Technology

Experimenting with AI has become a hobby for me, as well as a professional role. I’d used AI for quick recipe inspiration before, but this time, I wanted to see if it could handle a week of dinners tailored to when I'm cooking, either for my wife and me or just for myself. I know my way around a kitchen even if my talents fall far short of my wife (whose family once showed off their skills on a TV show). Nonetheless, I was impressed with how AI, in this case, ChatGPT, opened some delicious new culinary doors, albeit with more than one tripwire to watch for when stepping through. Here's how my AI sous-chef performed and how you can do the same without any of the disasters I faced.

(Image credit: Future) AI meal prep

I wanted to set the whole week up before beginning, so I could do the shopping all at once. I discussed with the AI some of my tastes and what my wife and I both liked. We keep kosher, so I made sure to emphasize that, which meant making it clear that the recipes couldn't include ingredients like pork and shellfish, couldn't combine meat with dairy, and so on.

I began by giving relatively specific recipe prompts to see how ChatGPT would do with narrow parameters before just asking for ideas without any specific requests. The AI did well at devising a kosher dinner recipe for two featuring chicken and a vegetarian recipe using rice and seasonal vegetables. As a further experiment, I even uploaded images from recipe books for visual reference. The AI impressed me with its adaptability, suggesting dishes like roasted herb chicken with glazed carrots and potatoes and rice-stuffed peppers with a spicy tomato sauce.

Unprompted, the chatbot even showed what it thought the meals might look like on the plate. They were mostly appetizing, though sometimes the details would be a little off, as with the chicken and carrots being hard to distinguish.

Virtual Michelin stars

(Image credit: Future)

AI turns out to be pretty good at putting together a varied week of meals. The recipe for herb-crusted salmon with couscous and asparagus was delightful. I'd never tried making a citrus zest crust, but the instructions were clear, and we ended up devouring the whole thing. On an evening alone, the AI walked me through making chicken shawarma wraps with tahini sauce and Israeli salad. The chatbot enhanced my experience with a few cooking and spicing suggestions that kept me warm even as snow fell outside.

Probably the most successful dish was the scratch-made mushroom risotto. I'd count it at the far end of my cooking technique, but the meticulous detail put me through the labor-intensive process without any breakdowns, while the truffle oil and white wine made the dish feel way fancier than it was. Those kinds of small tweaks throughout the week made doing the dishes after feel like less of a chore.

Luckily, another night was a basic grilled veggie platter with hummus and other dips, so I wasn't totally exhausted every night. It's not that these recipes were hard to find on their own or in many cookbooks, but the AI did make the process feel like it was customized to my preferences and overall schedule.

Kitchen nightmares

I committed to following every recipe that ChatGPT provided (barring any obvious poisons), but that almost led to me aborting the whole experiment on day two when my inexperience led to a disastrous sweet potato curry. The description of a hearty, spiced dish sounded great, but I ignored how the recipe called for way too much garam masala and cayenne. It seemed like a lot even to me at the time, but the success of the fish lulled me, and I went along with it. I like spice, but after one bite, my taste buds went dead, and I couldn't speak for hours. It might have been okay after scraping off the sauce, but the cooking time for the sweet potatoes was also off. Biting down released shards of potato that scraped my mouth just in time for the cayenne to really get in there.

I recovered, and all seemed well until the final night when I thought a dairy-free baked ziti sounded easy and fun. The AI apparently didn't understand how plant-based cheeses behave when baked. The result was a grainy, unappetizing texture that made the entire dish feel like a chore to eat. Adding to the disappointment, the AI recommended mixing the marinara sauce with nutritional yeast, which created a bland, oddly bitter flavor profile. It looked fine coming out of the oven, but that first bite was all I needed to know it was a failure.

Leftovers

(Image credit: Future)

The experiment cemented some of my opinions of AI in the kitchen for good and ill. As AI is now, you can definitely benefit from employing it as a helper. But only as a helper, not as the final word. Clear, detailed prompts are crucial if you have a specific idea of the kind of dish you want. But don't throw away your recipe books. AI is not a replacement for human chefs making a menu. You can and should trust your instincts and make adjustments if you think it makes sense. Perhaps dialing down the cayenne or looking up how to best use substitute ingredients. Still, as inspiration and culinary tryouts, you could do worse than popping a chef's hat on ChatGPT.

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• SecurityScorecard report finds most EU firms experienced a third-party data breach in 2024
• Scandinavian countries fared best, French fared worst
• Businesses should prioritize third-party risk next year, researchers warn

Third-party data breaches have emerged as one of the biggest threats to cybersecurity for organizations in the European Union, new research has claimed.

