TechRadar News

Apple has just revealed the iPhone 16e, its new budget phone to replace the aged iPhone SE, but it’s more than just a cheaper take on the iPhone 16, as it comes with a brand-new component: the C1 cellular modem.

That’s Apple’s first-ever modem chip created for an iPhone and marks what could be a major move from using Qualcomm modem chips, further letting the Cupertino crew have greater control over iPhone hardware at a granular level.

We don’t have a vast amount of information about the C1 modem chip. Still, Apple touted that it’s “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity."

A fast and reliable 5G connection is to be expected, especially when the iPhone 16e is a $599 / 3599 / AU$999 phone, so it is hardly a slam-dunk contender for our best cheap phones list, at least in its current content. But what got my attention was the power-efficiency claim.

Unbelievably, I live in a part of London that has yet to get fiber internet connectivity, so when it comes to doing anything that requires a lot of bandwidth, say downloading a PS5 or Xbox Series X game, I need to tether to my iPhone 16 Pro Max to tap into the faster 5G connection.

This is fine until I look at how much battery gets gobbled up from using sustained 5G data transfer, plus the phone gets rather toasty to the touch.

If the C1 can significantly improve power efficiency, we could see the iPhone 16e, and perhaps the likes of the rumored iPhone 17 family, combat this by glugging less juice from the battery and getting less hot under the silicon collar.

Overall, we could see that iPhones improve on the already solid battery life that Apple phones tend to offer, though they are far from being the longest-lasting smartphones. At a time when we’re seeing demanding AI-powered tools and features pop up in the best phones, having improved power efficiency will become rather more important.

Chipping away

(Image credit: Apple)

Another interesting point that popped up when I dug into Apple’s iPhone 16e announcement is that the combination of the new C1 chip and the A18 chip, which can be found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, has allowed for a new internal design with the iPhone 16e.

Apple hasn’t gone into details here, but like in the world of cars, especially Formula One, new methods of packaging in components can lead to more efficient designs and potentially improved performance.

Or a new internal design for iPhones could yield new hardware features; maybe with next-generation iPhones, we could get a dedicated graphic processing unit separate from the A18 chip that could bring in huge graphics power to supercharge gaming and other graphically demanding tasks on iPhones.

This is just me pondering, of course. But if nothing else, a new internal design could yield more compact and slimmer iPhones.

So, while a new in-house-designed modem chip might not be the most exciting of new Apple components, it could be a bigger deal for future iPhones than one might first think.

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• Instagram is continuing to expand what's possible in the DMs
• You can now schedule a message and easily translate one
• The bigger news dropped from JENNIE and Doechii as you can share music now

Sure, Instagram DMs might be best known as where you might shoot your shot with someone or send Reels to friends with common interests, but Meta wants them to be used as a core messaging service. At least, that’s what we think this pretty major expansion to Instagram DMs, which is rolling out now, indicates.

Just days after debuting the ability to give another user a nickname timed to Valentine’s Day, Instagram is rolling out four major improvements to its DMs. Starting with the ability to schedule a message, which I was surprised wasn’t already there. Instagram is now playing catch up with the likes of iMessage – which only got this feature in iOS 18 – Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Within Instagram, though, you can now write out a message – emojis, GIFs, and all – and schedule it to be sent later for individual or group messages. You can schedule one for up to 29 days in the future, which might prove fruitful if you need to be sure an important message will be sent, like for a friend's birthday or an anniversary with a loved one.

(Image credit: Instagram)

Further, Instagram knows its platform is global and that you might be messaging someone in another language. And rather than copying that message into another app or the web for a translation, you can now translate a message into 99 different languages right within Instagram. You can do this by long holding on to the message and selecting the translate option. This one could prove pretty handy.

Next, we’ve all been there when group messages get busy – it can be a constant onslaught of new items to read, and other messages or items shared can get lost in the mix. Instagram has a fix, well, at least one that could help, as you can now pin up to three messages to the top of an individual or a group chat. So, if you’re planning a weekend trip with friends, you can get the essential details up top.

Considering Instagram already integrates music into Stories and lets you share an adorable vinyl record spinning with artwork, it was only a matter of time before this feature arrived in messages. The result is that you can share your favorite tracks with your friends in a one-person or group message and listen to the track simultaneously.

You also don’t need to navigate out to Apple Music or Spotify to find the track as you can search for your favorite songs right in-line from a new pop-up menu. It’s similar to picking a track to share on Stories or as backing music for a Reel. Instagram actually partnered with JENNIE and Doechii to unveil this feature.

(Image credit: Instagram)

All of this stacks up to make messaging in DMs a bit more seamless but also to keep you more within Instagram rather than navigating out to other apps. Additionally, Instagram also now lets you generate a QR code so another user can easily join a group chat by just scanning it.

Let us know what your favorite feature of this Instagram DM drop is in the comments below, but in the meantime, I’m going to share some new music in a DM with my friends.

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• Six rack-mounted servers arrive in Q1 2025, while the Synergy 480 blade and DL580 quad-socket in Q3 2025
• Offers up to 288 cores, 8TB DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen5
• HPE introduces quantum-resistant encryption

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has unveiled its latest ProLiant Compute Gen12 portfolio, introducing eight new servers powered by Intel Xeon 6 processors.

This marks a departure from previous generations that offered AMD EPYC alternatives, and HPE says the new lineup with faster DDR5 configurations can provide up to 65% annual power savings, thanks to its AI-driven optimizations and fanless Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) architecture which reduces cooling power consumption by up to 90%.

The ProLiant Gen12 portfolio integrates quantum-resistant encryption to guard against cryptographic threats while HPE iLO 7 offers independent hardware-based protection for sensitive credentials, such as encryption keys and system passwords.

Expanding the ProLiant lineup

The ProLiant Gen12 series includes six rack-mounted servers, a blade server, and a high-performance quad-processor system.

Among them, the DL380 (2U) and DL360 (1U) provide dual-socket configurations, supporting up to 288 cores, 8TB of DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen5 expansion. These models cater to enterprises requiring scalable compute power for AI, cloud, and virtualization workloads.

