s disappointing that the VRAM (video RAM) capacity and bus specs are unchanged, well, don’t forget that the rumor mill believes Nvidia is using GDDR7 with its RTX 5060 models, the faster video memory present in the existing Blackwell line-up.

Because it’s a lot quicker – running at 28Gbps, rather than 18Gbps with the RTX 4060 Ti – the overall bandwidth will be considerably beefier with the RTX 5060 Ti, over 50% faster in theory. So, don’t worry about a lack of performance oomph on the VRAM front, in short.

Finally, we’re told that the RTX 5060 Ti will have a power usage of 180W, which is a step up from its predecessor, but only by 20W or so. It’ll still be a GPU that can be run with a relatively modest PSU, in other words, and apparently, the RTX 5060 Ti will also have boards that use a traditional 8-pin power connector to make for a relatively hassle-free upgrade. (This is despite some previous speculation indicating that Nvidia would mandate the newer 12V-2x6 connector for all Blackwell GPUs, although it will be present on some 5060 Ti cards, we’re told).

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: Yet more VRAM controversy, potentially

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors about the RTX 5060 Ti mirroring the RTX 4060 Ti with 16GB and 8GB variants. And just like the previous-gen Lovelace boards, this means the xx60 Ti graphics card can have more VRAM than the xx70 class model – 16GB versus 12GB – if you fork out for the more expensive RTX 5060 Ti.

That brings us to the topic of price, where Wccftech tells us that nothing concrete has been heard on the grapevine yet. The RTX 5060 Ti will obviously have to start at an MSRP of considerably less than the RTX 5070, which is $549 / £539, and Wccftech’s guess of $400 to $500 (the latter for top-end 16GB cards) seems about right.

I’m guessing Nvidia won’t have made that final decision yet, though, and is quite likely waiting to see how the RX 9070 models, or indeed RX 9060 – which are rumored to be getting an airing at AMD’s GPU event later this week – pan out for their MSRPs.

Pricing for the 8GB variant of the RTX 5060 Ti could be a tricky matter, as there were plenty of complaints about the RTX 4060 Ti being underpowered for video memory with that pool of VRAM. Now, we’re a whole generation on, so Nvidia sticking to the same loadout is going to go down like a lead balloon with quite a few PC gamers, I can guarantee that.

Of course, the overall increase in VRAM speed brought in by the introduction of GDDR7 (in theory) has to be considered, as I already observed – and the same goes for Nvidia’s new tricks to get more out of video memory with the Blackwell generation. But I’m guessing some gamers are going to be difficult to persuade away from the notion that simply on a raw capacity front, 8GB is just looking too thin for any real future-proofing here (even at 1080p gaming).

I’m getting ahead of myself here, though – we need to see what Nvidia reveals first, of course, even if the grapevine seems pretty consistent with its rumors here (which tends to be a sign they’re on the money, though it’s no guarantee by any means).

What’s also interesting here is that there’s no mention of the RTX 5060, and when that might arrive. If the 8GB flavor of the RTX 5060 Ti isn’t turning up until maybe mid-April, that may mean the vanilla RTX 5060 could be pushed back to May, perhaps? Those other rumors about delays for Nvidia’s RTX 5060 models appear to be backed up by this latest piece of speculation, at any rate.

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• iOS is changing "Trump" to "racist" when transcribing
• Apple says the bug is now being fixed
• The official explanation is "phonetic overlap"

iPhone owners have noticed a peculiar bug in recent days: "Trump" autocorrects to "racist" when using speech-to-text dictation mode. According to Apple, it's a problem with "phonetic overlap", and a fix is already in the works.

After TikTok videos of the slip went viral, Apple provided a statement to The Guardian and others, blaming "phonetic overlap" between the two words: "We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation, and we are rolling out a fix as soon as possible," a spokesperson said.

While many people were able to recreate the blip, it didn't happen every time – and the text seemed to revert back to "Trump" after a short delay. The latest reports online suggest Apple's fix has already taken effect, so you might not see it happening any more.

In its explanation, Apple suggested its speech recognition engines were struggling to distinguish between words with "r" in them. Further testing suggested iOS didn't always get the word "racist" right either, though historically Apple's speech-to-text engines have been very reliable.

'Just not plausible'

Apple says the Trump-related bug is getting patched (Image credit: Getty Images)

Apple will be keen to draw a line under this as soon as possible and get the error corrected. It seems particularly unfortunate that a transcription bug like this would link two specific words sure to set off a wave of controversy and politically-charged debate.

Peter Bell, professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, told the BBC that Apple's explanation was "just not plausible" given what we know about speech-to-text technology. "It probably points to somebody that's got access to the process," said Bell.

