TechRadar News

• New Adobe Firefly Video Model is “IP-friendly and commercially safe”
• It’s available in beta now through the web app or Premiere Pro
• Current plans support five-second 1080p video generations, 4K coming soon

Adobe has lifted the wraps off what it’s calling the “only generative AI video model that is IP-friendly and commercially safe.”

The new Firefly Video Model is available to try in beta on the Firefly web app and Adobe Premiere Pro with Generative Extend, and can produce production-ready AI-generated video content for creatives can use to support their online campaigns.

The addition of a video-generating tool adds to Adobe's growing Firefly suite available through the web app, including its popular image generator tool. To date, the company’s AI portfolio has generated 18 billion assets globally, a number that appears to be exponentially rising.

Adobe Firefly Video Model

Users can create videos with text prompts or images, then refine the shots with tweaked camera angles and add further atmospheric and design elements. Available in beta, users subscribers can produce 1080p content, but a future update will bring the option to reduce the video quality for quicker processing and 4K resolution for a clearer finish.

To coincide with the beta launch of the Firefly Video Model, Adobe is also adding a Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro plan to its subscription options. The company envisions creators picking up the AI-generated video and refining it in its other Creative Cloud software, like Premiere Pro.

“We've been thrilled to hear from beta customers who've found it a game-changer for ideating concepts and producing stunning videos, and we can’t wait to see how the creative community uses it to bring their stories to the world," noted Adobe’s digital media business president, David Wadhwani.

Firefly Standard and Pro include unlimited access to Firefly imaging and vector features, plus tiered capacity for video and audio features, starting with 2,000 video/audio credits and up to 20 five-second 1080p videos for $9.99 per month.

The higher plan, priced at $29.99 per month, increases capacity to 7,000 credits and 70 five-second videos.

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• Captain America 4's creative team deny it's a rehashed version of The Winter Soldier
• Fans have routinely compared the films due to the similarly political thriller vibes
• Brave New World's director and producer say there are big differences between the two movies

Captain America: Brave New World isn't just a carbon copy of the story and themes that were explored in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

That's the verdict of Julius Onah and Nate Moore, who directed and produced Brave New World, respectively. Speaking to TechRadar ahead of the Marvel movie's launch this Friday (February 14), the duo responded to those who have compared Captain America 4 to the film series' second installment. Unsurprisingly, they don't agree that Sam Wilson's first big-screen outing as the titular hero is a freshly painted version of The Winter Soldier.

Comparisons between the films are to be expected. The pair are billed as action thrillers with more than their fair share of political paranoia, star the iconic shield-wearing Cap, and examine timely, real-world themes including misinformation and empathy for your fellow man.

Sam Wilson (left) inherited the Captain America mantle from Steve Rogers (right) (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Onah and Moore, though, reject the notion that the fourth Captain America flick retreads old ground. They argue that, with a new character assuming the titular mantle – Anthony Mackie's Wilson has replaced Chris Evans' Steve Rogers – and Brave New World's unique storytelling elements set it apart from its three Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) forebears.

"In many ways, this is the first Captain America story because it's the first with Sam Wilson," Onah told me. "The privilege of being able to tell this story is that I don't have to retread old ground.

Sam has to figure out how to work as Captain America with the President of the United States

Julius Onah, Captain America 4 director

"He's a guy who's got a different superpower. He's not equipped with abilities in a conventional sense – his superpower is his heart and his empathy. It's that desire to connect with other people and his history as a counselor of army veterans. It's something that's really embedded in him since he was introduced to the MCU. So, the question was 'How do we put him [Sam] in a unique situation that pushes him forward?'. If we do that, we're also pushing forward Captain America.

"That's what I loved about making an action thriller that has a paranoia element to it," Onah continued. "It's a story of mistrust of individuals and of institutions. So, when you take a guy who implicitly wants to trust people and see the best in them, and put him opposite somebody like Thaddeus Ross [played by Harrison Ford], who Sam mistrusts because Thaddeus broke up the Avengers [in Captain America: Civil War] and put Sam in prison, Sam has to figure out how to work as Captain America with [Ross as] the President of the United States, which is a situation we've never seen before in the MCU."

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Echoing Onah's response in a separate interview for the Marvel Phase 5 film, Moore said: "The way that Steve approaches an issue is much different than the way that Sam approaches one.

"To some degree, the first three Captain America films were about a man out of time who's trying to figure out where he fits in the modern world and, whether he's dealing with Ross, Tony Stark, or Nick Fury, how different his perspective is with the modern perspective on espionage.

"In this movie, Sam is trying to figure out why he's not let into rooms that others have been let into in the past," Moore continued. "I don't know that Sam gets to move through the world in the same way that Steve did. He's not a super soldier but he's inhabiting this role of a man who's beloved, revered, and, to some degree, feared. Now, even though I think that Sam finds himself questioning people in higher positions for the same reason that Steve did, Sam has to blaze his own trail and better understand his place in the MCU, which I think makes it a different film."

Before Brave New World flies into theaters, you'll want to get the biggest and latest information on it. My Captain America: Brave New World hub rounds up all of that, while my Captain America 4 cast and character guide reveals who you'll see in one of 2025's new movies and which characters they'll portray.

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• Garmin has unveiled a new dive computer
• The Descent G2 adds an AMOLED display
• It also features multiple dive modes, health features, and more

The best Garmin watches just added another stunner to the lineup, after the company unveiled its new Descent G2 dive computer with smartwatch features.

The new Descent G2 is a rugged watch-style dive computer, adding a 1.2-inch AMOLED display to the winning formula of the original. This makes it much easier to read underwater, and helps display in full many of the new smartwatch features under the hood.

The new Descent G2 boasts 10 days of battery life (four if you use the always-on display) and a water rating of up to 100 meters for diving. The silicone strap holsters a sapphire crystal display, while the bezel and case are both made from fire-reinforced ocean-bound plastic.

The Descent G2's diving chops are undisputed; it features multiple dive modes with tracking for all types of diving including single and multi-gas, closed-circuit rebreather, and gauge. There's an in-dive 3-axis compass and a big numbers mode that shows you only the most critical data. There are also freedive features including dynamic apnea mode, apnea alerts, a variometer, and a velocity chart. Out of the water, it also doubles as a brilliant smartwatch.

Garmin Descent G2: Not a fish out of water

The Descent G2 also features Garmin's swathe of health and wellness features including 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step count, calories burned, sleep tracking, heart rate variability, stress, hydration, respiration, and blood oxygen.

There are also training insights and dozens of preloaded sports apps for running, swimming, cycling, strength, and beyond. Like all great Garmins it works with both iPhone and Android, and also features multi-GNSS and GPS, Garmin Pay, recovery time, daily suggested workouts, and more.

