TechRadar News

• A new performance leak reveals that AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT is 42% faster than the RX 7900 GRE at 4K
• Performance results could suggest a potential battle with the previous gen's flagship RX 7900 XT GPU, and Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti
• AMD will reveal its new RDNA 4 GPU lineup on February 28

Nvidia has had its time to win fans over with the RTX 5000 series GPU launch, and things haven’t exactly gone smoothly for Team Green with GPUs shipping with missing ROPs (Render Output Units) and a host of other supply issues. AMD now has an opportunity to take advantage, and a new leak suggests the Radeon RX 9070 XT might do just that.

According to a leaked figure from AMD (pictured below, originally spotted by VideoCardz), the new Radeon RX 9070 XT runs 42% faster than the Radeon RX 7900 GRE at 4K ultra settings across multiple games, hinting at potential competition with Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti. The performance gains over the previous generation's GPU are seen in both raster and ray tracing performance, so the full picture isn't clear just yet, but it’s certainly promising.

(Image credit: VideoCardz)

It's important to note that the RX 7900 GRE is the strongest point of comparison here - none of Nvidia's RTX 4000 or 5000 series GPUs are used for reference. The GRE was formerly a China-only GPU that was released globally following positive reception, though it’s less powerful than the RX 7900 XT, sitting between Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Super and 4070 Ti in terms of gaming performance. However, based on the suggested 42% performance difference, this could indicate the new RDNA 4 GPU's position against both the previous flagship RX 7900 XTX and Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti.

Team Red will showcase its Radeon RX 9000 series GPU lineup on February 28 in preparation for an early March launch - here, we'll likely see the pricing of the cards and FSR 4's full unveiling, which already has some stiff competition in Nvidia's impressive DLSS 4.

(Image credit: VideoCardz) AMD, it's now or never...

Nvidia is currently facing some backlash over the launch issues surrounding its Blackwell GPUs (as well as the sky-high pricing on the high-end cards), so there's no better time than now for AMD to capitalize. Hardly any information is available regarding the new Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs - excluding its brief reveal at CES 2025 and a range of leaks and rumors - so there's plenty of room for surprises.

Team Red has promised upgrades to ray tracing with the RDNA 4 architecture, something its fierce rival Nvidia has essentially mastered at this point. The previous Radeon generation struggled with ray tracing, with the flagship RX 7900 XTX’s raster performance against other cards being the highlight instead, so it's promising to hear that there will be a greater focus on other improvements with the new Radeon GPU lineup.

To put it lightly, Nvidia is in a bit of a tight spot with a plethora of issues present across all three released GPUs - the RTX 5090, RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti have all been affected by the missing ROPs issue, which won't sit well with consumers, especially given the high price of admission for those cards. This could give Team Red the momentum required to win fans over, with appealing GPU performance results at affordable prices.

It's clear that these new GPUs from AMD aren't supposed to compete at the high end (with the now-debunked 32GB GPU rumor put to bed). But if the RX 9070 XT can compete with Team Green's RTX 5070 Ti without stock issues and inflated prices, we could have a mid-range winner on our hands.

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• AMD RX 9070 GPU spec and benchmark rumors cast fresh doubt on power usage and performance – but I wouldn’t worry about the latter
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• AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs could go on sale March 6, the day after Nvidia’s RTX 5070 – and I wouldn’t fret about those 900W power supply rumors

• Sigma's minimalist BF is machined from a single piece of aluminum
• It features Sigma's L-mount and a 24MP full-frame sensor with 6K video
• There's only 230GB of internal storage, and no memory card slot

Sigma has clearly had fun designing its new BF full-frame mirrorless camera, stripping the user experience right back to the basics. It's made in Japan, but adopts Scandinavian minimalist design and then ups the ante.

As Sigma writes, the BF is a "radically simple camera that evokes the essence of photography". This is no boring black box with full-frame sensor like we tend to get from Sony, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic – it is indeed something radically different, and I respect Sigma for its boldness, even if the BF might be easy on the eye over practical in the hand.

The BF should be as tough as they come – it's machined from a single piece of aluminum, a process which Sigma says takes over seven hours. It measures just 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.4in / 130.1 x 72.8 x 36.8mm and tips the scales at 15.7oz / 446g (with battery), and accepts L-mount lenses, of which there are many, making it suitable as an everyday camera.

There are two colors to choose between: silver or black. Alongside the camera, Sigma unveiled silver versions of its I-series of contemporary lenses to match the look of the silver option. The camera's list price is $1,999 / £1,969, which is pretty competitive considering the materials and craftsmanship involved. We'll update this article with Australia pricing when we get that info.

Within its sleek exterior, the Sigma BF houses a full-frame 24MP sensor with 6K video capabilities and an electronic shutter only – there's no mechanical shutter. A scan of the camera's features suggests that the Sigma BF is pretty similar to the Panasonic Lumix S9, which is another compact full-frame mirrorless camera.

I tested the Lumix S9, and I felt that Panasonic had made one compromise too many in the service of keeping things simple for me to truly enjoy its handling (even if a firmware update improved matters somewhat), and Sigma's BF is intentionally even simpler. I've not had my hands on the camera yet, but I have developed a few thoughts already.

(Image credit: Sigma) It's bold, exciting – and limited Two Sigma lenses also added to the collection

Alongside the BF camera, Sigma unveiled two lenses; the 300-600mm F4 DG OS for full-frame cameras, and the 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS for APS-C cameras. The 300-600mm professional lens costs $5,999 / £5,899, while the 16-300mm is the world's first mirrorless lens with 18.8x optical zoom, and costs $699 / £599. Both lenses ship in April. Again, Australia pricing is TBC.

I fully respect that in order to create a radically simple camera, some features have to go. I'm also writing as a seasoned photographer who's used to enjoying the number and variety of controls that complex cameras offer, even if a personal favorite is the wonderfully simple Hasselblad X2D 100C. But I can already sense that the Sigma BF is a camera that I'll enjoy looking at more than shooting with.

For me, the challenge with using the BF will be composing images. There's no viewfinder, which is a big minus for me given that the BF is a photography-first camera. This is compounded by the 3.15-inch 2.1M dot touchscreen, which is fixed – you can't flip it out or spin it around for easy viewing at awkward angles.

Such limitations are the price we pay for a radically minimalist camera. Still, I'm intrigued by the Sigma BF, and it could well be one of 2025's standout cameras. I love how its menus and controls are stripped back to what you need the most – there are just four buttons to access basic exposure settings and playback, all controlled just with one finger, together with a small rear LCD display which displays your most recent changed setting. Check out Sigma's Youtube video below for a closer look at how the controls work.

