Technology

• Microsoft pulled out of a $12bn deal with CoreWeave, citing delays
• OpenAI took over the contract, backed by Microsoft’s own investment funds
• AI sector remains a closed loop driven by a few dominant players

CoreWeave is eyeing a huge (potentially $2.5 billion) IPO in the coming weeks, but it has also had a few unflattering news stories to contend with recently.

Jeffrey Emanuel, whose viral essay described Nvidia as overpriced and led to it losing $600 billion in a single day, has described CoreWeave as a turkey and called it the “WeWork of AI”.

More recently, Microsoft chose to walk away from a nearly $12 billion option to buy more data-center capacity from the AI hyperscaler.

OpenAI to the rescue

The Financial Times (FT) reported sources familiar with the matter saying Microsoft had withdrawn from some of its agreements “over delivery issues and missed deadlines” which shook the tech giant’s confidence in CoreWeave.

The FT added that despite this, Microsoft still had "a number of ongoing contracts with CoreWeave and it remained an important partner.”

Microsoft is CoreWeave’s biggest customer, and the AI hyperscaler refuted the FT's story, saying “All of our contractual relationships continue as planned – nothing has been cancelled, and no one has walked away from their commitments.”

Shortly after that news broke, it was reported that OpenAI would be taking up Microsoft's nearly $12 billion option instead, helping CoreWeave avoid a potentially embarrassing setback so near to its closely watched IPO.

Rohan Goswami at Semafor made a couple of interesting observations on the news, noting, “This isn’t a sign that Microsoft is pulling back on AI - “We’re good for our $80 billion,” Satya Nadella said on CNBC - but an indication that the company is being more tactical about exactly when and where it spends. At the same time, OpenAI’s biggest backer is Microsoft, meaning that OpenAI is paying CoreWeave with money that is largely Microsoft’s to begin with.”

He described this as the rub, saying, “The AI economy is currently a closed loop and will stay that way until a broader swath of economic actors like big and medium-sized companies start spending real dollars on AI software and services. Until then, nearly all the money is coming from a few companies - chiefly Nvidia and Microsoft - which themselves depend on the goodwill of their public shareholders to keep underwriting it all.”

You might also like

• OpenAI wants to help your business build its next generation of AI agents
• Taking AI to the edge for smaller, smarter, and more secure applications
• Investments, action plans, and the shifting AI landscape

Nest is ending its Nest Protect smart smoke detector line as First Alert comes to the Google Home app.

Student loan payments restarted more than a year ago. What are your options?

French top-flight football returns after the international break with an intriguing encounter in Alsace.

If you see a weird product this week or next, don't be so sure it's real.

Apple has confirmed that its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will take place from June 9 through June 13. The annual symposium of all things Apple software should give us our very first look at Apple’s latest software for the best Apple Watches in 2025, watchOS 12.

Apple has provided annual updates to its wearable software alongside iOS and macOS since the inaugural debut of the Apple Watch in 2015. Many of the features on the Apple Watch that we take for granted in 2025 were only added after the earliest models launched, including small features like Activity Sharing and even the App Store.

With WWDC 2025 on the horizon, watchOS 12 is almost certainly very close at hand. Rumors are scant as to what Apple might add to the software this year, with the biggest Apple Watch headlines for 2025 currently encompassing hardware upgrades to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 rather than software tweaks to the whole lineup.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t make some educated guesses and start to piece together what we know so far. Inevitably, watchOS 12 leaks will probably emerge closer to the time, and we’ll get more rumors between now and the launch. Here’s what we know so far.

watchOS 12: Cut to the chase

• What is it? Apple's next wearable software for Apple Watch
• When is it out? Expect betas from June, with an official release in September 2025
• Who will get it? Likely users of the Apple Watch Series 7 and later, plus Ultra users, and maybe Apple Watch SE 2 and Series 6 owners

watchOS 12: Potential release and unveiling date

(Image credit: Future)

Unless Apple breaks 10 years of watchOS release schedules, the company should unveil watchOS 12 at the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9. Apple always showcases its latest and greatest software at the opening address on the morning of the first day, so we should see watchOS 12 alongside iOS 19, macOS 16, and iPadOS 19.

So, we have a good idea of when the new software will be unveiled. But what about the release date?

The Apple watchOS 12 beta should go through a series of staggered releases, if Apple continues form with its software rollouts.

Usually, it’ll release a developer beta immediately following WWDC 2025, often on the same day as the keynote announcement. This means we could see it in the wild as early as June 9. For the last two years, Apple has made the developer beta available to all of its customers, so you won't need to be a paying account member to sign up.

Then, a public beta will follow, usually one month later. As the name suggests, this beta is also available to everyone. It tracks about a month behind the developer betas, so it doesn’t quite have as many new features but tends to be more stable as a result.

Finally, after months of testing over the summer, Apple will launch the software publicly for everyone to download. In 2024, this happened on September 16 alongside the launch of iOS 18, right between the pre-order date for the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 on September 13 and the official launch on September 20. As such, I’d expect the full release of watchOS 12 to coincide with the launch of the new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3, as well as the iPhone 17.

Apple needs to push the software live before launching the new best Apple Watch models, and it also needs iOS 19 to go live at the same time, because you can’t have an Apple Watch without an iPhone. Generally, then, you can expect watchOS 12 to debut in mid-September.

watchOS 12 expected compatibility: Which Apple Watch models will get the new software?

(Image credit: Future)

While we won't know about compatibility for certain until Apple unveils watchOS 12, we can make a very educated guess on which Apple Watch models will get the new software.

That's because Apple's chip progression and features usually move in lockstep. Let me explain: Each year, Apple adds more features to its watchOS software. More advanced features require more power and put more strain on battery life, which means that, inevitably, Apple drops support for a model or two each year. Last year, Apple watchOS 11 ended support for the Series 4, Series 5, and first-generation SE.

You can expect guaranteed support for watchOS 12 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and original Ultra, as well as the existing Series 10, Series 9, Series 8, and probably Series 7. The Series 6 might be on the chopping block, owing to its older S6 chip.

The SE 2 has an S8 chip and is currently still on sale, so I'd expect support for that to persist for a year or two more.

Finally, and most obviously, we can expect watchOS 12 to be compatible with all three new Apple Watch models expected for 2025. Namely, the Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3.

If Apple does drop support for a model this year with watchOS 12, the Series 6 seems like the most obvious candidate because of its age.

watchOS 12: Rumored design, new features, and what we want to see

(Image credit: Future)

While we've heard that iOS 19 is set to usher in a major redesign and there are big plans for macOS and iPad OS, too, rumors about any new features or design changes for watchOS 12 are scant so far.

If Apple is planning a major overhaul for its other software platforms, that could indicate one of two things. Either, Apple will overhaul watchOS 12 to reflect the revised look and design of its other software, or watchOS 12 will be a very muted update because it's spending so much time on its other software.

Obviously, we'd prefer if the former was the case, but there are a couple of other bits and pieces we'd like to see, as well as some potential updates we can guess at.

Blood pressure

Apple is expected to add high blood pressure monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 in September. There's no clear information to confirm whether this will be a hardware change or a software tweak. If it's the latter, blood pressure monitoring could show up at WWDC in advance of its launch in September, also paving the way for support on other models.

If it's exclusive to the new models, a mention is unlikely at WWDC, as Apple will reserve the announcement for the September iPhone event instead.

Apple AI health coach

(Image credit: Future)

Apple has reportedly been working on an Apple AI Health Coach app for at least two years. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported the company will revamp its health app, including a new AI-based coaching service. Gurman reported in January that Apple is "increasing its ambitions in the health realm" and that work continues on the app.

Any upgrade in this department is likely to include a significant Apple Watch component, so a reveal of this progress at WWDC 2025 for watchOS 12 isn't out of the question.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence remains a glaring absence in watchOS. For better or worse, Apple has intentionally left its AI features out of its wearables lineup, reserving them for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

There's some sense to this. Apple Intelligence is generally power-hungry, and would impact Apple Watch battery life and possibly performance. However, I think there are a few obvious integrations that we could see in the next watchOS iteration:

• Genmoji - Genmoji lets you create custom emojis on iPhone that you can send to your friends and family, and it could be a fun way to improve communication on Apple Watch.
• Notification Summaries - An Apple Watch that could give you AI-powered summaries of important notifications could be an excellent upgrade, especially on a device with a small screen designed to be glanced at quickly throughout the day.
• Priority notifications - Apple Watch notifications can be overwhelming; using Apple's priority notifications could significantly improve how many notifications get pushed to your Apple Watch.
• Smart Reply - Apple Intelligence can write replies to messages. With the Apple Watch's tiny screen and fiddly keyboard, this one could be a lifesaver.
• Siri upgrade - Either through ChatGPT or Apple's own AI improvements, Siri needs a desperate upgrade, and it would be great to get the ChatGPT integration in Siri on Apple Watch while we wait for the 2026 upgrade.

watchOS: 2024's most significant updates

There's a good chance that watchOS 12 includes some tweaks and iterations of existing features, as well as new ones. Headline features from last year's release include the new Vitals app, which gives you health metrics measured during your sleep.