A SecurityScorecard report took Europe’s top 100 companies and analyzed factors such as network security, malware infections, endpoint security, patching cadence, application security, and DNS health.

It found virtually all European companies (98%) had experienced a third-party breach in the last year, meaning that practically every organization has had a partner company that was exposed. Although SecurityScorecard did not discuss it, it’s safe to assume that at least some of these organizations suffered some operational disruptions due to these breaches, especially since “just” 18% of companies reported direct breaches in the past year.

Prioritizing risks

Looking at individual verticals, SecurityScorecard says that transport was the most secure sector with no companies with low scores. On the other end of the spectrum is the energy industry, with 75% of organizations scored C or lower (A being best, and F being worst). Furthermore, a quarter (25%) reported experiencing direct breaches.

Scandinavian, British, and German firms were reported as most secure, while France had the highest rate of third- and fourth-party vendor breaches (98% and 100% respectively).

For Ryan Sherstobitoff, SVP of Threat Research and Intelligence at SecurityScorecard, prioritizing third-party risk management should be a priority for all EU firms, especially with DORA right around the corner.

The DORA legislation, short for the Digital Operational Resilience Act, is a new regulatory framework from the European Union designed to enhance the cybersecurity and operational resilience of financial institutions. With it, banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and other entities in the financial sector should be more resilient to disruptions, cyberattacks, and similar incidents.

The legislation is expected to come into full effect on January 17, 2025.

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Apple's most fantastic piece of hardware, the future-leaning Vision Pro, is not a success; not, at least, when measured on customer interest and market penetration.

Throughout the year we've seen reports of flat sales and scaled-back production, though zero confirmation from Apple of sales numbers. The Cupertino tech giant mostly talks about developer support, the growing number of Vision Pro apps, spatial computing content, and third-party partner support. Most recently, Apple touted a $29,000 Blackmagic camera for shooting Vision Pro spatial movies. That price tag makes more sense when you consider that the Vision Pro still costs $3,499 / £3,499 / AU$5,999.

As I've written from the start of my Vision Pro journey, I love this headset. It's a spectacular mixed-reality experience that's as useful for watching immersive movies as it is for productivity, where you can have a vast desktop of apps floating around your head. It's as intuitive as anything Apple has ever built, and spatial photography and videography trigger emotions you didn't think could be triggered by consumer electronics.

It's also a system hamstrung by humanity – we're not built to shut themselves off from each other. Wearing these goggles in the home elicits groans and serious side-eyes from family members and partners. I enjoyed the massive workspace in the office, but my coworkers thought I looked insane. Apple's efforts at virtual me staring back at friends, coworkers, and loved ones through the headset were also poorly received. I couldn't find anyone who wasn't turned off by my recreated gaze.

Even those people who are inspired by the Vision Pro idea could barely afford it for the most part. $3,500 is not an "everyone" price, it's a "rarified few" one. I got a sense that Vision Pro wasn't taking a spot in homes in the US, and later around the world, when every time I wrote about the headset six people read the story. If we write about the best iPhone (any make, model, or rumor) everyone reads it. The Vision Pro can't generate a fraction of the interest.

I believe in the Vision Pro and the technology inside it. It's truly unlike anything else on the market or that I've experienced before, but it can't survive like this. Apple will surely be making some tough decisions in 2025. If, however, it wants the Vision Pro to survive, and not go the way of the Newton or even the original HomePod, I have some notes.

Apple Vision Pro at launch (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Reduce the price

This is obvious, but it also means Apple taking a position it rarely does with hardware: a loss. It costs a lot to build the Vision Pro (one estimate puts it at over $1,540), with the high-end displays maybe accounting for a third of that price. If Apple is not swapping out components (more on that later), it should simply cut the price by more than half and take the hit. Yes, each Vision Pro it sells in 2025 might cost it some money, but think of the millions who might buy it.

Apple's growth is no longer built on hardware like the iPhone alone. It has a huge and rapidly growing services business, whereby you pay a monthly fee for access to iCloud storage, Apple TV Plus, Music, Fitness Plus, News, and so on. Apple customers buy more services when they have more Apple gadgets… you can see where this is going. Most of Apple's service experiences, like Apple TV Plus, are even better on a device like the Vision Pro, so this should represent a short-term loss that leads to a bigger long-term gain.

Swap out materials and components

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

What if the expected Vision Pro 2 features a plastic cover instead of glass? Does it need brushed aluminum? What if Apple does away with the displays driving the creepy EyeSight feature? And maybe the resolution of the pricey display system could be lowered just a bit.

Apple should look at all the ways it can reduce build costs without ruining the Vision Pro experience. I know that's a tall order, but the Vision Pro sometimes feels a bit overbuilt. To be fair, Apple did this because it was launching a new class of computing: spatial computing. The problem is that few others were buying the concept. Most consumers are still happy with regular old computing. To get them excited about it they need a cheaper Vision Pro, so fewer and cheaper materials and components might be one option.

Ship an Apple Vision Lite

Rumors point to Vision Pro Lite arriving next year or the year after. If Apple is smart, it will tease a $1,500 Vision Pro Lite no later than March – disinterested consumers won't wait around for a late 2025 or 2026 launch. Apple needs to deliver affordable and usable Lite units fast enough to reboot the Vision Pro brand and finally start sucking in millions of new customers.

Unveil Apple Vision AR glasses

How does this help the Vision Pro? If these new lightweight Apple AR-only wearables are seen as part of the Vision Pro family, and they cost between $799 and $1,200, they might trigger a halo effect. Excitement and even some FOMO around the glasses could launch renewed interest in the overpriced mixed-reality headset, especially if the glasses also run visionOS and offer seamless integration with Vision Pro.

Bundle Vision Pro with the iPhone 16 Pro Max 1 TB model

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

An iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage costs $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,849. That's a hefty mobile investment, and a signal to Apple that you are a devoted customer. What if when you buy that smartphone, Apple offers you a Vision Pro for an extra $599? That's far from free, but it is a massive discount for Apple's best-paying customers. Most people are buying the largest iPhone, and some might consider paying extra for all that storage if it also gave them access to a heavily discounted Vision Pro. I think Apple would be surprised at how many headsets it would end up moving.

There's no perfect answer for how to save the Vision Pro, but I am certain that the solution revolves mostly around price. I think there are actually millions who would love to try the Vision Pro, but who see the price tag as a huge barrier and move on. Put the Vision Pro in reach of the masses, Apple, and you'll change the market equation, and save the Vision Pro in 2025.

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New year's resolutions are just the kind of chore you don't need after a week of relaxing excess – so this year we're committing to 'tech resolutions' instead.

These friendlier, less intimidating commitments involve using gadgets or apps to nudge your life in the right direction. Or they can simply help you survive the brutal month that is January. Best of all, they all involve tech.

The tech resolutions below don't involve giving up indulgences or hitting gyms. Instead, they're a mix of ideas from the TechRadar team on how they'll be using gadgets, apps or a mix of the two to try new hobbies, save money or just have a blast with new board game discoveries in early 2025.

There are guides on how to slash your streaming bills, set up your iPhone 16 to take better photos in 2025, and use Notion to plan your new year. But there are also fun side quests, like how to rediscover the joy of CDs and one writer's advice on the best cheap gadgets to raise your bread-making game.

Whichever part of your tech life needs a shot of new year's enthusiasm, you'll find some valuable nuggets of advice below. And if it inevitably all goes wrong, you can always blame the gadgets...

The money savers 1. I'm slashing my streaming bills by 71% in 2025 with subscription hopping – here's how

(Image credit: Netflix / Disney+ / Amazon Prime Video)

Our streaming bills have quickly become bigger than Elon Musk's ego – it's time to take action. TechRadar contributor Esat Dedezade has broken down how he's embracing 'subscription hopping' in 2025 to save hundreds on his bills.

The tactic involves a little planning, but fortunately we've done all of that for you – including a 'cheat sheet' that shows all of the biggest shows landing on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and more in the first few months of 2025, so you can quickly create your own plan. Trust us, you'll feel extremely smug afterwards.

• Read the full story: I'm slashing my streaming bills by 71% in 2025 with subscription hopping – here's how

2. I review EVs for a living – here are 5 ways I'm cutting my charging bills in 2025

(Image credit: Leon Poultney / Getty Images)

Owning an EV can be an expensive business, not least because of pesky depreciation. But whether you've bought new or second-hand, there is one thing you can control – charging costs.

TechRadar's EV expert Leon Poultney, who spends roughly 72% of his life on the road in electric cars, has broken down all of his top tips for saving cash on EV charging in 2025. And no, it doesn't involve buying a solar farm.

