Technology

We’ve been eagerly anticipating updated M4 Macs for what seems like months now – and the recent iPad mini 7 launch has sparked some concern that Apple might be running out of time to launch the devices in 2024. Fortunately, they are still on track to arrive soon, according to one prominent leaker.

The “imminent” updates are coming to the MacBook Pro, the iMac, and the Mac mini, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who frequently shares accurate information about Apple’s future plans and releases.

In a further sign that upgrades are on the way, Gurman states that “inventory at Apple retail stores is very low on iMacs, Mac mini and MacBook Pros, Magic Keyboards, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad.” This is often a sign that Apple is planning to replace these existing products with new versions, and it’s something that Gurman himself has previously reported on.

Indeed, there have also been claims that the peripherals Gurman mentions – the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad – are also due for an update. This would make a lot of sense, since Apple still hasn’t outfitted them with USB-C ports, which it has recently added to the majority of its other devices.

Event or quiet announcements?

(Image credit: Romancev768)

Gurman has previously predicted that Apple will release new Macs fitted with M4 chips on or around November 1. Given there’s just over a week until that date, there’s not enough time for Apple to host an in-person Mac event, given how little time it would give attendees to organize travel.

Instead, Apple could host an online event with a few hands-on locations for members of the press. This is the approach the company took for its Scary Fast event last October, which was also focused on new Mac releases.

Alternatively, Apple might decide to simply announce its new M4 Macs using a series of press releases. This might seem odd given that the Mac mini is expected to get an all-new design, as you’d think Apple would want to spend time on-stage showing off the product’s new look.

But Apple has already introduced the M4 chip – it arrived in the latest iPad Pro in May 2024 – so one of the biggest changes in the upcoming Macs has already been known to the world for the last six months. Perhaps that means an event isn’t necessary.

However Apple decides to reveal its new Mac lineup, it seems these devices are still coming in the near future – keep your eyes peeled for more news over the next few days.

You might also like

• MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac models are disappearing off the shelves, another sign that Apple’s M4 Mac launch is imminent
• Apple’s M4 Macs could launch ahead of Black Friday – and cheapest models might finally come with 16GB RAM
• Apple MacBook Pro M4 leaks have exploded recently – and another heavy hint has just dropped that the laptop is about to arrive

More than two-thirds (68%) of cybersecurity professionals across Europe are facing burnout, potentially leaving businesses at risk of attack, new research has warned.

A report from SoSafe report found of the 1,250 security leaders surveyed, around one-third each reported severe burnout (32%) and moderate burnout (36%), with the UK standing out for its high stress levels.

However, SoSafe is warning vulnerabilities being caused by stressed and burnt out workers is fueling the cybersecurity crisis, with threat actors actively exploiting this section of the landscape to gain access to internal systems and data.

Cybersecurity burnout

Four in five respondents identified their own departments as primary targets for cybercriminals, far ahead of finance (one in three) and sales (one in five).

Among the factors leading to this widespread sentiment were the high-pressure environment (33%), long hours (29%), excessive workloads (28%) and constant firefighting (25%). SoSafe also noted evolving and emerging risks, many of which are fuelled by generative AI, which are seen as a concern by 84% of the respondents. Geopolitical instability (77%) and supply chain vulnerabilities (85%) were also contributing factors.

Figures cited by the report suggest 274,000 cybersecurity positions are currently unfilled in the EU, part of a global shortage of a staggering 3.9 million professionals. One-quarter (24%) also considered this as a major contributor to burnout.

The dangers of burnout are just as pronounced on the individual as they are on the company – overworked staff are linked to security breaches and other organizational risks.

"Given the challenges that security teams are facing, it's crucial to adopt solutions that not only automate their tasks efficiently but also ensure sustainable risk reduction," said Dr. Niklas Hellemann, psychologist and CEO of SoSafe.

"To achieve this, companies must actively involve their employees, who are the most versatile part of their security strategies. The focus should be on changing behaviors rather than merely transmitting knowledge, as this is key to creating a resilient cybersecurity culture."

More from TechRadar Pro

• Strengthen your cybersecurity with the best endpoint protection software
• Need a change? Here are the best job sites and best recruitment platforms
• Almost half of IT teams are burnt out as a result of war rooms, as ‘blame game’ culture becomes the norm for most organizations

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

A few important mortgage rates are moving up. But experts are optimistic about rates falling in the long term.

