The circular economy is moving from niche concept to everyday reality. More people and businesses are embracing refurbished phones, laptops, and tablets—not just as budget-friendly options, but as conscious environmental choices.
But there's still a common misunderstanding about what actually makes a product ‘circular’. No electronic device, or any product for that matter, is inherently circular on its own, no matter how well-designed or durable. What makes the circular economy work isn't just better products—it's the infrastructure that surrounds them.
Think about it: without trade-in programs, repair networks and efficient resale channels, even the most sustainably designed device would still end up in a drawer or landfill. But these systems allow us to conveniently hand off our used devices, get them refurbished, and connect them with new users to create circularity.
Products can absolutely be made with the circular economy in mind—and we’ll talk about how—but they still rely on the right environment to fulfil that potential.
How circular models work in practice—and the infrastructure requiredSeveral models have emerged as frontrunners when we think of the circular economy in action. Trade-in programs are the most popular—where you hand in your used device for a discount on a new one. These programs recirculate devices, encouraging people to pass on their old tech rather than tossing it. We're also seeing more refurbished tech marketplaces offering their own trade-in options.
Another innovative approach, especially for businesses, is the Device-as-a-Service model—essentially a leasing model where you can rent equipment, use it for a specific period, and then return it for an upgrade or replacement. All of these extend the life of electronic products and start to shift the focus away from ownership to long-term value.
But these circular models don't magically happen. Behind each successful program is a massive reverse logistics operation. Devices need to be collected, inspected, repaired, and matched with new buyers. Most manufacturers weren't originally set up for this kind of circular operation. Their systems were designed for one-way distribution, not for handling products coming back for a second life.
Companies that excel here have built robust systems for grading, refurbishment, inventory management, and resale.
You can only call a product ‘circular’ when there's a reliable logistics system for people to return devices, reassured they’ll make their way back into the market. Without this infrastructure, even the most sustainably designed device remains trapped in the linear economy. In the meantime, manufacturers can encourage circularity by designing their products from the outset to perform better on the secondary market. Here's how they can start.
Qualifying criteria for secondary market productsNot all devices are created equal in the secondary market. The most successful refurbished products stay relevant even years after their initial release. Apple and Samsung devices lead the pack in this regard— iPhones typically remain economically viable for refurbishment for about eight years; Samsung models, closer to five. After that, the focus shifts to recycling materials rather than reuse.
Less expensive devices, even if they still work, often cost more to refurbish than they’re worth. That’s not an issue of quality—it’s just economics. For a device to have a second life, it either needs strong brand appeal or some other kind of long-term value.
Ecosystem loyalty boosts circular potentialThe tech world has shown us that people develop strong attachments to their operating systems—whether Android vs. Apple in the UK and US markets or other platforms in other countries. Once consumers invest in an ecosystem with multiple connected devices, they're more likely to stay within that system when upgrading or buying refurbished. For manufacturers and retailers, building this kind of loyalty pays off.
Frictionless experience is non-negotiableThe most successful trade-in programs share one crucial feature: simplicity. Whether online or in-store, they offer a fair price for your old device while purchasing a new one, handling the entire exchange in one smooth transaction. Similarly, purchasing refurbished devices has become simpler, with marketplaces implementing universal quality ratings that build consumer confidence.
Innovation at the right paceWe've reached a bit of a sweet spot in the pace of innovation for electronics. New releases excite early adopters, while refurbished devices are still more than enough for most users.
Product designers should consider this: How timeless is your creation? Will people still want it years from now? Does it have features that people always want? This aspect is essential for a healthy circular economy.
Consistent value over flash salesYou’ll notice that the brands with strong circular offerings don’t run flash sales. That’s because they undermine their circular programs. When you frequently discount new products too often, the incentive to buy refurbished disappears. Brands that maintain consistent pricing tend to see stronger resale values and build more trust. By offering high-quality certified refurbished products at a meaningful discount, brands attract value-conscious consumers who might otherwise choose a lower-end product from a competitor.
Systems will define circular successTo support sustainable tech, we need to stop looking only at individual devices and start focusing on the systems that surround them. Circular products don’t exist in a vacuum—they depend on the infrastructure build for them.
Ultimately, the future of sustainable tech isn’t just about making better devices. It’s about keeping the good ones in use longer—and building the right systems to make that possible.
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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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #683).
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 #684) - today's words (Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
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 #684) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #684) - the answers (Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #684, are…
I’m kicking myself today, because I could have solved the hardest purple group early if I’d been braver. Instead, I went with all the groups I was more sure of. FALLOPIAN and TEST were the certainties, but INNER and VACUUM less so. Instead I opted for safety.
I am still delighted to be back on a winning run though, after falling to pieces last week.
Meanwhile, over in the yellow group, we had GUM FLAVORS. A few years ago, knowing that WINTERGREEN was one would have been obscure knowledge in the UK, but such has been the globalization of candy that we are all very familiar with America’s exotic gum tastes now.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, April 24, game #683)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.
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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #417).
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 #418) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's in the stars
NYT Strands today (game #418) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
• Spangram has 14 letters
NYT Strands today (game #418) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 1st column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #418) - the answers (Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #418, are…
The NYT keeps on finding new ways to hide the spangram. Today, it was a cunning vertical at the start of the grid. I’d tapped out CONE and SCONE as hint words before I saw it. Not that it was any great surprise that we were searching for CONSTELLATIONS, thanks to the theme giveaway.
CROSS and DIPPER were my first spots – the obvious ones – but the rest I struggled with.
Of the 88 constellations in the sky I could probably name the zodiac signs and that’s about it, let alone the shapes they are also known as.
So, thanks to my Google AI servant, here are the Strands constellations and their official names: CROSS (Cygnus), DIPPER (Ursa Major), SWAN (Cygnus), MAIDEN (Virgo), HUNTER (Orion), and CENTAUR (Centaurus). Every day’s a school day.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, April 24, game #417)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.
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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #1186).
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 #1187) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #1187) - 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 #1187) - 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 #1187) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• S
• W
• M
• H
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1187) - the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1187, are…
A seven-guess finish was denied when I guessed BUMPH instead of HUMPH. Both are quite obscure words, with HUMPH – which describes a sound of doubt or contempt – perfectly encapsulating my thoughts about its appearance in today's puzzle. You could say I'm in a right hump about it.
This small wriggle aside, I managed to get home without too much taxing thought, despite quite an odd set of words.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1187) - the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1187, are…
New research has claimed the involvement of third parties in data breaches has doubled, and is now seen in 30% of all cyberattacks.
The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) from Verizon Business, which is based on more than 22,000 security incidents and 12,195 confirmed data breaches, found supply chain and partner ecosystems are being increasingly abused in cyberattacks.
Cybercriminals are using third parties to gain initial access, it was further explained, as 81% of third-party breaches involved the compromise of victim systems.
Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.
It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.
Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal
Targeting open-source repositoriesThe findings may not be too surprising, as some of the biggest cyberattacks ever recorded came as a result of third-party compromise.
The SolarWinds hack in December 2020 was one of the most significant cyber-espionage attacks in history. Threat actors compromised SolarWinds’ Orion software updates, inserting malicious code (later named "SUNBURST") that was unknowingly distributed to around 18,000 customers.
This allowed the attackers to deploy backdoors into the networks of companies that installed the tainted update.
The breach allegedly went undetected for months, compromising US government agencies (the Departments of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security), major tech firms (Microsoft), and countless private companies.
The attack was blamed on a Russian state-sponsored threat actor called APT29 (AKA Cozy Bear).
To conduct third-party cyberattacks, threat actors will often target open-source code repositories, such as GitHub. They will try to push malicious updates into code packages, or will try to “typosquat” a piece of malware, in hopes that software developers will install the malicious code themselves.
It works, too, as news often breaks of bad code being discovered on GitHub, or people’s accounts being compromised and abused in the distribution of malware. Security researchers often warn that software developers should always verify, and never trust the code, regardless of who the author is.
You might also likeAsus has patched a security flaw which could have bricked servers.
The flaw is tracked as CVE-2024-54085, and has the maximum severity flaw - 10/10. As the company explained, it affects American Megatrends International’s (AMI) MegaRAC Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), a firmware solution that enables out-of-band, or “lights-out” remote server management.
With BMC, admins can monitor, troubleshoot, and control servers even when they’re turned off.
Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.
It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.
Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal
Remote control“AMI’s SPx contains a vulnerability in the BMC where an Attacker may bypass authentication remotely through the Redfish Host Interface,” it says on the CVE’s NVD page. “A successful exploitation of this vulnerability may lead to a loss of confidentiality, integrity, and/or availability.”
BMC is used by “over a dozen” server hardware vendors, including HPE, Asus, and ASRock.
Security researchers from Eclypsium, who wrote an in-depth report about the bug, said it could be abused in malware infections and even ransomware attacks:
"Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely control the compromised server, remotely deploy malware, ransomware, firmware tampering, bricking motherboard components (BMC or potentially BIOS/UEFI), potential server physical damage (over-voltage / bricking), and indefinite reboot loops that a victim cannot stop."
AMI released a patch in mid-March, it was said, but it took OEMs time to implement it. HPE, for example, published a security bulletin on March 20, addressing the vulnerability for HPE Cray XD670 server. This bulletin also confirmed that the vulnerability could be remotely exploited to allow authentication bypass. Additionally, reports indicate that HPE has released security updates for their products that integrate AMI’s fix for CVE-2024-54085.
ASUS has now addressed the bug on four motherboards.
Users are advised to upgrade their BMC firmware to these versions:
PRO WS W790E-SAGE SE – version 1.1.57
PRO WS W680M-ACE SE – version 1.1.21
PRO WS WRX90E-SAGE SE – version 2.1.28
Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE SE WIFI – version 1.34.0
Since this is a maximum-severity flaw that allows ransomware infections, users are advised to apply the update without delay.
Via BleepingComputer
You might also likeIt's time to input a new date into the TARDIS, Doctor Who fans, because this season's third episode will be with us very soon.
Season 2 episode 3, titled' The Well', is set to grace our screens very soon. Those of you in the US, UK, and Australia, then, will want to know when the world-famous Time Lord and his new companion Bel will set off on their next adventure.
Below, I'll tell you when and where you can watch Doctor Who season 2's third entry. You'll also find a full release schedule for this season's seven episodes, so you'll know when to tune into Disney+ (US and Australia) or BBC One/iPlayer (UK) to reunite with them. Allons-y!
What time will Doctor Who season 2 episode 3 be released in the US?Your first look at #DoctorWho - THE WELL, premiering next Saturday on @BBCiPlayer in the UK and @DisneyPlus where available! pic.twitter.com/JMm7cRSkY4April 19, 2025
One of the best Disney+ shows will be back on the small screen stateside on Saturday, April 26 at 12am PT / 3am ET.
That's the same day and time that the previous two episodes – 'The Robot Revolution' and 'Lux' – have aired on one of the world's best streaming services. There's no reason for season 2's next episode not to do so, too.
When can I watch Doctor Who season 2's third episode in the UK? Another perilous adventure awaits The Doctor and Bel (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+)Doctor Who season 2 episode 3 will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from 8am BST on Saturday, April 26. Like every other episode – this season or otherwise – it'll also be broadcast on BBC One later that day.
However, it'll make its terrestrial channel debut on British shores at a later time than 'The Robot Revolution' and 'Lux' did. Indeed, 'The Well' will be available to watch on BBC One at 7:20pm BST.
What is the launch date and time for Doctor Who episode 'The Well' in Australia? What's got Bel so spooked? (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+)Fans of the legendary Gallifreyan who live Down Under can tune into Disney+ on Saturday, April 26 at 5pm AEST to watch this season's latest installment. Like the US, this is the same day and time that season 2's previous entries have aired.
Doctor Who season 2 full release schedule Christopher Chung's Cassio is one of many supporting characters in 'The Well' (Image credit: BBC One/Disney+)New episodes of Nu-Who will be released every Saturday in the US, UK and Australia. For a complete rundown on when new chapters of season 2 (or series 15, for those in the UK) will arrive, read on:
Rod Fergusson, SVP and general manager of the Diablo series at Blizzard Entertainment, isn't ruling out the idea of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Diablo 4, but says the studio would need to figure out the logistics of live services.
Speaking in a new interview with Danny Peña on Gamertag Radio, Fergusson spoke on the Switch 2 and said that since some Diablo games like Diablo 3 and Diablo 2: Resurrected are already playable on the original Switch, a Switch 2 port of Diablo 4 could happen.
"I think there’s opportunity there for sure," he said. "I mean, we have Diablo 3 and Diablo 2: Resurrected already on the Switch, and with backwards compatibility, it’ll be playable on Switch 2."
However, Fergusson said that although there would be no problem running Diablo 4 on the new handheld, there were challenges regarding live services with previous Diablo games on the Switch, meaning there could be similar problems that would need figuring out with the Switch 2.
"It’s nice the Switch 2 has the performance that can run a game like Diablo 4, so yeah, it’s something to look at for sure," Fergusson said. "I think the challenge is less around the hardware and just about how we… you know, live services on Switch have been a little bit challenging in the past.
"So I’m hopeful that as they launch this June and as we look to the future, that becomes easier and easier, so it makes more sense to put a live service on that platform."
In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle.
UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.
You might also like...Wix, one of the best website builders around, has introduced a new AI tool with the power to completely redefine how we build, and consume, website content. The tool is an AI-powered adaptive content application that generates and modifies website content based on admin input and visitor characteristics.
With the new tool, website admins are able to determine which elements will trigger content adaptation. These elements include visitor device, country, language, or whether the visitor is a returning user. Furthermore, they can set directives, such as that the AI should deliver engaging or sales-oriented content. The tool also allows users to simulate different versions of the text, showing what the visitors could see, without the content going live first.
That means that the content a visitor sees on a website can be uniquely tailored just for that person. For example, a visitor might read a welcome message in their native language. They could see references to local holidays, pricing in local currency, or specific shipping policies. On mobile, they could see shorter, more concise content, and returning visitors might get a “thank you for coming back” message, or a highlight of something that changed since their last visit.
Personalizing the live experienceWebsite developers can access the app through the Wix Editor and Wix Studio, App Market, or Dashboard, by searching for “adaptive” in the App Market, Wix explained. After installing the app, they can set the adaptive logic by choosing one of the pre-defined function templates.
Wix will be hoping to further secure its position as one of the best AI website builders on the market with this new AI tool.
“This application highlights how we can move beyond using AI to generate website content but leverage AI to dynamically adapt and personalize the live website experience for each visitor in real-time, empowering businesses to connect more effectively with their customers,” said Muly Gelman, Senior Product Manager at Wix Personalize. “As a result, businesses can deliver engaging, personalized experiences that resonate with their audience, ultimately driving higher engagement rates and creating greater monetization opportunities.”
The app is now available to English Wix and Wix Studio users, with other languages gradually being rolled out.
Comment from the expertIn my opinion, hyper-personalization is one of the most exciting ways that AI can help website owners build better sites and improve results. I've been waiting patiently for website builders like Wix to find a way to apply AI to help tailor website content specifically to individual visitors, so I was very pleased when I heard about this latest update.
Historically, businesses have been able to apply customer data to make overarching business decisions, allowing them to adapt business offerings to segments of an audience. For example, if a business knows that 80% of its audience likes to be talked to in a casual tone, then it would make sense for them to create all marketing content in this tone.
New AI tools, such as this one from Wix, take this to the next level, allowing businesses to use customer data to drive content personalization on an individual level.
However, despite my excitement, I do have some concerns.
AI generated content is notoriously subpar and almost always requires a level of editing in order to make it fit for purpose. This presents an issue. If we allow AI to deliver a totally tailored website experience, it becomes a near impossible task to maintain a level of quality control.
So, we are left with two options. Either businesses develop a bank of curated content assets, which will improve the quality of customer interactions, but limit the level of potential personalization - or they allow AI to tailor all content, but risk quality levels being poor.
More from TechRadar ProVantrue might have created the most versatile and fun dash cam we've seen yet – the triple camera Element 360 (E360).
Its front camera features twin 210-degree lenses that combine for complete 360-degree coverage of the front and cabin of a vehicle, outputting 5.2K video (presumably that's the combination of what is effectively two 2.7K cameras).
That main 360 camera is complemented by a rear 2.7K camera with ultra-wide 165 degree view, which is designed to be positioned on your rear windscreen to cover off any blindspots from the main camera's front and cabin view.
And here's a neat party piece – the front onboard camera unit of the Element 360 (more commonly known as the E360) is easily removable from a vehicle for use as a regular handheld 360 camera, much like the offerings from Insta360 and GoPro.
For such uses, the E360 can be attached to Vantrue's handheld mount – a selfie stick with tripod feet (included in the pricier E360 Ace bundle), armed with batteries that can power the camera for up to four hours of record time.
We wouldn't expect the E360 to replace a dedicated 360 camera like the powerful Insta360 X5, but it's a fun feature for users who want the capture the personal touch to their journeys in addition to the dash cam's primary purpose.
The E360 costs $349.99 / £269.99 at Amazon, while the E360 Ace, which adds the handheld mount, costs $459.99 / £359.99 at Amazon – we've seen sizable discounts on those prices already.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Vantrue)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Vantrue)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Vantrue) Dash cam fun, on board smartsVantrue's E360 is a versatile onboard and regular 360 camera, but it's also backed up by the sort of tech we'd expect from a serious dash cam.
It features the current generation Sony Starvis 2 sensor, HDR video, a quad-core processor, decent night vision capabilities and 15 seconds pre-recording activated by motion detection, complete with GPS data.
The front camera features a touchscreen, but it can also be voice controlled through basic prompts, while a 24-hour parking mode is available, provided the E360 is hardwired into the vehicle.
However, it's the main camera's 360-degree coverage with seamless stitching for a distrotion-free 5.2K video output, plus its unique handheld mode, that really stand out.
We're currently conducting an in-depth review of the Vantrue E360 which will be published soon. From our experiences with other Vantrue dash cams such as the E1 Pro, we expect good things. We can't speak of its quality as a regular 360 camera – however, it's unlikely to challenge the Insta360 X5, our favorite dedicated 360 degree camera.
You might also likeOne of the big downsides of the best 8K TVs is that there's precious little 8K content to watch. But Warner Bros' latest news suggests that good things are coming. Over 20 good things, in fact, as a start.
Speaking at the NAB 2025 event this week, Warner Bros said that it has scanned over 20 films in 8K. As FlatpanelsHD reports, it didn't name the movies, but it did say that it was scanning movies shot on film, including movies shot on 70mm, in 8K. That's a combination for home theater heaven.
The studio has previously teamed up with Samsung to deliver 8K movie trailers for Creed III, Barbie, Blue Beetle, Dune: Part Two, Wonka and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. And Apple is also producing 8K entertainment, albeit with a focus on Vision Pro so far.
The news that more 8K entertainment is coming is great, but there's still something missing before we can believe that the 8K future is actually coming.
Warner Bros has previously showcased a range of 8K trailers including one for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. (Image credit: Warner Bros) 8K home entertainment: what's missingThe big question remaining is: how will we actually get our 8K entertainment in way that makes jumping to 8K actually worth it?
There's a huge, disc-shaped hole in the high quality home entertainment ecosystem: Blu-Ray tops out at 4K and there are no plans for an 8K successor.
The answer could be online video, but not as it's currently being delivered by the major streaming services: streaming services use compressed video formats, and that's anathema to the kind of people who care enough about picture quality to buy an 8K TV or projector, and to pay for 8K movies.
The bitrate for 8K is huge, so much so that the IEEE has produced a paper about it. If delivered via Netflix or the other best streaming services, it would come with such compressed colors that the extra resolution would be a pointless trade-off. If we can have higher bitrate streaming, I'd rather we just had better-quality 4K, closer to what you get from the best 4K Blu-ray players.
