TechRadar News

• Oregon’s data center tax breaks have become a major political flashpoint statewide
• A warning about one election cycle helped accelerate Oregon’s grassroots organizing
• More than $450 million in exemptions intensified scrutiny of Oregon data centers

Oregon’s expanding data center industry has triggered an increasingly organized political backlash involving residents, environmental groups, educators, farmers and elected officials.

The dispute intensified after reports showed Oregon data centers receiving more than $450 million in property tax exemptions during 2026, including about $85 million in the Hillsboro area.

The resistance is a grassroots coalition led by the nonprofit 1000 Friends of Oregon, which has already helped unseat a Hillsboro-area senator and pushed Governor Tina Kotek to reverse course.

A warning turns into political action

Sam Diaz, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon, said his concerns deepened after seeing how facilities affected communities and resources around Prineville.

In 2022, a rancher told him water allocations had been reduced because large server buildings had arrived nearby.

A later warning from a Virginia land-use executive gave Diaz another reason to accelerate organizing before data centers became harder to regulate politically.

“They said, ‘Once this takes hold in your state, you really got to get ahead of it, and you probably have one election cycle before you really start seeing politicians do the bidding of data centers,’” Diaz recalled.

Trouble escalated when Senator Janeen Sollman proposed opening 1,700 acres of farmland to industry and doubling a tax break that data centers already had.

Intense pushback forced her to drop the plan to double that tax break within days of the 2026 session starting, yet the backlash had already begun.

Sollman later lost her seat to Myrna Muñoz, though she blamed a separate bill on strike benefits rather than data centers for her primary defeat.

Criticism intensified again after Hillsboro was found to have approved incentives for 17 data centers shortly before a statewide moratorium took effect.

Tax incentives bring an unlikely coalition together

The incentive decisions helped bring previously separate groups into a common campaign involving education funding, environmental concerns, farmland and tax policy.

In June, 1000 Friends and 11 other plaintiffs sued Hillsboro and companies connected with the facilities, questioning whether the city had legal authority to approve the agreements.

“The first question of, ‘Does the city have the authority to do what it did?,’ and then the second question is, ‘Even if they did, do these applications even meet the Enterprise Zone Act requirements?’” Diaz said.

The coalition argues that reduced property-tax collections can affect public services, including education funding through Oregon’s State School Fund.

The Oregon Education Association, representing 41,000 teachers, joined the lawsuit over what it described as financial consequences for statewide schools.

These concerns have also become part of the coalition’s agenda for the 2027 legislative session, where members want changes to subsidies, land-use rules and public spending on economic development.

The lawsuit also brings major technology companies into the dispute because their facilities are connected to the tax incentives being challenged by the plaintiffs.

It names major technology companies including CoreWeave, Adobe and NVIDIA among firms tied to the disputed Enterprise Zone tax arrangements.

None of these companies has issued an official statement on the lawsuit or allegations concerning their involvement.

Via Street Roots

• Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko says a musical score is "an emotional vessel"
• He explains that it's his duty "to represent the story in the most beautiful light possible"
• Alanko adds that the music "must be able to exist by itself, without the game and the story"

Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko thinks of a game's musical score as another way to tell the story, and it's his job to do that, even if he sometimes takes some creative liberties.

"In my thoughts, a score is what one might call an emotional vessel - or a tray for the story," Alanko told TechRadar Gaming in an interview about Remedy Entertainment's latest action game. "My duty is to represent the story in the most beautiful light possible, to help drill the ideas and the vision into the heads of those who experience the events."

The composer compared it to his band, where on stage it's his role to help the soloist "be the best version of themselves and showcase their talents in the most elegant way possible," saying that the "Same applies" to a video game.

"What I do is a series of deep bows towards the story; I love the story; it’s an honour for me to make it even more approachable and beautiful," he said. "But… it must be able to exist by itself, without the game and the story. Otherwise, it’d be just a pointless collection of noodling. I carry the responsibility of respecting both the story creator and especially those who enjoy the story."

Alanko went on to liken what he does to a customer service business, but added, "Trust me: I wouldn’t do anything just to please others; I do this to please myself. Simple as that."

"If I don’t like what I do, nobody else will, and, just to be clear and precise, I do really enjoy what I do," he reiterated, "my self-confidence is in very good shape that way (laughs). If something moves me, there’s a good chance it might move someone else, too."

While Alanko believes that it's a composer's job to translate the Remedy's story to the audience with his talent, he admitted: "I sometimes offer the story in a different light, as contradicting the on-screen events can be really delicious."

"It’s a very human feature to make errors, to have a sudden twist of a knife in your side in the middle of the most heroic event, as if someone reminded you of your mortality and how different the outcome would be if this-or-that happened," Alanko added. "A bit like memento mori. It makes you humble; it makes you human."

You can play Control Resonant now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

Asus has beaten every other manufacturer to market with the ROG Rapture GT-BN98, the world's first commercially available Wi-Fi 8 gaming router.

It's a bold flagship release for a wireless standard that isn't even finalized yet — and with zero Wi-Fi 8 client devices currently on sale, reviewers had to get creative just to test what it can actually do. I dug into three in-depth reviews to see whether it's worth buying now.

What reviews say

Build quality drew consistent praise. It's "extremely well constructed with very good attention to detail," said Blacktubi, while Guru3D leaned into the router's dramatic looks, joking that unboxing it feels like "a small alien spacecraft has crash-landed on the desk."

YouTuber Landpet was blunt about the performance side, calling it flat-out "an absolute beast of a router."

On paper, the GT-BN98's theoretical link rates are identical to its Wi-Fi 7 predecessor, the GT-BE98 — Blacktubi pointed out the headline numbers "are the exact same." But real-world range and throughput told a different story.

Design

Hiding it would be counterproductive, since the antennas require space to be positioned correctly and the chassis benefits from unobstructed airflow

Guru 3D

The chassis is large by any standard. It measures roughly 35cm by 35cm and weighs over 2kg. It needs "a proper, dedicated spot" rather than a small shelf, and ruling out wall mounting altogether given the size.

The antennas dominate the look, adjustable around the perimeter and giving the router an almost insect-like silhouette when fully extended. The top panel mixes a metallic finish with geometric detailing and translucent panels, plus the expected Aura RGB lighting.

Build quality feels solid throughout — no flex, clean panel fit, antenna arms that hold their position. Front-edge LEDs give a quick status read without opening the app.

Thermally, this Asus router added a thicker aluminum top plate and an upgraded heatsink layer for passive cooling. Stress testing turned up no signs of throttling.

Design & ports

Inside is a 2.6GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, running a quad-band radio setup — 2.4GHz, dual 5GHz bands, and a single 6GHz band — for a combined theoretical throughput of 25,000Mbps.

A North America-only "Pro" variant swaps the second 5GHz band for an extra 6GHz band on the UNII-8 spectrum, which isn't approved for use in most other regions.

For wired gear, there are two 10GbE ports (one general-purpose, one dedicated gaming port), four 2.5GbE ports, and a single gigabit port, with up to six LAN ports active depending on configuration. USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 2.0 round things out for network storage or 4G/5G backup internet.

Performance

This is officially the fastest wireless backhaul router that I've tested, which is insane

Landpet

Real-world speed testing — done entirely with Wi-Fi 7 client devices, since Wi-Fi 8 hardware doesn't exist yet — found wired and wireless backhaul holding up strongly even at 100 feet away

Over a wired 10G connection, speeds matched his 5 Gbps ISP plan exactly in both directions. On Wi-Fi, internet speeds hit 4.1 Gbps down and 2 Gbps up.

Local network testing — where speed isn't capped by the ISP — pushed even higher: 4.6 Gbps down and 4.2 Gbps up over wireless backhaul between two mesh units, with wired backhaul close behind at 4.5 Gbps down and 4.2 Gbps up.

Range held up well too. At 20ft, speeds stayed around 4 Gbps down; at 50ft outdoors, 2.7 Gbps down; and even at 100ft, it still managed 1.92 Gbps down, though upload dropped sharply to 718 Mbps.

