Technology

• Data from unlicensed Microsoft OneDrive accounts will be archived after 93 days beginning this month
• After a further 93 days, it will be deleted forever
• Act quickly (and pay a fee) to restore access

Back in August 2024, Microsoft warned users with unlicensed OneDrive cloud storage accounts that they would be locked after a period of inactivity to improve security.

The change is on track to come in on January 27, 2025, with OneDrive data from unlicensed accounts which have been inactive for 93 days set to be removed or archived.

Such accounts typically come about when individuals leave an organization, if a user is deleted from the SharePoint admin center or if an admin revokes a user’s license.

Unlicensed OneDrive account holders, beware

Prior to the change, organizations were able to retain data for free by disabling accounts and removing licenses, however Microsoft has decided this is a security and compliance risk and will therefore be enforcing its new policy later this month.

After 93 days, affected data will move to the recycle bin. After a further 93 days in the recycle bin, the data will be permanently deleted.

Retention policies or legal holds on data from unlicensed accounts will cause the data to be archived rather than permanently deleted, however organizations will be charged $0.60/GB to regain access and a $0.05/GB monthly fee thereafter.

A help article details the process of setting up an Azure subscription in Syntex pay-as-you-go, and notes it could take up to 24 hours for the data to become accessible again. Reactivated accounts will remain active for a further 30 days before being automatically archived again.

The company confirmed: “Archived OneDrive accounts fully honor retention policies, settings, and litigation holds.” Changes to retention policies will also be reflected in archived accounts.

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People in Venezuela have increasingly turned to VPN services, yet again, as authorities restrict access to TikTok.

Proton VPN confirmed to TechRadar that sign-ups across the country have spiked 350% so far, and usage is still increasing at the time of writing (see graph below).

This surge comes as TikTok is being disrupted in Venezuela, "following a pattern of daily multi-hour restrictions from midnight," internet watchdog NetBlocks reported today, January 8, 2025. The block comes because the popular Chinese video-sharing app failed to comply with the eight-day deadline issued by Venezuela's Supreme Court to appoint a local representative.

. (Image credit: Proton)

This isn't the first time, however, that Venezuela restricts access to a popular social media app.

In August, President Nicolás Maduro banned X for 10 days over a public row with owner Elon Musk, while calling for a boycott on WhatsApp. At that time, Maduro also said the social media platform was used to incite violence and create political unrest – the Guardian reported.

Multiple websites were reportedly blocked in the aftermath of Venezuela's presidential elections, too, as protests contesting the results sparked across the country at the end of July.

Do you know?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts your internet connections, while also spoofing your real IP address location. The latter skill is exactly what's needed to bypass restrictions like those in place in Venezuela right now.

"During this period, Proton VPN became a lifeline for many Venezuelans seeking access to accurate information on the internet," a Proton spokesperson told TechRadar.

Over the summer, Proton VPN usage in Venezuela skyrocketed to 51,000% over baseline "making Proton VPN the most downloaded app in the country on Google Play," the expert added.

As citizens turned en masse to these circumventing tools, authorities began targeting VPN usage. Some Proton VPN users, for example, first lamented difficulties accessing their VPN apps ahead of the election. In response, the provider expanded its server capacity to better support Venezuelans' needs.

What's behind Venezuela's TikTok ban?

Venezuela's TikTok block comes a week after the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) fined the social network $10 million for not imposing measures to prevent the spread of viral challenges. These videos are thought to have allegedly led to the deaths of three Venezuelan children recently.

As the Associated Press reported, Judge Tania D’Amelio did not explain how the country expects to force China-based ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to pay the fine.

Among the judge's requests, there is also the requirement for TikTok to open an office within the country to ensure that all shared content complies with local laws.

I got a look at TiVo's smart TV operating system, which aims to compete with Roku and Google. It's coming to the US in a new Sharp LCD.

• Koorui G7 monitor has been demoed on the show floor at CES 2025
• It uses a TN panel (rather than IPS) to hit that 750Hz refresh rate
• It also offers a 0.5ms response time and more impressive color accuracy than expected with a TN screen

CES 2025 has witnessed a clutch of announcements for gaming monitors that push super-high refresh rates, and we have a new champion on the Hertz battlefield – a 750Hz screen, no less.

This is the Koorui G7 which is being aired at CES as a 24.5-inch Full HD gaming monitor with a refresh rate of 750Hz coupled with a 0.5ms response time.

Koorui, a Chinese vendor you may not have heard of – but will likely be hearing more about – already has quite a number of compellingly priced gaming monitors out there, although naturally, a 750Hz screen won’t come cheap.

The company actually announced the Koorui G7 before CES, but we’ve just got a glimpse of it on the show floor courtesy of a video uploaded to the firm’s YouTube channel – check it out below (you get a brief look at the G7 at the start of the clip – hit the pause button).

Aside from the 750Hz refresh rate, other key specs of the G7 include HDR400 support and 95% DCI-P3 coverage, the latter being impressive seeing as this is a TN panel. Typically, color representation is a weak point of TN compared to IPS (which most monitors still are these days), so it seems Koorui is trying to make sure that the G7 doesn’t fall (too) flat in this respect. (TN panels are a strong choice for gaming monitors due to their inherently fast response times and ability to hit high refresh rates, as we certainly see here – but not their color accuracy, vibrance, or viewing angles).

The Koorui G7 comes with all the usual trimmings, such as a low blue light mode, flicker-free tech, and ergonomics that include height adjustment, tilt and swivel. You’ll also get three HDMI 2.1 ports alongside a DisplayPort 1.4 connector.

Koorui is part of HKC, a display giant over in China, and it’s expected that this monitor will be released at some stage in 2025 (at least in Asia – and hopefully elsewhere around the world, too).

Analysis: Refreshingly pointless?

We’ve already seen new 600Hz monitors at CES 2025 (from MSI and BenQ) which equal the existing 600Hz effort from Acer, the Nitro XV240 F6, a monitor that’s now out in China, and will come to the US and Europe soon.

However, those panels have already been outgunned by this 750Hz effort, and by a long way. The obvious question, though, with these kind of high-end gaming monitors is: how far do we need to go with colossal refresh rates? Isn’t 750Hz getting silly?

Well, we’ve argued in the past that 600Hz is getting into rather ridiculous territory, so 750Hz most certainly is. Will the difference between 600Hz and 750Hz even be noticeable to the average human eye? It won’t, frankly, and as you climb further up the high refresh rate ladder, towards the dizzying heights of 1000Hz (that’ll happen soon enough, no doubt), there are very much diminishing returns.

These displays are really for the top level of competitive gamers out there. For starters, you need to be able to afford a gaming PC to push 600 or 750 frames per second to match that refresh rate (and do so consistently – or ideally as a baseline, even). And even with the less demanding esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, which are made to run smoothly and slickly by keeping the visuals relatively tame, that’s a tricky ask for anything less than a fully-tooled-up hyper-expensive gaming PC.

It is perhaps true that the most skilled pro gamers out there might be able to discern a difference in, say, a 500Hz panel (which OLEDs are now reaching, incidentally) versus a 600Hz or 750Hz monitor. That’d be in terms of the feel of the gameplay – thanks to the smoother and more consistent delivery of frames (better frame time) provided by a superfast refresh rate display. But us mere mortals are not going to perceive this ever-so-slightly steadier nature of a refresh rate beast of a screen.

Still, big numbers are always fun to see, and you can bet on bigger numbers in the not so distant future, no doubt. It’s very much worth remembering, though, that there’s a lot more to a monitor than its refresh rate. I’ll be interested to see how the image quality pans out on this TN panel from Koorui – to find out if this is more of a PR exercise, or a genuinely great gaming screen (for those few who might need it, and can afford it).

Via Notebookcheck.net

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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• The new iDrive system will first feature in the Neue Klasse X electric SUV
• A full-width head-up display stretches from pillar to pillar
• New, more capable Operating System X underpins the technology

BMW has unveiled what the infotainment offering will look like in its upcoming Neue Klasse range of electric vehicles at this year's CES 2025 show. Look away now if you don't like screens.

Dubbed the BMW Panoramic iDrive, the infotainment offering consists of an innovative head-up display (HUD) that spans the entire width of the windshield and beams information onto a black printed surface in the lower section of the glass.

According to BMW, this won’t require a specialist windshield, keeping repair costs down. But most windscreens that are compatible with HUDs feature a special coating to improve visibility and these generally cost more to replace anyway.

The content displayed in the so-called BMW Panoramic Vision is highly customizable and drivers can personalize the space to display content and information that is most important to them, with the vehicle remembering settings for individual users. A 3D effect ensures the graphics jump out for both drivers and passengers.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In addition to this, there’s another 3D head-up display that sits directly in the driver’s line of vision that delivers even more content and information that BMW claims neatly compliments the full-width Panoramic Vision module.

So for example, the Panoramic Vision will display details about the current driver assistance systems that are active, while the 3D HUD will offer turn-by-turn directions, should navigation be activated.

The German marque has also introduced a new central touchscreen display that is angled so it faces the driver. Said to make it easier to reach and operate by those in control, the display runs BMW’s latest OS X operating system that has been developed in-house for a slicker, more intuitive user experience.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

It is based on an Android Open Source Project software stack and allows for high levels of customization, so you can drag, drop and pin your favorite applications, as well as uploading personal photos as desktop-style background.

Despite the current call from many modern vehicle owners for more easily located physical buttons, BMW has done away with pretty much all of them, and has instead committed much of the functionality to the central touchscreen and the multi-function steering wheel, complete with haptic, surface mounted buttons.

BMW says it is all part of its new "shy-tech approach", which harnesses artificial intelligence and the use of Large Language Models that have been co-developed with Amazon to encourage drivers to use voice commands instead.

According to the marque, users will be able to use more natural language to navigate to a destination in the initial stages, but with increased levels of functionality coming later via over-the-air updates.

The introduction of OS X builds on BMW’s existing Intelligent Personal Assistant, empowering it with the ability to make suggestions, such as initiating Sport Mode on a particularly twisty route or kick-starting a favored playlist. Should the driver choose to ignore these suggestions, the system will quickly learn to refrain from butting in.

Analysis: Banishing buttons could backfire

(Image credit: BMW)

Controversially, BMW has said that this Panoramic iDrive system will eventually appear on all of its future vehicles, essentially ridding everything of traditional instrument clusters and physical buttons. This is particularly pertinent for a brand that once marketed itself as ‘The Ultimate Diving Machine’.

Soon, BMW owners will be confronted with a vast amount of information on every drive, some of which will be positioned at the furthest reaches of the windscreen, rather than directly in the driver’s eye-line.

Only time will tell whether the Panoramic iDrive system proves simple to navigate and intuitive to use when behind the wheel, but we already know several manufacturers have faced a backlash for committing so much important functionality to difficult-to-locate digital menus or haptic feedback buttons that change their functionality depending on modes or settings.

This makes it near-impossible to obtain the muscle memory required to perform simple tasks, like defrosting the windshield with one touch, or locating the volume for the radio without diving into numerous menus.

Volkswagen, for example, had to go back to the drawing board with its infotainment offering in the ID range of electric vehicles, as so many users and reviewers complained that its sparse interior made key functionality almost impossible to locate when driving... or in the dark.

However, BMW is already envisioning a time where its autonomous driving systems are doing the majority of the heavy lifting and the Panoramic iDrive system essentially becomes a way for the driver to easily monitor the situation while enjoying hands-off/eyes-off travel.

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• Monster Hunter Wilds is getting a second beta test in February
• A new hunt is being added alongside access to all content from the first beta test
• Character creation data will transfer to the second playtest

Mark your calendars, hunters; Monster Hunter Wilds is getting a second open beta test ahead of release.

This was confirmed today (January 8), via a post on the official Monster Hunter Wilds X / Twitter account. In a video attached to the post, series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto goes over the details of the second open beta test, including what's featured in it and when you can play it.

First up, the 'Open Beta Test 2' for Monster Hunter Wilds will be split into two phases. The first is happening from February 6 - February 9, with the second taking place a few days later between February 13 - February 16.

The beta will be available to download for free on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC via Steam. Crossplay will be enabled for the open playtest, and players won't need a PS Plus or Game Pass Core subscription in order to play online with others on console, which is a lovely bonus.

Happy New Year, hunters! Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto is here to welcome you into the year of Monster Hunter Wilds, and to share news of the second Open Beta Test planned for February! The future is looking bright... pic.twitter.com/ejn6Z6MraZJanuary 8, 2025

As for what's featured in the beta, players will be able to access all content from the first playtest. That includes character creation, a segment of the main story, and a quest to slay the new Doshaguma monster. A new hunt to take down returning monster Gypceros has also been added.

Tsujimoto also confirms that character creation data from the first open beta will carry over to the second for both your hunter and their Palico companion. This can also be transferred over to the full game upon its February 28 release. Participants in the second beta will also receive a cute Palico weapon charm for the full game.

Lastly, Tsujimoto states that development for the finished version of Monster Hunter Wilds has been completed. However, he does make it clear that any changes and improvements based on feedback from the first beta won't be featured in the second. "This includes various adjustments and improvements," he said, "but I hope you can understand that this means those improvements won't be ready to make it into the second beta test."

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• Disney has ordered a pilot for a reboot of Louis Sachar's '90s novel 'Holes'
• The series will feature a female lead
• It will be the second adaptation of Sachar's novel, following the 2003 feature movie

If you cast your mind back to high school English class, then you may remember being introduced to Louis Sachar’s 1998 young adult mystery novel ‘Holes’. Now, thanks to Disney Plus, the platform has ordered a pilot meaning a TV reboot of Sachar's novel could be arriving on one of the best streaming services - but this time with a slight twist.

The Holes TV series will mark Disney’s second reimagining of Sachar’s book, which was initially adapted for a 2003 feature movie starring Shia LaBoeuf, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette, and Eartha Kitt with a screenplay by Sachar himself. It follows main character Stanley Yelnats, who’s sent to a correctional facility when he’s falsely accused of theft. While he’s serving time, the story unfolds revealing how each of the characters have impacted Stanley’s life through intertwining narratives, all while adhering to the requests of a warden who makes them dig holes for an undisclosed reason.

Disney Plus' TV reboot of Holes will feature a female lead. (Image credit: Summit Entertainment)

From what we know so far, the TV reboot will follow the story of Sachar’s novel, but will introduce a female lead who we can guess will assume the role of its original protagonist. According to a report from Variety, the project’s logline reads: “In this reimagining of the beloved 1998 book from Louis Sachar, a teenage girl is sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose.” Disney has yet to reveal which actress will be stepping into the role.

Additionally to the mystery actress in question, Sachar’s name is also absent from the show’s discourse, meaning that we don’t know whether he’ll be contributing to the show’s production. However, Disney has acquired an army of production giants to fit all the pieces of the Holes series into place, starting with writer Anna Mankin (Katy Keene, Lodge 49) who’ll executive produce alongside showrunner and Yellowjackets writer Liz Phang. Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods, The Good Place) of Goddard Textiles is another executive producer joining the Holes team, while Walden Media (which produced the 2003 movie) will return to produce the series, and 20th Television will serve as the studio.

With the announcement of the Disney Plus reboot, Holes joins the long lineup of new TV shows that we’re excited to see come to the platform. But despite not having a release date to look forward this is one that’ll certainly stay in the back of my mind until then, and if it can bring Sachar’s book to life in the same way as Percy Jackson and the Olympians did for Riordan, then it could take over as one of the best Disney Plus shows.

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• India set to receive $3 billion from Microsoft over the next two years
• The company wants to upskill 10 million citizens by 2030
• Further workshops and opportunities will support startups

Microsoft has confirmed plans to invest $3 billion in India to help the country develop its cloud and AI infrastructure, boosting adoption and upskilling the workforce as it goes.

The news was confirmed yesterday by CEO Satya Nadella, who said the money would be available over the course of the next two years.

Microsoft’s investment will help support the country’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, and includes a large-scale AI upskilling effort destined to support 10 million citizens over the next five years.

Microsoft invests $3 billion in India

“The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly," Nadella commented.

Separate from this announcement, Microsoft already has plans to open a fourth data center in India by 2026. The company also launched its ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative last year, committing to upskill two million citizens with AI skills by 2025. In the end, 2.4 million benefited from the scheme.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, added: “Collaborations with global leaders like Microsoft and similar companies are pivotal in this transformation. By equipping our workforce, especially women and youth, with advanced skills, we are building an AI-ready India, poised for digital leadership and sustainable economic growth.”

The company has also announced a partnership with SaaSBoomi, through which it hopes to support 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs with focused workshops, regional development and new job prospects.

Speaking about the investment, Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok concluded: “Today’s announcement strengthens our belief in India’s potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace.”

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• Accessory maker Genki has shown off a Nintendo Switch 2 mockup
• The mockup appeared at CES 2025
• It's allegedly based on real Nintendo Switch 2 hardware

Gaming accessories brand Genki has presented an apparent mockup of the Nintendo Switch 2 at CES 2025, and according to the company, it's closely based on real hardware.

A report from French outlet Numerama (via IGN), dives into more detail on the mockup. The publication's X / Twitter account posted a video showcasing the mockup, highlighting its magnetic Joy-Con controllers as well as a size comparison with the original Nintendo Switch handheld. In the video, it appears to be noticeably larger than the 2017 console and features a bigger screen.

According to Genki, the new Joy-Con's optical sensor - which was shown off in a series of leaked images - is in fact a feature of the controller. Furthermore, the accessory maker even posted a video showcasing a Nintendo Switch 2 render to its website which was picked up by the r/NintendoSwitch2 subreddit.

This does appear to be a close match to the mockup Genki has brought to CES 2025. But as ever, it's worth keeping in mind that Nintendo has yet to announce or show the console in any official capacity. As a result, it's always worth taking mockups and renders like these with a pinch of salt.

Interestingly, Genki has also alleged that the Nintendo Switch 2 could be set for an April 2025 launch. If this is indeed the case, then Nintendo could make its official announcement practically any day now. What we do know is that company president Shuntaro Furukawa has stated the console will be revealed before the end of this financial year. Effectively, that's any time before March 31, 2025.

This potential April launch also lines up with a report from last year from GameIndustry.biz's Chris Dring. At the time, Dring stated he'd spoken to developers that "hope it’s out in April or May time, still early next year, not late."

Overall, these last couple of weeks have been the busiest we've seen yet for Nintendo Switch 2 leaks and rumors. At this stage, one has to wonder what Nintendo is planning in regards to an official announcement especially with new unofficial details coming to light on a near daily basis.

For our own thoughts, we do think an announcement this month is highly likely. Especially if the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch very early on in the upcoming fiscal year.

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• Kanto sound for a fraction of the price
• Launching in the second half of 2025
• $199 / £199 (which is around AU$320)

Kanto makes the superb Ren powered speakers, which we absolutely loved – but at $599 / £599 / €719 (around AU$1,199) they're a fairly big ask for budget-conscious buyers, and the same firm's Ora 4 speakers currently retail for up to $349 / £399. So it's good to see a much more affordable pair that once again matches interesting design with Kanto's audio expertise.

The new Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers are unusual-looking compact bookshelf speakers – to my eyes they look like something you'd expect to see from aspirational brand Vivid Audio (seen more recently at High End Munich, if you skip to point 3) or in Demi Moore's apartment in The Substance – and they're much more affordable than anything you'd expect to see in those worlds. If they sound as good as their bigger and more expensive siblings, they could be sensational.

Kanto only gave us one product image so here's the incredible Demi Moore in The Substance. Perhaps she's considering some new speakers? (Image credit: Mubi) Kanto UKI speakers: key features, pricing and availability

The distinctive clamshell design of the UKI speakers is available in four colors: black, white, cobalt and sage.

Each speaker has a 3-inch concave cone driver for the mids and lows, a 3/4-inch silk dome for the highs and a subwoofer output if you want to beef up the bass. There's USB-C, RCA and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for computers, turntables and wireless streaming respectively, plus a headphone jack on the front of one speaker.

You can't buy the UKI just yet – the version being shown off at CES is an early prototype – but it'll launch in the second half of 2025 with a recommended retail price of $199 in the US and £199 in the UK. That's roughly AU$319.99.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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• PocketBook has launched the InkPoster digital art display at CES
• The battery-powered frame claims to use zero energy most of the time
• It comes in three sizes, but none of them are exactly affordable

Digital art displays are a great way to liven up your home, but most of them can consume a lot of energy in use. Now, though, one company claims to have solved that issue by developing an E Ink screen that slashes its energy consumption – for a price.

Introduced at CES 2025, the PocketBook InkPoster comprises an E Ink Spectra 6 display, which PocketBook says offers “the authentic feel of ink-on-paper with vibrant colors and detailed, bright images.” Since the InkPoster doesn’t contain an LCD panel, that means it also doesn’t use backlighting – as a result, there are no blue light emissions.

Interestingly, PocketBook claims that the InkPoster device consumes no energy when displaying a static image and only requires power when changing from one image to another. As well as that, PocketBook states that the device does not emit any heat in usage, unlike rival LCD-based options.

Instead of being plugged into the wall, the InkPoster is battery-powered and can last up to a year on a single charge. It comes in three sizes, with 13.3-inch, 28.5-inch, and 31.5-inch options available. The 28.5-inch model adds in Sharp’s IGZO tech, which ensures faster image updates. An A1 version is coming later in 2025.

A pricey option

(Image credit: PocketBook)

PocketBook says you can access thousands of artworks using the company’s app or display your own images or photos instead. Each InkPoster unit can be used in either landscape or portrait orientation, so they should work with a wide variety of images.

However, there’s a notable catch: the price. The PocketBook InkPoster models don’t come cheap, and you should expect to pay $599 (around £485 / AU$970) for the 13.3-inch model, $1,700 (about £1,380 / AU$2,740) for the 31.5-inch version, and $2,400 (around £1,945 / AU$3,875) for the 28.5-inch edition with Sharp’s IGZO technology.

That makes the InkPoster far, far more expensive than simply using traditional printed and framed images – which, incidentally, don’t require any energy to operate either. Perhaps that might be a better option, despite the lure of the InkPoster's impressive tech, if you don’t plan on updating the displayed image very often.

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