TechRadar News

• Researchers found a malicious package on NPM, uploaded a year ago
• It was benign at first, and introduced malware later via an update
• The malware stole hundreds of thousands of secrets and installed cryptojackers on dozes of computers

For roughly a year, hackers have been infecting red teamers, penetration testers, security researchers, as well as other hackers, with a piece of malware that steals WordPress credentials and other sensitive data, and installs cryptominers on compromised endpoints.

As a result, login credentials for some 390,000 WordPress accounts were stolen, and dozens of systems were found mining Monero.

Cybersecurity researchers Datadog Security Labs spotted the attack on the NPM package repository, and in GitHub, after researchers from Checkmarx also sounded the alarm on the same campaign recently.

The package was pretending to be an XML-RPC implementation, and was first uploaded to the repository in October 2023. Until November 2024, when it was finally discovered as malicious, it received 16 updates.

Legitimate at first

Datadog noted ho the attackers were tactical in their approach, first uploading a package that was legitimate and worked as intended. The malicious code was introduced in later versions, and designed to steal SSH keys, bash history, and other data, every 12 hours. The data it collects would get extracted either via Dropbox, or File.io.

To make matters worse, researchers and security pros that would introduce XML-RPC into their own products would just expand the reach of the malware, turning it into a full-blown supply chain attack.

Datadog said that ultimately, the team found 68 compromised systems that were actively mining the Monero currency. Monero, with the XMR ticker, is most often mined with a cryptojacker called XMRig. This is a popular currency among thieves since it’s fully anonymous and very difficult to trace.

The identity of the threat actors was not discovered, but the researchers dubbed the group MUT-1224, which is short for Mysterious Unattributed Threat.

Major code repositories remain a vital platform for cybercriminals, the researchers concluded, stressing that developers should be extra careful when using open-source software.

Via BleepingComputer

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• TechRadar is delighted to reveal an exclusive clip from The Secret Lives of Animals
• The footage shows two kangaroos sparring for control of some key territory in the Australian outback
• The Apple TV Plus nature docuseries will be released on December 18

I love a good natural history docuseries, so you can bet I'm excited to watch The Secret Lives of Animals.

The forthcoming Apple TV Plus show, which arrives this Wednesday (December 18), has the makings of being an incredibly fun, educational, and at-times heart-wrenching watch. Indeed, the first trailer for The Secret Lives of Animals suggests that'll be the case – and so does this Kangaroo-starring clip, which TechRadar can exclusively reveal below.

Taken from the Apple series' ninth episode, which is titled 'Mastering Your Talent', the first-look clip depicts a bruising encounter between two of Australia's most recognizable marsupial. Vying for control of a key piece of territory in the Australian outback, a young upstart takes the fight to a veteran 'roo, who currently holds dominion over said land. Will the young pretender overthrow his more experienced opponent, or will the wily old-timer use a trick or two to see off his hot-headed peer? You'll have to watch to find out!

According to an Apple press release, The Secret Lives of Animals "highlights 77 unique species in 24 countries over three years, revealing stunning, never-before-seen animal behaviours and highlighting the remarkable intelligence of the natural world". Hugh Bonneville, star of recent hits projects including period TV drama Downton Abbey and the beloved Paddington movie series, will narrate the 10-part series.

The Secret Lives of Animals was produced for Apple TV Plus, aka one of the world's best streaming services and the winner of TechRadar's 2024 streaming platform award, by BBC Studios' Natural History Unit. Matt Brandon, who oversaw development on the BBC's Blue Planet III docuseries, serves as showrunner on this one, too. Considering how great the BBC's numerous natural history programs are, I'm intrigued to see how The Secret Lives of Animals compares to its UK peers. If it's as good as I hope it'll be, you can expect it to join our best Apple TV Plus shows list shortly.

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• Paramount Plus has released the new trailer for the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 season 2
• It sees the Dutton family face rivals threatening to destroy their legacy
• The trailer dropped as the Yellowstone season 5 finale aired

As we potentially say goodbye to Yellowstone, we can say hello to 1923 season 2 after Paramount Plus unveiled a gripping new trailer.

The trailer for theYellowstone prequel series was released on Sunday night (December, 15) just as the Yellowstone season 5 finale aired on the Paramount Network and Peacock in the US, Paramount Plus in the UK and Stan in Australia, wrapping another season of the Dutton family's story.

But while the main series is reportedly ending (no season 6 renewal has been confirmed), Deadline has since reported that Yellowstone is getting another spin-off that will be led by fan-favorites Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, who will reprise their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler.

While all sorts of deadly cowboy conflict unfolded in the fifth season of the hit Taylor Sheridan series, the Dutton elders are set to – Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) – prepare for a full-blown ranch war in the 1923 season 2 trailer (see below). "This ranch will drive you to your death!" Cara warns Jacob, proving that the family will do whatever it takes to protect their legacy even decades later.

What is 1923 season 2 about?

1923 follows the next generation of Duttons after the events of the first Yellowstone prequel series 1883.

The official plot synopsis of 1923 season 2 reads: "A cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Mirren) back at Dutton ranch. With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.”

The second and presumed final season of one of the best Paramount Plus shows features Timothy Dalton (Licence to Kill) as an evil land baron, with Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones) playing his henchman. Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) also joins the cast in a recurring role.

Sheridan has managed to transform Paramount Plus into the home of neo-Western dramas, and it's set to grow even bigger with even more Yellowstone spin-offs coming such as The Madison, which is set to air sometime in 2025, led by Michelle Pfeiffer. Meanwhile, other series that have been greenlit are Lawmen: Bass Reeves, 6666 and 1944.

1923 season 2 streams on Paramount Plus on February, 23, 2025.

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• RIBridges benefits system has been hit by a cyberattack
• The attacker shared images of the compromised systems with Deloitte
• PII and banking information has likely been stolen in the attack

A cyberattack which hit the RIBridges system may have compromised the data of thousands of Rhode Island citizens who have applied for, or are on, a range of health coverage, human services, or benefit programs.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee confirmed the breach, noting in a statement posted on the Governor’s official site in response to the “major security threat,” the RIBridges system has been taken down, with all those seeking to apply for benefits needing to do so on paper.