A more controlled comparison, pairing two GT-BN98 units against two GT-BE98 units, found "significantly higher" throughput at long range with the newer hardware.

The more surprising finding: those gains aren't limited to future Wi-Fi 8 gear. Testing with an existing Wi-Fi 7 MacBook still measured "more than 10% higher average throughput" on the GT-BN98 versus the older Wi-Fi router — evidence that upgraded radio components benefit today's devices too, even without any Wi-Fi 8 features actually switched on.

Firmware

The ASUSWRT 6.0 was singled out as a real step up, with the interface "noticeably more modern and much more responsive" than Asus's decade-old firmware.

The headline addition is the new Adaptive QoE engine, which "smartly allocates network resources to balance gaming, streaming, and daily tasks," replacing the older Adaptive QoS system.

Security also got an upgrade via the revamped AiProtection suite, which was called "genuinely impressive" for including network-level ad and tracker blocking at no extra cost.

The new Wi-Fi Insight tool also correctly flagged interference from a Zigbee smart home devices on the 2.4GHz band, a decent addition which impressively “works as intended”.

Price

Pricing is still rolling out region by region ahead of the router's wider October 2026 launch.

The flagship GT-BN98 Pro is currently the only model on sale, listed on ASUS's Canadian eStore at CA$1,299.99.

A US launch price of around $899 has been floated by early previews but isn't yet official.

The standard GT-BN98 (non-Pro) has also been priced at €960 in Europe, though North American pricing for that specific model hasn't been confirmed yet.

Given the router is shipping ahead of Wi-Fi 8's official IEEE finalization — not expected until 2028 — buyers are paying an early-adopter premium on top of already-flagship router pricing.

Who should buy it

This is a router for enthusiasts buying ahead of the curve, not something you need for Wi-Fi 8 today — compatible client devices aren't expected until 2027 at the earliest.

Still, the benefits aren't purely theoretical: better range, backhaul speed, and firmware improvements apply right now, even to existing Wi-Fi 7 devices.

Verdict

The good

- Meaningfully better range and throughput, even on older Wi-Fi 7 devices

- Premium build quality with no thermal throttling under load

- Adaptive QoE and free-included ad/tracker blocking are genuine upgrades

The bad

- No Wi-Fi 8 client devices exist yet to fully prove the standard

- Large footprint requires dedicated desk space

- High price tag

The verdict

Worth it if you want the best router hardware available today and don't mind future-proofing ahead of the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem. Hold off if you're not running multi-gig internet or don't need flagship-level range right now.

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 specs

Spec

Detail

Wi-Fi standard

Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn)

Bands

Quad-band: 2.4GHz, dual 5GHz, single 6GHz

Max theoretical throughput

25,000 Mbps combined

Channel bandwidth

Up to 320MHz, 4096-QAM

Processor

2.6GHz quad-core

Memory

2GB RAM

Wired ports

2x 10GbE, 4x 2.5GbE, 1x Gigabit

USB

1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 2.0

Backup connectivity

4G/5G cellular backup WAN

Key software

Adaptive QoE, WiFi Insight, AiMesh, Guest Network Pro, AiProtection, GTNet game acceleration

Guest networks

Up to 5 SSIDs via Guest Network Pro

Dimensions/weight

~35cm x 35cm, 2kg+

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #1713).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 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 #1714) — hint #1 — VowelsHow 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 #1714) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo 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 #1714) — 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 0.

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 #1714) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• R

• T

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1714) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1714, are…

• INFER
• RAINY
• THING
• ARENA

A tricky one today, with multiple possibilities to navigate.

ARENA, though, was just hard to get because of the mental block of thinking of words ending in vowels. However, with the N in the fourth position and few other options I knew it had to end with N-A.

Daily Sequence today (game #1714) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1714, are…

• MUSIC
• FLUTE
• BRAWN
• VIVID

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
• Quordle #1712, Friday, 2 October: IVORY, SADLY, ANGEL, LLAMA
• Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY
• Quordle #1710, Wednesday, 30 September: CHOKE, BATCH, MOSSY, EAGER
• Quordle #1709, Tuesday, 29 September: BILGE, MEDAL, LODGE, PORCH
• Quordle #1708, Monday, 28 September: BRUNT, TORSO, STONE, HEATH
• Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
• Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
• Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
• Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
• Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
• Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH
• Quordle #1700, Sunday, 20 September: DERBY, LIMBO, GAWKY, REIGN
• Quordle #1699, Saturday, 19 September: SCOPE, HEIST, PULSE, CHAMP
• Quordle #1698, Friday, 18 September: MUCUS, MIRTH, APPLE, TILDE
• Quordle #1697, Thursday, 17 September: CRIER, CHIRP, NEIGH, FREER
• Quordle #1696, Wednesday, 16 September: SPEAR, PRICE, BLUNT, FISHY
• Quordle #1695, Tuesday, 15 September: SHUSH, LITHE, DELTA, BUGLE
• Quordle #1694, Monday, 14 September: ZEBRA, LEGAL, RATIO, TROLL

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #1210).

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 #1211) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• WIG
• FILM
• AUCTION
• TABLE
• PADDLE
• COLLAR
• GAVEL
• LOT
• BUNCH
• BALL
• PARTNER
• NET
• ROBE
• HEAP
• TREATMENT
• STACK

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: A pile of things
• GREEN: Ping pong equipment
• BLUE: All rise
• PURPLE: Begin with a noiseless word

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT
• GREEN: TABLE TENNIS NEEDS
• BLUE: PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME
• PURPLE: SILENT ____

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

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1211, are…

• YELLOW: CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT: BUNCH, HEAP, LOT, STACK
• GREEN: TABLE TENNIS NEEDS: BALL, NET, PADDLE, TABLE
• BLUE: PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME: COLLAR, GAVEL, ROBE, WIG
• PURPLE: SILENT ____: AUCTION, FILM, PARTNER, TREATMENT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

In the UK we call a PADDLE a bat, a cultural difference that slowed me down a little and meant that I began with a group I was more certain about.

The four tiles of PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME seem very odd to me — that one of the most important and respected roles in society involves people wearing a WIG and using something called a GAVEL. Frankly, it’d make just as much sense if you had to wear a wig and GOWN to play table tennis.

The real annoyance of today was missing a very gettable purple group. Kudos, if you spotted it — I got too hung up on thinking AUCTION was a red herring because it matched with LOT and ended up ignoring other possible connections.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, October 3, 2026, game #1210)

• YELLOW: STARTING WITH TERMS FOR "TOILET": CAN OPENER, HEAD WAITER, JOHN DENVER, W.C. FIELDS
• GREEN: ENDING IN MUSICALS: ELBOW GREASE, FAT CATS, LINDA HAMILTON, SOMETHING WICKED
• BLUE: STARTING WITH U.S. MUSEUMS: BROAD BEAN, GETTY IMAGES, MET HALFWAY, WHITNEY HOUSTON
• PURPLE: ENDING IN FANTASY CREATURES: DIET SPRITE, MERV GRIFFIN, NY GIANT, RIVER PHOENIX

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #944).

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 #945) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Grab your tokens

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STAG
• SEAT
• GATES
• RIDE
• GORE
• DECADE
• SONG
• BELT

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: bottom, 1st column

• Last side: top, 6th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #945) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #945, are…

• PONG
• FROGGER
• ASTEROIDS
• CENTIPEDE
• SCRAMBLE
• SPANGRAM FIRST: ARCADEGAMES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

When I saw today’s theme “grab your tokens” I immediately thought of video games and went in search of the word “arcade”. And thus ARCADEGAMES became my 107th Spangram First.

Arcades trigger plenty of memories for me, but mainly how laughably awful I was at every single game I tried — everyone else I knew was amazing at them and would stay on for ages, whereas I’d lose my life in seconds even on simple games such as Pac-Man. I didn’t mind, though; I was an enthusiastic spectator.

Having said all that, despite getting PONG, FROGGER and ASTEROIDS in a quick blast, the lesser-played CENTIPEDE and SCRAMBLE were harder to spot.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, October 3, game #944)

• MIRAGE
• ILLUSION
• CHIMERA
• SPECTER
• PHANTASM
• SPANGRAM:WILLOTHEWISP

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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.