There was also the new Training Load feature, customization in the Activity Rings and Fitness app, the new Smart Stack, improved pregnancy support, and new safety tools, including Check In. All of these newer features are prime candidates for further upgrades and changes, and my prediction is that we'll get an upgrade for the Vitals app.

You may also like

• Please, Apple, don't add a camera to the Apple Watch – it's not the change we're hoping for
• The Apple Watch is getting a sleep alarm upgrade it probably should have had 10 years ago
• The Apple Watch SE 3 is apparently in 'serious jeopardy', and the news isn't much better for the Ultra 3 or Series 11

It's almost time to bid farewell to March (how are we a third of the way through 2025 already!?). But, before April *ahem* springs into action, there are a number of eagerly-anticipated new movies and TV shows to enjoy on the world's best streaming services.

So, whether you're looking forward to watching Mufasa: The Lion King, The Studio, or something else at home, we've got you covered. Whatever you stream this weekend, we're sure you'll enjoy it. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney+)

The latest Lion King live-action adaptation has arrived on Disney+ if you're looking for some escapism to the jungle this weekend. This one divided the critics with a split 56% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is actually higher than its 2019 predecessor that only scored 51%. So fans were more enamored with this one, which focuses on the story of Mufasa as he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, who is heir to a royal bloodline.

We're all familiar with the animated classic, and Mufasa: The Lion King takes us to where it all began, swapping between timelines to tell the story of Simba's father and the events leading up to the beloved original movie. While it's not good enough for our best Disney+ movies round-up, you might still have fun with it anyway, especially if you're looking to entertain the whole family. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Mufasa: The Lion King on Disney+

The Life List (Netflix)

Based on the novel of the same name by Lori Nelson, this new Netflix movie follows Alex Rose (Sofia Carson) as she embarks on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list following the death of her mother. As she revisits her youth, she’s taken on a surprising journey of self-discovery, romance and family secrets.

Netflix is home to many rom-com flops like A Family Affair and Find Me Falling, but The Life List promises to "make you both laugh and cry", which is usually a winning formula for some of the best Netflix movies. I’m definitely getting the tissues ready.– Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch The Life List on Netflix

The Studio (Apple TV+)

With Severance season 2 firmly in the rear view mirror, Apple needs another outrageously brilliant TV Original to fill the void. While Surface season 2 and Dope Thief are worth watching, it's The Studio that I'm recommending as your next must-see show on Apple TV+.

A clever cringe comedy series that doesn't hold back in its satirical take on Hollywood and the entertainment industry more broadly, The Studio is an absolute riot. Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly-appointed CEO of fictional company Continental Studios whose attempts to save the floundering business leads to all manner of slapstick moments, belly-aching laughs, and not-so-subtle digs at celebrityism, the LA party scene, and the churn of the Hollywood machine.

With top-tier performances from its supporting cast, including Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O'Hara, plus a whole host of cameo appearances – Martin Scorsese and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos are in it, for goodness sake! – The Studio is absolutely unmissable. Easily one of the best Apple TV+ shows of all-time. – TP

• Watch The Studio on Apple TV+

A Complete Unknown (Hulu)

Who else has been excitedly waiting to see Timothée Chalamet's take on the iconic role of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan? Despite not winning a single Oscar after being nominated for eight at the 97th Academy Awards, A Complete Unknown remains one of the most critically-acclaimed box office releases in the past year and will no doubt be one of the best Hulu movies once more audiences get a chance to stream it this weekend.

Set in the early 60s, the docudrama follows Dylan's rise to fame in New York under the mentorship of Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and offers a new dramatization of the musician's life, including his relationship with fellow singer-songwriter Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). Chalamet sings all the classic songs in the film himself, so expect a fresh take on favorites like Mr Tambourine Man and Like A Rolling Stone. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch A Complete Unknown on Hulu

Holland (Prime Video)

After the Nicole Kidman-led Netflix series The Perfect Couple disappointed me recently, I’m really hoping Holland will be a return to form for the iconic actress. The plot is intriguing enough, but with a 30% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics, there’s a real chance I’ll be let down again when I watch it this weekend. Having said that, critics' scores don’t guarantee the audience will hate it too, so we’ll have to make our own minds up.

There’s a great cast here, at least, with Kidman joined by Matthew Macfadyen, Naomi Watts, and Bryan Cranston, so the movie is certainly not lacking when it comes to talent. Holland is one to try if you’re hoping for a mystery-thriller to get stuck into, it’s now streaming on Prime Video. Maybe you’ll like it more than you think, there’s only one way to find out! - LB

• Watch Holland on Prime Video

Queer (Max)

Luca Guadagnino's latest film sees the Italian director back in his element. Since the theatrical release of Queer in 2024, many can't stop talking about it, including TechRadar's Rowan Davies who said it was his favorite movie of 2025 so far, and I'm not surprised following the success of Challengers and Call Me By Your Name. The director has a way with romantic dramas.