Many of the best video doorbells can give a variety of spoken messages - telling a neighbor to go away, for example, or asking a courier to leave a package by the door - but home security company Swann has now gone a step further with an AI-powered doorbell that can give custom responses generated on the fly depending on who's calling.

SwannShield is a new virtual assistant for your front door that will issue responses created on the fly rather than pre-recorded messages. That means it can answer questions from visitors, let them know who's home, or tell intruders to get lost depending on what they ask and how.

You can choose the overall demeanor of your doorbell, making it polite, disinterested, or even aggressive, and although Swann is a global company headquartered in Australia, the AI-generated replies will be delivered with a British accent.

(Image credit: Swann) Who goes there?

To help SwannShield give the most useful responses, you can provide it with certain details ahead of time, including your address, the names of residents, and where packages should be left. Its mobile app will also let you see transcripts of conversations with callers, so you can check what it's been saying in your absence.

SwannShield is currently compatible with the SwannBuddy4K doorbell, and will hopefully be rolling out to more devices over the coming months. We're hoping to test the SwannBuddy4K soon and put the new assistant through its paces (hopefully without offending our neighbors too much).

If you already have a SwannBuddy4K, you should get SwannShield with your next over-the-air firmware update.

You might also like

• How to change your Ring doorbell sound
• How to install a smart video doorbell
• Do I need a Ring subscription? Here's what to consider

A leaked video thought to show a trial production of Nvidia’s rumored upcoming RTX 5090 GPU in an Indonesian factory has been confirmed to not be the next-gen graphics card, instead it shows a Zotac Gaming RTX 4070 Ti Super Solid – a graphics card that already exists.

The footage, posted on Bilibili (via VideoCardz), showed a Zotac Gaming-branded GPU being connected, powered on, and the production team applauding a successful test.

It appeared to corroborate predictions that the RTX 5090 will launch following an announcement during CES 2025, and if that is the case, you’d expect Nvidia partners like Zotac to be working on their own spins of the GPUs. One detail that got people rather excited about the video was that it looked like it dispelled the rumor that the RTX 5090 would require two 16-pin connectors because of the card’s increased power draw, as the GPU shown only used one.

Wishful thinking

Of course, now we know that the GPU in the video was an RTX 4070 Ti Super, as Zotac itself has confirmed this in a statement it felt pressured to make because the video had gone viral, and that means the dual 16-pin rumor is still well and truly alive.

The video, says Zotac, was an “internal training recording”. This calls into question Zotac’s supply chain security, particularly because the company has previously been involved in early leaks of Nvidia’s RTX 4090.

That footage emerged in September 2022, and, similarly to this one, showed Zotac GPUs being assembled and tested in a factory – which is why so many people were willing to believe that history was repeating itself and Zotac had accidently leaked the 5090.

Some people might believe there’s a possibility that Zotac might be bending the truth to protect itself. The video shown could very well be of Nvidia’s next-gen flagship GPU, and if the leak is legitimate, it could land Zotac in hot water, so issuing a statement denying the GPU is the 5090 could be seen as a way to avoid falling out with Nvidia over yet another leak. I don’t think this is the case, however, as it would be a massive risk on Zotac’s behalf to lie to its consumers like this, so it’s best to take its statement at face value and accept that the video does not show a secret, unanounced GPU. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the 5090 isn’t real or coming soon.

If you’re interested in the RTX 4070 Ti Super Solid, it’s an improvement on the popular 4070 Ti, offering improved 4K gaming performance. It was built using the AD102 chip, the most powerful of Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace lineup, and the one that powers the flagship 4090 GPU. This is an upgrade from the 4070 Ti’s less powerful AD104 chip. The Super Solid features 16 GB of VRAM improving on clock speeds and offers an upgraded cooling system. There’s no question that it is a powerful GPU, but it’s no 5090.

It’s a little bit disappointing that we didn’t in fact see Nvidia’s next-gen card. But it doesn’t mean that the RTX 5090 isn’t currently undergoing testing for its rumored CES 2025 release as there are enough believable rumors out there that suggest the 5090 is real and it’s coming soon. We just have to hold on tight.

You might also like

• Nvidia’s RTX 5090 now rumored to have superfast clock speeds – as well as being super-slim – could this GPU be too good to be true?
• Top gaming PCs: great rigs for serious PC gaming
• Best PC games: must-play titles you don't want to miss

A new version of the Tesla iPhone app has revealed that the company may be working on a companion app for Apple Watch users, which could include a digital key functionality designed to work with all the best Apple Watches.

Elon Musk suggested an Apple Watch app for Tesla owners could be on the cards earlier this year, and now we've just got our first glimpse.

As reported by MacRumors, "Tesla last week updated its iPhone app with new Control Center controls on iOS 18. In addition, the latest version of the app added hidden code references to an upcoming Apple Watch version of the app."

According to the report, the code shows functionality for using an Apple Watch as a digital key that can be used to unlock your Tesla vehicle remotely.

A big Apple Watch upgrade for Tesla owners

(Image credit: Future)

Using an Apple Watch to unlock a Tesla isn't unheard of, as it's a feature that has been available on the third-party Stats app for Tesla for a couple of years now.

However, Tesla's impending update will bring official functionality to Apple Watch models, letting users unlock their car even if their iPhone has run out of battery or if they don't have it on their person.

Tesla's 2012-2020 Model S and 2015-2020 Model X do not support phone keys, requiring an internet connection to use remote start, so it seems likely those models also won't be supported by the new Apple Watch unlocking feature.

Unfortunately, there's no firm timeline for the Tesla Apple Watch app launch, but its recent appearance in code suggests it's close at hand.

Apple continues to expand its own support for digital car keys. Recently, it emerged that the feature would expand to vehicles made by Volvo, Polestar, and Audi. That would add some big names to a list that already includes BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and more.

You might also like

• Android December update lets you share your digital car keys with iPhones
• Tesla's new Cybercab and futuristic 20-seat Robovan show it's lost its grip on reality
• Tesla’s Full Self-Driving update promises smoother lane changes and more decisive action, as it speeds towards a driverless future

Remedy has revealed the PS5 Pro enhancements for Alan Wake 2.

In a new blog post, the developer confirmed that it will take "full advantage" of the recently announced PS5 Pro to enhance its 2023 horror game further.

For starters, Alan Wake 2's Quality and Performance modes will be upgraded for the mid-generation console and will utilize Sony's upscaling method, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR).

The PS5 Pro Quality mode will be 30fps and feature ray tracing reflections, as well as have an output resolution of 4K.

Meanwhile, the Performance mode won't feature ray tracing but will allow 60fps and an output resolution of 4K, and will target approximately the same image quality (render) settings as the base PS5's Quality mode.

"The Performance Mode on the PS5 Pro features significantly higher output resolution and has more visual detail compared to the base PS5," Remedy said. "The overall image stability, fog, volumetric lighting, and shadow accuracy have been improved on the Pro."

Remedy shared its process in upgrading Alan Wake 2 for the PS5 Pro, explaining that increasing the rendering resolution was among the easiest routes to improve image quality. It also experimented by upgrading the 60fps Performance mode output from 1440p to 4k and adding PSSR, which "positively impacted image crispness and stability under motion."

"Increasing the internal rendering resolution consumes a lot of processing power, no matter how powerful your hardware is," the team explained. "However, in our experiments, even putting all the added power to increased rendering resolution provided a barely noticeable difference in the output image or its quality. Adding more pixels to gain visual quality is not straightforward with the new AI-based upscaling methods."

The studio said that since Alan Wake 2 is "visually incredibly detailed and rich", it was a "tough fit for ray tracing, especially compared to our previous game, Control".

Still, the studio welcomed the challenge of upgrading the game for PS5 Pro, saying, "With ray traced effects, the detail of the world in Alan Wake 2 can be observed even more accurately than before on the console, and the image is more stable in complex lighting situations."

"We've always wanted to bring cutting-edge visuals to our games, but everything is always a balancing act between the frame rate, visual quality, technical and hardware constraints, development resources and what we wish to artistically achieve with the game," Remedy added.

The team went on to talk about the benefits of ray tracing but said that it "comes with a cost" since "each ray must be traced, and its hit evaluated and shaded".

"In a game like Alan Wake 2, its complex light-material interactions and rich environments can make tracing, shading, and denoising even a single ray tracing effect too expensive to justify the cost depending on the hardware," it said.

"Geometrically Alan Wake 2 is a very dense game. The usage of a GPU-driven rendering pipeline and its fine-grained culling with the skinning ran on GPU made it possible to create densely populated forest scenes with layers and layers of foliage and trees encountered during Saga’s gameplay segments taking place in the lush environments of the Pacific North-West."

Alan Wake 2 is one of the best horror games you can play on PS5 right now, and its second expansion, titled The Lake House, launches today.

You might also like...

• PS5 Pro pre-order guide: the latest and best places to find stock
• PS5 Pro specs: how powerful the new PlayStation 5 console is, and how it compares to the PS5
• Unity 6 will allow developers to create games more quickly and efficiently, and it's now available worldwide

The PlayStation 5 Pro patch for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered has landed, giving us a more concrete idea of the kinds of features that the game will utilize on the upcoming console.

As revealed in a new post on the Naughty Dog website, the newest The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered update, patch 1.2.0, adds PS5 Pro support. On the PS5 Pro, you will be able to access a new rendering mode that uses PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) AI upscaling.

The added “Pro” graphics setting option will render at a resolution of 1440p, upscaled to 4K via PSSR, and target 60 frames per second. The developer clarifies that the existing Performance and Fidelity modes will still be available but will now offer smoother performance and higher framerates than the base console.

The PS5 Pro is set to launch on November 7, with PS5 Pro pre-orders currently ongoing. The console looks like a serious upgrade compared to the launch model, boasting a significantly faster GPU and CPU. It also supports new features like advanced ray tracing and PSSR.

A number of PS5 Pro games have been confirmed so far and will feature a special label in the PlayStation Store.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered was released back in January, offering an enhanced version of the 2020 PS4 game designed to take full advantage of the PS5. In addition to being sold as a separate package, eligible owners of the PS4 version can upgrade to Remastered for just $10 / £10 on the PS Store.

The patch also includes a small number of minor bug fixes, which you can see below:

General

• Fixed an issue where some trophies would not unlock after importing PS4 save data
• Fixed an issue where Abby’s torso could disappear when switching between her bonus skins

Gameplay

• [The Tunnels] Fixed an issue where Dina could be grabbed an additional time while escaping in the subway

No return

• Fixed an issue where the stun bomb was not being accurately counted toward the player's “Stun” stats
• Fixed an issue where some weapon kills were not accurately tracking toward player's stats when performing stealth kills in between those weapon kills
• Fixed an issue where shiv kills were not being accurately counted toward the player's “Shiv” stats

Audio

• [On Foot] Fixed an issue where music tracks would not progress as intended when speedrunning

Accessibility

• Added additional support so more PlayStation 5 console Accessibility settings are now reflected in-game
• [The Tunnels] Fixed an issue where code for the locked room could not be located using Enhanced Listen Mode
• [No Return] Fixed an issue where enemies specified by a Gambit were not properly identified when using High Contrast Mode

Localization

• Various minor localization fixes across multiple languages

You might also like...

• PlayStation: The Concert is a new video game music show coming in 2025
• The PlayStation Halloween sale has landed - here are the six deals I’d buy
• Until Dawn review: the horror classic gets a scary-good visual and technical update

Right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 are the two flagship foldables sold by Samsung – and two of the best foldables, period – but as we go through 2025 we may see a tri-fold model and a budget version of the Flip make an appearance.

That's according to a new report by ZDNet Korea (via well-known tipster @Jukanlosreve, who has a relatively good track record for mobile predictions). The report digs into Samsung's supply chain plans for foldable displays over the next few months.

We're relying somewhat on Google Translate here, but the article suggests there's been "sluggish demand" for Samsung's 2024 foldables – although the company is still thought to have shifted around 7-8 million Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 units.

The report concludes by saying that Samsung is "discussing" launching a tri-fold foldable similar to the Huawei Mate XT in 2025, as well as a "popular" (more affordable) version of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 we're already expecting to see.

Maybe, maybe not

Samsung is considering launching a budget Flip and a triple-fold device next year.https://t.co/rs6W4j3gSHOctober 22, 2024

There is some additional commentary from @Jukanlosreve worth mentioning here, suggesting that the "budget" Galaxy Z Flip is actually an "enhanced" Galaxy Z Flip – perhaps more of a special edition release, so bear that in mind.

The same source also points to another report out of South Korea suggesting there are actually no plans for a "popular" Samsung foldable with a lower price. It would seem to be a case of wait and see for the time being.

What we do know is that Samsung just pushed out a Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition phone, exclusive to South Korea (at least for now). A similar Flip model has also been rumored, and could be seeing the light of day in the near future.

