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• A durability test has revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's Corning Gorilla Armor 2 screen might scratch more easily than first thought
• This could, however, mean that the phone is less likely to shatter when dropped
• These results are at odds with Corning's claims

The move to Corning Gorilla Armor 2 protection is supposedly one of the biggest upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the new material sounding, on paper, like a big improvement on the original Gorilla Armor used by the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, a new durability test suggests the reality might be a bit more complicated than that.

JerryRigEverything (via Phone Arena) has released a video testing the durability of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in various ways, and one interesting thing they found was that the phone's screen started getting scratched at level six of the Mohs scale of hardness (a system used to measure scratch resistance).

That’s in line with a lot of other high-end phones, but it’s a step down from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which in the same test didn’t start getting scratches until level seven. So, in other words, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s screen is seemingly easier to scratch than its predecessor’s.

A shatter-resistant compromise

So, what’s going on here? While JerryRigEverything doesn’t have a definitive answer, they posit that perhaps the glass was too brittle on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. After all, increasing scratch resistance will typically mean making the glass harder, which can also make it more likely to shatter when dropped.

So, Corning and Samsung might have decided that this is a better balance – sacrificing some scratch resistance for improved drop resistance.

That said, while Corning itself states that drop resistance has been improved compared to the original Gorilla Armor, it also says that “Gorilla Armor 2 maintained its exceptional scratch resistance.”

So, it’s possible that, for whatever reason, JerryRigEverything’s results will prove to be outliers. But even if the glass on the Galaxy S25 Ultra really is more prone to scratching, we’d argue it’s probably a fair trade if that means it’s less likely to smash.

What do you value more in a smartphone: strong scratch resistance or strong drop resistance? Let us know in the comments.

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• A fairly reliable leaker has hinted at the next State of Play date
• The next PlayStation presentation could air around Valentine's Day
• Updates for upcoming PS5 games like Ghost of Yotei seem likely

A PlayStation State of Play presentation could be happening this month per a reliable leaker, which would line up with previous years.

The rumor comes from NateTheHate on X / Twitter (via VGC), a fairly reliable source who has revealed accurate information about PlayStation and Nintendo products in the past. In a reply to another user asking about a specific date for the State of Play presentation, he responds: "What does your heart tell you?" That strongly suggests a live date of on or around February 14 (Valentine's Day).

Now, it's possible that Nate could just be guesstimating here. A State of Play for February 2025 is a fairly safe bet, given Sony has run these presentations towards the start of the last two years. We also know that Sony has at least two big PS5 games in the pipeline for this year - those being Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei, both sequels to a pair of critically acclaimed titles.

A State of Play this month would also present a good opportunity for Insomniac Games to give a more thorough update on its upcoming Marvel's Wolverine game. The developer did share a small message about the game last week, stating it has to remain "very stoic until it’s time to pop the claws down the road." Could that time be this month? We'll need to wait and see.

It'd also be reasonable to expect an update on Tekken 8 season 2 - a massive patch for the fighting game that doesn't yet have a release date. While we currently don't know which characters are going to be added for the game's second year, Bandai Namco has not so subtly teased the return of Anna Williams in the original season 2 trailer.

In any case, keep your eyes glued to PlayStation's social channels this month, as that State of Play announcement could happen any day now.

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To most people, words like algebra, algorithms, and computational mathematics may bring back memories of educational struggles. But behind these abstract concepts lies a powerful, life-saving tool: High-Performance Computing (HPC). HPC leverages advanced mathematics and enormous processing power to handle calculations that were once unimaginable, making it indispensable across a range of disciplines, including meteorology.

Without HPC, our ability to predict natural disasters would be vastly diminished. From issuing hurricane warnings that enable mass evacuations to forecasting floods before they reach populated areas, HPC allows meteorologists to transform data into actionable insights that save lives. In a world without HPC, many more lives would be lost to extreme weather.

Mathematics that saves lives

Natural disasters impact nearly every corner of the globe. In 2023, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria led to the highest death toll of any natural disaster that year. Economically, Hurricane Katrina remains one of the world’s most costly disasters, second only to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011 These catastrophic events underscore the importance of accurate and timely forecasting, a feat made possible by the power of HPC.

During my tenure at Red Oak Consulting and my time working within the Met Office, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of High-Performance Computing (HPC) in forecasting and predicting impending weather catastrophes with remarkable accuracy, which is only going to be more vital to society as we progress through the modern world.

Natural disasters on the rise

Climate change is transforming the world’s landscape, fueling extreme weather events that threaten to reshape entire regions. Rising global temperatures drive severe droughts, increase the intensity of storms, and intensify tropical cyclones. The oceans, warmed by climate change, provide ideal conditions for storms to form and strengthen, while rising sea levels and water-saturated air supercharge these events.

With rising sea levels blurring the boundaries between land and ocean, coastal areas that were once considered safe are now at risk of flooding. Climate change redraws the map of risk, leaving previously untouched regions vulnerable to natural disasters. As the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) notes, climate change is a key driver behind the increased frequency and severity of hurricanes, which last longer and reach higher intensities than ever before.

The devastating floods in Spain, which tragically claimed 200 lives, highlight the increasing risks climate change poses to weather patterns and water systems. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, have intensified due to human-induced warming. Rising global temperatures accelerate and destabilize the hydrological cycle, resulting in extreme variations in water availability.

The phenomenon known as DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) played a major role, as residual summer heat from the Mediterranean clashed with polar air, creating convective clouds and torrential rains. Warmer sea surfaces and a moisture-laden atmosphere, both driven by climate change, amplify such events, making deadly flash floods more frequent and severe.

Why is HPC crucial to meteorology?

For decades, weather forecasting has relied on complex mathematical equations and vast amounts of data. However, until recently, the computing power needed to process these elements quickly and accurately was limited. HPC has now become a crucial tool, allowing meteorologists to model and forecast extreme weather events with unprecedented precision and speed, giving communities precious time to prepare for what lies ahead.

HPC processes vast datasets from satellites, ocean buoys, radar, aircraft, and ground stations, integrating them to create models that simulate various weather scenarios. These advanced models can predict hurricanes, cyclones, heatwaves, and flash floods by running billions of calculations that reveal how atmospheric conditions may develop. HPC enables these models to be run at an incredibly high resolution, pinpointing likely developments across specific regions and timeframes.

For example, in the case of an approaching hurricane, HPC can forecast its expected path, intensity, wind speeds, and rainfall distribution, allowing meteorologists to issue accurate, targeted warnings well in advance of impact. Without HPC, such precise predictions would be impossible, and communities would be left with much less time to prepare for incoming disasters.

HPC also enables real-time data assimilation, which means it can integrate the latest data into ongoing forecasts, updating predictions minute by minute as conditions change. This capability is particularly vital for rapidly shifting events, like thunderstorms and cyclones, which can be unpredictable and fast-moving. HPC’s speed and scale make it possible to refine forecasts down to highly specific locations, helping authorities make informed decisions on evacuations, shelter locations, and resource deployment.