Available from Garmin's website, the Descent G2 retails at $699 / £589.99 / AU$1,149 and is available in two colors: Black and Paloma.

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• Report claims 90% of organizations are still using spreadsheets
• Four in five have automation planned in their roadmaps, AutoRek finds
• Businesses need to modernize payment data management

Almost all (90%) organizations are still relying on outdated spreadsheets and similar forms for some of their most vital business data, new research has claimed.

By using legacy tools, businesses are operating less efficiently than they could be, slowing themselves down and preventing themselves from optimal growth, a study from AutoRek found.

Although four in five (82%) have automation on their roadmaps, there are still some challenges that are stopping businesses from using better tools.

Businesses are using legacy software, still

Only two in five (43%) plan to implement automation within the next six to 12 months, with a further fifth (20%) planning to do so within 18 months.

AutoRek acknowledged that spreadsheets offer familiarity for workers, however they’re let down by large amounts of manual processing that can lead to delays. Legacy systems also threaten compliance and competitiveness by introducing potential regulatory risks and increasing costs.

“Legacy systems and manual processes pose a direct threat to operational efficiency. In turn, this threatens compliance and market competitiveness," noted AutoRek Payment’s Lead, Nick Botha.

The company confirmed artificial intelligence and automation can help small and medium-sized businesses to adopt more modern approaches, however the desire to modernize isn’t met with equally clear guidance.

Modernizing payment data management should be the first port of call for businesses looking to boost efficiency, enhance accuracy and improve compliance. Today, 81% of organizations receive payment data in real-time or once a day, with 83% processing, actioning and reporting this data with the same frequency.

“Our research shows a worrying disparity between how payments are made and how they are processed,” added Botha. “Payment methods have become more sophisticated, yet the industry is still heavily reliant on legacy solutions to process transactions.”

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The next PlayStation State of Play live stream is happening in a few hours time, and there's plenty to potentially get excited about.

In its announcement of the event, Sony promised more than 40 minutes of "news and updates on great games coming to PS5", which is plenty of time to include looks at a bunch of titles.

We're happily jumping on the hype bandwagon for this State of Play and really hoping we see some firm release dates, exciting updates, and hopefully a surprise or two. Throughout our build-up to the State of Play, we'll also be sharing info on what's rumored to make an appearance as well as what we hope might be shown - be it calculated guesses or wild long shots.

PlayStation State of Play February 2025 - start time and where to watch

Cutting to the important detail right now, ahead of time: today's State of Play start time is 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm GMT / 11pm CET and will be broadcast on PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels.

Our predictions for today's State of Play

We think today's State of Play could be a good one, and there are already a few games that keep coming up in conversation here on TechRadar Gaming. Here are a few things and specific games, in brief, that we predict will turn up:

• A new trailer and release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
• Another trailer for Death Stranding 2 and maybe a release date
• Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered to get a promo before release this week
• More hype about Monster Hunter Wilds
• A trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign
• An update on Marathon
• Something from Sony Santa Monica
• At least one, maybe two, surprises

Anyway, we'll be keeping this page ticking over with all the tidbits of news and predictions throughout today in the build-up to the show so keep it right here for everything State of Play.

Hello there! Welcome to our live build-up coverage of tonight's State of Play presentation. We're well and truly on the hype and excitement train ahead of the show and will be logging all the news, rumors, and our own predictions here as we race toward show time.

First, let's get to the important details of tonight's show, the State of Play start time, and where it's being broadcast.

As per Sony's own PlayStation Blog, today's February State of Play will begin at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm GMT / 11pm CET tonight (February 12). This translates as 7am JST or 9am AEDST on February 13 for folks living in those regions.

In terms of where you can watch it, the show will be broadcast on PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels. Simple!

What about the potential importance of a February PlayStation State of Play show? Is it usually in Sony's schedule?

Well, simply put, yes - though the company has mixed it up occasionally with what it shows. Looking back over the past few years, there's regularly been a State of Play presentation in February or March time - but of varying length and focus.

For example, last February we had a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth State of Play in early February dedicated to that one game, but that followed a late January State of Play which showed off loads of games. In 2023, we had a 'normal' State of Play show too.

All in all, thus, this State of Play fits with Sony's schedule which explains the level of expectation around it. We're hoping that the content of the show delivers, as that's the ultimate pudding of proof with these events...

So, the big question: what do we think we'll actually see tonight?

Sony is promising more than 40 minutes of a show that will "celebrate a creative and unique selection of exciting games from studios around the world", which is nice and vague.

We're going to start sharing some info on what we can probably expect - absolute certainty isn't a thing, but some things are easier to predict right now, of course - as well as thoughts on what we really want Sony to show off...

Prediction: A release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater?

(Image credit: Konami)

This one feels like a safe bet. It's been a while in the works, and it even maintained a 2024 release date officially for a long while.

However, that aside, the recent apparent leak of a new Metal Gear Solid 3 remake trailer which confirmed an August 2025 release date seems like made for a State of Play presentation. We reported on the apparent leak of that trailer and release date recently, so it feels like the safe money is on this appearing in today's show.

For PlayStation fans of a certain age, myself included, this is a remake to get really excited about; a new version of one of the best games ever made? This is one not to be missed.

Prediction: More Death Stranding 2: On the Beach news?

(Image credit: Kojima Productions)

To continue the playing it safe approach, this also seems like a solid bet. Hideo Kojima's next game has been a feature at previous State of Play presentations and it feels like we're gathering pace toward a release window given the time that has passed since a last update, and the fact that Kojima looks to have confirmed more Death Stranding 2 details will be revealed at a SXSW 2025 panel next month.

Therefore could we see a new trailer or a gameplay reveal in tonight's State of Play? I'd say it's not a bad prediction at all, though I'm not sure about a release date reveal just yet for some reason.

Prediction: a last look at Monster Hunter Wilds before release

We can also look to confirmed upcoming releases for some clue as to what might be shown in the State of Play later.

I'm specifically looking at Monster Hunter Wilds which releases just around the corner on February 28. We've seen a fair bit of the game recently given its Beta sessions and the hands-on previews that were published this week, but I reckon we could see one last hype-y trailer for the game on PS5 during today's State of Play.

Prediction: A last promo for Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered before releasing this week

On the topic of upcoming releases and safe best, we've also got Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered releasing this week (February 14) too which Sony may well want to highlight one last time.

Lara Croft is a PlayStation icon, after all, so celebrating this remastered trilogy with a last trailer before launch is not a bad guess.

It'd be very safe, but that might well account for a couple of minutes later today...

Prediction: What about hardware?

