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With over 240 still, broadcast, flying and 8K cinema cameras, Sony will help capture the Super Bowl game and the halftime show from every possible angle.

The global B2B software market is on a remarkable trajectory, projected to reach $829.34 billion by 2031. This growth is fueled by an increasing demand for user-friendly and cost-effective software solutions. Industry professionals have witnessed firsthand how artificial intelligence has become a cornerstone of many B2B software products, enabling providers to adapt swiftly to customer needs. With a plethora of options available—from HR and finance to education and parking management—standing out in this crowded marketplace is more crucial than ever.

The competition in the B2B software space is fierce, with countless brilliant companies vying for attention. Investment is a vital component for growth, and knowing what makes a company stand out to capital providers is key to unlocking these opportunities.

Key factors to consider:

Can the business achieve low churn?

B2B software businesses typically enjoy low capital expenditure, with gross margins ranging from 60-80%. The subscription model prevalent in this sector means that each customer represents a recurring revenue opportunity, often secured through annual contracts. To maintain this “stickiness,” it is vital to foster high-quality, accessible, and accurate customer support. Engaging closely with customers not only helps in retaining them but also opens avenues for upselling and contract renewals. The software should solve real problems, making it indispensable to customers. If they can’t imagine their lives without the product, the business is on the right track to achieving an extremely low customer churn rate.

Can the solution be easily understood?

B2B software should never be overly complicated to explain. The solution must be easy to understand, especially for non-technical buyers or investors. A strong Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is essential, and it should be conveyed succinctly—preferably in just a sentence or two. When presenting the solution, it is important to avoid jargon and complex explanations. Instead, breaking it down step by step is advisable: outline the problem, identify the gap in the market, and explain how the solution addresses it. Customers and potential investors are looking for simplicity and ease. They should leave the pitch thinking, “How did I ever get by without this product?”

Why are good reporting practices crucial?

One of the most significant hurdles businesses face when seeking investment is poor reporting. Investors will scrutinize financials and they want to know and understand how management tracks the business performance, so it is crucial to present that data clearly and illustrate how the business operates and its growth potential. It also shows investors the data and metrics that management uses in allocating capital and resources and making investment decisions within the business. Strong revenue growth is obviously a key desired outcome, but the input metrics to achieve that growth (such as retention figures, pipeline coverage, etc) are just as important to understand.

Bottom line performance is also important, but knowing where it’s being allocated and why is perhaps even more important. For example, if the CAC (Cost of Acquiring a Customer) is low enough relative to a customer’s LTV (Life Time Value), it might be more prudent to be a bit less profitable and reallocate to marketing early on when driving market share. That decision to spend investor capital needs to be backed up with strong decisional data and reporting though.

As a founder, ensuring that reporting is accurate and comprehensive from the outset will help avoid unnecessary obstacles when securing investment, illustrate operational excellence, and doubles as helpful to internal decision making anyways.

What is the end goal?

Investors are primarily interested in returns. They have a fiduciary duty to achieve strong financial returns on their investments. For equity capital that means at some point getting liquidity on their investment in your business via sale of the company to a strategic buyer, a financial buyer, or via an IPO. If seeking debt financing, a lender generally wants to understand those exit options as well given it’s their most likely path of repayment.

It is important to be prepared to discuss the exit strategy from the beginning. Most often, this will involve an acquisition or merger with a strategic buyer, or recapitalization via a financial buyer, so identifying potential buyers early on can set the business up for success when seeking funding, and also give a target of corporate development teams or other financial investors to start building some rapport with. If an IPO is a desired option, there are planning considerations to take into account for the company and its capital providers.

Understanding the path to exit is crucial for investors as they consider their eventual payout. Planning for it early and setting the ground work is crucial for the business as well.

Takeaways for success

Standing out in the B2B software market requires a combination of strong operating metrics, clear communication, robust reporting, and a well-defined exit strategy. By focusing on these essentials, businesses can build an investible model that not only attracts investors but also thrives in a competitive landscape.

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

The tech industry stands at a fascinating crossroads, one that's dramatically reshaping the landscape for aspiring entrepreneurs. Just a few years ago, founding a tech startup meant one thing: you needed a technical co-founder. The mantra was clear - without a skilled developer by your side, your dreams were doomed from the start. The cost of development was astronomical, often burning through £250,000 or more before a product could even see the light of day. This barrier to entry stifled innovation and left countless brilliant ideas unexplored.