The attack likely occurred on December 5, according to the statement, with the system subsequently being taken down on December 13, with the confirmation statement being issued on December 14.

Benefits services hit, personal data stolen

The states’ vendor, Deloitte, informed the Rhode Island governor there was a “high probability” that the attacker had successfully exfiltrated the personally identifiable information (PII) of thousands of people belonging to a number of benefits programs, including:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Health coverage purchased through HealthSource RI
• Rhode Island Works (RIW)
• Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
• General Public Assistance (GPA) Program

At the time of the attack, Deloitte notified federal authorities about a potential cyberattack against the RIBridges system. On December 10, Deloitte received a screenshot of internal RIBridges files from the attacker, confirming that the breach had likely resulted in the theft of PII. Deloitte further confirmed the presence of malicious code within the RIBridges system, resulting in the shutdown of the service.

The PII may include names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, Deloitte stated, with potential compromise of certain banking information, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, and no PII from the attack has been spotted online yet.

The governor’s statement recommended that RIBridges customers remain vigilant and be on the lookout for potential fraud and suspicious banking transactions, change passwords in line with cyber hygiene standards, and those affected should contact their bank for further recommendations on account security.

A multilingual customer hotline has been set up in a collaborative effort between Deloitte and Experian, with affected citizens being contacted to provide free credit monitoring services. Subsequent updates on the attack can be found here.

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• Nvidia RTX 5090 has been rumored to guzzle 600W in the past
• A leaker on X has suggested it might use ‘slightly’ less power
• This comes alongside assurances that RTX 5070 Ti won’t be a power hog

Nvidia’s RTX 5090 might not be quite as much of a power hog as some PC gamers fear based on the latest nugget from the GPU grapevine.

As you may recall, the rumor mill has previously insisted that the Blackwell flagship graphics card might tip the scales at a weighty 600W of power use.

According to some fresh info from regular leaker on X, Kopite7kimi, we can at least be somewhat hopeful that the RTX 5090 may not make quite so heavy a demand on your PC’s power supply.

This info popped up in a thread on X which was discussing the purported RTX 5070 Ti – a GPU that could be launched third by Nvidia, after the RTX 5090 and 5080 – and specifically that graphics card’s power requirements of 350W.

Kopite7kimi noted that while 350W is a possible configuration Nvidia is exploring, the latest the leaker has heard is that it’ll be 285W, so considerably less – which prompted an X user to question whether the RTX 5090 might’ve had its power use revised downwards (from 600W), too.

The leaker replied to indicate that yes, this “may” be the case, although it might only be a “slight decrease” in the power chugged by the next-gen flagship.

There may be a slight decrease.December 14, 2024

(Image credit: Gigabyte) Analysis: You’ll still need a mighty power supply

Clearly, take all this with plenty of seasoning, but doubtless PC enthusiasts looking at this mighty next-gen flagship will take anything that sounds like remotely good news for the power consumption of the RTX 5090.

The catch is that the leaker sounds uncertain, and if there’s some downward movement, it’s not likely to be a great deal. So, are we looking at 570W or 580W maybe? Or something more towards 550W if we’re lucky, perhaps? Obviously it’s guesswork at this point, and Nvidia may not have finalized the exact spec itself (or more likely has just done so, maybe – and the rumor mill is yet to catch up).

With the RTX 5090 about to launch, in theory, inside a few weeks at CES 2025, everything about the board is likely nailed down right about now, and we could hear some more definitive sounding leaks in the next week or so. While the flagship is expected to be a seriously powerful graphics card, aside from the power usage worries, the other main concern is pricing – and how far Nvidia might push that.

We can believe a 550W power usage a lot more readily than Nvidia sticking with the same MSRP as the RTX 4090, and not hiking it at all, put it this way.

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• RCS encryption is still months away following a major US telecomms breach
• Global mobile industry body GSMA is spearheading work on this security update
• The FBI recommends using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram

The developers of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard has warned that bringing encryption to the standard could take months, after the FBI warned users to switch to encrypted messaging services.

The GSMA, the world’s leading mobile networks industry organization and developers of RCS, is reportedly spearheading work to bring encryption to the universal standard following a major telecommunications breach in the US at the beginning of December.

A spokesperson for the organization told CNBC: “Work with key industry stakeholders is progressing well and we look forward to updating the market in the coming months.”

That’s a positive outlook, but the fact we’re looking at months rather than weeks may worry some given the scale of the breach reported in early December. As Android Authority notes, no specific timeline has been given

As we previously covered, hacking group known as Salt Typhoon was able to gain broad access to US mobile networks including those operated by Verizon and AT&T, which enabled the group to spy on user activity.

The FBI has advised all users to use end-to-end encryption when messaging, and if possible when making calls. End-to-end encryption scrambles information into code that is decipherable by a key that only the sender and receiver have access to.

Encrypted messaging apps include WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, all three of which support encryption across different mobile platforms. The default Messages apps found on both iPhone and Android handsets also support encryption, but generally only between phones of the same operating system.

Using default apps, iPhones and Android phones will use RCS to communicate with one another, which as mentioned does not yet support encryption.

My analysis

Growing up, I remember the iPhone-Android rivalry as a bit of fun, one of the great tech feuds of the 21st century next to Xbox versus PlayStation and Mac versus PC – now, though, it seems that rivalry has come back with a nasty payoff.

Apple and Google have substantially improved their collaboration over the years, recognizing each other as essential parts of the wider tech ecosystem by, for example, implementing Apple Music as an Android app, or using Google for various Apple Intelligence features.

That said, there are elements of the two platforms that don’t merge. In this case, Google would have you believe that Apple has at least neglected making texting between iPhone and Android phones easier, with RCS introduced to the iPhone just this year.

It’s hard to say whether the two companies would have been able to implement cross-platform encryption had there been the mutual will to do so, as the GSMA controls and develops RCS. But events like the Salt Typhoon data breach remind us that we live in a world where all devices are increasingly interconnected and inter-reliant, regardless of which logo is printed on the back.