John Burkey, founder of Wonderrush.ai, gave a similar option to the New York Times: "This smells like a serious prank," he said. "The only question is: did someone slip this into the data or slip into the code?"

This also feeds into the wider conversation about AI and its reliability, as AI models are used to convert the spoken word into transcribed text – something that you can now do on any modern smartphone. Whether it's meeting notes or show subtitles, we need to be able to rely on the accuracy of this fast-spreading technology.

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• Sony unveils FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS and FE 16mm F1.8 G lenses
• The 400-800mm lens is Sony's first-ever with 800mm reach
• The full-frame lenses cost $2,900 / £2,550 and $800 / £850 respectively (AU pricing to follow)

Sony has unveiled two lenses for its full-frame cameras, covering wide-angle and telephoto extremes between them. The headline-grabbing lens is the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS, because it's Sony's first-ever telephoto lens to reach the 800mm focal length.

Costing $2,900 / £2,550 (AU pricing to follow) and available from early March 2025, the 400-800mm joins Sony's other telephoto zooms – a 100-400mm and a 200-600mm – as the one with the longest reach, making it particularly ideal for wildlife and action photography where you can't get close, such as birding and motorsports.

What's more, it works with Sony 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. The latter can extend the maximum reach up 1600mm, even if the reduced f/16 maximum aperture is impractical for most scenarios, besides sunny weather.

Alongside the 400-800mm lens, Sony is also introducing the FE 16mm F1.8 G, which costs $800 / £850 (again, AU pricing to follow) and should be available from early April 2025. The ultra-wide prime joins a crowded section of Sony's expansive lens line up, with plenty of alternatives to consider.

Where it hopes to stand out against the likes of the FE 14mm F1.8 GM, FE 20mm F1.8, FE 16-25mm F2.8, FE 16-35mm and F2.8 GM II is its competitive price, compact build, ultra-wide perspective and fast f/1.8 aperture. For users of either of those zooms who generally stick to the widest angle, then the new 16mm prime could make way more sense.

We are currently carrying out an in-depth review of the 400-800mm lens, coming really soon, so do look out for that. (Image credit: Chris Rowlands) The ultimate super-telephoto zoom?

Sony isn't the first to launch a super-telephoto zoom with maximum 800mm focal length. No, that accolade went to Canon with its RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM in 2023.

There's plenty going for the 400-800mm lens, mind. Sony says it is dust-resistant and moisture-resistant, plus its focusing and zoom are internal – the latter being a welcome surprise.

An internal zoom means the lens doesn't extend as you zoom in and out, with the center of gravity essentially unchanged. Most enthusiast zoom lenses extend as you zoom, including Canon's, and there's potential for dust and moisture to enter the lens through its extending barrel. Not so with Sony's 400-800mm.

This is an optically complex lens too, comprising 27 elements in 19 groups, 6 of which are ED elements, plus an 11-blade circular aperture for what should be pleasant bokeh. Sony says there's minimal flare, ghosting and chromatic aberration – our incoming in-depth review will reveal all.

The lens' minimum focus distance is 1.7m, delivering a maximum 0.23x magnification – this is no macro lens. It's equipped with two linear motors and supports autofocus tracking up to 120fps, meaning the autofocus performance of Sony's best cameras can realize its full potential with this lens in play.

We're also testing the 16mm F1.8 lens – here it is attached to the Sony A7C II. (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

The lens is stabilized, which is an essential feature for a super-telephoto zoom, but unfortunately Sony couldn't tell us what the lens's OIS is rated up to. We should have that info by the time our in-depth review is published.

At 2,475g, Sony's 400-800mm lens is weightier than Canon's super-telephoto, plus it's slightly pricier while Canon's lens has a 4x optical zoom which can zoom out wider to 200mm.

For people with a Sony camera, however, the new FE 400-800mm offers the longest reach possible at a competitive price. It's not a pro-grade Sony lens, but I can see it being particularly popular with enthusiast wildlife and action photographers, for whom the maximum F6.3-8 aperture is acceptable.

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Amazon Prime Video have released the first trailer for brand new thriller Holland and what could be one of the best new movies on Prime Video looks as darkly funny as it is deeply unsettling.

The film stars Nicole Kidman as “the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan, tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.”

The film has actually been in development for over a decade, with the screenplay topping the 2013 blacklist. Back then, Naomi Watts and Bryan Cranston were attached to star, with Errol Morris on directing duties. The film rights were acquired by Amazon as part of their purchase of MGM studios in 2022.

