Technology

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• Sonos Era 100 is now $199 / £199 / AU$319
• Sonos Ray is now $199 / £199 / AU$349
• Retailers may discount even further

If I were in charge of Sonos, my earworm would be Black Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love? – because since the botched app update in 2024, there have been many cases of users hurtin' and users cryin'. But now the firm has embarked on a new strategy to win back audio fans' love: it's seriously cutting the price of some of its key products.

Sonos has permanently cut the price of two of its key speakers, the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker and the Sonos Ray soundbar.

These are significant cuts: the Era 100 is down $50 from $249 to $199 (£199 / AU$319). And the Ray is down even more, from $279 to $199 (£199 / AU$349).

These aren't the cheapest prices we've ever seen for these Sonos products. But this is a permanent price reduction, not a promotional discount or retailer loss leader.

Opinion: a sound strategy for Sonos

There's no doubt that the Sonos app fiasco did a lot of damage to the brand. But Sonos has made good on its promises to keep updating the app, and while that's still ongoing, the app is in much better shape now.

The app problems seem to have cost Sonos a lot of sales as well as reputation, and the previously loyal customers who've vowed to ditch the brand altogether may not be coming back. And that means Sonos needs to persuade new people to buy into its ecosystem.

(Image credit: Future)

For years, Sonos has positioned itself as the Apple of audio, a premium brand offering a premium experience at not too premium prices. The app problems have made that a much harder sell, and until the app disaster is a distant memory – as it eventually will be; who thinks about Apple's "antennagate" when considering an iPhone? – one of the best tools in Sonos's toolbox is price.

Even before the app problems we felt that these two products were a little overpriced. In our Sonos Era 100 review, we said that the price was pushing it "closer to high-end speakers", where there's an expectation of excellence. Similarly, we felt that the Sonos Ray was "middle of the pack for value". At these newly reduced prices, both products are much more compelling.

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• Online retailers like Very and Smyths opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders early
• Some fans have already secured their console ahead of the official preorder date, April 8
• Amazon UK is currently accepting invites for Switch 2 preorders

Some online storefronts in the UK opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders ahead of time, but if you missed out, there may be a way to get your hands on one, too.

Nintendo Switch 2 preorders don't officially begin until April 8, but according to numerous posts online, fans were able to secure their console from websites like Very and Smyths days early.

Unfortunately, these sites quickly sold out of units, and the majority of Very's Switch 2 preorder stock has now sold out – although we sometimes see a few bundles available.

As of writing, however, Argos is currently accepting preorders for the Switch 2 and Mario World bundle, but we're unsure how long supplies will last.

While Amazon isn't taking preorders right now, it is accepting invites for those interested in getting their hands on the console. When you head over to the webpage, there will be a "Request invite" button that will allow you to opt in for a chance to purchase.

"If invited to purchase, you'll get an email with a link that's valid for 22 hours. We won’t be able to grant all requests," Amazon explains.

Meanwhile, US retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart have announced that they will take Nintendo Switch 2 preorders from April 9 with in-store collection or free delivery available on the release date.

It's important to note that even though it may seem that your preorder has gone through on websites offering the console early, some stores may not have stock just yet. We'd recommend waiting until the official preorder date to ensure you've secured one.

The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, and it will cost you $449.99 / £395.99.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders – quick links

• My Nintendo Store - from $449.99 on April 8
• Amazon - preorder details TBC
• Walmart - from $449.99 on April 9
• GameStop - register your interest
• Best Buy - from $449.99 on April 9

• My Nintendo Store - from £395.99
• Argos - in stock now from £395.99
• Amazon - request an invite now
• Currys - register your interest
• EE - register your interest
• Smyths Toys - in stock from £395.99
• Very - limited stock from £395.99
• ShopTo - sold out
• TGC - register your interest

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US

The official My Nintendo Store is, naturally, one of the best places to bookmark and keep close by for Switch 2 pre-orders when they go live. You can register your interest now and priority will be given to Nintendo Switch Online members who have an active membership and a minimum of 50 hours playtime as of April 2.

Best Buy is one of the best places to pre-order gaming gear and the retailer has confirmed it will take orders from April 9. You can register your interest now for notifications. Also, Best Buy will do some late-night store openings so you can pick up your console from 12:01am ET on June 5.

No word on pre-orders here just yet, but as the biggest retailer of them all, Amazon is always one of our top places to check for stock. It will likely require you to register your interest or request and invite before the pre-order window opens on April 8, so check back in regularly to get your name on the list.

Old, reliable retailer Walmart has confirmed it will take Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders on April 9, with both the Switch 2 console and Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle listed as coming soon. As a bonus, the retailer also promises free delivery before 9am on launch day when you pre-order at Walmart.

Of course, video game retailer GameStop will be offering Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - and it might even offer some super attractive trade-in deals for your OG Switch.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - UK links to bookmark

Going straight to the source is never a bad idea, and this is the first place we've seen offering Nintendo Switch 2 preorders. However, there is one caveat: preorders from here will be initially offered on an invite-only basis to Nintendo Switch Online members.

Argos is a superb option if you're looking for that physical store element to your Switch 2 pre-order, and it's available right now. Don't expect stock to stick around for long.

Amazon is giving you the option to request an invite to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, but the retailer hasn't confirmed if they will be available on April 8 like the official Nintendo Store. However, if you're one of the lucky chosen ones, you'll be emailed a link to buy the console that remains valid for 22 hours.

Very has several Nintendo Switch consoles and bundles available to preorder right now. Stock is extremely limited, though, and seems to be vanishing from sale about as quick as we're seeing it. Because of that, you'll need to move fast if you want to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 from here.

Currys is a terrific option in the UK for pre-orders. Since its reveal, it has been working hard on Switch 2 coverage and taking registrations of interest.

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• A bug in iOS 18.4 stopped AirPods Max promised lossless update from working
• Apple has fixed the issue with firmware 7E101
• You'll need your iPhone, iPad or Mac and your charging cable

What do you call an Apple update that doesn't work? A Tim Cook-up! I made that joke up myself and I'm very proud of it, but it's time to get serious now: Apple's AirPods Max lossless audio update was about to launch, didn't work properly, was delayed, and is now working and ready for you to install it.

The problem was with iOS 18.4, the newest version of iOS, which contained the necessary code to update your AirPods Max. Unfortunately that code didn't work properly, and the update wasn't downloading. Apple has fixed the problem and also provided helpful instructions on how to update your headphones.

"Update my AirPods! I said UPDATE MY AIRPODS!" (Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes) How to install the lossless audio update on your AirPods Max

Here are the instructions, directly from Apple.

• Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and that Bluetooth is on
• Make sure that your AirPods Max are connected via Bluetooth to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
• Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Wi-Fi
• Plug the charging cable into the bottom-right earphone, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port
• Keep your AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update
• Reconnect your AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
• Check the firmware version again and make sure it lists “7E101"

I'm glad this update has been fixed, because it's a welcome one for owners of the USB-C AirPods Max: once installed, you'll be able to get lossless audio over USB-C to make your AirPods sound even better, and to finally be able to use them with airplane entertainment systems.

We're going to test the feature to see if it sounds as good as it, er, sounds – at least, we will as soon as we've verified this firmware update.

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• Intel has announced its Unison app will be discontinued at the end of June
• This was an alternative to Windows 11’s Phone Link functionality
• It was better in some ways – notably for iOS users, and with the app being more streamlined – so it’s sad to see a viable alternative go

Intel’s take on tying your phone in with your Windows 11 PC – the Unison app – is being shuttered, with Team Blue announcing that it’ll be discontinued for most users at the end of June 2025.

Windows Latest reports that Intel made the announcement in the Microsoft Store listing for app, stating that: “Intel Unison will soon be discontinued. The first step in its wind-down process is ending service for most platforms at the end of June 2025. Lenovo Aura platforms will retain service through 2025.”

If you’re scratching your head and thinking "I’ve never heard of Intel Unison" well, you wouldn’t be alone there. In a nutshell, it’s Intel’s version of Windows 11’s built-in functionality known as the Phone Link app.

Both Phone Link and Unison offer the ability to access iOS or Android smartphone functionality on the desktop of your Windows 11 PC. In the case of Intel Unison, the core abilities are covered, such as replying to texts, seeing notifications, making calls, and file transfer operations if you want to shift, say, a photo from your phone to the PC for image editing purposes.

