TechRadar News

• Dull office design is now a reason to resign, not just a minor complaint
• Mental health issues are being linked to poor visual and ergonomic workspace conditions
• Remote work offers freedom, but bad tech setups kill creativity and focus fast

The modern workplace is undergoing a silent crisis which isn’t solely about productivity, but also the mental well-being of employees, new research has warned - and it could be due to boring office design.

The latest Art of Productivity report from Kinly has found uninspiring and dull workplaces are not just hurting morale, but also making employees question their long-term futures with employers.

Among UK workers aged 24 to 35, nearly half (46%) said they would consider leaving their jobs due to unattractive or poorly designed office spaces - and more worryingly, 21% said such environments are actively harming their mental health.

Mental health takes a backseat to design flaws

This growing concern is prompting a new wave of collaboration between AV and HR departments, the report found, with over two-thirds (69%) of AV teams now working closely with HR to support employee well-being through the smarter use of technology.

Over half of businesses surveyed already use digital signage and visual tools to improve the day-to-day office experience, showing a shift in how workplaces are being designed and managed.

Rather than relying on generic perks or policy changes, companies are turning to creative AV-driven design strategies.

Tom Martin, CEO at Kinly, noted, “office design is no longer just an aesthetic choice, it’s a strategic one,” stressing modern office environments should empower and inspire.

“The office has become a second-choice experience for many employees, but implementing technology creatively can and will make a difference,” he said.

This view is shared by visual artist Ben Sheppee, who warns that remote work, while flexible, can stifle creativity if not properly supported.

“It’s vital that businesses provide the technology to help ideas flow freely, no matter where their teams are.”

These solutions are not just about visual appeal; they focus on inclusivity, with 31% of enterprises actively using AV to support neurodiverse staff.

Sensory-friendly features and accessibility-focused tools are becoming part of the broader toolkit for creating healthier workspaces.

Also, 71% of AV professionals believe these technologies play an essential role in maintaining a sense of community across hybrid work environments.

That said, digital displays and emotion-sensitive design may offer novelty, but their long-term impact remains uncertain.

Some people argue that no amount of immersive AV can substitute for ergonomic essentials such as standing desks.

Many believe workspace tools like one of the best office chairs or best office desks are fundamentals that directly affect comfort or focus, and these should be the priority.

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• An Xbox executive suggested that laid-off employees use AI for emotional support and career guidance
• The suggestion sparked backlash and led the executive to delete their LinkedIn post
• Microsoft has laid off 9,000 employees in recent months while investing heavily in AI.

Microsoft has been hyping up its AI ambitions for the last several years, but one executive's pitch about the power of AI to former employees who were recently let go has landed with an awkward thud.

Amid the largest round of layoffs in over two years, about 9,000 people, Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, suggested that AI chatbots could help those affected process their grief, craft resumes, and rebuild their confidence.

The gesture was meant for support, but it left many game developers feeling outraged.

Turnbull took his possibly well-meaning but definitely poorly phrased and timed message to LinkedIn. He shared ideas for prompts to give an AI chatbot that he claimed might help laid-off colleagues navigate career uncertainty and emotional turbulence.

The backlash was swift and angry, leading him to delete the post, but you can still read it thanks to Brandon Sheffield's Bluesky post below.

Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing - after the Microsoft layoffs - suggesting on Linkedin that may maybe people who have been let go should turn to AI for help. He seriously thought posting this would be a good idea.

— @brandon.insertcredit.com (@brandon.insertcredit.com.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T07:54:06.534Z

Turnbull urged colleagues to lean on AI to reduce the “emotional and cognitive load” of job loss in his post, along with the prompt ideas for 30-day recovery plans and LinkedIn messages. Probably the most eyebrow-raising suggestion was suggesting a prompt to help reframe impostor syndrome after being laid off.

“No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or lived experience," Turnbull wrote. "But in times when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help you get unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity.”

Even the most charitable interpretation of his post can't overlook just how condescending and poorly timed the advice is. And angry game developers flooded the comments, likely leading to the deletion of the post.

To put it mildly, they don't agree that being laid off is an emotional puzzle best solved with an algorithm. Instead, perhaps a human might understand the career and life upheaval it represents, and how that requires human compassion, support networks, and tangible help, like, say, an introduction to someone who can help you get a new job.

AI therapy

This incident is even worse in the context of Microsoft spending billions building AI infrastructure while dramatically shrinking its gaming teams. Urging laid-off developers to lean on AI right after losing their jobs is more than hypocritical; it's telling people to use the very technology that may have caused their job loss.

To be scrupulously and overly fair to Turnbull, using AI could help with some mental health concerns and might be useful in improving a resume or preparing for a job interview. Making AI part of outplacement services isn't a horrible idea. It could boost the internal coaching and career-transition arm Microsoft offers already, adding to the recruiters, résumé workshops, and counselling it offers. But it can't and shouldn't replace those human services. And having one of the people who let you go tell you to use AI to find a new job is the opposite of supportive. It's just an insult on top of injury.

Microsoft’s dual approach of laying people off and doubling down on AI infrastructure is a test of its company culture as much as its technical ability. Will we see a new standard where layoffs come with AI prompt packages instead of counseling and severance? If the message is, “Feel free to use chatbots to help you after we fire you,” expect plenty more outrageous, tone-deaf nonsense from executives.

Perhaps they should ask those chatbots how to interact with human beings without angering them, since it's a lesson they haven't learned well.

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Data centers are the backbone of the digital age; however, many are stuck in the past. Legacy facilities, which were built for a different era, are now struggling under the weight of modern computing demands. With ageing infrastructure, poor energy performance and rising operational costs, these outdated environments are quickly becoming a liability in a world that demands speed, scalability and sustainability.

In light of this, forward-thinking organizations are taking action and migrating their core applications from traditional on-premise infrastructure to the cloud. Such a move achieves modernization of a bank’s IT environment whilst also positioning it to be more agile and cost-efficient when it comes to customer-centric innovation in an ever-evolving digital economy.

