Technology

• US text message scam claims that unpaid toll fees are owed
• Messages include a malicious link to steal payment information
• FBI warns users to delete and report messages from unknown senders

The FBI has warned of a new phishing scam sweeping smartphones in the US. The con is targeting drivers with convincing fake texts which claim to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It’s part of a growing trend of SMS toll scams designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and handing over their credit card information.

As reported by local Memphis TV station WREG and later picked up by Men’s Journal, the FBI has issued a warning to anyone who receives a suspicious SMS. The bureau has urged smartphone users not to click on links from unknown sources and to delete these text messages immediately.

Speaking to WREG, FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer described the scam as a “copycat” of the widespread toll scams which surfaced earlier this year. Those attacks also used fake unpaid toll notices to lure victims into handing over sensitive personal details.

What makes these toll scams so dangerous is the ease with which they can be distributed, as well as what they can gather. “It costs next to nothing for them to…send these messages and calls out,” Palmer told WREG. “In return, they can…go in and steal information from your device, or collect your payment information.”

How the scam works – and how to spot it

(Image credit: Guardio)How to spot a fake text

While some scam text messages are surprisingly polished, there are several common signs to watch out for:

• Generic greetings with no personal details

• Urgent or threatening language such as “your account will be suspended”

• Unusual links or email addresses, often ending in strange domains or unrelated names

• Obvious mistakes including typos or formatting errors

• Unknown senders, such as random numbers or clearly fake email handles

Most toll scam texts follow a similar format. The message usually claims that you have outstanding toll charges and urges you to follow a link to settle the balance. The link typically leads to a fake payment site designed to steal your information. This will be a convincing replica of a real government website, using similar fonts, colors and logos, all of which appear to be official.

Most messages include the threat of late fees or legal action if you don’t act quickly. This is intended to create a sense of urgency and panic, triggering an emotional response which may cause the recipient to overlook inconsistencies and act without verifying whether the message is legitimate.

Palmer reportedly received one of the fake texts himself – and quickly spotted several red flags. “A couple of things that I noticed immediately…the text message I received said it was from the North Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles,” he said. “Obviously, there is no North or South Tennessee.”

Inconsistencies like these are a clear hallmark of a message which is trying to dupe you. So are sender details which don’t add up. Agent Palmer gave an example: “The message I received was from email address @catlover.com, obviously that is not a government address.”

Other signs to watch out for include spelling and grammatical errors, as well as generic greetings that don’t reference your name or license plate. If you’re uncertain, don’t engage with the message. Instead, contact the relevant agency directly for clarification. Or as Palmer put it: “If you don’t know who it’s from, don’t click the link.”

Suspicious messages should be deleted immediately. You can also report them to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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This isn't the first time the AI company has been accused of infringing on content.

• Tesla says it begins limited launch of its robotaxi service later this month
• But VW’s ID Buzz AD offers a turnkey autonomous solution to fleet operators
• Large scale deployment is due next year

While Tesla’s share price remains intrinsically linked to the promise of a fully self-driving future, Volkswagen has been quietly but busily working on its own autonomous driving solution.

Through its MOIA mobility company, Volkswagen has developed its first fully-autonomous production vehicle in the ID Buzz AD, which is designed to offer the complete package to those looking to launch autonomous services “quickly, safely, and at scale”, according to the marque.

It comes at a time when Tesla is poised to launch its long-awaited and long-promised Model Y robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. However, critics have been quick to point out that the ride-hailing service will consist of only 10 cars, all of which will be geo-fenced and monitored by a remote teleoperator.

A recent report by Bloomberg has caused further controversy among a number of Tesla commentators, as it claimed that Tesla is “closer to vehicle autonomy than its peers”, including Waymo.

As a reminder, Waymo is operational in four major US cities, with a fully autonomous fleet that now consists of over 1,500 vehicles.

(Image credit: Volkswagen/MOIA)

Arguments aside, it looks like both Tesla and Waymo will have some stiff competition from one of Germany’s largest automakers, as it will unleash its own fleet of stylish ID Buzz models onto the roads of Hamburg in 2026, with further European and US cities soon to follow.

