Technology

In an uncertain economy, CDs offer the security of guaranteed returns.

• The terrible lag on the volume control appears to be gone
• One of the most talked-about problems since the app update
• Sonos' CEO is gone and the firm promises to "do right" by its customers

2024 was a terrible year for Sonos and many of its customers thanks to a botched app update that removed key functionality and introduced problems. By the end of 2024 it still wasn't completely fixed. But it's a new year, and it seems there's been a new dawn as well as the departure of CEO Patrick Spence: one of the most annoying on-going issues with the Sonos app finally appears to have been fixed.

This is going to sound daft to non-Sonos users. But customers are celebrating a massive change: the volume control… works!

Our Managing Editor Matt Bolton has checked this out on his own Sonos system, and says it's true: Hell has frozen over, pigs have learnt to fly and the moon has turned to cheese. The volume control works instantly!

What Sonos users are saying

The news broke on the r/sonos subreddit, home of some of Sonos's biggest fans and most disappointed customers. "They finally fixed the volume control," Brian Nicholson rejoiced.

The problem with the volume control was simple: there was tons of lag between adjusting it in the app to actually hearing the volume level change – if it even did change. And of course, that's a feature you're going to use very regularly so even a little lag is going to get very annoying very quickly, since you might want to change volume a few times in quick succession to get it right.

The volume issues have been among the top problems discussed on the subreddit for many months now. But not everybody is reporting that their app is fixed; the issue seems to be fixed on iOS but some Android users are still reporting problems; other users say they've never encountered any issues at all.

Assuming the issue really is fixed and this isn't going to turn out to be a false dawn, the posters' relief is understandable – but it's still pretty damning that it's taken months to make the best Sonos speakers' volume control work properly.

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• Salesforce is reportedly set to lay off an estimated 1,000 workers
• However its sales rep hiring push is reportedly still ongoing
• Salesfroce Q4 2025 results set to be announced this month

Salesforce is set to lay off around 1,000 workers (via Bloomberg) as it looks to restructure its workforce, but it won’t necessarily be reducing its headcount by this amount.

The CRM software giant is reportedly continuing its hiring efforts to acquire AI salespeople, and employees affected by the redundancies can reapply for other roles internally.

It’s unclear which divisions of the business are to be hit by the job cuts, as Salesforce has not made a public announcement.

Salesforce to shake up its staffing

The report comes from an unnamed person familiar with the matter, who stated that an estimated 1,000 employees would lose their current jobs.

We don’t know the extent to which the job cuts will affect the company, which had around 72,600 workers in January 2024 when it reported its fiscal year-end figures. Salesforce will next report its year-end figures at the end of February 2025.

While not as stark as previous years, Benioff notified around 1,000 workers of their redundancies in 2024 across at least two separate rounds (via layoffs.fyi). More than 8,000 lost their jobs in 2023.

In December 2024, Salesforce revealed it would be hiring 2,000 new sales employees – an attractive offer for the 9,000 referrals the company received in a short space of time.

Indicative of the ongoing changes, COO Brian Millham recently said at a conference: “We’re looking across the entire company to say, ‘Where can we get more efficiencies? How can we continue to get fuel for the work that we’re doing to go invest in scale going forward?”

Despite the bad news for some, the company’s revenue growth, marked by 8%, 8% and 11% increases over the first three quarters of its fiscal 2025, suggests that the layoffs are largely a shift in focus more than a reaction to poor financial performance.

Salesforce didn’t respond to our request for further information.

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Socking money away can help pad your emergency fund with extra savings.

You can do better than this powerful and basic rabbit vibrator.

Microsoft’s integration of OpenAI’s o1 model into Copilot last week brought the "Think Deeper" feature to all users. Think Deeper houses OpenAI's o1, a reasoning model capable of some pretty good reasoning capabilities and complex insights, despite taking longer than a regular AI model to respond. OpenAI launched o1 as part of ChatGPT last year, but this CoPilot integration spells the first time you can access the model for an extended period at no extra cost.

You can turn on the o1 model by clicking on the Think Deeper button before submitting the request. As for why you might want to use Think Deeper, well it gives you access to the complex reasoning and searching that OpenAI's o1 model is capable of, and also offers enormous improvements in terms of memory. Where standard Copilot models tend to forget quickly, the Think Deeper mode keeps track of what you request and the context throughout your conversation.

AI interior design

(Image credit: Screenshot Microsoft Copilot)

To put the model through its paces, I started with a somewhat straightforward request that had some wrinkles. I asked, "I want to renovate my small bedroom on a budget of $500. Can you suggest cost-effective ways to improve its look and functionality?"

The AI came back with not only a budget breakdown for different ideas, but detailed suggestions for paint colors, lighting, furniture, and personal items. It even offered ideas for cost-free changes like scents and sounds before capping off with questions to consider, a bit of philosophy, and a Frank Lloyd Wright inspirational anecdote.

Travel time

(Image credit: Screenshot Microsoft Copilot)

For my next query, I went a little broader and more complex, asking Copilot, "I’m planning a 5-day trip to London on a $2,500 budget. Can you help me plan an itinerary that includes must-see attractions, affordable lodging, and transportation tips?"

The response was a lot like talking to a travel agent, one who wanted to "craft a journey where every moment immerses you in the heartbeat of this vibrant city, all while keeping your wallet happy." The AI then set up a whole itinerary, with each day its own theme, like "The Royal Welcome" and "East London's Edge." Each had the day mapped out with things to do, their prices, ideas for where to eat and stay, and approximate costs. Were I planning such a trip as a first-timer to London, I could think of a lot worse as an outline to use before I left.

Notably, as with the redecorating request, Copilot became very philosophical again at the end, keeping up the travel agent theme by reminding me that "Travel is more than ticking off landmarks; it's about the moments that resonate with your own journey. Perhaps you'd love an afternoon sketching by the Thames, delving into quirky bookstores, or finding the perfect spot to watch the city's skyline light up."

Playing Cupid

(Image credit: Screenshot Microsoft Copilot)

For my last experiment, I went as simple as possible and asked Copilot to describe a perfect first date. As you can see above, the response is phrased in a very human style. Most notably, the AI remembered my earlier mention of DIY projects at home and decided to incorporate them into all of the date ideas. Whether these would actually be good first dates is debatable, but at least the AI is paying attention and remembering our earlier chat.

Copilot without the o1 model is definitely quicker but usually shallower as well. That's great for simple tasks but can mean there's a need for a lot of manual tweaking. Copilot with o1 is smarter, more thoughtful, and much better at maintaining context, but it sometimes gets lost in its own brilliance. That said, it does feel more like an actual AI collaborator. So, if you need deep AI-powered insights, asking Copilot to Think Deeper is a great idea. Just don't use it when you're in a hurry, because in those circumstances, a brilliant overthinker is not ideal.

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An investigation into more than 300 cyberattacks against US K–12 schools over the past five years shows how schools can withhold crucial details from students and parents whose data was stolen.

I’ve always been fascinated by the promise of futuristic technology. Watching films with smart houses, robotic assistants, and virtual reality, I often imagine a world where all the hard work is handled by automation: press a button, problem solved instantly. Within the context of the business world, I see a similar emergence of new technologies with the ability to help businesses thrive.

Struggling with inventory tracking? There’s an app for that. Need to drive more sales and manage customer relationships? There’s an app for that, too. From paying your team to marketing your services, to invoicing your customers and paying your bills, every business challenge now has a dedicated tool ready to assist.

But when does relying on multiple disconnected technologies shift from boosting your business to undermining productivity? For many growing businesses, the tipping point begins when the ‘app bloat’ sets in - being bogged down by too many disconnected digital tools that don’t work together, leading to more inefficiencies and wasted time.

According to a recent study, 98% of businesses report that their digital tools are not sufficiently optimized to support long-term scale — meaning these businesses are stuck in the dreaded app trap with no real results. Investing in another app to get organized may be tempting, but the truth is simple: adding more software doesn’t solve the problem.

Finding the Right-Sized Solutions Can Be a Challenge

When a business is starting out, it makes sense to solve operational challenges by adopting tools that address specific operational challenges, such as managing inventory, activating marketing campaigns, or tracking sales. However, as a business grows, the demand for a scalable, integrated solution increases. . Without a cohesive software investment strategy, businesses risk focusing on short-term fixes instead of long-term integration and efficiency.

Over time, businesses can accumulate a patchwork of specialized apps - each designed to solve a specific problem, but not designed to work seamlessly together. The survey found that businesses use an average of 10 different digital solutions to manage operations. This fragmentation often leads to operational inefficiencies, forcing teams to manually transfer data between systems which increases the risk of errors and impacts productivity. For instance, a retailer may use different apps for inventory tracking, supplier management, and financial forecasting. This forces retail leaders to spend hours manually data entry, leading to delayed insights, outdated inventory data, and higher operational costs.

These inefficiencies add up quickly. Respondents reported spending an average of 25 hours per week on manual data entry and reconciliation across apps. That’s valuable time that could be better spent on strategic initiatives to drive growth.

The financial impact is equally significant. According to the survey, businesses overspend an average of $3,000 per month on unused or rarely used apps, amounting to $36,000 annually in unnecessary costs. Optimizing the tech stack to reduce waste and eliminate inefficiencies is not just a cost-saving measure; it's a critical step for businesses seeking sustainable growth.

Staying Ahead with Artificial Intelligence and Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become an essential tool for businesses of any size looking to scale operations efficiently, with nearly 9 in 10 businesses (95%) agreeing that AI is crucial for success in today’s economic climate. AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks like data entry, customer support, and reporting allows businesses to shift focus from administrative burdens to strategic growth.

By streamlining processes, AI frees teams to innovate and explore new opportunities instead of being weighed down by manual workflows. With AI-powered solutions, businesses can achieve more with fewer resources, creating the capacity to grow without adding complexity.

Beyond automation, AI tools deliver predictive analytics that empowers businesses to make smarter, data-driven decisions. For example, a restaurant chain can leverage AI to analyze customer preferences and spending patterns by region, helping marketing teams craft location-based campaigns tailored to customer trends.

Integration is Key to Growth

As technology advances at record speed, growing businesses need to stay agile and adaptable. That means focusing on future-proofing the business for sustainable, long-term success instead of investing in the latest shiny tool on the market. To unlock new growth opportunities, these businesses need an integrated digital business solution that empowers smarter, faster decisions, boosts productivity and increases capacity for success.

When it comes to a connected platform solution, the survey found that 95% of businesses see the value in integrating apps and software for scaling their business. By consolidating tools into a unified system with robust integration capabilities, businesses can rely on a single source of truth accessible across departments, significantly reducing manual data reconciliation. This kind of visibility also allows teams to make faster, better-informed decisions to stay competitive in the market. Here are three ways businesses can drive better integration:

Prioritize multi-functional platforms: When selecting software, ensure it ticks all the boxes of the business. Does it easily integrate different functions like finance and marketing? Platforms that offer all-in-one functionality can streamline workflows and connect various aspects of the business, ensuring smoother communication and data flow between departments.

Re-evaluate your tech stack regularly: Conducting consistent audits of software investments can help identify redundancies and underutilized tools that are driving up costs and slowing operations. Removing this excess will streamline the tech stack and help business leaders gain a better understanding of where they can automate further.

Invest in employee training: Ensuring everyone on your team understands how to use the solution will maximize the benefit of the platform, foster collaboration, and reduce the reliance on outdated apps.

As it turns out, the futuristic tech-driven world we envisioned still needs a little fine-tuning. While today’s technology can make things easier, businesses still need to be savvy about what technologies actually help move their business forward. With a smart, integrated system, escaping the app trap and unlocking sustainable growth is within reach.

We've compiled a list of the best online collaboration tools.

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

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It’s also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 4.

When news that Dyson was adding a handheld vacuum to its range reached my ears, I was excited. This is a brand known for its cutting-edge engineering; its boundary-pushing designs. What innovations would it come up with for the all-new Dyson Car+Boat?

Turns out, not many. When I unboxed my review model, it felt familiar. The specs, too, seemed very similar to what I remembered from another vacuum. Then I got my old Dyson V8 out, to compare, and had a Lindsey Lohan Parent Trap moment. The Car+Boat wasn't just similar to the V8, it was identical. To create the Car+Boat, Dyson has taken a V8, removed the wand and floorheads, and popped one new attachment into the box. It even says 'Dyson V8' on the box of my review model.

The Dyson V8 (left... or is it right?) next to the Dyson Car+Boat (Image credit: Future)

All of Dyson's stick vacuums can be turned into handheld model by removing the floor wand and adding a detail tool, so if you already have a newer Dyson, you might well feel put out if you decided to shell out for a Car+Boat. Two of the three attachments included with the Car+Boat are also bundled in as standard with Dyson's stick vacuums – namely the Crevice tool and Combo tool. I assume the third (a new handheld attachment) will also be added to Dyson's accessory store at some point, too.