Future-proofing with climate modelling

While weather forecasting predicts short-term conditions, climate modelling aims to simulate long-term changes, giving us insight into how rising temperatures, greenhouse gases, and other factors will shape our planet’s climate over decades or centuries. HPC is essential for this purpose, allowing scientists to simulate the complex, interconnected systems driving Earth’s climate and to explore possible future scenarios.

At its core, climate modelling is about understanding the intricate dynamics between atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, and land-sea interactions. Models consider variables like greenhouse gas concentrations, solar radiation, cloud formation, and human activities, integrating them to project future climate conditions. Because Earth’s climate system has countless interdependent factors, climate models require immense computational power. HPC enables scientists to run these models and simulate climate interactions with unprecedented detail and accuracy.

HPC-powered climate models provide insights crucial for planning and policymaking. For instance, by running simulations based on different emissions levels, scientists can predict potential outcomes for global temperatures, sea levels, and weather patterns. This data helps inform government policies on climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and disaster preparedness, empowering decision-makers to build defenses against the impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, HPC enables ‘ensemble modelling’, where multiple simulations run in parallel with slight variations to account for uncertainties. This approach yields more reliable, probabilistic forecasts, offering a range of potential outcomes. Ensemble modelling is essential in climate science, as it provides a fuller picture of possible scenarios and equips policymakers with the information needed to make informed, adaptive decisions.

HPC and global aviation

A less visible yet equally vital area where HPC powers forecasting is in global aviation. The skies may seem vast and unpredictable, but behind every transatlantic flight and intercontinental journey lies a finely tuned network of meteorological support. Just two centers worldwide provide real-time aviation forecasts: the World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs), operated by the UK Met Office and NOAA in the United States.

Tasked with delivering critical weather forecasts for safe flight planning, the WAFCs rely on HPC to generate up-to-the-minute insights that help pilots navigate potential hazards. The Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) oversees these centers, which keep watch on everything from turbulence to icing conditions across global airspace. With HPC enabling rapid data processing, WAFCs can predict hazardous conditions well before a flight reaches them, allowing pilots to adjust routes and ensure passenger safety.

Imagine a transatlantic flight with hundreds of passengers on board, cruising at high altitude over the Atlantic. Without HPC, forecasters would struggle to track storm systems, turbulence, and potential icing hazards in real time. Thanks to HPC, WAFCs monitor vast stretches of atmosphere, predict weather events, and ensure that flight paths are optimized for safety and efficiency. This essential capability keeps global aviation moving smoothly and mitigates the risks posed by unforeseen weather conditions.

Preparing with precision

As the risk of natural disasters grows, high-performance computing stands as a frontline defense, transforming raw data into life-saving forecasts. HPC models simulate hurricanes, wildfires, and floods in astonishing detail, giving communities and emergency responders precise, real-time updates that guide preparations and minimize harm.

Beyond immediate crises, HPC powers long-term climate models that reveal how rising temperatures and sea levels will shape future risks. Cities use this information to strengthen defenses, plan resilient infrastructure, and adapt to an era of extreme weather. Enhanced by AI, HPC pushes the boundaries of early detection, identifying patterns that signal emerging threats and offering vital insights that help us act with precision.

So, the next time you check a weather forecast, remember the sophisticated systems working behind the scenes-powered by HPC, predicting natural disasters, and preparing us for whatever lies ahead.

We've compiled a list of the best cloud computing services.

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

By now, even casual observers of the tech world are well aware of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s dazzling contribution to artificial intelligence. Its ability to generate coherent, on-point responses has upended online research and sparked endless speculation about AI’s growing role in our everyday lives.

A recent rising challenger, China’s opensource AI-powered chatbot, DeepSeek, has drawn its own intrigue, promising to run more efficiently and be better suited to non-English users than its American competitor.

Yet in the rush to assess its functionality, adoption, and potential geopolitical sway, one pressing question seems to have been sidelined: how do the environmental credentials of these ChatGPT and DeepSeek compare?

Where It All Began: A Look at ChatGPT and DeepSeek’s Origins

ChatGPT

ChatGPT’s meteoric rise began in late 2022, with OpenAI and Microsoft forming a high-profile alliance to scale it via Azure’s cloud services. Every iteration of the GPT architecture, however, comes at a steep environmental price. Training such a colossal model requires immense computing power, and the subsequent energy use has raised uncomfortable questions about its carbon footprint.

DeepSeek

While DeepSeek hasn’t yet become a household name to the extent ChatGPT has, it’s earning a reputation as a leaner, more multilingual competitor. It uses techniques like pruning (removing unnecessary parts of the model to reduce size and improve efficiency), model distillation (training a smaller "student" model to imitate a larger "teacher" model), and algorithmic streamlining (optimizing each step of the computation process to minimize wasted resources and improve overall performance) – all intended to cut down on resources and associated costs.

The theory goes that an AI needing fewer GPUs should, in principle, consume less energy overall. Yet details on its total environmental impact remain conspicuously thin, leaving observers to wonder if DeepSeek’s operational gains could truly deliver on the sustainability front.

Energy and Carbon Emissions

The most glaring environmental toll for both models lies in the power needed to train them. Early estimates suggest that rolling out ChatGPT’s latest language model, GPT4, demanded colossal GPU capacity for weeks on end.

DeepSeek, meanwhile, claims to require fewer high-end chips, potentially reducing its total electricity draw.

Data Centers and Energy Sources

Powering ChatGPT on Microsoft’s Azure platform has its upsides and downsides. Microsoft is working to become carbon-negative by 2030, underpinned by investments in green energy and carbon capture. Yet many of its data centers remain tethered to non-renewable energy grids, and the manufacture of sophisticated AI chips is itself resource-intensive.

DeepSeek appears to rely on Alibaba Cloud, China’s most prominent cloud provider, which has set similar targets for carbon neutrality. But China’s national grid continues to rely heavily on coal, meaning the actual environmental impact might be more significant unless DeepSeek is sited in locations rich in renewable infrastructure. That said, DeepSeek’s focus on efficiency might still make it less carbon-intensive overall.

Water Usage and Cooling

Running giant clusters of GPUs produces heat – lots of it. Data centres typically use vast amounts of water for cooling, especially in regions with high temperatures. Microsoft has come under fire for consuming billions of liters of water, some of which goes towards cooling the hardware behind AI operations.

Information on DeepSeek’s water footprint is scant. If Alibaba Cloud’s newer facilities use advanced cooling methods – such as immersion cooling (submerging servers in a thermally conductive liquid to dissipate heat more efficiently) – DeepSeek might fare better in terms of water usage. But with so little public data on its processes, it’s difficult to measure how it stacks up against ChatGPT on this front.