The vehicle is unique in that it's part of a “fully connected 360-degree package”, according to VW CEO Oliver Blume. It features Mobileye’s self-driving system, complete with 27 sensors, including 13 cameras, nine LiDARs, and five radars.

MOIA’s turnkey solution also includes AI-driven software that can manage fleets in real time, assist passengers automatically, ensure safety, and integrate seamlessly into existing booking apps.

Better still, the entire package meets key regulatory requirements for SAE Level 4 automated vehicles and MOIA also offers solutions for training and deployment of live operators, enabling remote control over large-scale fleets.

Essentially, if you wanted to roll out an autonomous fleet of robot taxis in your local vicinity tomorrow, Volkswagen’s mobility-as-a-service company could provide all the tools you need – and that's exciting news for punters looking for a driverless ride, too.

Analysis: The robotaxis are taking over

(Image credit: Tesla)

There may still be some question marks over Elon Musk’s claims that his entire Tesla fleet could one day operate as an autonomous ride-hailing service, but there is no getting away from the fact that the technology is moving on at a pace.

Waymo is still clearly leading the pack, with popular services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin already running. The company is also poised to take delivery of Hyundai’s first mass-produced autonomous Ioniq 5 model, which will speed up deployment further.

In the UK, Uber recently announced that it will bring forward trials of its own self-driving fleet in London next year and Nissan is also ploughing ahead with its driverless services that it says could connect remote rural communities with larger towns.

I have personally experienced Nissan’s most recent autonomous innovations and was blown away by the speed and confidence in which it tackled some very challenging, broken British roads.

Despite all of the bluster, Tesla’s robotaxi technology still feels some way off, with the roll-out slated for later this month already looking like it will be delayed while Texas lawmakers pass some new legislation.

What’s more, the “fleet” of 10 cars feels very much like the company is still in its very early testing phase, where key rivals already have more technologically-accomplished solutions ready to roll.

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As a dabbler in the digital arts, I rely on a decent drawing tablet. A mouse and poorly calibrated laptop screen really is no substitute for the accurate color and precision illustration a tablet can offer.

Having tested a broad chunk of mid-range drawing tablets in recent months, there’s been one that’s impressed me more than any other and kept me coming back whenever I fancy a sketch. And no… it’s not a Wacom.

Given it’s the doyen of the drawing tablet market, it is understandable why Wacom’s products are often the first artists think of when looking for a quality sketching slate.

XPPen and Huion are alternate brands worthy of consideration – they’ve absolutely earned their place in our rankings of the best drawing tablets. But, for me, the real unsung hero in this space right now is the Xencelabs Pen Display 16.

Bridging the gap between Wacom’s pro-level artist slates and the mid-market competition, Xencelabs’ products have definitely impressed me with their competitive specs and excellent user experience.

And while I’ve tried out a bunch of rivals over the last six months, it’s always the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 I find myself reaching for when the mood strikes me.

Counting down, here are the five biggest reasons I’m convinced you’ll feel the same way I do about Xencelabs’ creative drawing slate.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)5. It offers a staggering range of accessories

The first thing that really impressed me about the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is the sheer quantity of attachments and extras it comes with. Its standard package is pretty decent, offering two styluses, a stylus case and a carrying case. But it’s the expanded Pen Display 16 Bundle that really ups the ante: it adds the Mobile Easel stand, a wireless Quick Keys shortcut remote, and a USB hub, together with all the cabling to enable you to connect it to HDMI, Display Port and mains power.

There’s really very little you could need that isn’t provided here. And in an era when many gadget brands are becoming increasingly stingy with the accessories they offer, it is nice to know that you can have everything you need to get sketching right from the off.

4. It can always handle the pressure

In terms of sheer numbers, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers fewer pressure levels than some its nearest rivals, topping out at 8,192 compared to the 16,384 offered by the XPPen Artist Pro 19 Gen 2 and Huion Kamvas Pro 19.