Judging by the trailer, which you can watch just below, the film looks to be a mash-up of Hitchcockian mystery and Lynchian suburban satire, with a hint of The Truman Show – all shot through an A24-style lens. And from Fresh director Mimi Cave, we’d expect nothing less, after that movie’s skewering of the horrors of modern dating.

The film sees Macfadyen continue to soar post-Succession following his villainous turn in Deadpool & Wolverine, in a role that may not be all it seems. While Fred Vandergroot is ostensibly the perfect family man, the trailer hints at a sinister side, and that, potentially, the husband and father may be the orchestrator behind the bizarre goings on that plague Kidman’s character. Meanwhile, Bernal’s teaching colleague Dave joins Nancy as she investigates the unfolding mystery.

Kidman has been carving out quite a niche for herself as the queen of the streaming thriller in recent years after turns in Nine Perfect Strangers, Big Little Lies and The Perfect Couple. While still very much in the ‘suburban wife with a secret’ mould of those characters, Vandergroot looks to be a refreshing change of pace, with a quirkier performance from the star than we’ve seen recently, as Nancy spirals out of control.

Holland isn’t the only project that sees Kidman teaming up with Amazon either after she fronted Lulu Wang’s drama series Expats. Prime’s upcoming crime adaptation Scarpetta will see Kidman star alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, while an adaptation of Andrew Bovell’s award-winning play Things I Know to Be True is still in production for the streamer, which ranks among the best streaming services.

Also starring Rachel Sennott, Lennon Parham, Isaac Krasner and Jeff Pope, Holland is set to premiere at South by Southwest Festival on March 9 before landing on Prime Video on March 27, 2025.

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• The ES90's 800V architecture is more efficient and faster to charge
• Mammoth 111kWh battery offers huge range
• Recycled materials and battery passport will also feature

Volvo is poised to reveal its handsome all-electric saloon next week, claiming that this "supercomputer on wheels" will be the most powerful electric vehicle it has created concerning processing power.

But the Swedish marque continues to drop enticing tidbits as we speed towards the full reveal, including the fact that it can manage 700km of range on a single charge – that’s 435-miles for imperial unit fans.

This is thanks to an enormous 111kWh battery pack and 800V electrical architecture borrowed from the EX90 SUV, which is not only more efficient during operation but can also assist in charging at speeds of up to 350kW.

Volvo says that if you can find the appropriate fast-charger, you can add 300km (186 miles) in the time it takes to use the toilet and order a coffee – or 10 minutes, in other words.

When developing the ES90, Volvo introduced lighter e-motors and other components to reduce overall weight, as well as creating the latest in-house battery management software that provides a more “robust charging experience,” according to the Swedish brand.

Harnessing the brains behind Breathe Battery Technologies, a company Volvo invested in last year, the carmaker has been able to shave down the time it takes to charge the ES90’s batteries from 10 to 80% by as much as 30 per cent, down to just 20 minutes from the fastest chargers.

The ES90 also includes plenty of recycled materials to reduce its carbon footprint, including the fact that 29 per cent of all aluminum and 18 per cent of all steel used in the ES90 is recycled, while the ES90 also contains 16 per cent recycled polymers and bio-based materials.

Volvo's blockchain-based battery passport initiative will also feature in the latest model, allowing owners to track the exact raw materials used, where they came from and its overall CO2 footprint.

Volvo feels premium saloons still have a place

(Image credit: Volvo)

Despite the SUV body style still making up the bulk of vehicle sales around the world, Volvo still feels there is a place for long and luxurious saloons, with the ES90 set to offer a massive amount of legroom in the rear for those who like to be ferried around.

Speaking to Autocar recently, Volvo boss Jim Rowan explained that its Chinese buyers still favour luxury cars with “really long leg room” in the rear, indicating that the ES90 is likely to boast plenty of space to stretch out.

On top of this, the latest Superset tech stack, which we reported on last week, will allow Volvo’s suite of sensors, which includes cameras, radar and Lidar, to offer the next generation of advanced safety functionality and increasing levels of autonomous driving – something that Chinese customers also rank high on their list of must-haves.

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• Microsoft CEO says AI is yet to have its Excel moment
• The real benefits should be measured in its GDP contribution
• AI will allow knowledge workers to focus on knowledge work

Satya Nadella has said that AI should be measured on its benefit to GDP, rather than “self-claiming some AGI milestone,” the Microsoft CEO said on Dwarkesh Patel’s podcast earlier this month.

“That's just nonsensical benchmark hacking,” he continued, stating AI was yet to find the application that would make the years of hype a reality.