In this sort of world, security needs to come before the exclusivity of any one phone maker’s ecosystem. It’d be great to see some public commitments to inter-platform security from Apple and Google in the near-future.

And though we may still be a way off from RCS encryption, it’s encouraging to know this essential feature is on the way.

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Living in a part of England where the cold-weather vibe is more 'incessant drizzle' than 'winter wonderland', the idea of snow will never not be magical to me. However, I can see that those living in countries where snow is less of a novelty, the process of keeping it clear could quickly become just another chore that you'd rather not have to bother with.

Yarbo has decided to tackle the issue by creating an autonomous snow blower, which can navigate neatly up and down your yard or driveway, blasting fresh flurries out of its way in a style that is both efficient and pleasingly dramatic. The Yarbo Snow Blower can apparently clear dry snow up to 12-inches deep, without the need for a sweaty session with a shovel. And if the snow has gotten to the 'cold grey soup' stage, you can deploy the Plow Blade attachment to gain sight of your lovely asphalt again.

Just like today's best robot vacuums and lawn bots, the Yarbo comes with a charging dock and will return to it automatically if it senses it's running out of juice. This means the Yarbo snowbot (not the official name) can continuously work to prevent snow building up on your drive.

(Image credit: Yarbo)

In fact, the Yarbo bot doesn't just do snow. The company has acknowledged that most of us aren't dealing with snow year-round, so to avoid having another machine gathering dust in the garage for a big chunk of the year, this bot has a few warmer-weather tricks under its sleeve. The modular design means it can also operate as a lawn mower, a leaf blower module, or a towing robot, depending on which attachment you add on.

(Image credit: Yarbo)

Whatever yardcare task you're tackling, the Yarbo bot is designed to operate largely autonomously. Like most robovacs and lawnbots it uses smart route planning, obstacle avoidance and navigation technology to make its way about and ensure it clears where it needs to clear and doesn't, for example, mulch up your prize roses (here's more on how lawn mower bots work, if you're interested). It can be controlled via an app or remote control.

Right now, you can buy just the Core Module for $3,799 direct from Yarbo, and that includes the main bot, battery, dock, remote control and 'Smart Assist module'. Alternatively, you can pick one of a number of bundles – such as the '4-in-1' bundle, which includes the Core, Snow Blower, Lawn Mower and leaf Blower modules and costs $6,999 – or put together a custom bundle of just the bot bits you need.

What's coming next?

The Yarbo bot made its debut at the last CES, and will be returning to Vegas to showcase the next-gen version at CES 2025 in January. Most of the modules will sport a "sleeker and more functional design", and there's plenty of new functionality on the cards too. There's a new data center than promises a more stable and wide-ranging connection, the Towing module will be able to handle bigger loads, and tracks will be easier to swap over, enabling you to change between mowing, blowing or cleaning in five minutes. Yarbo has now added a 'follow me' mode, where the bot uses visual tracking technology to tail its owner wherever they go.

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• Google is adding new customization features to NotebookLM
• A new 'join' feature is rolling out so you can become part of the podcast
• NotebookLM Plus will be launched in early 2025

Google is enhancing its popular AI podcast generator NotebookLM with the addition of a 'join' feature that enables you to join in the chat with the two AI hosts and ask your own questions, which they can respond to. Google has also added more customization features to the free NotebookLM, and is adding a paid-for Plus tier with more features in early 2025.

NotebookLM is really a research tool from Google Labs that's designed to help you absorb complex topics quickly. You feed PDF documents, websites, podcasts and YouTube videos into it and it produces an AI Audio Overview on the topic, which you can listen to and get all the salient points from. The Audio Overview takes the form of a podcast show conducted between two AI hosts, and it sounds so much like a natural conversation that it’s hard to believe it’s been created by AI.

It’s this ability to produce human-like conversations that has set NotebookLM apart from other AI tools. If you want to hear how good it is, check out this Audio Overview of this very article.

New customization tools

(Image credit: Apple/Google)

Google has given NotebookLM a bit of a refresh in recent days, adding more customization options to its interface. There are now three sections to the main interface: a Sources bar on the left, the ‘Notebook guide’ window in the main part of the screen, and a Chat window at the bottom.

The Sources bar is pretty much the same as it always was – you can select which of the sources you want to go into the audio overview mix here, and add more. The ‘Notebook guide’ window is where you create your Audio Overview, and the Chat window is there for you to ask questions and get AI-generated answers based on your sources.

The final new feature worthy of note is a Customize button that appears when you want to generate your Audio Overview. Here you can type in what you’d like the podcast to focus on before it's generated. So, for example, you could type in 'Put more emphasis on Chapter 2 of the document' or 'Focus more on the underlying themes of power and ambition'.

Behind the scenes, NotebookLM is now using the Gemini 2.0 model that Google released on December 11. However, the really interesting new feature is the ability for users to join the AI conversation, which is rolling out now.

Joining a podcast

After you’ve created your Audio Overview you simply tap the ‘Interactive mode’ button, then hit play to start your Audio Overview. At any point you can tap the new 'Join' button to join in. When you do a host will invite you to join the conversation, and you can ask it a question.

Below is a video showing how it works. This feature wasn't available to us when we tried today (December 16), but it's rolling out as we speak.

Finally, as if all that wasn’t enough, in early 2025 Google is bringing out a paid-for tier to NotebookLM subscription tier called NotebookLM Plus. Details are pretty sketchy at the moment, but you'll be able to create 5x more Audio Overviews, plus you'll be able to customize the length and style of your notebook responses.

It looks like 2025 is going to be an exciting year for AI podcasting.

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• One in five Millennials and Gen Z shoppers are buying on social media every week
• Around nine in 10 don’t even plan their impulse purchases
• There’s still some hesitation around spending big

Millennials and Gen Z are making more impulse buys than older buyers, and lower-cost items are emerging as their preferences, new research has claimed.

Social media-based shopping and weekly purchases also emerged as common traits, highlighting the scale of ecommerce among younger citizens, however their choice of platforms distinguishes Millennials from Gen Z shoppers, a report from GoDaddy has suggested.