Today, we're witnessing a revolution. On one side, we have AI-powered no-code platforms, democratizing software development by enabling non-technical users to create applications through intelligent drag-and-drop interfaces. On the other hand, generative AI-powered code generation tools, like OpenAI's ChatGPT, are transforming traditional coding by producing functional code from natural language prompts.

As these technologies evolve, a crucial question arises: Will generative AI render no-code platforms obsolete, or will they coexist to fuel the next wave of billion-pound startups?

The emerging tension: generative AI vs AI-powered no-code

AI-powered no-code platforms have surged in popularity in recent years, driven by the need for faster application development and a shortage of skilled developers. According to recent research, “Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new applications will be built using low-code or no-code technologies”, with the market expected to grow to £23.5 billion by that time. These platforms empower "citizen developers"—non-technical individuals—to create solutions without writing a single line of code, leveraging AI to enhance user experiences and automate complex tasks.

Conversely, generative AI-powered coding tools are rapidly advancing. Models like GPT-4, Claude, and LLaMA can produce complex code snippets, debug existing codebases, and even suggest architectural improvements based on natural language inputs. This capability lowers the barrier to entry for technical development while enhancing productivity for experienced engineers.

The tension lies in their overlapping promises: both aim to democratize software creation and accelerate innovation. However, their approaches differ fundamentally—AI-powered no-code simplifies development through intelligent abstraction, while generative AI enhances traditional coding by automating complex tasks through natural language processing.

Impact on non-technical founders

For non-technical founders aiming to build unicorn startups, these technologies are game-changers. No-code platforms lower the cost and time required to prototype ideas, allowing founders to test concepts rapidly without hiring large engineering teams. What once required significant development resources could now be prototyped and launched as a working platform in record time. For example, startups like Swapstack and Tiny Acquisitions have successfully launched using no-code tools, and marketplace platforms similar to TaskRabbit, which originally required extensive coding, could now be created and iterated upon quickly and cost-effectively.

AI-powered coding tools further level the playing field by enabling founders with minimal technical expertise to build more sophisticated applications. By describing their requirements in plain language, they can generate functional prototypes or even full-fledged solutions. This capability not only accelerates development but also reduces dependency on external developers—a critical advantage in the resource-constrained early stages of a startup.

These technologies allow entrepreneurs with a constant stream of ideas to test them cheaply and quickly, dramatically increasing their chances of finding that one-in-a-hundred concept that could become the next unicorn. It's no longer about burning through cash before a company can get off the ground; it's about rapid iteration and validation in the real world.

Generative AI's evolving role in no-code Platforms: a synergistic future

Rather than being adversaries, AI-powered no-code platforms and generative AI are increasingly converging, creating a synergistic ecosystem that addresses limitations and enhances capabilities. Many no-code tools now integrate advanced AI and generative AI features, such as Microsoft Power Platform and Mendix embedding GPT-based assistants for natural language queries and automated workflows. This integration allows users to leverage cutting-edge AI for tasks like generating templates, optimizing processes, and incorporating machine learning models without technical expertise.

Traditional no-code tools excel at creating simple applications quickly, whereas they can struggle with scalability and complex logic. By incorporating generative AI, these platforms overcome such challenges, using natural language prompts to generate custom code snippets that extend capabilities beyond typical drag-and-drop interfaces. This evolution blurs the lines between coding and visual development, offering a hybrid approach that combines simplicity and accessibility with flexibility and scalability.

While the idea that generative AI might render no-code platforms obsolete is compelling, it's oversimplified. Generative AI still requires some understanding of programming principles, whereas no-code platforms remain indispensable for users preferring visual interfaces or lacking technical confidence. As these technologies continue to evolve together, they're creating a more robust, versatile environment for software development that caters to a wide range of user needs and skill levels.

The democratization of software development

Ultimately, both technologies contribute to the broader trend of democratizing software development. No-code platforms empower citizen developers by abstracting complexity, while AI brings coding capabilities closer to non-technical users through natural language processing.

For organizations and startups alike, this democratization translates into faster innovation cycles and reduced costs. According to Gartner, low-code/no-code tools reduce app development time by up to 90%, while generative AI accelerates coding workflows by automating repetitive tasks and improving code quality.