Conventional logic would tell you that the higher sensitivity is, the better. But this isn’t necessarily the case: while 16K sounds mighty impressive, in use it’s incredibly hard to tell the difference between it and 8K.

In fact, I would argue that the way the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 handles pressure is actually right on the money. During the months I’ve been using it, I’ve always found that its styluses feel super responsive and the weight of lines always seems to perfectly mirror the force of my hand.

By contrast, I’ve occasionally found some of the displays with 16K pressure levels harder to control – that increased sensitivity can mean even slight wobbles in your hand have more of a pronounced effect, making it harder to maintain consistent pressure for fine lines.

And, like all of the best drawing tablets, the Pen Display 16 offers plenty of ways for you to customize the pressure curves of its styluses. Not only does it offer five preset pressure curves that mimic everything from hard to soft strokes, you can also dial in your own pressure curve, making it far easier for you to precisely control the thickness of lines as you sketch and paint.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)3. It makes light work of drawing

Compared to many of the drawing tablets I’ve tested, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is a dream to use in a range of contexts. If you want to set it up on your desk, its straightforward configuration means you can connect it to your laptop with just a single cable.

Meanwhile, its ergonomic build makes it comfortable to use for long stretches, while its chunky 1.57 inch / 40mm bezel gives you plenty of space to rest your wrist on while sketching.

However, my favorite thing about the Xencelabs’ build is how easy it is to use it in more casual situations or take it on the go with you. Weighing just 2.67 lbs /1.21kg, it’s staggeringly light and it’s just 0.47 inches / 12mm thick – that’s significantly trimmer than some of the other drawing tablets I’ve tested. As a result, I was often comfortable just sketching with it sat on my lap while on the sofa, making it far more suitable for casual use.

And there’s an added benefit to its light, slight build: it's much easier to take on the move. Packed away in the aforementioned carrying case, it was simple for me to carry it to and from the office – or even on longer journeys. While I’d never consider taking something like the colossal 16.1 lbs (7.3kg) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K out and about with me, I didn’t think twice about taking the Pen Display 16 on cross country train journeys. That makes it incredibly versatile.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)2. It’s seriously bright and vibrant

At 170 nits, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers decent typical brightness when using its most minimal cable setup. But plug it into the mains using the provided USB hub and it blazes much brighter, hitting an impressive 300 nits. While this isn’t quite as high as the 400 cd/m2 the professional grade Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 averages at, it’s still seriously impressive for a mid-market tablet.

The Xencelabs is luminous in other ways as well. Colors pack a real punch, thanks to its true 10-bit color and High Color Gamut that covers 1.07 billion colors, 98% Adobe RGB, 98% P3-D65 and 99% sRGB. As a result, you can breathe easy knowing the colors you see are an accurate representation of how your finished artwork will look on other screens.

Speaking of accuracy, the Xencelabs also has a fantastic resolution that makes whatever you’re sketching look deliciously crisp. Not only does it have a spectacularly detailed 4K resolution but this is crammed into a 16-inch screen, giving it an overall pixel density of 275ppi. On top of rendering your artwork at near print quality, this pixel density is significantly higher than many of its best drawing tablet rivals, such as the 226ppi iPad Pro 13-inch, 166pp Wacom Movink and the 163ppi Wacom Cintiq Pro 27.

1. It’s an absolute bargain

Above all, it's the astounding value that sets the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 apart. Its list price is $999 / £969 – that’s significantly cheaper than many Wacom drawing tablets, despite its super competitive specs.

Better still, it’s often available for an even lower price: at the time of writing, Xencelabs has dropped its price to $949.05 / £872.10. That new price basically reduces it down to a similar price as the $899.99 / £899.99 XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2) 4K and the $939 / £879 Huion Kamvas Pro 19, which it comfortably outclasses, thanks to its light build and incredible pixel density.