• Read the full story: I review EVs for a living – here are 5 ways I'm slashing my charging bills in 2025

3. YouTube Premium is the only digital subscription I'm keeping for the whole of 2025 – here's why

(Image credit: Google / YouTube)

YouTube Premium has so many hidden benefits that it may well be the best-value streaming subscription out there. That's the compelling argument made by TechRadar contributor David Nield, who describes why it's the only digital subscription he's keeping for the whole of 2025.

As he describes, YouTube Premium isn't just about getting respite from ads (although that is one major benefit). It also brings a host of bonus, like YouTube Music – which could convince you to ditch a separate music streaming service.

• Read the full story: YouTube Premium is the only digital subscription I'm keeping for the whole of 2025 – here's why

The life upgraders 4. Why I’m skipping the PS5 Pro in 2025 and upgrading my gaming PC instead

(Image credit: Sony / Shutterstock / Skrypnykov Dmytro)

Our PS5 Pro review was enough to convince TechRadar contributor Darren Allan to skip the console and make a different gaming plan for 2025 – and it involves cables.

That's because this particular Plan B is built around hooking up a gaming PC in another room to a living room TV. A not inconsiderable task, but one that means saving lots of cash on a PS5 Pro – and ultimately creating a better gaming setup.

• Read the full story: Why I’m skipping the PS5 Pro in 2025 and upgrading my gaming PC instead

5. I’m swapping Spotify for CDs in 2025 with the affordable Fiio DM13 – here’s why

(Image credit: FiiO)

Do you have a tower of dusty CDs at home that audibly grumble every time you open Spotify? So does TechRadar contributor and CD hoarder Tom Wiggins, but he has a plan to put that right in 2025.

The Fiio DM13, a modern Discman tribute act, is the key to this particular tech resolution. And it means riding the mid-90s comeback and living like it's the height of Britpop, with even better sound quality.

• Read the full story: I’m swapping Spotify for CDs in 2025 with the affordable Fiio DM13 – here’s why

The tech optimizers 6. I’m a photographer – 5 ways to set up your iPhone 16 to take great photos in 2025

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

Looking to take better photos with your iPhone in 2025? This guide from TechRadar's former cameras editor will help set you up.

While it's mainly focused on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro (including their new Camera Control button), a lot of the tips also apply to older iPhones that are running iOS 18.

It's now possible to get the experience and results of a traditional compact camera from your iPhone – here's how to do it.

• Read the full story: I’m a photographer – 5 ways to set up your iPhone 16 to take great photos in 2025

7. 5 reasons why I'm finally upgrading to Windows 11 in January

(Image credit: Shutterstock / mundissima)

Yes, it's finally time – Windows 11 might be a magnet for online criticism (justifiably so, in many cases), but TechRadar computing writer Darren Allan explains why he's going to be upgrading to Microsoft's OS as the new year begins.

And no, it isn't just because the sands of time are running out for Windows 10 – there are also now positive reasons to upgrade, including some much-needed interface improvements.

• Read the full story: 5 reasons why I'm finally upgrading to Windows 11 in January

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• Many organizations using Postman workspaces are putting their data at risk
• Researchers found tens of thousands of publicly accessible workspaces leaking data
• The data leaked is includes sensitive information about third-party API

Many organizations using Postman workspaces are putting their data, employees, customers, and partners at risk, due to various misconfigurations, experts have warned.

CloudSEK’s Triad team uncovered more than 30,000 publicly accessible Postman workspaces leaking sensitive information.

For those unfamiliar with Postman, it is a collaborative platform for API development, often used as a public workspace for creating, testing, sharing, and managing APIs. It provides tools for developers to streamline the API lifecycle, from design and testing to documentation and deployment.

Widespread misconfigurations

CloudSEK said these tens of thousands of publicly accessible workspaces were leaking sensitive information about third-party API, including access tokens, refresh tokens, and third-party API keys. Sensitive information uncovered includes administrator credentials, payment processing API keys, and access to internal systems.

Companies of all shapes and sizes were leaking data, from SMBs to large enterprises, the researchers further said. Some owners of the leaked API keys and access tokens are still unidentified, since inadequate permissions and API limitation prevented researchers from identifying them.

Major platforms impacted include GitHub (5,924 exposures), Slack (5,552), and Salesforce (4,206), while most exposed sectors include healthcare, athletic apparel, and financial services.

The misconfigurations are widespread, CloudSEK says, adding that organizations are exposed to “significant security risks”, which includes “severe financial and reputational damage.”

“Postman workspaces often contain sensitive data, including API keys, tokens, credentials, and documentation,” the researchers said. “When mishandled, this data becomes a treasure trove for malicious actors capable of exploiting vulnerabilities for financial fraud, data breaches, and reputational damage.”

CloudSEK said it reported most of the incidents to its respective organizations, but did not discuss how many responded, and how. It did say that Postman implemented new security measures, which include proactive secret detection and user notifications when sensitive data is found in public workspaces.

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• 96-core ThreadRipper was paired with two Nvidia H100 NVL GPU with 188GB memory
• Last month, Comino announced it was taking preorders for Nvidia's next generation GPU
• Comino unveiled an AMD workstation with six RTX 4090 GPU in early 2024

Comino, known for its liquid-cooled systems, recently released the Grando H100 Server, a high-performance solution tailored for AI and HPC workloads.

This new model features an AMD Threadripper PRO 7995WX processor, boasting 96 cores and 192 threads. Based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, the CPU supports up to 2TB of DDR5 memory, delivering generous bandwidth for large-scale data processing and computational tasks.

The processor, in this configuration, is paired with dual Nvidia H100 NVL GPUs, equipped with 94GB of memory each, for a whopping 188GB of GPU memory. The system is built around the ASUS SAGE WRX90 motherboard, which provides ample PCIe Gen5 lanes for GPUs and high-speed storage.

An excellent choice for enterprises and professionals

To maintain optimal thermal performance, the Grando H100 incorporates Comino’s advanced liquid cooling system. This features a centralized water block and quick-disconnect fittings, simplifying maintenance and minimizing the risk of leaks.

This efficient cooling design not only ensures stability under heavy workloads but also operates with reduced noise. For enterprise reliability, the server includes four 1600W redundant power supplies.

StorageReview, which tested Comino’s Grando Server and a workstation with six RTX 4090 GPUs earlier this year, describing them as “prime examples of GPU-driven performance systems done right,” benchmarked the new server and came away with mixed results.

As you'd expect, the Grando H100 excelled in AI-driven computational workflows and CPU-intensive tasks. In tests like Blender’s multi-core rendering, 7-Zip compression, and Y-Cruncher, it easily outperformed competing systems. However, the system’s performance in traditional rendering benchmarks, such as Luxmark and OctaneBench, saw the server lagging behind systems equipped with GPUs which are optimized for those tasks.

Summing up its findings, StorageReview noted, “Overall, the Comino Grando H100 is an excellent choice for enterprises and professionals prioritizing AI optimization, computational tasks, and reliability in demanding environments. Its unique design and cooling innovations offer flexibility and performance for AI-driven workloads. However, alternative configurations like the RTX 4090-equipped Grando Server or RTX 6000 Ada-powered systems may be more suitable for users focused on traditional GPU rendering.”

We’re still eagerly awaiting a review of the Grando Server equipped with eight Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs, which Comino announced previously and is taking pre-orders for, but sadly there is still no sign of any benchmarks for that particular powerhouse.

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• Researchers spot North Korean threat actors engaging in fake job scams
• The attacks seek to deploy the OtterCookie malware
• This malware steals sensitive information

North Korean hackers aren’t giving up on their fake job scams, it seems, as experts found they have added more malware variants, diversifying the tools used in the campaign that’s now almost three years old.

Cybersecurity researchers from NTT Security Japan revealed a North Korean threat actor engaged in a campaign dubbed “Contagious Interview”.

The campaign has been extensively covered by multiple researchers, and most media. The crooks would create a fake job opening, as well as a number of fake social media accounts. Then, they would target software developers, or other high-profile individuals (such as people working in the aerospace, defense, or government sectors), and offer exciting and lucrative new job opportunities.

OtterCookie

The campaign was first spotted in 2022, and is believed to be operated by Lazarus Group - a known state-sponsored threat actor from North Korea. In the latest report, NTT Security Japan claims to have seen the group deploying more than the usual malware variants - BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret.

This time, they’re using malware called OtterCookie. This one is capable of reconnaissance (grabbing system information, for example), data theft (cryptocurrency wallet keys, images, documents, and other high-value files), and clipboard poisoning.

Lazarus is known for targeting primarily web3 (blockchain) businesses, and stealing cryptocurrency. The novel technology is valuable for the criminals, since the stolen money is almost impossible to recover. This group was seen targeting multiple businesses in the past, running away with hundreds of millions of dollars in different cryptos.

It is also best known for running fake job campaigns, targeting not just businesses, but also individual software developers. Its operatives were observed creating fake personas and applying for positions, but also using the fake identities to approach professionals. In all scenarios, the crooks would try to deploy infostealing malware and grab their sensitive data.

Via BleepingComputer

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Do calisthenics at home and train your upper body and core muscles with our top picks of pull-up bars.

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Not long after their September announcement, I got my mitts on some entry-level Apple AirPods 4. To clarify, I didn't get the step-up set with ANC (that would be the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation) but someone did grant me a pair of Apple's latest entry-level option.

I've linked to our full review in the paragraph above but my potted review is this: using my iPhone and Apple Music for Apple's Personalised Spatial Audio (you can toggle it on or off in iPhone settings, via the AirPods tab) is great fun. It opens out Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club like you wouldn't believe, making it feel as if the keys are below my chin as Roan snakes between each ear. Sadly, to get this effect, you pay a hefty price: detail. The AirPods 4's performance often feels bloated through the mids, a little flat dynamically and occasionally too warm to be considered good.

(Image credit: Future)

As any listener (or reader) using an AirPods-and-iPhone combo knows, the sound is only part of the story, though. They pair perfectly with my Apple phone with a pop-up as soon as I flip open the case. They pause the music when I remove one bud, and actually, I quite like the new gesture controls – even though you have to be quite pronounced with your movements (and I used to be a dancer, I know about pronounced movement).

I also like that even though there's no ANC, deploying Personalised Volume adjusts the volume of my tunes according to the noisiness of my immediate surroundings. And while the on-ear controls aren't exactly comprehensive (I struggle to alter the volume by stroking the stems, no matter how hard I try), you can tweak how you answer calls.

But it's not one of these ease-of-use perks that has me grabbing them over the selection of other earbuds on my desk, right before I leave the house.

(Image credit: Future) When space is at a premium, small is beautiful

Don't get me wrong, I don't think this earpiece design makes AirPods 4 as good a pick as some of the best earbuds for small ears, although I do like the fact that there's no ear-tip faff; they either fit or they don't. This is Apple's newest 'open ear' fit based on a lot of ear-mapping research. For me, they're a little flatter, wider, and harder to accommodate comfortably, but this is a personal issue.

What is beautifully small is the case, which carries through to the packaging. And it's very easy to underestimate how much I want that. I think we all do. Chiefly, we want earbuds that offer a degree of comfort, a reliable connection, and a super-small-but-sturdy case we can chuck in a jeans pocket. Et voila, you have the key to AirPods 4's success.

The 'open ear' design on the left won't suit all buyers, but the tiny case will (Image credit: Future)

I cannot tell you how many times over the past four months my hand has hovered over bigger, better, more expensive earbuds on my testing desk. Then, as my brain considered the jacket I'm wearing or the smaller purse I'm hoping to get away with today, that same hand instead grabbed the AirPods 4.

I've tried to put the case and packaging beside the AirPods Pro 2's for scale throughout this piece, but it's still hard to explain until you've held the AirPods 4 in your hand. A case this size is like a box of dental floss; you really ought to take it with you – it's good for you and hardly takes up any room.

(Image credit: Future)

So, despite the notable loss of detail in audio tracks, I like AirPods 4. They're just so agreeable to use and inconsequential when slipped into a pocket! OK, so they're not making it into my best earbuds buying guide on account of the fuller feature sets, better device agnostic support, and inclusion of active noise cancellation other manufacturers offer for the same money. But that doesn't mean I can't commend Apple for the bijou design here, which, honestly, I hope other brands try to emulate. (Then again this is Apple, so they usually do…)

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• All four iPhone 17 models could get LTPO screens
• The update would mean 120Hz refresh rates
• An always-on mode would also be available

Next year we'll see Apple unveiling the iPhone 17 – most probably around September time – and a new leak suggests that for the first time, all four models in the iPhone series will be given the same high refresh rate displays.

This comes from well-known tipster Digital Chat Station (via @Jukanlosreve), and backs up earlier rumors that this upgrade was indeed on the way. The prediction is apparently based on information from Apple's supply chain.

As our iPhone 16 review and our iPhone 16 Pro review will tell you, the standard model and Plus model have 60Hz displays, while the Pro and Pro Max models up that to 120Hz – via a technology Apple refers to as ProMotion.

ProMotion not only ups the maximum refresh rate for smoother motion and animations, it also enables variable refresh rate – which means always-on mode can be enabled for the lock screen without any worries about battery life.

Repeated rumors

Cook has finally shown some mercy.It’s been reported through the supply chain that the standard iPhone 17 model will finally support a high refresh rate. pic.twitter.com/ojt4L5Q8aEDecember 28, 2024

Rumors about 120Hz screens have been swirling since back in February, which makes us more confident that this upgrade is indeed on the way. Technically, the display tech in question is called LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide).

With LTPO, there would be less of a difference between the Pro and non-Pro iPhone models, and it would mean the iPhone would catch up with Android phones – the majority of which left 60Hz refresh rates behind a long time ago.

The Pro models got 120Hz LTPO tech with the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which launched in 2021. If the upgrade does indeed arrive with the iPhone 17, then we'll have been waiting four years for it to arrive.

Before the iPhone 17 arrives, we should see the iPhone SE 4 launched by Apple, perhaps around March time. While the handset is predicted to be getting a major redesign that ditches the Touch ID button, it's unlikely to have an LTPO display attached.

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These WIRED-tested two-wheelers will help you scoot scoot scoot around town.

Everybody hates Windows 11, right? Okay, that’s unnecessarily harsh, but if you browse around a few popular online forums, it’s an opinion you’ll certainly see expressed here and there. It’s definitely true that Windows 11 remains somewhat unloved, and adoption of the OS has lagged way behind the speed with which PC owners jumped on the Windows 10 bandwagon.

However, Windows 11 is far from a bad operating system – this is no Windows 8 or Windows ME – and in fact it has a good few strengths. And as far as I’m concerned, the time is right to upgrade as next year rolls in, due to two main factors.

Firstly, the sands of time are running out for support in 2025. And secondly, Windows 11 24H2 has just brought in some nifty introductions. There are other reasons why I’ve decided to make the leap and migrate to Windows 11 as the New Year begins, so let’s dive in and explore them.

1. It’s time to act, while there’s still plenty of time

(Image credit: Microsoft)

As next year begins, Windows 10 only has nine months left to live, or just over. On October 14, 2025, Microsoft stops support, meaning no more security (or feature) updates. You’re then potentially vulnerable to freshly uncovered exploits, as they won’t be patched.

So if, like me, you’ve been thinking of upgrading to Windows 11 at some point – but have just been putting it off – do so no longer. You could wait for another six months or so, but then you’re looking at cutting it fine, if any unforeseen problems crop up. So my thinking is just get it done straight off the bat as the New Year starts, and put any necessary tinkering in place.

In my case, that simply means enabling TPM 2.0 in the BIOS (which I, in criminally lazy fashion, just haven’t got round to doing yet). I should note here that your PC may not offer you an upgrade to Windows 11, saying that the device isn’t compatible.

However, if you have a relatively modern PC (bought in the last five years or so), odds are it’s fine, and like me, you just need to enable the TPM feature in your BIOS. Use the PC Health Check app to find out if your Windows 10 machine is eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11 – you may need to enable TPM 2.0 (here are Microsoft’s instructions for doing that).

If you can’t upgrade to Windows 11 due to having too old a CPU, or no built-in firmware TPM that you can enable, head to our Windows 10 End of Life guide to explore your various other options.

2. Windows 11’s interface is now much better

(Image credit: diy13 via Shutterstock)

When Windows 11 first came out in October 2021, the interface failed in some key aspects for me.

The lack of ‘never combine’ for apps in the taskbar was a dealbreaker for starters – that’s my workflow, I don’t want my instances of, say, Chrome windows all stacked up together, thanks. There were plenty of other shortcomings on this front (no taskbar drag-and-drop functionality is another obvious example) that all added up to some major roadblocks on ‘Route 11’ for me.

The good thing is that over the past few years, most of those niggles and quirks around Windows 11’s UI have been resolved, and interface-wise for me, Route 11 is now clear of obstructions.

3. Windows 11 24H2 is another sizable step forward, too

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Windows 11 24H2 arrived at the start of October 2024, and took some important strides forward in making the OS better. Version 24H2 is actually built on an all-new underlying platform – Germanium – which means that while there aren’t a huge number of visible changes from 23H2, there’s a lot of innovation under the hood.

The results? Windows 11 24H2 benefits from tighter levels of security, which can never be a bad thing (Windows 11 was already ahead of the game compared to Windows 10 in this respect).

And more noticeably, it’s more performant thanks to Germanium, too. Or at least there are plenty of anecdotal reports that Windows 11 is snappier and generally more responsive with 24H2 installed.

So with that new version rolling out more widely in the New Year, it seems a good bet to get on board and (hopefully) enjoy those benefits.

4. It could save me some money

(Image credit: Future)

Another potential benefit I’m keen to explore is the new Energy Saver feature the 24H2 update introduced.

