TechRadar News

A VPN is great at hiding where you are and what your internet provider sees. However, when you’re chatting with ChatGPT or Claude, your privacy depends on something far more complicated than a tunnel through the internet.

Even the best VPNs won’t stop AI companies from reading, storing, and learning from everything you type. In this article, we’ll unpack exactly what data these platforms see, why encryption has limits, and what you can actually do to protect yourself.

What chatbots see (and what a VPN actually hides)

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

Without a VPN, OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Anthropic (Claude) can typically see a lot about your connection. Your IP address reveals your approximate geographic location. Device metadata follows alongside that, including your browser type, operating system, and unique device identifiers.

According to OpenAI’s privacy policy, the company collects your IP address; device information, including unique identifiers; cookie data; and your location, along with your email address and payment information.

Anthropic does the same. Their policy covers location, connection details, and device usage patterns, especially on the mobile app. Different wording, same result: both companies can see roughly where you are and what you’re using to talk to them.

A VPN helps with some of this. It successfully masks your real IP address from the AI platform and encrypts your traffic so your ISP can’t see that you’re using AI services. However, this is where the protection stops. Once your encrypted tunnel ends at the VPN server, the AI company still sees everything that arrives at their doorstep.

The limits of encryption: What a VPN can’t hide

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is the critical part many people miss. A VPN protects your data while it travels across the internet, but that protection ends the moment your prompt arrives on OpenAI or Anthropic’s servers. Your message has to be decrypted for the AI to process it.

Once decrypted, your data sits on the AI company’s systems, governed by their policies rather than yours. A VPN does nothing to hide the content of your prompts, any files or images you upload, your account details and conversation history, or your payment information.

The encryption protects the connection between you and their servers, not what happens afterward. No matter how strong the VPN tunnel is, everything you type is fully readable on the other end.

What AIs remember and how to actually stay private

Here’s where things get tricky. Most consumer chatbots keep your conversations on file indefinitely and may use them to train future models. You have to manually adjust settings and delete chats yourself if you want them gone.

For ChatGPT specifically, OpenAI may use your content to improve services unless you opt out. You can navigate to Settings > Data Controls, then toggle off the option to improve the model for everyone. However, even with this disabled, chats may still be stored for safety and legal reasons.

Claude works similarly. Anthropic requires all consumer users to choose whether their chats can be used for training, and the toggle is on by default. If enabled, data can be retained for up to five years, compared to 30 days if you decline.

You can disable the setting anytime in your account preferences or use Incognito mode to keep conversations out of your saved history. Paid business tiers come with stricter privacy agreements by default.

The verdict and privacy-first alternatives

A VPN is a solid first step for network security in that it hides your location from AI providers and keeps your ISP from monitoring your activity. However, it won’t stop AI companies from reading, remembering, and learning from your prompts.

If privacy matters to you, adjust your settings by turning off data training in both ChatGPT and Claude, use ChatGPT’s temporary chats or Claude’s Incognito mode, and avoid sharing sensitive information.

For genuinely private AI interactions, consider Proton AG’s Lumo. Built by the team behind Proton Mail and Proton VPN, it uses zero-access encryption so only you can decrypt saved conversations, keeps no logs on their servers, and doesn’t train on your data unless you opt in. It runs on European infrastructure under GDPR and Swiss privacy laws.

One step further than this is to run open-source models offline with tools like Ollama or LM Studio, keeping everything local so nothing ever leaves your machine.

Prime Video's Carrie has quickly shot to the number one spot on the streaming service, as it leads this week's streaming recommendations. The anticipated adaptation of Stephen King's novel is finally here, and there's a lot to unpack.

Series creator Mike Flanagan has impressed horror fans over the years, especially with his Netflix shows including The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. His new version of Carrie marks his sixth adaptation of King's works, following movies including Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep.

With that in mind, we've all been interested to see how Flanagan handled Carrie, King's first story. I can confidently say I enjoyed the series, but there are some differences from it here that will cause division.

The eight-episode season follows Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) after her father dies in a tragic accident, prompting authorities to send her to a public school for the first time whilst her mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan), re-enters the workforce.

Attending a new school is daunting for anyone, but Carrie knows very little of the outside world, after being raised by overbearing religious parents and schooled at home. Her struggle to adjust among other teens is the catalyst for her story, after she is baffled by everyday things such as a school shooting drill and getting her first period, both of which scare her to the point she fears as though she is about to die.

Carrie, in my opinion, is one of Stephen King's most likable protagonists. Howell portrays her brilliantly, focusing on her compassion for others and her desperate need to fit in, trying to relate to her fellow students even though she has never used a computer, nor does she have a cellphone. In the eyes of the school she is "weird", and the perfect target for bullying.

Flanagan's decision to set the story in a modern world resonated with me, and I liked this change. With technology being both wonderful and anxiety-inducing, he uses things like social media, camera phones and the internet at large to torment Carrie even more than she was in the book.

Chris Hargensen and Sue Snell contribute to Carrie's downfall (Image credit: Prime Video)

The school bullies are an important part of Carrie, and the casting works well here too. Alison Thornton's performance as Chris Hargensen, the ringleader of the bullies, is great and she makes some horrifying decisions throughout the series. But instead of turning her into a cartoonish villain, Flanagan also focuses on Chris' own issues, and the collapse of her family life at home.

Additionally, Siena Agudong's Sue Snell is shown as a complex character here, who does begin to feel remorse for Carrie's ongoing torment, whereas the group around her doesn't. I really liked Sue in this and she's one of my favorite characters as a result.

Characters in the Carrie series felt well-rounded to me, and for the most part, I was happy with the changes and the nuance. But there's one character who I was disappointed in, and that was Margaret White, who is portrayed a lot more sympathetically in the series.

In my opinion, I think Margaret should have been crueler. We do see her intense and suffocating religious beliefs, but she is more empathetic towards Carrie, and I wasn't a fan of the way her character was softened here. Margaret's resentment of Carrie in the book and the Brian De Palma film contributed to Carrie's eventual breakdown and use of her power for destruction, something I think is important.

In the original story, Carrie never found any comfort at home, but some decisions in the series felt out of character for Margaret. By supporting her daughter, I felt like it took away from the crippling isolation she is supposed to experience, resulting in the iconic, violent prom scene.

The ending is also different, which I have noted some fans may not be impressed with. I didn't mind the ending as much, but I still would have preferred if Margaret's characterization had been more faithful to the source material.

That's my only major gripe with the series, though, and I do think Mike Flanagan's Carrie is a good retelling of the story for the modern era, particularly when it comes to her fellow students and a school faculty that ultimately fails her.

So if you're keen to see a different take on Carrie, you might enjoy the Prime Video series. We've known for a while that it wasn't trying to copy the book directly, and it's certainly the most unique adaptation we've had.

The Xteink S4 might be the tiny ereader you’ve been waiting for, as unlike other Xteink devices — and rival products like the Boox Picco — this runs Android.

That comes with various upsides, not least the ability to directly access the Kindle and Kobo apps, the absence of which is something I’ve been lamenting about my Xteink X4 Pro, but it also has some downsides.

So should you wait for this currently China-only ereader to get a global release? Or are you better off sticking with the Xteink X4 Classic, the X4 Pro or the even tinier X3? I’ve compared these devices below, to help answer that question.

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: specs comparison

Below you’ll find a closer look at the key features of every available Xteink model, but first here’s how their core specs compare:

Xteink S4

Xteink X4 Pro

Xteink X4 Classic

Xteink X3

Dimensions:

6.98mm thick

111 x 69 x 5.95mm

114 x 69 x 4.9mm

97.6 x 63.7 x 5.1mm

Weight:

94g

72g

68g

58g

Display:

4.3-inch, 219ppi

4.3-inch, 219ppi

4.3-inch, 219ppi

3.7-inch, 259ppi

Touchscreen:

Yes

Yes

No

No

Front light:

Yes

Yes

No

No

Storage:

32GB built in

microSD - 16GB included

microSD - 16GB included

microSD - 16GB included

Battery:

1,400mAh

1,100mAh

920mAh

650mAh

Charging:

USB-C

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Operating system:

Android 11

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Magnets:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: price and availability

The Xteink S4 (Image credit: Xteink)

The Xteink X4 Classic, X4 Pro, and X3 are all available directly from Xteink and from some third-party stores like Amazon. They ship to much of the world, and the cheapest is the Xteink X3, which costs $69 / £69 / AU$102.

Then there’s the Xteink X4 Classic for $79 / £79 / AU$116, while the Xteink X4 Pro will cost you $99 / £99 / AU$146.

The Xteink S4 is so far only available in China, but I’d expect it will cost at least as much as the X4 Pro, if not more.

Pricing

Model

US price

UK price

AU price

Xteink X3

$69

£69

AU$102

Xteink X4 Classic

$79

£79

AU$116

Xteink X4 Pro

$99

£99

AU$146

Xteink S4

TBC

TBC

TBC

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: design

The Xteink X3 (Image credit: Xteink)

All of these devices look similar to each other, as they’re all small rectangles and look a bit like a tiny phone — albeit with larger bezels than most modern smartphones.

They all have buttons and charging ports on the sides, but the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4 Classic each also have two long, narrow buttons on the bezel below the display, while the Xteink X4 Pro and Xteink S4 instead have a single circular button, like a much smaller version of the home button on very old iPhones.

The Xteink X4 Classic and X3 are both available in a choice of Space Black or Mist Gray (the latter of which is sometimes referred to as ‘Frost White’ instead), while the X4 Pro is currently only sold in Space Black, but pictures of it exist in a gray shade too, so that will probably launch sooner or later. In China, the Xteink S4 is available in black and white shades, and it’s likely the color options will be the same when it goes global.

So there’s not much difference there either — the main design difference is in their weight and dimensions. The Xteink X3 is the smallest and lightest of the bunch at 97.6 x 63.7 x 5.1mm and 58g. Then there’s the Xteink X4 Classic at 114 x 69 x 4.9mm and 68g — making it slightly slimmer but otherwise larger.

The Xteink X4 Pro is 111 x 69 x 5.95mm and 72g, so it’s not quite as tall as the X4 Classic but is thicker and heavier than both that and the X3. And then there’s the Xteink S4, which we don’t have full dimensions for yet, but which we know is 6.98mm thick and 95g, making it the thickest and heaviest of them all.

All of these devices have built in magnets though, allowing you to attach them to the back of a phone — though they’re quite vulnerable like that, so you might prefer to put them in a case anyway.