I really don't think we'll see new hardware announced, but it wouldn't be out of the question to see new PS5 Slim bundles announced - and a recent leak did suggest that an Astro Bot PS5 Slim bundle was on its way soon...

This would be both a welcome bundle and one that makes sense. It'd be welcome as it would provide an excellent starting point for those looking to dive into PS5 for the first time, team the console and brilliant DualSense controller with a game that truly makes the most of both, and to the latter, it'd also make sense for Sony to build a bundle around what's largely regarded as its new poster boy.

I reckon this could well be a hardware addition to the State of Play.

Might we get a final look at AC Shadows before release?

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Returning to upcoming game Sony might want to give a final push for, Assassin's Creed Shadows could be a good candidate for a final trailer or promo before its release on March 20.

The latest in Ubisoft's behemoth stealth action series, Shadows has certainly got fans intrigued and talking; I personally came away from my hands-on preview in Quebec optimistic about the game and eager to try get stuck into the Feudal Japan setting and the story of Naoe and Yasuke.

Prediction: A look at Pirating in Hawaii

Oh! And speaking of yet another upcoming release we might get another look at or promotion for; Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii comes out next week on PS5 and PS4 so that would also be a prime candidate for a show-off in the State of Play today!

What about Marathon, or a something else from Bungie?

There's growing hope that we might see something from Bungie during this State of Play too. Marathon was revealed a while ago and we've heard nothing in the meantime so this could be a good time to update fans on how development of that is going as Bungie tries to replicate the live service success of Destiny 2.

Hope: A Ghost of Yotei trailer or even release date

(Image credit: Sucker Punch)

This is a long shot but I would love it if Sony included a Ghost of Yotei release date bombshell in the State of Play later. It's a flagship game from a flagship studio, and it's got to be one of the most anticipated upcoming PS5 exclusives now.

I can't wait to get my teeth into it, whenever it comes out, but I'll be hoping for a release date - heck, even another trailer or a snippet of game play will do - to tide me over.

Big Hope: Now or never for Bloodborne?

(Image credit: Sony / FromSoftware)

It wouldn't be a Stae of Play without Bloodborne hype and hope. My colleague, Rhys Wood, has some thoughts on that in the context of tonight's presentation

"Today's State of Play showcase lines up suspiciously close to Bloodborne's 10th anniversary, which will be March 24, 2025, in the US. As a result, fans of the FromSoftware RPG (myself included) have been howling Vicar Amelia style for even just a crumb of acknowledgment.

Obviously, the big win here would be a PS5 remaster or even a potential PC port of Bloodborne. The original game is playable on PS5 via backwards compatibility, but it remains stuck at a choppy 30 frames per second - hardly a reasonable fate for what many consider to be one of the greatest PlayStation games of all time. Should the State of Play come and go without any kind of Bloodborne announcement, it's hard to say if or when the game will get its next big chance. Hopefully, Sony is able to wake us from this accursed dream for good."

Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor

Returning to Monster Hunter Wilds for just a moment - while I think of it - don't forget to check out our hands-on preview of the game in which Rhys says the game has made "monster hunting more thrilling and engaging than ever before".

• Captain America 4's director has responded to two big fan theories about the Marvel movie
• MCU devotees have wondered if Sam Wilson will reform the Avengers in Brave New World
• Fans have also discussed whether it'll lay the groundwork for Avengers: Doomsday

Captain America: Brave New World's director has offered a disappointing, albeit cryptic, answer to some big Marvel fan theories about the forthcoming film.

Ahead of the movie's release this Friday (February 14), two specific conversations have dominated social media and Marvel-centric forums alike. First, considering that Captain America traditionally leads the Avengers, will Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson reform Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Brave New World? Second, given its relative close proximity to Avengers: Doomsday, aka the next Avengers film that'll land in theaters, in May 2026, does it lay the foundations for the group's next team-up flick?

Understandably, Julius Onah didn't definitively answer either rumor when I asked about them during the Marvel Phase 5 film's UK junket. That said, Onah's cryptic response suggested that Cap's latest big-screen adventure acknowledges both queries, even if it might not give fans the answers they're looking for.

The Avengers haven't been seen together since 2019's Avengers: Endgame (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

"When you enter this story, there are no Avengers," Onah said. "And that was part of what was exciting about this film. Historically, we've seen Captain America be a leader of the Avengers, and I think part of the growth and the journey that Sam Wilson takes in this film is grappling with the question of 'Should there be a group of Avengers?' and 'What does it mean potentially if I lead that group of Avengers?'. That's the story that I was excited about telling.

"[But] I think this movie will then take you to a place that sets you up for what comes next," he added. "That's something I would never want to spoil for an audience, though!"

I doubt anyone would want you to spoil Captain America 4 ahead of launch, Julius! We'll just have to wait until one of 2025's most exciting new movies takes flight in cinemas worldwide to see how integral it is to setting up what's to come in Avengers 5 and beyond.

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Before we reach that movie as part of Marvel Phase 6, there are two other films that'll be as important as Brave New World is on the Doomsday set-up front. Thunderbolts, which arrives on May 2, will introduce us to an Avengers-style group of heroes and anti-heroes who may establish themselves as a temporary substitute to Earth's Mightiest Heroes – indeed, Thunderbolts' latest trailer heavily implied this would be the case.

Then there's The Fantastic Four: First Steps. On the surface, the third and final Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flick of the year has the strongest ties to Avengers: Doomsday due to the Fantastic Four's association with Doctor Victor von Doom. He'll be the primary villain in Avengers 5 and its follow-up Avengers: Secret Wars, which will hit theaters in May 2027. Oh, and Robert Downey Jr – yes, he of Tony Stark and Iron Man fame – will play Doom, for anyone who didn't already know.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before Brave New World arrives, familiarize yourself with its on-screen talent in my Captain America: Brave New World cast and character guide. You can learn even more about the MCU flick as a whole in my Captain America: Brave New World hub, too, or read more of my exclusive Marvel coverage below.

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• Apple Watch Series 10 users are complaining of speaker issues
• Multiple users say the audio is quiet or muffled
• It affects both phone call and music volume, but doesn't seem to have an obvious cause
• Are you affected by this issue? Drop us an email: stephen.warwick@futurenet.com

Some users of the Apple Watch Series 10 are reporting issues with the device's speaker becoming quiet or muffled since purchase.

The rumblings, picked up by a plethora of news outlets, have started on both Reddit and the Apple Community support forums and seem to have been going on for a number of months.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for most users right now, second only to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and only came out in September. However, just a month later one user reported an issue with volume, a thread that continues to gather steam.

"I have Apple Watch 10. The speaker is low when on calls. It sound blown when people talk," one user replied. Others also commented to report the issue as recently this month, and the thread has a further 43 "Me Too" reacts on Apple's website.