I'm writing this the day before the new model goes on sale to the general public, and there's a chance Dyson will have shifted its wording to make it clearer that the Car+Boat isn't a new model by the time it's officially released to the public. I think that would be a good move, because if you're aware of it, the fact that the Car+Boat is the same as the V8 isn't necessarily a bad thing. Let me explain...

A handy solution?

When I first heard about this model I said I thought it looked set to blow other handhelds out of the water, and now I've tested it out properly for my Dyson Car+Boat review, many of the things I was initially enthusiastic by turned out to be just as impressive in practice.

The V8 isn't the best Dyson vacuum based on specs. It came out in 2016, and there are currently three newer vacuums in the lineup: the Dyson V11, the V15 Detect and Gen5detect. However, the V8 is the best option for handheld use. It's the lightest of the three (considerably so, in the case of the newest Gen5detect, which clocks in a 7.7lbs compared to the V8's 5.6lbs). It's also the most compact, and therefore better at getting into awkward nooks and crannies.

The relatively compact size of the V8 makes it suited to use as a handheld (Image credit: Future)

In fact, I'd go as far as to say the V8 is better suited to use as a handheld than it is as a floor vacuum. The dust cup is slightly irritatingly small for a whole-home vacuum, but generous for a handheld. Same goes for the battery life – 50 minutes might not be enough time to clean a large home, but it's more than enough for a car, and far longer than you'll get with even the best car vacuums on the market.

You're not getting the suction-maximizing in-line design introduced with the V11 (where the cyclones, wand and dust cup are all stacked in a line), but that's perhaps less of an issue when the suction head is so close to the motor, rather than all the way at the end of a wand.

In short, the V8 is still an excellent handheld vacuum. I'd be excited to see what Dyson could come up with if it tried something truly new in the handheld vacuum area.

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The Trump Administration claims it is allowing "lifesaving" foreign aid to continue, but in reality, DOGE is preventing vital work on HIV and AIDS from saving lives.

The tool allowed users to encrypt their internet traffic and hide their IP address when using untrusted networks.

• Microsoft Paint now features a Copilot AI
• New AI Paint tools include Cocreator, Image Creator, and Generative Erase
• Windows is adding AI search to find photos using natural language

Microsoft Paint, that humble program you may only call up for a very quick image crop, is getting an AI upgrade thanks to a new Copilot button. Microsoft’s AI assistant can now help create and enhance any sketches or MS Paint-based visions you care to put down in pixels. For now, the update is limited to Windows Insiders, though, presumably, Microsoft will expand access as they refine the feature.

For those with access, clicking the Copilot button in the Paint taskbar will offer a menu of AI-powered features. That includes Image Creator, which turns text prompts into images using OpenAI's DALL-E model, Cocreator, which uses AI to combine text prompts with any doodles you make in Paint to produce a new kind of artwork, and Generative Erase, which can take objects (or people) out of an image without disturbing the background.

This isn’t the first time Paint has flirted with AI. In 2023, Microsoft started adding Cocreator to Paint, followed by generative fill, which lets you remove or modify parts of an image by instructing the AI to replace them with something new. This simply organizes all the AI tools neatly under the Copilot banner, making it easier to find and use them in one place.

Paint is just one of the stations Copilot is setting up across Windows. The AI is already built into the Windows taskbar, the Edge browser, the Office 365 platform, and even some keyboards. That said, offering AI in Microsoft Paint fits with how people might actually use the application. Making and editing images is the whole point of Paint; Copilot simply expands those abilities.

Organization Copilot

But this isn’t just about Paint. Microsoft is also rolling out updates to its AI-powered search, which first appeared in preview earlier this month. Until now, AI search only worked with files stored locally on your PC. This new update expands to cloud storage as well, meaning you can now find your OneDrive photos just by describing them.

Instead of scrolling through endless folders of screenshots and vacation photos, you can type something like “beach sunset from last summer” and let AI do the rest. It’s a small but significant shift toward a more intuitive way of managing files.

Paint may not be the most exciting Microsoft tool, but the incorporation of AI tools is notable as an evolution of an app that many assumed Microsoft would abandon years ago. Instead, Paint may thrive in the AI era thanks to the very simplicity that has made it appealing for decades.

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• Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Apple Music is just $2.99 for six months for select customers
• It's a great time to give the streaming service a go and ditch Spotify
• Apple Music offers a million songs, including many in lossless

Whether you let Apple Music expire after a free trial or have never been tempted by its deep integration with the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and iPad, the temperature to switch to Apple’s music streaming service is at an all-time high.

Why? Well, beyond lossless audio that meets the Spatial Audio standard for free, basically every song imaginable, and excellent curated playlists, Apple Music is offering new subscribers an excellent deal ahead of Super Bowl LIX and the Apple Music Halftime Show. You can get six months for just $2.99, an exceptional savings.

That’s a full $8 off the $10.99 a month price for an individual plan, so you’ll save around $63 over six months. This makes it an especially attractive offer if you’ve been loyal to Spotify or another service and really gives you a reason to switch. Or if you’re not completely sold, this lets you give Apple Music a go for just $3.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

While it lacks a fancy, visually attractive Wrapped functionality at the end of the year, it makes up for it in many ways. A Replay playlist arrives each month, meaning that current Apple Music subscribers can see a list of the songs they played and listened to the most, among other statistics, for January 2025.

Apple Music’s library contains well over 100 million songs, many of which are also available in Lossless, Dolby Atmos, and Spatial Audio formats. This means that with the right equipment – speakers, soundbars, earbuds, or headphones – you’ll get a more immersive listening experience. While Amazon Music offers this as well as Tidal, it’s something that Spotify can’t touch – even if it promised ‘Hi-Fi’ many many moons ago.

Not to mention, if you’re using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, the main ‘Music’ app is where Apple Music lives. It’s also integrated quite well, allowing you to share tracks easily and even ask Siri to play your favorite songs, playlists, or artists by default. Further, on the big screen, courtesy of an Apple TV 4K – or on other devices – you get Apple Music Sing, which is the best lyric experience, in my opinion, and a super fun way to karaoke with almost any track available on the platform.

(Image credit: Future)

Like Spotify, you’ll find a bunch of playlists, including top lists by region and city, as well as curated ones by the Apple Music team and even some artists. There are also several radio shows to pick from and music videos to watch.

Suffice to say, at just $2.99 for six months, there’s really never been a better time to at least give Apple Music ago. Apple says it’s available for new and eligible customers, so you’ll want to head over to the promo page and see if you’re eligible. We’re waiting to hear back if this is global, but we spotted a banner for £2.99 for six months.

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• “Internet dress” blends human and robotic elements
• Designer Maximilian Raynor spent almost a month making this dress
• No, it's not for sale

In a fusion of technology and haute couture, fashion designer Maximilian Raynor has unveiled a dress unlike any other.

Crafted from 12,000 feet of repurposed fiber optic cable, the 50-pound dress is a striking representation of the internet’s physical form.

The dress was created through a collaboration between Raynor and web hosting firm Equinix.

Following in the footsteps of Chanel’s 2016 data center-themed runway show and IBM’s recent project transforming chip fab sounds into music, the dress, codenamed ProjectMax, made its debut ahead of London Fashion Week, turning heads with its intricate and futuristic design.

A dress "made of the Internet"

Raynor, known for designing avant-garde pieces for celebrities like Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan, described the dress as the “personification of the internet herself.”

He explained, “I imagined a character that is the embodiment of data—somewhat robot, somewhat human—emerging from a pile of wires to create this dramatic look.”

In addition to discarded internet cables, the dress uses metal nuts, and bolts sourced from Equinix’s 260 data centers across 33 countries.

Raynor spent 640 hours weaving together the stretchable, 25kg garment, but it's not for sale and won't be reproduced, only serving as a statement piece.

“By bridging the gap between physical and virtual, we wanted to create something tangible that works as a unique talking point to highlight the many thousands of connections that are created by Equinix to support economies and societies every day," Bruce Owen, Equinix's EMEA president, told Data Center Dynamics.

"The design pays homage to the physicality of the vital infrastructure that makes up the Internet," he added.

"Rather than some sort of weird magic or unexplainable force that just happens to work, it’s a physical, intricate network of cables, traversing land and sea and creating physical connections housed in Equinix data centers worldwide."

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