However, while anyone would be tempted by this bargain price, I’m actually going to argue that you should spend more. The reason? The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle. At $1,249 / £1,199, it certainly costs a decent chunk more but it also represents enormous value: on top of the Essential edition’s twin styluses, stylus case and carrying case, you’ll get all of the additional accessories mentioned above. Given the amount of use I get out of the Quick Keys shortcut remote and Mobile Easel stand, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to invest that extra spend, as you’ll really appreciate it long term.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a drawing tablet in this kind of price range, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Xencelabs Pen Display 16. But we all have priorities and preferences when it comes to our creative equipment. Whether you’re a diehard Wacom adherent, prefer XPPen’s products or are a Huion devotee, each brand has its own flagship products that are worthy of consideration. So make sure you check out our guide to the best drawing tablets if you want to weigh up which is best for your needs.

For me, the Pen Display 16 is an impressive product and definitely merits a place on your shortlist. I’ve never regretted powering it up and I think you’ll similarly find it a powerful, flexible drawing tablet that can happily compete with any other mid-range drawing tablet out there.

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The Pope is sending a message to tech executives about necessary AI guardrails.

American Express changed how it talks about the welcome offer for its high-end travel credit card, and it's a lesson in reading the fine print.

Philips Hue is unquestionably one of the best-known smart lighting brands, and for good reason; after all, it makes some of the best smart lights around. Its quality products and overall market presence have made it immensely popular, so it’s not all that surprising that its prices are at the premium end of the scale

While brands like Nanoleaf may be the first to come to mind for many when considering a Philips Hue alternative, I’m here to sing the praises of another low-cost manufacturer of smart lighting loveliness – Govee.

Founded in 2017, Govee offers a huge range of both fun and functional smart lighting products, and regularly releases exciting new products that leave me wanting to rearrange my lighting setup so that I can incorporate newer pieces without looking like my home belongs in Cyberpunk 2077 (not saying I wouldn’t enjoy that, mind you). Aside from all the pretty lights, Govee produces some other great smart home essentials, including sensors, air purifiers, and fans, too.

I could waffle on for hours about my favorite Govee features, but to save us all some time, I’ve summarised my top three reasons why Govee makes a perfect lower-cost alternative to Philips Hue.

1. There’s something for everyone

Whether you want to go big and bold with vivid and colorful displays or want practical lighting solutions that you can automate to suit your schedule, their impressive range of products means that Govee will likely have something that ticks your boxes.

(Image credit: Future)

One product that’s equal parts fun and functional is the highly rated Govee Table Lamp 2. This RGBICWW lamp boasts over 60 scene presets, a load of customizable settings, and is Matter compatible, too. I have two of these lamps at home, and I love how easily I can switch up the mood with this little light, moving from a brighter, cooler white light for working hours, to mood-brightening colorful scenes for the evening, before finishing the night on a warm-toned white.

Even the reasonably priced Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light has a satisfying amount of customizable features. These include brightness adjustment, AI scene creation, and color palettes that can be applied across the entire strip or fine-tuned segment by segment.

2. The companion app is reliable and user-friendly

It’s all well and good having a fancy bit of kit capable of impressive lighting effects, but if the companion app is overly complex, clunky, or lacks features, it’d quickly dull any sparkle. Fortunately, the Govee Home app isn’t guilty of any of these; instead, it provides a delightfully straightforward and engaging user experience. It’s simple to navigate between different features, and I really liked that I could streamline the layout by arranging the modes for easy access. Another customizable element I appreciated was the quick action button that sits at the top of the page, giving me easy access to a choice of functions, including color and effect sections, auto-play, and a timer, amongst others.

(Image credit: Future)3. Their prices are more palatable than Philips Hue

I think I’ve made it clear already that there are savings to be made when opting for Govee over Philips Hue, but to demonstrate my point, I’m going to lay out a couple of examples of the cost difference between similar products from both brands.

Say you’re thinking of upgrading your ceiling lights, a two-pack of 800 lumen RGBWW smart bulbs from Govee costs around $24.99 / £18.99, whereas the same from Philips Hue could set you back around $89.99 / £84.99. The price difference is pretty vast straight off the bat, and the chasm widens further when you factor in an additional $59.99 / $49.99 for a Philips Hue Bridge, which you’ll need if you want to use the full suite of features, such as controlling your lights away from home, something which Govee offers for free via the Govee Home app.

So, if you’re keen to get started on your smart lighting setup, but have been put off by the cost of building a Philips Hue system, then Govee is well worth considering, not just because their products are more affordable, but because they’re feature-packed and efficient, too.

Steeped in old-school horror tropes, Grammy-winning musician, rapper, producer and filmmaker Flying Lotus’ (V/H/S/99) new-to-streaming phantasmagoria, Ash, is primed and pumped to provide all the high-octane cosmic nightmare fuel you might ever want to tank up on.

With its first-person shooter video game pedigree and obvious homages to films like John Carpenter’s The Thing and Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon, with a sprinkling of H.P. Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones tossed in, Ash got a theatrical release on March 21, 2025 by XYZ Films and now it’s come to the horror-centric platform Shudder starting on Friday, June 20.

Director Flying Louts' Ash is currently streaming on Shudder. (Image credit: Shudder)

Trust me when I say that you’ve never seen such disturbing, imaginative imagery like this and it’s a must-watch revelation for any card-carrying horror hound or diehard sci-fi aficionado. You might even want to keep all the house lights on and huddle up with braver souls than your own.

The storyline employed is relatively simple and it’s a well-worn plot device in survival horror gaming and sci-fi territory where an astronaut awakens aboard a spaceship with little or no memory of what tragedy has occurred and a mysterious lethal antagonist lurking on the dark.

Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Need For Speed) and Eiza González (Baby Driver) star in this extraordinarily frightening project helmed by Flying Lotus from a clever screenplay penned by native Swiss actor Jonni Remmler. Ash carries with it the confident attitude and flair of raw ‘90s-era grindhouse science fiction horror movies such as indie director Richard Stanley's Hardware or Vincenzo Natali's chilling Cube. Match that with video game DNA from franchises like Doom, Dead Space, and Silent Hill and you’ve got an idea of what's in store.

Here’s the official synopsis: "On the mysterious planet of Ash, Riya (González) awakens to find her crew slaughtered. When a man named Brion (Paul) arrives to rescue her, an ordeal of psychological and physical terror ensues while Riya and Brion must decide if they can trust one another to survive."

The cast also includes Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale, and Flying Lotus, who wrote the insanely addictive original synthwave score that acts as a perfect complement to the visionary frights. This atmospheric music was written in off-grid fashion while FlyLo was in New Zealand using only a MIDI controller and his personal laptop computer and the results are astounding.

Punctuate with intense pools of saturated color, monstrous alien entities, and jump scares that might leave you breathless, this a truly something to savor and we’re thrilled to introduce this stellar work by Flying Lotus, one of our best and brightest hyphenate talents on the planet.

Ash has invaded the Shudder streaming platform starting June 20. (Image credit: Shudder)

There’s also a jaw-dropping unintentional homage to the Palmer Monster scene in Carpenter’s The Thing that ratchets up the blood and gore to ridiculous dimensions that you won’t want to miss.

Now streaming on Shudder, Ash is produced by XYZ Films' Nate Bolotin and GFC Films' Mathew Metcalf and executive produced by Nick Spicer, Maxime Cottray, Aram Tertzakian, Maile Daughtery, Flying Lotus, Neill Blomkamp, Dave Brown, and Adam Riback.

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• Etsy's new rules redefine what "handmade" means
• Sellers surprised as Etsy quietly updates its 3D printing policy
• Popular 3D prints may no longer meet Etsy’s originality test

Etsy has updated its Creativity Standards policy, tightening the rules around what qualifies as handmade or original on its popular marketplace.

The most talked-about change affects 3D printed goods, as only items based on a seller’s own designs will now meet the criteria. This seems to exclude many popular products, including flexi dragons (articulated dragon figures like the one above, with or without eggs), which are often made from designs licensed from third-party creators.

The change slipped under the radar at first since Etsy made no public announcement, instead quietly tucking the news into a community newsletter about keeping the marketplace safe.

Must be based on the seller’s original design

Sellers discovered the shift while reading through the legal fine print under “Our House Rules.” Word spread quickly, and 3D print forums lit up with concern and confusion.

As Tom’s Hardware reports, when Etsy launched in 2005, it was all about handmade items and vintage finds. Over time, dropshippers and mass-produced products have flooded the platform.

Etsy began responding to this problem in 2024 with new Creativity Standards that emphasize originality and a human touch.

Everything on the site is now supposed to fall into four loose categories: made, designed, handpicked, or sourced by the seller.

Most 3D print sellers believed they were covered under “made by seller,” since they print items themselves. Etsy has now clarified that these products must also be based on the seller’s original designs.

That detail now places thousands of current listings in violation of policy, but it has been suggested that makers could get around the change by adding customization to their creations and offering unique photos and descriptions to their listings.

Etsy hasn’t banned 3D printing outright, and there is no suggestion that it ever plans to do so. Sellers can still create and sell their own designs on the site, as well as make use of alternative platforms, like eBay and TikTok.

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Enzo Maresca's Blues take on Brazilian opposition in their second group game.

• DuckDuckGo is offering enhanced, in-browser scam protections
• Online scams are on the rise, so it wants to keep users safe
• It says Scam Blocker doesn't send tracking information to third-parties

Online scams are on the rise, AI is enabling cybercriminals to send out more frequent scams that are more sophisticated than ever, and financial losses are growing ever more common, with online fraud costing Americans $12.5bn in 2024.

DuckDuckGo is looking to change this, revealing a new edition of its browser with a built-in Scam Blocker tool which helps to guard users against phishing websites, malware, and other online scams.

This now includes fake crypto-currency exchanges sites, fraudulent shopping sites, and ‘scareware’ - a type of malicious software that tries to convince victims that their device has a virus to urge them to buy unnecessary antivirus software.

Save up to 68% on identity theft protection for TechRadar readers!

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The Scam Blocker is available for free on DuckDuckGo for mobile and for desktop, and Privacy Pro users can enjoy full-device coverage even when using other browsers, as long as they’re logged into the DuckDuckGo VPN.

The tool works by stopping scammy pages from loading if a user accidentally follows a malicious link. A warning message will then allow the user to safely navigate away from the page.

The Scam Blocker also blocks tracker-powered ads before they load, so users are safe from ‘malvertising’ ads that may compromise their systems.

Scam Blocker never tracks searches, and it stops other companies from harvesting data too, with browser protections designed to keep your information private. It protects your anonymity by keeping a ‘dangerous site list’ locally on your device, meaning your browsing data is not sent elsewhere.

“Most browsers use Google tools for phishing and malware blocking, sending browsing data to Google in real time" says Brit Edwards, Senior Communications Manager, DuckDuckGo.

”We don’t. We designed Scam Blocker ourselves, with data from independent cybersecurity company Netcraft. Our scam protections don’t require an account, and we don’t share your browsing data with third parties.”

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• A battery company says it has made a breakthrough in “ionic conductivity”
• Innovative new electrolyte performs in extreme cold conditions, too
• Ultra-fast charging wouldn’t require MegaWatt infrastructure

You probably haven’t heard of 24M Technologies, but that’s okay because all of the breakthrough battery tech that eventually works its way into production EVs is usually developed by some poor lab-dwellers that never receive the recognition they deserve.

However, the company is willing to actively shout about its latest Eternalyte electrolyte technology, because it claims that it has the potential to charge up to four times faster than today’s EV batteries, perform in extreme cold conditions, and pave the way for next-gen lithium metal EV batteries that offer over 1,000-miles of driving range.

These are bold claims indeed, but 24M Technologies says its top-secret electrolyte recipe (good luck finding out the precise details) delivers a step change in ionic conductivity – or the rate at which ions flow between the anode and cathode of a battery pack.

Currently, a number of brands are pushing ahead with solid-state battery technology, which effectively achieves a similar result by ridding a battery pack of the liquid electrolytes that can slow down proceedings.

But the high ionic conductivity and broad working temperature window of 24M’s next-gen electrolyte brings with it a much higher charge rate (up to four times that of today’s batteries), without the need for an expensive and difficult to install MegaWatt charging infrastructure.

Tests have also shown that the company’s innovation retains essentially all battery capacity at 0°C and more than 80% capacity at -40°C, which addresses the key issue of EV range dipping during the colder winter months.

The company claims that Eternalyte is designed for lithium metal batteries, but also works perfectly well for silicon and graphite-based batteries, which covers the majority of the electric vehicle battery market today and further ahead.

Battery producers can also integrate the technology into existing manufacturing processes, without the need for costly machinery or disruption to supply chains.

Analysis: A future-proofed solution

(Image credit: 24M Technologies)

Of course, without knowing the exact details of Eternalyte – or seeing it working in practice – we have to take 24M’s word on the headline-grabbing figures, but it all looks promising.

The company is producing solutions for the sort of battery packs that we see in vehicles today, as well as future-proofing it for the EV technology we will see arriving over the next ten years.

With an ionic conductivity rate that is three-to-five times faster than today’s lithium-ion batteries, any consumer technology product fitted with Eternalyte technology could theoretically charge at much faster rates than we see today, all without the need to drastically change the charging infrastructure.

What’s more, the improved operational window means EVs wouldn’t suddenly see a 25% drop in battery capacity when ice starts forming on the windscreens and performance could be maintained in those parts of the world that suffer from extreme heat.

Automotive manufacturers are often cagey about revealing details of their suppliers, but if we suddenly see a rapid reduction in EV charging times, improved range and better performance in extreme conditions, we might have 24M Technologies to thank.

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• Scammers are using legitimate website to post their malicious 'tech support' phone numbers
• It's called search parameter injection or reflected input vulnerability
• Attackers modify legitimate URLs with dodgy details

Fake tech support scammers are injecting fake phone numbers into legitimate websites, with major companies like Apple, PayPal and Netflix affected by an emerging type of threat that could put customers' data at risk, experts have warned.

The scam is especially deceptive, because it bypasses the usual security checks that savvy Internet users can make like verifying the web address, but injecting malicious phone numbers onto the official sites.

Online advertising spaces are behind the attack vector, with scammers purchasing Google Ads to pose as major brands.

Watch out for these fake tech support hotlines

Click on the ad might lead to the official site, but the scammers use malicious URL parameters to modify the content displayed on the site – such as displaying fake phone numbers into support sections. Because the browser shows the legitimate domain, users are less likely to be suspicious.

Researchers at Malwarebytes describe the attack as search parameter injection attack – or reflected input vulnerability.

"Once the number is called, the scammers will pose as the brand with the aim of getting their victim to hand over personal data or card details, or even allow remote access to their computer," the researchers explain.

Other affected sites include HP, Microsoft, Facebook and the Bank of America.

Malwarebytes is urging users to be weary of fake tech support lines by checking if the phone number is embedded into the URL (in which case, it's almost certainly malicious), searching for unusual and high-pressure terms like 'Call Now,' scanning the URL for encoded characters like '%20' (space) and '%2B ('+') and exercising caution if search results are shown before they've entered a search term.

Users can also navigate to the website's official top-level domain (eg www.apple.com) and find their own way to support, rather than trusting ads – companies don't typically purchase online ads to sell tech support.

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Samsung's best earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro could be said to a bit overpriced at launch – but at half price, they're a bargain. And that's what they are over at Woot, where the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are down from their $249 MSRP to just $119.99.

In our in-depth Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review we praised their "fantastic sound", comfortable fit and excellent ANC, and our only real niggle was the price: at just shy of $250 they were "some of the most expensive earbuds designed for general consumers". We suggested the $219 Sony WF-XM10005 instead, but at $119 the Galaxy Buds Pro 3 are now $100 cheaper than the Sonys and they deserve your cash: at this price, they're a steal.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro deal

I'm not being dramatic here: at this price the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are an absolute steal. By making them half-price Woot has made them $100 cheaper than their closest rival, Sony's WF-1000XM5, and less than you'd pay for many less capable earbuds. At full price the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro get four out of five stars. At half price, they get six out of five. View Deal

As we said in our review, " these are top-end earbuds, especially in the audio quality and noise cancellation departments". They are up there with the very best earbuds we've ever tested in terms of sound quality, and theyr'e capable of up to 24-bit/96kHz with compatible phones and tablets. Their adaptive EQ is very effective, and the sound stage is exciting and wide. Immersive audio is excellent too.

The ANC is "really great", we said. "the buds throw a blanket over whatever background noise is going on when you’re trying to listen to music." And you can dial down the intensity when you need to be aware of what's going on around you. Battery life is a decent 6 hours with ANC on, and seven with ANC off. With the charging case you get a total of 26 hours with ANC and 30 without.

I'll be honest. At $249 I don't think the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are good value: they're great earbuds, but the market for non-Apple earbuds is packed with very good buds that cost considerably less. But at half price I think they offer superb value for money.

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• ASAF offers Dolby Atmos-style spatial audio, with more effects
• Available for all Apple platforms bar watchOS
• Focused primarily on Vision Pro

Apple has introduced a new format for head-tracking spatial audio: ASAF. Apple Spatial Audio Format promises "truly immersive audio experiences" and was unveiled quietly at last week's WWDC 2025 event – not in the keynote, but in a session for app developers.

As FlatpanelsHD explains, there are two components here: ASAF, which is used in audio and video production to position audio elements in a three-dimensional space, and APAC (Apple Positional Audio Codec), which is the codec that's used to deliver it.

If you're thinking "not another audio format" you're not alone: Samsung and Google are promoting Eclipsa Audio as a Dolby Atmos rival, too.

However, Apple's both is and isn't a Dolby Atmos rival – FlatpanelsHD reports that Dolby Atmos can be delivered within Apple's new format, which is then able to add some additional spatial audio tricks on top of it. So this appears to be less about replacing Atmos than expanding… though providing an alternative could be a big part of Apple's plan.

(Image credit: Apple)What does ASAF mean for the future of audio?

That's a very good question, because at the moment ASAF is for Apple devices: tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS. The iPhone 16 able to be used to capture ASAF audio, and that ease of capture is probably something to pay attention to.

Initially, according to Apple's presentation, it looks like the focus – pun very much intended – is on the visionOS headset. Apple has mandated the use of APAC with all Immersive Video titles, although the codec can be used as a container for Dolby Atmos data instead of ASAF if the creator is already using that format.

The idea with ASAF's extra 3D skills are that they can alter the spatial sound not just based on your own head tracking and positioning, but also based on the virtual environment you're in, changing elements such as the volume and reverb to make the sound seem like it matches the world you're in. So you can see why it goes beyond Dolby Atmos, which just assume you're sitting still in the center of a virtual theater.

However, a further appeal here may not be technical; it may be financial. Dolby Atmos requires royalty payments from producers, and Samsung told us that one of the goals of Eclipsa Audio was in part to ensure that smaller-scale content creators could create and deliver spatial audio videos easily as well.

Apple may be able to offer a similar approach: where previously it kept its formats proprietary, it's become more open in recent years and its Apple Lossless Audio Codec dropped its royalty scheme back in 2011. ASAF can apparently be created using industry-standard software and plugins.

The APAC codec reportedly works at bitrates as low as 64kbps and maxes out at 768kbps, which may seem low, is the same maximum bitrate that Apple, Netflix and others use to stream Dolby Atmos at the moment, so it'll match current quality standards.

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