Technology

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All the way back in 2024 – I’m talking a whole six-ish days ago at the time of writing – freelance tech journalist Gareth Beavis wrote an article for TechRadar detailing why he feels the rumored iPhone SE 4 could break new ground for Apple. Mr Hall’s thesis was that Apple could use a next-generation budget iPhone as a way to get Apple Intelligence AI tools to a wider market.

It’s a sound idea and one that I agree with. Yet as I stomped across the frost-covered ground of a frozen London park, letting my mind chew over the state of the smartphone market, I came up with the idea of the iPhone SE 4 being an anti-artificial intelligence phone.

Now, machine learning is almost inescapable in phones, given many use smart algorithms to balance battery life and process images. However, the rise of so-called AI phones is a rather new aspect of the mobile world, arguably spearheaded by the Google Pixel 8.

We now have phones with clever tools to rewrite emails for you in a desired tone, help you reshape a photograph into almost a new image altogether, take notes, and do all sorts of other smart things. Some of these tools are very useful, but in my time with the iPhone 16 Pro Max – a phone I very much like – I’ve not found Apple’s take on generative AI use particularly great or compelling. And I’m not alone, as my colleague Philip Berne feels the same.

There’s also the worry of privacy, smartphones already suck up a whole load of personal data if you allow them to; add AI into the mix and you’ve got a device that can almost feel like it’s monitoring you. However, like Thanos in the MCU, generative AI in phones is inevitable, at least in flagships, such as the hotly tipped Samsung Galaxy S25 series that I expect will come stuffed with AI tools. And if these tools are useful and intuitive, I’m all for them.

Equally, it’s got me thinking there’s an opportunity for phones, particularly budget models, to shun the AI smarts and embrace pure tool-like functionality with privacy enshrined at their core. Add in the intuitiveness and ecosystem of iOS and Apple’s propensity to tout privacy, and your mind’s eye could picture a next-gen iPhone SE. At least that’s what mine did when I was a’wandering.

An anti-AI phone

(Image credit: Mac Otakara)

With an increased desire to digitally detox and limit phone screen time to shut off and extract oneself from the constant ding of notifications and the influx of online content, I think there could be a real refreshed market for phones that avoid all the fancy AI bits and simply work as a phone, camera, web browser and casual games machine (it’s odd getting nostalgic for the phones of the 2010s but here we are).

Add in a phone that comes out of the box with a whole host of privacy-centric settings switched on, and you could be looking at a device that appeals to people who don’t want to bark at a phone to make a Van Gogh-style painting out of their dog or create a new emoji by smashing two other ones together.

I could fully see Apple taking this approach with the iPhone SE 4 if it is indeed in the works. Yet I think Cupertino will probably use the next SE as an entry-level route into Apple Intelligence, as it seems like the tech world is embracing AI, whether we like it or not.

My hope is that if Apple does lean into this, then it makes sure Apple Intelligence is fully loaded and ready to deliver properly handy AI tools rather than drip feed features the way it did with the iPhone 16.

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• Cofense report claims threat actors manipulate extensions to evade SEG file filters effectively
• Multi-layered defenses are crucial for combating archive-based malware threats
• Employee awareness strengthens defenses against suspicious archive files

The use of archive files as malware delivery mechanisms is evolving, presenting challenges for Secure Email Gateways (SEGs), new research has claimed.

A recent report by Cofense highlights how cybercriminals exploit various archive formats to bypass security protocols, particularly following a significant update to Windows in late 2023. Traditionally, .zip files have been the most common archive format used in malware campaigns due to their ubiquity and compatibility across operating systems.

However, Microsoft’s introduction of native support for additional formats like .rar, .7z, and .tar has expanded the arsenal of formats used by threat actors. These newer formats now account for a growing share of malicious attachments observed in SEG-protected environments.

Why archives work as malware vectors

Password-protecting archives is a common tactic used by attackers, as it prevents automated tools from analyzing the file’s contents.

Between May 2023 and May 2024, Cofense identified 15 archive formats used in malware campaigns. While .zip files dominated, taking up to 50%, formats like .rar, .7z, and .gz surged in popularity, particularly after Microsoft’s update in late 2023.

Certain malware families have a preference for specific archive types. For example, StrelaStealer and NetSupport RAT are consistently delivered via .zip files. Other malware, such as information stealers and remote access trojans (RATs), leverage a range of formats depending on the attack method.

Password-protected archives pose an additional challenge for SEGs. While only about 5% of observed malicious archives were password-protected, these files often evade detection because SEGs struggle to differentiate passwords embedded in lure emails. This tactic, combined with embedded URLs leading to malware-hosting sites, enables attackers to sidestep traditional defenses.

To counter the growing threat of malware-laden archives, organizations are recommended to adopt a multi-layered defense strategy. Employee awareness is critical, as well-trained staff can identify suspicious files, particularly those with unusual extensions or deceptive double endings, such as “.docx.zip.”

Organizations should also restrict the use of archive formats that lack clear business purposes, like .vhd(x) files, which are rarely necessary for email communication. Furthermore, SEGs should be equipped with advanced capabilities to analyze actual file formats, detect discrepancies, and manage password-protected archives.

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For many, the holidays are a season of change, to refresh one’s soul by reversing old thought patterns, adopting new perspectives, and an opportunity to try something completely different.

No, we don’t necessarily mean eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day as millions have done in Japan for decades, but perhaps expanding your streaming horizons by switching out a colossal homogenized platform like Netflix and lighting your imagination’s fuse by signing up for a colorful whirlwind tour of Japanese anime programming showcased on Crunchyroll.

The best Netflix anime might have been your go-to destination for cutting edge, hit series like Blood of Zeus, Castlevania, Arcane (make sure to read TechRadar's Arcane season 2 review), Blue Eye Samurai, and Terminator Zero, which is a "faithful adaptation" of the sci-fi franchise, but now it’s time to level up for a deeper plunge into the anime universe and explore the wealth of acclaimed series and global titles from Crunchyroll’s voluminous roster of evocative entertainment.

Why should you sip from a tiny teacup when you can guzzle from the river?

A purpose-built streaming service for anime fans

Attack on Titan: The Last Dance will be available to stream on Crunchyroll in early 2025. (Image credit: Crunchyroll)

Originally founded back in 2006 by anime-loving UC Berkeley grad students to later become an entertainment arm of AT&T’s Warner Media, Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony in 2021 and eventually merged with its Funimation brand before closing down the Funimation app in April 2024.

“Crunchyroll is the ultimate destination for anime fans, pairing the world’s largest dedicated anime library with exciting theatrical releases, immersive games, must-have merchandise in the Crunchyroll Store, the latest news through Crunchyroll News, deep dives into anime through The Anime Effect podcast, and much more,” Sheila Green, Crunchyroll’s VP of curation and programming, tells TechRadar.

“Each season, fans can check out 40-50 new series, so there’s truly a new adventure waiting for every kind of fan. In total, our anime library contains more than 25,000 hours, 50,000 episodes of series and films along with more than 3,500 Japanese music videos and concert series.”

There are currently three ad-free subscriber price categories to consider after Crunchyroll hiked its prices in the US and select countries in May 2024: 'Fan' tier ($7.99 / £4.99 / AU$10.99 per month), 'Mega Fan' tier ($11.99 / £5.99 / AU$13.99 per month) and 'Ultimate Fan' tier ($15.99 per month), which is only available in the US.

Each tier comes with various perks, including online store merchandise discounts, gaming options, and the ability to view content offline on multiple devices. For penny-pinchers, prospective customers can also stream a limited library of more than 1,000 hours of anime goodness for no cost with some commercial interruptions.

To unlock the full bounty of Crunchyroll’s epic assortment of anime, one of the premium plans is required but you can also take advantage of a Crunchyroll free trial, which was shortened from two weeks to just one earlier this year.

Crunchyroll 'Fan' subscription: was $95.88 for 12-months now $79.99 at Crunchyroll
This isn't a streaming deal per se, but purchasing an annual subscription up front does offer a fantastic 16% saving. If you're in the US, you'll have to head over to the Crunchyroll store to buy an annual gift card. This is only for the service's 'Fan' tier, but you can get the same discount in the UK and Australia for its more premium 'Mega Fan' tier, which will unlock more perks. If you're new to Crunchyroll, then you'll also be able to take advantage of a seven-day free trial. View Deal

“The Crunchyroll platform itself is purpose-built for anime fans,” Green adds. “While the experience is personalized, we also have a team of curators based in six countries who are anime fans themselves ensuring an experience that feels authentic and fan-led. Regularly called out on social media, these collections have something for everyone.