The Hidden Cost of E-Waste

The relentless pace of AI hardware development means GPUs and other accelerators can quickly become obsolete. ChatGPT’s operations, involving cutting-edge equipment, likely generate a rising tide of e-waste, though precise figures are elusive.

In principle, DeepSeek’s more frugal approach implies fewer chips, which could mean slower turnover and less waste. Still, this remains an educated guess until there’s more visibility into how DeepSeek’s hardware ecosystem is managed.

Where Do They Stand?

At first glance, OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft suggests ChatGPT might stand to benefit from a more environmentally conscious framework – provided that Microsoft’s grand sustainability promises translate into meaningful progress on the ground. DeepSeek, meanwhile, must grapple with a coal-reliant grid in China, yet its drive for efficiency could place it in a better position to curb overall energy consumption per operation.

That said, the U.S. is hardly a clean-energy haven either. While Microsoft has pledged to go carbon-negative by 2030, America remains one of the world’s largest consumers of fossil fuels, with coal still powering parts of its grid. Moreover, political shifts could slow progress: the resurgence of a "drill, baby, drill" mentality in Republican energy rhetoric suggests a renewed push for oil and gas, potentially undermining AI’s green ambitions.

Ultimately, AI is hurtling forward at breakneck speed, but the environmental ramifications lag far behind in public scrutiny. As these systems weave themselves ever deeper into our politics, economy, and daily interactions, the debate on their energy sources, water usage, and hardware footprints must become more transparent. If the world’s appetite for AI is unstoppable, then so too must be our commitment to holding its creators accountable for the planet’s long-term well-being. That responsibility extends not just to China and the U.S. and every nation where AI is trained, deployed, and powered.

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

When we hear the word “mobile,” the automatic assumption is that we’re talking about iPhones and iPads. However, "mobile" is an umbrella term that extends far beyond just phones and tablets.

Mobility use cases are enabled by infrastructure that affords users the freedom to stay connected while on the move. This ranges from handheld portable electronic and smart wearables to point-of-sale (POS) systems and Apple Vision Pro headsets. This means that most of the critical technologies used by businesses to operate and connect with customers are increasingly provided through mobile solutions.

Many organizations have yet to reach a level of maturity in their mobile programs to reflect the critical role devices play. Such assets can no longer be viewed solely as ‘niche’ by businesses. They are, in fact, ‘mission-critical’ devices that must be treated as first-class assets when developing both security and resilience strategies.

What is meant by ‘mission-critical use’

It’s safe to say that one of the biggest revolutions over the last 30 years, alongside developments like the internet, has been the introduction of mobile devices into the workplace.

What originally started as a “nice to have,” with only certain individuals having access to smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), has evolved to the point where mobiles are a necessity for any successful business.

As a result, we have seen new device form factors join the ‘mission critical’ category. These mobile devices are essential to the operation and running of an organization; if one of these devices fails, the entire business would likely grind to a halt.

Many of these devices are deployed in environments where they might be shared among multiple users or designated for specific functions rather than assigned to an individual.

Given the broad definition, there is a wide spectrum of devices that can count as ‘mission critical,’ each one serving a distinct need within a business. This includes tablets used in healthcare to monitor patient recovery or clinical therapy, as well as systems used in retail environments such as mobile credit card processors, as well as to process payments, manage inventory, or for time tracking on the sales floor.

Even an Apple Vision Pro headset can be considered ‘mission critical’ depending on the use case, with such devices being used in power stations to train technicians and optimize site operations.

Whilst these are three very different examples, each illustrates how vital mobile assets have become for organizations. If they were to fail, it could result in lost revenue for a small business, or, in more serious cases, put patients’ or workers’ lives at risk.

Challenges organizations face with managing ‘mission-critical use’ devices

Maintaining operational uptime on ‘mission-critical use’ devices is essential and this means making them both cyber resilient and operationally resilient.

Mobiles are now a common attack vector for cybercriminals, in part because they often exhibit the worst security standards. For example, 40% of mobile users are running a device with known vulnerabilities. Poor cybersecurity standards mean that the bar to exploit such an asset is extremely low, making it easier for cybercriminals to take them offline and halt the operations of victim organizations.

Businesses tend to focus all their efforts on meeting regulatory checkboxes for compliance, yet they often overlook specific security threats and vulnerabilities that might put the device at risk. It’s also frequently assumed that limited-access devices are safe by default, but this is rarely the case, particularly when work devices are used for personal reasons.

On the other hand, some businesses may have elements of strong cybersecurity but fail to implement practices strategically. For example, automated processes might update all devices with new patches at the same time. If the business doesn’t have backup systems in place, then it could face operational downtime while the update takes place.

Performance is king when it comes to mobile devices, and providing the best possible service to customers means frontline workers having the right tools performing reliably.

For example, you can’t have a mobile device used in a critical scenario run out of power because heavy cumbersome software is placing undo strain on the battery.

While these are two different issues, they stem from the same problem: businesses don’t fully understand how dependent they are on mobiles and lack awareness when examining the security of such devices.

While mobile devices used by workers on the frontline, such as POS systems, are obvious additions to the ‘mission critical’ category, the mobile devices of knowledge workers, are equally important. If an executive loses access to their smartphone, they can’t retrieve essential information or perform their job effectively. This is potentially as disastrous as a frontline system going down; however, it’s often overlooked by IT teams.

Organizations need to understand assess all the mobile devices that are used for work and recognize which ones are ‘mission critical.’ Only then can they start addressing the security challenges they face and make mobiles more resilient. Tackling the problem requires a structured and layered model.

Building resilience in ‘mission critical’ devices

The first stage in assessing an organization's ‘mission critical’ footprint involves a comprehensive asset inventory. This means understanding what assets are deployed, where they are, and what they’re accessing.

The inventory should include a mapping of where there are overlaps between devices and the applications that are also ‘mission critical.’ These are crucial aspects that organizations often overlook. Once a business has an understanding of their ‘mission critical’ assets, they can implement a backup plan for when they go down.

During this phase, it’s also crucial for organizations to know their suppliers, and to understand the control options available for the devices they’ve acquired. This will enable security teams to apply minimum security standards immediately as devices are unboxed, making good security hygiene just as important as application deployments.

Basic cyber hygiene practices, such as implementing Multi-Factor Authentication, enforcing rigorous patching processes, and requiring strong passwords, are essential for improving the security standards of ‘mission criticals’. The majority of breaches can be tied to failures in getting the basics right.

Following the ‘mission critical’ asset inventory, it is imperative to implement threat prevention, this includes Device Management to ensure that devices are monitored and security policies enforced. By implementing such capabilities, organizations can block malicious activity before it reaches the device, helping to maintain operational availability in devices.