A collaborative future

Rather than competing for dominance, no-code platforms powered by automation and generative AI are likely to coexist and complement each other in building tomorrow's technology unicorns. Each has unique strengths that cater to different user needs—from rapid prototyping with drag-and-drop interfaces to creating complex systems with natural language-driven code generation.

For non-technical founders and small teams aiming to disrupt industries, this convergence offers unprecedented opportunities. By leveraging both technologies strategically—using no-code for speed and simplicity while tapping into generative AI for scalability and sophistication—they can unlock new levels of innovation. The playing field has never been more level, allowing a diverse range of voices and ideas to flourish in the tech ecosystem.

In this race for technological advancement, it's not about choosing sides but embracing collaboration. Together, no-code platforms and generative AI will redefine how we build software—and in doing so, shape the future of entrepreneurship itself. The next wave of tech unicorns won't just be built by coding prodigies in Silicon Valley garages; they'll emerge from anywhere and everywhere, powered by visionaries armed with AI-enhanced tools that turn ideas into reality at lightning speed.

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

• Security researchers find unprotected database belonging to AngelSense
• Company builds GPS tracking devices for persons with disabilities
• The database contained names, GPS data, and more

A GPS tracking gear manufacturer was reportedly at risk of leaking sensitive data on the internet, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers UpGuard discovered a non-password-protected database belonging to AngelSense online, keeping it active for at least a few weeks, filling it up with information generated by its equipment.

AngelSense is a GPS tracking and safety device designed for individuals with special needs, such as children with autism or elderly individuals with dementia. It provides real-time location tracking, two-way voice communication, and alerts to caregivers to ensure their loved ones' safety and well-being.

Shutting down access

TechCrunch says the company is “touted by law enforcement and police departments across the US”.

Unprotected databases are, unfortunately, a common occurrence and one of the key causes of data leaks. In this incident, the company was storing real-time updating logs from an AngelSense system, including personal information of AngelSense customers. Names, postal addresses, phone numbers, GPS coordinates, health information, and more, were being exposed. Furthermore, the database kept technical logs about the company’s systems, as well.

Email addresses, passwords, authentication tokens for accessing customer accounts, and partial credit card information were all being stored in plaintext.

The archive has since been closed down, however the researchers couldn’t establish exactly for how long the database was exposed, although the database’s listing on Shodan shows it was first spotted on January 14, although it could have been available for longer.

It is also unknown if anyone found it before UpGuard. All a person would need is knowledge of the IP address and a browser.

“It was only when UpGuard phoned us that the issue was raised to our attention,” AngelSence CEO, Doron Somer, admitted. “Upon its discovery, we acted promptly to validate the information provided to us and to remedy the vulnerability.”

“We note that other than UpGuard, we have no information suggesting that any data on the logging system potentially was accessed. Nor do we have any evidence or indication that the data has been misused or is under threat of misuse.”

Via TechCrunch

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• High-end Nvidia GPUs arrive in all Leaseweb datacenters
• Locations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific get boost
• Addition should be great for data compliance and AI workloads

Leaseweb has significantly expanding processing capabilities with the launch of high-end Nvidia GPUs in all its datacenters.

The Amsterdam-based company announced it now offers Nvidia's L4, L40S, and H100 NVL GPUs throughout its data centers in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.

The move is a step forwards towards making Leaseweb a leader in providing the computer needs for Artificial Intelligence, media & entertainment, and gaming industries.

Prices promise to be competitive

"This announcement represents an important step for customers where GPU availability is increasingly important and will give organizations around the world the price/performance flexibility they need, as soon as they need it," noted Liat Mendelson Honderdors, Principal Product Manager, AI and GPU at Leaseweb.

The infrastructure rollout supports a range of AI-focused workloads, including model training and video analytics, while also catering to traditional GPU use cases in media production and gaming.

Honderdors added, “Our customers value Leaseweb’s extensive industry expertise as they plan and deploy infrastructure for their most processor-intensive workloads. With considerations ranging from price and performance to data sovereignty and compliance, Leaseweb’s solutions and state-of-the-art global network means we are ideally suited to helping our customers grow their business and expand into new markets, even at hours’ notice. By incorporating best-in-class NVIDIA technology into our infrastructure portfolio, we're laying the foundation for a broader solution set that will continue to evolve with customer needs."

Leaseweb's expansion marks a notable evolution for the company, which began as a web hosting provider in 1997. With a current portfolio of 20,000 customers and over 80,000 servers across 28 data centers globally, the company has built significant scale in traditional infrastructure services.

The new services could be a helping hand in data sovereignty and compliance headaches, with the company's distributed global network allowing customers to deploy AI workloads in specific geographic regions. This could prove particularly important in markets with strict data localization requirements.

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January has finally run its course. But, before it makes way for the shortest month of the year, the world's best streaming services want you to check out the final new movies and TV shows they've released this month.

There's an eclectic mix of films and TV series to check out, too. From Marvel's first project of 2025 and the return of The Recruit, to the first Amazon Original movie of the year and much more besides, there's something for everyone to enjoy this weekend. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney Plus)

I'm a huge Spider-Man fan so, when this Disney Plus series – originally titled Spider-Man: Freshman Year – was initially announced in mid-2021, you can bet I was excited. Over three years later, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is finally with us, albeit as a show that exists adjacent to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), rather than the canonical series that it was originally intended to be.

So, is it any good? You'll need to read my spoiler-light review of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man's first season to find out. For now, all I'll say is that, its incredibly divisive and oft-times clunky animation style aside, this Marvel Phase 5 production might have enough to swing its way onto our best Disney Plus shows list. – TP

• Watch Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on Disney Plus

The Recruit season 2 (Netflix)

While The Night Agent season 2 continues to dominate the Netflix charts, The Recruit is another spy thriller that’s set to deliver more heart-pounding action and unpredictable twists in its second installment. Noah Centineo returns as CIA lawyer-turned-spy Owen Hendricks who is dragged into a life-threatening espionage incident in South Korea, but he soon realizes that the bigger threat might be coming from inside the Agency.

With its 68% Rotten Tomatoes score, The Recruit doesn’t make it onto our best Netflix shows list, but I know it'll satiate my thriller appetite once I finish watching The Night Agent season 2. – Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch The Recruit season 2 on Netflix

You're Cordially Invited (Prime Video)

It looks like there could be a new comedy duo in the making as Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon team up for Prime Video’s new movie You're Cordially Invited. In one of January's final new Prime Video movies, chaos ensues when the father of a bride-to-be (Ferrell) and the sister of another bride (Witherspoon) discover their destination weddings are booked on the same weekend.

You’re Cordially Invited takes me right back to the classic slapstick 2000s comedy, which is why it’s one of the three new Prime Video movies I'm excited to watch this January. So, you best believe I’m bringing my popcorn and watching this potential best Prime Video movie – I mean, who doesn’t want to see Ferrell wrestling an alligator on a hotel bed?! – GM

• Watch You're Cordially Invited on Prime Video

Mythic Quest season 4 (Apple TV Plus)

It's been two years since workplace comedy series Mythic Quest's last season debuted on Apple TV Plus, but the wait for a new installment is finally over as season 4's first two episodes dropped on Wednesday (January 29).

As one of my 26 most highly-anticipated TV shows of 2025, I'm excited to stream the acclaimed show's next chapter, which is expected to bring fresh challenges to the fictional gaming studio as it navigates new trends in the industry. Apple isn't saying anything else about what could be in store, so you'll just have to stream it to find out.

Of course, seeing as it's the final season of one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, fans might be disappointed that the series is drawing to a close, but the good news is that there's already a spin-off show on the way called Side Quest, the first four episodes of which will premiere on March 26. – Amelia Schwanke, entertainment editor

• Watch Mythic Quest season 4 on Apple TV Plus

Paradise (Hulu/Disney Plus)

Hulu subscribers received a treat earlier this week when the first episode of Paradise dropped early. Now, there are two more episodes to sink your teeth into, with episodes 2 and 3 launching on, well, its official release day of January 28.

If you’re looking for a gripping new political thriller, the series already has an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes which means it’s worthy of a spot on our best Hulu shows list. The series has a great cast, too, including Sterling K. Brown who stars a security service team tasked with safeguarding a former president (James Marsden), but things take a turn for the worse when – spoiler! – the latter is murdered by an unknown assailant. New episodes arrive every Tuesday (in the US, anyway – international audiences can stream them on Wednesdays via Disney Plus) until the finale on March 4. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Paradise on Hulu (US) and Disney Plus (internationally)

American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson (Netflix)

This four-episode docuseries explores one of the most notorious trials in history: The People of the State of California versus Orenthal James Simpson, aka one of the world's biggest basketball stars of his generation. Director Floyd Russ has already made a similar documentary about The Boston Marathon Bombing and, in American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson, he aims to shed new light on what has been described as “the trial of the century”.

Speaking to Tudum, Russ stressed: “The key was to make sure that both sides were balanced. To make clear that this isn’t just a true crime cop documentary. It’s much deeper. So, you need people to contextualize the history, the trial”. With plenty of hit true crime shows on Netflix there’s a lot to dive into so, of you are keen to learn more about the trial and have an interest in legal cases, that’s your weekend viewing sorted. – LB

• Watch American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson on Netflix

Goodrich (Max)

Michael Keaton goes back to his comedy roots in Goodrich, one of January's new Max movies that originally debuted in theaters last year. Written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, who's behind 90s feel-good comedies like The Parent Trap and Father of the Bride, this new Max comedy film sounds like it's going to pull on your heart strings.

Keaton plays a father called Andy Goodrich who suddenly has to become the primary caretaker of his two nine-year-old twins when his wife enters a 90-day rehab program. Unfamiliar with modern parenthood, Andy looks to his daughter from his first marriage Grace (played by Mila Kunis) to learn the ropes.

As you can probably expect, this brings Andy and Grace closer together as they repair their father and daughter bond, which has likely suffered since his new marriage. This one has the potential to be one of the best Max movies. – AS

• Watch Goodrich on Max

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Prime Video shows, best Disney Plus movies, and best Paramount Plus shows.

• Microsoft unveils new scam detection software
• The tool will be available to Microsoft Edge users
• This could lead to an end to 'tech support scams' if widely adopted

Microsoft has officially launched a new ‘Scareware blocker’ feature to help better protect users on Edge web browsers on Windows PCs.

The new machine learning threat detection software, first announced at the 2024 Ignite conference, recognizes the signs of scareware to protect users in real-time, putting users back in control of their computer.

Scareware scams have been around for a long time, and they’ve become one of the most damaging scams around - but what if they weren’t? This new technology could see the end to tech support scams entirely - here’s what we know.

Millions lost every year

The FBI claims tech support scams are costing victims millions per year, and it has become a pretty high profile attack. The basic setup of the attack is cybercriminals will deploy pop ups or ads which trick users into believing their device has been infected with malware, usually filling their screen with big scary banners or alerts.

Essentially, the scam works by panicking users with a banner claiming they have been compromised by a virus or attack, and prompts them to reach out to ‘tech support’. From there, fake support agents will request and steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting users who believe they’ve been compromised.

Most of us are aware of this scam, and are confident enough to ignore these when they do pop-up, but the primary target for these attacks is older adults and those who aren’t savvy enough to spot the warning signs.

But with this new ‘scareware blocker’ might make us all a little safer. The AI-powered detection checks on new and unfamiliar sites, “where abuse is more likely to hide”, and uses a SmartScreen to protect users worldwide within minutes once an abusive site is detected.

The model compares screens to sample scams provided by the security community - and this runs locally, without needing to save or send images to the cloud.

When an attack is detected, Edge will ‘put users back in control’ by exiting full screen mode, as well as stopping “aggressive audio playback”, and providing a warning to the user with a thumbnail of the suspicious page.

From there, the user has the option to report the malicious site to help protect others, and they can even share the screenshot of the scam with Microsoft to help train the model further.

If the alert is a false alarm, users can report the mistake from the scareware blocker.

“While we recognize that the scareware blocker may not catch every scam—especially as tactics evolve—we are committed to empowering users with solutions while we improve our defenses,” Windows confirmed in its statement.

This tool is something even Chrome has employed, and it's available when any Edge user updates their browser to the newest version and restarts. You can check if this is installed under the ‘Privacy Search and Services’ label.

Protecting yourself

If you’re not a Microsoft Edge user, or you’d just like to make sure you’re as safe as possible, here are a few tips to protect yourself.

The most important step is being aware of the scam. Once you know the playbook, you’ll be much less panicked if you encounter it. Always try to keep calm, and don’t be rushed into providing your information to an attacker.

If a warning takes over your screen, you can always press and hold the ‘Esc’ key to escape it, which should ease the anxiety a little. Criminals' most effective tool is pressuring you to act quickly and without thinking, so if you can resist this, you’ll be much better placed to avoid any scams.

Don’t click on any suspicious links or pop-ups. Much like phishing scams, these are designed to take your information, which can lead to even bigger issues like identity theft.

Similarly, don’t contact any phone numbers or emails shown in a pop-up - if you think there’s a real issue, search the contact information separately and contact through official channels. Be particularly careful not to give away access to your accounts, and always remember that legitimate tech firms are incredibly unlikely to ever request money wired through foreign accounts, gift cards, or crypto currency.

A crucial part of this scam is the pop-up ad, so the best ad blockers will keep you safe from these - and a big bonus is that many of them are free!

Similarly, If you have the best antivirus software already installed on your device, you can be confident that your device is safe - so are much less likely to be panicked into falling victim to this scam.

"If you have a reputable antivirus installed, simply ignore any pop ups urging you to install security fixes," said Pierre Noel, Field CISO EMEA at Expel.

"If not, disregard these messages, research the top antivirus solution, and install a trusted one. If you receive an unexpected tech support call, say you're busy and ask for their name and department- chances are, they'll hang up."

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A wet and dry vacuum is a great choice if you're dealing with lots of mud or spillages on your hard floor and don't want to be mopping every other day. However, while they can be excellent for tackling tough stains, they often have fairly bulky designs, and can struggle to get close to the edges of rooms. So I was particularly interested to get some hands-on time with the Dreame H15 Pro, which has a clever solution to this issue.

This wet-floor cleaner has a chip in the front of the floorhead that can sense when it's approaching a wall. This triggers the mop roller to shift forward so that it's as close to the wall as possible, and at the same time a barrier along the front of the floorhead drops, so the mop isn't actually mopping your wall or baseboard or skirting. Dreame calls this 'triple edge coverage', and it's an idea I haven't seen before, even amongst the best wet and dry vacuums on the market.

(Image credit: Future)

In fact, it's closer to something we tend to see on hybrid mop-and-vacuum robovacs. Some of today's best robot vacuums have mop pads that can kick out when the bot is traversing along the edge of a room, so there isn't an un-mopped gap.

While it's still chunkier than, say, a stick vacuum, Dreame has made further design tweaks to make the H15 Pro as maneuverable as possible. The handle can drop down completely flat to the ground, enabling you to clean underneath furniture. On some wet-dry vacuums, suction will drop when the cleaner is laid down flat, to prevent water getting into the motor, but the H15 Pro is designed so there's no loss of suction. Speaking of which, it can achieve up to an ultra-powerful 21,000Pa.

Rub a dub dub

Another innovation that caught my eye on this cleaner is its self-cleaning process. Many higher-end wet-dry vacuums have some kind of self-cleaning cycle to make maintenance easier, but the H15 Pro is the first one I've seen that gives its mops a bath after use.

When the self-clean cycle is activated, a tray in the base fills with hot (212F / 100C) water that immerses the rollers, rather than just dampening them. The rollers then spin to clean off any dirt and grease. Once that's complete, the space is sealed and they're blasted with hot air for five minutes to dry them.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

I got to check out the H15 Pro at the grand opening of Dreame's new flagship UK store in Birmingham, and I was impressed. The lie-flat design, in particular, works very well, and the cleaner is comfortable to use and easy to maneuver. The triple-edge cleaning seemed a little more temperamental during my hands-on time, but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until we're had a chance to try it out properly.

The Dreame H15 Pro is due to go on sale in the UK in March. We've enquired about pricing and launch information for the US and Australia, and we'll update this article when we get that.

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• Google opens “voluntary exit program” for Platforms & Devices workers
• Android, Chrome, Pixel, Fitbit and more programs affected
• Could this spell out more layoffs?

Google has opened up a voluntary exit deal for employees working on Pixel and Android projects after recently merging the hardware and software divisions into one.

9To5Google has confirmed US employees in the newly formed Platforms & Devices group received a “voluntary exit program” memo from SVP Rick Osterloh.

It means that Googlers responsible for Android (Auto, TV, Wear OS, XR), Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest could all be at risk of losing their jobs.

Google asks Platforms & Devices workers to resign

It’s believed the voluntary exit program only affects workers in the US, and it’s being framed as a move to support workers who feel they’re no longer suitable for their roles post-amalgamation. It also allows those who are not on-board with the company’s return to office mandate to leave with some additional financial support.