Around the sides and underside, there's just single loop for a wrist strap, a tripod mount, a removable battery and a USB-C port; no other ports for headphones and mic inputs. This is as simple as it comes. In fact, there isn't even a memory card slot – instead there's 230GB of internal storage only.

I don't much mind of any of those omissions, and nor do I mind that sleek front with no grip. After all, this is a camera that's designed for small lenses and for everyday photography.

For me, it's the lack of viewfinder and fixed rear screen that are dealbreakers. What do you think of the new Sigma BF? Let me know in the comments below.

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DALL-E 3 is one of the most advanced AI image generators, capable of creating realistic images based on simple text prompts.

The text-to-image tool was developed by OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT. Simple yet powerful, DALL-E 3 can process detailed written descriptions and generate matching images in a range of styles, including illustrations.

Trained on millions of existing images, DALL-E 3 is improving all the time. Read on to find out how you can use it.

This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries.

What is DALL-E 3?

DALL-E launched in January 2021. It was the first AI-powered text-to-image tool to gain widespread attention. Developed by OpenAI, the model uses deep learning to convert written descriptions into visual assets.

Announced in September 2023, DALL-E 3 is the most advanced version to date. Trained on a huge dataset of images and text descriptions, it’s capable of understanding complex natural language prompts with greater accuracy than previous generations, allowing even complete beginners to produce vivid, detailed images using the tool.

Integrated into ChatGPT, DALL-E 3 is able to generate images at higher resolutions than before. It can also understand and replicate a range of aesthetic styles. Users can selectively edit and refine images by fine-tuning their text instructions.

What can you use DALL-E 3 for?

DALL-E 3 makes it easy to generate images based on text-based descriptions written in natural language. It’s a useful tool for creatives to quickly explore and experiment with visual concepts. It also allows users without design skills to easily create graphics.

Image prompts can be as straightforward or as complex as you like. DALL-E 3 is capable of following details with a good degree of accuracy. DALL-E 3 can also create images in a range of styles, including photorealistic, illustrated, watercolor and line art.

ChatGPT suggests using the following basic structure for image prompts with DALL-E 3: subject + environment/background + style + mood/lighting + specific details.

The resulting images can be used for everything from movie posters and brand logos to tattoo designs and printable graphic artwork.

What can’t you use DALL-E 3 for?

DALL-E 3 has a number of content limitations, most of which are for legal reasons. It can’t be used to generate images of copyrighted characters, content or logos. It also can’t be used to replicate the signature style of a living artist.

Naturally, DALL-E 3 prohibits the creation of inappropriate content, including explicit or violent imagery.

DALL-E 3 also can’t be used to produce misleading imagery, nor will it generate images of private individuals. If you ask it to create an image of a celebrity, it will offer an image “inspired by” their likeness.

Beyond these restrictions, DALL-E 3 can only produce still images, with no capacity to create videos. It can’t be used to generate very high resolution images, either. Image dimensions are limited to the following:

• 1024 × 1024 pixels (square)
• 1792 × 1024 pixels (portrait)
• 1024 × 1792 pixels (landscape)

DALL-E 3 also can’t be used to produce images in large batches. It can generate up to four images at a time.

How much does DALL-E 3 cost?

You can access DALL-E 3 for free through the Image Creator tool in Microsoft Designer, an online platform. You get 15 complimentary credits per month. Each image that you generate uses one credit.

For more credits, you’ll need to take out one of the following plans:

• Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99 / £8.49 / AU$16 per month or $99.99 / £84.99 / AU$159 per year
• Microsoft365 Family: $12.99 / £10.49 / AU$18 per month or $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$179 per year
• Copilot Pro: $20 / £19 / AU$33 per month

Alternatively, you can use DALL-E 3 through ChatGPT with a ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20 / £19 /AU$33 a month. You can also use it with a free ChatGPT account, although the number of images you can create per day is limited to about 3.

Where can you use DALL-E 3?

There are two ways to use DALL-E 3. The first is through ChatGPT. You can access it on the web, via the desktop app for macOS and Windows, or through the smartphone app for Android and iOS. With a ChatGPT Plus subscription, simply enter your request like any other text prompt in the dialogue box and ChatGPT will generate an image using DALL-E 3, or you can select DALL-E in the menu at the top left of the web interface.

Alternatively, you can use DALL-E 3 through the Image Creator tool in Microsoft Designer. This is a web-based tool. Enter your text-based description, select the desired output size and hit generate.

Is DALL-E 3 any good?

DALL-E 3 is one of the most user-friendly AI text-to-image generators you'll find. Creating and editing images is as simple as entering text prompts through its intuitive web-based interface.

We compared DALL-E 3 to Midjourney on TechRadar and while our writer praised the vivid quality of images generated by DALL-E 3, an aesthetic which lends itself well to visual storytelling, he didn't think it was as good as Midjourney at creating realistic images.

With DALL-E 3 you also get just one image per prompt, while Midjourney gives you four to choose from. That said, DALL-E 3 is a highly commended AI image generator and if you're already paying for a ChatGPT membership it comes as part of the package.

Use DALL-E 3 if...

You’re looking for an intuitive tool

Creating images with DALL-E 3 is as simple as typing word prompts into a text box, using either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft’s free Image Creator. You can choose different output sizes and selectively edit the results on both platforms.

You need accurate text in your images

DALL-E 3 is effective at processing complex natural language prompts. It’s notably better than other AI image generators at rendering accurate text in images, following instructions to the letter.

Don't use DALL-E 3 if...

You need photorealistic image assets

DALL-E 3 can produce vivid and dynamic images, but photorealism isn’t its strong suit: results tend to have a noticeably synthetic look. This aesthetic makes the tool more effective when tasked with creating stylized graphics, cartoons or artistic images.

You want an unlimited image editor

You can create a limited number of free images with DALL-E 3 using Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator tool. When your free credits run out, you’ll need to take out a paid plan with Microsoft or ChatGPT to access it.

Also consider

• Midjourney is an AI text-to-image generator accessed via a dedicated Discord chat channel. Its user interface isn’t the slickest, but the platform has useful editing tools and is capable of creating distinctive images with artistic lighting and detail.
• Leonardo is a well-equipped image generator for professionals, with useful features such as real-time editing, upscaling and the option to train models on brand assets. Its UI can be clunky, but it still offers great value for money.

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• Hands-on with the best AI image generators
• Leonardo vs. Midjourney: AI image generators put to the test
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• Users report that one of their earbuds just won't charge
• Lots of suggested solutions don't seem to work
• Some users reported burn marks near charging pins

It looks like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro aren't out of the quality control woods just yet. Last summer the buds were delayed due to quality control issues of multiple kinds; now, it seems there are still serious issues with at least some users' earbuds.

According to Sammyfans, multiple Buds 3 Pro users are reporting that one of their earbuds simply won't charge.

While several users have suggested things that may have helped them to get things started, there doesn't seem to be any trick that's working more broadly.

(Image credit: Samsung) What's the charging problem with Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?

According to the report, users have tried restarting their phones, resetting the earbuds to factory settings, checking for debris and, of course, checked the really basic stuff such as ensuring the charging case is charged. But it seems that these attempts haven't been successful in finding a consistent fix.

There's one bit in the report that's particularly worrying. "Some users have even noted burn marks near the charging pins," which is not something you want to see in your expensive electronics, though obviously we'll have to take it with a grain of salt at this time as to whether this is totally accurate, or related.

The strongest culprit so far is that the issue may be due to imperfectly positioned charging pins: some users have reported successfully charging their errant earbuds by holding them carefully in position rather than just sitting them in the case, or even by gently adjusting the charging pin position with a small screwdriver.

If you're affected by the charging issue, I wouldn't recommend getting the screwdrivers out, or at least I wouldn't if your DIY skills are as destructive as mine: if this is a fault, it should be a warranty fix under Samsung's standard 12-month warranty, so your first port of call should be Samsung support.

We rate the Samsung Buds3 Pro as being among the best wireless earbuds for those with Samsung phones, but we'll be keeping an eye on this story to see if it develops.

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• Norton is adding AI-powered scam protection directly to its plans
• The tools cover SMS messages, emails, web browsing, and more
• It comes free for all with purchased Norton plans

Norton is adding new AI tools to its solutions, to help its customers better protect from internet scams.

The antivirus giant has announced Genie Scam Protection and Genie Scam Protection Pro, which it says provide “advanced AI protection in all the usual hotbeds of scams: texts, phone calls, emails, and web.”

Norton says that Genie AI analyzes “the meaning of words, not just links” to spot hidden scam patterns that even the most trained eye can miss. Norton’s most comprehensive plan, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus, also offers Scam support and Reimbursement coverage.

Fighting AI with AI

The company introduced Norton Genie back in 2023, to help users analyze suspicious messages and images in real-time. Now, by building it directly into Norton plans, the company wants to build a “set it and forget it” solution that works proactively to keep people safer.

Whoever bought Norton’s Cyber Safety products on desktop, or mobile, (including Norton AntiVirus Plus, Norton Mobile Security, and Norton 360), will get the Genie Scam Protection for free.

Depending on the set of purchased features, users can expect the AI to help scan SMS messages, internet websites, calls, emails, and more. They will also get an AI-powered “scam assistant”, which integrates the Norton Genie AI app to provide “instant guidance on scams and suspicious offers”.

The tools are available in the US now, with other regions soon to follow.

For Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen, adding AI to cybersecurity solutions is a logical step, since crooks have been using AI in their attacks for a while now.

“Scammers are tapping into AI to speed up their schemes and make them more believable,” Elias said. “Couple that with the sheer volume of emails, texts, and calls we’re getting every day; it’s clear we need technology on our side to help us avoid becoming the next scam victim.”

In the near future, Norton says it will also integrate deepfake and scam detection into AI-supported PCs.

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• Apple has released its iOS 18.4 beta
• Code indicates Google Gemini could soon be integrated into Siri
• It would allow users to ask Google AI more complicated queries

Gemini could be integrated into Siri very soon, as new code in the iOS 18.4 beta hints at more AI model functionality for Apple Intelligence.

Google Gemini functionality in Apple Intelligence-powered Siri would allow users to ask Google AI more difficult questions than Siri can currently answer. This would be available as an alternate option to ChatGPT integration, although we’re not sure if you’ll need to choose or if you’ll be able to access different AI models depending on your queries.

At WWDC 2024 when Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, Craig Federighi said, “We also intend to add support for other AI models in the future.” following the ChatGPT Siri integration announcement, it would now appear that Gemini is the next AI model to follow suit.

According to @aarop613 on X, there is a reference to “Google” as part of “choice_options” alongside the already available ChatGPT integration. This would imply that Gemini might be available in Siri as soon as the official iOS 18.4 launch which is expected sometime in the next few months.

Google Gemini coming to iPhone?

Apple's backend has revealed that the next 3rd party iOS-AI integration will be Google Gemini pic.twitter.com/0rIuJhT5LjFebruary 21, 2025

This wouldn’t be the first time Apple and Google work together, the companies have had a lucrative deal to include Google Search as the default search engine in Safari on iOS for years now, and despite being direct competitors see benefits in working together.

Google recently released Gemini 2.0 Flash which is an incredible multimodal AI model that can go toe-to-toe with the best OpenAI has to offer. Implementing Gemini into Siri would give Apple Intelligence an edge over other smartphone AI offerings by incorporating multiple models into one user experience.

If Apple’s goal is to continuously increase AI model offerings in Siri with Apple Intelligence, users will benefit from a wide scope of functionality, and that’s only a good thing. While we don’t know when to expect Gemini integration in Siri, this code points towards the arrival of Google AI in the not-too-distant future.

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• A timer has appeared on the official Tony Hawk game website
• This follows an easter egg that was spotted in Black Ops 6 last week
• Developer Iron Galaxy seems to be involved

Alert: the ongoing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater mystery has intensified as a timer has appeared on the series' official website.

By heading over to the website, you'll find a date, March 4, 2025, as well as a timer that (at the time of writing) has roughly eight and a half days left to go. This lines up with an easter egg from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 which was spotted last week in the Grind multiplayer map, in which a sign showing off that same date could be found in the skate park-themed environment.

It certainly seems like something is in the works, then, but whether that's a brand new game or the highly requested Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 remaster remains to be seen.

What we can glean from the website is the ESRB Teen rating that highlights 'Lyrics' as a content warning. Par for the course for the THPS series, really, given its usage of licensed music. What's more interesting is the listing of developer Iron Galaxy next to the Activision logo.

