TechRadar News

• A massive DDoS attack was recently detected during a major NHL event
• Attack grew from 67Gbps to nearly 1Tbps in twenty minutes
• Multivector strike used UDP, SYN, IP, and TCP flood techniques

Cybersecurity firm Qrator Labs has claimed it successfully mitigated the largest DDoS attack so far recorded in 2025.

The April 3 attack targeted an unnamed online betting organization, lasting around 90 minutes, starting at 11:15 with a surge of 67Gbps, before escalating sharply to 217Gbps by 11:23, and peaked just short of 1Tbps at 965Gbps by 11:36.

Activity then slowly decreased to 549Gbps by 12:41, with the attack ending shortly afterwards. The DDoS attack was multivector in nature, featuring a peak of 965Gbps in UDP flood, 229Gbps in SYN flood, 214Gbps in IP flood, and 169Gbps in TCP flood.

Sporting events are major targets

Qrator notes that the attack happened on the same day that NHL star Alexander Ovechkin scored his 892nd goal, tying Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record. Ovechkin’s achievement was likely the trigger for the attack as the online betting sector is especially vulnerable during major sporting events.

A similar attack pattern was spotted during the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, held in Germany, where spikes in DDoS activity also targeted online betting sites.

“This new incident is a clear reminder that major industry-specific events can be exploited by malicious actors. Companies that work with them, such as online betting platforms, must prepare in advance to defend their digital infrastructure when attention is at its peak,” said Andrey Leskin, Chief Technology Officer at Qrator Labs.

With major sporting moments drawing massive audiences online, betting platforms continue to be a prime target for coordinated attacks such as this one.

Other noteworthy sporting events set to take place this year, which could prove to be a target for similar DDoS strikes, include the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

You might also like

• This is the best DDoS protection available right now
• DDoS attacks are becoming a critical tool in geopolitical battles
• The largest ever DDoS attack has just been blocked - here's how it was done

• Google says UWB for Find My Device is coming soon
• There's been a 4x speed increase since last year
• Testing by The Verge shows some problems with coverage

Google gave the Android Find My Device network a significant upgrade last year, with improved support for third-party trackers and offline location access, and it sounds like another important update is almost here.

Speaking to The Verge, Android product manager Angela Hsiao said that support for ultra wide-band (UWB) technology would be coming "very soon" to Find My Device, which essentially enables a much more precise form of tracking.

If you're using a UWB-enabled device to locate another UWB-enabled device – so searching for an AirTag with an iPhone, in the Apple ecosystem – you get guided almost exactly to the right spot. You'll know the lost gadget is behind the sofa, not just somewhere inside your house, for example.

Earlier this month, signs hidden in the code for Find My Device suggested that UWB might soon be supported, and it seems that a launch is now imminent. We know Google I/O 2025 gets underway on May 20, and we may hear more about UWB then.

The need for speed

Google hasn't yet launched its own AirTag equivalent (Image credit: Future)

The Verge also ran some pretty comprehensive tests of the current state of the Find My Device network. Google's tech seems to perform as well as the Apple equivalent now, but only in busy areas with a lot of activity (and passing gadgets to locate lost items).

In more remote areas, the coverage and tracking time seems less than optimal, though it varies depending on the tracker used and the specific scenario. Bear in mind that Google doesn't yet have its own-brand version of the Apple AirTags, though the rumors are that some might be in the works.

Based on Google's internal testing, Hsiao says, the network is able to locate items around four times faster than it could when the major 2024 upgrade was rolled out – so it's getting better, even if it's not quite caught up to Apple yet.

For UWB to work, you also need a phone with the technology when you're looking for something, but a lot of the best Android phones now come with the technology on board (including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro).

You might also like

• Android's Find My Device can now let you track your friends
• This Find My exploit lets hackers track any Bluetooth device
• AirTag 2 upgrade could bring significant improvements

• Managers say AI boosts output, but they are still worried it could spark unrest among anxious workers
• More bosses think humans are irreplaceable, but AI might still change their pay
• Fear of AI hasn’t faded, even as daily use of the tech slightly declines

AI has shifted from a novelty to a mainstay in many workplaces, but its rise continues to stir concern among employees, new research has claimed.

A survey of 3,000 managers by Beautiful.ai revealed while managers generally see AI tools as a useful asset, most workers remain uneasy about their implications.

According to the survey, nearly two-thirds (64%) of managers believe their employees fear AI will make them less valuable, and 58% say staff are worried these tools could eventually cost them their jobs.

Human jobs appear secure, but only to an extent

Despite these concerns, workers may take some comfort in knowing that managers are becoming more cautious about replacing people with machines. Compared to last year, 15% more managers (now at 54%) oppose the idea of using AI to replace workers.

Only 23% believe that replacing workers with AI would benefit their company, while 63% feel their teams wouldn't function properly without human roles.

However, the tension around AI goes beyond potential job loss. Managers cited “fear of the unknown” and employee resistance as key challenges when introducing AI tools.

There is still cause for concern, as AI continues to evolve. 71% of managers said AI performs on par with, or better than, a novice manager. Even so, most believe AI excels at tedious or repetitive tasks but still falls short when it comes to high-level decision-making.

Managers primarily use AI to boost productivity and improve efficiency. For example, many of the best HR software and recruitment platforms now integrate AI features to help streamline hiring and internal processes, without fully replacing human judgment.

That said, salary remains a sensitive issue. While fears of AI-driven pay cuts have eased slightly, 41% of managers still see AI as a threat to wages. Increased efficiency could mean fewer roles or broader responsibilities for individuals, potentially lowering pay for others. In some cases, AI-assisted tasks may also be valued less.

While most human roles appear safe for now, the nature of work may change as AI becomes more embedded in daily operations.

You may also like

• These are the best AI website builders around
• UK businesses say that fear of missing out is driving AI adoption
• How can AI help deliver on the circular economy?

Finding a good outdoor projector for summer parties can be challenging. Bright sunlight can really hamper picture quality when viewing outdoors during the day, and while some projectors can handle the outdoors in the evening, the picture can still look a little washed out as it’s never truly pitch black outside.

