TechRadar News

• Shiny discs were supposed to kill boring magnetic tape once and for all
• But cheap storage all but killed the media for data hoarders
• Tape remains the only true viable long-term solution but drives are far too expensive

It's 2025 and after almost 20 years, Sony has announced that it is ending Blu-ray media production as well as MiniDiscs, MiniDiscs data and miniDV tape, a few months after it got rid of its 5.5TB Optical Disc Archive cartridge.

I'd be quick to say that this is almost certainly is for blank media as opposed to pressed media (as in 4K Bluray movies and console games) since streaming, for all its convenience, doesn't quite match physical media when it comes to quality and convenience.

There are still plenty of Blu-ray media vendors around; a quick look on Amazon brings up familiar names such as Verbatim, Smartbuy, Ridata but I think that the writing is on the wall for Blu-ray with dwindling demand and the allure of alternative storage (external hard drives, portable hard drives, portable SSDs). Shiny disks are done and dusted, with no apparent heir to the throne (despite what we have written in the past).

In addition, optical disc will deteriorate over time; the Canadian Conservation Institute estimates that BD-R have an average longevity between 5 and 10 years old which can't be good news for those that have used write-only Blu-ray disks. In reality, it will very much depend on a lot of other factors like humidity, heat, storing conditions, dye quality etc.

As for the future of on-premise data storage, of the remaining candidates, tape is the one most likely to survive and thrive. Hard drives are great for low hundreds Terabytes and the use of helium means that at some point in the future, helium-based HDDs will become unusable. Western Digital says that the helium "remains contained within the drive throughout its operational lifespan", which is usually between 5 and 10 years, about the same as Blu-ray.

A single 18TB LTO-9 cartridge, retailing for $88, can replace 720 25GB Blu-ray disks, a bundle that costs $288 on Amazon

Désiré Athow

Solid-state storage is another one but it is still far too expensive for anything above double-digits TB backups. Put aside exotic storage media like glass, silica, ceramic, DNA and holographic, there's only one tried and trusted media remaining on the market, the grand-daddy of them all, the OG: the old, venerable but still very much alive tape, more specifically LTO (Linear Tape Open). Yes, that very technology that optical drives were supposed to eliminate.

The current generation, LTO-9, delivers 18TB per tape with LTO-10 expected to offer between 24TB and 36TB. Its roadmap, released in 2022, goes up to Gen 14 with a tape capacity of up to 576TB (yes, that's more than half a Petabyte). Ridiculous? Well, IBM and Fujifilm already demoed such a tape back in … 2020, that’s over four years ago.

Used extensively for long-term cold storage in data centers and enterprises, LTO has the backing of some of the biggest tech companies in the world and is therefore not going away anytime soon. Tape comes with its intrinsic issues: drives are expensive and data stored on a tape can only be accessed linearly. But, on the other hand, LTO media is very cheap, less than $5 per TB, can be stored easily and is durable with a lifespan of up to 30 years.

What I think could cement LTO’s status as the go-to media for data hoarders is an affordable LTO drive. Right now, the cheapest LTO-9 internal drive costs more than $4,300 and is not compatible with the majority of workstations because it uses SAS (Serial-attached SCSI) as physical interface. Adding an external enclosure bumps the price to just over $5,000. We reviewed an LTO-9 drive from OWC back in 2022.

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The hope for a $999 LTO-10 tape drive

Could a sub $1,000 drive change the market dynamics? No, I don’t think so. Large data hoarders, those requiring hundreds of TB worth of storage, are a tiny minority that will almost certainly have the financial clout (or/and incentive/contacts) to purchase an LTO-8 or 9 drive (or an autoloader) should they wish to. So yes, while I would love to have a $999 HPE external LTO-10 drive to use, that has absolutely no chance of happening.

Affordable cloud storage in the low terabyte orbit is the main reason why the total addressable market for low-price on-premise backup has shrunk so much. Blame the likes of BackBlaze (unlimited, $72/year for one computer), iDrive (10TB, $99.50/year), Internxt (5TB, $380 for life). There’s even Geyser Data, a cloud storage service powered by tape (aka TAPAS) at the low, low price of $1.55 per TB per month (100TB would cost $1,860 per year).

Cloud storage though should complement rather than replace on-premise storage as part of a comprehensive backup strategy; just remember that upload/download performance will never match an on-prem solution and for anything bigger than 10TB, prices will rise quickly if you’re planning for the next decade.

This week, Samsung not only debuted its new Galaxy S25 series smartphones (including a surprise Galaxy S25 Edge reveal), but we saw a slew of major tech news stories that you might have missed.

OpenAI teased its Operator agent, Netflix raised its prices (again), and TikTok was banned and unbanned – but its fate still hangs in the balance as its rivals move in. You can catch up on all this and more by scrolling down.

Once you've wrapped up this week's ICYMI, check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (January 24).

7. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showcased the S25 series...

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Another year, another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked to unpack (sorry!). This latest edition saw the Korean giant launch the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. At the same time, a fourth device – the Galaxy S25 Edge – was teased at the end of the presentation as ‘coming soon.’

So, what’s new? All three new smartphones boast the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB RAM, and a host of new Galaxy AI features, including Now Brief and Audio Eraser. The Ultra has enjoyed an iPhone-like redesign, and Samsung has added Galaxy Z Fold 6-style camera rings to every model in the lineup. The Galaxy S25 Edge, meanwhile, will be a super slim version of (we think) the 6.2-inch Galaxy S25, but Samsung hasn’t shared any official details about that phone just yet (apart from its name).

We were on the ground at Galaxy Unpacked and have already handled all three new S25 devices, so check out our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 review, hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review, and hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review for our first impressions.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy S25 launch as it happened

6. ... and game us new Galaxy AI goodies

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The launch of the S25 range was really all about Galaxy AI, Samsung’s overarching name for all the AI features packed into these new, slim, futuristic phones. By detailing all the AI capabilities before the phones, Samsung seems to think that the AI features are more important than the actual phone specs, so what is the Korean company getting so excited about?

Now Brief and Now Bar are the two standout features of Galaxy AI, and they’re essentially like super-powered notifications. Because they link into all the other apps on your phone, not to mention all your other Samsung devices, you’ll find they can start suggesting things you should be doing before they need to be done or things you might need to be aware of, like heavy traffic on the way home.

Security is obviously a big issue with AI and Samsung is keen to emphasize the new Personal Data Engine. This keeps all your personal data on your device when AI is working its magic with it, so you don’t need to worry about it leaking out on the cloud.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy S25’s new AI briefing feature makes me want to give Android a try

5. Fitbit issued a warning about its batteries

(Image credit: Future)

A tough 2024 for Fitbit has paved the way for an even more beleaguered start to 2025. While you'd have hoped your best Fitbit could help power you through your New Year's resolutions to kickstart January, the company is actually firefighting a serious battery overheating issue.

The company warned users that the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 are both at risk and could pose a potential risk to users. The update is already rolling out, but it's not all good news. Customers are being encouraged to check their device eligibility and will receive a notification telling them to update their firmware.

The update will reduce the risk of affected batteries overheating but comes at the cost of reduced capacity, meaning your device will need to be charged more often.

It's not ideal, and Fitbit is offering $50 to affected customers as compensation. With Google sunsetting Fitbit in favor of the Pixel Watch line, maybe they should spend that money on a new smartwatch.

• Read more: Fitbit issues battery overheating warning over two of its most popular watches

4. TikTok and other apps went dark, and returned

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Daniel Constante)

TikTok went offline for a day before being allowed to return to the US thanks to an executive order signed by Donald Trump, though questions remain on how long it’ll be sticking around. Plus, it wasn’t the only service to go dark.

Marvel Snap and CapCut went dark – alongside other ByteDance-owned ventures – despite some (like Marvel Snap’s own developers) believing their software would be exempt from the ban. This prompted a wave of reactions from the apps and their rivals – Marvel Snap is searching for a new publisher, and Instagram announced Edits (its own CapCut rival).

There’s still a question about what TikTok’s fate will be, but it seems plenty are preparing for it to get banned in the US again if a sale doesn’t go through, so you might want to get ready for that too.

• Read more: Instagram has just revealed a new video-editing app

3. Netflix got a price hike – again

(Image credit: Shutterstock / MAXSHOT.PL )

Here we go again: Netflix is getting a price hike in the US effective immediately – yippee…

The standard plan with ads is going up $1 from $6.99 to $7.99 a month, the standard (no ads) plan is jumping to $17.99 from $15.49, and the premium plan will set you back $24.99 a month instead of $22.99.

Netflix said it “will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix” as a way to wave away criticism. While the increase isn’t massive (and hasn’t yet made its way to the UK or Australia), these slow and steady increases have made the service considerably more pricey over time, and it’s leading us to ask if we should just ditch the streaming service once and for all.

• Read more: Netflix just got more expensive

2. OpenAI's first AI Agent arrived

(Image credit: OpenAI)

AI Agents are going to be a big trend in 2025, and OpenAI is officially shipping its first one, dubbed 'Operator' as of January 23, 2025, as a research preview for ChatGPT Pro Subscribes. The gist here is that it is Computer Using Agent, basically an AI that can complete web tasks for you as it lives within a browser. It uses GPT-4o’s visual with advanced reasoning to let it browse the web and understand various elements.

Essentially, as seen in a shared demo, it can fill out forms for you, find a restaurant, and then book it for you on OpenTable. OpenAI even says that it can self-correct, though we’ll need to see what that looks like in practice. It’s early days, but Operator is exciting and OpenAI is also working on other AI Agents.

• Read more: Operator can make a dinner reservation and complete other tasks for you

1. Oscar nominations received AI backlash

(Image credit: A24)

The Brutalist – up for 10 Oscars – and Netflix’s Emilia Pérez – up for a record-breaking 13 Oscars, the most for a foreign film ever – came under fire this week over their use of Respeecher, an AI voice-changing tool.

It was used to make The Brutalist actors such as Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones sound more genuinely Hungarian and to increase the singing range of the Emilia Pérez lead’s Karla Sofìa Gascón by combining her voice with French pop star Camille.

The films’ creative teams have argued that AI simply augments the incredible performances of these actors in the same way that traditional editing does and that while the AI was used to help speed up the editing process, it still required the care and attention of human editors. However, it’s left a sour taste in many people’s mouths, especially after the major 2023 Hollywood strike, which rebelled against AI’s use in films – with some calling for these films to be disqualified because they used AI.

• Read more: Netflix caught up in AI Oscars controversy alongside The Brutalist

• Billions of passwords are breached each year, SpecOps report claims
• Millions of users are guilty of poor password hygiene
• Strong passwords are the first line of defense against data breaches

Passwords are being breached at an alarming rate, and threat actors are gaining access to victims accounts through weak and easily compromised credentials, experts have warned.

New research from SpecOps has revealed over a billion passwords were stolen in malware attacks in a 12 month period, highlighting just how widespread the issue is.

Most of us are guilty of using lazy passwords, or reusing credentials at some point, but new research from shows just how much harm that's doing to users.

Strength in numbers

Stolen credentials are involved in nearly half of all data breaches (44%), and with breaches often costing companies millions for each incident, the cost of lazy passwords could be seriously detrimental to your business.

The most commonly compromised password was "123456", being found in over 1.4 million breached credentials. Worryingly, of the 1.8 million breached administrator credentials, 40,000 admin portal accounts had the password ‘admin’, which means even IT workers aren’t taking the threat seriously.

However, an equally concerning discovery is that 230 million of the breached passwords actually met the standard complexity requirements - so were over eight letters, had at least one capital letter, one number, and one special character.

Length doesn’t necessarily protect a password, as over 31 million of the breached passwords were over 16 characters in length. Long passwords hashed with bcrypt can take ‘millions of years to crack’, but no matter how long your password is, if you reuse a breached password, it’s compromised immediately.

This just illustrates that when it comes to passwords, more is more, and you can’t be too careful with how you choose to protect your accounts. Hackers can exploit weak passwords through brute force attacks, mask attacks, and dictionary attacks - so common words and phrases aren’t recommended.

“The amount of passwords being stolen by malware should be a concern for organizations,” said Darren James, Specops Software Senior Product Manager.

“Even if your organization’s password policy is strong and meets compliance standards, this won’t protect passwords from being stolen by malware.”

Staying safe

Secure passwords are a vital protection against a number of different threats, including identity theft, and social engineering attacks, which can leave victims in real financial or legal difficulty.

To avoid being a victim of stolen credentials, there are some tips to bolster your passwords to make you as secure as possible.

Your password should ideally be at least 14 characters, with a mix of lowercase, capitals, symbols, and numbers.

The worst, most easily cracked passwords are any variation of 'Password123', '123456', or 'admin', so steer clear of anything generic.

Don't use the names or birthdays of family or friends, or well known characters, and try to make it as obscure as possible.

Frustratingly, best practice is to choose a new password for each site, since reused passwords make even the ultra-secure credentials useless if one site is compromised.

Make sure to never share your password with anyone, including friends and family - and never send yourself (or anyone else) your password via email, message, or any other form of comprisable communication. If you need help remembering your passwords, we suggest physically writing them down somewhere secure, where no one else has access to.

Don't give away your password to anyone calling or emailing you claiming to be your bank, a friend, or any unfamiliar source. Always call your bank back through their official number (which you can find online) before giving away any details.

If you want to use a third-party to make sure your credentials are as secure as possible, we've put together a list of the best password managers around. These can be used to keep all of your passwords in one place, and remove the hassle of having to remember each one.

Alongside this, you could use the best password generators on the market. These simply generate passwords that are secure and pretty much impossible to guess, since they're typically generated randomly using a set of criteria which make them a super secure option.

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• Check out our list of the best firewall software around today
• The Snowflake breach tells us that passwords aren't enough
• We've also rounded up the best antivirus on offer right now

• Roli has a new Piano AI Assistant to go with its latest instruments.
• The Piano AI Assistant offers personalized, real-time help and lessons.
• The AI is there to make learning and creating music more intuitive.

Piano teachers of both the strict and whimsical variety are a staple of movies and television, but music technology company Roli now offers a piano tutor built right into the instrument. The new Roli Piano features personalized AI guidance underneath the 49-key, $800 keyboard.

Roli's Piano AI Assistant does exactly what it sounds like: It makes learning music more straightforward and fun than practicing alone. It can guide players through scales, explain ways of varying a tune, and even explain some music history in the context of specific compositions. It’s like having a music teacher who never gets tired and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject.

“In a few years time, it will seem antiquated that a piano or keyboard can’t help guide you, can’t see your hands and respond to them in many ways, and can’t have a conversation to help you," Roli CEO Roland Lamb explained in a statement. "Today, we’re unveiling the new Roli Piano System that will help usher in this big shift.”

Music dreams

That Piano System is more than just the AI tutor and includes several features built into the keyboard. The Brightkey feature identifies the song you are playing and then lights the keys to guide you through notes and chords. Roli's instruments also come with the Roli Airwave tool, which uses computer vision and AI to track hand movements over the keyboard, thus enabling the AI assistant to make specific corrections as you learn to play a new piece. Plus, the keys are sensitive enough to how they are played that they can mimic mechanical pianos in terms of bending pitches and other complex musical shifts.

These AI tools might serve to make music more accessible to a lot of people keen to learn piano. Instead of giving up after their first clumsy rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” the AI assistant could encourage you to keep going. And for experienced players, the expressive features and personalized prompts can spark new creative ideas.

The $800 price tag is steep, but as these kinds of tools become more common, it's not hard to imagine a future where music education leverages AI to give more people a chance to learn.

AI may not be music to every piano player's ears, but it might be worth humming along with, at least.

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• Google’s Gemini app now controls smart homes through a Google Home extension
• Gemini can understand natural language to complete tasks
• The aim is to make smart homes more intuitive and easier to manage

Google wants Gemini to control your smart home devices and has upgraded the Gemini app with a new Google Home extension to manage all of your connected devices the same way you'd ask the AI assistant to answer any other query. So if you have the Gemini app and devices controlled by Google Home, you can link Gemini to your Google Home account.

The extension links Gemini with your lights, thermostats, and any other smart home devices, but with the benefit of Gemini's more flexible conversational ability. That means you could say, “It’s too bright in here,” and have Gemini dim the lights instead of needing to command setting the lights to 50% specifically. You can also manage multiple devices with more casual language. Rather than individually tweaking device settings, you can say, “Dim the living room lights, turn on the bedroom lamp, and lower the blinds.” Gemini can grasp the three commands for three sets of devices and act accordingly.

The same goes for media controls. Gemini can adjust volume, playback, and other aspects of your music and video players with the same flexibility. And if you’re trying to secure your home, Gemini can automatically open the Google Home app when dealing with cameras and locks, so your sensitive data stays secure.

One standout feature is its ability to answer burning questions like, “Did I leave the porch light on?” Gemini will check and let you know, saving you from awkwardly walking outside in your pajamas to check for yourself. Thanks to Gemini Live, you can even control some devices directly from your phone’s lock screen.

A Gemini home

Google has battled Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and other smart home assistants for years, but Gemini and its natural language controls might give the company an edge as people await Amazon's planned Alexa upgrade or experiment with similar assistants from smaller brands.

Smart homes have always been about convenience, but Google seems to be banking on people wanting a home that pays closer attention to residents and their needs. For now, that attention is limited to practical tasks like dimming lights or playing music. But as AI continues to evolve, who knows? Maybe one day you’ll tell your house, “I’m stressed,” and it’ll brew you a cup of tea, dim the lights, and cue up a soothing playlist.

Even with imperfections, Gemini’s new feature is a promising step toward the company's dream of incorporating Gemini in every aspect of your life. Gemini is becoming an everyday assistant that knows the difference between you asking to make things cooler by turning off the thermostat and making things cooler by turning on mood lighting and Barry White.

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Seeing double

NYT Strands today (game #328) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BALL
• SOME
• SELL
• WOOL
• WITH
• TELL

NYT Strands today (game #328) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Pairs

NYT Strands today (game #328) - 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 #328) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #328, are…

• BALLOON
• COFFEE
• SUCCEED
• COMMITTEE
• WHIPPOORWILL
• SPANGRAM: LETTERS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

A lovely spelling test for us today, as we searched for double-double-letter words – or, in the case of COMMITTEE and WHIPPOORWILL, triple-double-letter words.

I had never heard of the latter before, so it took me quite a while to get right. I’ve since learned that it’s a bird and it’s named after its distinctive WHIP-POOR-WILL call.

Meanwhile, there is only one English word with four sets of double letters – SUBBOOKKEEPER. I’m surprised Strands didn’t include that one.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 24 January, game #327)

• QUICK
• BRILLIANT
• BRIGHT
• CLEVER
• INTELLIGENT
• SPANGRAM: THATS GENIUS

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 #594) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• GINKGO
• SLOPE
• EMOJI
• ANGLE
• DENT
• TYCOON
• RECESS
• MOGUL
• LODGE
• LUNCH
• POD
• KARAOKE
• CLASS
• CYCLE
• LIFT
• HOMEROOM

NYT Connections today (game #594) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Timetable 
• GREEN: As seen at Powder Mountain 
• BLUE: Heard in Tokyo
• PURPLE: Must try harder

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 #594) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SCHOOL PERIODS 
• GREEN: FEATURES OF A SKI RESORT 
• BLUE: WORDS DERIVED FROM JAPANESE 
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER THE PREFIX "TRI-" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #594) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #594, are…

• YELLOW: SCHOOL PERIODS CLASS, HOMEROOM, LUNCH, RECESS
• GREEN: FEATURES OF A SKI RESORT LIFT, LODGE, MOGUL, SLOPE
• BLUE: WORDS DERIVED FROM JAPANESE EMOJI, GINKGO, KARAOKE, TYCOON
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER THE PREFIX "TRI-" ANGLE, CYCLE, DENT, POD

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Seeing GINKGO I immediately thought one group had to be about Japan. In my first guess I left out KARAOKE and included MOGUL instead – my thinking is that it was a trick, as there was a recent news story about a town in England called Stockport which is claiming to be the birthplace of karaoke, rather than Japan. But I was wrong. Obviously

The legend goes that a shopkeeper called Roy Brooke invented karaoke – basically singing along to hits of the day – in the early 1990s, but it was stolen by some visitors from Japan, who went on to market it around the world.

Karaoke is still massive in Stockport, where 12 pub teams compete against each other every Monday to be crowned the Karaoke Champions of Stockport. And that bit, at least, is a true story!

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 24 January, game #593)

• YELLOW: CONTEMPLATE BROOD, MUSE, PONDER, REFLECT
• GREEN: RUDE THINGS TO DO INTERRUPT, LITTER, POINT, STARE
• BLUE: VOCATION CRAFT, LINE, TRADE, WORK
• PURPLE: -_PATCH CABBAGE, NICOTINE, ROUGH, SOUL

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.

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 #1097) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #1097) - 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 #1097) - 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 #1097) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 3.

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

Quordle today (game #1097) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• G

• G

• M

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

Quordle today (game #1097) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1097, are…

• GIVER
• GROOM
• GUSTO
• MAKER

I attacked today’s Quordle with GUSTO, putting down the first words that popped into my head – and it worked a treat, as I checked out on my eighth go.

It’s odd when you get spidey senses about words, but the truth is I got lucky today by guessing a word that began with the letter G (GAMER), thus unlocking three part-completed words.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1097) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1097, are…

• POSIT
• PERCH
• PAPER
• LEVER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
• Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: MINCE, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH
• Quordle #1079, Tuesday 7 January: CREED, FILET, ROUTE, TAPER
• Quordle #1078, Monday 6 January: PIVOT, WOOLY, GRUNT, GROOM
• Quordle #1077, Sunday 5 January: BORAX, JUDGE, CADET, SALON

• Asus recently released its Q-Release Slim feature for GPUs
• Said feature is reportedly damaging GPUs
• There's no current fix for this issue from Asus

Asus’s Q-Release Slim was first revealed in August 2024 during Gamescom. It is an eject feature on 800-series AMD and Intel motherboards that makes removing graphics cards much easier. However, the recently released feature is reportedly causing major headaches for buyers.

According to HXL and Andreas Schilling from HardwareLuxx (reported on by Tom’s Hardware), Q-Release Slim has been causing damage to graphics cards by scraping off the sides of the connector. This could potentially ruin your expensive graphics cards, including the recent RTX 5090.

The Q-Release Slim is supposed to be an improved version of the Q-Release launched back in 2021 for high-end Asus ROG motherboards. It lets you quickly eject cards by titling them while pulling upwards. However, the fault lies in the peg side of the PCIe slot on the motherboard, which has a metallic piece embedded in it that scrapes against the connector. If the card is ejected frequently, this can result in significant damage — something reviews and overclockers tend to do.

Uniko’s Hardware offers more insight into the matter, including several photos from the bilibili channel. The first is of the design flaw reportedly causing this issue, while two more are before and after the original card’s condition versus the damaging results of using the Q-Release Slim eject 60 times.

We’ve also reached out to Asus concerning this issue and will update this story with any statements from them.

This isn’t the only issue plaguing Asus either

This isn’t the only recent report concerning Asus motherboards either. Patch notes slipped out early, which revealed a BETA bios fix for a “microcode signature verification vulnerability,” apparently affecting Asus gaming motherboards.

Tavis Ormandy, the security researcher who spotted the leak, stated, "It looks like an OEM leaked the patch for a major upcoming CPU vulnerability, ie: 'AMD Microcode Signature Verification Vulnerability.’” He then continues, “I'm not thrilled about this. The patch is not currently in Linux firmware, so this is the only publicly available patch."

By the time Asus edited the patch notes to remove mentioning AMD’s microcode issue, AMD had already confirmed the vulnerability to The Register. "AMD is aware of a newly reported processor vulnerability. Execution of the attack requires both local administrator-level access to the system, and development and execution of malicious microcode," the company stated.

It seems that Asus motherboards have been embroiled in some serious trouble, which could spell disaster for both processors and graphics cards. Hopefully, the manufacturer can correct the issue soon, as the timing couldn’t be worse — with the release of the RTX 5000-series and new processors on the horizon.

• AMD confirms processor security flaws after Asus patch slips out early
• Painful GPU extraction woes could be a thing of the past with new motherboards
• Some of the most iconic AMD chips have a serious security flaw — which the company says it probably won't patch now

Back in August 2023, Meta revealed an ‘all-in-one’ AI translation model capable of understanding close to 100 different languages.

Dubbed SeamlessM4T (Massively Multilingual and Multimodal Machine Translation), this is Meta’s attempt at creating a ‘universal translator’ akin to the Babel Fish in Douglas Adams’ classic sci-fi series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

The team behind the SeamlessM4T tool has now detailed its work in a piece in the journal Nature, revealing the advanced system delivers an all-in-one solution for text-to-text, speech-to-text, speech-to-speech, and text-to-speech translations across an impressive, and growing, array of languages.

Over 400 years of raw audio

SeamlessM4T, which, among other things, is being used to automatically dub videos on Facebook and Instagram, currently supports speech-to-speech translation from 101 to 36 languages, speech-to-text translation for from 101 to 96 languages, text-to-text translation for 96 languages, text-to-speech translation from 96 to 36 languages, and automatic speech recognition for 96 languages. This unified approach overcomes the limitations of traditional cascaded systems, which often require separate subsystems for speech recognition, translation, and text-to-speech synthesis.

By streamlining these processes, Meta says SeamlessM4T outperforms existing models, achieving up to 23% higher BLEU (Bilingual Evaluation Understudy) scores in translation accuracy and demonstrating impressive resilience to background noise and speaker variations.

To create SeamlessM4T, Meta started with 4 million hours (over 400 years) of multilingual raw audio originating from a publicly available repository of crawled web data. The team developed SeamlessAlign, a multimodal corpus containing over 470,000 hours of aligned speech and combined the dataset with cutting-edge machine learning techniques, including SONAR (Sentence-level Multimodal and Language-Agnostic Representations) embeddings, which enable multilingual and modality-agnostic encoding for text and speech.

Meta says that by addressing social and ethical challenges through the use of safeguards, SeamlessM4T can be a valuable tool for global communication. These safeguards reduce gender bias - errors in grammatical gender determination - and mitigate the problem of added toxicity - where offensive words appear in translations but not in the original source.

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I had a chance to see Dreame's newest robot vacuum, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete, in action. With its cutting-edge features, this brand is the one to watch. In fact, it might even make me switch allegiance from my current favorite bot brand, Roborock.

We saw plenty of impressive robot vacuum innovations at CES 2025 in January, but the X50 Ultra Complete has the most... well, complete feature set I've seen.

The standout headline feature is that it has tiny little mechanical legs. These lift the bot and help it hoist itself over tall thresholds in the home. This 'ProLeap System' means the X50 Ultra can tackle steps up to 4.2cm tall in a single bound or up to 6cm tall in two. In action, it looks kind of like the wooing ritual of an exotic bird. It's really quite majestic.

Slightly less graceful is the bot's descent down steps. There is a "shock-absorption system" designed to soften collisions and absorb sound, as well as a little wheel in the front that means the X50 is not quite face-planting, but it still comes down with a bit more of a bump than I was expecting or am wholly comfortable with.

What's afoot?

Beyond those little feet, there's more to show off, though. It also has a navigation puck that can pop up and down (a feature appearing on one of the newest Roborock bots). That enables it to use LiDAR navigation without permanently raising the height of the bot.

With the puck retracted, the height of the robot vacuum is just 8.9cm tall, shallow enough that it can sneak under low-sitting furniture, where dust and hair might otherwise collect. It'll then pop back up again when space allows.

Those are two 2025 innovations, but there are further features that have appeared on previous Dreames – including 2024's highly-rated Dreame L40 Ultra robot vacuum and Dreame X40 Ultra Complete robovac – and help round out what is an extremely capable setup.

For example, the spinning mop pads attach using magnets, which means the X50 Ultra Complete can drop them off in its base when they're not required and then return to pick them up again as needed, with no manual intervention required from you.

That means there's absolutely no danger of wet mop pads dragging over your carpets (the mop pads can also lift up to avoid this, but it's not such a failsafe approach if you have thick rugs, for example).

(Image credit: Future)

To ensure the edges of rooms aren't missed, the Dreame X50 not only has an extending side brush to sweep debris into the robot's suction path (fairly common on premium bots), but also a mop pad that can kick out to the side.

I saw the Dreame X50 Ultra, alongside the brand's other products, at the grand opening of its first flagship store in Birmingham, UK – a "significant milestone" in the brand's expansion into the UK.

We're in the process of testing the Dreame X50 Ultra and will report back if it's as good as it looks. It will go on sale in the UK from February 7 at a list price of £1,299. It'll be available to purchase directly from Dreame (in-store and online) as well as via Amazon.

US release information and pricing has been requested, and we'll update this when we hear back.

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• The FBI’s missive follows three previous ones in as many years
• Statement is aimed at educating businesses and warding off domestic collaborators
• Suggested remedies include employing endpoint protection on computer systems and checking applications for “typos and unusual nomenclature”

The FBI has claimed North Korean IT workers are extorting US companies which have hired them by leveraging their access to steal source code.

In a statement, the agency warned domestic and international firms employees turned threat actors, “facilitate cyber-criminal activities and conduct revenue-generating activity” using stolen data “on behalf of the regime.”

It recommended endpoint protection, and monitoring network logs to identify where data has been compromised across “easily accessible means” like shared internal drives and cloud storage drives.

FBI guidance on remote hiring processes

The FBI also recommended a litany of actions that all amount to taking care to know who you’re hiring, which sounds like good practice even if you’re not especially worried about unwittingly hiring a threat actor.

It recommended stringent identity verification processes throughout the recruitment process and cross-checking applicants’ details against that of others in the pile, and across different HR systems.

It also claimed these applicants are using AI tools to obfuscate their identities, but, if true, offered little advice to counter them beyond conducting recruitment processes in person; which isn’t always possible.

The agency also suggested recruiters ask applicants “soft questions” about their whereabouts and identity, but we’d suggest that this is good practice all round too.

North Korean IT workers have been a target of the FBI for some time, having released separate guidance in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In the latter, it expressed concern that US-based individuals were, knowingly or unknowingly, helping facilitate state-sponsored threat actors by setting up US-based infrastructure such as front addresses and businesses.

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• QNAP said it addressed six flaws in its Hybrid Backup Sync tool
• The flaws stemmed from rsync, an open-source file syncing tool
• Users are advised to update their HBS immediately

QNAP has addressed half a dozen vulnerabilities affecting its Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS) software.

In a security advisory, the company noted the vulnerabilities were discovered in rsync, an open source file synchronization tool used to transfer and sync files between systems. It supports local and remote operations via SSH, and minimizes data transfer with incremental updates. Many backup solutions use rsync, including Duplicity, Bacula, Rclone, and others.

HBS is a data backup and disaster recovery solution that supports local, remote, and cloud storage services.

Arbitrary code execution

The bugs are tracked as CVE-2024-12084, CVE-2024-12085, CVE-2024-12086, CVE-2024-12087, and CVE-2024-12088, and affect HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync 25.1.x. QNAP said they could have been used to run malicious code remotely against unpatched Network Attached Storage (NAS) endpoints. Apparently, threat actors would only need anonymous read access to vulnerable servers, in order to exploit the flaws.

"When combined, the first two vulnerabilities (heap buffer overflow and information leak) allow a client to execute arbitrary code on a device that has an Rsync server running," CERT/CC said when rsync 3.4.0 was released. "The client requires only anonymous read-access to the server, such as public mirrors. Additionally, attackers can take control of a malicious server and read/write arbitrary files of any connected client."

To secure their systems, administrators are advised to update their HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync to version 25.1.4.952, by logging into QTS or QuTS hero as an admin, opening App Center and searching for HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync, and clicking on the Update button.

According to BleepingComputer, there are currently more than 700,000 IP addresses with exposed rsync servers, but it’s difficult to determine how many can be exploited.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Pre-orders should go live for AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs on March 23, according to one US retailer
• There are a couple of reasons why this is likely wrong, though
• We’ve also seen more strangeness around the previously rumored January 23 launch for RDNA 4, as an ad campaign appears to have misfired

As if enough weirdness hasn’t already surrounded AMD’s RDNA 4 GPU launch – it’s been an odd affair indeed – something at Team Red appears to have misfired on the marketing side again, and we’ve also caught a mention of a possible new release date for the RX 9070 graphics cards.

However, I think the date shared by a US retailer is off the mark, and just a placeholder, so let’s deal with that first.

The story here is that B&H Photo previously posted what it believed to be the date that gamers would be able to pre-order RX 9070 models, namely January 23 – but of course that didn’t happen.

Instead, AMD made an announcement to let us know that the RX 9070 graphics cards won’t arrive until March (still within the official Q1 2025 timeframe that was previously promised, it’s worth noting).

Following that, VideoCardz spotted that B&H Photo now has a date of March 23 for pre-orders on RDNA 4 graphics cards – and the retailer still has this date on its site (it hasn’t been taken down yet).

What’s strange about this is that March 23 is a Sunday, so it seems highly unlikely that a sales milestone (pre-orders, or indeed the actual on-sale date) would be on a weekend. Surely, AMD would wait until the Monday (March 24) if this was the plan.

Also, bearing in mind that the previous date B&H posted was January 23, it feels like what might have happened here is that a staff member working on the product listings just replaced the name of the month in the date, and left the day the same (though why an update was posted at all to the RDNA 4 listings, when nothing’s official, is a good question).

Hence my conclusion that this looks very much like a placeholder date, given the way this has happened, and the additional fact that it’s a Sunday.

(Image credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock) Reddit campaign wasn’t canceled?

The second oddity that backs up some previous rumors – and the initial January date B&H attached to RX 9070 pre-orders – is that some AMD ads have popped up, going by reports, claiming that you can ‘play now’ with the new RDNA 4 GPUs.

This was again noticed by VideoCardz, and it happened yesterday, on January 23, so one theory is that this was a date AMD had indeed planned for something big to happen, either a launch or reveal. (If you can ‘play now’ though, then the GPUs would surely be on sale). Team Red had a bunch of marketing stuff scheduled for Reddit (as flagged up here) around this, which accidentally still went ahead somehow (with these ads appearing in a few different countries in Europe, seemingly being published in German, Italian, and Polish).

The not-unreasonable conclusion folks are reaching is that AMD did have something planned for January 23, especially as there were a lot of rumors this was the case (albeit some mentioned January 24, though it was all in the same ballpark of the week we find ourselves in now). But all this has now been put off to March, although officially, as mentioned, AMD has never said anything concrete for the RX 9070 launch outside of it being Q1 2025.

The rumors around RDNA 4 have taken some very strange turns indeed, then, but the good news is that it seems these next-gen graphics cards will be worth waiting for. Even if we do have to hang on until later in March, rather than seeing the RX 9070 GPUs emerge earlier in the month – and really, I wouldn’t be swayed at all by the new B&H pre-order date for all the reasons mentioned.

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Now that Netflix has unveiled which titles will be leaving in February 2025, take this as your sign to get a head start on catching the best Netflix movies before it's too late. But while Netflix doesn't tend to remove a huge amount of titles each month (which is a good thing), there are always one or two gems thrown into the mix that I know I'll miss dearly. As for this month, those movies are Pearl (2022) and Stand By Me (1986), but there are plenty new additions on the way to make up for it, looking at everything coming to Netflix in February.

When it comes to Netflix series, I find that these are less prone to being axed from Netflix's library. This month, only two TV shows (Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Mindy Project) are being removed compared to over 30 movies, so with that said, you can't say that Netflix isn't one of the best streaming services when it comes to TV content.

Everything leaving Netflix in February 2025

Leaving on February 1

Cocaine Cowboys 2 (movie)
Plus One (movie)
Run All Night (movie)

Leaving on February 11

The Fast and the Furious (movie)
2 Fast 2 Furious (movie)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (movie)
Fast Five (movie)
Fast & Furious 6 (movie)
The Pope's Exorcist (movie)

Leaving on February 14

The Catcher Was a Spy (movie)
White Boy (movie)

Leaving on February 15

47 Meters Down: Uncaged (movie)
Blackhat (movie)
Pearl (movie)

Leaving on February 20

Book Club (movie)
Southpaw (movie)

Leaving on February 21

All Good Things (movie)

Leaving on February 24

U Turn (movie)

Leaving on February 25

Brooklyn Nine-Nine seasons 1-2 (TV show)

Leaving on February 28

21 Bridges (movie)
A Haunted House (movie)
A Haunted House 2 (movie)
Aloha (movie)
The Angry Birds Movie (movie)
Blended (movie)
Cinderella Man (movie)
Due Date (movie)
Green Lantern (movie)
Inception (movie)
Legends of the Fall (movie)
Little (movie)
The Mindy Project seasons 1-6 (TV show)
Oblivion (movie)
The Other Guys (movie)
Scooby-Doo (movie)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (movie)
Sixteen Candles (movie)
Stand by Me (movie)
Without a Paddle (movie)

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Frank Scheufens, Product Manager at PNY Technologies explains the benefits and uses of Digital Twins in this second installment.

Operating Digital Twins: virtually manage, monitor and optimize physical assets

A digital twin operates through a cycle of data collection, transmission, analysis, and user interaction. The process begins with data collection, where physical assets are fitted with sensors that monitor various parameters—such as temperature, pressure, or movement. This data is then transmitted to the digital twin via cloud or edge computing, allowing the digital model to update in real-time. Advanced algorithms and analytics are applied to the incoming data, helping the twin predict future states, identify anomalies, and provide actionable insights.

The real power of a digital twin lies in its interactivity. Operators can interact with the model to test hypothetical scenarios, diagnose problems, and adjust operations without affecting the actual physical asset. This simulation capability, coupled with real-time data, provides a dynamic environment for experimentation and optimization.

The role of AI in Digital Twin projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in maximizing the potential of digital twins. AI’s ability to handle massive datasets, identify patterns, and make predictions allows digital twins to go beyond basic monitoring. In many cases, machine learning algorithms are integrated into the twin to enable predictive analytics—forecasting potential failures or maintenance needs before they occur. This predictive capability helps organizations shift from reactive to proactive maintenance, reducing costs and avoiding unexpected downtime.

AI can also help with anomaly detection, identifying unusual behavior patterns in the data. In industries like manufacturing or aviation, these patterns might indicate a need for maintenance or signal a potential issue. Additionally, AI algorithms can simulate various scenarios within the digital twin, allowing organizations to optimize processes and test changes without risking real-world consequences. In some advanced applications, AI even enables the digital twin to make autonomous decisions, adjusting operations based on the analyzed data.

Challenges in Digital Twin projects

While digital twins offer immense benefits, they also come with challenges that need to be managed carefully. One of the most significant is data management. The vast quantities of data generated by sensors can be overwhelming, requiring robust storage, processing, and analysis capabilities. Integrating a digital twin with existing, sometimes outdated, systems can also be challenging. Legacy infrastructure isn’t always compatible with modern digital twins, necessitating extensive adjustments and integrations. Another challenge is the high initial cost. Developing a digital twin, especially for complex systems, involves significant investment. This includes installing sensors, building models, integrating AI capabilities, and ensuring cybersecurity. The initial expense can be a barrier for smaller organizations or those with tight budgets.

Cybersecurity is another critical concern. Digital twins rely on a constant flow of data, often transmitted through the internet or other networks. This data transmission can become a vulnerability, exposing the twin to potential cyber threats if not adequately secured. Keeping a digital twin accurate over time also requires continuous maintenance. Models must be regularly calibrated and adjusted to reflect changes in the physical object they represent, which can be a demanding and time-consuming process.

Why Digital Twins require special platforms

Developing and managing a digital twin demands a specialized platform due to the unique requirements of real-time data processing, integration, and visualization.

A dedicated platform offers several benefits:

• Data integration: These platforms can aggregate data from various sources—IoT devices, cloud databases, and other systems—seamlessly. This allows the digital twin to have a holistic view of the physical system.
• Advanced analytics: Many platforms include built-in analytics and machine learning tools, making it easier to apply AI to data analysis and predictions. • Scalability: A specialized platform can grow as the digital twin project expands, whether it’s adding more assets, increasing data points, or integrating additional processes.
• Security: Given the importance of data protection, dedicated platforms often include robust security features to safeguard sensitive information.
• Visualization & interaction: Digital twin platforms provide tools for visualizing the model and interacting with it in a meaningful way, such as through 3D interfaces or augmented reality.

These platforms streamline the complex process of building and maintaining a digital twin, ensuring the project is efficient, scalable, and secure.

Types of Digital Twins: from components to processes

Digital twins come in various forms, each catering to different aspects of a physical system:

1. Component Twins: These focus on individual parts or components of a system, like an engine or a pump. Component twins are often used to monitor the health and performance of critical parts, predicting failures before they occur.
2. Asset Twins: These model entire assets, such as a vehicle or a machine. Asset twins are used to track the overall health, efficiency, and lifecycle of the asset, providing valuable insights for maintenance and upgrades.
3. System Twins: System twins represent groups of assets working together, like a factory production line. They help optimize workflows, identify bottlenecks, and improve overall efficiency.
4. Process Twins: These are the most comprehensive, simulating entire processes or operations. Process twins allow organizations to see how different components and systems interact over time, providing insights that can streamline complex workflows and improve productivity. Each type of digital twin offers a unique perspective, from the granular level of individual parts to the broad view of entire processes.

Security considerations for Digital Twins

Security is a top priority when it comes to digital twins, as they involve constant data exchanges between the physical and digital realms. The level of security varies based on implementation, but several challenges need to be addressed:

• Data transmission: With data continuously flowing from the physical object to the digital twin, encryption is crucial. End-to-end encryption ensures that data remains secure during transmission, protecting it from interception.
• Integration points: Digital twins are often connected to other systems, like cloud platforms or analytics tools. Each connection point can be a potential vulnerability, so it’s vital to secure them with proper authentication and encryption measures.
• IoT device security: Many digital twins rely on IoT devices to gather real-time data, and these devices can be targets for cyberattacks. Ensuring they have up-to-date firmware, secure communication channels, and strong access controls is essential.

A multi-layered security approach, regular updates, and proactive monitoring are key to ensuring that digital twins remain secure while handling sensitive data.

Conclusion

Digital twins are revolutionizing industries by creating a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. They provide a dynamic, real-time view of physical systems, offering unprecedented opportunities for optimization, prediction, and innovation. However, they also come with challenges, from high initial costs to cybersecurity concerns. With the right platform, tools, and security measures in place, digital twins can offer significant advantages, helping organizations navigate the complexities of modern technology and stay ahead of the competition. As AI and IoT technologies continue to advance, the capabilities and applications of digital twins are only expected to grow, making them an integral part of the future of smart systems and connected industries.

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

In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, digital transformation is a key driver of innovation across many industries. One of the most impactful technologies leading this revolution is the digital twin. This is a real-time virtual model that replicates a physical object, system, or process. It continuously receives data from its physical twin, creating a dynamic, up-to-date digital replica. This allows users to monitor, simulate, and enhance the object or system without directly interacting with the real-world version.

While the concept of a digital twin isn’t entirely new, its application has exploded due to progress in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data. Across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, and aerospace, digital twins are helping businesses operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.

This comprehensive guide explains what digital twins are, how they are used in different industries, and how they are built, while also examining their potential impact on future technology.

What is a Digital Twin?

A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object or system that is kept in sync with its real-world counterpart. This virtual model collects real-time data through sensors, cameras, and IoT devices, providing an accurate representation of the object’s current state. A digital twin is more than a 3D model—it is a dynamic, data-driven simulation that evolves as the physical object changes over time.

One of the key features of a digital twin is its ability to simulate future scenarios. By using historical and real-time data, digital twins can model various conditions and outcomes, allowing businesses to foresee challenges, predict system failures, and optimize operations. These simulations are incredibly useful for making informed decisions without physically testing every possible outcome, saving both time and money.

The origins and evolution of Digital Twins

The idea of creating digital replicas of physical objects goes back to the early days of space exploration. NASA engineers used physical models and simulators to monitor and diagnose issues with spacecraft that were too far away to inspect directly. These early models laid the groundwork for the development of the digital twin concept.

But it wasn’t until the convergence of IoT, big data, and AI technologies that digital twins became a practical tool for mainstream use. Today, digital twins are more sophisticated than ever before. They can process vast amounts of data in real time, enabling detailed simulations and advanced analytics. As digital twins continue to evolve, they are playing a pivotal role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), transforming sectors from manufacturing to urban planning.

What are Digital Twins used for?

Digital twins are incredibly versatile and have found applications across many industries. Below are some of the primary use cases for these tools and how they are transforming different sectors.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is one of the largest users of digital twin technology. In this sector, digital twins are used to optimize production lines, monitor machinery, and improve product designs. By creating digital replicas of factory equipment and processes, manufacturers can simulate different production scenarios, spot inefficiencies, and predict potential breakdowns. For example, a car manufacturer might create a digital twin of an assembly line to test how adding a new robotic arm will affect workflow. By running simulations, the manufacturer can fine-tune the process to ensure the robotic arm integrates seamlessly, leading to more efficient working.

Additionally, digital twins are invaluable for predictive maintenance. By collecting data on the condition of machines—such as temperature, vibration, or pressure—they can predict when a machine is likely to break down. This allows manufacturers to schedule maintenance at the right time, cutting unplanned downtime and extending the lifespan of equipment.

Healthcare

Digital twin technology is making strides in healthcare, where it is used to model individual patients, medical devices, and biological systems. Personalized healthcare, in particular, benefits from digital twins. By creating a virtual model of a patient’s body or organ, doctors can simulate different treatment options to determine the best course of action.

For example, heart surgeons may use a digital twin of a patient’s heart to plan and simulate a procedure before performing it. This allows them to visualize the surgery and plan for potential complications, improving the chances of successful surgery.

Similarly, pharmaceutical companies use digital twins to simulate how drugs interact with the human body. This helps them develop new treatments more quickly and efficiently by testing drug reactions virtually before conducting human trials.

Medical device manufacturers also leverage digital twins to design and test products like pacemakers, joint replacements, or diagnostic machines. By using digital twins, they can ensure that devices perform optimally within the body before they are ever implanted or used.

Smart cities and urban planning

Digital twins are now playing an increasingly important role in the development of smart cities. City planners and local authorities are using digital twins to create virtual models of urban infrastructure and services, such as transport systems, energy grids, and waste management. With real-time data collected from sensors placed throughout an urban area, digital twins can help cities monitor traffic flow, energy usage, and pollution. This data allows town planners to test different strategies for improving transport networks, reducing congestion, and lowering energy consumption.

For example, local government could use a digital twin of its public transport system to simulate the impact of rerouting buses or adding new train lines. By running these models, planners can identify the best ways to cut travel times and improve service without disrupting the real-world network.

Digital twins are also instrumental in disaster response planning. By modelling how a city would be affected by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or fires, emergency workers can develop better contingency plans and improve their ability to manage crises in real time.

Aerospace

In the aerospace industry, digital twins are widely used to improve aircraft design, production, and maintenance. By creating digital replicas of airplanes, engines, and other components, aerospace engineers can simulate how different factors—such as extreme weather, air pressure, or mechanical stress—will affect an aircraft over time.

One of key aspects of digital twins in aerospace is their ability to inform predictive maintenance. For example, digital twins of jet engines collect data on performance metrics like temperature, pressure, and vibration. Using this data, engineers can predict when parts are likely to wear out or malfunction, allowing airlines to perform maintenance before a problem occurs. This reduces the risk of in-flight issues and lowers operational costs. Airlines are also using digital twins to simulate flight conditions and boost fuel efficiency. By modelling various flight paths, weather conditions, and aircraft configurations, digital twins help pilots and airlines reduce fuel consumption, leading to both cost savings and environmental benefits.

Energy

Digital twins have found significant applications in the energy sector, where they are used to monitor and enhance the performance of power plants, wind farms, and solar energy systems. By creating digital replicas of these systems, operators can simulate different conditions—such as changes in weather or energy demand—and finetune operations accordingly. For example, wind farm operators use digital twins to track the performance of individual turbines. The digital twin collects data on wind speed, turbine rotation, and power output, providing insights into each turbine’s efficiency. This data helps operators identify underperforming turbines and adjust to maximize energy production.

In the case of power plants, digital twins can monitor critical elements, such as generators, cooling systems, and pipelines. By predicting when components are likely to fail, digital twins enable operators to carry out preventive maintenance, cutting downtime and improving the reliability of the energy grid.

Digital twins also help energy companies manage grid stability. With real-time data on energy consumption and generation, they allow operators to balance supply and demand more efficiently, preventing blackouts and reducing energy waste.

How to build a Digital Twin

Creating a digital twin involves several steps, from data collection to simulation and analysis. Below is a detailed explanation of each phase in the development process.

Data collection

The first step in building a digital twin is collecting data from the physical object or system. This is typically gathered using sensors, IoT devices, and control systems that measure key parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed, and vibration. In some cases, historical data may also be used to model how the object has performed over time.

For example, if you are creating a digital twin of a factory production line, you would install sensors on the machines to track their performance, energy consumption, and maintenance needs. The more data is collected, the more accurate and detailed the digital twin will be.

Create the digital model

Once the data is collected, the next step is to create a digital model of the object or system. This is often built using 3D modelling software or computer-aided design (CAD) tools. The complexity of the model will depend on the nature of the object being reproduced. For some applications, a simple 3D model might suffice, while for others, a highly detailed, physics-based simulation may be needed.

For instance, a digital twin of a wind turbine would not only include a 3D model of the turbine blades but also a simulation of how the blades interact with different wind speeds and environmental conditions.

Real-time data connection

To keep the digital twin updated, it must be connected to its physical twin through real-time data transmission. This connection ensures that the digital version evolves as the physical object changes or moves through different operating conditions.

For example, in smart cities, sensors placed throughout an urban area feed data back to the digital twin, which continuously updates itself in line with real-time conditions like traffic flow, air quality, or energy consumption.

In many cases, real-time data is transmitted via IoT platforms and processed in the cloud. Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms are often used to analyze this data, providing insights into how the physical object is performing and predicting future outcomes.

Simulation and optimization

Once the digital twin is live and connected to its physical equivalent, it can be used for simulations and optimizations. By testing different scenarios and variables on the digital model, users can identify areas which can be finetuned without affecting the real-world object. For instance, a digital twin of a factory machine could help simulate how different workloads or production speeds impact overall efficiency. Based on the findings of these models, factory managers can adjust operations to reduce bottlenecks, save energy, or cut downtime.

Digital twins can also be used for scenario planning, helping organisations to model how changes—such as new laws or market conditions—will impact their operations. By running these simulations, businesses can prepare for potential challenges and make more informed strategic decisions.

Continuous updates and maintenance

To remain accurate, digital twins must be constantly updated with real-time data and information about the physical object’s condition. This includes tracking wear and tear, repairs, and upgrades. Regular updates ensure that the digital twin remains a reliable tool for monitoring and simulation.

In the aerospace industry, digital twins of aircraft engines are regularly updated to reflect the engine’s current condition and usage history. These updates allow engineers to make accurate predictions about future maintenance needs and performance.

Understanding Digital Twins vs. traditional simulations

At the core, a digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object, system, or process, continuously updated with real-time data. Unlike traditional simulations, which run under set parameters and aren’t connected to the real world, digital twins are dynamic. They reflect the current state of their physical counterpart, using data gathered from sensors and other sources. This connection allows digital twins to provide accurate insights, predict future behaviors, and make real-time decisions.

For example, a simulation might help design a new product, testing it virtually under various conditions. However, once the simulation ends, it’s static. A digital twin, on the other hand, remains active, continuously mirroring the physical product’s lifecycle. This ongoing connection enables businesses to manage assets, troubleshoot issues, and optimize operations more effectively than a traditional simulation could.

Building a Digital Twin: timeframes and considerations

The timeline to create a digital twin depends heavily on the complexity of the object or system being modeled. For a simple asset, like a single machine or piece of equipment, a digital twin could be developed in a few weeks to a few months. The process involves setting up data collection through sensors, building the digital model, and validating its accuracy. For more complex systems—like an entire manufacturing plant or a smart city—development can take from 6 months to a year, or even longer. These large-scale digital twins require extensive data integration, advanced simulations, and rigorous testing to ensure they mirror their physical counterparts accurately.

Creating a digital twin isn’t just about initial setup; it’s an ongoing effort. A digital twin must be updated and maintained to keep it in sync with the physical world. This involves continuous data collection, periodic calibration, and refining the model to reflect any changes in the real-world object.

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Another week has ended and, two of the world's best streaming services aside (step up your game, Hulu and Disney Plus), there's something new to watch on their rival platforms this weekend.

Indeed, from a couple of new movies that originally released in theaters in late 2024, to a bunch of new shows (and the return of a smash-hit Netflix series), there's plenty for you to wrap your eyeballs around over the next few days. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Night Agent season 2 (Netflix)

From The Recruit to Black Doves, Netflix has slowly been building out its back catalog of fun, dramatic, and thrilling spy genre shows. Few are more popular on the service, though, than The Night Agent, whose first season was a surprise overnight hit for the streaming titan and earned it a spot on our best Netflix shows list.

Two years on from that unprecedented success, the spy thriller is back for its second season. This time around, trust is in short supply for newly-minted Night Agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who becomes embroiled in another wild conspiracy that'll force him to question who he can really rely on. I'll be tuning in to see if Netflix's seventh most-watched English TV Original of all-time can build on its debut season's almighty performance. Before you do likewise, get the lowdown on the show's return with our The Night Agent season 2 hub. – TP

• Watch The Night Agent season 2 on Netflix

Prime Target (Apple TV Plus)

Apple TV Plus keeps its busy start to 2025 going with new espionage thriller Prime Target, which stars One Day actor Leo Woodall alongside Quintessa Swindell from Euphoria. In the Apple TV Original, Woodall plays a math genius, who's working on a secret research project to discover patterns in prime numbers that eventually catches the attention of Swindell's NSA surveillance operative.

The idea that the story is built around is the fact that prime numbers form the basis of the world's most common types of encryption that are still widely used today, which is why a Cambridge graduate cracking the code is of seismic global proportions in this new series. The best way I can think to describe it is the Da Vinci Code meets Good Will Hunting and, while it might not rank among the best Apple TV Plus shows, it's an absorbing watch no less. – Amelia Schwanke, entertainment editor

• Watch Prime Target on Apple TV Plus

The Wild Robot (Peacock)

One of the best 52 movies of 2024 has finally made its streaming debut – well, in the US (sorry, UK and Australian readers). The Wild Robot is an absolute joy of a film, with its gorgeous, painterly art style and wonderfully realized animation, emotionally resonant story, and top-tier voice acting making for a perfect, easy-to-watch flick on Peacock this weekend.

Marvel star Lupita Nyong'o voices Roz, a service robot who becomes shipwrecked on a remote island that's inhabited by talking animals. Unsurprisingly, she's viewed as an outsider by the creatures that live on it. But, armed with a steely determination to adapt to her environment, plus the fact that she becomes the adoptive mother of an orphaned goose called Brightbill (Heartstopper's Kit Connor), Roz resolves to not only ingratiate herself with the locals, but also become their protector-in-chief. A beautiful movie in more ways than one that deserves to be seen. – TP

• Watch The Wild Robot on Peacock (available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and more services in the UK and Australia)

Gladiator II (Paramount Plus)

Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated follow-up to iconic 2000 movie Gladiator is now available on Paramount Plus (again, only in the US, though). If you weren’t among those who took part in last year’s unexpected double bill Glicked (that’s Gladiator II and Wicked), you can bring the thrill of the Colossuem to your home. It hasn’t performed as well as Wicked, which was recently nominated for Best Picture, but its 71% Rotten Tomatoes rating means it could be worthy of a spot on our best Paramount Plus movies round-up.

With a brilliant ensemble cast like Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Derek Jacobi, the movie is set 15 years after the first and is definitely worth your time if you are a fan of the original. It’s perfect if you’re looking for an action packed movie this weekend. Altogether now: are you not entertained!? – Lucy Buglass, entertainment writer

• Watch Gladiator II on Paramount Plus

C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart (Max)

Max is now home to the TV adaptation of controversial author J. K. Rowling’s novel series of the same name, which were published under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The series follows private detective Cormoran Strike who teams up with his assistant Robin Ellacott to take on cases that have baffled the police, hoping they can finally get to the bottom of what happened. It’s no easy task and they work out of a cramped office, but they get the job done.

There’ll be weekly episodic releases for this one, and the series has already premiered in the UK where it’s been met with some seriously mixed reviews. It’s Rotten Tomatoes score is too low to guarantee a spot to our best Max shows, but you might have a good time with it regardless. – LB

• Watch C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart on Max

Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount Plus)

Paramount Plus has released its first-ever made Star Trek TV movie; a 100-minute spin-off of galactic proportions that focuses on the secret Star Fleet agency called Section 31. Star Trek: Section 31 sees Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as emperor Philippa Georgiou who we met in the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery before she eventually becomes a member of the special ops division.

It's a little different to your usual Star Trek movies, with Yeoh previously describing it as a mix of Mission: Impossible and Guardians of the Galaxy, which makes sense with the plot's merry band of mercenaries that get caught up in a heist to defend the United Federation of Planets against multi-universal threats. It's been through a lot of iterations to get here (it was originally going to be a series), which means that "there was so much more" that was left out, Yeoh's fellow star Sven Ruygrok told us. That might be why long-time Trekkies and newcomers alike have absolutely slammed it, with many labeling it one of the franchise's worst-ever projects. Ouch! – AS

• Watch Star Trek: Section 31 on Paramount Plus

Harlem season 3 (Prime Video)

The third and final season of Harlem is out now. Prime Video’s beloved comedy series is coming to an end, but I’m sure the Amazon TV Original will go out on a high. You’ll get two episodes each week until the finale on February 6, and I’m sure this will beat the January Blues some of us might be feeling.

The iconic cast made up of Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandaie, Jerrie Johnson, Tyler Lepley and Whoopi Goldberg are all back, with a few surprises and new faces teased for the final instalment. We’ve got plenty of great comedy recommendations on our best Prime Video shows round-up if you need to fill the Harlem shaped hole in your heart, though nothing can quite compare to how great this is. – LB

• Watch Harlem season 3 on Prime Video

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Prime Video movies, best Disney Plus shows, and best Hulu movies.

• Security researchers from Eclypsium find several bugs in multiple Palo Alto Networks firewalls
• They claim the vulnerabilities are quite severe
• Palo Alto Networks says if the OS is up to date, and security settings nominal, there is no risk

Security researchers have slammed Palo Alto Networks firewalls, claiming to have discovered severe vulnerabilities which undermine the entire point of the products.

Cybersecurity researchers Eclypsium published a report detailing a host of security flaws impacting Palo Alto Networks’ firewall firmware as well as misconfigured security features.

The company responded by saying the vulnerabilities were a stretch, that they’re close to impossible to leverage in the wild, and that they’ve not seen them abused anywhere.

LogoFAIL, PixieFAIL, and other woes

"These weren't obscure, corner-case vulnerabilities," the researchers said. "Instead these were very well-known issues that we wouldn't expect to see even on a consumer-grade laptop. These issues could allow attackers to evade even the most basic integrity protections, such as Secure Boot, and modify device firmware if exploited."

Eclypisum said the flaws were found in PA-3260, PA-1410, and PA-415. The first one reached end-of-sale in mid-2023, while the other two are still fully supported.

The bugs are tracked as CVE-2020-10713, CVE-2022-24030, CVE-2021-33627, CVE-2021-42060, CVE-2021-42554, CVE-2021-43323, and CVE-2021-45970, LogoFAIL, PixieFail, CVE-2023-1017, and Intel bootguard leaked keys bypass.

After the news broke, The Hacker News reached out to the company for comment. Palo Alto Networks responded by saying that “the scenarios required for successful exploitation do not exist on up-to-date PAN-OS software under normal conditions with secured management interfaces deployed according to best practice guidelines.”

In other words, if the firewalls’ OS is up to date, and secured management interfaces are properly deployed, there is no risk.

“Palo Alto Networks is not aware of any malicious exploitation of these issues. We stand by the quality and integrity of our technology,” it added.

“While the conditions required to exploit these vulnerabilities are not available to users or administrators of PAN-OS software, we are working with the third-party vendor to develop any mitigations that may be needed. We will provide further updates and guidance to impacted customers as they become available.”

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There they sat, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s three proud parents: Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. Samsung plays the largest parental role, but all three have lent a guiding hand in creating what is arguably more of a mobile AI device than a mere smartphone.

Samsung’s Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office Jay Kim, Google President, Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, and Qualcomm SVP & GM of Mobile Handset Christopher Patrick gathered on stage a day after the official Samsung Unpacked festivities where the company introduced its new line of Galaxy S25 handsets (four in all if you count the teased S25 Edge).

The group talked at length about their close partnership and the practical aspects of bringing an AI phone to life. Samsung provides the design and most of the hardware, but it’s Google that provides the subsystem, Android, Gemini generative assistant, and the Gemini models that many of the phone’s core generative features rely on. Finally, Qualcomm provided the phone’s brains with a bespoke version of its fastest mobile chip: the Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy.

The group was led in conversation by analyst Bob O’Donnell of TECHalysis and joined by the University of London and Symmetry's Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Chris Brauer.

The group described many late-night phone calls and an almost constant discussion about how to integrate AI throughout the mobile system. Google is deeply invested in the Samsung experience and its success, giving Samsung early access to all the latest Gemini models and features.

It's why the Samsung Galaxy S25 ultra, which I am currently testing, has the latest edition of Circle to Search that can also identify sounds in videos and why the latest version of Gemini Advanced is available on all S25 phones as a six-month trial. The tri-partnership is how Qualcomm built a special core on the Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite to house Samsung's Personal Data Engine locally.

The partnership is also how my S25 Ultra can funnel a single prompt through both Google and Samsung first-party apps. This means a single query can tap into both Google Search and Samsung Calendar, YouTube, and Samsung Notes.

And it’s how the side button on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is now a Gemini button.

A matter of trust

Left to right: Analyst Bob O'Donnell, Google's Sameer Samat, Samsung's Jay Kim, Qualcomm's Christopher Patrick, and Dr. Chris Brauer. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Google’s Samat said that working so closely together required a level of trust between the organizations and deep collaboration on every detail of the hardware and software experience.

Samat admitted, “We do disagree frequently. There was disagreement on how long to press the button before the assistant shows up.”

The group didn't go into any specific details, though. What we know is that it takes perhaps a second and a half after the long press for Gemini to appear. Did Google want a longer press? Samsung a shorter one? We may never know, but it’s clear that they worked it out satisfactorily.

As Samat noted, “Productive disagreement on product design is necessary.”

For his part, Qualcomm’s Patrick also recalled “late-night calls and occasional disagreements.”

When asked about what keeps them up at night, Samsung’s Kim joked, “Other than Samir calling – same thing on Qualcomm side – I never sleep.”

AI’s bright, daunting future

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Across the group, they’re shocked – and maybe a bit daunted – at the pace of change. “I’ve worked in this space for 20-plus years and I’ve never seen the kinds of leaps we’re experiencing now,” said Samat.

Qualcomm’s Patrick said he hopes that as an industry, “we have the willpower to do what it takes to work together, and sometimes it takes some natural competitors to work together.”

This group and the industry do have their work cut out for them. Dr. Brauer, who has been tracking the industry, presented new numbers showing a meteoric rise in consumer interest over just six months. A study in July of last year, around the time of the Galaxy AI’s launch, found that 16% of consumers identified themselves as frequent and heavy AI users. Now the number is 27%.

It seems that to meet this demand, the partnership – disagreements and all – is only just beginning.

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• Check out our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 review
• And read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review
• Best Samsung phone: top Galaxy handsets ranked