“When we say: 'Oh, this is like the industrial revolution,' let's have that industrial revolution type of growth. That means to me, 10 percent, seven percent for the developed world. Inflation adjusted, growing at five percent, that's the real marker,” Nadella said.

Boosting GDP, enhancing “knowledge work”

Nadella used Microsoft Excel as a comparison for how AI is yet to find its proper place in the modern workplace, with physical documents and faxes delivering being an arduous task that would present a forecast “maybe just in time for the next quarter.”

“Then somebody said: 'Hey, I'm just going to take an Excel spreadsheet, put it in an email, send it around, people will go edit it, and I'll have a forecast.' The entire forecasting business process changed because the work artifact and the workflow changed. That is what needs to happen with AI being introduced into knowledge work,” Nadella said.

But the Microsoft CEO doesn’t think AI will replace knowledge work, but rather free up more time for knowledge workers to focus on higher-value tasks, asking “who said my life's goal is to triage my email?”

Many workers already live in fear of being replaced as companies see AI as a tool to reduce costs and increase profits. Luckily for us, the main obstacles to prevent AGI - or AI models with cognitive capabilities that exceed the human brain - from replacing human workers are legal issues.

“Today, you cannot deploy these intelligences unless and until there's someone indemnifying it as a human,” Nadella said.

Via TheRegister

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Xbox's February update has expanded the fittingly named 'stream your own game collection' feature, allowing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play more games that they own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The news comes from an official Xbox Wire post. Alongside now being able to invite your friends to a cloud gaming multiplayer session, the post details all the games now added to the stream your own game collection feature. Those recently added are as follows:

• Blasphemous 2
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Slime Rancher 2
• Subnautica
• Subnautica: Below Zero
• The Talos Principle 2
• Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered

There are also a healthy number of games being added to the streaming service soon, including:

• Atomic Heart
• Cult of the Lamb
• Hotline Miami
• Killer Frequency
• Neva
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
• Serious Sam Collection
• Trepang2
• Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition

This brings the total number of owned games players can stream to more than 50, and it seems like there's going to be even more added to the feature in the near future.

While Xbox Cloud Gaming itself covers a range of titles available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this feature is specifically designed to give players the option to stream the games that they own beyond the subscription service.

Still, to make use of the stream your own games collection feature to begin with, you will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. You can check the box below for all the best rates on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in your region, should you need to renew your sub or add some more time to it.

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• A new rumor suggests the Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone won't be revealed at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked after all
• Prior rumors suggested the new device would be revealed alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7
• We aren't convinced by either side of the argument

We’ve heard plenty about the rumored Samsung Galaxy tri-fold (or, as Samsung might call it, multi-fold) phone recently, but if a new tipoff is anything to go by, we might not have the new foldable in-hand until quite a bit later than some might have hoped.

According to tipster Max Jambor, the Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone will not launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 – both of which are expected to be revealed at this year’s summer edition of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked (or winter edition, if you're in Australia).

Jambor shared the tipoff to X (formerly Twitter), countering previous rumors that suggested the tri-fold Galaxy phone would launch at Samsung’s semi-annual event.

However, Jambor didn’t offer much in the way of context or justification for this claim, so we aren’t totally sure that it’ll hold true.

Samsung first teased a tri-fold device at this year’s first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showcase, just before revealing the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S25 Edge – it would feel satisfyingly symmetrical to have the device officially revealed in the same way.

Samsung first teased a tri-fold device at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked in January 2025 (Image credit: Future)

However, as we previously reported, Korean outlet ET News recently suggested that the tri-fold Galaxy phone would be revealed at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked.

Overall, it’s hard to gauge which rumor is more reliable – but I think it’s worth keeping expectations tempered for the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked livestream.

As it stands, there are no tri-fold phones available worldwide. Huawei has stated its intention to launch the Mate XT Ultimate tri-fold phone in global markets, but this won't include the US as Huawei is banned from doing business there.

As we’ve previously covered, the Samsung Galaxy G Fold is expected to feature two panels that unfold from a central panel, rather than the Z-shaped configuration used by the Huawei Mate XT.

We haven’t heard much about tri-fold devices from other phone makers, so it seems that Samsung has a solid chance of being the first company to produce a truly globally available tri-fold device, which will no doubt rocket into a spot on our lists of the best Samsung phones and best folding phones.

What do you think of these rumors? Is a Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone something you’re looking out for? Let us know in the comments below.

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• More Pixel 9a pricing leaks have now emerged
• The 128GB model may match the Google Pixel 8a
• However, the 256GB version could cost more

The mid-range Google Pixel 9a could be with us as soon as next month, and freshly-leaked pricing information gives us some idea of how much this phone is going to cost across the world – and it seems Google will manage to hit the price points of last year's model.