What can help with this? Super-high brightness, of course. So, when Anker announced its new 3,500 ANSI lumens Nebula X1 portable 4K projector, which it touts as an ‘outdoor projector’, it caught my interest. Not only because Anker has produced some of the best portable projectors, but because its predecessor, the Anker Nebula Mars 3, is a solid outdoor projector, though comparatively dim with its 1,000 lumens rated brightness.

Another thing that caught my attention was the Nebula X1’s bespoke, wireless speakers (part of its optional accessory kit), which promise a more immersive audio experience than what we’re used to getting from the best projectors. With summer approaching here in the UK, I was glad to get a chance to see the Nebula X1 in person.

A bold, bright image

The Anker Nebula X1 displayed a bright image throughout my demo. (Image credit: Future)

I caught a demo of the Nebula X1 in a screening room in London’s Soho Hotel. While the demo itself was short, it was clear that the projector’s 3,500 ANSI lumens made a difference in the demo video, primarily showing forests, natural landscapes and animals.

The greens of the trees and forest looked punchy and vivid, and the contrast was surprisingly powerful, giving the trees greater perceived depth. The balance of light and dark between a leopard’s yellow fur and black spots created the same sense of depth. The picture was crisp with the right level of sharpness, making textures look mostly natural.

Although we didn’t get to see the Nebula X1 outside or with Dolby Vision HDR content (which the Nebula X1 supports), it was still clear that the projector would do a decent job in brighter viewing conditions.

Wireless speakers add more

Despite their small size, the Nebula X1's wireless speakers sounded clear and immersive. (Image credit: Future)

While the Nebula X1 can be used with the best soundbars, the company developed wireless speakers to pair with it. The speakers, each of which contains a 40W amp plus up and side-firing drivers powered by 2 x 20W, create a 4.1.2-channel surround sound system with the X1 itself serving as a subwoofer. This was demoed at the event with a Dolby Atmos video.

The sound was immediately surprising. I was sitting a few rows up and back from the projector and speakers, and even then, surround effects such as a chirping bird in a jungle and heavy rainfall seemed to come from behind and above me. There was a solid sense of bass in the soundtrack’s rumbling thunder as well. Finally, the system sounded clear regardless of what was played through it, adding another layer to the Nebula X1 experience.

The speakers themselves are small and extremely portable, which made the sound they produced during the demo all the more surprising. These could be a game-changer for those looking to up the quality level of their outdoor movie nights.

The party projector to beat, but at a cost

The Anker Nebula X1 comes with microphones aimed at karaoke. (Image credit: Future)

A pair of wireless microphones is included in the X1’s accessory bundle, one of which was used to give the presentation I attended. Their real purpose, however, is for karaoke, adding to the projector’s summer party vibe.

Of course, the X1 is not just all about outdoors and summer parties (which come later in the year for our Australian readers). From what I briefly saw and from what I’ve come to expect from Anker’s projectors, it will still make a great addition to a home theater setup.

(Image credit: Future)

Cost is something to consider here, however. The Nebula X1 is by no means cheap for a portable projector, launching at $2,999 / £2,199 (roughly AU$4,695) for the projector itself and $999 / £499 (roughly AU$1,564) for the accessory bundle, meaning you’ll be paying $3,998 / £2,698 (roughly AU$6,260) in total for the full package. (There is a package offer for $3,298 in the US until June 20th, one month after the X1’s May 20th launch date.)

That makes the X1 a pricey ‘portable’ projector, one that’s in line with the Hisense PX3 Pro ultra-short-throw (UST) projector, and even a top-end OLED TV in a 65-inch screen size. But the X1’s optional speakers, and features such as Dolby Vision HDR support, almost put it in its own category.

While we haven’t fully reviewed the X1, based on my first impressions, it could be an excellent all-around projector for outdoor parties and indoor movie nights. We’ll have to see how it fares when we get one in and put it through our usual tests.

You might also like

• Best 4K projectors - 4K projectors we've rated highly
• I tested the Dangbei Atom, and it's a bright, smart portable projector that's overshadowed by LG and Samsung
• This cheap new outdoor projector screen looks like a smart companion for portable projectors – get 70 inches of entertainment anywhere

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #1189).

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 #1190) - 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 #1190) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #1190) - 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 #1190) - 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 #1190) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• J

• A

• F

• B

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

Quordle today (game #1190) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1190, are…

• JAUNT
• ALLOW
• FRUIT
• BURNT

I gambled that today’s first word began with a rare appearance by the letter J for JAUNT rather than a common or garden letter T for TAUNT. From here, R-U letter combinations speeded me up, leading to FRUIT and BURNT.

The final word came to me by sounding out the letters I had (A-L-O) – resulting in ALLOW. No errors after my start words, but far from easy.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1190) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1190, are…

• MOURN
• WHINY
• PUPAL
• TAMER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #420).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… My bad!

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BLADE
• NUMB
• DIAL
• POWER
• STEAL
• HOOPS

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 8th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #421) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #421, are…

• SPILL
• TOPPLE
• SLIP
• FALTER
• BLUNDER
• STUMBLE
• SPANGRAM: WHOOPSIE DAISY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I am such a clumsy person that if I enter a store filled with breakable objects I will immediately reverse back out. Once, fearful of my propensity towards calamity, I removed my backpack in a souvenir store and in the process it grazed against a display of lucky china cats, which cascaded to the floor, breaking about six of them.

I did not BLUNDER through today’s search, though. In fact, it was one of the easiest for a while and one of those rare editions of Strands where finding the hint words for this page was tougher than finding the answers.

The Spangram was quite a throwback, the sort of thing an elderly aunt might say. It wasn’t what came out of my mouth when I knocked over those cats and cursed myself for life.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, April 27, game #420)

• MASK
• EARPLUGS
• MELATONIN
• MEDITATION
• MOUTHGUARD
• SPANGRAM: BEDTIME

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.

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #686).