Only recently, the internet was ablaze with news that Volkswagen will be applying a proper GTI badge to both its ID.3 and electric Polo models, the former of which will be the most powerful car to wear the iconic insignia.

Granted, that’s not quite VW committing to a fully-electric Golf GTI, but it’s about as close as we are going to get for now.

Often considered the king of the hot hatches, a Golf GTI has long offered the blueprint for high-performance, everyday vehicles that will carry out mundane hatchback duties without complaint, but will happily transform into grin-inducing back-road destroyers when the mood takes.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

But the German marque isn’t the only one to enjoy hero status when it comes to small, feisty automobiles, as Peugeot also enjoys a long and illustrious history with a GTi badge of its own.

It's fitting, then, that Peugeot should also unveil its own electrified hatchback with those unmistakable three letters stamped upon its rump.

The sub-£35,000 Peugeot E-208 GTi (around $46,300 / AU$66,000) is further proof that rapid, affordable small cars are very much back on the menu.

The French firecracker

(Image credit: Peugeot)

Unlike numerous EV startups, as well as many established automotive players, Peugeot has enjoyed a long and fruitful love affair with both motorsports and the souped-up road-going creations that have been spawned.

The latest E-208 GTi, despite lacking an internal combustion engine, can trace its roots back to the very first 604 GTi of the early 1980s, the OG 205 GTi and, of course, the respected 308 and 208 GTi models that spanned 2013 to the early 2020s.

This electrified hot hatch starts with the same basic 54kWh battery as the regular E-208, but Peugeot Sport (responsible for the French marque’s endurance racing program) has substantially reworked the powertrain, battery management and chassis around it.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

The culmination of all this is a vehicle that feels destined to tackle fun, twisty routes.

The electric motor, which is mounted to the front axle, produces 281PS (around 278bhp) and 345Nm of torque. The result is a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

Peugeot quotes 182bhp per ton, which, while not quite as featherweight as its GTi-badged forebears, is still a good deal lighter than the majority of bloated performance EVs on the market.

The culmination of all this is a vehicle that feels destined to tackle fun, twisty routes, with enough power to raise smiles but not so much that the driver feels like they are hanging on for dear life.

This is made possible by the fact that Peugeot Sport has comprehensively reworked the chassis, lowering the car by 30mm and widening the tracks by 56mm at the front and around 28mm at the rear.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

The springs, dampers, steering and anti-roll bars have all been recalibrated, while a mechanical limited-slip differential is integrated into the gear reducer to corral the machine around corners.

Depress the accelerator and the E-208 GTi scampers off the line with puppy-like enthusiasm.

It isn’t Tesla Ludicrous levels of neck-snapping acceleration, but the whiff of torque steer and minor loss of traction as the front wheels spin up immediately cast minds back to the halcyon days of those legendary Renault RS, GTi and SRi badges.

To further aid driver involvement, Peugeot Sport didn’t want to muddy the performance waters with vague regenerative braking. So, when Sport Mode is selected, the E-208 GTi relies solely on its hydraulic braking system, with 355mm front discs and fixed four-piston calipers.

Up in the rain-soaked hills of Scotland, the E-208 GTi came alive, tucking into corners and propelling out of them like a go-kart. Hours and hours of fun.

The brakes might not be endowed with phenomenal feel and feedback, but they inspire tons of confidence, while the limited-slip differential and gently guiding traction control keep lead-footed drivers largely out of trouble.

There’s no fake gearbox to contend with, but a subtle synthesized engine note acts as a soundtrack in Sport Mode. It’s not as booming or in-your-face as Kia’s (more on that later), but does a good job of keeping EV motion sickness at bay.

Everyday thrills

(Image credit: Peugeot)

Despite the sports seats and gloriously retro GTi badging throughout the cabin of the warmed-up E-208, this remains a car that can be used every day. There’s room in the back for two adults, a decent-sized trunk and all the infotainment modern conveniences you could want.

Alas, driving like your pants are on fire will seriously eat into the 233-mile WLTP range, with enthusiastic journalists on this particular test drive returning from the roughly 90-mile Scottish route with a mere 5% battery remaining. That's shocking.

But Peugeot says you won’t have to wait too long to charge it, with a 20-80% session taking less than 30 minutes from a 100kW outlet.

If all that sounds like too much of a compromise for some red-hot electric fun, Kia has a slightly more “sensible” option.

KiaKiaKiaKiaKiaKia

Its latest EV4 GT, which borrows heavily from Hyundai’s N performance division, offers a more usable 313 miles of official range from its much larger 81.4kWh NMC battery.

There’s a 145kW permanent-magnet motor at the front producing 283Nm, joined by a 70kW rear induction motor making 185Nm.

Combined output is 215kW, or 288bhp, with 468Nm of torque. That’s enough for 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, while 50-75mph takes just 3.9 seconds.

It is undeniably heavier than the lithe Peugeot and it certainly feels it, but the extra punch from the dual motors makes it feel equally brisk off the line.

Like Peugeot’s sporting division, Kia has also introduced a comprehensive chassis overhaul, including electronically controlled suspension, adaptive dampers, hydraulic bushings and electronically controlled Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control.

(Image credit: Kia)

Pile on the revs and it’s possible to hit a purely virtual “limiter".

There are also larger 325mm brakes and a six-speed Virtual Gear Shift system borrowed from Hyundai’s N division, designed to make the power delivery feel more familiar to anyone used to a performance gas-powered car.

Pile on the revs and it’s possible to hit a purely virtual “limiter", while the paddles behind the steering wheel transform from regenerative braking adjusters in regular modes to a full-on flappy-paddle gearbox when the shiny GT button on the steering wheel is pressed.

Compared with the E-208 GTi, it’s the more comfortable daily cruiser, too, with bags of room in the rear for passengers and an ultra-modern, comfortable cabin that’s perfect for longer trips.

(Image credit: Kia)

Regardless, on the winding roads of southern France, the EV4 GT’s hottest modes proved more than tempting and, despite being the larger and heavier vehicle, it still managed to prove that electric vehicles can be so much more than one-trick drag-strip ponies.

However, Kia is asking around £49,345 (around $65,300 / AU$93,100) for its souped-up EV, which is almost £15,000 (around $19,850 / AU$28,300) more than the Peugeot E-208 GTi. The latter was by far the most fun, if you can overlook the terrible range.

But with manufacturers now clearly placing an emphasis on more affordable and genuinely entertaining small EVs, it looks like driving enthusiasts will soon have arguably the most tempting shortlist there has ever been.

And for that, I’m grateful.

• A new Ban Flock Act has been introduced in Congress
• It cites privacy concerns over camera tracking systems
• All ALPRs are covered, not just those made by Flock

The momentum behind banning Flock cameras and other surveillance tech continues to build, with Senators Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, together with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, filing a new Ban Flock Act that does exactly what you might expect given its name.

As TechCrunch reports though, it goes beyond Flock: the bill covers all automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), and would stop federal agencies from acquiring, possessing, accessing or otherwise using one of these devices.

Exceptions could be approved by Congress, the bill states, with toll collection one use case that would be exempt from the rules. If any exemptions did get cleared. data retention would be limited to 48 hours.

The proposed ban is at the federal level, which means states and local areas could still invest in ALPR systems using their own money, if they chose to — but central government funding would then be removed, so in practice, the cameras would be banned at this level too. Private companies and use by residents associations would still be allowed.

What happens nextBernie Sanders introduces bill to ban the federal government from using Flock from r/technology

If you're not familiar with the workings of the US political system, the next stages are for the bill to get committee, House, and Senate approval. However, the likelihood of it passing before the end of Congress in January is slim, considering the timing and the balance of party control in both chambers.

With that in mind, the Ban Flock Act is more of a statement of intent and opinion than anything likely to become law in the near future. There are in fact already two similar bills sitting at the committee stage that haven't made progress yet.

