TechRadar News

Many of us remember January 19, the day TikTok was erased from app stores before being reinstated approximately 12 hours later.

We were told TikTok had a new shelf life of 75 days, and promised a US buyer would soon swoop in to save the day.

But today, April 4, is 75 days after January 19 - and we still don't have a finalized deal in place for one of the world's largest social media platforms with over 175M US users.

Is TikTok actually getting banned in the United States again?

No, TikTok won't disappear from app stores - yet

Even though that initial 75 day grace period, issued by Presidential executive order decree, has now passed, TikTok is here to stay...for now.

The Trump administration has issued yet another executive order to keep TikTok in US app stores for another 75 days, which makes the new deadline June 18.

He explains in a post on Truth Social, "My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days."

Post by @karissabe View on Threads

More importantly, ByteDance sent us their first public comment on the potential sale, and, to be honest, it sounds no more certain that what we''re hearing from President Trump:

"ByteDance has been in discussion with the U.S. Government regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S.  An agreement has not been executed.  There are key matters to be resolved.  Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law," said a ByteDance spokeperosn in an email sent to TechRadar.

The question remains: How many 75-day extensions will we get before the long-awaited deal is finalized?

Trump mentions his administration does "not want TikTok to 'go dark,'" but at this time, we have very few details on the potential deal in place, and ByteDance notes there are "key matters" they still have to resolve.

While we wait for the pair to reach an agreement, there are numerous TikTok suitors in the mix.

We're aware of some interested parties, namely:

• Mr Beast
• Perplexity AI
• Oracle
• A consortium that includes Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
• The White House

But TikTok's fate ultimately still looms in the balance as nothing concrete has come from any of these potential buyers.

Governments, Tariffs, and TikTok

President Trump also touches on tariffs, which have been making waves recently as popular tech companies deal with the rising costs of production and transit.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were just announced as delayed in the US "amid tariff uncertainty" for example, and it's possible the Chinese government isn't interested in approving a sale with these hefty fines in place.

Trump explains, "We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security!"

It's undoubtedly a rocky sea to navigate, but at least we know we have another 75 days of doom scrolling ahead of us.

You might also like

• Forget the US TikTok ban – what we need is better social media and privacy laws
• Oracle could still end up running TikTok
• ‘Possible, but not probable': analysts react to rumors of a $2,300 iPhone after Trump tariffs

I was so excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 - in fact, I'm still excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 - but yet I can't help but feel just a little bit empty.

Following on from yesterday's Nintendo Direct, I was lucky enough to snag a Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Bundle preorder this week at a UK retailer.

For previous console launches, I'd have felt giddy at the upcoming arrival of a new toy, but this time I just kind of feel... fine?

It's not because I'm not excited to play a new Forza Horizon-inspired Mario Kart or revisit some of the best Nintendo Switch games with enhanced graphics like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 4K resolution (or perhaps 1440p) at 60 frames per second, but because my new Switch is lacking something very specific: A new single-player experience on launch day, and an Italian plumber one at that.

Opportunities came and went

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Depending on who you ask Super Mario Odyssey is arguably the best game on Nintendo Switch. Ask me, and I'd probably say it's one of my favorites alongside Breath of the Wild.

As Nintendo's event started yesterday, I was poised for the first proper 3D Mario since 2017's Odyssey. Since then we've had a remaster of Super Mario 3D World which added Bowser's Fury (the closest thing to a new 3D Mario we've seen since) and new 2D Mario experiences like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

But still, eight years on and we've not got a direct sequel to Mario Odyssey or just the next in the long line of incredible 3D Mario games.

Unfortunately during the Nintendo event, opportunities came and went where Nintendo opted to prioritize other IPs instead of its most famous platforming protagonist.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that Mario Kart World is a huge release, but in my opinion, Nintendo's best experiences are single player and while replaying the Switch's Zelda games with upgraded graphics on day one will feel amazing, it won't be new.

Towards the end of the Nintendo Direct, after we'd seen all the new hardware, the company wowed fans with three back-to-back game reveals.

The first, which provided genuine shock and awe, was the announcement of a new and exclusive FromSoftware game that looks like a spiritual successor to Bloodborne called The Duskbloods.

Next, a star shot onto the screen and I thought we were about to be graced by the arrival of Super Mario Galaxy 3. Instead, it was a reveal for Kirby Air Riders, a successor to the GameCube game, Kirby Air Ride. But do you need another arcade racer in the same year as a new Mario Kart?

Finally, just to get my hopes up one last time, Nintendo closed the show with the reveal of Donkey Kong Bananza, the first 3D Donkey Kong game since 1999.

Don't get me wrong, the game looks awesome, but not only does it release on July 17, a month on from the Switch 2's arrival, but it also just makes me want Super Mario Odyssey 2.

Nintendo, where's my Mario?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Most people will be very content with the Nintendo Switch 2's first six months on the market. By the end of 2025, we'll have games ranging from Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

That's a stellar lineup for the first year of a console, let alone half. But Mario is Nintendo, and without a new 3D adventure it makes the Nintendo Switch 2 launch feel lukewarm.

I've come to terms with the lack of Mario Odyssey 2 in 2025, but please Nintendo, make sure 2026 has a new 3D Mario adventure.

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 Treehouse Live
• Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on preview
• The Switch 2 launching with a Mario Kart game 'is very unlike Nintendo' compared to the original Switch releasing with Breath of the Wild, says former marketing leads: 'That's what's gonna make you want to buy the new hardware'

• Donald Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on imports from major US trading partners like the EU and China
• Speculators have suggested that the price of the iPhone could hit $2,300 due to the tariffs
• We checked in with industry analysts for a balanced perspective

Donald Trump has announced that the US will levy sweeping tariffs on international trade that will likely affect the tech industry – with some projections suggesting a $2,300 iPhone could be on the cards.

Trump's proposed tariffs, announced on April 3, will affect imports from a long list of countries including allies like Canada and the European Union as well as major manufacturing economies like China and Vietnam.

Across the tech industry, commentators and consumers are examining what this could mean for them, and as one might expect the news media and internet have lit up with speculation.

According to Reuters, projections from Rosenblatt Securities suggest that the price of a “high-end” iPhone could rise to $2,300 (approximately £1,800 / AU$3,800).

That’s a hefty price rise indeed, but it comes with a few very important caveats. That estimate seems to be based on the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage, which at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,149 is already the most expensive phone Apple sells. To attain a price of $2,300, Apple would have to pass on the entirety of the proposed 54% tariff levied against China to consumers.

Apple does manufacture iPhones in other south-east Asian and south Asian countries like Vietnam and India, though both of these countries have been hit with steep proposed tariffs too: Vietnam at 46% and India at 26%.

The reality: what industry experts are saying

The tariffs were announced on April 3 by US President Donald Trump (Image credit: Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

So, are we likely to see a massive price hike for the iPhone? We checked in with industry analysts to get a balanced view.

Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at AvaTrade, told TechRadar: “The idea of a $2,300 iPhone grabs headlines, but it’s more worst-case than real-world. Yes, a 54% tariff on a $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max could technically push retail prices north of $2,400 – but Apple isn’t likely to pass the full cost to consumers.”