Similarly, one Redditor posted to say "I received this watch when it was first released and 10 days later all sound coming out sounds very staticky and muffled." The Reddit thread is less clear-cut, because the watch that started off the discussion clearly has some kind of blocked speaker grill. However, other users report problems with crackly and distorted sound.

One user in particular had their watch replaced by Apple, only for the same issue to resurface on their new device.

Apple Watch Series 10 speaker issue gathers pace

(Image credit: Future)

It's possible that some users have this issue and aren't even aware. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the first Series model to include audio playback through the watch's built-in speaker. As such, it's not a feature Apple Watch users are too familiar with.

The swathe of reports has let to more users responding to acknowledge the issue. "Thanks to this article I now know I have a bad speaker in my Apple Watch Series 10, one commenter said. "I have an Apple Watch Ultra (not the Ultra 2), and indeed this is happening to me too," another added.

"I never would have noticed this, (never play music/podcasts through the speaker, never take calls on the watch) but just tried to play a song and it was SUPER quiet," one reader told 9to5Mac. Over at MacRumors, commenters report the issue rearing its head recently too. "Weirdly enough, I literally had this issue yesterday. I woke up, and the speaker sounded muffled/distorted," said one.

It's unclear how widespread the issue is, or if there's a particular cause, especially given this is a feature that many Apple Watch users probably aren't using and may not know exists.

We've reached out to Apple and will update this piece with a comment accordingly. In the meantime, if you're experiencing this issue, drop us an email: stephen.warwick@futurenet.com.

Later this year, Apple is expected to unveil the new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3, the latter sporting a re-design for 2025.

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Do you regularly assess the security posture of your software providers? It’s not a question most people are used to answering. For IT leaders, however, it’s an increasingly familiar concern – particularly within critical public sectors like healthcare, education and government.

While most public sector IT leaders feel confident about their software security posture, our research revealed that 51% of them uncovered hidden participants in their software supply chains last year. Even more troubling, over half of decision-makers across healthcare, education and government organizations reported receiving notifications of an attack or vulnerability within the past twelve months. Of those affected, 42% of organizations took over a week – or longer – to recover.

Public sector industries that deliver vital services are particularly vulnerable. In fact, BlackBerry Threat Intelligence shows that almost two-thirds (62%) of sector-specific attacks target these critical industries, due to their reliance on outdated systems, limited cybersecurity resources, and the high value of the sensitive data they hold. However, as these industries increasingly adopt digital solutions to enhance operations, they also become prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and disrupt essential services.

At the heart of these attacks lies a targeted exploitation of trust. Attackers manipulate the components of software development and distribution, infiltrating systems by exploiting third-party tools or dependencies and even deliberately embedding vulnerabilities that often then remain undetected until they are exploited.

In August, 2024, the UK government published its Code of Practice for Software Vendors, a voluntary set of guidelines to help organizations develop and use technologies to counter cyber-attacks like the one experienced by Transport for London (TfL).

These are steps in the right direction, but public sector organizations can also harness innovative approaches and technologies to counter the escalating threat. So, how can they do so at a time when they are being tasked to implement best practice using the same resources or even less?

Supply chain security blind spots

“Software is a fundamental building block for digital technologies,” begins the government’s policy paper. The policy paper underscores the foundational role of secure software in enabling productivity and growth.

The reality is the interconnected nature of today’s supply chains means security risks now extend beyond primary suppliers to third, fourth, and even eighth-party vendors, that may vary from highly organized companies with robust controls, right down to individuals who supply and service the myriad vendors and partners in the supply chain. When compliance and data privacy are lacking at any point along this chain, it can trigger far-reaching consequences, exposing companies to malicious attacks and operational disruptions.

Getting this wrong can be extremely costly. Our research revealed that IT leaders reported financial loss (71%), data loss (67%), reputational damage (67%), operational impact (50%), and intellectual property theft (38%) were the biggest challenges faced after an attack or vulnerability in their software supply chain in 2024.

One reason for the rise in supply chain software attacks is the high level of trust IT leaders place in their suppliers. Fewer than half (47%) of public sector IT decision-makers request proof of compliance with certifications or standard operating procedures, and fewer still seek third-party audit reports (38%) or evidence of internal security training (32%).

While this degree of trust and confidence in service providers helps foster partnerships, this shouldn’t come at the expense of ignoring blind spots in the software supply chain. Ultimately, how a company monitors and manages cybersecurity in its software supply chain must rely on more than just trust – and IT leaders and their suppliers must tackle the lack of visibility as a priority.

Enhancing visibility through rigorous supply chain security

Fortunately, public sector organizations have several defense options. First, they should look to reduce the attack surface of the software supply chain by minimizing the number of potential points where an attacker can exploit vulnerabilities. Here, they should identify and investigate every step of the supply chain. This should include a deep dive into partner applications to ensure they too are secure and make penetration testing a regular activity to continually verify the status.

Second, organizations must verify the identity and practices of their service providers, including testing third-party software before deployment and requiring vendors to adhere to well-established security policies. End-to-end encryption, robust privacy policies, and enterprise-grade controls and reporting are vital to reducing supply chain vulnerabilities. By validating each of user identities, cryptographic measures and isolation of sensitive data, these safeguards will better protect against malware and unauthorized access.

Finally, effective incident response plans are crucial; it’s wise to base the plans on the assumption that a software supply chain attack is inevitable. These plans should include six stages: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and assessment. BlackBerry operates – and advise others to operate – on a Zero Trust principle, reducing the risk of hidden and unknown participants in the supply chain.

A robust IR plan should not rely on the regular IT tools themselves for communication and workflow during an incident, (as these may well be compromised or inaccessible) but have recourse to out of band communications and workflow, an isolated recovery environment and use administrative credentials that are different to those used by the regular IT and Security toolsets (since those credentials are also often compromised in supply chain attacks).

The road ahead

Of course, there is no quick fix to software supply chain problems. There is an ongoing talent shortage of experienced cybersecurity workers, and those available are already burdened with the challenges of keeping an organization's own systems patched and updated. Our research highlights the key challenges facing IT public sector professionals, include insufficient technical expertise (49%) and inadequate tooling (38%). However, automation and exploitation of GenAI powered processes could address many of these issues in future, but equally, add to the complexity of the software supply chain itself.

AI-enabled Managed Detection and Response (MDR) technologies offer a cost-effective and practical solution to these issues. Specifically, they enable continuous monitoring of endpoints, networks, and cloud environments while connecting organizations with Security Operations Centre (SOC) analysts to address internal skill gaps. Unlike traditional cybersecurity services, which operate passively in the background, MDR combines advanced threat detection technologies with human expertise for a more proactive defense.