For businesses seeking cost-effective single-socket solutions, the DL320 and DL340 offer targeted performance benefits. The DL320, a 1U server, supports up to 144 cores, 2TB of DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen5 expansion, making it ideal for virtualization while the DL340, a 2U server, is optimized for AI-driven cloud computing with support for up to 8TB of DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen5 connectivity.

Designed for SMBs and edge computing, the ML350 tower server offers up to 8TB of DDR5 memory and multiple PCIe Gen5 slots. Meanwhile, the DL380a, a 2U rack server, is built for intensive workloads, supporting up to 16 single-wide or 8 double-wide GPUs.

HPE plans to release the six rack-mounted servers in Q1 2025, while the Synergy 480 blade server and the high-performance DL580 quad-processor system will launch this summer, available as standalone units or through HPE GreenLake.

“Our customers are tackling workloads that are overwhelmingly data-intensive and growing ever-more demanding,” said Krista Satterthwaite, senior vice president and general manager, Compute at HPE.

“The new HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 servers give organizations – spanning public sector, enterprise and vertical industries like finance, healthcare and more – the horsepower and management insights they need to thrive while balancing their sustainability goals and managing costs," she added.

"This is a modern enterprise platform engineered for the hybrid world, designed with innovative security and control capabilities to help companies prevail over the evolving threat landscape and performance challenges that their legacy hardware cannot address."

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Back when the iPhone SE was still a thing, it was well understood that "SE" stood for "Special Edition," but applying that logic to the iPhone 16e, which Apple announced on February 19, makes no sense. That would make it the "iPhone 16 Edition".

That "e," though, must stand for something.

Apple isn't talking about it. Trust me, I asked. However, a little research reveals that Apple has used the "e" a couple of times before. There was 2002's eMac, where "e" stood for "education." Such a nomenclature made the product's intention clear. Apple wanted schools to adopt this cheaper, boxy, candy-colored computer. I don't think they were very successful.

Twenty years before that, Apple sold the Apple IIe, where the "e" on its second-generation and rather popular personal desktop PC stood for "Enhanced."

As far as I can tell, those are the only other times Apple applied an "e" to a product name. However, the iPhone 16e is neither an "education" smartphone nor exactly an "enhanced" model.

There are other ideas that I think, upon reflection, make some sense, but first, we have to step back and ask why this new 5G, 128GB, 6.1-inch super Retina XDR-sporting phone is not called the iPhone SE 4.

What does 'e' mean to you?

Clearly, with its wealth of updates, including a more powerful rear camera (48MP fusion), the A18 chip that supports Apple Intelligence, Face ID, wireless charging, and the Action Button, this is nothing like any SE model. It has far more in common with all the other iPhone 16 models. The notch, instead of a Dynamic Island, is odd and feels like a throwback but otherwise, the iPhone 16e feels like part of the new family.

But those differences, like the notch, lack of MagSafe support, and the missing Camera Control, also make it distinctive.

Perhaps you'd accept that some of those missing attributes might not be core to the iPhone 16 experience (is the Camera Control necessary?) and, on balance, you might consider this $599 phone "exciting" because it's comparatively affordable while still providing the "essential" iPhone 16 "experience".

I think you get where I'm going. If I had to guess, I'd say that Apple is being a little "enigmatic" and using a handful of "e" words to define this model. That's not necessarily a bad thing since it means the "e" in iPhone 16e can mean what you want it to mean.

I do think Apple missed an opportunity here. This is the first and only iPhone 16 with the new C1 cellular modem. The introduction of this piece of Apple Silicon is a huge deal and kind of makes the new phone special or "Special." Why Apple didn't name this the iPhone 16s is beyond me.

This might not have been the answer you were looking for, but I think it's the one we've got. I hope everyone is okay with that.

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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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, February 19 (game #1122).

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 #1123) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1123) - 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 0.

Quordle today (game #1123) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1123) - 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 #1123) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• H

• D

• F

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1123) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1123, are…

• HASTY
• DRAPE
• FICUS
• CRAZE

I don’t feel that bad about being defeated by today’s puzzle. I still got three very difficult words – one of which included Z. Plus, I got myself in a bind with a letter combination that led to several incorrect guesses I chose ahead of CRAZE.

But mainly I don't feel bad because I have never heard of the word FICUS (a genus of tropical trees, of course) and would only have got it by chancing it, like we all do sometimes in Scrabble hoping that the random letters we’ve put down are in the dictionary.

Onwards and upwards.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1123) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1123, are…

• CUMIN
• SCENE
• GUEST
• GRAPH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1122, Wednesday 19 February: ABATE, TROVE, VENUE, DRAPE
• Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT
• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM
• Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY
• Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY
• Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW
• Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK
• Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY
• 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

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, February 19 (game #353).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Together for the present

NYT Strands today (game #354) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• FIVE
• TIED
• NEST
• THAN 
• THEN
• DONE

NYT Strands today (game #354) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Wedding date celebrations

NYT Strands today (game #354) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 1st column

Last side: top, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #354) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #354, are…

• DIAMOND
• GOLD
• FIRST
• PAPER
• FIFTIETH
• SIXTIETH
• SPANGRAM: ANNIVERSARY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Just to wrap up these pairs, PAPER is your FIRST ANNIVERSARY, GOLD your FIFTIETH, and DIAMOND the SIXTIETH.

With people getting married later in life, it feels as if there should be celebrations of wedding anniversaries before you toast 50 years together, especially as you’re less likely to want a party by the time you get to that stage. I propose we go big on Tin – which marks 10 years since your wedding day. It’s also a lot more affordable than getting someone a gold or diamond gift.

Come on Hallmark, let's make this happen. All in on Tin.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 19 February, game #353)

• ELDER
• STRAW
• HUCKLE
• BLUE
• RASP
• SALMON
• GOLDEN
• BLACK
• SPANGRAM: BERRIES

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.

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, February 19 (game #619).

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 #620) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ROOSTER
• UMBRELLA
• SLEEP
• STAR
• SOS
• SUNRISE
• STAY
• FLARE
• CIRCLE
• BUNK
• SIGNAL
• DEW
• ALARM
• TRIANGLE
• WORM
• CRASH

NYT Connections today (game #620) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Something you’d sound
• GREEN: Sleepover
• BLUE: First thing in the AM 
• PURPLE: No. 456 picked the hardest

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 #620) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ALERT 
• GREEN: SPEND THE NIGHT (AT) 
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY MORNING 
• PURPLE: COOKIE CUTTER SHAPES IN "SQUID GAME" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #620) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #620, are…

• YELLOW: ALERT ALARM, FLARE, SIGNAL, SOS
• GREEN: SPEND THE NIGHT (AT) BUNK, CRASH, SLEEP, STAY
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY MORNING DEW, ROOSTER, SUNRISE, WORM
• PURPLE: COOKIE CUTTER SHAPES IN "SQUID GAME" CIRCLE, STAR, TRIANGLE, UMBRELLA

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

I made one mistake today, initially thinking that there was a group that was about ways to wake up. I rashly selected ROOSTER, ALARM, SIGNAL and FLARE before coming to my senses.

Getting the Purple group – COOKIE CUTTER SHAPES IN "SQUID GAME – largely depended on whether you have seen the Netflix series or not, although I guess they're all shapes that might go together anyway. Well, other than UMBRELLA, obviously, which rather complicated things. Still, that aside this was not too tough.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 19 February, game #619)

• YELLOW: STRUCTURES BY THE SHORE BOARDWALK, DOCK, LIGHTHOUSE, WHARF
• GREEN: SMALL IMPERFECTION DENT, DING, NICK, SCRATCH
• BLUE: SOUNDS A CUCKOO CLOCK MAKES CHIME, CUCKOO, TICK, TOCK
• PURPLE: _ TAIL COCK, MOCK, PIG, PONY

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.

• Meta Connect is coming on September 17 and 18
• The first-ever LlamaCon is coming on April 29, 2025
• Meta is teasing big AI and XR announcements for these events

Meta has announced the dates of its next two events: LamaCon and Meta Connect; in doing so it has potentially told us precisely when we’ll see its next-gen AI glasses, and maybe a sneak peek at what XR tech it has up its sleeve.

Starting with LamaCon as that’s coming up first – on April 29, 2025 – here Meta says it will share updates on its open-source AI collection Llama. This developer conference will seemingly focus more on back-end tools rather than consumer-facing products. However, these tools could be used to create some impressive AI software down the line.

Then there’s Meta Connect 2025, which is scheduled for September 17 and 18. That’s just under seven months away which is a lot more notice than we’re used to for tech events – look at Apple which gave us about a week’s notice for its February 19 event (where it announced the iPhone 16e). Connect, as always, will feature VR, MR, and AI hardware announcements – such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses – either as products we'll get our hands on soon or tech that’s coming down the line but is still at the in-development stage.

Meta is remaining tight-lipped on specifics for either event but says it’ll be back with updates in the coming months. I’m pretty sure we already have a good idea of what Meta Connect 2025 will have in store for us based on leaks.

What we expect to see at Meta Connect 2025

(Image credit: Meta)

Meta made sure to specifically call out AI glasses in its announcement, and we’re expecting Meta Connect 2025 is where it will launch at least two new products. The first is Oakley versions of its existing Ray-Ban meta smart glasses; they’ll shift the camera from the edge to the nose bridge in the center, and they’ll reportedly be aimed at athletes and cyclists – which could include some AI-powered fitness tools.

The other launch could be next-gen Ray-Ban specs with a display. This single in-lens screen could let a wearer see phone notifications, a preview of images they capture, and other useful info, allowing the Ray-Ban smart specs to communicate with you visually rather than just relying on audio or your phone screen.

Lastly on the AI glasses front I’m predicting the arrival of Meta’s ‘smartwatch’ which is likely just a simple band that allows your specs to pick up hand gesture controls – which we’ve seen a version of for the Meta Orion AR glasses. We’ve heard rumors Meta is working on such a band and has been trying to decide if it should launch it alongside the next-gen Ray-Bans. I’m leaning towards the band dropping later this year, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s held back until Meta’s proper AR specs.

The old Meta Quest Pro (Image credit: Meta)

AR glasses aren’t likely – based on leaks, consumer versions of Orion aren’t expected before 2027 – however, I think we have a shot at seeing at least two XR devices.

The first is from Asus in a VR headset codenamed ‘Tarius.’ While it isn’t Meta-made it will boast Meta Horizon OS software – Meta’s operating system which currently only powers Quest devices. Meta has said Asus is working on a Horizon OS device, leaks have started to appear this year for it (hinting that a launch could be approaching), and Meta says in its Connect date announcement that the show will include “the latest and greatest Meta Horizon updates” – it doesn’t get much greater than the platform’s first-ever third-party VR headset. Not much is known about Tarius but leaks tease a high-end gaming headset with top-notch displays.

Finally, I think Meta’s ‘one more thing’ at Connect 2025 will be the Meta Quest Pro 2. But much like the original Pro I think we’ll only be getting a teaser of a device we won’t see properly until Meta Connect 2026. While the Quest Pro was ultimately a flop, and rumors have suggested its sequel has been canned twice (or, specifically, that prototypes that were intended to become the Quest Pro 2 both got scrapped) a third attempt is in the works as a showcase of high-end mixed reality glasses. If that's the case then the Quest Pro 2 could be a super intriguing and unique MR headset – but as with all leaks and predictions we won’t know what Meta has in store for Connect 2025 until its keynote (which usually takes place at the start of the first day, so September 17, 2025).

Whatever announcements Meta makes we’ll be here and ready to cover them.

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• A data breach has apparently hit the US Coast Guard
• The paychecks of over a thousand employees have been affected
• The Coast Guard is investigating the incident

A data breach has affected the personnel and payroll systems of the US Coast Guard, and has impacted member pay, and forced the agency to to take systems offline to prevent further intrusion until “at least February 19th, 2025”.

The Coast Guard told Cybernews researchers it is, “investigating the breach of data within its personnel and payroll system, which has impacted the timeliness of bi-weekly pay to 1,135 members.”

The sensitive financial information of service members was reportedly exposed in the hack, meaning they could be at risk of fraud or identity theft - so it could be dangerous for anyone exposed, here’s what we know so far.