Those long odds of the bill's success are reflected in reaction online, though Redditors say future laws 'should go beyond ALPRs' and there is broad support for these camera systems being regulated more tightly or banned outright.

The accompanying press release leans heavily on privacy. "We cannot allow America to become a surveillance state," says Sanders, with the text pointing to past misuse of the cameras and data they collect — including police officers using plate readers to track wives, girlfriends, and exes.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance promises a fresh expedition into the skies, with players summoned there by the resurgence of ancient dragons and the promise of upgraded weaponry. At Tokyo Game Show 2026, I went hands-on with this upcoming expansion, getting up close and personal with the downloadable content's (DLC) interconnected aerial archipelagoes and battling against two brutal monsters with the use of the brand-new Boost Bracer.

The demo opens in a camp, with the reliable Alma serving up two important quests: Hunt the Alpha Araketa, a level 2 monster, and Slay the Teostra, a level 5 monster. Before jumping straight into the hunt, though, it only felt right to check things out at home first. The camp itself is a visual marvel in keeping with the high standards set by the base game — something here about how it looked; check demo vids online.

The demo is keen to focus on gameplay, though, and understandably offers little in the way of non-player character (NPC) chatter. Still, I was pleased to find a small jump across a ravine hides a barrel-rolling side game that, while unnecessary, was a fun side activity nonetheless. But I digress; it was finally time to break some monster parts.

Falling with style

(Image credit: Capcom)

The first expedition dropped me on a jagged island floating high above any visible Earth, where I was set to track the Araketa. The design of the space lands somewhere between James Cameron’s Pandora and the ruins of a medieval coastal castle. Rocky structures hang in the air above my eyeline, with aggressive tree roots tunnelling through them and disrupting their typical form.

As I came upon an unnervingly empty open area, I spied what looked like petrified dragon wings and tails buried in the white rubble, the blistering blue sky illuminating the stone and casting a dusty screen — so much so that I could almost feel my throat dry up as I stepped through the chalky stone.

Eventually, I spotted the Alpha, but it wasn’t alone. Typical of head honchos, the beast had two underlings, identical in species but much smaller in size.

(Image credit: Capcom)

New to Monster Hunter, the Araketa is a wyvern with a smooth, stone-like exterior painted with what looks like a turquoise-and-yellow platter pattern. Unlike a typical dragon-faced beast, the Araketa features a bulbous, boulder-like head, two wings with sharp claws at the back, and a long, winding tail. While beautiful, the most important note is that all three of these extremities are used in combat.

As I entered the battlefield and alerted the trio to my presence, the Alpha let out an ear-splitting screech before taking battle formation. As one of the underlings jumped up into the air, the Alpha and the second monster flew towards me at a startling pace. In no time, their attacks began, the younger creature attempting to headbutt me with its hammerhead, while the Alpha flanked me from behind.

Diving side to side, the Alpha then took its turn, digging its claw into the earth and performing a spin attack that knocked me off balance. As I regained my footing, the third skybound monster, which had been suspiciously absent, used its momentum to swoop down and take a swipe, too. It was overwhelming, but exhilarating.

(Image credit: Capcom)

My weapon of choice for this battle was the Insect Glaive, which proved useful for platforming around their bombardment. Thankfully, as I started to feel overwhelmed, I remembered I had a new tool to flex: Boost Driver attacks.

Another new addition to Monster Hunter Wilds is that players now wear a Boost Bracer, which enables weapon-specific special attack types. At the bottom of your screen, you’ll see a gauge with three charge slots. As you attack the monster, these slots will illuminate light blue, indicating you have charge. When in position, you can press R1, circle, and triangle in tandem to unleash a visually striking brutal attack.

For the glaive, this saw my character throwing his body into a series of explosive shifting sweeps. Beyond the spectacle and boosted damage, the upgraded moves did well to reset momentum, and I was particularly pleased to see I didn’t need any specific resources to harness its power.

As the battle drew to a close, I had just enough time to look around and take in the ambient wildlife of the new biome, spotting all kinds of creatures from rocky-backed alligators to fluffy, chicken-like birds.

Among the structures, I also got to experience the new wind mechanics mentioned in the marketing material and made use of my Seikret to dive across them, which was fun if not a little rigid — perhaps I’ll have more control in the full release.

The belly of the beast

(Image credit: Capcom)

The second quest sent me to a wholly oppositional location. Instead of blue skies and white rock, I was met with sludge and volcanic ash plumes rising from various organic chimneys dotted across the horizon. This area was composed of tones of grey, occasionally disrupted by orange or red illuminations.

The castle ruins had also been swapped out for what looked like giant pots, akin to Elden Ring's Iron Fist Alexander if he fell into some wet tarmac. Unlike the ambient wildlife of the first area, there was little more than Sisyphian dung beetles here, continuously rolling a solitary ball up a hill.

Descending to the bowels of the cave system, I spotted my prey, slumbering amongst fire and brimstone. Unlike the Araketa, the Teostra isn’t new to the franchise, with the elder dragon appearing in Monster Hunter World and long before that in Monster Hunter 2. However, it is the beast's first appearance in a long time, and he’s packing some serious heat this time around.

Before I could begin my barrage, a pop-up on screen alerted me to an unskippable step — if I didn’t drink a cool drink, I would lose health during the fight, presumably from boiling alive in my own skin. I’m happy to report that ignoring this message was a silly mistake, and it wasn’t long before I fainted and was forced to make the descent again.

(Image credit: Capcom)

Salve applied; I dove headfirst into what already appeared to be a complicated fight. Double my height, the Teostra’s feline form was blazing, its attacks involving a mixture of fizzing fire bombs and cat-like swipes. When used in tandem, it became steadily overwhelming, and I was pleased I had my attention-stealing Palico to draw away some of the heat, both literally and metaphorically.

To keep from burning alive, I leapt in and out of its proximity, buckling its back legs and taking huge swaths of damage — safe to say, in the twenty minutes I had to win, I was not successful. Thankfully for the sake of my pride, as I returned to the camp a loser, I noticed the player next to me was struggling against the Teostra as well; even with a different weapon and impressive dexterity, they failed to kill the beast in the time allotted.

It’s clear Monster Hunter: Wilds Ascendance intends to escalate the hunting in the base game, enabling players to wield powerful tools in environments designed to genuinely test their preparation and survival skills. As someone who dropped off the base game after hitting credits, this expansion provides more than enough reason to kit back up and head into its refreshed, uncompromising world.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is releasing in 2027.

• An upcoming data center cited by previous Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of the UK’s AI Strategy will no longer open as planned
• The Nscale site in Loughton, Essex, which counts Nvidia among its investors, had already raised eyebrows when it was revealed earlier this year to still be in operation as a scaffolding yard
• UK Power Networks has told Nscale that the electricity grid will not be able to produce enough power for the site until the early 2030s

A new AI data center – dubbed the UK’s largest AI supercomputer – is facing delays thanks to challenges supplying power to the facility. Built by Nscale, with backers including Nvidia, the neocloud installation was set to launch in 2027, but power issues have forced UK Power Networks to come clean over the data center’s intended viability.

Oddly, the site – which was highlighted by the UK’s recently replaced Prime Minister, Keir Starmer – was still operating as a scaffolding yard as recently as March 2026.

In order to operate, the Loughton data center in Essex, England, requires 90MW, around the same energy requirement as 315,000 homes. However, the UK’s National Grid has a backlog of over 300 data centers requiring power, with the total demand more than 60% greater than the UK’s current capacity.

The Nscale neocloud

Constructing the neocloud – a GPU-based AI cloud data center – is the first project for Nscale, a UK startup that is preparing for a £26 billion ($35 billion) public listing and has already raised around £2.55 billion ($3.36 billion) in pre-IPO funding.

However, while cited as a key example of the UK’s commitment to AI, the Nscale neocloud cannot operate without the 90MW supply.

National Grid, the company that owns networks in the UK, don’t comment on individual cases. Its representative told the Guardian: “We’re continuing to work closely with Neso, distribution network operators and customers to identify opportunities to accelerate connections where possible and support economic growth.”