Leaman continued: “Apple typically absorbs 10-15% of shocks through margin compression and supply chain efficiencies. That means actual price increases might be closer to 20-25%. So we’re likely looking at a top-end iPhone maxing out around $1,900 by year-end.”

Leaman also notes that Apple’s pledged $500 billion investment in the US may lead the company to push for exemptions: “Apple is already shifting production to India and Vietnam, and with $500 billion invested in the U.S., it's expected to push harder on ‘Made in America’ exemptions. So, a $2,300 iPhone is possible, but not probable."

Nick Rakovsky, CEO of DataDocks, offers another balanced take, calling the prospect of a $2,300 iPhone “unlikely”.

Rakovsky told TechRadar: Unless we’re talking about broader inflationary pressure across the economy, Apple has every reason to avoid passing such a dramatic cost increase directly onto consumers.”

Continuing, Rakovsky said: “That said, all companies will feel some level of pain from these new tariffs – Apple included. The interesting question is how well each company can absorb or adapt to that impact. Apple, like the other tech giants, has been working to diversify its supply chain and make it more resilient for years now.”

Rakovsky also notes that Apple is keen to retain its market share and protect its brand perception, adding: “It comes down to pricing strategy, and few do that better than Apple”.

Noted Apple analyst and social media tipster Ming-Chi Kuo has also joined the conversation, noting in a post to X (formerly Twitter) that “85-90% of Apple’s hardware is assembled in China”.

China, as mentioned, has been hit with the heaviest tariffs at 54%, and Kuo adds that China is unlikely to be successful in negotiating this rate.

Kuo added: “India and Vietnam are far more likely than China to secure US tariff exemptions. Though the timeline is unclear, this would speed up Apple’s shift of assembly orders away from China until non-Chinese production can satisfy most US demand”.

Additionally, Kuo mentioned that high-end consumers may be more accepting of price increases.

The verdict: what this all means

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Overall, the common threads from multiple analysts suggest that a price rise for the iPhone can’t be ruled out, but Apple’s efficient supply chain and ability to accept a smaller profit margin may be able to insulate consumers from the full effects of the tariffs.

This all means that a $2,300 iPhone seems like a fairly unlikely prospect at the time of writing.

Many other devices sold by Apple and other manufacturers are made in countries that are due to be hit by tariffs, but for now we haven’t seen much analysis focusing on these products and can’t comment on any potential pricing impacts.

If you want a refresher on the handsets in question, be sure to check out our iPhone 16 Pro Max review and guide to the best iPhones. We’ll have the latest iPhone news as we hear it via our dedicated iPhone coverage.

You might also like

• Motorola’s new cheap phone offers great value for money – plus it feels like a canvas tote bag
• Are modern smartphone designs boring? We asked 1,500 people, and the results are damning
• Google Messages is finally going to get better at handling your lengthy texts

• ChatGPT-5 is delayed by a few months
• The time will allow OpenAI to better integrate the new model
• New o3 and o4-mini models to come in a couple of weeks

OpenAI has changed its plans and is set to put ChatGPT-5 on hold while releasing new o3 and o4-mini models in the next couple of weeks instead.

The news broke today in a tweet by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in which he revealed why the plans were changing:

“There are a bunch of reasons for this”, wrote Altman, “but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally thought.

"We also found it harder than we thought it was going to be to smoothly integrate everything, and we want to make sure we have enough capacity to support what we expect to be unprecedented demand.”

The mention of 'capacity to support unprecedented demand' is clearly a reference to the recent outages that ChatGPT has been experiencing as millions of new users signed up to try out the new image generation abilities of ChatGPT-4o.

change of plans: we are going to release o3 and o4-mini after all, probably in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months.there are a bunch of reasons for this, but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally…April 4, 2025

The next evolution of AI

ChatGPT-5 is the next big evolution of the popular ChatGPT LLM and will be a major development in the future of AI.

Its simpler name was also supposed to represent an alignment shift in OpenAI’s somewhat confusing product-naming conventions that will now soon feature both an o4 and an 4o model in the line-up simultaneously.

Rather than the user having to decide if they wanted to use a smaller, lighter model, such as 4o-mini or a deeper reasoning model, like o4, for their tasks, ChatGPT-5 will decide for you which type of model to use, based on your query.

So far, OpenAI has confirmed that even users on the free tier will have some access to ChatGPT-5 when it comes out, but users on the Pro and Plus tiers will get more. The only word on a release date we’ve been given before was “soon”.

Now it looks like we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for that integration of everything into one model, with Altman stating that ChatGPT-5 would now appear “in a few months”.

ChatGPT-o3 improvements

Commenting on the new o3 model, Altman also stated that, “We were able to really improve on what we previewed for o3 in many ways; I think people will be happy…”

Replying to a user on X who asked if there would also be an o3 Pro model, Altman gave a one-word reply – “coming!” – which would seem to confirm that a pro version of o3 is also in the works.

As to when we will see the o3 and o4-mini models, Altman stated, “in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months”.

You might also like

• I tried ChatGPT's new sarcastic voice, and it made me hate Mondays even more
• Is ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli craze a copyright timebomb? Here's the verdict from expert lawyers
• I discovered a surprising difference between DeepSeek and ChatGPT search capabilities

• Intel expands its liquid cooling tech to support Nvidia’s future AI chips
• Superfluid cooling tackles 1.5kW heat loads for high-performance systems
• Taiwan partnerships position Intel as cooling leader for next-gen chips

It's no secret that Intel, which recently appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, is facing difficult times.

The iconic chipmaker is reportedly considering spinning off its foundry division into a joint venture with TSMC in a bid to turn things around, but separate from those plans, Intel is also looking to change its fortunes by becoming a major player in cooling next-generation AI hardware.

The company’s Superfluid cooling solution is reportedly capable of managing heat output up to 1.5kW per chip, a level of performance that could be essential for cooling Nvidia’s GB300 superchip and also for upcoming rack servers, like those shown off at GTC 2025.

Blowing bubbles

At its event, Nvidia unveiled mock-ups of Kyber-based NVL576 racks featuring Rubin Ultra GPUs.

According to Nvidia's co-founder, president, and CEO Jensen Huang, these systems could draw as much as 600kW, with future racks potentially reaching megawatt-level power demands. As energy requirements grow, advanced cooling solutions like Intel’s Superfluid technology will become increasingly essential.

Superfluid cooling was first introduced by Intel in 2023 and uses microbubble injection to improve coolant flow and heat transfer efficiency.

mashdigi reports the technology draws inspiration from a method used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, “where bubbles are generated under the hull of ocean-going ships to reduce water resistance and improve propulsion efficiency."

The site goes on to explain that in the case of Superfluid cooling, "a similar approach is applied by generating bubbles in the coolant to increase flow speed and enhance heat removal. This is combined with cold plate designs to further improve thermal conductivity.

Additionally, the system uses a new type of non-conductive dielectric fluid to prevent damage to submerged servers in the event of a leak.” This approach makes it highly suitable for dense compute environments where traditional cooling methods fall short.

Intel recently showcased its progress at the 2025 Superfluid Advanced Cooling Technology Forum in Taiwan, co-hosted with the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

According to United Daily News Network (UDN), the event drew over 500 attendees and more than ten local suppliers, highlighting strong industry interest. Taiwanese firms, including Maico, YuanShan, Kuenling, and Sun Max Tech, presented hardware built to support Intel’s cooling system, including server racks, liquid-cooled chassis and thermal components.

Intel is reportedly also investing in advanced materials to reduce corrosion and mechanical wear, including liquid metal-based designs and electromagnetic pump systems, in order to improve long-term durability and reduce maintenance for large-scale deployments.

You might also like

• Liquid cooling solutions gain momentum as AI workloads turn up the heat
• New fanless cooling technology enhances energy efficiency for AI workloads
• Evolving data center cooling for AI workloads

• ChatGPT Plus is going free for a limited time if you're a student
• US & Canadian students can get the AI's upgraded for free for two months
• This tier unlocks better AI tools and higher usage limits for the free-tier AI

ChatGPT Plus – ChatGPT’s premium tier – is going free for students in the US and Canada for a couple of months. Here’s how to apply and what the deal gets you.

The upgraded ChatGPT Plus tier usually costs $20 a month, and opens up access to ChatGPT’s advanced Deep Research model, the upgraded GPT-4.5 preview, and extends the limits imposed on users accessing the free tools (so you can send more prompts and upload more files before you hit your cap).

You’ll also get wider access to ChatGPT’s voice mode and screen-sharing abilities. And these tools can be super handy when studying for your finals this semester.

It's the perfcet time to try ChatGPT (Image credit: ChatGPT)

If you’re not sure why you got a practice question wrong you can show ChatGPT your test and answer and it can help explain how you made the error. The speech mode is useful for practicing languages as you can set the bot to converse with you at your level.

You can also upload your notes to the bot and get it to quiz you on them with custom tests to get you used to having your knowledge challenged in an exam-like environment.

Just remember to not rely solely on the AI.

Even with your course notes it will likely make a few reasoning errors, and when practicing languages it might teach you a phrase that’s technically correct but not one that’s actually used by people speaking the language day-to-day. For example, I’ve recently been watching streamer Ludwig in a YouTube series in which he travels across Japan and one his ChatGPT-taught phrases for “thank you” is equivalent to saying “I thank thee for thine service.”

But if you use ChatGPT’s study tools in conjunction with your own non-AI practice – and regularly check you’re not being taught something wrong – it could be a handy tutor.

Now, how do you get it for free?

The Plus tier gets you access to ChatGPT-4.5 (Image credit: OpenAI) How to apply for the ChatGPT Plus student offer

The offer is available from March 31 until May 31, 2025 and gives you two months of ChatGPT Plus once you claim it.

You’ll need to be a student in the US and Canada with OpenAI explaining it’ll verify your status instantly using the following methods:

• Authoritative Sources: SheerID first checks trusted databases, such as your university’s Office of the Registrar, to instantly verify your student status.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): If necessary, you’ll be prompted to log in securely with your school’s SSO credentials, confirming your affiliation directly through your institution.

It adds that if these methods don’t work you may need to go through a manual review, which requires you to upload “additional documentation.” OpenAI doesn’t outline what these documents are but we expect it’ll be something like an admission letter or student ID card from your college.

OpenAI also explains that not all schools will be supported, though it provides a form for you to request to add your school. It doesn’t promise top accept all requests, but it’s worth trying if you’re desperate to claim this $40 saving.

Lastly, if you’re already a ChatGPT Plus subscriber you’ll get your two free months added to your existing membership.

You might also like

• I tried ChatGPT's new sarcastic voice, and it made me hate Mondays even more
• ChatGPT was down again – here's everything we know about the latest outage
• Is ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli craze a copyright timebomb? Here's the verdict from expert lawyers

Let me preface this by saying, that when I say I don't care about Copilot, I mean it. I've not owned a Windows PC since 2006, and I've never even installed the Copilot app on my Mac, iPhone, or even Android device.

I write about AI for a living, but there are very few AI tools I actually use in my daily life. Usually, I test them for work, come up with article ideas, and write about experiences with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini - but I rarely use AI in my spare time.

Microsoft's Copilot is an AI tool that I've neglected, not only in my home life but also at work. I rarely cover Copilot, and when I do it's usually just a brief news story here or there.

Anyways, you get the idea Copilot just isn't really an AI chatbot that was on my radar. But after Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, that's all changed.

A complete overhaul

Copilot is often seen as a business tool rather than a consumer product. So much so, in fact, that I fully expected Microsoft's Copilot event to center around business use and barely touch on what that means for a consumer.

I couldn't have been more wrong. At Microsoft's event today, the company showcased a new vision for Copilot, which it now calls 'Your AI Companion', and I think it's time I take notice.

Today, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, Microsoft highlighted that the company's future is very much counting on software like Copilot, and that's a very exciting thing.

The company announced major upgrades to the AI chatbot including a memory, similar to that found in Gemini and ChatGPT, meaning Copilot will learn important information about you. Microsoft says Copilot can now "learn who you are deeply."

In a blog post announcing the new features, CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman said, "With your permission, Copilot will now remember what you talk about, so it learns your likes and dislikes and details about your life: the name of your dog, that tricky project at work, what keeps you motivated to stick to your new workout routine."

Elsewhere Copilot is getting vision, giving the AI on-screen awareness in Windows and access to your camera in mobile apps similar to Apple's Visual Intelligence or Google's Lens.

Microsoft announced much more at today's event, and you can read about it all in detail here. It's the agentic capabilities called "Actions", however, that really stand out and make me interested in giving Copilot a shot at becoming my daily AI driver.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft) The AI personal assistant I've been waiting for?

My dream AI scenario is a personal assistant that does the mundane in my life so I can focus on the things that matter.

Whether it's filling out calendar entries, telling me when to leave for an appointment, or booking my next beard trim, I want AI to alleviate a little bit of the stress of life so I have one less thing to think about.

Apple Intelligence-powered Siri looked like my ideal scenario when it was showcased at WWDC 2024, but with WWDC 2025 fast approaching we've still not seen a tech demo to prove it's actually capable of what's advertised.

Today, Microsoft's Copilot announcement with an emphasis on an AI companion piques my interest and makes me wonder if the company to fulfill my AI want will ultimately be the Seattle tech giant.

It's hard to know for sure, considering I've not tested any of the newly announced Copilot features yet. But you better believe the first thing I'm going to do as soon as Copilot's update is available, is use it in my daily life.

I want to leave you with another quote from the CEO of Microsoft AI. He said, "The important point is that throughout Copilot is more than an AI, it’s yours. It remembers not just what you said, but who you are. Copilot helps you stay organized, think clearly, and learn more intuitively."

I've been burnt before by putting trust in AI marketing campaigns but Microsoft's Copilot announcements today make me excited for the future, and I can't wait to see if it can live up to the billing.

