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Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1102) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1102) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1102) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1102) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1102) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• W

• C

• S

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1102) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1102, are…

• WEEDY
• CHIRP
• STALE
• SUGAR

I tried a small tweak to my start words today. After my first word – AUDIO – came up with two yellow A letters (bottom left and right) I entered STARE instead of my regular STEER. Although it gave me an incredible start, landing SUGAR on my third guess, I would have got to WEEDY a lot quicker if I’d have stuck to my system.

Meanwhile, the Sequence was a real tricky one today; getting VENOM took me about 20 minutes.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1102) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1102, are…

• VENOM
• SHEIK
• LEANT
• CELLO

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
• Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
• Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
• Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
• Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: SLANT, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
• Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
• Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
• Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
• Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
• Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
• Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
• Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
• Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH
• Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL
• Quordle #1084, Sunday 12 January: BRIEF, PETAL, WOMAN, FELON
• Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL
• Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #333) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Stopping by woods on a snowy evening

NYT Strands today (game #333) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• LOVE
• STORE
• LOSE
• DELVE
• SAME
• LOST

NYT Strands today (game #333) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Words from a classic verse

NYT Strands today (game #333) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #333) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #333, are…

• FROZEN
• DARK
• DEEP
• LAKE
• SLEEP
• SHAKE
• LOVELY
• BELLS
• SPANGRAM: FROST POEM

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s Strands is a lot easier if you are familiar with Robert Frost’s classic poem about briefly stopping to wonder at the natural world.

Frost called the poem, written in 1922, "my best bid for remembrance", so how wonderful that it’s been given a brief blast of spotlight in this puzzle. If you have the time there’s a wonderful, crackly, archive interview with the poet on YouTube, where he reads it in his fabulously deep voice. It’s fantastic.

Anyway, I must go. I’ve got promises to keep – well, a promise to myself to play and write about Connections next.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 30 January, game #333)

• SOCK
• GLOVE
• STICK
• SHADOW
• FINGER
• MARIONETTE
• SPANGRAM: PUPPET MASTER

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #599) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• HALO
• RIGATONI
• AIR
• WINGS
• ROMEO
• HARP
• DIP
• DWELL
• PIZZA
• PARISH
• LINGER
• VIBE
• BERNIE
• AURA
• BEER
• INSIST

NYT Connections today (game #599) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• GREEN: Watch party snacks 
• YELLOW: Charisma
• BLUE: Annoyingly persistent
• PURPLE: Look for Euro cities 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #599) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• GREEN: GAME DAY FARE 
• YELLOW: INTANGIBLE QUALITY 
• BLUE: KEEP GOING ON ABOUT, WITH "ON" 
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH EUROPEAN CAPITALS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #599) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #599, are…

• GREEN: GAME DAY FARE BEER, DIP, PIZZA, WINGS
• YELLOW: INTANGIBLE QUALITY AIR, AURA, HALO, VIBE
• BLUE: KEEP GOING ON ABOUT, WITH "ON" DWELL, HARP, INSIST, LINGER
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH EUROPEAN CAPITALS BERNIE, PARISH, RIGATONI, ROMEO

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Today’s random set of words remained random for quite a while, until I slowly made sense of it.

I fell for the very obvious trap, convincing myself that we were looking for angelic accoutrements – WINGS, HALO, HARP – before abandoning this quest after linking BEER, DIP and PIZZA with snack food essentials.

If a group has anything to do with food then I’ll get it, but the second I’m required to apply some actual general knowledge I flounder and this was the case today with STARTING WITH EUROPEAN CAPITALS; Paris and Rome I should have seen, but Riga, the capital of Latvia, was a stretch. And full disclosure I thought the capital of Switzerland was Zurich, not Bern.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 29 January, game #598)

• YELLOW: OWNED BORE, HAD, HELD, POSSESSED
• GREEN: THINGS YOU MIGHT DO IN YOUR SLEEP DREAM, DROOL, SNORE, TALK
• BLUE: MOVIE SERIES WITH 2024 RELEASES ALIEN, GLADIATOR, VENOM, WICKED
• PURPLE: ____ HOUSE FULL, GINGERBREAD, HAUNTED, WHITE

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• Google Gemini is releasing a feature for Pixel 9 that lets it discuss what's on a screen in real-time
• Gemini Live can discuss images, files, and YouTube videos
• The feature makes Gemini Live more aware of the context of discussions

Google is giving its Gemini AI assistant a new perspective, your view of what's on a smartphone screen. Specifically, the Pixel 9 series of devices, where Gemini Live is now able to “Talk Live about this” and have a real-time chat about images, files, and YouTube videos as you see them, as first spotted by 9to5Google. It's ideal if you’re keen to ask about a cooking tutorial mid-recipe or demand an explanation about a meme you're not hip enough to understand.

Gemini Live's role until now has been much like any standard AI voice assistant, powered by the more conversational models in the mold of ChatGPT. But, now, it can peep at specific content on your screen and add that to its discussions. Pixel 9 owners can access the feature by launching the floating Gemini overlay, where a suggestion will appear suggesting the AI “Talk Live about video” on YouTube, “Talk Live about PDF” in Files by Google, and “Talk Live about this” for images on the screen. It gives Gemini context without you having to explain what's there. That's a lot faster than having to manually upload an image from your gallery.

Once you activate the feature, Gemini Live opens up with a preview of whatever's on the screen you might want to discuss. The AI might offer destination ideas based on a YouTube travel video, summarize a contract PDF, or explain the allegory of a piece of Rennaisance art you're examining on your phone. If you find it all a tad intrusive, you can stop Gemini Live from automatically ogling what you're looking at. If you don't have a Pixel 9, don't worry. Google has said it will release the feature for Samsung Galaxy S24 and S25 smartphones soon, followed by other Android devices.

Gemini alive

The feature fits neatly into Google's Gemini strategy. In case you haven't noticed, Google dreams of cementing Gemini’s place at the center of people’s lives, especially on mobile devices, as evidenced by its ongoing integration with Android. And this feature won't be the end of Gemini Live's upgrades. Google is gearing up for Project Astra, a still evolving toolkit that should let users share their screen and stream video in real-time while conversing with Gemini Live.

Google is leaning hard into real-time, in-context assistance. Rather than just generating responses based on abstract queries, Gemini Live wants to be part of the moment, reacting to whatever’s on your screen with (hopefully) useful insights. To keep ahead of Apple's plans for Apple Intelligence and whatever OpenAI and Microsoft plan, Google wants Gemini to be as omnipresent as possible.

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Android versus iPhone is an unwinnable debate that's been going on for nearly as long as smartphones have existed. But probably for as long as I've been involved in trying out many of the best phones, Apple and its iPhones have consistently won in one particular area: video.

Sure, the best Samsung phones and the best Google Pixel phones have offered more video options and higher capture resolutions for longer than respective iPhones, but I've always found Apple's phone captures and produces the best videos. Not every recording is perfect, but the ease of use and the consistent quality of the videos at the end means I'll always go for an iPhone over an Android phone for video capture.

However, as I've now been using iPhones as my main mobile device for some three years, with me currently sporting the iPhone 16 Pro Max, perhaps I have a bit of latent bias. So, enter a quick and neat comparison between the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Showdown in paradise

With a degree of fortuity and a dose of envy from me, Phones Editor Axel Metz and Senior Phones Editor Philip Berne went to Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii and had the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra to hand.

Cue a visit to the beach and a rather slick video that takes in the view on both phones; check out the TikTok video below.

@techradar

♬ Way down We Go - KALEO

Now, with the caveat that this is a quick video and you won't get a full-fidelity recording on TikTok, I think I'll have to give the win to the iPhone 16 Pro here.

First off, the footage is smoother with the Apple phone, though this could be down to the file output and how the TikTok video was stitched together. Yet, it does track with my experience comparing video recoding between iPhones and Android smartphones.

Secondly, I feel the iPhone handles colors with more finesse. The sea, grass, trees, and sky look more natural in tone, whereas the Galaxy S24 Ultra has that classic Samsung oversaturation.

I also reckon the Galaxy S24 Ultra overly evens out the contrast in the video, with highlights reigned in and shadows brightened up to perhaps an unnatural degree. This is something I've found to blight both recent iPhones and Galaxy phones, but at least on the video side, Apple still allows sunlight to have some punch and darker areas to have some depth.

Now, such video tastes are subjective, and with the gap between flagship phone camera quality having narrowed significantly, what you prefer might differ from mine. But we now have a comment section on TechRadar, so head down to it and let me know which you prefer out of the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra and if there are any unsung phones that have great video capture chops.

It's also worth noting that we now have the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and in Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff's Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review, he was impressed with the phone's cameras and the device overall.

But in a quick comparison video between the Galaxy S25 Ultra I have on hand and my iPhone 16 Pro Max, I still feel the iPhone has the edge in colors, contrast, and handling dynamic white balance. My phone-centric colleagues and I will need to test this and the Galaxy S25 Ultra further as we consider their place on our best camera phones list.

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iOS 18.3 is now rolling out to iOS 18-compatible devices across the globe, and although Apple’s latest software update isn’t quite as significant as iOS 18.2 (which introduced several major Apple Intelligence upgrades), it still brings some key improvements to the table.

Chief among these upgrades is a functionality boost for Visual Intelligence, and core Apple apps like Apple Music and Siri are the subject of some major bug fixes.

Below, we’ve rounded up all the ways in which iOS 18.3 improves the iPhone experience. Still, rocking iOS 17? Here’s how to download iOS 18 – and what to do if it won't install.

Apple Intelligence enabled by default

Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, and MacBook (Image credit: Apple)

The first big news in iOS 18.3 is that Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default. You’ll still need an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max to access Apple’s suite of sometimes-good, sometimes-bad AI features, but if you hadn’t already enabled them, iOS 18.3 will do it for you.

Previously, you had to go to Settings and manually sign up for Apple Intelligence to use Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and Siri with ChatGPT, among others.

But what if your reluctance to sign up for Apple Intelligence was deliberate? Fear not: you can still disable the AI feature set in Settings (head to Apple Intelligence & Siri) and even toggle certain Apple Intelligence features – specifically Mail summarization and Siri’s ChatGPT extension – on or off.

Visual Intelligence 2.0

Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 (Image credit: Apple)

Sticking with the upgrades for iPhone 16 (or iPhone 15 Pro) users, iOS 18.3 brings a major functionality upgrade to Visual Intelligence, Apple’s take on Google Lens.

In its first iteration, Visual Intelligence allowed users to identify places and objects around them using the Camera Control button (or not-button). Still, in iOS 18.3, the tool is capable of recognizing dogs, plants, and event information from flyers or posters. Neat!

We’ve taken Visual Intelligence 2.0 for a spin, and while its date, time, and location-gathering powers can be hit-and-miss, it won’t have a problem separating your Labdrador from your Poodle.

Calculator improvements

(Image credit: Future)

Next up is a slightly more boring update, but at least it applies to all iOS 18.3-compatible iPhones. In the Calculator app, you can now once again double-tap the equals sign to repeat the last mathematical operation. Thrilling!

In all seriousness, Apple, for some reason, removed this ability in iOS 18, and admittedly, it’s supremely useful for calculating compound interest equations.

Bug fixes and security upgrades

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

As always, Apple’s latest software update brings several key bug fixes and security patches, making iOS 18.3 a must-download for everyone.

For example, iOS 18.3 addresses an annoying bug that caused the Siri Keyboard to disappear when using the Type to ‌Siri‌ feature and another that caused Apple Music audio playback to continue even after the Apple Music app was closed.

The update also patches a vulnerability in the Photos app that risked allowing iPhone thieves access to your photos even when your device is locked.

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• The Patriot Transporter 2TB external portable SSD retails for under $90 at Amazon
• It has read/write speeds of up to 1GB/s, twice that of comparably priced internal SATA SSDs
• It is still more expensive than 2TB portable hard disk drives but the price gap is at its lowest ever

The 2.5-inch USB-C Patriot Transporter 2TB external portable SSD has garnered attention for its competitive pricing as well as read and write speeds of up to 1GB/s.

At $87.99 on Amazon US right now, the Transporter is still more expensive than an average 2TB portable hard disk drive, but the price difference has narrowed considerably.

In comparison with more expensive internal SATA SSDs, the Transporter SSD has a much higher read and write speeds than popular options like the Crucial MX500 2TB (560 MB/s read, 510 MB/s write), Samsung 870 EVO 2TB (560 MB/s read, 530 MB/s write), and Western Digital Blue 3D NAND 2TB (545 MB/s read, 425 MB/s write).

I couldn't fault the Patriot Transporter. It is affordable, compact and delivers the sort of performance I'd expect from rivals twice the price. A must-buy at this price.View Deal

A budget-friendly portable SSD alternative

The Transporter also offers faster read and write speeds compared to traditional 2TB HDDs like the WD My Passport, Seagate Backup Plus, and Toshiba Canvio Basics, which cost between $60 and $70 and deliver significantly slower speeds.

The higher speed offered by SSDs may appeal to users with demanding workloads, but the fact remains HDDs remain a more affordable option for general mass storage needs.

SSDs are intrinsically far more robust as well thanks to the use of solid-state memory. They can withstand drops and get chucked around without suffering from catastrophic failure. You can't do that with an external hard disk drive.

What's more, a USB-C portable SSD can usually be plugged into a smartphone or tablet equipped with the same port and act as an external storage device, something no portable HDD can achieve.

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• Firms are risking “digital chaos" if they don't get their AI deployments right

• Travel site Daytrip has fallen victim to a data leak
• The leak reportedly originated through a third party vendor
• Up to 470,000 customers could be at risk

Travel company Daytrip has had 470,000 user records and 762,000 travel orders compromised online.

The dataset, discovered by Cybernews researchers, was stored on an ‘unsecured MongoDB database managed by Daytrip’s subcontractor’ - the data included personally identifiable information (PII).

The leaked information could put users at risk, especially concerning identity theft and social engineering attacks, so anyone who’s used the service should be vigilant with their information. The Daytrip database has since been closed, and the company claims it has since discontinued its work with the vendor, here’s what we know so far.

Real world risk

As an online ride-hailing service which operates in 130 countries across the globe, Daytrip unsurprisingly held the address information of many customers, which was discovered in the dataset, alongside the full names, emails, phone numbers, partial payment details, billing information, and passenger addresses.

Although there’s no evidence the dataset was found by cybercriminals, criminals often have ‘automated tools that scour the web for unprotected instances only to immediately download them’, researchers confirmed - so this presents a real world risk for those exposed.

This incident proves the need for strong third-party and vendor oversight, especially given just how reliant and inter-connected modern businesses are - another reminder after the notorious CrowdStrike outage, which outlined just how crucial knowing your vendor can be.

“The compromised database was apparently under the control of a Daytrip subcontractor, emphasizing the importance of strict vendor management and consistent security practices across all data handlers in the supply chain,” the Cybernews researchers said.

Researchers stress the importance of an incident plan for companies, as it can help maintain and rebuild customer and business partner trust after a leak, as well as mitigate reputational damage.

Data breaches can be harmful for firms, but transparency and proactive strategies beyond just the legal minimum can protect the organization, whereas concealed or downplayed breaches can annihilate trust all round.

Protecting your information

If you think this, or any other breach, might put you in danger - there are a few things you can do to protect yourself and mitigate any risks.

This breach in particular is a tricky one, as researchers pointed out, “the leak carries a perfect blend of data for identity theft and financial fraud”, so if you use the service, we recommend being very careful.

The primary risk with this sort of breach is identity theft, so check out our list of the best identity theft protections for software specifically designed to monitor and protect your accounts and details. A lot of these will offer identity theft insurance covering up to $1 million per adult, so it’s worth at least taking a look.

If you use a service that has been the victim of a breach, we would definitely recommend changing your password, and we always suggest using unique passwords for all your important sites.

We’ve written a more detailed guide on our tips for securing the best password, but the short version is; keep passwords long, complicated, and memorable. If that sounds like a hassle, then we’ve listed the best password managers, as well as all the best password generators to simplify the process.

Victims are also at risk of social engineering attacks, or phishing scams, in which attackers will design personal and specific scams with the information obtained in order to steal more information from you, or gain access to your accounts.

If you’re not sure what exactly a phishing attack is, we’ve put together an explainer - but the key to avoiding falling victim is staying suspicious of all unexpected communications and double checking every sender - even if you think you know them.

Never give out your passwords or give anyone access to your accounts, and be on the lookout for unverified email addresses or phone numbers, and remember - it’s extremely unlikely that your bank, your phone provider, or any other large company would be calling you to get access to your accounts - so be very wary.

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• Netflix adds Download Season to iPhone and iPad apps
• The update comes after Android users got it
• It follows a significant price increase

During the dark days, the ones where my home broadband network went offline, we struggled to stream Netflix content on our iPads and iPhones. If only we'd had this recent update: the ability to download entire seasons.

Granted, that might not have worked so well with the almost useless 5G connection on my iPhone, but if I'd already had the ability to download entire seasons of Squid Game and Man on the Inside, we might've already had all those shows resident on our iPhones and iPads. In that case, who needs a connection?

The ability to download an entire series on one of the best streaming services is not entirely new. Android users have had it for a while. Netflix on my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra had this ability from the moment I installed the streaming service.

How to get it

(Image credit: Future)

The new download capability wasn't there today when I checked my iPhone 16 Pro Max. But I found a quick way to add it. I deleted the app from my phone and reinstalled it. Presto! Netflix Downloads management center moved to a new location under My Netflix, and shows where downloads are available now include a Download Season option next to the Share icon.

In the case of multi-season shows, the label says "Download Season 1" or whatever season you're in. In the case of a limited series or one with just a single season under its belt like A Man on the Inside, it'll say something like "Download 8 Episodes."

Over WiFi, it took about a minute to download 8 episodes of A Man on the Inside. To double-check the utility of this feature, I put my phone in airplane mode and was pleased to see that I could play any of the episodes.

I could also go into the Download Management section and delete the episodes individually or the entire season with one click.

(Image credit: Future)

Being able to watch Netflix streamers offline is a big deal. I know that in my house, when we had no connectivity and were only watching what we could stream live at the moment – which wasn't much and why we switched to DVDs (the old-school way of having instant access to entire seasons of your favorite shows) – we would've considered this feature a binge lifesaver.

There's no technical reason I can see that prevented Netflix from bringing this to the best iPhones and best iPads at the same time as Android phones and I hope they don't make a habit of covering only one platform at a time.

Giving us this content portability is the least Netflix can do after again raising prices on all levels of service.

As I prepare to go on a little vacation, I plan to take advantage of this feature and download a few seasons of some select shows to watch on the beach or when I just want to chill in my hotel room.

Such perfect timing. Thanks, Netflix.

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• Wine 10 is now out with more than 6,000 updates on its release log
• The emulator - which turns 32 this year - allows Linux/Unix users to run Windows software
• Open source project doesn't require Windows unlike virtual machine solutions

If you want to run Windows software on a Linux OS, you'll need to install the Wine compatibility layer. Wine, a recursive acronym for "Wine Is Not an Emulator," provides a runtime environment for running Windows applications natively on Linux without virtualization. It can also be configured as the default installer for Windows software, simplifying the setup process.

First released on July 4, 1993, Wine was created by Bob Amstadt (the project’s original lead) and Eric Youngdale as an open source implementation of the Windows API for Unix-based systems. Over the past 32 years, it has evolved into a powerful tool for bridging the gap between Windows and Linux environments and after a year of development, the developers behind it have announced the stable release of Wine 10.

This new version includes over 6,000 individual changes. While many are minor fixes, there are some notable highlights, including full support for the ARM64EC architecture and hybrid ARM64X modules, allowing seamless integration of ARM64EC and plain ARM64 code.

OpenGL support

High-DPI support has been improved in this release, with automatic scaling for non-DPI aware applications. Vulkan enhancements now support child window rendering and Vulkan Video extensions.

Direct3D updates include a new HLSL-based fixed function pipeline, Vulkan shader backend improvements, and dynamic state extensions to reduce stuttering. And, in a welcome move, OpenGL is now supported within the Wayland driver, which is enabled by default. This addition will allow for better integration with Wayland-based Linux environments.

Other changes include an experimental FFmpeg-based multimedia backend, improved HID and touchscreen input handling, enhanced Unicode and locale compatibility, and solid RPC/COM support on ARM platforms.

A number of other tweaks have been made too, such as process elevation, improved serial port event handling, and support for modern vector extensions like AVX-512. Developers also benefit from updated build tools, static analysis options, and bundled library upgrades like Capstone, Vkd3d 1.14, and FFmpeg.

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• IKEA announces a colorful new range of home electronics
• The range will be made in collaboration with the colorist Teklan
• Two new colors of its portable Vappeby Bluetooth speaker are out now

IKEA is no stranger to home tech, making smart lights, smart sensors and picture frame speakers, and more. Unfortunately, not many of those come decked in the bold colors that the homeware giant is famous for, but IKEA has just promised to fix that with a new series that it claims will "reimagine" home electronics.

The new home gadgets are being designed in collaboration with Tekla Evelina Severin, a designer and colorist known as Teklan on Instagram, and will apparently combine color, patterns and geometric forms to help the tech hold its own when surrounded by your bold, complementary home decor.

So far, so vague, but IKEA has given us a teaser of what to expect by refreshing its super-cheap (and surprisingly good) portable Vappeby Bluetooth speaker ($15 / £12 / AU$22) with two new colors. When the speaker launched last year it was available in black, red or yellow finishes, but the Teklan collaboration has delivered some rather fetching blue and pink versions that are available now.

The slightly less good news is that the full Teklan range isn't expect to launch until "early 2026" with more details to follow nearer that time. Come on, IKEAn – we were at least hoping to get some new stocking fillers in time for this Christmas. Still, the Vappeby speaker gives us some confidence that the new range could be worth the wait...

Cheap, cheerful...and actually good?

It's right at home with your bathroom accoutrements – but don't be fooled, the sound is no joke, not for this money (Image credit: Future)

If IKEA's refreshed Vappeby speaker is a taste of what's to come from its new Teklan collaboration, then that's a good sign – particularly if it applies that formula to some actually new, affordable products.

The Vappeby's price tag might create understandable caution, but TechRadar's Audio Editor Becky Scarrott tested the Vappeby last year – and her surprising conclusion was that it's "excellent" and an "alarmingly good Bluetooth speaker for the money".

While the speaker's new blue and pink variants look promising, it's hard to conclude that yellow (above) still isn't the best for bathroom tunes. Still, blue or pink could suit your decor better, and whatever version of Vappeby you go for it's hard to beat it on bang-for-buck.

Our testing found it to be "wholly worthy of its IP67 claim" for waterproofing, which means it can be dunked in water down to one meter and still survive for 30 minutes. And our review concluded that "there's very little wrong with the Vappeby sonically" as long as you "expect a forward-sounding, excitable performance rather than a laid-back or refined listen". That's why it made our list of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers last year.

It would be great to see IKEA repeat the Vappeby formula with other tech – I'm thinking portable heaters, desktop speakers, microphones, perhaps even a genuinely desirable router. What cheap-and-cheerful product would you like to see IKEA rustle up in this new designer collection? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Google Play Store has just introduced a new way for VPN providers to show they offer secure and trustworthy services – a "Verified" badge.

The new badge is designed to highlight consumer-facing VPN apps "that prioritize user privacy and safety," the Big Tech giant explains in a blog post. The goal is to help users make more informed choices about the VPN apps they download and use.

Google's new badge will be displayed on the VPN app's details page and in search results as a guarantee the virtual private network (VPN) service meets Google's safety standards.

How to get Google's "Verified" badge

"Earning the VPN badge isn't just about checking a box – it's proof that your VPN app invests in app safety," said Google, pointing out how the verification label will help providers stand out in a crowded VPN market.

To be eligible for the new verification badge, VPN providers need to complete a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation. This is essentially an evaluation of the app's security.

VPN apps must also have at least 10,000 installs and 250 reviews. They also require an "organization developer" account type and to be published on Google for at least 90 days to qualify.

Eligible app developers must also submit information on how they collect user data and opt into independent security reviews.

While other factors contribute to the evaluation, Google explains, fulfilling these requirements "significantly increases" the chances of getting the VPN Verified badge.

"In a market where trust is key, this badge not only provides reassurance to customers, but also highlights the integrity of developers committed to delivering secure and reliable products," commented NordVPN to Google. (Image credit: Google)

Google's initiative comes as a very much-needed move. Increasingly more instances have proven downloading a legitimate VPN app from the internet isn't enough to be safe.

At the beginning of the month, for example, Google warned of legit VPN apps being used as a backdoor to infect devices with malware.

VPN downloads have also increased across the US lately to evade age verification laws and temporary blocks enforced on TikTok.

Some of the best VPN apps have already received a verification badge. These include TechRadar's top pick NordVPN, Hide.me, and Aloha Browser.

Google's new Verified badge adds to Google's ongoing commitment to better transparency and security in its App Store. These include the privacy labels rolled out in 2022 and the independent security review banners introduced the year after.

• New details about Phantom Blade Zero's gameplay features have been revealed
• The game will reportedly take 20-30 hours to beat and have 20 hours of side content
• The soulslike will have four difficulty options and a phase two checkpoint on all bosses

New details have emerged about Phantom Blade Zero, S-Game's upcoming soulslike action game.

The PS5 exclusive was announced last year and it wasn't until recently that the developer treated fans to a fresh look in a six-minute gameplay trailer showcasing an intense boss battle.

We don't have a release date just yet, but thanks to multiple Chinese outlets (via Push Square) we now have confirmation of a ton of features the game will have at launch.

Interestingly, it looks like Phantom Blade Zero will be straying away from the traditional soulslike formula by featuring at least four difficulty options, including easy, normal, hard, and extremely hard, something other games in the genre, like Elden Ring or Lies of P, lack.

In terms of story, it will reportedly take between 20 and 30 hours to beat the main campaign. There will be 20 hours of additional side content too, which could mean side quests and bosses not tied to the narrative.

Speaking of boss fights, each boss will have two battle phases - although we can't be sure if this will apply to every single boss just yet. Unlike other popular soulslike games, there will be a phase two checkpoint, meaning if the player were to die, they will respawn at the beginning of that phase without losing phase one progress.

Additionally, there will be a separate mode that will allow players to replay boss fights, similar to the Reflections of Strength mode in Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, which lets players challenge any boss to a re-match.

It's said that this mode will also lead to more "hidden" bosses to confront, but we don't know how many there will be.

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• McAfee researchers find number of malicious GitHub repositories
• The repositories change every week, but always promise game cracks, hacks, or free access to commercial software
• But instead of the cracks, the victims get infected with Lumma Stealer

Cybercriminals are using GitHub to target children with infostealing malware, a new McAfee report has claimed, saying it spotted an ongoing malicious campaign on the popular code repository.

In an analysis, the researchers said they observed many repositories pretending to be game hacks, cracks, or free versions of otherwise commercial software. However, instead of providing these programs, the repositories were actually hosting Lumma Stealer, a known infostealer malware.

“McAfee Labs encountered multiple repositories, offering game hacks for top-selling video games such as Apex Legends, Minecraft, Counter Strike 2.0, Roblox, Valorant, Fortnite, Call of Duty, GTA V and or offering cracked versions of popular software and services, such as Spotify Premium, FL Studio, Adobe Express, SketchUp Pro, Xbox Game Pass, and Discord to name a few,” the researchers said.

Disabling the AV

This “network of repositories”, as McAfee described it, changes the description every week, and creates new repositories, since the old ones get flagged and removed by GitHub. The payload, however, always remains the same.

“These repositories also include distribution licenses and software screenshots to enhance their appearance of legitimacy,” McAfee concluded.

The descriptions also contain instructions on how to download and run the malware, and how to disable any antivirus programs on the computer, before running it. The attackers said that antivirus solutions flag these programs as false-positives, and can safely be ignored.

McAfee says this social engineering technique, combined with the trust GitHub enjoys with its users works well, and that the campaign infected many users. The researchers did not share any numbers, but stressed that the targets are mostly on the younger side:

“Children are frequently targeted by such scams, as malware authors exploit their interest in game hacks by highlighting potential features and benefits, making it easier to infect more systems.”

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• Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked's first trailer just dropped
• It shows us the Demeo-meets-D&D experience we were expecting
• There's no release date, but we were promised post-launch DLC support

Just over a year ago it was announced that Demeo developer Resolution Games would be creating a VR Dungeons & Dragons title, a collaboration akin to combining peanut butter and jelly – it just made perfect sense. Now we’ve got the first trailer for the upcoming project: Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked (try saying that five times fast), and we’ve got our first look at the gameplay.

Demeo is the essential tabletop experience in VR with elements that fans of IRL games will recognize instantly – including dice rolling, miniatures, and fantastical settings. It was already approaching D&D in VR, so an official partnership between the two games wasn’t surprising. And the end result is exactly what people expected.

As seen in the trailer (we’ve dropped it below for you) various players come together as their diverse set of characters – a Dragonborn warrior, Halfling mage, Elf bard, and Tiefling rogue – to take on a band of Kobolds in a tabletop setting made to look like woodlands.

It ends with a quick flash of recognizable Demeo gameplay – a player rolling a die to make an attack, while the other members of their party scan their hand of cards to decide what actions they’ll take on their turn.

So far, the only distinctly D&D change is that the usual 12-sided die used in Demeo has been swapped for the iconic 20-sided die (D20) which all D&D campaigns rely on. However, other D&D elements have been stripped away to make the game more like Demeo; Battlemarked will be a Dungeon Master-less experience (a person who runs the game for the players) with the game deciding how NPCs and monsters engage with the players, and the title will focus on “social strategy rather than social roleplay” according to the developers – so expect combat galore.

Beyond what the trailer had to show us, Resolution Games and Wizards of the Coast have promised us two story-based campaigns at Battlemarked’s launch, with additional campaigns planned as DLC for future updates.

We’re not sure which settings will make an appearance, but we expect a few iconic locations and campaigns from the Forgotten Realms – Icewind Dale, the Tomb of Annihilation, Waterdeep, and Ravenloft to name a few – will be adapted for this upcoming title.

We unfortunately don’t know when that launch will happen however, nor which platforms Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked will launch on, though we’re expecting it’ll match the core Demeo’s release – Meta Quest 3, PCVR, PlayStation VR 2 and Apple Vision Pro systems.

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) Give me customization, or give me death

There’s a lot we still don’t know about Battlemarked but one aspect of D&D I hope we do see is customization – the ability for players to create their own characters, and potentially even their own campaigns.

I’m not expecting something to the same degree of Baldur’s Gate 3’s character creation, but the ability to mix and match classes with different D&D species to create my choice of hero rather than having to select a pre-made champion – which is what you do in Demeo – would make this feel more like a D&D adventure.

I also know a lot of players – myself included – were hoping this Demeo collab might materialize as some kind of virtual tabletop experience that gives us control over the action for our own custom games. I certainly don’t mind the inclusion of a DM-less campaign mode, but a DM-led custom mode would be awesome – especially as a stepping stone for new groups to transition from playing Battlemarked to playing D&D-proper. Demeo isn’t new to PvP – with its Demeo: Battles variant – so pulling in elements into a 3v1 players vs DM environment would be a lot of fun.

Admittedly, I’m not holding my breath for either of these customization suggestions, but as a D&D and VR fan I’m excited to see what Resolution games and Wizards of the Coast have in store for us.

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Leading VPN provider, NordVPN, has just launched a “revolutionary” censorship-resistant VPN protocol as a response to greater online restrictions worldwide.

NordWhisper, the company explains, is designed to work against the most challenging network filtering techniques by mimicking regular web traffic. Despite the similarities, the new VPN protocol promises to differ from current VPN obfuscation solutions, ensuring a smoother and more consistent browsing experience.

NordVPN is rolling out NordWhisper gradually across its Windows, Android, and Linux apps, with more support expected for other platforms in due course.

How does NordWhisper work?

"We designed NordWhisper with our users in mind," said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. "It’s not just about getting around network restrictions; it’s about empowering people to work, communicate, and access essential services securely and freely, even in the most restrictive environments.”

Unlike traditional VPN protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard, NordWhisper uses web tunnel technology designed to mimic normal web traffic. As per experts at Tor Browser who first released this technology, this method encapsulates the data in transit within standard HTTP packets. It essentially creates a hidden tunnel that can protect users' privacy and allow them to bypass network restrictions that might block specific types of traffic.

Such an infrastructure promises to be more efficient than VPN obfuscation, "While standard protocols using obfuscation techniques are effective on networks that prevent access to essential services or public resources, NordWhisper steps in when VPN-specific blocks make connecting to these networks more challenging," NordVPN explains in a blog post.

"We would like to remind people to ensure that their use of NordWhisper complies with all applicable laws, agreements, and network policies," said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. (Image credit: Nord Security)

Increasingly more countries worldwide have been heavily restricting the internet, investing copious amounts in developing always more efficient network filter technologies. This has resulted in a need for new solutions to enable everyone to bypass advanced online restrictions and access the open internet – no matter where they're browsing from.

You should use NordWhisper only when connecting to the internet from a highly restricted environment. That's because this VPN protocol may slow down your internet connection due to the technology it uses.

NordWhisper has been rolled out for Windows, Android, and Linux VPN users only. The provider plans to expand support for other platforms over time and will continue upgrading the VPN protocol to be on top of changes in the network filtering landscape.

Once available, you'll be able to manually select the option directly from the app's settings by heading on VPN connection and tapping on the NordWhisper button.

Philips Audio has revealed a new set of products all designed with a strong retro feel, called the Century range. As the name suggests, the idea is to celebrate of 100 years of the Philips name making audio gear, and the designs draw from different parts of the last century. Oh, and they're all named after big music artists.

The collection consists of two record players with built-in speakers, two pairs of headphones, and a portable digital radio, which will all launch officially in September 2025 in the UK and Europe (US availability isn't confirmed yet, but Philips Audio does sell products there, and will launch its new H8000E noise-cancelling headphones there).

I saw them all in person, though I couldn't hear them because the units weren't quite ready yet – but I saw enough to get me excited to try them, because there's some seriously cool stuff going on.

The Ringo

(Image credit: Future)

First, we've got to talk about The Ringo headphones, which are designed to look just like the '80s on-ear headphones you'd have expected to see all over Venice Beach in California connected to Walkmans.

They've got a metal headband, small circular on-ear pads, and colorful ear cup backs, with options for teal, black or white finishes (and possibly more to come). But don't be fooled, they're really modern inside, featuring Bluetooth 5.4 and 40mm drivers, which is impressive for such small ear cups.

Those who like the best on-ear headphones are a little starved of wireless options compared to the many over-ear options on the market, so these will be welcome – and they look super-cool. Pleasingly, they come with spare ear pads, so you don't need to worry about wearing them down. The battery life is about 20 hours.

The Tina

(Image credit: Future)

My next favorite from the collection is The Tina, which is a record player with a 120W built-in speaker, which Philips says is the most powerful speaker ever put in an all-in-one record player to date. It's a 2.1 stereo setup, featuring two full-range drivers facing forward, and a four-inch bass reflex subwoofer.

There's an aluminum platter and tonearm with adjustable counter-weight, and it comes with an Audio-Technica moving-magnet cartridge. As well as playing music out through the speakers, you can play over Bluetooth, including using Auracast to play to multiple speakers at once, and it has a 6.3mm headphone socket.

But this isn't just competing with the best turntables for vinyl-playing alone; you can also stream music into it over Bluetooth, or it has RCA aux-in, plus USB file playback, and even digital and FM radio tuners.

And on top of all that, it's a very striking thing to see in person. That mid-century wood veneer and front grille combo, with chunky dials at either end, is a cool statement on a sideboard.

The Freddie

(Image credit: Future)

Perfect for pairing with The Tina for private listening is The Freddie, a set of deeply cushioned open-back headphones with 50mm drivers. Philips has made a lot of very nice open-back headphones over the years from its Fidelio brand, and it looks like a lot of the principles have been used here – but with a brown finish that just screams 'old-school hi-fi'. Well, perhaps perhaps it screaming it isn't era-appropriate; more croaking it through a smoky haze in a listening club.

There's a 3m cable included, and the double-layer earpads are made to be more breathable than older headphones might have been, and with a suspended headband for lengthy listening.

The Stevie

(Image credit: Future)

Next on my personal favorites list is The Stevie, which is another all-in-one record player. It has a more modern look, and is very much aimed at vinyl beginners, featuring modest 12W speakers, and the option of streaming to it via Bluetooth as well as playing records.

The spinner is a three-speed, belt-driven affair, with an Audio-Technica MM cartridge again. As well as the built-in speakers, you can send the music out to Bluetooth speakers, and there's a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Janet

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, there's The Janet (pictured on the right, above), which is a DAB+ and FM radio that aims to suggest a '50s vibe with its curved sides, though I think its black finish and LCD screen make it look too modern to really tickle the retro-loving part of the brain. It has a 5W speaker, and you can stream music to it over Bluetooth as well as the radio.

It has a battery life of 16 hours, and this is one of many speakers Philips is launching that has an easily replaced rechargeable battery – if it stops holding charge years from now, you can just buy another from Philips, pop open a cover, and swap the units. It's great to see.

It's a shame I can't tell you more about how these sound – or, just as importantly – how much they'll cost. But I was totally charmed by the looks of The Ringo and The Tina especially, so I'm looking forward to September when we can see if what's inside lives up to the outside.

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• A travel service, integrated into many airline service providers, carried a security flaw
• This could be abused to log into people's accounts and change their bookings
• It has since been reported and mitigated

A “popular, top-tier” travel service for hotel and car rentals was vulnerable to a flaw which allowed malicious actors to take over anyone’s account, a new report from API security firm Salt Labs has claimed.

By abusing the flaw, they would be able to book hotel rooms, rent cars, and modify any booking information, easily. To make matters worse, since the service is integrated into “dozens” of commercial airline online services, it would also allow miscreants to spend airline loyalty points, and more.

Salt Labs said millions of people could be at risk, but that it did not want to say the name of the affected service.

Stealing session cookies

Here is how a theoretical attack would work: A malicious actor would create a custom-tailored link and share it with the victim via usual channels (for example, email). The victim would click on the link, leading to the rental service provider, which would ask it to log in with the credentials associated with the airline service provider.

At that point, the rental platform generates a second link, and sends the victim back to the airline’s website, to log in using OAuth.

OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open standard for secure access delegation, allowing applications to access a user's data on another service without exposing their credentials.

Because of the custom-built link, the authentication response is returned to the attackers, including the user’s session token, which grants them access to the platform.

"Since the manipulated link uses a legitimate customer domain (with manipulation occurring only at the parameter level rather than the domain level), this makes the attack difficult to detect through standard domain inspection or blocklist/allowlist methods," the researchers said in their write-up.

Salt Labs disclosed its findings to the affected service, which confirmed the flaw and deployed a fix.

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• Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer isn't ruling out a potential Starfield PS5 release
• Spencer said he can't "put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players"
• The CEO wants Xbox to be a platform "that enables creators across any screen that people want to play on"

Bethesda hasn't announced if its Xbox console-exclusive game Starfield will make the jump to PS5, but Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer isn't ruling out the idea.

Speaking on Save State Plus in a recent interview, Spencer was asked directly by host Destin Legarie if he could confirm whether the sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) will remain an Xbox exclusive forever, to which the CEO said, "No."

"There’s no specific game… this kind of goes back to my red line answer. There’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players, where it would have business success for us," Spencer added.

"What we find is we’re able to drive a better business that allows us to invest in great game line-up, like you saw. And that’s our strategy. Our strategy is to allow our games to be available, Game Pass is an important component of playing the games on our platform. But to keep games off of other platforms, that’s not a path for us. It doesn’t work for us. What we’re doing now, we think really enables us to build the best platform for the world’s best games."

Phil Spencer on Starfield exclusivityDestin: "Can you solidify that Starfield is staying put for the time being?"Spencer: "No."Source: https://t.co/ccNXLG6GU5 pic.twitter.com/r6sfx9e193January 25, 2025

Microsoft kicked off its multi-platform push last year, which saw Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves make their way to PS5. We can also expect MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to be released on PS5 in Spring 2025, following its timed-exclusive launch on December 9 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Spencer continued, saying, "the world’s biggest games are available in multiple places. And more and more creators are asking us, 'how do we stay connected when our game might be playable in all these different places?' And we want Xbox to be absolutely the platform that enables that.

"We think that makes us unique. Most of the other platforms out there are single platform on single device. Whether that’s PC, whether that’s mobile, whether it’s a console. And we want Xbox to be a platform that enables creators across any screen that people want to play on."

Late last year, Spencer said there were no "red lines" regarding the release of more Xbox games on PlayStation but was unable to reveal any of the titles he had in mind.

"I think the ball is moving in the right direction. I think this idea of open platforms, where users have more choice, creators have more choice, you see the momentum, right?" he said at the time.

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• Windows 11 24H2 introduced a Start menu side panel for Android users
• This same panel is now in testing for iPhone owners
• A couple of other capabilities are being added, including a button to swiftly and conveniently send files from your PC to your phone

Windows 11 users with an iPhone who were jealous of Android’s additional integration in the Start menu will doubtless be pleased to see that Apple smartphones are getting a very similar treatment.

If you recall, Android phone owners got this perk courtesy of the Windows 11 24H2 update, which introduced a floating side panel just off the Start menu. This contains details on the mobile’s battery level, alongside functionality such as the ability to listen to voice messages, view photos, and continue recent activities.

It’s quite a raft of extra abilities bolted onto the Start menu, and now Microsoft is giving iPhone users much the same thing, albeit in testing to begin with.

Microsoft notes in a blog post: “This seamless integration allows iPhone users to enjoy the same benefits as Android users, including the ability to view phone’s battery status and connectivity, ability to access messages and calls, and keeping track of the latest activities, all conveniently integrated into the Start menu.”

As well as this, there’s another new feature at the bottom of this side panel, a convenient button to ‘Send files’ instantly from your PC to an Android device or iPhone.

Finally, Microsoft has also made it so those who haven’t got the Start menu side panel up and running yet get a quick setup process presented to them.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: A fair bet for a (relatively) swift release

This is for Windows Insiders (testers) to start with, those in the Beta or Dev channels initially. It’s worth noting that this Start menu feature, for both Android and iPhone users, relies on the Phone Link app (and Bluetooth LE). So, you’ll need a recent version of Phone Link installed to use it (v1.24121.30.0 or better).

Not every feature that’s introduced to preview builds makes the cut for release, but with this functionality, I can’t see that Microsoft would abandon it. That would hardly seem fair on iPhone users, after all, and there are a lot of them (even if the number still pales in comparison to those on Android devices globally).

I’d expect this to proceed through testing relatively swiftly then, to be introduced in the nearer term, assuming all goes well in preview builds, that is.

Via The Verge

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