To put it into perspective, one in five (21%) Millennial and Gen Z shoppers make several purchases each week on social media, with more than half of each age group shopping at least monthly.

Younger shoppers are impulse buyers

Alarmingly, only one in 10 (9% of Gen Z and 12% of Millennials) plan their purchases in advance, which shows us how powerful advertising can be and how reactive younger buyers are. Categories like clothing (37%), food (22%) and electronics (10%) were among the most popular.

There is still some hesitation, though. For example, 44% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials won’t spend more than $50 when buying on social media.

In terms of preferred platform, there’s a clear divide between older and younger buyers, with more than half (52%) of Millennials buying from Facebook in the past three months, compared with 31% of Gen Z. On the flip size, 52% of Gen Z have bought from TikTok, with only 37% of Millennials trusting the platform for their purchases. Instagram was the second-most popular platform for both age groups.

The reason many buyers still choose not to spend their money on social media platforms is a lack of trust about a business’s legitimacy. Shipping concerns, high costs or long delivery times also put buyers off.

“Small businesses that have convenient, shoppable posts directly within a social platform will be a step ahead of the competition," noted GoDaddy Trends Expert Amy Jennette. "Entrepreneurs need more than a social profile, otherwise they're leaving money on the table.”

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The best smart rings have gone from bulbous early formats that clearly show some sort of technology at work, to a sleeker, unobtrusive, classic-looking design language. Both the Oura Ring 4 and Samsung Galaxy Ring, the market leaders, have adopted a sort of brushed wedding band style, which doesn’t look out of place on the hand and hides all its advanced technology. They look good, while allowing you to wear an analog watch instead of your best smartwatch and still track all your key health metrics.

Not only does this mean you’re free to express your style as you like, instead of having a black screen on your wrist, but you’re also free from emails, health metrics and notifications being sent to your devices. You’re less connected, which in our busy world is always a good thing.

However, one device aims to change all that with a new smart ring which packs a smartwatch-style display. Rogbid has launched the SR08 Ultra smart ring on its online store, a ring which packs an integrated display showing you the time, your heart rate and step count at a glance. The screen appears to be flat against the surface of the ring, so I would imagine (unless the screen is turned inwards, facing your palm) there’s an element of risk of scratching or damaging the display.

Otherwise, the setup is pretty standard for a lot of smart rings that can be found online these days: blood oxygen and sleep tracking, step counter, five days of battery life, and weighs around 4g. Costing $189.99 (around £150 / AU$300) and currently on offer at just $89.99 (around £71 / AU$141) from the Rogbid website, the smart ring is on sale now.

Shutting off

(Image credit: Future)

The smart ring category is still in its infancy: while smartwatches have settled into a now-familiar form factor that isn’t often drastically innovated on with annual releases, smart rings aren’t yet there. I, for one, hope that future smart rings from market leaders don’t decide to ape Rogbid and start integrating displays into the ring.

I wear a smart ring for several reasons: one is comfort during sleep, but another is that it’s a great way to keep an eye on my metrics without wearing a smartwatch. I get to 'passively' track my activity, checking my app once or twice a day and not keeping one eye on my smartwatch all day. I get enough dystopic connection from my phone, thanks very much - I certainly don’t need push notifications from my Amazon or Uber Eats apps being fed to my smart ring.

A display also ruins that classic, understated look which makes smart rings such a great option for style-conscious fitness fans and biohackers. It could be any ring, not necessarily a smart ring: all the techy bits are hidden. A flashing, garish display telling you to move more undoes all that.

Smart rings are more than tiny watches: they’re a shift from one era of wearables into the next. Adding a display to make them more smartwatchy doesn’t feel high-tech; it feels regressive.

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• A new HDMI standard is coming to CES 2025
• More bandwidth and faster refresh rates are promised
• Backwards compatible with your existing hardware

With only a few weeks to go before CES 2025, the rumors are coming thick and fast. And the thickest, fastest rumor this week is that we'll be treated to brand new TV tech in the form of HDMI 2.2, the latest version of the trusty AV standard.

HDMI – High Definition Multimedia Interface – is one of the key connectivity standards for audio-visual devices. Chances are it's what you use to connect your soundbar or AV receiver to your TV with, and it's in your gaming consoles and other AV kit too.

As ever, new versions promise improved features. So what can we expect this time around?

What HDMI 2.2 means for you

The current version of HDMI, HDMI 2.1b, was released in 2023. It was a big upgrade, with support for higher video resolutions of up to 10K, faster refresh rates of 120Hz, dynamic HDR and up to 48Gbps of data transfer bandwidth over appropriate cabling.

HDMI 2.2 is expected to improve on that in several key areas. According to an email from the HDMI Licensing Administrator as reported by German publication ComputerBase, "The new specification, featuring next-generation HDMI technology and higher bandwidth, will enable a variety of higher resolutions and refresh rates and will be supported with a new HDMI cable."

There are no details as yet about what that higher bandwidth will be, or what the boosted resolutions and refresh rates will be. And it's worth noting that the statement doesn't specifically say HDMI 2.2, so name-wise this could turn out to be HDMI 2.1c. But HDMI 2.2 sounds more exciting and will sell more things, including a brand new kind of expensive cable, so the smart money's on that.

What does it mean for you? In the short term, nothing: HDMI 2.1 was launched in 2017 but took several years to become commonplace; the same is likely with HDMI 2.2. And the arrival of a newer version won't change your existing home entertainment kit or make it obsolete, as the standard is backwards compatible. But over time we'll see the newer standard make its way into graphics cards and high-end TVs, before filtering down into more affordable devices.

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They say that a person’s life is defined by their choices, and nowhere is that more evident than in the vast ocean of popular entertainment’s proliferation of the best streaming services, from the titans of the territory Netflix and Prime Video, to mid-sized destinations like Disney Plus, Max, and Hulu, and more compact channels such as Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Peacock.

Every TV network and studio has entered the crowded arena, but it’s getting convoluted as to where to find your favorite franchises, and with so many options to choose from in our manic digital age, annoying ads popping up like weeds, and subscription prices rising by the minute, getting the most from our streaming buck in these inflationary times is of the utmost importance.

And as many major platforms have shifted toward licensing out their content to other premium services for additional revenue flow, you might find proprietary material vanishing from one platform and unexpectedly hopping to another streaming lily pad to the next.

So as Father Time helps usher out the old year, perhaps it’s wise to consider switching to a smaller boutique service that offers a multitude of bespoke movies, fresh episodic series, original documentaries, and special events you’d be hard pressed to unearth elsewhere.

Why I'm pausing my streaming subscriptions for Shudder

(Image credit: Shudder)

Today’s swap out suggestion is plucking your Peacock and shifting your gaze (and dollars) over to AMC’s scream-centric streaming service, Shudder. This frightfully good channel provides horror hounds everything they crave in the way of spooky erotic thrillers, classic slasher flicks, old-school monster movies, creaky TV shows, international ghost stories, occult sensations, paranormal podcast, demonic delights, and haunting creature features you’ll find nowhere else – take a look at some of the best Shudder movies for a taste.

“What sets Shudder apart is our curatorial focus,” Sam Zimmerman, head of programming for Shudder, tells TechRadar. “We live and breathe horror, offering an adventurous and distinctly diverse catalog of titles within the genre. We explore every corner and sub-genre, from radical reinvention (In a Violent Nature) to classical scares (Oddity), and bring some of the most acclaimed horror films and series of each year in the process. Five of the Top 10 in this year’s Rotten Tomatoes 'Best Horror' are Shudder titles, each with their own unique feel; from the rapturously received Late Night with the Devil, a crowd-pleasing talk show set terror, to the dazzling one-shot French film, MADS.

“At Shudder, we’re driven by filmmakers and our own taste, which we believe will in turn resonate with the members and subscribers who rally around us. We trust and think highly of our audience and believe that approach has been integral to strong brand recognition and growth. We also speak to audiences and what they love, building upon cult fan bases with new hit series The Creep Tapes or reality competition The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, and talking directly with them via socials and our own Halloween hotline, which I attend to personally.”

Save on a year's subscription to Shudder or try it out for free

MadS is available to stream on Shudder in both the US and UK. (Image credit: Shudder)

With its 'So Good, It’s Scary' tagline, Shudder also specializes in original live-stream seasonal shows like The Last Drive-In with veteran horror host Joe Bob Briggs, anthologies such as Creepshow, absorbing documentaries like Eli Roth’s History of Horror, rare Euro folklore frights, and more uncut indie shockers than you can shake a sharp knife at.

Ad-free unlimited plans are $6.99 / £4.99 a month and they’re currently offering a free seven-day trial if you dare. Plus Shudder is constantly scouring the planet seeking out talented new filmmakers to showcase their projects. Customers can also bundle Shudder with its parent company, AMC Plus, to add even more macabre viewing options like The Walking Dead Universe for only $4.99 per month in the US.

Shudder subscription: was $6.99 per month now $5.99 at Shudder
Unlock access to over 650 movies and 40 plus series, with this discounted annual subscription to Shudder. This 14–16% discount on the regular monthly price of $6.99 / £4.99 is available both in the US and UK, bringing down the cost to just $5.99 / £4.17 per month instead. You can also take advantage of a seven-day free trial to try the service out before you commit to a 12-month subscription. View Deal

Owned and operated by AMC, Shudder first fully came to life in 2016. The incredible library of vintage and contemporary horror films currently streaming on Shudder has surpassed 700.

It’s best to sign up directly with Shudder rather than as an a la carte service with another provider. This delivers the on-demand site’s excellent native app and easy-to-navigate menu interface.

Plus, if you decide to pay for an annual subscription, that’s the only way to save close to 15% over the monthly rate. For $71.88 / £49.99 (equal to $5.99 / £4.17 per month) for an entire year, that’s a screamin’ deal!

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• The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly cost less than the iPhone 17 Pro
• It will also apparently be "ultrathin" and have "major design" changes
• However, you'll likely be waiting longer for it than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, which is reportedly landing in the second quarter of 2025

If you’re desperate for a new slim smartphone then you might want to consider the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, which we've long assumed will be arriving sooner than the iPhone 17 Air. Indeed, we now have an even clearer idea of when Samsung's new svelte model might arrive, though the latest price rumor regarding Apple's super slim equivalent could make it the phone to wait for.

According to a report in ET News (via @Jukanlosreve), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim will launch sometime in the second quarter of 2025 (so between April and June). This makes sense, as while a previous leak suggested the S25 Slim could launch alongside the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in January, we’d expect to have heard more about it by now if that was the case.

So, there’s still probably a little bit of time to wait for the Galaxy S25 Slim – which, according to this report, will have a 6.66-inch screen, making it likely similar in size to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus.

But while it probably won’t land as soon as we’d hoped, it should still land much sooner than the iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to launch in September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 series. Mind you, the rumored price of Apple's super slim handset could give you pause for thought.

The Air could undercut the Pro

The iPhone 17 Slim could have a similar price to the iPhone 16 Plus (Image credit: Future)

Apple’s handset could be well worth the wait, as according to a paywalled report in The Wall Street Journal (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Air will cost less than the Pro models, which in the case of the iPhone 16 Pro line start at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799.

So, if this report is right, then the iPhone 17 Air will probably cost less than $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 (though it’s possible, of course, that the iPhone 17 Pro will cost more than the iPhone 16 Pro).

That makes some sense since the iPhone 17 Air is reportedly taking the place of a new Plus model, so it could slot in at the iPhone 16 Plus’ $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 price point. But given that this report also describes the iPhone 17 Air as boasting an “ultrathin” build and “major design” changes, it's always possible that it could cost more, and indeed some early leaks pointed to a high price.

This latest report is therefore reassuring if you were hoping that the iPhone 17 Air would be an affordable proposition – though for the device to be both much slimmer and also cheaper than Pro models it’s inevitable that there will be some compromises. Indeed, this report adds that the camera system has been “simplified.”

Whether the iPhone 17 Air will be cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is also unclear, but with reports that Samsung’s phone could be equipped with an ‘Ultra’ camera, it’s certainly possible that the iPhone 17 Air will undercut it.

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• Google Cloud reveals Agentspace platform for business-specific agents
• Combining Gemini AI, Google search and company data in one place
• Businesses can also share access for custom AI agents

Tracking down the specific information you need at work could soon be a lot easier thanks to a new launch from Google Cloud.

The company has launched Agentspace, a new multi-modal search agent that it says will make it much easier to find the answers you need, even to complex questions.

Agentspace will combine Gemini's intelligence alongside "Google-quality search" and your company's own data to provide what will hopefully be the best answer, all with a single prompt.

Google Agentspace

In a blog post announcing the news, the company described Google Agentspace as, "a single, company-branded multimodal search agent that acts as a central source of enterprise truth for the entire organization."

It added that although generative AI offers "immense promise for employee productivity", the information needed to unlock this is often hidden away in silos on workplace systems.

Agentspace will even be able to make suggestions on the next steps to take following your question, and take action based on company-specific information, meaning you shouldn't get caught out.

The agent can be branded with your organization's own look, and will have translation software built-in, so colleagues from across the world can use it.

It can utilize both unstructured data – such as documents and emails – and structured data such as tables, and comes with pre-built connectors for a wide range of third-party tools and services, including the likes of Confluence, Google Drive, Jira, Microsoft SharePoint, ServiceNow.

Agentspace can also be used as a central point for businesses to share access to a range of different custom AI agents - with workers also soon able to use a low-code visual tool to build and tweak their own agents.

Google Agentspace is available in early access preview now, with a wider launch planned for 2025.

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• RTX 5070 Ti could have 16GB of VRAM and use 350W of power
• It may run with the same GPU as the RTX 5080, as previously rumored
• Also it might be released before the vanilla RTX 5070, very early next year

Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti is the subject of a new leak sharing a bunch of juicy details about the GPU – including the fact that this graphics card is supposedly set to arrive before the vanilla edition of the RTX 5070.

Wccftech has spoken to sources who’ve outlined some fresh specs for the purported RTX 5070 Ti, as well as confirming some of the info divulged by previous leaks (as ever, keep shovelfuls of skepticism on hand).

We’re told that past rumors of the RTX 5070 Ti are correct in asserting that it’ll use the GB203 chip, the same GPU as in the RTX 5080, but obviously it will be a cut-down version. (In theory, GB203-300, with 8,960 CUDA cores, as opposed to the full loadout on GB203-400 with the RTX 5080).

We didn’t hear anything about the VRAM configuration in the last rumor dump, but Wccftech’s sources believe the RTX 5070 Ti will sport 16GB of GDDR7 with a 256-bit memory bus. The video RAM will be 28Gbps giving a total memory bandwidth of 896GB/s, closing in on that 1TB/s mark, which is pretty impressive.

Apparently, power usage will run at 350W, which is 50W more than previously believed. There’s a twist here, though, as leaker Kopite7kimi has chipped in on X to note that the “latest data shows 285W” – while admitting that 350W is one of the possible configurations. In other words, this isn’t yet decided, which is certainly plausible.

Finally, Nvidia is theoretically going to launch this RTX 5070 Ti as the third Blackwell GeForce graphics card, after the RTX 5090 and 5080 – meaning it’ll actually arrive ahead of the RTX 5070 itself.

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: A chip off big brother's block

It’s a bit odd for a Ti version (or a Super, if that’s what it turns out to be) to arrive before the vanilla flavor of a graphics card, although it has happened before occasionally.

Sometimes this might be related to manufacturing nuances and chip yields, and with the RTX 5070 supposedly using that same GB203 GPU as the RTX 5080, that tracks in this respect. (The RTX 5070 is theoretically a different chip entirely, GB205). At any rate, at this point, Nvidia wouldn’t surprise me if it delivered a Ti Super off the bat…

Speculation about current launch plans has the RTX 5090 and 5080 turning up at CES 2025, and the RTX 5070 – or this 5070 Ti, as is the argument here – arriving perhaps at CES as well, or a bit later in January.

Wccftech also claims that Nvidia is going to launch all its next-gen Blackwell graphics cards in the first half of 2025, and most of them in Q1. So that’d suggest a quick follow-up for the 5070 (or Ti, whichever doesn’t come out in January), and the RTX 5060 debuting perhaps a lot sooner than expected (seeing as the rumors around that have been much scarcer – suggesting it’s still a fair way down the line).

It’s possible that Nvidia fears what AMD might bring out in the way of lower-mid-range GPUs with RDNA 4, and could’ve made a decision to push the RTX 5060 through faster in anticipation of competing better in that space.

Release timings aside, the specs of the RTX 5070 Ti are making me wonder if this might be the new GPU for me. That memory bandwidth of almost 900GB/s is a third faster than the current top dog of the RTX 4070 spins, the RTX 4070 Ti Super.

On the other hand, power usage creeping up isn’t so great, of course – the RTX 4070 Ti Super chugs 285W, so 350W is a fair old step up from that. If it happens, of course, because as noted above, Nvidia could still be sticking with 285W. Team Green is likely still working out the efficiency to performance balancing act – and pricing will be key here, too, as ever.

I really hope that Nvidia can keep some semblance of a lid on that price tag, as if so, there’s a strong possibility that this will be my big GPU upgrade in the New Year. (Something I’ll be writing a feature about very soon, as I’ve got a very specific reason for this graphics card upgrade – so stay tuned).

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• Apple’s secret foldable iPad won’t launch until 2028, a report alleges
• The company wants to eliminate the crease in its foldable’s display
• Apple could also be developing a folding iPhone for a 2026 release

The Apple Vision Pro headset only launched a year and a half ago, but Apple is already looking for its next big thing. And according to a new report, it might have found it in the form of a giant foldable device that's the size of two iPad Pros sitting side-by-side.

That’s the latest rumor from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, and it sheds light on Apple’s potential plans to enter – and, it hopes, dominate – the foldable market over the next few years.

According to Gurman, Apple is working to ensure that the foldable iPad does not have the crease down the center that has bedeviled other foldable devices. Apple’s secret efforts have resulted in a device that has a “nearly invisible crease” when opened up, Gurman says, although it’s “too early to tell if Apple can get rid of it altogether.”

Gurman believes this device will launch “around 2028,” which is later than the 2026 date predicted by analyst Jeff Pu. It could have a screen size of around 18-20 inches when unfolded, Gurman says, yet it is expected to be small enough to fit into a backpack when not in use.

And it’s not the only foldable Apple has up its sleeve, with the company also working on a folding iPhone. But before you get too excited, this isn’t expected to launch before 2026 at the earliest.

An iPad-Mac hybrid?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Over the past few years, Samsung, OnePlus and Google have released their own foldable devices to varying degrees of success. But the majority of the best foldable phones either comprise two separate screens with a large hinge in the middle, or have a single display that exhibits a deep seam in the center.

Apple seemingly wants to avoid both of those scenarios, instead launching a foldable that’s made up of a one screen with no apparent hinge or seam. And, given the company’s culture of attempting to be best rather than first, Apple is clearly happy to take its time and perfect its product rather than rushing to market with something substandard. Yet it also means that you’ve got a long wait ahead if you want to get your hands on Apple’s first foldable iPad.

Interestingly, Gurman states that the foldable iPad will blend elements of iPadOS and macOS, although it will not be a “true iPad-Mac hybrid.” This is because iPadOS will likely be “advanced enough to run macOS apps” by the time the foldable launches, Gurman says, but will also support traditional iPad accessories like the Apple Pencil.

Even though this device could be the closest Apple has ever come to merging the Mac and the iPad, in a way it demonstrates why Apple has never actually made this move.

A combo product like this will be incredibly niche and most people likely don’t need a single device that combines elements of the two systems. Ultimately, Apple wants you to buy both an iPad and a Mac, rather than losing one sale in the form of a dual-purpose device.

Still, iPad-Mac hybrid or not, it’s clear that this foldable tablet has the potential to be a memorable “one more thing” moment for Apple. Now the company just has to hope it proves more popular than the Vision Pro.

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• 74% of parents are confident in school's cybersecurity measures
• But only 14% of schools provide mandatory cybersecurity training
• Cyberattacks are financially impacting schools, parents, and students

New research from Keeper Security highlights a worrying gap in the perception and reality of cybersecurity practices and teachings in schools across the world.

It found parents are overwhelmingly (74%) confident in their child’s school’s cybersecurity measures, but despite this, many schools are falling short of providing robust security education, with only 14% providing mandatory security awareness training, and 13% offering it optionally.

As a new generation of children inevitably enter online spaces, ensuring their information is safe whilst doing so should be something that we drill into them, but only 12% of students have access to dedicated cybersecurity resources.

Schools at risk

Interestingly, only 7% of parents report their child’s institution has been hacked, but research released earlier this year found 71% of UK secondary schools and 52% of primary schools identified breaches in the past year alone - so unless the UK is a particular outlier, there seems to be a worrying trend of overconfidence amongst parents.

Of the 7% which reported breaches, 32% suffered data theft as a result, as well as 16% having financial implications for the school, and even 14% financially impacting students or staff, proving just how serious a cybersecurity incident can be.

Cyberattacks on educational institutions can have devastating consequences, often facing huge pressure to continue to operate despite breaches, with many forced to pay huge ransoms despite their tight budgets.

“Schools play a pivotal role in educating and protecting students, but there is still a significant shortfall in cybersecurity readiness that must be addressed,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder at Keeper Security.

“As digital tools increasingly become embedded in education, schools must prioritize cybersecurity education and provide resources to enable students to protect themselves from evolving online threats.”

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• Only one in three workers are confident in spotting cyber threats
• Many have experienced scams, fraud, phishing and deepfakes
• Workers aren’t getting the training they need to stay safe

Following the release of new information from Ofcom surrounding artificial intelligence and deepfakes, new research from Shark UK has revealed how this could be putting Britain’s small and medium businesses at increased risk of cyber threats.

The study found 86% of workers in UK SMBs are increasingly concerned about cyber breaches, but only a third say they’re confident in spotting such threats.

Sharp also found some workers believe their company does not take cybersecurity seriously enough.

AI and deepfakes are escalating cyberthreats

Nearly two in three (63%) workers believe they would be unable to spot a cybersecurity issue, despite increased concern compared with last year. Almost one-third are more worried this year than last that making a mistake at work could make them vulnerable to an attack.

The prevalence of cybersecurity attacks, aided by artificial intelligence which has made writing malicious code more accessible to lower-skilled attackers, has seen a rise in attacks on both businesses and individuals.

The Ofcom data reveals that one in three (34%) internet users have experienced scams, fraud and phishing, whereas even more (43%) have experienced a deepfake in the first half of 2024 alone.

Sharp UK Chief Operating Officer Mark Williams explained nine in 10 data breaches start with a phishing attack; he described workers as the “first line of defence.”

The company found that cybersecurity training from employers over the past two years has been minimal, with more than two in five (43%) workers not receiving any cybersecurity training in the past year.

Williams added: “It is the responsibility of SME leaders to implement a robust cybersecurity training programme which is provided and updated regularly. In doing so, they can maintain a high standard of security awareness across their workforce that can be regularly adapted according to needs.”

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• Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector is the first to get 8K certification
• But you still can't actually buy it
• We're expecting it to finally launch at CES 2025

Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector has just achieved a world-first: it's the very first 8K certified projector.

It's not the only 8K projector; far from it. But it's the first one to get a gold star from the 8K Association, aka 8KA.

The 8KA is the industry association for, you've guessed it, 8K technology. It previously set the performance spec for 8K TVs at the beginning of the decade, and Samsung was one of the first firms whose TVs were certified as meeting that spec. And now it's happening again with projectors.

So what does that actually mean?

Why you should care about Samsung's specs appeal

The 8KA specifications have been agreed by the organisation's technical committees, and those committees feature representatives from across the TV and projector industry: Samsung, of course, but also TCL, Panasonic, Intel, MediaTek, Hisense and others.

The specifications are set out in six categories. As you'd expect, display resolution is at the top: an 8K projector needs to deliver 8K, which is 7,680 x 4,320 pixels.

The standards also require 8K upscaling for lower-res media, set out requirements for brightness, contrast and color gamut, include HDR and also mandate certain sound standards. We don't yet know the detail of these specifications but they'll apply to any product that requires certification.

Although The Premiere was unveiled at CES last year, you still can't actually buy it. We're expecting it to become available at CES 2025, which is in January, with a price tab believed to be around five figures.

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A few simple fridge organisation tweaks can make a huge difference not just to your cooking repertoire, but to your lifestyle too. They can help you make better and more interesting food choices, and they can also help reduce your stress levels when you're looking for something quick and easy to eat for you, your family or your friends.

It can also help the planet, and your pocket. That's because around 19% of all food in the world is thrown away uneaten. Across Europe, a significant portion of food waste comes from households—often because we buy too much or forget what’s tucked away in the fridge, hidden behind other items.

(Image credit: TCL)

Is it time for a fridge upgrade? For many kitchens the answer is an enthusiastic yes, because if your fridge is working efficiently, organised smartly and suits your specific needs it can reduce food waste, save you money and encourage you to eat better too. If opening your fridge is more of a pain than a pleasure, TCL have some really smart ideas for every kind of kitchen and every kind of cook.

The technology of tasty

When you choose a TCL fridge you're benefiting from the technology of tasty: cutting-edge tech that doesn't just keep your cucumbers cool but can also keep food fresher for longer and cut down on food waste too.

(Image credit: TCL)

Say hello to the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator. Designed with a 90° opening door and stable recessed hinges, ensuring easy access even when positioned against a wall. TCL's innovative bottom heat dissipation system minimises the required side clearance from 10 cm to just 1 cm by enabling heat exchange at the base. Furthermore, the 4th generation microporous foaming agent reduces the insulation layer's thickness by 10%, maximising internal storage capacity.

(Image credit: TCL)

The TCL Free Built-In refrigerator seamlessly combines style and functionality with an XL capacity, perfect for busy families and cooking enthusiasts. Its spacious design keeps fresh food within easy reach, while customizable compartments adapt effortlessly to your grocery needs, making organization simple. The large-capacity drawer for easy access to ingredients of all sizes. Its smooth slide-out design ensures clear visibility, keeping everything from small spices to large items neatly stored and easily accessible.

Whether hosting a gathering or managing everyday essentials, this fridge’s smart storage solutions keep your kitchen organized and your food fresh, making life more efficient and enjoyable.

(Image credit: TCL)

There are two key features that do that in the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator: T-Fresh, and T-Temp. Now in its fourth generation, T-Fresh is industry-leading sterilisation that delivers comprehensive protection, preventing the formulation of 99.99%* of the bacteria that can make your food lose its freshness and eliminating unwanted odours too.

T-Temp is just as useful. It enables you to easily adjust the temperature for different kinds of food, with adjustable temperature settings of -3°C, -1°C, and 4°C, ensuring optimal storage conditions for a variety of foods.

While T-Fresh and T-Temp are the stars here, there's another clever bit of tech inside TCL's fridges: Pure Air. That's a smart air circulation system that effectively maintains a fresh and odour-free environment within your freezer.

The Cleverest Combi

The TCL Combi Fridge is designed to simplify and improve your every day. With flexible storage options including a bottle rack and shelf, flexible balcony and impressively large storage space, the Combi Fridge adapts effortlessly to your specific needs whether you're storing large items or want access to frequently used ingredients – or both.

(Image credit: TCL)

Like its Built-In sibling, the TCL Combi Fridge has TCL's clever T-Temp technology to keep your food fresher for longer by regulating temperature and humidity levels. And it can help with your utility bills too thanks to its environmentally friendly inverter technology, which makes it the smart choice for eco-conscious homes. And with a 10-year warranty** on its compressor, it delivers peace of mind too.

How can TCL help bring more order to your kitchen?

(Image credit: TCL)

If your existing fridge seems to be taking up loads of room without delivering lots of storage space inside it, the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator series will be a breath of air that's as fresh as the food inside it. That's because the Free Built-In Fridge Series is a clever addition to any kitchen. They're designed to fit seamlessly into any space, enhancing your kitchen's aesthetic appeal while maximising space efficiency too. They're made to suit your specific kitchen, and that means they can go wherever suits you: against the wall, next to a cabinet or freestanding.

The TCL Free Built-In refrigerator features a sleek, integrated design that seamlessly fits into your cabinetry, elevating your kitchen's aesthetic while optimising space efficiency. Its flush, built-in appearance creates a cohesive and clutter-free look that’s both functional and stylish. Designed for versatility, the Free Built-In design adapts effortlessly to various kitchen layouts—whether placed against a wall, beside a cabinet, freestanding, or fully integrated.

That's not all. The fridge compartments are customisable, enabling you to keep everything organised and making it all incredibly easy to access. And the brilliant large-capacity drawer can accommodate every kind of ingredient while making it super-easy to find everything from small spices to giant joints.

The customizable design of TCL's Free Built-In refrigerator offers unmatched convenience and practicality. Its ample capacity and flexible compartments prevent the frustration of cramming a large shop into a small space, making it easier to see and access everything—no more forgotten ingredients lurking at the back. This same thoughtful design extends to the TCL Combi Fridge, which features customizable compartments, reversible glass shelves, versatile racking, and flexible door balconies, making organization effortless. Plus, its Humidity Side Crisper keeps produce crisp and fresh, ensuring your lettuce stays crunchy and ready to enjoy.

(Image credit: TCL)

Whether you fancy the freestanding Combi Fridge or would prefer the flexibility of the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator series, TCL delivers exceptional cooling, massive storage space and all kinds of clever features to make every day easier. Click here to find out more about the technology of tasty.

* 99.99% from BV report. Tested bacteria represented were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

***The inverter compressor's 10 years warranty need to be registered on TCL official website within 30 days of purchase.

Product models, capacities, and appearances are subject to the actual market availability in each region. For specific details, please refer to local retailers or the official website.