TechRadar News

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #555) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TISSUE
• CARPET
• WAX
• PLUCK
• DRAG
• NERVE
• CLAY
• GRAPH
• GRASS
• ARTERY
• HARD
• HEART
• DRIVE
• GRIT
• CONSTRUCTION
• AVENUE

NYT Connections today (game #555) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Spirit
• GREEN: On the… 
• BLUE: For wrapping and writing
• PURPLE: 40-15

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #555) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY
• GREEN: ROAD
• BLUE: KINDS OF PAPER
• KINDS OF TENNIS COURTS

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

NYT Connections today (game #555) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #555, are…

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY GRIT, HEART, NERVE, PLUCK
• GREEN: ROAD ARTERY, AVENUE, DRAG, DRIVE
• BLUE: KINDS OF PAPER CONSTRUCTION, GRAPH, TISSUE, WAX
• PURPLE: KINDS OF TENNIS COURTS  CARPET, CLAY, GRASS, HARD

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Perhaps if we were in the thick of the tennis season I would have got there a bit more quickly today, but having said that CARPET does not automatically spring to mind when you think of tennis surfaces. Presumably tennis carpet is different to the shag-pile material you might find in a living room – although I like the idea of Sinner and Alcaraz duking it out in their slippers.

Meanwhile, the only reason I got the Green group is because I used to have a friend who was always going on about going to the main DRAG on Saturday night. “You going down the drag?” he’d ask relentlessly.

I have to admit I was reluctant. Hitting the crowded bars and clubs in the center of town might be some people’s idea of a great night out, but I’ve always found it a bit of a drag. I’d rather watch tennis. Or play Connections.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 16 December, game #554)

• YELLOW: TYPES OF RADIO AM, HAM, SATELLITE, WALKIE-TALKIE
• GREEN: KINDS OF PLAY FIGHTS FOOD, PILLOW, SNOWBALL, WATER BALLOON
• BLUE: SNACK CAKES DEVIL DOG, DING DONG, HOHO, YODEL
• PURPLE: CLASSIC JOKE STAPLES BAR, CHICKEN, KNOCK-KNOCK, LIGHT BULB

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's lit!

NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STAIR
• LAST
• CART
• FIRST
• SWEET
• LATE

NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Book types

NYT Strands today (game #289) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #289) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #289, are…

• CRIME
• FANTASY
• ROMANCE
• WESTERN
• HISTORICAL
• SPANGRAM: FICTION GENRE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

According to Writer’s Digest there are 114 FICTION GENREs and sub genres – and that’s not including WESTERN (a genre of literature set in the American Old West frontier and typically set from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth century).

Alternative genres today’s Strands could have included: Fabulist, Dark fantasy, Biopunk, Supernatural Menace, and Bangsian Fantasy (stories speculating on the afterlives of famous people). Oh, and Wuxia (fantasy tales set within the martial arts traditions and philosophies of China). I suspect if any of those had been included I might have struggled more than I did here.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 16 December, game #288)

• SMOG
• SPORT
• BRUNCH
• ZORSE
• ATHLEISURE
• ANKLET
• SPANGRAM: PORTMANTEAUX

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

• You won't need to search for another app to make an EOY recap for Instagram
• The app is rolling out a new Collage type for Stories to create your own
• There are new secret effects for DMs and more 'Add Yours' stickers

Between Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay, it’s a reminder that 2024 is coming to a close, and that might have you thinking about making end-of-year recaps for Instagram. But, rather than searching for the best collage apps to download, like Top 9 or whatever the latest craze is – maybe a new CapCut template? – Instagram’s going to do some of the heavy lifting this year.

That’s right – Instagram is rolling out a new Collage style for Stories, which will let you recap your year with the right style. It’s an “EOY-themed Collage” and will be an easy way to share your top moments with friends, family, and the rest of your followers.

Judging from the example photos shared of the new Collage, you should be able to freely place several images on one Story slide and choose from themed fronts. For instance, there’s a neon “How 2024 Started” that can be paired with “How 2024 Ended” and a smaller, just as spicy “HNY.” There is even a countdown sticker type, which looks similar to the reminder functionality currently available in Instagram Stories.

(Image credit: Instagram)

To encourage others to share their favorite moments of the year, Instagram will debut four new “Add Yours” stickers. You can also theme your DMs for New Year's Eve with lasers, but there are more festive ones, including a Mariah Carey Christmas.

(Image credit: Instagram)

You also might want to try sending “Happy New Year” or “Hello 2025” in an individual DM or a group chat, as it will cause a new special effect on-screen.

As with most Instagram updates, these are a gradual rollout – so that’s beginning today and it’s wise to make sure your app is up to date and keep checking back, as it should hit most users by the end of the week and will stick around until the beginning of January 2024.

Of course, while Instagram is hoping you won't be reaching for another app – and since I have a crowded home screen – if these end-of-year collages don't fit the bill, rest assured there will be alternatives off the app. We'll just need to wait and see.

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• ChatGPT brings its conversational search engine to everyone

Day eight of the 12 Days of OpenAI was shorter than the previous days by several minutes, but the brevity fits with the ChatGPT Search news OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil and his team unveiled. Unlike the Projects feature unveiled on Friday, most people using the Internet understand the concept of searching for things online.

Still, it wasn't without some exciting news for ChatGPT users, especially those not paying for a subscription. Only ChatGPT Plus subscribers had access to the search feature when it launched as a beta a few months ago, but now it's universally accessible if you log in to your account.

(Image credit: Future)

And it's not just the same ChatGPT Search that subscribers have played with until now. OpenAI claims the search performs better and more accurately than before. And, when you ask a question, the AI will decide if it needs to pull fresh data from the web or answer based on what it already knows. You get results with web previews, images, and even videos that play right in the chat, which might put an end to tab-hopping.

