TechRadar News

• Windows 11 has a new feature hidden in testing
• It’s the ‘Windows Health and Optimized Experiences’ service
• Judging from clues in the code, this could be about getting Copilot to help achieve better battery longevity with laptops

Windows 11 could be getting a new feature which possibly taps Copilot in order to provide better battery life for laptops, although it should be noted that this is a very wispy, early-stage rumor.

The rumor was uncovered in a recent Windows 11 preview, but it’s just the initial groundwork for a potential feature, and it’s far from clear what this capability will be – except that it’s about optimizing Windows 11.

Windows Latest picked up on a post on X from regular leaker Albacore, which observed that the Windows 11 preview build that debuted in the Canary (earliest testing) channel this week introduces a new service.

The new "Windows Health and Optimized Experiences" (whesvc) service introduced in this week's Windows 11 Canary build is LUA drivenWhy does it feel like every new system component is some sort of awkward glue that wouldn't need to exist if the dev understood existing frameworks? pic.twitter.com/LJvzfbAiBaMay 25, 2025

This is the ‘Windows Health and Optimized Experiences’ service, and as Windows Latest pointed out, it contains references that suggest it examines battery-related telemetry.

In other words, it looks like this is a feature that could collect data on the power usage of a laptop, and how various factors are putting a strain on the battery (CPU usage, screen brightness and so forth).

Now, here’s where the interesting bit comes in – or the jump to a conclusion, depending on which way you look at it. Namely that the code references ‘efficiency Copilot’ which suggests that the AI assistant will somehow be wrapped up in this service.

Put two and two together, and what we could be witnessing here is the inception of a new feature that lets Copilot monitor the power efficiency of your laptop, and perhaps adjust settings to achieve the best battery life possible.

Analysis: A seemingly good use of Copilot

(Image credit: Future)

As noted, this is a considerable leap to a conclusion which may be way off the mark, and the service could be for something entirely different. Whatever it is, it will likely be related to battery optimization, mind you – if anything ever comes of it at all (Microsoft could simply scrap the idea before, or during, testing).

However, it makes sense to me that this is a useful way in which the intelligence of Copilot could be utilized. Either to get the AI to automatically fine-tune parts of Windows 11 in the background to maintain battery longevity, or to offer the user recommendations of changes to implement to provide better efficiency (possibly based on their type of usage of the notebook).

This could extend to power-efficiency on desktop PCs, too, as well as laptops, because it doesn’t hurt to keep a desktop running on as little wattage as necessary. Every bit of saved power adds up, after all, probably to an appreciable amount when it comes to a yearly utility bill.

If this feature is indeed inbound, it probably won’t arrive for some time yet. Letting Copilot loose in this way opens up the possibility for mistakes to be made by the AI, so that’d be something Microsoft would need to guard closely against. It’d also point to the safer way of simply delivering suggestions as being the model for this functionality, rather than having Copilot automatically tinkering with Windows 11 in the background.

A final thought here: if this does happen, what’s the betting it’ll be for Copilot+ PCs only, and not all Windows 11 laptops? Okay, so we’re getting ahead of ourselves with the speculation here, but Microsoft definitely wants to make a more convincing case for Copilot+ devices, and this could be part of that recipe.

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• Some US retailers have reportedly cancelled Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders
• This allegedly includes Walmart, Target, and GameStop
• Consider double checking the status of your pre-order if you have placed one

If you managed to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order recently, then you might want to check your email inbox as it seems as though some retailers have started cancelling them.

As reported by Vice, would-be Nintendo Switch 2 owners have been flooding the r/switch subreddit to complain that their pre-orders of the upcoming Nintendo console have been inexplicably cancelled.

The majority of those reporting cancellations seem to have shopped at Walmart. "We're sorry, we had to cancel these items," reads a message in the Walmart app on one posted screenshot.

In these instances there seems to be no real explanation as to why the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order was cancelled, though I suspect that it may be due to stock issues. Some retailers likely banked on having access to much more stock than they do, leading to the need to cancel certain pre-orders.

In the comments to these posts, others are reporting cancellations from Target and GameStop. Bear in mind that these cancellations are currently unverified, though it definitely wouldn't hurt to double check your order just in case.

If you're unlucky enough to be affected, visit our how to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 guide for recommendations on how to get your hands on one.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5 and demand is likely to be high. According to industry analysts, it could sell 100 million units by the end of 2029 and become the "fast-selling console ever".

It costs $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World.

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• Sophos spots DragonForce ransomware attack leveraging three bugs
• The flaws were found in SimpleHelp SMM platform
• The victim was a major managed service provider (MSP)

The DragonForce ransomware group is chaining multiple SimpleHelp vulnerabilities to breach systems, steal sensitive files, and deploy an encryptor, experts have warned.

In a blog post, Sophos MDR researchers noted they were alerted to the incident when a “suspicious installation” of a SimpleHelp installer file was spotted on the system of a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

That provider ended up suffering a ransomware infection, but one of its clients was enrolled with the company’s MDR and had XDR endpoint protection deployed, alerting the researchers.

White label model

SimpleHelp is a self-hosted remote support and remote access software. In January 2025, it was found to be carrying three vulnerabilities: a multiple path traversal flaw (CVE-2024-57727), an arbitrary file upload vulnerability (CVE-2024-57728), and a privilege escalation flaw (CVE-2024-57726).

Now, Sophos says DragonForce hackers are chaining these three to deploy the ransomware.

“The installer was pushed via a legitimate SimpleHelp RMM instance, hosted and operated by the MSP for their clients,” the researchers explained.

“The attacker also used their access through the MSP’s RMM instance to gather information on multiple customer estates managed by the MSP, including collecting device names and configuration, users, and network connections.”

Sophos did not name the victim, or the third party that successfully thwarted the attack.

DragonForce has been rather active in recent times. In late April 2025, it was reported the group had introduced a new business model to the ransomware scene, one which involves cooperating with other gangs.

Apparently, the group was seen offering a white-label affiliate model, allowing others to use their infrastructure and malware while branding attacks under their own name.

With this model, affiliates won't need to manage the infrastructure and DragonForce will take care of negotiation sites, malware development and data leak sites.

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Salesforce has finally completed its $8bn deal to purchase Informatica as it looks to take the next step forward on its AI journey.

The purchase of the cloud data management firm will give Salesforce a major AI technology boost, particular as it continues to produce and roll out the next generation of AI agents.

“Together, Salesforce and Informatica will create the most complete, agent-ready data platform in the industry,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce.

Salesforce Informatica takeover

"Joining forces with Salesforce represents a significant leap forward in our journey to bring ​​data and AI to life by empowering businesses with the transformative power of their most critical asset — their data," said Amit Walia, CEO of Informatica.

“We have a shared vision for how we can help organizations harness the full value of their data in the AI era.”

The CRM giant had been forced to drop plans for an Informatica takeover in April 2024 due to investor pressure, but just over a year later, has got the deal done.

Salesforce says that upon closing the deal, it plans to "rapidly integrate Informatica's technology stack" to its existing services and systems, including adding data integration, quality, governance, and unified metadata for Agentforce, and a single data pipeline with MDM on Data Cloud.

Much like it has done with previous acquisitions, the company said it will support Informatica's plans to build it's own products, which will then become part of the wider Salesforce ecosystem.

“By uniting the power of Data Cloud, MuleSoft, and Tableau with Informatica’s industry-leading, advanced data management capabilities, we will enable autonomous agents to deliver smarter, safer, and more scalable outcomes for every company, and significantly strengthen our position in the $150 billion-plus enterprise data market," Benioff added.

Salesforce noted combining Informatica’s rich data catalog, data integration, governance, quality and privacy, metadata management, and Master Data Management (MDM) services with the Salesforce platform will, "establish a unified architecture for agentic AI — enabling AI agents to operate safely, responsibly, and at scale across the modern enterprise".

"Effective, enterprise-grade AI requires more than just data — it demands data transparency, deep contextual understanding, and rigorous governance," the company added.

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Data sovereignty has rapidly become a critical consideration for organizations evaluating and selecting data center solutions.