As Windows Latest notes, the key strength of Intel Unison is a better implementation on the iOS side (indeed, it supported Apple smartphones from the off, when Microsoft’s take on this formula didn’t for some time). It’s also a more streamlined app, and well enough liked by those who use it – the review ratings for Unison on the Microsoft Store are currently higher than for Microsoft’s own solution.

At any rate, if you use Unison, you’ll have to ditch the app soon, so you might be looking at Phone Link in a couple of months’ time.

Windows Latest has spoken to sources and claims that while officially June 30 is the day on which Unison will be discontinued, it may continue to work okay on some devices for a little time afterwards – or at least some parts of the app might. Before long, though, it’s going to be fully turned off, so you might as well start getting used to that idea now.

(Image credit: Intel) Analysis: Disunification in progress

Intel Unison will have lasted two years (almost) when the app gets canned (Team Blue launched it back in August 2023). It’ll be a shame for some folks to see it go, as there are reports that it works more smoothly than Phone Link not just for iPhones, but for Android devices too – going by some of the online feedback for the app, anyway. (I haven’t used it myself).

If this is the first time you’re hearing about Intel Unison, then obviously, it’s a bit late to be learning about the app now. Although it’s not something I’d heard of previously, either, and Unison somehow flew under my radar – and I’m guessing that’s part of the problem, and reason why it’s been dropped. The other likely reason here is that as Windows Latest hints, it’s probably part of Intel’s cost-cutting measures, with Team Blue having to streamline its business considerably, as we saw with all the very unfortunate layoffs (and more) last year.

Compared to Intel Unison, the advantage of Phone Link is that it does offer more advanced functionality – particularly for Samsung smartphones, of course, but for all phones more broadly. And that includes the most recent step of integrating Phone Link directly in the Start menu, putting it front and center in the Windows 11 interface.

In short, Phone Link isn’t going anywhere, and Microsoft is surely going to bolster it going forwards – so it’s not likely that Unison would have kept up with this pace anyway. Still, for those who wanted a simple alternative, and a streamlined app that covered the basics – and by all accounts, covered them with some aplomb – Intel’s app fitted the bill, but obviously that won’t be the case for much longer.

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• Several reports claim a second Oracle data breach has occured
• User login credentials were apparently stolen
• Oracle allegedly told some customers that the data is almost a decade old

Oracle has apparently suffered its second cyberattack in a month, but the company is downplaying its importance.

A Bloomberg report citing two people familiar with the matter has claimed Oracle told some of its customers a threat actor compromised its IT infrastructure and stole client login credentials.

At the same time, Reuters is reporting that an unidentified threat actor tried to sell the stolen data on the dark web, claiming to have stolen it from Oracle’s Austin, Texas premises.

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Old data

Bloomberg also reported that Oracle told some of its clients that the FBI was notified, and that CrowdStrike was brought in to investigate. Furthermore, the clients were notified that this is not the same incident that struck healthcare customers in March 2025. Finally, the attacker also tried to extort Oracle for the stolen data.

Oracle has hinted that the data isn’t that relevant, however, claiming that the compromised system was not used for eight years. Therefore, the conclusion is that the data found there is outdated and poses little risk.

However, there were Oracle customer login credentials from as recently as 2024.

We would say that leaked login data is always a problem, regardless of if it’s ten years, or ten days old. Besides, many organizations never change their login credentials, or reuse the same passwords across a myriad of other services, in which case such a database could prove a gold mine for brute-force or credential stuffing attacks.

At press time, Oracle has not yet addressed the media reports, but we have contacted the company for comment.

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• Proton VPN released new updates and features for its Windows, iOS, and Android apps
• The upgrade aims to make Proton VPN apps more intuitive, transparent, and customizable
• The new apps also provide a range of educational content to help users get the most from their VPN

Proton VPN unveiled a major upgrade that promises to make its apps more intuitive, transparent, and customizable.

As of today, April 3, 2025, Proton VPN's Windows, iOS, and Android users will benefit from new updates and features. These include a sleek new interface, customizable home screen widgets for mobile, and a new enhanced Profile feature.

The new apps also provide a range of educational content to help users get the most from one of the best VPN services on the market.

Proton VPN's new look

While increasingly more people have become familiar with the benefits of using a virtual private network (VPN) in their daily life – whether that's better streaming, privacy, or security – the underlying software and its features can still feel quite intimidating.

As Proton VPN's General Manager, David Peterson explains, this may limit users' ability, especially those unfamiliar with the tech, to benefit from what a VPN has to offer. That's exactly where Proton VPN's revamp comes in.

"The new Proton VPN apps make it easier than ever before to protect users' privacy while enhancing transparency to explore new features effortlessly," said Peterson.

After launching a new, more intuitive home screen interface on Android, the provider has decided to bring these improvements to its iOS and Windows VPN apps, too.

The Windows app received a full redesign to match its Android VPN counterpart. A redesigned Settings menu makes it easier to scroll through all of Proton's advanced features, like split tunneling, a kill switch, and port forwarding. For the first time, you can also choose between a dark and a new light mode.

(Image credit: Proton)

An enhanced Profile tab is perhaps the most relevant new feature (see image above).

This allows paid subscribers to create personalised connection profiles, picking their favorite location, city, or state, server, protocol, and settings depending on their needs.

You may opt for the fastest server in the US to use Proton VPN to unlock US Netflix when abroad. Alternatively, you may choose a Secure Core server and Stealth protocol if you're worried about online surveillance and censorship.

While the iOS app also comes with a Profile tab, the new release brings the latest, enhanced version to Windows and Android. The team is currently testing an early version on iOS, too, meaning that iPhone users won't need to wait too long to enjoy the same level of customization.

Another exclusive feature for Windows and Android at the time of writing, Connect & Go, allows you to specify the website or app you want to launch when connecting to a specific profile.

While the team didn't give TechRadar a timeline, Proton said the plan is to extend all these features across all platforms (iOS, macOS, and Linux).

To know more about the new release, you can head to Proton VPN’s official website or visit the blog post with the official announcement.

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• The Nintendo Switch 2 features 256GB of internal storage
• The console still supports expandable storage, but you'll need to use a microSD Express card to run games
• These cards offer faster speeds but are more expensive

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it – a more powerful CPU to enable even more impressive games, better audio from improved speakers, and yes, a larger screen at 7.9 inches. But can we give a round of applause to Nintendo for upping the internal storage to 256GB?

That’s a big leap – eight times what the original Nintendo Switch offered – and it should mean that you’ll have a lot of room for games and apps. Of course, there is expandable storage. However, it’s not all roses in that regard … especially if you’ve invested in a lot of standard microSD cards for your current Switch and want to make the upgrade.

Why? Well, the Nintendo Switch 2 still supports expandable storage, but it’s only going to work with microSD Express cards. That’s an important distinction, as non-standard microSD cards don’t carry the properties of ‘Express.’ These higher-end microSD cards, though, do offer faster speeds that are more on the level of SSDs (solid-state drives).

(Image credit: Nintendo)

That feature, alongside the improved performance, should make for a more fluid experience when reading or writing onto the microSD Express card. You will need a microSD Express card to use with the Switch 2 to save a game or open one. However, according to this support page, you can plug a standard microSD card in to view photos or screenshots.

The improved speeds might weigh out the downsides aside from the cost though. A regular 128GB microSD card runs for about $20.99 (on Amazon for this SanDisk model), but a 128GB microSD Express card from SanDisk is $49.99 (currently $44.99 on Amazon). That’s quite a jump and generally the case here – microSD Express Cards are more expensive than microSD cards.

So yes, upping the internal storage on the Switch 2 to 256GB is great, and keeping the option for expandable storage is good, but the microSD Express requirement might cost you a bit more.

Of course, there’s always the chance that you might have been using a microSD Express card in your Switch Lite, Switch, or Switch OLED – it’s worth checking and as we get closer to preorders (April 8 from Nintendo and April 9 from other retailers) and launch (June 5, 2025), we’ll be writing about any major sales on this cards.

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• Two new Samsung Galaxy Watch models are on the way
• The Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic have surfaced, this time in regulatory filings
• One battery listed is slightly bigger than last year's model, but it's not a massive upgrade

Details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup have appeared for the second time in just a few days, this time with our first hint at the battery capacity for one of the models.

In late March, firmware for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic was spotted, pointing to four new Galaxy Watch models coming in 2025 – two Classic and two regular models, each with a Wi-Fi and an LTE (cellular connectivity) version.

Now, filings have been uncovered in South Korea's SafetyKorea certification database, one of the myriad global regulatory bodies with which device manufacturers have to register upcoming new products, including the best Android smartwatches, before they can go on sale.

As reported by Xpertpick, the batteries that will feature in the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic appear to have surfaced in the database. The outlet matches these with the aforementioned firmware leak, indicating one battery each for the Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic, respectively.

This would reinforce the idea that two new models are on the way, but also gives us one small hint about battery life.

Galaxy Watch 8 battery leaks

As per the report, only one of these battery filings has a listed capacity, the Galaxy Watch 8. The battery is listed at 435mAh, a very minor bump over the Galaxy Watch 7. While that's technically bigger, it's nothing to write home about, and likely won't yield any tangible results in terms of battery-life performance.

And if Samsung has added more power-hungry features to the new model, battery life might only match last year's model, and if so you can expect Samsung's rating of around 22 hours. This is the larger 44mm model, with no information out there about the smaller version yet.

That definitely won't be enough to challenge the best Android watch for battery life right now, the OnePlus Watch 3, but it does tell us that both of these smartwatch models definitely exist, and will probably launch in early summer in the US and UK.

The absence of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in database listings could indicate that the company won't release an Ultra model this year, and may be alternating between the Classic and the Ultra on an annual basis.

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• The Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic have surfaced, this time in regulatory filings
• One battery listed is slightly bigger than last year's model, but it's not a massive upgrade

Details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup have appeared for the second time in just a few days, this time with our first hint at the battery capacity for one of the models.

In late March, firmware for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic was spotted, pointing to four new Galaxy Watch models coming in 2025 – two Classic and two regular models, each with a Wi-Fi and an LTE (cellular connectivity) version.

Now, filings have been uncovered in South Korea's SafetyKorea certification database, one of the myriad global regulatory bodies with which device manufacturers have to register upcoming new products, including the best Android smartwatches, before they can go on sale.

As reported by Xpertpick, the batteries that will feature in the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic appear to have surfaced in the database. The outlet matches these with the aforementioned firmware leak, indicating one battery each for the Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic, respectively.

This would reinforce the idea that two new models are on the way, but also gives us one small hint about battery life.

Galaxy Watch 8 battery leaks

As per the report, only one of these battery filings has a listed capacity, the Galaxy Watch 8. The battery is listed at 435mAh, a very minor bump over the Galaxy Watch 7. While that's technically bigger, it's nothing to write home about, and likely won't yield any tangible results in terms of battery-life performance.

And if Samsung has added more power-hungry features to the new model, battery life might only match last year's model, and if so you can expect Samsung's rating of around 22 hours. This is the larger 44mm model, with no information out there about the smaller version yet.

That definitely won't be enough to challenge the best Android watch for battery life right now, the OnePlus Watch 3, but it does tell us that both of these smartwatch models definitely exist, and will probably launch in early summer in the US and UK.

The absence of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in database listings could indicate that the company won't release an Ultra model this year, and may be alternating between the Classic and the Ultra on an annual basis.

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Some of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows of recent years have been watched by millions of people from different countries all around the world.

Think Spain's Berlin, France's Lupin or Korea's Squid Game. And now many more Netflix viewers can experience shows from around the world in their native languages as the service becomes even more multi-lingual.

Starting now, Netflix has upgraded its audio and subtitles options to offer you more than 30 different languages for on-screen translation or audio dubbing. Netflix says this is in response to the "thousands of language requests" it receives from customers every month.

And that's not all. Netflix is coming for the Duolingo owl.

What's new in Netflix's multilingual update

Netflix knows that many of you use its foreign-language films to practice language learning, and it wants to point out the additional features it offers that can help you with that.

For example, you now can customize subtitles to adjust their style and size for better legibility. Or you can watch a show with subtitles in one language and audio dubbing in another. And if you're on PC, you can use the 'Browse By Language' feature to find some suitably educational entertainment.

This is an important and welcome upgrade for Netflix specifically, because it's been investing quite heavily in movies and shows from around the world. Squid Game is the most famous example, of course, but many of its other non-English language shows have been huge hits too: Money Heist, Lupin, La Palma, Who Killed Sara? and more.

And of course it works in the other direction too, with the language features opening up English-language movies and shows to Netflix's huge global audience.

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Some of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows of recent years have been watched by millions of people from different countries all around the world.

Think Spain's Berlin, France's Lupin or Korea's Squid Game. And now many more Netflix viewers can experience shows from around the world in their native languages as the service becomes even more multi-lingual.

Starting now, Netflix has upgraded its audio and subtitles options to offer you more than 30 different languages for on-screen translation or audio dubbing. Netflix says this is in response to the "thousands of language requests" it receives from customers every month.

And that's not all. Netflix is coming for the Duolingo owl.

What's new in Netflix's multilingual update

Netflix knows that many of you use its foreign-language films to practice language learning, and it wants to point out the additional features it offers that can help you with that.

For example, you now can customize subtitles to adjust their style and size for better legibility. Or you can watch a show with subtitles in one language and audio dubbing in another. And if you're on PC, you can use the 'Browse By Language' feature to find some suitably educational entertainment.

This is an important and welcome upgrade for Netflix specifically, because it's been investing quite heavily in movies and shows from around the world. Squid Game is the most famous example, of course, but many of its other non-English language shows have been huge hits too: Money Heist, Lupin, La Palma, Who Killed Sara? and more.

And of course it works in the other direction too, with the language features opening up English-language movies and shows to Netflix's huge global audience.

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• Google Pixel 9a phones come with a new Battery health assistance tool
• It will intentionally drop your phone’s maximum battery life every 200 charge cycles
• It turns off after 1,000 charges, and you can’t switch it off before then

The Google Pixel 9a has a new feature that will intentionally reduce your phone’s battery life over time – and there’s nothing you can do about it.

While they’re never the most exciting features, battery health tools are some of the most useful you’ll find on modern smartphones. Following best practices can ensure your phone doesn’t become a massive battery sink after a year or two of use and can extend how long you can go before buying a replacement lithium-ion cell for your handset.

And with its latest Google Pixel 9a release, Google looks to be taking battery health seriously with a new Battery health assistance feature that (at launch) will be exclusive to the new handset.

But rather than giving you a choice on how your phone charges – such as manually setting your device to cut charging off at 80%, or only reaching a full charge just before when your phone expects you to unplug it – according to Google’s official help page Battery health assistance will automatically lower your battery’s maximum charge every 200 charge cycles.

This gradual decline will continue every 200 cycles until your device completes 1,000 cycles.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What’s more, while Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices,” (i.e. the other best Google Pixel phones) its help page for the Pixel 9a reveals that for its latest device, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.”

Now, some of you might be worried that this will mean your Google Pixel 9a runs out of battery more quickly than if you could switch this feature off, but the silver lining here is that this feature will probably mean your phone battery lasts longer.

Over time, most batteries degrade anyway, so 100% charge after several months won’t last as long as it did when the phone was brand new.

The hope is that while you’re still losing some battery performance over time, Google’s controlled descent will mean your battery lasts longer per charge than it would if you didn’t use Battery Health assistance.

Though we can understand that the lack of control over how you can manage your device is likely to rub many the wrong way, even if it is an upgrade. It also doesn’t do much to assuage concerns surrounding intentional performance throttling from smartphone manufacturers to encourage you to upgrade your smartphone more regularly.

It’s looking like this feature is an upgrade in disguise, however, and if it’s a success we’ll likely see it appear on other Google smartphones going forward.

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• Google Pixel 9a phones come with a new Battery health assistance tool
• It will intentionally drop your phone’s maximum battery life every 200 charge cycles
• It turns off after 1,000 charges, and you can’t switch it off before then

The Google Pixel 9a has a new feature that will intentionally reduce your phone’s battery life over time – and there’s nothing you can do about it.

While they’re never the most exciting features, battery health tools are some of the most useful you’ll find on modern smartphones. Following best practices can ensure your phone doesn’t become a massive battery sink after a year or two of use and can extend how long you can go before buying a replacement lithium-ion cell for your handset.

And with its latest Google Pixel 9a release, Google looks to be taking battery health seriously with a new Battery health assistance feature that (at launch) will be exclusive to the new handset.

But rather than giving you a choice on how your phone charges – such as manually setting your device to cut charging off at 80%, or only reaching a full charge just before when your phone expects you to unplug it – according to Google’s official help page Battery health assistance will automatically lower your battery’s maximum charge every 200 charge cycles.

This gradual decline will continue every 200 cycles until your device completes 1,000 cycles.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What’s more, while Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices,” (i.e. the other best Google Pixel phones) its help page for the Pixel 9a reveals that for its latest device, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.”

Now, some of you might be worried that this will mean your Google Pixel 9a runs out of battery more quickly than if you could switch this feature off, but the silver lining here is that this feature will probably mean your phone battery lasts longer.

Over time, most batteries degrade anyway, so 100% charge after several months won’t last as long as it did when the phone was brand new.

The hope is that while you’re still losing some battery performance over time, Google’s controlled descent will mean your battery lasts longer per charge than it would if you didn’t use Battery Health assistance.

Though we can understand that the lack of control over how you can manage your device is likely to rub many the wrong way, even if it is an upgrade. It also doesn’t do much to assuage concerns surrounding intentional performance throttling from smartphone manufacturers to encourage you to upgrade your smartphone more regularly.

It’s looking like this feature is an upgrade in disguise, however, and if it’s a success we’ll likely see it appear on other Google smartphones going forward.

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• Some iPhone users have seen random apps appear on their devices
• Many apps were previously deleted but others are totally new to the users
• The bug might be caused by updating to iOS 18.4

Every now and then, a strange iOS bug comes along that brings back long-lost items, seemingly from the dead. We’ve seen this kind of behavior before with deleted photos, and now it looks like iOS 18.4 is mysteriously resurrecting old iPhone apps that some users removed many moons ago.

As spotted by MacRumors, the issue has been documented by users posting on Reddit and Apple’s official support forums. There, people have been describing how their iPhones began automatically downloading apps after they were updated to iOS 18.4.

Interestingly, while some users reported that the apps in question had once been on their devices but have since been deleted, other iPhone owners claimed that the apps were entirely new to them.

For example, Reddit user EagleEyedTiger7 stated that their iPhone “randomly” downloaded the Last War game after updating to iOS 18.4. In response, user schulze1 said the same thing had happened to them and that “I’ve never had that app installed before.”

A strange situation

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

On first glance, it might appear that the issue relates to the Automatic Downloads setting in Apple’s App Store. This enables Apple devices to automatically download apps and games that have been installed on other Apple products you own, even if they have never been added to the device you are currently using.

However, several users claimed that their iPhone is the only Apple device they own, meaning the apps could not have been downloaded in this way.

We also do not have many details about whether the bug is only affecting people with certain iPhones, users who are located in specific regions, or people who have taken any other steps. It’s also unclear how widespread the issue is.

For now, the main solution is simply to delete the unwanted apps from your device. Hopefully, Apple will soon roll out a fix that stops random apps from appearing on people’s iPhones, but for now we’ll just have to wait.

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• WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce owner Automattic is laying off 16%
• Automattic wants to become more agile and responsive
• Long-term financial viability and profitability is also key

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce, has confirmed it will be laying off approximately 16% of its workforce.

The news is estimated to impact around 280 of its nearly 1,750 employees (via TechCrunch), with CEO Matt Mullenweg confirming HR representatives would be reaching out to affected workers after his email landed in the inboxes of all “Automatticians.”

The usual “financial and support benefits” were promised, with Mullenweg citing profitability as a key driver for the layoffs.

Automattic layoffs

“We have reached an important crossroads,” Mullenweg wrote, illustrating a scenario of continued growth and an equally high competitive market. “We must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest,” he added.

The leader confirmed that the changes would help the company to become more agile and responsive, break down organizational silos, focus on product quality and ensure long-term financial viability.

More broadly, the layoffs follow a precarious year for both Automattic and Mullenweg personally, after he became embroiled in a battle with WP Engine, likening the WordPress hosting provider to a cancer that takes more than it gives back to the project.

Mullenweg added the redundancy process would be more complex with workers in 90 countries, but as a rule they could expect severance pay and other benefits, including the retention of company laptops and other job placement resources.

“I’m confident we will come out of this situation in a better position… In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about our path forward and how we’ll work together to strengthen our company,” Mullenweg added.

According to layoffs.fyi, Automattic became the 96th tech company to announce layoffs in 2025, but although layoffs continue to plague the tech sector, workers are seemingly a lot more safe than the height of the tech sector layoffs in 2023.

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