TechRadar News

Micron Technology has introduced its first-ever Crucial DDR5 CUDIMM (clocked unbuffered dual inline memory modules) and CSODIMM (clocked small outline dual memory modules) solutions, delivering speeds up to 6,400 MT/s - twice the maximum standard DDR4 speeds (3,200 MT/s).

These new clock driver-based memory modules are designed for AI PCs and high-performance systems, promising faster downloads, improved refresh rates, and speed stability.

Validated by Intel for use with its new Core Ultra processors (Series 2), these modules can reach capacities of up to 64GB and aim to meet the increasing demand for high memory performance in AI workloads.

Paying the price

These new memory modules integrate a clock driver directly on the RAM itself, solving electrical challenges typically managed by relying on the CPU clock. Micron says this engineering innovation makes DDR5 memory faster and more stable, particularly when combining high bandwidth with larger capacities. The firm claims its new RAM runs 15% faster than traditional non-clock-driver-based DDR5 running at maximum bandwidth of 5,600 MT/s.

“As AI takes flight, a memory paradigm shift is needed to keep pace with unprecedented system performance requirements,” said Dinesh Bahal, corporate vice president and general manager of Micron’s Commercial Products Group.

“Micron is shipping the industry’s first JEDEC-standard, commercially available DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions to power fast, out-of-the-box speeds for AI PCs and high-end workstations.”

Micron and Intel have collaborated to validate these DDR5 modules, allowing top PC manufacturers to incorporate this technology into their upcoming systems.

Dimitrios Ziakas, Intel’s vice president of memory and I/O technologies, said, “The powerful combination of Intel Core Ultra desktop processors and Micron’s latest clock driver-powered CUDIMM/CSODIMMs with up to massive 64GB capacities will be critical to helping propel the next wave of data-rich AI PCs to 6,400 MT/s speeds.”

The 16GB CUDIMM and CSODIMM 6400 modules are now available to buy, both priced at $84.99. For comparison, the Crucial Pro 16GB DDR5-5600 UDIMM retails at $48.99, meaning you'll pay 73.48% more for the 15% speed boost the new RAM offers. The 64GB clocked RAM is expected to be available by mid-2025, with pricing yet to be announced.

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Spotify continues to be one of the best music streaming services around thanks to personalized features like Daylists – and it isn’t stopping there. It's just rolled out a new beta feature that lets you create custom playlist art to make your creations look just as good as they sound. In other words, it's Spotify meets Canva.

The new ‘Create Cover Art’ feature, which is available in English in 65 regions, is a new in-app integration that gives you the opportunity to express your knack for graphic design as well as playlist curation.

Combining the basic elements of a typical graphic design app, Create Cover Art lets you design a custom playlist cover using an array of stickers, background colors, text, and your own images to add a pop of your own personal flair. Whether you’re creating a playlist from scratch or want to spruce up an older one, Create Cover Art is available for both kinds.

(Image credit: Spotify)

As part of Spotify’s new feature launch, the service has partnered with a variety of artists who are known for creating their own playlists on Spotify such as Arlo Parks, Jamie xx, and Clairo. Moreover, Spotify has also been working with visual creatives as well as musicians which includes Imogene, the mastermind behind the now iconic ‘brat green’ cover for Charli xcx’s latest record Brat.

Playlist-making in Spotify has become quite the phenomenon among Spotify users and music fans alike, with over 8 billion playlists curated to fit a variety of genres, milestones, and especially moods – which was one of the most fascinating aspects about Spotify’s 2023 stats.

In the past year or so, a number of music streaming services have embraced similar customization features, in particular YouTube Music which launched an AI playlist image generator last year. But this is the first playlist art feature I've seen that allows you to create a thumbnail from scratch, and I'm excited to see what this will add to my (naturally) already incredible playlists.

How to use Create Playlist Art

(Image credit: Spotify)

As mentioned, Spotify's Create Cover Art feature will be available for both new and old playlists in your library. To create playlist art for an existing playlist, tap the three-dot icon and find 'Create Cover Art' in the menu options.

You can then add a background, text, and stickers, as well as your own images. Once you've finished putting together your new playlist cover, your playlist will update to display the new image which you can share to other social media platforms.

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A new variant of the infamous ClearFake (AKA ClickFix) malware has been detected in the wild, and has already managed to compromise thousands of WordPress websites.

Researchers from GoDaddy claim to have spotted a variant of this campaign, which installs malicious plugins to sites on the website builder. The threat actors would use the credentials stolen elsewhere (or bought on the black market) to log into the website’s WordPress admin account, and install a seemingly benign plugin.

The victims are then enticed to download an update, which is just a piece of malware that steals sensitive data, or does something else but equally sinister.

Thousands of compromised websites

In turn, the plugin displays the various popups, requesting the victims do different actions (all of which lead to the installation of infostealers).

The entire process is automated, GoDaddy is saying, and so far more than 6,000 WordPress websites have fallen prey.