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 #687) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MOUSSE
• DRAIN
• BARE
• TIRE
• HAIR
• BORE
• TIRE MARK
• EXHAUST
• PLAIN
• SPRAY
• SPARE
• FIBER
• WAX
• SIMPLE
• FINGERPRINT
• GEL

NYT Connections today (game #687) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: For styling
• GREEN: Pared back 
• BLUE: Vital evidence
• PURPLE: Pooped

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 #687) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS 
• GREEN: AUSTERE 
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE 
• PURPLE: WEARY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #687) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #687, are…

• YELLOW: HAIR PRODUCTS GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, WAX
• GREEN: AUSTERE BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, SPARE
• BLUE: CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE FIBER, FINGERPRINT, HAIR, TIRE MARK
• PURPLE: WEARY BORE, DRAIN, EXHAUST, TIRE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking car parts could be a common thread today, with EXHAUST and TIRE leading my thinking. Instead, it was the other meaning of both those words that made up a group.

I’m staggered that I got a purple group so early in the game. Usually it’s the quartet that baffles me and that I solve last when there are no other alternatives, but today it seemed rather obvious.

CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE was trickier, but thoughts that they were all things that could identify us led me to connect this group.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, April 27, game #686)

• YELLOW: CALCULATOR BUTTONS EQUALS, MINUS, PERCENT, TIMES
• GREEN: AMOUNTS OF HAIR LOCK, SHOCK, THATCH, TUFT
• BLUE: SALTY SNACK UNIT COMBO, GOLDFISH, RUFFLE, TAKI
• PURPLE: SWEDISH ____ CHEF, FISH, MASSAGE, MEATBALL

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.

• New DJI Mavic 4 Pro image leaks have appeared
• It looks like two extra sensors could be added
• We also get a preview of the combo accessory packs

Our DJI Mavic 3 Pro review will tell you that we have been hugely impressed with the flagship consumer drone DJI launched in April, 2023 – awarding it five stars out of five – and newly leaked images give us a really good look at its 2024 successor.

These pictures come from well-known tipster @Quadro_News (via Notebookcheck), and there are a lot of them to work through. As well as seeing the drone itself from a variety of angles, we also see some of the accessories that will be available with it.

As far as the design goes, it doesn't look as though much will be changing this year. However, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with a couple of extra sensors to work alongside the LiDAR tech for better obstacle avoidance.

It looks as though the new drone will get Fly More and Creator combos as well, just like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and these additional batteries, cellular dongles, propellers and other accessories. The inclusion of ND (Neutral Density) filters suggests this tech won't be built into the drone itself, as had been previously rumored.

Earlier leaks and rumors

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro launched in April 2023 (Image credit: Future)

The DJI Mavic Pro 4 had previously been tipped to launch on April 24, and a quick glance at your calendar will tell you that didn't happen. However, it shouldn't be too long now before all of this is made official.

We've also heard that the new drone is going to be sold for $2,250 when it appears, which is just a touch higher than the $2,199 / £1,879 / AU$3,099 price of the drone it's replacing – though combo packs and accessories will of course cost you extra.

Another earlier leak gave us a good look at the triple-camera module that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is expected to come with. It also appears that the propellers are going to get some design tweaks to enable quieter operation and a longer flight time.

All in all, this seems like a pretty substantial upgrade from the 2023 version, and these latest image leaks mean we now have a much better idea of what's coming. As soon as anything is made official, we'll let you know.

You might also like

• DJI Mini 5 leak suggests beginner drone could land soon
• DJI Mavic 4 Pro leaks show it may get a redesigned camera module
• These are the best drones you can buy right now

The Steam Deck is pretty cool, isn’t it? You may be wondering where I’ve been all this time, if I’m only just finding out about the brilliance of Valve’s handheld gaming PC. The truth is that I was waiting to see what the Nintendo Switch 2 had to offer before deciding if I’d get aboard the hype train. Now, after seeing exactly what’s coming on June 5, I think I’m happy to skip Nintendo’s upcoming console.

Very briefly, a word on prices. Because while I feel the backlash is entirely valid (especially when it comes to the cost of Switch 2 games), it’s been said more than enough times already. And it’s not the main reason my interest in the new console has plummeted.

It’s more the fact that the Steam Deck is just too damn good. It also helped that I paid £249 (about $370) for it through the Certified Refurbished Steam Deck program.

There’s always a concern with buying secondhand that you'll end up with an inferior product. But, as I found with my experience of the eBay Certified Refurbished program, steps have been taken to make these products as close to as good as new as possible for buyers.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived in a plain but functional box and included a surprisingly sturdy carry case. The handheld itself looked in top condition, free of any marks, scratches, nicks, or dents that might indicate it had been used or returned. Performance has been excellent, too, well in line with what you’d expect from a new system.

My refurbished Steam Deck arrived with this useful carry case included (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

So, if you have any doubts about the quality of a Valve Certified Refurbished Steam Deck, then take my word for it – I was very impressed by the quality and condition of the handheld. I would have guessed it was a completely brand-new Steam Deck if I hadn’t known otherwise.

Decked out

Now, onto what it’s actually like to use. I’m sure fellow Deck owners will agree that it’s glorious, right? SteamOS is beautifully presented and easy to navigate, and a considerable number of games are verified and well-optimised to work on the system. Sure, you may have to make to graphical concessions here or there, but with the games I’m playing, that’s rarely an issue.

Given I now do most of my gaming on the PS5 – and my PC is still rocking an ancient GTX 1060 – I’ve been out of the loop with PC gaming for a good five years. I did miss the variety and inventiveness of many smaller games or indie darlings that never make their way to the major consoles, or don’t do so for many years down the line.

That was a huge draw of getting the Steam Deck: to play these unique, interesting and often fascinating games in reasonably good quality without needing to sit at the same desk I’d just worked at for the last eight hours.

It’s been a blast uncovering all the surprise gems of UFO 50, enjoying the explosive chaos of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, and reminding myself of the mystifying nature of the original Tomb Raider trilogy.

I've tried a whole array of games on the Steam Deck I might've otherwise missed (Image credit: Future / James Pickard)

Adding my GOG and Epic Game Store library (mostly freebies I’ve claimed over the years just because I can) has also been a breeze, but an even bigger win has been setting up PS5 Remote Play so I can stream from the console to the Deck, much like the PS Portal. That’s been a huge bonus to chip away at monumental 100+ hour RPGs that Metaphor: Refanzaio without hogging the TV from my partner every evening.

While that would’ve been possible with the PS Portal, instead of spending £200 on that dedicated piece of hardware, I can also access my entire PC games library for just £50 more.

I’ve experienced all of that in the few dozen hours I’ve had with the Steam Deck so far. I know there’s even more to look forward to when I dig even further into my back catalog to finally play some of those Steam sale impulse buys from years ago, or rediscover a classic I thought I wouldn’t return to without a gaming PC.

Switched off

I weighed all of that up with what was shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase.

There’s a new version of Mario Kart that looks perfectly fine, an unexpected but welcome outing for DK in Donkey Kong Bananza, a surprising From Software exclusive in The Duskbloods, and the long-awaited release of Metroid Prime 4.

Alongside that is a lot of excitement about an online chat feature (that also works best with an extra camera accessory), a paid-for tech demo in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and various upgrade fees to play last-gen games at a better performance level.

Will I miss not playing the latest Mario, Metroid, or Zelda? For sure. But it seems many of these games will still be playable on the old console too, even if I have to fight with my OG Switch’s pathetic battery life. And, ultimately, there’s already so much awaiting on the Steam Deck that I don’t think I’ll be missing out on too much.

• AMD may be prioritizing price over specs with the Radeon PRO W9000’s 32GB limit
• AMD Radeon Pro W9000 targets real-world professionals rather than AI-heavy data science workflows
• With a 356mm² die size, the Radeon W9000 could still punch hard in real-world tasks

AMD is set to expand its workstation GPU lineup with the imminent release of the new Radeon PRO W9000 series, built on the RDNA 4 architecture. This chip is aimed at professionals working in demanding fields such as video editing, 3D rendering, and AI development.

A leak from Hoang Anh Phu claims the lineup will include a 32GB model based on the new Navi 48 XTW architecture.

AMD is supposed to be chasing Nvidia, but the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell boasts an enormous 96GB frame buffer and 24,064 CUDA cores. This is far beyond the 32GB configuration that AMD appears to be offering, suggesting the Radeon PRO W9000 may be targeting professionals who don’t require large datasets and instead value performance per dollar, along with efficiency and affordability.

Is AMD switching its approach?

As with all unconfirmed rumors, the details should be taken with a grain of salt - but if accurate, the leak suggests a shift in how AMD prioritizes performance relative to cost. The previous-generation Radeon PRO W7900 featured 48GB of memory, so the 32GB - likely GDDR6 - is a reduction.

While the capacity is lower, the Navi 48 XTW die, measuring 356mm², is still expected to deliver performance improvements across a wide range of tasks.

It is also likely to bring benefits to CAD workloads, CGI rendering, and real-time simulations, areas where the best laptops for video editing or Photoshop also show gains.

The chip is expected to come in XL, XT, and XTX variants, each tuned for different professional needs. The XTW model is believed to feature hardware enhancements optimized for pro workflows, making it a strong option for users needing a GPU for production-grade tasks.

As Phu, a known hardware leaker, noted, “It’s not as beefy as the last generation, but pricing remains key.”

One remaining question is software support. RDNA 4 does not yet have full integration with AMD’s ROCm platform, which is critical for AI and machine learning developers.

Although final specs and an official name are still under wraps, all signs point to a strategic reveal aligned with Computex 2025 and AMD’s “Advancing AI” event in June 2025.

Via Toms Hardware

You may also like

• Check out the best 3D modeling software for 3D printing and more
• We've rounded up the best portable monitors available now
• A huge online fraud operation is hijacking WordPress sites

• Adata Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card needs a special reader for full performance
• 1,600MB/s speeds push this SD card beyond UHS and Express 7.0
• ECC error correction and durability features protect data in harsh conditions

Adata has introduced the world’s first SD 8.0 Express memory card, alongside a high-speed USB flash drive and a tool-free M.2 SSD enclosure, targeting mobile professionals and content creators who demand top-tier portable performance.

The Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card features a PCIe Gen3 x2 interface and adopts the NVMe protocol. It offers 512GB of storage and delivers read speeds of up to 1,600MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,200MB/s.

Those numbers aren’t just high for an SD card - they put it in direct competition with many of the best portable SSDs on the market. It also easily outpaces high-performance microSD cards.

Designed for 4K, RAW, multitasking

Adata says the card doubles the speed of the SD Express 7.0 standard and leaves UHS-I and UHS-II cards far behind.

The Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express card is designed for durability, offering resistance to shock, water, static, and extreme temperatures. It also features LDPC ECC error correction to safeguard data integrity.

With support for the U3 and V30 video speed classes and a 512GB capacity, the card is aimed at creators who need speed and reliability in a compact form - particularly for 4K video, RAW photography, and mobile editing workflows.

One key limitation is that the SD 8.0 Express format requires a compatible reader to unlock its full performance. Standard SD card readers won’t support its maximum throughput.

In addition to the SD card, Adata also unveiled the UE720, a USB 3.2 Gen2 flash drive delivering read and write speeds of 550MB/s and 450MB/s, respectively. It is available in capacities up to 256GB and features a compact, mobile-friendly design.

Rounding out the trio is the EC680 M.2 SSD enclosure, which offers tool-free installation and transfer rates of up to 1,050MB/s via a Type-C interface. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and modern gaming consoles.

You may also like

• These are the largest SSDs and hard drives on the market
• Here are the best cloud storage services from only $4.98/yr for 10TB
• We've also compiled a list of the best portable monitors available

• Chinese researchers have developed super-fast non volatile flash memory
• Graphene channel enables 400 picosecond write speed and persistent storage
• "PoX" device targets AI bottlenecks with low power, high speed performance

A research team in China has developed what claims is the fastest reported non-volatile semiconductor memory device to date, with a write speed of one bit every 400 picoseconds.

The unfortunately named “PoX” (Phase-change Oxide), is a two-dimensional graphene-channel flash device developed at Fudan University in Shanghai.

The team built the device using a Dirac graphene channel combined with a charge-trapping stack. It operates faster than the system-level access times typically associated with volatile memory types like SRAM and DRAM, which usually fall between 1 and 10 nanoseconds. A picosecond is one-thousandth of a nanosecond.

Paving the way for its future applications

Volatile memory like SRAM and DRAM offers high speed but loses data when power is removed. Non-volatile flash retains data without power but tends to operate at higher latencies, often in the tens of microseconds at the NAND level. This makes it less suited for low-latency workloads such as AI inference. The PoX device aims to bridge that gap by combining speed and persistent storage.

The graphene-based device uses a two-dimensional hot-carrier injection mechanism. Its thin-body structure enhances horizontal electric fields, improving carrier acceleration and injection efficiency. At 5V, it achieved write speeds of 400ps and maintained performance over 5.5 million cycles. Long-term retention tests showed data stability over a simulated 10-year period.

“By using AI algorithms to optimize process testing conditions, we have significantly advanced this innovation and paved the way for its future applications,” said Zhou Peng, lead researcher of the study.

"Our technology breakthrough is expected to not only reshape the global storage technology landscape, drive industrial upgrades, and foster new application scenarios, but also provide robust support for China to lead in relevant fields."

Liu Chunsen, also involved in the research, said the team has created a fully functional chip and now aims to integrate it into existing devices.

“The next step involves integrating it into existing smartphones and computers,” he said.

“This way, when deploying local models, we will no longer encounter bottlenecks such as lagging and heating caused by existing storage technology.”

Via Nature

You might also like

• SOT-MRAM is the memory that could one day replace DRAM and NAND
• Researchers explore AI to augment inspiration and imagination to revolutionize science
• Scientists inch closer to holy grail of memory, combing NAND and RAM

• Canalys reveals over a third of SMBs have no clear plan to leave Windows 10 behind
• Shockingly, 14% of SMBs don’t even know Windows 10 support is ending soon
• Lack of upgrade plans could cost SMBs more when tariffs and demand spikes hit hard

Microsoft has repeatedly announced it will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 - however, a surprising number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are still unprepared.

A poll conducted by Canalys revealed over a third (35%) of channel partners said their SMB customers are either unaware of the Windows 10 end-of-service (EoS) deadline or have no plans to upgrade their PCs.

Of that 35%, 21% of SMB customers are aware of the impending Windows 10 EoS but have no upgrade plans, while 14% are completely unaware. Given the security and compliance risks of operating outdated systems after support ends, this lack of awareness and preparation is alarming.

What will this mean for SMBs and users?

On the other side of the spectrum, 30% of SMB customers are aware and currently evaluating upgrade options, while only 35% have actively planned to upgrade their systems.

This means nearly two-thirds of SMBs remain passive or uncertain in their approach to the upcoming change. Unfortunately, many businesses do not treat EoS management as an ongoing responsibility, an outlook that urgently needs to shift.

“For customers in these situations, the delay in planning means they are likely to face a higher cost environment when the time comes to refresh their PC fleets,” said Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys.

The firm added global business PC shipments rose 9.4% year-on-year to reach 62.7 million units in Q1 2025, but despite this hardware growth, many businesses are still lagging behind in software preparedness.

The end-of-service will leave millions of business laptops without updates or security patches. Dutt also warned that, as higher tariffs take effect, "subsequent quarters this year are likely to see a slowdown" as prices rise and demand softens.

Businesses waiting much longer may face supply constraints just as endpoint security becomes more critical than ever.

While Microsoft still has work to do in making Windows 11 more appealing, that doesn’t change the reality of Windows 10’s looming deadline - here is a six-step countdown to Windows 10 EoS and how to prepare for it.

You may also like

• Here's a list of the best laptops for programming right now
• Microsoft really wants you to update to Windows 11 in 2025
• Western Digital plans to launch 40TB HDD next year using HAMR technology

• Support for older Nest thermostats is ending this year
• You can grab a big discount on a new model
• No new Nest thermostats will go on sale in Europe

There are a couple of pieces of Google Nest thermostat news to bring you this weekend: support is ending for the older 1st and 2nd-gen models, while Google is going to stop selling the thermostat in the EU completely.

First, the end of support for the 1st-gen Nest thermostat (launched in 2011), and the 2nd-gen Nest thermostat (launched in 2012). Google says (via 9to5Google) that there will be no more software updates issued for these devices, from Saturday, October 25, 2025.

At that point you'll no longer be able to control the thermostats from your phone either, and Home/Away modes will stop working too. You'll still be able to adjust modes, schedules, temperatures, and settings on the actual devices, however.

To help soften the blow, Google is offering some upgrade discounts on the latest 4th-gen Nest thermostat for those who have older models: if you're in the US, you can get $130 off, which is almost half price.

No-go in Europe

The Nest Thermostat E (Image credit: Google)

The second bit of news here is that there will be no more new Nest thermostats sold in Europe going forward. The 3rd-gen model and the Nest Thermostat E, which launched in 2015 and 2017 respectively, are going to be all you can get hold of now.

"Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," says the statement from Google.

That means the shiny new model, launched last year and described as sporting "a stunning design infused with AI" in our 4th-gen Nest thermostat review, isn't going to be available in Europe.

It's no surprise that consumers are wary of investing in smart home tech with discontinued devices and incompatible standards to deal with – even from the biggest companies in the business. It's an area where Google and others can do a lot better.

You might also like

• Tado thermostat owners are hot and bothered
• The best smart thermostats available
• How to build a zero-waste smart home

Watching Netflix with captions on has long been a practice in my home, starting with my youngest, who, as a GenZ, explained how streaming with captions on enables the multi-tasking that is so much a part of their lives.

Back when I first learned about this fast-growing habit, I assumed closed captions or subtitles were solely for people with hearing challenges. I knew my child didn't have any, and when I asked why they were watching Netflix with captions on, they looked at me like I had bananas for arms and told me, "Everyone does it."