Compromised accounts

The data breach was discovered by a junior petty officer, who alerted the agency to irregular activity on their account, and the source of the breach is yet unknown.

The full scope of the breach also hasn’t been determined yet, and the Coast Guard have confirmed it will “ensure it is resolved as soon as possible”.

“Concurrently, the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center and Pay and Personnel Center are expediting pay to any impacted Coast Guard members,” the agency said, calling “the men and women of the USCG workforce our most valuable resource.”

The service’s Pay and Personnel Center, has pulled its Direct Access military pay and benefits system offline while it investigates the issue, but the spokesperson confirmed that members will be paid “as soon as possible”.

The Coast Guard spokesperson reiterated to Cybernews its members “deserve transparency into the causes and resolution of this incident” and that through the “ongoing response and investigation,” the USCG will “continue to provide timely updates to the workforce.”

In April 2024, the Coast Guard Reserve suffered a data breach which exposed the private information of thousands of individuals, including home addresses, employee identification numbers, and names.

With increased cybercriminal activity from rogue nation states across the world, it's unsurprising that critical infrastructure and government agencies are being targeted. In fact, US military and defense contractors have been increasingly attacked by Infostealer malware, with the US Army, Navy, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and others all affected.

Employees at risk

Since Personally Identifiable Information was leaked as part of this breach, there is a risk for those affected. Financial information puts personnel at risk of fraud, such as false credit card claims, so employees should be sure to monitor their accounts very carefully.

With any data breach, a serious danger is the risk of identity theft for families and employees, which these plans can help with. Staying on top of your accounts and your details is the basis of it, but the plans often offer insurance, dark web monitoring, and antivirus software to keep you protected all in one place.

Besides that, social engineering attacks like phishing are a risk, because attackers can use the personal information gained from the breach to construct a specific email (usually) that references family members, websites you use, the company you work for, or another convincing scam.

These will often prompt the victim into action, like clicking a link, entering credentials, or scanning a QR code. Our advice is to never click links or scan codes you don’t 100% trust, and be very, very wary of communications you aren’t expecting.

Banks are unlikely to email or call you out of the blue, and so are the social media companies or communication platforms you use - and they won’t ask for your information either. If you receive an email from one of these you’re not sure about, look up the official email address and compare them, or call the company up to verify.

Make sure you create a strong and secure password and a unique one for all platforms which hold medical or financial information (like banks and messaging apps) - this quarantines any accounts that do suffer a data breach.

Also important, is to enable multi-factor authentication or MFA. Although this can be a bit of a hassle, it's an extra layer of security and gives you a peace of mind knowing that criminals would face an extra barrier to steal your details.

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• Sales of discs, including 4K Blu-ray, fall for another year
• There was an overall decline of 23.4% year-over-year in 2024
• Subscription streaming services, such as Netflix, grew by 25.3%

Sales of 4K Blu-ray discs (our top format choice for testing the best TVs), Blu-ray discs and DVDs declined for another year in 2024, falling below $1 billion for the first time in the US. Digital movie sales also fell during that time, adding yet more woes for Hollywood studios.

As reported by FlatpanelsHD, the sale of physical media formats fell after a 23.4% year-over-year decline, which is a record low after a peak for physical media sales of $16 billion in 2005. The 4K Blu-ray format accounts for a growing portion of the declining disc sales, though it has seen its sales decrease every year since 2018. Digital movie sales, from places such as Apple TV, fell 10.2% from the previous year.

Interestingly, figures suggest that the home entertainment market is actually growing, up 25.3% from the previous year. That includes revenue from the best streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus and more. At $57.17 billion, it is seven times larger than the US theatrical box office.

This news comes after a year of ups and downs for physical media in 2024, which saw Best Buy and Disney decide to cease selling and distribution of discs, only to be followed shortly thereafter by an agreement between Sony and Disney for the former to take over physical media distribution for the latter. LG also announced it would no longer manufacture 4K Blu-ray players, while retailers such as Fred Meyers and GameStop announced plans to stock 4K Blu-rays.

Are you missing out?

4K Blu-ray remains the best way to view your favorite movies, such as David Fincher's '90s crime epic Se7en (pictured), which had a 4k Blu-ray release in January 2025. (Image credit: Future)

We here at TechRadar are fans of 4K Blu-ray as we use them to test TVs, including the best OLED TVs and even the best soundbars. That’s because playing a disc on one of the best 4K Blu-ray players lets you enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows with superior picture and sound quality compared to streaming.

When you stream from services such as Netflix in 4K, the quality level is actually closer to a 1080p HD Blu-ray. The average video bit rate for a 4K Blu-ray is 128mbps, whereas 4K streaming averages 18mbps, maxing out at 40mbps on services like Apple TV. When I tested Blu-ray vs streaming, however, the impact was felt most with audio: streaming services compress Dolby Atmos soundtracks, whereas the uncompressed version present on Blu-rays sounds much clearer and more powerful.

Another issue with streaming services is that you don’t ‘own’ the movies and TV shows they carry. I’ve consistently found examples of movies I enjoy migrating from one streaming service to another (usually ones I don’t subscribe to) or disappearing altogether. It’s an incredibly frustrating situation that doesn’t happen if you own a physical copy.

The last year was a rollercoaster for 4K Blu-ray and this doom-and-gloom news of falling sales hasn’t got 2025 off to the best start, but I still remain hopeful for 2025. Our readers have shown strong interest in 4K Blu-ray, so much so that we’ve launched a monthly roundup of some of the best 4K Blu-ray releases named the ‘Blu-ray Bounty’, with our latest edition from January 2025 available to read at the link.

For anyone fed up with rising streaming prices, or maybe looking to dip their toe into the world of serious home theater, 4K Blu-ray is an excellent option. If you’re only focused on streaming, you’re missing out on the wonderful world of 4K Bu-ray.

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• Wicked Part One has finally conjured up a streaming release date on Peacock
• The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring musical movie will arrive on March 21
• That means fans of the hit film won't be able to watch it at home before the 2025 Oscars

Get ready to sing your lungs out, everyone, because Wicked has finally landed a streaming release date.