The road ahead calls for a multifaceted approach, including a combination of automation and proactive defense strategies and the Zero Trust principle. Equally important is a robust Incident Response plan that features out of band messaging communications and independent tools and processes that can minimise the exposure and speed the recovery. By leveraging advanced technologies alongside human expertise to remove blind spots, public sector IT leaders will have greater confidence in their organization's resiliency against more sophisticated software supply chain threats.

The go-live of the DORA directive, which requires UK financial entities involved in cross-border operations to comply with EU supply chain legislation, has not inspired confidence among cybersecurity experts. Much like the NIS2 compliance deadline, there are doubts about organizations' readiness, particularly in meeting supply chain audit requirements for partners and suppliers.

The increasing complexity of software supply chains, coupled with challenges in preparing accurate Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs), is further compounded by the growing adoption of generative AI. This shift introduces the need for AI-BOMs and adds new layers of difficulty. As software engineering advances rapidly, legislation will need to adapt, placing even greater scrutiny on the software supply chain.

We list the best Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

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

The spread of misinformation presents a significant challenge in the civic space, and this last global “year of elections” has illustrated just how easily bad actors can slip through the cracks of social media platforms. Misleading claims fed to young TikTok users in the form of video montages proved to be endemic in the run-up to the UK election, with fictional, seemingly automated accounts behind them. Real or not, the content and subsequent comments may still succeed in convincing impressionable users with alternative facts.

In the U.S. 38% of adults used social media to seek information about the 2024 presidential election. With sweeping content moderation changes on Meta platforms imminent—leaving it up to users to comment on posts they deem to be inaccurate—manipulative information is increasingly likely to reach a broader segment of the population, and illegitimate social media campaigns will have the potential to mislead millions of people.

One way of avoiding further escalation means tackling the issue at the source. One way of doing this is through the use of graph database technology. This form of database structures and analyses information as entities and relationships and can help to untangle patterns and covert threads within them, ones which may seem legitimate but could be hiding scams or misinformation. By revealing these connections and delivering otherwise hidden insights, graphs can unleash the power of contextual data to fight all kinds of deception.

Here are three key qualities of graph technology that make it a powerful tool for investigating misinformation, fraud, and scams:

Recognizing relationships in data

Graph databases store data as a network of interconnected facts. This type of data model is useful for researchers to easily and quickly map and analyse complex connections. In the context of election misinformation, for example, it’s the relationships between social media ads, funders, and candidates that would hold insights.

By organizing the data as “nodes” and “relationships,” graph databases can enable researchers to surface hidden patterns and relationships between the ads and account credentials and then analyze those patterns and anomalies within the weakly connected components to discern malicious accounts.

Traverses relationships natively at scale and speed

Graph databases enable investigators to store detailed patterns of problematic actors. Then, they can query the data to uncover intricate connections between the suspicious actor and other entities.

By easily extending across data at scale and quickly identifying shared credentials between multiple accounts, analysts are able to spot areas for further investigation. Graphs easily encompass historical data, so users can uncover associations between different entities, like flagged and deleted social media accounts, for example, to build a more comprehensive analysis of how such networks can operate undetected on these social media platforms.

Uncovering massive financial fraud

It wasn’t just misinformation that was untangled by graph technology during this past crucial election year – it also uncovered previously hidden financial scams.

More than 3,000 entities that funded political advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, seemingly to influence voters, were identified by Syracuse University’s IDJC ElectionGraph Project. Most concerning was that the Institute found two entities connected to a complex network of bad actors who had disguised themselves as election campaigns to scam engaged voters out of money by promising merchandise like hats, flags, or coins in exchange for their credit card information.

Although these networks took steps to go undetected as they proliferated ads across Facebook, researchers used graph database technology to analyze the coordinated problematic content. They found some ads attempted to scam victims out of as much as $80 USD per month – and none of it directly supported any candidates’ campaign.

Keeping one step ahead with graph databases

Every year, organizations and consumers alike lose billions of dollars to online scams. Busting fraud and protecting users is all about finding and investigating the connections between various online entities, and modern technologies are helping to do so. Operating like a master detective, graph technology is capable of mapping patterns and relationships across huge amounts of data, enabling users to expose digitally savvy bad actors and helping them keep one step ahead of a complex challenge facing society.

Get yourself the best identity theft protection.

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

• Apple has reportedly partnered with Alibaba to bring AI features to the iPhone in China
• iPhone sales have slipped in China due to a lack of AI features
• Alibaba’s vast consumer data and AI expertise make it an ideal partner for Apple's plans for China

DeepSeek has been at the center of frenzied interest in Chinese AI developers; even so, Apple is reportedly teaming up with Chinese tech giant Alibaba to produce new AI features for iPhones sold in China, according to The Information.

Apple has been keen to carve out a bigger piece of the smartphone market in China after a decline in recent years and is placing a bet on AI as the solution, and Alibaba might just be the partner to help produce appealing AI tools for its devices.

The potential decision to work with a Chinese company rather than simply deploying Apple Intelligence as it stands is not a complete surprise. Apple didn’t have much choice about finding a Chinese partner to get its AI tools approved by regulators. However, Alibaba isn't the expected partner, according to the report. Apple had apparently planned to work with Baidu before deciding that Baidu's AI models weren't quite what they wanted.

The company reportedly considered offerings from other Chinese AI developers, including e-commerce giant Tencent and TikTok owner ByteDance. Apple even considered teaming up with DeepSeek before its explosive debut in the U.S. However, according to the report, Apple ultimately ruled out DeepSeek because it simply didn’t have the workforce or experience to handle a deal of this scale.

Ultimately, Alibaba emerged as Apple's choice for a few reasons, according to the report. By far, the biggest is that Alibaba has access to a staggering amount of data on Chinese consumers. With insights into shopping, payments, and general digital behavior, Alibaba’s AI could help Apple offer more personalized and localized features to iPhone users in China. Beyond the regulatory demands, Alibaba could also help Apple stand out from its Chinese competitors. Huawei, in particular, has been ramping up its AI-enhanced smartphone sales for nearly a year, enticing those who might previously have bought iPhones.

iPhone Alibaba

Alibaba's involvement might speed up the approval process for AI features with Chinese regulators. Based on the report, Apple device owners in China might see some smarter Siri responses, improved search capabilities, and better personalization options appear on their devices as a result of the deal.

Apple has long been known for tightly controlling its ecosystem. This partnership would force Apple to open up a little and relinquish some of that control to embed Alibaba’s AI. It’s a necessary compromise to stay in the Chinese market, but it also raises questions about how regional differences will change Apple products.