ChatGPT mobile app users will also notice that the search feature integrates more smoothly into Android and iOS. The iOS version even links with Apple Maps to provide directions. Furthermore, ChatGPT Search now works with voice mode on the mobile app, so you can get the AI to search online without typing.

(Image credit: Future) Search AI

Say, for instance, you’re in the mood for sushi. You can use ChatGPT as your local guide and ask, “Where’s a good sushi spot nearby?” ChatGPT will give you options, complete with photos, links, and directions, linking to Apple Maps on iOS. Because ChatGPT looks up recent information online, it can even work for seasonal outlets.

Ask, “What time does the Christmas market close?” and ChatGPT will fetch up-to-date hours and details so you’re not left out in the cold. Or if you're wrapped in a blanket on the couch, you can ask, “What’s a good comedy movie on Netflix?” and even watch the trailer directly in the chat.

Thanks to the voice mode connection, the search can be done hands-free. So, if you’re hands-deep in a cooking project and need a quick recipe or measurement conversion, just ask ChatGPT out loud. It’ll give you answers while you stir the pot.

ChatGPT Search may not immediately replace the classic search engines, but its conversational style brings something fresh. Of course, OpenAI isn't the only one pursuing AI-powered search. That's the main use of tools like Perplexity, which Claude and, naturally, Google Gemini have variations on as well.

Still, ChatGPT Search is a solid addition to the 12 Days of OpenAI, which promises a more developer-focused announcement tomorrow. We will see if the company can search for anything more exciting to close out the rest of the event this week.

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• BADBOX most likely originates from China
• The malware can run ad fraud, residential proxies, and more malicious activity
• The network was recently disrupted by German authorities

German authorities have managed to disrupt a major malware operation that affected thousands of Android devices across the country.

The Federal Office of Information Security (BSI) said BADBOX came preloaded on Android devices with older firmware, which were essentially sold as infected.

Some 30,000 devices across the country were compromised, the agency added, with digital picture frames, media players, and streaming devices being the most common endpoints - however, some smartphones and tablet devices were possibly infected as well.

Outdated Android devices

"What all of these devices have in common is that they have outdated Android versions and were delivered with pre-installed malware," the BSI said in a press release.

The agency outlined how BADBOX was capable of carrying out a number of malicious activities.

Mostly, it was built to silently create new accounts for email and message services, which were later used to spread fake news, misinformation, and propaganda, but BADBOX was also designed to open websites in the background, which would count as ad views - a practice generally perceived as ad fraud.

Furthemore, the malware was able to act as a residential proxy service, lending the traffic to malicious third parties for different illegal activities. Finally, BADBOX can be used as a loader, as well, dropping additional malware on the devices.

The operation was reportedly first documented by HUMAN’s Satori Threat Intelligence more than a year ago, and that it most likely originates from China. The same threat actors allegedly operate an ad fraud botnet called PEACHPIT, as well, designed to spoof popular Android and iOS apps, and its own traffic from the BADBOX network.

"This complete loop of ad fraud means they were making money from the fake ad impressions on their own fraudulent, spoofed apps," HUMAN said at the time. "Anyone can accidentally buy a BADBOX device online without ever knowing it was fake, plugging it in, and unknowingly opening this backdoor malware."

Via The Hacker News

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• The Ray-Ban Meta glasses just got new Live AI in Early Access
• Shazam music recognition is here too
• All new features are only available in the US and Canada

Meta is rounding out the year with a major update to its Ray-Ban smart glasses with two Live features it teased at Meta Connect 2024. It’s also adding Shazam integration to help you find the names of tunes you hear while wearing your specs.

The only downside of the awesome-sounding Live features are that they’re in early access, so expect them to be less reliable than your typical AI tools. They'll also only be available to Early Access Program members in the US and Canada. You can enroll at Meta’s official site.

But if you are in the Early Access Program you can now try Live AI and Live Translation.

Live AI is like a video version of Look and Ask. Instead of taking a quick snap, your glasses will continually record your view so you can converse with it with about what you can see – or other topics. What’s more, while in a Live AI session you won’t need to say “Hey Meta” over and over again.

Meta adds that “Eventually live AI will, at the right moment, give useful suggestions even before you ask.” So be prepared for the AI to butt in with ideas without you prompting it directly.

The babelfish gets closer

Shazam is coming to your Ray-Ban specs (Image credit: Shazam)

Live Translation is another real-time AI tool. This time it allows the AI to automatically translate between English and either Spanish, French, or Italian.

When you’re speaking to someone who is using one of those three languages you'll hear what they say in English through the glasses’ open-ear speakers, or see it as a transcript on your phone – and they'll be able to hear or read a translation of what you’re saying in their language.

Thankfully, the update isn't all about just early access features.

If you’re out at an end-of-year party and like the sound of a tune you can also ask your glasses “Hey Meta, Shazam this song,” and it will tell you what song is playing via the Shazam music recognition tool.

Unfortunately, while this feature is available more widely it is once again only available in the US and Canada – so folks in the UK and beyond won’t have access to it yet.

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• Polysoft offers SSD upgrades for Mac Studio at significantly lower prices
• StudioDrive features overvoltage protection and durable components
• Offered in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, shipping next year

Apple introduced the Mac Studio in 2022 with the M1 chip, followed by the M2 model in 2023, and although these compact powerhouses have been lauded for their performance, buyers have rightly expressed concerns about the limited base SSD configurations and the absence of post-purchase upgrade options.

External USB-C or Thunderbolt SSDs are a common workaround for users seeking additional storage, but they don't match the speed and convenience of internal storage solutions.

Stepping in to address this gap, French company Polysoft has created the first publicly available SSD upgrade solution for Apple Silicon devices. Offered at a fraction of Apple’s prices, these SSD modules are the result of an extensive reverse-engineering process.

Better than Apple

Unlike SSDs used in PCs, Apple’s storage modules are challenging to replicate due to their integration with the M1 and M2 chips, where the storage controller resides.

