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Geekom makes some of our favorite mini PCs, including the new Mini Air12 Lite, which features a 9-pin port on the front that could be useful for DIY projects. At IFA 2024, the Taiwanese tech maker unveiled a selection of new mini PCs, most notably the impressive GT1 Mega. Measuring just 135 x 132 x 47mm, with a sub-1-liter volume, this device packs powerful hardware and extensive connectivity options, making it a genuine alternative to many desktop PCs.

Powered by Intel's Meteor Lake mobile CPUs, the GT1 Mega comes with either a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or the higher-end 16-core Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, both of which are capable of handling some pretty demanding tasks. The system supports up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM through dual SODIMM slots and offers storage options of up to 2TB via an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4x4 slot. If that's not quite enough, an additional terabyte can be added through the M.2 2242 SATA slot.

GT1 Mega comes with Intel Arc graphics (8 cores) and while the mini PC's chassis doesn't accommodate discrete graphics cards or offer an OCuLink connector, a USB 4 port allows for eGPU support if you need a bit more oomph in the graphics department. There's also an AI Boost NPU for hardware-accelerated AI performance.

USB ports galore

Connectivity is the standout feature of the GT1 Mega. The mini PC boasts eight USB ports: four USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the front, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, and two USB4 Type-C ports capable of 40 Gbps data transfer and video output. It also includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, dual 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SD card reader. Wireless connectivity is provided by Intel's BE200 module, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

The GT1 Mega can drive up to four 4K displays and supports 8K resolution, making it suitable for multi-monitor setups and high-resolution tasks, like photo and video editing, . This, combined with its compact form factor, makes it an attractive option for users needing extensive display support without the bulk of a traditional desktop.

Pricing starts at $899 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 model with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The higher-end version with the Core Ultra 9, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD is priced at $999, with shipping expected October. Geekom plans a lower-priced model featuring a Core Ultra 5 125H processor, but there's no word on when that will be added to the lineup.

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Sony has commented on the PS5 Pro's controversial cost, while also revealing that the console was in development before the PS5 was released.

Speaking in a recent interview with IGN, PlayStation's senior principal product manager, Toshi Aoki, confirmed that there were already talks about the mid-generation console before the PS5 launched in 2020 as "technologies evolve every year".

"We started discussing it before the PS5 actually came out...because the PS5 specs were already locked in," Aoki said. "We were ready to launch and everything..."

When talking further about the PS5 Pro's specs, Aoki explained that the console's AI upscaling technology - PlayStation Spectral Super Revolution (PSSR) - wasn't available for the PS5 at the time of its development.

"I think it's more from the technological point of view of... Even the AI upscaling, it's not easy...it takes time to get there..." he said. "So as we were trying to target the best of both worlds...that's why we invested in seeing the other ways that we can get games into that space for high fidelity 60 FPS.

"That's why AI upscaling was the option that we took and we looked into and developed."

When the PS5 Pro was officially announced earlier this month, the console's $700 price tag caused quite a stir. However, according to Aoki, the console's many new features, including its PSSR tech, 8K support, and more, justify the price.

"Well, the technologies that I just mentioned that we are putting in to deliver new experiences for game players, and also not just the technological differences, but the SSD, the Wi-Fi 7, and the new technologies that surround the gameplay as well," Aoki said.

"So it's more of a full package that will give that exceptional value to the players... the most engaged players that we're targeting."

For those who want to stick to playing their physical games, they'll need to buy the optional disk drive, which will bring the total asking price to $800.

Aoki said that having the separate disk drive as an optional purchase was to give players more choice and that it's "more of the balance of the value proposition that we're giving".

"Well, with the PS5 Pro, we are offering all these new tech innovations, and we added the two terabyte SSD, as well as the Wi-Fi 7. We believe as a full package that it offers for the most players," he said.

"For the disc drive, it is an option for players. Not all players have discs, even though most players may...but we have the option for being able to add that for those players. So I think it's more of the balance of the value proposition that we're giving."

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Microsoft is continuing to modernize Windows 11 by gradually transferring the legacy Control Panel’s functions to its newer, shinier Settings app, and the latest effort on this front appears to be audio-related.

Trusted leaker of Windows developments on X, PhantomOfEarth, discovered a hidden ‘Soundscape’ panel in the Settings app (as highlighted by XDA Developers). This was present in an old (seemingly internal) preview build of Windows 11, and can’t be found in current test builds, the leaker explains.

25267.1001 includes the Soundscape settings page, meant to be a replacement for the old Sound control panel (the link to it is removed from Settings > System > Sound when the ID is enabled). The page doesn't have any content, though. Can't be enabled in Insider builds. pic.twitter.com/Xouacpag7PSeptember 25, 2024

PhantomOfEarth observes that when the new Soundscape page is enabled, the link to the old legacy Control Panel Sound window (which is the ‘More sound settings’ link, in System > Sound) is removed from Windows 11’s Settings app - which suggests that this is a replacement for that old piece of functionality.

The stumbling block right now is that this new Soundscape panel doesn’t have any content at all, it’s completely blank. So, we can’t be sure exactly what it’ll do (which isn’t surprising, given that it’s not even present in Windows 11 preview builds right now, it was uncovered in an internal Microsoft-only build as noted).

However, the one-line descriptive blurb for the new Soundscape option in the Settings app explains that it pertains to ‘Startup sound, scheme, audio events,’ which is what’s present in the legacy Control Panel Sound window under the ‘Sounds’ tab. So, it seems like Soundscape will replace this, offering a way to change the Windows sound scheme, the sound on boot-up, and audio related to individual system events (an error happening, for example).

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Standret) Making the Windows 11 interface more consistent is a necessary move

If the Soundscape panel does eventually replace the old audio functionality here, it’ll be another step closer to the Settings app fully succeeding the Control Panel. Clearly, though, this is still in its very early stages, what with the new page not only being hidden, but tucked away in an internal build, and not even present in the software piped to Windows Insiders for testing.

While it’s taking a long time, and work was begun in Windows 10, it’s clear enough that Microsoft is determined to continue seeing off the Control Panel, and replacing it with a more streamlined Settings app.

Remembering that the Control Panel is almost 40 years old is a sobering thought, and I do think that Microsoft needs to ensure that Windows 11 has a more modern, cleaner, and above all consistent design throughout.

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Hackers are now mostly focusing new phishing attacks against mobile devices, which are generally weaker and more often unmanaged compared to laptops or desktop PCs, experts have warned.

The new “2024 Global Mobile Threat Report” from Zimperium claims 82% of phishing sites today target mobile devices, and as they start adopting a mobile-first strategy on a grander scale, the hackers leverage multiple techniques to make their way into enterprise systems.

What’s more, three-quarters (76%) of phishing sites aimed at large enterprises are using HTTPS, a secure communications protocol which increases the perceived legitimacy of malicious websites, and makes victims lower their guard. Furthermore, since the screen real estate on mobile devices is smaller, victims are less likely to spot security indicators, such as the URL bar.

Moving quickly

Speaking of boosting perceived legitimacy, in late March 2024, researchers at Netcraft spotted a unique phishing-as-a-service tool called Darcula.

This tool allows crooks to send messages using the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol for Google Messages and iMessage, rather than the usual Short Message System (SMS). This improves the sense of legitimacy, and makes the messages impossible to intercept or block based solely on the contents (since the messages are end-to-end encrypted).

For hackers interested in phishing on mobile (or “mishing”, as Zimperium calls it), they know that time is of the essence. Almost immediately after creating a phishing site, it becomes operable. A quarter is up and running less than 24 hours after being created, it was said.

Shridhar Mittal, Chief Executive Officer at Zimperium, warned the only logical solution is to adopt a multi-layered security strategy, including mobile threat defense and mobile app vetting.

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Earlier this week, TechRadar published its official Garmin Fenix 8 review. We (or more accurately, I) called it “rugged, expensive perfection” and labelled it one of the best Garmin watches ever. 

In that review, I also stated: “I’ve not had the opportunity to test the new Dive Mode yet, unfortunately: after this review has been published I’ll be handing the device off to a writer who’s also a recreational diver for a more thorough breakdown of that particular mode.” 

Unfortunately, it’s that exact feature which is playing up for quite a few Garmin users at the moment. A reader reached out to me to inform TechRadar that posters on Garmin’s official forums, as well as several Reddit threads, are reporting some problems after submerging their Fenix 8s in cold water. 

One poster writes: “My Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm consistently crashes when the water temperature drops below 8°C. This is a significant issue where I live, as the water temperature often falls below that.

“In Europe, dive instruments must be tested down to 0°C to be on the market, so I find it surprising for a watch advertised to operate in negative temperatures to have this problem. I'm wondering if this is a software safety feature that might be resolved in an update, or if I should consider sending the watch back.”

It’s worth noting that the watch doesn’t appear to be permanently broken for any user yet: all posters and commenters are reporting a temporary crash. In the Garmin Fenix 8 owner’s manual, it states the listed underwater operating temperature is from 0F to 40C (from 32F to 104°F). 

TechRadar has reached out to Garmin for comment, and we'll update this article with any new information. 

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Google’s NotebookLM AI tool now works with YouTube video URLs and audio files as sources to help you create engaging audio podcast discussions with just one click. You can also share your creations easily with a public URL for your podcast.

Just a few weeks ago, Google introduced NotebookLM and TechRadar’s AI Senior Editor has been experimenting with the tool that lets you quickly convert documents into incredibly realistic conversations between two voices. Graham wrote, ‘I’ve had a glimpse of how AI will change the world, and it’s filling me with both fear and wonder in equal measure.’

Now, Google has expanded the AI tool with new source types including the ability to upload YouTube videos as well as audio files. These new formats will allow users to take full advantage of NotebookLM to analyze video essays and lectures, make group projects far easier by letting you summarize the audio from a group call, and quickly turn class recordings into study guides.

In its original version NotebookLM simply dumped the finished WAV file of the conversation on your desktop, and you then had to work out how to share it with people. That wasn't too hard, but it required a few extra steps and other services. Now NotebookLM will give you a publicly shareable URL for every file you create, which makes life so much easier.

Endless possibilities

NotebookLM is one of the most impressive AI tools we’ve used yet and everyone who’s tried it out in the office has had a similar response: It doesn’t sound like AI, and it’s almost too real. Previously you could only upload documents like PDFs or text files, but now the ability to just drag and drop any YouTube video on the internet adds a whole new dimension to NotebookLM.

There are so many possibilities with an AI tool that can quickly scan information and create an easy-to-follow discussion. Not only can you now quickly create AI-generated conversations that can pass as professional podcasts, but it also opens the door for a much improved educational experience. In fact, Google say it's already being used by students and lecturers at Boise State University to assist learning.

We’re only just at the beginning of NotebookLM’s development and the future of this AI audio tool is already looking incredibly bright. It’s not just Google working magic with AI audio, however. Yesterday at Meta Connect 2024, Meta unveiled new audio translation tools that will automatically dub and lip-sync Instagram and Facebook Reels. With all of these impressive AI audio tools emerging, it’s going to be an exciting couple of years as we see the true potential of this technology.

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Ninja, maker of some of the best air fryers, has unveiled a new machine that lets you cook and reheat food anywhere with a power outlet. The Ninja Crispi (following the same naming convention as the Foodi, Slushi, and Creami) is a portable air-fryer that will allow you to cook golden nuggets and fries in your kitchen, at your desk, or anywhere else you can plug it in.

The Crispi cooking system comprises a set of specially designed glass containers, with a Power Pod that snaps onto the top. Once attached, the Power Pod detects the size of the container (4qt or 6qt) and begins circulating super-heated air to cook the food within.

Each glass container also has a reusable lid, so you can take your prepared food or leftovers ready to crisp up at lunchtime. No more soggy microwaved meals or plastic boxes. Once you're done, the whole system stacks together to take up minimal space in your kitchen cupboard.

Reheat leftovers, or cook an entire meal wherever you happen to be (Image credit: SharkNinja) The world's your kitchen

The Crispi has four cooking modes (max crisp, bake, air fry and re-crisp), and according to Ninja, it can handle anything from light snacks through to a 4lb chicken. Bear in mind that it doesn't have an odor-absorbing filter, so preparing a roast at your desk might make you quite unpopular unless you're willing to share.

The Crispi is available to order now for $159.99 (about £120 / AU$230) direct from Ninja, and will be stocked at large US stores later this fall. Looking for something more conventional? Our roundup of the best air fryers is full of options if you'd rather confine cooking to your kitchen.

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You will never own a pair of Meta Orion AR glasses - at least not like what I saw yesterday at Meta Connect 2024. That's what I told myself after reading early hands-on reports that made one thing very clear about the ground-breaking smart glasses introduced this week by wunderkind turned billionaire CEO, and now cool guy Mark Zuckerberg.

It's not that Orion can't do the things Zuckerberg claimed during his buzz-worthy keynote. Orion is a pair of somewhat thick, black-framed glasses featuring what looks like see-through screens (more on that in a bit), hand and eye tracking, neural input (via a wrist device), and the ability to integrate virtual environments with your real one almost seamlessly.

The demo was exciting and reminded me a bit of what Magic Leap showed off almost a decade ago. It too had apparently excellent resolution, a wide field of view, and appeared to serve as a bridge between real and virtual worlds. Unfortunately, the reality of the hardware never lived up to the hype. The images were desaturated, and the field of view narrow. It required physical connectivity to a pack, and looked more like goggles than glasses. The company is still around but now focuses on enterprise customers (a final destination for almost all mixed-reality headsets).

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Meta Orion is not Magic Leap. First of all, in addition to showing the AR glasses on stage (roughly 50 feet away from where I sat), Meta gave hands-on demos to a handful of celebrities, industry figures (including Gary Vee and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang), and some media outlets.

What's clear from all of them is that this is real. The AR glasses function more or less as Zuckerberg promised. They offer full-frame 'displays' that use waveform microLED projector technology to light up the transparent silicon carbide lens with an image. That's exciting because it means the viewport for these AR glasses could exceed most AR glasses on the market. No more glancing up at a special area where the AR experience will live. If you wear glasses every day as I do, eyesight correction must span your entire field of view. AR won't be immersive unless it similarly can appear wherever I cast my eyes. Orion could be like wearing regular glasses, but with a hidden superpower.

That glee you saw on the faces of those who experienced Orion firsthand might never be your glee.

The "neural interface" is a bit of a push. It's just a wristband that can, I think, read subtle hand gestures through the muscles and tendons in the wrist. That's not neural technology as I understand it. Still, I like the idea of combining that control with eye tracking. That could be pretty intuitive. Of course, the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro reads hand gestures without a wristband.

Orion AR glasses still look like glasses not so much because of a big breakthrough; there's a pocket puck where much of the processing power lives. At least it's wireless.

Even with these caveats, this is an exciting bit of technology and I can't wait for it to hit the market. Except it never will.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

According to the Verge's hands-on report, this version of Meta Orion will never see the light of day. The company is already working on thinner and lighter versions. And while that sounds good, there is one very significant caveat. The silicon carbide lenses (material that is typically used in aerospace and the semiconductor industries) can't be manufactured affordably at scale, and that means Orion V2 will not have them. As a result, the shipping Orions, if and when they arrive, will have a smaller field of view.

Meta told the Verge that the screen will be sharper and brighter, but that doesn't really matter to me. The key to a transformative AR experience is not just its ability to connect the physical world to your virtual one, it's about how borders don't break that illusion. A smaller field of view will mean that the AR magic breaks quickly and will only be available to a portion of your viewport. That adjustment will change the Orion experience from transformative to unsatisfying, if not gimmicky.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

That glee you saw on the faces of those who experienced Orion firsthand might never be your glee. Some of the shipping Orion experience might make you smile, but then you'll glance to the left or right or look too far up or down and your AR will vanish.

Maybe I'm wrong, but think about how Zuckerberg announced these frames. He specifically pointed out the silicon carbide lenses as a defining feature, something chosen for its excellent refractive capabilities, critical when you're projecting an image onto a surface that has to then reach your eyes. Essentially making the entire lens a screen was an act of brilliance and now, it appears, an overreach.

If the final shipping Orion has just plastic or glass, the experience won't be the same, and Orion 2, which may still cost as much as a laptop will be yet another wearable AR disappointment.

@techradar

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With the arrival of the Meta Quest 3S we learned that three Quest headsets are being discontinued, including the 128GB Meta Quest 3, to make room for the new and more affordable model. Less than a day after this announcement Meta has already sold out of the 128GB Quest 3 in the US and Australia – at the time of writing it’s still on sale at Meta.com in the UK.

A quick glance at third-party retailers shows the 128GB Quest 3 – which now costs just $429.99 / £409.99 / AU$799.99 – isn’t yet completely unavailable, but given that Meta.com has started to run dry I expect it won’t be long until the headset is gone for good.

So take this as your final prompt to grab one while you can. Right now the Meta Quest 3 is the VR headset I’d buy if I didn’t already own one, thanks to its combination of a fairly low price, great specs, and comfortable design. Also, for VR gaming 128GB goes a long way as app sizes are fairly small, so more storage isn’t a necessity.

The only negative is that you won’t get a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow, but you can buy it separately if you’re desperate to play the VR superhero game when it launches in October.

It’s sold out, what do I do now?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you’re reading this after the Meta Quest 3 128GB model has completely sold out in your country, what would I suggest you buy instead? Well either the 512GB Quest 3 model or the new 128GB Meta Quest 3S.

The Quest 3S isn’t a significant downgrade, but there are a few factors to consider when weighing up your options.

The chipset and RAM are the same, but you’ll have to make do with a less crisp 1832 x 1920 per-eye screen rather than the Quest 3’s 2064 x 2208 pixels per-eye displays. And while it is a 1g lighter the Meta Quest 3S is bigger as Meta says it’s only 20% slimmer than the Quest 2 compared with 40% for the Quest 3 proper, which will impact comfort.

The 3S also loses out on the Quest 3’s depth sensor, which will mean mixed reality experiences are little less accurate, as the headset only has cameras and software to rely on.

But at just $299.99 / £289.99 / AU$499.99 the Quest 3S is a very tempting prospect despite its downsides. For more in-depth info on both the Quest 3 and Quest 3S check out our Meta Quest 3 review and our hands-on Meta Quest 3S review.

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If you read our Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review, you'll see that these brand-new wireless earbuds come with built-in access to Google's AI assistant, Gemini. But you may not need to upgrade, as we've also heard that Gemini support is rolling out to older Pixel Buds.

The news emerged through emails sent out to current Pixel Buds owners, as reported by 9to5Google. As long as you have Gemini set as the assistant on your Android phone rather than Google Assistant, you'll be able to access it through your earbuds.

There's also a tweak to how the "hey Google" command works – this can now launch Gemini, and it will no longer be a separate setting on your Android phone. Instead, you can enable the hands-free voice access in the Gemini app.

For full details, head to the updated support page for Gemini on the Pixel Buds. This change applies to all previous models: the Pixel Buds, the Pixel Buds Pro, the Pixel Buds A-Series, as well as the new Pixel Buds Pro 2.

Gemini takes over

The Pixel Buds A-Series, previously using Google Assistant (Image credit: Google)

Bear in mind that Gemini isn't available worldwide yet, so if it's not accessible in your country, you'll have to wait to get the upgrade. In the meantime, you'll still be able to access Google Assistant through your earbuds.

Google is clearly working as fast as it can to replace Google Assistant with the more advanced Gemini across all of its apps and devices. For example, Gemini comes as the default assistant on the new Google Pixel 9 phone series.

With that in mind, it's no real surprise to see Gemini making its way to older Pixel Buds models: the heavy lifting for Gemini is done on your phone, so it's simply a question of redirecting the Pixel Buds to the right assistant.

We saw the move coming a few days ago when the feature that enabled Google Assistant to read out incoming phone notifications through older Pixel Buds earbuds was removed – you can now get them through Gemini by saying, "Hey Google, read my notifications."

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The majority of users still protect their prized virtual possessions with nothing more than passwords, despite the method being deemed susceptible to all sorts of attacks, a new report from Yubico has claimed.

The hardware authentication key provider surveyed 20,000 people around the world to gauge their perception on cybersecurity, and found the majority (58%) still use usernames and passwords to log into personal accounts (as opposed to biometrics, for example). Furthermore, 54% use the same method to log into work accounts.

At the same time, many (39%) are under the impression that the username and password is the most secure means of authentication. A similar percentage (37%) think the same of SMS-based authentication, despite both being proven to be susceptible to phishing.

Compromised accounts

Interestingly enough, the vast majority of respondents - 72% - is also aware that online scams and phishing attacks have become more sophisticated. For two-thirds (66%), they’ve also gotten more successful. They all agree that the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) played a key role in this.

As a result, people lose access to their accounts all the time. The most commonly compromised passwords are also the ones protecting the most valuable of possessions - personal and financial information. That being said, social media accounts are most often breached (44%), followed by payment app accounts (24%), online retailer accounts (21%), messaging apps (17%), and banking apps (13%).

To add insult to injury, 40% of respondents never received any form of cybersecurity training from the organization they work for. Furthermore, just a quarter (27%) believe the security options their businesses placed are sufficient.

“This includes adopting stronger authentication methods to become phishing-resistant, fostering a culture of security awareness through consistent employee training, and more,” said Derek Hanson, VP of standards and alliances at Yubico.

“Ultimately, building a unified front against cyber threats requires a concerted effort to bridge the gap between perceived and actual security. By integrating advanced security measures into all aspects of our digital lives, we can better protect ourselves, our data, and our organizations.”

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I've always loved Bluesound's naming of its music streamers, which are now into their 13th year of existence. In medical terms, nodes are little filters throughout the body, while in more general language a node can mean a point in a network at which lines or pathways intersect. It seems especially apt now though, because Lenbrook (which owns Bluesound, as well as NAD and PSB Speakers) tells me the Bluesound team identified 17 points of change in the audio signal path of a musical recording, from the moment an artist sings into a mic, to a listener hearing it – think mic level, patchbay, audio interfaces, processing and so on.

Interesting, no? That's 17 chances for the authenticity of a recording to falter just a little – and Bluesound doesn't want that. The team are all avid live-music fans, so the aim of the Node range, says Bluesound, is to "make digital disappear" – i.e., to make those potential pitfalls in the chain go away.

And Bluesound's got three options with which it aims to achieve this, from the smaller Node Nano up to the newest and largest Node Icon. You don't have to be a genius to see that with this foray into more elite territory, Bluesound clearly wants to take on the Cambridge Audio CXN100 network player – because the flagship Node Icon, the priciest of the trio, costs precisely the same money. And initially, I have to say I like it.

(Image credit: Future) Know your Nodes

Bluesound's digital music streamers are for you if you want something a little better from your music source, and you want to stream in hi-res to any stereo system you have. To do this, you can pick from Bluesound's entry-level Node Nano, the Node Classic (first released 12 years ago as the N100, and Bluesound's most popular and loved product ever), and the flagship Node Icon.

First off, the smallest and most wallet-friendly Nano. It's a slim and compact little streamer, offering the essentials to transform existing hi-fi components and home audio devices into a music streaming system. Built using an audiophile-friendly Ess Sabre DAC and dual-band WiFi to deliver music (up to 24-bit/192kHz) you get analog and digital outputs for RCA, Coax, Optical and USB. How does it work? Simply plug it in to your existing stereo system or powered speakers, follow the few steps to connect it to your home network, and start streaming in hi-res goodness.

The Node Nano is powered by Bluesound's BluOS and natively supports Amazon Music, Qobuz, SiriusXM, Tidal, and more. It also features Apple AirPlay 2, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. You also get a backlit front touch-panel for quick control and access up to two programmable presets.

Now to the mid-range Node. This is a big remastering of the original Node, with an all-new Ess Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC plus re-engineered components and circuitry, a built-in THX AAA headphone amplifier, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, and DSD support. Connect the new Node to a stereo amplifier or pair of powered speakers and you're all set – stream all the music ever recorded, but with more detail and clarity.

In this model, you also get digital/analog inputs as well as outputs, and you can connect the Node to your TV and gaming console with HDMI eARC. It also features built-in IR learning for universal control, and a proximity-sensing touch panel with up to five programmable source presets.

(Image credit: Future)

The flagship Node Icon "sets a new benchmark for wireless music streamers" says Bluesound, thanks to its five-inch full-color display plus a dual-mono DAC design with not one but two Ess Sabre ES9039Q2M DACs. Bluesound tells me this DAC setup's performance is further enhanced by MQA Labs’ QRONO d2a tech, which "corrects any timing errors in the digital-to-analog conversion process and realigns the timing response to the original recording".

Both the Node and Node Icon feature THX AAA headphone amp technology, with patented feed-forward error correction, but while the Node is equipped with one full-sized 1/4 headphone jack, the Node Icon features both left and right jacks for cable management on the back of the unit – if you feel like sharing your hi-res audio, that is…

In addition, the Node and Node Icon are ready for Dirac Live Room Correction, an upgrade available directly from Dirac – but you'll need to buy it. Using Dirac’s app, users can then measure their room acoustics to eliminate bass traps, echoes and other unwanted distortions in their space. A calibration kit with a high-sensitivity mic is also required, but it's available from Bluesound (as another additional purchase).

The Node Icon also features all digital/analog inputs and outputs, including HDMI eARC and balanced XLR outputs for high-quality connectivity.

DAC performance is further enhanced by MQA Labs’ revolutionary technology, QRONO d2a, which corrects any timing errors in the digital-to-analogue conversion process and realigns the timing response to the original recording.

(Image credit: Future)

Prices? Of course: the Bluesound The Node Nano is available now for £299 (abut $399 or AU$580). The Node is also available now priced at £499 (so approximately $670 or AU$970) in both black and white finishes. The Bluesound Node Icon will be available for pre-order from October 17, and is priced at £899 (around $1,200 or AU$1,770) starting October 17, all on bluesound.com and at Bluesound dealers around the world. The Node Icon will begin shipping to customers and dealer locations worldwide on November 15.

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Following a flurry of leaks – including some from Samsung itself – the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra have now been unveiled. If you’ve been following along with these leaks, this won’t be much of a surprise – and nor will their specs – but they all sound like promising devices.

Starting with the phone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. That’s the biggest screen Samsung has ever put on an FE phone, up from the 6.4-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.

The new phone also has a 4,700mAh battery (up from 4,500mAh on the previous model), and once again supports 25W wired charging, as well as “fast” wireless charging. There’s a high-end Exynos 2400e chipset with support for ray tracing, and that’s paired with 8GB of RAM and a vapor chamber that’s 1.1x larger than the one in the Galaxy S23 FE.

What Samsung is really making a big deal about, though, is the AI-enhanced camera, which includes a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide (with a 123-degree field of view), an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP front-facing camera.

Now, those are the same camera specs as you’ll find on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, but here they’re boosted by Samsung’s AI-driven ProVisual Engine, which can improve low-light performance, deliver optical-quality 2x zoom, and optimize colors for more vibrant and lifelike images and videos.

When it comes time to edit your photos, you can then make use of things like Generative Edit, which uses AI to move and remove objects.

These aren’t the only AI tools baked into the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE either, as the phone also has the likes of Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Note Assist – features that we’ve previously seen on the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S24 line.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will be available to order from October 4 in Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, and Yellow colors, costing $649.99 / £649 for a 128GB version and $709.99 / £699 for a model with 256GB of storage.

Two tablets to choose from

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (Image credit: Samsung)

Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Both tablets have a 120Hz AMOLED screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, an IP68 rating, and a 13MP main and 8MP ultra-wide camera. They also both come bundled with an S Pen stylus, and come in a choice of Moonstone Gray or Platinum Silver shades.

The Plus has a 12.4-inch 2,800 x 1,752 display, a 12MP front-facing camera, 12GB of RAM, a 10,090mAh battery with 45W charging, and up to 512GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, on the other hand, has a 14.6-inch 2,960 x 1,848 display, a dual-lens 12MP selfie camera, up to 16GB of RAM, an 11,200mAh battery with 45W charging, and up to 1TB of storage.

Both tablets additionally support AI features like Circle to Search, Note Assist, and Sketch to Image.

They both ship on October 3, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus starts at $999.99 / £999, while the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starts at $1,199.99 / £1,199, with prices rising for more storage, and for versions with mobile connectivity.

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The conflict between WordPress and WP Engine has ramped up even further after the website builder platform officially banned the latter from accessing its services.

WordPress co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg blasted the website hosting firm, claiming WP Engine "broke thousands of customer sites" in what he called "a haphazard attempt" at retaliation following days of arguments between the two companies.

"What I will tell you is that, pending their legal claims and litigation against WordPress.org, WP Engine no longer has free access to WordPress.org’s resources," Mullenweg declared in a blog post. "Any WP Engine customers having trouble with their sites should contact WP Engine support and ask them to fix it."

Plugin risk

The news will be alarming for WP Engine users who frequently use WordPress plugins, as preventing them from accessing the latest versions may leave them open to security attacks.

Hackers frequently target WordPress plugins, with several recent attacks affecting millions of users across the world. Insecure plugins can offer hackers full access to vulnerable websites, or allow them to install malicious or harmful software without warning.

The news is the latest escalation between the two services, which appear to have fallen out in a big way.

In a speech at the recent WordCamp US Summit, Mullenweg had initially described WP Engine as a “cancer to WordPress” for exploiting the open-source project without contributing anything in return.

This was quickly followed by a cease and desist letter to WordPress parent company Automattic, with WP Engine saying Mullenweg's comments were a failed attempt to coerce WP Engine into paying millions to license the WordPress trademark. WP Engine's lawyers also claimed Mullenweg was looking to launch a “scorched earth nuclear approach” if the company did not pay up.

Mullenweg appeared to address these claims in his blog post, asking, "Why should WordPress.org provide these services to WP Engine for free, given their attacks on us?"

"WP Engine wants to control your WordPress experience, they need to run their own user login system, update servers, plugin directory, theme directory, pattern directory, block directory, translations, photo directory, job board, meetups, conferences, bug tracker, forums, Slack, Ping-o-matic, and showcase," he added.

"WP Engine is free to offer their hacked up, bastardized simulacra of WordPress’s GPL code to their customers, and they can experience WordPress as WP Engine envisions it, with them getting all of the profits and providing all of the services."

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I can always rely on Netflix for its extensive catalog to keep me entertained. As we approach the fall months, I've been keeping an eye out on the best streaming service for new movies and shows to watch during the cozier months – and seeing what Netflix has in store for October 2024, I don't think I'm going to have any trouble. 

In addition to some the best Netflix series returning (like Heartstopper season 3), the service will also be bringing a bunch of fresh movies to your screens in hopes that they will make our list of best Netflix movies. For Netflix, there's no waiting around as its official spooky season commences on October 1 with Hitchcock classics The Birds (1963) and Psycho (1960), as well as It Chapter Two (2019), which is currently one of our favorite Stephen King movies on Max. 

Of course horror is due to make an appearance this month, but Netflix has done a solid job at weaving comedy and drama titles in the mix also. Having this balance is always useful if you decide that the horror overload becomes too much, but for me, horror is the only option for October 2024. 

Everything new on Netflix in October 2024

Arriving on October 1 

21 Jump Street (movie)
22 Jump Street (movie)
8 Mile (movie)
As Above, So Below (movie)
The Birds (movie)
Boyz n the Hood (movie)
Bridesmaids (movie)
Brüno (movie)
Cinderella Man (movie)
Couples Retreat (movie)
Elysium (movie)
Escape Plan (movie)
Get Him to the Greek (movie)
The Girl Next Door (movie)
Halloween (2018) (movie)
It Chapter Two (movie)
Jarhead (movie)
Judy (movie)
The Karate Kid (movie)
The Karate Kid Part II (movie)
The Karate Kid Part III (movie)
Kung Fu Panda (movie)
Kung Fu Panda 3 (movie)
Legion (movie)
Making It in Marbella (movie)
Marnie (movie)
Psycho (movie)
Psycho II (movie)
Red Dragon (movie)
Robin Hood (2010) (movie)
Robin Hood (2018) (movie)
Salt (movie)
Scarface (movie)
The Sentinel (movie)
Till Death (movie)
Tim Dillon: This Is Your Country (movie)
Two Weeks Notice (movie)
Unfriended (movie)
Wipeout: Batch 4 (movie)
Yellowjackets: Season 1 (TV show)
You're Next (movie)

Arriving on October 2

Chef's Table: Noodles (documentary, Netflix Original)
Love Is Blind season 7 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 5 (documentary, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 3

The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist (movie, Netflix Original)  
Blue Box (movie, Netflix Original)
Heartstopper season 3 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Trouble (movie, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 4

The Amazing Digital Circus season 1 (episodes 1-3) (TV show)
CTRL (movie, Netflix Original)
IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE (movie, Netflix Original)
The Platform 2 (movie, Netflix Original)
S.W.A.T. season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on October 5 

Ranma1/2 (TV show, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 7 

The Menendez Brothers (documentary, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 8

Ali Wong: Single Lady (comedy special, Netflix Original)
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (movie)
Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition (live event, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 9

Deceitful Love (TV show, Netflix Original)
Love Is Blind season 7 (new episodes) (TV show, Netflix Original)
Starting 5 (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Secret of the River (TV show, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 10 

Girl Haunts Boy (movie)
The Life and Movies of Erşan Kuneri season 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Love Is Blind, Habibi (TV show, Netflix Original)
Outer Banks season 4 part 1 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (TV show, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 11

In Her Place (movie, Netflix Original)
Lonely Planet (movie, Netflix Original)
Scream (movie)
Uprising (movie, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 12

A Quiet Place Part II (movie)
A Virtuous Business (TV show, Netflix Original)
Clifford the Big Red Dog (movie)

Arriving on October 14 

Mighty Monsterwheelies (movie, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 15 

Abandoned (movie)
All American: Homecoming season 3 (TV show)
Detroiters seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Comedy Revenge (TV show, Netflix Original)
Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special (comedy special, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 16 

Ancient Apocalypse: The Americas (documentary, Netflix Original)
I AM A KILLER season 5 (documentary, Netflix Original)
Justice (movie, Netflix Original)
Love Is Blind season 7 (new episodes) (TV show, Netflix Original)
Selma (movie)
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare (documentary, Netflix Original)
Untapped: Closing America's Opportunity Gap (documentary)

Arriving on October 17

Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (TV show, Netflix Original)
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory season 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Outside (movie, Netflix Original)
The Shadow Strays (movie, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 18

Ghost Hunters seasons 10-11 (TV show)
Happiness Is (TV show, Netflix Original)
Join or Die (movie)
The Man Who Loved UFOs (movie, Netflix Original)
The Turnaround (documentary, Netflix Original)
Woman of the Hour (movie, Netflix Original)
Yintah (documentary, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 19 

American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja season 3 (TV show)
American Ninja Warrior season 14 (TV show)

Arriving on October 21 

Book Club (movie)
Kung Fu Panda 4 (movie)

Arriving on October 22

Escape at Dannemora season 1 (TV show)
Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head (comedy special, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 23 

Car Masters: Rust to Riches season 6 (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (TV show, Netflix Original)
Family Pack (movie, Netflix Original)
Love Is Blind season 7 (new episode) (TV show, Netflix Original)
This is the Zodiac Speaking (documentary, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 24

Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black (TV show, Netflix Original)
Territory (TV show, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 25

Don't Move (movie, Netflix Original)
Hellbound season 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Hijack '93 (movie, Netflix Original)
The Last Night at Tremore Beach (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (documentary, Netflix Original)
Simone Biles Rising part 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 28 

Blippi's Ultimate Bounce House Challenges season 1 (TV show)
Blippi's Wonderful Talent Show (TV show)

Arriving on October 29 

Botched seasons 2-3 (TV show)
Tom Papa: Home Free (comedy special, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 30

Go Ahead, Brother (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Law According to Lidia Poët season 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)
The Manhattan Alien Abduction (documentary, Netflix Original)
Martha (documentary, Netflix Original)
Time Cut (movie, Netflix Original)

Arriving on October 31 

The Diplomat season 2 (TV show, Netflix Original)
Murder Mindfully (TV show, Netflix Original)

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Remember Google Glass and the glassholes? People relentlessly mocked anyone wearing those $1,500 smart glasses, arguably leading to skittishness about wearable technology, particularly anything related to artificial intelligence tools and assistants. But all that's about to change.

Meta made it clear that there is a much brighter future for AI wearables this week at Meta Connect 2024, bright enough that one of the wearables comes in the form of sunglasses. The company showcased two different types of smart glasses at the event: an upgraded version of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and a preview of Orion, smart glasses that employ augmented reality along with AI. 

There have been plenty of other wearables since Google Glass flamed out, but, except for smartwatches, most have either sputtered out or survived only in certain niche roles like Snap's Spectacles. Even the recent surge in generative AI software hasn't really cracked the code. Hardware like the Humane AI Pin, the Rabbit R1, and the Plaud.ai NotePin all had a lot of hype around them, but have largely faded from the conversation after the reality didn't match the promise.

Both Orion and the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses address the biggest problems plaguing those AI wearables, as well as Google Glass, but in different ways. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are all about fashion and comfort, with the tech designed for subtlety and a non-intrusive AI assistant. They look miles better than Google Glass, which looked like it was built specifically to draw ridicule. And $330 bucks for an AI voice assistant is a tempting offer for any fan of AI helpers who don't want to advertise that they are using one. Meta's smart glasses are also more functional than the admittedly discreet AI pins that have attracted intense, if brief, interest this year. Real-time translation and the ability to use built-in cameras to answer questions about the world around you make for a product that prefers usability over novelty. 

Orion's Star Quality

Meta discarded much of the understated approach of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with Orion and its combination of AR and AI. While not ready for shipping yet, the prototype offers a much more immersive experience that could be both useful and distracting. It's a risk since distraction was another element that made people dislike the Google Glass look, and the possible discomfort people might feel around the AI wearable pins always listening might be even higher when there are cameras and visual information involved. 

The hand and eye-tracking in Orion also make for a less obvious control method, but they'll still be obvious for what they are based on the current design, even if Meta reduces its size somewhat. No price has been mentioned yet, either, but if Meta really wants to see Orion fly off the shelf, it may have to pick a number under $1,500. Keeping Orion off the market until its ready will likely help boost those sales eventually. 

I'm skeptical about whether Meta has really cracked the AI wearable design with its two smart glasses models. The Ray-Bans seem underpowered for a daily wearable, while Orion feels either too complex for smart glasses or not advanced enough to be a real gaming headset. Personally, I think North and its Focals smartglasses were the best design concept for wearable tech, but Google bought and seemingly buried all of the patents and research it acquired. Still, Meta has a lot of resources tied up in this hardware and is willing to spend time and money to sharpen its focus on its vision of wearable technology. 

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Intel has finally brought the investigation into its problematic 13th and 14th-gen CPUs to an apparent close, with a final summary of four main factors that caused the instability issues, and the revelation that an additional patch is required to remedy the fourth stumbling block.

VideoCardz noticed that Intel’s Communications Manager, Thomas Hannaford, posted a further update to provide these details.

The final patch required as a preventative measure to mitigate the gremlins in the works going forward with 13th and 14th-gen processors will be microcode update 0x12B. This addresses the final problem Intel discovered, namely: “Microcode and BIOS code requesting elevated core voltages which can cause Vmin shift especially during periods of idle and/or light activity.”

This patch will come with the previous two microcode fixes rolled into it, namely 0x125 and 0x129, which address issues with how Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) was misfiring, and elevated operating voltages due to a flaky algorithm, respectively.

Those are the three main factors involved in the instability on Intel’s side, with the fourth point – and the first matter to be raised by Intel – being motherboard power delivery settings having been notched up over and above Team Blue’s guidance levels. That led Intel to clarify new default power settings for CPUs from these two generations.

Analysis: No performance hit is promised with the new fix

With this latest fourth root cause revealed, it’s a little worrying that the elevated voltages have been happening during periods when the PC is doing nothing, or very little, as this means that potentially the degradation occuring to the chip has been happening pretty much constantly. As you may recall, Intel has extended the warranty for these processors to five years – though beyond that, you may still suffer a CPU that fails earlier than it should, perhaps due to these issues in its early life. Not a pleasant thought.

We don’t know when this final microcode update will arrive – Intel doesn’t give us any kind of timeframe – but presumably it’ll be fairly soon. And presumably, it will be the final one, as the statement provided is certainly worded as if Intel has concluded its investigation (notably, the investigation was referred to as ongoing when the last microcode update was announced).

As with the previous microcode patch, there will be a delay, though, as Intel works with motherboard makers to get the new 0x12B update ready and packaged in the various different BIOS releases from these multiple hardware vendors. All you can do is keep an eye on your motherboard manufacturer’s website for a new BIOS release, and likely the next one will pack this final fix.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The good news is that according to Intel’s testing, the new 0x12B update doesn’t impact performance compared to a PC running with the first microcode patch applied – and that’s for both running applications, and games, which remain within ‘run-to-run variation’ (in other words, any difference is negligible).

That is just Team Blue’s internal testing mind, and of course the company notes that “system performance is dependent on configuration and several other factors” as always.

Intel has again confirmed that the issues relating to elevated voltages and other gremlins therein with Raptor Lake and its current-gen refresh will not affect any future CPUs. Team Blue specifically clarifies that this means its next silicon in line, Lunar Lake (laptop chips that have only just debuted) and Arrow Lake (desktop processors which are imminent, and some high-end laptop too).

There’s one notable oddity in the statement, and that’s Intel saying the new microcode update will be provided via a BIOS release to “for all Intel Core 13th/14th-gen desktop processor users” (bolding added by us for emphasis).

Previously, it was announced that all Core i3 and Core i5 (save for the 14600K and 13600K) processors weren’t affected, and haven’t had to be patched – so is the entire 13th and 14th-gen line-up set to be patched in the coming days? This could just be an oversight by Intel, and the company might mean all affected Intel CPUs – we’ll have to wait for further clarification. Those Core i3 and i5 models shouldn’t need patching now, though, if they didn’t before.

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Meta Connect 2024 was packed with announcements: the Meta Quest 3S was unveiled, the Ray-Ban smart glasses got new features, and Meta AI is getting upgrades too (including one that will dub Instagram Reels recorded in other languages). But the most flashy reveal was Orion – Meta’s first full- functioning holographic AR glasses prototype; and while Mark Zuckerberg was careful not to promise when we might see a consumer-grade pair, Meta’s CTO was more than happy to share some details.

Andrew Bosworth – @boztank on Instagram – often does AMA sessions in which he answers all sorts of questions about Meta’s tech. Post-Connect, plenty of questions were focused on Orion, and one user asked “How long until we can have our own AR glasses and around what price.”

While he didn’t give too specific an answer, Bosworth replied: “It’ll be a couple years, but not decades,” suggesting that we might see a consumer version of Orion relatively soon. My bet is that we’ll see them sometime around 2027, partly because that fits with the timeline Bosworth suggested, and partly because it matches the timeline laid out by a The Verge report from early 2023 that leaked details of Meta’s internal roadmap, which pegged 2027 as the year AR glasses would hit store shelves.

Lots could change in the next couple of years of course, but hopefully we’ll be able to wear Orion for ourselves sooner than some might have expected. The other big question, though, is will we be able to afford them?

(Image credit: Meta) Pricier than first predicted

On that note, Bosworth added that the price might not be quite as affordable as we'd initially hoped. Meta has said – and Zuckerberg mentioned this in the keynote – that one goal it must achieve before launching Orion for consumers is it must make the glasses more affordable. We took that to mean it’s targeting a price point around $299 / £299 / AU$449 – the price of the Ray-Ban smart glasses.

In his post, though, Bosworth said they “probably won’t get in at, like, a Quest 3S price point, or even a Quest 3 price point” – which immediately puts them over $499.99 / £469.99 / AU$1,049.99.

Instead Meta seems to be aiming at being affordable in terms of phones and laptops – which to me would be somewhere around $700 (around £700 / AU$1,350). Admittedly, this makes a lot of sense – $299 / £299 / AU$449 would be a surprisingly low price for smart specs that are being billed as an eventual smartphone replacement.

That said, price aside, it might take Orion a little longer than a couple of years to start eating the best smartphones' lunch. In another segment of the Q&A Bosworth revealed that Orion only has a two-to-three-hour battery life – roughly the same as the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. That's certainly not bad for an AR wearable, but it's a long way from being the full day we expect from our smartphones.

Hopefully a battery upgrade won’t be decades away either.

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LG's TVs, including its premium OLEDs, will now display screensaver ads as the ads-on-smart-TVs bandwagon gains yet more speed.

As reported by FlatpanelsHD, during its testing of the LG G4, before entering the conventional screensaver image, LG's TVs will often now display an ad. During its testing, FlatpanelsHD experienced an ad for LG's own LG Channels service.

We asked TechRadar's Max Langridge to confirm if this was the case with his LG G4, one of the best TVs of the year, and lo and behold, the same ad came up.

Digging deeper into where these ads come from, FlatpanelsHD also reported an article from LG Ad Solutions that decrees 'Screensaver Ads Are In Fact Effective" and reading further into the article, LG Ads found a "2.9 percentage points lift in brand awareness" and found " This full-screen ad format has effectively utilized idle screen time to boost brand visibility." It's also suggested that it won't just be LG-relevant ads either, but potentially third-party ones too.

So, it sounds like these ads will be a regular part of LG's plans in the future. Thankfully, there's a way to turn them off.

You can remove these screensaver ads by turning off the above setting. (Image credit: Future) Ads be gone

To turn off the screensaver ads on your LG TV, go to Settings > General > System Settings > Additional Settings and then you should see the menu in the image above. Go down to the 'Screen Saver Promotion' option (highlighted in image) and turn it off, so the bar next to it is no longer green.

It's great that these ads can be hidden in a year where ads on TVs and smart interfaces seem inescapable. Whether it's Roku bringing Instagram-style shoppable ads to its smart TVs to entice customers to spend, YouTube's intrusive pause screen ads to get users to subscribe to premium or Amazon displaying full screen-ads on screensavers, TV and smart TV platform manufacturers are constantly trying to find ways to fill empty space on TVs.

Ads are becoming a part of life, with streaming services even offering ad supported tiers or in Prime Video's case, adding ads into its service which can only be turned off by paying $2.99/£2.99 a month extra. And now, not even letting your TV sit idly can escape them.

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Tech giants have been pointing fingers at one another for months when it comes to the cloud computing industry, with Google, Microsoft, and Amazon (AWS), the three dominant players in the market, taking criticism from each other.

Now, Google has filed a complaint with the European Commission accusing Microsoft of using licensing terms to restrict European customers from switching cloud providers, despite there being no technical barriers to do so, or impose a 400% price markup.

It claims this has cost European businesses at least $1 billion a year, as well as stifling competition and innovation by preventing companies from using multiple cloud platforms.

‘Lock-in’ tactics

Microsoft’s terms force users to ‘lock-in’ to its service, which also weakens security, Google insists, since a lack of diversity in providers means cyber attacks are more frequent. The complaint points to the recent outage as an example of vulnerability when one firm has control of a large portion of the market.

In the UK, regulators found that Microsoft acquired up to 70% of all new cloud customers in 2022, and raised concerns about technical limitations and fees which make switching providers difficult.

“Like many others, we have attempted to engage directly with Microsoft.” Google’s statement said. “We have kicked off an industry dialogue on fair and open cloud licensing. And we have advocated on behalf of European customers and partners who fear retaliation in the form of audits or worse if they speak up.”

Just months ago, Microsoft came to an agreement with the Cloud Infrastructure Service Providers in Europe (CISPE), reportedly agreeing to a €20 million settlement to resolve an antitrust complaint in regards to its cloud computing licensing practices.

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