Iron Galaxy is a pretty renowned developer in the industry. It has worked with Activision in the past, having ported Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 to PC. The dev also has a pretty respectable background in fighting games, having worked on Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition, Killer Instinct (2013) as well as the unfortunately discontinued Rumbleverse.

So what will Activision have in store for us on March 4? We simply won't know until then, so in the meantime we'll just have to blast some Reel Big Fish, wear our favorite pair of checkerboard Vans slip-ons and hope for the best.

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• A new report about the Samsung tri-fold phone has revealed more details
• It may appear alongside Samsung's other 2025 foldables
• A Galaxy G Fold name has already been rumored

Last month, Samsung teased a tri-fold foldable phone that's set to launch sometime later this year – and we've now got more leaked information about what to expect when the new device eventually shows up.

As per South Korean outlet ET News (via @Jukanlosreve), mass production of the foldable is scheduled for April, as Samsung finalizes supply chain parts. Unlike the Huawei Mate XT, it will apparently fold inwards (as previously rumored), so two screens are needed.

Those screens will measure, according to this report, 9.96 inches and 6.49 inches. That main screen is just a touch smaller than the Huawei tri-fold, which has a 10.2-inch main display (a third of which does double duty as a cover display).

Another important revelation here: the tri-fold is being tipped to launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold SE 2, which should be around July time – though it won't necessarily go on sale right away.

A rumored name

Report: Samsung Prepares for Mass Production of ‘Dual-Folding’ Foldable Phone – Expected to Launch Alongside Z7 SeriesAccording to reports from Korean media citing anonymous sources, Samsung plans to start procuring components for its dual-folding foldable phone around April.…February 24, 2025

This ET News report also suggests the main screen will lack a digitizer, in order to keep it as slim as possible – that means no support for an S Pen stylus, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

We don't get a name for the tri-fold device here, but an earlier rumor indicated it's going to be called the Samsung G Fold, which would sort of fit in with the current naming scheme for Samsung's foldable series.

(Image credit: Future)

The upcoming handset is apparently going to match the current Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of screen brightness (2,600 nits) and wired charging speed (25W), but we're still mostly in the dark when it comes to the other key specs.

It certainly sounds as though we're going to get a bumper crop of foldables from Samsung in the next few months, but the Galaxy G Fold (if that is what it's called) might be the best of the bunch – even if it's also very expensive.

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• The M4 MacBook Air release date could be imminent
• Apple Stores are getting ready and cutting stock of the M3 MacBook Air
• The new laptop is expected to bring modest improvements

We’ve been hearing for months that Apple is going to launch a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip soon, and now it looks like the date is almost upon us. If you’ve been thinking about buying a MacBook Air, you’ll want to hold off for just a little longer.

That’s because Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has claimed in his Power On newsletter that Apple Stores are preparing for the new MacBook Air to arrive. His evidence for this? Inventory of the M3 MacBook Air is apparently being wound down at Apple Stores, meaning there will soon be fewer units of the current model available to buy.

This is usually a surefire sign that Apple is getting ready to launch a new device. After all, what’s the point in the company maintaining high stock levels of a product that will soon be superseded?

It’s not the only clue. Gurman says that Apple’s marketing, sales and retail teams are now being prepared for the M4 MacBook Air release, which is expected to land at some point in March. Gurman's track record is very good, so a launch within the next month does look increasingly likely.

Hang on a little longer

(Image credit: Apple)

All of this means that you probably shouldn’t buy a MacBook Air right now. If you do, you’ll end up with an M3 model that will quickly be surpassed by the M4 version.

As we’ve seen from the MacBook Pro and the iPad Pro, the M4 chip should be a decent upgrade over the M3, if not a groundbreaking one. In terms of performance, we’ll likely see some increased core counts, a more efficient Neural Engine, and improved memory bandwidth.

Other than the new chip, the M4 MacBook Air isn’t expected to include many other new features. The design will almost certainly stay the same, as will the speakers. And while Apple is working on an OLED MacBook Air, it’s still a few years away from release.

Still, the M4 MacBook Air is enough of an upgrade to make it worth waiting for. If you’ve been itching to pull the trigger on a new MacBook Air, you’d do well to hang on just a few more weeks.

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• JBL Flip 7 and Charge 6 US launch details leak in removed press release
• Pre-orders set for March 10, 2025 – on-sale April 6, 2025
• Flip 6 set to be $149, Charge 6 set to be $199

The JBL Flip 7 and Charge 6 Bluetooth speakers are ready to launch soon, according to a press release from the company on Business Wire, which has now been removed – but is still visible via Wayback Machine.

It reveals that the new speakers will cost $149 and $199 respectively, and will be available to pre-order in the US from March 10, 2025 – but won't actually be available until April 6. The price is a rise from the previous versions of both models, which launched at $129 and $179 respectively. In the UK, we'd expect them to cost £149 and £199 based on current exchange rates. In Australia, it works out to around AU$295 and AU$395.

That's unless you're in China, where the Flip 7 it's already available to order with an early bird price of around $158, according to Gizmochina.

In addition to the usual JBL strengths, it looks like the successors to the rather good JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 will be borrowing one of the best features of the JBL Xtreme 4: the AI Sound Boost mode. The Business Wire release confirms that both speakers will support this tech, and we'll explain why that's a great fit in a moment.

But the Gizmochina article says that there's another welcome piece of optimization tech in the Flip 7: a battery mode that squeezes another two hours out of the high-capacity lithium-ion battery by turning off the bass display and equalizer settings. That should mean an improved battery life of 14 hours.

We haven't seen a good range of pictures of the devices yet, but we expect the design to be largely to same as the previous models – here's the JBL Charge 5, for reference. (Image credit: Daniel Hessel) Why we're looking forward to hearing the JBL Flip 7

I'm the first person to mock fancy-sounding audio optimization tech, because I've listened to a lot of it and found it deeply disappointing. But the AI Sound Boost here could be good, based on when we've already heard it in action.

Here's Harry Padoan, who reviewed the JBL Xtreme 4, describing how the system worked for him: "The AI Sound Boost in the JBL Xtreme 4 has pretty controlled, powerful audio and at high volumes it didn't sound distorted at all – that seems to be the purpose of the technology. How much of that is really down to 'AI', I couldn't say, of course."

Whether it's AI, engineering or a mix of both doesn't really matter: if it helps the JBL Flip 7 and Charge to push out more powerful sound without distortion than they could manage before, that could be a big win for such small speakers.

The Gizmochina articles describes the Flip 7 as using a tweeter, racetrack mid driver and dual bass radiators for sound, which is basically what the Flip 6 offers.

It'll be IP68 water and dust-resistant, but a nice upgrade will be the option of USB-C audio input for "lossless" sound, though I don't know that I'd rely on a pint-sized portable speaker for that kind of fidelity…

Bluetooth 5.4 will provide the wireless tech, including support for Auracast, to provide the ability to use loads of the speakers together at once.

We don't have this kind of info for the Charge 6 yet, but I'd expect them to be basically identical except for a more powerful speaker setup in the Charge, and a larger battery that can charge other devices, naturally.

The JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 both rank among our list of the best Bluetooth speakers based on how good a value they offer, and I suspect that these two speakers will be the biggest competitors to the new models – with the Flip 6 regularly available for under $100 / £100, the Flip 7 is going to have to be a clear upgrade.

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• Windows 11 has a new preview build with some smart additions
• One of those is a fresh piece of the interface to make file sharing easier
• The other is a couple of neat new layouts for one part of the Start menu

Windows 11 should be getting some useful changes to its interface, one of which makes sharing files easier, and the other introduces nifty new layout options for the Start menu.

These moves are in testing right now, to be precise in Windows 11’s build 22635.4950 which is in the Beta channel.

The new file sharing menu appears at the top of the screen whenever you’re dragging a file out of a folder on the desktop, and it features an array of icons, such as WhatsApp, My Phone, Microsoft Teams, and so on. Dropping a file on any icon will instantly share it via that medium.

As for the Start menu, that change is for the ‘All apps’ page which as the name suggests lists all your apps, with the new options here being the grid and category views.

The grid view sticks to an alphabetical ordering of your apps, as in the standard list view, except with the grid layout, you can fit more apps on with the layout extended out to the side, so there’s less scrolling to do (see the image below).

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Or a more different alternative is the category view where your apps are grouped into various categories and ordered by usage levels. So, for example, there are social apps, or productivity, or entertainment apps, a whole bunch of categories you can dive into, with your most-used apps highlighted in a box featuring their icons (again, see the pic below).

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This feature is still rolling out, so not every tester will see it yet (and it’s coming to the Dev builds, as well as the Beta channel).

That’s pretty much it for this preview build, although there’s one more addition on the accessibility front with File Explorer which is being graced with improved support for text size scaling with File Open or Save dialog boxes (and also with Wizard dialog boxes).

Oh, and Microsoft has applied a number of bug fixes too, while there are some acknowledged issues, which are all listed in the usual blog post outlining the content of build 22635.4950.

Analysis: Almost through testing now

Of course, all this is just in testing, and if trialling any given element doesn’t work out, that feature may be dropped. I’d imagine that’s unlikely, though, as both these fresh introductions are useful and welcome touches.

Easier file sharing has got to be good, and I can’t see anyone arguing with more choice in the Start menu layouts. After all, if you don’t want to have the ‘All apps’ panel look any different to the default list, you don’t need to go near the alternatives.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that having reached the Beta channel, these features are not far from release now. There’s only one more step – final testing in the Release Preview channel – before this functionality is ready to be deployed to the finished version of Windows 11.

Indeed, the move with the Start menu layouts was previously discovered by digging around in test builds in the past, so it’s good to see that coming to fruition (the above mentioned caveats taken into consideration).

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• Spider-Man 4's release date has been pushed back one week
• The joint Sony-Marvel movie will now launch in theaters on July 31, 2026
• The studios don't want Tom Holland's next superhero film to be released so close to Christopher Nolan's next movie

Marvel and Sony have announced a new release date for Spider-Man 4 – but don't worry, you won't have too much longer to wait for its arrival.

Last Friday (February 21), the studios, which are working together on their fourth Spider-Man movie, announced that it'll arrive one week later than its original launch date of July 24, 2026. It'll now swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

So, what's behind the release date switch-up? It's all Christopher Nolan's fault. The multi-award-winning British filmmaker's next movie – The Odyssey, an epic retelling of the eponymous poem penned by Ancient Greek poet Homer – is set to arrive on July 17, 2026. Matt Damon will be the movie's lead and, ironically, Holland is part of its all-star cast that'll also feature his Spider-Man co-star (and long-time girlfriend) Zendaya.

Clearly, Marvel and Sony don't want Spider-Man 4 to go toe-to-toe with Nolan's latest big-budget team-up with Universal Pictures. Sure, the webslinger could more than hold his own against The Odyssey, but it makes sense to delay Spidey's next big-screen adventure to generate more ticket sales and, by proxy, more profit for the pair. Spider-Man: No Way Home earned over $1 billion during its run in cinemas worldwide in late 2021, and the wallcrawler's next film should be as successful, if not more so, than its forebear. Getting out of The Odyssey's way, even if it's just by an extra week, should help the Marvel Phase 6 film to do that.

What do we know about Spider-Man 4 so far?

Zendaya's (left) role in Spider-Man 4 will be a small one, according to a new report (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

The best place to learn more about Holland's next Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) outing is by reading my dedicated Spider-Man 4 guide. It'll give you the lowdown on everything from its confirmed cast, story specifics, and why it's sandwiched between the next two Avengers flicks – those being Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are currently slated to land in theaters in May 2026 and May 2027. Spider-Man 4's launch delay is equally beneficial as it'll provide some much-needed breathing room between Doomsday's release and its own, too.

New cast and plot rumors have emerged over the past few days that I haven't covered in my Spider-Man 4 hub yet, though, which may be of interest to you. According to industry insider Daniel RPK, Jacob Batalon won't be returning as Ned Leeds for Spidey's next MCU adventure. Zendaya's MJ will only have a small role in proceedings, too, with director Daniel Destin Cretton seemingly set to introduce a new supporting cast for Holland's Peter Parker.

Until Marvel and/or Sony confirm anything, I'd advise you should take the above with a huge pinch of salt. There's been plenty of speculation about Spider-Man 4's cast and story in recent months but, its release date, Cretton's hiring, and Holland's return aside, nothing has been officially announced. Once something is, you'll be sure to hear it from me. In the meantime, find out how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order or see if you agree with my ranking of the best Spider-Man movies.

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• Empirical Health is an app that uses smartwatch data to provide personalized healthcare
• It's supported by most major insurers and available in more than 30 US states
• It just launched on Android with support for Wear OS watches

Empirical Health is an app that promises to transform personalized health care using data from your smartwatch, and now it's available on Android with support for the best Android smartwatches, providing they run Wear OS.

The 2.0 version of Empirical Health launched on Apple Watch last year and is now available on the Google Play Store. It supports Samsung Galaxy watches, Google Pixel Watches, Fitbits, and other Wear OS devices.

The app's premise is simple. "WearOS watches track tons of health data, but most of it goes unused by the healthcare system. We think that’s a missed opportunity," the company explains. "So, we built an entire medical practice that uses modern technology to streamline diagnostics, improve treatment, and keep the doctor-patient relationship at the center of care."

Medical care through Empirical Health is accessible in more than 30 US states and supported by most major insurance providers. According to the company, that's more than 200 million covered customers, so what exactly can the app do?

Transforming smartwatch data into healthcare

(Image credit: Empirical)

Empirical Health takes data from your smartwatch and uses AI to turn it into a personalized health plan. The plans can only be used once they've been reviewed by a real-life human doctor, who can also provide lab tests, referrals, or prescriptions.

Specifically, the company highlights benefits including at-home tests for sleep apnea. If your smartwatch detects metrics such as low deep sleep or irregular breathing, one of its doctors can order you an at-home sleep apnea test covered by insurance.

It also tracks your heart rate data, and can even provide the equivalent of a tilt table test for Long COVID and Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The app has a Today tab, which gives you at-a-glance information like heart rate, sleep, symptom, and workout data. There's also a Metrics tab with a deep dive into over 40 biomarkers taken from your smartwatch data and any blood test results you might have. In eligible locations, you can also use the Chat tab to speak to a doctor, and you can use the Goals tab to set up your own personalized health plan for nutrition, exercise, and more.

With Apple recently unveiling its own ambitious health study into the impact of tech on physical and mental well-being, Empirical Health's expansion is another sign that smartwatches are fast becoming an integral part of everyday health and well-being. Features like sleep apnea detection, heart rate monitoring, fall detection, and ECGs are making smartwatches indispensable for people who want to take control of their health.

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• New phishing technique discovered abusing PayPal
• The attack uses a feature recently added to the payments platform
• The goal is to get victims to install remote desktop access software

A sophisticated phishing scam has been spotted abusing PayPal and other services, with the goal of tricking people into granting cybercriminals access to their devices.

Researchers from BleepingComputer who, themselves, received one such phishing email, and decided to investigate further.

The victims would get an email directly from “service@paypal.com” claiming a new address had been added to their account, and that a purchase of a new MacBook M4 laptop was completed. The victims were then invited to call a phone number enclosed with the email, if they wish to cancel the order.

Abusing legitimate services

Obviously, all of this is fake. There is no new address, no MacBook, and the phone number - while active - does not belong to PayPal, but rather to the scammers. The goal is to scare people into rash decisions, calling the phone number to quickly cancel the order. The person on the other side would claim the computer was compromised, and that they needed to install an antivirus to clean it up.

This antivirus is actually a ConnectWise ScreenConnect client, which would grant the attackers total control over the computer. After that, they can steal the data, make actual wire transfers, and more.

One thing that actually isn’t fake is PayPal’s email address. As BleepingComputer discovered, PayPal recently introduced a new feature that allows users to add “gift addresses” to their own profiles. So, in reality, the attackers actually added a new address to their own account.

After adding a new address, PayPal can send a customized notification email. This customization allowed the attackers to add the “You purchased a new MacBook phishing message.”

The notification message was then automatically forwarded to another account which, the publication speculates, is a mailing list that forwarded it to the victims.

PayPal users getting this email can safely ignore it. If you’re still suspicious, navigate directly to paypal.com and check to see if there is a new address added (there isn’t).

Via BleepingComputer

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• OnePlus released its new Wear OS Watch 3 in February
• It's big and heavy, and there's no LTE option in most markets
• The company has confirmed it's looking to add a new size and LTE model this year

Just days after the OnePlus Watch 3 was released, OnePlus has confirmed that it's already working on new models that will address the three main shortcomings of its new battery-life beast.

As we noted in our OnePlus Watch 3 review, the new wearable boasts the best Wear OS battery life of any of the best Android smartwatches on the market. It comes with OnePlus' classic design language, new health features, and all the Google third-party apps you'd expect from a Wear OS smartwatch. However, it's also quite large and heavy, and there's no LTE option for cellular connectivity outside of China.

Now, the company has confirmed that all three of those issues are on its radar, and says it has plans to introduce a new size and a cellular version later this year.

OnePlus Watch 3's 2025 upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

In comments made to Wareable, OnePlus Health Lab's Head of R&D confirmed that we could see the new models as early as this year.

“It’s true that the watch remains heavy for a small wrist and that this typically affects women, but we will fix that this year," Dr Leo Zhang told the outlet. "We value our customer’s voice and we’re working on that."

"LTE is also something we get asked about by many users," he added, confirming there's no technical barrier to adding the feature. "In China’s domestic market, we have an LTE version," he said. "In an overseas market, we need to work with the carriers – and that’s a big hurdle. We need to work with carriers so users can put in an eSIM and have a data plan."

LTE connectivity allows a smartwatch to connect to a carrier network and use data just like a smartphone. It enables features like navigation, calls and texts, and media streaming even without a smartphone present, a handy feature for runners and other people who want to leave their phone at home exercise with a standalone smartwatch.

Zhang said that "as long as we work smoothly with the carriers," the feature should also be on the upgrade list for the OnePlus Watch 3.

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Infostealers are rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous tools in a hacker’s arsenal, particularly in environments where email remains a primary communication channel for enterprises. At their core, infostealers are a type of trojan designed by malware authors to harvest sensitive data such as login credentials, financial information, system details, and personally identifiable information.

These malicious files are engineered to extract as much information as possible, operating quickly and stealthily. Once collected, the stolen data is sent to command-and-control servers, where it can be exploited for various malicious purposes.

Infostealers in the wild

Some research suggests infostealers hit up to 10,000 victims per day; however Forcepoint research teams have observed increased activity from various infostealers recently, targeting victims in a number of ways.

The first is VIPKeyLogger, which circulates through phishing campaigns as an attachment that takes the form of an archive or Microsoft Office files. This exfiltrates data using Instant Messaging telegrams services or dynamic DNS services. Opening the attachment leads to a sequence of events that ultimately ends up in a series of data exfiltration such as recording keystrokes, collecting information like clipboard data, screenshots, browser history, and more.

Strela Stealer is also circulated via phishing campaigns containing attachments which further contains obfuscated script, and on execution of script, it performs malicious activity and harvests sensitive information including usernames, passwords, and other email configuration details, sending it over Command & Control servers.

Lastly, Rhadamanthys stealer was circulated in the holiday season and masquerades as travel industry emails with malicious document attachments. Clicking the documents triggers a chain of downloads and obfuscated scripts to steal user credentials and cryptocurrency wallet data. This campaign resembles the earlier Agent Tesla attacks, but uses novel obfuscation techniques.

Needless to say, infostealers are prevalent and appear in a number of different formats, making them harder than ever to defend against, which begs the question – how can you protect against increasingly sophisticated infostealers?

Protection against infostealers

If it wasn’t already clear, the rise of infostealers emphasizes the need for a sophisticated and holistic approach towards defending your organisation. To work most effectively, that approach must combine essential security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, with a proactive mindset. Cybercriminals are continuously evolving their tactics, so organizations must too in order to stay ahead.

Businesses need to make common practice out of minimizing vulnerabilities by encrypting data at rest and in motion to ensure only authorized individuals have access to sensitive data. Data loss prevention (DLP) solutions for email can help enterprises get control over inbound and outbound threats by supporting virus and malware blocking, spam filtering, content filtering and email archiving. And, of course, by regularly updating and hosting security audits, organizations can better understand if their security measures are effective and where they are lacking.

However, arguably one of the most important parts of an organization's defense is its people. Employees must be aware of their role in organizational security. This includes the basics such as maintaining strong passwords and leveraging technologies like MFA, but should also include their ability to be constantly cyberaware. This means organisations have a role to play in ensuring employees know how to identify and act when faced with an attack, otherwise they have the potential to unknowingly bring the whole kingdom down from the inside. Human error can be the weakest link in the security chain, so it is important staff are educated.

Infostealers represent a growing and insidious threat in today’s digital era, preying on unprotected organizations and unknowing individuals. By combining strong technical defenses with a culture of security awareness, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim to these cyberattacks. When all is said and done, proactive prevention and informed employees are the ultimate line of defense.

We've compiled a list of the best business password managers.

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

Software development teams are facing growing pressure to shorten their development lifecycles and push products and updates faster than ever. The sooner a finished application is launched, the greater the chance of meeting customer demand and stealing a march on the competition to claim market share. Likewise, getting fixes and new features live quickly makes it easier to keep customers happy.

But while time is money, more speed can also quickly introduce more vulnerabilities into the application. While a certain level of risk is acceptable, no developer can afford to have a major security breach undoing all their hard work.

To make matters worse, cybercriminal groups are increasingly preying on this need for speed, exploiting critical open source resources to infiltrate the software supply chain.

Developers need knowledge, resources and support to keep their code secure, with as minimal impact on development schedules as possible.

Dedicated training, in close collaboration with their application security counterparts is one of the key ways to empower developer to achieve this balance.

The growing risks in open-source development

One of the reasons for a greater focus on AppSec skills is the growing concern around unsecured third-party code.

Open source code has become an essential resource for development teams working to strict deadlines. Accessing ready-made building blocks for common application features saves a tremendous amount of time and resources, saving teams from reinventing the wheel for every new project and drastically reducing the SDLC.

GitHub’s most recent Octoverse report revealed that there were more than one billion contributions to open source projects in 2024 alone, and previously estimated that around 97% of all applications incorporate at least some open source code.

However, open source assets can also introduce unnecessary risk to an application. There’s always a chance that any third-party code may have vulnerabilities missed by its creator, and threat actors are escalating the risk further by purposefully injecting malicious code into the open source environment.

In October our researchers discovered that cybercriminals were targeting Python developers in the blockchain industry by uploading what appear to be useful tools for tasks like crypto wallet management and recovery. However, the packages harbored well-hidden malware obfuscated within the code.

The incident is just one of a growing number of cases where cybercriminals have exploited the inherent trust and reliance developers place on open source code repositories. While most reputable platforms make an effort to assess the safety of uploaded assets, the sheer volume of contributions and the potential for obfuscated code means the risk can never be ruled out.

Empowering developers with tailored training

Given that their most valuable resources are being exploited by cybercriminals, it’s more important than ever for developers to be security savvy. However, this has long been a challenge. One of the biggest barriers is that developers are creators and coders first and foremost and many developers will not have had the opportunity to gain real experience in AppSec.

So, the first step is to empower dev teams with structured training and proper resources if they are to take on AppSec effectively.

It’s vitally important that any training efforts are bespoke to their specific experience and needs. Generic programs often overwhelm developers with irrelevant information, making it difficult to apply lessons in practice. Tailored, role-specific training is far more effective, empowering developers to build secure code without disrupting their workflow.

One of the most effective ways of delivering this, is through Just-in-Time (JIT) training which provides actionable guidance precisely when developers encounter vulnerabilities, streamlining the remediation process. This approach aligns security with the fast pace of development, ensuring vulnerabilities are addressed efficiently. Organizations must focus on providing ways to be quick and efficient in security scanning alongside all of their development framework and methodology.

Gamified platforms can be particularly effective here, turning secure coding into an engaging skill-building exercise. These tools foster a sense of ownership, helping developers resolve vulnerabilities and understand their broader impact.

Training and development must provide real-time feedback with minimal impact on the development workflow.

Boosting collaboration with security mentorship

While tools and training are essential, mentorship programs can go even further in bridging gaps in knowledge and execution. This involves embedding security engineers within development teams to help provide guidance and hands-on training. This approach helps foster collaboration, establishing a shared responsibility for secure coding that addresses issues proactively and efficiently.

Mentorships not only ensure security becomes an integral part of the development process but can also remove the siloed “us and them” structure that is common between security and development.

Well-established mentorship programs build into the iterative process and that code is secure on release. This is especially useful for smaller organizations with more limited resources.

Getting started with security mentoring

For organizations that don’t already have a security mentor in place for their development team, a establishing a mentorship program can be fairly straight forward. The first step is to solicit volunteers who want to get involved. Mentors should have a genuine interest in building secure coding practices, rather than feeling like they’ve been forced into taking on more work.

Volunteers also benefit from gaining new skills and diversifying their role as a dev. Resources like Codebashing can provide a structured approach to AppSec skill development, along with other informational assets like webinars and events.

Thriving in a threat-filled landscape

With increasing internal pressure for faster and more efficient development cycles, development teams can often feel caught between a rock and a hard place.

To empower them to thrive in today’s fast-paced environment, organizations must support developers in integrating security into every stage of development. Tailored training and collaborative mentorship equip developers to address vulnerabilities efficiently without slowing down innovation.

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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

• New range of TCO Certified monitors will minimize waste, enhance efficiency, and facilitate repairs
• The first model, 34B2U3600C, features SmartKVM, allowing seamless switching between sources via shortcuts
• Warranty available across Europe, except Russia and Belarus

Philips has announced a five-year warranty included as standard for its new range of TCO Certified, generation 10 business monitors, covering defects in materials and workmanship, though excluding accidental damage or misuse.

As reported by TechPowerUp, the 34B2U3600C is the first in the range, which, per Phillips itself, hopes to leverage the TCO certification to combine premium technology with a sustainable manufacturing process.

The company is also providing free security and functionality updates for five years from the date of sale, or the final manufacturing date for applicable products. The warranty is available in all European regions except Russia and Belarus.

A greener approach with TCO Certified monitors

TCO is a global certification highlighting electronics manufacturers that maintain high environmental and social responsibility standards.

With monitors like the 34B2U3600C, Phillips hopes to accomplish this by reducing its dependence on hazardous materials, improving energy efficiency, and promoting 'circular economy' principles, such as repairability, durability, and end-of-life management.

The 34-inch curved VA panel, with a suggested retail price of €439.00, supports a WQHD resolution with 1.07 billion colors, while the SmartKVM function allows users to switch between sources using a simple keyboard shortcut.

The display also features Rheinland Eyesafe certification and SoftBlue Technology to help reduce eye strain.

In addition, the monitor supports a USB-C docking station with 90 W power delivery, and its RJ45 port ensures fast charging and a secure network connection. A Compact Ergo Base offers height adjustment, tilt, and swivel for improved ergonomic comfort.

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• Western Digital plans to produce 100TB+ HDDs within a decade
• It will do this using HAMR and HDMR heat assisted technologies
• The company is also investigating long-term storage, like ceramics and DNA

Western Digital and Sandisk have begun the process of splitting into separate companies, with the former focused on HDD and platform development, and the latter now all-in on flash products. Both companies recently held investor days, and while Sandisk teased a 1PB SSD and a flash replacement for HBM at its event, WD’s focus was on how it intends to supercharge hard drive capacity within a decade.

The company’s roadmap to the future of HDD technology shows a clear progression from energy-assisted Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (ePMR) to Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) and ultimately to Heat Dot Magnetic Recording (HDMR), targeting over 100TB capacities.

By 2026, Western Digital says its HDD capacity will reach 36TB-44TB thanks to HAMR technology which uses laser heating to temporarily reduce disk coercivity. This allows for smaller magnetic grains, improving data stability and density while reducing interference, so HDDs can store more data per platter with long-term reliability.

(Image credit: Western Digital) Enter HDMR technology

Western Digital isn’t the only drive manufacturer banking on HAMR to supercharge the capacities of hard drives.

Its big rival Seagate recently debuted a 36TB drive while revealing a 60TB model is coming, and in especially bad news for WD, it also launched a bid to acquire HAMR specialist Intevac whose sputtering machines are used on over 65% of the world’s hard disks. Although Seagate is Intevac’s main customer, WD also uses the company’s tech.

By the 2030s, Western Digital expects HAMR to be superseded by HDMR (also known as bit-pattern recording), which will lead the push for 100TB+ HDD capacities. The tech, which is reported to be quite costly, uses nano-patterned magnetic media with discrete magnetic "dots" to boost data placement, reduce noise, and improve areal density.

Western Digital isn’t only focusing on traditional hard drives, it’s also exploring new growth opportunities. In AI compute, the company is investigating advanced computational models such as Boltzmann and Ising, as well as neuromorphic computing, which could enable more efficient, brain-like processing architectures for AI workloads.

The company is also looking into long-term DNA and ceramic storage, two emerging technologies that have the potential to offer extremely durable and high-density data preservation for archival needs. In the medtech sector, the company is considering developing magnetic biosensors and nanopore technology, which could have significant applications in biomedical diagnostics and personalized medicine.

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• Intel is currently without a CEO and its future looks unclear
• TSMC and Broadcom are interested in separate areas of the chip maker’s business
• Any deal faces big hurdles - government rules, factory retooling, and political pushback

Although it debuted some super-fast AI chips in 2024 in a bid to match its rival AMD, Intel isn’t the powerhouse it used to be.

While Nvidia is the second-largest company in the world (behind Apple) by market cap, worth $3.4 trillion, and AMD is in 80th place, worth $183.27 billion, Intel, currently without a CEO following Pat Gelsinger’s departure in December 2024, is languishing in 173rd place at $102.18 billion - placing it between Rio Tinto and Airbnb.

This has led to all sorts of rumors surrounding Intel's future, including speculation it could merge with AMD's former foundry, GlobalFoundries, in a potential multi-billion-dollar deal. But now, perhaps the saddest news of all comes from a new Wall Street Journal report, which says Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Broadcom are separately considering deals that could split the iconic chipmaker in half.

Big hurdles to overcome

The report claims Broadcom has been "closely examining Intel’s chip-design and marketing business", and, according to people familiar with the matter, has, "informally discussed with its advisers making a bid but would likely only do so if it finds a partner for Intel’s manufacturing business, the people said.”

At the same time, TSMC is considering taking control of Intel’s chip plants (either some or all) - a move that was apparently suggested by the Trump administration. However, the WSJ was told by a White House official that the president is “unlikely to support a deal that involved a foreign entity operating Intel’s factories,” so make of that what you will.

The WSJ stresses Broadcom and TSMC haven’t teamed up to carve Intel in two - these are unrelated possibilities - and all of the talks so far are “preliminary and largely informal.”

There are a couple of hurdles standing in the way of such a deal. The 2022 Chips Act created a $53 billion grant program to boost domestic chip production, with Intel receiving the largest share - up to $7.9 billion. As a condition of the funding, the chipmaker must retain a majority stake in its factories if they are ever spun off into a separate entity. The U.S. government would also have to approve any deal involving TSMC or other investors taking control of Intel’s facilities.

The WSJ also notes that any deal faces operational issues, noting Intel’s factories have largely been set up to produce Intel chips, and the company has only started trying to make chips for external customers in the past few years. "Retooling Intel factories to make advanced chips TSMC’s way would be a significant and costly engineering challenge," it adds.

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