Adapted from a novel by William S. Burroughs of the same name, Queer is set in 1950s Mexico City and tells the story of an expat's (Daniel Craig) relationship with a young student (Drew Starkey). Critics haven't been overly taken by the new movie, which means it won't be one of the best Max movies, but that doesn't mean that audiences won't enjoy streaming another great A24 movie. – AS

• Watch Queer on Max

MobLand (Paramount+)

MobLand is another TV crime drama created by the king of the gangster genre Guy Ritchie and features a star-studded cast of Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. In this new Paramount+ show, two London crime families battle for power that threatens to end empires and ruin lives. Caught in the crossfire is Harry Da Souza (Hardy), a street-smart ‘fixer’ who is called upon by the Harrigans to protect their family.

This potential best Paramount+ show will be the perfect alternative while I wait for season 2 of Ritchie’s hit Netflix series The Gentlemen and I can’t wait to see his signature violence and unique characters back on the small screen in another gangland saga. – GM

• Watch MobLand on Paramount+

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix shows, best Disney+ shows, best Apple TV+ movies, and best Prime Video shows.

• Sophos researchers found a new variant of PJobRAT
• Android RAT now targets Taiwanese users
• The RAT can run shell commands and exfiltrate data

PJobRAT, an Android Remote Access Trojan (RAT) which disappeared roughly six years ago, has made a rather quiet comeback, targeting users with some arguably more dangerous functionalities.

Cybersecurity researchers from Sophos’ X-Ops security team discovered new samples in the wild, noting the 2019 PJobRAT could steal SMS messages, phone contacts, device and app information, documents, and media files, from infected Android devices.

The new variant can also run shell commands: “This vastly increases the capabilities of the malware, allowing the threat actor much greater control over the victims’ mobile devices,” Sophos explains. “It may allow them to steal data – including WhatsApp data – from any app on the device, root the device itself, use the victim’s device to target and penetrate other systems on the network, and even silently remove the malware once their objectives have been completed.”

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Inactive campaign

The 2019 variant was mostly targeting Indian military personnel, by spoofing different dating and instant messaging apps.

The new variant seems to have ditched the dating angle, and focuses exclusively on being an instant messaging app.

In fact, Sophos says that the apps actually work, and that the victims, if they knew each other’s IDs, could even communicate to one another.

Speaking of the victims, the attackers no longer target Indians, and have instead switched to the Taiwanese.

Some of the apps found in the wild are called ‘SangaalLite’ (possibly a typosquatted version of ‘SignalLite’, an app used in the 2021 campaigns) and CChat (spoofing a legitimate app of the same name).

The apps were being distributed through WordPress sites, Sophos said, suggesting that they cannot be found on popular app stores. The sites have since been shut down, meaning that the campaign is probably completed, but the researchers reported them to WordPress anyway.

“This campaign was therefore running for at least 22 months, and perhaps for as long as two and a half years,” it was sad. However, it doesn’t seem to have been a large, or successful campaign, since the general public wasn’t the target.

You might also like

• Devious new Android malware uses a Microsoft tool to avoid being spotted
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

• MindsEye is launching on June 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
• Build A Rocket Boy has shared a new cinematic trailer offering an in-depth look a the game's setting
• Pre-orders are now available

Build A Rocket Boy has announced that MindsEye will launch on June 10, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Today, the studio shared the release date alongside a brand new cinematic trailer for the upcoming single-player action thriller, which explored the game's fictional setting of Redrock City, a "super-heated near-future desert metropolis, where technology is king".

In the 'Welcome to Redrock' trailer, we got a look at Redrock's society and its robot inhabitants, as well as new characters like the tech genius and founder of Silva Industries, Marco Silva, and Shiva Vega, Redrock’s power-hungry Mayor.

Both characters' volatile relationship is poised to impact the city and playable protagonist Jacob Diaz, who is searching for answers about his troubled past.

During the game's reveal at the most recent Sony State of Play, we learned that Diaz is a former soldier fitted with a mysterious neural implant known as the MindsEye, who finds himself haunted by flashbacks of a covert mission that altered his life. His goal is to discover who created the implant, which quickly turns into something bigger.

"We can’t wait for players to immerse themselves in our tightly crafted game, MindsEye, with a thought-provoking story where technology and ambition collide, and the inevitable consequences unravel," said game director and former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies.

Build A Rocket Boy also shared MindsEye pre-order details for the digital and physical editions, both of which will cost $59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99.

Players who pre-order will also receive the Deluxe Edition Upgrade that includes the Premium Pass, the Deluxe Thorn & Kepler Yellowjacket Weapon, Future Jacob Vest Skin, Future Silva Sedan Vehicle Skin, and the Future DC2 Companion Drone Skin.

Physical preorders will also come with the same goodies, along with the Retail exclusive Stealth Silva Sedan Vehicle Skin.

In addition to the narrative, there will also be bonus missions built in Arcadia, Build A Rocket Boy’s custom building and distribution tool that enables the creation of AAA content, "enabling the delivery of new gameplay frequently".

You might also like...

• Best PC games 2025: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss
• Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
• Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 launches in early April, adding new monsters and some of the best-looking armor sets I need to add to my collection

The company's new phone will arrive first in the US and UK.

Die Werkself look to keep their title dreams alive as they host relegation-threatened Bochum.

• Kaspersky recently uncovered a zero-day vulnerability in Google Chrome
• Mozilla now says it has found a similar issue in Firefox
• The bug was used to target Russian targets in a cyber-espionage campaign

A worrying security flaw, similar to the Chrome zero-day issue recently spotted and patched by Google, has now been discovered, and remedied, in the Firefox browser.

In a security advisory published on March 27, 2025, Mozilla said after the discovery of the Chrome sandbox escape vulnerability, “various Firefox developers” found a similar pattern in the browser’s IPC code.

“A compromised child process could cause the parent process to return an unintentionally powerful handle, leading to a sandbox escape,” Mozilla explained. Escaping the sandbox is one of the browser’s “primary security defenses,” reports CyberInsider.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Patching the bug

A sandbox in a web browser is a security mechanism that isolates running web content (such as JavaScript, plugins, or iframes) from the rest of the system.

The goal is to prevent potentially malicious websites or scripts from accessing sensitive user data, modifying system files, or interfering with other applications.

By “escaping the sandbox”, cybercriminals could have malware run on the target computer through the browser.

A patch has been released, and Firefox users are advised to update their browsers to versions Firefox 136.0.4, Firefox ESR 128.8.1, Firefox ESR 115.21.1 to mitigate the issue. Mozilla also added that the bug affects Firefox on Windows, and that other operating systems are unaffected.

It stressed that the Chrome bug was being exploited in the wild, suggesting that the Firefox one remained hidden.

Chrome’s original vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-2783, while the Firefox one is being tracked as CVE-2025-2857. No severity score has yet been assigned.

Nor Google, nor Mozilla, discussed the threat actors or the victims. However, researchers from Kaspersky (who originally found the bug) said that the flaw was used to target people in Russia.

The campaign involved phishing, redirecting victims to primakovreadings[dot]info. The entire campaign was dubbed Operation ForumTroll and apparently, the goal is to conduct cyber-espionage.

You might also like

• Google Chrome security flaw could have let hackers spy on all your online habits
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

The $499 Pixel 9A is a follow-up to one of our favorite phones from 2024, the Pixel 8A. Google kept the price under $500 and added a big, 5,100-mAh battery.

• A reliable leaker revealed a diagram that indicates Medusa Point APUs may be powered by RDNA 4 architecture
• This would mean that FSR 4 can be used on future handheld gaming PCs and lightweight laptops using the processors
• There's also still a chance that FSR 4 could be backported to RDNA 3

AMD's RDNA 4 architecture, used in its latest desktop GPU lineup (the Radeon RX 9070 series), is currently the only way gamers can enjoy the new FSR 4 upscaling method. Unfortunately, AMD has left RDNA 3 GPU users behind for now - however, it's reportedly a different story for Team Red's upcoming lineup of mobile processors.

According to a leaked diagram from MLID (Moore's Law Is Dead), a reputable leaker on YouTube, AMD's Medusa Point APUs will be powered by RDNA 4 architecture. The diagram shows a processor under one of the Medusa Point APUs that supports 'Zen5LP', which are low-power Zen 5 cores, and also includes 'Navi4', which is indeed RDNA 4.

What this means is that any laptops or handheld gaming PCs powered by Medusa Point APUs will have FSR 4 support in games - if the leaked image holds any truth. MLID also speculates that the diagram showcased isn't from the top-configuration chip, but rather from one of the midrange options in the Medusa Point family.

This comes as a surprise since recent rumors have pointed toward new APUs sticking with RDNA 3.5; AMD has previously made it clear it's working to bring FSR 4 to RDNA 3, so even if this isn't true, there's still a chance FSR 4 will make its way to handhelds and laptops eventually. Not only would this benefit Medusa Point (if it does prove to use RDNA 3.5), but it would also help current AMD-powered systems.