But the power supply roadblocks materializing for the Loughton data center are not exclusive to that project.

UK power capacity concerns

Other data center plans around the UK are being held up by power supply problems. Regulator Ofgem revealed in June 2026 that 315 data centers were awaiting connection to the National Grid. They represent a demand of 73GW, exceeding the country’s entire capacity of 45GW by 62%.

The UK’s power generation is a diverse mix of gas, nuclear, wind, solar, and biomass. Some power comes from mainland Europe. Over the past 25 years, the UK has focused more on renewable energy resources, deprioritising nuclear, and using gas as the fall-back. However, the increasing demand for AI has revealed that strategy requires an urgent rethink.

Around 100 data centers are planning to build their own gas-fired power stations, according to reports earlier this year, which noted that 100GW of data center projects were awaiting connection to the UK’s power infrastructure.

Thinking of picking up a new color ereader? Now's a good time to shop: there's an Amazon Prime Day event coming up very soon (6-7 October), which means Kindle deals are more than likely. Amazon makes a number of color Kindles these days, and — of course — Kindle isn't the only color ereader option on the market.

In this guide, I'll run you through all the key color ereader options, including Kindles, Kobo ereaders (the main competitor), and a couple more alternatives. You can see all the current prices directly below, followed by a rundown of what you need to know about each model and if you should hang around for a Prime Day deal or not. Finally, there's a specs table to help you compare the models directly.

US color ereader links

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2026)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (no ads, 2024)

Read our full review

Pros

• Finally, color on a Kindle
• Speedy refresh and zooming

Cons

• Doesn’t feel premium enough for the price
• No way to access Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscriptions

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2024)

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (64GB)

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (32GB)

Kobo Libra Colour

Read our full review

Pros

• Good size for portability and usability
• Relatively affordable for a color ereader
• Full writing features
• Repair kits available

Cons

• Couple of functions suffer from lag
• Stylus sold separately

Kobo Clara Colour

Pros

• Responsive color display
• Compact and lightweight
• Good battery life
• Relatively affordable

Cons

• 6 inches can be too small for some users
• Black-and-white text lacks contrast

PocketBook Verse Pro Color

BOOX Go Color 7 Gen II

UK color ereader links

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2026)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024)

Read our full review

Pros

• Finally, color on a Kindle
• Speedy refresh and zooming

Cons

• Doesn’t feel premium enough for the price
• No way to access Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscriptions

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature 32 GB (2026)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature (2024)

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, 32GB

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, 64GB

Kobo Libra Colour

Kobo Clara Colour

Pros

• Responsive color display
• Compact and lightweight
• Good battery life
• Relatively affordable

Cons

• 6 inches can be too small for some users
• Black-and-white text lacks contrast

PocketBook Verse Pro Colour

BOOX Go Color 7 Gen II

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

The Kindle Colorsoft is Amazon's standard color ereader — essentially, the color version of the Paperwhite. All Kindle Colorcofts have a 7-inch screen, battery life og around 12 weeks, and waterproofing to IPX8. None have writing capabilities.

There are a few Kindle Colorsoft options — the regular (with 16GB of storage) and Signature versions (32GB), both in 2024 and all-new 2026 versions. I'm not sure how long the 2024 versions will be sticking around. The 2026 versions are thinner and lighter, and the power button has been shifted so it's on the side rather than at the bottom. Some options are also available with or without ads.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Will there be a deal?

The announcement of the updated lineup at the start of October has confused things rather. Just prior to the appearance of the new models, Amazon discounted most of the previous range in the UK. These deals are still available, and they're good: up to 44% off. I'm not expecting prices to drop further on these models during Prime Day itself.

In the US, there were no deals to speak of on the now-old Kindle Colorsofts, and that's still the case at time of writing (2 Oct). I am hopeful that they will get a discount during the official Prime Day event.

As for the 2026 models — I'm not sure. A discount so soon after launch feels a little strange, but then again, Amazon almost always drops its Kindle prices during Prime Day events. I'll be watching closely to see what happens.

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is a kind of blend of the Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Colorsoft, in that it's a color ereader with writing support. It has a generous 11-inch screen (the largest of any model here), and a price tag that's so lofty you could buy a Colorsoft and a Scribe individually and still get a bit of change from how much you'd spend on a Scribe Colorsoft. It's available in 32GB and 64GB versions, and it hasn't been updated for 2026 — but then, it did only launch in December 2025.

(Image credit: Future/Rami Tabari)

Will there be a deal?

Almost certainly. This ereader was included in the June Prime Day event, and because it's not brand new, there's no reason it wouldn't be included this time round too.

In fact, both the 32GB and 64GB versions are already on sale in the UK, each with 30% off — down to £399 and £439.99 respectively. For comparison, the 64GB version only fell to £492.99 in June, so this is a much better deal.

The US deals aren't live yet, but I am expecting them to appear at some point, although perhaps not until Prime Day itself. During the June event, the 64GB version dropped to $519.99 (was $679.99).

However, even with those discounts it's a very pricey tablet. In that bracket, it's worth weighing up whether a BOOX Go Color 7 Gen II, which is also a color ereader with writing support, and in fact operates like a full e-ink tablet, is a better buy.

Kobo Clara / Libra Colour

Kobo is probably the main Kindle alternative. The Clara is the ereader-only version, with a relatively small 6-inch screen, while the Libra can also be used for writing (stylus sold separately), and has a 7-inch screen. We have an article covering the differences between Kindle vs Kobo, but overall we rate this brand really highly. In fact, it's the Kobo Libra Colour that holds the top spot in our best ereader ranking.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Will there be a deal?

Perhaps. Over the most recent Prime Day, the Libra Colour ereader was discounted to $229.99 (was $259.99) in the US. In the UK it stayed at full price (£209.99), though. The Clara Colour didn't get a discount in the US or the UK. At time of writing, both are full price on Amazon.

PocketBook Verse Pro Color

The Verse Pro Colour from PocketBook has a 6-inch screen and 16GB of storage. The battery life is shorter than all the others here (aside, possibly, from the Boox Go Color 7 Gen II, which doesn't provide a runtime) although you'll still get around a month of reading per charge. There are no writing features.

Will there be a deal?

Possibly not. This is a smaller player in the ereader world, and not necessarily a model Amazon would focus on for discounts. We didn't see a deal in the US over Prime Day in June (unfortunately, I don't have the information for the UK).

BOOX Go Color 7 Gen II

BOOX, from parent company Onyx, is more of an e-ink tablet than an ereader specifically. Because these tablets run a full version of Android, you can use them for a variety of tasks, of which reading is just one. As a result, the Go Color 7 Gen II is a relatively pricey color ereader option. It packs 64GB of storage, supports writing functionality, and is not waterproof — so it's no good for reading in the tub.

In our Boox Go Color 7 Gen II review, we weren't too impressed with the display quality on this model. A benefit if you're a current Kindle owner looking to switch is that it's possible to download the Kindle app onto a BOOX, meaning you'd still have access to your current library of books. You'll find more information in my BOOX vs Kobo explainer.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Will there be a deal?

Perhaps not. We didn't see any deals in the US or UK during the most recent Prime Day event.

Specs compared

The wait is almost over, horror fans, because Mike Flanagan's anticipated Carrie adaptation arrives on Prime Video this month. I've been excitedly counting down the days, as a long time fan of Flanagan's work.

His take on Carrie is set in the modern era, meaning social media plays an important part in the bullying that our protagonist faces, eventually leading up to the iconic and deadly prom scene we all know and love.

Summer H Howell is stepping into the shoes of Stephen King's Carrie White for this adaptation, which arrives on our screens in early October. She's joined by a great cast including Scream's Matthew Lillard and Samantha Sloyan, who starred in Flanagan's Netflix series Midnight Mass.

Here's everything you need to know about when and where you can watch Carrie.

What time can I watch Carrie on Prime Video?

Carrie arrives on Prime Video on Wednesday, October 7, just in time for your Halloween celebrations, alongside this month's new horror movies.

Usually new releases hit the platform at midnight Pacific Time, so based on that, here's when Carrie is expected to release around the world.

US – Wednesday, October 7 at 12am PT / 9pm ET

Canada – Wednesday, October 7 at 12am PT / 9pm ET

UK – Wednesday, October 7 at 8am BST

India – Wednesday, October 7 at 12:30pm IST

Singapore – Wednesday, October 7 at 3pm SGT

Australia – Wednesday, October 7 at 5pm AEDT

New Zealand – Wednesday, October 7at 8pm NZDT

When do new episodes of Carrie come out?

(Image credit: Prime Video)

I have good news for binge watchers, because all eight episodes of Carrie will drop at the same time on October 7. You can also check out the episode titles for the upcoming series below.

Here's what to expect from Prime Video's Carrie.

Episode 1: First Period – October 7, 2026

Episode 2: Foreign Language – October 7, 2026

Episode 3: Social Studies – October 7, 2026

Episode 4: Dramatic Arts – October 7, 2026

Episode 5: Physical Education – October 7, 2026

Episode 6: Home Economics – October 7, 2026

Episode 7: Romantic Literature – October 7, 2026

Episode 8: AP Physics – October 7, 2026

Welcome to our regular ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) recap on TechRadar, which we run every week so you can catch up on all the most significant happenings in the world of tech over the last seven days.

We say this every week, but we're going to say it again: it's been a bumper week of news, views, and reviews. There have been new ereaders from Amazon and new tablets from Samsung, as well as a phone built specifically for kids — and that's just the start.

So settle down and make yourself comfortable and we'll take you through the stories that mattered, whether or not you caught them first time around. And we'll be back next week with what will no doubt be an equally packed ICYMI...

8. We let Meta’s Muse into our personal life

We've been testing Muse out (Image credit: Future)

Meta has a new Muse AI agent app, which is intended to sit on your phone and provide useful, proactive assistance whenever you need it. From filling out forms online to making sure you don't forget what's on your grocery list, Muse wants to give you context-sensitive help any time of day or night. The only catch? It also wants you to hand over a lot of data.

As TechRadar's Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff discovered when he put Muse through some vigorous testing, the AI is most useful when it knows as much about you as possible — what's on your calendar, what's in your email inbox, and so on. That means there's a privacy trade-off to be made, and it's unlikely that everyone will be comfortable with it.

• Read more: I gave Muse access to my personal data, and now I know why personal agents are probably going to change the world

7. Peloton claimed its new treadmills beat smartwatches

Can a treadmill replace your wearable? (Image credit: Peloton / Future)

To get the inside story on the new and improved treadmills from Peloton, our Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans spoke to Peloton executives Nick Caldwell and Meg Higgins about what makes them worth our money — and in particular, the capabilities of the AI-powered camera tracking that can watch your form as you go through your workouts.

According to the execs, the treadmill cameras can do a better job at assessing how you're doing than wearables strapped to your wrist, and that might be enough to tempt serious athletes into picking up one of the new models. There's plenty more to talk about with these new treadmills too, including a new cushioning system and a redesigned interface.

• Read more: Could a treadmill make you a better runner than an Apple Watch? Peloton execs believe the Peloton Tread Vision's AI cameras offer 'much higher accuracy' than wearables

6. The Prime Big Deal Days kicked off early

We've got deals for you (Image credit: Future / Nintendo / Samsung / Amazon / Anker)

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is approaching, and the TechRadar team is all over it. Even if you're feeling fatigued in the hunt for top tech discounts, we've got you covered — and while the sales haven't officially started yet, lots of offers are already live. Click through to find significant price drops for hardware from Samsung, Blink, Nintendo, Philips, Anker, and more.

You can save yourself hundreds of pounds in some cases, and we're coming across certain products that are lower than they've ever been on the retail site. Prime Day proper gets underway on October 6 (next Tuesday), so even if you do avail yourself of some of the deals included here, make sure you check back with TechRadar over the next few days.

• Read more: 26 best early deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days at Amazon UK — shop record-low prices on Nintendo, Kindle, Samsung, Blink, and more

5. A fresh Amazon Fire TV Stick landed with a new remote

There's a new Fire TV Stick on the market (Image credit: Amazon)

The first Amazon hardware refresh of the week came with a new Fire TV Stick 4K, promising faster performance compared to its previous 4K streaming dongles and bringing with it a redesigned remote control. There are also some AI updates for Alexa+ here, and all for $59.99 / £69.99 (about AU$86, with international pricing to be confirmed).

According to Amazon, the update remote is more tactile and easier to hold than before, with some tweaks to help you navigate its various buttons through touch alone, without looking at it (you can buy the new remote separately to work with an old Fire TV stick, if you want). Oh, and discounts are being promised to coincide with the Prime Big Deal Days next week.

• Read more: There's a new Amazon Fire TV Stick that's faster to use, and a redesigned remote — and it'll have a huge discount for Amazon's big Prime sale coming soon

4. We were blown away by Vivo’s 400mm phone lens

Testing out the teleconverter lens (Image credit: Tim Coleman )

When it comes to phone brands, Vivo may not be as well known as the likes of Apple, Samsung, or Google, but it's done something rather special with its new G2 Ultra 4.7x teleconverter lens — a specialist add-on that it just unveiled alongside its flagship X500 series of phones, and which gives you a serious amount of zoom from your phone.

In the words of our Cameras Editor Tim Coleman, who's been testing out the new accessory, the teleconverter "is a real showcase of what smartphone cameras can be capable of". For the time being, the device is only available to buy in China, but you can check out some of the stunning shots that the G2 Ultra 4.7x is capable of capturing.

• Read more: I tested Vivo's 400mm teleconverter lens with the X500 Pro Max, and no other phone from Oppo, Honor, or Apple can rival it

3. The Freckle Phone made us rethink kids' phones

Meet the Freckle Phone (Image credit: Freckle Phone)

No one has quite worked out the best age for kids to get phones yet, or what those phones should be allowed to do when they are given to children. The latest device to try and find a solution is the Freckle phone, which has a lot of phone-like features (such as calling and photo-taking), without being weighed down by apps that are potentially unhealthy.

The design of the Freckle Phone is chunky and colorful, but it's really the software that makes it stand out. The developers of the device have eschewed a conventional operating system to offer a collection of curated apps that encourage kids to get outside and go on adventures — something we can probably all agree is going to be good for their growth.

• Read more: I'm fascinated by the 'Freckle Phone' — a kids' smartphone with no social networks and tools to help your child explore the outside world — so I asked its creator my burning questions

2. Samsung revealed its new iPad Pro rival

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung / Future)

Samsung has launched two more tablets to take on the iPad, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and the Galaxy S12 Ultra. The huge 14.6-inch Ultra is the pick of the pair, bringing with it faster performance and a slimmer design compared to its predecessor, and these two new slates could be the best options you've got at the moment if you want a tablet running Android.

We've got all the details on the Galaxy Tab pair here, including key specs, starting prices, and our hands-on first impressions — plus there's also a new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 3 to talk about. Samsung's latest Bluetooth tracker works with iPhones for the first time, and adds new features as well as range improvements when you're trying to hunt down something you've lost.

• Read more: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is here to take on the iPad Pro M5 — and it's joined by a SmartTag 3 with iOS support

1. Amazon's new Kindles fixed our biggest gripes

We've got new Kindles (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Last but not least, we've got the second Amazon hardware unveiling of the week, which was a complete refresh for its Kindle line. The 13th-generation ereaders bring with them changes to the design, some new colors, and aluminum unibodies in some cases, and there are updated accessories too — including devices with physical page turn buttons.

It feels like another step forward for the Kindle family, even if it's not a huge one, and we're pleased to see the power button has been moved from the bottom to the side of the Kindles for the first time. It's a change that's long overdue and should lead to fewer accidental presses (especially when you've got these Amazon ereaders propped up).

• Read more: Amazon has moved the power button on all its new Kindles — and I feel vindicated

• The Thrustmaster T-GT III Steering Wheel has been announced for PS4 and PS5
• The new hardware is designed for Gran Turismo 7 and offered in a Direct Axial Drive bundle for the first time
• The T-GT III will cost $749.99 / £649.99 / €699.99

Thrustmaster has unveiled the T-GT III Steering Wheel for PS4 and PS5, the latest addition to its ongoing 16-year-long partnership with Gran Turismo.

The Thrustmaster T-GT III is designed for Gran Turismo 7, the newest entry in Polyphony Digital's long-running racing series, and will launch on December 3 for $749.99 / £649.99 / €699.99.

The package includes the iconic T-GT steering wheel, featuring a leather finish and four rotary encoders mapped for Gran Turismo.

"Engineered without compromise for the most demanding sim racers, the T-GT III represents the ultimate expression of Thrustmaster's expertise and delivers an authentic and immersive Gran Turismo experience in a turnkey bundle," Thrustmaster said.

The T-GT series "enters a new era" with the T-GT III and is "the very first Direct Axial Drive bundle designed for Gran Turismo and "the first to natively integrate a load-cell pedal set."

ThrustmasterThrustmasterThrustmaster

The steering wheel delivers a constant torque of 5 Nm with an overshoot capacity of up to 10 Nm, preventing saturation and guaranteeing ultra-low latency and instant responsiveness.

Combined with Thrustmaster’s Harmony technology and the high-frequency torque, the steering wheel also offers purpose-built haptic effects for the game with "Gear Jolt," which lets players feel gear shifts, while "Engine Roar" makes the chassis resonate in time with the engine’s RPM.

"We have a long-standing partnership with Thrustmaster, who, over the years, have remained faithful to Gran Turismo by offering solutions that enhance the driving experience," said Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the Gran Turismo series. "The journey we’ve taken together has allowed us to extend the desired sensations through a steering wheel as technology and the game have evolved. We are delighted to welcome them as partners of Gran Turismo World Series."

Thrustmaster will continue to evolve the T-GT III through software and firmware updates to keep pace with Gran Turismo's Spec updates (Spec IV is the next free update releasing in two parts, with the first arriving this month and the second in December), ensuring long-term support for players.

"Meeting Gran Turismo’s exacting standards is no small feat. In the 16 years we’ve been working together, Yamauchi-san’s motto has remained a commitment to the game in every sense of the word; this has allowed us to take on projects that we believe no one else would have accepted in order to achieve that level of fidelity," said Gilles Raulet, director of development and licensing at Thrustmaster.

"This collaboration continues to inspire our teams year after year because passion remains at the heart of our discussions."

• Even bosses are lying about how much they know about AI, study finds
• Many leaders are stressed about AI's impact on their roles
• Emergn calls for more relevant, human-centric training

As many as one in four (23%) UK senior leaders could be bluffing about how much AI knowledge they actually have, new Emergn research has claimed.

The study implies the leaders could be embarrassed or uncomfortable with admitting gaps, given that 38% now believe their career prospects could suffer unless they significantly improve their AI skills over the next year.

But despite lying themselves, top-down pressure actually sees nearly half (43%) valuing AI skills more highly than formal qualifications.

Senior leaders could be lying about their AI skills

Though the report doesn't go into detailed why they might be lying, one of the potential factors implied by underlying data is fear or uncertainty. One in five (22%) feel anxious or lose sleep because off how quickly AI is changing their industry, with an equal number of leaders also feeling out of their depth because of AI's impact on their role.

"It is hard to admit you do not understand something when you are supposed to be the person with the answers," CEO Alex Adamopoulos explained.

But with senior leaders typically sitting toward the top of an organization, ownership of the problem is less clear. While only 43% say they've received substantial AI training over the past 12 months, the jury's still out on whose responsibility this is, and whether it should lie with IT teams.

Emergn argues that training should focus on helping employees actually solve the problems they encounter every day at work, but the company also stresses that artificial intelligence is a new technology for us all and leaders as much as regular workers should be prepared to learn openly and acknowledge gaps in their knowledge.

"People need to see a future for themselves as the work changes," Adamopoulos added.

• Those buying an RTX 5090 at Micro Center now have to fill out a declaration form
• This includes having a government-issued photo ID scanned by the retailer
• Some approve of the policy as it's an anti-scalping measure, but others view it as an annoyance or a pointless move

If you're buying an Nvidia RTX 5090, or a PC with the graphics card inside, over in the US, you may have to fill out an official form to declare that you don't intend to export and resell the GPU – or at least you will at Micro Center.

PC Gamer spotted the 'advanced computing product purchaser declaration' which a Redditor was forced to complete and sign – including a scan of their driving license for ID – when buying a PowerSpec AI90 workstation PC with an RTX 5090.

The Micro Center store was in Tustin, California, but someone else posting on the Reddit thread claims that the same form has been introduced at the Columbus, Ohio store.

Apparently this is a new policy that only started this week at Micro Center (but seemingly other retailers already follow this practice in the US, including Central Computers).

In case you hadn't guessed, this move is about trying to prevent scalpers from buying up the RTX 5090, or PCs containing it – which can be around the same price as the standalone GPU these days, and are sometimes the only way of getting this graphics card at all – in order to sell it on to China and turn a profit.

Analysis: a pain in the neck, or a valid anti-scalper tactic?

(Image credit: Micro Center / Krothic on Reddit)

As some of the commenters on Reddit are quick to point out, this form isn't legally binding, and there are question marks over how any of this might be enforced. Somebody breaking the terms of the agreement is likely to just shrug their shoulders about the consequences, perhaps.

However, as PC Gamer notes, the use of the ID check is certainly a deterrent of sorts for GPU exporters. And what this is doing is preventing people who are making a short trip to the US buying an RTX 5090 and selling it on when they get back home for a hefty mark-up. Those people won't be able to provide a US address and government photo ID that can be verified as belonging to them, of course.

The fact remains that it's a bit of a pain for Micro Center's customers to have to go through this form filling and ID check, although that said, some of the folks on the above Reddit thread don't have a problem with the process given that it's an anti-scalping measure. Others are concerned about having to give a retail store personal information for an unnecessary reason as they see it, or they're just annoyed and think it's a waste of time. As one Redditor put it: "This is ridiculous."

Going by the Reddit thread, another measure Micro Center enforces is that there's only one purchase of an RTX 5090 GPU per customer full-stop, forever. Once you've bought one, you can never buy another, we're told.

• For small TVs, the processors are now as as expensive as the panels for the first time
• AI-driven demand is creating a global supply shortage of memory and processors, and it's expected to last through 2027
• (Flash storage is 9x more expensive while Wi-Fi modules have become as pricey as 4K panels)

AI continues to be the Very Hungry Caterpillar of tech, gobbling up so many semiconductors that supplies of crucial components are limited and prices are soaring. And it looks like the latest tech sector to be chomped is the TV market.

According to market research firm Omdia, as reported by DigiTimes, the cost of semiconductors has risen so much this year that for the very first time, the most expensive part of the TV may no longer be the panel, but the chips powering it.

The good news is that, for now at least, the issue is primarily at the lower end of the market: think 32-inch LCDs and Full HD models in the low 40 inches, rather than the best OLED TVs. But with component costs continuing to soar, the future looks a bit worrying to say the least.

Why component costs are pushing profits way down

We're not talking about a couple of cents here or there; according to Omdia's figures, the costs are rocketing. In the second quarter of 2025, you could expect the processing board's share of the costs to be just over 10%. In the third quarter of 2026, it's 45% or even 50% of the total cost.

Basic DRAM prices hit $25 in August this year, 4.4 times the price of a year ago, and NAND flash memory is up to $30.50, which is nearly nine times last year's price.

The good news keeps on coming. Wi-Fi modules are apparently up from $33.90 in 2025 to $118.20 now. That makes the Wi-Fi chip more expensive than the lowest 55-inch 4K panel ($116) and close to the average 4K panel price of $123.

The component crisis is expected to continue through 2027 and beyond, squeezing the profitability of manufacturers in a market that's already famed for its relatively low profit margins.

It's unlikely that manufacturers could or will absorb ever-increasing prices forever, and that means we're likely to see what we've already seen in the smartphone market: higher prices and lower specifications.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

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• Register.si logged 46,066 new .si domains in September 2026 compared with 3,515 in August after Trump said the US would call AI "superintelligence"
• Registrations have continued to accelerate to over 12,600+ a day at the time of writing, as an increasing number of registrants lock in key domain names with the registrar
• The rename was telegraphed by Truth Social polls from September 19, and Netcraft found speculative .si buying happening before the speech aired

Slovenia's national domain registry has spent the past two weeks absorbing a wave of demand thanks to an unexpected boon.

US President Donald Trump recently told the UN General Assembly that the United States would now call artificial intelligence "super intelligence," or SI, because the word artificial "makes it sound fake."

This has prompted buyers around the world to pile into .si, the country code of the small European nation where First Lady Melania Trump was born.

An unintended co-incidence?

The First Lady was born in Novo Mesto in 1970, when Slovenia was still a Yugoslav republic, and Netcraft notes that she and Barron Trump both hold Slovenian citizenship. The coincidence ironically exists only because Slovenia was assigned SI when SL had already gone to Sierra Leone.

Register.si, in a screengrab of the site, registered only 3,515 domains in August 2026, while one day saw the website register as many as 12,491 across 92 domain registrars, even as the site shows 46,066 registrations at the time of writing, indicating an impressive 13.1x increase monthly or pro-rated, a 106x increase when compared with an average day in August.

The monthly numbers might be even more impressive if one considers the statement of the Register.si spokeswoman, Klara Herman, to the BBC, where she stated that "44,000 web addresses with the .si suffix had been registered in September, compared to less than 2,000 in August - an increase of more than 2,100%".

One could, however, argue this isn't a complete surprise: on September 19, Trump posted a poll on Truth Social offering Superior, Extreme, or Supreme Intelligence as replacements for AI, two of which abbreviate to SI.

On September 21, he promised in a post that he would "only encourage AI or SI (SUPER INTELLIGENCE)!", and a second poll pitting super against superior intelligence drew more than 50,000 votes. This also sparked a betting spree: a Polymarket contract on whether Trump would rename AI by September 30 opened on September 20 and drew $151,000 in bets by September 23.

The obvious beneficiary for now seems to be the state of Slovenia, though at a limited scale; Register.si still charges every registrar the same €10 per domain, and the registry has said media speculation about millions in earnings for Slovenia has "no real basis".

Domain Name Wire estimated roughly €300,000 in additional September revenue for the state, though that number may be dated, given the current total stands at 46,066 domains or €460,660 and may be even higher. Anguilla, by contrast, earned around $32 million from .ai in 2023, more than 20% of government revenue, according to IMF figures cited by Foreign Policy,

The less obvious, but considerably more lucrative, play is speculative buying of potentially high-value domain names should the trend catch on, to flip for a high multiple (100x, 1000x, or even higher in certain cases) on transfer.

The more interesting question is what SI could eventually mean, and whether it is one used by the rest of the world. The White House fact sheet says the order directs agencies to use Super Intelligence and SI in official communications and "to no longer acknowledge" the old terms, but it applies only to executive branch documents outside statute. It has no say in whether the nomenclature actually catches up with or replaces AI in an industry that has far more pressing concerns to address than its own name.

• DoorDash has unveiled the drone it's testing with deliveries
• An average delivery time of under five minutes is promised
• The drones will be tested in a limited trial in North California

The future of doorstep delivery is drones apparently (well, drones and robots): DoorDash has unveiled a new drone ready to get food to you in under five minutes on average, even as Amazon faces a growing number of complaints over its own drone delivery service.

DoorDash has been planning drone deliveries for a while, calling the scheme DoorDash Air, and we've now been given a look at the six-propeller aircraft that'll be doing the delivering. A trial is planned for Northern California, in partnership with restaurant brands including Chipotle and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

A lot of work has gone into the pick-up and drop-off infrastructure and ordering system, DoorDash says, as well as the drone itself. The company estimates that around 80% of customer orders are light enough to transport by drone, and initial tests suggest orders can be delivered in less than five minutes on average.

Reaction online hasn't been overwhelmingly positive though. "Wait until the birds learn there’s food in those boxes," writes one Redditor, while others express concerns about bad weather, cold food, and packages accidentally being dropped from the skies.

Noise complaints

"Any local business should be able to reach consumers by air," says DoorDash Air chief Harrison Shih. "We built the whole system so that they can deliver by air without being disruptive to how they run their business."

The drones won't land when they deliver — they'll lower their cargo in front of your door or in your backyard and then zoom away again. According to DoorDash, failsafes will be built in so the drones can safely land in emergencies, and their cruising noise will be comparable to a passing car "at delivery height".

That noise element might be crucial to the scheme's success. As TechSpot reports, residents in Richardson, Texas are none too pleased about the constant buzzing being created by Amazon drones, which launched Prime Air in the area last December. The sound has been compared to that of a flying lawnmower.

Dozens of drones can pass overhead each day, residents say. The Prime Air aircraft are allowed to fly between the hours of 7am and 8pm, and Amazon says noise complaints have been a small share of customer feedback.

• British XV Excalibur robotic submarine has now launched an American Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo
• Project Broadsword completed its first weapon integration test in seven months
• Engineers mounted the 3,700-pound Mk 48 torpedo externally beneath XV Excalibur’s hull

The US Navy and Royal Navy have launched an American Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo from the British XV Excalibur uncrewed submarine during testing in Scotland.

Held on September 13 2026, the launch took place at the British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre under Project Broadsword, approved only seven months earlier.

It examined whether an American weapon could be integrated with a British autonomous underwater vessel through compatible mechanical, electrical and software systems.

AUKUS Pillar II sets the framework for Broadsword

AUKUS is a security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States covering cooperation on advanced military capabilities.

Its second pillar, known as AUKUS Pillar II, focuses on developing and sharing advanced capabilities including artificial intelligence, autonomy, quantum technologies and advanced undersea systems.

Project Broadsword is part of this technology-focused cooperation, with the latest trial applying allied interoperability to an American weapon and British uncrewed underwater vessel.

Approved in February 2026, Project Broadsword brought together the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office (DONRCO), OPNAV N97, Royal Navy, Defense Innovation Unit, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport and industry partners.

The project connected the Mk 48 with XV Excalibur, an extra-large uncrewed underwater vessel designed for autonomous or remotely controlled operations.

Unlike a conventional attack submarine, Excalibur does not have traditional internal torpedo tubes, so engineers mounted the approximately 3,700-pound weapon externally beneath its hull.

That configuration allowed the teams to conduct the launch while testing the interfaces required between the American torpedo and British underwater platform.

Excalibur had already been used by the Royal Navy as a mobile underwater laboratory for testing technologies and future payloads.

In 2025, the vessel was remotely controlled in British waters from a command centre in Australia, approximately 10,000 miles away.

Those tests gave the Royal Navy experience operating an uncrewed underwater platform without placing personnel aboard the vessel during its missions.

“This successful test marks a historic first for allied undersea warfare…validates our shared vision for true interchangeability,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations.

“By integrating weapons, payloads, and mission architectures across allied platforms, we are increasing the flexibility, scale, and combat power of our combined forces and ensuring they are ready to meet the strategic demands of tomorrow.”

The test showed that a U.S. weapon could be integrated with a British uncrewed platform rather than requiring both systems to develop exclusively around individual systems.

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, Director of Submarine Programs, described the launch as an important early step toward developing greater interoperability for autonomous undersea systems.

Project CUTLASS will take the integration further

The US Navy plans to continue the work through Project CUTLASS, using Anduril's Dive-XL platform for the next stage of development.

The follow-on effort will examine payload integration, command and control systems, and operational scenarios involving uncrewed underwater platforms.

The Navy said this work will further develop the use of autonomous underwater vessels with different payloads and mission systems.

The September launch completed the Broadsword proof-of-concept, while CUTLASS now moves the effort toward additional integration and operational testing.

Further trials will determine whether the approach can support other weapons, platforms and mission configurations beyond the system used during Broadsword.