You might also like

• Gemini's 'most intelligent AI model' yet is now available free - here are 3 ways you can use its incredible reasoning capabilities
• Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot Event live
• I tried Microsoft Copilot's iOS app, and here are 3 reasons why you should too

• The Duskbloods was originally being developed for the original Switch
• FromSoftware was approached by Nintendo "with talk of Switch 2"
• The Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible"

FromSoftware has revealed that its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods, was originally being developed as an original Switch game.

One of the biggest surprises of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was, without a doubt, the announcement of The Duskbloods. It's not launching until 2026, but a new Creator’s Voice interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki has offered new insight about the game and how it became a Nintendo exclusive in the first place.

According to Miyazaki, the multiplayer game was being made by a small team for the Switch before it eventually shifted to being developed for the Switch 2, allowing the studio to take advantage of the console's new hardware.

"A while back, we had the opportunity to meet with Nintendo to discuss ideas, and during this discussion, we presented a rough outline for The Duskbloods," Miyazaki said.

"It was still very bare-bones at the time—more a loose string of ideas than a proper presentation. The concept itself was different from anything we had done before, and Nintendo seemed very interested in helping make it a reality. So that’s when the project kicked off."

"At first it was being worked on by a small team as a title for Nintendo Switch," he continued. "However just as the game started to take shape, we were approached by Nintendo with talk of Switch 2, which led us to revamp our development path with this new hardware in mind."

Miyazaki added that Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible, which was very good news for us."

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders scheduled to open on April 8.

It was also announced that Elden Ring will be coming to the console this year alongside some new Switch 2 exclusive titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

You might also like...

• Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that you'll be able to pick up and play on June 5
• The Switch 2’s $450 price tag is a ‘strategic balancing act’ and Nintendo could be ‘building in a buffer’ in regards to tariffs, analysts say
• The Nintendo Switch 2 will feature DLSS and ray tracing, but we don't know which games support it

• Microsoft has upgraded Copilot to make the AI assistant a proactive AI companion
• Announced as part of Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, these new features will start rolling out today
• Features include chatbot memory, a research tool, and on-screen awareness to name just a few

Microsoft Copilot is taking the leap, transforming from a mere generative AI chatbot to a full-blown AI companion. At least, that's what Microsoft is promising in one of the most significant Copilot updates to date.

The changes, which add a wide array of new capabilities and enhance some existing ones, were announced on Friday, April 4, as part of Microsoft's Copilot/50th Anniversary celebration.

Granted, many of these features will be familiar to those running Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. In fact, there's a solid chance that some of these enhancements come directly from Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI, which gives it access to many of the AI company's best generative models.

Copilot is, after all, built on the foundation of OpenAI's GPT models.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Among the changes Copilot fans will find on Windows (and the iOS and Android apps) is, finally, a memory. The current version of Copilot on Windows 11 can hold onto previous conversations, but it has no recollection of what you discussed. A new prompt asking about a recipe or a trip you were planning with Copilot's help days or weeks ago, would draw a digital blank stare from the generative AI.

That changes with this update. As you chat it up, Copilot will (with permission, of course) collect key bits of info about you that indicate not just facts but preferences. Microsoft claims the new Copilot will build "richer user profiles." It now has the potential to "learn who you are deeply." While that might sound invasive, Microsoft says you can control exactly what you want Copilot to learn and retain.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Personalization and memory are significant benefits but they might be outstripped by Copilot's new agentic capabilities that Microsoft calls "Actions." Where the previous Copilot might help you grab concert tickets and get a ride to the big show, or find a new apartment and even movers to help you lug your stuff from one place to the next, Copilot Actions can take a prompt about renting an apartment or booking storage and do all the legwork to make it happen. You're just entering a prompt.

Of course, it's not that simple. Copilot's Action capabilities are not ubiquitous. Microsoft has a small collection of launch partners that includes, OpenTable, Priceline, Vrbo, Viator, Kayak, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Skyscanner, Booking.com, and 1-800-Flowers. It seems that, for now, Actions will only work if you want it to take actions through those apps and services.

Now see this Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The update is also making Copilot on Windows and mobile apps more aware. While the current version can look at photos and screenshots uploaded to the AI, the new version can use your mobile phone camera to see what you're seeing (it'll look at photos or live video).

Perhaps more interesting is that the Copilot's Windows app will be able to see onscreen activity within apps. It'll finally live up to its name, acting as a copilot on file management, Windows settings, and working on projects. It's the kind of system awareness Apple's been promising from Apple Intelligence and Siri for almost a year but has yet to deliver. It'll be interesting to see if what Microsoft delivers here with Copilot is as good as they're advertising.

The new Pages capabilities can take disparate project files and organize them into a single Canvas. But Pages appears to be more than an organizer, it can help you brainstorm ideas and then alter and incorporate them into your own projects.

Go deep

(Image credit: Microsoft)

If Pages isn't getting your project there, you might appreciate the new Deep Research. I know, everyone is calling the research portion of their generative AI platforms "Deep [something]". This one appears to work similarly in that it can help you accomplish multi-step research, acting as a sort of very intelligent research assistant.

Copilot is even delving into podcasts. Similar to what we've seen with Spotify generative AI podcasts and Google NotebookLM, it can generate podcasts based on topics of interest or other discussions you've had with the AI. Microsoft claims the podcast can play even as you continue to feed Copilot new prompts. It sounds a bit confusing, but also powerful and intriguing.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

There's also a shopping update, turning Copilot into a proactive personal shopper that can watch for deals, do product research, and even handle purchasing.

Finally, Copilot is taking Bing Search in what might best be described as a Google AI Overviews direction, but in a subtle and maybe more palatable way. From the looks of things, Bing search results will offer the option to take a generative deep dive inside traditional search results. It looks pretty good in the demo video, but we're anxious to see how it works on live Bing search results.

Not all of these updates will show up at once across Windows, iOS, and Android, but many are starting to roll out today. If you already have Windows 11 running Copilot, you may want to download the latest update and give your Copilot a radical AI Companion upgrade.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Microsoft)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Microsoft) You might also like

• Gemini's 'most intelligent AI model' yet is now available for ...
• Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot Event live
• I tried Microsoft Copilot's iOS app, and here are 3 reasons ...

• Ivanti recently patched a critical severity flaw in Connect Secure VPN
• Mandiant says the bug is being used in the wild by Chinese actors
• Two new malware strains were discovered

Ivanti has recently patched a critical severity vulnerability found in its Connect Secure (ICS) VPN appliances which was allegedly being abused in the wild by Chinese state-sponsored actors.

Researchers at Mandiant published a new security advisory stating Ivanti discovered and fixed a buffer overflow vulnerability in ICS 9.X (unsupported) and 22.7R2.5 and earlier versions. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-22457, and carries a severity score of 9.0/10 (critical).

At first, no one was aware of the bug’s disruptive potential, Mandiant explained, but later - evidence of remote code execution (RCE) attacks were discovered.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Cyber-espionage

In these attacks, allegedly conducted by a threat actor tracked as UNC5221, two new malware variants were used: TRAILBLAZE, and BUSHFIRE.

The former is an in-memory only dropper, while the latter is a passive backdoor. Furthermore, the researchers saw cybercriminals dropping malware from the SPAWN ecosystem, as well.

UNC5221 is a known, China-nexus espionage actor that was observed, on multiple occasions, targeting vulnerable Ivanti instances. For example, in early January this year, Ivanti said it saw two flaws - CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283 - being abused by this threat actor. Both were impacting Ivanti Connect Secure VPN appliances.

In these attacks, SPAWN variants were also used.

Mandiant says that this CVE was probably first used in mid-March 2025, a month after the patch was released.

“We assess it is likely the threat actor studied the patch for the vulnerability in ICS 22.7R2.6 and uncovered through a complicated process, it was possible to exploit 22.7R2.5 and earlier to achieve remote code execution,” the researchers said.

Ivanti has released fixes for the exploited vulnerabilities and its customers are advised to upgrade their endpoints without hesitation, since the flaws are being actively targeted.

You might also like

• Ivanti warns another critical security flaw is being attacked
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

• The State Bar of Texas is warning members about a data breach
• It is offering free credit and identity theft monitoring
• INC ransomware claimed responsibility for the attack

The State Bar of Texas, the official regulatory authority for lawyers in the US state, has confirmed suffering a data breach that resulted in the theft of sensitive member data.

“On February 12, 2025, the State Bar of Texas identified suspicious activity on its network and moved quickly to secure its environment,” a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals reads.”Through the investigation, we determined that there was unauthorized access to our network between January 28, 2025 and February 9, 2025.”

The Texas State Bar is responsible for licensing, ethics enforcement, and professional development. Its members are mostly licensed attorneys, and it also provides legal resources for the public and supports the legal profession through education and advocacy.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

INC ransomware

While the organization did not detail the type of information stolen, or the identity of the attackers, ransomware operators called INC ransomware claimed responsibility for the breach. In fact, the group already leaked samples of the data on the dark web, which include full member names and some legal case documents.

While the authenticity of the data is yet to be determined, the State Bar of Texas has already offered free credit and identity theft monitoring service through Experian, until July 31 2025.

Potentially affected individuals are also recommended activating a credit freeze, or placing a fraud alert on their credit files to make sure the attack does not escalate further.

If the organization is added to a leak site, and samples are available to download, then it’s safe to assume that the negotiations between the attackers and the victim are ongoing.

If the archives get removed, then the organization likely paid the ransom demand. If the entire data gets put up for sale (or dumped), then the negotiations most likely broke down.

Law enforcement agencies advise against paying the ransom demand.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Ivanti warns another critical security flaw is being attacked
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

• Motorola has revealed the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, with a unique canvas-like texture on one model
• A spokesperson from Motorola told TechRadar about a bit of "world-first" display tech in the new phone
• The Edge 60 Fusion is out now and costs £299.99 in the UK - a US release is not expected

Motorola has announced a new cheap phone with a unique canvas finish, and what it calls the “world’s first quad-curve edge display”.

The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion comes equipped with a 6.67-inch quad-curved display that continues the company’s partnership with Pantone by offering Pantone-validated color profile.

At a starting price of £299.99, the Edge 60 Fusion takes on the role of Motorola’s new cheap slab handset – we expect it will soon be joined by the Edge 60 Pro, the rumored details of which we recently covered.

We don’t yet have a price for Australia, and the phone won’t launch at all in the US.

As well as the supposed “world’s first” in its display tech (more on that later), the Edge 60 Fusion is probably most likely to turn heads with its design and construction.

Thought the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion has four camera rings, two are occupied by a flash and light sensor (Image credit: Motorola)

Motorola has also collaborated with Pantone on the phone’s design, with three stylish colors to choose from: Pantone Zephyr, Pantone Slipstream, and Pantone Amazonite – that’s pink, blue, and teal in everyday parlance.

Build-wise, the phone comes in a pleasant vegan leather in the Zephyr and Slipstream colors, while the Amazonite model features a synthetic material that emulates the feeling of canvas. If you ever wanted your phone to feel like a tote bag, Motorola’s got you covered.

That unique material conveys no loss in resistance to the elements – the phone is rated at up to IP69, the highest possible rating for dust and water resistance.

Let’s talk hardware: the Edge 60 Fusion sports the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset and 8GB of RAM, which should offer a respectable level of hardware power for the phone’s low price.

The phone also comes with up to 256GB of storage, offering plenty of room for photographs and videos taken with its dual-camera system.

Alongside a main 50MP camera with optical image stabilization, the Edge 60 Fusion comes equipped with an ultra-wide lens with in-built macro abilities, with a minimum focal length of 3cm.

A handful of software shooting modes – some assisted by Motorola’s proprietary Moto AI toolkit – allow for more flexibility, such as Action Shot and Adaptive Stabilization.

That same Moto AI suite pops up elsewhere, too – the phone comes with AI features that are fast becoming standard for smartphones, such as transcription, note taking, and image generation.

World’s first?

(Image credit: Motorola)

As I write this, I have the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion to hand, and while I’m impressed by its display quality and light construction, I can’t quite see what makes it a “world first”.

A spokesperson from Motorola told TechRadar: "In a world first, we are excited to launch Motorola Edge 60 Fusion with the quad-curve edge for our tech-savvy fans. Not only has the device been crafted with Pantone Validated Colours, the unique all-around curved display transitions seamlessly from the screen to the back.

"What sets the device apart from competitors is the 'endless edge' concept where the curve is more intense and pronounced, wrapping over the edges to create a waterfall effect for a more immersive device experience.”

Granted, the display does wrap around in all four directions, but most prominently on the long sides of the phone. I’ve also used other phones that curve on all sides, like the Oppo Find X8 Pro, and while the long edges of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion are definitely more pronounced, I’m not sure the same applies to the top and bottom of the display.

In any case, the Edge 60 Fusion looks like good enough value to not have to rely on somewhat tenuous “world’s-first” claims – I can see it contending for a spot on our list of the UK’s best cheap phones. Let us know what you think of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion in the comments below.

You might also like

• Motorola Edge 50 Fusion review: A stylish, battery-focused budget smartphone
• Detailed Google Pixel 10 camera specs have seemingly leaked, pointing to an extra lens and worse sensors
• Google Messages is finally going to get better at handling your lengthy texts

• M3GAN 2.0 has a new trailer which reveals some important plot details
• The movie will arrive in theaters on June 27
• There's no word on a streaming release date yet

It's shaping up to be a great year for new movies. I previously wrote about the six biggest horror movies coming in 2025 that I can't wait to watch, and now M3GAN 2.0 is worthy of a spot, even if it doesn't feel as horror-like as its predecessor.

The new trailer teases an upgrade for M3GAN in more ways than one, and it seems they're leaning on the comedic elements of the unstable android rather than some of the horror we saw in the first movie.

As much as I love the horror genre, I am excited to see where it goes when it arrives in theaters on June 27. Take a look at the trailer below!

What is the plot of M3GAN 2.0?

(Image credit: Blumhouse / Universal Pictures)

Now we have a trailer, we've got a good idea of what M3GAN 2.0 will be about, and it's a fun twist on the title because she's getting some serious upgrades.

It's set two years after the original, and M3GAN's creator Gemma has become an advocate for government oversight of AI after what happened when M3GAN went on a murderous rampage. However, a defense contractor has created a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, the ultimate infiltration spy, based on M3GAN's design.

Hoping to stop Amelia, Gemma resurrects M3GAN, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal, teasing a very fun showdown that I'm excited to see.

You might also like

• A Minecraft Movie isn't the wildly creative blockbuster videogame film adaptation I was hoping for
• I'm obsessed with Netflix's new horror comedy movie that has a glowing 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating
• Apple TV+ has discovered the Fountain of Youth and you can jump in this May when the movie starts streaming

• Researchers claim Apache Parquet was carrying a maximum-severity flaw
• It allows threat actors to run arbitrary code
• A patch was released, and users are urged to apply it

Apache Parquet, a columnar storage file format, was carrying a maximum-severity vulnerability that allowed threat actors to run arbitrary code on affected endpoints.

Parquet is a columnar storage file format optimized for efficient data storage and processing, commonly used in big data and analytics workloads, with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta just some of the large companies which use it.

The bug, spotted on April 1, 2025, by Amazon security researcher Key Li, is now tracked as CVE-2025-30065, and has a maximum severity score - 10/10 (critical).

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Patch and mitigations

“Schema parsing in the parquet-avro module of Apache Parquet 1.15.0 and previous versions allows bad actors to execute arbitrary code,” a short description on the NVD page reads. “Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.15.1, which fixes the issue.”

The problem reportedly stems from the deserialization of untrusted data, that allows threat actors to gain control of target systems via specially crafted Parquet files.

he caveat here is that the victim needs to be tricked into importing the files which, the researchers suggest, means that the threat is not as imminent, despite the 10/10 score.

Those that are unable to upgrade their Apache Parquet instances to version 1.15.1 straight away are advised to avoid untrusted Parquet files, or at least to carefully analyze them before taking action.

Furthermore, IT teams should monitor and log their Parquet processing systems more closely these days.

At press time, there was no evidence of abuse in the wild, although hackers usually start scanning for vulnerable endpoints once a patch is released, betting that many organizations don’t apply it on time.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Security experts take down spam network hitting millions of iOS devices
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

It's rare that an animated project leads our weekly round-up of the best new movies and TV shows on the world's leading streaming services.

There's a first time for everything, though – and, luckily for Netflix's anime adaptation of the popular Devil May Cry videogame series, that time is now.

Not interested in that particular project? Fret not, because there are six other terrific and/or much-anticipated films and TV series to wrap your eyeballs around this weekend (April 4 to 6). Without further ado, then, here's what we recommend you stream over the next couple of days. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Devil May Cry (Netflix)

I'll readily admit to not seeing many of Netflix's animated TV adaptation of beloved video game franchises (don't worry, Arcane, you'll always be in my heart).

As a huge fan of Capcom's – and, more recently, Ninja Theory's – Devil May Cry (DMC) games, though, you can bet I was seated day one to see demon hunter Dante slice and shoot his way through the worst that the underworld could throw his way.

Helmed by Adil Shankar, i.e. the brains behind other critically-acclaimed but under-appreciated anime-inspired Netflix adaptations including Castlevania, the streamer's DMC TV reimagining has all the tools necessary to enter our best Netflix shows hall of fame. Make sure you've got Ebony, Ivory, and The Rebellion to hand while you watch it, everyone. – TP

• Watch Devil May Cry on Netflix

A Real Pain (Disney+)

I still haven't seen Jesse Eisenberg's directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, but that doesn't mean I'm not excited to watch this, especially with Kieran Culkin wining this year's Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

A Real Pain also has two BAFTAs under its belt and TechRadar's very own stamp of approval as one of the best movies of 2024. So, if you're still unsure about streaming it on Disney+ this weekend – the film made its streaming debut stateside on Hulu in January – then let those doubts fade away.

This heartwarming buddy comedy-drama follows Eisenberg and Culkin, who play two cousins on a trip to Poland to honor their grandmother that ends up taking them on a whole other journey. It's undoubtedly one of the best Disney+ movies you'll watch. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch A Real Pain on Disney+ (internationally)

The Bondsman (Prime Video)

Kevin Bacon as a demon bounty hunter in a new gothic series with an original blues music soundtrack? You read that right.

The Bondsman may not have been on your Prime Video radar but, with an 85% RT critical score (at the time of writing), it should be. Based on that alone, this Amazon TV Original will make the cut to be one of the best Prime Video shows – and it's easy to see why when you hear that it's being compared to similar R-rated projects like Constantine and Ash vs. the Evil Dead.

Speaking to TechRadar, series producer Erik Oleson revealed that the goal was to "create a scream out loud, laugh out loud mashup of family dramedy with Appalachian lore with demon hunting and music". Bacon poking chainsaws through demons’ foreheads is just for good measure! – AS

• Watch The Bondsman on Prime Video

Y2K (Max)

Y2K is the latest A24 film to debut on Max but, unfortunately, it bombed critically and is among the studio's worst-rated movies.

With 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, Y2K won't be appearing on our best Max movies list. But, if you're keen to make up your own mind about it, here's what it's about: a group high school juniors crash a New Year's Eve party, but typical young adult dramas are the least of their worries when machines rise up against humanity.

Inspired by the real-life-but-thankfully-not-actually-happening Y2K problem (millennials, you'll know what I'm talking about!), this movie turns a technology glitch into something darker, with some humor scattered throughout It might not be the best A24 movie out there, but it's definitely unique! – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Y2K on Max

Pulse (Netflix)

With medical drama The Pitt earning rave reviews from critics and general audiences alike following its season 1 release on Max in January, it's Netflix's turn to *ahem* surgically enhance its own back catalog of hospital-based projects.

Pulse, which was renewed for a second season well before its debut outing landed on the streaming titan this Thursday (April 3), looks like a modern take on classic medical drama ER. Indeed, with its romance-laced storylines, melodrama aplenty, and dramatization of how medical facilities function, it's easy to see why such comparisons have been made.

Will it set our hearts aflutter and land a spot on our best Netflix series list? Time will tell. – TP

• Watch Pulse on Netflix

Dying for Sex (Disney+/Hulu)

I love a good podcast, and theis new Hulu and Disney+ series is based on a very heartfelt one. Dying for Sex is based on Nikki Boyer, who sits down with her best friend Molly Kochan to get candid about her experiences after she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

The show dramatizes Kochan's life, with Michelle Williams in the leading role as a woman who ends her 15-year marriage to explore herself and her sexuality before her death. The real-life Kochan passed away in 2019, and her legacy lives on through this series, with Boyer serving as executive producer.

Across eight episodes, we follow Kochan's life and experiences, with plenty of humor balanced with the drama. It's quite the rollercoaster and very binge-worthy, too. One to keep an eye out for on our best Hulu shows and best Disney+ shows lists. – LB

• Watch Dying for Sex on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)

Not at all affiliated with the David Fincher movie, this new true-crime documentary series explores the hunt for Rex Heuermann, aka 'The Long Island Serial Killer'.

Told from the perspective of his victims, their loved ones, and the police, Gone Girls reveals how the local New York architect managed to hide in plain sight and exposes a web of corruption, but it's not the end of the story. Gone Girls focuses on a live case, meaning there's a very real chance more information could come out about Heuermann and his crimes.

Speaking to Tudum, director Liz Garbus said: "After we completed and turned in our cuts to Netflix, there was another victim added to [Heuermann’s] docket. Will there be more between now and the time that we air? It’s possible. Will there be more between now and the time that we go to trial, if they go to trial? It’s probable." – LB

• Watch Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer on Netflix

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Max shows, best Paramount+ movies, best Apple TV+ shows, and best Paramount+ shows.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, April 4 (game #663).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #664) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CROSSWORD
• TIME
• STAR
• SIGN
• RAINBOW
• MENU
• CONTRACT
• BILLBOARD
• BANNER
• PEOPLE
• GRIMACE
• ENGAGE
• RETAIN
• HEADER
• SEMBLANCE
• SIDEBAR

NYT Connections today (game #664) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: On the job
• GREEN: Online 
• BLUE: Glossy read
• PURPLE: Words that include weaponry

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 #664) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: EMPLOY 
• GREEN: PARTS OF A WEBSITE 
• BLUE: MAGAZINES 
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH MEDIEVAL WEAPONS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #664) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #664, are…

• YELLOW: EMPLOY CONTRACT, ENGAGE, RETAIN, SIGN
• GREEN: PARTS OF A WEBSITE BANNER, HEADER, MENU, SIDEBAR
• BLUE: MAGAZINES BILLBOARD, PEOPLE, STAR, TIME
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH MEDIEVAL WEAPONS CROSSWORD, GRIMACE, RAINBOW, SEMBLANCE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

I’m guilty of reading categories I don’t solve really quickly and mentally telling myself “yeah, whatever”.

So, today, I didn’t initially see the words “ENDING WITH” and was all ready to say how amazing it was that there was an ancient weapon called the CROSSWORD – I’m imagining it only killed someone once you completed 13 across blows and 13 downward blows.

Anyway, the fact is that I completely missed the words SWORD, MACE, BOW, and LANCE hidden in plain sight, despite almost daily thinking there is some Connections category about Medieval warfare.

My first mistake today came by impulsively guessing that I was collecting the characters of some imaginary Pee-wee Herman-style children’s TV show — so I had STAR, RAINBOW, GRIMACE and TIME.

Admittedly, this would be a pretty terrible TV show — sales of Grimmace dolls would be very poor. Then, ignoring the fact that there was a similar category on Thursday, I thought BILLBOARD, MENU, HEADER and BANNER were printed items, before “one away” made me see PARTS OF A WEBSITE.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 4 April, game #663)

• YELLOW: WHAT'S LEFTOVER BALANCE, DIFFERENCE, REMAINDER, REST
• GREEN: CAR TRIP CRUISE, DRIVE, RIDE, SPIN
• BLUE: BASEBALL VENUES DIAMOND, FIELD, PARK, STADIUM
• PURPLE: COMPANIES WITH "E" REMOVED BAY, HARMONY, INK, TRADE

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.

• A new rumor suggests the next iPad mini may get an OLED screen
• This would make it the second iPad to get the upgrade, after the iPad Pro
• The rumor is light on details, and Apple has not acknowledged it

When the iPad Pro M4 released in 2024, Apple made waves by equipping its premier high-end tablet with a stunning OLED display – the first on any iPad model.

Since then, we’ve been wondering which iPad will be the next to make the leap from older LCD tech to the increased contrast and color accuracy of OLED – and a new rumor suggests an unlikely candidate could be next up.

Noted tipster Digital Chat Station (via GSMArena) made a post on Weibo suggesting that “iPad is evaluating small OLED” in the context of mainstream tech companies producing 8.8-inch tablets.

Admittedly, that’s not a lot to go on, but Digital Chat Station has a fairly decent record and is considered one of the more reliable tipsters posting on Chinese platforms.

The current-gen iPad mini, released at the tail-end of 2024, sports an 8.3-inch display. The post isn’t clear enough to know whether Digital Chat Station is implying a screen size increase for the iPad mini, as well as the new OLED tech.

Our iPad mini (2025) review found the tablet very impressive overall, but an OLED screen upgrade would still be more than welcome.

The iPad mini is the second-cheapest iPad model by starting price. At $499 / £499 / AU$799, it’s only beaten by the base model iPad, which clocks in at $329 / £329 / AU$599.

This would leave the LCD-equipped iPad Air models sandwiched between the iPad mini and iPad Pro on Apple’s pricing ladder – but while this might seem like an odd choice, I think this strategy could actually be a realistic one.

Analysis: why an OLED iPad mini could make sense

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Though the iPad mini does sit between the iPad and iPad Air on Apple’s tablet pricing ladder, it isn't really accurate to consider it as an intermediate option between the two.

It’s more realistic to think of the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro forming a contiguous product line aimed at mainstream consumers, with the iPad mini offering a similar experience to a niche market of small tablet fans.

The trend across all mobile devices for the last decade has been larger screens. The iPhone has increased from 4.7 to 6.9 inches, and the iPad from 9.7 to a maximum 13 inches of screen size.

The iPad mini is unique in that it’s only increased very slightly in the same timespan, from 7.9 to 8.3 inches, most of which can be attributed to the adoption of the modernized, full-screen iPad design language.

That’s all to say that the people buying an iPad mini are probably buying it because it has a small display, not because they’re looking to save money versus an iPad Air or iPad Pro.

As such, it makes sense that Apple would begin extending some of those higher-end features to the iPad mini, as its target audience would probably never experience them otherwise.

And with the iPad mini enjoying popularity in certain professional and high-end leisure spaces – it’s a known favorite of pilots – there’s definitely scope for some feature upgrades.

Apple referenced the iPad mini's popularity with pilots in the reveal of the iPad mini 6 in 2021 (Image credit: Tech World Walt Plus / Apple)

As well as an OLED screen, I’d personally love to see the iPad mini get an M-series chipset. That might seem like overkill for such a small device, but when you consider the M1 chipset turns five years old this year, it’s not such a big ask.

For now, though, I think the addition of an OLED screen would be enough – a sign from Apple that their small tablet is still a priority, despite only comprising 10% of iPad sales (as MacRumors reports).

The only real sticking point could be price. A browse of Reddit suggests there are plenty of casual users who love the iPad mini for email, reading, web browsing – standard day-to-day stuff. I wouldn’t want to see these users saddled with any major price hikes as a result of the iPad mini getting closer to the Pro.

Of course, the above is pretty much entirely based on rumor at this point, so we’ve got a bit of a wait-and-see situation on our hands. For now, be sure to keep up with our iPad coverage and let us know what you’d like to see come to the iPad mini in the comments below.

You might also like

• The versatile Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is down to a record low price of $199.99
• The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE launches with an iPad Air-rivaling screen and AI features galore
• How to sync iPhone and iPad – iCloud, Photos, Calendars, and more

Not too long ago, our best phones guide featured models of all shapes and sizes, from the tablet-like Samsung Galaxy Note to the brightly colored iPhone 5C.

These days, however, flat metal sides, gently rounded corners, and muted, industrial colorways are the order of the day, with practicality and understated style seemingly prioritized over "look at my new phone!" personality.

But is this homogeneity a bad thing? Despite their plainness, today’s best (and best-selling) phones are objectively superior devices to their more characterful predecessors, and the best foldable phones (think the Galaxy Z Flip 6) are ready and waiting for those whose favor fun over conformity.

To find out how you, our readers, feel about modern smartphone design, we published an article back in February encouraging you to have your say.

We ran a poll in the TechRadar WhatsApp channel alongside that article, and a whopping 1,483 of you responded to the question ‘How do you feel about flagship smartphone design in 2025?'. Here are the results:

(Image credit: Future)

As you can see, an overwhelming majority of respondents – 915 (62%) – responded with the answer ‘Modern smartphone designs are boring – I miss the variety!’. A further 235 (16%) selected the third option – ‘Modern smartphone designs are boring, but I understand the need for conformity’ – meaning 78% of respondents feel negatively about the state of smartphone design in 2025.

Only 204 respondents (14%) think that smartphone design is better than ever, while an even lower 129 (8%) think there’s still enough variety in the smartphone market. Suffice it to say, that won’t provide happy reading for manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google.

For almost every major brand, smartphone sales have been steadily declining since 2021 (via ICIS), and it’s clear that innovative AI features haven’t yet proven the industry-saving development it was clearly hoped they would be.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) (Image credit: Future)

That said, it’s hard to point the finger at boring smartphone designs as the sole – or even primary – reason for this downward trend.

Consumer buying patterns have changed; it’s no longer feasible, or even advisable, to replace your smartphone every two years, with most consumers now choosing to do so after four or five.

Even the best cheap phones will now remain supported with software updates for up to seven years, and their chipsets and batteries are advanced enough to see out that period with ease. Sure, modern smartphones are boring, but they’re extremely practical and fit for purpose – does it really matter that they all look the same?

It’s a question that will no doubt be playing on the minds of company executives across the industry. Apple, for instance, has come under fire for sticking with the same “boring” iPhone formula for too long, but will it risk messing with its golden goose for the sake of variety? The latest iPhone 17 rumors suggest it will, though it’s hard to believe that a slightly more adventurous camera module design will spark a tidal wave of iPhone upgrades.

As our poll demonstrates, consumers are clamoring for something new – but an element of nostalgia is undoubtedly at play here.

What do you think smartphone manufacturers should do to spice up the stagnating smartphone market? Let us know in the comments.

You might also like

• The best phone 2025: top smartphones to consider
• The best iPhone 2025: which Apple smartphone reigns supreme?
• The best iPad 2025: top Apple tablets to consider right now

• Full camera specs for the Google Pixel 10 series have supposedly leaked
• They point to a telephoto camera being added to the Pixel 10, but its other sensors being downgraded
• The rest of the Pixel 10 line might not be in for many camera changes

Google’s Pixel phones usually excel at photography, but based on the latest leak, that might not be the case with the Pixel 10, as Google is seemingly trading quality for quantity when it comes to this phone’s sensors.

Android Authority claims to have seen documents shared by a source inside Google that detail the complete camera specs of the Pixel 10 series.

The biggest changes are said to be coming to the standard Google Pixel 10, which could gain a third lens. This would apparently be the same 10.8MP sensor as you’ll find on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – so, like that phone, it will probably offer 5x optical zoom, but that’s not mentioned here.

However, presumably to keep the cost down, these documents suggest that Google will replace the Pixel 9’s main and ultra-wide sensors with lesser ones for the Pixel 10. Specifically, the Pixel 10 will apparently have the same 48MP wide and 13MP ultra-wide sensors as the Pixel 9a, along with the same selfie camera as the Pixel 9.

Note that this report lists the main sensor as being 50MP rather than 48MP, but it’s said to be the same Samsung GN8 sensor as is used by the 48MP Pixel 9a, so we’d assume it will be marketed as 48MP here, too.

No change for the Pro and little difference for the Fold

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In any case, there’s less change on the other models, with the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL said to have exactly the same cameras as their predecessors, meaning a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto (presumably offering 5x optical zoom).

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also detailed in this leak, but the only camera change here is apparently a small upgrade from the Sony IMX787 (which is also used by the Pixel 8a) to the Samsung GN8 (which is also used by the Pixel 9a).

That would mean a 50MP main sensor, joined by the same 10.5MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP telephoto (likely with 5x optical zoom), and pair of 10MP selfie cameras as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

We would, of course, take all of these claims with a pinch of salt, but we’ll likely find out for sure what cameras the Pixel 10 phones have in August, as that’s probably when they’ll launch.

You might also like

• Best Pixel phones: these are the Google phones to buy right now
• Google Pixel 9 Pro review: the AI phone is here, but the future is not
• Google Pixel 9 review: a fantastic phone* (*added fees may apply)

• Windows 365 Link is easy to set up for IT admins and secure
• It’ll cost $349 / £349 / AUD639 and is available to buy now
• We also got a Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode

Windows 365 Link, Microsoft’s first purpose-built Cloud PC device for connecting to Windows 365, is now generally available.

The device is available from Microsoft account teams or a number of resellers in all of the countries it’s for sale in. It’s priced at: AUD639 in Australia, CAD519.99 in Canada, €419 in Germany, JPY56,800 in Japan, NZD739 in New Zealand, £349 in the United Kingdom and $349.99 in the United States.

Key to its upcoming success will be its simple setup and minimal configuration requirements, making it an IT-friendly tool to deploy via Microsoft Intune.

Windows 365 Link on sale

An announcement by Stefan Kinnestrand, VP for Modern Work at Microsoft, claims in the several months after it was previewed at Microsoft Ignite 2024, more than 100 organizations got in on the preview program to offer feedback ahead of general availability.

Kinnestrand noted that Windows 365 Link could be especially useful for desk-based or frontline workers in shared workspaces, because the device leaves no local data when users sign out.

In the same breath, Kinnestrand also uncovered a handy new update – Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode. It allows multiple users to share a single Cloud PC license and automatically clears user data after each session ends for privacy, making it an ideal system for temporary or occasional access use cases.

Highlighting the benefits of Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, a Microsoft-commissioned Forrester Consulting study details how users can save six to 12 minutes per day from avoided outages and improved latency, implement cost-effective bring-your-own-PC (BYOPC) programs, reduce their IT infrastructure costs and make substantial five- or six-figure savings (for companies with 2,000 employees).

Other announcements shared include a Windows app for Android devices and a reminder of the Windows 11 hotpatching update.

You might also like

• Check out the best virtual desktop services
• Need an upgrade? Here are the best business laptops and best mobile workstations
• Microsoft adds hotpatching support for Windows 11 enterprise users as it looks to end unnecessary downtime for work devices