That hyperbole led to some research, discovery, and this post I wrote on Medium. For my daughter and their GenZ cohort, captions helped bridge the distracted divide between the phone in their hands and the best streaming content on their TV. I even spoke to mental health professionals who also noted this was becoming common practice.

As I wrote then, my child tried to explain how captions were more than just an aid to understanding:

“It helps me with my ADHD: I can focus on the words, I catch things I missed, and I never have to go back,” she replied. “And I can text while I watch.”

I got it, but I don't think I fully understood until I turned on my own Netflix closed captions. There were two shows, in particular, that made me a convert.

First, Call My Agent, a smart French comedy about a Paris-based talent firm. It ran four seasons, and we got hooked, even though we were reading the whole time.

The second show was Peaky Blinders. Now, this show is in English, but the accents from Birmingham, England, were so thick that when we first tried watching, we gave up halfway through the first episode because we couldn't understand a thing. A few years later, we returned but with captions enabled. That changed everything, and we became huge fans.

One thing, though, about Netflix subtitles has always bothered me: descriptions of sounds.

• "Doorbell rings"
• "People laughing"
• "Sniffling" or "Softly crying"
• "Door slams"
• "Music lightly playing"
• "Music swells"
• "Indistinct chatter"

You get the idea. These audio cues are crucial for the hearing-impaired, but essentially unnecessary for those with full hearing, like me.

Even for GenZers like mine, I don't think the descriptions of these audio-only moments enhanced their viewing experience and, perhaps, were a bit of a distraction.

Netflix's decision to finally add an option for subtitles only is long overdue. The adjustment appears now as a new option under Audio: "English" subtitles, as opposed to "English (CC)".

(Image credit: Future)

It's a small change, I know, but I'm certain my family and I will be using it from now on. At least some of us.

You see, while my youngest watches everything with captions, and my wife increasingly watches almost everything with captions, I still do it less so, and my son never does it and finds them distracting.

If I'm being honest, though, I'm finding that captions are useful in more situations than just foreign language and accent-heavy productions. I can no longer quite pick up what people are saying when they're speaking softly, whispering, or, as is often the case, mumbling.

Also, sound mixing often overplays sound effects and overwhelms the dialogue. In lieu of a better sound system, a clear caption is an effective solution. And now, without the extraneous text that tells me "loud explosion," this experience is about to get so much better.

So, thanks, Netflix, for always supporting the hearing-impaired and for now giving us new captioning devotees a sound-effect-free option. I'll be using it a lot.

You might also like

• Netflix just rolled out a great free update and you'll be able ...
• Best Netflix shows: 56 great TV series to watch in April 2025
• 7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime ...

(Image credit: Adobe)

Alexandru Costin is Vice President, Generative AI and Sensei at Adobe.

There was no getting away from Firefly at this year’s Adobe Max London. Already infused across the Creative Cloud suite, the AI image and video generator has been massively upgraded with new tools and features.

Ahead of the events, we sat down with Alexandru Costin, Vice President, Generative AI and Sensei at Adobe, to explore what’s new with Firefly, why stories matter when using the best AI tools, and how professionals can use it to enhance creativity across the board.

• What can users expect from AI at Adobe Max?

At Max, we have the next generation of our image model, two versions of it. We have a vector model, we have the video model. So, a lot of progress on the model from Adobe, commercially safe, high quality, amazing human rendering. A lot of control and a great style engine, et cetera. We are also introducing third-party model integrations.

Our customers told us that they want to stay in our tools, in our workflows. They are still using other models for ideation purposes, or for different personalities. So, we’re announcing OpenAI's GPT image integration and Google's Imagen and Veo 2 in Firefly, and Flux integration in Firefly Boards.

The third big announcement is Firefly Boards is a new capability in the Firefly web application. We look at it as an all-in-one platform for next generation creatives to ideate, create and produce production content. Firefly Boards is an infinite canvas that enables team collaboration, real-time collaboration, commenting, but also deep Gen AI features stepping in, into all of these first-party and third-party models, new capabilities for remixing images.

• How easy is it to deliver something like that?

It’s not easy. We've been working on the project concept for like, a year. Actually, that underlying technology, we've been working on for many years, like real-time collaboration with deep integration, with storage, and innovation in Gen AI user experiences, remixing, auto-describing images to create the prompts for you. There's a lot of deep technology that went into it. It looks like magic, and is very easy [to use]. We hope it's so easy. Our goal is to build a complex layer. So for customers, it's like magic, and everything just works.

• What’s your favorite new feature?

My favorite feature is integration between image, video, and the rest of the Adobe products. We're trying to build workflows where customers that have an intent in mind, and they want to paint the picture that's in their mind, can use these tools in a really connected way without having to jump through so many hoops to tell their story. Firefly Image 4 offers amazing photo realism, human rendering quality, prompt understanding. You iterate fast.

With Image 4 Ultra, which is our premium model, you can render your image with additional details, and we can take them into the Firefly video model as a keyframe, and create a video from that whole image. Then you can take that video into Adobe Express and make it like an animated banner, add text, add fonts. In Creative Cloud, we have a lot of capabilities that exist already. We're bringing Gen AI inside those workflows, either in Firefly on the web, or directly as an API integration.

But for me, I think the magic is having all of this accessible in an easy way. The Photoshop team is also working on an agentic interface. They call it a new Actions panel. You type in what you want. We have 1000 high-quality actions we've curated for you. There are all these tools in Photoshop that are sometimes hard to discover if you're not an expert, but we're gonna just bring them and apply them for you. I mean, you will learn along the way, but you don't need to know everything before you start. Not only we're helping you achieve your goal, we're also teaching you the ins and outs of Photoshop as we go through this.

• That must be one of the biggest barriers to entry for a lot of users

It is. It's too powerful to some extent. It has so many controls, it might be intimidating, but with the new Actions panel, we want to take a big chunk of that entry barrier away.

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• How important is it for you when it comes to lowering those barriers to entry?