Settings are equally important. Limiting non-essential notifications, restricting high-risk applications, and carefully managing access controls can enhance safety on ‘mission critical’ tools. The same approach applies to backup planning.

Finally, organizations should think about connectivity to workloads and backend applications that are operated off the device – for example, connection to a database or running an AI workload in the cloud. It’s important that all data in transit between devices and workloads is protected.

However, cybersecurity strategies and practices must also be aligned with uptime strategies. It’s a wasted effort improving cyber hygiene if a malfunctioning update causes downtime in all ‘mission-critical’ devices at the same time.

For ‘mission critical’ devices, broad updates or general alerts aren’t ideal. A tablet relied on by an airline pilot or surgeon should not receive disruptive updates during essential operations.

Organizations need to either establish a plan to schedule downtime aligned with business requirements or procure backup devices and implement a local protocol to enable immediate device swapping as needed.

Ultimately, mobile devices are now critical to the operations of every business. Therefore, IT teams need to treat them in the same way they would other critical assets. Businesses need to have a clear plan for how they manage ‘mission critical’ devices that ensures they are both secure and operationally resilient. For many, this means the time has come for mobile to assume a first class role in the enterprise, where its impact on business is understood and maintained.

We've listed the best Mobile Device Management solutions.

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

Severance season 2 has all of us on the edge of our seats, and they're once again teasing us with weekly releases. Episode 3 of one of the best Apple TV Plus shows is finally here, and it packed a lot into its hour-long runtime. Most notable were, of course, the goats, but we've also had our first look at Gwendoline Christie's new character and witnessed Mark making a shocking decision about severance. Elsewhere, Dylan's latest perk could prove to torment him.

If you need a reminder for previous episodes, check out our Severance episode 1 recap and Severance season 2 recap to bring you up to speed.

Cobel's job offer

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

The episode sees Cobel still on the road after abruptly driving away from Mark, who confronted her outside her home. When she reaches an unknown place called Salt's Neck, she decides to turn around and head back, but like most things Cobel does, we don't quite know why.

Cobel heads to Lumon, where she meets up with Helena after considering the job offer. She says if she returns, she wants to keep a close eye on MDR so she can watch Mark complete Cold Harbor, one of the biggest Severance mysteries. She's also not pleased about Milchick running the show and wants him gone, but Helena pushes back on this.

Not for the first time, Cobel abruptly leaves the meeting and drives off, so she's been constantly running away from her problems and fears recently. Something weird is going on, and I want to know what!

Meeting a new department

By this point, Mark is now fully back to work at Lumon. We see him timing how long it takes to get into Lumon to the point where he's severed, where he obviously switches into innie Mark, abruptly stopping the countdown.

He's on a mission, printing out flyers of a Ms. Casey drawing, and asks Helly and Irving to pass them around the Lumon departments. It's also important to note that Helly is still acting weird around Mark and not like Helly at all. Nevertheless, she helps Mark on his quest to find Ms. Casey.

They come across a small hallway. They crawl through it and find it leads to a large room full of goats on what seems to be artificial grass. We then meet a brand new team led by Gwendoline Christine, who is immediately suspicious of MDR and asks if they're going to kill her (not a normal question to ask at work, but okay...). She reveals that this department is called Mammalians Nurturable, and hey presto, we've got a new department – and it's linked to the goats, who have intrigued fans enough to inspire plenty of Severance goat theories.

Mark and Helly talk to the woman, asking her if she knows anything about the Wellness department or Ms. Casey. Mark reminds her that if they can make Ms. Casey disappear, any one of them could follow, including their goats, and it seems to do the trick. She eventually admits that Ms. Casey used to conduct wellness sessions in their “husbandry tanks.” She and her staff all seem to have liked her; they believe she retired but tell Mark they won't get in the way if he thinks otherwise. So that's something, at least.

Milchick's disturbing gift from The Board

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Natalie arrives at Milchick's office to present him with a gift from The Board. But he is left visibly uncomfortable when he realizes they're a series of paintings recontextualizing Lumon’s history with Black versions of Kier and his subjects. With her earpiece connected to the mysterious Board, Natalie reels off some corporate-approved messaging, saying: “The Board austerely desires for you to feel connected to Lumon’s history. To that end, please accept from the Board these inclusively re-canonicalized paintings intended to help you see yourself in Kier, our founder.”

She also claims she received the same gift and was "moved" by it, but when the Board terminates the call, Milchick and she exchange an uncomfortable glance before she goes back to her forced smile. Natalie's facade has slipped for a brief moment, and I'm excited to see if she starts to rebel against Lumon, too. Milchick, understandably, packs up the paintings and puts them away.

Dylan’s innie and Gretchen

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

In a very emotional scene, Ms. Huang comes to get Dylan and leads him to the former security room, which has now been turned into the Outie Visitation Room. Turns out, Milchick was right when he teased these plans to Dylan and it has the potential to be one of the most twisted "perks" Lumon has come up with.

Dylan learns he's "earned" an 18-minute visit with his outie’s wife, Gretchen, where they discuss their three kids and get a bit closer. As Dylan’s session with his wife ends, she tells him she’s proud of him and loves him. He doesn’t know how to respond but feels great. Later, Dylan's outie watches the kids and when asked about the visit, Gretchen tells him it was "weird but good."

Mark's big decision and a surprise visit

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Natalie visits Devon’s home to discuss Ricken's book, which became an unexpected hit after it was found on the severed floor. Lumon wants an "innie version" of the book, given the fact they liked it so much, but it's pretty suspicious that Lumon keeps rocking up to Devon and Ricken's home.

Devon is equally as suspicious of Devon as she is of Milchick and leaves to meet up with Mark. They try to burn an image into his retinas to take into Lumon, but as we've seen before, previous attempts to sneak messages in and out have not gone well.

Asai Reghabi shows up and stops him from going through with this bold idea. She tells him that his wife Gemma is alive and there’s only one way to get information in and out of Lumon: reintegration. Now, reintegration is a controversial choice, considering it killed Petey in Severance season 1, but since Mark is desperate, he decides to go through with the procedure to hopefully stitch his memories back together.

Asai and Mark begin the reintegration process. and this episode ends with the two sides of Mark's persona blending together, insinuating that the reintegration process may work this time around, but now I'm pretty fearful for Mark's mental and physical health.

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• A shipping manifest has detailed what looks like a professional workstation card
• It could possibly be the successor to Nvidia's RTX 6000 Ada, the most expensive graphics card in the world
• Based on the RTX5090, it is expected to have a whopping 96GB, twice that of it predecessor

The GeForce RTX 5090, the latest flagship graphics card for gamers and creatives in Nvidia's GeForce 50 series, was unveiled at CES 2025 and has just gone on sale - buts hortly before it did, rumors began to swirl of an RTX 5090 Ti model featuring a fully enabled GB202-200-A1 GPU and dual 12V-2×6 power connectors, theoretically allowing for up to 1,200 watts of power.

This speculation began following the appearance of a prototype image on the Chinese industry forum Chiphell - reporting on the image, ComputerBase said, “With 24,576 shaders, the GB202-200-A1 GPU is said to offer 192 active streaming multiprocessors, which were previously rumored to be the full expansion of the GB202 chip. The memory is said to continue to offer 32GB capacity, but with 32Gbps instead of 28Gbps, it will exceed the 2TB/s mark.”

Shortly after the engineering card surfaced online, ComputerBase alsospotted shipping documents on NBD Data listing a graphics card with 96GB of GDDR7 memory, marked as “for testing.” It is a reasonable assumption that this unidentified model is actually a professional workstation card, potentially – let’s say probably – the RTX 6000 Blackwell.

Useful for AI applications

(Image credit: NBD)

The GeForce RTX 5090 features 32GB of GDDR7, using sixteen 2GB modules connected through a 512-bit memory interface. 48GB would be possible if sixteen 3GB chips were used instead of 2GB chips.

If two of these 3GB chips were connected to each 32-bit controller, placing 16 chips on both the front and back of the graphics card in a "clamshell" configuration, the 96GB mentioned in the documents – which is twice as much as the RTX 6000 Ada, the most expensive graphics card in the world – would become a reality.

The shipping records indicate these GPUs use a 512-bit memory bus, reinforcing this theory. The internal PCB designation PG153, seen in the documents, aligns with known Nvidia Blackwell designs and has not yet appeared in any existing consumer graphics cards.

Nvidia is expected to introduce the RTX Blackwell series for workstations at its annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC 2025), so we should know more about them come March 2025. And yes, if you’re thinking 96GB of GDDR7 memory is overkill for gaming or creative purposes I’d agree with you. It is a good amount for AI tasks though, so we can expect to see Nvidia announce an AI version of the RTX 6000 Blackwell when it finally takes the wraps off its next-gen product.

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Yes, I know, we’re all very excited about how powerful Nvidia’s RTX 5090 is, and presumably many of us are also very upset that Nvidia apparently thought seven cards per retailer would be enough stock for launch day (note to Jensen Huang: that was a joke, please take your hitman off speed dial).

But even though it does look mighty impressive – and as per our RTX 5080 review, the middle child of the Blackwell generation is no slouch either – there’s a different GPU I’m really looking forward to this year, and it’s the lowest-spec desktop card Nvidia announced at CES 2025. That’s right, I’m talking about the RTX 5070.

Now, I’ve always had a soft spot for Nvidia’s xx70 GPUs; I rocked a GTX 970 back in the day, and I was a strong supporter of the RTX 3070 when it came out back in 2020. These cards typically find the right balance between performance and pricing; not too expensive, but still perfectly capable of delivering a solid gaming experience to the average consumer. And with the RTX 5070, I think we could be in for a treat – not least because Nvidia has seemingly done the unthinkable.

A pleasant surprise

See, at launch, the current-gen RTX 4070 cost $599 / £589 / AU$1,109. I thought that was a pretty fair price at the time – certainly better value for money than the higher-end Lovelace GPUs, and something we praised it for in our review. I was expecting to see the exact same price tag for the RTX 5070, but no: Nvidia has actually lowered the list price, bringing it down to $549 / £549 (around AU$880).

I’m really not exaggerating when I say that this is nuts. Obviously, we don’t have performance figures for the RTX 5070 yet, so there’s every possibility Nvidia does screw the pooch on this one, but let’s be honest: this card will likely sit somewhere between the RTX 4070 and RTX 4080, with $50 / £40 shaved off the price tag to boot. That’s great!

That’s not all, either; I’m just talking about my raw performance expectations here, but that’s without even factoring in Multi Frame Generation, which combined with DLSS 4 and Reflex 2 provides a serious performance boost for RTX 5000 GPUs without many of the drawbacks seen in previous iterations of Nvidia’s upscaling and frame-gen tech. Access to these tools – which can be retroactively improved by Nvidia – is a key winning factor for the 5070.

With that price tag, the RTX 5070 has genuine potential to be the new 1440p gaming king – or even a reasonably priced 4K card, once we see how well DLSS 4 and MFG actually perform on a more affordable Blackwell card. Personally, I have high expectations… don’t let me down, Nvidia.

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• Where to buy the RTX 5090
• Nvidia RTX 5090 8K performance has blown me away already – and it's mainly thanks to Multi-Frame Generation
• Nvidia's DLSS 4 is amazing – here's what AMD's FSR 4 needs to do to take it on

• We've got another leak around the OnePlus Open 2
• Macro support on the telephoto camera is rumored
• The foldable will appear first as the Oppo Find N5

Oppo has been busy teasing the upcoming Oppo Find N5, which will almost certainly be sold as the OnePlus Open 2 outside of China, and the latest rumor suggests the handset will have one particular camera upgrade – an upgrade that even top-tier flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra don't offer.

As per well-known tipster Smart Pikachu (via Android Authority), the Oppo Find N5 – and therefore the OnePlus Open 2 – is going to come with macro photography support on its telephoto lens, offering extra flexibility for close up shots.

It means the ability to take close ups without actually having to get close to whatever you're shooting – that's the advantage of having macro support on the telephoto camera, rather than included with the standard primary camera.

While the feature can be found on a few handsets, it's not something that Samsung, Google, or Apple have added to their phones – so you could get more photo flexibility from the OnePlus Open 2 than the Pixel 9 Pro or the iPhone 16.

Rumors and teases

An official teaser image from Oppo (Image credit: Oppo)

We've seen lots of unofficial leaks and official teases when it comes to this foldable phone. Some serious upgrades are apparently on the way, including a large 5,900 mAh battery, waterproofing, and a bump to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from Qualcomm.

This is apparently going to be the thinnest foldable to hit the market yet, and Oppo executives have posted pictures showing just how thin it will be – with one image comparing it to the M4-powered iPad Pro from Apple.

What we're not sure of yet is exactly when the handset is going to launch, though it shouldn't be far off now. One rumor has pointed to the OnePlus Open 2 going on sale in the second half of 2025, though we're hoping to see it sooner.

As you can tell from our OnePlus Open review, we are big fans of the original folding phone from OnePlus – and that means we're looking forward to seeing what a new and improved version brings to the best foldables market.

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• 5 things I want to see from the OnePlus Open 2
• You may never go back after switching to a foldable phone

January is finally over. After what always feels like the longest month of the year, it's time to get the lowdown on what you can stream on Apple TV Plus during the shortest month of 2025.

In this guide, I've rounded up all the new movies and TV shows that'll debut on Apple's streaming platform in February. You'll also find more details on the weekly episodic releases for recently launched and returning TV Originals, including new installments of Severance season 2 and Prime Target. Without further ado, then, here's what you can look forward to on one of the world's best streaming services before March 1.

February 5

Spanish rom-com Love You to Death premieres in early February (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Love You to Death episodes 1 and 2
• Mythic Quest season 4 episode 3
• Prime Target episode 4

February 7

Severance season 2 continues to get weirder and weirder with each new episode (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Severance season 2 episode 4

February 12

Prime Target's fifth episode is out in mid-February (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Love You to Death episode 3
• Mythic Quest season 4 episode 4
• Prime Target episode 5

February 14

The Gorge is a supernatural action-thriller that stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• The Gorge
• Severance season 2 episode 5

February 19

Mythic Quest's fourth season continues apace throughout February (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Love You to Death episode 4
• Mythic Quest season 4 episode 5
• Prime Target episode 6

February 21

Surface season 2 makes its streaming debut in late February (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Severance season 2 episode 6
• Surface season 2 episode 1

February 26

Another Mythic Quest season 4 episode will be released before the end of the month (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Love You to Death episode 5
• Mythic Quest season 4 episode 6
• Prime Target episode 7

February 28

Severance season 2's seventh episode arrives on the final day of February (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

• Onside: Major League Soccer episodes 1 through 8
• Severance season 2 episode 7
• Surface season 2 episode 2

For more Apple TV Plus coverage, read our guides on Foundation season 3, Slow Horses season 5, Presumed Innocent season 2, and the best Apple TV Plus movies.

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, February 2 (game #602).

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 #603) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SNAP
• SCREW
• BURN
• ZEST
• LOUSE
• WEDGE
• ZING
• MITE
• SLICE
• MUCK
• BIT
• OUCH
• LITTLE
• TWIST
• FOUL
• TAD

NYT Connections today (game #603) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Jibe reactions
• GREEN: Titchy 
• BLUE: Lemon and lemon
• PURPLE: It’s all gone wrong

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 #603) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: COMMENT AFTER AN INSULT
• GREEN: TINY AMOUNT, WITH "A" 
• BLUE: BIT OF CITRUS GARNISH 
• PURPLE: BUNGLE, WITH "UP" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #603) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #603, are…

• YELLOW: COMMENT AFTER AN INSULT BURN, OUCH, SNAP, ZING
• GREEN: TINY AMOUNT, WITH "A" BIT, LITTLE, MITE, TAD
• BLUE: BIT OF CITRUS GARNISH SLICE, TWIST, WEDGE, ZEST
• PURPLE: BUNGLE, WITH "UP" FOUL, LOUSE, MUCK, SCREW

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

My first mental detour today was linking SCREW, TWIST and WEDGE and my imagined category of "Putting together flatpack furniture". Then, I thought we were looking for bugs – MITE and LOUSE – before TINY AMOUNT, WITH "A" came together after some shuffling.

It took getting BIT OF CITRUS GARNISH before I saw the final groups and I achieved Zero Mistake nirvana. No BUNGLE, WITH “UP”s for me today.

A lovely Connections puzzle without any weirdness. I shall sleep well tonight.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 2 February, game #602)

• YELLOW: DEJECTED BLUE, DOWN, HANGDOG, SORRY
• GREEN: BIRDS THAT ARE VERBS DUCK, GROUSE, HAWK, SWALLOW
• BLUE: TV COMEDY FAMILIES GRIFFIN, MUNSTER, PARTRIDGE, PICKLES
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "K" MART, POP, STREET, SWISS

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 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, February 2 (game #1105).

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 #1106) - 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 #1106) - 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 3.

Quordle today (game #1106) - 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 #1106) - 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 3.

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 #1106) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• T

• S

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1106) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1106, are…

• SLEET
• TENSE
• SEIZE
• SCAMP

You’d think getting four letters right on your third go would be a great start but I managed to come up with three other words before SLEET – a frustrating experience you only get from Quordle, as you feel your likelihood of completing all four words slide.

On reflection I should have switched my focus to SEIZE, as that was very gettable – but it’s hard to stop plugging away at a word when you have four letters. One day I’ll get the hang of this thing!

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1106) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1106, are…

• FRISK
• CROOK
• AWASH
• BUDGE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
• Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
• Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
• Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
• Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: SLANT, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
• Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
• Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
• Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
• Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
• Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
• Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
• Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
• Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH

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, February 2 (game #602).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Order up!

NYT Strands today (game #337) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• COLD
• KIND
• BOND
• BIKE
• BECK
• SLACK

NYT Strands today (game #337) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Over easy

NYT Strands today (game #337) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #337) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #337, are…

• POACH
• BAKE
• BOIL
• BASTE
• PICKLE
• SCRAMBLE
• CODDLE
• SPANGRAM: MAKING EGGS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s Strands was an easy one to, er, crack featuring seven of the 100 ways of MAKING EGGS – but not the most popular one (fry).

It’s a commonly held belief that if you want to learn to cook you should begin with eggs and it’s true that once you’ve mastered the perfect SCRAMBLE you’ll be set for life – from there you can get increasingly fancy.

CODDLE is a new one to me and it sounds very doable – basically crack an egg in a ramekin and place it in a shallow pan of water that’s just below boiling point. In other words, a poached egg in a ramekin. See, fancy.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 2 February, game #336)

• SWIFT
• WONDER
• HILL
• CROSS
• STYLES
• KING
• JONES
• SPANGRAM: GRAMMY WINNERS

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

The best Raspberry Pi distros have long been a favorite among hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts, but at $120 for the latest Raspberry Pi 5 16GB model, running one isn't necessarily the value proposition it once was.

But, for just little bit more, you can buy a full-fledged AMD Ryzen-powered mini PC that delivers formidable performance without breaking the bank.

I've found three mini PCs on Amazon under $180, that may be a little bigger, but also give you more for your money.

Mini PC performance

The Beelink GTR5 is priced below $180 (though temporarily out of stock at press time, it's worth a wishlist), the GenMachine Mini PC costs $178.99 (with a 5% discount at time of writing), and the BOSGAME E2 Mini PC is listed at $239.99, but a $60 coupon brings it down to $179.99.

These aren’t weak, low-power machines. They're all powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H, a 4-core, 8-thread processor with a 3.7GHz max turbo clock, making them far superior to Intel's entry-level N-series chips.

The Beelink GTR5 includes a 500GB SATA SSD, while the GenMachine and BOSGAME E2 come with NVMe SSDs in the region of 500GB of storage that offer uncompromised data transfer speeds.

All of these products ship with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and fast SATA SSD storage, with an M.2 NVMe expansion slot for additional storage.

For bells and whistles, the GTR5's Radeon Vega 8 GPU handles 4K video playback and multi-monitor support is standard, thanks to HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C output. The GTR5 also goes a step further with a fingerprint reader for secure logins and a dual-fan cooling system to keep temperatures in check.

