Technology

2025 could be a bumper year for Marvel's TV division, with the comic-book giant reportedly set to release up to seven new shows on Disney Plus.

Despite previous assertions that it would release less content every year, Marvel Studios is seemingly preparing to release a new series approximately every seven weeks (if my math is correct) from next January onwards.

Indeed, according to the file names on some new logo images uploaded to Disney's press image library yesterday (October 28) – as spotted by X/Twitter account Comicodigy and users on Reddit – 2025 looks like it'll be a very busy year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the small screen.

Until recently, we knew that three new Marvel shows would debut on Disney's primary streaming service. The first of those, Daredevil: Born Again, is slated to arrive on March 4, 2025. Daredevil's standalone MCU series would be joined by two more projects later in 2025, with Ironheart and What If...? season 3 also confirmed to launch on undisclosed dates.

Marvel Studios has revealed the schedule for its 2025 television lineup:Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man — January 25Daredevil: Born Again — March 4Eyes of Wakanda — August 6Ironheart — September 3Marvel Zombies — OctoberWonder Man — December pic.twitter.com/ezHcXBgkCXOctober 29, 2024

Now, it appears that trio will be joined by four more series, three of which will be animated offerings. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, an animated Spider-Man TV show that won't be canon in the MCU, is rumored to be the first of those releases, with the show due to swing onto Disney Plus on January 29, 2025. Eyes of Wakanda, a four-part Black Panther animated anthology miniseries, is then expected to debut on August 6, 2025.

Marvel Zombies, a spin-off of Marvel Studios' first animated project What If...?, will reportedly launch in October 2025, which should make for a scarily fun Halloween watch. Finally, Wonder Man, a long-gestating live-action show starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, will arrive on one of the best streaming services in December.

If those release dates don't change it'll be an incredibly stacked year for Marvel overall. The comic titan is also preparing to release the final two Marvel Phase 5 movies – Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts – in February and May 2025 respectively. They'll be joined by The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, which will kickstart the final phase of the Marvel Multiverse Saga.

Paying the production price

Thunderbolts could be one of 10 new MCU projects that will arrive in 2025 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

If Marvel releases all of the aforementioned films and shows next year, fans will have no less than 10 new movies and TV series to consume in just 12 months. With some industry experts and MCU fans suggesting that the superhero market is already at saturation point, that's a lot of content for diehards and casual viewers to consume.

Of course, Daredevil: Born Again aside, Marvel hasn't officially outlined its 2025 release schedule yet. It's possible, then, that the Disney subsidiary will alter one or more of its TV show launch dates to space them out, or even shift them from next year entirely.

For what it's worth, I'm not convinced that Marvel will release seven new shows in 2025. As I mentioned, it wants to rein in how many projects it releases annually, so bringing out seven new series in a 12-month period would very much go against that plan. With numerous other Disney Plus projects, including new Star Wars shows like Andor season 2, expected to debut next year, too, Disney won't want its biggest franchises to cannibalize each others' viewing figures by battling for audience attention.

Regardless, the fact that the MCU may get 10 new productions next year is a by-product of Marvel's haphazard creative approach in recent years. Rather than focus on telling a cohesive multiverse-centric story across Phases 4, 5, and 6, the studio's desire to pump out projects with little to no overarching plan has led to audience apathy and dented its reputation.

Yes, there have been extenuating circumstances, with the 2023 Hollywood strikes and a worldwide pandemic impacting development on numerous productions. Nonetheless, the disorganized nature of Marvel's Multiverse Saga plan is now coming back to bite it. If Marvel moves ahead with its apparent objective to release seven new shows in 2025, I fear viewers may get overwhelmed with the amount of options on offer, or lose interest – if they haven't already – in the MCU for good.

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One of the biggest internet service providers (ISP) in France has confirmed suffering a cyberattack that saw it lose sensitive customer data.

A threat actor alias “drusselx” opened a new thread on the infamous Breach forums, advertising a major database for sale, claiming it contains data on 19.2 million Free customers, and holds more than 5.11 million IBAN numbers.