Everybody will benefit from this technology in different ways. For creative professionals, it will basically remove some of the tedium, so they can focus on creativity. But with things like Firefly Boards, they will be able to work with teams and clients much better. The client can upload in boards some stylistic ideas, and then you can take it and integrate it very fast in your professional workload.

For consumers, with people that want to spend seconds to create something, with Firefly, you just type in the prompt and we do it for you. It's a great capability.

In the middle, there are the folks learning in their careers, aspiring creative professionals, next generation creatives. And for them, we want to give them both Gen AI capabilities, but also a bridge towards the existing pixel-perfect tools that we have at Adobe. Because we think a mix of those two worlds is the best mix that next generation creatives need to be armed with.

• Where can further improvements be made in that area, making it more accessible?

For me, a big opportunity is better understanding of humans, like prompt understanding agentic, having a creative partner to bounce ideas off of. Another thing we're announcing is the [upcoming] Firefly mobile app. This is a companion app that can use many of the Firefly app capabilities, generate text, generate video, et cetera. But also, because it's on mobile, you have access to the camera, you have a microphone, there are many new opportunities to make these interactions easier. So, we're looking into that. We do think next generation creatives are a big target market for us because we want to give them the tools of the trade.

• What’s the motivation behind these new additions in Firefly?

For us, customers are why we get up in the morning every day, they are telling us what they need, and they told us they want more quality, better humans, more control, better stylization. That's what's behind the image model updates. We just want to make them more usable in more workflows for actual production use-cases. Because our model is uniquely positioned to be safe for commercial use, we want customers to use it everywhere.

For video, video is also growing, and many of our customer-base doesn't know how to use the video product. So, making video creation more accessible is another great accelerant for creativity. We want to offer a larger population of people the tools to tap into video and be able to start achieving their goals there. While, of course, inside products like Premiere Pro, we're continuing to integrate deeper, more advanced features, like a couple of weeks ago at NAB, we launched Generative Extend. It won one of the awards. Gen Extend is a 4K extension, enabling professional videographers to basically extend clips so they don't have to reshoot.

What motivates us is helping our customers tell stories, better stories, more diverse stories, and be successful in their careers.

• When everyone is using AI, how do artists and businesses differentiate themselves from rivals?

I think through human creativity and engineering, how do they differentiate today? They're all using Photoshop. They do find ways to differentiate because, in reality, Gen AI is a tool designed, at least from an Adobe perspective, to be of service to the creative community, and we want to give them a more powerful tool that should help them level-up their craft.

They're describing it as going from the person editing to a creative director. All of our customers can become directors of these Gen AI tools to help them tell better stories, tell stories faster, et cetera. So, we think the differentiation will still be in the creativity of the human using the tool. And we're seeing so much innovation. We're seeing people using these technologies in ways we haven't even thought about, which is very exciting, always. Mixing them in novel ways. Because that's how you differentiate. And we do think there will always be many ways to express somebody's creativity.

We think creativity comes in a variety of ways, and there are different tools creative people will use and mix together to tell better stories and change culture.

Explore the power of generative AI with Adobe Firefly

Integrated into almost every Adobe app, Firefly is tailor-made for creatives at every level - from professionals to consumers. Want to see how Adobe's generative AI can help you iterate your designs faster? Try out Firefly's tools by clicking here.

You might also like

• The 7 Adobe Express updates creators and marketers need to know about
• The 5 biggest new Photoshop, Firefly and Premiere Pro tools that were announced at Adobe Max London 2025
• See how Adobe Firefly stands among the best AI image generators

Earlier this week, Xiaomi launched the Poco M7 Pro 5G in the UK, the latest entry in the sub-brand’s line of affordable handsets, and a device that brings some neat features to the table for its low £199 price tag.

For far less than even some of the best cheap phones, the M7 Pro 5G offers a 120Hz display, a 5,110mAh battery, and a 50MP Sony camera – nothing about what I’m about to say next suggests that this isn’t solid value for money.

However, Xiaomi has insisted on labeling some of the Poco M7 Pro 5G’s features and components as “flagship” – particularly its IP64 dust and water resistance rating. With respect to Xiaomi, which makes some of the best phones around (even if they’re a pain to get your hands on), that description is fresh out of 2012.

An IP64 rating is not, under any modern definition, flagship-grade for a phone. The most recent true flagships – like the OnePlus 13 – carry IP69 ratings, which promise resistance from powerful jets of heated water and total dust resistance.

In fairness, an IP64-rated phone is still dust-sealed, but that standard only protects against splashes of water with some ingress allowed. That just doesn’t match up against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Google Pixel 9 Pros of the world, all of which can take a dip in fresh water and emerge unscathed thanks to their IP68 ratings (though we'd still never recommend testing this claim for yourself!).

Furthermore, press materials seen by TechRadar describe the 2x digital zoom function of the M7 Pro 5G's camera system as "flagship-level", and while flagships do utilize in-sensor cropping, the M7 Pro 5G is unlikely to keep up with its relatively smaller 1/1.95-inch sensor. For reference, the iPhone 16 sports a 1/1.56-inch sensor, while its Android rival, the Google Pixel 9, boasts a 1/1.31-inch sensor.

And even if the M7 Pro 5G's 2x digital zoom does somehow match its more expensive rivals, this feature is not described as "flagship-level" on the phone's official web page. That makes me think Xiaomi is either confused about its own product or seeking to influence coverage with terms it won't use in public. Either way, that's an issue.

In fact, the only aspect of the Poco M7 Pro 5G I’d call “flagship” quality, at least without having tested one myself, is its 5,110mAh battery – and yet Xiaomi doesn’t call it so.

The Oppo Reno 12 FS. Nice looking? You bet. A flagship camera phone? Not a chance. (Image credit: Future)

It's not just Xiaomi doing this, either. Oppo's UK website describes the Oppo Reno 12 FS camera system as a "flagship camera combo", and as my full Oppo Reno 12 FS review details, that's flat-out untrue.

In fact, the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G (which otherwise boasts great value for money and serviceable performance) sports a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. If the iPhone 17 Pro Max launches with a 2MP lens in tow, I'll happily give Oppo a retroactive pass for this, but until then, that's simply not flagship-grade hardware.

Smartphone semantics

What even is a flagship these days? There are two phones above the iPhone 16 (pictured) in Apple's mobile portfolio (Image credit: Future)

What we’re witnessing is a peculiar attempted transformation of language. Flagship was once a literal term, meaning the best phone a company has to offer, but, as I’ve previously discussed, the term has become more vague as companies like Apple and Samsung develop flagship lineups comprising several distinct but related models.

What companies like Xiaomi are attempting to do is push the term one step further into the abstract; to change the meaning of the word “flagship” to one that simply connotes ideas of better performance and higher status, rather than a title given to certain devices by phone makers to reflect the expectations of consumers.

In the plainest terms, these companies would like control of the “flagship” narrative to get you to think better of their mid-range and budget phones.

That’s not necessarily as ominous as it sounds – modern tech marketing relies on imaginative storytelling that highlights the position of devices in our lives. Just look at the real-life stories that opened the September 2024 Apple Event. I’ve no problem with phone makers calling their devices essential, or innovative, or brilliant, because most of the time there’s a good bit of truth to these claims.

However, when it comes to the term “flagship”, it’s important that brand messaging aligns with user expectations, so that customers aren’t misled. Flagship phones are typically big sellers and a big draw for users, so it’s crucial that customers who may not know too much about tech specs aren’t drawn to products that won’t live up to their needs.

The new Poco M7 Pro 5G is a budget phone, through and through – and there’s no shame in that. As much as my magpie-coded brain loves a shiny new flagship, I recommend the Samsung Galaxy A36 to most people I know as they simply don’t care about the latest and greatest specs – I’m sure the Poco M7 Pro will find its own audience of savvy customers, too.

But for the buyer who just wants the latest and greatest phone, and is willing to spend up to $1,200 to get that, the least phone makers can do is keep the term “flagship” to its current definition.

You might also like

• An essential Google Messages group-chat feature finally looks set to launch soon
• The iPhone 16 Pro is now less popular than the base iPhone 16, according to new report – and I’m not surprised
• New iPhone 17e leak suggests we'll get a new model every year – here's when to expect it and what we want to see

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, April 26 (game #1188).

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 #1189) - 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 #1189) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #1189) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1189) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1189) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• Y

• C

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1189) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1189, are…

• PRIOR
• YOUTH
• CREDO
• CHIDE

A head scratcher, but lengthy thinking time aside I managed to get through the run without any wrong guesses.

My good fortune was using a start word that began with a C. Without that headstart I would have been in trouble.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1189) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1189, are…

• GAWKY
• ABBEY
• SOUTH
• STORY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN

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, April 26 (game #685).

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 #686) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MASSAGE
• TIMES
• RUFFLE
• FISH
• PERCENT
• SHOCK
• MEATBALL
• GOLDFISH
• COMBO
• LOCK
• EQUALS
• THATCH
• CHEF
• MINUS
• TUFT
• TAKI

NYT Connections today (game #686) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Sums 
• GREEN: Various quantities of something you get cut
• BLUE: Savoury bites 
• PURPLE: From a cold European country

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 #686) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CALCULATOR BUTTONS 
• GREEN: AMOUNTS OF HAIR 
• BLUE: SALTY SNACK UNIT 
• PURPLE: SWEDISH ____ 

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

NYT Connections today (game #686) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #686, are…

• YELLOW: CALCULATOR BUTTONS EQUALS, MINUS, PERCENT, TIMES
• GREEN: AMOUNTS OF HAIR LOCK, SHOCK, THATCH, TUFT
• BLUE: SALTY SNACK UNIT COMBO, GOLDFISH, RUFFLE, TAKI
• PURPLE: SWEDISH ____ CHEF, FISH, MASSAGE, MEATBALL

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I regularly use a calculator, have copious amounts of hair on my head, love a salty snack, and regularly shop at Ikea, yet I found today’s puzzle utterly baffling.

CALCULATOR BUTTONS I got straight away, but then came the collapse. First, I thought that there was a group of Victorian authors that I knew nothing about – so I linked LOCK, THATCH, TAKI and TUFT.

I got the "one away!" alert, but still didn’t think about hair and instead persisted with my literature hunch and swapped THATCH for RUFFLE.

After finally getting AMOUNTS OF HAIR I still faltered with just two groups to get – first thinking there was something about bowls. In my defense, cultural difference again thwarted me, as the majority of the products referenced as a SALTY SNACK UNIT, as well as SWEDISH FISH, are rare delicacies in the UK.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, April 26, game #685)

• YELLOW: TINT COLOR, HUE, SHADE, TONE
• GREEN: VALLEY DALE, DELL, GLEN, HOLLOW
• BLUE: BOBS DOLE, HOPE, MARLEY, ROSS
• PURPLE: COLOR ANAGRAMS DRE, GARY, GENRE, LUBE

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, April 26 (game #419).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Sleep tight

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MENTAL
• TRAM
• TRUE
• TIDE
• NOTE
• BIND

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #420) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #420, are…

• MASK
• EARPLUGS
• MELATONIN
• MEDITATION
• MOUTHGUARD
• SPANGRAM: BEDTIME

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

My search started off well after quickly getting MASK and EARPLUGS, but then took a devious turn.

Even after getting a hint and the many letters of MELATONIN I struggled connecting the letters, which became the story of all the other words.

You could argue that the theme and spangram are inaccurate and what we were actually looking for today were sleep aids for those among us who struggle to fall asleep without assistance.

I count myself among a growing demographic trying desperately to improve their sleep quality. I actually got measured for my pillow, have a yearly app subscription just so I can listen to the same 10-minute MEDITATION every night, and have earplugs, mask, and aromatherapy spray all at hand should I struggle to reach the land of nod.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, April 26, game #419)

• POWDER
• BRONZER
• PRIMER
• CONCEALER
• FOUNDATION
• SPANGRAM: MAKEUP EXAM

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.