For now, Apple’s immediate goal is simple: make iPhones in China feel as cutting-edge as their local competitors. With AI increasingly becoming a deciding factor for consumers, a potential partnership with Alibaba might be Apple’s best shot at staying relevant in one of the largest markets in the world.

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• Apple set to launch a new digitized system for easy collaboration with partners
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• Apple partners hail new program as a game-changer

Apple is setting its sights on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises looking to invest in technology such as the best business Macs as its next major revenue stream.

Reprots from CRN suggest Apple is set to launch a revamped partner program designed to strengthen its presence in the business world with a renewed focus on selling more devices through its channel.

The strategic move comes as the company seeks to capitalize on its growing install base of devices, which reached a record high of 2.3 billion products worldwide in late 2024.

A new era for Apple’s partner ecosystem?

Set to launch in Fall 2025, the partner program introduces new ways for resellers and service providers to collaborate with Apple, which claims this program is tailored to meet the needs of enterprise, SMB, and education sectors, offering four distinct partner categories.

The Apple Business Partner category targets resellers with a product-heavy model, while the Apple Premium Business Partner category is designed for partners with a strong services-led approach.

Additionally, the Apple Premium Education Partner category focuses on delivering the best laptops for students in K-12 and higher education institutions, while the Apple Consultants Network now features Apple Technical Partner and Apple Premium Technical Partner designations, focusing purely on customer support and advisory services.

Apple is hoping this segmentation will ensure that businesses and educational organizations can find the solutions tailored to their unique needs across the range of Mac desktops and laptops.

To support its partners, the company has introduced the Apple Professional Academy, an online training platform offering self-paced videos, skills training, and technical resources.

The initiative aims to equip partners with the tools they need to become trusted advisors on the Apple platform. The company has also rolled out a partner discovery tool, enabling customers to easily find solution providers based on their capabilities, reviews, and contact information.

One of Apple’s long-standing partners, TD Synnex, which made about $7 billion from collaborating with Apple in 2024, is particularly excited about the new program.

“As a longtime Apple partner, we’re excited about the new Apple Partner Network,” TD Synnex's President of North America Reyna Thompson said in a statement.

“We believe this program, supported by our creative financing, deployment support, and trade-in services, will empower partners to drive growth and enhance capabilities to deliver exceptional value.”

Apple also plans to grow its partners via a new digitized partner gateway which will enable collaborators to directly engage with Apple, access business planning tools, and leverage sales and marketing resources.

Apple’s PC lineup, including its Macs, continues to be a significant revenue driver, generating $8.9 billion in sales last quarter, a 16% year-over-year increase.

The company’s installed base of Macs has also reached an all-time high, with double-digit growth in upgrades and new customers. In the U.S., customer satisfaction with Macs stands at an impressive 94%.

“This incredible performance was broad-based with double-digit growth in every geographic segment,” said Kevan Parekh, Apple’s Senior Vice President and CFO.

“With our latest advances in Apple silicon, and our fastest Neural Engine ever customers are able to take advantage of the full capabilities of AI and Mac,” he added.

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• Google I/O 2025 is set for May 20 - May 21
• I/O generally covers a lot of ground, but we expect big updates on Gemini
• I/O 2024 brought us Gemini, Project Astra, a Sora competitor, and more

Well, Google’s continuing its trend of setting event dates months in advance. And if you’ve been keen to learn more about Project Astra, maybe a future Pixel device, or just more and more about Gemini, Google I/O 2025 is set for May 20 and May 21. Where? Well, of course, it’s in Mountainview, California at the Shoreline Amphitheater.

We can expect the main keynote to happen on day one – May 20, 2025 – and one of the best parts of Google’s annual developer conference is that you never really know what you might see. Last year we were treated to hours on Google Gemini, AI, a little bit about the Android platform, and a tease at the end for Project Astra. We even went hands-on with that and later in 2024 we got Google Gemini Live.

(Image credit: Google)

The good thing is that Google will livestream the keynote, and smaller developer fireside chats, and – the best part – TechRadar will be on the ground to provide you with the latest as it happens. It also just so happens that Google’s event is in the middle of Microsoft's Build Conference, which is set for May 19 to May 22 in Seattle, Washington.

Since this invite just hit our inbox, and this story is developing, here’s a short list of what we could see make its debut at I/O 2025.

• The next version of Google Gemini
• An update on Project Astra
• The debut of Android 16
• A look at future Pixel devices
• Potentially a next-generation drop of Veo, Google’s generative video creator
• New features for Google Photos and all of G-Suite

And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg as Google generally treats I/O’s keynote as a chance to show off the latest tech, and sometimes tech that really is there just to get a crowd reaction. One thing for sure, though, is that AI will be the center of attention and will get a lot of airtime during the keynote.

We saw Google usher in the Gemini era last year, and it’s likely that the company is teeing up even more updates for its main AI suite. It’s also been releasing a steady stream of updates for Gemini since, with 2.0 and a few subsequent models like Gemini 2.0 Flash dropping earlier this month. It’s likely that Google needs to keep up with steep competition from the likes of OpenAI, Microsoft, and even newcomer DeepSeek.

Sure enough before May 20 rolls around – and the main Google I/O keynote – Google will roll out even more updates for Gemini, Android, and its various other products. Who knows, we might even see the Google Pixel 9a debut before then.

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• Leaked images of the Google Pixel 9a have been aired
• They show four colors matching an earlier leak of cases for the smartphone
• The purported leaked pics also show the camera bar (shown above on the Pixel 8a) is no more

It’s been a big day for spillage around the Google Pixel 9a, as earlier on, we saw leaked images of cases for the incoming Android smartphone, and now the colors shown off in those pics have been theoretically confirmed by further leaked shots; this time of the phones themselves.

Android Headlines showed off the purported renders of the Google Pixel 9a in four colors matching the shots of the cases mentioned: Porcelain (white), Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), and Iris (purple).

Additionally, these also confirm something else about the Pixel 9a that has been rumored for some time – that Google is changing the camera design.

We can see in the leaked renders that the camera bar (running across the chassis, as seen in other Pixel 9 phones) has been vanquished and is replaced by a flat camera bump, just as previous leaks indicated.

This move seems to have provoked rather mixed reactions, although it’s fair to say a number of folks aren’t overly keen on the refreshed design here.

(Image credit: Android Headlines) Beefing up the battery

Other rumored moves with the design of the Pixel 9a include the smartphone being made a bit larger, to the tune of 154 x 73 x 8.9mm, facilitating the inclusion of a bigger battery. Indeed, this could be a 5,000mAh battery if the rumors are correct (outgunning the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9).

In theory, we don’t have too long to wait before Google unleashes the Pixel 9a and we find out how accurate the rumor mill has been. March 19 – just over a month away – is the rumored announcement and pre-order date to bear in mind, ahead of a supposed release date of a week later.

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• A hacker has allegedly listed 20 million OpenAI logins for sale
• However the origins of these credentials are disputed
• OpenAI says its investigation has found no evidence of a compromise

A hacker claims to be selling the login credentials of 20 million OpenAI users accounts - but the company says its own investigation has found no evidence of a hack.

A report from Malwarebytes Labs discovered a cybercriminal who goes by the name ‘emirking’ had listed a dataset for sale on a cybercrime forum claiming to contain, ‘20 million access codes to OpenAI accounts’.

OpenAI responded, stating, “We take these claims seriously. We have not seen any evidence that this is connected to a compromise of OpenAI systems to date.” Breaches like these can have catastrophic consequences for both the company and the users, but there are a few red flags that point to this incident being less than genuine, here’s what we know.

An unlikely story?

In Malwarebytes Lab’s initial report, there was some doubt cast over the origins of the information, with the report outlining

“It seems unlikely that such a large amount of credentials could be harvested in phishing operations against users, so if the claim is true, emirking may have found a way to compromise the auth0.openai.com subdomain by exploiting a vulnerability or by obtaining administrator credentials.”

The report also pointed out that the cybercriminal allegedly responsible for the leak was a relatively new user of the forums - which wouldn’t mean much on its own, but KELA cybersecurity also assessed the available data, and concluded the credentials were obtained via infostealer malware.

The analyzed sample by KELA showed the compromised logins related to OpenAI services, and contained authentication details to ‘auth0.openai.com’.

The security researchers then cross-referenced these details with its own data lake of "compromised accounts obtained from infostealer malware, which contains more than a billion records, including over 4 million bots collected in 2024."

“All credentials from the sample shared by the actor ‘emirking’ were found to originate in these compromised accounts, likely hinting at the source of the full 20 million OpenAI accounts that the actor intends to sell,” the security company confirmed.

Ultimately, the investigation concluded, "the majority of compromised credentials of OpenAI services offered for sale on BreachForums by emirking are not related to a breach of OpenaAI systems."

The credentials were deemed to be a part of a larger dataset "scraped from a mix of private and public sources that sell and share infostealer logs" - not from an unreported compromise.

Staying safe

No matter how the leaked credentials were acquired, anyone who has had their details leaked is at risk. The primary danger with this incident is social engineering attacks and identity theft.

Because many users of AI chatbots will (sometimes unwittingly) hand over personal information, anyone with access to their accounts could use the compromised email address to engineer personal and specific phishing attacks designed to steal even more information.

Just asking a chatbot for restaurant recommendations in your city, advice on budgeting, or work-specific questions or summaries can give attackers all the information they need to craft a convincing way to reach out pretending to be a colleague, trusted company, friend, or family member.

Being vigilant is the most effective way to combat this. Don’t give out any information to an unknown person or unexpected contact that you haven’t thoroughly vetted first, and make sure not to click any links you don’t 100% trust.

Make sure to also create a strong and secure password, and it's important that you do not reuse passwords from one site to another - this helps by quarantining any account that has been breached.

It’s a similar process when mitigating the risk of identity theft. Keeping an eye on your accounts, statements, and bills to make sure there’s nothing you don’t recognize, and let your bank know immediately if there is anything suspicious.

We’ve also listed some software which can essentially do the work for you, monitoring your credit files, warning about suspicious activity, and alerting you if any personal information is used (such as new bank accounts being opened in your name). Some even offer identity recovery and insurance policies up to $1 million, so check out our picks for best identity theft protection for families if you’re concerned about your information.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, February 11 (game #1114).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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

Quordle today (game #1115) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1115) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1115) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1115) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1115) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• G

• P

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1115) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1115, are…

• SHOOK
• GRADE
• POLAR
• SEEDY

A mixed bag for me. I got extremely lucky with one common word combination (there are 143 words that begin with S and end in Y, according to Merriam-Webster) and unlucky with another, guessing Scoop and Swoon before I finally got SHOOK.

For GRADE, I guessed that the word ended RADE and with T already used there was only one option left.

Too close for comfort, but still an enjoyable victory.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1115) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1115, are…

• DOZEN
• PIXEL
• GLEAN
• EATER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION
• Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY
• Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
• Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
• Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
• Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
• Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
• Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
• Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
• Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
• Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
• Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, February 11 (game #611).

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 #612) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SHAKESPEARE 
• RATTLESNAKE
• ANDROID
• ROLLERBLADE
• SONG
• TITLE
• SKATEBOARD
• SKETCH
• DONUT
• DANCE
• DEED
• SAXOPHONE
• CERTIFICATE
• MONOLOGUE
• PACIFIER
• RECEIPT

NYT Connections today (game #612) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Official paperwork
• GREEN: Types of performance 
• BLUE: Homer, Bart, Lisa and Maggie
• PURPLE: Start of words make a rock song

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 #612) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: DOCUMENTS OF OWNERSHIP 
• GREEN: BITS IN A VARIETY SHOW 
• BLUE: PROPS FOR CHARACTERS ON "THE SIMPSONS" 
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH "SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #612) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #612, are…

• YELLOW: DOCUMENTS OF OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE, DEED, RECEIPT, TITLE
• GREEN: BITS IN A VARIETY SHOW DANCE, MONOLOGUE, SKETCH, SONG
• BLUE: PROPS FOR CHARACTERS ON "THE SIMPSONS" DONUT, PACIFIER, SAXOPHONE, SKATEBOARD
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH "SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL" ANDROID, RATTLESNAKE, ROLLERBLADE, SHAKESPEARE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

The appearance of the words SKATEBOARD and ROLLERBLADE took me on a mental detour, thinking that four of the words were describing skating tricks. DONUT must be a trick, I thought, and RATTLESNAKE sounds like it could be too, and well SAXOPHONE could be riding through a pipe or something. You may be able to tell, my skating knowledge is zero.

Meditating on the word DONUT finally got me to the last two groups. Think of donuts for long enough and it It’s hard not to think of Homer Simpson and his love of a pink glazed ring. The other three PROPS all appear in the still-brilliant opening titles.

Meanwhile, STARTING WITH “SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL” was a lovely piece of word trickery. Well done, Connections, and to all who got that one in the top three tiers.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 11 February, game #611)

• YELLOW: WREST JERK, TUG, WRENCH, YANK
• GREEN: BUSTER BUB, BUD, JACK, MAN
• BLUE: YOGA ACCESSORIES BLOCK, BOLSTER, MAT, STRAP
• PURPLE: _ CAP HUB, KNEE, MAD, NIGHT

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.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, February 11 (game #345).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #346) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Don't stop believin'

NYT Strands today (game #346) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• TALL
• LOSE
• HIND
• ROLL
• DINE
• LION

NYT Strands today (game #346) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Well-traveled rock group

NYT Strands today (game #346) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 7th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #346) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #346, are…

• TRAIN
• TOOK
• GIRL
• TOWN
• SMALL
• LONELY
• WORLD
• MIDNIGHT
• SPANGRAM: JOURNEY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s Strands included keywords from the Journey classic Don’t Stop Believin.

“Just a SMALL TOWN GIRL/ Livin' in a LONELY WORLD/ She TOOK the MIDNIGHT TRAIN going anywhere”.

It’s one of those songs that has had multiple lives beyond its original release in 1981 – used by Chicago White Sox during the 2005 World Series, as the closing music to the final episode of The Sopranos, sung by the cast of Glee, Peter Griffin’s karaoke song in Family Guy, as the title of Olivia Newton-John’s biography…

The song has become a motivational anthem, but aside from the chorus many questions remain – such as what small town was this small town girl catching a midnight train from exactly? If it had a midnight train, it’s more likely it was a city. And presumably having bought a ticket she would surely know where it was going.

Meanwhile, as for the city boy from South Detroit also getting the train to anywhere – there is no area called South Detroit, so no wonder he’s confused and just climbing on random trains. Journey, we need answers.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 11 February, game #345)

• GARDEN
• BEAUTY
• HOME
• BATH
• KITCHEN
• TOYS
• ELECTRONICS
• SPANGRAM: BIG BOX

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• The Jura J10 is a new coffee machine with 42 hot and cold drink options
• Its cold extraction process pulses water slowly through fresh ground coffee
• It can also infuse your coffee drinks with flavored syrups

Jura has launched a new bean-to-cup coffee machine, the Jura J10, which can brew 42 different hot or cold drinks and can even add flavored syrup to recreate your most complicated coffee shop orders.

This isn't Jura's first cold brew coffee maker – the Jura Z10, which we reviewed back in 2023, also offered a choice of chilled options – but the J10 does things a little differently. The new machine has an updated cold extraction process that pulses water slowly through freshly ground beans under high pressure for a more rounded flavor.

If you want even more flavor, the J10's Sweet Foam system can infuse milk foam with your preferred type and quantity of syrup. The iced vanilla latte of your dreams is only a few touchscreen taps away.

The J10's grinder has a feature called Aroma Control, which actively monitors the size of the grind for consistency and can be adjusted manually at any time to tweak the speed at which water permeates the coffee. Like the KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine K8, the J10 also has a chute for ground coffee, meaning you can try a different bean or blend without emptying the hopper.

(Image credit: Jura) Your home barista

The J10 also offers a new feature called Coffee Eye, which detects whether you've placed your cup under the central coffee spout or the cappuccino spout and helps you position it correctly to avoid accidental spillage (something that's all too easy with even the best coffee makers).

There's a one-touch milk cleaning function to keep the lines clean and hygienic, and on-screen instructions guide you through every step of the coffee-making and maintenance process.

The Jura J10 has a list price of £1,795 (about $2,200 / AU$3,500), which puts it firmly in at the premium end of the spectrum when it comes to bean-to-cup coffee machines but is far less than the Jura Z10, which sold for $3,999 / £2,450 / AU$4,650 when it launched. We'll be testing the J10 soon, so stick with TechRadar to see how well it recreates the coffee shop experience at home.

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• Compact and powerful, Planck SSD offers 1,050 MB/s transfer speeds
• USB-C hub enables dual SSD use and external monitor support
• Direct-to-SSD recording eliminates dropped frames in 4K ProRes footage

ShiftCam has announced the Planck SSD, a mini external storage solution for business smartphones and business laptops, connecting via USB-C and offering up to 2TB of storage.

The Planck SSD is powered by NVMe technology, enabling read and write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps. This level of performance supports, for instance, direct-to-SSD recording for Apple’s 4K ProRes video at 60 or 120 frames per second without dropped frames.

Given such videos at 120fps consume around 264GB for just ten minutes of footage, this external storage solution is essential for those working with high-resolution content in video editing software.

Durable and reliable for any environment

The name "Planck" is inspired by the scientific term associated with incredibly small quantities in physics; the SSD's minimal form factor should mean that it can also accommodate a gimbal used for stabilized video records.

Despite its compact size, the company claims the Planck SSD will have IP65 dust/water resistance and be drop-proof up to three meters, making it ideal for outdoor shoots.

It also supports a USB-C hub that allows two Planck SSDs to be used simultaneously. This hub also includes an HDMI port, enabling users to connect an external monitor for direct media playback.

Per Shiftcam, the suggested retail prices for the Planck are expected to be $129 for 1TB and $199 for 2TB, with the launch expected in Spring 2025.

ShiftCam’s CEO Benson Chiu said in a press statement, “[its] mission with Planck is to eliminate the barriers of traditional storage and empower creators to focus on their craft. We’ve designed a tool that’s so portable and powerful, it becomes an invisible yet essential part of any creators workflow.”

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• Figures show Google’s search dominance remains largely unchallenged, 24 times bigger than its closest rival
• Microsoft's AI-powered search gains traction, but global market shifts remain minimal
• Elsewhere, Perplexity.ai continues to play catchup to ChatGPT

Google has dominated search for years, generating the vast majority of organic traffic worldwide - but while its grip remains firm, new data suggests that cracks are beginning to form.

A new Seranking report crowning 2024's top search engine claims Google saw a 0.91% decrease in its global market share - however, it still drives nearly 95% of all organic search traffic, and no other platform comes close.

Bing, the second-largest search engine, also saw a 0.17% increase, bringing its total share to just 3.51% while DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and other search tools remain below 1%.

AI integration threat?

The report further reveals AI-driven platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity sparked interest in 2024, particularly in the latter half of the year. ChatGPT’s referral traffic rose from negligible levels to 0.09% by December, while Perplexity experienced steady but slower growth, reaching 0.02%.

These numbers suggest AI-driven search platforms are gaining ground, but at nowhere near the scale of Google. Even if AI search adoption accelerates, it would take years before it could significantly challenge the traditional model.

Microsoft's Bing has also integrated AI tools into its search experience, hoping to draw users away from Google. However, its incremental growth shows that AI alone is not enough to disrupt established habits.

While other brands are integrating AI to fight against Google, the tech giant is not folding its arms. It has rolled out AI-driven features like AI Overviews and Gemini 2.0, which have helped it maintain its edge.

These advancements, coupled with its vast infrastructure and user trust, ensure that Google remains the go-to search engine for the foreseeable future.

Although AI-generated responses provide a new way to access information, they do not fully replace traditional search. For now, Google remains unshaken at 24 times the size of its nearest rival.

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