According to Android Headlines, the phone will cost £499 in the UK for the 128GB version, and £599 for the 256GB model. We also have European pricing here, which comes in at €549 for 128GB of storage and €649 for 256GB of storage.

The same source previously posted US pricing in January, and that's repeated again here: $499 for the 128GB model and $599 for the 256GB model. Those are all fairly standard mid-range phone prices, but how do they compare to the Pixel 8a?

As our Google Pixel 8a review will tell you, it launched at a price of $499 / £499 / AU$849 / €549 (128GB) and $559 / £559 / AU$949 / €609 (256GB). Across the board (including Australia, presumably, which we don't have leaked prices for yet) it's price parity for the 128GB edition and a slight price bump for the 256GB edition.

The price is right?

The Pixel 9a could challenge the Pixel 9 (shown here) for value (Image credit: Future)

It's perhaps no surprise that there's a small price hike for the 256GB version of the Pixel 9a, after we've seen the iPhone 16e just hit the market for a starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 – replacing the iPhone SE 3, which cost a mere $429 / £419 / AU$719 at launch.

Instead of lamenting the increased cost for the extra storage, maybe we should be pleased that the base model of the phone costs the same as the 2024 version. The extra processing power for all this on-board AI doesn't come cheap, after all.

Of course, this comes with the rather big caveat that none of these prices are confirmed yet. As reliable as Android Headlines usually is, we're not going to know the actual cost of owning a Pixel 9a until the phones are officially unveiled.

There have been plenty of Pixel 9a leaks in recent weeks to whet our collective appetites: the phone is rumored to be doing away with the iconic Pixel camera bar on the back, and could come with a 6.3-inch, 120Hz display, as well as a battery that beats both the Google Pixel 8a and the Google Pixel 9.

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• A new leak claims Apple’s smart doorbell will have MagSafe compatibility
• This could allow it to be wirelessly recharged, but there are few details
• The doorbell is also expected to feature Face ID security

There are several great ways you can use Face ID to improve your security, such as unlocking your iPhone and confirming purchases. But there’s one device that feels like a natural fit for Face ID: a smart doorbell. Apple is rumored to be building just such a device, and a new leak has claimed that it will add a few intriguing extra features that rivals won’t be able to match.

The leaker Kosutami has claimed in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that the smart doorbell could find a way to integrate Apple’s MagSafe tech. Kosutami has been correct about future Apple products (like the iPhone 16 Pro), but they've also had some misses as well – so it's worth taking these rumors with several helpings of salt.

“There’s something Apple ringing on your door,” the leaker posted, followed up by the tidbit, “MagSafe on your door, it rings.” MagSafe enables accessories to magnetically attach to all the best iPhones, and it can also be used for wireless charging.

That’s not all. Both posts were preceded by Kosutami writing the following cryptic post: “Guess what, home accessories is knocking your door! And you can hear from next generation AirPods Pro!”

While Kosutami didn’t mention Face ID, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has previously alleged that Apple will work the facial recognition technology into its smart doorbell product. Gurman believes the doorbell will support Apple’s upcoming Proxima Wi-Fi chip and the Thread wireless standard.

A smart home push

(Image credit: Arlo)

If both Gurman and Kosutami are correct, Apple’s rumored smart doorbell could come with a range of features seen in other Apple products. That makes a lot of sense, as Apple often borrows features from across its product lineup when upgrading products and releasing new devices. And in the case of a doorbell, elements like Face ID and AirPods Pro compatibility make a lot of sense.

For instance, you could use Face ID to ensure that the door only unlocks for you, keeping your home safe and shutting out would-be intruders. It would also be a lot more convenient than using a key or even an existing smart lock solution like tapping an Apple Watch onto a sensor.

The AirPods Pro tie-in, meanwhile, might allow people to communicate via the doorbell. When wearing AirPods Pro, for instance, you might get an audio alert that a person is at the door. You’d then be able to communicate with them using just your earphones.

What’s a little more unclear is how MagSafe might be applied to the doorbell. Kosutami’s post might imply that you will be able to wirelessly charge the doorbell using a MagSafe-compatible charging puck, but the leaker didn’t go into detail on this point. Attaching the doorbell to a wall using MagSafe doesn’t make much sense, as it would be very easy to detach and steal.

With Apple reportedly developing several smart home hubs and a home security camera in addition to the smart doorbell, it looks like the company is planning to make a serious push into the smart home market. Gurman believes the doorbell won’t launch until 2026 at the earliest, but it could make quite a splash when it eventually lands.

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