This is an upgraded version of the previous Battery Saver functionality, and an important addition is the ability to enable it with a desktop PC. Now, I’m upgrading to Windows 11 on a desktop, and the idea will be to run Energy Saver in order to keep power usage down even on a PC that’s plugged into the mains (Battery Saver, as the name suggests, was more about laptop longevity).

I don’t know how Energy Saver will work out exactly, but if it can save me a bit of money on my power bill – and I don’t see why it wouldn’t – that’ll be a big plus point, particularly in this age of price-hiked utility charges.

5. Windows 24H2 has other nifty features too

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Melnikov Dmitriy)

As further (albeit more minor) upgrade carrots, it’s worth bearing in mind that Windows 11 24H2 introduced some other useful features.

They include built-in support for multiple compression formats (not just basic ZIPs), cumulative updates being installed faster, and Wi-Fi 7 support (if you’ve made the jump with your router and PC).

There are also some extra AI tricks such as Voice Clarity, which dampens background noise so you sound clearer on video calls – previously this was for Copilot+ PCs only.

Closing thought: Beware of the bugs?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

While I’ve outlined the pros of Windows 11 24H2 as reasons to grab the OS now – and for me, there’s enough to push me towards that upgrade button during January – there are some potential cons.

You may have seen reports of version 24H2 carrying more than its fair share of bugs, and that’s true. Indeed, there have been way too many of these, and some truly odd mishaps to boot, perhaps because of that big shift under the hood to Germanium.

However, as January 2024’s monthly patch rolls around, I’m hoping Microsoft will have contained the worst offenders (a bunch of cures have already been deployed).

And of course, if you have a PC with a hardware or software configuration which may be prone to a known glitch, you won’t get 24H2 rolled out to you anyway. It’ll only arrive when the relevant bugs that would cause you trouble are fixed, so in that case, it’s just a matter of being patient, and hopefully not for long.

At any rate, Windows 11 24H2 is still in the earlier stages of its phased rollout, with the floodgates not yet fully open, so you may have to be patient anyway – but it should arrive soon enough in 2025 for the majority of PCs.

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• Phone-based maps outperform the traditional Klobuchar ionospheric model globally
• Underserved regions like Africa benefit from enhanced ionosphere data
• Geomagnetic storms are tracked with high precision using smartphone networks

Mapping the ionosphere is critical for improving the accuracy of navigation systems, but existing methods face significant limitations. While ground-based GNSS stations provide detailed maps of ionospheric total electron content (TEC), their coverage is uneven, leaving large gaps in underserved regions.

Now, researchers from Google Research, Mountain View, CA, USA, have demonstrated an innovative solution utilizing millions of Android smartphones as a distributed network of sensors in a study published in Nature.

Despite being less precise than traditional instruments, these devices effectively double the measurement coverage, offering accurate ionosphere data and addressing longstanding infrastructure disparities.

The Ionosphere’s influence on navigation

The ionosphere, a layer of ionized plasma extending from 50 to 1,500 km above Earth, significantly impacts Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals by introducing positioning errors. However, traditional ground-based GNSS stations, while precise, suffer from limited spatial coverage and leave underserved regions vulnerable to inaccuracies.

The research from Google Research capitalizes on the billions of smartphones equipped with dual-frequency GNSS receivers to address coverage gaps. Unlike conventional GNSS stations, smartphones are mobile, widely distributed, and capable of capturing vast amounts of data.

By aggregating and averaging measurements from millions of devices, researchers achieved accuracy comparable to dedicated monitoring stations, even resolving phenomena like solar storms and plasma density structures.

Android’s GNSS API facilitated the collection of satellite signal data, such as travel times and frequencies, which were then used to estimate the ionospheric total electron content (TEC).

The study showed that while individual phone measurements are noisier than those from monitoring stations, their collective data provided robust and reliable results.

Comparisons showed the phone-based TEC model outperformed existing methods like the Klobuchar model, widely used in mobile phones.

Using data from Android phones, the researchers doubled the measurement coverage of the ionosphere compared to traditional methods, and were able to map plasma bubbles over India and South America and storm-enhanced density over North America during a geomagnetic storm in May 2024.

They also observed mid-latitude troughs over Europe and equatorial anomalies - a phenomena previously inaccessible due to sparse station coverage.

Notably, regions like India, South America, and Africa, often underserved by traditional monitoring networks, benefited significantly from this approach, which produced real-time, high-resolution TEC maps.

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