That shows Samsung is still willing to experiment with its foldable line-up – and we suspect it will be keen to catch up to Huawei with its own tri-fold next year too, with other manufacturers already testing out the same form factor.

You might also like

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is my favorite phone ever
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
• Samsung's first rollable smartphone could land next year

Finding the perfect grill might be tough, but our CNET experts are up for the challenge.

There's still time to score an APY up to 4.75%, but the clock is ticking.

Forget that official Xbox handheld that's phased in and out of the rumor mill over the past year; a modder has now beaten the company to it.

Over on X / Twitter, woodworker and hardware engineer Redherring32 has built a portable version of the original Xbox console - the one that was first released all the way back in 2001. Its creator says that it "isn't a PC handheld, it isn't emulation, this is a real motherboard from a real Xbox."

Redherring32 goes on to explains that the handheld features a 480p display and USB-C play and charge support. Wireless Xbox Live functionality is also planned via the addition of WiFi 6. That'd certainly give it some parity with the best handheld games consoles available today.

I built a portable Xbox.This isn't a PC handheld, it isn't emulation, this is a real motherboard from a real Xbox. It has a 9” 480p display, pure digital video/audio, 100W USB C charge and play, and I'm currently adding WiFi 6 for wireless Xbox Live functionality.Yes, really. pic.twitter.com/yK7p0vPqUnOctober 18, 2024

In followup posts, Redherring32 explains that this original Xbox handheld build "is a first of its kind." They attach screenshots of the trimmed-down motherboard and many more of the inner hardware workings that make the device tick. Said trimming was a process the modder claims to have had to learn from scratch, taking them a little over four months to complete just that one part of it.

And while this original Xbox handheld isn't going to be put into mass production - which is a crying shame given how awesome it looks - Redherring32 says "everything will be open source in the coming weeks," including URLs to GitHub and BitBuilt pages for the PCBs and an Xbox trimming guide so that folks at home can attempt to make an Xbox handheld of their own. 

The modder concludes by saying they're working on a showcase video for the handheld that should also include gameplay. Certainly keep an eye out for that if - like me - you're particularly nostalgic about the best retro games consoles like the original Xbox and are keen to see what its software would look like running on a bespoke handheld device.

You might also like...

• Black Friday Xbox deals 2024 - what to expect as we approach the sales period
• The Black Myth: Wukong physical release is coming "very soon"
• Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program participants leak contents early and it appears to be a collaborative MMO

Commentary: November is National Diabetes Month. Here are two pieces of wearable diabetes tech everyone should know about.

Today's top high-yield savings accounts still earn APYs more than 10 times the national average.

Digital accessibility refers to designing and developing digital products, such as websites, mobile apps, and electronic documents, so all users can easily use and interact with them — including users with disabilities. For example, developers provide alternative text for images for visually impaired users, place captions on videos for hearing-impaired users, and ensure those with motor disabilities can navigate websites using only a keyboard.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a comprehensive set of digital accessibility standards published by the Web Accessibility Initiative and the World Wide Web Consortium. These guidelines are the foundational benchmark against which digital accessibility is measured. WCAG consists of thirteen guidelines organized around the four principles that web content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust for users with disabilities. 

These principles and resulting checkpoints provide the basis for three tiers of conformity to its standards: A, AA, and AAA. The A level is the minimum level of conformance, AA is the standard for most websites, and AAA is the highest level of conformance. The criteria for each rating are cumulative, meaning that products must fully adhere to A requirements to be considered AA, for example.

Only one part of the picture

However, digital accessibility guidelines like WCAG are only one part of the picture. As digital interactions become increasingly integral to our lives, companies must do more for ethical, legal, and practical reasons. WCAG should be seen as the floor not the ceiling in terms of building accessible applications. The best brands go beyond compliance and strive for true inclusivity, understanding that features designed for accessibility can significantly enhance the user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities.

This focus on inclusivity matters because an estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, experience significant disabilities, according to the World Health Organization. These disabilities include a wide range of conditions, including vision impairment, mobility, auditory, neurological, cognitive, medical, and psychological, all facing unique challenges regarding digital accessibility.

The Olympic Games in Paris featured 329 events across 35 venues, all streamed live, making it essential that the games were inclusive for everyone. That said, NBCUniversal led the way in Olympic accessibility coverage by including features such as enhanced closed captioning, extended audio descriptions, and improved digital content accessibility. This implementation set a new standard for the Games and raises the bar for inclusive broadcasting year-round.

Despite these efforts, individuals with disabilities continue to face significant digital accessibility barriers in their daily lives that hinder their ability to participate fully. From inaccessible mobile login portals to filling out electronic documents, the challenges are endless and highlight the urgent need for continuous improvements in accessibility.

Know your customer

Developers cannot create great user experiences by reading guidelines and standards. Especially when it comes to creating truly inclusive products, success starts by talking to Persons with Disability (PwD). Enable teams to communicate with and gain an understanding of PwD, be they sight, hearing, or mobility impaired, in both the design and testing phase of projects. This is not just a good practice, it's a necessity for creating truly inclusive digital products. Including all voices in design and implementation are a source of innovation to design products better.

Also, more and more companies are implementing empathy labs, but are forgetting to recognize that these simulations are not an adequate substitute for engaging with PwD. Empathy labs, which aim to simulate various disabilities through interactive experiences designed to help people better understand and empathize with the challenges faced by PwD, often fall short of capturing the full spectrum of these challenges.

While building empathy labs is a good step for companies, involving PwD in every stage of the software development cycle to directly hear and involve them is highly recommended. It’s a way to directly work with them instead of attempting to walk in their shoes. Integrating lived experience feedback into the product design process gets to the point quickly in terms of product decision making.

Empower your teams

Companies that excel in delivering quality digital experiences for PwD have established a culture of inclusivity by making accessibility an operational priority. They are committed to continuously educating developers about best practices for accessibility. They may ask simple questions, like how often developers think of accessibility and how much they already know, before investing in the training needed to fill the gaps. 

Part of this involves making sure developers recognize the need for an ongoing program for accessibility testing rather than thinking of accessibility as a box to tick when convenient. Regular testing of digital products for accessibility should use multiple tools, including automated and manual testing and user testing with people with disabilities. It also means maintaining an ongoing commitment to accessibility by regularly reviewing and updating digital products to ensure they remain accessible as technologies and standards evolve.

Creating digitally accessible content

The post-COVID shift toward delivering digital-first experiences, where digital platforms and tools are the primary means of interaction, made digital accessibility more of a priority than ever — and improvements still need to be made. Digital accessibility requires an ongoing commitment to building inclusive experiences, starting in the product development and code-writing phase. Most importantly, it requires input from PwD in design and testing, without whom truly inclusive digital experiences are unattainable.

We list the best customer feedback tools.

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

We're delighted to announced that entries for the CES Picks Awards 2025 are now open!

Spread across TechRadar Pro, Residential Systems, and TWICE, the CES Picks Awards honor the best and most influential consumer technology at CES 2025.

These awards provide an opportunity for you to earn the publicity and accolades your business deserves as we enter the new year, and we are offering an early bird offer for any products nominated before November 19, 2024, 23:59 ET. $595 per product nominated, for consideration by your chosen Future US/UK magazine (TWICE, Residential Systems or TechRadar Pro).

If your product was launched since the last CES show in January 2024, or if you’ve brought game-changing upgrades or new features over the last 12 months, we would love to see your product at the show for consideration of winning an award.

Click here to start your nomination!

Innovate. Nominate. Celebrate.

Awards will be judged and awarded by the publishers of TWICE and Residential Systems (Future US) and TechRadar Pro (Future UK) based on descriptions provided by you via the nomination form and are announced at the same time as CES, helping winners to stand out among the competition at a crucial time in the calendar.

Winning a prestigious Picks award keeps your clients and employees happy and motivated, boosts your reputation, benchmarks you against your competitors and gives your fantastic new products the recognition they deserve.

Any products nominated after the early bird offer expires will be charged at $695 per product nominated per publication to which you submit for consideration. Companies may enter numerous products for consideration, provided they complete the online nomination form and pay the necessary entry fee(s).

Why enter?

Thousands of new products are introduced at and around CES each year, and this program helps make yours stand out. Winning a prestigious award keeps your clients and employees happy and motivated, boosts your reputation, benchmarks you against your competitors and gives your fantastic new products the recognition they deserve.

Winners will receive a whole host of benefits, including a winner trophy for display at CES 2025 and beyond, promotion on their selected brand’s website, publications and newsletters as an official CES Picks award winner, a fully licensed winner’s badge, which can be used to promote winning nominations, both domestically and internationally, and a winner’s package to aid any in-house promotion, this will consist of a press release and social post

All entrants – whether selected as a winner or not, will receive social & award nominee badges to promote their entry into the CES Picks Awards.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity – All entries must be received by December 20, 2024, 23:59 ET, unless otherwise noted. We look forward to receiving your nominations!

Visit the official Picks Awards page for complete details and to nominate today!

For inquiries about CES Picks Awards 2025, the categories, costs, eligibility, or anything else about the awards, please contact Beckie Sirs at (beckie.sirs@futurenet.com).

Some of the biggest antivirus software providers around today have warned users to update their platforms immediately to stay safe from worrying security threats.

Bitdefender and Trend Micro have both released high severity notices to update after Man-in-the-Middle and Local Privilege Escalation vulnerabilities were found to be leaving customers exposed.

In total, six Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) were listed, five relating to Bitdefender and one for Trend Micro Deep Security Agent - users of Bitdefender Total Security have been advised to use version 27.025.115 or newer to protect themselves, and Trend Micro Deep Security Agent users are advised to be on product version 20.0.1-17380.

Keep up to date

Although Trend Micro is only addressing one vulnerability, it is a serious cybersecurity issue - as Local Privilege Escalation means standard users can gain system-level access, stemming from insufficient control over authentication processes.

The five vulnerabilities patched by Bitdefender stemmed from the HTTPS scanning function, which failed in proper certificate verification. This could allow threat actors to intercept the communications between users and sites by inserting themselves into internet connections in a ‘Man-in-the-middle’ attack.

Cyberattacks have become more frequent since the pandemic, and CVE is expected to grow 25% this year - which means roughly 2,900 new vulnerabilities per month. Shockingly though, around 45% of all CVEs reported in 2023 were unpatched, leaving users exposed.

Security flaws happen, and they’re always going to. The best thing you can do to keep your systems and your business safe is to patch as soon as you can and ensure you run the newest version of your software to mitigate the risks.

Via Heise

More from TechRadar Pro

• Check out our pick of the best malware removal software
• Mozilla warns of critical Firefox security flaw, so patch immediately
• Several top E2EE cloud storage providers have serious security flaws

De'Longhi has launched a new manual coffee machine that gives you full control over the coffee-making process, helping you make your drinks exactly the way you like them, and do so consistently.

The company is best known for its bean-to-cup coffee makers, but its new La Specialista Opera machine offers only a light guiding hand. It has a smart grinder that automatically adjusts the grinding duration and dose for a single or double espresso, and a smart tamping station that helps you apply even pressure (up to 20kg) for a well formed puck.

That's important - cracks or irregularities in the puck will affect the way water is passed through the grounds, and therefore the flavors that are extracted (if you ever see a friend knock their portafilter on the table after tamping, cracking the puck, feel free to stop them).

The La Specialista Opera will also pre-infuse your coffee to one of three temperature profiles, so you can pick the option that gives the taste you prefer. Pre-infusion involves saturating the coffee puck in the portafilter before brewing. Like proper tamping, this helps ensure the bed of coffee is perfectly level, allowing water to flow through at a steady pressure during the brewing process. Different temperatures will have different effects on the flavor profile of the extracted coffee, so experiment to find out what you like best.

(Image credit: De'Longhi) Silky milk

Many of the best coffee makers have automatic milk foaming systems that work fine with certain types of milk, but not others, and often product large bubbles rather than a silky microfoam. The La Specialista Opera has a manual steam wand so you can steam dairy or plant milk exactly the way you like, and adjust your technique depending on how well it's stretching and warming in the jug. The wand is cool-touch, so you can safely position it in the jug without burning yourself.

Answering the age-old question of how you should store your coffee beans, the La Specialista Opera comes with a vacuum sealed canister to keep them fresh after they've been opened, and a hot and cold glasses collection (so you can see if you've got the right balance of coffee, steamed milk, and foam), and a knock box for removing used pucks from the portafilter in the most satisfying way possible.

The La Specialista Opera is available now direct from De'Longhi and from third-party stores for £799.99 (about $1,000 / AU$1,600).

You might also like

• I took a home barista class, and these are the most important lessons I learned
• 3 coffee maker mistakes that are ruining your morning brew
• The first Alexa coffee maker lets you brew hands-free

A proposed law would tighten up phone bans in schools and limit how tech companies use children’s data, but experts are unconvinced these measures would make kids safer or healthier.