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: display

The Xteink X4 Classic (Image credit: Xteink)

The Xteink S4, X4 Classic, and X4 Pro all have a 4.3-inch screen with 219 pixels per inch, while the Xteink X3 has a smaller 3.7-inch screen with 259 pixels per inch.

So you’re getting a slightly crisper display on the X3, which could make all the difference as personally my X4 Pro isn’t quite as sharp as I’d like — especially when you compare it side-by-side with other devices like the ViWoods AiPaper Reader with its 300ppi display.

On the other hand, you’re also getting a truly tiny screen if you choose the X3, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference — it makes this all the more compact, but also means you’ll constantly be turning the page.

Beyond those differences, the Xteink S4 and Xteink X4 Pro have touchscreens — though you can also turn pages with buttons if you prefer — whereas the X3 and X4 Classic are purely reliant on buttons for interactions.

The Xteink S4 and X4 Pro also both have a front light, which the other models lack, meaning these are the only two you can read on without external light sources.

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: performance and software

The Xteink X4 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Xteink X4 Classic, X4 Pro, and X3 all run a proprietary Linux-based operating system. It’s an operating system that personally I didn’t think much of, and I’m not alone judging by forum comments. But Xteink’s devices can handily be bought with unlocked firmware, making it easy to flash alternative operating systems onto them.

I’m running an open source one called CrossInk, which I’m quite pleased with. But there’s a major limitation with any of the options in that they can’t run the Kindle or Kobo apps (or any other apps), making it harder to get books onto them than with most ereaders — you need to download DRM-free versions or remove the DRM, and then transfer them to the device.

That’s a real pain, and it’s a problem the Xteink S4 solves, as this runs Android 11. And while I can’t yet confirm exactly which apps work with it (since there are sometimes compatibility issues on ereaders), Xteink claims it supports “mainstream reader apps.”

Still, there are two potential problems with this approach as well — one is battery life, which I’ll get into in the next section, and the other is security and support. Android 11 is six years old now, and it could be increasingly vulnerable to bugs and malware, since Google is focused on patching newer releases. Besides which, Android ereaders tend not to receive Android updates anyway, so it may not receive security patches or new Android versions.

Eventually, apps will also stop supporting Android 11, so while Android is likely to give you a slicker experience, having such an old version comes with major drawbacks.

As for storage, the Xteink X4 Pro, X4 Classic, and X3 are all purely reliant on a microSD card — they each come with a 16GB one included, but it’s a low quality one, so you might want to replace it. There’s support for cards of up to 256GB.

The Xteink S4 takes a different approach, with 32GB of built in storage, but Android probably takes up a sizable chunk of that, and there’s seemingly no microSD card slot.

You’re also limited to very few book formats on the Xteink X3, X4 Classic, and X4 Pro, with just EPUB and TXT being supported, alongside JPG and BMP for images (or seemingly just BMP in the case of the Classic). We don’t have a full list of supported formats for the Xteink S4, but the company claims it supports “10+ native formats," so it should have the edge there.

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: battery

The Xteink X4 Classic (Image credit: Xteink)

The Xteink S4 has a 1,400mAh battery, and while we don’t know exactly how long it lasts, Xteink claims its “generous battery keeps sessions long.”

That’s higher capacity than the other models, with the Xteink 4 Pro having an 1,100mAh battery, the X4 Classic having a 920mAh one, and the X3 having just a 650mAh one.

Xteink only appears to have released battery stats for the X3, which it claims can last up to 10-14 days, based on 1-3 hours of reading per day. It’s likely then that even with their larger screens, the Xteink X4 Classic and X4 Pro will last even longer, given their far higher capacity batteries, and that certainly seems to be the case in my experience of the X4 Pro.

Granted, I’m not running stock firmware, which could affect things, but I seem to be getting months off a single charge, albeit with perhaps more like just 30 minutes of reading a day.

You might assume then that the Xteink S4 will last even longer — and perhaps it will — but I’d be surprised, as Android tends to be far more battery hungry than the lightweight operating systems used by the other models. I suspect, based on my experience with the Android-powered ViWoods AiPaper Reader, that the S4 might actually have the worst life of the bunch, but that remains to be seen.

So that’s the other downside of it running Android, but it does have one advantage on the battery front too, as it has a USB-C port, which makes charging convenient. The other models all use an annoying proprietary charger.

Xteink S4 vs X4 Pro vs X4 Classic vs X3: verdict

The Xteink X4 Pro (Image credit: Xteink)

There’s no clear winner between these devices. If you simply want the smallest and lightest ereader possible, then you should go for the Xteink X3 — especially as that’s also the cheapest.

If you want something a bit bigger — or you think you’d benefit from a touchscreen or a front light — then consider the Xteink X4 Pro. For all of that plus Android, the only option is the as-yet-unreleased Xteink S4 — though that also comes with downsides when it comes to security and potentially battery life.

The only one that’s harder to make a case for is the Xteink X4 Classic. This slots between the X3 and the X4 Pro with a bigger screen than the X3 but no touchscreen or light. Those features I feel are important enough that if you want a bigger screen you should choose the Pro over the Classic unless money is really tight.

Personally, I’m happy with my Xteink X4 Pro, and wouldn’t choose any of the other models over it. Other than the S4 it’s the most full-featured, but the compromises that come with the Xteink S4’s Android version make it unappealing to me. What I really want is a model running Android 17, but even then, if that meant significantly worse battery life I might think twice.

The only things I’m certain I want that the X4 Pro lacks are a sharper screen and USB-C, so hopefully a device that ticks all those boxes is in the works.

• Man Utd vs Tottenham: Saturday, October 10 at 5.30pm BST / 12.30pm ET / 4.30am AEDT (Sun.)
• Streams: Sky Sports (UK), Peacock (US)
• Outside the UK? Use NordVPN to unblock your streaming account

Watch Man Utd vs Tottenham in the Premier League 2026/27 season, as two struggling sides look to pick up a much-needed win as the English club game resumes after the three-week international break.

Man Utd have won only one of their first five league games, despite facing two promoted teams and two sides who finished in the bottom half of the Premier League last term. The Red Devils are also out of the Carabao Cup, meaning Michael Carrick is already coming under pressure after getting the manager's gig permanently in the summer. Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko have returned from international duty injury, but Carlos Baleba may be fit to make his United debut, most likely from the bench.

Tottenham's record is even worse, with no wins and just two points from their first five outings to sit bottom of the pile after back-to-back 17th-place finishes. Roberto De Zerbi was heavily backed in the summer transfer market, yet Sandro Tonali, Savio, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke have struggled to make much impact, while the latter has returned injured from Netherlands duty. De Zerbi has bemoaned a lack of conditioning for his side's travails — can three weeks drilling them have helped?

A win here, the uglier the better, for either side would lift the respective moods considerably.

Here's how to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham in the 2026/27 Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Man Utd vs Tottenham team news

Man Utd XI: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Tottenham XI: Kinksy; Gray, Senesi, Van Hecke, Udogie; Gallagher, Tonali, Bergvall; Savio, Solanke, Kudus.

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham for FREE

Free Man Utd vs Tottenham streams are scarce but there are a couple of options.

In the US, the Premier League 2026/27 fixture will be on NBC, which is available free to anyone with a TV antenna or cable.

Matches shown on NBC can be accessed via OTT streaming services such as YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream, which all have free trials of varying lengths.

Not in the US? You need a VPN to unlock your FREE stream — find out more below.

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham from anywhere

A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and you can get our exclusive deal too...

NordVPN deal: Get 3 months extra FREE

Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN.

✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
✅ Up to 75% off usual price
✅ Includes 3 extra months for free

Use Nord to unblock your usual streaming service and watch the Man Utd vs Tottenham live stream with our exclusive deal.View Deal

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham live streams in the USA

Soccer fans in the US can watch Man Utd vs Tottenham in the Premier League on NBC. You can watch for free with TV antenna or cable, or stream via NBC.com by inputting your provider details.

Streaming service Peacock also provides access to live NBC content. You'll need a Peacock Premium Plus subscription, plans start from $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year.

NBC content is also available via YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream, which all have free trials of varying lengths.

Outside of the US? Use a VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your stream. We like NordVPN best.

How to watch a Man Utd vs Tottenham live stream in the UK

(Image credit: Future)

Sky Sports is broadcasting Man Utd vs Tottenham in the UK on its Premier League and Main Event channels.

Packages cost £35 per month for new customers, or £22 per month if you already have a Sky TV contract. The Sky Go app lets you watch on your laptop, mobile or tablet.

Fans can also tune in using a NOW Sports Membership, with 24-hour passes costing £14.99.

Not in the UK for Man Utd vs Tottenham? Use NordVPN to access your usual Premier League streams.

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham live streams in Canada

Fubo is the Premier League's broadcast partner in Canada and it has live coverage of Man Utd vs Tottenham.

Prices start from CA$31.49 per month for Fubo's Sports Monthly package. However, the best option right now is the Quarterly Package which costs just CA$27.99 CA$14.99 for each of the first three months. You can also watch Fubo's content if you have a select DAZN subscription in Canada.

Not in Canada? Use NordVPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your preferred coverage from anywhere.

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham live streams in Australia

(Image credit: free)

A Man Utd vs Tottenham live stream is available in Australia on Stan Sport.

You can pick up a Stan Sport subscription for as little as AU$29.99 per month for the basic plan containing adds. That price consists of the AU$9.99 Stan subscription fee plus the Sport add-on for AU$20.

Outside of Oz? You can use a VPN to access your usual Premier League coverage. We recommend NordVPN.

What is the Man Utd vs Tottenham start time?

Man Utd vs Tottenham kicks off at 5.30pm BST / 12.30pm ET / 9.30am PT on Saturday, 10 October.

If you are in Australia, the game will be broadcast at 4.30am AEDT on Sunday, 11 October.

What is the Man Utd vs Tottenham head-to-head?

Of the previous 207 meetings between the sides, Man Utd have won 97 to Tottenham's 58, with 52 draws.

Man Utd had the upper hand last season, drawing 2-2 away from home and beating Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is great at generating valuable insights, but what companies end up doing with those insights - that’s where true achievement lies, and that’s what companies should be focusing on.

This is one of the core messages delivered by Ryan Waite, Director of Open Source Ecosystems and Incubations at Microsoft, during his keynote, “From Open Source to Agentic Systems: Building the AI Native Era” at the Open Source Summit.