That's right, Universal Pictures' hit film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical of the same name is set to be released on Peacock in the US next month. Indeed, it'll make its streaming debut on the NBCUniversal-owned service on Friday, March 21. At the time of this article's publication, that's just over a month from now.

Holding space for March 21. #WickedMovie will be streaming exclusively on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/xvlWvhmPQtFebruary 19, 2025

That's the good news. The bad news is that Wicked – or, to give its full title, Wicked: Part One – won't be available to watch at home before this year's Academy Awards ceremony. The 2025 Oscars are set to take place on Sunday, March 3, meaning almost three weeks will have passed before one of 2024's best movies is released on one of the world's best streaming services. If you were hoping to catch the multi-Oscar contender before the glitziest event of the year, then, you're bound to be disappointed.

In some ways, it makes sense that Wicked wouldn't be available to stream on Peacock before the 97th Academy Awards take place. Wicked has been nominated for 10 Oscars following its November 2024 theatrical debut, and I'd be very surprised if its cast and crew don't walk away with a few gongs on the night. There'll be more than a few fans who'll want to check it out on Peacock if (or, rather, when) it's won an award or four. That said, the timing of its streaming debut is a bit strange. Interest in Wicked is likely to be at its highest in the week before and after the 2025 Oscars. To me, then, it would be more logical for it to be released on Peacock on February 24 or March 4.

Anyway, if you're interested in watching any of this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees from the comfort of your own home, check out our guide on where to stream The Substance, Conclave, Anora, The Brutalist, and Wicked's other Academy Award competitors.

Where can I stream Wicked in the UK and Australia?

UK and Australian viewers will need to rent or buy Wicked from a digital store if they want to stream it (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Unfortunately, there's no word on when Wicked will be available to stream for 'free' – that is, by way of owning a subscription to a streaming platform – on British or Australian shores. The only way you can currently watch it at home is by renting or buying it from online retailers, such as Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft, and Sky.

If you're planning on doing so, you'll need to be quick. The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring movie won't be around for much longer on Amazon and Sky in the UK. As of this article's publication, it's leaving these platforms in three days so, if you're reading this after February 22, you'll be out of luck. Australian audiences only have five days to rent or buy it on Amazon down under, too, so you've got until February 24 to see what all of the fuss is about.

Thankfully, it seems that the Apple and Microsoft stores will still allow you to purchase Wicked permanently or temporarily. Anyone who wants to belt out 'Defying Gravity' from their couch between now and March 3, then, will be able to do so. Just don't be surprised if you get a knock at the door from your slightly annoyed neighbor if you do!

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• Apple has announced the new iPhone 16e
• The iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus have been discontinued
• The iPhone 16e is available to preorder on February 21

Apple has announced the iPhone 16e, a cheaper addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that we previously suspected would be known as the fourth-generation iPhone SE. We're still covering the iPhone 16e announcement live as Apple reveals more details.

The new iPhone 16e packs the A18 chipset, 48MP Fusion camera, and Apple Intelligence compatibility of the mainline iPhone 16 into a chassis modeled after the iPhone 14.

However, the announcement of the new mid-range iPhone has in fact signaled the end of the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 product lines altogether.

It seems that the iPhone 16e is a direct replacement for the iPhone SE – the SE’s product page is still accessible for now, but there’s no option to buy the phone anymore.

With the iPhone 16e available to preorder on February 21, and shipping on February 28, it makes sense that Apple would stop sales of the iPhone SE to push customers towards the new iPhone 16e.

The third-generation iPhone SE was modeled after the iPhone 8 and carried the internals of the iPhone 13 – so from an aesthetic and performance point of view, it was getting a little long in the tooth.

Not just a 14 with a new name

As mentioned, the iPhone 16e can be seen as a spiritual successor to the iPhone SE, though it is much more expensive at a starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 compared to the third-gen iPhone SE at $429 / £429 / AU$719.

The situation with the iPhone 14 is a little more complex. Until today, Apple had the baseline iPhone 14 on sale for the same price the iPhone 16e launches at: $599 / £599 / AU$999.

However, the iPhone 16e’s A18 chipset, 48MP main camera, and Apple Intelligence support effectively make the iPhone 14 redundant, as the iPhone 14 doesn’t have any of these features. Both phones have the same notched 6.1-inch display and the same dimensions. The only thing the iPhone 16e misses out on that the iPhone 14 has is a secondary ultra-wide camera.

Apple has never concurrently sold two iPhones at the same starting price, so the new iPhone 16e has taken the iPhone 14’s spot in the lineup.

Finally, today brings bad luck for anyone looking to pick up a cheap big iPhone – the iPhone 14 Plus has been discontinued along with its smaller sibling.

Your cheapest option for a 6.7-inch iPhone is now the iPhone 15 Plus, which remains on sale for $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.

We'll be testing the iPhone 16e as soon as we can to see if it ranks among the best iPhones.

What do you make of these changes? Will you miss the iPhone SE or iPhone 14? Let us know in the comments below.

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It feel like it was just yesterday that I was gearing you up for everything new on Hulu in February 2025 – but that's only because the month is as short as it is. Now that a new month is upon us that means you have a new Hulu streaming schedule for March 2025.

It's always exciting to see what's in store for the best streaming services each month, and March is a particularly thrilling month for Hulu as it marks the long overdue release of Sean Baker's Oscar-nominated Anora (2024) on streaming. This new movie comes just in time for the 2025 Oscars (that will be live streaming on Hulu on March 2), which will be accompanied by previous Oscar-winning flicks such as The Social Network and, a personal favorite of mine, Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance (2014).

There's no hiding that Anora is the movie I have my eye on out of all the new titles coming to Hulu in March 2025, and there's an open spot in our list of best Hulu movies waiting patiently for Anora to fill. Which movies and shows are you going to dig into to kickstart the transition into a month?

Everything new on Hulu in March 2025

Arriving on March 1

Akeelah And The Bee (movie)
Alien (movie)
Alien 3 (movie)
Alien Resurrection (movie)
Alien Vs. Predator (movie)
Alien: Covenant (movie)
Aliens (movie)
Aliens Vs. Predator – Requiem (movie)
The Amateur (movie)
American Hustle En Español (movie)
American Hustle (movie)
The Angry Birds Movie (movie)
Anger Management (movie)
Big (movie)
Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) (movie)
Bohemian Rhapsody (movie)
Brooklyn (movie)
Couples Retreat (movie)
Crazy Heart (movie)
Dangerous Beauty (movie)
Firehouse Dog (movie)
Good Will Hunting (movie)
High Fidelity (movie)
Jojo Rabbit (movie)
L.A. Confidential (movie)
The Last King Of Scotland (movie)
The Legend of Zorro (movie)
Life Of Pi (movie)
Lincoln (movie)
My Cousin Vinny (movie)
The Other Guys (movie)
The Other Guys En Español (movie)
Pacific Rim: Uprising (movie)
Predator (movie)
Predator 2 (movie)
Predators (movie)
The Predator (movie)
The Princess Bride (movie)
Prometheus (movie)
Pulp Fiction (movie)
Sideways (movie)
The Social Network (movie)
The Wrestler (movie)
Think Like A Man Too En Español (movie)
Think Like a Man Too (movie)
The Truman Show (movie)
3:10 to Yuma (movie)
True Grit (movie)
The Ugly Truth En Español (movie)
The Ugly Truth (movie)
Unbreakable (movie)
Wadjda (movie)
War Horse (movie)
Welcome To The Rileys (movie)
Whatever Works En Español (movie)
Whatever Works (movie)
Wild Target (movie)

Arriving on March 2

The Oscars
Love Again (movie)
Love Again En Español (movie)

Arriving on March 3

Sensory Overload (movie)

Arriving on March 4

The Gutter (movie)

Arriving on March 6

Deli Boys season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on March 7

The Banger Sisters (movie)
Classified (movie)
Confessions Of A Shopaholic (movie)
Hellboy: The Crooked Man (movie)
The Inner Portrait (movie)
Notes On A Scandal (movie)

Arriving on March 8

Babylon (movie)
Babylon En Español (movie)

Arriving on March 10

American Idol season 8 Premiere (TV show)
The $100,000 Pyramid season 8 Premiere (TV show)
The Benefactor (movie)
Ca$h (movie)
Hesher (movie)

Arriving on March 11

Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna (documentary)
New Life (movie)

Arriving on March 12

Murai In Love season 1 (TV show)
Am I Being Unreasonable? season 2 (TV show)
The Conners seasons 1-5 (TV show)

Arriving on March 13

Control Freak (movie)
After the First 48 season 9B (TV show)
American Godfathers: The Five Families season 1 (TV show)
Brigham Young: Architect Of Faith season 1 (TV show)
Lifetime Presents Women Making History season 1 (TV show)
Parents Gone Wild season 1 (TV show)
Pawn Stars: Best Of season 5 (TV show)
Sentenced to Life: Teen Killers season 1 (TV show)
The First 48 season 26 (TV show)
The Boston Strangler (movie)
The First 48: Critical Minutes (TV show)
Monster Hunter (movie)
Stepmom from Hell (movie)

Arriving on March 14

Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years (TV show)
Fight Club (movie)
Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (movie)
The Last Of The Mohicans (movie)
The Prestige (movie)
True Lies (movie)

Arriving on March 15

Premonition (movie)
Premonition En Español (movie)
The Roundup: No Way Out (movie)
The Roundup: Punishment (movie)

Arriving on March 17

The Sabrina Soto Show season 1 (TV show)
Anora (movie)

Arriving on March 18

Carol (movie)
Exhibiting Forgiveness (movie)

Arriving on March 19

Gannibal season 2 (TV show)
Good American Family (TV show)
Hyper Knife (TV show)
Tokyo Revengers season 2B (TV show)
Magi seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Rega Crimson season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on March 20

O’Dessa (movie)
My Strange Arrest season 2 (TV show)
Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys season 1 (TV show)
The Proof Is Out There: Alien Edition season 1 (TV show)
Rachael Ray in Tuscany season 1 (TV show)
Trapped in the Rocky Mountains (movie)

Arriving on March 21

The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy season 1 (TV show)
I’ve Somehow Gotten Stronger When I Improved My Farm-Related Skills season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on March 22

The Jesus Music (documentary)

Arriving on March 23

The Machine (movie)
The Machine En Español (movie)

Arriving on March 24

Wildflower (movie)

Arriving on March 25

Big Boys season 3 (TV show)
Dandelion (movie)

Arriving on March 26

The Conners season 6 (TV show)

Arriving on March 27

The Conners season 8 (TV show)
Alone season 11 (TV show)
Biography: WWE Legends season 4 (TV show)
Find My Country House season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on March 28

Chosen Family (movie)
The Line (movie)

Arriving on March 31

The Fable season 1 (TV show)
Alex Cross (movie)
Bachelorette (movie)

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• Reviews and benchmarks reveal the RTX 5070 Ti's position between the RTX 5080 and RTX 4070 Ti Super
• It's 20% faster than the RTX 4070 Ti Super in Cyberpunk 2077 at native 4K
• An inflated retail price may ruin its potential success in the GPU market

Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPU launch hasn't been the best, notably due to supply and scalper issues - but the RTX 5070 Ti's release is on the horizon and reviews suggest it's nearly as good as the RTX 5080, if it can be found at its retail price.

Based on multiple reviews and benchmarks, the general consensus surrounding the RTX 5070 Ti is that it's an RTX 5080 lite GPU - it utilizes the same GB203 GPU die and reports (before reviews went live) suggested its placement in between the RTX 5080 and RTX 4070 Ti Super, as highlighted by KitGuru based on 'leaked' benchmarks.

That appears to be the case: a prime example is KitGuru's benchmarks in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K on maximum graphics settings without using DLSS 4, where the RTX 5080 is 19.2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti. Sure, it sounds like a big margin, but that's excluding the use of DLSS 4 which is a huge game changer for image stability and would undoubtedly increase the average frame rate for both GPUs.

Compared to the RTX 4070 Ti Super, the RTX 5070 Ti is 20% faster in the same Cyberpunk 2077 test - with advantages like Multi Frame Generation to significantly boost frame rates with reduced ghosting compared to the RTX 4000 series model, it would knock the previous gen GPU out of the water based on this metric. However, the problem doesn't stem from how well the new Blackwell GPU performs, but rather its potential retail pricing.

You're probably not going to get it at its retail price...

Similar to the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, the RTX 5070 Ti will reportedly suffer from a limited supply. Inflated prices (for the RTX 5090 and 5080) are widespread at retailers and scalpers are also an issue - unless you're willing to throw your wallet at either of Team Green's premium GPUs, I doubt you'll find them at their retail prices.

The RTX 5070 Ti will launch tomorrow at $749, but the chances of this being the real listed price are very slim due to high demand and potentially limited availability. It's worth noting that there is no Founders Edition GPU, so you'll be left at the mercy of retailers - some retailers clearly don't care about Nvidia's embargoes since some have already received the GPU, so don't expect the $749 price to be honored.

If you own at least an RTX 4070 Ti Super, I wouldn't recommend the RTX 5070 Ti, especially because you're likely going to be overspending. However, if you're still using one of Team Green's RTX 3000 series GPUs, I'd suggest keeping an eye out for one that is hopefully at its retail price.

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• Snake Keylogger seen in more than 280 million blocked infection attempts
• The malware uses advanced obfuscation mechanics
• There are ways to defend the endpoints

Cybersecurity researchers from Fortinet have warned about a new, dangerous threat called Snake Keylogger.

This information-stealing piece of malware has been observed in more than 280 million infection attempts blocked just by Fortinet’s solutions, meaning the threat is widespread, and the threat actors are casting quite a wide net.

In its in-depth report, Fortinet says that Snake Keylogger is most prevalent in China, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Spain, but added that its widespread presence highlights it as a global threat.

Advanced evasion techniques

The malware is primarily being spread through phishing emails with malicious attachments and links, and is used to steal sensitive information from browsers such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. Furthermore, Snake Keylogger can log keystrokes, capture credentials, and monitor for clipboard activity. Finally, it uses SMTP (email) and Telegram bots to exfiltrate whatever information it steals.

What makes this malware particularly dangerous is its use of AutoIT for evasion, Fortinet further explains. By hiding malicious code within compiled AutoIT scripts, the threat actors are making static analysis difficult, and ensure that the executables make it past traditional antivirus detection solutions.

There are ways to mitigate risks, though. Fortinet says that users should be careful with incoming email messages, and should avoid opening unsolicited email attachments, or clicking on unexpected links. Furthermore, users should make sure their antivirus software is up-to-date, and should keep their other software patched up, as well.

Finally, the cybersecurity community should continue working on improving user awareness on topics such as phishing, social engineering, and identity theft.

Keyloggers and infostealers are dangerous pieces of malware since they grant attackers keys to the kingdom, which can later be used in ransomware attacks, extortion, and more. In this particular case, Fortinet did not say who built the keylogger, or if they usually target a specific industry.

Via Infosecurity Magazine

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• Bookie has been canceled at Max after two seasons
• The streaming service announced the news in a statement, but did not cite a reason for the decision
• Bookie currently has a 90% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating, so this may come as a surprise

Cancelations are never fun, and it's especially disappointing when a show is well-received by critics. With a 90% Rotten Tomatoes critical score, Bookie could be considered one of the best Max shows, but that still wasn't enough to save it from getting axed after a two season run on one of the best streaming services. So if you were hoping for more, it's unlikely to happen unless it gets picked up elsewhere.

Commenting on the decision, a Max spokesperson told Deadline: "For two seasons creators Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay and their hilarious cast, led by Sebastian Maniscalco, made us laugh while pulling back the curtain on the world of sports betting. We won’t be moving forward with a third season, but we are grateful to have worked with such a brilliant team on this laugh-out-loud comedy.”

What else has Max canceled recently?

(Image credit: HBO)

It can be frustrating when our favorite shows are unexpectedly canceled, and while Netflix remains the worst streamer for this especially as it has a habit of axing shows after a single season. We put together 9 canceled Netflix shows that you should still watch, and we're still feeling pretty upset about the fact they're gone.

Most recently, Max canceled Tokyo Vice, and fans of the highly-rated crime series weren't happy, so it suffered a similar fate to Bookie. They also canceled Raised by Wolves after two seasons, and a third has not yet happened. It's also been completely removed from the streamer so you can't even watch previous episodes there, though they can be purchased on Apple TV.

Cancelations are inevitable, and if you are a fan of Bookie, you'll just have to hope someone else takes an interest in it. If not, you can always watch old episodes unless they meet a similar fate as Raised by Wolves, which was entirely pulled from HBO Max in 2023. Let's hope not!

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• Google is adding gesture searching to its Google Lens feature
• The update is coming to the Chrome and Google apps on iOS
• The firm is also working on more AI capabilities for Lens

If you use the Chrome or Google apps on your iPhone, there’s now a new way to quickly find information based on whatever is on your screen. If it works well, it could end up saving you time and make your searches a little bit easier.

The update concerns Google Lens, which lets you search using images rather than words. Google says you can now use a gesture to select something on-screen and then search for it. You can draw around an object, for example, or tap it to select it. It works whether you’re reading an article, shopping for something new, or watching a video, as Google explains.

The best iPhones have had a similar feature for a while, but it’s always been an unofficial workaround that required using the Action button and the Shortcuts app. Now, it’s a built-in feature in some of the most popular iOS apps available.

Both the Chrome and Google apps on iOS already have Google Lens built in, but the past implementation was a little clunkier than today’s update. Before, you had to save an image or take a screenshot, and then upload it to Google Lens. That would potentially involve using multiple apps and was much more of a hassle. Now, a quick gesture is all it takes.

How to use the new Google Lens on iPhone

(Image credit: Future)

When you’re using the Chrome or Google apps, tap the three-dot menu button, then select Search Screen with Google Lens or Search this Screen, respectively. This will put a colored overlay on top of the web page you’re currently viewing.

You'll see a box at the bottom of your screen reading, “Circle or tap anywhere to search.” You can now use a gesture to select an item on-screen. Doing so will automatically search for the selected object using Google Lens.

The new gesture feature will roll out globally this week and will be available in the Chrome and Google apps on iOS. Google also confirmed it will add a new Lens icon in the app’s address bar in the future, which will give you another way to use gestures in Google Lens.

