Technology

The Sihoo B100 is one of the best budget ergonomic office chairs I've seen, and Amazon has reduced the price by 25%, with the B100 dropping to $166 (was $220). And in the UK, the Sihoo B100 is now £150 was £190

As good as the price reduction is, that's not the biggest reason I'd recommend this chair. That would be the adaptive lumbar support, a feature that's usually reserved for much more expensive office chairs and one that helps keep your lower back supported as you naturally move throughout the day.

Unlike fixed lumbar cushions, the support adjusts with your posture whether you're leaning forward to concentrate, sitting upright during meetings, or reclining for a quick break. It's the kind of feature that can make a real difference if you're spending long hours at your desk.

Today's top Sihoo office chair deal

For my money, the B100 is one of the best budget office chairs you can buy. The price is great, but the adaptive lumbar support is the standout feature. It offers consistent support even when you move in your seat, reducing pressure on your lower back and helping your posture.

In the UK: now £150 was £190View Deal

Although my team and I haven't yet reviewed the B100 specifically, we've tested plenty of Sihoo office chairs over the years and they have consistently impressed us with their comfort, adjustability, and value.

The widened seat cushion helps spread your weight more evenly, while the adjustable headrest provides extra support whether you're working, studying, or simply leaning back to think through your next project.

Three reclining positions at 110°, 125°, and 135° let you switch between focused work and a more relaxed posture throughout the day.

Flip-up armrests also make it easier to slide the chair neatly under your desk when you're finished.

The breathable mesh back helps improve airflow, keeping you cooler during long work sessions or warm summer afternoons.

A reinforced metal base, Class 4 gas lift, and support for up to 300lb complete a chair that is well equipped for everyday use and surprisingly affordable.

Based on our experience with Sihoo's wider range and the features on offer here, this is one of the strongest budget office chair deals available right now.

For more top picks, check out my guide to the best office chairs.

Also consider: More Sihoo office chair deals

If you have the budget, the Doro C300 is an exceptional office chair with more adjustability than the B100. We tested this one and found it very breathable and comfortable for all-day sitting in our review.

In the UK: Now £240 was £340.View Deal

The M18 from Sihoo is a solid budget office chair that's nicely designed and has all the core features. I'd still recommend the B100 over this one due to the better lumbar support.

In the UK: Now £110 was £180.View Deal

There's a lot I like about Sihoo's M57, including the adjustable lower back support, 3D armrests, and 330lb weight limit. However, it's more expensive than the B100 right now, and there's no adaptive lumbar cushioning here.

In the UK: Now £229.23.View Deal

• US: Shop all Sihoo office chairs at Amazon
• UK: See all Sihoo office chairs at Amazon.co.uk

• PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino has suggested the brand's next console could be a handheld ir hybrid
• He said Sony wants to break the perception that "PlayStation equals the living room"
• Nishino added that the next-gen console will offer "a seamless experience that can be enjoyed naturally beyond the living room"

New comments from Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino seem to suggest that the next-generation PlayStation console could be a handheld.

During a recent Q&A published by Sony (via IGN), Nishino was asked how Sony plans to bring back users who migrated to gaming PCs during the COVID period and if the company sees potential for significant changes with the next-gen console.

Nishino responded, saying that PlayStation "has long been strongly associated with the idea of playing in the living room." However, in recent years, gamers have been using personal monitors elsewhere in their homes, so Sony is now selling peripherals such as monitors and speakers "to break away from the fixed perception that 'PlayStation equals the living room' and to broaden usage scenarios."

This is when Nishino hinted at the next-gen console, which we expect will be the PS6.

"For the next-generation platform, rather than simply serving as an alternative to PCs, we aim to deliver value that is unique to PlayStation," he said. "This includes not only technological advancements but also an expansion of usage styles, enabling a seamless experience that can be enjoyed naturally beyond the living room."

It's this comment in particular that suggests that Sony is looking to shift gears and perhaps create a console similar to the Nintendo Switch 2.

The CEO made similar comments in a recent interview Famitsu, during which he said Sony wants to leverage tech "that can be used in various forms and locations."

Nishino confirmed that the company plans to continue focusing on consoles, saying, "My belief that a console is necessary for playing games hasn’t changed," adding that Sony "wants to continue providing its own game consoles."

He added that "pick up and play" is the most important quality for consoles nowadays, making one think of the Switch 2.

Rumors of a PS6 handheld have been circulating for some time. According to a reliable insider, Moore's Law is Dead, Sony will launch its next-generation PlayStation with three devices in 2027, including two consoles and a companion handheld.

Mobile gamers are in for a treat with Ugreen's new Honkai: Star Rail collaboration. The mobile accessory brand has unveiled five new special edition products that are out right now, plus a massive limited edition gift box with some exclusive merch for true collectors.

They're all based on the popular Star Rail character Yao Guang and includes two high-end power banks, a charger brick, retractable USB-C cable, and a little Apple Find My compatible tracker. All of the items have a special Yao Guang inspired design, with a clean blue color scheme and loads of little details to appeal to her biggest fans.

I've used plenty of Ugreen charging gear in the past, and can vouch for their quality. In fact, my go-to laptop and phone charger is the Nexode model from the brand's Genshin Impact collaboration last year.

All of these latest products are available with discounted launch pricing, as you can see below.

New Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail collab products

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Collectible Gift Box with exclusive merchandise

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Magflow Air Magnetic Power Bank (10000mAh, Qi2 15W)

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Nexode Air 65W mini USB-C Charger

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Nexode Pro Power Bank (10000mAh, 55W) with built-in screen

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Nexode 100W Retractable Cable, 3.3ft

Ugreen x Honkai: Star Rail Finetrack Mini2 Tracker Tag

Shark's new Transformer three-in-one vacuum combines an upright vacuum that breaks out into a cordless stick and handheld model to tackle your cleaning needs.

• European automotive body suggests sales of electric vehicles are booming
• Results show annual EV sales in the UK have overtaken petrol cars
• But plug-in hybrids are propping up the figures

New data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) suggests that more electric vehicles have been sold over the past 12 months than petrol cars, marking it as the first time this monumental shift has been recorded.

The milestone comes amid continued debate over the UK government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, with several manufacturers arguing the sales targets remain unrealistic without stronger consumer demand.

However, the recent data shows that in the 12 months to May 2026, UK consumers bought 516,490 new BEVs, compared with only 504,010 new petrol cars, according to analysis by Carbon Brief.

Similarly, data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that registrations of petrol and diesel cars fell by -7.1% and -2.2% respectively, as electrified vehicles gained ground.

That said, the claims that electric vehicles are overtaking internal combustion cars are misleading, as while pure petrol-powered cars have now slipped behind battery electric vehicles in the sales charts, combustion-powered vehicles remain comfortably ahead once diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are factored in.

That's because both conventional hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) still rely on an internal combustion engine. Although they're often grouped together under the umbrella term "electrified vehicles", neither is a fully electric car in the same sense as a battery-electric vehicle.

The latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures reflect this distinction, listing battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles as separate categories rather than combining them into a single EV total.

According to its latest figures, battery-electric vehicles accounted for almost one in four new car registrations over the past year, comfortably overtaking petrol-only models.

However, when hybrid and plug-in hybrid registrations are added to petrol and diesel sales, combustion engines continue to dominate the market overall.

Analysis: this is still a big moment for EVs

(Image credit: Omoda)

We shouldn't downplay the significance of these figures, because they demonstrate a genuine shift away from conventional petrol-powered cars and towards electrified alternatives.

In fact, the SMMT’s data actually softens the decline of petrol engines, as it labels "mild" hybrids as petrol vehicles, the sales of which can obscure the true decline of pure fossil-fuel options, according to Arena EV.

But sales of these traditional hybrids, while still a significant figure, have actually tapered off in recent years, while sales of plug-in hybrids have risen by 24% year-on-year in May 2026, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s (ACEA) numbers.

The SMMT data backs this fact, claiming plug-in hybrid deliveries grew 23.9% to take an enlarged 13.8% market share in May of this year. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, meanwhile, increased 34.2% to take 27.3% of the market, the highest recorded so far in 2026.

It is clear that there is a noticeable shift in consumer buying habits, with more opting for plug-in hybrid variants that arguably act as a stepping stone to pure battery EVs.

Today’s plug-in hybrids, such as the Omoda's Super Hybrid System, can manage impressive mileage on a single charge of their battery packs, with 60-90 miles now relatively commonplace.

In my personal experience, a large majority of motorists quickly realize that they rarely need much more than the range offered by the electric system in their plug-in hybrid, and if they can charge at home, this makes it easier to contemplate going full electric in the future.

The use of fossil fuel might not be completely dead just yet, but the figures indicate that it is quickly slipping out of fashion.

Apple TV's got some big projects landing this month, including a new, original Ben Stiller-produced pickleball movie.

Its first exhibit translates rainforest data into a sumptuous audiovisual experience, but without a strong thesis about data as art.

• Samsung Messages is shutting down for US users in July
• Google Messages is the suggested alternative, but there are other options
• You should switch to a new app before the shutdown date to ensure you keep your chat history

If you’re a Samsung Messages user then you’re probably already aware that the app is soon shutting down in the US — and if you’re not, you need to be, because there are steps you’ll need to take to preserve your messages and continue being able to chat.

While the exact shutdown date hasn’t been confirmed by Samsung, the company has said that it will be switched off at some point in July, and it’s looking like it will probably happen on July 6, as some users reported getting notifications with that date.

So, you don’t have long to get your messaging house in order. With that in mind, we’ve detailed the five things you should do before Samsung Messages shuts down.

1. Check if you’re affected

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus users in the US are among those losing access (Image credit: Future/Rami Tabari)

Oddly, it seems that right now at least, Samsung isn’t shutting down its messaging app everywhere. In fact, initially, it’s only shutting down in the US.

Even then, it will seemingly continue working on devices running Android 11 or older, so if you’re outside the US or running a very old version of Android, you don’t necessarily need to do anything (though you might still want to, as detailed below).

But Android 11 is likely to have numerous security vulnerabilities these days, so if you are still running that version of Google's software, it’s worth updating your device or getting a new one anyway if possible.

2. Consider switching even if you’re not affected

While Samsung has said that it currently has no plans to shut down Samsung Messages outside the US, it’s hard to imagine this isn’t something the company is at least considering.