"These seemingly legitimate plugins are designed to appear harmless to website administrators but contain embedded malicious scripts that deliver fake browser update prompts to end-users,” the researchers are saying. The plugins are “seemingly legitimate” as they carry household names in the WordPress world, such as Wordfense Security, or LiteSpeed Cache.

Here is the full list of the plugins spotted so far:

LiteSpeed Cache Classic
MonsterInsights Classic
Wordfence Security Classic
Search Rank Enhancer
SEO Booster Pro
Google SEO Enhancer
Rank Booster Pro
Admin Bar Customizer
Advanced User Manager
Advanced Widget Manage
Content Blocker
Universal Popup Plugin

ClearFake is a type of malware attack we’ve all seen in the past - a website is compromised and used to display a fake popup notification. This notification usually mimics an antivirus warning, or a browser notification, and informs the user that their computer is either infected with a virus, or outdated and therefore unable to display the desired website.

Via BleepingComputer

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• New DJI Osmo 360 leaks reveal more about the incoming action cam
• Mock-ups based on schematics give us an idea of potential design
• GoPro Max 2 still hasn't launched a year on from official confirmation

The great DJI vs GoPro battle looks likely to enter a new chapter soon, with regulatory filings recently revealing that a new DJI Osmo 360 is en route. And now some new mockups of the 360 camera suggest it could be a major headache for the delayed GoPro Max 2.

While the discovery of a DJI Osmo 360 filing from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave us our first hint of the camera's existence, the fan-made renders (based on schematics) show why it could be a powerful GoPro and Insta360 alternative.

For example, on X (formerly Twitter) @hakasushi, who has previously made precise size comparisons of unreleased DJI drones, created the images below based on leaked schematics, showing how similar the DJI Osmo 360 could look to the still-unreleased GoPro Max 2. A size comparison also shows how it might compare to the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and Insta360 X4.

That size difference suggests the DJI Osmo 360 could have more in common with GoPro's Max cameras, than the more elongated approach of the five-star X4. It also means DJI's 360 camera could go for a landscape screen below its two lenses, with its microphone, power button and battery compartment on the side.

It's early days for Osmo 360 rumors, but the image below was also given the nod of approval by the biggest DJI leaker, @Quadro_News, on X (formerly Twitter). DJI also loves nothing better than squaring up directly to GoPro, as it did with its Osmo action cameras – so expect to see the latest round in that tussle kick off soon.

With FCC filings typically arriving a few weeks before an official launch, DJI's first 360 camera could be with us before Christmas.

Where is the GoPro Max 2?

According to the leaked schematics of #dji #osmo360 this is how I imagine it to look like (almost). @DroneXL1 what do you think? pic.twitter.com/u8WPFbnDeTOctober 22, 2024

We were already starting to fear for the GoPro Max 2 before these DJI Osmo 360 leaks. The original GoPro Max landed way back in October 2019, but then in September 2023 GoPro confirmed in an earnings call that a successor was finally "in the works". Fast forward another year, and there's still no sign of it.

Since then, Insta360 has become the undoubted king of 360-degree action cams. The benefit of models like the Insta360 X4 is that you can film in all directions at once, without the headache of framing your shot, and then 'direct' your video in software afterwards.

This also opens up all kinds of creative effects, making the best 360 cameras some of the most fun you can shoot with. The question is whether DJI can nail the software side of 360 cameras – which includes stitching and complex editing – in its first attempt with the Osmo 360.

History would suggest that's unlikely, which means Insta360 will be confident of retaining its title, given it's been making these action cameras for several years. But DJI isn't afraid of iterating quickly and having another major player in the space will be good news for consumers – particularly if GoPro continues to stand on the sidelines.

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Apple has just released a near-final beta version of the newest iteration of macOS, Sequoia 15.1, which is available for developers and public beta testers to try. So, if you have a Mac device and you can’t wait to try out the latest macOS features, you can grab the beta - though for most people we’d recommend you wait for the general public release of Sequoia 15.1, which is expected to follow shortly and should be much more stable. This beta release comes a week after the last beta version, which suggests that testing is speeding up ahead of an imminent final version being made available to everyone.

If you’re keen to give the latest beta a try, you can sign up if you’re registered as a developer (you can find out how to enroll on the official Apple Developer site) but be warned: it does come with a subscription fee. You’ll then be able to install the Sequoia 15.1 beta via the Software Update section of your Mac’s System Settings app.

The big new feature of this beta release is the introduction of Apple Intelligence to macOS, bringing AI-powered features to your Mac. This includes additional support for Writing Tools, enhanced Siri capabilities, Smart Replies to help you respond more quickly and efficiently in Mail and Messages, and Memory Movie and Clean Up features in Photos.

This update won’t bring Image Playground, Genmoji, and more advanced Siri functionality just yet, but I expect we’ll see these very soon. Image Playground is an AI tool that will allow users to generate images and emojis, and Genmoji will similarly allow people to generate their own emojis using text prompts.

(Image credit: Apple) Charting the course for Apple Intelligence

One important thing to note is that Apple Intelligence will only work on newer Macs equipped with Apple’s silicon processors such as the M1 or M2 (and onwards). Older Intel-based Macs unfortunately will not be able to make use of Apple Intelligence.

