Technology

• Two more superpowered individuals are rumored to appear in Avengers 5 and 6
• She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany has been linked with roles in one or both Marvel movies
• Scarlet Witch actor Elizabeth Olsen has seemingly ruled herself out of showing up

I hope you're ready for a packed year of Marvel casting rumors, as two more stars have been linked with roles in the next two Avengers movies.

With filming due to begin on Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in the near future, speculation is rife over who'll actually appear in the cinematic double-header. And, depending on whether you choose to believe or disregard the latest gossip, She-Hulk and/or Scarlet Witch may be in line to feature.

Let's start with the latter because we have actual quotes from Elizabeth Olsen, the actor behind Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, about her potential involvement.

Or, should I say, lack of involvement. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Olsen implied she won't show up in the films that'll likely cap the Marvel Multiverse Saga, due to her shooting the pilot for a new FX TV show called Seven Sisters. That project will be filmed in LA – i.e. half a world away from principal photography beginning in earnest on Doomsday in London.

Elizabeth Olsen has impled she won't appear in Doomsday and/or Secret Wars (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Olsen isn't the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) star to deny they're part of a movie's cast, only to actually appear, mind you (I'm primarily looking at you, Andrew Garfield!).

Sure, Maximoff is still thought to be dead, having seemingly perished in Doctor Strange 2. Marvel fans don't need reminding, though, that nobody ever stays dead in the Marvel Universe, comic books or otherwise. We didn't actually see Scarlet Witch bite the dust in the aforementioned film, either – and we all know that, unless we actually see the body, there's no guarantee that someone is gone for good.

It's for those reasons that MCU devotees have raised a collective eyebrow over Olsen's latest comments, with many believing she's bluffing over a potential appearance. I guess we'll find out if Olsen was telling the truth or not when Avengers 5 and 6 make their theatrical debuts.

Green with envy

Is She-Hulk in line to make her big-screen MCU debut? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

As for Maslany's possible casting in one or both Marvel Phase 6 projects, that's similarly difficult to quantify. There is firm evidence, though, that Bruce Banner's cousin could make her first MCU appearance since 2022's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in Doomsday and/or its sequel.

On March 20, a post on the Comic-Con Liverpool X/Twitter account confirmed that Maslany, who was set to attend the event, had to pull out due to "filming commitments".

Now, a quick scan of Maslany's IMDb page suggests principal photography is due to begin on one of three new projects she's set to star in – none of which are Marvel-related. That hasn't stopped MCU fans from jumping to conclusions, though, and theorizing that She-Hulk will make her big-screen debut very soon.

It would be easy to scoff at such speculation. However, She-Hulk featured in a couple of leaked concept art images for Avengers 5 and 6 earlier in March. Is that artwork the driving force behind this gossip? Perhaps. For what it's worth, Doomsday and Secret Wars' directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, say that concept art has nothing to do with the next two Avengers flicks.

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So, read into that what you will – and many have. Indeed, whether it's on various Reddit threads, ResetEra, or other social media outlets and forums, fans are debating if the pair will appear. Some think they will, others aren't so sure, and some are simply sitting on the fence. All of them, though, are bound by the same thing: they're already tired of the sheer number of cast rumors that are circulating online.

All of that said, with pre-production set to make way for principal photography shortly, a clearer picture is starting to emerge about what we can expect from this movie pairing.

On the storytelling front, the Russos exclusively told me that Doomsday and Secret Wars will "draw inspiration" from both 'Secret Wars' comic book series. The pair also didn't deny that heroes from Marvel TV shows on Disney+ will appear in Avengers 5 and 6. Oh, and the two films will herald "a new beginning" for the MCU in more ways than one.

As for other cast rumors, Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch initially said he wouldn't appear in Doomsday, before backtracking on those comments days later. Robert Downey Jr, who's set to play the Multiverse Saga's new Big Bad in Doctor Doom, isn't the only original Avenger who'll reportedly return to the MCU, either, as former Captain America star Chris Evans has also been linked with the flicks. However, Scarlett Johansson has poured cold water on her returning as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow.

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Windows 10 support ends in October, marking the end of security patches, bug fixes and feature updates. This deadline demands immediate action from IT decision-makers wanting to avoid security risks, inefficiencies, compliance challenges and costs.

The deadline also represents an opportunity for much more than just an operating system change; it could be transformational for your business. Beyond simply upgrading to Windows 11, this is a chance to modernize hardware, rethink client infrastructure, adopt advanced management technologies — and future-proof your organization. With the right planning, approach and technology partner, the end of Windows 10 could represent an opportunity for competitive differentiation.

Here are six steps not only to help you navigate the Windows 11 transition but rethink your IT strategy to keep you ahead of the curve.

Step 1: Assess your current IT landscape

Start by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your IT environment. Identify systems and devices still running Windows 10, and evaluate their performance, age and compatibility with newer tools and operating systems.

Also consider whether you have the necessary IT resources and competencies, or if you need professional services to support the transition. The Windows 11 journey goes beyond the operating system itself; it encompasses hardware, supporting infrastructure, deployment strategies and modern endpoint management. Transition will likely not happen overnight, so ensure that you assess the professional services you need to pave a smooth path to a successful Windows 11 adoption.

Step 2: Think innovation, not maintenance

Holding on to older devices to avoid upfront costs might be tempting, but this strategy can backfire. Legacy systems often require expensive upkeep and frequent repairs, which drain budgets. Microsoft’s extended security updates cost $ 61 per device for the first year, doubling every consecutive year for a maximum of three years. These hidden costs — combined with downtime and reduced productivity — often outweigh the expense of upgrading.

Additionally, businesses using Windows 10 with extended support must consider how this affects their M365/Office applications. The applications will continue to function after October 14, 2025, but they will no longer be supported. This will likely cause performance and reliability issues over time, even with Microsoft’s extended security updates (ESU). Every moment lost to sluggish hardware is a missed opportunity for innovation and progress. As such, extending the life of Windows 10 support may negate any perceived economic advantage gained by delaying a more considered upgrade.

Step 3: Focus on AI-optimized infrastructure

AI is driving tangible gains for businesses today. AI PCs can help unlock new levels of efficiency, whether you’re looking to develop more intelligent algorithms, streamline operational tasks, or enhance customer experiences. If you’re holding onto legacy systems, however, you won’t have the computing power to support AI-driven applications.

Ask yourself a few critical questions as you plan your upgrades. Are you taking advantage of the latest AI PC innovations? Does your infrastructure have the capacity to meet the demands of AI solutions? Are your competitors inching ahead by investing in AI, while you put a patch on old systems?

This might be the time to examine your broader IT infrastructure and management capabilities, too. Rather than just upgrade to Windows 11 to avoid support costs, this could be the moment to modernize your hardware, infrastructure and operations in one move. Amplify the PC experience further by considering AI-driven noise-cancelling headsets, eye comfort-certified displays and keyboards with easy access to CoPilot.

Step 4: Mitigate security and compliance risks

Operating unsupported systems exposes your business to cyberattacks. Without security updates, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities. Malware, ransomware and data breaches thrive on outdated systems, putting your sensitive information and reputation at risk.

The Techaisle September 2024 survey, reported a 62% drop in security incidents on Windows 11 systems compared to Windows 10. Windows 11 Pro is secure by default. But Windows 11 PC users can combine this with unique integrated security features like BIOS Verification and Indicators of Attack for added protection.

Windows 10 end of life also represents a compliance risk for strict data security regulations observed by UK businesses, such as GDPR. Running unsupported software may put you and your business at risk of violating these regulations. You can mitigate the financial, legal and reputational risk of a data breach or compliance violation by investing in a managed and timely transition to Windows 11. That alone should be the rationale for an upgrade before the October deadline.

Step 5: Champion sustainability and a circular approach to IT

Sustainability is increasingly important to customers and partners. Upgrading ahead of Windows 10’s end of life provides an opportunity to reinforce your IT sustainability commitments. A sustainable device refresh goes beyond environmental responsibility: it makes sounds business sense by driving cost efficiency, improving brand reputation, and complying with regulations.

Thankfully, circular IT is within reach. Using Asset Recovery Services when you refresh can extend the life of legacy IT equipment by reselling it, either as a whole unit form or by harvesting parts. The savings you make can offset the cost of investing in refreshing your IT environment — a win for your IT budget and the planet. It’s a solution that supports your environmental goals and your brand, gives outdated equipment a second life and generates financial returns.

Step 6: Create a strategy and act early

Procrastination comes at a price. Waiting to act until the last moment means rushed decisions, unplanned downtime and unnecessary expenses. A smooth transition from Windows 10 requires time — time to plan, test, train employees, and carry out changes effectively. Define clear timelines with key milestones and allocate resources at each stage. Make sure that you include steps like testing new systems for compatibility and preparing and training users for the new environment.

Modern management solutions can simplify your migration by offering better oversight and streamlined deployment. For example, uniquely, it is now possible for IT to manage entire fleets of devices — including PCs, displays, docks and accessories — remotely. For those without the resources to handle an operating system change, technology partners are on hand to provide end to end professional services. Through consulting, deployment, management and education services, technology partners can help you roll out Windows 11 with minimal disruption.

Taking control of this transition now ensures that your organization can make thoughtful decisions rather than reacting under pressure.

The time to act is now

Staying on Windows 10 after the deadline just to manage an outdated PC base could cost you dearly. You risk exposing your business to security breaches and performance and compliance issues. And with Microsoft charging for extended security updates from October, you’ll pay a high price for an older device with none of the benefit of AI.

Embrace the Windows 11 transition with a comprehensive IT strategy that meets the demands of the modern workplace. Free up your ITDMs with fewer support issues and security incidents, and empower your employees with improved productivity, collaboration and creativity.

We've featured the best business computer.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 25 (game #1156).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• N

• N

• T

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1157) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1157, are…

• LEFTY
• NOOSE
• NOISE
• TRIAD

Having two similar words in the same puzzle is so Quordle – today it was NOOSE and NOISE, with just one letter of separation between them.

It certainly made for an easier quiz, as did my guess of FELTY, which gave me all the right letters for LEFTY.

Far harder today was the Daily Sequence, which featured a no-vowel word and a word with a Z. I failed, obviously.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1157) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1157, are…

• SLYLY
• DEFER
• SWEET
• CRAZE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAIN
• Quordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALL
• Quordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADII
• Quordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLY
• Quordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISS
• Quordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCH
• Quordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNIC
• Quordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINK
• Quordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEER
• Quordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANK
• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 25 (game #653).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #654) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PINOT
• CARD
• SHOT
• GLASS
• ROSE
• QUARTZ
• DRIVE
• THRUST
• CLOUD
• BOUNCE
• PLATE
• DISK
• NAPKIN
• FLEW
• GALLEON
• FORK

NYT Connections today (game #654) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Formal dining
• GREEN: Greater
• BLUE: Backed up
• PURPLE: Measurements with added element 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #654) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A TABLE SETTING 
• GREEN: INCREASED, WITH "UP" 
• BLUE: KINDS OF DIGITAL STORAGE 
• PURPLE: UNITS OF VOLUME PLUS LETTER 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #654) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #654, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A TABLE SETTING FORK, GLASS, NAPKIN, PLATE
• GREEN: INCREASED, WITH "UP" FLEW, ROSE, SHOT, THRUST
• BLUE: KINDS OF DIGITAL STORAGE CARD, CLOUD, DISK, DRIVE
• PURPLE: UNITS OF VOLUME PLUS LETTER BOUNCE, GALLEON, PINOT, QUARTZ

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Initially I thought there was a silent letter category today and put QUARTZ, which on reflection makes no sense, with FLEW, PINOT, ROSE.

Then I saw KINDS OF DIGITAL STORAGE.

CLOUD storage once seemed incredibly hard to explain – my photos are kept where? In a cloud? Now it seems strange that we once stored things on a CARD.

Next, I got INCREASED WITH “UP” and was utterly blind to UNITS OF VOLUME PLUS LETTER – a classic Connections group that rewards people who can spot patterns in words and will confound people like myself who can look at the word BOUNCE for a lifetime without considering that it could also be ounce with an added B.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 25 March, game #653)

• YELLOW: BLACK-AND-WHITE THINGS CROSSWORD, OREO, PANDA, TUXEDO
• GREEN: ANAGRAMS ABEL, ABLE, BALE, BELA
• BLUE: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL NICKNAMES ABE, CAL, DICK, TEDDY
• PURPLE: CLEAR AS ___ A BELL, CRYSTAL, DAY, MUD

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 25 (game #387).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In the circle of life

NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• ZANY
• TINGLE
• GROT
• TONE
• BARE
• WAGON

NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 2nd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #388) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #388, are…

• ZEBRA
• MEERKAT
• WARTHOG
• HYENA
• ELEPHANT
• HORNBILL
• SPANGRAM: LION KING

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Even though it was pretty obvious that today’s Strands was for The LION KING, I still snagged Lion as a hint word – not that any hints were needed in a straightforward word search.

I’d wager that ZEBRA was almost everyone’s first word, not that they feature much in the story, acting as extras and the butt of a couple of jokes.

Although it’s about the animal kingdom, including a flatulent WARTHOG, this classic tale of sibling rivalry is very Shakespearian. Indeed, screenwriter Irene Mecchi said that the idea for the movie was pitched to her as Bamblet – Hamlet set in the jungle with a bit of Bambi thrown in. Well, I suppose it's better than Disney's idea for a love story set in a farmyard – Rameo and Eweliet anyone?

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 25 March, game #387)

• SLIDERS
• POPPERS
• WINGS
• FONDUE
• NACHOS
• CALAMARI
• SPANGRAM: APPETIZER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

The company has unveiled two new models in its Canvas TV range for bigger living spaces.

• Nvidia's Project G-Assist is now live in the Nvidia App
• It uses text and voice prompts to optimize games, control hardware, and provide diagnostics
• The tool is still experimental, with functionality being updated often

Nvidia's nifty Project G-Assist is now available inside the official Nvidia App, bringing the AI-powered assistant to everyone, a year after the tech demo first surfaced. Yes, it's for real this time, unlike the 2017 April's Fools video where it was a USB device shaped like a GTX 1080.

Nvidia's G-Assist can be used by all RTX graphics card users, and it utilizes those GPUs' Tensor Cores (AI cores) to perform a variety of services, such as optimizing game and system settings, in-depth in-game diagnostics reporting, and answering questions.

Similar to some of the best AI tools, such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT, Nvidia's G-Assist can answer voice and text prompts in the form of questions; you ask it to do things for you relating to gaming, and it tries to execute your commands.

Nvidia's official video goes through what's possible with its new assistant and how it interacts with compatible hardware and software. In the clip, we see a text prompt inputted asking how Frame Generation works, which supplies a succinct answer. Similarly, it's asked by voice if the GPU's drivers are up to date, and G-Assist checks the current driver installed. It works with a small language model built on a bespoke API.

Arguably more interesting than its diagnostics and optimization capabilities is how G-Assist interacts with the hardware. With support for third-party APIs from companies like Logitech, Corsair, and MSI, it's able to control not only supported lighting through a text or voice prompt but also the speed/performance of your fans.

We later see how Nvidia G-Assist optimizes Rust for the "best image quality", which happens near-instantly and then boots the game up with a voice command. Clearly, the experimental tech is in its infancy now, but we could see wider use as Team Green deepens its feature set and compatibility with more hardware and software in the future.

A nifty new use for AI in gaming

While Nvidia's Project G-Assist doesn't appear to be anything truly revolutionary, the tech does offer a few handy shortcuts for optimizing your games (and system hardware) with only a couple of lines of text or voice commands. It's obviously not going to work flawlessly with every game or piece of hardware available, but it's an interesting new way to streamline quality-of-life features.

Nvidia's new app is leagues better than the previous GeForce Experience (which we were thrilled to see). Anything to make installing drivers, optimizing games straight from the launcher, and having your hardware tick over efficiently is right by us. As an experimental feature, you can mess around with risk-free. It's worth seeing what it can do, even if its functionality may seem largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

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• Zotac has hiked pricing with RTX 5090 models on its US online store
• Two of those, including the top-end board, now cost $500 more
• This follows similar moves by Asus and MSI with the Blackwell flagship on their own online stores

Zotac is the latest third-party graphics card maker which currently seems to be inflating the price of Nvidia’s Blackwell flagship GPU.

VideoCardz noticed a Reddit post (see below) which flagged up that over at the Zotac store in the US, its RTX 5090 models just became a lot more expensive – and these GPUs are certainly nowhere near the official MSRP.

Zotac 5090 Amp Extreme is now $3000 and the 5090 Solid OC is now $2700 from r/nvidia

As you can see, the Zotac RTX 5090 Amp Extreme now tips the scales at a wallet-worrying $3,000, and even the lesser RTX 5090 Solid OC model is a weighty, and equally concerning, $2,700 drain on your bank balance.

This represents a fresh increase of $500 on the price tag in the case of both graphics cards, according to the info divulged on Reddit here.

Zotac is one of the board manufacturers that sells their products directly from their own online store, with Asus and MSI also being in this club. Unfortunately, all three of these companies have hiked pricing, particularly with the RTX 5090 (which Asus recently inflated by a hefty amount, so its top-end GPU is even more expensive than Zotac’s Amp Extreme).

(Image credit: ShutterStock) Analysis: Hiking pains

You could argue that price is always going to be related to supply and demand, and if it isn’t crystal clear enough now, the supply of Blackwell GPUs has thus far been pretty terrible, and demand has way, way outstripped it. Even the demand for the expensive RTX 5090, with the flagship being hit with some of the most ridiculous price hikes that we’ve witnessed so far in this new generation of Nvidia graphics cards.

Further arguments, as VideoCardz points out, can also be piled on here, such as the import tariffs courtesy of Trump. But ultimately, what we’re seeing with RTX 5090 pricing goes beyond the pale really.

In this case, Zotac’s Solid OC is technically the entry-level RTX 5090 (it’s actually a step up, being the overclocked version, although it only has a very modest overclock applied – and apparently the base version isn’t listed on the US store any longer, anyway). The Solid OC really shouldn’t be much above Nvidia’s MSRP, which is $1,999 (the price of the Founders Edition), but this GPU is now a whopping 35% more expensive.

(I should make it clear that the Zotac store in the US is down right now, as I write this, for maintenance apparently. Could that mean pricing is being adjusted again, after these reports have popped up? Possibly, and I’ll keep an eye on that.)

At any rate, the other argument I’ve seen is: well, the RTX 5090 models are all out of stock anyway, so who cares what the price is – it’s kind of irrelevant. And while that’s certainly true, this is a short-term view and rather shortsighted as such. When inventory does start to filter back in, that jacked-up pricing is (presumably) still going to apply (for a time, perhaps, until supply and demand corrects further).

What’s unfortunate is that a robust uptick in RTX 5090 stock was predicted to happen towards the end of March, where we’re sat now, and there’s no sign of any such increase in supply. What’s going on with that? The rumor might have been plain wrong, or perhaps Nvidia has rejigged its chip allocation, and remains just too preoccupied with sales of heavyweight AI graphics cards (which use that same GB202 chip as the RTX 5090).

Meanwhile, there are tales on Reddit of waiting lists for pre-ordered RTX 5090 graphics cards that are so lengthy, those who’ve already put their money down are likely to be waiting at least another three months for the GPU to be shipped.

It’s all a bit of a nightmare, frankly, and with AMD’s RX 9070 stock also disappearing as soon as it arrives in stores, even if Team Red’s supply is a good deal better than Nvidia’s Blackwell graphics cards, it’s still a tricky situation for would-be buyers. And that’s exactly why a good number of PC gamers (myself included) are getting fed up with the situation, and have resigned themselves to a strategy of just waiting out this stock-and-pricing-storm for the foreseeable.

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• Access to social media platforms in Turkey has been restored after 42 hours of shutdown
• Proton VPN has recorded a spike of +1100% starting from March 19, 2025, the day restrictions were enforced
• Many X accounts have then been blocked upon Turkish authorities' orders

On March 21, 2025, Turkish authorities lifted the ban on social media platforms after 42 hours of being enforced. Yet, VPN usage remains high as mass demonstrations continue.

Citizens began turning to the best VPN apps to keep accessing the likes of X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and WhatsApp from March 19, the day restrictions were enforced. Proton VPN, for example, recorded a spike in signups of +1100%.

As protests sparked by the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, and his opposition counterpart, continued, many X accounts of opposition figures and independent news outlets were reportedly blocked on government orders.

Turkey VPN usage skyrocketed

Experts at Proton have recorded a spike in VPN sign-ups following the arrest of Erdogan's main political rival and reports of social media blocks. (Image credit: Proton)

"Protecting free speech and fighting censorship is a core part of our mission, and we're committed to doing what we can to help people around the world. Unfortunately, Turkey is one such country with a poor recent history of censorship," David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, told TechRadar in a statement on Friday.

The spikes in usage have occurred despite Proton VPN being one of the 27 VPN providers restricted in Turkey

This isn't the first time Proton VPN has recorded similar spikes in usage in Turkey.

Only in 2024 did Proton VPN signups skyrocket by 1,400% in October and 4,500% in August amid similar blocks on social media services. Also, in 2023, citizens increasingly turned to Proton VPN. The company recorded a staggering 15,000% increase in February after Twitter was blocked following a deadly earthquake and a 2,100% spike in May as citizens prepared for potential blocks ahead of the presidential elections.

The spikes in usage have occurred despite Proton VPN being one of 27 VPN providers restricted in Turkey, alongside NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and others. Specifically, their official websites are blocked in the country.

"Because of this, many people – especially those who aren’t familiar with VPNs – hadn’t heard of Proton VPN," Turkish journalist Ali Safa Korkut told TechRadar, explaining that interest in the software grew following a Swiss provider's tweet shared on March 22.

"I know people around me who are using Proton VPN without any issues," he added.

(Image credit: Future)

While access to social media was restored around 1 am local time on Friday, internet censorship hasn't completely stopped.

X blocked multiple accounts of political figures and students involved in the protests upon the government's request, alongside those of journalists and independent news organizations like Bianet.

Korkut, who closely tracked these blocks from the beginning, has counted 309 X accounts blocked so far. "These include well-known journalists with 1.5 million followers as well as anonymous accounts with no followers at all," he said, adding, "new accounts are being blocked by the minute."

Isik Mater, Director of Research at internet watchdog NetBlocks, explains that this trend aligns with past instances where X complied with takedown requests from the Turkish government, raising concerns about platform neutrality and freedom of expression.

She told TechRadar: "Access to social media is a fundamental pillar for freedom of speech and the right to information, especially in moments of political tension or crisis. Restrictions like these not only limit public discourse but also undermine citizens’ ability to organize, communicate, and stay informed during critical events."

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Commentary: Apple is rumored to be working on its first folding iPhone. I have some words of warning before it launches.

• iOS 18.4 could be right around the corner, as Apple has issued a pre-release version
• New features include Priority Notifications and a new style for Image Playground
• Additionally, Visual Intelligence comes to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

iOS 18.4 looks set to bring a major overhaul to the way notifications work on your iPhone, and the best part is we might not have to wait too long for the upcoming update to arrive.

As The Verge reports, Apple issued a release candidate version of iOS 18.4 on March 24, signalling that the stable release of the update is most likely on the way very soon. Notably, this iOS 18.4 beta finally brings Priority Notifications to select iPhones, an Apple Intelligence feature that automatically gives prominence to important notifications by highlighting them on your lock screen.

Personally, I think that sounds like a great addition to the iPhone’s notification system – my phone is frequently jammed up with all manner of notifications, so having the most important ones highlighted the second I reach for my device seems like a helpful addition. You will, however, need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer to access Apple Intelligence (and therefore Priority Notifications).

(Image credit: Apple)

Priority Notifications was first revealed in June 2024 alongside the announcement and release of the iPhone 16 series and iOS 18, but the feature seems to have fallen victim to the unusually messy launch of Apple Intelligence (see also the long-awaited Siri update).

A release candidate build is, as its name suggests, a close-to-ready version of a software update – literally a candidate for stable release. We can think of the release candidate as the intermediate step between beta versions and the real thing. It tracks, then, that Priority Notifications will be a key part of iOS 18.4 proper.

What else is coming with iOS 18.4?

Visual Intelligence comes to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 18.4 (Image credit: Apple)

As 9to5Mac reports, iOS 18.4 will bring a handful of other software goodies to owners of the iPhone XS or newer, with the update encompassing all of the current best iPhones.

Significantly, iOS 18.4 will bring Apple Intelligence to the EU, ending a months-long gridlock due to officially unknown causes.

Furthermore, Apple’s environmentally aware Visual Intelligence AI scanning feature will come to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, having previously been exclusive to the iPhone 16 series.

The App Store will get review summaries generated by AI, too, while Image Playground will finally benefit from the Sketch style promised at launch.

Additionally, the list of supported Apple Intelligence languages will be expanded in iOS 18.4. Newly supported languages include:

• Simplified Chinese
• Spanish
• Korean
• Japanese
• French
• German
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Italian

And perhaps most crucially of all, users will get access to nine new emojis in iOS 18.4, including future classics like “face with bags under eyes”, “shovel”, “harp”, and “beetroot”.

In any case, let us know what you’re looking forward to in iOS 18.4 in the comments section below, and feel free to check out our iPhone 16 review and iPhone 16 Pro review for a look at how Apple Intelligence works in practice.

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• Check Point researchers found a new ransomware strain called VanHelsing
• It is an emerging threat, where affiliates need to pay a fee to get in
• Three organizations already fell victim

A new dangerous ransomware variant has been spotted, capable of encrypting Windows devices, Linux, VMware, ESXi systems, and more.

Cybersecurity researchers Check Point revealed the malware is called VanHelsing, and works on a service model (Ransomware-as-a-Service).

The RaaS operation kicked off on March 7, 2025, and the encryptor is still under development. So far, multiple infections were spotted, and the researchers managed to analyze a few variants, all on the Windows platform. Between them, there were incremental updates, it was said, proving VanHelsing is being actively - and quickly - developed.

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Russian group?

So far, three organizations fell victim to VanHelsing, each being asked for $500,000 in crypto, in exchange for the decryption key. We don’t know if the affiliates also engage in data exfiltration, but it’s safe to assume they do.

Check Point also said there appears to be different rules for wanna-be affiliates. Those that are newcomes to the cybercriminal scene need to pay a $5,000 fee to be included as an affiliate. More established names in the scene don’t have to pay at all.

Splitting the proceeds favors the affiliates, it was further explained. It’s an 80-20 split, with 20% going to the ransomware’s operators.

As for attribution, the operation is most likely Russian, since it is not allowed to target organizations in Russia or the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union, basically).

"This is difficult to say, but usually they are operating under Russian territory," noted Antonis Terefos, a malware reverse engineer at Check Point.

The researchers also hinted the Russian government does not target cybercriminals, as long as they only attack organizations in the West.

If that really is the case, and VanHelsing is allowed to work freely, it can quickly become a prolific threat actor, rivaling the likes of LockBit, or RansomHub. Furthermore, it will become obvious that ransomware has become a tool in global power struggles, something we’ve seen North Korea doing for years now.

Via The Register

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• New Klipschorn AK6 and La Scala AL6 stereo speakers unveiled
• New compression drivers for even more power
• New active crossover with adjustable HF and LF gain

Paul W Klipsch made hi-fi history in the 1940s with his Klipschorn speaker, first sold from a tin shed in 1946. It's been in continuous production ever since, albeit with many improvements over the decades, and now it's been updated for 2025 alongside its 1960s sibling, the Klipsch La Scala.

The new Kipschorn AK6 and La Scala AL6 are the latest addition to the firm's Heritage range, and while they retain the speakers' iconic looks and unusual furniture-like design, they've been significantly improved once again – and there's a new colorway and optional external crossover too.

The Klipsch La Scala AL6 speaker. (Image credit: Klipsch) Kipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6: new features and pricing

Design-wise, these speakers look just like their predecessors, although there's a new American Auburn finish to replace the previous Natural Cherry. And there's a newly designed input/output panel on both models with passive and active inputs and a passive output, making it easy to use the new Heritage Active Crossover in a plug-and-play setup.

Both speakers have a three-way horn-loaded design, and the K-771 compression driver is paired with a patented, wide-dispersion extended phase plug to minimize cancellations and deliver a wider, more consistent sound stage.

There's a new three-inch midrange compression driver, an inch larger than in the previous models. That larger area means the driver doesn't require as much energy to push the sound to the horn's throat.

Another key addition to both is Klipsch's Tractrix technology: there's a new K-604M modified Tractrix mid-range horn with a shorter two-inch throat for improved time alignment. And Klipsch's mumps design promises to improve coverage for all drive units to maintain an even frequency response to the horn's edge.

The La Scala also gets a new 12-inch K-281 woofer with a folded horn and a new enclosure. Klipsch says this provides richer and more robust bass from any room placement.

The new optional active crossover was designed by Klipsch’s VP of Technology and Innovation, Matt Spitznagle, and tuned by legendary acoustician Roy Delgado. It draws on the work done for the acclaimed Klipsch Jubilee and promises superior time and phase alignment, balanced EQ and true-to-source response.

According to Delgado "the Heritage Active Crossover unlocks performance enhancements that are simply unattainable with a passive design." They're a lot larger than most of the best stereo speakers that we test, but we can't resist something with this much heritage and a gorgeous finish.

The new models' prices are:

• Klipschorn AK7: $17,998 / €25,998 per pair (about £21,720 / AU$55,568)
• La Scala AL6: $14,998 / €19,998 per pair (about £16,700 / AU$34,282)
• Klipschorn Active Crossover: $3,499 / €3,999 (about £3,340 / AU$6,855)
• La Scala Active Crossover: $3,499 / €3,999 (about £3,340 / AU$6,855)

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• Now Bar is a key new feature in One UI 7
• More third-party app integrations are reportedly on the way
• One UI 7 is heading to older phones next month

Samsung launched One UI 7 (its take on Android 15) at the same time as the Galaxy S25 flagships back in January, and one of the key new features is the lock screen Now Bar – a feature which is set to get much more useful in the near future.

According to South Korean outlet ET News (via SamMobile), more third-party apps are set to support the Now Bar – though there's no specific timeframe for the integration. Two South Korean apps are mentioned specifically, Kakao T for booking taxi rides and Naver Sports for live sports scores.

Presumably, those efforts to add more third-party apps will extend internationally, though ET News doesn't namecheck any others. The more apps support the Now Bar, the more useful it becomes, which means more users will take advantage of it.

Samsung has been pushing the Now Bar as a major innovation in One UI 7, and we've also described it as one of the best features in the software. It's essentially Samsung's take on Live Activities on iOS, displaying useful information from apps right on the lock screen, which can be updated in real-time.

Making use of the Now Bar

Currently supported apps are from Google and Samsung (Image credit: Future)

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S25, you've got One UI 7 already – and the Now Bar is most likely already appearing at the bottom of your lock screen, displaying widgets for timers, the Now Brief summary, media playback, and more.

Head to Settings and choose Lock screen and AOD to find the Now Bar page. You'll see you can set which apps appear in the Now Bar from here: currently, the list is dominated by Samsung and Google apps, which is why third-party app integrations would be welcome going forward.

Google Maps is one app that recently added Now Bar support, so you can see turn-by-turn directions on the lock screen. Android already offers persistent notifications for this sort of real-time information, but the Now Bar makes it easier to get at on a locked phone.

We're still waiting for One UI 7 to make its way to Samsung handsets beyond the Galaxy S25 series, though the rollout is scheduled to get underway next month. It's not clear at the moment how recent a phone you're going to need to take advantage of the Now Bar feature, but we should get some clarity on that soon.

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• Sony has released a new PS5 firmware update
• Version 25.02-11.00.00 improves activities and adds new Unicode 16.0 emojis
• New parental controls have also been implemented

A new firmware update for the PlayStation 5 has been released, adding more system improvements.

This latest patch comes in a 1.3GB and is one of the more significant updates since the console's successor, the PS5 Pro, launched.

As the patch notes detail, it mainly targets the system's communications features and makes it easier for users to view activity details, which will now be displayed on cards.

Support for Unicode 16.0 emojis has been added for messages, too, along with new parental controls for Communication and User-Generated Content, which should now default to 'Restrict' when changing levels to Late Teens or Older.

Like previous updates, this patch sees some of the usual software performance and stability improvements to the system, messaging, and overall usability, as well.

PS5 Version 25.02-11.00.00 - Patch Notes

• We’ve made it simpler to view details about activities.
  • Activity details are now fully displayed on cards.
  • Potential spoilers will still be hidden.
• Unicode 16.0 emojis are now supported. You can use them in your messages.
• When you set the parental controls' restriction level to Late Teens or Older, Communication and User-Generated Content will now default to Restrict. If you have previously set the level to Late Teens or Older, your previous settings will not be affected and it will be shown as Customize.
• We've improved system software performance and stability.
• We've improved the messages and usability on some screens.

Last week, it was reported that the PS5 is still dominating in console sales, outselling the PS4 in the United States, as well as the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which are currently falling behind the Xbox One by a signigicant margin.

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