We’d think it’s likely that the US shutdown is just the first step, with other regions potentially following sometime later, and even if it isn’t shut down elsewhere, this move rather suggests that Samsung Messages isn’t a priority for the company, so you might find it doesn’t get updated as much as alternative apps.

All of which is to say it could be worth switching messaging apps anyway, even if you don’t actually have to yet.

3. Choose and download a new messaging app

Google Messages (Image credit: Google)

Assuming you either have to switch or have decided that now’s the time, you’re going to need to choose an alternative.

Handily, there’s no need to give this much thought, as Samsung is directing users to Google Messages, so if you’re happy with that, you can download it from Google Play and skip to the next step.

But you might want to consider other options too, such as Fossify Messages, Textra SMS, Beeper, or Pulse SMS.

However, be aware that only Google Messages and Beeper support RCS (Rich Communication Services) — the others are limited to SMS, which has fewer features and is less secure.

4. Set it as your default messaging app

Next, set whichever app you’ve chosen as your default messaging app. In most cases, you should see a prompt asking you to do this when you launch the new app for the first time, but if not, just head to Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > SMS app, and then tap the one you want to use.

5. Wait for your chats to move across

Beeper is an alternative to Samsung Messages (Image credit: Beeper)

In most cases, once you download a new messaging app and set it as your default, your previous conversations from Samsung Messages will move across to it automatically, though this can take up to 24 hours, so don’t panic if they don’t immediately appear.

But if you choose to switch to Beeper, then the process is a bit more involved, as you’ll first need to download Google Messages anyway and move your conversation history over to that. Then you can connect Beeper to your Google account to give it access.

• Ugreen has released a new line of Honkai: Star Rail collab products
• It includes charging accessories and a little tracker
• They're all inspired by the character Yao Guang

Mobile accessory maker Ugreen has launched a new collection of Honkai: Star Rail collab products and they seem perfect for mobile gamers.

Hot off the heels of the brand's successful Genshin Impact collaboration, this new line contains five officially licensed items inspired by the popular character Star Rail character Yao Guang.

(Image credit: Ugreen)

The most expensive is the $89.99 MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank Honkai: Star Rail Edition, a compact power bank with an integrated braided USB-C cable which actually doubles as a carrying handle when it's not in use.

Despite its small size, the power bank boasts a massive 10,000mAh battery capacity. It supports MagSafe, so is capable of snapping to the back of a compatible phone for simple cable-free charging, and could come in clutch if you find yourself running out of juice in an intense mobile gaming session.

Of course, the whole power bank is decked out in a unique blue colorway and decorated with an illustration of Yao Guang on one side and some patterns inspired by her in-game abilities on the other.

(Image credit: Ugreen)

If you're after a more traditional power bank, then the $59.99 Ugreen Nexode Pro Power Bank Honkai: Star Rail Edition is the model to go for.

You lose MagSafe compatibility, but gains a built-in smart display that lets you monitor the remaining battery capacity and check the charging speed— up to 45W (or 55W with compatible Xiaomi devices).

Like its thinner sibling, this model has a massive 10,000mAh battery capacity and a built-in braided USB-C cable that can double as a useful carrying strap.

The design of this is a bit brighter, though, with full color artwork and lots of little flourishes for fans to appreciate.

(Image credit: Ugreen)

The $49.99 Ugreen Nexode Air Charger Honkai: Star Rail Edition might seem a little pricey for a charger brick, but does has some high-end specs on top of its special edition design.

It's meant to charge everything from your laptop to smartphones and tablets with its 65W output, and comes bundled with a 1M long USB-C cable.

The plug's prongs can be folded down, which is ideal if you want to keep it in your rucksack without inadvertently scratching something else.

(Image credit: Ugreen)

There's another cable too: the Ugreen Nexode Retractable USB-C Cable Honkai: Star Rail Edition. It costs $19.99 and supports up to 100W fast charging.

It retracts into a compact disk (emblazoned with some character artwork) and is meant to help keep your desk or bag tidy by cutting down on cable clutter when not in use.

(Image credit: Ugreen)

Although charging is clearly a big focus with the collection (and a big concern for most mobile gamers, as intensive titles like Honkai: Star Rail tend to burn through battery fast), the final collab item is actually a location tracker.

The Ugreen FineTrack Mini 2 Honkai: Star Rail Edition looks like an adorable AirTag alternative, and is exclusively compatible with Apple Find My.

Unlike an AirTag, the Ugreen FineTrack Mini 2 does not offer a replaceable battery: once it runs out of charge, you need to buy a new one.

This is a shame, though the brand does estimate that each unit will last more than seven years and claims that a disposable battery cell actually has lower carbon emissions than a rechargeable one.

It's also IP68 waterproof thanks to the sealed design, and is a touch cheaper than an AirTag at $21.99.

(Image credit: Ugreen / HoYoverse)

All the items are available separately today via Amazon and the TikTok Shop with some launch day discounts to be had.

For the most dedicated fans, however, Ugreen has also released a limited time collectible gift box that costs $249.99 .

It contains the four items from the product line (the MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank, Nexode Air Charger, Nexode Retractable USB-C Cable, and FineTrack Mini 2) plus loads of exclusive merchandise including an acrylic stand and power bank pouch.

• WhatsApp username reservations are now open for some
• Check inside the app for your reservation invite
• You can link your new handle to Facebook and Instagram

The big WhatsApp username revolution has started — and while usernames won't fully take over until later this year, Meta is letting people reserve their handles starting from now. Open up WhatsApp on your phone, and you'll see an alert above the conversation list inviting you to reserve your name.

Earlier today I got the alert on my phone (maybe because I'm such an enthusiastic WhatsApp user). If you miss tapping the notification before it disappears, you need to head to Settings: On Android, it's the three dots (top right) then Settings; on iOS, tap the You icon (bottom right) to get to the same menu.

From Settings, select Account > Username > Create username to start selecting your WhatsApp handle. It's worth remembering you're up against three billion other users here, so your first choice might be gone — in which case WhatsApp will ask you to pick something else until you land on something unique.

(Image credit: Meta)

You may have to deploy some numbers or special characters to get a username that hasn't already been taken — the same tricks you may well have used to get your handles on other platforms (for example, using underscores and periods). There's also a Suggest username option here you can use if you're stuck, and WhatsApp will come up with a few ideas for you.

You can also link an existing username from Instagram or Facebook, which is helpful if you've got a small business or side hustle set up on those platforms and want to be consistent in every app. Just follow the Use Instagram username or Use Facebook username links when you see them.

What you need to know

(Image credit: Meta)

There are a few things to bear in mind when reserving your username. Firstly, this won't hide your phone number from people who already have it on WhatsApp — it only applies to new contacts you add after the username feature goes live, and it seems as though that won't happen for a few months yet.

Second, if you think that someone might guess or otherwise stumble across your username, you can add an extra layer of protection. From Account > Username, tap Contact me by username and you can generate a key code — a prospective new contact will then need to be told both this key and your username in order to connect with you.

(Image credit: Meta)

If you have a change of heart (or identity) then you can still change your username before the feature goes live: open up Account > Username then tap Edit to pick something different. At the moment, it's not clear how username changes will be handled once the feature goes live later this year.

Fourth, you'll be wasting your time if you try and reserve something like @zendaya or @edsheeran. WhatsApp says it's fenced off usernames that relate to celebrities, politicians, and other VIPs, so you're not going to be able to use this as an opportunity to impersonate someone famous.

Finally, if you do register the same handle as you've got on Facebook or Instagram, Meta will ask you to connect your accounts. That makes them a little easier to manage together, but it also gives Meta more information about you, your devices, and your activities — which may be used for targeted ads in the future.

Loewe, the German speaker and TV maker, has just announced that it's launching a new venture called Loewe Systems. According to the company, this is "a new Berlin-based company focused on developing fully integrated high-end audio and audiovisual solutions for automotive manufacturers, luxury residences, superyachts, recreational vehicles, and other premium mobility applications."

The new team consists of Managing Director Alexander Meisen, Director of Acoustics Ajan Hannemann, and Director of Automotive Engineering Robert Schletze. The team comes from a background of working on the Burmester audio systems in Mercedes-Benz cars, so has a strong in-car audio heritage.

To find out more about the goal of this new team, I spoke with the three members of the Loewe System crew, as well as Loewe's CEO Aslan Khabliev.

TechRadar: What's the goal for you guys of pushing into the integrated installation systems market?

Alexander Meisen: We did projects in residential and one-off projects, and this is really where we see people smiling. This is really where we can create stories. With the new setup with Loewe, creating those kind of experiences this is clearly where we see lots of potential.

TechRadar: What what will success look like for you going into this market?

Alexander Meisen: Clearly more than just adding a brand to projects to speaker grilles in automotive. Really going deep, really creating a special sound signature, really creating outstanding experiences with future partners.

TechRadar: You mentioned the sound profile. Is that one of the main things that will make Loewe's offering unique, or what else do you think will make will make people want to see that brand on the design?

Robert Schletze: I think it's a lots of things, but starting in an automotive project, it's specific knowledge of how to specify the speakers, how to integrate the speakers in the car, partner up with the right partners, having our own sound signature, knowing how to tune a car with 37 speakers like an orchestra [when you're] sitting in the middle, knowing what to do with delays, gains, filters… all that stuff comes together [in our] knowledge.

TechRadar: What are other companies doing wrong that you think you can do differently to win over the the car makers?

Alexander Meisen: There are massive changes and shifts in in-car audio. That's especially where we see lots of potential, because in this field it became quite common to just add a logo to speaker grilles, make it look fancy and try to tell stories — I mean, there's no real USP, there's no real story. So we really go into what Robert just explained, and then in addition, we know that in the hi-fi market or in audio market in general we see a certain lack of really activating partnerships, really communicating and kicking off marketing campaigns together.

This is clearly one of the reasons why we decided to set this up under the Loewe and also Cabasse brand, because Loewe is already doing this — Loewe can offer that to potential partners. And Loewe also has a long heritage, and the feedback we're getting right now from potential partners we're talking to is 'Hey guys, we don't just want to put the name somewhere from a certain brand which is maybe famous or recognized in a certain area. We really want to create those experiences together' — and this is where we're very confident we can offer those [companies] the full package with all the different aspects

TechRadar: Is in-car audio the primary area of the Loewe Systems project? Loewe has history in this area with BMW, so it makes sense.

Alexander Meisen: There is this history, and yes, automotive is clearly the priority to us. This is where our team has lots of expertise. This is where the network is established. This is where… we haven't released the news officially, but we are in talks. There are certain lead times when it comes to establishing new partnerships, but yes, clearly and absolutely [in-car audio is the priority].

Still we're also talking to potential partners in the field of residential building on integrated systems, because the great thing for for us as a team right now is also we have full access to all the expertise and products of Loewe Group. We're not only talking about audio, we're talking about the full experience, which is also the visual element.

TechRadar: What do you see as the ultimate in-car offering from Loewe? Does it stretch to the displays as well as the audio and the DSP?

Robert Schletze: It's an overall experience in the car. You look at the market, there are video screens already integrated lots of them [regardless of the] brand that they're coming from. You have the audio part, you have smell in the car — you can connect all together, so it's an overall experience. Why not add this visual area from Loewe if it works and we can partner up? Anything is possible there. Currently we're figuring it out — we know where our expertise is, and we as we said we're not just just adding elements to a car. We're working together hand in hand [with manufacturers] for the full experience.

TechRadar: Are we talking about Dolby Atmos in cars, or what kind of premium experience are you aiming for?

Robert Schletze: I think Dolby Atmos is a standard now in the automotive area anyway. Yeah, of course. 3D sound, 4D sound, 2D sound.

Alexander Meisen: We've worked with the teams of Dolby before. We know them pretty well. So, this is one aspect, but it's not new anymore. It's not outstanding. It's more like a given to us.

TechRadar: Is there something else new that you guys have in mind that you can bring?

Alexander Meisen: The manufacturers are asking for new features, especially when you compare the markets. You have a look on the European market and then you check the Chinese market and there are there are different demands and requests. We know that we will come up with features that are not [widely available] yet, but we cannot communicate them right now because we're at a very early stage.

Robert Schletze: We have some past experience with what's missing in the market. We've got some ideas there, and partners that we can develop them with. But overall I think you have to go back from adding feature over feature over feature — you have to go back to not adding another speaker in the car, but developing a proper speaker that can reproduce the sound as we want. The basics; go back to the basics. That's missing a lot today.

TechRadar: You talked earlier about working with speaker partners on developing the right speaker for this situation. How involved do you expect to be in like the actual driver design?

Ajan Hannemann: We want to dive into this topic, and we will specify this — we actually already did in the past as well, for Mercedes Group. So we aim to improve those elements, but [the] really important thing for us, like Robert already mentioned, is the packaging of where the speaker is placed — there's room for improvement if you can make it clear to the manufacturer of the car what kind of benefits we get when when we place the speakers in more optimized positions. You can gain a lot of improvement regarding the sound performance.

TechRadar: Can you give us any examples of issues that you see with a lot of in-car systems now that you want to aim to improve?

Robert Schletze: Definitely the design wins over the functionality, which is quite normal today and that shouldn't be the case. So most of the time you have a midspeaker next to your knee, so you don't have a proper staging. It belongs higher up. It's all because the designers have the power.

TechRadar: So you want to work with partners where you can put the acoustic design earlier into the overall car design, and get the speakers where you need them to be. Is that the idea?

Robert Schletze: That should be the target, yeah. To be in early from the beginning stage of every project.

TechRadar: And the partners you're working with now are on board with that?

Robert Schletze: They are on board and they provide the direct access, yes.

TechRadar: Can you say any of the car partners you'll be working with at this point?

Aslan Khabliev: Let's put it this way, they will be German.

TechRadar: What's your goal in the luxury property development market? Are you are you looking at home theater installations, or is it more like convenient built-in sound for kitchens and bathrooms?

Alexander Meisen: Yeah, we're focusing on to B2B [business to business] partnerships, so we're not looking at individual home cinema here. We're more looking to work with developers, architects, interior designers, etc. We're also looking at concepts that we can scale, so not only the one unit, but maybe the whole building. Our main priority is clearly not the bathroom or the ambient sound in the elevator or somewhere, but clearly defined listening situations.

Ajan Hannemann: And here also, the target is to achieve a high-quality sound reproduction from those systems integrated in the environment, that are part of the architecture. From the very first steps, we [want to] define not only materials surrounding our system, but only also the perfect positioning of the system to make the best out of those sometimes-challenging spaces. New architecture is often with a lot of flat surfaces, so you get flatter echoes, you get high reverberation times, and we want to specify exactly the parameters we need to achieve a high-quality sound.

So that's why, in the past, we worked at early stages together with the architects and the engineering and simulation companies to try to achieve the best possible room acoustic parameters. So this is the goal in architectural audio as well, not only home cinema. So this we want to do this in a scaled way, [multiple apartments] in one building. And we will individually tune every apartment, so that you get the transporting sound signature from the car, [bringing] the tuning expertise we have there into real-estate projects.

TechRadar: The yacht market is an interesting one because it seems to have its own genre of audio brands that specialize in, it like JL Audio from Garmin. So what kind of systems are you talking about building in that market and what do you want to do differently?

Ajan Hannemann: In that market, we have to rely on marine partners, because in the portfolio from Cabasse and Loewe there are no marine-certified systems available. So we have to choose strong partners in that market and adapt our skills, our expertise, the human touch we bring regarding sound signature, into the marine sector.

TechRadar: So in that area, are you talking about becoming more like an integrator and not so much offering your own speakers?

Aslan Khabliev: Never say never. This might be the next project for the guys from Cabasse, for example. By the way, you asked a question about drivers: we have our own drivers in Cabasse, with a lot of expertise and IP and patents. I'm very happy that we have acquired Cabasse, I think we bought a real diamond. So there is no project which we cannot do, let's put it this way.

Right now, [Loewe Systems] is only a three-man show. It's a very tiny team, but we have a lot of ambition and knowledge, and it's never going to happen with these three guys by them by themselves. We [Loewe] are a big team now, we have 200 people now in Kronach, and we have 40 people in France, and we all want to help these guys to become successful. So whenever they need some hardware, software, this can all be done in-house.

What we need to do to help them is to basically realize their dreams. And those things which were not possible in their previous experience, to make them possible with our skilled people — and in my opinion, there is nothing that is impossible. It has to make sense financially, because you don't want to spend millions on one project and just sell one or two pieces. It has to make sense, but otherwise I think everything is possible. We've got the right resources for that.

Alexander Meisen: It's amazing for us to see what kind of resources, expertise and and infrastructure we can access now as a team. All three of us are coming from Burmester. So Ajan responsible for overall acoustics at Burmester, Robert was the lead engineer for automotive and responsible for Mercedes. This is well known in the industry and this is also what we're adding here. So a full network but with all the power and direct access within the Loewe group — this makes us really confident.

TechRadar: One of the areas mentioned in the press release was premium mobility brands. Can you say what that means outside of the areas we've already talked about.

Alexander Meisen: Yeah, so we would also call it, like, future mobility concepts. Automotive is is very clear, yacht is very clear, and residential as well. But for instance think about an RV. This is also interesting for us, but it's not the main priority.

TechRadar: Things like tour buses for for bands?

Alexander Meisen: Exactly. But most of the time these are not projects you're allowed to communicate [to other people] in the first place.

TechRadar: A lot of the times they might be private custom designs?

Alexander Meisen: They prefer that, yes. Same for yachts, but it's still it's very interesting for us.

Finding, accessing and deleting the biggest files on an iPhone isn't the easiest. Thankfully, there's a workaround to simplify things.

• A new 4K restoration of Hammer's Dracula is coming to theaters and Blu-ray in October 2026
• Uncensored and with new footage believed to have been lost forever
• Pieced together from 'the best original archival materials sourced from around the world'

Here's a tale to really sink your teeth into: Hammer Films has "painstakingly restored" (pun intended, I assume) the original 1958 Dracula, adding "long-lost" footage and delivering an uncensored cut in full 4K. It'll be coming to movie theaters and home entertainment in October 2026.

This isn't a remaster. It's a resurrection. It features footage that was believed to be lost for over six decades, and which was only ever seen by Japanese cinemagoers in the 1950s. The recovered material is "from the best original archival materials sourced from around the world" and has never been released in the US or UK, nor available for home viewing in either country.

Dracula was the second on-screen pairing of Peter Cushing, who plays Dr Van Helsing, and Christopher Lee, who plays… I'm just checking my notes here… Dracula.

Hammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsHammer FilmsFangs for the memories

There have been many Dracula movies, but the 1958 one delivered the definitive Drac: as Hammer Films says, Lee's portrayal introduced "the bloodshot eyes, predatory fangs and visceral physicality that became the blueprint for modern vampire mythology and whose influence can still be seen across horror cinema today."

It's hard to overstate Dracula's influence. Everything you'd expect from a Dracula movie — the fangs, the heaving bosoms, the wooden stakes, the suggestion that some women might actually enjoy having their necks bitten by a charismatic count — features here, and the film has frequently been included in rankings of the best films and horror films of all time.

As director Terence Fisher explained to our friends at SFX Magazine, this was the movie that made vampires sexy. "My greatest contribution to the Dracula myth was to bring out the underlying sexual element in the story… At the moment he bites it is the culmination of a sexual experience."

As you can see from the still images above, the restored version looks absolutely spectacular. And the film itself is a masterpiece. As Empire wrote in its retrospective review, "It was garish, it was sexy and it was never afraid to be gory. And with its spectacular ending — in which The Count's flesh peels away and crumbles to dust when caught in the first rays of the morning sun — Dracula created one of the classic images of horror cinema."

According to the wonderfully named John Gore, CEO of Hammer Films and executive chairman of John Gore Studios, “Bringing Dracula back to audiences in 4K goes far beyond a piece of film restoration work. This is the recovery of a piece of British film history that audiences believed had been lost forever. Seeing Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together again in such extraordinary detail is a reminder of just how powerful this film remains nearly seventy years after its original release.”

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• Box finds 2 in 3 ITDMs expect headcount to grow over the next three years as AI evolves
• New roles – like agent operators and automation specialists – will emerge
• Nearly all ITDMs admit stronger governance would help

New research from Box has claimed two in three (65%) UK IT decision-makers expect overall headcount to grow over the next three years, not shrink.

In fact, only 14% believe headcount will decrease, with the consensus generally pointing toward AI creating new jobs, not replacing human workers.

This shift in narrative comes at an important point for AI, as it evolves from experimentation to actual deployment.

AI is creating new roles, not eliminating them altogether

Box now believes we're entering the era of the 'agentic enterprise' where AI agents are embedded into everyday workflows and have organizion-wide knowledge and context, but even as they become more sophisticated and capable, the impacts on human workers are expected to be positive.

Of all the companies using or testing AI agents, only 8% say they've led to job losses today.

Among the roles more likely to be created are AI agent operators within IT teams – nearly half (48%) of all organizations are hiring for this role. Workflow automation specialists (32%), security, risk and compliance professionals (31%), change management and AI enablement roles (31%) and AI ethics and governance specialists (26%) are also crucial opportunities for human workers.

"As organisations embrace the next phase of AI, the focus is increasingly shifting from individual productivity gains to transforming how work gets done," EMEA President Samantha Wessels commented.

Though only around one in three companies are hiring for security professionals, the opportunities could grow further as nearly one in two (45%) experience an AI-related data exposure incident.

Rather than framing the opportunities as being capped, with either humans or AI helping to meet goals, Box proposes a higher ceiling where AI and humans can work together to push goals even further. Most ITDMs (94%) now believe better governance would help them adopt agentic AI faster.

The companies have teamed up on the new offering, but don't expect a bundle.

• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will have three graphics modes on PS5 and PS5 Pro
• Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes will run at 60FPS, 30FPS, and 40FPS, respectively
• The PS5 Pro will offer extended ray tracing thanks to PSSR 2.0

Ubisoft has unveiled the PlayStation features for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which is set to have three graphics modes across PS5 and PS5 Pro.

As detailed in a new PlayStation Blog post, Black Flag Resynced, which was rebuilt from the ground up and described as "an experience tailored for modern PlayStation hardware," will offer 60FPS performance options, HDR support, Dolby Atmos, and DualSense haptic feedback.

On PS5 and PS5 Pro, the game will have Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes, which will run at 60FPS, 30FPS, and 40FPS, respectively, with an upscaled 2160p resolution.

The game will also utilize the PS5 Pro's upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling technology, improving image quality and reconstruction, reducing the visual gap between performance and fidelity modes, and offering an "extended ray tracing support" including both Ray-Traced Global Illumination and Ray-Traced Specular Reflections

"This enables richer lighting and reflection quality while maintaining higher performance targets across Performance, Balanced, and Fidelity modes," Ubisoft said.

Fidelity and Balanced modes on PS5 will also offer extended ray tracing, but it will be "standard" in Performance mode.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

The developer has also expanded strand-based hair technology on PS5 Pro and it will be available for Edward Kenway across all modes. In Fidelity mode, nearby crowd characters will also benefit from strand technology during gameplay, while cinematics use strand-based hair for all characters regardless of mode.

"Rather than relying solely on traditional hair cards, the engine can simulate and render individual strands for more natural motion and response to wind. All of this allows us to get a very realistic hair render for our characters," Ubisoft explained.

Thanks to Ubisoft's upgraded Anvil engine, Black Flag Resynced also simulates weather in real time through Atmos, the systemic weather simulation framework, which continuously simulates variables such as temperature, humidity, wind, and vapor density, instead of treating weather as an isolated effect.

"These systems evolve over time and influence one another, producing more coherent and dynamic weather," the studio explained, adding that the same simulation extends into gameplay and environmental interaction.

The game's water system has also been modernized using a new tessellation technique, volumetric foam generation, and dynamic bubbles, allowing the sea to respond more naturally to wind conditions, weather, and ship movement.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is set to launch on July 9, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

I recently visited Audeze’s HQ in California for a revealing behind-the-scenes look at how one of the most premium audio brands goes about its business, from the science and developments behind the tech to the philosophy, people, and culture driving it.

As someone who covers gaming hardware and tech, one of my most pressing lines of inquiry during my visit was to really nail down why Audeze believes that planar magnetic drivers are superior for gaming audio and in gaming headsets like the Audeze Maxwell 2.

And I got my answer: it’s the driver’s innate ability and technical functionality, but also what it allows a user to do afterwards.

All things transient

“Planar magnetic drivers have several fundamental performance advantages that benefit gaming,” Audeze marketing director Peter James tells me.

“One of those is better transient response … The driver is lighter, moves faster, reacts quicker to the changes in the signal, which means better precision and more realism.”

This can then equate to enhanced “immersion in a single-player game” or a “competitive advantage in a multiplayer game, where you're hearing more precisely and more quickly what's going on around you”, he says.

This is supported by the weighty opinion of Dragoslav Colich (or ‘Dr C’ for short), co-founder and chief technical officer of Audeze: “Transient response is much higher, so bass is much cleaner.”

If you’ve ever compared the likes of an Audeze Maxwell 2 to a competing dynamic driver gaming headset, then this is something you already know. I have had plenty of experience with overly muddy and thumping bass on many leading brands’ gaming sets, which are nowhere near as clean and detailed as the Maxwell 2’s.

Enhanced immersion and precision, regardless of whatever genre of game you're playing

The second major benefit of the drivers’ ability to offer lower distortion and the knock-on effects of that.

“Lower distortion, again, means versions of all those things you're hearing, [with] enhanced immersion and precision, regardless of whatever genre of game you're playing. But additionally, the low distortion enables better customization of the sound,” James argues.

This means planar magnetic drivers might not only sound better by default but can also allow you to tweak the sound profile more effectively than other sets.

“Because these drivers are so flexible and so low in distortion, they take EQ very easily and readily without creating even more distortion the way dynamic drivers often do, particularly when you boost bass,” he goes on. “This allows our headphones to be more customizable to people's individual tastes.”

So, better transient response for higher levels of precision and realism, lower distortion, and great flexibility in taking on EQs — and that’s on top of a level of audio quality that is, at least for me, incredible.

These hidden gems buried in your wireless headphones' settings can supercharge your listening experience.

We’ve covered the ThinkPad T16 line extensively, and our verdict on the series has been consistent: it’s “a phenomenal laptop for productivity, traveling, and general business use.” Our hardware editor has sworn by the line for decades now.

So, I was excited to see the ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 has just dropped to $1935 (was $2149) at Lenovo. This business machine features Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 processor and Copilot+ certification. And, of course, the best keyboard you can get on any laptop, period.

For a business laptop with this spec sheet and Lenovo’s enterprise support infrastructure behind it, that’s a meaningful discount on a machine designed to last. The ThinkPad T series has always been Lenovo’s most uncompromising business line, and the T16 Gen 5 continues that tradition.

Today's top laptop deal

Intel Core Ultra 7 355 | 16GB LPDDR5X RAM | 512GB SSD

The ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 that means business: This 16-inch Windows 11 Pro laptop equipped with the efficient Core Ultra 7 355 processor and fast 16GB LPDDR5X memory for smooth and responsive workflows. That's coupled with 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and the sort of ports business professionals can rely on, like the Thunderbolt 4, USB4 at 40Gbps, RJ-45 Ethernet, and a dedicated docking station port. It's also built to MIL-SPEC 810H tested across 12 durability certifications. Fingerprint reader, IR camera for Windows Hello, and Lenovo’s ThinkShield security platform round up the featuresView Deal

The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 is an Arrow Lake chip with P-cores boosting to 4.70GHz, and it’s the right processor for a machine in this category. More importantly for the ThinkPad T16’s target audience — IT departments, road warriors, and enterprise buyers — the Core Ultra 7 includes Intel’s NPU, qualifying it as a Copilot+ PC with full on-device AI acceleration for Windows 11’s latest features. That’s increasingly a practical requirement for enterprise software compatibility and future Windows feature sets, and it’s baked in here without needing to step up to a more expensive configuration.

The port selection is where the T16 Gen 5 sets itself apart from thinner business ultrabooks that compromise on connectivity. Two USB4 40Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a full-size HDMI output, RJ-45 Ethernet, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a dedicated docking station port means you can connect to essentially any enterprise peripheral or docking infrastructure without adapters. Wi-Fi 7 covers wireless connectivity at the latest standard. For an IT manager spec’ing laptops that need to work at any desk in the building, this is a port list that doesn’t require asterisks.

The 16:10 aspect ratio on the 16-inch WUXGA display gives you meaningfully more vertical screen space than a 16:9 panel of the same size — the equivalent of another inch of content when scrolling through documents or reading emails. In our review of the Gen 1 T16 we specifically noted this made “content on the screen feel much larger due to having more space vertically.” For productivity work, it’s a genuine day-to-day advantage. One honest note from NotebookCheck’s Gen 5 review: they found the standard IPS panel underwhelming in brightness and color gamut and strongly recommend upgrading to the better display option if that matters for your work. The standard panel is adequate for office productivity, but creative professionals should consider the OLED upgrade tier.

Durability is a core part of the ThinkPad T series value proposition, and the T16 Gen 5 maintains it. MIL-STD-810H certification across 12 test categories means it’s been validated against temperature extremes, humidity, vibration, dust, and drop scenarios that go well beyond what consumer laptops are tested for. For a laptop that will travel, live in bags, and cycle through multiple environments over several years of use, that level of real-world durability testing matters in a way that spec sheet comparisons don’t capture.

The ThinkShield security platform covers hardware-level security, including a built-in fingerprint reader, IR camera for face-based Windows Hello login, and BIOS-level protections. For organizations with security compliance requirements, the T series’ enterprise security credentials are part of why IT departments keep buying them generation after generation.

NotebookCheck noted that the Gen 5 runs very quietly — fan noise maxes out at around 34 dB(A) under full load, which is quieter than many competing business laptops. The one behavioral quirk they flagged is the fan occasionally spinning up briefly during idle in plugged-in performance mode, which is audible but not loud. Battery life on the T16 line has always been a strength: in our Gen 1 review, we had 30% remaining at the end of a full working day, including two video calls and light photo editing, a figure that reflects real-world use rather than lab conditions.

For professionals who need a reliable, well-supported 16-inch business laptop that won’t compromise on connectivity, security, or durability, the ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 at $1,934.10 is one of the cleaner choices in the enterprise tier right now.

Also consider: More Lenovo laptop deals

Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100 | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD

A snappy processor, fast memory, long battery life, and ultra-thin design are the highlights of this ultra-portable OLED laptop for professionals. View Deal

Intel Core Ultra 5 325 | 16GB LPDDR5X | 512GB

Lightweight and thin, the X13 Gen 7 is tailored to professionals working on the go and across multiple locations. View Deal

• See all laptop deals at Lenovo.

So-called "shadow AI" can do more than cause headaches for your friends in IT.