Despite this, transforming legacy data centers is not the undemanding cure-all that banks and other financial organizations might be vying for, or even economically viable for that matter. For some, the path forward means shutting down outdated facilities altogether. For example, Singaporean telco Singtel announced last year the closure of five of its legacy data centers in Singapore as part of its plans to pivot towards sustainable, AI-focused facilities, reflecting a wider shift to a more measured and strategic approach to IT infrastructure investment.

The growing need for data agility and cloud-native platforms

Organizations are therefore under growing pressure to respond at speed, often forced to relocate critical data with little notice when closures or capacity shifts occur. It's a logistical challenge, but one that underscores a broader truth, which is that data agility is no longer optional. Rather, it has become a critical need for financial organizations to be able to access, process and act on data, especially in an era where the priorities for technology in an organization can shift overnight.

With ESG standards now central to the tech industry’s agenda, traditional data centers that overheat, guzzle energy and leave a heavy environmental footprint are increasingly out of step with where the sector is headed. But the challenges go far beyond sustainability. Legacy infrastructures create operational drag given the fragmented systems, inconsistent data quality and rigid architectures that hinder fast, informed decision-making.

Cloud-native models provide real-time insights and the ability to scale on demand, which in itself stands as a sharp contrast to outdated data infrastructures that require significant upfront investment based on predicted needs. This often leaves businesses stuck with inflexible systems and delays whilst waiting for hardware. Security is another growing concern.

Whilst cloud providers constantly update and strengthen their defenses, many on-premises teams struggle to keep up. Add to that the rising pressure of data sovereignty regulations and escalating energy costs, and the need to modernize becomes not just compelling, but critical.

A smart migration starts with a clear strategy

Given its elastic scalability, precise cost controls and robust, built-in security, it is certainly no surprise that many organizations are turning to the cloud. However, whilst the benefits are clear, the journey isn’t instantaneous. Successful cloud adoption requires a well-thought-out roadmap. The first step is crafting a strategy that’s tightly aligned with business objectives.

This translates to assessing workloads based on their impact, prioritizing mission-critical applications and selecting the right deployment model, whether it is public, private, or a combination of the two. Multicloud is increasingly gaining traction as it helps avoid vendor lock-in and gives businesses the freedom to leverage the unique strengths of different providers.

But moving to the cloud must be done with precision, especially in complex, legacy-heavy environments such as those that can be found in traditional banks. A rushed migration can have the opposite effect of what financial organizations may hope for when undertaking mass data migration to cloud-native platforms.

Cloud adoption affects multiple parts, if not every part of the business, be it applications and data architectures or operating models and governance frameworks. Missteps in timing or execution can lead to budgets being stretched too tight, unplanned downtimes and costly inefficiencies. Mitigating this risk requires financial organizations to approach migration as a deliberate, end-to-end transformation that reshapes how banks operate, innovate and ultimately deliver value to their customers, instead of a quick fix or a reactive measure.

At the same time, integration of robust governance at every stage of the journey is critical, with security, compliance and data protection ensured from the very outset. With cloud environments demanding continuous optimization, it is a key consideration that the work does not stop at the point of migration. Performance and cost efficiency must be reviewed regularly to ensure systems are running as expected and delivering value.

Recent advances with generative AI and AI tools can also help to accelerate the migration from on-premises legacy data centers to cloud environments by automating discovery, dependency mapping and workload classification. These tools analyze infrastructure and application behavior to identify optimal cloud targets and architectures. AI coding products also assist in refactoring legacy code, creation of testing and documentation, predicting migration risks, and simulating performance in the cloud, reducing migration time and enhancing planning accuracy.

The symptoms of ageing infrastructure in banking

This imperative for cloud migration is especially acute in the banking sector, where traditional institutions are locked in a race against digital-first challengers that can deploy new features in a matter of weeks, whilst legacy banks remain reliant on ageing mainframes. The cost of inaction is no longer hypothetical.

Earlier this year, more than 1.2 million UK customers were hit by banking disruptions on payday, marking a critical moment for individuals and businesses alike. Major high-street banks reported service failures ranging from login delays to hours-long customer service waits.

These outages weren’t isolated incidents, but symptoms of deeper systemic fragility tied to ageing IT systems. In contrast, cloud-native organizations are built for resilience, scalability and real-time responsiveness, which are qualities that legacy setups struggle to emulate.

These failures were not just unfortunate, but predictable and more importantly, preventable, further highlighting the point that embracing cloud-native infrastructure is no longer a long-term goal, rather an urgent priority for maintaining customer trust and securing future competitiveness for incumbent banks.

Data agility as a means of being future-ready

Ultimately, data agility is the engine of faster decision-making, operational flexibility and innovation, whilst cloud-native platforms make that agility possible. By using a fully cloud-native core, financial institutions can sidestep the constraints of traditional infrastructure allowing them to focus squarely on customer needs and accelerate time to market in ways that legacy banks simply would not be able to through traditional channels.

Achieving these results requires organizations to invest not just in modern cloud platforms, but in a data-driven culture that treats information as a strategic asset. Real-time data streaming paves the way to immediate insights, rather than lagging by hours or days. And as market demands continue to evolve, success depends on ongoing integration and innovation.

Cloud transformation isn’t a one-off milestone; it’s a continuous journey of aligning strategy, technology and execution to stay ahead of what’s next.

We've listed the best cloud storage.

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

• Akaso 360 price starts at $199.99 / £199.99 / AUS329.99 – a record low for 360 cameras
• It was launched worldwide on July 7, 2025
• Prime Day deals for rival models crash the party

Insta360 may have cornered the 360 camera market in recent times, but it's under threat from a rumored DJI Osmo 360 and now a surprise entry to the market, the new Akaso 360.

Akaso is a proven alternative to leading action camera brands such as GoPro, Insta360 and DJI, with an impressive lineup of low-cost models. Now it has entered the 360 camera space with the Akaso 360, and it's super impressive for the money – check out our in-depth Akaso 360 review.

The all-new 360 camera shoots crisp 5.7K video with total 360 degree coverage through its twin lenses, complete with the software smarts we've come to expect from the best 360 cameras, such as seamless stitching and selfie stick removal.

Perhaps what's most impressive, though, is the price point at which the Akaso 360 enters the market – it's so much cheaper than any other current model.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Akaso)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Akaso)Lowering the bar for 360 camera prices, but is the Akaso 360 the best value?

The launch price for the Akaso 360 starts at just $199.99 / £199.99 / AUS329.99 for the Standard Combo, or $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.99 for the Creator Combo, which adds two additional batteries, a battery charging case and a 120cm selfie stick. It's available at Amazon US and Amazon UK, or directly from the Akaso store.

For price, no other 360 camera comes close – the Insta360 X5 is well over double, while the GoPro Max (2025) is around $150 / £150 / AU$200 more (and that's following a new price point from the original Max model from 2019, which was a similar price to the X5).

But just because the Akaso 360 is the cheapest model available, should you get it?

The comparison between the Akaso 360 and Insta360 X5 is hardly fair – the latter is the best 360 camera on the market, and it beats Akaso's model in almost every respect, including its 8K video and low light image quality.

The X5's twin lenses can be swapped out in case of damage too, with cheap replacement lenses available. In the long run, this feature alone could make it better value than any other 360 camera. After all, break a lens while recording with any other model, which is a likely eventuality for filming outdoor pursuits, and the whole camera needs a pricey repair or replacing. Not so with the X5.

For features and performance, however, I think the older Insta360 X3 is the closest Akaso 360 rival.

It doesn't help Akaso's cause that it unveiled its first 360 camera during Prime Day week, at a time when there are huge price cuts for the X3. You can get the Insta360 X3 for $249.99 at Amazon US (original price $449.99), or £259.99 at Amazon UK (original price £459.99) or at the Insta360 store for the same price, with other bundles available.

The X3 is still a little pricier, then, but I think it has the edge over the Akaso 360 in two ways. First, it's waterproof up to 33ft / 10m, while Akaso's model is not, and second, the X3 also shoots HDR video.

If your wallet stretches that little bit further, the X3 deal is superb value. Otherwise, the cameras are pretty similar, and if the two points above don't put you off Akaso's new model, then a full-price Akaso 360 is still excellent value. It's a super impressive 360 camera for the money.

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It's no surprise that fitness companies love the subscription model: it guarantees them income long after the initial purchase of a smartwatch or a fitness tracker.

Most of the big names in the business now give you the option of paying a monthly fee to unlock extra insights from your health data, and extra features for your apps and devices.

Comments made by Samsung's Head of Digital Health, Dr Hon Pak, have revealed that a health subscription is an idea Samsung is "exploring" as well, and it's perhaps something that will be announced alongside the Galaxy Watch 8 or the Galaxy Ring 2.

This would, of course, have knock-on effects for the best Samsung phones and all the other devices where you'll find the Samsung Health app.

While I feel like I'm right up to the limit as far as digital subscriptions go, there are a few specific ways that Samsung could tempt me to sign up for another service – but it has to make it worth my while.

1. Tools that actually improve health and fitness

The Galaxy Watch 7 is great – if you know what to do with it (Image credit: Samsung)

I'm keen to improve my health and fitness, but I don't really know where to start: from YouTube videos and how-to articles, to AI coaching and social media influencers, there's an overwhelming amount of advice out there. What I really need is a trusted source that will help me with everything from workout plans to nutrition advice.

If that's something Samsung Health can offer, I'd consider paying for it. Whether it's through the form of videos, personalized guides, or something else, I need some clarity around what I should be doing to lead a healthier life.

I'd want to see real progress as a result of my subscription though, whether it's being able to run faster for longer, or bouncing out of bed with extra energy – otherwise what am I paying for? At least if it's a month-to-month subscription, I'll have the option of cancelling it if nothing seems to be changing.

2. Features that actually save me money

Subscriptions have to be worth the cost (Image credit: Strava)

There are a handful of digital subscriptions that I happily pay money for, and what they all have in common is they help me do my job better and more efficiently. Subscriptions that save me time or mean I can work smarter are effectively paying for themselves, or even saving me money overall.

Take YouTube Premium, for example. YouTube can of course be used for free, but paying means I save a lot of time watching and clicking through ads, and means I don't have to pay for Spotify (because YouTube Music Premium is included).

So what would that look like for a health subscription? Perhaps one that has features comparable to paid-for running app, meditation app, and nutrition app subscriptions, and can consolidate them all.

To sweeten the deal even further, how about money off Samsung wearables? Surely a win-win for Samsung.

3. Data insights that are actually insightful

The Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Enduro 3 (Image credit: Mike Sawh)

It's become cliche for health subscriptions to offer more advanced insights into your data: often, it's a vague promise that often doesn't really amount to much. Garmin Connect+, for example, promises something called "Active Intelligence" that apparently gives users "personalized insights and suggestions" (powered with the help of AI, of course).

I'd very much welcome genuinely insightful insights, though no one seems to have quite solved this problem yet. Fitness trackers amass a wealth of data each day, much of which never gets properly looked at, like reams of photos backed up to cloud storage.

Give me tips and advice that are actually useful please, Samsung. How much is each 5-a-side game boosting my fitness? Which days of the week do I need more motivation to exercise? Do I drink more water if I get to sleep earlier? Help make sense of the stats I'm accumulating, and I may well sign up.

What Samsung has to avoid: trapping users

We're yet to see a subscription as nightmarish as the ones in Black Mirror (Image credit: Netflix)

Something that makes me wary about signing up for yet another digital subscription is the fear that I'll be locked into yet another product and another ecosystem – unable to leave unless I want to throw away years of data and features I've come to rely on.

It's something you may have seen in the most recent series of Black Mirror: a couple trapped in a subscription that gradually adds more and more advertising (is that you, Netflix?) and removes more and more features. The experience becomes truly awful – but not subscribing is even worse.

Samsung Health already supports services such as Android's Health Connect, and data from any extras that a subscription offers shouldn't be locked away – but available to export and use elsewhere, and in other formats.

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• Singapore’s skyline becomes a glowing canvas celebrating both national history and brand identity
• Three world records mark this as one of the boldest projection shows ever attempted
• UOB’s digital storytelling fuses tradition, future, and corporate legacy through a six-minute visual narrative

A skyscraper in Singapore has become the canvas for a record-breaking projection mapping display which spans an astonishing 250 million pixels.