FSR 4 is the closest thing we can get to Nvidia's DLSS on handheld gaming PCs

I've thought of this on several occasions and have even asked Nvidia about it before: if DLSS 4 was available on any handheld gaming PC, it would be a literal game-changer. With the new transformer model, performance mode looks better than quality mode in the previous CNN model for DLSS 3.

Why am I mentioning this? It's because AMD's FSR 4 is the closest upscaling method behind DLSS 4 - now, it's not better than Team Green's tech, and is arguably still a stretch away from matching it, but its performance mode has seen similar improvements.

Instead of ghosting and a significant image quality loss, you can still enjoy the benefits of great visuals and performance. It's important to note that there is a slight performance loss in games with FSR 4 over its predecessor, but it's nowhere near significant enough to have an impact on smoothness.

As far as I'm aware, there are no plans for an APU from Nvidia for handheld gaming PCs (I really hope Team Green is just being secretive, though). Nevertheless, if FSR 4 can be backported to RDNA 3 or Medusa Point APUs are powered by RDNA 4, it's going to be magic for games across the board on handhelds - and that's exactly what Team Red needs going up against Intel's Panther Lake lineup.

You may also like...

• Intel's rumored high-end Battlemage GPUs have been cancelled - is it time to worry about GPU competition?
• Intel makes its XeSS 2 upscaling tech easier to add to games - here's why that's good news for PC gamers with tight budgets
• The best AMD graphics card in 2025: top GPUs from Team Red

The company has shifted away from smaller form factor phones as it eyes even bigger models.

Saying the words "new Netflix horror comedy" is a great way to get me running to one of the best streaming services, and I'm so glad I did because Dead Talents Society is a gem. It was recently added to Netflix following its theater release in November 2024, and I highly recommend this lesser-known movie.

With an impressive 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating from the critics, making it worthy of a spot on our best Netflix movies round-up, it's a shame this movie isn't more popular. But I'm hoping there'll be more eyes on this Taiwanese horror now that it's available on the streamer.

It's definitely reassuring to see better horror movies being added to Netflix, as it seems to have a track record of adding some duds over the years.

Check out the trailer below.

What is Dead Talents Society about?

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

If you love a good ghost story, this one is for you. The movie is set in an underworld where ghosts can linger in the mortal realm by competing to haunt humans, hoping to become stars. So it's a popularity contest unlike any other, and you can imagine the hilarious scenes that start to unfold!

The protagonist of Dead Talents Society is a rookie ghost who realizes she has only 28 days left before fading away, prompting her to go on a journey to find her uniqueness and stop her from exiting the mortal realm for good. The movie has everything you could want from a horror comedy: absurdity, blood, and scares, making it a great time.

I've long been a fan of non-English language horror movies, and Dead Talents Society is proof that some of the best spooky stories can be found all over the world. This one joins the likes of Ju-On: The Grudge and Ringu on my list of highly recommended international horror movies. If you're looking to try something new this weekend, Dead Talents Society is waiting to welcome you in.

You might also like

• 5 Irish horror movies and shows I recommend streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more
• South by Southwest has given me 4 new horror movies to look forward to, including one from a dog's perspective
• 7 new horror movies on Netflix, Shudder, Max and more in March 2025

• A future Apple Watch could debut a touch-sensitive glass frame
• The report comes from a Chinese leaker on Weibo
• It appears to be based on an Apple patent published this week

Apple appears to be working on a future design upgrade to the Apple Watch that could see the company replace its chassis housing and physical buttons with a touch-sensitive glass frame, based on new reports.

The prospect of an Apple Watch with a glass frame and touch interaction has been floated on Chinese social media platform Weibo by leaker Instant Digital, specifically in the context that an all-glass Apple Watch could arrive before a rumored all-glass iPhone.

However, the timing of the leak and close proximity suggest this information has actually come from an Apple patent that published on March 27, first spotted by Patently Apple.

The patent, seen by TechRadar and creatively dubbed "wearable electronic device with glass shell" appears to indicate that Apple is considering a future where its best Apple Watch models have a glass shell and side wall with touch sensitivity, rather than a titanium or aluminum chassis.

Here's what we know.

An all-glass Apple Watch future

Patent images include touch buttons housed in the glass exterior. (Image credit: Apple / USPTO)

The patent refers to a wearable device with a glass shell encompassing both the Apple Watch display and "a side wall extending from the front wall." Essentially, the front and sides of the watch would be made from glass.

Not only would this look pretty cool, but it would allow Apple to turn the side walls of the Apple Watch into a touch-sensitive, evolving display that could show information and receive touch inputs.

The benefit, of course, would be that the information and input could change based on the context. For instance, if you were running a stopwatch, touch buttons on the side could offer start and stop functions. Switch to music listening, and these buttons could display buttons for pausing or skipping tracks.

This is one possible iteration of a future Apple Watch that's likely years away, though, so don't expect an all-glass Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Series 11 in September.

Apple has also patented an Apple Watch with a folding, dual-display and cameras, and a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the company is considering adding cameras to the device to turn it into an AI-powered wearable that can contextualize the world around you.

To me, the idea of a more subtle design tweak with touch-sensitive glass seems a little more refined than jamming a camera into the Apple Watch, but there's no reason Apple won't do both at some stage.

Naturally, of course, there's every chance this patent never sees the light of day, and remains an idea on paper only.

More immediately, we know that Apple is planning to add blood-pressure monitoring of some sort to its more premium 2025 models. Meanwhile, those awaiting the Apple Watch SE 3 can expect a pretty significant plastic redesign, which has been giving Apple some design headaches according to the latest reports.

You may also like

• Please, Apple, don't add a camera to the Apple Watch – it's not the change we're hoping for
• Apple is reportedly planning a huge future Apple Watch upgrade to turn it into an AI device with onboard cameras
• I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box

The Google Pixel 9a was announced in mid-March, but Google almost immediately delayed the sale of the phone, telling us it would be available sometime in April. We finally have the exact day the Pixel 9a should appear on shelves, and it will arrive in the US, UK, and Canada first on April 10. Then, it will go on sale in Europe on April 14th, followed by Australia and Asia on April 16th.

The new Pixel 9a will cost $499 / £499 / AU$849, and for that price, you get 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. The phone will be available in four colors: Obsidian black, Porcelain white, Peony pink, and Iris lavender. I got to spend thirty minutes with the new phone in a brief preview, and I'm hoping to have a full review up on TechRadar as soon as possible.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

The Pixel 9a was mysteriously delayed and Google would only say there was a component issue with the phone. Recent rumors have suggested that the Pixel 9a could have had problems with the camera overheating. Those rumors say the problem will be fixed with a software update, which fits the short timing of this delay.

Had there been an actual hardware component that needed to be replaced, we could have been looking at weeks or even months of waiting before the Pixel 9a hit shelves.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I've reviewed most of the best phones you can buy, and frankly, camera overheating is a very common issue these days. I've had overheating problems with my iPhone 16 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra that required the phones to all shut down during intense outdoor photo sessions. It's great that Google caught this problem, and hopefully, the Pixel 9a won't have the same issues as those flagship phones.

Of course, Google has not officially confirmed any specific reason for the delay, so we can only speculate. We hope to have a full review of the Pixel 9a on TechRadar shortly, and we will certainly put the camera - and every other component - through thorough testing to make sure it can stand up to our intense expectations.

You might also like

• Google just launched the Pixel 9a – and I reckon it embarrasses the iPhone 16e
• The Google Pixel 9a’s mysterious delay may have just been explained
• The Google Pixel 9a’s AI has a RAM problem

• The 3rd-gen Xiaomi TV Box S has just quietly landed
• There are several under-the-hood upgrades for the Google TV streamer rival
• These include a storage boost to 32GB, but RAM remains the same at 2GB

Google has its own Google TV Streamer for showing off the capabilities of Google TV, but there are now several alternative boxes available making use of Google's big screen software – and Xiaomi's offering just got a couple of welcome upgrades.

The 3rd-gen Xiaomi TV Box S is now official (via FlatPanelsHD), and there are some noticeable upgrades to talk about. Firstly there's a new chipset on board: Xiaomi hasn't said what it is, but it apparently offers a 25% CPU/130% GPU boost over the previous generation (it's most probably the Amlogic S905X5M).

While RAM stays the same at 2GB, there's also a very welcome storage boost from 8GB to 32GB – with the triple-fold increase meaning more room for your apps and games (new Google TV devices have to have at least 16GB of storage, as per Google's guidelines).

There's also Wi-Fi 6 for the first time, while the 3.5 mm audio port has been removed. The box again supports Dolby Audio, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ as before, while video over HDMI can get up to 4K at 60 frames per second. We're still waiting on availability and pricing details from XIaomi.

Can we have some more, please?

We'd love a Google TV-powered Nvidia Shield TV Pro (Image credit: Future)

Xiaomi's streaming box is now more on a par with the Google TV Streamer, though the latter's 4GB of RAM rather than 2GB is likely to mean a smoother and snappier experience overall – even with the processor boost on the Xiaomi.

And irrespective of the relative specs, it's good to see more Google TV devices on the market. Walmart has its own 4K streaming box running Google TV, and it also comes as standard on numerous TVs, including flagship Sony models.

More choice is always good, giving us a range of form factors to get our Google TV fix from – unlike offerings from Amazon, Roku, and Apple, where the hardware and software experience are very much tied together.

We can only hope that Nvidia takes some time out from pushing forward AI and GPU technology to build a new Nvidia Shield powered by Google TV. We haven't had a new Nvidia Shield streamer since 2019, but it remains a brilliant device for streaming, gaming, and general tech tinkering.

You might also like

• Google TV is testing AI news summaries on the home page
• This Netflix upgrade is great news for Samsung TV owners
• Google has stopped selling the Chromecast with Google TV

I've tested more than my fair share of VR headsets, demoed a host of mixed reality apps, and regularly use my AR smart glasses for entertainment when travelling. But it wasn't until today that I got to experience where all this tech is headed – and I'm desperately hungry for more.

That's because I got to spend an hour with the latest (5th gen) Snap Spectacles, a true AR glasses developer kit that doesn’t just play a movie on a giant virtual screen like the Xreal One glasses and its ilk – instead it features sophisticated interactive AR apps complete with hand-tracking in a wireless package.

In some ways it was similar to my other XR exploits, but fundamentally it had a freedom I've yet to taste in VR or even MR.

It's made me rethink claims from the likes of Mark Zuckerberg that we'll all be wearing AR glasses in a decade. I've gone from a mild skeptic to hoping more than ever that the AR revolution is closer than 10 years away.

This view was captured from Qi Pan's perspective in our shared AR session (Image credit: Snap)

The star attraction was by far and away multiplayer.

XR multiplayer is nothing new to me. I've played VR mini golf with family hundreds of miles away, won VR Squid Game against my contemporaries at a SandBox event, and socialized with people from all across the globe in Horizon Worlds.

They were all pretty cool – certainly better than a Discord call – but these VR experiences are, by their nature, a little isolating. We’re trapped behind our avatars, and even when playing together in the same room we have to keep your distance so we don’t bump into each other.

AR multiplayer had no such troubles. We were there together both in real life and virtually. And it was kinda amazing.

We were able to play with and interact with each other's Peridots, we could draw in 3D then marvel at each other's creations – viewing them together from all angles like we were examining a real life sculpture – and in Imagine we used AI to generate toy figurines to make our own fun.

I even demoed a learning app that had us examining a virtual skeleton together – which seemed like the perfect AR tool for a classroom.

Admittedly the apps were a little basic, and at times a buggier than you'd want – for example Peridot did occasionally struggle when we all tried to interact with each of our virtual pets at the same time.

But I could see the vision of what's to come.

My mind couldn't help but transport me to a future of people playing virtual paintball in the park, using heads-up navigation that automatically knows the best way to your destination, or getting to explore a world filled with AR critters in a souped-up version of Pokémon Go (though Niantic has sold that mobile game, so I might be left disappointed on that last front).

When I imagined this future it didn't feel like a distant pipe dream either, it felt like something we were rushing towards. And this demo convinced me it’d be awesome.

More to come

Drawing in AR is a blast, if not a little chaotic (Image credit: Future)

While testing Snap's specs I also had the chance to chat with Snap's Director of Computer Vision Engineering, Qi Pan, and Niantic's Peridot Executive Producer, Alicia Berry, who admitted that there are hardware obstacles still to be overcome.

The glasses aren't uncomfortably heavy, but they are bulky and a lot less stylish than normal eyewear. That’s because they’re pulling against opposing forces – AR glasses are striving to be lightweight, slim, and fashionable, with long battery life, solid processing power, and cameras, displays, speakers and a host of other components Oh, and they should be affordable, too.

It’s not an impossible challenge, but it’s nine tenths of one, and so it’ll take time for Snap, Meta, and everyone else in this AR glasses race to crack it.

But as Alicia Berry put it, it's an important goal in their eyes. We’re all hunched over our phones all the time and AR glasses allow us to 'look up' and still get all the digital benefits we’ve been accustomed to.

There’s no word yet on when we’ll get our hands on consumer-focused versions of these latest Snap Spectacles, but as soon as Snap is ready to launch them I’ll be ready to get in line to snag a pair. And I think everyone else will want to too.

You might also like

• Latest Meta Quest 3 software beta teases a major design overhaul and VR screen sharing
• Samsung's Android XR headset could avoid the Apple Vision Pro's biggest mistake
• I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong