TechRadar News

• Another improvement is spotted for Phone Link
• It will soon be easier to unlink handsets
• The app has been regularly updated in recent months

The Phone Link app that's part of Windows lets you sync data, texts, and calls between the desktop operating system and a mobile device – and a new upgrade for the tool is being tested that makes it easier to swap between handsets in Phone Link.

As per tipster @phantomofearth (via Windows Latest), some users now have the option to unlink a connected iPhone or Android phone from Phone Link, right from the Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices page in Windows Settings.

At the moment, you need to head into your Microsoft account settings page on the web to manage this – so it potentially saves a lot of clicking around and logging in. Previously, an unlink button was available in the Phone Link app itself, but it was removed a while ago.

One obvious reason why you would want to do this is when you're upgrading your phone, and anything that makes switching phones more straightforward is welcome – what with all the other data transfer jobs involved.

Regular upgrades

The Cross Device Experience Host (Manage mobile devices) app is getting the option to easily remove a mobile device from your account, a nice addition! pic.twitter.com/Ce0JtgGdp3February 2, 2025

The options you get through Phone Link depend on the handset you're using. Both iPhones and Android phones are able to connect to Phone Link, though you get the most features with the best Samsung Galaxy phones.

Another feature currently in testing is an iPhone info panel to match the one for Android devices, which can be viewed right inside the Start menu. This all follows on from regular upgrades to Phone Link that we've seen over the last year or so.

Quite how long it's going to take for the improved unlinking feature to roll out to everyone remains to be seen – and it might get one or two other tweaks along the way – but it shouldn't be too long before it shows up in Windows.

Of course you get a wealth of syncing and integration features if you've got an iPhone and a Mac working together, which is the high bar Microsoft is working towards with Phone Link on Windows – with more upgrades likely to be on the way.

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• Windows 11 has gained 2.5% market share in January 2025
• That’s a sizeable uptick that’d usually take two months
• Expect the pace of upgrades to increase as the October 2025 End of Life deadline for Windows 10 comes nearer

Windows 11 gained a large number of converts over the past month, according to a fresh batch of stats from an analytics firm.

Statcounter recorded a big gain for Windows 11 with its January 2025 market share (of all Windows versions worldwide), namely a 2.53% uptick. Windows 11 is now on a share of 36.65% compared to the previous month when it was on 34.12%.

We’ve seen recent gains coming up to 2%, but a 2.5% increase is a fresh high here (an uptick that’d typically happen over the course of two months, as witnessed last year).

Windows 10 dropped from 62.7% to 60.33%, so don’t be under any illusions that the older operating system has been dethroned yet – it’s still the reigning monarch by quite some margin (away from PC gamers, who’ve adopted Windows 11 much more swiftly).

The margin between Windows 11 and Windows 10 is steadily decreasing though, and now stands at a lead of only 23.7% for the latter.

Windows 7 fell by 0.17%, but most of the people migrating to Windows 11 came from Windows 10, as the numbers rising and falling for both operating systems clearly illustrate.

It’s not surprising that more folks are shifting over to Windows 11, however, given that the deadline for Windows 10 End of Life, when updates are no longer delivered to the OS, is October 2025 – which is only eight months away now.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: An inevitable migration

Given how time flies seemingly faster and faster these days (don’t tell me I’m the only one who has noticed), six months will be gone before you know it, and that Windows 10 support deadline will be right on the horizon like a big, red, flashing warning sign. (One that proclaims: “Upgrade now, or put your PC at risk due to new vulnerabilities in Windows 10 that won’t be patched by security updates”).

Well, outside of defecting to another OS entirely, there is another choice rather than upgrading to Windows 11, and that’s paying for an extra year of support for Windows 10 – it’s the first time consumers have been offered this option, in fact. However, in some ways, that’s just putting off the inevitable.

What we’re starting to see here, I believe, is the first signs of the rush just to get the upgrade done – something I have advised is the best course of action at this point in time. After all, why hang around, especially if you need to sort something in order to make your PC eligible for the upgrade, which might be as simple as flipping an option in the BIOS to enable TPM 2.0.

Windows Latest, which spotted the release of the new stats for Windows versions, observes that businesses – which obviously need much more planning for an upgrade across a fleet of computers – are already making the move to Windows 11. And that activity will represent some big boosts for the newer OS. An IT admin who has over 1,500 PCs in their care told the tech site: “We’ve been testing Windows 11 for months now, and we think it’s the [right] time to move away from Windows 10.”

In theory, there should be even bigger tips in market share towards Windows 11 as 2025 progresses. Indeed, I’d be worried if this wasn’t the case. Given how slow Windows 11 adoption has been overall across its existence, we’re likely to witness some 5% shifts, month-to-month, moving to Microsoft’s newest OS, or even greater.

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• The British Government is introducing a new AI Code of Practice
• The voluntary framework will help guide businesses using AI
• Protecting businesses hopes to boost growth and productivity

The UK government has introduced a new ‘world-leading AI cybersecurity standard’ which hopes to help protect its increasingly-important digital economy.

The new ‘Code of Practice’ is aimed at giving public services and businesses the "confidence they need to harness AI’s transformative potential safely". It is a voluntary structure, and includes principles such as securing your supply chain, monitoring system’s behaviour, and evaluating and managing threats and risks to AI systems.

This promises to form the basis of a ‘new global standard’ for secure AI, and represents a major step to ‘cement the UK’s position as a world leader in safe innovation’, and comes alongside the UK government’s recent master plan to ‘unleash AI’ with a 50 point plan to push AI into all corners of British industry.

Growth and productivity

Cyberattacks are hitting British businesses more than ever before, and almost half of all organizations experienced an attack or breach in the last 12 months. By adopting these principles, businesses can bolster their cyber defences and are given guidance on best practices.

The UK’s AI sector is attracting ‘millions per hour’, the government claims, and the Government has estimated that supporting cyber skills could boost the £11.9 billion cyber security industry which will help drive growth and boost productivity for the British economy.

“It is vital that we harness the transformative potential of AI securely so that our society can reap the benefits of new technologies without introducing avoidable vulnerabilities and cyber risks” said NCSC Chief Technology Officer Ollie Whitehouse.

“The UK is leading the way by establishing this security standard, fortifying our digital technologies, benefiting the global community and reinforcing our position as the safest place to live and work online.”

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• Community Health Center confirms suffering a data breach
• The criminals stole sensitive information on more than a million people
• This was not a ransomware attack, CHC claims

More than a million people may have had their sensitive information stolen, after a “skilled hacker” broke into the IT system of Community Health Center (CHC).

The company filed a new report with the Maine Office of the Attorney General which said it spotted “unusual activity” in its computer systems, on January 2.

“That same day, we brought in experts to investigate and reinforce the security of our systems. They found that a skilled criminal hacker got into our system and took some data, which might include your personal information.”

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No ransomware

The data stolen in this attack includes people’s names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, emails, diagnoses, treatment details, test results, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information - all of which is more than enough to run highly personalized phishing attacks, and maybe even wire fraud.

CHC is a Connecticut-based nonprofit healthcare provider that offers comprehensive primary care, dental, behavioral health, and specialty services to underserved communities.

This doesn’t seem to have been a ransomware attack, however, as CHC added that the actors did not delete, or lock, any of the affected data. Therefore, the attack did not affect its daily operations, it added.

“We believe we stopped the criminal hacker’s access within hours, and that there is no current threat to our systems.”

CHC is now notifying affected individuals about the breach and offering assistance, including free identity theft protection through IDX. In the letter, CHC said that IDX will provide 24 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring. Furthermore, the company set aside a $1M reimbursement policy, and promised to help recover stolen identities.

In recent months, ransomware groups have started moving away from encryptors and focusing solely on data theft. Apparently, it is equally effective in terms of ransom demands, yet cheaper and easier to pull off. It seems that in this case, CHC was not asked for a ransom yet.

Via TechCrunch

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• Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 are reportedly set for launch in March
• This will directly compete with AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series launch
• We could be seeing a repeat in this generation of 8GB of VRAM with the RTX 5060

Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPU launch is well underway with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 now sold out at virtually every retailer (unsurprisingly), and Team Green looks set to roll out the rest of its lineup very soon - which means key rival AMD may be set for a big battle.

As reported by Tom's Hardware, the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 are supposedly set to launch in March according to Chinese hardware manufacturer Chaintech. This is when AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series GPU lineup is slated to launch, which would ultimately put Team Green and Team Red in direct competition - AMD has already made it clear that mid-range GPUs will be its focus, and the new xx60-class Nvidia cards could likely challenge them.

Will the RTX 5060 prove to be the greatest budget GPU the world has ever seen? The jury's still out. (Image credit: Nvidia, Shutterstock)

We're awaiting details regarding the pricing of the RX 9000 series along with just how powerful they could be compared to the previous RX 7900 XT and XTX GPUs - considering the official pricing of Nvidia's RTX 5070 ($549 / £549 / AU$1,109), prices for the RTX 5060 Ti and 5060 could be much lower. Depending on the performance of these GPUs, AMD could win the mid-range battle - just as long as prices for its next-gen GPUs are reasonable.

Can we just be done with 8GB GPUs, please?

Looking at both Nvidia’s and AMD's low and mid-range GPUs, my only hope is that we can finally say goodbye to 8GB of VRAM as a baseline industry standard. Games are becoming increasingly VRAM-hungry, and gamers need every advantage possible considering how bad PC ports have been recently. I believe a minimum of 12GB of VRAM is necessary for modern PC gaming - even just at 1080p - but unfortunately, it doesn't look like that will happen.

EEC filings from Maxsun suggest the RTX 5060 will utilize 8GB of VRAM, which could mean it ends up following in the same footsteps as its predecessor - this will be disappointing, to say the least, especially since Intel's affordable new Battlemage GPUs have opted to give that 8GB figure the boot.

The Intel Arc B570 uses 10GB of VRAM while its big brother the B580 dons 12GB of VRAM - these are both considered to be budget- to mid-range GPUs that are capable of 1440p gaming. While the rumored 8GB RTX 5060 will likely do the same using DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, the comparatively low amount of VRAM would be a worry for those looking for an affordable way into the RTX 5000 series experience.

There's nothing confirmed on Nvidia's part regarding the RTX 5060 Ti or 5060, but let's hope these VRAM rumors are false. But with the RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti slated for release later this month, March certainly does seem like a reasonable launch window for the budget Blackwell GPUs.

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• ChatGPT deep research turns hours of human time into minutes of compute time
• It’s built on the o3 model and promises more context than o1
• Available for ChatGPT Pro now, Plus and Team next

OpenAI has lifted the wraps off a new ‘deep research’ tool which it says is designed for in-depth, complex research tasks within ChatGPT.

Described as a, “new agentic capability that conducts multi-step research on the internet for complex tasks,” deep research promises to do hours of human work in tens of compute minutes.

Much like a human research worker, it will “find, analyze, and synthesize hundreds of online sources to create a comprehensive report at the level of a research analyst,” OpenAI said in its announcement.

OpenAI creates its own researcher

The tool is built on an upcoming version of the OpenAI o3 model, which is specifically optimized for optimized for web browsing and data analysis, and is capable of handling text, images and PDF files that can all be accessed via the internet.

Although the mind first arrives at scientific research, keen to demonstrate deep research’s usefulness, OpenAI says it’s particularly strong at helping consumers make decisions based on “hyper-personalized recommendations,” including some of the biggest decisions we’re likely to make such as buying cars, appliances and furniture.

Given the extent to which deep research trawls the internet, the documented output includes citations to help users validate information sources and ensure accuracy.

OpenAI says the o3-based deep research also addresses the shortage of context and other information that o1 currently struggles with – that model is better suited to coding, maths and other technical domains.

It’s important to note that, while many ChatGPT users have become accustomed to near-instantaneous responses, deep research could take 5-30 minutes to complete a task. Users will receive a notification once the research is complete, so they won’t have to hang around to wait for a response.

The response comes in the form of a report within the chat interface, but embedded images, data visualizations and other analytic outputs are in the pipeline and could arrive in a matter of weeks.

Deep research is already available for Pro users paying $200 per month, but Plus ($20/month) and Team ($25/month) subscribers are also set to get access to the powerful upgrade.

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• The first fully-electric Aston will arrive by 2030
• Aston boss eyeing up a vibrating body structure
• A resonating chassis could mimic the feel of a thumping V12 engine

Even the world’s most revered sports car makers can’t ignore the fact that the future of the automotive industry is increasingly likely to be all-electric, and Aston Martin’s boss is already exploring ways to ensure his brand (among the world’s coolest) remains exciting.

But rather than rely on fake engine noises, outer space soundtracks or even synthesized gear shifts, Aston Martin’s CEO Adrian Hallmark feels that building physical vibrations into future vehicles could help create better emotional connections between customers and otherwise silent machines.

Speaking to Top Gear, Hallmark says that a recent drive of the Mercedes- AMG EQS led to the lightbulb moment, as he says that car “physically resonates” without the need for fake gearshifts or engine noises.

Building on the idea, Hallmark claims that by mapping the telemetry of the V12 engine found in the Valkyrie, measuring the frequencies and building these into “the body structure of the vehicle” it would replicate the feeling of being in control of a 12-cylinder car.

“So I believe without fake noises but by actually oscillating body structures and other structures with the frequencies that you get from a combustion powertrain, you can create an emotional connection,” he told Autocar.

Although the Aston Martin boss won’t be pinned down on an exact date that the debut fully-electric vehicle will be released, he has gone on record to say that customers can expect more hybrid versions to come in the near future, before pure battery electric vehicles arrive.

The problem, he says, is that battery electric vehicles remain heavy and therefore producing something that offers the dynamic drive of a lightweight sports car is difficult. Secondly, Hallmark says that half of the current Aston Martin customers base hate EVs “with a deep-rooted passion,” according to Top Gear.

Analysis: making EVs 'fun' is a complicated business

(Image credit: Aston Martin)

Despite partnering with Lucid, which will provide its battery and motor knowledge, as well as Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin is still working out how it will develop an electric vehicle that will emotionally appeal to its discerning customer base.

Hyundai has been praised for attempting to crack the conundrum with its Ioniq 5 N, which has been touted as one of the most involving and visceral EV drives on sale, thanks to a plethora of technology that includes simulated gear shifts, realistic engine notes (including the crackle and pops of an exhaust) and trick steering that disguises the mass of the vehicle.

Later this year, we will see if Porsche can produce genuinely fun electric two-seater sports cars when the next generation of electric Boxster and Cayman arrive. Although the brand has already said it will continue to produce internal combustion engine counterparts in parallel.

Weight, cost, limited battery range under ‘spirited’ driving conditions and a lack of a spine-tingling, emotional connection have long been the major roadblocks standing in the way of electric sports cars.

But as EVs gain popularity and become more normalized, perhaps the old performance car markers will cease to play such an important role. It’s a point that the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari are pinning their hopes on.

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• The Samsung Galaxy S25 series marks the end of support for Samsung Messages
• Samsung's latest flagships come with Google Messages as the default messenger app
• Samsung Messages has been pulled from digital storefronts

Samsung has quietly disabled one of its native apps for users of the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The company has made its Samsung Messages app completely unavailable to users of its latest series of flagship phones, instead equipping these devices with Google Messages by default.

The Galaxy S25 family aren’t the first Samsung phones to launch without Samsung Messages – the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 debuted last year with Google Messages as their default messaging app. Users of these phones did, however, have the option of installing and enabling Samsung Messages later on. Galaxy S25 owners have no such option – it’s Google Messages or nothing.

As PhoneArena notes, Samsung Messages users on older Galaxy models who already have the app installed will be able to continue using it.

However, some concern has arisen over the future of Samsung Messages on older devices – with the app pulled from stores and no future support promised, it's unlikely to see significant updates and may even miss out on security updates.

A Samsung spokesperson issued a statement to Android Authority on January 23 that offers some insight into the company’s decision to swap to Google Messages: “With the close collaboration between Google and Samsung, we have opted to migrate all services to Google Messages and are sunsetting Samsung Messages. It’s no longer available in the Play Store; however, those who chose to utilize Samsung Messages are still able to do so.”

The statement adds that Google Messages’ enhanced RCS functionality was a factor in the decision: “We believe that the added functionality of RCS messaging on Google Messages creates an enhanced user experience for both Android-to-Android messaging and across platforms.”

Previous steps away from Samsung Messages and towards Google Messages have been met with backlash from loyal Galaxy fans. A thread on r/GoogleMessages discussing Verizon’s decision to drop RCS support from Samsung Messages in December 2024 included comments like “Samsung had me switch to Google Messages less than a week ago and it's been horrible ever since” from user WolfieVonD, and “Not happy about having to use google messages. Can Google leave any space untouched[?]” from user Ill-Room-5460.

Despite any possible protests, it’s unlikely we’ll see this decision reversed. Google Messages comes pre-installed on all of the best Android phones and, thanks to this switch, will be standard on the best Samsung phones going forwards.

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• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 leak teases major camera and display upgrade
• It'll borrow the screen and cameras used by the Z Fold Special Edition
• Though it might not get the Special Edition's 16GB of RAM

New Samsung foldables are expected to land later this year – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 – and leaks have been teasing what users can look forward to when the devices arrive. Some disappointing news came a few days ago when one source suggested the devices won’t offer an upgrade in the RAM or storage department compared to current-gen models, but now a new leak suggests the Fold 7 may find ways to excite users with an improved camera and bigger screen.

That’s according to tipster @TheGalox_ who says the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will take a few cues from the Samsung Galaxy Fold Special Edition. The Special Edition was only available in select Asian regions (such as Samsung’s home base South Korea) and boasts improved specs, larger displays, and a higher price.

Hopefully that last point won’t be transferred to the new Fold 7, but TheGalox_ confirms the 7 is borrowing the 200MP main camera – finally catching up with the Galaxy Ultra line – and the bigger displays. In addition, the 7 will reportedly boast a larger vapor chamber (perhaps stealing the S25’s line’s design), a faster chipset (likely the S25 line’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, which older leaks suggested too), and improved speakers.

Obviously all leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt, and even if the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does borrow some of the Special Edition’s features leaks have already suggested it won’t be an exact copy – for example the 7 is said to have 12GB of RAM, rather than the Special’s 16 – though a couple of downgrades could ensure we won’t see a Fold 7 price hike.

Foldables approach their final form

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Samsung)

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 as my main smartphone for the past few months, and as I often discuss on the TechRadar Podcast I can’t imagine going back to a standard handset. Though there are a few frustrating quirks that make the phone tough to recommend when you consider it’s Samsung’s most expensive, widely available, consumer smartphone.

The first is the camera. For a lot of people the snappers are the main reason to choose one phone over another, so it can be an instant deal breaker when you discover the Fold 6 – despite costing about 1.5 times more – boasts a worse camera than a Galaxy Ultra. Yes, that cost is going to the extra folding display, but even so it’s an odd feeling to be buying a phone that comes with any downgrades compared to a significantly cheaper one.

Another is the display aspect ratio. The outer screen is a little thinner than a standard phone which can lead to some annoyances with apps being cut off at the sides, or the screen feeling a little cramped for videos. It’s not a massive downgrade but again a device which starts at $1,899 / £1,799 / AU$2,749 doesn’t feel like it should come with any downgrades – especially when other foldables like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold offer a full-sized out display (which leads to a larger inner screen too) and are a similar starting price at $1,799 / £1,799 / AU $2,699.

If the Z Fold 7 boasts the special edition’s screen it should feel less cramped, and will only make it an even more useful tablet-alternative when it’s unfolded.

Hopefully the phone will adopt these camera and display upgrades then, but we won’t know for certain until Samsung makes an official announcement. We’ll also have to wait and see if it’ll do anything about the phone’s IP48 dust and water resistance rating. I'm not holding my breath, but that might soon be the last major foldable frustration Samsung needs to solve.

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• WhatsApp has accused spyware company Paragon of targeting journalists
• The encrypted messaging app disrupted the campaign in December 2024
• A cease-and-desist letter has been issued to Paragon by WhatsApp

WhatsApp has revealed it has disrupted a spyware hacking campaign targeting journalists and prominent members of civil society.

The spyware in question belongs to Paragon, a commercial spyware company founded by former Israeli intelligence officers, which Meta-owned WhatsApp has directly implicated in the campaign.

WhatsApp says about 90 of its users were targeted with malicious PDF files, with the victims being notified of the attempt, and a cease-and-desist letter being issued to Paragon.

Paragon caught targeting journalists

According to WhatsApp, the campaign was discovered in December 2024, and did not require the users to open the PDF attachment, acting as a ‘zero-click’ deployment method.

“This is the latest example of why spyware companies must be held accountable for their unlawful actions. WhatsApp will continue to protect people’s ability to communicate privately,” WhatsApp spokesperson Zade Alsawah said (via TechCrunch).

WhatsApp has not said where the victims of the campaign were based, and was unable to determine when the campaign started.

In 2024, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) signed a $2 million one year contract with Paragon that included a “fully configured proprietary solution including license, hardware, warranty, maintenance and training,” federal documents say.

While this is the first time Paragon has been implicated in a spyware campaign, numerous other commercial spyware software developers have been involved in illegal operations.

Israeli spyware company NSO Group is currently in the crosshairs of a Polish government investigation into the deployment of the Pegasus spyware on thousands of opposition government devices.

In early 2024, WhatsApp won a federal court battle to be able to view the source code of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware after the company was accused of deploying the spyware on 1,400 mobile devices over a two-week period in 2019.

“Based on Meta’s notification, this spyware campaign was another precise attack targeting individuals with highly valued access or contacts," noted Adam Boynton, Senior Security Strategy Manager EMEIA at Jamf. "When spyware does hit, it is often a sophisticated threat that uses advanced techniques to maintain persistence.”

“Meta should be praised for proactively issuing a warning about the attack. Encouraging transparency and the safe sharing of breach details will be critical to properly addressing the threat posed by spyware. We recommend that individuals who believe their device could be compromised enable preventative security features such as Lockdown Mode for iPhone users as well as keeping their devices on the latest version of operating system,” Boynton said.

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While many Netflix cancelations come as a surprise to subscribers, this year's first axing will come as a surprise to nobody, especially after the hit supernatural series Dead Boy Detectives was canceled last year. The streamer has officially pulled the plug on The Sandman, and this is likely only the start of many more cancelations to come.

In 2024, Netflix incurred the wrath of its fanbase after scrapping several series, including the dark comedy Greek mythology-inspired series Kaos and the flawless animation show My Dad the Bounty Hunter. Indeed, not every cancelation is welcome news – just look at these nine canceled Netflix shows in 2024 for an idea of some shows that are still worth watching.

But while some of the best Netflix shows from last year will be missed by viewers, I'm not sure the same can be said about the first canceled Netflix show of 2025 considering the controversies surrounding its creator...

The Sandman to end after season 2

Netflix has announced that its dark fantasy epic The Sandman has been canceled and will come to an end after its upcoming second season. It's been said that the series is finishing as the story of Dream/Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) is coming to a natural end, but there's also the ongoing sexual misconduct accusations against Neil Gaiman, who created The Sandman DC comics and developed the TV series, that could be a contributing factor.

In showrunner Allan Heinberg's statement about the cancelation, he didn't mention the allegations against Gaiman but revealed that the reason why The Sandman was ending is because they only had enough story for one more season. "The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream’s story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season. We are extremely grateful to Netflix for bringing the team all back together and giving us the time and resources to make a faithful adaptation in a way that we hope will surprise and delight the comics’ loyal readers as well as fans of our show."

The Sandman tells the tale of Morpheus, aka Dream/the titular Sandman, one of the seven beings known as The Endless and the King of the Dream Dimension. After escaping decades of imprisonment by a mortal wizard, he goes on a quest for his lost objects of power.

The Sandman spin-off Dead Boy Detectives was also canceled by Netflix last year and fans campaigned to bring the show back from the dead when they learned that the show had been scrapped. Given that its based on the characters from the DC Comics, a big viewership was promised, however, this wasn't enough to resurrect it for another season.

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• Apple could soon launch a new iCloud feature called Confetti
• It’ll apparently help you send and manage invitations more easily
• Unfortunately iCloud’s free storage option is still limited to 5GB

Apple’s iCloud system is used to manage all sorts of cloud-based activities, from managing files in iCloud Drive to checking your mail from any device. Now, it’s on the brink of getting a new feature named Confetti that could change how you meet up with friends and loved ones.

The rumor comes from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who spilled the beans in his Power On newsletter over the weekend. There, Gurman describes Confetti as “a new iCloud-based events and invite service.”

The idea is that it gives you “a new way to invite people to parties, functions and meetings,” Gurman says. Right now, that’s mainly done in a few disparate ways, either by creating an event in Apple’s Calendar app and sharing it with invitees, or by simply texting people in your chosen messaging app.

Confetti might launch as soon as this week, Gurman believes. It’s not certain that the app will actually be named Confetti, though, as Gurman says that’s what Apple is calling it internally – that means it’s possible Apple will choose a different name when the app gets released. Either way, we could get our first look within the next few days.

Confetti versus more storage space

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Primakov)

There’s a lot to like about iCloud, and it enables a range of strong features from Apple. I use it to back up my iPhone, keep track of my devices with Find My, and offload my photos to the cloud to free up storage space. And while Confetti sounds like a welcome update to the Calendar app, it feels like Apple still hasn’t addressed the elephant in the room.

That problem is iCloud’s base storage level. Apple offers a free iCloud tier, but it only comes with a measly 5GB of storage space. Compare that to some of the best free cloud storage options like Google Drive and Samsung Cloud, both of which grant 15GB for free.

Every year, Apple improves its iPhones’ photography capabilities and allows them to take ever-more-detailed (and ever-larger) pictures. While that’s a laudable move, it means your iPhone will fill up faster than ever – and with only 5GB of free storage in iCloud, makes paying for extra space more necessary than ever. It’s a hidden cost to owning an iPhone that many users have to pay, including me.

Don’t get me wrong, Confetti looks like a useful addition to iCloud’s arsenal, and I’m glad to see it’s on the way. But if the choice was between Confetti and a more generous free storage allowance, I know what I’d choose.

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• Nvidia RTX 5090 supply is looking very shaky according to a UK retailer
• Overclockers has a worst-case ETA of 16 weeks for RTX 5090 stock
• The RTX 5080 is better, but could still take up to six weeks before it’s available to buy again

Nvidia’s RTX 5090 stock situation is rather dire, to say the least, and could stay that way for longer than you’d expect – and the RTX 5080 is looking unhealthy inventory-wise, too, going by the prediction of one UK retailer.

As you doubtless realize if you’ve been mulling a purchase of either of the new Blackwell graphics cards, the RTX 5090 and 5080 are out of stock everywhere (except on auction sites where scalpers are flogging their ill-gotten GPUs at massively inflated asking prices, of course).

According to a major components retailer in the UK, Overclockers (OCUK), RTX 5090 and 5080 stock is sold out and (unsurprisingly) pre-orders aren’t being offered any longer, and they won’t be until the company has “greater clarity on availability and have fulfilled the pre-orders we have taken.”

RTX 50 Series Stock Update 31/01/2025Stock UpdateRTX 5090 sold out and pre-orders ceasedRTX 5080 sold out and pre-orders ceasedDue to incredibly high demand and limited stock, all 50 Series cards sold shortly after launch with some pre-orders taken in restricted quantities.…January 31, 2025

We are told by OCUK (in the above post on X) that the ETA for stock of the RTX 5090 is three to 16 weeks, and the ETA for the RTX 5080 is two to six weeks, a bit more palatable, but still a potentially long wait.

Note that pre-orders that have been successfully placed with OCUK (but not yet dispatched) are in a queue, and the retailer is “working with our supply chain to fulfill these within the ETAs above, or sooner if possible.”

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: Another GPU launch hit with stock misery

Surely a bit of stock of these RTX 5000 GPUs is going to be coming in over the course of February? That must be the case (I assume), but the way in which the above statement is worded makes it sound to me like the small amount of Blackwell graphics cards that will be arriving is going towards fulfilling existing pre-orders. So, there won’t be any available stock to actually buy on the OCUK site for quite some time – maybe towards the lengthier end of the ETAs provided.

The fact that the RTX 5090 is pushed out to a possible 16 weeks is going way past the most pessimistic thoughts I was having, though. That would put us at almost the end of May before the ‘Buy’ button lights up again on some of the flagship Blackwell models, an eyebrow-raising prospect.

Perhaps more disappointing is the news that this retailer isn’t going to have stock of the RTX 5080, a much less niche proposition than the RTX 5090, for maybe up to six weeks. That’d put us in the middle of March before the graphics card was available again (perhaps only briefly).

We shouldn’t get carried away with the timeframes from just one retailer, of course, and the worst-case scenarios presented by OCUK – but this does, of course, broadly reflect everything we’re seeing right now. And the general accusation of a ‘paper launch’ being leveled at Nvidia, meaning a launch with no real quantity of stock behind it (in the face of major demand).

Unless we do get a quick recovery for RTX 5080 stock that runs against OCUK’s expectations – we don’t expect the RTX 5090 to be back on shelves quickly by any means, especially given that its Blackwell chip (GB202) is more profitable in AI graphics cards, not gaming products – a lot of hope lies with the incoming RTX 5070.

Nvidia’s RTX 5070 vanilla version uses a different GB205 chip – the RTX 5070 Ti is built with GB203 (a rumor that’s now confirmed), also the engine of the RTX 5080 – and so we can hope that Nvidia has more of a depth to its GB205 production, especially as the RTX 5070 is coming a bit later. (If rumors are right, perhaps at the end of February – there’s even talk of a delay to March, which wouldn’t be a positive development, of course).

All in all, though, the situation looks distinctly rocky with Blackwell stock for now, and AMD has a chance to fully capitalize on this by building up good levels of RDNA 4 supply at retail for the launch of its RX 9070 models in March, to take on Nvidia’s RTX 5070 graphics cards. This is a clear opportunity for Team Red in the mid-range bracket of the GPU market, although AMD has had its own missteps with the RDNA 4 launch, it must be said.

Those looking for an Nvidia Blackwell graphics card should keep an eye on our guides on where to buy an RTX 5090 and an RTX 5080 respectively, where we’ll keep you up to date should we spot stock coming back in at big retailers. Best of luck out there, GPU hunters, but for now, the outlook remains seriously bleak.

Via Tom’s Hardware

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• Gemini can use Python to build data visualization graphics in Sheets
• You can also interact with it by asking questions about your data
• However charts won’t auto-update from live data sets

Google has rolled out a rather handy update to its Gemini which enables the AI tool to do more with the data you have in Google Sheets.

Using the Gemini add-on within the spreadsheet software, users can now build visualizations and analyze data in other ways, such as identifying trends, with the help of artificial intelligence.

In a Google Workspace update blog post, the company noted, “Gemini in Sheets can perform actions or answer questions to address a wide variety of scenarios.”

Google Sheets Gemini upgrade

The update means Gemini can now provide contextual trends, patterns, and correlations between different variables in your data, all of which can be turned into charts.

The company added: “This update reflects Gemini in Sheets’ enhanced intelligence as it now yields valuable outputs by transforming your requests into Python code, executing on them and then analyzing the results to perform multi-layered analysis.”

However, there is a catch – although no coding is required, the charts will be built using a one-time prompt and are therefore not linked to live data. Changes to the data will not be reflected in the charts, and users will need to generate new visualizations – albeit very easily with AI.

Google also noted the importance of a solid data foundation in order to give Gemini the best chance of success, adding, “For the most accurate results, ensure your data is in a consistent format, with clear headers and no missing values.”

It was also noted Gemini’s performance is most “consistent” in spreadsheets with fewer than one million cells, rendering the AI add-on slightly less appealing for large data sets.

Google Workspace Business Standard/Plus and Enterprise Standard/Plus customers will be among the first to get their hands on the updated AI tool, together with Google One AI Premium subscribers and anyone with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on.

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• Launching 11 February 2025
• H2 chip, slimmer design and heart rate tracking
• $250 (about £219 / AU$349)

The highly anticipated Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 will launch next week, February 11. That's according to a new report from Bloomberg, which says that the sticker price will be $250 (roughly £219 / AU$349).

This is going to be a really big deal, partly because the new model has been teased for ages, and partly because the second generation will be a very significant upgrade.

Here's what we're expecting to hear next week.

Why we're excited about the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

The headline new feature here is the addition of heart rate tracking, the first time Apple has offered this feature beyond the Apple Watch, though it's rumored to be coming to AirPods Pro 3 as well. And the buds are believed to connect to gym equipment too, which could make these among the best headphones for workouts.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are also expected to get the same H2 chip that powers the AirPods Pro 2, so vastly improved noise cancellation is coming, along with a load of other smart features, most likely. The current model has the older H1 chip. Hopefully the newer chip will mean better battery life too.

The design has been slimmed down and presumably weighs a little less too, and there are four color choices: a fun orange hue plus beige, lilac and black.

There are still going to be some differences between these and the AirPods Pro 2, most notably in AirPods' hearing health features: if the Powerbeats Pro 2 were getting those features, we'd probably have heard about it by now. But these are shaping up to be the very best Beats buds yet, and it's safe to say you'll soon be seeing them everywhere.

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• Tata Technologies notified the Indian stock exchange about an attack
• It says it was a ransomware attack, but did not share further details
• The investigation is still ongoing, but operations are up and running

Tata Technologies has revealed it suffered a ransomware attack which crippled parts of its IT operation.

In a notification sent to the National Stock Exchange of India, the company said it “became aware” of a ransomware incident that affected a few of its IT assets.

“As a precautionary measure, some of the IT services were suspended temporarily and have now been restored,” the company said in the letter. “Our client delivery services have remained fully functional and unaffected throughout.”

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Targeting large Indian firms

Other than that, the letter doesn’t say much. Therefore, we don’t know who the attackers were, how they managed to break into Tata Technologies’ infrastructure, or how much of the company’s network the attack affected. The letter suggests that the company doesn’t know yet and that it’s looking into it:

“Further detailed investigation is underway in consultation with experts to assess the root cause and to take remedial action as necessary,” Tata said.

We also don’t know if the crooks took any sensitive company, or customer data (as is usual in ransomware attacks), or how long they dwelled before deploying the encryptor.

Tata Technologies is part of the massive Indian conglomerate Tata Group, counting more than 100 companies across a wide range of industries. As such, it is a major target for all sorts of cybercriminals, and roughly two years ago, Hive Ransomware struck Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power company. At the time, the company did not describe it as a ransomware attack, although it was forced to restore its systems.

"The attack detailed in the Recorded Future report was one of several intrusion attempts on Indian critical infrastructure since 2020, with the most recent attack on IT assets confirmed in October 2022," Microsoft said at the time.

It was said Tata Power did not pay the ransom demand.

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Any discussion of the best smartwatches on the market right now is sure to include the latest Apple Watch – especially for those who already own an iPhone – and so anticipation levels are high for the next smartwatch model Apple is working on, due to launch in 2025.

This will be the Apple Watch Series 11, the successor to the Apple Watch Series 10. While Apple hasn't said anything about it officially yet (and won't do so before the device is unveiled), we do have some leaks and rumors to give us an idea about what to expect.

We've collected everything we've heard so far about the Apple Watch 10 below and included some educated guesses for good measure. What's more, you'll find this hub gets regular updates between now and whenever the Apple Watch 11 launch day happens.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The 2025 Apple Watch
• When is it out? Almost definitely September 2025
• How much will it cost? Probably around $399 / £399 / AU$649

Apple Watch Series 11: Release date predictions and pricing

The Apple Watch Series 10 launched in September 2024 (Image credit: Apple)

• A September 2025 launch is almost certain
• It's likely to cost $399 / £399 / AU$649 and up

We haven't heard much about a potential release date or price for the Apple Watch Series 11 as yet, but do get some clues from the current model: check out our Apple Watch Series 10 review for details. In fact, Apple Watches are usually quite predictable in terms of release date and pricing.

Every single Apple Watch except for the very first one has been unveiled in September, so you don't need to apply too much detective work to figure out that the Apple Watch 11 is going to break cover in September 2025 – it would be a big surprise if it didn't. Look out for the iPhone 17 appearing at the same time as well.

That's backed up by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a reliable tipster, who says we can expect the Apple Watch Series 11 in the second half of 2025. It looks like it's going to be a big year for Apple Watches, with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch SE 3 also expected.

Pricing for the Apple Watch 11 is less easy to predict. The Apple Watch Series 10 launched in 2024 matched the starting prices of the Apple Watch Series 9 launched in 2023, which in turn was very similar to what we had to pay for the Apple Watch Series 8 launched in 2022 (depending on where in the world it was sold).

Apple is clearly keen to keep the pricing steady, so something around $399 / £399 / AU$649 for the 42 mm size and $429 / £429 / AU$699 for the 46 mm size seems likely. As usual, LTE connectivity will cost you extra, and different casings and different straps will change the price you pay too.

Apple Watch 11: Leaks and rumors

Improved sensors are always a possibility (Image credit: Future)

• A faster processor is likely
• watchOS 12 will be on board

We're still waiting for the Apple Watch 11 leaks and rumors to start in earnest, and perhaps that says something in itself: the annual Apple Watch upgrades aren't usually huge, and so it might be a case of another iterative update this time around (in which case we'd certainly hope the price doesn't go up).

That said, the long-rumored blood pressure monitoring feature could well make an appearance on the Apple Watch 11, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This is likely to work like the existing sleep apnea detection, where you get alerts about elevated readings, rather than round-the-clock measurements.

More advanced health sensors – for glucose monitoring, for example – are also in the works but probably won't make an appearance this time around. Meanwhile, Apple remains deeply entangled in a legal case relating to blood oxygen readings, so it doesn't look as though that particular feature is going to make a comeback anytime soon.

Bear in mind that the Apple Watch 10 got a bigger screen and slightly larger and thinner cases in 2024, making it even less likely that the design is going to be changed for 2025. What's more likely are a handful of new color, casing, and strap options, just to distinguish the new model from the old one.

We've actually heard that the Apple Watch SE 3 will be getting a redesign this year, while the Apple Watch 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 won't – that's Gurman again.

An upgrade on the inside of the Apple Watch Series 11 seems probable at this stage: Apple always bumps up the processor with each new smartwatch model, so we could well get a new Apple S11 chipset to go alongside the new Apple Watch 11. Let's hope that means improved performance and more efficient power use at the same time.

However, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to be getting satellite connectivity and 5G support, we don't think these features are going to appear on the Apple Watch Series 11.

Something else that's almost definite but not quite confirmed is that the new Apple Watch 11 is going to come running watchOS 12, following on from the watchOS 11 software that launched with the Apple Watch 10. Apple hasn't said anything about watchOS 11 yet, but we should get more information at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) sometime in July.

Also on the software side, we've heard that an AI health coach app is on the way, which would presumably leverage some AI smarts to give you personalized insights into your fitness data, as well as advice on which workouts to try next.

Apple Watch 11: What we want to see

The Apple Watch 10 can be improved upon (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

While we were big fans of the Apple Watch 10, that doesn't mean there's no room for improvement with a new model for 2025. While it's probably too late in the development stage for us to have any sway over Apple's engineers at this stage, nevertheless we'd like to put forward the improvements we want to see with the new wearable.

1. Smart uses of AI

AI is everywhere these days, in case you hadn't noticed, and when it comes to Apple devices that means Apple Intelligence. So far, Apple Intelligence hasn't expanded its reach to the Apple Watch, so we're hoping that changes with the 11th-gen model – assuming Apple puts some thought into the features that would actually be useful on a wrist.

2. More customization options

Each new Apple Watch always comes with a selection of new watch faces of course, but we think Apple can do more in terms of the customization options on watchOS – it's an area where other watches have the edge. With iOS 18 there are now more customization tweaks available on the iPhone than ever before, so let's hope the Apple Watch follows that trend.

3. Improved health sensors

Rumors have been swirling for years about health sensors and functions that Apple could potentially add to its smartwatch range, from sensors in the straps to glucose monitoring. While major upgrades still seem to be several years off, based on reports, we're still hopeful that we might see one or two new health tracking features on the Apple Watch 11.

4. Better battery life

Now stop us if you've heard this one before, but we'd like to see better battery life on the Apple Watch 11 – because of course we would. During our testing of the Apple Watch 10, we were getting about a day between charges, which isn't great compared to a lot of Apple Watch competitors (especially if you want to use the smartwatch to track your sleep).

5. Better band attachments

It's not the most noticeable of features, but we've often found the Apple Watch band attachment mechanism to be a bit too fiddly. Samsung has worked out how to make a smooth and stress-free attachment system, so it can be done – and it would definitely make life easier for those who like to swap out their bands on a regular basis.

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• Dell’s RTO mandate will come into force on March 3, 2025
• Workers will need to be in the office five days per week
• There’s some slack for hybrid working, but it comes at a cost

In September 2024, we reported Dell would be enacting a return-to-office policy, and it has now been confirmed any employees living within an hour’s commute from an office must go in five days per week.

The company's full-time RTO mandate is set to come into force on Monday, March 3, 2025, but workers living further afield will still be granted permission to work remotely.

The news follows several other similar announcements across the tech industry, marking what could be the start of the end of remote working for many.

Dell’s RTO mandate does have some leniency

A memo seen by The Register stated: “Starting March 3, all hybrid and remote team members who live near a Dell office will work in the office five days a week… We are retiring the hybrid policy effective that day. We remain committed to flexibility within your workday, and you should continue to work with your manager to meet your needs. But for the most part, you should plan to work in the office five days a week.”

Although there appears to be some tolerance for hybrid working among Dell’s employees who live further afield, the company had previously come under fire for making its remote workers ineligible for promotions.

CEO Michael Dell is one of the many leaders citing better productivity and collaboration off the back of in-person interactions – a sentiment apparently shared by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy when the ecommerce and cloud computing giant asked its workers to visit the office more regularly.

Although the benefits of in-person working are undeniable, there are occasions and roles that are better suited to working remotely. Workers from across the industry have expressed concerns over getting into the office when they have care and other duties at home. More broadly, the pandemic-induced rise of hybrid working helped companies increase their talent pools to workers who previously may not have considered a role.

TechRadar Pro has asked Dell to share more information about its revised policy, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 game boxes could be larger than those for the original Nintendo Switch
• This is per a listing at a French game retailer
• It could help differentiate Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games

There has been no shortage of speculation regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 as, although the console was finally officially unveiled last month, there's still plenty that we don’t know about it.

One of the most interesting new rumors concerns the physical size of Nintendo Switch 2 game boxes. As reported by Nintendo Life, a French retailer may have given us a hint of what to expect. An early listing for a mystery Nintendo Switch 2 game indicates that its box will measure 7.6 in / 19.5 cm by 5.1 in / 13 cm.

For comparison, the existing cases for original Nintendo Switch games come in at 6.7 in / 16.9 cm tall and 4.1 in / 10.4 cm wide, suggesting that Nintendo Switch 2 game boxes will be significantly larger. It might be a bit of a pain if you’re short on shelf space, but this actually makes a lot of sense. After all, a bigger box is probably the easiest way for Nintendo to differentiate newer games in the eyes of the average consumer.

Does this increased heft mean that game cartridges themselves will also be larger? It’s too soon to say, but I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility. Much like the leap from Nintendo DS cartridges to Nintendo 3DS ones, I’m expecting some kind of physical difference that would prevent some Nintendo Switch 2 games from being fully inserted into a Nintendo Switch. That would make sense, as we know from Nintendo's official unveiling that new Switch 2 games won't always be compatible with the original hardware.

Nintendo has officially confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with most physical Nintendo Switch games though, so I wouldn’t expect anything radically different in the cartridge design department. It's likely that they will both need to be compatible with the same slot on the new system. so a slightly bigger size could do the trick.

Of course, this is all speculation as of right now and we'll have to wait and see exactly what Nintendo has in store. Hopefully the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct airing on April 2, 2025 will shed some light on the situation.

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• The UK is partnering with the EU on research projects
• Projects include climate change protection and cancer research
• Horizon Europe brings together top scientists from around the world

The UK has announced plans to deepen and strengthen links with the EU, especially in regards to research and innovation projects around technology.

The news will see the UK launch a nationwide advertising campaign and a series of roadshows in hopes of attracting researchers to join the EU’s cutting edge research programme, Horizon Europe.

Horizon Europe, which is the largest programme of research collaboration in the world, has a budget of almost €100 billion. The programme has five missions; adaption to climate change, cancer research, restoring oceans and waters, building climate-neutral and smart cities, and restoring and protect soil health.

An innovation powerhouse

The UK is not the only non-EU nation to participate in Horizon Europe, with other partnerships including South Korea, New Zealand, and Norway.

To further boost collaboration, the UK is also set to join four European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs). These will bring together the continent’s brightest minds, to foster ‘deep and high quality links’.

By participating in these research programmes, not only will the UK hope to benefit from the findings of the research projects by developing climate friendly practices and protections, but also in forging collaborative relationships with the top researchers around the world.

“There is no question about it: we stand our best chance of tackling the great challenges of our era, from climate change to public health, to growing economies that work for everyone, by bringing the brightest minds from across the UK and the European Union, together,” said UK Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle.

“The UK is determined to give our researchers, innovators and businesses the opportunities and platforms they need to bring their great ideas to life, to the benefit of us all – all of which is highlighted by our new Horizon ad campaign. I’m pleased to have had such fruitful conversations with my European friends and colleagues, on taking this vital partnership even further.”

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