Google added that it is also leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to add new abilities to Lens. This will let it look up more novel or unique subjects, and doing so will mean Google’s AI Overviews appear more frequently in your results.

This feature will also be rolled out this week and is coming to English-language users in nations where AI Overviews are available. For now, it's set to arrive in the Google app for Android and iOS first, with Chrome desktop and mobile availability arriving later.

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• Model numbers for four Pixel 10 phones spotted
• The handsets may match the four Pixel 9 devices
• We could see a launch sometime in August 2025

The grand unveiling of the Google Pixel 9 series was back in August 2024, which means we're starting to think about the Google Pixel 10 – and a fresh leak suggests that the next Pixel flagship is indeed on the way.

Model numbers for the Google Pixel 10 handsets have been spotted by the team at Smartprix, and there are four models expected: the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

That means we'd have four new handsets to match the four we got last year (our Google Pixel 9 review will help refresh your memory). There's no mention of the Google Pixel 10a, but that phone will likely come in 2026.

These numbers come from the official database of the GSMA – that's the Global System for Mobile Communications Association, the industry body responsible for registering new devices – so it's a leak with high credibility.

The Pixel 10 story so far

A successor to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold seems likely (Image credit: Future)

We haven't heard much about the Google Pixel 10 handsets up to this point, although codenames for the four phones did leak back in September – though the leak didn't really reveal much in terms of design or spec upgrades.

Another leak has suggested that the Pixel 10 will come with a Tensor G5 CPU fitted and offer some photo and video upgrades in the form of AI-assisted tools that help you edit your snaps and clips and even generate new content from scratch.

We might also get a redesign along with the Pixel 10 if recent Pixel 9a leaks are anything to go by. It seems Google is thinking about ditching the iconic Pixel camera bar on the mid-ranger, which is something that may happen with the Pixel 10, too.

From what we've heard so far, it seems we could get the Google Pixel 9a as early as March. That would then fit with an August 2025 launch for the Pixel 10 series, at which point Android 16 should also be available (at least for Pixel phones).

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• Researchers from Proofpoint observE two groups engaging in "fake update" attacks
• The groups have their separate assignments against macOS devices
• The goal is to distribute FrigidStealer, a new infostealer malware

Cybercriminals are using fake macOS updates to distribute a new piece of malware called FrigidStealer, new research has claimed.

Cybersecurity researchers Proofpoint recently observed two new threat actors distributing the malware, tracked as TA2726 and TA2727, working together on different parts of the same campaign to get macOS users to install FrigidStealer.

They opted for the “fake update” distribution method, where victims would visit a compromised website which would serve a popup. That popup would warn users that they needed to update either their Macs, or their browsers, in order to view the contents of the website.

Targeting Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android

Instead of an actual update, the victims would download and run the installer for the FrigidStealer malware, which did what infostealers usually do - it steals information, including browser cookies, files containing passwords or cryptocurrency-related data, files from Apple Notes, and similar.

Stolen data is stored in the user's home directory before being sent to the attacker’s command and control (C2) server: askforupdate[.]org.

Proofpoint says that the malware is distributed by TA2727, a financially motivated cybercriminal group. TA2726, on the other hand, acts as a Traffic Distribution System (TDS) operator, redirecting web traffic to TA2727’s payloads.

The majority of the targets seem to be located in North America and Europe, and besides FrigidStealer, the crooks are also using Lumma Stealer and DeerStealer for Windows targets, and Marcher Banking Trojan for Android users.

Fake update attacks are nothing new, they’ve been around for years. The SocGholish malware campaign, attributed to the threat actor TA569, is recognized as one of the most prolific users of these attacks. Active since at least April 2018, SocGholish employs malicious JavaScript injected into compromised websites to present visitors with deceptive prompts for software updates, such as fake browser or Flash Player updates.

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Italy is set to require VPN and DNS providers to block access to pirated content within 30 minutes – whether that's a football match or any other live event, on-demand movies and TV series included.

The country's communication regulator AGCOM approved the new anti-piracy measures on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in a major boost to the existing anti-piracy system. Italy enforced the so-called Piracy Shield early last year specifically to fight against live sports piracy mostly via IP blocking.

The news comes as French streaming giant Canal+ is considering blocking VPN usage to prevent citizens from circumventing the country's anti-piracy tactics. Some of the best VPN providers on the market, however, are arguing that targeting their services risks undermining people's internet freedom rather than solving online piracy.

What is Italy's Piracy Shield?

Italy enforced its Piracy Shield system in February 2024 to prevent citizens from accessing live sports events through pirate sites, especially football matches. To do so, rightsholders can demand piracy-related domain names and IP addresses suspected of copyright infringement are blocked within 30 minutes.

While the Italian anti-piracy system has proven effective so far, tech companies have been raising concerns with EU authorities about multiple overblocking incidents.

Yet, industry criticism wasn't enough to stop AGCOM's mission. The country's communication regulator now wants to expand the reach of its Piracy Shield system even further to tackle the piracy plague affecting the movie and audiovisual industries.

As the AGCOM commissioner, Massimiliano Capitanio wrote in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday: "With the resolution voted today, the fight against piracy takes another step forward."

(Image credit: Future) Online piracy and VPNs

Among the new AGCOM measures, "extending the blocking order to VPNs" is surely the one set to create the most discussions.

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts all internet connections and spoofs the users' real IP address. While most people use VPNs in Italy and beyond to boost their online privacy, their IP-spoofing abilities also enable users to bypass anti-piracy restrictions.

This is exactly why French rightsholders have presented the likes of ProtonVPN, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfhsark, and CyberGhost with legal action, seeking to block VPN access to people looking to infringe the country's copyright laws.

The targeted VPN firms plan to fight back against France's streaming giant's request, deeming the lawsuit "illogical" and warning this would have "sweeping consequences" for the internet security and privacy of people in France.

On its side, Italy has not shared how the VPN providers are expected to meet the new requirements. Nor it is clear if this would be technically feasible for companies operating no-log VPNs, which cannot supposedly see what users are doing when connected to their service.

We have contacted some of the most popular VPN providers asking for comments and will update the page accordingly.