Polysoft’s efforts included detailed disassembly, component analysis, and redesign, culminating in the StudioDrive SSD which is set to launch next year following a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Polysoft claims its SSDs not only replicate Apple’s modules but also improve on them.

A key difference is the inclusion of "RIROP" (Rossmann Is Right Overvoltage Protection), a safeguard inspired by Louis Rossmann’s work on hardware reliability. This feature reportedly protects against voltage surges, reducing the risk of catastrophic data loss due to hardware failure.

The StudioDrive product line supports both M1 and M2 Mac Studio models. It includes blank boards for enthusiasts and pre-configured options in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities. Polysoft says that the modules use high-quality Kioxia and Hynix TLC NANDs, offering performance and durability comparable to Apple’s original storage solutions. The drives are backed by a five-year warranty and have a lifespan of up to 14,000 TBW.

Pricing starts at €399 ($419) for 2TB, €799 ($839) for 4TB, and €1,099 ($1,155) for 8TB. While these upgrades will no doubt be viewed as an affordable, and welcome solution by many Mac Studio owners, users should be aware that installing third-party storage will void Apple’s warranty.

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• Apple has revealed the most downloaded iPhone and iPad apps of 2024
• There are plenty of recognizable names in the top charts
• But a few surprising entries have also cracked the top ten

Apple has revealed its most download apps, games and Apple Arcade titles in the US across 2024, covering free and paid releases on all the best iPhones and iPads. And while there are plenty of expected names in the top 10 lists, there are also some that might raise a few eyebrows (scroll down for the full lists).

The most controversial pick can be found in the list of the most downloaded free iPhone apps, where the number one app is Chinese shopping site Temu. Despite retailers like this growing in popularity, a survey in summer 2024 found that 94% of respondents did not trust Temu, and the brand has been accused of mishandling customer data in the past. Yet that hasn’t stopped iOS users from sending it rocketing to the top of Apple’s charts.

As for the most downloaded paid iPhone app, that award goes to proxy utility Shadowrocket, which can be used to redirect your device’s traffic and has similarities with some of the best VPN apps. It’s clearly a popular choice, as it also landed the number three spot in the list of top paid iPad apps.

Speaking of iPad apps, the list of top ten free iPad apps is chock-full of well-known names, including YouTube, Netflix, Max, Disney Plus, Google Chrome and TikTok. Many of these same names appear in the list of most downloaded free iPhone apps, although the likes of Threads, ChatGPT, Instagram and WhatsApp have displaced several of the iPad picks.

Familiar names and games

(Image credit: Brett Jordan / Pexels)

The games charts also contain some interesting tidbits. The Tetris-like game Block Blast takes the number one spot on the list of free iPhone games, followed by Monopoly Go, Roblox, Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, Township, and more. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the top paid iPhone game is Minecraft, with Heads Up and Geometry Dash following behind.

Minecraft and Geometry Dash take the top two spots for paid iPad games, with Five Nights at Freddy’s and Stardew Valley taking spots three and four. Roblox, meanwhile, is the most downloaded free iPad game.

Finally, Apple included download figures for its Apple Arcade subscription service, where games can be made to work across iPhone, iPad and the Mac. Here, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition was the most popular Apple Arcade game, followed by Snake.io+ and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

While most of the lists are dominated by established names, they show that a few viral hits have been able to penetrate the top ten, as well as long-lived titles like Heads Up. If you’ve been looking for a new app or game for your Apple device, it might be worth browsing the lists to see what catches your eye. Here are those lists of most popular iPhone and iPad apps of 2024 in full.

The top free iPhone Apps of 2024

1. Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire
2. Threads
3. TikTok
4. ChatGPT
5. Google
6. Instagram
7. WhatsApp Messenger
8. CapCut - Video Editor
9. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
10. Gmail - Email by Google

The top paid iPhone apps of 2024

1. Shadowrocket
2. HotSchedules
3. Procreate Pocket
4. 75 Hard
5. AnkiMobile Flashcards
6. AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
7. Paprika Recipe Manager 3
8. TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome
9. Goblin Tools
10. Forest: Focus for Productivity

The top free iPhone games of 2024

1. Block Blast！
2. MONOPOLY GO!
3. Roblox
4. Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Mobile
5. Township
6. Last War:Survival
7. Royal Match
8. Brawl Stars
9. Subway Surfers
10. My Perfect Hotel

The top paid iPhone games of 2024

1. Minecraft: Play with Friends
2. Heads Up!
3. Geometry Dash
4. Papa's Freezeria To Go!
5. Bloons TD 6
6. Five Nights at Freddy's
7. Plague Inc.
8. MONOPOLY: The Board Game
9. Stardew Valley
10. Red's First Flight

The top free iPad apps of 2024

1. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
2. Netflix
3. Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
4. Calculator - Pad Edition
5. Disney+
6. Google Chrome
7. Peacock TV: Stream TV & Movies
8. Amazon Prime Video
9. TikTok
10. Goodnotes 6

The top paid iPad apps of 2024

1. Procreate
2. Procreate Dreams
3. Shadowrocket
4. forScore
5. Nomad Sculpt
6. ToonSquid
7. Bluebeam Revu for iPad
8. AnkiMobile Flashcards
9. Teach Your Monster to Read
10. Endless Paper

The top free iPad games

1. Roblox
2. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
3. MONOPOLY GO!
4. Subway Surfers
5. Brawl Stars
6. Geometry Dash Lite
7. Block Blast！
8. Among Us!
9. My Perfect Hotel
10. Royal Match

The top paid iPad games of 2024

1. Minecraft: Play with Friends
2. Geometry Dash
3. Five Nights at Freddy's
4. Stardew Valley
5. Bloons TD 6
6. Papa's Paleteria To Go!
7. Five Nights at Freddy's 2
8. Poppy Playtime Chapter 1
9. MONOPOLY: The Board Game
10. Ultimate Custom Night

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• The FTC is warning jobseekers of rising new online scam
• 'Task' scams ask victims to pay deposits to access paid work
• These scams were virtually non-existent in 2021, but have skyrocketed in recent years

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning jobseekers to be wary of an emerging ‘task scam’, which essentially tricks victims into completing repetitive ‘work’ tasks, under the pretense of earning money - but first asking for a ‘deposit’ to secure the assignments.

This type of scam was virtually non-existent just three years ago, but reports of financial loss have shot up in 2024, with the FTC receiving over 20,000 complaints in the first 6 months alone, compared to under 500 in all of 2021.

This translates to a $220 million loss for victims of job related scams in the first half of 2024, with nearly 40% of those being ‘task scams’, according to the agency. Since cryptocurrency is the primary form of payment for these schemes, they have driven the crypto losses - with $41 million lost in employment scams in the same period - double that of 2023 in its entirety.

Don’t pay to get paid

The offer of easy money is always enticing, and fraudsters will often impersonate trusted companies like Amazon or Deloitte, with victims given a set of tasks to complete before moving to the next level.

Interestingly, the FTC has warned this approach has ‘gamified’ the scams, creating an effect similar to gambling, where the victim is sucked in, sometimes with small payouts to build trust, before being goaded into making larger deposits to access bigger tasks - but the deposits are never returned to the victim.

Joobseekers have unfortunately proved frequent targets for scammers, especially for those looking for a remote position - with a request for upfront payment is a common job related scam, making up 25% of cases.

More tactics used by fraudsters are phishing attempts (19%), and requests for confidential data (17%) that can then either be used to commit identity theft, or sold on to malicious actors.

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• Security researcher found a database containing millions of PII
• The database was built by a Canadian healthcare giant called Care1
• It was subsequently locked down, but customers till need to take care

A huge database containing millions of sensitive records has been discovered unprotected online available to anyone who knew where to look.

The cache was recently discovered by security researcher Jeremiah Fowler, known for uncovering misconfigured databases, or non-password-protected archives.

This time around, Fowler said he found a database containing more than 4.8 million documents, and weighing roughly 2.2 terabytes. Investigating the files found in the archive, the researchers said he found eye exams in .PDF format, together with patient Personally Identifiable Information (PII), doctor’s comments, and images of the exam results.

Reacting to the findings

“The database also contained .csv and.xls spreadsheets that listed patients and included their home addresses, Personal Health Numbers (PHN), and details regarding their health,” Fowler told vpnMentor.

Personal Health Numbers are unique identifiers, assigned to individuals, by provincial or territorial healthcare systems in Canada to manage access to publicly funded healthcare services. They are used to track medical records, process insurance claims, and verify eligibility for healthcare services.

Cybercriminals could abuse PHNs by using them for identity theft, such as obtaining unauthorized medical services, filing fraudulent insurance claims, or purchasing prescription drugs illegally. They could also sell these numbers on the dark web for profit or exploit the associated data to craft targeted phishing or social engineering attacks.

Drilling deeper, Fowler found that the database belonged to Care1, a Canadian company offering AI software solutions to support optometrists in delivering enhanced patient care. The company says its software helped manage more than 150,000 patient visits, and is used by more than 170 optometrists.

After realizing who the owner was, Fowler reached out to the company, who locked the database down soon after. However, without detailed forensics, it’s impossible to know if malicious actors found the archive at any time in the past.

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• Box and Adobe Express sign partnership deal
• Partnership aims to streamlines workflows for content creation
• Adobe Express will let Box users create high-quality content with advanced AI tools

Adobe and Box have announced a new partnership aimed at making content creation easier than ever for business users.

The agreement will see Adobe Express become the default image editor in Box’s online content creation service, giving users access to a far more powerful and wide-ranging platform.

The move will also bring editing images, crafting presentations, and managing digital assets directly into Box, meaning users will no longer need to switch between multiple applications to carry out tasks such as cropping and resizing images, adding filters, and removing distracting objects and backgrounds.

Box and Adobe Express partnership

“Today, every enterprise is feeling the pressure to create more content to engage audiences across a growing number of internal and external channels,” said Govind Balakrishnan, SVP of Adobe Express & Creative Cloud Services.

“By integrating Adobe Express directly into Box, we’re helping enterprises close that gap, meeting millions of business users where they work with intuitive, world-class creative tools and AI they can trust.”

Adobe Express will also bring the company's Firefly generative AI tool, meaning teams can create AI-powered content within the Box platform.

The two firms say by reducing the time it takes to create, review, and approve content, businesses can maintain a competitive edge. For example, marketing teams can quickly edit visuals for their campaigns and tailor social media content for different markets, while HR departments can build training materials and update internal communications, and sales teams can develop presentations personalized to their audience.

The news is the latest step in the partnership between Adobe and Box, with Adobe Document Cloud, Adobe Experience Cloud, and Adobe Creative Cloud already integrated into the platform.

“As enterprises increase the amount of content they’re creating, Box is leveraging AI in our secure ecosystem to fuel collaboration, reduce content sprawl and manage risk,” said Aaron Levie, CEO of Box.

“We’re excited to partner with Adobe Express to enhance what we can offer with the world’s best creative tools and AI that’s commercially safe. As a result, every Box customer and user will have the ability to easily create, collaborate on and securely manage digital media in a single, secure Intelligent Content Management platform.”

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• The White Lotus returns on February 16, 2025
• New cast members include Parker Posey and Walton Goggins
• At least one cast member ends up in a bag

Christmas just came early for fans of The White Lotus, because HBO Max has dropped the season 3 trailer and confirmed that The White Lotus season 3 will be available to stream from February 16, 2025 – we'd guessed January or February so we're feeling pretty smug right now.

In a big surprise, it looks like the luxury hotel brand will once again be plagued by murder. We know. We can't believe it either. And according to showrunner Like White, season 3 is going to be "longer, bigger, crazier".

We don't yet know who the victim is or how they met their end. But the trailer does feature a body in a bag, so it's pretty clear that things are going to end badly for at least one visitor.

What we know so far about The White Lotus Season 3

We already knew a few things thanks to the short teaser trailer that Max posted back in August with the caption "new luxuries await you in Thailand". That trailer also gave us glimpses of the new cast, including Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. That teaser ended with Posey by the pool alongside Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan before the tagline "what happens in Thailand stays in Thailand" appeared.

One thing the new trailer has revealed is how Natasha Rothwell's character Belinda ended up there: she's doing a transfer between hotels so she can get a change of scene. And the new guests all seem pretty horrible, with Walton Goggins a particular standout. It's nice to see him with a nose again after watching him in Fallout.

Here's the confirmed cast for season 3 of one of the best Max shows so far:

• Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey
• Jason Isaacs as TBC
• Carrie Coon as TBC
• Patrick Schwarzenegger as TBC
• Aimee Lou Wood as TBC
• Scott Glenn as TBC
• Walton Goggins as TBC
• Leslie Bibb as TBC
• Michelle Monaghan as TBC
• Parker Posey as TBC
• Lalisa 'Lisa' Manobal as TBC
• Dom Hertakul as TBC
• Tayme Thapthimthong as TBC
• Sarah Catherine Hook as TBC
• Sam Nivola as TBC
• Nicholas Duvernay as TBC
• Francesca Corney as TBC
• Arna Fedaravičius as TBC
• Christian Friedel as TBC
• Morgana O’Reilly as TBC
• Lek Patravadi as TBC
• Shalini Peiris as TBC
• Julian Kostov as TBC

Seasons 1 and 2 of The White Lotus are streaming now on Max.

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• A new survey has found 73% of iPhone users say AI adds little to no value
• The number is even higher for Samsung owners, with 87% saying AI doesn't improve their lives
• Writing Tools is the most popular Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18.2

A new survey from the company Sellcell has found that most iPhone and Samsung users don't actually think AI improves their daily lives.

The survey asked iPhone users with Apple Intelligence and Samsung users with access to Galaxy AI, whether or not the AI features on their smartphones were actually useful, and most don't seem to think so. According to Sellcell, 73% of iPhone users and 87% of Samsung users say AI features add little to no value, showcasing that AI is yet to show its raison d'être on the best smartphones.

The survey also found that 1 in 6 iPhone users would make the jump to Android for AI features if there was an enticing enough AI-fuelled feature worth making the move for. Interestingly, nearly 50% of iPhone users said AI was a major factor when deciding on their next smartphone purchase, that number was 23.7% for Samsung users.

The survey in itself doesn't highlight any surprising results, after all, we're still at the very beginning of AI development in consumer products, with Apple only launching Apple Intelligence in September and features still rolling out. According to the 1000+ iPhone users asked, Writing Tools was deemed the most popular AI feature interesting 72% of all those who responded. ‘Notification summaries’ (54%), ‘Priority Messages’ (44.5%), ‘Clean Up in Photos’ (29.1%), and ‘Smart Reply in Mail and Messages’ (20.9%) rounded out the list. This survey would've been conducted before the launch of iOS 18.2 and the arrival of Genmoji, ChatGPT integration in Siri, and Image Playground which all launched last week.

On the Samsung side, users found ‘Circle to Search’ (82.1%), ‘Photo Assist’ (55.5%), ‘Chat Assist’ (28.8%), ‘Note Assist’ (17.4%), and ‘Browsing Assist’ (11.6%) as the most interesting AI features.

Is AI just a gimmick?

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

Surveys like this one from Sellcell shine a light on the larger public perception of AI tools in smartphones, that said it's still early days and the best is yet to come. As an iPhone user myself, I'm slowly noticing Apple Intelligence features creep into my workflow more and more, and I expect that's the same for users on Samsung and other Android devices with Galaxy AI and Gemini.

AI features on smartphones need a few more years to fully cement themselves into mobile operating systems for us to see if they are indeed a total gimmick or tools that can infinitely improve our lives.

I for one, remain hopeful, especially because Genmoji in itself has made my day-to-day much better. Who doesn't want to generate a frog emoji for every conversation topic they have during the day? My life now has more frogs in it, and for that, I need to thank AI.

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When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail; when you're a drone spotter, everything looks like a drone.

As someone who's flown more than a few drones in his lifetime and sometimes carries a foldable one in his pocket during weekend hikes so he can randomly pull it out and fly it over hills, lakes, homes, and trees, I'm a bit of a drone watcher; not to be confused with a bird watcher (I'm that, too), who keeps his eyes and ears open for the aviary kind. Come to think of it, drone spotting is a bit like that, too. Usually, I hear the high-pitched buzz, and then I cast about, scanning the skies for the tell-tale movement (hover, sprint, hover, zig-zag) and spinning rotors of a consumer-grade drone.

Like a birder, I'll call out, "Oh, look, someone's flying a drone over us." Over the years, I have seen consumer class (usually under 250 grams) drones fly over my home. I typically try to identify which DJI drone it is; maybe a DJI Mini, perhaps a Mavic or DJI Mavic Pro. Usually, it's not one of the larger Phantom Pro drones since most people are neither qualified nor allowed by the FAA to fly them over residential areas.

What's up with that?

Naturally, I've been intrigued by the explosion of east coast US drone sightings in recent weeks. In the videos (mostly unverified) I've seen on TikTok, they tend to be much larger than anything I've flown. In fact, they appear to be huge (think five or six feet across) enterprise-grade drones used by businesses for surveillance, package delivery, and feature film operations.

Where I live – in New York – and surrounding cities along the east coast of the US, drone spotting is now something of an obsession, though I haven't quite caught the bug.

During a recent crystal clear night that featured a brilliantly bright full Moon and Jupiter nearby, my offspring and I dragged our Celestron telescope outside to star gaze. As we stood shivering in the night, trying to get Jupiter's moons lined up in our scope, I started pointing out a few low-orbit satellites silently dashing by: They're usually easily identified by their speed, straight-as-an-arrow trajectory and lights that blink at regular intervals. It never occurred to me to suspect them of being drones. Perhaps I know better, or maybe, unlike others, I'm not looking for drones in the night sky.

Look, I'm not saying there aren't drones flying over the East Coast of the US. They may be, but I don't think it's an invasion. Here are some ideas about what's going on:

• There was a larger drone test conducted either by the local or federal government or a company that wanted to see how well a delivery fleet operated at night. Since 2021, the FAA has authorized some drone night flights, though the drones still have to remain at elevations under 400 feet. That may account for why these drones have been so visible. They're larger and cannot break the rules by flying in air space reserved for airplanes.
• After that initial flight (and maybe a few subsequent ones), undiscerning eyes started to think that any light in the sky that they could not identify was also a drone. Drones of the size most people claim they're seeing, by the way, are not easy to fly, and night flights would require even more expertise.
• Also, for those worrying that these drones are coming from foreign enemies, it's worth remembering that unless they're military drones, they're not flying thousands or even hundreds of miles to reach US shores. I also have to wonder what usable information "spy drones" would get from flying over the suburbs at night.
• Amateur drone operators are opportunistically taking more night flights than before, hoping that people will spot their fliers and add them to these worrisome reports. Non-pros taking nighttime flights is concerning, but these drones use GPS and not sight to navigate and can go out on a programmed flight and return home on their own without much intervention by amateur pilots.

Faster action will help

Now, I tend to agree that the government (local and federal) has moved too slowly to address the "drone invasion" (they've finally agreed to send in special drone-detecting technology), but I also think the FAA has been too lax about drone registration and tracking. Essentially, anything that takes off in public airspace should instantly become a tracked dot on local flight tracking systems. FWIW, if you ever found my lost drone, you'd open up the battery compartment to find my drone pilot registration number.

All this aside, I'm almost certain that the majority of drones people think they're seeing are not. They're still planes, helicopters, and satellites. However, until the US government responds effectively to consumer concerns, the drone hysteria will grow, people will start shooting at these drones, and then someone will probably really get hurt.

Don't be a hammer looking for a nail.

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We're in the second week of "12 Days of Open AI", which is OpenAI's Christmas gift to all of us. So far, on every day of the period OpenAI has released a new product – highlights of the first week have been Sora, OpenAI's long-awaited AI video generator, ChatGPT's new o1 LLM (which is better at reasoning than before) and ChatGPT's new Canvas and Projects features.

When he launched the 12-day project, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that there would be "some big ones and some stocking stuffers", and so far the company has alternated between big and small announcements on subsequent days.

However, the big ones really have stood out; in fact, the first week of 12 Days of OpenAI produced so many amazing new products that we're still getting our heads around it all. And now we've got another whole week of new announcements to come. Hurrah! So what can we expect?

Well, keep checking back regularly, because we're going to cover everything that OpenAI announces and all the rumors that go with it. So grab a hot drink, sit back and relax and get ready for a new bunch of releases from OpenAI.

12 days of OpenAI – everything announced so far

• Day 1: OpenAI kicked things off with the release of ChatGPT o1, a brand new LLM that is better at math and science and has better, more accurate answers. It also announced a $200 ChatGPT Pro subscription.
• Day 2: This day was more focussed on developers with the release of AI Reinforcement Fine-Tuning, which is a method for improving how AI models work through their reasoning for responses.
• Day 3: This was a big one! OpenAI released Sora, its AI video generation tool. It instantly impressed most people but you're limited in what you can create unless you go for the ChatGPT Pro subscription.
• Day 4: On day four OpenAI announced a nice upgrade to ChatGPT called Canvas. Canvas is a feature that makes it easier to work with code and text, adding writing tools and more.
• Day 5: ChatGPT integration into Apple Intelligence was announced today and went live as part of iOS 18.2 Unfortunately ChatGPT went down straight after the launch.
• Day 6: ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode added visual abilities, so it can see what's on your screen, and also see you too.
• Day 7: This day was all about getting organized. ChatGPT added Projects, a method of organizing your ChatGPT sessions.

LIVE UPDATES

(Image credit: Future)

Welcome to day eight of '12 Days of OpenAI'! We've had the weekend to think about all the good stuff OpenAI released last week (Sora, ChatGPT Canvas and Projects, plus ChatGPT o1) and that's got us wondering what we can expect from the AI giant this week?

There's still been nothing announced on the AI image generation front, so could we see a new DALL-E release today?

We're here from today until Friday this week (the 20th) when we'll get our final day of OpenAI releases. Today's announcement will kick off at 10am PT, so don't miss it.

My favorite announcement from last week?

(Image credit: Apple/OpenAI)

Today is a good day to reflect on the goodies that OpenAI announced last week, and while Sora was the highlight, without a doubt, it was another of its announcements that I found the most useful...

I'm talking about the Canvas feature. As I wrote at the time, it has completely changed the way I use ChatGPT. The new writing tools are really useful, and I love the way you can keep refining the same piece of text over and over, without having to keep generating reams of text each time you want to change just one element of it.

If you haven't had a play with Canvas yet I'd recommend you give it a go. It's free!

Let's talk about AI images

(Image credit: Future)

Could we see a major update to DALL-E in today's announcement? I highly doubt it, but you never know.

Today, TechRadar's Senior AI Writer, John-Anthony Disotto, has been testing Grok, a competitor to DALL-E from xAI, Elon Musk's AI company. Grok 2 is now free to all users on X (formerly Twitter), and it's capable of some crazy unrestricted image generation results.

In his piece, titled "I used Grok’s new free tier on X but I can’t show you the results because it could infringe Nintendo's copyright", he talks about how OpenAI's AI image generator won't create images of copyrighted characters or public figures, while Grok will do whatever you ask it to. Despite the limitations, DALL-E 3 as part of ChatGPT remains one of our picks for best AI image generator, but could it get a whole lot better in today's announcement? Time will tell.

Time for an AI podcast generator?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Stock-Asso)

Something we haven't seen from OpenAI so far is an AI podcast generator. While Google has been having a lot of success with NotebookLM, its research tool that will generate a fantastically real podcast between two AI hosts from whatever text, video or PDF sources you feed it, we haven't seen anything from OpenAI on this front so far.

Google is rolling out a new feature to NotebookLM that lets you join in the conversation with the AI hosts too.

NotebookLM has been so popular that we're starting to wonder if this week we'll see OpenAI step into the AI podcast game with one of its '12 Days of OpenAI' releases? Time will tell.

We asked ChatGPT what announcement we'll get today

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Daniel Chetroni)

We asked ChatGPT what it thought that OpenAI would be releasing today because, well, if anybody should know it should be ChatGPT, right? It came back with:

"Given that image generation updates have been notably absent so far, many speculate that a DALL-E update could be coming today. The announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT, so keep an eye out for news regarding potential advancements in OpenAI's creative tools and accessibility features."

To be honest, we think it's right, but it also sounds a lot like ChatGPT has been reading our own blog post on the subject of today's release (see down below), so, er, thanks for nothing ChatGPT...

It's all about ChatGPT Search for Day 8

And away we go! OpenAI is kicking off day 8 of its 12 Days of announcements. Kevin, OpenAI's product lead, is kicking things off and quickly shared that the focus for today is ChatGPT Search.

First, it's arriving to everyone globally and on every platform where ChatGPT is available beginning today. OpenAI is also saying broadly that they've made ChatGPT Search better and are rolling out the ability to search while you're talking with ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond rolling out ChatGPT search to even more users, OpenAI is also integrating the feature more seamlessly into its Android or iOS mobile app. When you ask a question, say a restaurant in a specific area, like how the OpenAI team demoed during the reveal, it will list the results in line. Further, you can have a more natural conversation about the results to find what you're truly after. It's pretty neat.

Once you find a restaurant in the ChatGPT app for iOS, you can also get directions via Apple Maps as it is integrated.

Also, within the mobile app, you can talk with ChatGPT using voice mode, and it will weave search results and broader web information into its response. For instance, if you're asking for a Christmas market, you can even get more specific for hours and days of operation.

(Image credit: Future)

Just as quickly as day 8 of 12 Days of OpenAI began, it's already come to a close. ChatGPT Search was the focus, with some significant enhancements and a much larger rollout for logged-in free users globally, where ChatGPT is available. Much like Canvas, you'll need a free account to use ChatGPT search and get high rate limits.

Kevin also teased that tomorrow, Day 9, will be a mini developer day, so expect the focus to be less on consumer features and more on larger tools.

• Developers are particularly fond of ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot
• Google Gemini isn’t actually used much for coding, survey finds
• 96% say that AI helps them to save time

New research from JetBrains based on survey results from more than 23,000 developers has revealed which AI coding assistants developers are actually using, but it just confirms what we already know.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT stood out as the leader, with two in three (66.4%) who tried the platform continuing to use it. GitHub Copilot follows closely in second place, with an adoption rate of 64.5%.

However, this is just half the picture, because while 52.4% of those who tried Anthropic Claude continued to use the platform, demonstrating a high level of satisfaction, only 2.7% of developers use it in the first place.

Developers are actually using AI coders

Satisfaction aside, JetBrains found nearly half (49%) of the developers surveyed regularly use ChatGPT. Microsoft-owned GitHub Copilot, which is powered by OpenAI’s models, is used by 26% of developers, with Google Gemini favored by just 7% and JetBrains’ own AI Assistant by a mere 5%.

Eight in 10 (80%) companies either allow the use of third-party AI tools to varying extents or don’t have a policy on their use, with only one in 10 (11%) totally banning third-party cloud-based AI tools.

More than half of the respondents acknowledged that AI can increase their productivity (57%), enable them to complete repetitive tasks more quickly (57%) or code and develop more quickly overall (58%), however the key driver for many (67%) was a reduction in time spent searching for information. Only one in four (23%) said that AI created better-quality code.

Additionally, three-fifths (59%) say they save between one and four hours per week when using AI, with only 4% stating that they don’t save any time at all.

Full details of the Developer Ecosystem 2024 report can be found online, including more information about the popularity of coding languages and the rise of virtual reality.

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• Reebok has unveiled its new gym shoe for 2025
• The Nano X5 is the latest iteration of its popular training shoe
• It features a new midsole and outsole that should be more responsive underfoot

Reebok has just unveiled the brand new iteration of its top training shoe, the Nano X5 Training Shoes.

While the Nike Free Metcon 5 currently sits atop our best gym shoe guide, the Nano X line has been a mainstay as a brilliant CrossFit and training shoe designed for stability and heavier lifting.

New for 2025 (with a January 24th release date), Reebok has unveiled the Nano X5, replete with a new Decoupled Metasplit Outsole and a new DUALRESPONSE Midsole. Here's everything you need to know about the newest version of the Official Shoe of Fitness.

Reebok's Nano X5 Training Shoes

(Image credit: Reebok)

The new nano features a premium flexweave upper that should provide breathability, durability, and comfort.

Underfoot, the new midsole and outsole should add increased flexibility for running and circuit training, possibly gearing the X5 to a more all-rounder status. Specifically, the DUALRESPONSE Midsole provides more cushioning and response upfront for running, but more stability in the rear. Reebok says the Performance Comfort Collar will also provide a 360-degree locked-in fit.

The Reebok Nano X5 will be available to buy from Reebok on January 24th, starting at $140. We'll be hands-on and testing with the Nano X5 very soon, and we'll be able to give you a full run down and review in time for 2025.

The X5 will be available in Women's Sport and Unisex Sport styles, with six colors for each.

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• Cl0p confirmed abusing Cleo to target organizations
• The group said it deletes all government and healthcare data
• The same threat actor was behind the MOVEit cyberattack

Cl0p ransomware, the hacking group that was responsible for the infamous MOVEit data leak fiasco, has now claimed it was also behind the recent Cleo attacks.

Security researchers from Huntress recently revealed three managed file transfer (MFT) products from Cleo were carrying an unrestricted file upload and download vulnerability that could lead to remote code execution (RCE).

The bug is tracked as CVE-2024-50623, and was found in LexiCom, VLTransfer, and Harmony. Cleo released a patch for it in October 2024, but apparently it wasn’t effective.

The attack "project"

Huntress also said that it spotted at least two dozen compromised organizations, since the flaw was actively exploited in the wild:

“Victim organizations so far have included various consumer product companies, logistics and shipping organizations, and food suppliers,” Huntress said in its writeup, adding that countless other companies are at risk.

Soon after Huntress’ announcement, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added the bug to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming the findings and giving federal agencies three weeks to patch up or stop using the tools entirely.

At first, the attack was not attributed to any particular group, since the evidence was inconclusive. However, over the weekend, BleepingComputer contacted Cl0p, who confirmed being behind the attacks:

“As for CLEO, it was our project (including the previous cleo) - which was successfully completed,” the group told the publication. “All the information that we store, when working with it, we observe all security measures. If the data is government services, institutions, medicine, then we will immediately delete this data without hesitation (let me remind you about the last time when it was with moveit - all government data, medicine, clinics, data of scientific research at the state level were deleted), we comply with our regulations.”

Clearly, Cl0p does not want to dabble with government or healthcare data, since that incurs the wrath of law enforcement, and most ransomware actors that went for government or healthcare data ended up dismantled, or at least seriously disrupted.

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• Tim Cook has confirmed season 3 and 4 of Silo
• Season 2 is currently streaming on Apple TV Plus
• It's so very dark down there

We reckon that Silo is the best dystopian series since Fallout, and we're currently enjoying Silo season 2. But while the showrunner Graham Yost has said that there's a "big mystery" around this season, that mystery isn't "will it be renewed for another season?".

How do we know? Because Tim Cook said so. Posting on X, the Apple boss said that he's "excited to share that Silo will return for a third AND fourth season".

Here's hoping that Apple gives the production company a little bit of extra money to light the Silo scenes in season 3 and 4. The show's interior scenes are so dark my brother ended up buying a new TV in order to see what was going on. Sometimes I wonder if it's all a plot to sell more mini-LED TVs.

Excited to share that “Silo” will return for a third AND fourth season! We’re thrilled to support the imagination and inspiration out of the UK as they continue to create world-class films and series. pic.twitter.com/hmtszs7hf5December 16, 2024

What to expect from Silo season 3 and 4

Tim Cook isn't telling: he just wants you to know that "we're thrilled to support the imagination and inspiration out of the UK as they continue to create world-class films and series".

Without any spoilers, the current season – season 2 – raises more questions and myriad mysteries of exactly what happened to the Earth and who built the vast network of doomsday bunkers. It begins with The Engineer, a bloody flashback to an earlier era of the silos, and the season shows Bernard starting to pull on the strings of things he doesn't know while a growing rebellion begins to fester.

If you want to know more, of course, you can turn to the books: Silo is based on Hugh Howey's Wool trilogy of Wool, Shift and Dusk. The first half of book one maps closely to Silo season one; the second half and some of book two, from what we've watched so far, maps to the second season. And that means the next seasons will be drawing from Dusk, which starts with the aftermath of something very big in a "war [that's] just beginning".

That's good news for fans of the show, but it's bittersweet too: Dusk is the last book. And that means season 4 will be the last time we'll see the Silo too. As showrunner Jost told Variety, "we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this complete story to the screen over the course of four seasons. With the final two chapters of Silo we can’t wait to give fans of the show an incredibly satisfying conclusion to the many mysteries and unanswered questions contained within the walls of these silos.”

Seasons 1 and 2 of Silo are streaming now on Apple TV Plus, with episode 6 set to be released next Friday (December 20) before the season finale debuts on Friday (January 17).

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• New US chip sanctions have been imposed on foreign companies
• The restrictions spell an effective ban for Chinese firms
• This closes an export loophole currently exploited to skirt around US sanctions

The US government has announced a strict set of requirements which could effectively block Chinese access to AI chips.

According to Reuters, these requirements will ‘empower companies like Google and Microsoft to act as gatekeepers worldwide’, and includes reporting information to the US government, which would close the export loopholes which currently allow Chinese companies to bypass the restrictions.

A small number of US tech firms will be offered ‘gatekeeper status’, allowing them to offer AI capabilities within the cloud in foreign countries without a license, leaving foreign actors to fight for a very limited number of licenses per country in order to import powerful AMD and Nvidia chips.

A war of attrition

There will be exemptions for 19 allied states, the report confirms, which would mean unlimited access to AI chips and capabilities.

There has been a significant buzz around AI in recent months, but the real value (or concern, depending on your perspective), is the military applications. This is sparking national security concerns on both sides, with China banning key mineral exports to the US, and the US in turn imposing trade sanctions.

The Chinese government recently retaliated against continued US sanctions by labeling chips made in the country as ‘no longer safe’ for use for domestic organizations, and has previously banned the export of gallium, antimony, and germanium to the US.

The US and China have been trading blows this year as they both battle to control the semiconductor market, swapping sanctions and offering domestic incentives.

China’s mineral wealth is crucial to the development of the chips, but the country does not yet have the capabilities to develop the high-powered chips domestically, so the battle between the two nations is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

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