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a unique identifier for bank accounts used in international transactions to ensure accuracy and streamline cross-border payments. While an IBAN cannot be used directly to make money withdrawals, it is still a valuable piece of information that can be abused in other ways. “It affects all Free Mobile and Freebox customers, and includes the IBANs of all 5.11 million Freebox subscribers,” the ad concluded.

Smash and grab

"The affected subscribers have been or will be informed by email shortly," a Free spokesperson told BleepingComputer. "No operational impact was observed on our activities and services" the spokesperson added, stating that "all necessary measures were taken immediately to put an end to this attack and strengthen the protection of our information systems."

It seems this was a simple smash-and-grab. The company filed a criminal complaint, and notified the appropriate authorities. Free also added that the crooks did not steal passwords, bank card information, and communications content (even though drusselx did not mention it).

The ISP had almost 23 million subscribers this summer, and is considered the second-largest telecommunications company in France.

It warned customers to be vigilant of any suspicious bank transfers, noting, "If subscribers nevertheless notice an unusual direct debit, not corresponding to any date and no known invoice amount, their bank is obliged to reimburse them. They have 13 months to report the fraudulent direct debit."

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Ahead of the election, anti-government militias are using Facebook to recruit, coordinate training, and promote ballot box stakeouts. Meta isn’t shutting their groups down and is even auto-generating pages.

• You need to join a waitlist after installing iOS 18.1
• The delay might be down to Apple Private Cloud Compute
• Most users don't need to wait long

If you're an iPhone owner eager to get started with Apple Intelligence after the launch of iOS 18.1, you might be disappointed to discover that there's a waitlist to access the new AI features – and now we might have a better idea of why that's the case.

As spotted by well-known tipster ShrimpApplePro and Apple vlogger Brandon Butch, a post on Reddit from a non-Apple server engineer suggests that the delay is down to getting people registered on Apple's Private Cloud Compute (PCC) platform.

That's the server or cloud side of Apple Intelligence: it's designed to process AI requests that can't be managed on-device, while still maintaining user privacy, so your prompts are protected from unauthorized access (not even Apple can see them).

According to the Reddit post, the process of granting users access to this fenced-off server space needs to be staggered – possibly to accommodate the advanced authentication methods it uses. You can read more in the official PCC documentation provided by Apple.

How to get started

For those still asking: "why is there a waitlist for Apple Intelligence?" Here's some good insight from a server engineer: "The real cause is almost certainly enrolling you in Private Cloud Compute. That's the server side of Apple Intelligence. Some of your requests are handled… pic.twitter.com/EDItCS90QaOctober 29, 2024

While we can't verify that this information is accurate, it's an educated guess that makes sense. Apple Intelligence doesn't just place demands on your gadgets; it puts pressure on Apple's cloud resources too.

You can now access the first wave of Apple Intelligence features if you've downloaded iOS 18.1 to an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model, and your device is set to US English. Head to Settings, then tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, and Join the Apple Intelligence Waiting List.

As per 9to5Google, some of the delay might also be down to the beta status of Apple Intelligence, with Apple wanting to minimize the risk of misleading or offensive answers. There's also quite a significant data download to consider.

The good news is that most people only seem to be on the waitlist for a few hours or even a few minutes (if you want to skip the queue, we can help with that too). So you shouldn't see too much of a delay – and more Apple Intelligence features are on the way with iOS 18.2.

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With HotWired, we introduced the world to the internet. Hyperlinks! Verticals! Banner ads! Cookies! Thirty years later, the hangover is real.

Multiple benchmark refinance rates trended upward this week, but rates are still well below last year's highs.

The OnePlus Open 2 could be the first major foldable phone of 2025, as a recent leak suggested the OnePlus Open 2 would land in the first quarter of the year, and today we’re hearing that the specs could be in for quite an upgrade.

According to leaker Digital Chat Station, posting on Weibo (via GSMArena), the OnePlus Open 2 will have a similar design to the current model, but with a larger screen and “extreme slimness.”

For reference, the original OnePlus Open is already only 11.7mm thick when folded and 5.8mm thick when unfolded, so presumably the OnePlus Open 2 will be even thinner.

A big battery and three new cameras

The OnePlus Open's cameras could be replaced (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

It’s also said to have a 5,700mAh battery (up from 4,805mAh in the original), a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a trio of new 50MP cameras, with the main snapper joined by an ultra-wide and a 3x telephoto.

Now, the original OnePlus Open also has a 3x telephoto camera, along with main and ultra-wide ones, but the megapixel counts differ, coming in at 48MP for the main sensor, 48MP for the ultra-wide, and 64MP for the telephoto.

While that would mean there’s fewer megapixels in the telephoto camera this time around, it’s likely that all three sensors on the OnePlus Open 2 are upgrades, as the company probably wouldn’t change them otherwise.

So if this leak pans out then the OnePlus Open 2 could be an upgrade in numerous ways, which should make for an impressive phone, given that we gave the original 4.5 stars in our OnePlus Open review.

Of course, we’d take this leak with a pinch of salt for now, but if the OnePlus Open 2 really does land in the first few months of 2025, then we should find out all of its specs before too long.

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Some key mortgage rates are moving up. Here's what to expect if you're in the market for a home loan.

Apple’s Mac mini with M4 processor could well be revealed later today – or perhaps tomorrow – but Amazon has already spilled the details on the revamped compact PC.

MacRumors picked up on Amazon US accidentally listing the Mac mini M4, showing that just as rumored, it will come with a choice of the M4 and M4 Pro CPUs – with the top-end chip offering 14-cores (paired with a 20-core GPU).

Notably, rather than a maximum of 32GB of RAM as is the case with the Mac mini currently, the M4 spin on the PC can be loaded up with 64GB – assuming these product details are on the money in all these respects, of course.

Storage, however, will remain the same with the new Mac Mini, with a top capacity of 8TB for those who need plenty of drive space.

Accompanying the spec details is a tiny picture and as MacRumors notes, it’s very blurry, but appears to confirm that there will be two USB-C ports on the front of the device. If the rumors are right, those could be complemented by three USB-C connectors on the rear for some models, with a grand total of five ports in theory.

Another major thread from the rumor mill regarding the Mac mini M4 is that the new model will be a good deal more portable than the current offering, and based on the comparative pics shown by Amazon, this appears to be the case. The Mac mini is apparently set to be silver only, with no other color options.

There’s also what looks like it might just be a headphone jack on the front of the PC, though it’s difficult to make it out exactly (and could just be a power button, or indicator, even).

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Mac mini in the middle?

Yesterday saw the big reveal of the iMac 24-inch (and some controversy around the Magic Mouse that’ll be bundled with the all-in-one), as the first of Apple’s M4 Macs for this week of announcements we’ve already been primed for.

As we observed yesterday, we reckon the MacBook Pro M4 was either coming first, or being saved for last, and so given that the iMac was pushed out initially, we’re expecting the laptop tomorrow – therefore the Mac mini today. Amazon pulling the trigger a day early on the product details makes sense in this light, too, in that the new Mac mini is literally about to be launched – all in theory of course.

We don’t know that for sure, and neither can we take the specs aired for granted either – though it seems unlikely a retailer with the clout of Amazon would get things wrong.

It seems the rumors about the Mac mini M4 were pretty much bang on, at any rate, and most of this is speculation we’ve already heard, save for the upping of the RAM to 64GB (and the apparent confirmation of the top-end CPU configuration). It seems a beefy and potent – yet nicely compact – computer is about to arrive, and the Mac mini M4 is a product a lot of folks are looking forward to.

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A group of the leading cloud computing providers, including Google, have come together to form the Open Cloud Coalition, with a mission of fostering a competitive, transparent and resilient cloud market across the UK and European Union.

Initially made up of 10 members, including Centerprise International, Civo, Gigas and Google Cloud, the group plans to “champion openness, interoperability, and fair competition.”

According to OCC spokesperson and Civo director Nicky Stewart, the Coalition aims to counter the “restrictive agreements” that make it challenging for customers to adopt multicloud and hybrid setups, noting the OCC is, "determined to reverse this trend by promoting a more competitive and flexible market and driving the adoption of open standards.”

Open Cloud Coalition to tackle Europe’s challenging cloud landscape

The OCC’s launch comes as cloud providers across Europe, and other regions globally, come under more scrutiny from antitrust regulators like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission over anti-competitive practices.

It follows Microsoft’s recent settlement with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE), which included licensing concessions and a $22 million payment to address complaints.

Speaking about the formation of the group, Stewart added: “A dedicated platform campaigning on these issues is needed to advocate for fairness, openness, and interoperability, ensuring that regulations and industry practices support these principles.”

In response to the OCC’s launch, Microsoft CVP and Deputy General Counsel Rima Alaily wrote: “This week an astroturf group organized by Google is launching. It is designed to discredit Microsoft with competition authorities, and policymakers and mislead the public.”

Alaily added: “Google has gone through great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding, and control, most notably by recruiting a handful of European cloud providers, to serve as the public face of the new organization.”

Google Cloud told TechRadar Pro: “We’ve been very public about our concerns with Microsoft’s cloud licensing. We and many others believe that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices lock-in customers and create negative downstream effects that impact cybersecurity, innovation, and choice. You can read more in our many blog posts on these issues.”

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Truly bright, with excellent image quality and a not-ridiculous price makes the TCL QM8 Series (2024) a TV for other LCDs to aspire to.

Many parents are unable or unwilling to send their children to school with a phone. Smartwatch use among kids is booming, but experts warn the devices could be yet another “electronic umbilical cord.”

Between Apple, Google, and Samsung, not to mention a whole host of more affordable options, the best fitness tracker contenders have been a crowded market for a while. But the next tech giant to enter could be Microsoft, with a new slew of AI-powered Surface wearables.

That's according to the company's EVP and Consumer CMO Yusuf Mehdi in an interview with tech YouTuber Austin Evans, which you can see below.

During the interview, Mehdi says "I do think that these devices that see the world, that you wear on your body, on your person — I think that those combined with the AI will be very valuable."

"It can do image recognition, it can tell you [and] talk to you about what's going on. I think that's a fascinating place that we'll go."

More AI wearables?

AI wearables have struggled to capture the market despite the popularity of AI in general across all facets of tech.

For every success story like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, there are some like the Humane AI Pin that have come and gone with little fanfare.

Still, the possibility of a tech giant like Microsoft entering the frame will generate additional interest on all products in the space, while also potentially helping persuade developers to jump on board to offer new solutions – particularly if the market picks up.

The trouble is that Microsoft's own AI efforts have been fraught with controversy. Its Recall feature, which tracks everything on your screen in case you need to refer back to it later, has undergone several revisions after suggestions it was invasive, while other reports have suggested a strained relationship with AI partner OpenAI.

If the company plans to bring a wearable to market, here's hoping it gets the balance right between usefulness and privacy.

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We all want our homes to be beautiful, but sometimes technology makes that difficult: TVs bring us entertainment and enable us to witness world famous moments that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives, but when we turn them off, they don’t always fit with the rest of your décor theme. With current design trends including ‘quiet luxury’, with its emphasis on classic shapes and silhouettes being see worldwide, wouldn’t it be great if your TV could be as beautiful as the rest of your room?

That’s exactly what the gorgeous new NXTFRAME TV from TCL has been designed to deliver. It’s not just a TV. It’s a work of art.

(Image credit: TCL)

As you'd expect from TCL, the NXTFRAME TV is simply a brilliant TV. And something special happens when you're not watching a movie or tuning into a TV show. The TCL NXTFRAME TV becomes a work of art – and we mean that literally. It's your very own art gallery, and it comes with a stunning soundtrack, meaning your room transforms from being just the TV room into a room with a dual entertainment purpose.

The TV that isn't like other TVs

The TCL NXTFRAME TV has been designed to be a versatile piece of art.

It comes with hundreds of subscription-free, carefully curated libraries of beautiful artworks, and you can access even more art online. Whether it's a painting from major national galleries, some of the world's best street photography or your most precious family photographs via USB, the NXTFRAME TV displays it with perfect clarity on its stunning matte screen.

And talking of screens - The TCL NXTFRAME TV is the slimmest in its series at just 27.9 mm thick. It features a built-in chassis that eliminates the need for an external connectivity box, allowing for a sleek, uninterrupted design.

This isn’t the only TV that can show artwork, we know. But those TVs don’t look like this one, they look like… well… TVs. The TCL NXTFRAME is the first ever completely flush-framed TV with a flat back, and that means it sits 100% flush against the wall. No bumps, no odd angles, nothing to spoil those smooth, sleek lines. It’s a masterpiece of clever design and engineering, and it looks like a masterpiece too.

(Image credit: TCL)

When TCL made the NXTFRAME TV, its goal was to help you transform your home into something even more special. With the NXTFRAME TV, your living space becomes much more than just a place to spend time with your family, TCL’s vision was that it could become a dynamic art gallery and a personal cinema at the touch of a button to suit any mood or setting.

Beautiful from every angle

The NXFRAME TV is designed to look fantastic whether it is on or off. With a range of customisable magnetic frames in Dawn Birch, Twilight Elm and Vernal Mint it looks elegant and refined in any room, and the snap-on frames make it easy to switch between styles if you're redecorating or just fancy a different look.

(Image credit: TCL)

The NXTFRAME TV's elegant, easel-style design looks great on a stand or mounted to the wall, and its included flush wall mount helps get your TV right against the wall just like a regular painting. There's also a movable floor stand that makes it easy to move your NXTFRAME TV anywhere in your home whether you want to watch a sports match in the garden with friends or stay cosy and watch an old classic movie in the bedroom. TCL has even thought about cable clutter, with a handy storage tray for cable management and a decorative cover that makes the NXTFRAME TV look striking from any angle.

(Image credit: TCL)

There's another really important feature here too: TCL's matte anti-reflective screen. Not only does it reduce unwanted reflections and glare, but it also has multiple software-enabled textures to choose from so that you can make it look exactly the way you want it.

Immerse yourself in incredible audio

The NXTFRAME TV brings outstanding sound – and the NXTFRAME TV PRO model is even more immersive thanks to Audio by Bang & Olufsen, from the world-renowned audio brand. In a world first, the Pro version teams up your NXTFRAME TV with a wireless soundbar and subwoofer to deliver a premium audio experience. The Pro’s soundbar and subwoofer have been tuned by the same expert sound engineers who’ve perfected some of the world’s most awe-inspiring and iconic speakers. And with the NXTFRAME PRO, you can bring that amazing expertise into your home.

(Image credit: TCL)

The audio system also includes Enhanced Dialogue Mode and BeoSonic technology, enabling you to customise their sound profiles to suit whatever you're watching and listening to. That means that whether you're watching a movie, listening to music or simply enjoying some quiet time the audio experience is immersive, clear and refined, with every note and sound detail tuned to perfection.

Cutting-edge tech for premium performance

The NXTFRAME TV isn't just a gorgeous, great-sounding TV. It's also packed with the must-have features including Dolby Atmos, DTS, and DTS Virtual, along with Enhanced Dialogue Mode.

And that's not all. The NXTFRAME TV has been made to meet the highest standards of movie buffs, sports fans and gamers: its super-fast 120Hz refresh rate is fantastic for fast-moving actions, while gamers can enjoy a silky-smooth 144Hz refresh rate with VRR for best-in-class clarity and speed.

That cutting-edge tech means that your NXTFRAME TV won't just be the perfect TV for you today. It'll be the perfect TV for many years to come.

Discover how the new TCL NXTFRAME TV can help make your living space even more special.

Have you seen this post on GenAI – now almost an adage of the times?

“You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”

The post is sassy, but spot on. It’s a stark reminder that humans want AI to assist with undesirable and painstaking tasks, not to assimilate creativity. Companies may ultimately want the same thing. They need creative productivity from humans, and they need GenAI to deliver the ROI that keeps the financial house in order, rather than falling into the AI money pit.

If you think this message is coming from yet another company looking to jump on the GenAI bandwagon, think again. We come at GenAI and data management – which is critical to GenAI success – from a position of unrivaled understanding, experience and commitment.

Here’s what we’ve learned, and what to do in transforming your organization with GenAI.

Be extremely selective in using GenAI

Organizations sometimes fail to take the time to define what it is that they want to get out of GenAI. This has led many companies to go too big too fast or proceed with excess caution, or not move forward at all.

Everest Group says that 2023 saw more than 1,200 GenAI proofs of concept (PoCs), signaling strong enterprise engagement, but less than 18% of PoCs reach production stage. Gartner adds that growth in 90% of GenAI enterprise deployments will slow by 2025 as costs exceed value.

Position your GenAI efforts for success and growth by first defining the problem you are trying to solve. Specify what outcomes you expect. And be selective in using GenAI, because it requires tremendous compute resources and scaled out IT infrastructure that can handle large data sets, so it can get expensive fast. Also keep in mind that consuming a lot of compute and power will have an impact on the planet and your sustainability goals. So, make sure that you’re using GenAI in a sensible manner, and only use GenAI to solve problems that couldn’t otherwise be solved.

Implement robust policies and infrastructure

If someone is using GenAI to write a poem, there are no right or wrong answers. But mission-critical enterprise applications are going to require near 100% accuracy. If you don’t employ high-quality data in your GenAI efforts, you won’t get the results that you are expecting.

Assess where you are with your GenAI and data strategies. Our recent research indicates that less than half (44%) of organizations have well-defined GenAI policies, and even fewer (37%) believe their infrastructure and data ecosystem are well-prepared for GenAI implementation.

Work with data experts to establish and implement robust data management solutions and strategies that address data security and integrity wherever that data may reside.

Also, make sure your GenAI strategy positions you to be agile in this fast-moving environment in which there are a lot of acquisitions and consolidation. Plan and build for GenAI in a way that keeps you flexible because what worked a few months ago may not work in the future.

Understand and address risks and regulations

Using high-quality data sets is also important considering the growing regulatory scrutiny around AI and GenAI. For example, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act went into effect Aug. 1. This applies to any providers that put AI systems into service within the EU.

The new EU AI Act calls for AI systems that are classified as high risk – such as systems that are used for energy and transport, medical devices, and systems determining access to education or employment – to implement risk-mitigation strategies. The EU explains that includes achieving high standards of accuracy, cybersecurity and robustness; ensuring human oversight; maintaining activity logs; providing detailed documentation; and using high-quality data sets.

But the unprecedented volume and complexity of data environments can make that a challenge. Employ the tools and DataOps processes to understand data lineage, do data cost optimization, and ensure reliability, resilience, and visibility throughout the data lifecycle.

Establish a data foundation for innovation

GenAI now makes it easy for virtually anybody to put AI to work, which is accelerating the pace of business transformation at an exponential rate. And that’s an extremely powerful thing. With GenAI, you can drive more automation and save on costs. GenAI also can enable product differentiation to drive revenues. If you can become more proactive by using GenAI’s infinite knowledge and capacity to act quickly, you can fix problems and deliver better solutions faster.

But, in the process, GenAI is increasing the storage demands and extending the infrastructure concerns at enterprises far and wide. To stay competitive, modern businesses like yours must establish a data foundation for innovation – allowing your business to run, manage, and harness data and applications wherever they exist – on premises, in the cloud, and/or at the edge.

Whether your organization opts to leverage GenAI to save on everyday tasks, build revenue by delivering differentiated services or all of the above, keep in mind that getting GenAI right is both an art and a science. And it requires people and organizations to leverage both the knowledge earned with years of experience and the latest innovations in data management.

We've listed the best AI tools.

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

Rates are falling. Here's where you can still score up to 4.75% APY

How to watch The Boy That Never Was online

A father's grief and guilt return with a vengeance when he becomes convinced that he's seen his son at a train station, three years after he was engulfed in the ruins of an earthquake. Here's where to watch The Boy That Never Was online for free – from anywhere.

Harry (Colin Morgan) and Robin's (Toni O'Rourke) idyllic life in Essaouira is shattered when their apartment is reduced to rubble with their three-year-old son, Dillon, inside. Harry only survived by virtue of being out at the moment of impact, but with Robin working, why wasn't he at home?

Robin doesn't realize it until her husband's impulsive return to Morocco, but Harry's chance encounter on the train platform has stirred up a sense of immense remorse, and his quest for salvation lands him in a dangerous situation. What really happened on that night?

Read on as we explain how to watch The Boy That Never Was from anywhere in the world.

Can I watch The Boy That Never Was for free?

Yes. All four episodes of The Boy That Never Was are already available to stream on the free TVNZ streaming service in New Zealand.

Don't forget you can use a VPN to watch The Boy That Never Was on your usual streaming service from abroad.

Unblock any stream with a VPN

If you're keen to watch The Boy That Never Was but you're away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

Use a VPN to watch The Boy That Never Was from anywhere:

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Can you watch The Boy That Never Was in the US?

At the time of writing, any plans to make The Boy That Never Was available to watch in the US are yet to be announced.

Kiwis currently away from home can use a VPN to watch The Boy That Never Was on TVNZ Plus from abroad.

How to watch The Boy That Never Was in the UK

The Boy That Never Was premieres on Alibi at 9pm GMT on Tuesday, October 29. Each of the four episodes is an hour long, and they'll air as double-bills on consecutive Tuesdays.

Alibi is available to stream via the Sky Go service. You can also watch through Sky's pay as you go option, NOW. Check out our dedicated guide to Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices.

New Zealanders currently away from home can use a VPN to watch The Boy That Never Was on TVNZ Plus from abroad.

Can you watch The Boy That Never Was in Canada?

As with the US, there's no word as to when or if The Boy That Never Was will air in Canada.

However, New Zealand nationals currently traveling in Canada can use a VPN to unblock TVNZ Plus and watch the show from anywhere in the world. We recommend NordVPN.

Can you watch The Boy That Never Was in Australia?

Any plans to make The Boy That Never Was available to watch in Australia are yet to be announced at the time of publication.

Brits currently away from home can use a VPN to watch The Boy That Never Was on TVNZ Plus from abroad.

The Boy That Never Was cast

• Colin Morgan as Harry Lonergan
• Toni O’Rourke as Robin Lonergan
• Kerr Logan as Ollie
• Mansour Badri as Fadoul Kadiri
• Kelly Campbell as Eva Doyle
• Cillian O'Sullivan as Dave Garrick
• Simon Callow as Cozimo

The Boy That Never Was episode guide and schedule

In the UK, The Boy That Never Was airs on Alibi the following dates:

(All times GMT)

• Episode 1 – Tuesday, October 29 at 9pm
• Episode 2 – Tuesday, October 29 at 10pm
• Episode 3 – Tuesday, November 5 at 9pm
• Episode 4 – Tuesday, November 5 at 10pm

With Election Day just a week away, your ability to request a mail ballot might be fading quickly.

The clock is ticking on APYs as high as 5.25%.

We have entered a new era in banking and financial services. The period of transformation has given way to an era of “agility and flexibility,” driven by relentless technological advancements, fierce competition and the demands of digital-savvy customers.

Traditional banks find themselves at a crossroads of balancing the proven reliability of their legacy systems with the need for agility. And with fintech disruptors, the expansion of big tech into financial services and the increasing demand for embedded finance solutions reshaping the industry, there’s no time to waste hesitating. Modernization is a necessity – not an option.

Legacy technology, the long-standing backbone of banking operations, is becoming a burden. These outdated systems are ill-equipped to cater to the demands of the digital age that require real-time transactions, data analytics and seamless integration with modern SaaS solutions.

The operational costs of clinging to these systems are 20-30% higher due to the maintenance required. This also diverts resources and means a 50% slower time to market for new products as well as higher risk of security vulnerabilities compared to banks that have modernized their systems (McKinsey, 2023).

Finding people with the capabilities and expertise to maintain these systems is also becoming a challenge as the pool of legacy IT talent, such as COBOL programmers, dwindles. As these professionals retire, fewer people have the knowledge required to operate and fix these antiquated systems. As this expertise becomes scare it also becomes costly.

Faced with these challenges, banks are increasingly implementing a strategy of progressive modernization by updating an organization's existing IT infrastructure incrementally, rather than through a complete overhaul. This enables institutions to build on the strengths of their existing core systems while integrating flexibility through modern platforms that work seamlessly with legacy infrastructure.

Benefits  of modernization

The benefits include:

Accelerated Time to Market: decoupling product development from legacy systems allows banks to launch new products faster, adapting to market changes and customer needs in real-time. 

Better Customer Experience: experiences can be both personalized and seamless across all channels, which keeps customers satisfied, reduces dropout rates and ultimately helps create customer loyalty. 

Cost Efficiency: maintaining legacy systems generates significant expenses that consume and divert IT budgets, preventing banks from spending on innovation. Investing in progressive modernization, however, is more cost effective and can be tailored to suit the size, scale and needs of an organization – while freeing up resource and budget to go to better use. 

New Revenue Streams: the ability to rapidly launch new products enables companies to tap into new markets and unlock additional revenue streams. 

Improved Security: companies need not worry about cybersecurity and compliance as modern platforms manage risks by incorporating robust features to safeguard sensitive data against sophisticated threats.

Progressive modernization empowers banks to exceed the limitations of legacy technology while enabling continuous improvement and rapid iteration.

Without having to service legacy tech, banks can shift focus toward innovation and test-and-learn, accelerating their time to market.

If progressive modernization is the “what”, and agility and flexibility is the “why”, then optionality is the “how.” Banks should avoid one-size-fits-all solutions and embrace a "best-of-breed" approach, choosing providers that excel in specific areas, such as card issuer processing.

Embedded finance: the new frontier

The rise of embedded finance, where non-financial companies integrate financial services directly into their offerings, represents a significant shift that banks cannot afford to ignore.

Up to 15% of bank revenues and 25% of retail and SME lending revenues may be derived from embedded finance by 2030 (McKinsey, 2024).

Solutions like Cards-as-a-Service, Wallets-as-a-Service, and Ledger-as-a-Service enable businesses to integrate payment and financial capabilities seamlessly, tapping into a market poised for explosive growth.

UX: the differentiator in the digital age

So often is the case that bank product teams start-off with customer-centric designs but end-up building legacy-centric experiences. Rapid iteration empowered by continuous experimentation – essential for modern DesignOps – is not possible. Without the configurability, functionality, and modularity of modern cloud apps, banks will always be one step behind FinTechs.

In today's hyper-competitive landscape, user experience (UX) is a real differentiator – and it is becoming increasingly essential for customer acquisition and retention.

Modern card issuer processing platforms enable banks to deliver exceptional and intuitive UX through features such as real-time transaction processing, personalized rewards, and omnichannel integration.

The future of banking will be shaped by those willing to challenge the status quo, embrace cutting-edge technology and move towards a more flexible, agile, and customer-centric future. Those that remain competitive will not be held back by antiquated legacy systems.

We've rated the best mobile credit card processors.

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