'Our goal is to make the experience feel like it was curated for you by a friend or a trusted guide to the world of anime. Because we’re fans, it’ll feel different than any other app that just has anime and lots of other content - we’re all about anime and we love it too.”

Crunchyroll's 2025 slate of returning fan-favorites

Demon Slayer season 4 premiered on Crunchyroll in May 2024. (Image credit: Crunchyroll)

Its main menu hub also offers fans breaking anime news, announcements, exclusive creator interviews, industry essays, quizzes, music, anime guides, informative explainers, and editor’s picks, making it one of the best anime streaming services.

Crunchyroll even has an official mascot called 'Hime'. This cool corporate spokesperson is known as a 'Kitsune', a traditional Japanese trickster fox spirit who oversees the Crunchyroll website with her squad of lesser spirits. Green reminds avid anime acolytes that there’s a lot to be excited for from Crunchyroll in 2025, with the best anime shows set to return.

“First, fans can head over to Crunchyroll in January to catch the new winter season including the highly anticipated return of Solo Leveling season 2 – Arise from the Shadow, and Dr. Stone Science Future, the fourth and final season of Dr. Stone. For fans that like to watch their favorite series on the big screen, Crunchyroll has North American and select international theatrical rights for the dark epic fantasy omnibus movie Attack on Titan: The Last Attack and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, the first film in an epic trilogy to tie up the beloved series, both coming to theaters in 2025.

"Fans can also expect the return of the Anime Awards, our yearly awards program honoring the creators, voice actors, and musicians, powering the global love of this dynamic medium. Fans can vote every day and cheer their favorites into the top spot starting April 3, with winners being revealed during a live ceremony in Tokyo May 25."

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• Gartner forecasts an acceleration of growth in 2025 with a 21.4% increase
• Cloud Application services will account for about $300 billion worth of business
• In contrast, desktop-as-a-service, once a promising growth area, will barely reach $4 billion

New research has claimed spending on cloud services is set to reach a new high as the demand for AI continues to grow.

A report from Gartner predicts worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services will reach $723.420 billion in 2025, a growth rate of 21.4%, an increase from $595.652 billion in 2024, highlighting the growing reliance on cloud services across industries.

Cloud Application Services (SaaS) remains a key segment, with spending now forecast to grow from $250.8 billion in 2024 to $299.1 billion in 2025. Similarly, Cloud System Infrastructure Services (IaaS) spending is expected to reach $211.9 billion by 2025, while Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) will rise to $208.6 billion. In contrast, desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), once seen as a promising growth area, is now predicted to contribute just $3.85 billion to the 2025 total, reflecting its limited adoption and marginal share in the cloud market.

Predicting cloud infrastructure spending is tricky

In analyzing the market dynamics and noting the fractional change in the monthly cloud spending figures, The Next Platform noted, "The market for cloud infrastructure is now so large that it is very difficult for it to change drastically. But given the fact that people can turn off server, storage, and networking capacity as easily as they can turn it on, predicting how much money the world will spend on cloudy infrastructure can be tricky."

TNP also observed a trend where "more than two-thirds and heading towards three-quarters of raw infrastructure and platform services are sold together," now referred to as Cloud Infrastructure and Platform Services (CIPS). In 2022, CIPS represented 70% of total IaaS and PaaS revenues, and this share is expected to grow to 71.6% by 2025. The Next Platform concluded, "In the long run, this is what 'cloud' will mean... You not only pick its preferences for servers and storage and networks, but you pick its platform."

The figures show an increase from a seperate November 2024 Gartner report which said spending on public cloud services would reach $723.421 billion, with Sid Nag, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, noting at the time, “The use of AI technologies in IT and business operations is unabatedly accelerating the role of cloud computing in supporting business operations and outcomes. Cloud use cases continue to expand with increasing focus on distributed, hybrid, cloud-native, and multicloud environments supported by a cross-cloud framework.”

Hybrid cloud environments are expected to become the norm in the next couple of years, with Gartner forecasting that 90% of organizations will adopt this approach by 2027.

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• A photo of the Galaxy S25 Ultra has leaked
• We can see thinner bezels and more rounded corners
• It matches up with previously leaked renders

We're most probably just days away from the official unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, and the leaks keep on coming: the latest one shows off part of what is supposedly the Galaxy S25 Ultra model, and the super-thin bezels around its display.

The leaked image comes from well-known tipster @Jukanlosreve, with credit given to @UniverseIce. We can see what looks to be the right-hand side of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the top and bottom corners in view.

As well as the tiny bezels – a design feature mentioned in previous leaks – we can also see the phone is more rounded than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Again, this is something we've heard rumors of before.

We don't have an exact measurement for these bezels, but they appear to be thinner than they are on most rival phones, including the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, the overall dimensions of the phone aren't expected to change significantly from last year's model.

Four phones to come

S25 UltraSource: Ice Universe pic.twitter.com/cIAbJuoTluJanuary 4, 2025

Over the last few months we've seen a host of rumors and leaks around the Galaxy S25 series, including the Ultra model. We're also expecting a standard Galaxy S25, a Galaxy S25 Plus, and a Galaxy S25 Slim (which might go on sale later in the year).

Those leaks have included renders of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, so there are no real surprises here – though this looks to be an actual photo of an actual phone, rather than something that's been mocked up in an image editor.

It seems that not much is changing on the outside besides the thinner bezels and more rounded corners, though there will apparently be upgraded internals – including the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor on the inside.

All the signs are pointing towards an official unveiling on Wednesday, January 22, though nothing is confirmed until Samsung says so. There could be more devices on show at the event, including the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2.

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3 Body Problem season 2: key information

- Renewed for season 2 and 3 in May 2024
- Filming yet to commence
- Predict the main cast members will return
- No trailer to share just yet
- No official plot details released, but follows Liu's trilogy
- Season 1 finale lays out potential story threads
- Season 3 will be the show's conclusion

Intense sci-fi 3 Body Problem is a stellar example of how Netflix, one of the best streaming services, executes an impressive foray into the genre. The show is adapted from Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy into the English-language and it’s truly a vast and complicated book series to transform to TV, but it’s in the best of hands.

Spearheaded by Game of Thrones’ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, alongside True Blood’s Alexander Woo, the trio tackled season 1’s alternate reality through a VR headset with ambitious scope, an impending alien invasion, and the complexities of how different people cope with such nearing fate.

In the books, a scientist makes contact with an alien race, the San-Ti, in Beijing. In the best Netflix show, the ‘Oxford Five’, a group of scientists and friends, make contact in London. Fortunately, they discover that the San-Ti’s journey to Earth will take 400 years, but on whose timeline? For our timeline at least, we’re keen for another season before four centuries pass, and luckily we won’t have to wait that long. Seemingly, not too long at all. Here’s everything we know about 3 Body Problem season 2.

Full spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 2.

3 Body Problem season 2 release date prediction

3 Body Problem has been renewed! Netflix will bring this epic story through its mind-blowing conclusion! pic.twitter.com/zw6txhOqGhMay 15, 2024

Yes, the San Ti may be 400 years away, but you won’t have to wait that long for 3 Body Problem season 2. In fact, in May 2024, 3 Body Problem was officially renewed. And not just for season 2. 3 Body Problem is set to be a trilogy, and during the official Television Academy panel in LA, showrunners and writers David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo, revealed that they’d be returning for season 2 and 3, culminating in the show’s conclusion.

As reported by Netflix Tudum, Weiss said: “We included a lot of what we loved from the [novels by Cixin Liu] in season 1, but the vast majority of reasons we wanted to make this show are in season 2. We always wanted to get to the final page of the third book, and it’s really, really thrilling for us that we will get to do just that.”

When it comes to a release date, Weiss was asked by Collider when’s the earliest they could start filming, to which he said: “Fall.” As fall has passed, we’ll take a look at season 1 for our best prediction. Filming took nine months between October 2021 and mid 2022. Then, it wasn’t released until March 2024. It’s important to note though that the release was delayed by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. As 3 Body Problem hasn’t commenced filming yet, we’d predict that we won’t see season 2 until at least 2026.

3 Body Problem season 2 rumored cast

Members of the Oxford Five, Auggie and Jin, are sure to return (Image credit: Netflix)

Major spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.

There’s no official cast confirmation, yet, but from how 3 Body Problem season 1 ended, we’d predict the following cast members to return:

• Jovan Adepo as Saul Durand
• John Bradley as Jack Rooney
• Liam Cunningham as Thomas Wade
• Eiza González as Auggie Salazar
• Jess Hong as Jin Cheng
• Marlo Kelly as Tatiana Haas
• Sea Shimooka as Sophon
• Zine Tseng as Young Ye Wenjie
• Saamer Usmani as Raj Varma
• Benedict Wong as Da Shi
• Jonathan Pryce as Mike Evans

As both space and time were impacted by the threat of the San-Ti’s arrival, there were a fair few deaths that fell mercy to it in 3 Body Problem season 1. The two most poignant being Will Downing (Alex Sharp) and Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao & Zine Tseng). While viewers didn’t witness the deaths, they did both meet their demise. So, unless they return in flashbacks, which the show has a penchant for especially when visiting the origins in China of the San-Ti’s first contact, then these two characters won’t be returning.

3 Body Problem season 2 story speculation

Saul Durand becomes a Wallfacer, but he's yet to uncover why (Image credit: Netflix)

Full story spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.

As devotees to Liu’s trilogy, the creators are seemingly following the books as closely as they can. While there’s adaptations in terms of settings and revolving around the English language, as well as the inclusion of the Oxford Five, the plot is still in keeping with the books. In conversation with Collider, Benioff said: “The first season roughly follows the arc of the first book. The second season would probably roughly follow the second book. The third book is massive. It’s twice as long, I think, as the other two books.

So maybe that’s one season, maybe it’s two. But, you know, I think we’d need at least three, maybe four seasons to tell the whole story. And it’s a beautiful ending. I think all three of us thought that the last page of Liu Cixin's epic was maybe the best final image we’d encountered in a sci-fi saga like this. It’s just incredibly moving and mind-blowing.”

As the San-Ti approach, Earth must find a way to defend itself (Image credit: Netflix)

The second book in Liu’s trilogy, which will follow season 2, is The Dark Forest and the official synopsis is: "Imagine the universe as a forest, patrolled by numberless and nameless predators. In this forest, stealth is survival - any civilisation that reveals its location is prey. Earth has. Now the predators are coming.

Crossing light years, the Trisolarians (known as the San-Ti in the show) will reach Earth in four centuries' time. But the sophons, their extra-dimensional agents and saboteurs, are already here. Only the individual human mind remains immune to their influence.

This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a last-ditch defence that grants four individuals almost absolute power to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from human and alien alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown"

We're hoping for more of the VR alternate world and its guest stars (Image credit: Netflix)

We know that Project Staircase failed and that humanity has to continue to prepare for an alien invasion. We also watched in season 1 as Saul Durand was named as one of the three Wallfacers of the show with no idea why. So, the storyline has been set up to continue their plan against the San-Ti and that all hope is not lost.

When it comes to the length of 3 Body Problem season 1, Weiss told Vulture: “Eight episodes always felt right to us, at least for this season. It’s not a superfast burn. It takes some time for people to understand, for all the threads to come together, the video game and the countdown and the suicide-slash-murder investigations. Taking 10 or 20 episodes to answer that question didn’t feel viable for the kind of show we were making.” Perhaps season 2 will follow suit.

3 Body Problem season 2 trailer: is there one?

Considering the cast and crew have yet to begin filming 3 Body Problem season 2, there’s no trailer to share. As soon as there is, we’ll be sure to update here.

Where to watch 3 Body Problem season 1

If you're yet to catch up, now's the time (Image credit: Netflix)

All eight episodes of 3 Body Problem season 1 are available to stream on Netflix, one of the world’s best streaming services, right now. As Netflix are responsible for the renewal of season 2 and 3 and the creation of season 1, we’d fully expect the platform to remain the exclusive home for the epic sci-fi drama.

Will 3 Body Problem get a third season on Netflix?

You know Netflix are invested when they execute a double season renewal (Image credit: Netflix)

Yes, it absolutely will. As already mentioned, 3 Body Problem was renewed for season 3 alongside season 2. But, during the announcement, Weiss, Benioff, and Woo revealed that season 3 would be the show’s conclusion.

While there’s previously been conversation around wanting to run a season 4, it doesn't seem to be the case. Though as reported by Forbes, the show’s creators refer to the remainder of the show in years, rather than seasons. Benioff said: “By the time we finish with the show, it will be seven years we’ve devoted to it.”

He added: “We’re now at a place where we get to tell the rest of the story, and, yes, we have enough time to tell the rest of the story the way we want to and that’s immensely gratifying.” Either way, the creators say they’ll reach the final page of the trilogy and for any fans of the books or fans of the show, it’ll be an epic ride.

For more Netflix TV show-based coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, One Piece season 2, and Squid Game season 2.