Technology

The long-running space sim has landed some major new content this summer, including a Worlds Part 1 update in July.

The company also launches an Aura Edition series for its most Microsoft-Intel laptops.

We’ve all been there. Staring at a computer screen with a fresh PDF file sent to us via a message or email, and no way to interact with it. You might be able to open it with a built-in tool on your computer, but making any edits or saving changes is certainly going to be out of the question. There is no need for an exhaustive search for multiple editing and saving solutions to fulfill your PDF-related needs. Wondershare PDFelement 11 can help unlock your productivity and meet your professional and educational PDF file needs. PDFelement 11.0, the latest update, can even enhance your workflow with powerful and supportive AI features.

Powerful enough for businesses, lightweight enough for students, smart enough for everybody 

PDF software tends to err in two directions. Either the software is designed to be lightweight, to the point, and snappy so that it is easy and inexpensive enough for students to get the hang of, or it’s bogged down with convoluted features that make using it a logistical nightmare even for the most experienced professionals. PDFelement walks a fine line between providing smart and flexible features without bogging the software down. The user experience is intuitive, making it ideal for users across all PDF-handling skill levels, and it offers enhanced AI features for students and professionals alike that boost productivity and accessibility.

There is nothing worse than turning in a huge report that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort into, only to realize it’s riddled with glaring errors. PDFelement 11’s AI-powered Grammar Checker can prevent that scenario from playing out, significantly increasing the accuracy and readability of your PDFs. You can even crank up the effectiveness of your PDF with AI-powered knowledge cards, which make it possible to highlight key points, important tags, provide a brief overview, or otherwise highlight vital information in your document. PDFelement’s Chat with Multiple PDFs feature further builds on this, making it possible to generate a multi-document summarization of your work (complete with a Q&A!) with the power of AI. Providing a summary and Q&A can help boost the reading efficiency of your document, further improving your productivity.

Wondershare PDFelement has been enhanced with an AI-powered assistant and features for improved productivity. (Image credit: Wondershare)

Wondershare PDFelement 11 features enhanced functionality, including support for built-in plugins for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. PDFelement 11 also includes new, powerful PDF solutions like support for JavaScript, split-view, and cross-platform collaboration. It's even easier to share your PDFs with PDFelement thanks to new support for QR Code scanning, which allows you to easily transfer your PDF to mobile. QR Code scanning is further bolstered by PDFelement’s cloud-based platform. It’s never been easier to edit, share, and manage your PDF collection. PDFelement 11’s cloud-based system automatically stores your documents and easily syncs your files and signatures across multiple documents, allowing seamless cross-platform collaboration. 

The right software for the job, wherever it takes you 

Today's students and professionals often work in hybrid environments, splitting time between home, remote spaces, and occasional in-office or in-person settings. Our files need to be able to travel with us no matter where we work or study. The software that manages those files needs to be able to provide a suite of features that can get the job done without sending us on a search to find multiple software products where one will do. PDFelement 11 is that do-it-all software. It is designed to be smart and approachable without being cumbersome. 

PDFelement is not just an innovative, feature-rich PDF solution. It’s an affordable one, as well. PDFelement 11 is over 50% less costly than the market leaders, all while still providing productivity-boosting, AI-powered features that make getting your work done efficiently and professionally. Want to try PDFelement 11 for yourself? Download a free demo today, or check out the desktop software option available with a flexible yearly or perpetual license plan.

It's not a Copilot+ PC, but this Asus laptop delivers great performance even on AI tasks. It also has outstanding battery life.

How can manufacturers ensure a smooth integration?

Pressure from customers to produce highly complex and good quality products quickly is mounting on manufacturers. AI may seem the answer, but when nearly 80% of AI projects fail to reach targets or get completed – is it really the solution to manufacturing problems? For Nicholas Lea-Trengrouse, Head of Business Intelligence at Columbus, success is dependent on the operational approach taken. AI projects must deliver value at every level to be a success. So how can manufacturers achieve this result?

AI experiments are a thing of the past. AI and machine learning are on the rise with over 85% of UK manufacturers already invested and wanting to incorporate AI tools full-time into their operations. UK manufacturers are primarily using these technologies in four key areas: quality control (38%), cybersecurity (37%), logistics (34%), and customer service (32%).

The AI hype is here but on the factory floor, the success of working adoption frameworks and journeys are limited. This is causing new adopters to be skeptical, but with the right product development plan manufacturers can smoothly adopt AI into all levels of their operations. Here’s how.

1. Avoid stalling at the first phase

A recent Gartner AI survey revealed that only 54% of projects progress from the pilot phase to production. So, what’s behind this? Manufacturers often identify use cases for AI and conduct proof of concept or pilot projects, but these efforts frequently stall – a phenomenon known as pilot purgatory.

Gartner’s hype cycle for AI shows we are currently at the peak of inflated expectations. AI projects fail because they often overlook the anticipated value and the true implications of implementing the technology within the organization. So, how can manufacturers avoid falling into the AI void?

What’s the secret to AI success?

AI adoption success lies in a product development roadmap that helps organizations scale effectively. The key is to aim for early wins by identifying business areas already primed for AI success and where significant impact is possible.

Consider this scenario: a manufacturer aims to increase its profit margins by 10% next year. Achieving this goal depends on meeting three objectives: reducing machine downtime, minimizing wastage, and addressing supplier irregularities.

From this assessment, the manufacturer can pinpoint opportunities to use AI analytics to predict machine failures, detect product quality issues, and optimize supplier routes. The focus is on understanding which processes can be transformed to successfully adopt AI and create new value, which will benefit both the bottom line and the workforce.

2. Finding the right data and insight balance is crucial in avoiding analysis paralysis

One of the biggest challenges in AI adoption for manufacturers is data management. Organizations often collect data from multiple disparate sources, including Excel spreadsheets, manual entries, on-premise servers, and cloud-based systems. Manufacturers that attempt to integrate all this data to gain a comprehensive view of the business and train AI models are left with the significant hurdle of analysis paralysis.

To overcome this challenge, manufacturers need a robust data strategy that ensures seamless data integration and accessibility. This requires manufacturers to standardize data formats, implement centralized data storage solutions, and employ advanced data processing techniques. A unified data ecosystem allows organizations to improve data quality, streamline workflows, and enhance the accuracy of AI models.

Cut through the data clutter with robust data management

When it comes to AI use case scenarios, manufacturers have limited reference examples, so they must assess the data they have available and determine what additional data might be needed to train the AI tools. Organisations are inundated with data, but quality matters as much as quantity. To ensure data quality, manufacturers need to implement robust processes and policies for managing data correctly, ensuring its usability, consistency, and integrity.

This is where the outputs of machine learning models and associated decision-making data in end-to-end solutions can make a significant difference. These outputs can be integrated into dashboards tailored for everyday business use, seamlessly fitting into user workflows to provide actionable insights. Manufacturers can then use these insights to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and drive better business outcomes.

3. Employee pushback is to be expected – AI is there to empower not replace!

One of the initial hurdles manufacturers face with AI adoption is employee resistance. When businesses introduce changes, especially technological ones, the immediate concern for many employees is, “Will this take my job?” However, manufacturers aim to harness AI not to replace roles but to make staff more efficient, reduce repetitive tasks, and enhance overall productivity. So, what can be done to increase acceptance?

Strong leadership and communication can ensure a smooth adoption through the pilot stage and beyond

It’s time for leadership to step up and demonstrate how AI implementation will benefit everyone. The focus should be on how employees can use the technology to enhance job functions, improve working conditions, and create new opportunities for career growth rather than being replaced by it. Leadership teams need to align AI initiatives with business objectives, working backward from desired outcomes to identify applications that drive these goals. This product-based approach helps organizations understand what their people need from AI and how it will integrate into larger operational frameworks.

At this stage it is vital to involve employees in the AI implementation process to boost acceptance. Manufacturing companies can seek employee input and demonstrate how AI can address their concerns and make their tasks easier and more efficient to create a sense of ownership. Manufacturers can encourage cross-functional teams to work together and share insights in order to ensure a smoother AI integration process and alignment with organizational goals.

To ensure success beyond the initial pilot phase, leadership teams must evaluate AI products using more than just standard performance metrics. User adoption rates can provide valuable insights. By examining the proportion of the target audience actively using the product, the repeat usage rate, and how well AI helps employees resolve initial issues, manufacturers can assess whether both employees and the company are realizing the long-term value.

4. A growing data skills gap is holding AI implementation back – what’s the answer?

A third (33%) of UK manufacturers report that a lack of skills is the most significant barrier to implementing smart manufacturing technologies like AI. This highlights a substantial gap between the demand for these technologies and the ability to implement them effectively. So, how can manufacturers address this skill divide?

The skills are already at a manufacturer’s disposal they just need to realize it!

One approach is to invest in training programs to upskill current employees. IBM research found that reskilling and workforce development (39%) are among the top AI investments for organizations exploring or deploying AI. Many manufacturing organizations often don't realize they already have employees with the technical or transferable skills needed for AI roles. For instance, a logistics coordinator could pivot to being a data engineer or data analyst because they already understand the data, processes, ERP systems, and CRMs.

What’s often missing is a bit of targeted learning and support in areas such as data engineering, data lakehouses, data warehousing, or coding. With this additional training, manufacturers can transform their employees into data engineers and effectively use AI to augment and enhance their work.

Additionally, manufacturers can look to hire new talent with expertise in AI and smart manufacturing. A team built with a mix of experienced employees and new hires with fresh, specialized knowledge can create a dynamic workforce capable of driving technological innovation.

Organizations that are able to tap into the existing skills within their workforce and provide the necessary training to new hires, can more smoothly integrate AI technologies, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately enhance their competitiveness.

AI roadmaps are key to success

Manufactures that approach AI project with a two-pronged approach will see lasting success. First, they need to break down their adoption into manageable stages. Second, they will also need an AI roadmap which allows them to see where AI can add value, streamline operations, and improve production. Brought together, these two steps will help manufacturers gain success from implementation and avoid becoming another statistic of failed AI projects.

We've featured the best AI phone.

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

At its Always Incredible event as part of Berlin-based tech show IFA 2024, Asus has revealed a trio of new AI-enhanced laptops including the new ExpertBook P5 which promises a highly efficient and secure machine for modern professionals when it launches starting at $1,099.99 / £999.9 in November.

The driving force behind the P5’s capabilities are the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 200 processors. The best of which – the Ultra 9 chipset – boasts an NPU that can perform 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS), equating to a three times higher AI performance over the previous generation.

These new AI capabilities will help boost on-device AI processes in Microsoft's CoPilot+, Asus’ MuseTree idea generation tool, adaptive locking (which secures your PC automatically if you walk away while it’s unlocked), and AI noise cancellation which is handy for virtual meetings. 

Slim military grade design 

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of, the ExpertBook P5 has a new free AI Expert Meet tool with several handy built-in AI tools. This includes a live transcription and a post-meeting summary so you can recap everything you discussed later, automatic watermarking to flag confidential discussions, and a live AI translation tool which can translate directly between eight languages (including English, Mandarin, Spanish, and French) – not merely into and out of English.

Asus’s ExpertBook P5 also delivers with a solid design.

While maintaining a fairly light and slim profile – at 1.29kg and 1.49cm thick – and boasting a 2.5K 144 Hz display, Asus’s new machine meets the US MIL-STD 810H military standard. Asus says this durability rating is there to provide some peace of mind that your vital work documents won’t be lost because you knocked your laptop off the table; the P5 can survive more than its fair share of bumps and even some extreme conditions.

If something does go wrong the P5 comes with a three-year international warranty so you can get assistance even when you’re traveling (for more precise details you can check out Asus’ official list of where this warranty applies [PDF])

What’s more, it's designed with customizability in mind. To open up the internals you simply remove six Philips screws and can get access to every part with relative ease.

This allows you or your IT department to tinker with the P5 as necessary. Perhaps swapping out the WiFi card with one that meets your bespoke security requirements, or upgrading the parts after a few years when they’re starting to show their age – which should be a lot cheaper and a much more sustainable route than replacing the whole machine with a new laptop.

Furthering its sustainability credentials, the ExpertBook P5’s modular design and incorporation of recycled materials has allowed it to achieve 50% circularity in its design (up from 10%) based on Circular Transition Indicators.

We haven’t yet had hands-on time with this new laptop to see Asus promises in action for ourselves, but as its November launch approaches it certainly looks like an enterprise laptop to keep your eyes on.  

You might also like

• Intel Lunar Lake CPUs could revolutionize ultrathin laptops
• Acer is set to show off new Copilot+ PCs with Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs on September 4, kicking off the AI laptop wars in earnest
• Intel Lunar Lake CPUs could be revolutionary for thin-and-light laptops – but good luck buying one when they launch

If you deal with migraines and are considering migraine glasses, here's what you should know.

Hackers are using the MacroPack framework to generate weaponized Microsoft Office documents. These documents, in turn, deploy different malware to their targets, including Blue Ratel, PhantomCore, and Havoc.

This is according to a new report from cybersecurity researchers Cisco Talos. In a detailed analysis published earlier this week, the researchers said they spotted what appear to be multiple threat actor groups abusing MacroPack in their malicious campaigns.

The MacroPack framework is a legitimate tool used to create and manipulate Microsoft Office documents with embedded macros, often used in cybersecurity contexts for penetration testing and red teaming. It allows users to automate the generation of documents that can execute payloads or scripts, which can be exploited by attackers to deliver malicious code.

MacroPack Abuse

As explained in the report, the researchers took multiple files uploaded to the VirusTotal database, and came to the conclusion that at least four different groups are abusing MacroPack. One is from China, Taiwan, and Pakistan, and it was active between May and July this year, distributing Brute Ratel and Havoc. The C2 servers for this campaign were located in Henan, China. One is in Pakistan, impersonating the Pakistan Air Force, and distributing Brute Ratel. One is in Russia, dropping PhantomCore, and the last one is in the US, and was deploying a previously unknown malware labeled mshta.exe.

Brute Ratel is a sophisticated red-teaming and adversary simulation tool designed for offensive cybersecurity professionals. It helps simulate advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks by mimicking real-world tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by cyber adversaries. The tool is used to test and improve the defenses of organizations by evaluating their security posture against complex attacks. As such, it is seen as an alternative to Cobalt Strike, another legitimate tool which was abused to the point that antivirus programs started flagging it.

Via BleepingComputer

More from TechRadar Pro

• BlackCat ransomware could be about to get a whole lot nastier
• Here's a list of the best firewalls around today
• These are the best endpoint security tools right now

The average family has witnessed groundbreaking technological advancements within their own homes over the last couple of decades. Technologies and services have developed drastically, from simply having access to the internet to interactive and immersive experiences such as Virtual Reality (VR) gaming being increasingly prevalent. Many of these technologies and services have been driven from broadband access innovation.

But each evolution within the broadband ecosystem has been met with differing demands. Issues surrounding speed and manual operation from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to get the end user’s home broadband working again are now of the distant past. These challenges would not have been possible to navigate without a solid foundation and collective understanding of the path that is to be taken, set out by open standards and open source software.

Now that we enter the “Application Age”, it is important that this collaboration and standardization efforts continue to align and adapt with the end-user’s growing needs and requirements.

Setting the standard

The introduction of fixed broadband revitalized home connectivity in the early 2000s by allowing the signal in one line to be split between the telephone and online services, meaning the end-user could make phone calls and be online at the same time. This new digitalized way of life spawned new challenges. Online businesses grew, entertainment sites boomed and the sharing of images, video and music took off. But for these to operate as desired, consistent connectivity was required.

As the internet was still relatively new and not yet ubiquitous, if your home broadband connection went down, you were shut off from the online world. And this blackout could last as long as it took for an engineer to visit your house, diagnose the problem, and get your home broadband up and running again. Not only was this often time consuming and a pain point for the end-user, but it was also costly for the ISP in terms of the engineer call out costs and customer churn due to displeasure in their broadband service.

Recently celebrating 20 years since its inception, TR-069, a technical specification for broadband device management, has become an integral part of ISP deployments. By providing an interface for the remote configuration and management of user devices, the standard had streamlined service provisioning and reduced operational expenditures for ISPs. As a result, broadband connectivity services have become more reliable and efficient, benefitting both ISPs and their customers.

A new age of broadband

With the challenge and high costs of attaining connectivity and speed no longer the inhibitor to more broadband services, you may wonder how ISPs make their brand unique? And how do they manage to turn in a profit if they are constantly undercutting their competitors to sell more services and faster speeds? Well, those ISPs that wish to drive more value from their offerings, beyond speed and connectivity, are certainly missing a trick.

In recent years, the connected home has become increasingly comprehensive with smart devices and services. It is now a hotspot for online working, schooling and entertainment, such as gaming and streaming. For end-users to enjoy the plethora of services and applications in the home, they require much more than fast speeds alone. They need low, consistent latency which is ubiquitous throughout the home, improved customer support and network automation.

Broadband networks need to become more dynamic with service-aware and application-appropriate intelligence and end-to-end low latency, as well as equipped to adapt and prioritize traffic if any congestion is experienced within the network. With consumer expectations growing and the responsibility and blame of poor online experience often falling on the ISP, this perfectly positions them to capitalize on the full potential of broadband beyond residential broadband services.

If ISPs are to strategically transition to intelligent networks and reap all the monetary benefits it has to offer, the industry must realize the importance that standards play in delivering greater interoperability and device management.

Honoring the past while creating the future

As ISP demands evolve for a “services-led” broadband experience for their subscribers, so too must the foundations for this innovation. The Broadband Forum recently announced that TR-369, also known as the User Services Platform (USP), has now become the cornerstone for future developments in device management as it responds to the rapidly growing needs of the connected world.

However, this is not entirely an “out with the old, in with the new”, scenario. The history of TR-069 will be ingrained on the future of broadband, quite literally. USP builds on TR-069 blueprint and the existing data model, adapting and expanding to meet the new challenges and possibilities in an ever-connected world. USP’s technology is also being used to realize the promise of “application-enabled services gateways”, allowing operators to quickly deploy new, value-added services in an interoperable way for the first time in history.

While TR-069 still exists for those that wish to solely ensure reliable connectivity services for their customers, making the step towards USP signifies a shift toward more agile, distributed, robust and secure network infrastructure that aligns with an expanding market of application providers and provides more opportunities for the consumer electronics industry.

Where interoperability meets innovation: Revitalizing ISP offerings

The interoperability – enabled by open standards – of multiple devices, services and applications, ranging from security to home automation and entertainment, is essential for securing value beyond speed and lower priced broadband packages. Standardizing the managed connected home offers a number of benefits to ISPs.

ISPs can increase average revenue per user (ARPU) and generate new revenue streams by offering value-added services on top of their broadband offerings. For example, by targeting the increasingly diverse connected home subscriber, operators can offer personalized broadband packages where the user, such as a gamer, may be more willing to spend funds on greater QoE and lower latency which they value much more than just the speed of their connection.

ISPs are transitioning from self-build networks to autonomous, sustainable and multi-service broadband networks that cater for the multiple users in the home. Open standards offer the key for ISPs to monetize their networks with relevant QoE per application and allow customers to pick and choose their own services. More differentiation alongside a prioritized user experience will lead to greater customer satisfaction in the connected home, today and in the years ahead.

We've featured the best smart home device.

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

Technics has unveiled its first-ever wireless stereo speakers, the SC-CX700. They have a bunch of cool features and one very unusual element that I didn't realize until I saw them in person at the IFA 2024 trade show: a fabric, microfiber finish.

So, the audio bit first: these are active speakers with their own amplification. They even have a phono MM input so you can connect one of the best turntables without any additional pre-amp needed, as well as HDMI ARC for connecting to your TV as a soundbar alternative.

They're a two-way design, and the tweeter sits at the center of the woofer, in a design very similar to KEF's Uni-Q driver, as used in the fantastic KEF LS50 Mk II – which these bear a generally striking resemblance to in terms of features. A forward-firing bass port should aid low-end power.

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to the connections mentioned above, they also take 3.5mm jack input, USB-C input, and Ethernet, and there's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming.

Technics has been light on details, but there appears to be a PDF of the instruction manual online, and assuming it's accurate, it reveals a lot more, including the hi-res audio chops involved. It looks like streaming FLAC and ALAC are supported at up to 24-bit/384kHz. Over USB-C, there's DSD and LPCM support.

Using the Technics Music Center app, you can stream Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Qobuz – plus there's AirPlay 2 and Google Cast support. However, there's no mention of any higher-quality Bluetooth versions being supported.

They come with a remote for switching input and controlling playback, too. And I should note that they're not totally wireless – they need to be connected to each other by an included cable.

All this tech doesn't come cheap: they're set to cost £2,399 (about $3,100 / AU$4,700) and will be available from October 2024.

(Image credit: Future)

Now, about the outside. They come in three finishes – Charcoal Black, Silky Grey, and Terracotta Brown – and unlike all those entries in our list of the best stereo speakers that have boring materials like 'wood' on the outside, these are covered in a "stylish microfibre material that feels like suede and is easy to integrate into any home aesthetic," according to Technics.

I totally missed this in the announcement, and when I went to see them at Panasonic's IFA booth (Technics is owned by Panasonic), I did a full double-take. They have a soft, fine texture all over the colored section of the body, which catches the light with a sheen that's unlike what you get from any kind of veneer.

It feels very ’70s, and I actually love it, especially in the Terracotta color. It's hard to notice from a distance, but you get close enough and your brain goes "hang on, that's not what a solid surface looks like." It's a fun little aesthetic twist, and I would very happily have a pair in my home – though strictly with the all-black circular speaker cover off, as it is in these pictures, because they look way better with the shiny, pointy tweeter visible.

I wasn't able to hear them in action, sadly – especially sad since they were sitting with Technics' new SL-1300G turntable, which is its new flagship spinner and dares to be a superior successor to the legendary Technics SL-1200 (which is still going, don't worry). I would've liked to have seen how that combo went – but we'll review them in good time.

Sadly, the ones you get at home will have a regular back, instead of this see-through one that shows the tech inside. (Image credit: Future) You might also like…

• Kanto Audio's Ren isn't skimpy when it comes to audio output
• It's Lenco a-go-go! A trio of cool turntables just landed from the vinyl virtuoso
• Soundcore's most premium wireless headphones ever are also its coolest-looking and most portable

The company hasn't said when, but past releases reveal a pattern.

Yoast, a plug-in for one of the best website builders WordPress, has come up with a way to embed Artificial Intelligence (AI) into content creation with the goal of improving content whilst letting humans focus on the bigger picture. It’s called Yoast AI Optimize, and it’s a search engine optimization (SEO) tool powered by AI.

All users have to do (after creating and submitting the content to the CMS), is click on the “sparkle” icon that was added to Yoast SEO. That will automatically improve the site’s overall SEO performance, thanks to AI-powered suggestions, tailored to enhance the effectiveness of the content.

The announcement from Yoast follows a trend, with some of the best AI website builders already offering similar AI-powered SEO tools to users.

Driving traffic and boosting credibility with AI

"By improving search rankings, SEO drives targeted traffic, boosts credibility and helps businesses market their products and services more effectively in an increasingly competitive digital landscape,” Kimberley Cole, General Manager Europe at Newfold Digital, parent company of Yoast, said in a press release shared with TechRadar Pro recently. “With Yoast AI Optimize, users can save time and energy by tapping into SEO powered by AI and unlocking the full potential of their website, blog, online store and more.”

SEO is a pivotal part of any content creation plan or strategy. It involves tailoring content for search engines, to make sure that it is recognized as valuable and lists higher on results pages. SEO includes different things, from knowing the optimal article length, to titles and subtitles, optimizing images and multimedia, keywords, tags and other metadata, and more.

Yoast is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress out there. According to the company, there are more than 13 million active installations right now. Until today, Yoast’s SEO plugin could analyze the content and give suggestions, but any changes that were required would need to be done manually, losing users precious time and money. Now, the entire process is apparently faster and more streamlined.

Yoast AI Optimize is automatically available to all Yoast SEO Premium customers with the 23.2 version.

More from TechRadar Pro

• AI website builders and SEO: Do they optimize your site for search engines?
• Here's a list of the best on-page SEO tools around today
• Check out the best free SEO tools right now

Hisense's middle-rung QLED TV packs a powerful picture at a very nice price.

German audio brand Beyerdynamic has unveiled the MMX 330 Pro, the first open-back headset in its MMX gaming line.

A high-end gaming headset intended for gamers pursuing high sound quality, the MMX 330 Pro uses the same professional studio-grade drivers found in its sibling, the MMX 300 Pro. Its open-back design is intended to create a wider, more detailed soundstage for an immersive gaming experience. Open-back headsets usually provide additional spatial awareness, though allow background noise to enter more freely. The manufacturer states that the overall tuning of the MMX 330 Pro is intended to deliver a more balanced audio profile than the MMX 300 Pro.

The MMX 330 Pro also features a 10mm condenser microphone and a cable designed to eliminate crosstalk and ensure that teammate communications are not heard by them while you play. Its earcups use a combination of breathable memory foam and open foam with a soft velour finish for comfort over extended gaming sessions.

Like other Beyerdynamic models, the MMX 330 Pro has been created with repairability in mind and features multiple easily removable and replaceable parts. The overall design of the headset is rather understated compared to the bright RGB designs of many of the best gaming headsets, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It looks very professional and features a combination of scratch-resistant plastics and metal elements in a plain black finish and a small Beyerdynamic logo on the exterior of each ear cup.

The headset is available today and can be purchased directly from the Beyerdynamic shop or Amazon and launches at a US price of $329.99 (other regions to be confirmed). While Beyerdynamic wired sets will often find great homes as PC gaming headsets, the MMX 330 Pro is multi-platform compatible so could be a great premium option for anyone looking for a top-tier PS5 headset, Xbox Series X headset, or Nintendo Switch headset.

You might also like...

• The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards will feature four new categories including Best Game Adaptation
• Star Wars Outlaws development team is 'pushing a lot of improvements' before the creative director moves back to The Division 3
• Reports suggest the Nintendo Switch 2 has entered mass production, supports backwards compatibility

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers many benefits, but this one helped me the most.

As part of IFA 2024 – a huge tech event taking place in Berlin as we’re writing this – Asus has unveiled a trio of AI-enhanced laptops for its popular Zenbook, Vivobook and ExpertBook lines. 

Let’s start with the Zenbook S 14, which starts at $1,399.99 / £1,299.99 (Australian pricing to be confirmed), and boasts some very solid specs that means it’s worth paying attention even if you aren’t convinced AI is the next big thing. 

It has a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display, a solid battery life of 27 hours (based on an offline video test conducted by Asus), and is clad in a Ceralumium casing – a deceptively tricky word to say, which blends ceramic and aluminum to deliver a more durable yet lighter design. We can’t yet speak for those durability promises without testing it ourselves, but the Ceralumium-clad Zenbook certainly looks cool is easy to pick up and carry around, and isn't as prone to fingerprint smudges as some notebooks.

(Image credit: Future)

The star of the show is the new Intel Core Ultra 9 200 Series processor (known as Lunar Lake) which promises significant power and efficiency upgrades over the 100 Series processor. Per Asus’s test stats, a Zenbook S 14 using the new processor running at 35W, compared to a Zenbook S 14 using the old 100 Series CPU running at 45W, boasts a 25% improvement in daily productivity performance (per Geekbench V6 Single-Core CPU Score), a 53% higher gaming performance (in Cyberpunk 2077) and a 173% better AI performance (per UL Procyon).

That AI performance boost will be thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 200 Series’ new NPU (neural processing unit for AI) being able to perform 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS). For context, Qualcomm’s competing Snapdragon X Elite chip only offers 45 TOPS. This extra speed will lend a helping hand completing on-device AI processes when using services like Microsoft CoPilot+, MuseTree (Asus’s image generation tool), and Adaptive Lock, which automatically secures your PC if you walk away with it unlocked.

Couple all of this with the Zenbook’s lightweight and thin design – coming in at 1,5kg, and 1.1cm thick – and Asus’ new laptop is looking pretty great. Though, obviously, before we issue our final Zenbook S 14 verdict we’ll need to run our own tests to verify Asus’s bold promises.

Not all about the Zenbook

(Image credit: Future)

Asus’s other new consumer productivity laptop is the Vivobook S 14. 

It’s a slight downgrade on the Zenbook S 14  but still boasts a 3K OLED, an Ultra 7 Series 200 Intel processor, and it’s a little thicker and heavy at 1.39cm thickness and weighing 1.3kg. It also misses out on Ceralumium, but does have an RGB-lit keyboard.

It also costs a little less, starting at $899.99 / £999.99 (we’re waiting for the Australian price), which makes it a more accessible way to access Asus’s latest AI PC offerings.  

Last but not least were the new P5 ExpertBooks. The P-series machines are aimed at experts who might need a powerful laptop that’s also long lasting – which is why Asus has put the new P5 through its paces several US military grade tests.

If you want to learn more about these business-focused devices you'll soon be able to read our coverage of the Asus P5 announcement over on TechRadar Pro. 

You might also like

• Philips Hue's pricey HDMI Sync Box has finally received an 8K upgrade
• Soundcore's most premium wireless headphones ever are also its coolest-looking
• Acer reveals new Swift AI laptops and even a brand-new PC gaming handheld

Unless you live in France, or have a penchant for all things Gallic, it’s highly unlikely you’ve ever even heard of the Renault 17. But the model sold more than 92,000 units during its lifetime and it’s now back, looking more gloriously 1970s than it ever did.

That’s because Renault has sprung a surprise show car on the world – a design study that will be showcased at the Paris Motor Show from 14 to 20 October of this year, flaunting its sharp 1970s lines and retro-futuristic touches.

Working alongside renowned French designer Ora Ïto, the model uses the same monocoque structure of the original car, but shuns the puny 1.6-liter petrol engine and replaces it with a modern electric powertrain that produces 270 bhp and sits at the rear of the vehicle. Sounds fun.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Renault)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Renault)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Renault)

Renault is remaining tight-lipped about performance figures, only revealing that it weighs just 1.4 tonnes, which is lighter than a Nissan Leaf.

The body is 17cm wider than the original car, while cutting-edge LED strip lighting has been added to the rear and bespoke lamps fashioned for the front. It is undeniably a Renault 17, but beefier, more purposeful and athletic, yet still achingly cool.

Inside, much of the original trim exists, but there’s now a large central screen, complete with digital clock, as well as four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.

Beige is everywhere, as well as deep woollen seats that have been sculpted for increased comfort. All the interior needs is a Serge Gainsbourg soundtrack and a packet of Gauloises thrown into the dash bins.

Look but don't touch

(Image credit: Renault)

Renault’s design collaborator Ora Ïto said that his small team worked on a theme that was retro-futuristic and "almost cinematic" in its approach. It shows, as the restomod R17 wouldn’t look out of place in a modern remake of Logan’s Run or any other 70s filmic imagining of a dystopian future.

But unlike the upcoming R5 EV, which is an unashamed nod to one of Renault’s most famous 70s vehicles, this R17 is highly unlikely to ever see the light of day. The French marque stated that  this is a unique model and definitely "not the forerunner for a future production vehicle".

Instead, you have to give up the glorious Galactic Brown paint job (bespoke to this show car) and the suitably beige interior for the firm's boxy Renault 4, which will also be on revealed at the Paris Motor Show and will definitely be going on sale.

But does the world really need another small SUV? We say go all-in on the R17.

You might also like

• Renault reveals all about its 5 E-Tech Electric: a French fusion of retro charm, modern EV practicality and AI
• Ariel’s Mad Max-inspired E-Nomad buggy hints at off-road hooliganism, without the noise
• This new Chinese SUV is faster than a Porsche 911 and has a staggeringly long all-electric range

Check out retailers like Best Buy, OfficeMax and Staples if you've got an old printer or two that you want to recycle.

Research has found that North Korean cyber criminals tricked unsuspecting ‘candidates’ into downloading fake Windows video conferencing applications which impersonated FreeConference.com. The campaign was labeled ‘Contagious Interview’ after being discovered by analysts.

Discovered by cyber security company ‘Group-IB’, the campaign was reportedly carried out by known threat actor ‘Lazarus’, who has been observed to have run similar operations in the past.

The attacks started through a job search platform, such as LinkedIn or Upwork. The attackers reached out to the intended target to discuss a job opportunity, and invited them to continue the discussion via Telegram. From there, the victim would be asked to download a video conferencing app FreeConference or Node.js for a trial technical task.

Elaborate schemes

Of course, these installers were fake, and the victim unknowingly downloaded malware named BeaverTail, which delivered a backdoor known as InvisibleFerreft, equipped with keylogging, remote control, and browser stealing capabilities. The FBI recently released a statement warning of efforts from North Korean hackers,

“North Korean social engineering schemes are complex and elaborate, often compromising victims with sophisticated technical acumen. Given the scale and persistence of this malicious activity, even those well versed in cybersecurity practices can be vulnerable to North Korea's determination to compromise networks connected to cryptocurrency assets.”

The Lazarus group is infamous and has reportedly been active since 2010. In that time, it has attacked a range of targets, including governments, healthcare, finance, and defense infrastructure.

As always, we recommend only downloading apps from official sources, and verifying the identity of anyone you're speaking to online. We’ve listed our picks for the best malware removal software to help keep your information safe.

Via The Hacker News

More from TechRadar Pro

• Take a look at our pick of the best encryption software out there today
• Sinbad crypto mixer used by North Korean Lazarus Group seized by US government
• Here are our best firewall tools to keep your business protected

With Home Theater Week in full swing, it's a good time for Q Acoustics to launch an interesting new amplifier – and this one is designed to be heard, not seen (unless you count the Alexa light ring around it). That's because the new Q Acoustics E300A is made to live in your ceiling, where it can drive speakers in the same – or in multiple – rooms within your home.

The flush-fit amp is just 125mm x 125mm wide and comes with multiple connections: RJ45 Ethernet; a mini TOSLINK supporting audio up to 24-bit/96kHz from your TV; 3.5mm stereo; Wi-Fi; and Bluetooth 5.2. It comes with Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2.0, Amazon Music including its multi-room incarnation and Tidal Connect – and you can stream from a laptop, phone or tablet too via Bluetooth 5.2. 

The E300A comes with an IR remote but it's really intended to be a voice-controlled device with Alexa controlling not just your music but the rest of your smart home too. 

Will it make your home sound good? If the success of the company's Q Acoustics M40 HD wireless speakers are anything to go on, yes, yes it will. 

(Image credit: Q Acoustics) Q Acoustics E300A: specifications and price

As you can see from the photo, it's not a bad-looking thing, and it's very small – although it does need a fairly deep cavity immediately above it to make room for those connectors. The unit weighs 1.2kg and it's rated for 60-minute fire, BS EN 1365-2 and BS EN 1363-1 to comply with the appropriate home regulations. It's designed for a 100-240V AC input.

The E300A has been made with Q Acoustics' own ceiling- and wall-mounted speakers in mind, although it can drive pretty much anything: the Class D amp puts out 2 x 25W (2 x 50W peak) at 6 ohms and was designed with either two or four speakers in mind. Frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz.

In the box you'll find the E300A itself along with its remote, two 4m lengths of speaker cable, a UK and a UK power cord (both of which are 1.3m), the power supply and a cutout template for the installer. There's also two speaker plugs and an Optical Mini TOSLINK adapter.

The E300A is available to order now from Q Acoustics and costs £599 / €749 in the UK and in Europe (so around $789 or AU$1,170, although these prices are unofficial); the firm also offers some bundles that include Q Acoustics speakers too. A US launch is planned for early 2025.

You may also like

• See all our home theater coverage
• Check out our pick of the best 4K projectors
• These are the best stereo speakers on the market today