Technology

• Keurig Alta is a single-brew system that uses tablets of compressed coffee
• AltaRounds are compostable, and are brewed in the Keurig Alta machine
• The Alta machine is also fully backward-compatible with K-Cups

Keurig is famous for its K-Cup coffee pods, but it's breaking away from the traditional capsule format with a single-serve system called Alta that uses tablets of compressed coffee with no individual packaging. According to a press release, "Keurig Alta represents the future of single-serve — and the future of Keurig," though you don't need to worry about your favorite coffee pods disappearing any time soon.

The new coffee tablets, called AltaRounds, have a recipe code printed on the surface, and are brewed using a new Alta coffee maker that uses the code to determine the right brew style, pressure, and temperature for your drink.

The concept is very similar to the pressed coffee tablets used by the Lavazza Tabli system I tested this week, but there are a few key differences. For example, Keurig's AltaRounds have a thin plant-based coating to keep the coffee fresh, prevent breakage during transit, and help generate the pressure for brewing. Lavazza's coffee tabs are uncoated, and don't have a code to provide brewing instructions.

Keurig's first Alta coffee maker is quite different to Lavazza's Tabli machine as well. The Tabli only prepares espresso, whereas the Keurig Alta also has an integrated milk frother for more complex drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. A color screen on the Alta machine walks you through a range of coffee and espresso beverages, and the system is backwards-compatible with K-Cups in case one of your favorite drinks isn't available in Alta format yet.

KeurigKeurigKeurigKeurig

The switch to AltaRounds will be gradual, and K-Cups aren't vanishing overnight. Keurig Alta Coffee & Espresso is the first brand of AltaRounds, and six varieties will be rolling out after the machine's launch:

• Single Shot: medium roast single espresso
• Double Shot: dark roast double espresso
• Bold Ambition: dark roast coffee
• The House: medium roast coffee
• Fresh Take: light roast coffee
• Sweet Spot: caramel flavored coffee

Peet's Coffee AltaRounds are coming soon as well, with more brands to follow.

AltaRounds are packaged in an SFI-certified paperboard carton, and their coating is made from an NSF-certified plant-based material that includes alginate from seaweed harvested off the coast of France.. The whole AltaRound, including coffee and coating, is certified for home and commercial composting, so you can dispose of them just like ordinary coffee grounds.

A limited early access bundle is available direct from Keurig until October 15, while supplies last. Pre-orders will ship October 21. The bundle is priced at $499.99, and includes a Keurig Alta brewer, four boxes of AltaRounds pressed coffee, and glassware made by Ethan Rode of FLUR.

The price works out at approximately £380 / AU$720, but the bundle is only available in the US.

• Amazon has overhauled its entire Kindle ereader line
• They have new materials and a repositioned power button
• There are also new accessories, some of which will turn heads

Yes, Amazon has an all-new line of 13th-generation Kindle ereaders. Sure, they're marginally lighter and thinner than ever, with scant display upgrades, newly smooth, flush faces, and some with stamped aluminum unibodies that come in brilliant and quite trendy colors. But can we talk about buttons? Or, rather, one very specific one, the power/sleep button?

Every once in a while, a tech company makes me feel seen, or at least heard. I've been complaining for years about the placement of the Amazon Kindle e-reader's power/sleep button. It sits on the bottom edge, where it's too easy to trip when, say, I prop the Kindle Paperwhite up on a hard surface, or even on my lap or chest while reading.

When I asked Amazon's Kindle hardware lead Kevin Keith about the issue in 2024, he told me there was a need to put the button as close to the ereader's light guide as possible. I accepted that explanation, and grumpily moved on.

Turns out, though, that's not the full story. As I held the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2026 edition in my hands, and marveled at the newly repositioned power button (it's on the right side!) Amazon VP of Design Chris Green told me the reason for the original placement was to keep costs down.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 2026Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

"The reason why it was at the bottom originally was because it's the lowest-cost location. The main logic board was down at the bottom with the USB....We were trying our hardest to have the lowest carbon footprint, the lowest cost price, to push it all to the benefit of the customer," said Green, who told me he joined Amazon 19 years ago on the day the original Kindle launched. Since then, Green has designed every Amazon hardware product, including these new Kindles.

After I wrote the piece linked above, airing my frustration about the original button placement, readers dragged me for making a mountain out of a molehill. I ended up thinking I was alone in my take. Turns out, Green has been fielding similar complaints for quite some time.

Kindle Colorsoft 2026Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

"The amount of people that complained about it with [using it] on treadmills, while sitting, and putting it on the tummy, and all those kinds of things...the worst case is a treadmill, because if you don't tap it, you stab it. And so people were stabbing this display, and the button was moving," said Green.

Amazon's attempts to address the issue without moving the button, by recessing it, shifting it slightly, failed. "The long and short of it is, it's got to go on the side," said Green.

Now every new Kindle in the refreshed lineup has a power/sleep button, on the right side, relatively close to the top edge of the device.

Those new ereaders are:

• Kindle e-reader 6-inch entry-level
• Kindle e-reader 6-inch Aluminum
• Kindle Paperwhite 7-inch
• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 7-inch
• Kindle Kids
• Kindle Colorsoft
• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition

Across the line, Amazon introduces new colors (Graphite, Alpine Sky, Seaglass Green, Ube), thinner, lighter designs, and new materials. With the exception of the base model Kindle (140g, which is 13% lighter and 6.8mm thick), the lighter and thinner frames can usually be measured by a millimeter here and a gram or two there.

The Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft, notably, get accelerometers which will recognize if you've turned the reader upside down and will automatically rotate the text. The reader will also support reading in landscape mode, which might be kind of cool for graphic novels.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureKindle 2026Lance Ulanoff / Future

On the face of its most affordable Kindle, the 6-inch model, Amazon took away the raised bezel for a perfectly flat and smooth all-glass face, which matches the look of all the other Kindles in the new lineup. But Amazon has gone a step further by introducing matching colors to the bezels of the entire Kindle line. So a Ube (purple) Kindle's color will wrap from the back all the way to the front and quite close to the E Ink display.

There was, it turns out, a reason these bezels surrounding the E Ink screen have traditionally been black. That light-absorbing color ensures that the front lights don't bounce off a colored cover and obstruct or weirdly bedazzle your e-reader display.

The solution for this, Keith explained, was first used on Kindle Scribe devices.

"We invented a new edge color technology that does a black mask on the back and, in this case, Ube on the front, and so you're able to get the absorption of the light, but you're also able to get this beautiful color."

Amazon Kindle 6-inch previous model on left new flat bezel on right (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Some of the new e-readers (both entry-level and Paperwhite) feature a chassis material not seen on a Kindle since the discontinued Kindle Oasis: aluminum.

It's a rigid but strong and lightweight stamped aluminum unibody with a 6mm back and 1mm sides; however, it's how Amazon is making it that's interesting.

Where most tech companies are choosing to mill out their aluminum chassis with CNC machines, Green told me Amazon went with stamping. The benefit is that while CNC milling can take 30 minutes, the stamping process takes seconds.

Kindle Aluminum modelLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

"It's a three-stage process: when we start with a flat sheet, and you stamp it, and then you take this piece, and then you put it into a forge, and you press it... Then you do a light CNC to clean it up. Now what this means is you're literally wasting 60% less material, and you're also wasting 60% less energy," explained Green.

Amazon hasn't really upgraded the software or E Ink displays in any noticeable way, but when I asked Green about the E Ink partnership and how their close association impacts any design and development decisions, he said, "They are obviously a very important partner to us. We have looked at other types of technology. For these types of displays, they're just the best, and we have to work with them."

Green paused for a second and smiled almost wistfully, "Do I wish there were other people out there? Well, let's just say they're the only ones out there."

Amazon, by the way, has gone a little wild with physical buttons in this round of Kindles, or rather with this round of Kindle accessories.

For the new aluminum-backed (and magnetically ready) Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft models, both of which feature a series of connector pins on the back, there's now a cover that adds physical page-turn buttons: the Page-Turn Cover ($79.99).

That's right, Amazon is going full-on retro with a perhaps unintentional nod to the original Kindles, which featured a lot of physical buttons.

Kindle Page-Turn CoverLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

The Page-Turn Cover snaps onto the back of the Kindle, nestling a bar featuring forward and back page-turn buttons tightly against the right edge of the reader. The case also features a copy of the right-side power button on the outer edge of the case bar.

I gave the case a little test drive, rapidly pressing the forward and back buttons as I watched the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition quickly refresh and turn pages (it's reportedly 30% faster).

Amazon, though, isn't done with buttons. There is yet another accessory, and it takes page turning off the Kindle and puts it in the palm of your hand. It's called the Kindle Click ($34.99) and is, as the name implies, like a remote control for your Kindle.

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Looking like a pale, undersized TV remote, it features two large, thumb-pressable buttons on the face for forward and back page turns. There are also two thinner and smaller buttons on the side for brightness control.

While I struggled to understand why anyone would need a remote for a device that's often just 10 inches from their face, Keith explained the thinking behind this unusual accessory.

Kindle ClickLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

With BookTok inspiring more and more young readers who are creating elaborate setups for reading (sometimes under the covers with special stands for the e-readers), Keith sees a need for gesture-free page turning and brightness control.

"My use case is I work out on an Elliptical, and I used to have to swipe, and now you can just turn the pages," he said, adding that it could be a game changer if you're flying on an airplane and just want to prop up the Kindle and sit back and casually turn pages by pressing the remote. If I start using it while reading on my Kindle, I'm sure to fall asleep reading that much faster; after all, raising my hand to swipe pages is usually all that's keeping me awake.

The 6-inch Kindles, in Ube and Graphite, arrive today (October 1) and are still $149 / £149.99 / AU$279 for the 16GB model. "We really were trying to bring innovation to the lineup and be able to absorb as much of the memory costs as we could to be able to keep our prices affordable," said Keith. The new aluminum chassis Kindle, in Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green, starts with 32GB of storage for $189.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.

The updated 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite (starting at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$369), Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition ($249.99 / £229.99 / AU$399), and the 32GB Kindle Colorsoft, which starts at $289.99 / £259.99 / AU$449 ($319.99 / £289.99 / AU$499for the 32GB aluminum Signature Edition), arrive October 28.

The OmniBook 5 14 AI PC has a larger OLED display than the Neo, and HP promises it will have better battery life, too.

Prime Video’s Carrie is a poignant, emotional retelling of Stephen King’s classic horror story.

• CD Projekt Red originally wanted to add Geralt's silver chain to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but there were technological constraints
• Songs of the Past game director Jakub Rokosz says modern tech allowed the team to finally add it in the upcoming expansion
• Rokosz says the 11-year time difference between the base game and Songs of the Past has made a huge difference

CD Projekt Red couldn't implement Geralt's silver chain in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt due to technological constraints, but modern technology finally allowed it to add the weapon in the upcoming Songs of the Past expansion.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, Jakub Rokosz, Fool's Theory CEO, Songs of the Past game director, and former Witcher 3 senior quest designer, explained that the chain, which first appeared in the first Witcher game, was something CDPR originally "always wanted to bring" to the third installment.

"There were numerous conversations that we [had where we] would want to do the chain even during the base game, but it was impossible from a technological standpoint to do it properly," Rokosz said. "Back then, the way the combat, the targeting, the camera, the enemies were implemented, it would require too much of an overhaul just for one feature."

CDPR didn't have the tools to overhaul these features for one weapon; however, working on the remaster and Songs of the Past with today's updated tech allowed the team to bring the chain to life.

"When we started working on Songs of the Past and the remaster at the same time, we knew that we were going to be touching up on various things, and all of a sudden the chain became a reality," the developer said.

"Also, one other thing is that the physics and animation technology had to go a little bit forward in time. And trust me, 11 years is a lot of difference. So now we were actually able to make the animations of the chain feel very natural, very fluid, and simulated very easily. Whereas 11 years ago, we would probably have to animate it by hand, with all the animations."

Senior quest designer Despoina Anetaki added that, "from a practical standpoint," it's challenging to work with so many animations for a huge game like The Witcher 3.

"When it comes to the remaster, it's a lot of things already, so you can focus on new things, right? And this was a good opportunity for the chain," Anetaki said. "I think it's a really cool weapon."

Geralt's crossbow can be switched out for the silver chain, and players can use it on flying enemies, enemies in water, and for crowd control, with Anetaki saying she thinks fans will love it.

"It's a very versatile weapon, and I think it's gonna fulfill that butcher fantasy for a lot of people, especially those who have read the books and are imagining a badass Geralt with a chain. I think it's gonna be very good for them," she said.

Rokosz added that it was important to make sure the chain wasn't "a gimmick item" you get in Songs of the Past and wanted it to be "a very important piece" of a witcher's arsenal that can be used in the base game and previous expansions, with Anetaki saying that it is something that is "woven into the narrative."

Songs of the Past doesn't have a release date yet, but it's slated to launch in 2027.

• Only 44-47 of the Netherlands' 186 large data centers publicly reported energy and water usage
• The EU hides raw data behind efficiency labels, which make local judgments hard
• EU criticized of breaching Aarhus Convention

A new Lighthouse Reports investigation has found most European data centers are still obscuring their actual environmental impacts from the public despite EU rules aiming to improve transparency around energy and water reporting.

Among the included metrics are water and energy consumption, renewable energy use, waste-heat use and cooling efficiency, however while they may be reporting to governments, Lighthouse Reports argues that obtaining this information as a member of the public is far harder.

The report also criticizes the EU for exposing efficiency labels, much like your household appliance, rather than the actual raw data.

European data center reporting isn't all that transparent

Without access to the raw data, communities and policymakers can have a hard time judging the environmental impact of a proposed or operational data center, because even the most efficient hyper scale campus will still consume huge amounts of electricity and water.

In a Netherlands example, of the 186 500kW+ data centers operating in the country by late 2025, only 44 offered public electricity consumption figures and 47 offered water consumption figures.

However, Lighthouse Reports claims that Netherlands reporting is actually among the most transparent, and after trying to make similar attempts across all 27 EU member states, numerous requests were denied because they didn't possess the relevant information or because they deemed it confidential.

"The Commission has bowed to confidentiality clauses demanded by the industry," Lighthouse Reports concludes.

The group has since one on to file a complaint under the Aarhus Convention, claiming the EU is breaching the Convention's guarantees to "rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters."

TechRadar Pro has asked the European Commission for a response to the report and subsequent complaint, but we did not receive an immediate response.

The Celebrity Traitors is back for a second series on BBC One, which means I'll once again be spending far too much time trying to work out who's lying, who's being murdered and why nobody else can see the incredibly obvious Traitor. Last year's winner Alan Carr wasn't exactly a master of subtlety, yet somehow got away with almost everything. David Olusoga summed it up perfectly afterwards, saying Alan “could have come down to breakfast in a green cloak” and he still wouldn't have suspected him.

I feel a particular affinity with the show because I actually used to own a duplex apartment in a castle, complete with a turret. There weren't any murders planned there, but, as the top half was an ensuite bathroom, it did make getting up in the night feel suitably dramatic. To celebrate the return of The Celebrity Traitors, I've come up with 12 suitably treacherous products to bring a touch of Ardross Castle into your own home — no green cloak required.

Top 12 Traitorous treasures

Waverley Books Tartan Notebook/journal

Blueprint Collections

Blueprint Collections Traitors Letter Writing Set

Yankee Candle Scented Candle

St. Martin's Press Liespotting book

Nordik By Design Leather Desk Mat

Edwin Blyde Celtic Sword Letter Opener

Thorne Antiques and Collectables Highland Stag Sculpture

Teslyar Wood Phone Docking Station

Tailormap Harris Tweed Wool Valet Tray

Tailormap Harris Tweed Pen Pot

Blueprint Collections Traitors Pencil Case

Donql Mini Chalkboard Signs

• Read more: How to watch The Celebrity Traitors

OM System PEN

Panasonic Lumix L10

OM System has finally given Olympus PEN fans what they've been wanting for years: a PEN update. The series of rangefinder-style cameras with Micro Four Thirds mount has a cult following, and the latest model to join the ranks, simply named the OM System PEN, is surprisingly affordable.

At the time of writing, I'm still using and testing the new OM System PEN for my in-depth review — look out for my comprehensive verdict, coming soon. But throughout my time with the retro-cool camera I've been struck by just how similar it is in design and size to another hit camera from 2026: the Panasonic Lumix L10 premium compact.

I've already used the Lumix L10 alongside the viral Fujifilm X100VI to see which of those two premium compact cameras I preferred, and there's lots to like about the classy model, which marked the 25th anniversary of Lumix — but how does it fare against a mirrorless camera?

I took the Lumix L10 and the OM System PEN with me on a work trip to China, where I had plenty of opportunities to shoot cityscapes, street photography and more with both cameras, and get a real feel for them in the process. Let's dive in and see how they compare.

Lenses: the major differenceThe OM PEN with the 14-42mm mark III kit lens attached, the Lumix L10 with its built-in lens retractedTim ColemanBoth lenses extend when in use, but the Lumix L10 lens packs away smallerTim ColemanTim Coleman

• OM System PEN: Micro Four Thirds lens mount, with hundreds of lenses to choose from
• Lumix L10: A built-in 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens

The OM System PEN features a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, meaning it's directly compatible with hundreds of MFT lenses that between them cover just about any situation — macro, portraiture, wildlife, you name it. The camera can be purchased body-only, or with a new kit lens — the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III (equivalent 28-84mm). Unlike previous versions, this third-generation lens is "splash proof", as is the OM PEN body.

The Lumix L10, meanwhile, has a built-in 10.9-34mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens (24-75mm equivalent), which is more compact than the OM PEN's new kit lens. It extends when you turn the camera on and when zooming, and is, theoretically, at risk of dust ingress over long-term use. Panasonic doesn't class the lens as dust- and moisture-proof, but does note that the design has been improved from previous LX100 cameras that the L10 is based on.

If I'm comparing the two cameras based on using the PEN with its kit lens, then I easily prefer the Lumix L10. The lenses have similar optical zoom ranges — 3x (OM PEN) to 3.1x (Lumix L10) — but the wider focal length of the L10 at the short end of the range makes it the more versatile of the two. The L10's lens is also physically smaller, and its brighter maximum aperture is way more versatile for portraiture and low-light photography.

All that being said, you can easily swap out the OM PEN's kit lens for another, and doing so makes many of the above comparisons moot. For example, I also used the tiny 45mm f/1.8 lens (90mm equivalent) with the OM PEN, and capturing shallow-depth-of-field portraits with this combo is a breeze.

Of course, more lenses means additional cost. If you're starting off with the OM PEN's kit lens, and unlikely to buy more glass, then the Lumix L10 wins here.

In the handTim ColemanTim Coleman

It's remarkable just how similar the OM System PEN and Panasonic Lumix L10 look. Their bodies are nigh on identical in size, and strikingly similar in appearance and layout. If you want retro looks, both fit the bill.

Both feature a rangefinder-style 2.36m-dot EVF, and I couldn't spot any real differences between these displays. The same is true of the 3-inch articulating touchscreens, though the L10's has a higher-resolution display that looks slightly crisper to the eye. Both feature a hotshoe for accessories such as an external flash, and a largely similar control layout.

There are some minor differences; the OM PEN has an additional color mode dial on the front beside the lens, and it's screen sits nice and flush in the body when folded away. The fiddly on/off switch is poorly designed, though — good luck trying to simply turn it to photo mode without shooting past to the video modes.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

The Lumix L10 has a slicker, classier feel to it, with a shutter button (complete with a thread for a cable release) set within the zoom rocker, and a button set within an exposure dial (both the button and the dial are customizable). I'm less convinced about the memory-card door placement being on the camera's underside as opposed to the side. Also, its retractable lens design results in a two-second wait before the camera is ready to shoot from powering up, which limits its street photography credentials.

Battery life is solid for both models too, at 420 shots (L10) to 410 shots (OM PEN) respectively. Overall, I enjoyed the feel of the Lumix L10 more.

Features to play with

Both cameras feature a Micro Four Thirds sensor — the OM PEN's is a 20.4MP, while the Lumix L10's is 26.5MP. You'd think that would be an image-quality win for the Lumix L10; however it's not that simple. Because of its built-in lens design, the L10 can't use the entire sensor area for photos, and with 20.4MP effective pixels, the playing field regarding resolution is leveled — image-quality potential (ignoring factors such as lens choice) is effectively the same.

One major difference is that the OM PEN's sensor features 5-axis image stabilization (IBIS), whereas the Lumix L10 has no such feature. OM System rates the effectiveness of the OM PEN's IBIS up to 5.5EV, which makes it the more versatile of the two for some handheld photography and video.

Pair that image stabilization with the PEN's computational photography modes, which includes Live ND for long-exposure effects (up to 4EV), High-Res shot (quadrupling the camera's resolution for detailed landscape shots), focus stacking (ideal for macro photography), and HDR (extending dynamic range in a final single shot), and you have a powerful tool, no tripod needed.

The Lumix L10 has tricks of its own, mind you, including High-Res shot, while it's the more feature-packed of the two for video, with 5.6K recording, 5.2K open gate, and Panasonic's latest Real Time LUTs profiles and phase detection autofocus. For stills, autofocus performance is similar, but for video the L10 has the edge.

Lumix L10 sample galleryThe Lumix L10 with its lens set to 75mm f/2.8Tim ColemanTim ColemanI took this night shot handheld using the 24mm focal lengthTim ColemanHere I secured the camera to a tripod and enabled a slow shutter speed to blur the moving water — the old fashioned approach to long exposure photographyTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanOM System PEN sample galleryI used the 14-42mm kit lens and matched the Lumix L10's 75m focal length here, and the maximum aperture available is f/5.3, so the L10 can blur backgrounds betterTim ColemanTim ColemanHandheld at 28mm, not quite as wide as the Lumix L10's 24mm zoom lensTim ColemanA long exposure effect, handheld, using the Live ND computational photography mode. I needed a tripod to get this effect with the Lumix L10Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanPrice and availability

• OM System PEN: $999.99 / £849 / AU$1,499 body-only, $1,099.99 / £949 / AU$1,799 with the 14-42mm kit lens
• Lumix L10: $1,499 / £1,299 / A$2,599

OM System has priced the new PEN very aggressively, which is refreshing in a time of component shortages and price hikes. I can't think of another camera with a built-in EVF and in-body image stabilization for a price this low — $999.99 / £849 / AU$1,499 body-only, or an additional $100 / £100 / AU$300 for the 14-42mm mark III lens kit.

The latter kit-lens price is the fairer comparison, since you're getting a built-in lens with the Lumix L10, and the PEN is still cheaper. If we're talking optical quality, however, then a pricier OM System lens, such as the 12-45mm f/4 Pro, is an even fairer comparison, at which point each camera feels like similar value for money. Yes, it's cheaper getting started with the OM PEN, but if you're going to build your lens collection then the Lumix L10's one-off price will likely end up being the lower long-term outlay of the two.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)OM System PEN vs Lumix L10: early verdict

The OM PEN's rangefinder-style design is well suited to everyday photography, as is the Lumix L10. As such, users are typically going to pair the PEN with lenses that sit within the range that the Lumix L10's built-in 24-75mm f/1.8-2.8 lens already covers. To a degree, therefore, the PEN's lens-choice advantage becomes less important, which surprised me.

Overall, I preferred the feel of the Lumix L10 — it's the classier and slicker camera of the two, and better equipped for video. However, it's slow start-up time (because of the retracting lens design) is a drawback, while I appreciated the OM PEN's in-body image stabilization, and its arsenal of computational modes for creative shooting techniques.

As with so many camera comparison tests I undertake, each of these models has its own distinct advantages. I like the convenience of the OM PEN, but as a standalone package I prefer the Lumix L10.

• Octopus Energy says it's sold out of its plug-in solar kits for a second time
• More stock of the now-legal kits is apparently "on the way"
• Meanwhile, manufacturer UKSOL says more retailers are stocking its kits

The threat of a worsening energy crisis is pushing many of us towards tech that could help cut our growing bills — and Octopus Energy says it's now sold out of its plug-in solar kits for a second time in less than four weeks, after being "blown away" by the demand.

Plug-in solar kits, which can be installed without professional help, were legalised in the UK just over a month ago. Octopus Energy has been offering two DIY kits to customers, with a choice or one 460W panel (£450) or two panels (£650, including VAT and curb-side delivery).

The energy giant says that "thousands of households" have been trying to get one of its plug-in kits, but supply hasn't been able to meet demand. Octopus says the first 500 kits were gone in two weeks, and it's just sold out another batch.

Because they can be mounted on either walls or the ground, plug-in solar kits are particularly appealing to renters. Octopus claims customers can save up to £150 a year thanks to savings on their electricity bills and by using its Outgoing export tariff. However, that figure is for its dual-panel setup and can vary depending on your sunlight levels, installation and energy consumption.

That dual-panel option is apparently the most popular choice among Octopus customers, with 89% of early buyers opting for that more powerful kit. That's not hugely surprising, given household bills are predicted to see their biggest rise (16%) in four years from January.

Analysis: A first step, rather than a quick fix

Octopus Nook batteries (above) are due to go on sale in early 2027 (Image credit: Octopus Energy)

The popularity of plug-in solar kits isn't surprising given the recent headlines about energy prices, but they're far from a quick fix.

Even if you opt for the dual-panel option from Octopus, the payback period is still over four years, according to the energy giant's figures. And while plug-in solar kits are now legal in the UK, you're not currently allowed to plug them into home batteries (without professional installation) to store the electricity.

Octopus Energy recently told me that plug-in batteries are the "the real game-changer", and it's patiently waiting for those to become legalised in the UK. It's already announced its Octopus 'Nook Cube' battery and says it's "due to launch in Q1 next year".

In the meantime, UK residents who don't want to spend thousands on a professionally installed setup can only lay the groundwork with plug-in solar kits. While Octopus Energy has promised that more of its kits are "on the way", one of the UK's main plug-in solar suppliers has just revealed that its kits are now available in more retailers.

UKSOL, which became the first plug-in solar company to get regulatory approval back in August, says its kits (starting at £599) are now available online from Wilko, Homebase and PlumbNation. You can already buy them from the likes of Argos and Very, though model availability varies by retailer.

Like Octopus Energy's kits, they combine the solar panels, mounting equipment and a microinverter, plus an app for monitoring your electricity generation.

Lego is constantly switching up its lineup — and as thrilled as I am to discover each month's batch of new releases, it's always tempered by the knowledge that a load of existing sets will also be getting the chop. And this month there are some truly iconic kits set to make their way to the big Lego bin in the sky very soon.

First up, a Nightmare Before Christmas set that's perfect for October. It features Halloween Town in all its wonky, whimsical glory, with instantly recognizable scenes including the moon over Spiral Hill. It's almost a crime to be retiring this set during spooky season, but you still have time to grab one if you're quick.

Another set I'm especially upset about is a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory set (the classic Gene Wilder one, not the terrible Johnny Depp one). This movie walks the line between magical and haunting, and it's all there in the Lego set, from the candy scenery to the chocolate river and the paddle boat that haunted my childhood dreams.

Scroll down to browse my highlights from Lego's retiring-soon lineup.

US: Lego sets retiring soon

Hop down to the UK section

Lego Disney Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas

Lego Harry Potter Luna Lovegood's House 76467

Lego Icons Natural History Museum

Lego Harry Potter The Burrow 76437

Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon 75192

Lego Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale

Lego City Central Train Station 60469

Lego Arcade Machine

LEGO Lego Wicked Emerald City Wall Art 75685

Lego Vincent Van Gogh — The Starry Night

Lego Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Lego The Botanical Garden

UK: Lego sets retiring soon

Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon 75192

Lego Disney Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas

Lego Harry Potter Luna Lovegood's House 76467

Lego The Burrow – Collectors' Edition

LEGO City Central Train Station 60469

Lego Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Lego Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale

Lego Icons Natural History Museum

LEGO® Arcade Machine

Lego The Botanical Garden

LEGO Lego Wicked Emerald City Wall Art 75685

Lego Vincent Van Gogh — The Starry Night

• Micron has warned that the RAM shortage will get much worse in 2027 and 2028
• Then coming to the end of the decade, robots are going to put more strain on memory supply
• So-called 'physical AI' could need 200GB+ of DRAM and multiple terabytes of storage per unit, Micron predicts

Micron just published its latest financial results, complete with some predictions for the future of the RAM crisis that aren't going to prove very comforting for consumers.

Wccftech reports that Micron, which is one of the three big memory chip makers, just revealed its results for fiscal Q4 2026 with predictably booming profits — and some not-so-obvious predictions about the RAM shortage.

As flagged on X by Eric Jhonsa, a portfolio manager for a Dutch asset corporation, in Micron's accompanying guidance the company observed: "We expect memory and storage supply-demand conditions to be much tighter in calendar 2027 and 2028 than they were in 2026."

Micron also said: "Even with additional industry DRAM cleanroom space plans, with robust demand trends including new upside requests from customers, we do not have line of sight to when supply and demand will return to balance."

Also highlighted on X by Shay Boloor, who is chief market strategist at Futurum Equities, Micron made the point that even if the current AI bubble deflates, lessening RAM demand for servers in data centers as a result, there could still be a high level of demand from 'physical AI' — meaning robots.

We're told that "humanoid robots could need 200GB+ of DRAM and multiple terabytes of storage per unit with several physical AI customers already sampling next gen products", and that this could become a "significant driver of memory and storage demand by the end of this decade."

Analysis: robot RAM drain

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In short, Micron is saying that RAM supply is going to be tight not just in 2027 — which has been a widespread prediction — but also in 2028. Granted, 2028 has been forecast as a gloomy year in general, but from what Micron is saying here, the company is putting this year on a level with 2027 in terms of the memory shortage, and next year is set to be pretty dire by all accounts.

This is feeding more into the RAM crisis lasting until 2030 narrative (one of the earliest mentions of this came from Nvidia's CEO), and the comment about robots further reinforces this. Even if the demand to drive AI falls away somewhat so data centers aren't gobbling up so much memory, the overall strain on RAM supply may remain due to an uptake of robots, which will also need a lot of memory.

The one thing I would say is that Micron may be exaggerating somewhat in terms of talking up the timeframe on the usage of robots here. After all, in these kinds of forecasts, it's in the firm's interest to build up its future prospects and drive more investment.

Clearly, though, Micron is in a very strong position, and robots are something that's on the radar. And with there being a great deal of doubt as to whether the AI bubble is going to burst at all — depending on who you listen to — this is just another concern for consumers (alongside robots taking over jobs to boot).

It seems clear enough that RAM won't be reaching affordable pricing levels for a long time yet.

It's Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale next week, on October 6 and 7. But just like all previous events, the retailer is kicking things off ahead of time with dozens of early deals across tech, home, essentials, and more. I've picked out the 26 best offers worth buying if you want to get some shopping in now.

• Browse the early Prime Big Deal Days sale
• Sign up for Amazon Prime

Naturally, some of the first products to go on sale are the full range of Amazon devices, including Fire TVs, Blink cameras, Ring doorbells, and Kindles. But what is a surprise is that several of these offers match or beat the record-low prices we saw during the previous Prime Day sale.

Some standouts include the Kindle Colorsoft for £144.99 (was £259.99), the handy Blink Mini 2K+ for £16.99 (was £39.99), and the Amazon Ember 50-inch 4K Fire TV for £279.99 (was £499.99).

Away from Amazon tech, though, there are a handful of other excellent offers already live. The main two I want to shout out are the Nintendo Switch 2 for a record-low price and this super-cheap Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 for £31 (was £41.94).

It's a strong start to the sale, then, and with many more offers expected to drop on October 6, you'll want to stick myself and the rest of the TechRadar team as we hand-pick all of the tech and best bargains that are worth the cash.

Just remember, you need an Amazon Prime membership to access most of these offers, but new and returning subscribers can get a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial to cover you for the sale.

26 best early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

Amazon has the Nintendo Switch 2 at its lowest price ever for Prime Big Deal Days. Given that the console was only recently hit with a price hike, I'm surprised that you can score such a big price cut on it right now, so definitely take advantage while you can if you've been thinking of picking it up, as this price almost certainly won't be beaten all year.View Deal

Galaxy Fit 3: was £41.94 now £31
At almost £30, now is a great time to buy Samsung's budget fitness tracker. As well as all the basic fitness, health and sleep tracking features, the Galaxy Fit3 is an excellent extension to your smartphone that lets you check your messages, control your music and navigate easily with simple gestures. Everything centres around the impressive 1.6-inch AMOLED display, and battery life is also not a problem, with 13 days on a single charge.View Deal

The new Blink Mini 2K+ has a couple of nice upgrades compared to the previous model, including a built-in spotlight, night view in colour support and the option to use it outdoors with the weather-resistant adaptor. Aside from that, it offers the same raft of security features such as motion detection, two-way audio and smartphone app integration. Get it now for a record-low price.View Deal

The Blink Outdoor Camera 2K+ is packed with the essentials. It has 2K video quality, so you can see what’s going on more clearly. You can also zoom in on what’s happening with 4X zoom, and use the two-way audio to talk to a delivery person or whoever is visiting. It’s simple to set up and weatherproof, with two AA batteries powering the device for up to two years. Plus, this bundle includes a free Blink Battery Doorbell.View Deal

Battery Video Doorbell: was £99.99 now £39.99
The latest wireless Ring Doorbell has been discounted to just £2 more than the record-low price. We've tested this and have been impressed with the video quality, high zoom, and night vision colour, but it's a shame that some of this device's value is only usable with a Ring Protect subscription. However, if you're fine with paying for a subscription or already using a Ring-based home security system, it's worth the cost.View Deal

The newest Ring Battery Doorbell Plus model drops to £50 in Amazon's latest sale. Its camera features 1536p HD resolution, night vision with color, and an improved motion sensor. It also includes an increased head-to-toe field of view of 150 by 150 degrees.View Deal

Echo Dot (5th Gen): was £54.99 now £29.99
Amazon's best-selling Echo Dot is down to under £30 for Prime Big Deal Days. This is an OK offer, but far from the previous record-low of £22.99. Nevertheless, the Echo Dot offers an improved audio experience, plus a new temperature sensor and all the handy features from Alexa, like playing music, answering questions, and checking the weather completely hands-free. As far as a cheap and cheerful smart speaker goes, it's one of the better options out there.View Deal

Amazon's Echo Spot smart clock is down to its record-low price for Prime Big Deal Days. As well as a time display and wake-up alerts, this compact bit of kit can play music, check the weather and control other smart devices throughout your home.View Deal

Fire TV Stick HD: was £59.99 now £19.99
You can get the upgraded version of Amazon's standard Fire TV Stick for £19.99 — that's just £3 more than the record-low price. In our Fire TV Stick review, we found the original version was a cheap way to add essential smart features to your TV, including access to streaming apps in HD, Alexa voice controls, and the ability to control other smart home devices.View Deal

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was £64.99 now £21.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is down to within £2 of its lowest-ever price for Prime Big Deal Days. Considering it's only a few quid more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get access to higher resolution streaming — as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but this is more than enough to cover general everyday use.View Deal

Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K Plus streams shows and movies to your TV in ultra-high-definition 4K resolution. This updated version now supports Dolby Vision for improved colours, Wi-Fi 6 for better connectivity, and includes 2GB of RAM for faster performance. This offer isn't particularly great, given it was £10 cheaper during the last Prime Day, but it's still good value for an all-around streaming device.View Deal

This is £9 more than the record-low price for Amazon's premium streaming device. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max streams the same content at the same quality as the standard 4K version, but the extra power inside delivers faster app navigation. Plus, it uses Wi-Fi 6E technology to deliver a more stable, consistent streaming experience.View Deal