The BOSGAME E2 and GenMachine, meanwhile, focus on no-frills computing, coming with a Radeon 770M or simply integrated graphics, respectively. These could leave you wanting more, but if you’re after a compact, capable workstation on a budget comparable to the most expensive Pi 5, then I don't think you'll do much better.

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• Canon rumored to reenter the compact camera game with new Powershot V1
• Announcement of new camera tipped for March / April
• Recent viral model Powershot G7 X Mark III could be discontinued

Point-and-shoot digital cameras making a comeback wasn't on my 2024 bingo card – after all, smartphones pretty much killed off that market many years ago. However, several models went viral last year, none more so than 2019's Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III, so it seems there's life in the pocket snapper yet.

I'm all for it, but as I previously wrote about point-and-shoots for 2025, no leading brands are actually making new models, and so those looking to buy are left to choose from models several years old, increasingly secondhand. That's fine in a way – the quality of popular and well-reviewed cameras from years back still holds out today. But, let's be honest, new tech would be very welcome, too.

Now it appears that Canon will be the first of the big names to step up and recommit to making new point-and-shoots with meaningful upgrades after CanonRumors posted a couple of stories with a fair bit of info about what it says is an upcoming new Powershot V1. It's tipped to be announced sometime between March and May this year, with pretty exciting specs and an estimated price of $600-800 (around £650-850).

What's expected to happen concurrently is the discontinuation of the popular G7 X Mark III, and if that's the case, Canon must be all-in with a new and improved Powershot compact – why else discard a winning horse? Here's what's being said and why Canon recommitting to compact cameras makes sense.

(Image credit: Future) A new dawn for Powershot?

It looks like Canon is set to start afresh with its Powershot compacts, ditching the G-series nomenclature to make Powershot V-series models. It already launched the Powershot V10 vlogging camera in May 2023 and showcased two Powershot concepts: a 360-degree camera and a 180-degree camera with VR capabilities. However, a new Powershot V1 will be a proper point-and-shoot for photographers, and I'd expected it to garner the most interest of all, especially if rumors of its specs and price turn out to be on the money.

Highlight features supposedly include a Canon-made 24MP CMOS sensor of a size 'close to Micro Four Thirds,' and a 3x optical zoom lens (16-50mm approx). It'll likely shoot 4K video with a slight crop and include Canon's C-Log3 and HDR PQ color profiles. Additionally, it might include a standard 3-inch screen, though it's not clear if this is a fixed, tilting, or vari-angle screen. There's no proper word on the rumored V1's design either, but mockups suggest a camera that looks similar to the G7 X III.

Much of those key specs tally with certain existing Powershot G-series cameras. So, will this just feel like a rehash, like Panasonic did with the recent Lumix ZS99 / TZ99? I hope not and that Canon will also put newly developed features from its mirrorless cameras in the V1, such as its latest autofocus system.

What's most exciting of all, though, is the prospect of Canon launching a new compact camera that's readily available to buy at a very reasonable price. There are simply not many high-quality options available today for the $600-800 mark. Sprinkle in a few new features, and I expect the Powershot V1 to be one of 2025's most popular cameras.

There's even some suggestions that Canon could spring a suprise reveal or two at CP+ in Tokyo at the end of February – might the Powershot V1 be the star of the show?

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• The folding iPhone is apparently another step closer
• Apple may be about to choose a display supplier
• Previously Apple had struggled to find a satisfactory display

Apple hasn't officially said there's a folding iPhone on the way, but the number of leaks we've come across about such a device make it very likely that it's in development – and there's another rumor to report on today.

Well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via MacRumors) says that Apple is now close to deciding on a manufacturing partner to produce the folding displays for the folding iPhone. That's based on information from sources in Apple's supply chain.

There's not too much more information here, but there is a suggestion that some parts suppliers are now getting close to the standard required by Apple in terms of the folding display and the mechanisms that underpin it.

Previously, we have heard that the foldable iPhone project was on the verge of being cancelled, because Apple couldn't get a bending screen it was happy with. It would seem those obstacles may now have been overcome.

Earlier rumors

Google has now launched two foldable phones (Image credit: Future)

There have been plenty of earlier rumors around a folding iPhone. Back in November, we got news that the device had gone past the concept stage and was actively being worked on as a physical product that would ship to consumers.

More recently, we've heard talk that the folding iPhone would have a 7.6-7.9-inch main display and a smaller 5.3-5.5 inch cover screen. The same source predicted a launch window sometime in 2026 for this long-awaited smartphone.

Other predictions had suggested 2025 could be the year of the foldable phone from Apple, but as we're now into February that seems less likely. Exactly what style of foldable we'll get – book-style or flip-style – remains to be seen.

While Apple hasn't yet launched a folding iPhone, the foldable market has seen plenty of new and high-end devices appear over the last 12 months – including the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

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When the cops visit Ray Shoesmith’s home in season 2 episode 2 of Mr Inbetween to ask him about threatening one of the other parents at his child’s school, all Ray will say is, “I don’t answer questions”.

He repeats the same phrase in response to any question the police ask him until, utterly bamboozled and getting nowhere, they leave. “It’s just weird”, one officer says to the other as they walk back to the car, completely defeated.

That moment is the quintessence of Mr Inbetween – Ray is a bundle of contradictions that leaves you intrigued, yet never getting the answers you’re looking for, because for you, the viewer, there are no answers. Remember, Mr Inbetween doesn’t answer questions.

Ray Shoesmith is played by the show’s creator and writer Scott Ryan, who gives us probably the finest depiction of an emotionally-repressed, violent-but-likable, anti-hero you’re likely to see since we were first introduced to Tony Soprano in one of the best Max shows The Sopranos. Ray has a job working security for his friend’s night club, but it’s really a cover for his true vocation as a hit man for hire who has to balance his underground criminal activity with the rhythms of daily life, of being a father, a friend, a brother and a lover.

Australian TV shows often take the edge off their male characters with somebody like Bryan Brown playing a version of a laconic Australian male, or go completely over the top in the sort of otherwordly insanity you see in the Mad Max films. Mr Inbetween is neither. Ray feels authentic, almost like someone you might know in your real life, but he’s also somebody who comfortably steps outside of society’s conventions and lives by his own moral code. In Ray’s world actions have consequences, and he’s not afraid to hand out a quick headbutt to anybody who needs one. He has a smile that can go from please-to-meet-you to shark bite in a moment’s notice, but at the same time you can see the abysmal loneliness and repressed emotions buried deep within.

While the original 2005 feature film, The Magician, on which the series is based, offered only the faintest outline sketch of the younger hit man, here we see the fully fleshed-out version of Ray. He’s older, he has a daughter, he has an ex, he has a brother with motor neurone disease and he’s in a relationship. Each episode of Mr Inbetween lifts the cover of Ray’s life and lets us peep inside.

It’s sometimes mundane, sometimes funny, usually shocking, but often heartbreaking and profoundly meaningful. You never quite know where an episode is going to go at any moment, which is why it's one of the best Disney Plus shows in the UK (the series is streaming on Hulu in the US and Binge in Australia).

• Watch Mr Inbetween on Hulu in the US
• Watch Mr Inbetween on Disney Plus in the UK
• Watch Mr Inbetween on Binge in Australia

Ray’s brother Bruce, played in an acting masterclass by Nicholas Cassim, eloquently shows us what the final stages of his illness look like, and how it affects the people who love him. Chika Yasumura’s, Brittany, Ray’s daughter, perfectly captures the moment when you change from being the center of your child’s world to being a mild embarrassment, worthy of only the occasional teenage side-eye. And his girlfriend Ally, played effortlessly by Brooke Satchwell, skillfully shows how Ray’s choice to embrace violence affects the people around him, even if that violence would never be directed at them.

Rarely do we feel such affection for a volcanic personality who isn’t in some Hollywood revenge movie, but Ray is not one of the good guys. If somebody paid him enough to kill you, he’d probably do it, and without asking too many questions, either. But for most of the time the people he kills deserve it. Throughout all three series Ray remains the beating heart of the show. We see his efforts to hang on to those around him despite the danger his occupation frequently puts them in contrast against his efforts to move forward and let go of his terrible past, particularly his unhappy childhood and abusive father. Unlike Tony Soprano, Ray doesn’t enter therapy at any point, but he is sent to anger management class (for bashing a couple of guys, who deserved it), with hilarious results.

Mr Inbetween is perhaps the finest mediation on violence to have graced our TV screens in recent memory. It asks the tough questions like, when is violence acceptable in society? What happens when the legal system fails us and there’s nowhere left to turn? Is anger always a bad thing? But don’t expect any easy answers. Remember, Ray doesn’t answer questions.

I keep recommending Mr Inbetween to friends who have never heard of it before (I'm sure it might be different in the US and Australia, though), only to have them come back a few days later saying they had to binge the whole first series, and now there are only two series left to watch, and what are they going to do with their lives when the show ends?

Oh, and if you’re worried about the ending, particularly given the phenomena of channels canceling TV shows before the story really plays out, then don’t worry – Mr Inbetween has a proper ending, and it’s perhaps one of the better endings of any TV show on the best streaming services you’ll see.

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• Permission to build data center in Hertfordshire has been approved
• Owner is likely to be a hyperscaler operator, though application was done by an obscure company
• It is expected to draw 400MVA from the National Grid when it goes live in 2030

Who doesn’t enjoy a good whodunnit? Approval has been granted for a large data center to be built in Hertfordshire, UK, near London’s M25 motorway, but the identity of the future occupant, believed to be a major hyperscale operator (so potentially AWS, Microsoft, Google or Meta), is as yet unknown.

The planning application was submitted last year by DC01 UK Ltd, and approved by Hertsmere Borough Council shortly after the UK Government launched its AI Opportunities Action Plan, for which new AI data centers will play a major role.

Following the news, a spokesperson for DC01UK said, “We want to thank Hertsmere Borough Council for their open and pragmatic approach to DC01UK’s plans. They understand our ambition for both the project and the borough. It will bring huge benefits for local people through a stronger local economy, more skilled jobs and better opportunities. Our plans also include a raft of upgrades for local transport, including new and existing bus routes, expansion of the local cycle hire scheme and road improvements.”

Operational by 2030

DC01UK will be Europe’s largest cloud and AI data center, with up to two million square feet of space, and draw 400MVA (Megavolt-Amperes) of power from the National Grid, which is enough electricity to power 20,000 homes. 400MVA is the total power supplied, including both real power (MW) and reactive power (MVAR, which accounts for inefficiencies in the system). The location of the project, which is just East of South Mimms Services, places it close to the Elstree (Letchmore Heath) substation.

DC01UK claims “Economic projections estimate the construction value of the project at £3.75bn with a year-round generation of £21.4m in business rates once the data center is operational. The positive economic impact of the data center would also see the creation of 500 skilled on-site jobs during the construction phase, 200 permanent, skilled jobs once up and running and a further 13,740 indirect jobs, 10,900 of which would be in the South East. DC01UK is also estimated to generate approximately £1.1 billion per annum GVA (Gross Value Added) indirectly per year.”

The data center will be built in 85 acres of grounds (54 percent of which DC01UK says will be retained as green space) with construction planned to begin in 2027. The data center is expected to become operational three years later in 2030.

As to who that hyperscaler might be? The Register was told by a DC01UK spokesperson, "Since the announcement last September, we've received significant interest and there are active, ongoing discussions that will be finalized in the near future. We will make a further announcement in due course," which seems to suggest that DC01UK doesn’t know who will be moving into its data center just yet either.

More from TechRadar Pro

• Why the data center of 2030 will look very different from today
• Quite a lot of Brits have never heard of data centers
• Spending on data centers hit a high in 2024, but it won't last

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Album of the year

NYT Strands today (game #336) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• GRASS
• DOWLE
• MODE
• WORN
• NOSE
• WINE

NYT Strands today (game #336) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Presented by the Recording Academy

NYT Strands today (game #336) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #336) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #336, are…

• SWIFT
• WONDER
• HILL
• CROSS
• STYLES
• KING
• JONES
• SPANGRAM: GRAMMY WINNERS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This collection of Album of the Year winners omits a few other artists whose names are also words – Beck, Plant (Robert) and Garland (Judy) failing to make the cut.

Meanwhile, JONES could refer to both Norah (who won a Grammy in 2003 for Come Away With Me) and Quincy (whose Back on the Block was a surprise success in 1991). Quincy Jones is also one of only three artists who have won Grammys as an artist and as a producer, the others being Lauryn HILL and Bruno Mars.

Taylor SWIFT holds the record for most Album of the Year victories with four and is among the nominees this year for The Tortured Poets Department.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 1 February, game #335)

• KESTREL
• EAGLE
• HAWK
• CONDOR
• FALCON
• OSPREY
• VULTURE
• SPANGRAM: RAPTORS

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 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 #1105) - 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 #1105) - 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 #1105) - 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 #1105) - 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 #1105) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• P

• C

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1105) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1105, are…

• LOUSY
• PENNE
• CHUMP
• SALVE

There’s no game like Quordle for feeling like you’re pulling rabbits out of hats getting unlikely words like PENNE. The truth is, it’s not really magic when you’ve only got a few options left, but it can feel like it.

I got SALVE pretty quickly too and I’m sure that’s because it’s cropped up before and is hardwired into my brain somehow.

After yesterday’s wipeout I’ve got my mojo back. For now.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1105) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1105, are…

• LOUSY
• GROSS
• STINK
• ESTER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
• Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
• Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
• Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
• Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: SLANT, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
• Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
• Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
• Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
• Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
• Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
• Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
• Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
• Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH
• Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL