Technology

• New benchmarks show the Ryzen 9 9950X3D runs better on Windows 10
• The chip's performance is stronger in many of today's demanding games
• Windows 11 seems to struggle particularly when VBS is enabled

According to benchmarks circulating online, AMD's self-described "world's best processor for gamers and creators," the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, appears to run faster on Windows 10 than Windows 11.

Spotted by Neowin, testing was conducted by YouTube benchmarker Tech YES City, which found that the 9950X3D performed better on Windows 10 than on Windows 11 for gaming, especially when the operating system's virtualization-based security (VBS) was enabled.

This is most evident with CPU-bound titles featuring the lowest possible graphical settings, such as CS2 in 1080p. Valve's latest shooter averages 745fps on Windows 10 but just 729fps on Windows 11; it drops to 710fps with VBS enabled. While we're only talking about a 2.1% performance difference here, it's curious that it's happening at all, as parity would at least be expected between the two operating systems.

It's a similar story with Fortnite at its lowest settings in 1080p. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D achieves 591fps on Windows 10 but just 541fps on Windows 11 and loses a further 41 frames with VBS enabled for a loss of 9.2%. It may not seem like too big a deal, but these are competitive games where every frame matters, and if there's a slight lead in using Windows 10 over Windows 11, this could be problematic at the top level.

Tech YES City's testing also alleges that Marvel Rivals, Baldur's Gate 3, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 have similar performance differences when running on Windows 10 compared to Windows 11, urging people to disable VBS for best performance. Considering the processor's MSRP, you're going to want to get every penny's worth of power out of this chip, which doesn't seem to play as nicely with the latest operating system compared to the previous version.

Strangest of all is the fact that things did not improve with a custom-tuned version of Windows 11 24H2, which still fell behind what a basic fresh install of Windows 10 could do. It's concerning, given the fact that Windows 10 will be discontinued on October 14, 2025, as security updates will cease, and Windows 11 will be the only option. It may only be a claimed minor lead, but it's disappointing news, considering the bold claims around the CPU.

A discrepency for one of AMD's best processors ever

The Ryzen 9950X3D was released yesterday, March 12, 2025, with a retail price of $699 / £699 / AU$1,349 as an enthusiast-class processor, as the second-generation AM5 chipset to utilize AMD's 3D V-cache. We praised it with a 4.5-star review, citing it was "the best there is" out of the current line of V-cache-enabled CPUs.

In our performance testing, we found that the Ryzen 9950X3D delivers almost best-in-class gaming performance, excelling far beyond the standard 9950X by quite a margin, but losing out (in averages) when compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which we said "might be better value for gamers". This could be a result of only eight of 16 cores having access to the 3D V-cache (split between two pools of 96MB and 32MB for 128MB total) against the 96MB of the 9800X3D.

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• Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, will step into office on March 18
• The company must make “calculated risks” to catch up
• Interim CEOs will revert to their original positions

Three months after Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger announced that he’d be stepping down after a near-four-year stint, the chipmaker has confirmed its new leader.

In an email to workers, Lip-Bu Tan revealed himself to be the company’s new leader, detailing his aim to restore the company’s “world-class” status by focusing on both product development and foundry services.

Tan will take post on March 18, 2025, but he’s already previously served on Intel’s board – something he gave up due to strategic disagreements, says Reuters.

Lip-Bu Tan will serve as Intel’s new CEO

Tan promises an “engineering-focused” Intel and remains committed to innovation. “Intel’s innovation has been at the heart of so many world-changing breakthroughs along the way,” he said.

He continued: “I believe we have a truly unique opportunity to remake our company at one of the most pivotal moments in its history. That’s not to say it will be easy. It won’t be. But I am joining because I believe with every fiber of my being that we have what it takes to win.”

At $89.2 billion, Intel’s market cap lags far behind key rivals like AMD ($163.6 billion) and Nvidia ($2.83 trillion). Lip-Bu said the company must take “calculated risks to disrupt and leapfrog” in areas of the business that are behind the competition.

Analysts are clearly happy with the new leadership, with shares shooting up 12% following the announcement to $23.21.

Tan’s background includes a 12-year stint as Cadence Design Systems CEO between 2009 and 2021, where he delivered a stock price increase of more than 3,200%.

With the appointment of a new CEO, interim CEOs Michelle Johnston Holthaus and Dave Zinsner will step back into CEO of Intel Products and company CFO respectively.

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Full spoilers follow for Invincible season 3 episode 8.

It only feels like yesterday that Invincible season 3 made its Prime Video debut. So, it feels weird to be writing that the critically-acclaimed animated series' latest chapter has just ended, albeit in typically explosive fashion.

As the dust settles on another jaw-dropping season finale, I'm here to answer your biggest questions about this season's eighth episode, titled 'I Thought You'd Never Shut Up'. I'll also talk about where Amazon's TV adaptation might go next.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Invincible's latest episode and the graphic novel series it's based on. Make sure you've streamed it before you proceed!

Does Atom Eve die in Invincible season 3 episode 8?

Don't worry, Atom-Eve doesn't die in the season 3 finale (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Thankfully not. If you've watched episode 8 in its entirety, you'll know that's the case. If you somehow missed how she survived being mutilated and skewered by Conquest, though, allow me to explain.

Atom Eve actually plays a bigger part in the battle against Conquest (more on him later) than she does in the source material. Indeed, she actively tries to stop him from beating Mark to a pulp, and even uses her matter-transmutation abilities to go toe-to-toe with the Viltrum Empire's second-most powerful warrior.

But, as you'll remember from Invincible season 3 episode 7, Eve was seriously injured during the Invincible War event that was hinted at all the way back in season 3's premiere, then later teased in season 3 episode 6's mid-credits scene, and eventually depicted in this season's seventh chapter. She would struggle to take on Conquest when fully fit, let alone having just awoken from a week-long coma and still recovering from the wounds she sustained one episode earlier.

Despite putting up a brave fight, Eve begins to tire and starts making mistakes. That allows Conquest to gain the upper hand, smash Eve's jaw, and appear to murder Mark's girlfriend by disemboweling her right in front of him.

I wouldn't want to be Conquest right now... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Equal parts furious and distressed over Eve's apparent demise, Mark takes his anger out on his seemingly superior foe, but even his rage-fueled attacks aren't enough to help the series' superhuman protagonist beat Conquest. Eventually, after one last courageous effort on the eponymous hero's part, Conquest overpowers Mark and starts strangling him almost to death.

Cue Eve's death-defying return. Revived by her own superhuman abilities, Eve miraculously self-heals before dealing significant damage to Conquest by firing a giant pink laser that incinerates his costume and burns the skin right off his body. Exhausted, a now-naked Eve collapses, but her intervention proves to be enough to help Mark finally defeat Conquest (don't worry, we're getting to him).

So, how does Eve come back from the dead in one of the best Prime Video shows? As Mark recovers from the injuries he sustained during his battle with Conquest, Eve reminds him (and us) that, when her biological mother was pregnant with Eve, scientists experimented on Eve in the womb and imbued her with superpowers.

What we didn't know is that, while those experiments were ongoing, the researchers installed a failsafe to prevent Eve using her abilities on sentient matter. Essentially, she can't hurt anyone enough to seriously injure or kill them.

However, those mental blocks are overridden when Eve suffers a traumatic event like, you know, almost dying. That allows her to use her abilities without limitations, which is why she was able to self-heal, thereby saving herself from certain death. Oh, and it's why she was able to do so much damage to Conquest with her laser blast.

Is Conquest dead following his battle with Invincible?

Nobody ever stays dead in the Invincible universe (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Initially, it would appear so, but Invincible fans know that nobody really stays dead in this universe (I'm looking at you, Angstrom Levy and Mister Liu...).

After Eve's laser blast attack, Conquest is severely weakened, which allows Mark to inflict as much punishment as he can muster on his adversary.

After an exhausting and brutal duel, Mark finally gains the upper hand. However, both of his arms have been smashed to pieces by the bout that's just ensued, so Mark uses his head – literally – to head-butt Conquest to death.

Or so it would seem. After Mark wakes from the coma he fell into after seemingly killing Conquest, he demands to see his fallen foe's body. Global Defence Agency (GDA) chief Cecil Stedman agrees to let Mark see it and, after viewing Conquest's remains, Mark seems content that there's one less Viltrumite warrior for him to worry about.

Cecil just can't help himself, can he? (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

The problem is that it's not Conquest's body. We later learn that Cecil has lied to Mark – again! – and that the corpse he showed Mark is nothing more than a dummy. Indeed, it was created so that Mark would walk away convinced that Conquest was no more.

Okay, so where is Conquest's real body? The Viltrumite, voiced by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is being held in a secure, secret GDA facility six miles below the Earth's surface. As Cecil tells his second-in-command Donald, the GDA have kept Conquest's body so that, in the event that he wakes up, Cecil will force Conquest to tell him all about the Viltrum Empire and how to stop them. Sure, Cecil, nothing bad will come of this, will it...

Wait, did Conquest recreate that devastating Omni-Man train sequence from season 1?

Season 3's recreation of season 1's train sequence might be even worse than the original (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

He absolutely did. In a call-back to Omni-Man and Invincible's destructive battle in Invincible season 1's final episode, Conquest uses Mark's body to plough through and kill numerous innocent humans on a beach resort around midway through this season's finale.

If further proof was needed, it's another reminder of just how brutal Viltrumites are. I do wonder, though, if it's a mere coincidence that Conquest replicates that Omni-Man train sequence from season 1 episode 8, or if it's a move that all Viltrumites use at some point during fights with their kin. I guess we'll find out if Anissa or any other imposing Viltrum warriors use it in future seasons.

Do we check in with Nolan/Omni-Man and Allen before Invincible season 3 ends?

Alas, there's no Allen or Omni-Man scene in season 3's eighth and final chapter (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Unfortunately not. Much like Invincible season 2 part 1 and Invincible season 2 part 2, we don't spend much time with everyone's new favorite bromance in season 3. So if you were expecting to check in with Nolan and Allen before episode 8 ended, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Spoilers notwithstanding, though, I can say that you'll see much more of them in future seasons. Indeed, the duo take on a much bigger role in the comics following events depicted in 'I Thought You'd Never Shut Up', so expect them to have more screen time moving forward.

What's with that Damien Darkblood mid-credits scene in Invincible season 3's finale?

Hang on, Damien Darkblood is back!? (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That's hard to answer, because it sets up a storyline that isn't present in Invincible's graphic novel series.

Almost two seasons have passed since Damien Darkblood, a demonic detective, was banished from Earth by Cecil. He was sent back to Hell for disobeying Cecil's orders in season 1 – indeed, Damien previously worked for the GDA and investigated the allegations that Omni-Man was the culprit behind the original Guardians of the Globe team members' deaths in the show's very first episode.

Anyway, this mid-credits stinger reunites us with Damien as he draws a pentagram symbol on the floor of a cave. This summons one of Damien's superiors, with Damien saying he wouldn't have awoken the Great Beast if it wasn't important.

I wonder where this storyline is going... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Continuing, Damien informs the other demon that he's found a "surface dweller of great power, the likes of which this planet hasn't seen for eons". I'm not sure what planet he's referring to, but I'm assuming it's the one Damien lives on (is Hell an actual planet?) rather than Earth.

Damien ends by saying the unnamed individual possesses a blackened heart that, when bound to the so-called Dark One, could restore the latter to his throne. When asked how this can be achieved, Damien says he's found a way to conjure him.

What does all of this mean? I've no idea. As I said, this storyline is completely new material written for Invincible's TV adaptation and, in the comics, we never see or hear from Damien again after he's banished. Whatever happens next, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of Invincible's comic-book series and its adult animated adaptation, clearly aims to give Damien a much more impactful and substantial arc in the Prime Video series.

What about an Invincible season 3 finale post-credits scene?

Mark and Oliver have had enough fighting for one day (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

You're fresh out of luck on that front, friend. There's no post-credits scene to stick around for.

Is there going to be an Invincible season 4? And when might it get released?

Good news, there will be MORE [slam to Invincible title card] pic.twitter.com/E6fY3qvfADJuly 26, 2024

Yes! Amazon renewed Invincible for a fourth season last July, with the announcement being one of nine big Comic-Con 2024 reveals we were most excited about.

It could be with us sooner than we expect, too. Speaking to Collider in February, Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man voice actor J.K. Simmons confirmed that he'd already recorded lines for the show's next installment.

And, a few weeks later, Kirkman told The Direct that it was his wish to release new seasons every year. Depending on how much work needs to be done on season 4 – I hope the team isn't being forced to crunch to get it out as soon as possible! – it may debut on Amazon's streaming platform, aka one of the world's best streaming services, sometime in 2026.

How does Invincible season 3 set up its sequel season's story?

Prepare for the invasion of the Sequids, everyone! (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That would be getting into spoiler territory, folks. I wouldn't want to ruin any major surprises for people who haven't read the comics.

I can talk about what's hinted at before season 3 ends, though. I have no insider information, but I'd be surprised if the Sequids storyline, which you can remind yourself about in my Invincible season 2 part 2 ending explained piece, isn't picked up again in season 4's first two or three episodes. After all, we see that the Sequids' human host Rus Livingston has amassed an army of more human hosts, which have allowed the symbiotic alien species to multiply rapidly in the sewers and prepare for a full-scale invasion of Earth.

Well, I don't like the sound of that, Mark... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That storyline takes on even greater significance when you consider what Mark tells Oliver, who's also recovering from injuries he sustained during his brief bout with Conquest, in this season's finale. In short: Mark admits that Oliver was right and that, in order to protect the people that he loves, Mark will need to kill anyone who threatens them. If you thought season 3 was a dark chapter in Mark's life, you ain't seen nothing yet.

There are plenty more subplots and character arcs that'll play out in season 4. Battle Beast is still alive, Angstrom and The Technicians are working together on a new scheme, Cecil and D.A. Sinclair continue to work on using the corpses of those multiversal Invincibles to create version 2.0 of the ReAnimen, the threat from the Viltrum Empire still looms large over proceedings, and so much more! So strap in, because things are only going to get crazier from here.

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• SAG-AFTRA strikes are set to continue amidst concerns over AI protections
• The union has published a new chart detailing AI-related issues that remain to be agreed upon
• Several English-voiced games still have many major characters unvoiced in recent updates

Union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has created a comparison chart as an update in its ongoing negotiations with the games industry bargaining group. The key takeaway is that both entities remain "frustratingly far apart" on the issue of AI protections for video game voice actors.

IGN reports that the union has published a comparison chart that outlines in detail the issues that it and the bargaining group are still working through. More specifically, the chart "focuses on recent exchanges relating to AI."

Items highlighted in purple in the chart represent issues that have been tentatively agreed upon between SAG-AFTRA and the bargaining group (which is made up of representatives from video game publishing corporations).

However, discussions on several key issues are ongoing. These include protections from "digital replica or generative AI use for all work" as well as the notion that "employers must disclose if it will blend your voice with other voices to make a digital replica."

Alongside the chart, SAG-AFTRA's Duncan Crabtree-Ireland wrote the following statement to the union's members:

"With their previously signed projects dragging their way through the production pipeline, employers are feeling the squeeze from the strike, as SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games continue to stand together and refuse to work without adequate protections.

"This is causing employers to seek other performers they can exploit to fill those roles, including those who don’t typically perform in games. If you’re approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences.

"Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And “A.I. misuse” is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you - without consent or compensation."

Games industry bargaining group spokesperson Audrey Cooling issued a statement in response, saying: "We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor’s performance in other games. We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal."

The negotiations continue amidst cases of popular video game characters remaining unvoiced. Games like Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero have been particularly affected.

Most recently, Zenless Zone Zero actors Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle have spoken on their roles for characters Soldier 11 and Von Lycaon, respectively, having been replaced.

In a Bluesky thread, Chase wrote they were "replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry."

In response, Thurkettle added: "I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice."

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New research from Candence has revealed that the world’s current data centers are being pushed to their absolute limits as companies expand investments in artificial intelligence and other cloud services.

Three-quarters (74%) of decision-makers state that AI demands are putting increased pressure on data centers, with 86% warning that a failure to innovate could have serious to moderate consequences.

Amidst the ongoing battle for data center improvements, companies are also pushing to make them more sustainable, but there remains a lot of work to be done.

We need to focus on data center improvements

Nine in 10 (88%) are now actively working to enhance energy efficiency across their data center operations, however fewer than one in three (31%) feel that they’re actually doing enough. Moreover, nearly three-quarters (70%) feel that the national power grid could be at its limit, highlighting the role that more local renewable energy sources can play at these campuses.

On the topic of sustainability, one in four (26%) went as far as saying that they would never use liquid cooling, which requires large amounts of water and can often have negative impacts on nearby societies.

However, there are plenty of challenges preventing meaningful development, with leaders concerned about the cost of implementing new technologies (42%), a lack of skilled staff (35%), incompatibility with legacy systems (31%), uncertainty about future technologies (30%) and an unclear return on investment (33%).

Although artificial intelligence is frequently seen in natural language assistants (56%), causing the high demand for powerful data centers, Cadence says it can also help tackle the mounting problem. Its uses in automating capacity management (50%), demand forecasting (54%) and fault detection (60%) could play a considerable role in the development of data centers.

Looking ahead, three in four (73%) see digital twins as ‘game changers’ for data center innovation, with four in five (81%) already recognizing their value and one in four (21%) non-users preparing to adopt digital twins in the next 12 months.

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The EU AI Act roll out presents any company doing business in the EU with some tough decisions to make and an urgent need to establish a robust risk management framework.

Just this month, the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) reached yet another major milestone in its roll out. Article 5, covering prohibited AI practices and unacceptable uses of AI, has become law.

It’s not just companies based in the EU that need to prove their systems comply with Article 5 – or indeed, any other aspect of the EU AI Act. One of the most comprehensive AI regulations to emerge worldwide, it applies extraterritorially, meaning that any company doing business in the EU must comply, regardless of where they are based.

This presents multinationals with some tough decisions to make. Should they withdraw from the EU entirely, on the basis that it has become a high-compliance market? Should they restrict the use of AI in their products and services within EU markets? Or should they adopt the EU AI Act as a global standard, potentially incurring substantial costs and operational drag?

Clearly, none of these approaches are optimal. Ideally, regulations should align with global frameworks to avoid fragmentation between jurisdictions. Without that alignment, they are forced to allocate valuable resources to administrative compliance, arguably at the expense of other areas of concern, such as proactive cybersecurity measures.

Many laws, after all, aim to strengthen the security of organizations and that is to be welcomed. However, their multiplication and specificity can be a drain on company resources, increasing costs and creating vulnerabilities.

Navigating a safe path

For now, companies must navigate this less-than-ideal state of regulatory affairs, and do so at a time when AI technology is evolving rapidly – and typically faster than laws and mandates can be put into place.

Doing so will involve striking the right balance between innovation and compliance, while actively participating in the global debate between the private and public sectors around global AI standards.

Companies’ direct experiences of walking this innovation/compliance tightrope will be of great value to these discussions and should be led by public affairs teams with first-hand experience of following legislative developments, collaborating effectively with policymakers and advocating for regulatory harmonization to optimize compliance investments.

In the absence of a global framework, and for however long that situation persists, interoperability between the different regional outposts of multinationals will be crucial. Achieving harmonization, at least internally between those outposts, will help to promote the responsible development of technological solutions within a business that can be put to work in different parts of the world and, eventually, adopted on a global scale.

With an eye on internal efforts, it will be all the more essential to prioritize operational efficiency and process rationalization, focusing on automation, risk-based compliance and close cooperation between legal, IT management and security teams. This approach has the potential to turn constraints into opportunities, and help build a future where innovation and security go hand in hand.

In security terms, managers will face increasing challenges related to regulatory complexity, juggling compliance and operational safety, and protecting critical systems while respecting new and changing rules. Their role will be central in the implementation of an ethical and secure innovation policy, building bridges between various internal services to promote a comprehensive and coherent approach.

Challenging times ahead

The overall challenge that multinational organizations face in 2025 is to ensure that AI governance is aligned with both the regulatory requirements and the strategic objectives of the organization. This requires a robust and confident approach to risk management – one that can weather the storm when companies are inevitably forced to focus on diametrically opposed requirements. That takes rigor, but it also demands flexibility and consistency to allow for efficient resource management.

In the absence of this kind of approach, imbalances will persist and represent a significant burden on organizations, which run the risks of being less compliant, less secure, less able to benefit from innovation – or, indeed, all three.

Organizations may also find themselves woefully unprepared for new regulations coming down the line. Work related to the EU AI Act, for example, has only just begun. While Article 5 is now enforced, the next phase of the AI Act roll out will see the application of ‘codes of practice’ for general-purpose AI systems, such as large language models. Its enforcement and associated obligations for AI providers will commence in August.

On one point, the EU is very clear: the penalties for non-compliance with Article 5 will be stiff. These will be subject to administrative fines of up to €35m or up to 7% of total worldwide annual turnover for the preceding financial year, whichever is higher.

In light of this context, organizations must prepare now for a rolling program of regulatory change during 2025 and beyond. They must keep clear inventories of their AI tools and technologies, work to improve the AI literacy of employees and put in place the risk management foundation discussed here. Only by focusing on building this kind of resilience can they hope to navigate the regulatory minefield successfully and emerge on the other side as stronger, more innovative businesses.

We've compiled a list of the best IT asset management software.

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

I’ve spent uncountable hours playing with AI assistants, seeing which ones are useful and in what way. Recently, that's meant looking at the kind of automated agents that can go out online and do things on your behalf. That might mean looking up information on the web, collating your email history, or even booking a reservation on your behalf. These AI agents include stand-alone tools and features within existing services.

They each have their own flavor and can suit different needs and interests. After endless testing, I've come up with a list of five AI agents that I think are worth your time, each capable of something slightly different.

ChatGPT's Deep Research

ChatGPT’s Deep Research feature is what happens when an AI decides to go full Sherlock Holmes on a topic. You ask it to dig into anything from “How does climate change impact real estate prices?” to “Why do pigeons always look like they’re judging me?” and it scours available sources, compiling a report that feels like the work of a passionate grad student. Unlike a traditional chatbot, this feature takes its time (anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour) to really get into the nitty-gritty, cross-referencing data and presenting a well-structured analysis. It’s a lifesaver when you need a well-researched report but it can be a little over the top in its thoroughness.

Google Gemini's Deep Research

Usefulness doesn't mean creativity in naming, so Google Gemini has a very similar feature and the same name as ChatGPT's offering. That doesn't make it exactly the same, though. Gemini’s Deep Research feature also makes whole spreadsheets you can outsource and a full citation and source sheet at the end of its report.

It can be a little overwhelming, but it's still a very powerful tool. It's also great at the more casual queries, even if it's odd to get such a thorough response to questions like, “Find me the best affordable running shoes that aren’t ugly, and explain why they’re good.” But, if you want a mix of expert reviews, Reddit opinions, and user testimonials, plus links to articles with images of stylish running shoes under $100, it's pretty great.

Proxy 1.0

Proxy 1.0 by Convergence AI is what happens when an AI agent decides to stop just answering questions and actually take over for you on the internet. Proxy is designed to act like you in terms of clicking, typing, and carrying out tasks online.

You can literally watch Proxy move a mouse in a window and write out website addresses. This means that it can handle tasks on platforms that don’t officially support AI automation, making it far more versatile than most of its competitors. That said, because Proxy is trying to interact with the web in a human-like way, it occasionally gets tripped up by poorly designed websites, weird pop-ups, or its mortal enemy, CAPTCHAs. There are also times when it will confidently announce that a task has been completed, only for you to find out that something went wrong in the final step, leaving you with a half-booked flight or a mysteriously missing order confirmation.

But, if you ask it to say, “Book a table for two at an Italian restaurant in downtown Manhattan for tomorrow at 7 PM,” Proxy would search for one with an online reservation system and try to get it for you under your own name. If the system encountered a CAPTCHA, however, Proxy would pause and ask you to step in.

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is the corporate overachiever of AI assistants, embedded right into Microsoft 365 to help you draft emails, summarize reports, and generally make you look more competent at work than you actually are. If you live in spreadsheets and PowerPoints, Copilot is like that one coworker who always volunteers to do the extra slides.

It’s genuinely useful for productivity, but it sometimes tries a little too hard, inserting weirdly formal phrasing into emails or misunderstanding the tone of your documents. Also, if you’re not a Microsoft ecosystem devotee, it won’t be as helpful. But it can be great at helping look up ways to translate with the most modern slang, should you want to understand an email from someone a couple of generations above or below you, and find out if they are being passive-aggressive or just typing from their phone while walking.

Browser Use

Browser Use is a lot like Proxy in that it can do a lot of the things you’re too busy (or lazy) to do yourself. It's like an invisible human assistant who lives in the cloud, tirelessly working through web pages while you sit back and watch. Or, ideally, don’t watch at all.

The biggest perk is, like with Proxy, you can simply describe a task, and it will navigate online and complete the work for you. That might mean doing research and making a report, reserving a flight, or figuring out the best TV to buy and putting in an order when it spots a sale online. The same CAPTCHA issue is there, as the AI isn't always good at picking out crosswalks in blurry photos, but it's amazing how much you can get done when you don't have to write everything out yourself manually.

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• Deadline suggests Sink will play one of two big characters in the MCU
• I'd like to see Sink play a lesser-known superhero in the Marvel movie

Sadie Sink has signed on to appear in Spider-Man 4, according to Deadline.

The Stranger Things star, who plays Max Mayfield in the hugely successful Netflix show, is reportedly due to star opposite Tom Holland in the highly-anticipated Marvel movie. Filming is set to begin in mid-2025, so it makes sense that cast announcements would start to leak out via Hollywood's biggest trade publications.

If Deadline's report is accurate, Sink, whose star has grown since she first appeared in season 2 of one of the best Netflix shows ever made, will be the first new cast addition for Spider-Man's fourth solo film. Holland, who'll reprise his role as Peter Parker and his superhero alias, is the only actor confirmed to appear so far. Zendaya, who portrayed MJ in the webslinger's first three standalone MCU flicks, is also expected to return, but that hasn't been officially announced by Marvel.

I've reached out to Disney and Marvel for comment on Sink's supposed hiring. I'll update this article if I hear back.

Will Sadie Sink play Mary Jane or Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4?

Marvel fans are already debating who Sadie Sink could play in Spider-Man 4 (Image credit: Netflix)

Per Deadline's sources, Sink, who'll return as Max in Stranger Things season 5, will play one of two important individuals in the Marvel Phase 6 film. Indeed, the outlet suggests she'll portray Jean Grey or, in Deadline's words, "another beloved redheaded Spider-Man character", which is code for Mary Jane Watson.

The latter wouldn't be a huge surprise and Sink seems tailor-made for Peter's fiery, perennial love interest. However, the MCU already has one MJ – i.e., Zendaya's Michelle Jones. Adding another one in the form of Mary Jane would only confuse viewers, especially if Zendaya's MJ plays any kind of supporting role in Spidey's next big-screen project.

Iconic X-Men member Jean Grey is another great fit for Sink. Again, though, it would be odd if one of the most popular mutants of all-time was first seen in a Spider-Man film. I think a lot of people would prefer Grey to be introduced as part of the legendary super-team instead.

That said, I could see a situation where Grey pops up in the wallcrawler's next movie, which was originally going to be released in theaters on July 24 but recently saw its release date pushed back by one week to July 31. Spider-Man 4 is sandwiched between the next two Avengers movies, so it's likely that it'll be another multiverse-centric movie. If it is, it wouldn't be as big of a shock to see Sink's Grey, who may potentially hail from another dimension, enlist Spidey's help to try and fix whatever happens in Avengers: Doomsday, aka the first of the two aforementioned Avengers movies. Don't forget, Parker is a genius is his own right, so he could have a solution to whatever Grey needs a hand with.

Could Sink actually playing a live-action version of Firestar? (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

There is another character who Sink might play, though, and it's such a left-field option that, while it's unlikely to happen, would be an incredibly crowd-pleasing one.

What if – and it's a big if – Sink plays Firestar? Not only is she a redheaded superhero, but Firestar, whose real name is Angelica 'Angel' Jones, actually has a history with Spider-Man that initially began on the small screen. Indeed, she made her debut in an animated series called Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, which originally aired on US network NBC in the early 1980s. She's since gone on to feature in various Marvel comic book series, video games, and TV shows. Firestar has also fought alongside the X-Men before, too, so one of Deadline's sources could have got their wires crossed. Hey, I live in hope!

If Marvel and Sony (remember, the latter owns the live-action rights to Spider-Man and the characters within his orbit) really want to set tongues wagging, hiring Sink to play Firestar would be an absolutely brilliant move. It would prevent viewers' confusion about the existence of two MJs in the MCU, allow someone else to play Jean Grey post-Multiverse Saga, and introduce audiences to a brand-new character in a live-action format. Make it so, Marvel and Sony.

For more news and rumors on Spidey's forthcoming MCU flick, check out my dedicated guide on Spider-Man 4. Alternatively, see how Daredevil: Born Again has given me hope that the titular hero will eventually team up with Spider-Man, or why Born Again episode 3 might have given us our another clue about Miles Morales' existence in the MCU.

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The market is volatile, but CDs are not.

Employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency tell WIRED they’re struggling to protect the US while the administration dismisses their colleagues and poisons their partnerships.

NymVPN is officially entering the VPN market with a big ambition – being the world's most secure VPN app.

NymVPN's Alpha version originally broke through in November 2023. Now, it aims to offer a fully decentralized virtual private network (VPN). Looking to protect against AI-driven surveillance and censorship, the service uses new mixnet technology to protect your metadata alongside the content of your communications.

As of today, March 13, 2025, NymVPN is available for iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, and desktop. TechRadar will join Nym’s in-house security expert, activist, and whistleblower, Chelsea Manning, and Nym CEO Harry Halpin, at an event in London tonight, where NymVPN will be officially unveiled. So, stay tuned for more exclusive information.

An "untraceable VPN"

"Nym was created with the core principle that secure, private, and uncensored access to the Internet is as fundamental and essential as access to clean water and electricity," said Halpin. "NymVPN marks the split between Big Tech’s exploitative control of the internet with a new vision – one where privacy is a right, not a privilege."

Halpin explains the technology behind NymVPN was built with the support of the original ‘cypherpunks’ and the world’s top cryptographers to defeat even government-level mass surveillance.

Early adopters of the NymVPN alpha and beta versions then helped to shape the service in countries plagued by strict censorship, while others leveraged its security features to prevent attacks on their cryptocurrency transactions.

NymVPN sets itself apart from some other best VPN apps on the market by seeking to be a truly "untraceable VPN" that protects users from metadata surveillance. Metadata refers to all the data attached to your communications that's not the content, such as device type, activity type, timestamps, and more.

This is crucial, said the provider, as the rise of AI-driven tracking has proven that hostile actors – those being cybercriminals or intelligence agencies – can "generate more value from metadata than analyzing specific user activity."

Based on the idea of mix networks proposed by the cryptographer David Chaum in the 80s, Chelsea Manning came up with the Mixnet concept independently while in prison for disclosing classified documents to non-profit media organization WikiLeaks. (Image credit: Nym Technology)

Nonetheless, NymVPN offers two modes to provide flexibility between protection and performance. These are:

• Fast (WireGuard). Better suited for causal browsing, streaming and sharing, this mode uses the AmneziaWG protocol, a highly censorship-resistant version of WireGuard developed by the team behind Amnezia VPN. Here, your internet connection is rerouted through two independent servers for maximum privacy and security.
• Anonymous (mixnet). What truly sets NymVPN apart from the competition. This mode claims to secure your metadata by using its noise-generating mixnet. This tech employs several network strategies to confuse data surveillance efforts (data fragmentation, dummy data packets, timing delays, and data packet shuffling), while rerouting your connections over five independent servers.

Anonymous by design

Not only does NymVPN claim to be better at keeping you anonymous when browsing the web or carrying out any other activities on the internet.

The provider also promises to never collect any of your personal information, going further than existing no-log VPN solutions in several ways.

For starters, the decentralized Nym network is built to prevent any single identity from linking the activities with a user. All the servers claim to be operated independently, so it should be impossible for Nym to trace traffic records.

You don't need to give up your email, name, or other personal details to sign up either. NymVPN has found a way to leverage the blockchain technology (the same tech used by cryptocurrencies, for example) to increase users' privacy and security.

So-called “zk-nyms” are zero-knowledge proofs that enable users to verify payment and account usage without revealing their identities.

Part of these anonymous proof of payments are then turned into NYM tokens to reward the independent contributors running the nodes worldwide. At the time of writing, you can choose among servers in 51 countries worldwide.

You can choose between a dark and light appearance, directly within the NymVPN app settings (Image credit: Future)

All in all, Chelsea Manning said: "Even in democratic nations, people are faced with unrestricted data collection, hyper-narrow algorithmic feeds, and normalized censorship tactics. NymVPN takes an infrastructure-based privacy approach to try and combat this increasingly uncertain and splintered internet."

You can now download NymVPN across all the major platforms, with pricing starting from a $5.49 monthly fee – even better as you can try it out for 30 days at no cost.

When property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums increase, you'll have a bigger bill.

Great data automation software creates value. It enables your business to work faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively. At the other end of the scale, though, is software that bottlenecks progress and eats up resources.

Cost-cutting continues to dominate the agenda for Operations leaders. It’s therefore important to make sure that the data management, reconciliation or automation software you’re using falls into the former category and not the latter.

We explored some of the costs of inefficient software in our article on the true expense of supposedly ‘free’ recon tools. But even if you have paid for your on-premise system – do you really know how much it’s costing you?

Answering that question is difficult.

Calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) for on-premise systems is easier said than done, because many of the costs are indirect, hidden, or part of the finance allocation process.

Licenses, maintenance and hardware are just the tip – there’s a lot more lurking below the surface. Today, we’re going to help you uncover them all, so you can build a transparent picture of the cost of managing data.

Here’s what else you need to factor into your calculations.

Unhelpful upgrades

With a cloud computing platform you effortlessly move from version to version to access new features and performance improvements. But software upgrades and patches are the only way of delivering innovation in an on-premise world – and they cost a lot of money. They are often mandatory and short notice; shorter, at least, than the time it would take you to shop around for an alternate system.

You often have no choice but to pay to move to the new version (we’ll explore why sticking with what you’ve got is anything but cost-effective later). But it may not bring any additional features and benefits that you need. It may introduce capabilities outside of your use cases, for instance, or perhaps support for a new asset class that you don’t trade.

One client told us that they recently finished upgrading their ten-year old on-premise system to the latest version. It took them three years and an estimated $5-$10m and they got no value or functional benefit out of it.

Another client – a smaller firm – budgets $1m every year for upgrades to their on-premise system.

I know from my own experience how costly and time consuming these types of migrations can be – absorbing focus that could be better spent elsewhere

Those costs go beyond just the licensing costs for the new system. Changing from one software version to another often means your IT team has to completely rebuild all your processes. Then they and the users have to test them to ensure they still work correctly and none of your integrations have been broken by the upgrade.

Again, it’s worth pointing out that you may not see any benefits from being on the new system.

This is change-the-bank money that you’re having to spend, but it’s not delivering any change. It’s the cost of business-as-usual in an on-premise world.

End-of-life – and beyond

But what do you do when you either can’t afford to upgrade, or rightly refuse to do so because of the unnecessary cost? In that situation, your software ends up being unsupported.

The vendor may offer you a premium support package, or you have to hire in extra IT resources just to keep the system working. You’ve just traded the cost of upgrading for the higher cost of keeping your existing software running.

By this point you have a zombie system – dead as far as the vendor is concerned, and with no spark of innovation left. It shambles along, doing as much of the job as it can manage, while you run around after it, picking up all the bits that have fallen off.

Are you factoring in the cost of life support for sunset systems into your on-premise TCO?

Inagility

The slow and laborious patch management and upgrade cycle means that innovation is a sluggish process in an on-premise world. Time-to-market for change can stretch to months or even years. Firms rely on their IT teams to install software updates, rebuild processes, release them into production environments, and so on.

This slow time-to-value makes Operations very inagile. This is an acute problem in today’s world. Regulatory change, for instance, is relentless and happening on multiple fronts. How many risks is this introducing to the business? How many opportunities are missed? These are all costs that must be considered.

There is a way around this for Operations teams, but it’s one that just introduces more cost and risk into the business…

Endless manual work

On-premise reconciliation systems exist to help you automate your data. But they often have the opposite effect. The lack of agility explored above forces Ops teams to resort to solving problems manually.

There’s often an army of ‘Human APIs’ surrounding on-premise systems – people whose job it is to manually plug automation gaps. They perform tasks such as:

• Extracting data from unstructured formats like emails and PDFs
• Keying data into systems in the correct schema
• Copying data into a spreadsheet to reconcile
• Manually matching (often thousands of) items where the system hasn’t spotted the connection

All this means that a lot of your resources in Operations are invested into low-value work. Your data experts are handling tedious and repetitive tasks instead of performing valuable activities such as root cause analysis, fixing data at source, or providing strategic insights for the business.

And that’s to say nothing of the cost of operational risk that manual work introduces to the business, which can result in direct costs such as regulatory fines or errors leading to trading losses.

Conclusion

The upfront license fees for on-premise software are just the start of a long tail of costs that snake their way through your operations. Your IT team is responsible not only for hardware and maintenance, but often for actually operating the system.

This cost only grows if the system is sunset and requires life support. Upgrading is costly and usually mandatory – regardless of how much value, if any, you get out of it. Long change management processes cost you in agility and slow time-to-value. Hundreds or thousands of workers are required to fill the functionality gaps, introducing risk to your business.

These systems are usually well-entrenched in your architecture, making them difficult to remove. But that’s in a world where you’re replacing one on-premise tool with another. Replatforming to an agile cloud platform is an entirely different affair; gradual, measured and low-risk.

We've listed the best IT asset management software.

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

Whether you've just bought the best Apple Watch on the market, like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, or you've got your hands on the budget Apple Watch SE 2 model, opening your Apple Watch and putting it on for the first time is a pretty great experience.

You might have an idea of what your Apple Watch can do, or how you want to use it, but what about some of the settings and tweaks you can use to truly personalize your Apple Watch experience?

For as long as I've been a tech user I've been enthralled by customizing gadgets, whether it's the theme on Windows XP or the color of the menus on my Sony Ericsson K850i.

Having worn an Apple Watch for 10 years, I know a thing or two about settings you should definitely tweak on day one. Here are my go-tos.

1. Your Apple Watch face

(Image credit: Future)

If you're new to Apple Watch, the very first thing you should do on your new one is change the watch face. You won't find third-party options like you might on Wear OS or Garmin, but there are plenty of great Apple options to choose from and they're very customizable.

To change your watch face simply long press on the center of your Apple Watch display until it vibrates. Then simply swipe through the options until you see one you like.

If you tap Edit you can tweak aspects of the face including colors, and the Complications (small nuggets of glanceable information) that show up.

2. Silent mode

Your Apple Watch is designed to sit pretty discreetly on your wrist, and one of the joys of using one is that you can get notifications without too much disturbance, either for yourself or others.

Obviously, if you have accessibility needs, you might want to leave the Apple Watch notification sounds on. For me, however, this is the first toggle I switch off. The watch gently vibrates whenever I get a notification (if I have them turned on at all), and I definitely don't need that piercing ding telling everyone in the vicinity that I've just got a notification.

Simply press your Apple Watch's side button and select the bell icon on the left to silence your Apple Watch.

3. Return to clock

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Watch is pretty easy to navigate, and moving between apps and the watch face is fairly straightforward. However, another setting I like to tweak is the Return to Clock setting. This takes your Apple Watch back to that smashing watch face you've just customized automatically once you put your wrist down.

By default, it's set to a two-minute delay, but I like to select Always, so that I can drop my wrist at any time and know my Apple Watch is displaying the time, rather than sensitive information or an app where I might accidentally pause a workout or change something unknowingly.

Simply press the Digital Crown, scroll to Settings, select General, and then Return to Clock to toggle this.

4. Siri

Siri isn't particularly helpful these days, and lags behind rival virtual assistants from the likes of Google and Android, not to mention more advanced AI offerings that overshadow the delayed Apple Intelligence upgrade it badly needs.

To that end, I always turn Siri off on my Apple Watch to some degree. In the Siri section of the Settings app on your Apple Watch, you can tweak how and when Siri responds to your inputs.

I actually prefer to select Listen for to "Hey Siri," that way it's much more difficult to trigger accidentally. I also tend to leave Raise to Speak on, and turn off Press Digital Crown.

I can't count the amount of times I used to accidentally activate Siri during workouts by pressing the Digital Crown, so this works well for me. I can access Siri by very deliberately raising my wrist, but never trigger it accidentally with a button press.

However, you might want to consider the opposite, leaving the Crown on and turning off Raise to Speak. Or you can turn Siri off on your Watch altogether to avoid it getting in your way.

5. Screenshots

A more recent addition to my Settings repertoire is screenshots. You can take a screenshot on Apple Watch just like iPhone, by pressing both buttons on the side at the same time.

I can't think of any scenario whereby taking a screenshot on the Apple Watch would be necessary. However, as with Siri on the Digital Crown, it's very easy to do accidentally, especially during workouts. As such, I turn screenshots off in the General section of Settings, to avoid my Photos library getting clocked up with random snaps of my watch face.

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The mRNA technology behind coronavirus vaccines is now being used to create bespoke vaccines for cancer patients.

Consumers today expect faster, more personalized services in the insurance industry. To meet these demands, insurers are increasingly adopting AI-powered solutions to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Research from McKinsey reveals that Generative AI alone is projected to contribute up to $4.4 trillion to the global economy annually, with insurers expecting gains in productivity, premium growth and underwriting accuracy. As a result, a third of major insurers already have Gen AI use cases in production, whilst most are advancing their data capabilities.

From AI chatbots managing claims in real time to data-powered insights enabling personalized policies, AI is revolutionizing insurance. Insurtech startups are leading this transformation, integrating automation and blockchain to improve efficiency and security. However, this digital shift also raises concerns about cybersecurity and algorithmic bias. Striking the right balance between innovation, fairness and security will be key to fostering trust and ensuring AI-driven insurance solutions help drive long-term success.

Speeding up claims resolution with AI

AI is changing how insurance companies engage with customers. With AI chatbots, insurers are now able to anticipate customer enquiries and manage claims proactively. Digital assistants can provide real-time support, streamlining the resolution process and reducing wait times, which enhances overall user experience.

For instance, after a vehicle collision, policyholders can upload images via their smartphones, enabling AI algorithms to instantly assess damage and estimate repair costs. This accelerates claim approvals, improves transparency and reduces disputes.

Personalizing policies with data-driven insights

Modern consumers expect personalized services that align with their lifestyles and behaviors. As such, insurers are now using data-driven insights to create customized policies. In particular, insurance companies are leveraging geolocation, edge computing and IoT devices to collect data on individual risk profiles and then transform this raw data into actionable insights, unlocking AI’s full potential. For example, real-time driving behavior analysis allows insurers to offer lower premiums to cautious drivers whilst adjusting rates for riskier behaviors.

However, whilst the use of AI in insurance can help differentiate between low- and high-risk drivers, insurers must ensure these systems do not lead to unfair discrimination or exclusion. AI models should be carefully designed to avoid biases, especially those that may unintentionally factor in race or ethnicity, to promote fairness and equity in insurance practices.

Mitigating AI-enabled fraud and strengthening cybersecurity

Whilst AI enhances efficiency, it also introduces challenges, particularly in fraud detection. Fraudsters are increasingly using deepfake technology and synthetic identity fraud, making traditional detection methods insufficient. To counter these threats, insurers are deploying AI-driven fraud detection systems that analyze behavioral patterns and detect malicious activity in real time. This way, insurance companies can identify vulnerabilities and prevent potential data breaches before they occur, which significantly improves cybersecurity resilience.

Beyond fraud, the shift towards digital-first insurance models raises cybersecurity concerns. With access to vast amounts of sensitive customer data, insurers are prime targets for cyberattacks. Implementing advanced encryption, biometric authentication and AI-powered threat monitoring is no longer optional – it is essential.

Insurers must also address consumer skepticism about AI’s role in insurance by prioritizing transparency. Clearly communicating the benefits of AI-powered personalization whilst implementing strong data protection measures is essential. In particular, compliance with data privacy laws is key to securing AI-driven insurance models and fostering consumer trust. Additionally, establishing AI ethics committees and consumer education initiatives can further promote trust and acceptance of AI in the insurance industry.

Leading the future with responsible AI integration

The insurance industry must continue evolving to harness the full potential of AI. From intelligent automation to data-driven personalization and advanced fraud detection, AI is transforming operations, enhancing customer experiences and driving competitive advantage. Those who strategically integrate AI will lead the future, whilst others risk falling behind.

However, success requires more than just innovation – it demands responsibility. Insurers must strike a careful balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and ensuring transparency, fairness and security. Adaptability will also be key, as AI models must continuously evolve to address emerging risks and evolving market demands. By embracing AI with a customer-centric approach, insurers can build a more secure, efficient and trustworthy industry – one that goes above and beyond to meet consumers’ evolving expectations in today’s digital era.

We've showcased the best identity theft protection.

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

If you're looking for fast and reliable internet, both cable and fiber can deliver the goods. But which one should you choose?

iRobot just scrapped and replaced almost its entire range of robot vacuums, but amongst the shiny new fleet there's one model that has caught my eye in particular: the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. This bot is designed especially for smaller homes, and as the owner of such a compact dwelling, I am particularly keen to get my hands on one.

The fact I live all on one floor means robot vacuums are, in some ways, a great fit for my home. Apartment living often translates to 'not much space,' and that's certainly the case for me. Many of today's best robot vacuums come with gigantic docks that can do everything from emptying the dust to refilling the water tanks to washing and drying the mop pads. While they certainly make for a very hands-off experience, I lose half of my kitchen every time I test one.

The other option is a charge-only dock. These tend to be nice and petite but require me to take care of all maintenance – including bin emptying. The bins you'll find onboard robot vacuums are necessarily small, so if you have a lot of dust, you'll do that with irritating regularity. If testing one of these coincides with me having a canine visitor, bin emptying becomes a chore; this definitely isn't an ideal option if you're looking for the best robot vacuum for pet hair.

(Image credit: iRobot)

iRobot's solution is to introduce dust compacting into the 205 Combo's onboard bin, which can hold more dust and thus requires less frequent manual intervention. The dock is the basic, charge-only one that's small enough to fit unobtrusively in almost any home, including mine.

Inside the small onboard bin is a paddle that twists left and right to squish any dust and debris that has been sucked up into a smaller space. The paddle then returns to the center of the main inlet, ready for the next influx of dirt.

The 205 Combo is designed to last up to 60 days without emptying, although that will depend on how much dirt and dust you're sucking up, of course.

(Image credit: iRobot)

iRobot says its compacting technology is an 'industry-first'. Another model on the market – the Narwal Freo X Plus – does a similar thing, although I guess it might not use the same mechanism.

Get low

Another notable feature here is that iRobot has removed the navigation puck from the top of the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, making it shallow enough to sneak under furniture that might otherwise have been off-limits. Perhaps iRobot decided that people with small homes must also have low furniture; I don't know.

This is particularly interesting because this robovac uses LiDAR for navigation. In fact, the introduction of 'ClearView' LiDAR navigation is one of the best updates to feature in the new Roomba range.

Previously, the brand used an older form of robot vacuum navigation, which was far slower, less reliable, and unable to operate in the dark.

(Image credit: iRobot)

iRobot says the LiDAR technology has simply been shifted into the front of the 205 DustCompactor model to give it a more streamlined silhouette. The thing is, robots that use LiDAR need that raised puck to be able to 'see' a nice wide area around them. All three of the other new Roombas have one.

I asked an iRobot representative about this, who explained that although the 205 would have a narrower field of view, this wouldn't impact navigation accuracy for most people. She reassured me that she was testing two of the new Roomba bots, one with the puck and one without, and they were both behaving the same way.

If that holds true, this could be the perfect robot vacuum for me. We have a Roomba 205 DustCompactor on its way and report back as soon as we've had a chance to put it through its paces.

The Roomba 205 DustCompactor is due to go on sale from 18 March, with a list price of $469 / €449 (around £380 / AU$780).

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