Speaking of which, the answer could be Kaleidescape. The firm makes high-end movie streamers and also delivers downloads, and its movies are delivered at the same high-quality as 4K Blu-rays. It's just joined the joined the 8K Alliance to "play a pivotal role in shaping the future of premium home cinema". An 8K movie equivalent of Qobuz's hi-res audio downloads could be compelling – although it could also be very costly.
It's clear that something is needed, however, because the dearth of 8K content is clearly worrying the TV firms and keeping sales numbers low: Sony has quietly confirmed that it's stepping away from 8K TV manufacturing for the time being and other manufacturers such as LG haven't announced new 8K models for some time.
I'm excited by the idea of 8K-quality 70mm movies being available at home, but they need to reach people in a way that makes them superior to what we have now, or it'll all be pointless.
You might also likeMicrosoft Edge already has the Copilot AI assistant built in, but now it’s been spotted taking center stage in the web browser’s new tab page (known as NTP for short).
Windows Latest flagged up that this change (first noticed on Reddit) is present in the Canary (earliest) testing channel for Edge, although it’s not active by default. You must enable various experimental flags behind the scenes to get it working.
To explain the NTP briefly, whenever you create a new tab in Edge, this is what you see. Effectively it’s a (kind of) blank canvas, and right now in the release version of Microsoft’s web browser it contains a central search box (for firing up a Bing search) which is complemented by MSN feed material. (You can customize the latter to show very little of the feed, or have it cover most of the screen – in the latter case, the NTP isn’t such a blank canvas).
With the new scheme of things seen in testing, all that is replaced by a central Copilot prompt.
You can still type in a search query – as you would with the current search box – but alternatively, you can ask the AI assistant anything you would elsewhere (such as via Copilot on the web, or in the Windows taskbar, or Copilot in the Edge side panel for that matter).
There are shortcut buttons below the Copilot prompt box on the NTP, allowing the user to click to ‘write a draft’ or to ‘learn something new’ and so forth.
Windows Latest further points out that there’s also a small dropdown menu that allows you to adjust how the NTP works. The ‘Default’ setting here is a mix of search and chat suggestions, so based on what you type in the Copilot prompt, theoretically Edge will determine whether you’ll get a fuller AI response, or a simple Bing search result.
Alternatively, you can select ‘Search and Navigate’ which is focused on web searching (with no AI responses), or there’s a ‘Chat’ setting which offers a conversational experience with Copilot.
In other words, you can go for a more traditional search (as is currently the case with the NTP), a full-on AI experience, or a mix of the two (by default) with Edge hopefully making intelligent decisions about what needs to be done based on your initial query.
(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft) Analysis: More AI, but more streamlined (for now)Remember, all of this isn’t even in testing yet, it’s still in the early stages of being readied to be tried out in the Canary channel. The ‘Chat’ setting mentioned above doesn’t work at all yet – it just brings up a Bing search result – and the shortcut buttons (for the likes of writing a draft) don’t work either. As such, this is still a rough idea, and it could well change before it’s fully enabled even for testers.
We can see the direction that Microsoft is thinking of heading in, though, and this overhauled NTP certainly has positive aspects. It’s a lot less cluttered and the refreshed new tab page looks commendably clean, notably rid of the MSN feed gunk that a lot of folks aren’t keen on.
There are people who will argue that it’s just Microsoft pushing AI and Copilot in yet another way, but to be fair to the software giant, there is a choice to dispense with the AI responses (by electing for the basic ‘search’ option). And also, if that’s the price we must pay to get a more streamlined NTP with no MSN content peppered about, then it’s arguably well worth paying.
That said, as Windows Latest also points out, Microsoft is testing MSN content within Copilot (on Android currently), and it’s quite possible that this (personalized and targeted) material will be served via the Copilot box on Edge’s refreshed NTP. It might not pan out that way, but it seems unlikely that Microsoft is going to stop pushing its network content anytime soon.
You might also likeiRobot has unveiled a brand new flagship robot vacuum – the Roomba Max 705 Vac, alongside AutoEmpty dock. And while it looks like a very capable robovac, I can't help but feel rather underwhelmed, and a little confused, too.
It looks like the only area where this robovac improves on the rest of the range is that it has a higher maximum suction level. That's great – cleaning power is pretty key if your robovac is going to be useful, after all – but it's not the most exciting attribute for a flagship model.
What's more, there are several ways where the Max 705 Vac is lacking compared to the other Roombas. It's the only model not to offer mopping capabilities alongside the vacuuming, which also means the dock is significantly more basic than the AutoWash one that comes with the 405 and 505 models.
(Image credit: iRobot)I'm not averse to a vacuum-only robot, and I don't believe in complicating for the sake of complicating, but it is confusing to have a flagship model with a feature list that's so much shorter than the models beneath it.
The reason I know it's a flagship model is because it has 'Max' in the name. The naming scheme for iRobot goes Roomba (good), Roomba Plus (better), Roomba Max (best).
To be fair, the pricing does reflect this relative simplicity. The Max 705 Vac costs $899.99 / £699, compared to $999.99 / £699 for the Roomba Plus 505 beneath it. That's significantly more affordable than most robovacs' top-of-the-range models – many of today's very best robot vacuums have list prices well into four figures.
(Image credit: iRobot)Elsewhere, you're getting the brand's most advanced LiDAR navigation ('ClearView Pro') and object detection technology ('PrecisionVision AI'), two rubber rollers to effectively pull up hair and whisk it into the bin, an auto-empty dock capable of holding up to 75 days' worth of dust and dirt, and a slick design that includes textured sections to blend more seamlessly in with your home decor. All great features, but none unique to the Max 705 Vac.
It will automatically boost suction when it senses it's on carpet, which might be a unique feature, although the Plus 505 can "intelligently adapt for deep cleaning' which sounds like it could be the same thing.
This sucksAside from feeling underwhelmed by the new launch, I'm also frustrated to see that iRobot appears to have gone back on its plans to publish suction specs for its robovac line. Instead, it's insists on conveying its bots' cleaning powers comparative to the 600 Series. Not only does that make comparison with other brands' models impossible, but it's also not exactly a modern benchmark given the 600 launched over a decade ago.
Based on iRobot's specs, the 705 Vac offers "180x more power-lifting suction" than the ancient 600 Series, while the rest of the range merely offers 70x more. But without a figure in Pascals, I can't compare that to what other brands are offering with their robovacs.
(Image credit: iRobot) A late additionThe Roomba Max 705 Vac is an unexpected straggler following a major iRobot reboot last month. In mid-March, the brand scrapped almost its entire fleet of robovacs and replaced them with new models. The new Roomba features included overdue upgrades like the introduction of LiDAR for navigation, alongside more innovative features like a bot that squishes the dirt in its onboard bin so you don't have to make room for a bulky auto-empty dock.
The only model to survive the cull was the Roomba Max 10 Combo, which at that point was still rather new. I pointed out at the time that this was a shame, because that model hadn't been massively well received, and looked rather dated compared to its new stablemates.
It looks like the Max 705 vac is replacing that model. It seems like it'll be a better robovac, with basic features in line with the rest of the range, even if there's nothing especially new. The 705 is also less than half the price of the Max 10.
I'd assume that a Combo model is in the works and will be joining the range at some point, although that's purely speculation.
The Roomba Max 705 Vac Robot + AutoEmpty Dock is available for pre-order now, with the official launch due on 11 May 2025. Direct from iRobot it costs $899.99 / £699.
You might also like...Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer for the original The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, has shared his thoughts on Bethesda and Virtuos’ new remaster and doesn't think the term "actually does it justice".
In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith said that he spent years working on the original game and that "A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it", but revealed he hadn't heard about the remaster until the game leaked online ahead of its official announcement.
"I intimately knew every single scene that they were showing. And they looked amazing," he said.
The game has been rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and features all-new character models, a new lighting system, environment improvements, and a rework of the game mechanics.
The enhancements are so significant that Nesmith doesn't think calling it a remaster is doing the game justice.
"I was assuming this was going to be a texture update," he explained. "I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be… I would not have batted an eye at that.
"But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game. That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”
Bethesda shadow dropped The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered the day it was revealed, and the game quickly garnered over 190,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Seeing the reception to the 2006 remaster, Nesmith said the number one thing he feels is "pride".
"A game that I worked on has the longevity to still generate interest 20 years later and to be worth the effort—it sounds like considerable effort—and time that Bethesda put into remastering it," he said.
Since Nesmith thinks that the term "remaster" doesn't do the game justice, he thinks "The closest that could come [to categorizing it] is Oblivion 2.0."
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Game Pass for $49.99 / £49.99 and $59.99 / £59.99 for the Deluxe Edition.
You might also like...Have you ever watched a trailer and thought: "this is going to be the best or the worst thing I've ever seen"? If not, watch the trailer for Heads of State embedded below.
The movie, coming to Prime Video on July 2, stars John Cena as the US President and Idris Elba as the UK Prime Minister. And in this movie, they're action heroes.
You read that right. In Heads of State, two of the world's leaders are ass-kicking, wise-cracking, gun-toting action heroes.
I've watched the trailer a few times now and I honestly don't know if this is going to be absolute genius and become one of the best Prime Video movies or if everyone involved should be kept away from cameras for the rest of their lives.
Heads of State could be the strangest Prime Video movie yetHere's the synopsis: "UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ 'special relationship.' But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other."
That means teaming up with Priyanka Chopra Jonas's secret agent, going on the run and finding a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the entire world.
It's a strong cast: in addition to the three leads the film also stars Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid and Sarah Niles. And its director, Ilya Naishuller, made the Bob Odenkirk-starring Nobody, which gave us John Wick meets Better Call Saul, which was a hoot.
Heads of State is clearly very silly. But if like me you loved the daft action movies of the 80s, this could be an absolute blast.
Heads of State will be on Prime Video, one of the best streaming services, from July 2, 2025.
You may also likeGoogle is reportedly enforcing a new hybrid work model whereby employees are being asked to come to the office at least three days per week, and those who fail to comply could face consequences.
A CNBC report claims workers unwilling or unable to comply with the hybrid working policy will be offered voluntary exit packages.
However, it's not entirely black and white, because it looks like Google is not enforcing a company-wide mandate, and decisions could vary by team.
Google is heading back into the officeAccording to the reports, Google Technical Services workers must adopt the new hybrid working routine or accept the exit package. Employees from its People Operations (HR) team must return to the office three days per week if they live within 50 miles of an office, and remote-only workers could be ineligible for promotions unless they go hybrid.
For the AI Division, boss Sergey Brin has mandated in-office presence, adding that 60 hours per week is optimal for productivity.
It's not just renewed office working policies that are affecting Google staff, because the company has initiated numerous rounds of layoffs over the past couple of years, including redundancies in its HR and cloud divisions and further job losses in the Pixel and Android teams.
Despite efforts to cut costs, Google is still managing to perform well each quarter. In its final quarter of fiscal year 2024, it posted a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue. On February 5, CEO Sundar Pichai said that the company would "invest approximately $75 billion in capital expenditures in 2025."
Google isn't the only company to be enforcing new return-to-office (RTO) mandates, with IBM asking its workers to follow a similar three-day routine just last week.
TechRadar Pro has asked Google to confirm the details of its newly enacted policy, but we did not receive an immediate response.
You might also likeChatGPT has updated its usage limits for Plus users, meaning you now get more time with its latest models like ChatGPT-o3 and ChatGPT o4-mini.
With a ChatGPT Plus, Team or Enterprise account you now have access to 100 messages a week with the ChatGPT-o3 model and a staggering 300 messages a day with the o4-mini model. You also get 100 messages a day with the programming-focused o4-mini-high.
OpenAI describe ChatGPT-o3 and ChatGPT o4-mini as their “smartest most capable models yet”, and emphasise that they contain “full tool access”, which means they can agentically access all of ChatGPT’s tools.
This tools include web search, analyzing files with Python, deep reasoning and what OpenAI calls “reasoning with images”, meaning it can include analyzing and even generating images as part of its reasoning process.
In our testing we’ve been most impressed by the speed of both new models.
The new usage limits are effectively a doubling of the old rate limit for the o3 and o4-mini models, and mean we can all enjoy more time using them, provided you are a Plus subscriber, which costs $20 a month (£16 / AU$30) a month.
(Image credit: Apple/OpenAI) How do I know how much I have left?There is no way to determine how many messages you have left in your current week while using ChatGPT Plus, however, you can check the date that your weekly usage limit restarts at any time by highlighting the model in the model picker drop-down.
When you hit your limit you’ll no longer be able to select the model that you’ve maxed-out on in the model drop-down menu.
What's next for ChatGPT?The next release from OpenAI will be o3-pro. In a message on the updated usage limits page OpenAI say “We expect to release OpenAI o3‑pro in a few weeks with full tool support. For now, Pro users can still access o1‑pro.”
While it won’t affect people using ChatGPT.com, the usage limits also apply to developers using the API, which has recently had image generation capabilities added.
You might also likeNvidia's RTX 5000 series GPU launch has been one of its most controversial yet, with inflation, scalping, and low availability issues - and fortunately, the latter problem may finally see a shift in a positive direction soon.
According to Moore's Law Is Dead on YouTube (MLID), Nvidia is improving its supply of RTX 5000 series GPUs - notably the 70-series GPUs and the recent RTX 5060 Ti - based on information from multiple major online retailers. MLID also mentions some RTX 5080 GPUs included, but there's still no sign of significant stock relief for the RTX 5090.
It's a big potential change based on the launch of the flagship GPU, the RTX 5090, alongside the RTX 5080: both of Team Green's powerhouse Blackwell GPUs have had little to no availability since their launch, with most consumers left at the mercy of retailers selling partner cards with inflated prices (if any were in stock to begin with).
However, if this leak is legitimate, it could spell good news for those who are waiting for the Founders Edition options if those will be available again via Nvidia alongside partner cards being restocked; tariff uncertainty is still present across the board for all things tech (especially for partner cards), but consumers may have a better shot at obtaining the RTX 5000 series GPUs at launch price when buying directly from Nvidia itself.
Regardless, the problem of scalpers still remains - so even if Team Green has more Founders Edition cards, the only measure stopping scalpers is its 'limited' Verified Priority Access scheme.
(Image credit: Nvidia) This is another reminder of why the Verified Priority Access scheme should be permanent for NvidiaJust to clarify, the leaks from MLID indicate that major online retailers are seeing an influx of RTX 5000 series GPUs, so there's no guarantee we will actually see significant restocks for Founders Edition cards from Nvidia. However, if this does happen, it reinforces the importance of the Verified Priority Access (VPA) scheme.
This gives consumers who have made an Nvidia account by a certain date (currently January 30) in the US, an opportunity to buy the Founders Edition cards at their launch price. It's a measure created to fend off scalpers, and while it doesn't completely eliminate the issue, it certainly makes life easier for genuine buyers.
The problem is that the VPA scheme is only available in the US and is seemingly only implemented during periods of low availability. As I've stated previously, I feel this should be a permanent scheme going forward; there's always going to be high demand and scalping for Nvidia's GPUs, regardless of controversies such as poor drivers and missing ROPs, especially for flagship GPUs and the RTX 5090 is a prime example.
It's not the same for online retailers, as each will have different policies regarding purchases - and I don't think inflated pricing will get better anytime soon on that end, unfortunately. Despite that, I think a combination of more Founders Edition stock and a permanent VPA scheme could do Team Green wonders.
You may also like...Bang & Olufsen has just unveiled a very limited-edition version of its premium Beosound A9 speaker, featuring an iconic photo of David Bowie.
The design has been created in collaboration with acclaimed British music photographer Denis O'Regan, and it's going to be limited to just 30 speakers.
Each buyer will also get a 12-inch by 8-inch limited edition print signed and numbered by Regan alongside a printed box "sleeve" and a Certificate of Authenticity.
The go-to guy for photographing rock royaltyDenis O'Regan caught the music photography bug when he sneaked a camera into London's Hammersmith Odeon to capture Paul McCartney, and he became the most prolific photographer of Bowie.
He's shot everyone from AC/DC to ZZ Top, was an official photographer at Live Aid, and has been the official photographer for Bowie, Duran Duran, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, Neil Diamond, Bee Gees, Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy. He was also the first ever Artist in Residence at the Albert Hall.
Talking about the Bang & Olufsen collaboration, O'Regan said: “Throughout my career I've been privileged to hear fans and collectors describe one of my images as their 'favourite picture of Bowie'. Five years after crouching in the aisle at Newcastle's City Hall to capture this image, I set off on one of two stadium tours accompanying David around the world as his chosen photographer. This favourite of mine is the image I've selected as my chosen moment for the B&O A9 speaker cover.”
While you'll get that lovely signed print as part of the package, the fun here is really having that striking image on display on a large speaker that's already design to showcase its looks. It's bigger and more expensive than most of our picks of the best wireless speakers – but in this limited-edition version, it's especially hard to resist.
The Denis O’Regan Edition A9 Speaker will be available via west-contemporary-editions.com from Friday 25th April 2025 at 12:00 BST, with a price of £3,995 (roughly $5,300 / AU$8,300).
You might also likeRoku has just announced a bunch of new products, and we're delighted with the new mini-LED Roku Plus Series TVs, which bring that screen tech down to an unbelievably new low price – considering how much we liked the previous Roku Plus Series and the Roku Pro Series TV with mini-LED, we're excited for the value of these new models.
Roku also announced some new streaming sticks, and this is where things get, uh, sticky. There's nothing wrong with the sticks themselves, which replace the old Roku Express models in Roku's range – one delivers budget streaming with HD only, and one delivers 4K HDR for a little more money.
But it means that Roku's streaming stick lineup is now stupidly confusing if you're looking for a 4K option.
There are three products in Roku's stick range: the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and the Roku Streaming Stick. Let me ask you a couple of questions about them…
You have a 4K TV, and you want a 4K streaming stick, obviously; which should you buy? The 4K model, of course. Well, except, the Plus also does 4K.
Okay, now you know this, here's a follow-up: Which is the best model in the range, with the most advanced features for 4K HDR viewing? Probably the Plus, right, since it does 4K, but it's Plus. It's more.
Wrong, the Streaming Stick 4K is the only one with Dolby Vision HDR, and is the higher-end model in the range.
This naming convention is so obviously confusing that the official Roku site actually refers to the Plus model as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (4K) whenever it's mentioned in written text.
Here are the details on the new stick range (plus the Roku Ultra box, for context):
I don't blame Roku for having a more expensive model for Dolby Vision, because Dolby charges hardware makers a fee to include its products, which isn't the case for basic HDR10 or HDR10+.
But I don't really understand why you'd bother with the Streaming Stick Plus at all in this case. The Streaming Stick 4K has been out for a while now – could Roku not bring its price down by $5, so that we wouldn't really need the Plus at all, to keep it simple?
I have to assume that we're in a strange transitional stage of Roku's lineup. The Streaming Stick 4K has been around for a while, so I'm guessing it may be removed soon and there might be a new product coming – maybe something a little pricier than 4K model that splits the difference between the Plus and the $99 Roku Ultra.
Or maybe Roku will just remove the 4K model from the lineup eventually and say 'If you want Dolby, pay $99' – though if it does that, hopefully it'll actually release the Ultra in countries such as the UK…
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/Future)Roku is far from the first tech company to release a confusing range of devices – and this isn't even the first streaming stick range to have too many similar products in.
Amazon used to offer the Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max all at once (though it has since removed the Lite).
That always felt like more products than were really needed, and likely to cause confusion – except that Amazon's lineup has clarity in the product names. It's perfectly clear which sticks do 4K, and which is the best of the bunch.
Roku's range needs a little realignment – and I expect it might be coming later this year. In the meantime, just make sure you read the specs carefully before buying if you want to add one of its sticks to one of the best TVs…
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