This will be the first time Apple Intelligence is being made available to large amounts of people, so I’m eager to see what it’s like in practice. Microsoft’s Copilot is currently on a somewhat wobbly path and has yet to show how it can improve the Windows 11 user experience. I’m sure Apple hopes that Apple Intelligence will fare better, and like its other products, it’ll win users over if it looks sleek and works smoothly, even if it’s not the first AI tool to market.

If you do try the Sequoia 15.1 beta, however, remember that a beta version could still have some bugs and glitches, and you should report those to Apple. This also means you should avoid installing it on a device that you rely on for day-to-day work, in case something goes wrong.

If you also have an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can try Apple Intelligence on that as well thanks to the iOS 18.1 beta, which has also been released. Apple presented Apple Intelligence as being a continuous part of their ecosystem that I imagine will be able to learn more about you and perhaps assist you better if you use it on both your Mac and Apple handheld devices.

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Apple is rumored to be working on new renditions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad, which will finally have their Lightning charging ports replaced with USB-C - at least, according to some code found within the recent iOS 18.1 update. The trend of updating all devices with EU-compliant USB-C ports continues for Apple and its range of hardware.

As any user of the current Magic Mouse will know, the Lightning charging port is located directly on the underside, effectively making it unusable while the peripheral is plugged in, along with a few other cons that you can find in our Apple Magic Mouse review here (which, FYI, opens with the line "Apple does not have a good track record with mice"). While it currently isn’t possible to use the Magic Mouse while it is being charged, the Magic Mouse 2 could introduce some innovations.

As reported by MacRumors, not only will USB-C be the charging port for all the aforementioned peripherals going forward, but the Magic Mouse 2 in particular could potentially feature this port in a different location instead of the widely-hated placement on its base. The new peripherals will most likely arrive alongside Apple’s Mac M4 models, currently rumored to launch sometime this year. 

How could Apple improve the Magic Mouse? Is USB-C a good move?

Apple’s Magic Mouse launched in 2009, making it just over a decade and a half old, and a plethora of Mac users have since opted for other mice depending on their requirements and preferences. With a release in 2024 or 2025 on the horizon, many will be expecting enhancements within the accessibility space, such as new side buttons and greater control over mouse pointer speeds without needing adjustments within macOS itself. 

Since other peripherals are typically capable of being used while charging (you know, like any sane designer would insist upon), it would be great to see Apple make a move in this direction, allowing you to stay active regardless of a low battery. The rumored change of the charging port location may suggest that charging while in use may indeed be possible with the Magic Mouse 2, and we should be closer to finding out very soon. One possible alternative could be a wireless charging mouse pad like the Logitech PowerPlay, but I'd be surprised to see Apple make such a big leap. 

As for the step towards USB-C, this is ideal for many as USB-C is edging closer to becoming the charging standard for devices in the UK, EU, and beyond. Across Windows PCs, MacBooks, phones, and home consoles, USB-C is highly utilized - so it's no surprise that Apple is moving away from Lightning cables at last.

Known in China as the grandfather of domestic CPUs, Loongson develops processors and chips in a bid to reduce the country's reliance on foreign technology, particularly from companies such as Intel and AMD.

Although probably best-known for its Loongson series of processors (originally based on MIPS architecture), the company is branching out and has unveiled its first self-developed GPGPU (General-Purpose GPU), the Loongson 9A1000.

Announced at the recent Loongson Industrial Ecosystem Conference, and reported by Fast Technology, the 9A1000 aims to deliver competitive performance for AI computing in edge devices and unmanned systems. Tech giants like Nvidia can breathe easy for now, however, as the Loongson 9A1000’s performance is projected to match the AMD RX 550, a graphics card best known for its efficient 50W power consumption and PCIe 3.0 interface, which originally launched in 2017.

Arriving next year

The new Loongson chip isn’t quite as dated as AMD’s card. It supports PCIe 4.0 and integrates LPDDR4X memory with a 128-bit interface. Though detailed specifications, such as core count, frequency, and power consumption, have yet to be disclosed, an architecture diagram shown at the conference reveals eight compute arrays, an on-chip network, and L2 cache.

In terms of performance, the 9A1000 supports OpenGL 4.0, OpenCL 3.0, and other standard APIs. It also includes video processing modules capable of decoding H.264 and H.265 and offers HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and, in another nod to the past, VGA output. The chip boasts a pixel fill rate of 16GPixel/s, a texture fill rate of 32GTexel/s, and computing power of 1TFlops for FP32, 64GFlops for FP64, and 32TFlops for INT8 operations.

The Loongson 9A1000 is expected to complete its tape-out process and begin sampling in the first half of 2025.

Loongson also announced that it is developing the next-generation GPGPU chip, the Loongson 9A2000, which promises an 8-10x performance boost compared to the 9A1000. The company expects the new chip to deliver performance on par with NVIDIA’s RTX 2080, which launched in 2018.