The latest version of the standard Kindle is on sale as part of the Prime Big Deal Days sale. It's a basic ereader, but it still boasts a four-week battery life and space for thousands of books. Given it's significantly cheaper than the Paperwhite, this is clearly a better pick for the infrequent reader who's after a more budget-friendly option. At £85, though, this deal is a little underwhelming, given it's been as low as £69.99 before.View Deal

The Kindle Colorsoft just fell to its lowest-ever price as part of this year's Prime Big Deal Days sale. As Amazon's first colored Kindle, it's a must-have if you love reading travel guides, graphic novels, and other genres with a lot of images and photographs — or just want to view your entire ebook library in its full colour glory. The ereader is also USB-C and wireless charging compatible, lasts up to eight weeks on a full battery, and has enough storage for thousands of books.View Deal

This is the new lowest-ever price for the newest version of the Kindle Scribe with 64GB of storage. This ereader combines some of the best features of the Kindle Paperwhite, such as the glare-free and auto-adjusting display, along with the option to take notes, comment on documents, and doodle using the included stylus pen. We were a little disappointed by the original Kindle Scribe because of some missing features, but after some updates and upgrades to this new model, we were happy to award it an impressive 4.5 stars, as it offers good value for such a multi-functional device.View Deal

The Blink Video Doorbell is now £3 more than its lowest-ever price on Amazon, which is great news if you're interested in buying your first smart doorbell. This latest model comes with a head-to-toe HD view, infrared night vision, and two-way audio – all you'd want in a basic video doorbell. You can watch packages get delivered and answer the door in real time from the Blink app, but you can't save footage without a Blink Subscription or a Sync Module (which is included here). Thankfully, you get a 30-day Blink Subscription Plan trial with your purchase, so you can try before you buy.View Deal

Indoor Camera Plus: was £49.99 now £24.99
This half-price offer gets you an easy-to-install Ring Indoor Camera for a new low price. The Alexa-enabled plug-in security camera features motion-activated notifications, 2K resolution video support, a privacy cover and two-way talk to allow you to see, hear and communicate throughout your home.View Deal

Amazon's best-selling Echo Show 5 is down to £54.99 for Prime Big Deal Days — its lowest price in almost two years. The latest version of the Echo Show 5 features a compact 5.5-inch display but packs impressive sound with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Voice controls are enabled through Amazon Alexa, while you can use the smart screen to listen to podcasts, watch movies, stream videos, play music, and more.View Deal

Amazon's larger smart display just got its biggest discount all year for Prime Big Deal Days. The Echo Show 11 boasts a vibrant 11-inch full HD screen and spatial audio support for room-filling sound when listening to music or watching videos. With Alexa+ support, too, you get access to all of its advanced AI features and an easy way to connect and control other smart devices around your home.View Deal

Ember TV 32-inch 2-Series HD TV: was £249.99 now £129.99
Amazon's Prime Day sale includes this 32-inch TV on sale for a record-low price of £129.99. While the Amazon 2-Series TV is just a basic HD display, you get smart capabilities with the Fire TV experience and Amazon Alexa on board for hands-free control at a bargain price. It's far from the best TV in the world, but if you need something small and basic for the kitchen or a kid's room, then this is fine for the job.View Deal

Ember 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV: was £499.99 now £279.99
The 50-inch Amazon Ember TV is the mid-sized version of the budget-friendly 4-Series range and it's now down to its lowest-ever price. It's a nice buy if you're on a budget, as the premium 4K resolution delivers excellent clarity and picture quality for TV shows, movies, sports and general viewing. All major streaming apps are ready to go, too, plus there's voice control support through Alexa. It's an all-around solid TV for the price that I'd buy if I needed an affordable and capable display.View Deal

Ember TV 55-inch Omni Mini-LED TV: was £849.99 now £599.99
Amazon has taken the biggest step up in terms of quality with its latest Omni Mini-LED Series Fire TVs. That's clear in the price, which puts these very close to top-end OLED displays from the likes of Sony, Samsung and LG. However, you still get a lot for your money with this Amazon option, including a large 55-inch Mini-LED panel that boasts fantastic contrast, colors and image sharpness, a 144Hz game mode for a fast and responsive experience on consoles, and smart features.View Deal

Ember 55-inch QLED TV: was £749.99 now £429.99
Amazon's Ember QLED Series is a big step up in the otherwise cheap and cheerful range of smart TVs. This set boasts premium features, including a QLED display for better brightness and contrast, HDR and Dolby Vision for brighter and more vivid colours, local array dimming for richer blacks and HDMI 2.1 support to deliver a top-quality picture for all-around viewing and fast response times for gaming. It's not always easy to find a TV of this size and with these high-end features for just over £400, so it's an excellent buy for the budget-conscious without compromising on quality.View Deal

The Philips OneBlade 360 is a quick, simple and affordable electric razor that's suitable for a wide variety of face and body grooming needs. This jam-packed bundle was a little cheaper over Prime Day, but today's offer is still a solid one. This bundle includes the handle, as well as two spare blades, four combs, a body kit, and a USB-A charging cable.View Deal

Soundcore Portable Speaker: was £29.99 now £18.67
If you want a cheap and basic Bluetooth speaker, then you can't go wrong with this Anker Soundcore for under £20. Sure, it's not going to give you the biggest and boldest audio quality, but it's still a solid option at an affordable price. Battery life is an impressive 24 hours, too, so it's great to use around the home or take it with you when on the go.View Deal

I'm not sure how I feel about smart rings, but our fitness editor, Matt Evans, is a big fan of the Oura Ring 4. He said it was "nearly the perfect fitness tracker" in our review, praising the design, ease-of-use, long-lasting battery and detailed health information it offers. This fascinating bit of tech is now down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon — although be warned that some sizes and colours are selling out.View Deal

• Google Home is rolling out updates for Find My Phone and other voice commands
• It's also fixing bugs with video doorbells, security cameras, and Automations
• Despite the upgrades, users are still running into performance issues

If you’re a Google Home early access user, you’ll be glad to learn that the company is rolling out an expansive roster of new upgrades for voice commands, the Google Home app, and more — as per Google’s notes.

Google Home updates are fairly consistent with Google keeping on top of refreshing its smart home services. Just two weeks ago it fixed Gemini’s follow-up question issues as well as streaming playback bugs, which the tech giant also detailed in its Home and Nest help page.

Prior to this, Google announced it had solved issues with Spotify voice commands and smart light controls, however users claimed there were even bigger issues that needed addressing. But despite the new round of improvements, it appears Google still hasn’t been able to solve the issues plaguing users.

Voice commands

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Voice command improvements are the main fixes that Google has rolled out. For starters, the company says that Gemini is more proficient in filtering out background chatter in your home when you’re making a voice request, as well as other smaller issues including reduced latency for sharper responses and more fixes to conversation follow-ups.

That said, one of the most valuable upgrades is for the Find My Phone tool, which Google says it has rolled out quality and reliability improvements to improve the experience. Additionally, language recognition for Gemini is getting an upgrade, which the company says will ‘better support households where three languages are commonly spoken’.

Google Home app

As far as the Google Home App goes, the company is rolling out more device controller upgrades, which includes more accurate smart light shutoff, redesigned camera and doorbell tiles to better distinguish active cameras, and improved offline switch status, fixing an issue where Matter switches failed to display their offline status.

Google is also rolling out Bluetooth connection and Wi-Fi pairing fixes for setting up new Nest devices on iOS and Android. Also, when you add a device to your ecosystem, the Google Home app will cache network information on your smartphone, so you can reuse them for setting up new devices in the future.

Camera fixes

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

For devices such as the AI-powered Nest Doorbell and security cameras, you can expect to see fixes for video history viewing, removing an error that displayed a ‘Video not available’ pop-up when trying to access footage. If you own any of Walmart’s Onn devices, you should now be able to scrub your video timelines a lot smoother.

Google is also launching new ringtone audio previews for video doorbells, which allows you to listen to snippets of chimes right from the Google Home app before setting it as your default. Google says it will be rolling out holiday-themed chimes, while different themes will become available throughout the year.

Automations

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

The final fix is with Automations, which Google says has eliminated a bug where multi-button switches and sub-devices were missing the names of their parent devices. It’s a small fix, but one that helps you differentiate between buttons.

Is this enough?

The transition from Google Assistant to Gemini has been far from a smooth operation, and users have been reporting severe performance issues since Google made its first steps with integrating Gemini into its smart home devices.

That said, since Google unveiled its latest update, users have welcomed the new improvements — mainly the chime sound previews and upgrades to Automations. However there's a handful of users that Google has yet to convince.

Despite the rollout of Google's upgrades users are finding themselves yet stuck in another cycle of performance issues when using Gemini for Home, and it seems to be the case more so for audio devices and voice commands.

As one user highlights on Reddit, their Google speaker turns itself off in the middle of the night when playing white noise, which, if you rely on sleep sounds to get a full eight hours, is quite frustrating to say the least. The same goes for voice commands, and as one user shared, Gemini is still having issues with switching off devices within a specific time frame.

As it stands, there's still a lot that Google has to come to grips with as it enters the final stages of the Gemini for Home takeover. While some fixes are proving to be successful, there's still work to be done before Google Home users are satisfied.

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt lead writer Marcin Blacha has explained what it takes to create a worthwhile Witcher remake
• He says CD Projekt Red needs to "stay true to the spirit" of the original game
• However, the remake has to appeal to a new audience using modern technology

CD Projekt Red VP of narration and story director Marcin Blacha has revealed the secret to making a worthwhile Witcher remake, and it's about balancing what made the original game good with appealing to a new audience.

During a panel at Logitech Play 2026 attended by TechRadar Gaming, Blacha, who was a lead writer on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, explained that the studio needs to "stay true" to the 2007 original, but also design a fresh experience for gamers who didn't play it.

"The secret is to identify what was good in the original game, and find a way to retell it to the audience that, for some reason, cannot participate in this experience," Blacha said. "Those are two different things, and each of them is difficult on its own, because it's not that easy sometimes to recreate this experience."

The writer went on to discuss what the studio calls "Act Four" of The Witcher 1, which takes place in a rural lakeside region "that is very folklorish" and "full of beautiful landscapes," but said it's difficult to recreate that feeling again because it's a different experience for every player and can be "a little bit vague."

"To create a good remake, you need to identify what was good and find a way to recreate it using newer technology, [while] staying true to the spirit of the original game," Blacha added.

The Witcher remake is in development at Fool's Theory and will utilize Unreal Engine 5, as CD Projekt Red is currently all hands on deck making The Witcher 4, the first game in a new trilogy of Witcher games that it wants to release within a six-year time frame.

CDPR has also just launched The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, which offers a massive collection of improvements that promise an entirely new experience for the decade-old role-playing game (RPG).

If you ever need a sign that AI is coming for Hollywood then it must be that Jeffrey Katzenberg, the veteran Hollywood executive who co-founded Dreamworks, has just announced that he’s launching an AI-focused studio.

Crucially, he told The Wrap that AI output was “slop” until very recently, but that in the last couple of months something has changed. Now he wants to make feature films and TV with AI, arguing that falling production costs will mean more films and new forms of storytelling.

At the same time The Gifted, an AI-generated trailer, has just won a competition that puts $2.5m towards turning it into a proper feature film. Future Vision XPRIZE is one of the world's largest film competitions for hopeful and optimistic science fiction filmmaking that answers the question: what does a future worth building actually look like?

You can watch the trailer for The Gifted here.

Unfortunately, the industry focus on AI seems to be happening at exactly the same time that the audience is being turned off by it.

Filmustage, a movie production planning platform, analyzed Google Trends data and found searches rising on both sides of the AI debate. It found that the phrase “movies with no AI” was up 345% in the past month, while “movies made with AI” was up 112% in the same period.

Google Trends percentage increases can often be massive, so we shouldn't read too much into the numbers themselves, but the overall trend is upwards. The motivations behind those searches may be very different, but both suggest audiences increasingly want to know one thing before they watch: was AI involved?

I don't think it's hard to understand why. You only have to look at an AI film to understand why people have reservations.

You can judge the trailer for The Gifted yourself, but while it may be a stunning technical achievement that AI has made this three-minute video, if I’m judging it as a movie trailer… then I don’t want to watch the movie.

The flaws are obvious. AI is clearly very good at spectacle: lightning, explosions, collapsing buildings and impossible camera angles. Not to mention lead characters who look almost like famous actors you know, but not quite. (Is that Amy Adams in The Gifted's poster? No, it's not quite Amy Adams.)

The harder test is whether it can sustain believable characters, performances and emotional continuity for two hours rather than three minutes. If it does, then it's going to need much better dialogue than what's presented here.

I remember watching the pure-AI film Hell Grind in a theater recently, and that just about kept my attention for its 90-minute duration, but I was ready for it to be over by the end. It also played to AI’s strengths, by not trying to make its world look ‘real’. It's when AI pretends to be real life that I think it falls down the most.

Pure AI films... still look like AI

Tom Cruise thinks “people want to see real things”, even in the age of AI. (Image credit: Getty Images / FilmMagic)

Actors, perhaps seeing a future in which their skills are not as widely appreciated, are famously against AI, but even they seem to have accepted the overall trend towards it now.

As Deadline reports, Tom Cruise earned spontaneous applause for a six minute speech during a recent BAFTA “Life in Pictures” conversation in London. Cruise talked about how AI “is coming”, but “people want to see real things”.

“There is nothing like human” said Cruise, citing a summer of blockbuster films as proof that “people want human experience.”

From what I've seen of AI movies, I'd say Cruise is exactly right. AI still can't produce an experience that looks human and the connection to the audience that goes along with that. But with even Tom Cruise acknowledging that AI is coming, and executives like Katzenberg jumping on board, AI movies seem almost inevitable now, especially with the saving in production costs that they bring with them.

But while AI might be economical, it definitely has its problems, and if people are already searching for “movies with no AI” then Hollywood has a branding problem before the AI movie era has even properly begun.

AI as another tool for filmmakers

The upcoming movie Cortés from Utopai Studios. Set in 1519, the historical epic follows Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. (Image credit: Utopai Studios)

But perhaps before we assume that AI in films means the end to human actors and an influx of AI slop, let’s talk to one of the AI studios making waves at the moment, Utopai Studios, who creates original films and television series using their own proprietary PAI software.

I talked to Kevin Chong, Chief Operating Officer at Utopai Studios.

“We don’t think of AI films as a separate genre”, explains Chong. “AI is another tool filmmakers can use to tell stories, just as visual effects, digital cinematography and virtual production became part of the filmmaking process. It can help filmmakers create worlds, achieve a level of scale that might otherwise be difficult or prohibitively expensive, and give creators more choices.”

And what about the end of human actors? “At Utopai Studios, we don’t see AI as a replacement for human actors, and that isn’t the future we’re building toward”, Chong explains. “There may be stories where a completely synthetic character makes sense creatively, just as animation has always created characters that don’t physically exist. But that is very different from saying audiences are going to stop wanting human performances.

“Performance is one of the most human parts of filmmaking”, Chong continues. “Actors bring interpretation, emotion, instinct and life experience to a character in ways that are fundamental to storytelling. AI can become another part of the filmmaking toolkit — including helping extend performances, create environments or enable things that would be difficult to achieve traditionally — but the creative decisions still need to come from people.”

Tom Cruise is right: there is nothing quite like human, but perhaps there will be a way for humans and AI to coexist in the future of movies after all.

October 1 is International Coffee Day, and if you've been thinking of upgrading your coffee maker, it's the perfect opportunity. As TechRadar's resident coffee expert, I've put together a list of my three favorite bean-to-cup espresso machines that make preparing perfectly extracted espresso a breeze, even if you've never used fresh coffee before.

There's something for everyone here. If you're on a tight budget, or are making the leap from coffee capsules to whole beans, the compact and affordable Philips Baristina is the perfect choice for you. Interested in tinkering with brew options and understanding how different factors affect the taste of your drink? Take a look at the Sage Barista Impress With Cold Extraction. Want a fully automated machine that produces even complicated drinks with the tap of a button? The Philips Café Aromis is the coffee maker of your dreams.

Many retailers are offering special discounts for International Coffee Day too, and you'll find the best deals on each coffee machine below as well.

Philips BaristinaFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

The Philips Baristina is the most affordable bean-to-cup coffee maker I've ever tested, and easily one of the best. In fact, I recommend it so frequently, my colleagues are probably quite tired of hearing about it. It makes brewing espresso with fresh coffee beans just as simple as using Nespresso capsules or K-Cups, and opens up a whole world of speciality coffee without requiring any specialist skills.

Load your coffee beans into the top of the Baristina, fill the water tank, and you're ready to get started. Push the filter handle into the machine, hit the start button, and it will automatically grind just the right amount of coffee, tamp it down, and then slide the handle underneath the brewing group, which will extract your shot using the ideal water temperature and pressure. When it's finished, just tap out the used coffee grounds, wipe out the filter, and you're ready to go again.

Unlike most bean-to-cup coffee machines, the Baristina doesn't have a case that covers everything up, which helps keep everything clean and hygienic. There's no enclosed space for stray coffee grounds and moisture to build up, so maintenance is a breeze.

The biggest downside of the original Baristina is the lack of a steam wand, which means there's no way to prepare lattes and cappuccinos. However, the machine is available bundled with a good quality standalone milk frother for a small additional cost, and earlier this year Philips launched the Baristina Latte, which has an integrated steam wand.

Read our full Philips Baristina review

Philips Café Aromis 8000 SeriesFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

At the other end of the scale, we have the Philips Café Aromis — the company's flagship bean-to-cup coffee machine with a huge array of hot and cold drinks options, excellent milk frothing, and app compatibility that makes customizing your brews a breeze. It's gorgeous as well, with its sleek silver chassis, crisp touchscreen, and a natural wood cap on top of the dispenser to complete the look.

Drinks are almost infinitely customizable, and the cold menu is a particular highlight. Unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers I've tested, which just dump a shot of hot espresso over ice, the Aromis can extract coffee using water straight from its tank for a mellow flavor akin to traditionally made cold-brew. It also has separate milk carafes for frothing hot and cold milk, and each one can be disassembled into three dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. So, there's no need for scrubbing milk residue from pipes and hoses.

It's not the only bean-to-cup coffee machine with its own app, but it's the only one I've used where the app offers something useful apart from a quick-start guide and warranty details. The Philips HomeID app makes it easy to create personalized user profiles, and even had a clever chatbot-style feature that asks you questions about your flavor preferences and then tweaks the coffee maker's settings accordingly.

The Aromis is definitely one of the more expensive espresso machines I've reviewed this year, but its price tag isn't excessive considering just how much you're getting, and you could easily pay half as much again for an alternative from a different brand.

Read our full Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review

Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold ExtractionFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

This bean-to-cup machine (which is sold under the brand name Sage in the UK, and Breville elsewhere for complicated reasons) is an upgraded version of the original Barista Touch Impress, and like the Philips Café Aromis, it offers genuine cold extraction for smooth-tasting iced coffees (as well as delicious hot-brewed espresso).

Unlike the other two bean-to-cup machines in this list, this one is semi-automatic, which means that although you don't have to get your hands dirty, it gives you some control over the coffee-making process if you want, introducing you to barista skills in a friendly, easy-to-follow way. You'll discover the effect of each variable on your finished drink (including dosage, grind size, tamp pressure, and brewing temperature), and the machine will offer feedback and suggestions if it doesn't taste quite right.

The Puck Impress System, which tamps your freshly ground coffee with a pull of a handle, is particularly satisfying and greatly reduces mess compared to tamping by hand. Unlike the Breville Oracle Jet below, I didn't have any issues with static electricity making coffee cling to the grinder.

The Barista Touch Impress offers both manual and automatic milk steaming options too, so you can have your foam dispensed into your finished drink, or prepare it yourself and have fun practicing your latte art.

Read our full Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold Extraction review

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• Claude for Government runs in a FedRAMP High-authorized environment
• Pricing is now based on pre-allocated spend, not per seat
• Claude for Microsoft 365 is also being added

Anthropic has announced the general availability of Claude for Government specifically for government agencies.

First launched as a public beta in July 2026, the industry-specific variant is designed to give government employees access to the same sorts of tools as commercial Claude customers, within a FedRAMP High-authorized environment.

But better still, now that Claude for Government is officially available, Anthropic has implied that new features will land on this platform at the same time as they do on commercial versions of Claude, so that government workers don't risk being left behind.

Claude for Government is now generally available

Naturally, security is one of the biggest messages that coincides with the launch of Claude for Government, and the company notes that admins can set model restrictions, monitor usage, allocate spending, control external connections and more.

But Anthropic has also made some changes to its pricing structure in a bid to make spending more predictable, given public sector scrutiny and AI costs that can quickly spiral out of control. Rather than per-seat billing, Claude for Government works on the basis of having fixed increments.

Under this new model, agencies would need to commit to a specific amount, and Claude usage cannot exceed that amount.

"Administrators define user tiers with spend and model limits per group, track usage by user and by model, and get burndown alerts before a balance runs low," the company explained.

At the same time, Claude for Microsoft 365 is also being made available via early access, which puts Claude tools directly within Microsoft's three biggest pieces of office software – Word, Excel and PowerPoint – as well as Outlook (in beta).

By confirming that it will be adding new features at the standard public cadence and including Claude for Microsoft 365, Anthropic is acknowledging that governments don't want to compromise on features or security.

No, we’re not expecting Windows 12. But we could get a release date for the Surface Laptop Ultra.

Get mistake fares, flash sales, and custom route searches sent to your inbox for a single payment of $39.99.

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