Details of the severance package have not been confirmed, and Google did not respond to TechRadar Pro’s request for more information.

However, some workers are worried that this is a sign of things to come. Previous layoffs were criticized for not being preceded by voluntary resignation offers – this new exit program could lead to layoffs if too many workers stay on. TechRadar Pro has also asked for Google’s take on this.

Google’s Q3 2024 revenue from subscriptions, platforms, and devices stood at $10.7 billion, up from $8.3 billion in the same period of 2023. We’re four days away from finding out how the company’s final quarter and full-year figures looked.

On the workers’ front, jobs have been fairly insecure since Google started its cost-cutting journey. In 2023, 12,000 workers were made redundant in one blow; at least 11 other rounds of layoffs followed in 2024.

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• Intel has confirmed its CPU roadmap for the near future
• Panther Lake is due later in 2025, and Nova Lake in 2026
• It’s still not made clear if Panther Lake will skip desktop, but it seems likely that next-gen desktop CPUs won’t be here until next year

Intel has confirmed its future CPU plans and how the firm’s intended roadmap will pan out across 2025 and 2026, albeit while leaving question marks over certain specifics.

We got confirmation of existing plans – that Panther Lake is due this year, and Nova Lake next year – but there’s still no certainty over whether we’ll get a new generation of desktop CPUs later in 2025 (in other words, whether Intel will stick to its usual yearly cadence).

As VideoCardz reports, what Intel’s current (interim) co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus revealed during a recent earnings call is that we can expect Team Blue to release Panther Lake silicon, its next generation, in the second half of 2025.

Holthaus then observed: “2026 is even more exciting from a client perspective as Panther Lake achieves meaningful volumes and we introduce our next-generation client family codenamed Nova Lake.

“Both will provide strong performance across the entire PC stack with significantly better cost and margin for us, enhancing our competitive position and reinforcing our value proposition to our partners and customers.”

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: Form of the Panther

Okay, so next-gen Panther Lake is still due later in 2025, and 2026 will be the year of Nova Lake, the following generation. Good to know, or rather, to have that confirmed again.

The question is: what form will Panther Lake and Nova Lake take, exactly? The current rumor is that Panther Lake will be mobile chips only, meaning just laptops, not desktop PCs. The sightings of next-gen desktop chips via the rumor mill have been confined only to Nova Lake (so far, and it’s getting late in the day now).

Based on what Intel’s co-CEO says here, there’s no specific mention of desktop CPUs, so that isn’t helpful. However, what we do get from Holthaus is an assertion that “both will provide strong performance across the entire PC stack” and the key word here is ‘both’ of course.

The “entire PC stack” means mobile and desktop, the works, and what appears to be stated here is that both Panther Lake and Nova Lake together will cover the entire PC stack between them. This is still true if Panther Lake doesn’t have a desktop incarnation.

Alternatively, you could read this as both Panther Lake and Nova Lake will separately cover the full stack, both desktop and mobile, in their own right – but that doesn’t feel like the intention here. By which I mean, for me, this seems to be a way of phrasing things that’s deliberately ambiguous to gloss over whether or not Panther Lake will have a desktop presence.

Take that for what you will, of course, and we absolutely don’t know for sure. Maybe Intel does have Panther Lake desktop chips in the works, but based on the rumors, it seems relatively unlikely.

Another alternative could be that Panther Lake is laptop only, but Intel could bring out an Arrow Lake Refresh on desktop later this year alongside it, as a stopgap before Nova Lake desktop CPUs in 2026. Remember, that’s what happened with Raptor Lake, and it was a very minor generational bump – but past rumors have claimed Intel is not going to carry out such a refresh with Arrow Lake for desktops.

Ultimately, for now, it seems to me that the likelihood is that Intel’s next-gen desktop silicon won’t be here until 2026 when Nova Lake blazes into town.

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ExpressVPN is offering a lucky new customer the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime Tottenham Hotspur experience.

ExpressVPN's Dare to Dare competition includes flights to London, three nights in a 4-star hotel, a premium ticket to a Spurs match, and £500 of spending money during your stay.

The VPN provider launched its digital privacy partnership with the Spurs in November, calling on fans to "dare to do more."

You have time until February 28, 2025, to enter the competition and try your luck in winning this exclusive trip for you and a mate.

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ExpressVPN Dare to Dream: what is it and how to join

ExpressVPN's Dare to Dream campaign seeks to reward some lucky new customers who decide to boost their digital privacy with either a 1 or 2-year VPN plan.

The exclusive 3-day trip to London (available for one winner with the option to invite a guest) includes:

• Flights to London,
• Three nights accommodation,
• £500 of spending money – the winner will require a PayPal account to get this,
• A premium Spurs matchday package. This includes two top-drawer seats, food, drink, locker room access, entertainment with Club Legends and more,
• VIP Tour of the stadium with a Tottenham Legend,
• Signed Merch,
• Dare Skywalk or F1 Drive experience,
• Free Aircove Go router – the provider's own router with built-in VPN to bring everywhere with you every time you travel.

Not only that, but everyone signing up for one or two years of ExpressVPN coverage will also receive four months of free protection and 51% off the regular monthly price. Here are all the terms and conditions for participating in the initiative.

Is ExpressVPN worth it?

Football fans will probably be glad to know that signing up to ExpressVPN isn't just a matter of winning an incredible experience – the provider takes its users' privacy and security very seriously.

Test after test, TechRadar's reviewers keep loving ExpressVPN for its many security features, stable and fast connections, easy-to-use apps, and string encryption protocols.

Talking about encryption, ExpressVPN was one of the first providers to adopt the new post-quantum encryption standards recently to ensure you can be protected even against new threats.

ExpressVPN even dropped its prices for the first time in fifteen years a few months ago, making it even more value for money.

• New York Blood Center announces it was hit by a ransomware attack
• It has notified the police, but said its operations were hindered
• No details about the attackers or the consequences just yet

One of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the world has suffered a ransomware attack which crippled its operations.

In a public announcement, the New York Blood Center (NYBC) said it was working on restoring its systems, and had notified police about the attack.

“On Sunday, January 26, New York Blood Center Enterprises and its operating divisions identified suspicious activity affecting our IT systems. We immediately engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate and confirmed that the suspicious activity is a result of a ransomware incident,” the announcement reads. “We took immediate steps to help contain the threat and are working diligently with these experts to restore our systems as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Blood firms in the crosshairs

Other details are not known at this time. We don’t know who the threat actors are, or how they managed to access NYBC’s IT infrastructure. Since ransomware attackers usually steal sensitive information, it is safe to assume the same happened here. However, we don’t know how many people are affected, or what kind of information might have been stolen.

NYBC serves over 75 million people across the United States. Annually, it collects approximately 400,000 blood donations and distributes more than 1 million units of blood and blood components to nearly 200 hospitals. Therefore, the number of potentially affected people could be quite large, and the information stolen could be sensitive.

Blood donation firms seem to be in the crosshairs these days. Earlier this month, news broke that OneBlood, a nonprofit medical organization crucial for the operations of healthcare firms across the Southeastern US, lost sensitive donor information in a ransomware attack that happened last summer.

The move disrupted services across multiple US states, with the organization operating at a ‘significantly reduced capacity’.

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The order to "unleash" American energy is creating uncertainty for the country's energy markets and consumers.

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• The limited-time PS5 themes will be removed today
• Sony thanks fans for the "fantastic response" to them
• As a result, they will be coming back in future

Sony has confirmed that the limited-time console themes, which allow you to deck out your PS5 UI in an original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, or PS4 aesthetic, will be removed today.

In a recent X / Twitter post, Sony thanked fans for the "fantastic response" to the themes but confirmed that they will be "leaving" today. This is bad news if you were a fan of the unique looks, but there is a silver lining here.

Thanks to the "positive response on these four themes" Sony is now "doing some work behind the scenes" to bring them back in the "months ahead." There's no clear timeframe yet, but this will presumably involve making them a permanent option on PS5 sometime later this year.

In spite of this, Sony also stated that there "aren't plans to create additional themes in future," which is a massive shame. Many PS4 owners loved the ability to personalize their console's home screen, which has a wide range of both free and paid options available inspired by top games. Although it has been a much-requested feature for PS5, it looks like we won't be seeing anything as comprehensive as that old system implemented any time soon.

Given the rather sparse look of the PS5 home screen, I definitely wouldn't mind the ability to spice things up a little bit. At least the future return of these four retro themes is better than nothing.

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