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Leaks continue to tease various design details about the Google Pixel 9a, with recent rumors hinting at its shape and potential colors. But now we might know the upcoming phone’s precise size, which could make it bigger than last year’s Google Pixel 8a.

Tipster @OnLeaks has taken to social media to explain that some previously shared dimensions were apparently a little off, with the precise measurements being 154.7 x 73.2 x 8.9mm (or 9.4mm if you include the rear camera ring in the thickness). This makes the phone as slim as the Google Pixel 8a, but also a little taller and wider (as that device comes in at 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm).

This could suggest the Google Pixel 9a will feature a larger display, though there are a few potential caveats. The first is true for all leaks: anything unofficial should be taken with a pinch of salt, and OnLeaks has already admitted that the older dimensions weren’t 100% correct.

The other issue is the Google Pixel 9a’s rumored bezel. We don’t yet know how thick this black border will be, and while a larger face likely means a larger display, the bezel might restrain it. So while a panel that matches the 6.3-inch Google Pixel 9 isn’t impossible, a smaller screen is still looking likely.

What else do we know about the Pixel 9a?

Previous leaks have given us a few more details about the 9a. It’ll reportedly come in four colors: Porcelain (off-white), Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), and Iris (bluish-purple). If so, that could be a shame for fans of the Pixel 8a’s Aloe (green) hue.

There are also rumors that the camera bump will not be present. Not only is it a shame that the Pixel 9a could miss out on this iconic Google Pixel design detail, the change means the camera components could be taking up more space in the main body. So there’s a possibility that the Pixel 9a will need to make do with a smaller battery.

That said, with the Tensor G4 chipset’s improved power efficiency over the G3 (the chip found in the Google Pixel 8a) the Google Pixel 9A could end up having the same battery life, even if its battery capacity is smaller – assuming it is indeed equipped with the G4 as expected.

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Google is continuing to infuse the Gemini Live AI assistant across Android phones with the ability to make calls and send messages, even when your phone is locked, on its way. As discovered in a piece of as-yet unreleased code by Android Authority, the update would further cement Gemini as the replacement for Google Assistant.

Controlling the phone while it is locked is a signature feature of Gemini Live. You could already talk to the AI and ask it questions when your phone is locked, but currently, only Google Assistant can send messages or make calls without unlocking the device. The unreleased code points to Gemini getting that option, too.

According to the images in the code, Gemini's settings will have a switch permitting Gemini to send messages or make calls from locked devices. When activated, you could ask the AI to text or call people before unlocking the phone, though if you want to see a response with personal information, you'll have to unlock the phone as a security measure. The appeal for users to have Gemini able to communicate from locked devices is that it makes hands-free operation possible, which is ideal when you're driving or busy in some other way.

New look, more Gemini

The code in development also heralds changes in the look of Gemini, simplifying the interface in some ways. For instance, the floating text box will expand vertically so you can see all the text, and Gemini Extensions will be grouped by category to make them easier to find. There are also fewer example commands for the categories, only one instead of three.

The upgrades found in the upcoming code aren’t earthshaking, but they point to how Google is forging ahead with its AI strategy, especially when it comes to making Android the hub for Gemini’s features. As competition mounts with Apple and its Apple Intelligence rollout, Google will at least experiment with anything that raises Gemini’s standing on mobile devices, large or small.

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The once-unknown developer behind Mario & Luigi: Brothership has been revealed.

That's according to 'Nintendeal' over on X / Twitter, who shared a screenshot showing the intellectual property information of the game, which was discovered after some players received their physical copy early, ahead of its November 7 launch.

The information provided seems to confirm that the developer of the upcoming Nintendo Switch game is Acquire, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler 2.

It's unclear why Nintendo has kept its co-developer of Brothership under wraps, but the reveal is certainly a surprise to some.

"Well that's a curveball. A good curveball though," said one user on Reddit. "Don't think Acquire was on anybody's radar as a possibility, but they sure know how to make an RPG [role-playing game]."

"A pleasant surprise, they definitely know how to make good RPGs," said another Redditor.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership was announced this summer and is the first new entry in the series in almost nine years. After the series' original developer Alpha Dream went bankrupt in 2019, there have been discussions about who the new developer could be.

Brothership will see the iconic, titular brothers return in an all-new platforming adventure featuring turn-based combat, and both side-scrolling and vertical challenges as they explore a number of islands.

During the game's unveiling, Nintendo executive Shinya Takahashi called the game a "seafaring adventure", which will include "evolved Bros moves" between Mario and Luigi.

TechRadar had the chance to preview Mario & Luigi: Brothership at an event hosted by Nintendo earlier this month. After playing just over an hour of the game, Managing Editor Josephine Watson called it "a glorious return to form for a beloved series", while combat "feels finessed".

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Both Asus ROG Ally X and ROG Ally users have been facing issues with the handheld’s built-in Armoury Crate software for a while now, and despite a recent patch intent on fixing multiple bugs in the software, a prominent issue points towards losing access to control inputs while in-game.

These concerns were raised by users on Reddit and Asus’s own forums, days before the Armoury Crate 1.5.20 update was pushed last week with the following bug fixes:

• Fixed issues with crashing in ACSE and the Command Centre
• Improved responsiveness when switching Control Mode in the Command Centre
• Solved an issue where Embedded Controller would not show up in the Command Centre
• Fixed an issue where the RGB lighting effects would occasionally disappear on the Lighting Page.

While it appears that some issues have been resolved, users continue to share complaints of their ROG Ally inputs resetting while having Armoury Crate installed.

This is claimed to occur more frequently when the control mode is set to ‘Gamepad Mode’ rather than ‘Auto’, in which the device will also continuously notify the user which mode is in use - a serious annoyance in itself, even setting aside the loss of control input.

Say hello to G-Helper - a great alternative to Armoury Crate

Solutions such as hard-resetting the Ally, reinstalling Armoury Crate on the device, and updating the Xbox Controller and GPU drivers have all been tested by users - but it seems as though these are more temporary fixes than permanent.

Any bugs with Armoury Crate could prove to be a significant downside for users, since Asus’s handhelds utilize the proprietary software for accessing game collections in the same vein as Steam or Playnite.

Fortunately, thanks to the help of user ‘seerge’ on GitHub, you can simply utilize G-Helper - a third-party application that gives you access to the ROG Ally or Ally X’s TDP, control mode, RGB lighting settings, and more. Unlike Armoury Crate, you won’t have to worry about a full installation, as it operates a standalone application allowing you to control settings you normally would via Asus’s own software.

As opposed to the standard Command Centre, you can set your own keybinds and also override any background Asus software services to use G-Helper whenever necessary. While there isn’t a library collection of installed games like SteamOS or Armoury Crate (meaning you’ll need to launch your games straight from the Windows 11 desktop), it gets the job done without having your gameplay disrupted with unwanted notifications or controller dropouts every few seconds.

While we wait for a fix for the issues, this might be the best temporary solution you can take advantage of. You can find any new Armoury Crate updates right here.

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The still rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly be one of the biggest and best phones of 2025, headlining the iPhone 17 line – which will also probably include the iPhone 17 itself, the iPhone 17 Pro, and a new iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim model.

That final phone may steal much of the attention, but it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max that will probably have the most impressive specs.

And while we’re not expecting it to land until September, leaks and rumors are already emerging – all of which you’ll find below.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next top-end iPhone
• When is it out? Probably September 2025
• How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149

Look out for it in September

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Likely to launch in the first half of September
• Will probably cost at least $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149

The iPhone 17 Pro Max – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series – will probably be announced in September of 2025.

While there’s no news yet on that front, Apple almost without exception launches its new phones in the first half of September, so we can be quite confident of that much.

Prior to the iPhone 16 series Apple also usually announced the phones on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but with the iPhone 16 it went with a Monday instead, so we can’t be quite as confident of the exact day as in previous years.

Still, the second week of September is the most likely based on past form, meaning likely Monday September 8, Tuesday September 9, or Wednesday September 10. The Thursday or Friday is also possible, but those aren’t days we usually see Apple go for.

Either way, pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Pro Max will most likely start on the Friday of the announcement week, so our best guess for that is Friday, September 12 – though a week earlier on Friday, September 5 is also possible. And the phone will likely ship on the following Friday – meaning probably September 19 but possibly September 12.

We haven’t heard anything about the iPhone 17 Pro Max price either and that’s a bit harder to predict, since we don’t know whether Apple will raise the price from the iPhone 16 Pro Max or not. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, so it’s likely that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will cost at least that much.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far there aren't any price or release date leaks yet, so it's all just educated guesses, but we'd be surprised if this phone wasn't announced in September.

One button replacing three

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Could combine the volume and Action buttons into one key
• May be sold in a Teal Titanium shade
• Likely to once again have a 6.9-inch screen

So far we’re not expecting drastic design changes, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max might at least gain a new button – or perhaps more accurately lose some buttons, as one report suggests it will have a single key that replaces the two volume buttons and the Action button.

Details on this button are light, but if it emerges, we’d imagine it might sport a similar design to the Camera Control key, so you can swipe across it to change the volume, or press it to trigger a custom action.

Also on the design front, one source claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be available in one of the three colors pictured below. These, from left to right, are apparently dubbed Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium. And apparently all three are being considered, but only one would be used if any, with the source speculating that Teal Titanium is the most likely.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

We’ve also heard that Apple could hide the Face ID components under the screen in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which might allow for a smaller Dynamic Island, though a smaller Dynamic Island could instead be achieved through using a new ‘metalens’ technology for the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s proximity sensor.

The source of the metalens claim also says that unsurprisingly the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a titanium frame, just like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The same source also says to once again expect a 6.9-inch screen, and we’ve elsewhere heard that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s display might use a type of glass that’s less reflective and more resistant to scratches.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far only one source has mentioned a new button, so we'd take this with a pinch of salt, especially as the Action button is a recent addition, so it would be strange to remove it already. A smaller Dynamic Island is possible, and has leaked multiple times, but it's more likely to be achieved through a new proximity sensor design than under-display Face ID.

A new telephoto camera

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Could have a new 48MP telephoto camera
• The front-facing camera might be boosted to 24MP

We’ve heard quite consistent tips about the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cameras, with the most exciting claim being that the telephoto will have a new 48MP sensor, up from 12MP on the current model. We’ve heard this claim of a 48MP telephoto camera for the iPhone 17 Pro Max from multiple sources, so this is very likely accurate.

However, this snapper will probably still offer 5x optical zoom, and it might be the only rear camera that’s getting a significant upgrade – meaning 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras could make a return.

The front-facing camera might also be improved though, with one of the same sources saying the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a 24MP selfie camera, up from 12MP currently.

And in more surprising news, one source has claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a mechanical aperture, allowing you to adjust the aperture, changing the depth of field in the process.

Can you trust these rumors? 

Numerous sources have mentioned a 48MP telephoto camera, so that much is very likely. The 24MP selfie camera hasn't been leaked as much, so we'd take that with a pinch of salt, but the claim comes from a credible source.

As for a mechanical aperture, we're skeptical of this, as it sounds like a major yet niche upgrade, but it's always possible.

A powerful chipset and loads of RAM

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• A powerful A19 Pro chipset
• 12GB of RAM

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset – after all, the current model has an A18 Pro. Multiple sources have mentioned an A19 Pro chipset, and they’ve also said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current model.

That could be a major boon to its AI capabilities. Though there’s some debate over whether both iPhone 17 Pro models will get 12GB of RAM or whether this RAM upgrade will just be for the Pro Max.

We haven’t heard anything about the battery yet, but reportedly the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a thinner and lighter motherboard than the current model, which in turn might leave space for a larger battery.

Can you trust these rumors? 

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset based on past form, and we'd say an increase to 12GB of RAM is very believable too, since it could help with AI.

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Microsoft has announced another significant expansion of its AI capabilities with the introduction of autonomous agents designed to integrate more tightly into business operations.

Available in public preview, the agents are designed to let organizations use AI-powered automation to complete a variety of workloads, and can be customized from the company’s updated Copilot Studio platform.

Microsoft says that its agents can operate on behalf of employees to automate tasks, provide insights and streamline operations, with their uses being most anticipated in challenging industries like retail, finance and legal services.

Microsoft set to launch AI agents

Key to the success of Microsoft’s digital agents will be its upgraded Copilot Studio, which promises to combine personal, business and analytical data to help businesses build agents with greater control and transparency.

The enhanced Studio allows developers to tailor their agents according to different paths. By displaying underlying logic, such as key details, steps and systems involved, developers will have a deeper insight into an agent’s reasoning and context, helping them to tweak outputs and iron out bugs.

In light of the demand for maximum transparency surrounding AI tools, Microsoft has also added a new ‘Activity’ tab for workers to identify progress, blocks and trends in a complete log of past runs.

Announced at its recent Microsoft AI Tour event in London, the news was also accompanied by the release of 10 new prebuilt agents within Dynamics 365 to help sales, service, finance and supply chain teams. These agents will use some of the latest models, including the OpenAI o1 series, to handle complex tasks with little to no human intervention.

Acknowledging that artificial intelligence requires a specific and advanced skillset, Microsoft declared any company can become an AI-first company with agents helping plug the gaps where companies are struggling with ongoing talent shortages to help them remain unique – a competitive advantage that they should not lose.

It also added that security remains a priority, with robust data protection measures and governance tools in place.

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Gaming furniture manufacturer Secretlab has unveiled the Ergonomic Recliner, a new add-on that is compatible with all Secretlab Titan Evo and Secretlab Classics Series chairs.

It’s designed to introduce dedicated calf support and bring some of the comfort of traditionally bulky recliner chairs to a much more desk-friendly format. The Ergonomic Recliner is effectively a large leg cushion with a pneumatic gas spring mechanism that clips seamlessly onto the bottom of your chair.

It can be adjusted by up to 80 degrees, which is enough to support a wide range of seating positions and is made using the company’s soft high-density Plushcell memory foam. I’ve been testing the product with a Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 for the last few weeks and have been pretty impressed with it on the whole.

Whether you want to kick back and relax with a movie on your PC monitor or lie in an almost fully reclined position for a quick nap in between games of Counter-Strike 2, I’ve found that the Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner does add quite a bit of additional comfort. I’m also a big fan of how it can be neatly tucked away underneath the seat when it’s not in use.

That said, this accessory really doesn’t come at a very affordable price. The standard edition will be available for $199 / £159 in early 2025. There’s also the limited edition $249 / £199 Founder’s Edition which is on sale now. This features an extra layer of cooling gel, plus a unique quilted pattern and an exclusive Founder’s Edition metal plated tag.

Whether this is a worthwhile investment for you is likely going to come down to your usage habits. If you frequently lie back in your chair and are willing to splash out for an improved experience, then I can see this being a great addition to your setup. 