At its core, data sovereignty is the principle that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the country in which it is physically stored or collected. This principle is embedded deeply into two foundational legislative instruments: the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

While organizations have always been concerned about the safety and security of their information, the concept of sovereignty introduces an added layer of complexity. It is not just about protecting data from breaches, but also about always ensuring the correct jurisdictional authority over it.

Mandatory standards

Both the DPA 2018 and the UK GDPR establish mandatory standards for how personal data must be handled, but they go beyond that. These laws define the standard of sovereignty and shape the processes surrounding the collection, storage, access, and processing of personal data. Consequently, the selection of a data center provider is no longer just a matter of performance metrics or operational efficiency.

Instead, it’s a decision heavily influenced by regulatory compliance and the ability of the provider to support the broader digital transformation goals of a business. Choosing the wrong partner could mean costly delays in projects, added legal scrutiny, and potential breaches of customer trust, making the decision-making process far more strategic than it has been in the past.

This consideration becomes especially important when organizations seek to harness the potential of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies are data-intensive and require vast amounts of computing power. They demand a digital infrastructure that can handle complex processing workloads in real time. UK-based high-performance data centers are emerging as essential to this transformation.

These facilities offer powerful computing capabilities combined with localized data handling, resulting in significantly reduced latency and faster processing speeds. For AI and ML, where split-second decision-making and continuous data training are essential, any delay or disruption can severely impact the effectiveness of models and applications.

Being able to process information securely and locally gives businesses a critical edge in fields that are becoming increasingly competitive and innovation-driven. By ensuring that data remains close to its point of origin, these centers support more agile, secure, and compliant technological innovation.

Cloud platforms

In parallel with this trend, UK-based private cloud computing platforms are gaining traction as a strategic enabler for organizations looking to maintain data sovereignty while remaining agile in a competitive digital environment. These platforms are built on networks of data centers that are not only physically located within the UK but also owned and operated by domestic entities.

This domestic control provides peace of mind, particularly when combined with access to secure partner ecosystems and direct, high-speed interconnections to public cloud providers. For organizations, this translates into more control, better predictability around data transfer costs, and simpler compliance with increasingly complex data protection regulations.

It also eliminates the uncertainties associated with cross-border legal disputes, particularly in a climate where international data transfer rules are under constant review and renegotiation. Businesses no longer must wonder whether a change in global politics will suddenly make their infrastructure non-compliant or expose them to new liabilities.

Put simply, the ‘stick’ element of data sovereignty lies in the serious consequences for non-compliance. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has made it clear that failing to properly manage the transfer of personal data, particularly to jurisdictions outside the UK that do not have adequate data protection frameworks, can result in heavy penalties. These fines can reach up to £17.5 million or 4% of a company’s global annual turnover, whichever is greater.

These are not hypothetical threats; they are actively enforced, and they highlight the very real financial and reputational risks associated with poor data governance. The reputational damage alone can be devastating, especially in sectors where customer trust is fundamental. Companies that suffer breaches or compliance failures often see long-term declines in customer confidence, partner relationships, and market value, compounding the original financial penalties.

Data in transit

What many businesses may not fully realize is that these risks don’t just apply to where data is stored, but also to how it moves. Data in transit, when data migration between servers, centers, or even across international boundaries, falls under the same stringent scrutiny. And with the UK’s upcoming Data Protection Bill set to introduce even tighter restrictions on data flows and increased responsibilities for data controllers and processors, the pressure to adopt robust sovereignty practices is only going to intensify.

This means that simply having strong cybersecurity policies is no longer enough. Organizations must now monitor and manage the full lifecycle of their data with far greater precision, including every transfer, replication, and access point.

However, the ‘carrot’ on offer is equally compelling and far more constructive. Organizations that invest in sovereignty-conscious infrastructure and best practices aren’t just ticking a compliance box, they are unlocking the ability to innovate more quickly and confidently. Keeping data processing geographically close to its source not only meets regulatory requirements, but it also reduces the reliance on distant infrastructure that may be slower or less secure.

The result is improved performance, lower latency, reduced operational risk, and stronger overall resilience. These gains can be transformational for businesses, particularly those operating in sectors where agility, speed, and security are essential to competitiveness.

Additional assurance

In addition to these benefits, privacy-preserving computing (PPC) models are providing organizations with additional assurance. These models ensure that data remains within UK borders and is handled in environments specifically designed for high security, maximum uptime, and seamless interconnectivity.

The IT infrastructure behind these models is increasingly being viewed not just as a support system, but as a vital part of a company’s core value proposition. In sectors like finance, retail, and public services, where milliseconds can matter, localized and resilient infrastructure is no longer a luxury but a necessity for delivering outstanding user experiences and meeting rising customer expectations.

In this evolving landscape, data sovereignty is no longer just a compliance requirement or a legal consideration. It is becoming a strategic differentiator, an asset that enables businesses to manage risk more effectively, embrace innovation with confidence, and build a more robust, future-ready digital foundation.

As such, those making data center purchasing decisions must consider sovereignty not merely as a legal obligation, but as a pathway to enhanced performance, better control, and sustained competitive advantage.

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

• Opera Neon is a new fully agentic browser capable of performing tasks
• The new premium browser is subscription-only and coming soon
• You can join the waitlist today

Opera Neon is a new premium subscription web browser that can understand your commands in natural language thanks to AI while also performing a variety of tasks for you.

For instance you could ask Opera Neon to produce a detailed report, make a website or even code projects like games, all in the browser.

“We’re at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser. Opera Neon brings this to our users’ fingertips,” said Henrik Lexow, Senior AI Product Director at Opera.

“We see it as a collaborative platform to shape the next chapter of agentic browsing together with our community.”

Opera Neon keeps its complexity hidden by offering you a simple choice between Chat, Do and Make. (Image credit: Opera)Fully agentic on the web

Of course, you can currently chat with AI in the standard Opera browser, which has access to Aria AI and ChatGPT in the sidebar, but Opera Neon is a fully agentic browser, which means you can ask it to perform tasks for you as well as chat or search with AI.

That could include filling out a form that appears in the website you’re viewing, making a hotel reservation, or even going shopping. Best of all, it does all this locally in the browser, without risking your privacy or security.

The AI agent inside Opera Neon has previously been showcased by Opera as Browser Operator and you can give it tasks with simple prompts like “Keep me updated on the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence,” and it would regularly collect and summarize the most relevant articles.

So, instead of wading through an endless news feed, you’d get just what matters to you the most, neatly packaged.

You can also chat with Opera Neon as if it were an AI chatbot, just like ChatGPT, and it can also search the web for you to find answers.

(Image credit: Opera)Chat, Do and Make

Opera Neon boils its core functionality down to three main options: Chat, Do and Make.

Chat is the chatbot function. Here you can ask the AI contextual questions about the web page you are viewing and search the web.

Do is where Opera Neon can interact with the website you are viewing. We're talking about things like filling in forms, booking reservations and shopping. This is the technology we've previous known as Bowser Operator.

Make is the truly new part of Opera Neon. Here you can ask the browser to make you something, and it will interpret what you mean, then go away and do it for you. Once you've tasked it with making something you're free to go off and do something else.

Opera Neon looks like being one of the most exciting uses of AI I’ve seen in a while. The prospect of being able to ask the AI questions about the website you’re currently viewing in the browser and getting reliable answers back isn’t new, but the agentic qualities of the browser sound incredibly valuable.

Opera Neon isn’t out yet, but Opera says you can join the waitlist today. In the meantime, Opera has made this video to explain what an AI agent is:

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If you and your compliance team are jumping between separate systems just to track Slack messages, email threads, mobile chats and collaboration tools, you're not alone. The digital-first workplace has made communication faster, but supervision more fragmented, and riskier than ever.

Regulators like the SEC, FINRA, and the CFTC have made it clear that all business-related communications must be captured, supervised, and auditable, no matter the channel. Yet, many organizations struggle with siloed monitoring approaches that slow down compliance efforts and leave vulnerabilities unchecked.

The answer is a single, unified view of employee communications in one system that captures everything - what I like to call a Single Pane of Glass approach.

What is a Single Pane of Glass?

A Single Pane of Glass approach consolidates communications data from multiple channels into a single, real-time dashboard. The term doesn’t just refer to all the information being visible in one place, but also its transparency, as nothing is hidden or obscured. Instead of managing different supervision separately across email, chat, social media and mobile, compliance teams can monitor through one interface. This means a holistic view of all employee interactions, ensuring greater efficiency, clarity, and regulatory adherence.

This unified approach helps compliance teams:

1. Provide real-time monitoring across multiple channels.

2. Automatically flag noncompliant language and behavior across all sources.

3. Streamline audits and reporting for regulatory examinations.

4. Align compliance, IT, and risk teams to work together with a shared source of truth.

With a centralized system, teams can spot issues faster, reduce false positives and strengthen their response to potential violations.

It’s also important to distinguish what a true Single Pane of Glass is not, and that’s a dashboard packed with sub-modules. Everything might be technically accessible, but if you’re forced to click around to find what matters, it's missing the point. Key insights get buried, messages get missed, and the whole value of a unified view falls apart.

Why Fragmented Monitoring Falls Short

Regulators have made it clear: failing to supervise digital communications properly will lead to fines. In recent years, financial institutions have faced millions in fines due to gaps in their monitoring capabilities, particularly around unauthorized messaging apps and personal devices.

Here’s what’s at stake:

Regulatory non-compliance: Disconnected systems make it harder to capture, search, and audit all relevant communications.

Operational inefficiencies: It’s not uncommon for compliance teams to spend up to 12 hours a week navigating between different monitoring systems, as reported by Smarsh. That kind of manual effort adds up—and pulls focus away from higher-value tasks.

Exposures to fines and reputational damage: Missed violations due to fragmented oversight can lead to financial penalties and unwanted attention.

Without a unified system, firms are left reacting to issues after they occur, often under intense scrutiny.

What to Look for in an Effective Unified Supervision Platform

Not all Single Pane of Glass solutions are created equal. To be effective, a platform needs to deliver more than just aggregation. It should be purpose-built for capturing complex communications channels, flexible enough to adapt, and easy to use across teams.

Key features to prioritize:

1. Comprehensive Channel Coverage – Email, instant messaging, social media, collaboration tools (Teams, Slack, Zoom), SMS, and more.

2. Automated Surveillance – Automate keyword tracking, sentiment analysis, and anomaly detection to proactively flag risks and regulatory violations.

3. Audit & Reporting Tools – Easy access to communication history in the event of regulatory requests and internal reviews.

4. Scalability & Integration – A solution that integrates with the existing compliance infrastructure and evolves with regulatory developments.

Choosing a platform where you can leverage these capabilities can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance risk mitigation.

How to Start Implementing a Single Pane of Glass Strategy

Transitioning to a unified supervision approach requires careful planning, but it’s worthwhile. With the right planning, this move will deliver long-term value across compliance, risk, IT and overall business performance.

Here’s how firms can get started:

Assess Current Gaps – Identify where compliance monitoring is fragmented, incomplete and where risks exist.

Define Key Compliance Goals – Ensure alignment with relevant requirements, from the SEC to FINRA, the FCA, ASIC etc, depending on your location.

Select the Right Technology Partner – Look for platforms that integrate easily, offer strong customer support, and specialize in regulated industries.

Secure Cross-Functional Buy-In – Engage IT, compliance, and risk teams to ensure a smooth rollout and long-term adoption.

Monitor & Adapt – Continuously refine supervision policies as regulations and communications trends evolve.

A successful Single Pane of Glass strategy not only enhances compliance but also improves operational efficiency and agility in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The Future of Communications Supervision is Unified

With regulators tightening oversight on digital communications, compliance leaders must adopt a proactive approach. Now is the time to evaluate your current compliance framework and explore unified supervision solutions. A Single Pane of Glass approach gives compliance leaders a more efficient and scalable way to manage risk.

By consolidating communications oversight, compliance leaders can focus on strategic risk management rather than reactive firefighting, future-proofing their communications compliance programs and ensuring they’re always one step ahead of evolving regulations.

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

While there are Disney Parks worldwide, there’s always something special about the first. And right now, Disneyland – the park that started it all way back in 1955 – is celebrating its 70th Anniversary, and you could say it’s throwing a party.

And it celebrates the past and looks towards the future. As the celebration is in swing, you’ll see the return of classic nighttime spectaculars and the introduction of entirely new ones, updates to some fan-favorite attractions, a trove of new bites to eat and drinks to, well, drink, and a heavy dose of technology to push the immersion.

I had the chance to visit Disneyland for the 70th Anniversary Celebration, and it was also my first time at the park. Suffice to say, it was a lot to take in and explore, and a heck of a lot of fun. Sadly, the BDX Droids weren’t there, as these tiny, personable droids are currently on a world tour, with their next stop being Disneyland Paris. However, the 70th anniversary activities kept me plenty busy.

So now, I’m sharing my five favorite things about Disneyland’s 70th Celebration and why now might be the best time to go, whether it’s your first time or you know the park like the back of your hand.

The MagicBand+ unlocks special experiences

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

The MagicBand+ is already a key part of experiences at Disney Parks globally, I’m used to wearing one at Disney World and have even used it to become a bounty hunter in Batuu at Galaxy’s Edge, but for the Disneyland 70th it unlocks a tech-powered, immersive experience at any time, day or night.

Commemorating several of Disneyland’s original day-one attractions are new booths themed to each of them and – you guessed it – a spot to scan your MagicBand+. Upon scanning your band, the machine will play sounds and lights themed to the rides, but your MagicBand+ will also vibrate and light up thanks to a built-in haptic motor and a string of LEDs.

At the Jungle Cruise near the skippers' lockers, it even printed out a ticket for a VIP tour on ‘the world famous Jungle Cruise’ letting me know I’d be aboard the “Mekong Maiden.’ It’s not an actual ticket, but certainly a lovely keepsake.

You’ll have to go on a treasure hunt around the park to find them all. These booths are also at a Fantasyland Window by the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, in Frontierland near the Silver Spur Supplies, and on Main Street near the front of the park is Tilly’s Booth. There will soon be one at the Autopia attraction in Tomorrowland. The experience will vary, but you’ll need a MagicBand+ to unlock it and create a memory.

MagicBand+ can be purchased at the park or in advance from the Disney Store for $34.99. The wearable can be your park ticket, a form of payment, and a key to unlocking interactions around the park. You can monitor battery level, perform software updates, and link it to your MyDisney account to link tickets via the Disneyland app for Android or iOS – it’ll sync over Bluetooth.

Two all-new projection shows, and a fireworks show returns

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Disney is known for its live entertainment productions – be it projecting onto water with World of Color at Disneyland or with full fireworks shows. Even so, Disneyland’s entertainment offerings for the 70th are stretching far and wide.

A highlight for me was two new projection-only shows, which transformed the outer frame of the It’s a Small World attraction at Disneyland and the Cathay Circle restaurant at Disney California Adventure into widely colorful, animated displays with speakers hidden throughout the area playing a bouncy soundtrack for viewers to enjoy.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

While Cathay Circle is a restaurant, its unique front and triangular finish present a distinctive canvas for Disney's complex projection system. The resulting light show is impressive and speaks to Disney's technology and projection mapping expertise. This show runs nightly for about three minutes and is named "Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit Of Magic."

Similarly, It’s A Small World’s outer shell is a good bit larger, but not just a long flat surface – instead, it has varying heights and depths, with some parts being closer to pathways and other parts further back. The result is the "Tapestry of Happiness" show, which draws from Disney’s extensive catalog of characters and storylines, but more importantly, other parts of the park, including the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Scene projection design is done in the style of Mary Blair, the original art director for the ride.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

Both projection shows feature excellent sound, even though my eagle eyes couldn’t pinpoint exactly where Disney hid the speakers. Trust me, though, it gets plenty loud. The hiding of technology is used to showcase the stories and bring the facade to life with sound all around, which is essentially how Disney creates most of these experiences.

Similarly, Disneyland is also bringing back a fan-favorite fireworks evening spectacle, but it's more than just rockets in the sky. The entirety of Sleeping Beauty Castle serves as a screen for projectors to display vivid animations – many of which are custom – but this also extends to other nearby buildings and down Main Street.

Additionally, through the power of what I believe is a drone of some sort, "Baymax" from Big Hero 6 flies across the sky, accompanied by fireworks and epic projections. “Wondrous Journeys” will be running most nights and lasts just over 15 minutes, so be aware that the weather needs to be right.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol 70th touches for an iconic ride

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

Now, I’m a big fan of Toy Story – one of my favorite films hands-down – so it makes sense I enjoy a spin around Toy Story Midway Mania. It just so happens that it’s also a very tech-infused ride, with blasters mounted in a ride vehicle that will spin and stop in front of large 3D screens. Targets – think bullseyes and dartboards – appear on the screens, allowing you to score points by shooting the wheel.

A rollicking soundtrack also accompanies it, interactions with characters like Buzz, Woody, and the green army men, as well as bursts of air shooting, and again, pretty chaotic visuals.

It was always a race of points, with you wanting to hit the highest targets – ie, 500 or 1,000 or 2,000 – but Disneyland is letting you scroll even higher on the leaderboard, up to 70 or 7,000 if you will, as they’ve added special elements into the game.

The Walt Disney Imagineering team used little more than a software-based update to level up an already loved attraction, making it feel fresh and new for the 70th anniversary.

Another ride that received an update was It’s a Small World, featuring Miguel from Coco as a doll. This classic film is now streaming on Disney+, one of the best streaming services. You can also watch Toy Story 1 through 4 there and see my colleague Lance Ulanoff unpack Pixar Typestry – one of the first pieces of software the company made before Toy Story and countless other films.

Tasty new food, but there’s no need to wait in line

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

I mean, what’s a party without food? And Disneyland answered the call by rolling out 70 new food items – ranging from coffees to fuel you through the day to a 70th Stuff dessert that was super good. There is something for everyone, and all these light bites and drinks are available at shops throughout the park.

They are all highly sought after, leading to some long lines, but here’s the best tip I can offer you. Please use mobile ordering via the Disneyland app on iOS and Android. It not only lets you skip the line and take another ride around Dumbo or any other attraction, but it’s also a lot more seamless.

Once in the park, you open the Disneyland app, select the three lines in the bottom right corner, tap ‘Order Food,’ select the location, and make your selections. You’ll be given a window to return, and once you're near, you’ll tap “I’m here, prepare my food” to let them start cooking. Then, you’ll receive a notification with the window number to head to, share your name and order name, and you’re ready for a delicious meal.

The best part, if you’re on an iPhone, is that it supports Live Activities – so you can tap “I’m here” right from the lock screen without needing to unlock and navigate through the app.

A parade with over one million LED lights, all synced

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

The jaw-dropping moment, and maybe even a hallelujah event for fans of Disneyland, is the return of the Paint the Night parade. Yes, it’s choreographed beautifully with excellent performers and exciting songs, but the real spectacle is the pure amount of color.

As the name suggests, the floats, characters, and costumes are all adorned with LEDs that sparkle, glow, and flash, all in a unified, synchronized beat to the music. It looks incredible at night. There are eight moments of the parade, spanning floats and performers across several Disney franchises – Tinker Bell, Monsters Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Frozen, and Mickey and Friends.

It’s super impressive, just check out the video and photos, but it goes beyond just LED string lights. Take the Monsters Inc. float, which Sulley and Mike Wazowski ride on – it’s over 21 feet long with 17,000 points of light but also features five doors, as seen in the film, that spin and rotate with over 40 LED video panels.

Or with Cars, beyond Lightning McQueen, the classic Mack truck is reimagined with an open rear trailer that’s composed of glowing orbs that are strung and fill the whole space – in fact, it creates glowing depth from 27,000 orbs and 2,000 feet of LED neon that line the trailer.

All of these LEDs are controllable, and Disney Live Entertainment uses them all to create a show, pairing them with audio speech and classic songs. Disney shared that there are more than 200 universes of control to operate the parade.

Additionally, a few extra LEDs light up and ‘dance’ as the ones built into your MagicBand+ turn off when the various floats pass. That’s magic, well, RFID and knowing your location.

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

All in all, this is just scratching the surface of Disneyland's 70th Celebration. There are also more iconic character art installations setup around the resort that your MagicBand+ will react to, a purchasable ‘Key to Disneyland’ that interacts with memorable keyholes around the parks, a Mickey Mouse popcorn bucket that responds to “Hey Mickey,” and a bubble wand with a USB-C port for custom sounds effects.

Then, of course, there are all the classic rides, numerous parades, and "World of Color: Happiness," another evening show where you can vote on certain characters to appear.

The 70th Celebration will be going on for a year, so there’s plenty of time to get out there and enjoy it all. I certainly hope all these tech immersion- and entertainment-enhancing moments stick around and carry over to other parks as well.

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• Apple might push further into gaming with a dedicated hub on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K
• It'll be a showcase for new titles available directly for the platforms and through Apple Arcade.
• It's rumored to be announced at WWDC 2025, right after the Nintendo Switch 2 launches

Between Apple Arcade on the iPhone and iPad, as well as the resurgence of game support on the Mac since the debut of Apple Silicon, the Cupertino-based tech giant is eager to drive the growth of gaming across its various platforms. The adage that you can game on the Mac has extended to nearly all its other platforms aside from the Apple Watch.

Now, a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicates that a dedicated app for video games will be announced soon for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K streaming box.

The report teases that it’ll arrive later in 2025 and that it will serve as a one-stop shop for gaming on these devices, offering easy access to the games themselves as well as “in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications, and other activity.”

(Image credit: Future)

The hub will serve as a home for Apple Arcade titles, Apple’s $ 6.99-per-month service offering a variety of mostly family-friendly games. These titles will reside in this new app alongside editorial content, likely from the same team that supports the App Store, and it will replace Game Center.

The latter has been a social network feature for game titles on the iPhone for quite some time, but never as a standalone app – instead, it would flash when you first open a game that supports it, or be accessible when you look for leaderboards.

Considering the Mac is included as a platform, and this dedicated gaming app is supposedly being developed for it, it aligns with Apple’s broader push for the various Macs on the market to be seen as powerful gaming devices. Baldur’s Gate 3, Lies of P, Resident Evil 4, and Death Stranding, among many others, are some AAA titles that have launched for Apple Silicon, and Cyberpunk 2077 will eventually arrive.

Given that the report states this dedicated app will also integrate with the Mac App Store, where many of these titles are sold, Apple could be positioning this as an alternative to Steam, making gaming more prominent and accessible on macOS.

The report also describes “a Mac version of the app that can tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store” – a move that could appeal to gamers, developers, and publishers alike.

It’ll be interesting to see if this dedicated app for these platforms arrives with a notable expansion of titles for Apple Arcade or some other bolstered features for the streaming services.

Maybe, it’ll be the first time a AAA title gets bundled in, or rather, it’ll be announced alongside some other major titles launching on the Mac. A day and date release with other consoles has become more common, but it’s clear that more work needs to be done to get more games launching on the Mac and more people playing.

The same could be said for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, and even the Vision Pro – though the latter platform, visionOS, isn’t mentioned in the report as getting this dedicated app.

(Image credit: Apple/Future)

Bloomberg reports that while the gaming app will be announced at Apple’s 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference – set to kick off on June 9, 2025 – it won’t ship until September 2025, alongside the next version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Of course, these dates slip and Apple’s plan could change, so we’ll need to track WWDC to see what comes to fruition.

The timing of this report and the rumored announcement at WWDC 2025 places it right before and immediately after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is scheduled for June 5, 2025.

It won’t be the only announcement that day, though. We’re already expecting iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 as well as the next generation of visionOS, macOS, and tvOS. This report also promises a new AI-powered battery tool to help stretch runtimes, new health capabilities, a redesigned Translate app, and, maybe most exciting, a live translation feature for AirPods. The latter would continue Apple’s tradition of rolling out significant software updates and features for its earbuds at no additional cost.

If you’re keen for this dedicated gaming app or new platforms, the good news is that the opening keynote for WWDC 2025 is only 13 days away.

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• Dyson Cool FC1 is an upgrade of the original Dyson Cool tabletop fan
• It has the same powerful, blade-less design and Air Multiplier technology
• It adds a Night mode, more setting options, and a useful LCD screen

The original Dyson Cool was the world's first blade-less fan, and the catalyst for many of the brand's air-care innovations that followed. Since its launch 16 years ago the brand has released many more cooling, heating and air-purifying products with increasingly advanced features, but the Dyson Cool hasn't seen an upgrade – until now.

The next-gen model, called the Dyson Cool CF1, has the same powerful airflow and sleek, blade-less design, but adds some helpful features and usability tweaks to bring it in line with the rest of the best fans on the market. It's not as big or splashy as some of the brand's other launches, but it delivers exactly what I want from a tabletop fan.

(Image credit: Dyson)

So what's new? Firstly, you have more customization options to play with. The oscillation settings have been extended – you can now choose between 15, 40 and 70 degrees of oscillation (or no oscillation at all) – and you've now got 10 fan speeds to play with.

Dyson has added a Night mode, which automatically dims the displays and adjusts fan speed for cooling that'll help you drop off, rather than being distracting. This is combined with a new sleep timer that shuts off the fan when you're (hopefully) happily away in the land of nod. There's also an LCD screen, which shows at a glance what mode you're in and which airflow setting you're using.

(Image credit: Dyson)

Elsewhere, there's still an energy-efficient brushless DC motor, and it uses Dyson's patented 'Air Multiplier' technology, which can apparently amplify the air around it by up to 13 times. As with all Dyson's fans, there are no blades, which means smooth and even airflow, and a design that's safer and far easier to keep clean.

There are no air purification (or heating, or humidifying) functions, as appear on other Dyson fans in the wider range. The Dyson Cool FC1 is focused entirely on efficient personal cooling.

(Image credit: Dyson)

"The original bladeless fan revolutionized the way we think about airflow, combining cutting-edge engineering with sleek, safe, and efficient design," says Logan Thomson, Dyson Design Engineer. "This latest iteration builds on those core benefits by introducing modern upgrades like intelligent features, including sleep mode, to meet the demands of today’s customers.”

The Dyson Cool CF1 goes on sale in the UK on May 28 priced at £249.99, at Dyson Demo stores or online at Dyson.co.uk. We're waiting for Dyson to confirm pricing and launch date information for the US and Australia.

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• Nikon has announced a 'necessary price adjustment' for cameras in the US
• This is happening "due to the recent tariffs", according to the camera giant
• The price hikes will take effect from June 23

Nikon is officially joining the list of camera manufacturers who are raising camera prices in response to, you guessed it, the US tariffs.

In a short post on the Nikon US press site, the camera giant said that "due to the recent tariffs" it was planning a "necessary price adjustment for products". This will apparently take effect from June 23, making it a potentially good time to pick up that Nikon camera you've been eyeing.

We don't yet know which cameras (or lenses) will be affected, but that should become clear in the next few weeks. Nikon offered a small crumb of comfort by stating that it will be "carefully monitoring any tariff developments and may adjust pricing as necessary to reflect the evolving market conditions".

That could mean an adjustment in the wrong direction if the trade wars continue to heat up, but hopefully the price changes won't be as damaging as the ones we've already seen from other manufacturers.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3, for example, has jumped from its $500 launch price to $800, and has remained at that level despite a 90-day truce on China's tariffs that have temporarily reduced the rate on US imports down to 10%.

What other camera price hikes have we seen?

(Image credit: Future)

Nikon is far from alone in announcing tariff-related price hikes, though not all of them have come into effect just yet.

Canon gave us a similar warning earlier this month by stating in its quarterly earnings call that it had "notified major dealers that we will raise prices and are in the process of estimating the timing and amount of the increase".

This means we're in a strange waiting period where camera fans are bracing themselves for price rises, without knowing exactly which models will be hit and how they might affect existing stock that's in the US already (in theory, the latter shouldn't be hit by tariff-related price rises on imports).

As spotted by Sony Alpha Rumors, Sony has seemingly already raised prices on its China-made cameras and lenses, which include the Sony RX100 VII and a number of lenses including the FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II (which has seen an 18% price jump). But we don't yet know if these prices are a temporary reaction to the current tariffs or a more permanent hike.

Fujifilm, meanwhile, was recently forced to pause pre-orders on cameras including the X100VI, GFX100RF and X-M5 (black version), while the new Fujifilm X half has a high price in the US compared to other regions ($849, compared to £699 / AU$1,349 in the UK and Australia).

It's clearly a tumultuous time for cameras and lenses – and while panic-buying is never a wise option, if could be worth pulling the trigger soon if you're in the US and have been considering buying new from Nikon or Canon.

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• Apple’s first smart home hub could launch as soon as later this year
• It will look like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad
• A more advanced device with a robotic arm may launch a year or two later

If you’ve been following recent Apple news, you might have heard the rumor that the company is working on a home hub that would look something like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad. Given Apple’s pedigree, it has the potential to become one of the best smart home devices around, and it now looks like the device could launch as soon as the end of 2025.

That’s according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claimed in his Power On newsletter that we could get our hands on this product “by the end of this year at the earliest” (although that’s not yet set in stone). It could mark Apple’s attempt to both dominate the smart home and make further inroads into artificial intelligence (AI) – something it hopes its Apple Intelligence platform will be a key part of.

1. A new OS that pulls from tvOS

Interested in this device? We’ve heard a few things about it already, and it's certainly shaping up to be an eye-catching addition to Apple’s product roster. That’s due in part to the fact that Apple is allegedly working on an entirely new operating system for the product, potentially named homeOS, that is based on tvOS and will prominently feature Siri and Apple Intelligence.

2. The display will be the focal point

Secondly, the key focal point of the so-called HomePad will be its display. Here, rumors have pointed to a 7-inch screen with a thick bezel, with a front-facing camera mounted on the top edge. The latter will reflect an emphasis on using the device for video calling.

3. The smart display will support apps, and carry over a popular iPhone feature

The third point is that Apple apps will, of course, be supported. And finally, you can expect some features from other apps, such as the iPhone’s StandBy dashboard. The focus, though, will remain on controlling your connected smart home devices.

4. Eyes on the AI prize

(Image credit: Amazon)

Apple has never really embraced the smart home to the extent that some rivals have. Sure, you can control connected products using HomeKit and the Home app, but these have their problems. Beyond that, there’s also a surprising lack of Apple-branded hardware in this space. That could all change in the next year or two.

But the smart home isn’t Apple’s real target here – it’s artificial intelligence. AI is a huge, booming market right now, and Apple has already fallen behind due to its well-documented struggles with its Apple Intelligence platform, with a host of promised features delayed and missing altogether.

Like many tech firms, Apple wants to get its AI into as many customers’ homes as possible, so launching a smart home hub makes a lot of sense in this regard: it gives Apple another way to appeal to customers who might not be convinced by Apple Intelligence so far.

This isn’t the only smart home product that rumors claim Apple is working on, though. The company also has something up its sleeve that would comprise a screen on the end of a robotic arm, allowing it to be moved around at will. This more advanced product isn’t expected until “a year or two” after the HomePad launches, though, while Gurman adds that Apple has “pulled some bolder features from the device” in order to get it ready faster.

Time is of the essence, and Apple is all too aware of that. With its first home hub potentially launching later this year, we’ll soon find out if Apple’s efforts have been worth the wait or need more time in the oven.

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HBO' forthcoming Harry Potter TV show (it'll also be streaming on HBO Max), has finally found the crucial part of its cast, having already signed up a combination of Hollywood and British names for its adults cast.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron have all been cast – and as you'd expect for young kids, they're pretty unknown names.

Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, and is somehow already a veteran of the 'kid attends mysterious school for those with special skills' genre, having played a part in the BBC TV series Gifted, which was about kids with superpowers.

Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger, and also isn't new to acting, having played Matilda in the wonderful Matilda the Musical in London's West End. She followed that up with a role in Starlight Express on stage.

Lastly, Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley, and is notable among the three for having the name most like a character in the Harry Potter books. He seems to have the least acting experience of the three, but has appeared in a potato commercial, which also somehow feels very appropriate for a character like Ron.

HBO's TV adaptation is scheduled to begin filming sometime in mid-2025, so they'll have to get stuck into their textbooks ASAP to be ready to go. It's expected that the early books will take up a season each, too, so it'll be interesting to see if HBO pumps out a new season annually to ensure that this intrepid trio don't age out of the teenage roles they'll soon grow into.

By the time we get the fourth book/season, we might find that things need to be split across two parts. We'll see, but the best streaming services love to split seasons, so you have to assume it'll be the case here.

Who's joining Harry, Ron, and Hermione's new actors in the Harry Potter TV show

Six actors were previously cast in big roles for HBO's Harry Potter TV series (Image credit: HBO)

The kids will join John Lithgow as Hogwarts' headteacher Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, and Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirell.

There's a huge swathe of roles not cast yet, of course (at least, not officially), ranging from the likes of the Weasley siblings through to Neville Longbottom – but, perhaps the biggest missing role is Draco Malfoy.

We don't know exactly when the show will air yet, but it's planned to arrive in 2026. Time will tell if it winds up making it onto our best Max shows list.

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• OnePlus has revealed the Plus Key, a new button positioned as a way to access the new OnePlus AI suite
• The Plus Key replaces the Alert Slider found on OnePlus phones since the OnePlus 2
• The Plus Key will come to all OnePlus phones launching this year

OnePlus has announced OnePlus AI, and while the Chinese company’s vision for mobile artificial intelligence comes mainly via new software, the list of changes includes an update to one of the brand’s most iconic hardware features.

The new Plus Key is a physical button that replaces the three-stage Alert Slider. The button can be customized in settings to activate one of several features, like opening the camera or starting a live translation.

The new hardware feature will make its debut with the OnePlus 13s, a China-only model previously known as the OnePlus 13 Mini in online rumor circles.

OnePlus has confirmed the Plus Key will come to all OnePlus smartphones rolling out this year – at a minimum we’d expect this to include the rumored OnePlus 14 and OnePlus 14R, which based on prior releases we'd expect to launch in China at the end of 2025 for global launch in 2026. Though note that OnePlus might skip the number 14 and call this the OnePlus 15 series instead.

By default, the Plus Key activates the new AI Plus Mind capture system, which saves a screenshot, plus an AI summary of the on-screen information, in the new AI Plus Mind app.

It’s this, alongside the timing of this hardware announcement, that illustrates OnePlus’ vision of the Plus Key as a part of the company’s AI strategy.

"It's time for us to evolve"

OnePlus revealed its new AI suite on May 27 (Image credit: OnePlus)

At the official OnePlus AI reveal event, I spoke with Arthur Lam, director of OxygenOS and AI strategy at OnePlus, about how the Plus Key and AI Plus Mind work together.

“The thought process behind it was we wanted to bring AI that can empower you to do different things. And I think one of the biggest things was we live in this digital age where we have a lot of fragmented memories across multiple places” said Lam.

“We believe that this is not a software-only solution,” Lam continued, “it's a hardware-software solution; that makes it uniquely OnePlus.”

When OnePlus announced the end of the Alert Slider, I wrote that I’d always found it to be a useful and charismatic addition to the brand’s handsets. However, even with the Alert Slider’s fan-favorite status, Lam tells me the company is confident that it’s time for an update.

“People ask us, ‘after using the Alert Slider for a decade, why are you changing it?’ Because now is the time, because it's connected with your AI Plus Mind.”

“It makes sense for us to make changes. Even though we've been there for the last decade, and many of the users love it, we think it's time for us to evolve it to the next generation.”

More than just a button

OnePlus is keen to market the Plus Key as a versatile, AI-forward feature (Image credit: OnePlus)

There’s more to OnePlus AI than just the Plus Key and AI Plus Mind – upcoming features include AI Translation, an AI Reframe tool for cropping photos, and AI VoiceScribe, which automatically transcribes phone calls.

With that said, the Plus Key is the most fully-fledged AI hardware feature we’ve seen on a smartphone so far – this AI-first approach could help OnePlus to differentiate the Plus Key from the iPhone's Action Button, which clearly served as inspiration.

It's also telling that OnePlus is willing to cut a well-loved feature like the Alert Slider for the AI-focused Plus Key. This suggests that OnePlus AI could be a major priority for the brand going forwards.

Personally, I'm a fan of the Alert Slider, but I think AI Plus Mind is a great idea, and a good enough feature to make the Plus Key seem novel and genuinely useful.

Be sure to keep up with our phones coverage for the latest updates as the Plus Key comes to more of the best OnePlus phones.

What do you think of the Plus Key? Will you miss the Alert Slider? Let us know in the comments below.

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• Security researchers spot fake Ledger Live app targeting Mac users
• The app replaces the legitimate one and shows a fake critical error
• The error requires the user to submit their 24-word seed phrase

Cybercriminals are targeting cryptocurrency owners with Apple Mac devices using a highly sophisticated piece of malware which hides in plain sight and aims to steal their seed phrases.

A ‘seed phrase’ is a 12 or 24-word combination that allows anyone to load an existing wallet into a new device and gain access to all of the funds inside.

In a new report, security researchers Moonlock said there are currently four active campaigns distributing a fake Ledger Live app spoofing an official offering which allows users to send, manage, and track their crypto portfolio.

"High-stakes effort"

The campaign has allegedly been active since August 2024, and although the report doesn’t discuss how the victims end up downloading the fake Ledger Live app, it does detail how it works: It replaces the existing, legitimate app, and then during the login process displays a fake error message.

The “critical error” can only be remedied by submitting the 24-word seed phrase which then immediately gets relayed to the attackers.

“This isn’t just a theft. It’s a high-stakes effort to outsmart one of the most trusted tools in the crypto world,” Moonlock explains. “And the thieves are not backing down.”

“Users should take the news as a clear signal to stay alert,” the researchers concluded, urging users to be wary of phishing emails, to never share their seed phrases with anyone, and to only download cryptocurrency wallet apps from legitimate sources.

Cryptocurrency users continue to be a major target for cybercriminals everywhere - in the US, users lost around $9.3 billion to various scams in 2024 alone, CoinDesk said, citing an FBI report, a 66% increase compared to 2023.

Via BleepingComputer

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PopSockets is finally ready for your vertical close-up. Unveiled this week, the new MagSafe Kick-Out Grip & Stand finally makes it possible to use a PopSocket as a stand for an iPhone in vertical mode. That's right, all you TikTokers, PopSockets just became your hands-free filming friend.

For years, I carried PopSockets on the back of my best iPhones (I even had one featuring a design created by one of my children). I never stuck the reusable PopSocket adhesive directly to the back of my phone and instead always placed a thin, clear plastic case over the phone chassis and stuck the pop-out grip to that.

However, when Apple introduced MagSafe, it no longer made sense for me to cover the charge magnet. I could, but for wireless charging, I had to pull the phone out of the case. So, I switched to a MagSafe-friendly case and attachable stand from Speck that included a fold-out foot for – you guessed it – hands-free vertical video shoots.

Now, though, I might not need the Speck (which is unfortunately prone to breakage; I've gone through three stands). The new PopSockets Kick-Out Grip & Stand resembles a traditional PopSocket, but instead of a small glue-covered base, the pop-out grip is attached to a larger, round, MagSafe-ready base.

A post shared by PopSockets (@popsockets)

A photo posted by on

Once attached to the back of an iPhone 16 or an iPhone 16 MagSafe case, the base features a hinged body, allowing you to tilt the PopScocket grip away from the phone, where it becomes a stand. You can rotate the base to create a stand for horizontal or vertical positioning of videos. In the photos and videos provided by PopSockets, the kick-out stand appears to perfectly reach the table, putting the phone at nearly a 90-degree angle.

This looks like a nifty bit of engineering from PopSockets, as the hinge has a full range of motion, meaning you could set up your iPhone at almost any angle.

You could use the Kick-Out Grip & Stand without a case and attach it directly to the back of your iPhone, but PopSockets is also selling a companion set of MagSafe cases for the iPhone 16 line (no other iPhone lineups are supported). Like the Kick-Out, each case sells for $40. No international pricing is currently available.

Kick-Out and Stand is not PopSockets' first MagSafe-friendly design, but it is the first that can act as a versatile stand. $40 might seem like a lot to pay for an iPhone grip, but the ability to film hands-free in either mode is hard to quantify.

I've done many TikTok unboxings using my Speck stand in vertical mode, and when a tripod was unavailable, I've propped it up on tables to get a full-figure shot.

One thing that is not clear is if the PopSocket heads can be swapped for, for instance, seasonal grip heads, as you could do with previous PopSockets grips. In my house, my wife likes to switch between a spring one and a winter-friendly head, which is actually a disc-shaped snow globe.

The MagSafe Kick-Out Grip & Stand comes in six material styles and colors, including Aluminum Raidal Silver (or Purple), Black, Latte, Putty, and Dusk.

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Telecoms in Britain is a growth priority for the UK Government. That’s not my opinion, that’s a stated fact in a new report highlighting the 15 top technologies that will drive growth, improving British society and business in the next ten years. The study claims telecoms could be worth up to £70 billion (around 0.73% of UK GDP growth). That’s great, but as I sit here, we are less than two years from the (already extended) PSTN switch-off and many organizations are panicking about how they are going to fund switching over from 150 year old technology, never mind be part of a glorious future.

Let’s start with the positive though. The report, written by PwC and called The Wider Economic Impacts of Emerging Technologies, offers timely insight into how the technologies shaping tomorrow’s economy are already influencing today’s business decisions. Among the 15 technology categories assessed, telecoms plays a unique and yet underappreciated role. It may not be seen as the flashiest innovation on the list, but its transformative potential is significant, particularly for enterprise IT leaders navigating an era of converging platforms, AI-driven customer expectations, and budget constraints.

It’s heartening to see the report acknowledging future telecoms will serve as connective tissue across all digital innovation, underpinning everything from AI applications to digital twins to immersive customer experiences. I also suspect that telecoms will contribute far more than £70 billion of UK GDP growth when you consider that telecoms enable productivity enhancements in virtually every sector, from healthcare to finance to retail.

It’s not about more tech—it’s about better outcomes

Too often, discussions around digital transformation fall into the trap of tech for tech’s sake. Within the telecoms space, the focus must shift from individual technologies to integrated outcomes. As I’ve said before, our customers don’t care whether something is technically labelled as UCaaS, CCaaS, or CPaaS. They care about technology that solves real business problems, such as how to connect with customers more efficiently, how to make their experience more meaningful, or how to ensure regulatory compliance without adding complexity.

The future of telecoms makes those outcomes possible through capabilities such as: Ultra-reliable connectivity that supports real-time communication and zero-latency experiences. Infrastructure that’s agile enough to support AI, 5G, edge computing, and increasingly remote workforces. Integrated systems that collapse the silos between contact centers, back-office functions, and field teams.

Modernization as a mission-critical imperative

The report correctly identifies that business adoption will vary depending on cost, feasibility, and workforce readiness, but IT leaders shouldn't see these as barriers; they're an invitation to modernize with purpose. That’s why 8x8 continues to invest in solutions that enable seamless interaction across voice, video, chat, and APIs, all underpinned by analytics and AI.

We've already seen the impact of this through projects where healthcare providers are using the 8x8 platform to enable multilingual telehealth services across fragmented networks, and where financial institutions have modernized their infrastructure while remaining compliant. These are not future visions. In a lot of telecoms, we can deliver the future today.

That’s if the funding and will is there.

The real risk is standing still—or being left behind

One point in the report stood out to me: the true cost of inaction. Delayed adoption of emerging technologies leads to missed productivity gains, talent disengagement, and customer churn. For telecoms, the risk isn’t in adopting new infrastructure - it’s in clinging to legacy systems that were built for a different era, which is what brought us to the reality of the PSTN switch-off.

The report notes that 80% of those surveyed around telecoms identified cost as a major factor while 73% felt infrastructure was an issue when it came to considering upgrading. As we move towards January 2027 and, what we are promised, is the final deadline for the copper network being switched off, these are worryingly high numbers.

Another stat that is either cause for concern or an opportunity, depending on how you look at it, is that 67% of respondents felt they did not have a relevant supplier relationship to be future-proofed. That means there is massive opportunity for the UK’s tech and partnership network to be picking up the phone and building their networks.

And while 65% of those surveyed said they were unsure of the benefits of modernizing, let me tell you, the cost of doing nothing is far more expensive.

Looking forward

The report has a purpose: to inspire individuals and businesses into what could be key drivers for the UK economy over the coming years. It shows where there may be skill gaps, where businesses need to start concentrating, and seeing what their role is in the coming years. It’s a welcome report into a potential future. Still, if we don’t address the legacy of the past and properly transition to the future, as in the case of the PSTN network, then it won’t be a case of being switched off - we’ll be disconnected.

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

AI is guzzling energy. Scientists estimate North American data centers' power requirements increased nearly 100% from 2022 to 2023, largely driven by generative AI (GenAI). By 2026, they anticipate data centers to become the fifth largest electricity consumers in the world, exceeding the usage of most countries.

However, speculation about AI's detrimental effects on the environment might be overblown. For many corporations, particularly those that produce or sell physical goods, AI technology makes up only a small portion of their overall emissions. Oversimplifying AI as “carbon-intensive” diverts attention from its impactful sustainability opportunities. When used wisely, AI has the potential to offset its own footprint and actively contribute to a greener future.

What is AI's emissions trajectory?

AI's carbon output is primarily measured through data center energy consumption. These algorithms, especially GenAI, require significant computational power for training and operation. As usage grows, so does the electricity drain.

These impacts are significant. However, the belief that AI will remain an exponential data hog ignores the rapid pace of innovation in model design, hardware, deployment and the transition to renewable energy.

Today's algorithms are likely the most inefficient they will ever be. Techniques like model distillation are becoming more prevalent, creating smaller, more energy-conscious models, and manufacturers are designing more energy-efficient AI chips.

Additionally, the energy grid is getting greener, translating to fewer emissions from data centers. Consider these factors: According to the World Resources Institute, renewables outpaced other energy generation sources, accounting for 90% of the United States' new installed capacity in 2024.

The International Renewable Energy Agency states that more than 80% of renewable capacity additions produce cheaper electricity than fossil fuel alternatives.

BloombergNEF reported that more than 40% of the world's electricity came from zero-carbon sources in 2023. Major companies, including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, are investing in clean energy to power their growing data centers.

Experts predict that economics alone could drive renewables to account for 50% of electricity by the end of the decade. Meaningful government policies could accelerate that transition. This momentum makes me optimistic that we can mitigate the environmental impacts of AI use.

AI emissions also attract significant attention because they are easy to track. Unlike the complex, fragmented emissions from manufacturing and global supply chains, AI's carbon footprint stems primarily from data centers, which are fixed physical locations with measurable electricity consumption. This creates clear accountability, as we can directly attribute these emissions to specific technology providers and data center operators.

AI's traceability can skew public and corporate attention toward it over other potentially more significant sources of emissions that are harder to quantify. For many companies, addressing only AI emissions is a drop in the bucket. To make meaningful progress on climate goals, organizations must work to reduce carbon emissions across all business operations, including their value chain.

AI as a sustainability enabler

Focusing solely on AI's carbon footprint misses the opportunity to unlock new reduction and efficiency opportunities.

Efficiency improvements, often the first step in corporate decarbonization, can be amplified through AI. For example, predictive maintenance prevents energy-wasting malfunctions and extends equipment's life span. Optimizing logistics and supply chains reduces transportation distances and fuel consumption. Intelligently adjusting energy consumption, distribution and storage can maximize efficiency and resource utilization — all while minimizing costs as well.

AI is also a powerful enabler for sustainability professionals. AI can support routine tasks like data collection, reporting and drafting communications so teams with limited resources can focus on impactful strategic efforts.

These benefits extend to more complex sustainability initiatives, like supply chain decarbonization. AI-powered solutions can inform business planning by aggregating and analyzing supplier data at scale. Teams can quickly detect trends, highlight emissions hotspots and track progress to prioritize action on the most urgent and impactful reduction opportunities. For example, rather than focusing on broad procurement policies, organizations can directly engage suppliers responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions, resulting in more impactful reductions.

Predictive modeling enables companies to forecast emissions trends, identify future risks and calculate the impacts of different decarbonization strategies for proactive, long-term business planning and supply chain resilience.

As sustainability becomes more integrated across different business functions, AI will help organizations efficiently incorporate these initiatives into their everyday work.

A word of caution about AI

AI will not solve climate issues on its own; it's a tool to amplify human efforts. Algorithms are only as good as the data they use. Emissions data — especially from value chains — can be sparse, inconsistent or incomplete. AI won't meaningfully fill the gaps, but it will guide teams in their decarbonization strategy.

In addition, many AI models are black boxes. This lack of transparency poses a serious problem for emissions reporting, where audibility and traceability are essential. Auditors, investors and regulators need to see the underlying methodology. AI's conclusion may be accurate, but it can't be the foundation of reporting if companies can't explain it.

However, we can't let perfection be the enemy of good. If AI helps you do your job more effectively, and your job is helping decarbonize the planet, then use it.

We can't discount AI entirely based on its carbon emissions. Every technology has tradeoffs; anyone in sustainability knows this fact all too well. Sustainability professionals should leverage AI's decarbonization potential while understanding the adverse effects. In the broader context of climate action, AI's energy demands are a challenge — but not the biggest one we face.

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

• The Marshall Kilburn III launches globally on May 27 2025
• It’s considerably pricier than its predecessor at $379 / £299 / AU$599
• It offers 50+ hours' battery life, IP54 waterproofing, and true stereophonic sound

Marshall has revealed the newest model in its line of mid-sized Bluetooth speakers, the Marshall Kilburn III, launching globally on May 27 2025.

In order to compete with the best Bluetooth speakers around, the Marshall Kilburn III has made some drastic improvements over its predecessor. The new model boasts more than 50 hours of playtime, IP54 dust- and waterproofing, as well as a more luxurious design.

But with these improvements comes an inflated price. The Marshall Kilburn III has a list price of $379 / £299 / AU$599, which is $80 / £50 / AU$100 more than the Kilburn II cost at launch. That said, there are a lot of upgrades and additions to explore on Marshall’s latest speaker, as I discovered when I got to try it at Marshall’s HQ in Stockholm, Sweden.

Here are my initial thoughts about the flashy new Kilburn III.

A taste of the Kilburn III

(Image credit: Marshall)

So, I’ll put my cards on the table – I didn’t get tons of time to listen to the Kilburn III. The main reason for my journey to Stockholm was to see Marshall’s very first attempt at a soundbar with the Marshall Heston 120. But I did get a good few minutes of listening across a selection of tracks from varying genres, in a space that essentially mimicked a living room.

To cut to the chase, the Kilburn III made a good first impression on me. Marshall’s audio team has placed a lot of emphasis on the speaker’s enhanced "true" 360-degree stereophonic sound, intended to provide clear, powerful audio, no matter where you’re standing. And that seemed to be effective for me as I paced around the space, with pleasing, distortion-free sound coming through at all times.

In addition, the Kilburn III is designed to dish up a rounded, “harmonious” sound signature. I was struck by the impressive balance across the frequencies, even at louder volumes. And that’s unsurprising given the speaker’s dynamic loudness tech, which automatically adjusts bass, mids and treble depending on the volume at which you’re playing tracks.

(Image credit: Marshall)

Indeed, the Kilburn III has fully reengineered acoustics to take the step up from its predecessor, which impressed us overall, although we did feel there was room for improvement at the low-end. But sound isn’t the only thing that’s been refined; the build and look of the speaker has also been taken up a notch, too.

A lot of customers, Marshall told me, preferred the overall aesthetic of the original Kilburn, which launched 10 years ago. As a result, the company opted to base the newest Kilburn model on its original, and I really liked the look of it.

Having previously lived in Kilburn myself, I have to say that this Bluetooth speaker is far prettier than the London district after which it's named. It has a retro-looking amp-inspired look with a pin to turn power on or off, tactile knobs for volume and playback control, and an "M" button to access presets. The Kilburn III is available in Black & Brass or Cream, with both colorways playing to the speaker's premium feel.

Tuning into the details

(Image credit: Marshall)

After running through some of the tech specs for the Kilburn III, I really am expecting this to be a significant step up over its predecessor.

It has a wider frequency range, now going way down to 45Hz, up to the typical 20kHz. That should mean it’s even more capable of hitting those deep dark bass notes than the Kilburn II. New, mightier drivers should also mean you get plenty of power out of this speaker, but you’ll have to wait for my full review to see if that really is the case.

Something we can say for sure, though, is that the Marshall Kilburn III is far more fit for bathroom use or taking outside on a rainy day. That’s because it now comes with a IP54 dust- and waterproof rating – a significant step up from the Kilburn II’s IPX2 protection.

Marshall told me that this model is meant to be more of an “interior statement piece”, due to models such as the IP67-rated Marshall Emberton III and Marshall Middleton occupying the rugged space. But still, having that improved durability is a definite nice-to-have.

Perhaps the biggest change to the Kilburn III, however, is its battery life. The Kilburn II offered 20+ hours of playtime, which is solid, but nothing particularly standout. However, the Kilburn III really takes things to the next level, supplying more than 50 hours of play – really phenomenal stuff. For reference, that’s the longest battery life of any Marshall speaker to date – not bad, eh?

I could go on: you're able to adjust EQ via the revamped Marshall app; use the speaker to charge external devices; access Auracast connectivity; and even detach its classy carrying strap. But that’s all for now. I’ll be back soon to give my full, unfiltered thoughts on the Kilburn III. That is, after I’ve spent a bit of time testing it here at Future Labs.

If you’re already sold, though, you can grab the Marshall Kilburn III now via Marshall’s own website. It will also be available to purchase through select retailers from June 10.

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The first speaker that works with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, the TCL Z100, has finally been unveiled – though as with most announcements in these days of regularly changing tariffs, there's no exact price or release date yet.

Announced back in 2023, the idea with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is that you don't need to think about where you're placing the speakers to get home theater sound – you don't even need to have pairs of them placed symmetrically.

Put one next to the TV, one on the shelf to your right, one directly behind you – whatever's convenient for your space is fine. The system will then map the placement acoustically and will adjust the speaker output to give the best version of Dolby Atmos-powered surround sound that it can from those positions.

You can have up to four of the TCL Z100 speakers in one configuration, and each speaker is a 1.1.1 audio configuration on its own (a forward-facing driver, a bass driver, and an upfiring driver) – though when combined, they can produce something akin to virtual 7.1.2 audio, according to TCL. That includes a compatible TV providing two channels, including the center channel.

Speaking of which, the speakers must be connected to a suitable Dolby Atmos FlexConnect hub, which can handle the mapping and processing. Right now, that means getting one of TCL's 2025 mini-LED TVs.

TCL and Dolby have an exclusivity agreement for the launch of the FlexConnect, so don't expect to see more speakers or compatibility with other TVs in the short term, but it should happen eventually, and it should also be possible for one of the best soundbars to be the FlexConnect hub in the future.

They also support playing music over Bluetooth – two can work in a stereo pair to play music from your phone.

As you might expect for a Dolby-specific product, there's no built-in DTS support. However, the TCL TVs that are necessary to make the system work all support DTS:X, and the idea is that they'll decode the DTS sound (including DTS:X), process it in 7.1.2 channels, and then convert it for the virtual surround system for your configuration, so you should get something close to full-fat DTS.

The speakers appear to come in white/gray and black options. And while you probably won't place them on the floor, you could. (Image credit: Future)

Although there's no price, we've been told by TCL's European arm to expect a price approaching €300 – and usually Euro and US Dollar prices convert very closely, though the final amount will depend on the latest tariffs. UK prices will be close to the Euro price.

What's so great about Dolby Atmos FlexConnect?

I've seen this technology in action a few times since its announcement in 2023, and it's very impressive – though the speakers I saw it demoed with were more elaborate than the TCL Z100 have turned out to be.

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Those had side-firing drivers as well as forward and up-firing drivers, potentially giving them more control over the steering of virtual sound. It was amazing in my demos how two speakers – one at the front to the right of the TV, and one behind and to the left of me – could create a broadly immersive sound with steering of sounds in basically all directions.

Whether the Z100 can do this as well remains to be seen, and either way, the system isn't going to match just having speakers in all the right places – but that's just not possible for everyone.

I think there's real value in having speakers that can be placed not just imperfectly, but in totally odd places, and still get something more immersive than TV sound alone from them.

The one other thing missing from this announcement, though, is bass. I've been told that the FlexConnect system can support a subwoofer, but there's no sign of one here – hopefully that will come before too long.

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