Waite described the interaction between AI and human expertise as a learning loop, a kind of hill-climbing machine that helps businesses improve, and keep on improving.

The knowledge belongs to the business

AI models are great at processing enormous amounts of information and generating insights at a scale humans cannot match (and sometimes cannot even fathom), but people bring something arguably more important to the table: context and judgement.

Putting insights into wider context, and using that to make conclusions, helps employees turn information into knowledge, and that knowledge later becomes part of the organization’s collective expertise. And with every iteration the knowledge grows, helping businesses climb further up the proverbial mountain.

Sovereignty and ownership seem to be an underlying theme to most of the keynotes here at the Open Source Summit, and Waite’s presentation is no different. As AI generates insight, and humans turn that insight to knowledge, it now becomes vital to secure that knowledge and make sure it remains under the organization’s control.

“It's based on your data,” he said. “It's based on your people. It shouldn't be given off to an AI model, that's separate. And that's why we believe that for organizations to build their own hill-climbing machines, to build their own learning groups, they need to build control with the sort of learning loops and not be beholden to a single AI provider.”

After all, everything AI generates is based (or at least, should be) on proprietary business information, and the decisions made based on those insights depend on employees and their understanding of the company. So, businesses need to make sure ownership of the knowledge accumulated through these interactions are not handed over to an external AI provider - a challenge that will probably grow bigger and bigger as businesses become more dependent on AI tools.

The knowledge generated through these tools could become tied to a particular model, or provider. What happens when businesses want to adopt better technologies as they emerge? To future-proof these processes, Waite argues businesses should build their own learning loops and maintain control over the information, processes, and technologies that make them work.

Choosing the right AI model

One way to do that is to make sure you’re not tied to a single AI model. Many businesses, Waite says, begin their AI journey with proprietary frontier models, especially when tackling problems they don’t fully understand themselves. However, as they become better and understand their tasks more, they might not need expensive frontier models any more - they can move to specialized models that could be smaller, or cheaper. They could even move to open-weight models they can operate themselves.

“Having the ability to move between different models is important, especially as you think about your algorithms. Which models are you going to use? You shouldn't be trapped with a particular kind of model because it has your knowledge,” he concluded.

So, what’s important here is to retain the freedom to switch and move along the way. That also means businesses need to control where their AI workloads run, whether that’s within sovereign infrastructure governed by local regulations, on-prem systems, or public cloud environments (where they can take advantage of greater scalability and cost advantages).

Open source technologies provide the foundation for this flexibility, Waite concluded.

An AI developer has taken on Adobe, the undisputed 800-lbs gorilla of the creative software space. Announcing the 'launch' over on Reddit, the "a 15-year industry veteran" explained that he used Opus 5.5 to help "recreate 7 of the top Adobe apps in 100% pure native Rust".

Adobe's all-consuming subscriptions seems to be the main reason for recreating Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, After Effects, and InDesign using the modern programming language.

That's something I can fully appreciate. After all, what if you’re not a fan of their business practices, like charging you a fair chunk of change every month to be able to use their software, and the moment you stop paying, you can no longer work on your files and projects?

So, of course, I just had to check out how it compares to Adobe's own creative suite.

ArtCraft: New apps for the same job

The ArtCraft names are pretty self-explanatory: PhotoCraft is for images, LightCraft for image cataloguing, VectorCraft for vectors, DesignCraft for desktop publishing, FilmCraft for filmmaking, EffectCraft for creating special effects, and PrintCraft is for working with PDFs.

These apps aren't only free, they’re also multi-platform, available for PCs, Macs, and Linux systems, and there are even web-based versions, would you believe it. If you’re curious yourself, you can download them all from the Get ArtCraft website here.

Sound too good to be true? I know what you mean. Plus, is it even legal? I’m not a lawyer, so I haven’t got a clue, but the developer claims it’s all clean code and nothing copyrighted was copied. Make of that what you will (I’m sure I can hear lawyers scurrying through that code like ants at a picnic). But I know what would be a crime: if I didn’t check this software out, and compared it with the original.

I thought I’d look at two packages I use regularly, image editing and filmmaking, and get a feel for how they square up against Photoshop and Premiere Pro. I’ll be using my trusty 16” Intel-based MacBook Pro to check how the software runs on a computer that’s been around the block a few times.

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)Installing ArtCraft

Installing the software could hardly be simpler. You select the app you’re after, click on ‘Download’, and run the installer, which in my case simply involved dragging the app’s icon into my Applications folder.

Now first things first, you may be as surprised as I was by the software’s size. On my machine, Adobe Photoshop eats up 6.4GB of storage space. Premiere Pro is a little hungrier, coming in at 6.8GB.

I guess that’s what you should expect for modern software, right? After all, Apple’s Final Cut Pro is 7.7GB, DaVinci Resolve is 9.29GB, Canva Affinity is 3.51GB, and Pixelmator Pro is a svelte 814MB.

But these Craft apps? They’re positively anaemic. PhotoCraft is 80MB, while FilmCraft, 90MB. How can they be so small yet still claim to offer the same features as their… gargantuan counterparts?

PhotoCraft vs Photoshop

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)

Let’s highlight the positive first, shall we? You don’t need an account to run PhotoCraft, nor do you need to be online for it to work. Just double-click on the icon and you’re good to go (I’m assuming that’s the case for each of the other 6 apps on offer). You’ll also be pleased to see it kinda looks Photoshop-y.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and in fact, PhotoCraft failed for me at the very first hurdle: it can’t read the HEIC format.

Now that’s a problem for me as I carry an iPhone, and Apple have used that format by default for all photos taken with such devices since 2017. I guess 9 years is just too short a time to write software that can handle that format.

To be fair to PhotoCraft, many apps and services still have an issue with HEIC… but Photoshop doesn’t.

After having transformed some shots to JPG (necessitating the use of a different image editor - oh the irony), I tried again.

My subsequent experience afterwards was relatively uneventful. I was able to work with various objects, apply colour correction to one or multiple layers, select items, move them around, add a title… all pretty basic stuff, yet admittedly, what Photoshop is most often used for.

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)

But it wasn’t a slick experience. For one thing, the software isn’t optimised for Macs - I can’t tell you how much I miss my menu bar at the top of the screen.

More crucially, when trying to select part of an object - especially when using the ellipse tool - the selection wouldn’t hold, and I had to repeat the process multiple times until it did. Moving an object around moved its outline, until I released the mouse button, and then the whole object was shunted to its new location. How very 80s.

And what’s perhaps the most damning thing of all, when I decided to save my project, PhotoCraft saved it… as a JPG. There was no file format option and the only one available destroys any possibility of going back to your project and continuing your work.

If PhotoCraft doesn’t yet have its own file format, why is there no option to save your work as a PSD document instead? Other competitors like Pixelmator Pro let you do that. But not PhotoCraft. That’s, for lack of a better word, bad.

FilmCraft vs Premiere Pro

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)

Launching FilmCraft is lightning fast, and I was greeted with a demo project featuring multiple layers, and some transitions. But that won’t help me understand how the software works, so I created a fresh new one and added my own footage.

First off, the interface has a very familiar look to it which is very welcoming. I also definitely appreciated the menu bar being where it’s supposed to be this time. Creating a new project, importing clips, adding them to a new sequence, working with multiple layers, everything was as expected.

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)

So far so good, right? Well except that the rest felt a little clunky to be honest. Like I couldn’t manually trim a clip in my sequence. I could use the blade tool for sure, but mousing to the end of the clip and dragging its edge inwards? Sorry, no can do. I’d view that as the absolute most basic action you should be able to perform on a clip.

Aside from that, I could access color correction, apply transitions and other effects… but just like PhotoCraft, it’s crazy slow. I know I purposefully chose an old machine to run this on, but the latest versions of Photoshop and Premiere Pro run rings around these apps on the same hardware.

And then there’s the killing blow: for whatever reason, the audio from the clips I was using were completely unusable. All I got when I tried playing the footage back was static. Very loud static. It’s bound to be a lack of a specific codec again, but frankly, in this day and age, codec support for a vast array of media should be baked in from the start.

Final thoughts

(Image credit: ArtCraft // Future)

Alright. Here’s the good news: these apps look good, feel very familiar, and provide some of the tools that are used most often. It’s impressive what has been achieved, but truth be told, there’s a heck of a lot of overpromising and a huge amount of underdelivering, I’m afraid. These apps are slow, some crucial features are missing, and there are some big bugs that haven’t been dealt with yet.

But part of the reason is these software packages are not even full version releases. PhotoCraft is at 0.20, while FilmCraft’s on 0.2.1. They’re far from ready for prime time. So, I have hopes that they're only going to get better once the time comes.

If you’re looking for free alternatives to the Adobe hegemony, these are not the apps you’re looking for. At least not yet. Let the developer cook a little longer, but if you just can’t wait for your independence, there already are some free alternatives out there I recommend.

Sure, you’ll have to familiarise yourself with new interfaces, but these apps have been delivering the goods for years now and are well worth exploring. I’m thinking of Canva Affinity, and DaVinci Resolve. Personally, I'd check those out until ArtCraft is ready for primetime (and the coast is clear of lawyers).

Read more: The best Adobe Photoshop alternatives and the best Premiere Pro alternatives.

There's a lot of convenience and flexibility that comes with an eSIM, which is why phone manufacturers and consumers are adopting them more and more: they take seconds to set up, you can switch between them quickly, and you don't have to swap over any physical cards (or wait for one to arrive in the post).

eSIMs are typically stored and managed via your phone's operating system, but third-party apps can configure them too. Browser maker Opera has now added eSIM capabilities to its app on Android, and is even throwing in 3GB of free data for the first three days.

It's perfect if you're heading abroad in the near future. eSIMs are even more useful when traveling, as you can connect to local networks with minimal hassle — and thanks to Opera's new offer you'll be able to get online without paying anything or even entering an email address or payment details.

Too good to be true? I gave it a go to find out — but first, the small print.

Here's the deal

Opera for Android now comes with an eSIM (Image credit: Opera)

You can take advantage of this 3GB eSIM deal from Opera if you have a carrier unlocked phone that's eSIM compatible, and that's running Android 10 or later — so the vast majority of current handsets are going to qualify. Opera hasn't suddenly become an eSIM company though: it's partnering with Holiday.com for this.

The 3GB of free data is available if you live in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, or Poland. As mentioned above you won't have to enter any personal details, like an email address or your credit card information, to make use of the 3GB of data, and the allowance kicks in as soon as you're abroad.

Your free 3GB can be used in 47 destinations: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, the UK, and the US.

If you then decide to go on and buy an eSIM, you can make your purchase and use it in any location covered by Holiday.com (that's more than 150 countries). Plans are available with 3GB, 5GB, and 10GB of data, and last for 30 days after the first activation. Opera says pricing is typically 33% less than with "other major eSIM providers", though you should of course do some shopping around before buying.

Like most travel eSIMs, this is a data-only deal. The new eSIM won't replace your phone number and will work alongside your current eSIM or physical SIM to get you online in foreign climes — and give you access to the web, WhatsApp, Google Maps, and everything else that works with cellular data. The connection will be via 5G if it's available, otherwise you'll fall back to the next best thing.

Here's how it works

Setup takes just a few minutes (Image credit: Future)

While standard eSIMs are stored in phone memory, when it comes to travel eSIMs that focus on data abroad, you typically have to download and install another app from the eSIM provider. That app then handles all aspects of paying for and installing eSIMs, and getting you connected in whatever country you happen to be in.

Opera takes care of all of this for you, and recommends setting up your eSIM at home on a solid Wi-Fi connection. In the Android app, you need to tap your profile picture (bottom right), then eSIM, then follow the instructions. Tap Claim now, and choose your destination country from the list — your allowance is valid for three days after the first connection abroad, and there's no need to register any of your details.

After choosing your destination, you'll be taken through the eSIM setup process for your device, which will vary depending on your Android phone maker of choice. On a Pixel, it's just a couple of simple taps, and your new Opera 3GB eSIM (powered by Holiday.com) then shows up in Settings > Network and Internet > SIMs.

It's a proper eSIM too, and not just for browsing through Opera: you can use it with Google Chrome, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Maps, or any app you like. You just need to activate it through your phone's SIMs menu and through the eSIM menu in Opera, and you're up and running once you cross the border.

Sadly, I'm not vacationing in the near future, but I did test out the eSIM in the UK. Speeds were actually faster than on my regular O2 SIM, which must be something to do with mast locations, and I could get online across all my apps without issue.

Your mileage may of course vary depending on country and cell network coverage, but I had no problems with setting up or connecting to my free 3GB data plan.

It had been a while since Dyson had genuinely surprised us with a product launch, but then the brand unveiled its first toothbrush. Dyson is already a familiar name in personal care, thanks to its now well established hair-styling gadgets, so a move into oral care wasn't entirely left-field. Still, when the CameraJet made its debut, it was still quite the swerve – taking Dyson from the dressing table to the bathroom sink.

The first product has to be radically different... otherwise we wouldn't consider it

Jake Dyson

When I caught up with Jake Dyson — son of founder, James, and Dyson's chief engineer — at the brand's Unveiled event, I wanted to know what prompted such a move. And, more broadly, how a brand might end up with such a twisty, turny product roadmap.

(For clarity, throughout this article I'll be using "Dyson" to mean the brand, and "Jake" to mean the person.)

So, if a toothbrush can become a Dyson gadget, is there anything that couldn't be? "No, it doesn't," Jake declares. "It has to be radically different."

He expands: "The first product has to be radically different, and have performance claims, and a difference against a competitor by a magnitude; otherwise, we wouldn't consider it."

Remember when every hair dryer didn't look like this? (Image credit: Future)

In short, the brand isn't interested in having a go at anything; it wants to make a splash in markets that have grown stagnant. The launch of the first Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in 2016 is a great example — it blew new life into a market that had barely seen change in decades.

And the CameraJet is far from your average toothbrush. It's kitted out with a camera that will stream a live view of the inside of your mouth back to you, and is trained to recognize gaps in your teeth and shoot water/mouthwash at them, to take care of flossing. Whether or not it enjoys the success of the Supersonic remains to be seen, but it certainly checks that "radically different" box.

Striving for perfection

The potential to shake things up is essential, but before a new-category product is launched, other criteria must be met. "It's got to work properly," asserts Jake. "I mean, we probably could have launched [the CameraJet] two years ago, but it wouldn't have hit every gap perfectly, and that's not acceptable."

If we're going to go into a new area, then we'll do that knowing that we've got more products behind it

Jake Dyson

It's unfortunate then that shortly after our conversation, reports of CameraJet faults began rolling in from early adopters. Dyson has blamed this on an isolated production issue that's now under control, so I'll give the company the benefit of the doubt in this instance.

Barring any further hiccups, you should expect more unusual oral care products to also be hitting the market before too long; Jake's third golden rule is that you never launch with just one product. "If we're going to go into a new area, then we'll do that knowing we've got more products behind it," he tells me.

When pushed if he means further iterations, he clarifies the brand aims for "expansion in that category, quite quickly", and confirms it will start with a roadmap of multiple products.

Doubling up

Breaking new markets is an expensive business, but Jake is savvy about not wasting effort. "I think you try not to do things twice that take an awful long time and a lot of investment," he says. "You try to use it again in another product."

He talks about innovations that the brand wants to "platform". A great example is the shrunk-down mechanics and battery system that Dyson developed for its Airwrap, and which also appears in its Supersonic r hair dryer. A version of it is used in the brand's new hot brush, and it also features in the PencilVac and now the PencilMop.

Dyson's shrunk-down mechanics are now used across multiple products (Image credit: Future)

As for exactly how the innovations make their way across team lines, it isn't a defined process. "It happens naturally. You cross-pollinate, you join the dots. 'If we put that with that, we could do this.'," says Jake. "And as a company, we're getting much better at predicting that before we do it."

He explains that this cross-pollination will also sometimes highlight the gaps that Dyson needs to fill. "It makes us realize there are other technologies we need to develop ourselves — which we are, behind the scenes — to enable us to go into those new areas and do something better than anyone else."

What "radically different" products might be on the horizon at Dyson? I'll be watching with interest.

Dyson product tour

Here's a quick rundown of some of Dyson's newest releases — hit the View Details button to read more about each one.

Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry

Read more: The Dyson R1 is my quiet hero of the brand's new robot vacuum range — and its senior design manager explains why it's the "small, effective" option that people who "don't trust" mopping vacs have been crying out for.

Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry

Read more: "We've ruined many of James' Persian rugs over the years" — Dyson designer shares the development secrets of the brand's new robovac lineup.

Learn about the R3 model (not yet on sale): "It will light up your home like a bowling alley" — Dyson's new Nurovi robot vacuum has a UV light to show up invisible spills, but I'm not sure I'm ready to see what's on my floors.

Dyson CameraJet

Read more: "What you have there is essentially a $70,000 piece of lab equipment in a handheld consumer product": Jake Dyson shares the design secrets of the brand's new mouthwash-squirting toothbrush — and the company explains why some early models had problems.

Review: This game-changing toothbrush offers liquid flossing, precision-brushing, and a camera that doubles as a dental endoscope — I tried it for a week.

Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai Robot Vacuum

Read our full review

Pros

• Good hardware
• Great at little-and-often cleaning
• Excellent self-cleaning
• Smart obstacle avoidance
• Auto vacuuming works well
• Bagless design

Cons

• Some navigation issues
• Unreliable self-empty
• Loud in every mode
• Large vacuum and dock
• Hair wrap on roller
• Transparent bins display dirt

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan

Read more: The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is the powerful personal fan you won't want to live without this summer — and it's surprisingly reasonably priced, too

Pros

• Powerful concentrated air flow
• Runs for up to 6.5 hours on a single charge
• Stylish, unusual design
• Significantly cheaper than closest competitor

Cons

• Air intake holes are easy to cover with your hand when holding

Dyson Supersonic Travel

Read more: The Dyson Supersonic Travel is proof you don't have to sacrifice hair health on holiday

Pros

• Fast drying for a compact dryer
• Impressively light
• Universal auto-voltage (100–240V)
• Intelligent heat control
• Compatible with Supersonic Nural attachments

Cons

• Reduced airflow versus full-size
• No travel case included
• Only one attachment in the box
• Price sits at the very top end of the travel dryer market

Dyson PencilWash Wet Floor Cleaner

Read our full review

Pros

• Extremely lightweight
• Comfortable and easy to use
• Effective wet and dry cleaning
• Super flexible articulated floorhead
• Compact size is ideal for small homes

Cons

• Costs the same as a good wet/dry floor cleaner
• Doesn't reach right to the edge of baseboards
• Dirty water tank can be messy to empty

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact

Read our full review

Pros

• Super fast reaction times
• Whisper-quiet
• Covers very large rooms
• Easy-to-use app
• Five-year electrostatic filter life

Cons

• Expensive for purifying only
• Larger than its 'compact' name suggests
• Very limited on-device controls
• No carry handle

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine

Read about the regular version in our review

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones

Read our full review

Pros

• Ultra-light and extremely compact
• Very nimble and maneuverable
• Soft rollers excellent on hard floor
• Compression maximizes bin capacity
• Lasers illuminate hidden dirt
• Useful screen counts down runtime

Cons

• Not the most powerful suction
• Angled floorhead awkward for edges
• Not suitable for carpet
• Still rather a small bin
• Particles get stuck in bin casing

• Quanta reportedly halted HP notebook production for about a week after price talks stalled
• The dispute centered around ODM-bought parts like PCBs, batteries and power chips, while HP already assumes most memory CPU and GPU costs directly
• Shipments were resumed once HP executives renegotiated a hike

Quanta Computer, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer that builds a large share of HP's laptops, reportedly stopped producing HP notebooks for about a week in September 2026 after the two companies failed to agree on prices.

DigiTimes reports that Quanta cut off supply to press HP into paying more, drawing on a server business that has grown to dwarf its laptop operation.

A fuller account comes from Taiwan People News, which cites supply chain sources saying Quanta co-founder and vice chairman C.C. Leung personally ordered the halt once September negotiations stalled with production resuming only after senior HP executives stepped in with a cost adjustment that Quanta accepted.

AI servers changed the math as buyers continue to pay the price

The story does lack official confirmation, as Quanta told the Taiwan People News that it "does not respond regarding individual customers," and German outlet heise reported that HP has not commented on the issue to date.

Despite this, something that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago, is now entirely plausible, even if one cant find direct evidence for it. The historical improbability has a reason: contract manufacturers rely on scale to spread their fixed costs, and a large order ties up purchasing, capacity and staffing, so even unattractive pricing rarely leads an ODM to switch off a major account.

Heise, which describes HP as Quanta's largest notebook customer, states that HP had refused to share rising production costs and insisted on previously agreed prices, unlike other PC brands, and that HP sent supply chain executives to Taiwan to deal with Leung directly. What it had to give up to get shipments going again has not been make public even as Digitimes states it forced HP to raise prices.

The two companies have some legal history here that seems prudent to highlight: HP won a $438.7 million optical drive price-fixing judgment against Quanta's subsidiary Quanta Storage before settling confidentially in June 2020.

It is important to provide context: most of the more expensive components: GPUs, CPUs and RAM are all sourced directly by HP and it has already pushed price increases back to consumers. The parts Quanta buys on its own account are a different list: printed circuit boards, passive components, lithium batteries, power management chips and Wi-Fi chips, all of which have faced price pressure lately.

When those rise, the cost lands on Quanta unless the contract is reopened or renegotiated, and swapping in cheaper parts brings its own bill for redesign, certification and one-time engineering fees. Quanta seems to be extremely well-fed to want to bother with shouldering additional costs in an industry that is dwarfed by data center servers that make up as much as 80% of its revenue thanks to a surge in AI demand.

There is however a lack of corroborating evidence that this happened: Quanta does not break out shipments by customer, but its totals show no obvious September hole. The company shipped 4.2 million notebooks in September, up 61.5% from August and down 8.7% from a year earlier, according to the same Anue report.

There are reasons a halt might not show up in those totals. Quanta also builds laptops for Apple, including the MacBook Neo, and other customers' volumes could cover an HP gap relatively with ease. Alternatively a one-week production stop also need not become a one-week shipment gap if finished inventory was on hand or output was caught up before the month closed.

Irrespective of whatever happened and whatever was potentially agreed to in Taiwan, the bill flows downstream and consumers are ultimately asked to pay the price. For two decades, PC brands could make their contract manufacturers eat cost increases because those manufacturers had few better places to put their factories.

Quanta now has one if the account holds and other ODMs with fast-growing server businesses will have noticed that a week without HP did not sink Quanta. HP's competitors will have noticed the same too and it might factor into their own negotiations or renegotiations in the future even customers continue pony an increasingly large bill.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, October 9 (game #1216).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1217) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• OUTLINE
• SHADOW
• FEED
• FIGURE
• DRAFT
• IMAGINE
• KICK
• NOTIFICATIONS
• GATHER
• NOTES
• UN
• MESSAGES
• BEAT
• SUPPOSE
• PROFILE
• THESIS

NYT Connections today (game #1217) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Steps to creating written work
• GREEN: Dr Livingstone, I…
• BLUE: Online life
• PURPLE: Add a fighting word

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1217) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: USEFUL WHEN WRITING A PAPER
• GREEN: PRESUME
• BLUE: SOCIAL MEDIA SECTIONS
• PURPLE: ___BOXING

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1217) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1217, are…

• YELLOW: USEFUL WHEN WRITING A PAPER: DRAFT, NOTES, OUTLINE, THESIS
• GREEN: PRESUME: FIGURE, GATHER, IMAGINE, SUPPOSE
• BLUE: SOCIAL MEDIA SECTIONS: FEED, MESSAGES, NOTIFICATIONS, PROFILE
• PURPLE: ___BOXING: BEAT, KICK, SHADOW, UN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t — and in my case I nearly always don’t — but today I saw the Purple First within seconds of surveying all of the tiles.

Having said that, it did take me a little while to get to the 'UN' of UNBOXING, as I was reading it as the abbreviation of the United Nations.

From here, the next two groups felt pretty straightforward. Today, it was the green quartet that went over my head.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, October 9, 2026, game #1216)

• YELLOW: DECISIVE VICTORY: BLOWOUT, ROMP, ROUT, SWEEP
• GREEN: CONTROLLED BY A TV REMOTE: CHANNEL, INPUT, POWER, VOLUME
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A SPORTS SHOW: HIGHLIGHTS, RECAP, SCORES, STATS
• PURPLE: AIR ____: CONDITIONER, GUITAR, KISS, QUOTES

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• IDC claims the global PC market has seen one of its biggest declines
• DRAM and SSD price share has risen from 15% to 40%
• Stockpiling could lead to some discounts, but prices are still elevated

Worldwide PC shipments fell a staggering 20% year-over-year during the third quarter of 2026, per the latest IDC analysis, meaning 15.8 million fewer PCs were shipped compared with the same period in 2025.

The findings broadly align with Omdia's findings, which revealed a 21% drop, while IDC's data even shows a worrying 9% quarter-on-quarter decrease.

While the figures have a small degree of variability, both agencies agree on one thing – the AI boom is responsible for the PC industry's problems, and it all comes down to the price of chips and other components.

High PC prices are driving down sales at an alarming rate

"The impact of upstream component cost increases has now fully worked its way through to end-market pricing," Omdia Research Director Ishan Dutt explained. DRAM and SSDs are the main offenders, Omdia explained, noting that their share of a total PC's price has risen from around 15% to 40%.

Omdia also anticipates DRAM revenue globally to top $372 billion this year, up from $151 billion last year, as AI data center-driven growth shows no sign of stopping.

But while it ultimately means the PC market could experience long-term price rises, IDC dropped one key piece of information that could make now the perfect time to buy a new PC.

Because so many OEMs have stockpiled in a bid to offset some of those rising costs, they're now likely worried about shifting so much stock. "Channels are concerned about high inventory and low demand, so promotions are possible," IDC explained, noting that while prices are elevated compared with this time last year, there could be some momentary relief before yet more rises.

"With macro conditions worsening, the risk is that the outlook for the next few quarters gets worse before it gets better," consumer devices Research Director Jitesh Ubrani explained.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review

I was incredibly excited to try out the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2. The original model is easily among my favorite pairs of clip-on open earbuds, delivering immersive audio, an exceptionally comfortable fit, and a solid feature-set to match. So can the sequel build upon the strengths of the original AeroClip? Here’s my verdict after testing them.

Let’s start by talking about the upgrades on the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2. Perhaps the main event is the new 'AnkerThus' chip, which — according to the company — offers 150x more computing power than the previous model. The key feature of the new chip is that it powers "Crystal-Clear Calls" and, indeed, you do get very solid call quality on the AeroClip 2. AI helps to scoop out pesky external sounds, and whether I was making a call or taking a voice recording, I found that my speech never sounded obscured. I also enjoyed the Whisper mode, which made my voice clear even if I was talking quietly.

One of the changes I really appreciate is HearID. Here, a few soundbites play, and you select the signature that sounds the best to you, before being shown your result. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my result favored a bit more emphasis in the low-end, making up for the low-end limitations of open-ear design. This feature helps the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 to stand out, even among the best open earbuds, and I recommend every user try it before they start listening to their tunes.

Elsewhere, the earbuds receive a huge waterproofing upgrade, from IPX4 to the AeroClip 2's IP57. This sees the buds protected against dust ingress, and submersion in up to a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes.

Battery life has also been improved. While the buds still offer a respectable, albeit unremarkable, eight hours of playback, they will stay alive for 32 hours with the charging case — an eight-hour boost over the original AeroClip.

The case design also see some changes; it's far more compact than the charging cradle on the first AeroClip. The buds also now slip into the case back-to-back, making the AeroClip 2 more convenient to slide into your pocket than their predecessors. The buds themselves look very similar — and still have that comfortable, lightweight, and secure fit of the original model that I so loved. They’re also pretty stylish, arriving in a range of colors including Burgundy Red, Cloud White, Midnight Black, and Mist Blue.

(Image credit: Future)

So, now on to how the AeroClip 2 sound. Something that piqued my interest is that the new buds seem to favor bass a little less than their predecessors — at least out of the box. If anything, I’d argue that bass is a little recessed, not helped by the AeroClip 2’s open architecture, which naturally leaks low-frequencies more than standard in-ear buds. But fear not: these are still very solid performers overall.

With my HearID tuning in use, I was able to get a bit more weight at the low-end, while still leaving plenty of room for instruments to breathe in the mid-range and treble. And while the sonic upgrade over the first AeroClip buds is more incremental than revolutionary, there are certainly a few enhancements worth covering.

For instance, the news buds include LDAC, enabling you to stream higher-res music over Bluetooth with a compatible device (such as a modern Android phone). In practice, LDAC did make a difference — finer details in vocal performances and subtle percussive elements came through more prominently, opening up a more intricate listening experience.

Into my listening notes now, and we’ll start with the jazz-funk track Pret-Á-Porter by Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. The AeroClip 2 offered a wide, expansive soundstage — something clip-on open ears often excel at. Bass was well weighted and didn’t overstep its remit, but it wasn’t the most punchy or impactful. Treble sounded more articulate than on the original AeroClip, with precise, controlled percussion, and I was impressed by instrument separation, with horns and guitars operating separately rather than getting in each other's way.

Next, I switched over to a house track, Foreva by Caleb Jackson. Again, bass didn’t have that full-sounding, rich quality I love from my in-ear buds and over-ear headphones, but it was still agile and rhythmic. Vocals were well defined in the mix, and treble, while expressive and responsive, didn’t sound overly forward or grating — even at higher volumes. The subtlety of synths in the mid-range was also handled tastefully.

I finished up with Michi by Yuta Orisaka, a more stripped-back, acoustic track. Acoustic guitars in the intro were delicate and emotive — with LDAC helping the AeroClip 2 to provide more insight than their predecessor. Vocals, while not the most textured, were clear in the mic, and subtle bass came through nicely. All in all, the AeroClip 2 are a bit more revealing than the original model, and while they have limitations due to their open architecture, they perform pretty admirably overall.

The AeroClip 2 also feature a spatial sound mode, which can make your tunes sound more immersive, but I tended to keep this off for the most precise, natural presentation. You can access settings such as this in the Anker Soundcore app, which is responsive, well-laid out, and has a flashy UI. From there you can also alter EQ, with HearID, presets, or access a multi-band custom option. There’s also a section that enables you to listen to relaxing sounds such as waves crashing or forest noises — a little gimmicky, sure, but fun all the same.

In addition, the AeroClip 2 introduce customizable button controls, whose functions you can swap out for each bud via the Anker Soundcore app. So, for example, you might make one press on the right earbud to pause playback, but one press on the left earbud to trigger the voice assistant.

There’s no noise cancelling on the AeroClip 2. This is the norm for open ears, but there are some rival models, such as the Edifier LolliClip, for example, that include it. But the draw of the open fit is that you’ll be able to stay highly aware of your surroundings, which was true for the AeroClip 2, even when I was using them at max volume. Personally, I prefer the option to switch between ANC and a transparency mode, so I’m still more likely to reach for the JBL Live Beam 4, say. Nevertheless, if you like the open style, then the AeroClip 2 are a strong option.

(Image credit: Future)

So, are the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 worth buying? Overall, I'd say yes…but there’s a "but".

Anker has ramped up the price of its flagship clip-on earbuds to $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240), marking a $40 / £30 (about AU$30) increase over the first model. But do the improvements justify the increase?

Well, I really like the HearID setting, and the inclusion of LDAC is a neat bonus — as is the more compact design. But the sonic jump or boost in battery life isn’t massive, and some of the new features such as the AI assistant / translation and spatial audio feel more like "nice-to-haves" rather than essential upgrades. So, it really depends on what you value as a user.

The AeroClip 2 are still priced relatively well overall, and deliver very solid sound quality, a fantastic fit, and plenty of customization options. And I still think that they’re some of the more functionally fleshed-out and better-sounding models you can buy right now. Having said that, I don’t think the original AeroClip buds should be overlooked — especially if you’re an iPhone user who can’t harness the powers of LDAC, or if you want to make a bit of a saving.

The AeroClip 2 (in black) beside the original AeroClip (in white) (Image credit: Future)Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: price & release date

• $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240)
• Released in September 2026

The Anker SoundCore AeroClip 2 were released in September 2026, around a year and a half after their predecessors, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip. The AeroClip 2 are priced at $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240), which is a significant jump up in price from the original AeroClip model, which cost $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) at launch.

Of course, there are a number of improvements that help justify this price hike, including a more compact build, LDAC, enhanced waterproofing, and implementation of the AnkerThus chip. And while the AeroClip 2 are still cheaper than rivals such as the Shokz OpenDots 2 and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, you can get impressive quality from cheaper models such as the Edifier LolliClip and budget-friendly Baseus Bowie MC2.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: specs

Waterproof rating

IP57

Drivers

12mm dynamic

Battery life

8 hours (buds), 32 hours (with charging case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Weight

6.2g (per bud)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

HearID works great, customizable controls, decent battery life, LDAC now here.

4.5/5

Performance

Solid detail and balance, although open design limits bass output.

4/5

Design

Ultra-comfortable and lightweight, more compact than before, neat color options, open design has its pros and cons.

4.5/5

Value

A price hike that’s justified in many areas, but some improvements could be greater.

4/5

Buy them if…

You’re drawn to the clip-on design
If you like the look of cuff-type earbuds, you’ll almost certainly enjoy the AeroClip 2. They have a stylish aesthetic, they're comfortable, and their highly secure fit all combine to make them solid all-rounders.

You’re looking for highly customizable sound
HearID enables you to take a multi-choice test that optimizes the AeroClip 2’s audio to suit your specific tastes. But if that wasn’t enough, there are also a handful of EQ presets as well as a multi-band custom equalizer, giving you advanced control over the sound of your open earbuds.

Don’t buy them if…

You want premium audio
If you’re looking for premium sound quality, you won’t get it here. That’s largely inherent to the open design that leaks sound, with the low-end especially weaker than in-ear buds.

You want noise cancelling
If you’re looking to shut out the outside world, then the AeroClip 2 aren’t for you. Some open earbuds include noise-cancelling technology, but it's pretty rare. Want ANC? I’d recommend the JBL Live Beam 4 or AirPods Pro 3 instead.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: also consider

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2

Shokz OpenDots 2

AirPods 5

Price

$169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240)

$199.95 / £179.99 / AU$339

$129 / £129 / AU$219

Drivers

12mm dynamic

Dual 11.8mm dynamic

Custom high-excursion

Waterproof rating

IP57

IP55

IP57

Battery life

8 hours (buds), 32 hours (with charging case)

10 hours (buds), 40 hours (with charging case)

4 hours (buds), 20 hours (with charging case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.1

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

6.2g (per bud)

6.4g (per bud)

4.3g (per bud)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

100Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz

Shokz OpenDots 2
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are an excellent pair of clip-on buds that boast great sound quality with punchy bass, good battery life, a secure and comfortable fit, and plenty of customization options. They’re a little bit pricier than the AeroClip 2, but you get more playtime, intuitive controls, and premium build quality that makes the investment feel worthwhile. Read our full Shokz OpenDots 2 review.

AirPods 5
Time for something a little different. The AirPods 5 are open-fit earbuds rather than clip-ons, but they still let you hear plenty of the world around you while delivering great style and sound quality to match. There's ANC to block out the outside world, plus they’re also highly waterproof, rammed with features, and beautifully lightweight. Non Apple-users may find their functionality overly restricted, and their battery life is disappointing, but they’re still a great pair of open-fit buds overall. Read more about the AirPods 5.

How I tested the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested in the office and while out and about
• Mainly streamed music over Tidal
• Compared directly against predecessor

I spent countless hours testing the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2, during which time I made full use of their features, spent countless hours listening to music, and assessed their performance in a range of environments.

As always, I started my testing by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also tuned into a huge variety of tracks from my personal library. I made sure to test the AeroClip 2 directly against their predecessor, as well as a handful of rivals.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from party speakers such as the Marshall Bromley 750 through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony 1000X The Collexion. I’ve also tested a number of clip-on open earbuds, such as the Edifier LolliClip and the Sony LinkBuds Open.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

Apple's most extreme Mac Studio, an M5 Ultra with 512GB of memory aimed at running huge AI models locally, is due to ship in late October. And that might be one reason why I'm seeing the - ahem - "cheaper" M5 Max model dropping $200 in price right now.

• Best for: Creative professionals and AI developers who want Mac Studio power without paying M5 Ultra prices.

• The deal: The Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max, 36GB, 512GB) is $2299 (was $2499) at B&H Photo.

• Why it matters: We're expecting to see more of the 512GB M5 Ultra at Apple's upcoming event next week. And I reckon we could be looking at prices starting well above $10,000. That makes the M5 Max Mac Studio the machine most people can realistically buy, and it's now cheaper as the new flagship approaches.

Today's best Mac Studio (M5 Max) deal

Mac Studio (M5 Max): was $2499 now $2299
This is the base M5 Max configuration, with an 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It has four Thunderbolt 5 ports, 10Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, an SD card slot and Wi-Fi 7, and B&H notes that supply at this price is limited.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Our roundup of M5 Ultra Mac Studio reviews revealed the Ultra's real strength is local AI, while its multi-core lead over the M5 Max is only about 26% and single-core performance is about the same, which is why the roundup points most creative users to the M5 Max. The M5 Max is the best-suited model for most professionals, as 36GB of memory fits many workflows. However, 1TB is a more practical starting point for storage than 512GB, and that's currently discounted to $2579 (was $2799) on the site.

Price Context & Historical Value

At $2,299, this is $200 (8%) off Apple's $2,499 starting price. Now, Mac Studio discounts may improve in the months after launch, especially around Black Friday, so this may not be the lowest price it reaches - but it's the lowest I've seen right now. As with previous Macs, you can't upgrade the memory in this model later, so make sure 36GB is enough before you buy.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max) if...

You want Mac Studio performance for creative work or local AI at around $2,300, and you don't need the M5 Ultra's 512GB memory ceiling.

❌ Skip the Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max) if...

You need the 512GB M5 Ultra for large local AI models, or you want more than 512GB of storage without an external drive.

• See all Mac desktops at B&H Photo

• The UK could impose tariffs on EVs imported from China
• Chinese manufacturers warn this will increase prices for consumers
• Germany wants the UK to back its Made in Europe plans

The UK’s Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, met with Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz this week to discuss, among other things, the possibility of increasing tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles as a of show solidarity with Germany’s proposed “Made in Europe” plans.

Under a new set of rules, Germany is recommending policies that favor European producers and carmakers in response to trade practices by competitors like China and the United States, according to Politico.

Raising tariffs on cars imported from China could be seen as a way for the UK and Europe’s car industry to fend off the swathe of low-cost, state-subsidized vehicles that have been increasing in popularity over the past few years.

Recent figures released by the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that BYD is rapidly gaining ground on Tesla’s long-standing best-seller, the Model 3, as well as its Model Y — the two SUVs that regularly top battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales charts.

In fact, BYD placed third and fourth this September with huge numbers of the Sealion 7 and the Seal, while Leapmotor, which only went on sale in the UK last year, crept into the top ten with its B10 SUV.

The table above (from SMMT) shows how well Chinese brands like BYD and Leapmotor performed in the UK in September 2026. (Image credit: SMMT)

The SMMT says that electrified vehicles have “helped power growth”, taking a record 58.4% of all registrations if you factor in both BEVs and hybrids.

But Guy Pigounakis, commercial director of the Chinese-owned MG, has already warned that any proposal to match the European Commission’s levy of up to 45% on imports would have a “significant impact” on prices and would only serve to drive up inflation and potentially interest rates.

“You see that all across the world,” he told The Telegraph.

Analysis: Affordable Chinese EVs are fueling growth

(Image credit: Leapmotor)

Imposing tariffs typically creates a Catch-22 situation where domestic businesses experience greater protection from outside threats, but the consumer ends up shouldering the burden through increased prices and lesser choice.

The UK’s EV sales figures don’t lie — it’s clear to see companies like BYD, Jaecoo, MG and Leapmotor are winning over customers with great products at almost unbeatable prices.

The problem is, this is dragging customers away from Germany’s biggest brands, such as Volkswagen and Audi, both of which sat at the very bottom of the Top Models sales charts this September in the UK.

Despite more affordable and capable electric options coming online this year from the likes of Renault, Skoda and Mercedes-Benz, they are still being outsold by relative newcomers BYD, with Geely, Omoda and many more waiting in the wings.

As with battery and charging technology in general, it appears China is already one step ahead, as some of the biggest EV manufacturers are making moves to protect themselves against the threat of future tariffs by exploring and opening more manufacturing plants in European locations.

• Microsoft is rolling out a new font for Microsoft 365 apps
• The 'Michelangelus' font is based on Michelangelo's handwriting
• However, it's a loose digital interpretation, and some feel that the font and the real handwriting are 'wildly different'

Think fonts are boring? Well, that's fair, they certainly aren't the most interesting topic on the planet, but every now and then one comes along that does make you sit up and take notice.

A case in point (12-point, perhaps) is that as Microsoft announced in a blog post, Michelangelo's handwriting is being rolled out to Microsoft 365 users – or a modern approximation of it at least.

The 'Michelangelus' font has been created as part of the anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica, which took place 400 years ago (on November 18).

The font was made to be used for digital and printed materials relating to the Basilica, as well as signage inside the building, but the decision was made to share it with the world via Microsoft Office.

An Italian design agency, studiogusto, was commissioned by the Fabbrica di San Pietro to turn Michelangelo's characters into digital versions, noting that the idea was not a direct imitation of his handwriting, but to "adapt it through design into a modern tool."

Mimmo Berterame, the CEO of studiogusto, noted that: "For him [Michelangelo], [writing] was about clarity and respect for the reader. So, beauty was important, but it also needed order. Our typeface needs character and personality, but it also needs to be clear and easy to read."

In other words, the font is a modern approximation of his penmanship based on the 'rules' and feel of the writing style, so it doesn't look too over-the-top, but it still maintains some of Michelangelo's flourishes (like dotting the top of the 'h').

Analysis: fun with fonts

(Image credit: Microsoft / AppendixN on Reddit)

Some of the reaction to the font has veered towards the less-than-impressed in terms of the resemblance of the digital letters to the real handwriting. As one Redditor says: "That is certainly a very loose interpretation of the phrase 'based on.'"

A reply points out that the official press release from the Basilica di San Pietro explains that: "The typeface draws inspiration from Michelangelo Buonarroti's bold, expressive handwriting. However, it goes beyond a mere reproduction of the artist's graphic style and an imitation of his calligraphic techniques.

"The ambition is broader: to identify within his handwriting a visual logic, a system of proportions, rhythm and harmony measured by the artist's eye, and to translate this into a contemporary typographic system."

However, the original poster remains largely unmoved, noting that: "That's a noble goal and an ambitious approach, but I really don't feel their execution lives up to their intent."

Somebody else observes: "Among many other characters which don't even come close, the capital letters A and M in this interpretation are wildly different. I don't get the feeling of handwriting at all from it."

I can see where the criticism is coming from, and it stems from the fact that the design is clearly titled much more towards clarity and a more contemporary, readable look, than it is the actual handwriting. Still, regardless of how you gauge the interpretation here, the end result looks very smart.

If your curiosity is piqued and you are heading off to Word to try the new font, hold up a minute, because it hasn't been rolled out just yet.

Si Daniels, who is Principal Product Designer, Office Design, explains that the new font will be rolled out to Microsoft 365 apps at the end of the year. However, if you can't wait, you can manually download and install it from here.

• Anthropic has banned ‘abusive or cruel behavior’ towards its AI chatbots
• The new policy is restricted to ‘extreme cases’
• Some have theorized that the motivation could be to improve training data

Be honest: how civil have you been recently with an AI chatbot? If the answer is anything stronger than “not very,” Anthropic would like a word.

That’s because the developer of the Claude large language model (LLM) has added a new clause to its Usage Policy document that bars people from engaging in “sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior towards our models.”

The proscription has been added to the “Do Not Engage in Cruel, Abusive, or Psychologically Harmful Conduct” section, which also includes warnings against glamorizing suicide and self-harm, promoting bullying behavior, glorifying violence, and using AI to create harmful deepfakes and deceptive content.

But while Anthropic says you must not use its tools to carry out those actions against other humans, the new addition is the only one specifically prohibiting “cruel behavior” towards the company’s AI itself. Anthropic said last August that it would allow Claude to end conversations that became abusive, and while the company recently reported that this is still the “primary enforcement mechanism” in use, it’s not known whether Anthropic will go further and actively ban users who get a bit cranky with their AI.

Anthropic added that “The policy update is meant to apply only in extreme cases, where users repeatedly act cruelly toward our models, with no discernible purpose. It does not apply to common versions of user frustration, pushback, dark creative themes, or model testing and research.”

Do AIs have feelings?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The change has been a controversial one. Clearly, Claude is not a thinking, feeling human — it is a bunch of code — and for many, it seems obvious that it does not have feelings that could be hurt in the first place.

But what’s interesting is how this incident sheds light on our evolving relationship with AI. So much of the work AI companies have done is to humanize their creations — to anthropomorphize (or should that be Anthropicomorphize?) their robots — so that we lower our defenses and actively engage with them. Just look at Meta’s adorable Muse avatar (appropriately named Jolly) or the ones used by OpenAI’s Dots, for example.

One theory that's doing the rounds on Reddit is that clean (read: polite) training data is much more useful than data containing expletives and angry rhetoric. Cut that out and you’ve got much more usable information with which to improve your models.

However, there's no hard evidence to suggest that's the case, and it's possible that Anthropic simply has the noble goal of encouraging civility and courtesy among its users. After all, if you wouldn’t use this language on a real human, maybe you shouldn’t use it anywhere else, including when interacting with an AI chatbot.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has previously stated that “We don’t know if the models are conscious.” Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, on the other hand, has taken the opposite approach. Writing on X, Suleyman said “The idea of model welfare is wrong. AI’s should not have rights or legal personhood.” And we certainly know chatbots can be rude back to us.

In my books, the most satisfying part of any action role-playing game (ARPG) like Diablo or Titan Quest is the constant feeling of progression. Nothing quite compares to watching your little on-screen hero grow from a tiny ant that can barely bash their way through a pack of lowly wolves to a maxed-out bringer of destruction that mows through entire armies without breaking a sweat.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: September 29, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons 2’s aggressive level scaling robs the player of that experience. In the more than 12 hours it took for me to beat the story campaign, I never felt more powerful. Sure, I unlocked more interesting abilities and got to try a variety of weapons, but the amount of time required to take down each newly spawned foe remained near-constant throughout.

A friend even joined my game towards the end of my playthrough, with their level 1 character effortlessly keeping pace with my level 40 one throughout the final encounters, really underscoring the system’s ridiculousness. I’m sure the intention here is to make it easy for friends to jump into the same lobbies and play together without having to worry about their respective levels, but it left me wondering what the point of all the grinding actually is.

Blocky buddies

" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/98J4BRp3NweabFgHaCZQHf-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline">

(Image credit: Mojang)

It’s a shame, because there is still some good in Minecraft Dungeons 2. This standalone spinoff recreates the blocky look of the popular Minecraft survival game expertly, with its own more stylized twists that make the world instantly recognizable, yet refreshingly new thanks to more expressive lighting and Pixar-like character animations that make everything pop even from the distant isometric perspective.

I may have lamented the fact that I couldn’t wow my friend with my character’s power, but the co-op experience is otherwise well done. Creating a group with up to three companions is impressively straightforward no matter where they play, thanks to seamless cross-platform connectivity. There’s even couch co-op, which is quite rare in 2026 and worth praising. The ability to play with others easily goes a long way in making Minecraft Dungeons 2 genuinely worthwhile for younger players.

For everyone else, however, everything here is just too straightforward to appeal. The enemy variety is sorely lacking for starters. The expected Minecraft favorites like the Creepers, Zombies, Skeletons, and, of course, the iconic Chicken Jockey are all present and accounted for, along with the evil grey-skinned Illagers from the first Minecraft Dungeons game. Unfortunately, most enemies function indistinguishably. Those with projectile weapons spray arrows at you from afar, while the rest just rush towards you in a big group.

The strategy in every encounter is to simply mash the attack button and occasionally dodge, even as more powerful Illagers with magic attacks are introduced. The boss fights are equally bland, forcing you to whittle down gigantic health bars for minutes at a time while waves of low-level enemies spawn in. To make matters worse, many of them are repeated throughout the campaign with little variation.

" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FCw9ZH66knMHLc3AP8Vm9f-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline">

(Image credit: Mojang)

It’s frustrating because, on paper, the combat does have some depth: you have a melee and ranged attack, plus three equipped abilities granted by items that you’ve managed to find.

The weapon selection is decently varied, with scooping shovels and fast-attacking double daggers performing very differently from slow-swinging war hammers or claymores, and a steady trickle of new gear encourages you to experiment. They can be upgraded too, with unlockable enchantments that add little mechanics such as a lightning strike that triggers at the end of a chain attack.

Your abilities are powered by a blue soul-meter, which fills up a little with each defeated foe. I think the intention is to create some form of rhythm, with you alternating between melee, ranged, and your abilities, but the fundamental problem is that there’s just no real strategy to any of it.

Sure, you could probably spend ages creating a build with complementary gear – though there’s no real reason to bother when the aforementioned enemy scaling wipes out any real power gain.

Lacking craft

" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iapbHbt7ZTZ7bkDtgcgDWe-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline">

(Image credit: Mojang)

Much was made of Minecraft Dungeons 2’s world in its marketing. It’s much more open than the previous game, though I wouldn’t exactly call it a true open-world.

The map is designed like a linear corridor that funnels you from one story mission to another with no real room for exploration. Yes, there are side quests and optional dungeons scattered around, but none of the ones that I sampled offered anything that felt meaningfully distinct from the main story.

Best bit

" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gaRXAnABmH8xbBWEnPkyQe-1920-80.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude">

(Image credit: Mojang)

The world of Minecraft Dungeons 2 looks fantastic. The art direction is a more stylized take on the universe from the regular Minecraft game, with bright, popping colors and expressive animations.

Regarding the story, the most polite way to describe it would be ‘functional’. It’s presented entirely in second person through a narrator that is devoid of personality. There are no memorable non-player characters (NPCs), no charming companions, no real atmosphere at all — just a bland summary of events.

The game also serves as the Minecraft community’s introduction to The Sift — a new dimension that’s being added to the main game sometime next year. It shows up a few times in the campaign in both procedurally generated encounters and a hand-crafted map. It's got a very distinct aesthetic and its own unique enemies, though it's sadly mechanically indistinguishable from the normal world as you navigate through it spamming attacks.

Like many elements of Minecraft Dungeons 2, it feels like a missed opportunity. Everything here is perfectly functional, but it’s just bland to the point of tedium. If the pitch was a skimmed-down version of Diablo for kids, then developers Mojang and Double Eleven have delivered a serviceable product.

Creativity is a core part of the Minecraft brand, and here I wish the team had been more adventurous.

Should I play Minecraft Dungeons 2?Play it if…

You want an easy co-op experience
The seamless co-op play is one of the best parts of Minecraft Dungeons 2, as you can easily team up with friends no matter what platform they’re playing on.

Don't play it if...

You’re an action RPG die-hard
Minecraft Dungeons 2 simply does not have the depth you find in other action RPG games. Avoid it if you’re familiar with the genre already and are looking for your next Diablo-like fix.

You want a game to occupy you for a long time
The main story here is short, and while there is some side content and even a post-game on offer, you’re unlikely to want to stick around for long given how repetitive the action is.

Accessibility features

Minecraft Dungeons 2 has some accessibility options. The game features a guidance trail that is enabled by default. Subtitles are used throughout, with customizable sizing, color, and background opacity.

There are two font options: the default stylized font and a simplified, easier-to-read version. There are also multiple color blind modes, a high-contrast mode, and the ability to set your own HUD colors.

How I reviewed Minecraft Dungeons 2

I played more than 13 hours of Minecraft Dungeons 2 on my RTX 4090-powered PC using the Turtle Beach Pacific Skyline Wireless Controller as my main peripheral, along with a 1080P Lenovo monitor and Logitech computer speakers.

I completed all missions of the single-player campaign and experienced a decent amount of side content both solo and with a friend.

First reviewed October 2026

The debate surrounding AI sovereignty may be unfolding at the governmental, boardroom and national media level, but these discussions are taking place at a distance from the people who use and rely on AI in the day-to-day.

Governments debate regulation, while technology companies consider where to build and host their models. Founders and investors assess geopolitical risk, infrastructure and access to computing power, while regulators consider how AI systems should be developed and deployed. For people who use AI every day, like students, changes in AI sovereignty and regulation can affect whether the tools they rely on remain available.

Today’s students can be dependent on AI while having little visibility into the infrastructure and policy decisions that determine whether they can continue using it. The digital sovereignty debate has the potential to become an undeniable accessibility barrier for students.

Digital sovereignty casts a shadow over students’ access to AI tools

The European Union has a history of depending on technology and infrastructure from outside the economic and political bloc. More than 80% of the technology used in Europe and around 70% of its cloud computing comes from non-EU countries. AI adoption has increased Europe’s dependence on other countries, with the United States and China accounting for the overwhelming majority of global AI computing infrastructure.

This year, Europe has made strides to regulate AI usage, which by necessity means regulating foreign corporations. This kind of regulation can easily end up affecting which services students can access. The regulatory objective is understandable. Powerful AI systems create genuine questions around safety, accountability, privacy and intellectual property, but the consequences for daily users can nevertheless extend beyond compliance.

Not so long ago, the US government restricted access to Anthropic's most powerful models, citing concerns over its cybersecurity applications. It was the first time that businesses and politicians in Europe had to face the reality that the US government can effectively cut off foreign access to American AI systems. The implications extend beyond any one LLM.

For students, that can mean a study tool works perfectly for a classmate in one country while being unavailable to another student sitting a hundred miles away.

If education systems become dependent on AI services developed and controlled elsewhere, a change in regulation, commercial strategy or international relations could affect the availability of tools students have come to regard as part of their everyday learning environment.

Students could face immediate exposure if AI regulations shift

AI in education is expanding rapidly. AI tools are being embedded into tutoring, content creation, assessment, study assistance and interactive learning. Just like with any widely-adopted digital tool, however, dependency on a single product from a single company poses huge potential issues.

Going back to 2021, an albeit brief global outage that affected WhatsApp had devastating, widespread consequences, from cutting off vital telemedicine from migrant refugees in Mexico to disrupting livestock farming in Pakistan. It was clear at the time that overreliance on a single technology platform can massively impact life for people around the world.

The same is true for students using AI tools that rely on a single model or are otherwise vulnerable to a regulatory change. A student who uses an AI-powered study platform every day may have no idea whether the service depends on one model or several. They may not know whether their data is stored locally or internationally. They may not know whether the provider has a contingency plan if a model becomes unavailable.

The issue becomes particularly important as AI tools move from being occasional conveniences to becoming embedded in study routines. Imagine a student preparing for an exam who has spent months using an AI tutor to explain concepts and generate practice questions. If the underlying model suddenly becomes inaccessible in that student's country, it can affect the student's established way of learning at a critical moment in their educational journey.

Designing AI educational tools for resilience

A resilient AI education platform needs to consider what happens when a particular model becomes unavailable due to regulatory changes or widespread outage.

One approach is model diversity. Because different AI models have different strengths, a platform can end up using one model for a particular type of reasoning, another for optical character recognition, and another for audio processing. Model diversity is therefore usually driven by a need for better performance when tackling different educational tasks.

Diversifying models can also provide resilience. If one model becomes unavailable, a platform using several models may be able to redirect certain workloads. Backup workflows can provide an additional layer of continuity, although switching between systems can take time and the alternatives may not always provide identical capabilities.

Going EU-first (and what’s next for students and AI literacy)

It’s called the Brussels effect. From sustainability regulations to consumer right to repair, the European Union’s size and economic weight often means that regulations within its borders often shape corporate behavior without them as well.

Taking an EU-first approach to an AI education platform means locating the majority of the platform's data within the European Union, supporting considerations around data sovereignty, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Some reliance on services and infrastructure originating outside Europe may remain unavoidable, particularly in a technology ecosystem where many of the leading AI providers are headquartered in the United States.

An education platform that depends entirely on one external model provider effectively inherits that provider's availability and exposure to regulatory changes. A platform with several model options and fallback processes has greater room to adapt.

By aligning that platform’s data management practices with the most stringent global regulations (which currently happen to be the EU’s framework), educational AI companies can do a lot of the necessary work to maintain access to critical AI tools for their students.

From the students’ side, there needs to be a new chapter when it comes to AI literacy in education, which should include a basic understanding of AI dependency.

Students should be encouraged to ask which AI systems power the tools they use; what happens if one of those systems becomes unavailable; where their data is stored and processed; and could regulation in another country affect their access. They don’t need to become experts in cloud infrastructure or AI policy, but do need to understand that an AI application is part of a wider technological ecosystem.

Students in the AI era will depend on systems whose underlying architecture they cannot see. The education sector therefore has a responsibility to make those dependencies more visible and mitigate them where possible. AI literacy should extend beyond knowing how to prompt a model or assess its answer. It should include an understanding of where AI comes from, what it depends on and what happens when access is disrupted.

We've featured the best online learning platform..

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Microsoft is adding impersonation and deepfake detection to Teams in November 2026
• A third-party platform will be behind detecting AI-generated video and audio
• Attackers are still targeting voice phishing on Teams

Microsoft is adding two new security features to Teams designed to combat increasingly sophisticated impersonation attacks in an AI-first era.

First and foremost, Microsoft is opening up its platform to enable third-party deepfake detection in the hope of stamping out AI-generated video and audio.

The second of two important security features coming to the video conferencing platform warns users when meeting participants could be misrepresenting their identities to hopefully help participants validate their authenticity.

Teams will soon tell you if the person you're talking to is fake

"Third-party detection solutions analyze meeting media for signs of synthetic or manipulated audio and video and send detection signals to Teams, enabling integrated in-meeting experiences and controls," the company wrote in a roadmap entry.

"When Teams detects a potential impersonation attempt, it surfaces warnings and risk indicators to help users recognize suspicious identities," another entry added.

While both are slated for a November 2026 launch, the finer details including which third-party platforms can support deepfake detection aren't yet public.

What we do know, though, is that Teams has become a hotspot for impersonation attacks, and AI has made it easier for criminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Microsoft has already been on a roll introducing other features like file extension blocking.

And the problem is very real – in a July 2026 report, Microsoft revealed a near 10x increase in weekly malicious Teams voice call attempts in just one year, and an 80% increase in voice phishing attempts.

Still, meaningful progress has been achieved and the company managed to cut phishing activity related to Tycoon2FA, a major phishing-as-a-service platform, by 92% in a year. Looking ahead, the company's roadmap is full of plenty of other Teams announcements, split into some new features and plenty more security updates.

Raspberry Pi has announced another round of price hikes as the rising cost of memory continues to affect its popular single-board computers. For IT professionals, developers, and enthusiasts planning new projects, the higher prices make choosing the right hardware trickier than ever.

The 8GB Raspberry Pi 5 is currently listed at $199.95 on Amazon, but the CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit Pro costs just $60 more. It includes the same 8GB board, along with a case, cooling system, storage, power supply, and cables.

8GB Raspberry Pi 5 board: $199.95
This single-board computer features a 2.4GHz quad-core Cortex-A76 processor, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, VideoCore VII graphics, dual 4K HDMI outputs, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PCIe expansion, and microSD storage support.

UK price: now £168View Deal

Canakit 8GB Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit Pro: $259.95
This kit includes an 8GB Raspberry Pi 5, 128GB microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS, Turbine Black case, cooling fan, heatsink, USB-C power supply, two display cables, and card reader.

UK price: now £243View Deal

Raspberry Pi prices continue to rise

Because memory costs have risen steeply over the past two years, Raspberry Pi has been forced to increase prices to cover production expenses. Most recently, the price of the 2GB versions of the Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5 were upped to $67.50 and $77.50 respectively.

The price increases have led to the company encouraging customers to think carefully about how much memory their projects actually require, and to consider older hardware, including the Raspberry Pi 3B, 3A+, and 3B+, where the additional performance of newer models isn't necessary.

The 8GB Raspberry 5 features a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, 8GB of LPDDR4X memory, and a VideoCore VII GPU. It includes dual micro-HDMI outputs capable of driving two 4K displays at 60Hz, USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, wireless networking, and PCIe expansion support.

It sells for $199.95 on Amazon, and while that sounds expensive, I've found a better option. The Canakit Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit Pro kit costs $60 more and in addition to the 8GB Raspberry Pi 5, it includes a Turbine Black case, a low-noise cooling fan, a large aluminum heatsink, a USB-C power supply, two six-foot display cables, a microSD card reader, and a GPIO reference card. It also comes with a 128GB microSD card preloaded with the 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS.

Is the CanaKit bundle better value?

For just $60 more, the CanaKit bundle gives you everything needed to power, cool, protect, and boot the 8GB Raspberry Pi 5 computer, plus the cables for connecting displays.

The CanaKit bundle won't suit every project. If you already have a compatible power supply, case, cooling solution, and storage, buying the board separately will be the better and cheaper option. Also, if you're planning to use NVMe storage, a specialized enclosure, or a custom cooling system, buying those components individually will be the way to go.

That said, for IT professionals and enthusiasts who want to start a new Raspberry Pi 5 project running without sourcing all the extras individually, the $259.99 CanaKit Starter Kit Pro is an easy recommendation.