For even more on the accessory, you can read my full Secertlab Ergonomic Recliner review now.

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Apple is preparing to showcase something big for Severance season 2 tomorrow (October 23) – and I'm convinced it'll be the official trailer for the hit show's next chapter.

Uploaded with little fanfare, a placeholder for a virtual Severance meeting was added to the Apple TV Plus YouTube channel today (October 22), which signals a big reveal is inbound for the hugely popular sci-fi show's return. Understandably, the teaser has whipped fans into a frenzy, with many – myself included – believing that a season 2 trailer is inbound. Hey, why else would Apple tell us to join an all-hands meeting at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST / 10pm AEST tomorrow, on YouTube no less, if it wasn't gearing up to release season 2's first proper trailer?

If – or, rather, when – the teaser is unveiled, it won't be the first official footage we've actually seen for Severance's sophomore season. Indeed, in July, we were treated to a 30-second montage from one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' next installment that, due to its incredibly short runtime, did little to satiate our appetite for season 2. Still, at least Severance season 2's first albeit brief teaser confirmed when it'll debut on Apple's streaming service: January 17, 2025, for anyone who didn't know.

Before then, the only footage we'd seen of Severance's next entry came in mid-June, and even then it only gave us a tiny glimpse of Adam Scott's Mark Scout staring intently into the camera. That blink and you'll miss it clip was part of a wider look at an Apple TV Plus bonanza trailer that ran as part of Apple's WWDC 2024 event, so it's high time that a real season 2 trailer *ahem* became an 'outie' after being an 'innie' for so long.

It's likely that a Severance season 2 trailer won't be the only things that Lumon Industries 'treats' us to, either. With the highly-rated series set to return in just a few months' time, a confirmed cast list and story synopsis wouldn't go amiss, so don't be surprised if those details are 3D printed and sent out to us alongside this season's teaser.

While we wait for Severance to make its highly-anticipated return on one of the world's best streaming services, read our article on five big questions that Severance season 2 needs to answer. Alternatively, if you haven't seen the psychological thriller show yet, get the spoiler-free lowdown on its first season by reading our Severance season 1 review.

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Hackers are abusing a vulnerability in the Roundcube Webmail to steal emails and other sensitive data, new reports have claimed.

Cybersecurity experts from Positive Technologies sounded the alarm, saying the popular email client carries a flaw that is being actively exploited against government organizations in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region (former Soviet Union).

Roundcube Webmail is a popular browser-based email client with a user-friendly interface that mimics the look and feel of a desktop application. It supports standard email protocols like IMAP and SMTP, and offers features such as message search, contact management, and plugin customization.

Hiding with HTML

The bug is tracked as CVE-2024-37383, and described as a medium-severity stored cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw, allowing the execution of malicious JavaScript on the Roundcube page.

To trigger the vulnerability, the crooks would draft and send a unique email. The email’s body appears empty, and only comes with a .DOC attachment. But the attackers would hide harmful code in the email using specific HTML tags (in this case, the tag), which is processed by the email client, while being invisible to the target user.

The payload is a piece of JavaScript code masquerading as a ‘href’ value. It downloads a decoy .DOC file, while injecting an unauthorized login form into the HTML page, which requests messages from the mail server. The form prompts the victim for their username and password, which are then relayed to the attackers.

All versions up to 1.5.6, as well as versions between 1.6 and 1.6.6. were said to be vulnerable to the flaw. Versions 1.5.7 and 1.6.7, released on May 19, are the earliest ones to have addressed the bug, and users are advised to upgrade their clients as soon as possible.

Via BleepingComputer

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We might be getting another entry to our best Max shows list if the first trailer for Get Millie Black is anything to go by. I'm a huge fan of British crime thrillers and the new limited series looks like it'll be a good one when it arrives on the streaming platform on November 25.

The series will air on HBO in the US and Channel 4 in the UK, joining the likes of Uzumaki and Smiling Friends, so we've really been spoiled with great new additions to both networks recently. Not only that, but Max recently teased a bunch of cool stuff at New York Comic Con – is it any wonder it's one of the best streaming services?

Take a look at the gripping trailer for Get Millie Black below.

What do we know about Get Millie Black?

The series is the television debut for Marlon James, an author known for titles such as The Book of Night Women and Moon Witch, Spider King. It follows detective Millie-Jean Black (Tamara Lawrance), who is forced out of Scotland Yard and returns home to join the Jamaican Police Force. She investigates missing person cases alongside her partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr).

However, things start to go awry when Scotland Yard detective Luke Holborn (Joe Dempsie) shows up in Kingston and their investigations cross paths. There's plenty of drama already and I am personally thrilled to see Dempsie in this, as I loved him in Skins back in the day and also in HBO hit Game of Thrones, so it'll be interesting to learn more about his new character. I'm definitely adding this one to my watchlist in November.

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Naughty's Dog's unannounced game will reportedly focus on "player freedom".

According to MinnMax founder Ben Hanson during the latest episode of The MinnMax Show, a source "very in the know, who worked on the game" said that fans "aren't ready" for the studio's next project" and that it will feature "a lot of player freedom" (via VGC).

"The tone was like, you are all not ready for how amazing this thing is going to be, and the tone was - I’m not going to say the game that they referenced to compare it to because I don’t want people to be like, MinnMax said it was going to be exactly like this - but they compared it to a game with a lot of player freedom," Hanson said.

When asked if the game in question was Hitman, which has an incredible amount of player freedom, Hanson said it wasn't.

At this time, Naughty Dog hasn't officially announced its next title. The studio, which is perhaps best known for the Uncharted and The Last of Us series, is famous for keeping its development plans under wraps until it's ready.

However, earlier this year Naughty Dog's co-president Neil Druckmann confirmed that "multiple single-player" projects are in development at the studio, saying "I promise you, we will not be The Last of Us studio forever".

Last year, Druckmann also said that he'd like the team to focus less on cutscenes and a "traditional narrative" in future projects.

"I’m more recently intrigued by stuff like Elden Ring and Inside, that don’t rely as much on traditional narrative to tell a story," Druckmann said in an interview with The Washington Post.

"I think some of the best storytelling in The Last of Us - yes, a lot of it is in the cinematics - but a lot of it is in the gameplay, and moving around a space, and understanding a history of a space by just looking at it and examining it. To me that, right now, is some of the best joy I get out of games - [those] that trust their audience to figure things out, that don’t hold their hand. That’s the stuff I’m really intrigued by going forward."

In December 2023, Naughty Dog canceled its The Last of Us Online game after concerns that it would impact the studio’s future single-player games, a project that was reportedly in development for four years.

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The US Government is looking to introduce new restrictions on how companies can sell 'bulk US sensitive personal data' to certain countries.

The proposed new rules from the Department of Justice (DoJ) would impose a blanket ban on the sale of this sort of data to six states the US deems ‘countries of concern’; China, Iran, Russia, The DPRK (North Korea), Cuba, and Venezuela.

It would cover a number of categories, including Social Security and driver’s license numbers, biometric identifiers, geolocation data, human genomic data like DNA, and health and financial information.

Some exceptions

The target of the regulations is to address national security risks that stem from foreign entities having access to American’s bulk sensitive data. By restricting the sale of information, the US hopes to curb foreign influence campaigns and to stop countries of concern from exploiting data to collect information on activists, journalists, or political opponents.

There are several proposed exemptions from this ban, including telecommunications services and clinical trial data needed for research approval or for FDA applications.

“Under the proposed rule, U.S. persons transacting in these kinds of data will need to establish a compliance program based on the individual risk profile of their activities,” said a senior DoJ official.

“They will need to understand the kinds and volumes of data they transact, who they are doing business with and how that data is being used, and the safeguards they use to control access to that data.” the official said.

In the age of never-ending data breaches and cyberattacks, these restrictions certainly won’t mean the end of foreign entities' access to American’s personal data, but it will likely prove to be a barrier for threat actors.

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Following the news that Bad Sisters was renewed for season 2, Apple TV Plus has released a twisty new trailer teasing what's to come for the Garvey sisters in the second season of the award-winning dark comedy.

With 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Bad Sisters is considered one of the best Apple TV Plus shows and has become a part of the streamer's impressive roster of compelling dramas like Presumed Innocent, Sugar, and Slow Horses.

Bad Sisters is a remake of Belgian black comedy-drama Clan and according to our Bad Sisters review, it's definitely an admirable recreation as contributor Laura Martin writes: "Bad Sisters successfully attempts to push the boundaries of the darkest comedy-drama, and thanks to the strength of the powerful cast, makes it an engaging watch that’s more than worthy of the remake."

The thrilling trailer (see below) opens with the sisters on the edge of a cliff preparing to dispose of a body from the trunk of their car. After, there looks to be a happy future for Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) as she walks down the aisle once again following the death of her husband John Paul (Claes Bang). However, the romantic wedding atmosphere is soon shattered when a killer secret emerges that a dead body has been found in a suitcase.

Soon enough, the close-knit sisters are propelled back into the limelight over their brother-in-law's death. But as past truths are exposed, the Garveys must work out who they can trust as suspicions, lies and secrets spread like wildfire. So do sisters that slay (literally) together really stay together?

What is Bad Sisters season 2 about?

The critically acclaimed series written by Sharon Hogan has often been described as the Irish version of one of the best HBO shows Big Little Lies and follows the five Garvey sisters Eva (Horgan), Grace, Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson) who kill Grace's abusive husband John Paul to protect her.

As for Bad Sisters season 2, the official Apple TV Plus press release says: "Two years after the 'accidental death' of Grace’s abusive husband, the close-knit Garvey sisters may have moved on, but when past truths resurface, the ladies are thrust back into the spotlight, suspicions are at an all-time high, lies are told, secrets revealed and the sisters are forced to work out who they can trust."

The first two episodes of Bad Sisters season 2 will land on one of the best streaming services on Wednesday, November 13, followed by one episode weekly through Wednesday, December 25.

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