The UOB Plaza 1 building, standing 280 meters tall, is hosting a series of intricate projections marking two major milestones: Singapore’s 60th year of independence and the 90th anniversary of UOB Bank.

The show has set three Guinness World Records: for the largest light output in a projected image, the longest temporary architectural projection, and the highest projection on a building.

More than just a technical spectacle

At 5.85 million lumens, the light output is exceptional by any standard, dwarfing even the brightest and best business projector on the market.

Although the sheer scale and brightness are attention-grabbing, the projections also aim to tell a story.

“The projection showcase is our way of giving back – offering a record-breaking visual spectacle for the community, both for those who are based here and those visiting from overseas, to enjoy and to celebrate our shared journey,” said Janet Young, UOB's head of group channels, digitalisation, strategic communications and brand.

Among the projected content is Majulah Singapura, an artwork by local artist Sam Lo, highlighting the country’s multicultural roots and collective resilience.

The SG60 logo slowly transforms into the UOB90 logo, reflecting the intersection of national progress and corporate legacy.

Adapted from winning entries of the UOB Painting of the Year competition, Singapore’s longest-running art contest, the projection includes 30 works grouped into three categories: Timeless, Contemporary 1, and Contemporary 2.

These rotate across the week, with all artworks shown together on Friday and Saturday nights.

The reinterpretation of these pieces into animated visuals on a building façade suggests a modern alternative to traditional exhibitions.

It is, without question, a technical marvel, yet also a reminder that large-scale displays remain highly site-specific.

Their impact is immense but also fleeting, tied to infrastructure, planning, and corporate objectives as much as artistic intent.

The projection runs nightly until August 9, 2025.

Via Avinteractive

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• Benchmarks show AMD’s new EPYC 4005 series outperforming older eight-channel EPYC 7601 memory systems with just two DIMMs
• Performance-per-Watt improvements put AMD’s 4005 chip in a new league of server efficiency
• Grado proves newer design beats older bulk - less memory, lower power, yet more performance

In an eight-year leap, AMD’s new EPYC 4585PX processor from the EPYC 4005 “Grado” series has shown performance improvements that nearly triple the output of AMD’s original flagship server chip, the EPYC 7601.

Interestingly, the EPYC 4585PX processor is not part of the high-end EPYC 9005 family but rather a lower-cost, power-efficient alternative.

According to Phoronix, over 200 benchmarks were run on Ubuntu 25.04 across varied workloads, server tasks, HPC, scripting, media encoding, and compilation.

Benchmarks highlight a dramatic efficiency jump

On average, the EPYC 4585PX delivered 2.69 times the performance of the original 7601, despite fewer memory channels and a more compact setup.

When adjusted for power, the improvement looks even more striking: on a performance-per-Watt basis, the newer chip is 2.85x more efficient, thanks to more refined architecture and improved design efficiency.

These results are likely to interest enthusiasts of the best server hardware, and they raise questions about how far older enterprise systems have fallen behind.

It also puts AMD’s lower-cost chips in contention with more expensive processors typically used by top-tier web hosting providers.

Not everything is a clean win, however. While the wall power usage of the full system was significantly improved - 225W for the newer platform compared to 238W for the older Naples server - the CPU-level measurements were less decisive.

Average CPU consumption was 153W for the EPYC 4585PX and 141W for the older 7601, with peak values of 204W and 195W, respectively.

These figures suggest that while the system as a whole has become more efficient, the processor alone hasn’t cut energy use as dramatically.

For those seeking green infrastructure, especially small business operators or SOHO setups, the lower idle draw may be more relevant than full-load comparisons.

Running on a modern Supermicro platform with just two DDR5 DIMMs, the EPYC 4585PX system still managed to beat the eight-channel memory performance of the EPYC 7601 in most workloads.

That suggests memory bandwidth isn’t the only performance determinant anymore.

With support for newer chipsets and more efficient memory, the “Grado” system appears to offer real headroom for entry-level infrastructure deployments, especially for NAS builds where power efficiency and thermal limits matter.

The data shows AMD’s low-cost EPYC 4005 chips may now outperform former flagships without breaking the bank or the power budget.

The upcoming comparison with EPYC 9005 chips promises even greater gains, although the takeaway for now is that you no longer need a premium part to get premium performance.

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• Samsung's rugged tablet built for frontline industries has dual batteries and 5G support
• It includes a stylus, 8 years of Android updates, and can run without a battery
• First review praises long battery life, strong durability, and enterprise-ready hardware design

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro is a rugged tablet built for demanding work environments. Introduced alongside the Galaxy XCover7 Pro back in April 2025, the new device is designed to meet the demanding needs of industries like logistics, construction, and field service.

The Tab Active5 Pro comes equipped with a 5G-capable Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, improved display brightness up to 600 nits, and enhanced audio clarity with intelligent noise filtering.

It sports 16GB of RAM and expanded storage options to support heavy multitasking and fieldwork. The dual battery setup has a combined capacity of over 10,000mAh and supports hot-swapping, allowing users to replace batteries without shutting down the device.

Eight years of Android updates

The tablet also features a handy No Battery Mode for fixed setups like kiosks or in-vehicle use. With its MIL-STD-810H certification and IP68 rating, it’s built to handle drops, water, dust, and extreme conditions, just as you'd expect from a rugged device.

It also comes with eight years (8 years!) of Android updates, which is impressive, and includes a protective case with a stylus.

“The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro combines ruggedized durability, enterprise-grade security, seamless connectivity, and intuitive AI-driven features,” said Jerry Park, EVP and Head of Samsung’s Global Mobile B2B Team at launch, adding it would “help businesses operate efficiently in harsh conditions while maximizing productivity and minimizing downtime.”

Notebookcheck went hands on with the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro and in its in-depth review, declared, “Performance is solid for everyday tasks, and the dual battery setup with a combined capacity of over 10,000mAh ensures very long battery life.”

The review added, “The inclusion of two removable batteries is a smart move. However, it is unusual that the tablet only functions when both batteries are inserted or when running entirely without batteries. On the positive side, these are the same battery models used in the standard Galaxy Tab Active5.”

It concluded, “Overall, this rugged tablet has been thoughtfully designed and could also be a strong choice for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a durable, long-lasting device.”

The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro is officially priced at $839, but as Notebookcheck points out, it’s already available for significantly less through some online retailers.

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• A hands-on video of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 briefly appeared
• It showed off the larger cover screen on this model
• The Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 should be launched on Wednesday

We've seen plenty of leaks around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 ahead of the official launch of these foldables – scheduled for this coming Wednesday, July 9 – and this weekend a hands-on video of the Z Flip 7 has emerged.

It wasn't long before the video, posted by Mincu Andrei on X, was taken down, but a few stills of the clip have been preserved for posterity over at SamMobile. If this is genuine, it's the first time we've had a peek at a fully working Galaxy Z Flip 7.

The headline upgrade here is the cover screen. Previous rumors had suggested the outer display would expand in size to wrap around the camera modules, and that's indeed what we can see in the leaked video and images.

It looks as though the extra screen space – with the cover screen growing to 4.1 inches from 3.4 inches on the current Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – will mainly be used to show date and time information, according to this leak.

Thinner and faster

The Z Flip 6 (left) and Z Fold 6 (right) (Image credit: Samsung)

While it was live, the hands-on video also showed off some of the other rumored changes coming to the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The main display is apparently extending in size from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches, while it's also expected to be getting thinner too.

We have previously seen unofficial renders of both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it looks as though both of them are going to shave a few fractions of a millimeter off in terms of how thick they are, front to back.

Otherwise, apart from a processor speed bump, we might not see much that's new when it comes to the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The cameras are reported to be the same as the current model, for example, though we might get a bigger battery.

Both the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 are going to get their grand unveiling on Wednesday, July 9, and you can watch along live while reading TechRadar's comprehensive coverage. We should also get some new wearables, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #490).

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 #491) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• HIDE
• SOCK
• COAL
• SLUMP
• DUEL
• PLANK

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 5th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #491) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #491, are…

• BUNK
• LAKE
• FLAGPOLE
• CANTEEN
• LODGE
• FIELDHOUSE
• SPANGRAM: SUMMER CAMP

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Although the SUMMER CAMP is mainly an American experience I was very familiar with the excellent comedy song which gave us today’s theme – Hello Muddah, Hello Father (A Letter from Camp) by Allan Sherman, with its excellent story of an entire camp befalling various ailments and disasters.

Despite knowing the kind of words we were looking for, I still struggled to start today and got BUNK via a hint.

After getting FLAGPOLE I remembered that I had stayed on a camp once in the UK, and one of the activities/tortures we had to do was climb a 20ft pole and stand on the top of it. We were on ropes and safety harnesses, but I can still remember how much my legs were wobbling as I winched myself to the summit. All very character building I'm sure. Help me muddah.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, July 6, game #490)

• STRENGTH
• SPEED
• FLIGHT
• INVISIBILITY
• HEALING
• SPANGRAM: SUPERPOWER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #1259).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 #1260) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1260) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo 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 #1260) - 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 #1260) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• T

• T

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1260) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1260, are…

• DROLL
• TRUCE
• TWIRL
• SINCE

TWIRL aside this was quite an easy round for me, with all the heavy lifting done with my start words, leaving me anagrams for SINCE and TRUCE and nearly all of DROLL.

Not much thinking was required, to be honest – and that's a welcome change from how it is on some days with this game.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1260) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1260, are…

• MERRY
• PROSE
• CURLY
• HORSE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #756).

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 Connections hints.

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 #757) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DOG
• DRIBBLE
• SECRET
• FOOTPRINT
• RAT
• SHOOT
• LEAK
• SPLASH
• BANANA
• SOURCE
• CANARY
• BLOCK
• MARK
• PASS
• HAT
• IMPACT

NYT Connections today (game #757) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Also a grass
• GREEN: You were here
• BLUE: Leave nothing on the court
• PURPLE: Add the opposite of bottom

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 #757) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: INFORMANT 
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION 
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES 
• PURPLE: TOP___ 

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

NYT Connections today (game #757) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #757, are…

• YELLOW: INFORMANT CANARY, LEAK, RAT, SOURCE
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION FOOTPRINT, IMPACT, MARK, SPLASH
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES BLOCK, DRIBBLE, PASS, SHOOT
• PURPLE: TOP___ BANANA, DOG, HAT, SECRET

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I got the yellow group last today, but that’s mainly because I abandoned it after making a mistake and concentrated on other linked words.

My first thought was that there was a group connected to whistleblowing, so I had LEAK and SOURCE but also SECRET and MARK. Before I could pursue that blind alley further I put together BASKETBALL MOVES, thinking it was something to do with soccer.

I was really pleased to get the purple group, although the absence of cat in place of DOG rankles. I am speaking here as someone who has used a picture of Benny the Ball as my internet pic for the past decade. How could they miss out TC?

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, July 6, game #756)

• YELLOW: FIRED OBJECTS CERAMICS, CHINA, POTTERY, WARE
• GREEN: PARTICLE CRUMB, GRAIN, MORSEL, SHRED
• BLUE: DRS DRE, EVIL, PEPPER, SEUSS
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE LEG CRYPTO, DECAF, DISNEY, PRUSSIAN

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.

• Netflix's new AV1 Film Grain Synthesis tech boosts image quality
• It also reduces file size and improves streaming performance
• The tech has been rolling out to movies and TV shows since March 2025

Film grain is something of a 'secret sauce' that makes movies look, well, like movies. Go to the cinema and, while you’ll hardly notice them, these dotty imperfections flickering across the image lend it a depth that’s tricky to recreate digitally.

Well, now Netflix has revealed in a Techblog post that it's found a better way to do it, with a new technique that also handily improves playback stability, while reducing errors and rebuffering. It's been rolling out globally since March, with FGS-enabled streams available now on supported devices.

So what exactly has Netflix done? Movies filmed on digital cameras can appear too clean and perfect, and even digitized versions of analog films can struggle to properly retain the grain. This is particularly true for movies on services like Netflix, which require compression to reduce file size for smooth streaming performance.

In its efforts to keep things efficient, the compression process will remove grain from the original video file, meaning the viewer gets a nice steady stream but an image that lacks that true movie look.

Not anymore. Netflix has revealed that it's rolled out a technology called “AV1 Film Grain Synthesis” (FGS), which delivers a pleasingly grainy image without increasing file size.

It’s clever stuff: FGS analyses the source video to determine its specific grain pattern and shape, estimating it by comparing the original video with a de-noised version – the difference being the grain.

It then scales the grain intensity for different scenes, adjusting it for lighting and color. This information is then streamed alongside the compressed, grain-free video file, and used to recreate the grain effect on your device.

Better picture quality, greater efficiency

(Image credit: Netflix)

This means movies and TV shows on Netflix will now offer that desirable analog film look, boosting image quality and giving users a more enjoyable streaming experience.

Interestingly, during A/B testing of the feature Netflix also found that FGS significantly reduced bitrate and network bandwidth requirements, decreased playback errors and rebuffering, and reduced start-up delay, all of which result in a more stable overall streaming experience. Double win.

If you’re excited to see FGS in action for yourself, you’ll need a playback device that supports it. Unfortunately, it isn't yet clear exactly which shows and movies will benefit from the tech, nor what the hardware requirements are – we've contacted Netflix to find out and will update this story when we hear back.

However, Netflix’s blog post detailing the roll-out suggests They Cloned Tyrone and Dept. Q are good places to start. The streaming giant says you may need to toggle off HDR from the settings menu to see those FGS streams.

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• We've got more details on the upcoming Galaxy Watches
• Three models are likely to launch on July 9
• Find out the specs and the sizes that have been predicted

The next big Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch show is happening on Wednesday, July 9 – here's how to watch online – and we have a new, comprehensive leak for one of the devices we're expecting to see: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

This leak comes from Dealabs (via 9to5Google), and covers just about everything you could want to know about the upcoming wearable and its associates (although we're relying somewhat on Google Translate to make sense of it).

Apparently, we're getting three smartwatch models from Samsung this year. They are the Galaxy Watch 8, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. There was no Classic last year, but we did get the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The leak says the Galaxy Watch 8 sticks to 32GB of internal storage, but that the two higher-end models get bumped to 64GB. When it comes to sizes, the Galaxy Watch 8 is said to be coming in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes, with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic at 46 mm and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at 47 mm.

Accessories and pricing

We could see another Galaxy Watch Ultra this week (Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

All these watches are going to come with 2GB of RAM, and will be running Samsung's own Exynos W1000 processor. That's the same processor used in last year's models, so these new devices aren't going to run after faster – though when it comes to wearables, that's perhaps not a priority anyway.

The Galaxy Watch 8 will come with a "silicone sports bracelet", the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has a "premium hybrid strap" in the box, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is bundled with an "extreme sport bracelet", according to this leak.

Pricing in France is said to be set at €379.99 (40 mm Watch 8), €429.99 (40 mm Watch 8 with LTE), €409.99 (44 mm Watch 8), €459.99 (44 mm Watch 8 with LTE), €529.99 (Watch 8 Classic), €579.99 (Watch 8 Classic with LTE, and €699.99 (Galaxy Watch Ultra 2).

There's not much point giving you currency conversions, as they won't match, but it looks like the base model is going to cost a little more (the Galaxy Watch 7 started at $299.99 / £289 / AU$549), while the Ultra model will stick at the same price ($649 / £599 / AU$1,299).

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XO, Kitty season 3: key information

- Officially renewed in February
- Filming rumored to have begun
- Main cast expected to return
- No official trailer released yet
- Plot details remain under wraps
- No news on future seasons

XO, Kitty season 3 is officially on the way.

Over two seasons of Kitty Song Covey's adventures at the Korean Independent School of Seoul, we've watched her chase her dreams, explore relationships and retrace her mother's steps. And now, we're heading back to KISS for senior year.

A spin-off from To All The Boys I've Loved Before, a trilogy of movies on Netflix based on Jenny Han's novels of the same name, it's an exciting standalone (with surprise crossover guest stars) on one of the best streaming services. So, it's time for some more Seoul searching!

Here's what we know so far about XO, Kitty season 3's plot rumors, predicted cast and more.

XO, Kitty season 3: is there a release date?

A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)

A photo posted by on

There's no XO, Kitty season 3 release date yet, but I can confirm that the show has officially been renewed.

The announcement was made on Valentine's Day 2025 on Instagram, with Anna Cathcart – who plays Kitty – seen answering the door to some Valentine's Day gifts in an official post. Though she says: "Last time I checked, I was very single."

Via a note on the flowers, Anna reads: "Roses are red, violets are blue, there's a third season of XO, Kitty in store for you". And from her gift bag, she pulls out the script for the next season wrapped up nicely in a pink ribbon ready for more drama and romance at KISS.

And it appears the cast and crew may already have commenced filming. On May 18, Joshua Lee who plays Jin, posted a video on TikTok of him dancing with Regan Aliyah (Julianna) with Sasha Bhasin (Praveena) in the background. He captioned it: "Reunited w/ @regan aliyah @Sasha Bhasin in Korea for no reason at all!!" Hint, hint.

There was a two-year wait between seasons 1 and 2, but something makes me think that with such a swift renewal and filming potentially in progress, we won't have to wait that long for XO, Kitty season 3. We may even be lucky enough to get it next year... Watch this space!

XO, Kitty season 3: has a trailer been released?

With no official release date for XO, Kitty season 3, we'll have to wait for a trailer (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no XO, Kitty season 3 trailer to share just yet. For season 2, the trailer dropped a month before the show hit Netflix. So, until we have a release date, it's hard to say when we'll get a trailer.

But, keep an eye out here and I'll be sure to update as soon there's any whispers of news from KISS.

XO, Kitty season 3: predicted cast

The main cast of XO, Kitty are expected to return (Image credit: Netflix)

While XO, Kitty season 2 was full of dramatic moments, none of those involved the explosive departure of any big characters. So, I'd expect all of the main cast to return for season 3:

• Anna Cathcart as Kitty
• Gia Kim as Yuri
• Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho
• Choi Min-yeong as Dae
• Anthony Keyvan as Q
• Peter Thurnwald as Alex Finnerty
• Regan Aliyah as Julianna
• Sunny Oh as Mihee
• Sasha Bhasin as Praveena
• Joshua Hyunho Lee as Jin Lee
• Jocelyn Shelfo as Madison
• Ryu Hanbi as Eunice

Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) from To All The Boys I've Loved Before has made crossover appearances in both XO, Kitty seasons 1 and 2. So, I'd predict we'll see him once again in season 3.

Plus, XO, Kitty season 2 saw Kitty reconnecting with her family in a bid to fulfil her late mother's wishes. And while it took her to new places to meet with new people, it also reunited her with her sister, Margot (Janel Parrish), who features in the Netflix movies.

And whether Audrey Huynh will return as Stella after her plan was finally exposed, we'll have to wait and see.

XO, Kitty season 3: story synopsis and rumors

Will Kitty and Min Ho spend the summer together? (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers for XO, Kitty seasons 1 and 2 to follow.

XO, Kitty is notoriously dramatic (and that's one of the reasons I love it). Season 2 was full of twists, turns and when it came down to the final moments before KISS went on summer break, Kitty finally admitted her feelings for her ex-boyfriend, Dae's, best friend, Min Ho. Phew.

Yes, Kitty is at KISS for reasons that reach far beyond finding love, but what's moving halfway across the world without a bit of relationship drama? Similarly to season 1, when it comes to Kitty's love life, the season 2 finale ended on quite the cliffhanger.

This time though, Kitty found herself admitting her own feelings for Min Ho (rather than the other way around) and boldly asking to accompany him and his family on their summer adventures – a music tour. Whether he took her with him though, we don't know the answer... yet.

I imagine when it comes to the XO, Kitty season 3 plot, it'll pick up right where we left off. And fortunately, we also know that Kitty got her scholarship renewed, meaning she'll be returning alongside her friends after summer for her senior year.

Showrunner Jessica O'Toole told Tudum: "I'm so excited to head back to Seoul for another season with our incredible cast and crew. If you thought junior year at KISS brought the drama, just wait."

She added: "I know we left fans on a cliffhanger at the end of season 2, but I can promise season 3 will be worth the wait, including our first summer episode – not to mention plenty of romance, friendship, adventure... and kissing. Lots of kissing".

Kitty's not the only one falling in love (Image credit: Netflix)

And all that kissing might have a lot to do with all the new relationships from XO, Kitty season 2.

There's Jin and Q, who will find themselves spending summer apart after Q got accepted in the USC summer training program. Then, there's Dae and Eunice, who started a romance during the talent show. However, Eunice eventually won the competition – meaning she's also heading off for the summer, but this time as an opener for Min Ho's K-pop star brother.

Plus, Yuri learned a couple of hard truths as season 2 drew to a close. One, that Juliana had officially moved on with Praveena (both of whom are seemingly filming for XO, Kitty season 3). And then, finding out her family assets have been frozen due to a class action lawsuit that threatens all of Yuri's wealth.

For Yuri then, life is a lot more complicated than just romance. And to further add to that drama, she also found out she had a brother, Alex, who will no doubt have a part to play in season 3.

There's a lot to unpack, but in true XO, Kitty fashion I'm sure it'll be tackled with drama, crossed wires and a whole lot of love.

Will there be more seasons of XO, Kitty?

Will Kitty return for season 4? (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no news on XO, Kitty season 4 to share just now. Why? Well, given that season 3 doesn't even have a release date, it's hard to look further beyond that.

But, there is speculation that they have to give Kitty a chance to finish her final year of KISS. And that means, another season.

With the focus picking up on the summer of XO, Kitty season 3, there's even a chance viewer won't even see out the full school year in the upcoming episodes. In which case, there's scope for even more than one more season.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides to Nobody Wants This season 2, Stranger Things season 5, The Four Seasons season 2, and One Piece season 2.

• Seagate’s 30TB Exos M is helium-filled and built for data centers, not home PCs
• 2.5 million hours MTBF sounds great until you realize how specific this use case is
• The IronWolf Pro HDD targets NAS users, not hyperscale cloud infrastructure like Exos M

A new listing for Seagate’s 30TB Exos M hard disk drive has appeared online, offering what is currently the largest HDD available for under $620.

ServerSupply lists the drive at $650, but applying the site’s 5% discount brings the price down to $617.50.

Seagate’s Exos M (model ST30000NM004K) is a helium-sealed 3.5-inch internal hard drive built around conventional magnetic recording (CMR) technology.

Enterprise-grade capacity at an unexpectedly low price

With a 7200 RPM spindle speed and a 512MB multi-segmented cache, it delivers a sustained data transfer rate of up to 275MB/s.

The drive supports a SATA interface and is hot-plug capable. According to Seagate, it is designed for high-capacity use cases including hyperscale data centers, enterprise backup systems, and distributed file storage frameworks like Hadoop and Ceph.

The manufacturer also reports a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 2.5 million hours and an annualized failure rate of just 0.35%, suggesting this model is meant for non-stop, 24/7 operation.

Additional features include PowerBalance and PowerChoice technologies for more efficient energy management, and RSA 3072 firmware verification for security.

These specifications strongly indicate that the Exos M is tailored toward enterprise infrastructure, not the typical desktop setup.

Another Seagate 30TB drive also appears in listings and shares many of the same core specifications. Provantage lists the IronWolf Pro ST300000NT011 HDD for a slightly higher $669.69, still an affordable price for a drive of this capacity.

Although they share similarities (30TB, CMR, 7200 RPM), their firmware, vibration tolerance, and workload optimizations will likely differ because Exos is tuned for hyperscale environments, while IronWolf Pro is optimized for NAS workloads.

Despite the attention-grabbing capacity, calling Seagate Exos M the best HDD depends entirely on context.

For cloud infrastructure and archival storage, it may represent strong value, particularly at this price.

But for everyday users, its 3.5-inch form factor, 7200 RPM speed, and enterprise-oriented feature set make it impractical.

Ultimately, the Seagate Exos M is a highly specialized product, but its pricing makes it look accessible.

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• Insurance group Kelly Benefits says over half a million people now affected in major data breach

• Flash memory now doubles as secure key storage using conceal-and-reveal method
• Encryption keys hidden in plain sight in standard commercial 3D NAND memory
• Machine learning attacks failed to guess the keys, showing true randomness and security

As digital data volume continues to grow with the rise of AI, cloud services, and connected devices, securing that data has become increasingly difficult.

Traditional password-based protections are no longer enough, and while hardware security solutions like Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) offer stronger protection, they have struggled with real-world deployment.

Most PUFs require custom hardware and lack the ability to hide keys when not in use, leaving systems exposed.

Unique and unpredictable

A research team at Seoul National University has introduced a new hardware security approach called Concealable PUF. This method uses commercial 3D NAND flash memory, typically found in mainstream storage devices, to create a secure method of storing and hiding encryption keys.

What sets this apart is its ability to hide a key beneath user data and reveal it only when needed. The technique was recently published in Nature Communications.

The key innovation involves a weak application of the GIDL (Gate-Induced Drain Leakage) erase process. This boosts variation between memory cells, making each chip's characteristics unique and unpredictable.

These variations can be used to generate the PUF data that serves as a secure, unclonable key.

With this approach, no structural or circuit changes are required. The method works directly with standard V-NAND flash memory, making it easier to scale.

This could potentially allow hardware-level security to be implemented in everyday consumer electronics without added cost or complexity.

The university says Concealable PUF passed stress tests which included wide temperature ranges and over 10 million read cycles. It also withstood machine learning-based attacks, which could not predict the key beyond random guessing levels.

Impressively, the key was able be concealed and revealed over 100 times without any errors, showcasing the system’s stability.

Professor Jong-Ho Lee, who led the project, said, “Concealable PUF stands out for its creativity and practicality, as it utilizes mass-produced vertical NAND flash memory technology without modifications.”

Lead author Sung-Ho Park added, "This research is significant because it demonstrates how PUFs can be implemented using the erase operation of existing V-NAND flash memory without altering the circuitry or design. By enabling selective exposure of the security key, our method opens up new possibilities for enhancing both security and memory efficiency."

The team plans to extend this technology into other security-focused hardware solutions, targeting industries like IoT, mobile, and automotive electronics.

Via TechXplore

Concealable PUF using GIDL erase on V-NAND flash memory. (a) Schematic of the concealable PUF using V-NAND flash memory.(b) Circuit diagram of V-NAND flash memory.(c) Description of the GIDL erase method (Image credit: Nature Communications)You might also like

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, July 5 (game #489).

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 #490) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… My hero!

NYT Strands today (game #490) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SPORE
• GIRL
• PROW
• SWILL 
• BILL
• FEUD

NYT Strands today (game #490) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #490) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #490) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #490, are…

• STRENGTH
• SPEED
• FLIGHT
• INVISIBILITY
• HEALING
• SPANGRAM: SUPERPOWER

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

All those "I"s made INVISIBILITY very, erm, visible today. Although, to be fair, all of today’s words were hiding in plain sight and didn’t need much of a puzzling SUPERPOWER to reveal.

That said, the very first word I saw on the grid was “girl” right beside “power”, so I did briefly flirt with this being something to do with the Spice Girls.

Asking someone what superpower they’d like is a great conversation starter that can reveal a lot about a person, especially if it comes with the caveat that you don’t actually have to do good things with it – like fight evil geniuses and their henchmen and henchwomen.

FLIGHT would be interesting and STRENGTH would be nice, and being invisible would mean a lifetime of free sports and concerts, but I like the idea of SPEED – although I’d need to find someone with the HEALING superpower first, so they could sort my knees out.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, July 5, game #489)

• CLOCK
• WATCH
• CHRONOMETER
• HOURGLASS
• SUNDIAL
• SPANGRAM: TIMEKEEPERS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, July 5 (game #755).

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 Connections hints.

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 #756) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SEUSS
• CHINA
• DISNEY
• DECAF
• CRUMB
• PRUSSIAN
• PEPPER
• WARE
• EVIL
• CRYPTO
• POTTERY
• GRAIN
• MORSEL
• DRE
• SHRED
• CERAMICS

NYT Connections today (game #756) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Stick them in the kiln
• GREEN: Bits
• BLUE: What’s up d….?
• PURPLE: Sounds like body part

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 #756) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FIRED OBJECTS
• GREEN: PARTICLE
• BLUE: DRS
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE LEG

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

NYT Connections today (game #756) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #756, are…

• YELLOW: FIRED OBJECTS CERAMICS, CHINA, POTTERY, WARE
• GREEN: PARTICLE CRUMB, GRAIN, MORSEL, SHRED
• BLUE: DRS DRE, EVIL, PEPPER, SEUSS
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE LEG CRYPTO, DECAF, DISNEY, PRUSSIAN

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I am sure there will be indignation around the English-speaking world about today’s purple group.

Yes, CRYPTO and DISNEY both work as words ENDING WITH HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE LEG – but DECAF? And PRUSSIAN? Maybe, it’s a New York thing.

Thankfully, such quibbling didn’t matter to me, because the other three groups were relatively easy to put together.

DRS I saw immediately and included four examples of non-practising doctors – although having said that, Dr Pepper is named after a real person.

Meanwhile, Green Eggs and Ham author Dr Seuss did get an honorary doctorate years after adding his fake honorific – and he, I am sure, could tell a shin from a shun.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, July 5, game #755)

• YELLOW: CON GAME HUSTLE, RACKET, SCHEME, STING
• GREEN: COMBINE, AS BAKING INGREDIENTS BEAT, BLEND, FOLD, STIR
• BLUE: YEARN BURN, ITCH, LONG, PINE
• PURPLE: KINDS OF LISTS BUCKET, LAUNDRY, SHORT, TO-DO

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.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, July 5 (game #1258).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 #1259) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1259) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1259) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1259) - 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 0.

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 #1259) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• S

• E

• R

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

Quordle today (game #1259) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1259, are…

• AMPLY
• SPAWN
• EXTOL
• RIDGE

This felt like a particularly tricky edition of Quordle, and not just because of the sneaky rare letter, which took me an age to commit to.

I felt confident entering “psalm” and was convinced it would be correct; when that failed, I was forced into making up words that sound a bit like words which, well, can drag on a bit.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1259) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1259, are…

• WEAVE
• CRASS
• RUDDY
• FIBER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
• Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE