Technology

The Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro place durability at the forefront. And with more years of OS and security updates, they can last even longer.

A relic of historic redlining that restricted marginalized peoples from buying homes still persists in internet access today.

• Newly uncovered Geekbench benchmarks suggest the rumored Motorola Razr Plus could best the Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs-wise
• The new Razr Plus could sport the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 16GB of RAM
• The Galaxy Z Flip 7 in turn may only get 12GB of RAM, and either the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Exynos 2500 chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 hasn’t even been confirmed by Samsung yet, but it already seems like a powerful rival is on the way in the form of the rumored 2025 Motorola Razr Plus.

According to newly uncovered Geekbench benchmark reports, this year’s rumored Motorola Razr Plus model comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Adreno 830 GPU, and an impressive 16GB of RAM.

The Geekbench report – spotted by Xpertpick – also suggests the phone will run an Android 15-based operating system, most likely a version of Motorola’s Hello UI Android wrapper.

Those specs – while still unconfirmed – could give the also unannounced Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 a run for its money. As we previously reported, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 could come with either a Snapdragon 8 Elite or Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is our pick for the best flip phone currently available (Image credit: Samsung)

The Snapdragon 8 Elite would be a safe bet to match or exceed the same chipset found in the Razr Plus – it’s typical for Samsung phones to come with special “for Galaxy” versions of Qualcomm chipsets.

However, a Galaxy Z Flip 7 equipped with the Exynos 2500 chipset wouldn’t have such a certain edge over the Razr Plus – issues with Samsung’s Exynos chipset platform are well documented, and have prevented the tech giant from fitting its flagship phones with its own chipsets for the past few years.

That’s not to mention that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is expected to launch with 12GB of RAM to the Razr Plus’ rumored 16GB – that difference could give the Razr Plus an edge for multitasking and on-device AI processing.

Additionally, the current gen Motorola Razr Plus starts at $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,700, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799. Assuming neither phone sees a price hike with their next iteration, that’ll be another win for the Razr Plus.

As PhoneArena notes, Motorola is expected to release the new Razr lineup, which will launch as the Razr 60 lineup outside of the US, on April 24 – so we don’t have too long to wait to find out the actual specs of this new foldable.

Until then, the above is effectively entirely based on rumors – still, it’s always nice to hear of phone makers challenging Samsung in the foldable space. Let us know if you’re looking forward to either of these phones in the comments below.

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Every week, there's a new AI trend, but this viral ChatGPT image-generation prompt might be a step too far - turning our beloved pets into humans.

As a dog dad who treats my French Bulldog, Kermit, like an absolute prince, the idea of seeing him as a human made me feel uneasy. My focus at work, however, is creating good content, and if that means I need to see my dog as a human, then I'll suck it up and take one for the team.

If you want to cut to the chase, here's the prompt: "Can you create an image of this dog/cat as a human?" You'll need to upload an image of your pet, and ChatGPT may ask follow-up questions to get a better idea for the image generation.

Once you've uploaded your image and asked your prompt, it's time to wait for the result...

I don't want to see this

(Image credit: Future / ChatGPT)

I uploaded a photo of Kermit to ChatGPT, and after a considerable wait (please make the image generation quicker, OpenAI), I got to see my furry friend as a human. I wasn't quite prepared to see a grown man sitting on the yellow armchair Kermit likes to frequent, and I immediately felt a sense of uncanny valley.

Sat on Kermit's throne was what appeared to be a happy-go-lucky man in his early 20s, wearing a yellow t-shirt with a frog on it. Kermit is three years old, which would line up with the age of ChatGPT's image, but apart from that, I'm not really convinced AI has captured him in human form.

Just to see what another dog would look like, I asked TechRadar's Editor-In-Chief, Marc Mclaren, to do the same for his black Labrador, Rigby. Weirdly, Rigby as a human looks fairly similar to Kermit, despite being a completely different breed. Marc's response to the ChatGPT image was, "Pretty spot on to be honest. The son I never had."

You know, the more I think about the concept of seeing your pet as a human, the more it makes me feel uneasy. Last year, I got to see Shazam's AI-powered collar in action, and while I'm now convinced that product might be vaporware, I left the impressive demo questioning what it means to be a pet owner.

You see, you get a connection with your dog that's completely different from any human relationship you have in your life. A dog is your best friend; it revolves its whole life around your existence, and it understands despite the inability to verbally communicate.

Shazam's idea of adding a voice to man's best friend completely overlooks the emotional connection you have with your animal, instead introducing technology to attempt to vocalize feelings.

Now, why am I talking about an AI voice collar? Well, I feel like even the concept of imagining a dog as a human overlooks what a dog is in the first place. I get this is just a fun trend, but I have a feeling I'll struggle to look at Kermit in the same way for the next few days, as he sleeps on my lap, sleeps in my bed, and cries for food at dinner time.

What about a human as a dog?

(Image credit: Future / ChatGPT)

After feeling a bit revolted by the human version of my little pup, I decided to creep myself out some more by asking ChatGPT to turn a photo of me into a dog.

You can do the same by asking, "Can you create an image of this human as a dog?" Again, ChatGPT may ask for extra context to determine the breed, etc.

At first, ChatGPT took a while to determine what a bald man with a beard would look like in dog form. It took so long, in fact, that the image generation tool completely failed altogether.

I tried again, and after a considerable amount of time, ChatGPT showed me an image of what appeared to be a Labrador or a Golden Retriever with a human beard. I looked at the image, shrieked, and decided that was enough ChatGPT image generation for the day.

I think imagining an animal as a human or vice versa might be my least favorite ChatGPT trend yet, although I fully expect to see another even creepier trend appear on social media by the end of the week.

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• Mythic Quest has ended after four seasons at Apple TV+
• Season 4's finale episode will premiere next week with a new ending
• The executive producers have thanked Apple TV+ in a statement

I bring disappointing news, because Mythic Quest season 4 is the end of the road for the hit comedy series. It's one of the best Apple TV+ shows for a reason, and we're all sad to see it go.

TechRadar contributor Samuel Roberts called it a "masterpiece", and it's one of the many reasons we crowned Apple TV+ as Streaming Service of the Year in 2024.

According to exclusive reports from Variety, Mythic Quest has not been renewed beyond its fourth season and a statement has been released thanking Apple TV+ as well as the cast, crew and fans.

“Endings are hard. But after four incredible seasons, ‘Mythic Quest’ is coming to a close,” series executive producers Megan Ganz, David Hornsby and Rob McElhenney said. “We’re so proud of the show and the world we got to build – and deeply grateful to every cast and crew member who poured their heart into it.

They added: "To all our fans, thank you for playing with us. To our partners at Apple, thank you for believing in the vision from the very beginning. Because endings are hard, with Apple’s blessing we made one final update to our last episode – so we could say goodbye, instead of just game over.”

What do we know about the final episode of Mythic Quest season 4?

(Image credit: Apple)

Unlike regular TV shows which only get one ending, Mythic Quest has been allowed to respawn and try again, very reminiscent of video games and a fitting send off.

According to Variety, an updated finale episode with a brand new ending will premiere next week on Apple TV+. This might provide some sort of relief for disappointed fans, considering the season finale did end on a cliffhanger.

So, we might be getting a satisfying end. Or, an even more frustrating one, depending on how benevolent the creators were feeling. You'll have to wait and see for yourself when the new episode drops.

An air date for the new episode hasn't been confirmed beyond "next week", frustratingly, but if it's following in the footsteps of Mythic Quest's previous release schedule, it may arrive on Wednesday, April 23.

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• Microsoft is testing new features for Defender for Endpoint
• The features will block traffic from and to undiscovered endpoints
• The goal is to minimize malicious lateral movement

Microsoft wants to minimize the risk of undiscovered endpoints by adding a new feature to its Defender for Endpoint product, which will automatically block all traffic to and from such devices.

Such devices are a major security risk because they can bypass monitoring, lack security controls, and potentially serve as entry points for cyberattacks or data exfiltration.

The company is currently testing a new capability that will contain the IP addresses of devices that have not been discovered or onboarded to Defender for Endpoint.

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Automatic protection

"Containing an IP address associated with undiscovered devices or devices not onboarded to Defender for Endpoint is done automatically through automatic attack disruption. The Contain IP policy automatically blocks a malicious IP address when Defender for Endpoint detects the IP address to be associated with an undiscovered device or a device not onboarded," Microsoft said.

"Through automatic attack disruption, Defender for Endpoint incriminates a malicious device, identifies the role of the device to apply a matching policy to automatically contain a critical asset. The granular containment is done by blocking only specific ports and communication directions."

We do not know yet when the feature will be released for the users, but we do know that it will be available on Defender for Endpoint-onboarded devices running Windows 10, Windows 2012 R2, Windows 2016, and Windows Server 2019+.

Microsoft also explained that there is a way to stop the product from containing different IP addresses by restoring the connection. That can be done via the “Contain IP” menu in the “Action Center”, which will have an “Undo” button.

Via BleepingComputer

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• A new report claims Apple is developing two new Vision Pro headset models
• One version will apparently be lighter and more affordable
• The other will connect to a Mac for a lower-latency experience

Despite its technical brilliance, Apple’s Vision Pro headset has struggled to sweep consumers off their feet, with serious questions being raised about the future of the virtual reality (VR) headset. In spite of this potential crisis, though, Apple apparently has a plan to right the ship and get the Vision Pro back on track.

At least, that’s according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter. There, Gurman says that Apple is working on two new Vision Pro models that could shake up the device and potentially give it a new foothold in the industry.

Neither of these models will be simple refreshes. While Gurman says that Apple had previously considered a few minor tweaks – like changing the headset’s chip from the M2 to the M5 chip – Apple is apparently now mulling more ambitious plans.

Instead, Apple is “now looking to go further,” Gurman says, with one device that is both cheaper and more lightweight than the current Vision Pro, which should make it both more accessible to consumers and reduce the neck strain that can sometimes occur after long periods of use.

The second Vision Pro in development is “more intriguing,” Gurman believes. Supposedly, this model will connect directly to a Mac, which will allow for greatly reduced latency. Some Vision Pro headsets are being used in surgery and in flight simulators, Gurman says, which are two areas where reduced latency will be incredibly important.

Addressing two key problems

(Image credit: Apple)

Interestingly, Gurman likens the second Vision Pro to a product Apple reportedly canceled in January: a set of lightweight glasses outfitted with augmented reality (AR) capabilities that would be tethered to a Mac. The ultimate goal for Apple is to create an entirely wireless pair of AR glasses that a user can wear all day, but it will take many years before that device is ready for prime time.

Still, even if the next Vision Pro isn’t as lightweight as a pair of glasses, anything that reduces its weight will be a welcome change. I don’t own a Vision Pro myself, and one of the main reasons is that I’ve heard the stories of the pain caused by wearing it for too long. If I’m going to make a significant investment in a product like this, I want to be able to use it without risking soreness after just a few hours’ usage.

The other reason I’ve steered clear is the eye-watering price, with $3,500 feeling incredibly steep when the Vision Pro is still in its early stages. I know I’m not alone here, with multiple reports suggesting that sales of the device have been very slow.

If Apple can address both of those problems, I might finally be tempted to fork out for a Vision Pro, particularly for its Ultrawide Mac Virtual Display mode. We've previously described that as a "lightbulb moment" for the device, given it gives you a massive 32:9 aspect ratio – the equivalent of two displays side-by-side. That would definitely be more enticing on a headset that's more comfortable, and also potentially not too much more expensive than buying an extra monitor.

I’m not entirely convinced yet, but at least Apple seems to be heading in the right direction.

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• New gadgets from Motorola could be on the way very soon
• The Moto Watch Fit looks to be similar to the Apple Watch
• There are also some Moto Loop Earbuds in the leak

Motorola is best known for its smartphones as far as consumer gadgets go, with more flip foldables on the way later this month, but it seems the company is also busy working on a cheap competitor to the Apple Watch and some wireless earbuds.

This is according to a new leak from well-known tipster @evleaks, who has posted an image showing the "Moto Watch Fit" and the "Moto Loop Earbuds". We don't get any other details here, such as pricing or a potential launch date.

Motorola has dabbled in both of these product categories before, with devices like the Moto Watch 40 and the Motorola Moto Buds+, but the two gadgets shown in this leak appear to have some differences from what we've seen before.

The Loop Earbuds in particular look like a break from the norm, with open, circular stems. This being Motorola, they're bound to be inexpensive and offer plenty of value for money, but they're unlikely to offer the highest levels of audio fidelity.

Taking on the Apple Watch

The Moto Watch 40, which launched last year (Image credit: Motorola)

Judging by the appearance of the Moto Watch Fit, with its square-ish display and its fabric strap, this is designed to go head to head with the Apple Watch – perhaps specifically the Apple Watch SE 2, which starts from $249 / £259 / AU$399.

Motorola's most recent smartwatch, the Moto Watch 40, launched last year: it has a tall, rectangular 1.57-inch screen, up to 10 days of battery life between charges, and features such as heart-rate monitoring and sleep tracking.

You can pick up the Moto Watch 40 for around $65 / £65 / AU$150 at the time of writing, so the Moto Watch Fit would do very well to undercut that price. It may be substantially more expensive, while staying cheaper than the best Apple watches.

Given the screen we can see on the Moto Watch Fit in this leak, it looks as though Motorola will once again go with its own custom software for the wearable. As with previous models, it should be compatible with both Android phones and iPhones.

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• An Ikea franchise company suffered a ransomware attack
• The incident cost Fourlis Group millions thanks to operational disruption
• Ransomware is steadily rising in popularity

An attack on Ikea franchise company Fourlis Group cost the firm over €15 million ($17 million), it has revealed.

Cybercriminals breached the company’s systems just two days before Black Friday 2024, one of the biggest trading days of the year - impacting Fourlis Group assets in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.

At the time of the attack, it wasn’t clear which parts of Fourlis were impacted, but it has now been revealed that online Ikea stores and customer management system were disrupted. The hacker’s intrusion is said to have lasted over two weeks, creating “serious gaps at a critical commercial period,” local media (translated, originally in Greek) reported.

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A qualitative burden

Vasilis Fourlis, the group’s chairman of the board of directors, confirmed that there was “no doubt that there was also a qualitative burden,” and that the firm is making “a huge effort to reverse the situation”.

Affected systems were restored very quickly, without any personal data leaked and without the payment of a ransom, it added, noting further attacks targeted the company, but were successfully deflected.

Ransomware attacks surged in 2024, and the retail industry was a top target, as downtime for these organisations is seriously costly, and they tend to hold large amounts of personally identifiable information on their customers, like names, email addresses, shipping addresses, and payment information - all of which can be leveraged or sold on the dark web.

It’s not clear what the initial point of entry was in this attack, but thanks to the rise in AI, cyberattacks are now much more accessible to criminals, who can use the technology to send out more sophisticated attacks at a higher rate than ever before.

The Fourlis Group has reportedly invested a million euros into digital infrastructure, and has transferred some IT systems and cybersecurity capabilities in-house following the incident.

Via Capital.gr (translated, originally in Greek)

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• Google Workspace unveils host of new AI tools
• Google Docs gets new audio overviews, "help me refine" tools
• Google Sheets and Meet also see new upgrades

Taking your Google Workspace files to the next level should soon be easier than ever thanks to a host of new updates.

The company revealed a number of AI-powered office software upgrades at its Google Cloud Next 25 event designed to give users a productivity and creativity boost when they need it most.

Among the new launches are new audio tools in Google Docs which can create listenable versions of your document, as well as upgraded analysis tools for Google Sheets to help get the most out of your data.

Help me...with everything

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

Google Workspace says its new audio tools for Docs will allow users to spot any issues in the wording or flow of their work, giving a whole new perspective on the document.

Described as, "a completely new way to interact with your content", users will be able to generate a full audio version of a document, or a podcast-esque format that sees two different voices going back and forth covering the key points.

Docs is also getting a "help me refine" tool, which will offer users helpful tips and suggestions on how to spice up your content. This could include ways to strengthen an argument, improve the structure of a piece, or make the key points clearer, as well as helping make sure formatting is consistent throughout.

"The goal isn't just to fix the document, but to help you become a more effective communicator over time," Google Workspace says.

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

Elsewhere, Google Sheets will soon see a new "help me analyze" tool to help users wade through large amounts of data whenever they need it.

The company says the tool will offer guidance to get you started on a new spreadsheet, as well as pointing out interesting trends, suggesting next steps, and creating clear, interactive charts to bring your data to life.

Lastly, for anyone needing extra help catching up (or listening in) to a Google Meet video conferencing call, Gemini in Meet will now help users get up to speed on anything they might have missed. Its upgraded Gemini features will also look to provide extra clarity on certain points, as well as offering recaps and suggestions on how to get your point across better.

"As AI reshapes our world, we’re focused on making powerful technology genuinely useful and accessible, and bringing it into the flow of your everyday work," Yulie Kwon Kim, VP, Product - Workspace, noted.

"This is AI built for the reality of work today, not some fantasy of the future. Our announcements represent the next step in bringing helpful AI tools for work to everyone."

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• Sennheiser Accentum Open have an open-ear design
• 28 hours of battery life in total
• €89.90 (about £100 / £78 / AU$161)

Sennheiser has announced a new set of earbuds in its Accentum range of great mid-range headphones: the Sennheiser Accentum Open.

As the name suggests they have an open-style design so you're not putting a tip into your ear and cutting yourself off from the world around you – and they come with good battery life and an impressively low price tag.

This particular design are just like AirPods 4, in that they sit right outside the ear canal (and have stems, like AirPods) – they're not like the earclip or around-ear sports designs you get from some of the best open earbuds.

They look like they'll undercut the AirPods on price, though, with a costing around $100 / £78 / AU$161 based on their European launch price.

(Image credit: Sennheiser) Sennheiser Accentum Open: key features and pricing

Sennheiser says that the Accentum Open have been calibrated to offer "a rich and detailed sound", and they have been designed to deliver environmental awareness without compromising the quality of that sound.

Battery life is a promised 28 hours including the charging case, and those 28 hours should be comfortable: the Accentum Open are lightweight with a slim stem so they shouldn't feel too weighty in your ears.

The earbuds have multipoint Bluetooth, and there are touch controls built in for easy audio navigation and adjustment.

In our Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless review, we found that the sound lacked a little energy, but that they were good overall. Perhaps the 11mm drivers and different acoustic design here will deliver something closer to the awesome value of the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones.

The Accentum Open have only been announced in Europe so far, with a price tag of €89.90. As I mentioned above, that's roughly $100 / £78 / AU$161 – we'll update this story with official pricing elsewhere once Sennheiser reveals it.

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• Sony's new soundbars get US pricing, though no release date
• Sony Theater Bar 6: $649 | Sony Theater System 6: $769
• Continues a trend of pricing higher than the competition

Sony recently unveiled the US prices of its new TV line-up, and the price of its new OLED TV is way higher than the competition – and that's despite the same TV being right in line with the competition in the UK.

It looks like the same pattern is happening with its new soundbars, too. We don't have UK pricing yet, but the US pricing is pretty high by budget-to-mid-range soundbar standards.

The new Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6, which is a 3.2.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar with upfiring speakers and a separate wireless subwoofer, will cost $649. The Sony Bravia Theater System 6 is a 5.1-channel surround system with soundbar, two rear speakers connected to a wireless box, and a subwoofer – and it'll cost $769.

Don't get those two models confused despite the very similar names – the latter doesn't include upfiring drivers, although it does support Dolby Atmos decoding. Both soundbars supports DTS:X, too.

Sony's new Theater Rear 8 wireless rear speakers that can be added to soundbars (including the Bravia Theater Bar 6, but also the likes of the Sony Theater Bar 8) cost $449 for the pair.

There's a lot of power and scale to the sound from these speakers – the Theater System 6 is 1000W – but they're not particularly high-spec, and these seem to follow Sony's trend of pricing its TVs and soundbars a little high in the US.

The Sony Theater Bar 6 is a replacement for the Sony HT-G700, a model that cost $599 when it launched in 2020. For its replacement to add upfiring speakers and to only cost $50 more given that inflation has totaled over 20% since then in the US means the price rise isn't too bad in a vacuum.

But the issue here is really how much higher the US price is likely to be than the UK price. We don't have that yet, but the UK launch price of the HT-G700 was £449 – that equated to $560 at the time, and that price included sales tax. The street price in the UK also tends to drop more regularly on Sony soundbars.

As I alluded to above, we're seeing the same kind of story with the Sony Bravia 8 II TV, which is the company's new top-tier OLED TV, and is priced much higher in the US than the UK.

In the UK, the Bravia 8 II is priced very slightly higher but basically in line with its competitor, the LG G5, at 55 inches – and is cheaper than the G5 at 65 inches. In the US, however, the Bravia 8 II costs $600 to $1,100 more than the LG G5 or the Samsung S95F, depending on size.

Are tariffs to blame?

There's a question over whether Sony has priced these with the expectation of needing to include tariff costs – but the company hasn't confirmed this, and there's no real reason to think so, other than the prices being so out of line with the competition.

But as I said above, Sony has a frustrating habit of doing this in the US, and the soundbar prices fit right in with what we've seen from the company in the past.

Will the soundbars be worth the price anyway? I've heard them both in action, and the Bravia Theater System 6 (the surround one) offers a very impressive scale of sound, plus a great party trick (literally) that I think Sonos should steal.

The Theater Bar 6 is also impressively punchy, though in my demo I had concerns that it was a little compressed in the mid-range. We'll have to wait for a full review to be sure, but with the Samsung HW-Q800D having a street price very close to the Theater Bar 6, I suspect the Sony may be edged out on value by the better-specced Samsung.

I wanted to see Sony come out swinging with aggressive prices for these bars, and really take our list of the best soundbars by storm – the competition is good for everyone. These prices seem just a little too high – but we'll wait on our reviews for final judgment.

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Can WWE fans watch the two-night event on Netflix? It depends.

• The April update for Windows 11 24H2 created a mysterious empty folder
• Some advised this could be deleted, but this isn’t actually the case
• If you delete the ‘inetpub’ folder, a security fix applied by the April patch won’t work, so you need to reinstate it if you removed the folder

Windows 11 24H2 users who were confused by a mysterious empty folder appearing on their system drive after applying the latest update for the OS should be aware that this is not a bug, but an intentional move – and that said folder shouldn’t be deleted.

In case you missed it, last week Windows 11 24H2 received its cumulative update for April 2025, and it created an ‘inetpub’ folder that was the source of some bewilderment or annoyance for those who noticed it.

You may also recall that some folks advised that it was fine to just delete the folder, not an unreasonable conclusion to reach seeing as it was empty, didn’t appear to do anything, and was related to Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) web server software for developers (and was appearing for those who didn’t have IIS installed).

Still, at the time, I advised that you removed it at your own risk and that it might be best left alone – seeing as it was empty and appeared harmless (and also just because you never quite know what’s going on with Windows). It seems I was right, as Microsoft has now warned against removing the folder, as noted at the outset.

Microsoft told Windows Latest that the folder is created as part of a security fix for a vulnerability that “can let local attackers trick the system into accessing or modifying unintended files or folders.”

In its advisory for this security patch, Microsoft notes: “After installing the updates listed in the Security Updates table for your operating system, a new [inetpub folder] will be created on your [system drive]. This folder should not be deleted, regardless of whether Internet Information Services (IIS) is active on the target device. This behavior is part of changes that increase protection and does not require any action from IT admins and end users.”

In short, it doesn’t matter whether you use IIS or not, you need to leave this folder alone. Without the folder being present, the mentioned security hole will remain present in Windows 11, offering attackers a potential opportunity to compromise your PC (at least if they are local to the device, meaning they have physical access).

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Melnikov Dmitriy) Analysis: What if I’ve already deleted the folder, though?

This is an odd affair, and I assumed this was a bug when I wrote about it last week, since it seemed like a weird way of implementing a security fix. Of course, what Microsoft should have done is made it very clear in the release notes for this patch that it creates the folder and that users should leave it alone (while noting that it’s empty and harmless).

As I already observed, though, it’s best to proceed with caution when tinkering with Windows. What’s particularly strange about this affair is that there are reports in the past of this same folder being created, so maybe this was part of the implementation of security patches in these cases too – who knows.

What about if you’ve already deleted the folder? Well, in that case, you need to reinstate it, and Windows Latest is on hand with the solution. You need to open the Control Panel, then go into Programs > Programs and Features. On the left, you’ll see an option to ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ – click on this. Scroll down the alphabetical list of features and find ‘Internet Information Services’ and tick the box next to this, then click on the OK button.

The folder will now be recreated. If you did delete it last week, be sure to complete these steps.

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• The PS5 Digital Edition has seen price rises in some regions
• The price has gone up in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand
• The disc drive, however, has seen an overall reduction in price

As of today (April 14, 2025), the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition has been hit with another wave of price increases in some regions. But there is some good news for PS5 Pro owners looking to pick up the disc drive.

Announced via an official PlayStation Blog post, Sony has confirmed that the PS5's price will be increased in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company cited "a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates" as key reasons for the "tough decision."

In the UK and Europe, there have been no price changes for the standard PS5. Otherwise, you can see the current changes here:

In slightly better news, especially for PS5 Pro owners looking to add a physical disc option to their setup, the price of the disc drive has been reduced. The new disc drive prices are as follows:

The new prices in these regions have been reflected on PlayStation Direct, Sony's official storefront for PlayStation products including the PS5. However, you may still have luck at other retailers if you're currently in the market for the console.

For example, in the UK, Argos currently has the PS5 Digital Edition bundled with Astro Bot at a very wallet-friendly £339.99 right now. Currys is also yet to reflect the price increase, and the PS5 Digital Edition is still available here for £389. If you've been planning on picking up a PS5 soon, then, it may be a good idea to pounce now before the price increases are reflected across the board.

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• Samsung has reportedly paused its rollout of One UI 7 on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6
• This is said to be due to a bug that prevents users from unlocking their phone
• This delay might mean there's also a delay in other Samsung devices getting One UI 7

It's been a long wait for Android 15 on the best Samsung phones (notwithstanding the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, which launched with it). The update arrived on Google’s Pixel phones back in October, but it has only just started rolling out to Samsung’s flagships – and now a delay has set it back further.

According to leakers @UniverseIce and @tarunvats33 (via Android Police), the One UI 7 update – which is Samsung’s take on Android 15 – has been halted for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 globally.

As for the reason, @UniverseIce claims that some people who downloaded the update found that their phones “could not be unlocked normally in some cases." ​So, that sounds like quite a significant issue, which would make sense given that Samsung has reportedly halted the update.

Unable to unlock

The reason for the delay in the Galaxy S24 push is that users of the official version of One UI7 of the Korean S24 series found that "they could not be unlocked normally in some cases." ​​​Samsung urgently reviewed the firmware withdrawal in other countries.Have you ever…April 14, 2025

It’s not clear how widespread this issue is, but if you already have the One UI 7 update and are experiencing it, we’d imagine Samsung is working on a fix as fast as possible.

As for everyone else, you’ll probably have to wait a bit longer than expected to get One UI 7 – but at least, once you do, it will hopefully be working as intended.

Sadly, though, this delay likely means there will be a delay in rolling out One UI 7 to other Samsung devices, too, so if you’re rocking an older or less high-profile handset, you might have a while to wait yet.

That's all the more disappointing given that Android 16 might just be a couple of months away, so Samsung is in danger of slipping well behind.

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• The first leaked images from the Avengers: Doomsday set have appeared online
• Pictures seem to show two legacy X-Men characters engaging in conversation
• The photographs also reveal the return of a prominent supporting MCU hero

Filming is underway on Avengers: Doomsday – and, surprise surprise, images from its set have already leaked online.

The cameras only started rolling on the highly anticipated Marvel movie in late March. However, despite the comic book giant's best attempts to keep everything in-house, some sneaky photographers have snapped some slightly spoiler-based pictures of what's being shot.

Potentially big spoilers immediately follow for the next Avengers film. Do not proceed if you're actively avoiding them.

Wong (right), Benedict Wong's MCU character, has been spotted on the Doomsday set (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Last Friday (April 11), Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan account BuiltFromSmash posted a tweet with one of the aforementioned images attached to them.

The photograph appeared to confirm the return of Wong, one of the MCU's most prominent supporting characters. He wasn't announced as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast on March 26, but Marvel has teased that more cast announcements will be made in the months ahead. So, Benedict Wong's hero is unofficially the first addition to Avengers 5's increasingly sizeable ensemble.

Wong's surprise return notwithstanding, the pictures also seemingly showed him interacting with James Marsden's Cyclops – one of many legacy X-Men heroes set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. It's unclear what they're talking about but, according to some fans, it may have something to do with the apparent soon-to-be-constructed spaceship that was first teased by industry leaker UnBoxPhD.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

Now, there are many, many spacefaring vessels in Marvel Comics that this spaceship could be.

On Reddit, though, some MCU devotees think it'll be the Life Raft. In the comics, that spacecraft was used to relocate survivors from multiple universes to Battleworld during the Marvel Multiverse's destruction.

Given that Doomsday and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars will, as the films' directors Joe and Anthony Russo exclusively told me "draw inspiration" from both of Marvel's 'Secret Wars' comic series, the Life Raft seems like a safe bet from a speculation standpoint.

If you want to catch up on what that might mean, there's a great deal on Marvel's Unlimited digital subscription right now.

Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription: was $9.99 per month now $4.99 at Marvel
The ultimate digital comics subscription for Marvel fans is offering new and returning customers 50% off their first month, which is much cheaper than a streaming subscription to watch all the best superhero movies. To gain access to a library of more than 30,000 comics, use the code 'SPIDEY50' at checkout. You're able to use the Marvel Unlimited app on all iOS and Android devices, including the web, too. But, be quick – the deal expires on May 5!View Deal

To me, my X-Men!

James Marsden's Cyclops (right) was snapped speaking to McKellen's Magneto (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

As for the other leaked image, which was again uploaded to X/Twitter by BuiltFromSmash, it shows Marsden's Scott Summers discussing matters with Ian McKellen's Magneto.

Considering these mutants have sparred in Marvel literature, and on the big and small screens, across the decades, it seems strange to see them on apparently amicable terms in the Marvel Phase 6 film. As BuiltFromSmash points out, though, there are rumors circulating online that Magneto is trying to assemble The Brotherhood of Mutants, a Magneto-led mutant supremacy group that resorts to extreme measures to fight human prejudice.

If that's true, it's plausible that Magneto is trying to recruit Cyclops to join his fellow mutants in combating the threat from Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom or – whisper it quietly – to face off against The Avengers. Marvel detectives already think that Doomsday's plot will revolve around an X-Men versus Avengers storyline, so that's not out of the realms of possibility.

Should that prove to be the case, it's also likely that Wong might be trying to convince Cyclops that an Avengers-X-Men showdown is a bad idea because, you know, multiversal incursions and all that.

Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to release on May 1, 2026. Expect plenty more set leaks in the weeks and months to come, then.

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• Microsoft shed 203 UK workers between June 2023 and June 2024
• However it still has more than 5,000 employees in the UK
• Microsoft revenue grew by 15-16% in that year

Microsoft has reportedly cut 203 jobs from its UK workforce despite healthy financial performance, however it might not spell out disaster for the company.

The figures come from account documents shared with Companies House (via City AM), revealing the company had reduced its headcount from 5,540 to 5,337 in the year to June 30, 2024.

However, despite the small drop, Microsoft had grown its headcount from 4,955 in the previous year, so the UK footprint is still of a considerable size.

Microsoft trims UK workforce

Microsoft Limited, the company’s primarily British arm, posted £9.62 billion in revenue in the 12 months leading up to June 30, 2024, marking a considerable 15% increase from £8.38 billion in the previous year.

Microsoft as a whole generated $245.12 billion in revenue in the same period – itself a 16% increase over the $211.92 billion 2023 saw in revenue.

One of the most notable regulatory things to have happened for Microsoft in the UK last fiscal year was the clearing of its partnership with OpenAI by the Competition & Markets Authority, which ruled that a full-scale investigation would not be required.

However, more recently, two US Senators have raised concerns about both Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and Google’s partnership with Anthropic.

Despite the headcount reduction, Microsoft continues to expand its footprint in the UK, having announced plans for a new hyperscale data center near Leeds after the acquisition of a 48-acre site in June 2023, which had previously been used for a power station.

This marks the third series of minor layoffs in 2025 (via layoffs.fyi), and a considerable slowdown from previous years.

TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft to share details of the nature of the redundancies, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is not new – it has been evolving for over 70 years. However, recent advancements in compute power, the rise of AI applications like ChatGPT, the emergence of Agentic AI, and real-life use cases have created a perfect storm, driving unprecedented demand for data centers.

Yet, this surge presents significant challenges for operators who must rethink infrastructure to keep up. A holistic approach to design is now essential to overcome operational inertia and ensure scalability.

I recently chaired a panel at Data Centre World 2025, where industry leaders Niklas Lindqvist, Nordics General Manager at Onnec and Stefan Nilsson, Sales & Marketing Manager at Conapto shared their insights on the future of AI-ready data centers. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion.

Designing AI-Ready Data Centers

AI investment is accelerating, but traditional data center infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Unlike conventional IT workloads, AI tools are highly unpredictable and often require immense power and cooling capabilities.

In some regions, such as Sweden, retrofitting existing sites is becoming increasingly unfeasible. Many Swedish facilities have been upgraded in recent years, making another wave of retrofits for AI impractical – both financially and spatially. For instance, AI requires increased height above racks for cooling solutions, which many legacy facilities simply cannot accommodate.

Historically, data centers were designed for moderate-density, air-cooled environments, but AI demands high-density solutions with hybrid cooling methods. Operators must rethink their design philosophy, to ensure that new builds can support liquid cooling and other innovative technologies. Without this shift, retrofitting will remain costly, slow, and ultimately ineffective in supporting AI growth.

The Need for a Holistic Design Approach

A successful AI-ready data center must integrate both traditional and AI-specific infrastructure under one roof. Flexibility and scalability are paramount here. AI-ready facilities must accommodate a range of workloads, from low-density racks to 100kW+ liquid-cooled deployments. This is where a modular approach is key. Operators must be able to expand incrementally by adding power and cooling modules as demand grows. This strategy helps to align with customer-specific hardware needs and avoids unnecessary upfront costs.

Operators must embrace a holistic design mindset. Power, cooling, and cabling cannot be treated as separate components – they must be integrated from the outset. Poor planning leads to capacity constraints, delays, and costly modifications.

There is also a need for an “inside-out and outside-in” approach: operators must first understand computing needs and design the data center accordingly, while also considering space constraints and facility requirements. High-quality cabling is another crucial yet often overlooked element.

Many operators prioritize speed to market and opt for second-tier cabling, but this short-term gain results in long-term operational headaches and frequent retrofits. Hyperscalers invest heavily in structured cabling strategies, and colocation providers must follow suit to remain competitive.

Sustainability: The Industry’s Biggest Challenge

Sustainability remains the most pressing issue facing the data center industry. Simply acquiring renewable energy certificates is no longer enough – operators must actively reduce their carbon footprint. One major consideration is location. Many data centers in the Nordics are built in remote areas where excess heat cannot be effectively utilized.

In contrast, urban data centers offer opportunities to contribute to local infrastructure, turning AI into part of a circular economy. Many Swedish data centers are integrated with Stockholm’s district heating network, selling excess heat back to the city. This approach is made even more efficient with liquid cooling and internal cooling loops that ensure sustainability without compromising operations.

Regional climate also plays a role in determining the best cooling strategies. For example, in southern Europe, where temperatures remain high year-round, immersive cooling systems may be more effective than traditional liquid cooling. Best practices in sustainability extend beyond cooling solutions.

Operators must prioritize genuine renewable energy sourcing, heat reuse initiatives, and battery storage solutions that enhance grid stability. Sustainability must be embedded in every stage of AI data center design – treating it as an afterthought will only lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

The Human Factor: Skills, Safety, and Community Engagement

As AI data centers boom, the demand for skilled professionals in power, cooling, and infrastructure design is outpacing supply. This skills gap presents a serious challenge, as AI facilities require expertise in handling high-power densities, advanced cooling systems, and complex network architectures. Undertrained workers in these environments pose significant operational risks.

The rapid pace of AI-driven expansion also increases workplace safety concerns. Shortened build timelines can lead to accidents if proper safety protocols are not enforced. Proactive risk assessments, rigorous documentation, and meticulous planning are essential to maintaining a safe working environment. Operators today must prioritize worker safety as much as they do technological innovation.

Community engagement is another critical aspect often overlooked. Data centers frequently face local opposition due to misconceptions about their environmental impact and perceived lack of community benefits – think ‘not in my backyard’. To counter this, operators must take an active role in educating the public about their role in digital infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and economic contributions.

Keeping Up with the AI Race

The rise of AI is transforming data center demands at an unprecedented pace, requiring operators to adapt quickly, and smartly. Meeting these challenges isn’t just about scaling up power and cooling; it’s about rethinking the entire approach to design. AI-ready data centers must be built with flexibility, efficiency, and resilience at their core, ensuring they can evolve alongside fast-moving technological change.

Success will depend on more than just infrastructure – it will require a shift in mindset. Operators who invest in integrated, sustainable designs, prioritize skills development and safety, and engage with local communities will be best positioned to thrive in the AI era. Those who fail to take this holistic view risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive landscape. The AI race is on – and the data centers that power it must be ready to run at full speed.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro