TechRadar News

• Researchers find malicious browser extensions can assume the appearance of any other installed in the browser
• It can also disable other extensions, completely tricking the victim
• The extension can steal sensitive passwords, cryptos, and more

Cybersecurity researchers have found malicious shapeshifting Google Chrome browser extensions in the wild, able to change their appearance to pretty much anything else installed on the target device, opening the doors for credential theft, cryptocurrency theft, and possibly even wire fraud.

Researchers from SquareX said they spotted a malicious browser extension which at first, seems benign. It can be an “unassuming AI tool”, or pretty much anything else. When it’s first installed, it will behave as expected, for at least a while, while it analyzes which other extensions are installed in the browser.

If it spots anything particularly interesting (such as a crypto wallet, for example), the extension will completely transform its appearance, including the interface, the shortcut icon, and everything else, to look exactly the same. It will then disable the legitimate extension, so that it is the only one offering that particular functionality - meaning it is almost impossible for the victim to realize they are being targeted.

Feature, not a bug

To make matters worse, the researchers said that the malware just abuses the design of browsers and extensions.

There is no bug, no vulnerability being exploited, meaning that cybersecurity solutions, antivirus programs, and other endpoint protection tools, cannot flag it or remove it. It gets worse, too - the extensions only require medium risk permissions, the same ones required by password managers and similar tools. Therefore, the malware cannot even be spotted by Chrome Store and other security teams simply looking at the code.

They are calling them “polymorphic extensions” and believe they are an entirely new class of malware. They said the malware impacts “most major browsers, including Chrome and Edge”.

“Browser extensions present a major risk to enterprises and users today,” commented SquareX founder, Vivek Ramachandran.

“Unfortunately, most organizations have no way of auditing their current extension footprint and to check whether they are malicious. This further underscores the need for a browser native security solution like Browser Detection and Response, similar to what an EDR is to the operating system.”

Google has been notified, but has yet to respond.

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There seems to be a rather large elephant in the room of the smartphone industry right now. The likes of Samsung, Apple, and Google are investing heavily in the development (and marketing) of AI software, but consumers seem less than interested in a technology that has yet to be proven game-changing for their everyday lives.

At least, that’s the impression we get from reader comments, and a recent survey of more than 2,000 iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users found that 73% of iPhone-owning respondents and a whopping 87% of Galaxy-owning respondents feel that AI adds little to no value to their smartphone experience. That’s got to be tough reading for the technology executives who are collectively betting hundreds of billions on an AI-powered future.

Of course, adoption takes time, and Samsung, for its part, is committed to the long game. At MWC 2025, I spoke to Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience (MX) VP of Product and Marketing at Samsung UK, who spoke on the company’s “number one aim” with Galaxy AI – and whose own adoption figures paint a more optimistic picture.

“Last year we launched Galaxy AI into the market, and we've now got over 5 million people using it on a regular basis in the UK. It took the internet eight years to get to that figure," said Bizon. "Once you start using something, it becomes behavior, and our job is to change behavior, so people can see the benefits."

“Now,” Bizon continued, “you can only change behavior if people do see a benefit. So [that’s the] number one aim. The second thing for us: Galaxy AI is our hero messaging because we want to own that space and bring credibility to that space. But we also need to demystify it, right? Because AI means a million things. Look around today [at MWC]. What we're saying is: AI makes the mundane easier. It makes you more creative, giving you back time to do the things you love. However, you can't forget that people buy a phone for the camera, the battery life, the durability. Those are principles that will sit below every single product we bring to market.”

Galaxy AI was a key feature of Samsung's latest Galaxy Unpacked showcase (Image credit: Samsung)

It’s clear, then, that Samsung hasn’t forgotten about the importance of hardware to consumers – despite the dizzying number of Galaxy AI-related ads you’ve likely seen over the past year. AI is Samsung’s “hero messaging”, but it’s a matter of synergy, not prioritization.

“If you think about hardware and software, they work together,” Bizon told me. “AI optimizes the battery on your phone, AI optimizes the camera on your phone – you can always iterate through hardware, but when you start adding AI into that, you really take the whole experience up to another level.

“[Our customers are using AI] because it's making their lives easier, whether that be Circle to Search, Live Interpreter, or the fact that I can book a restaurant through my voice and send an invite directly to my friend's calendar. That's all about saving time. If you save time, and you’ve got the best hardware [working alongside] the best software, you start to really change the customer experience. And that’s the important thing. Working in a way where technology works for you rather than you working for technology. AI is the space where we see all of our [technology] coming together – it’s like a PA in your pocket.”

Democratization is key to adoption

The mid-range Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 launched with AI last week (Image credit: Future)

Where smartphone-based AI was the preserve of the very best phones only a year or so ago, companies have now pivoted to offering AI at almost every step of the price ladder.

Google, for instance, offers the same AI features on the budget-friendly Google Pixel 8a as it does on the premium Google Pixel 9 Pro, while Apple recently debuted the Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone 16e, lowering the cost of entry to its AI feature suite. Removing the exclusivity from AI will allow these companies to refine and stress-test their AI features in a way that simply isn’t possible with a limited sample size, and Samsung, to its credit, realized this earlier than most.

After launching Galaxy AI in January 2024 on the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung rolled out the same features to the Galaxy S23 series just two months later. Galaxy AI compatibility now covers everything from the high-end Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to the mid-range Galaxy A55.

We've got over 5 million people using Galaxy AI on a regular basis in the UK.

Annika Bizon, Samsung

“AI for All is really important to us,” Bizon explained. “Everybody has a chance to use AI. Personally, I’m really proud of the fact that we took the step last year to take [Galaxy AI] onto previous-generation devices – that’s over 200 million devices globally, and we gave people the opportunity to experience it. You can only really get adoption when you've got a mass market to do that with.”

What’s more, the figures behind AI aren’t all bad. Those aforementioned survey results reflect the current sentiment towards smartphone-based AI, but recent research conducted by TechRadar publisher Future suggests people are increasingly swapping traditional search engines for AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Consumer habits are changing, and although Galaxy AI might seem gimmicky now, it won’t be long before millions of smartphone users really are using their voices to make restaurant reservations. Consider this: cars, laptops, and cheeseburgers were all perceived as dumb fads when they originally came to market. Now they’re crucial to the global economy.

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• King Charles III has pre-recorded a radio broadcast for Apple Music 1 to celebrate Commonwealth Day
• The broadcast features personal anecdotes and songs that have helped shape His Majesty's soundtrack to his life
• It will be available to listen on the 24/7 Apple Music 1 radio station on Monday March 10

As well as its stature of being one of the best music streaming services, Apple Music’s commitment to delivering top-notch listening experiences extends beyond albums, playlists and podcasts into radio, with stations such as Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits. For its next special radio broadcast Apple Music has enlisted a bona fide music lover, yet an unexpected one – King Charles III.

To celebrate Commonwealth Day happening on March 10, the sovereign himself will step into the role of emcee in a special broadcast for Apple Music 1 which was pre-recorded at Buckingham Palace.

Set to air at 6am GMT / 1am ET on March 10 on Apple Music 1, The King’s Music Room will take a dive into His Majesty’s experiences with music from around the Commonwealth and even reveal some hidden parts of his music identity.

The King’s Music Room has been described as “a musical journey that reflects His Majesty’s personal taste” as per Apple Music’s blog post, packing a recollection of personal anecdotes that recall His Majesty’s experiences with traveling Commonwealth countries and how these have impacted the evolution of the soundtrack to his life. Weaved in between these reflective moments are pockets of personal insights to his favorite songs and artists – and his taste might surprise you.

So, what will a playlist curated by the sovereign sound like? Well, it’s pretty much a given that there’ll be quite a bit of vintage, so you can expect to hear the sounds of smooth 1930s jazz. But what may come as a surprise is that King Charles III has his ear to the ground when it comes to new music releases, as artists such as Raye and Kylie Minogue have crept their way into the King’s Apple Music special.

In addition to music legends Grace Jones and Bob Marley, King Charles III’s Apple Music 1 broadcast promises a mixed-genre spectacle from Afrobeats, to Reggae, to modern pop and RnB.

There’s no denying that music has a very special place in His Majesty’s life, elaborating on his passion through a video statement: “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others. It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places”.

If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can listen to The King’s Music Room anytime on demand, after the initial broadcast. However, you don't need a subscription to listen to the broadcast live on Apple Music 1.

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• United Airlines has installed Starlink on its first regional aircraft
• The install time is just four days per aircraft versus 10+ days for other Wi-Fi systems
• The airline expects to install Starlink on over 40 aircraft a month starting in May

Back in January, right ahead of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, United Airlines announced that it was speeding up its rollout and installation of Starlink across its fleet. It was good news as Grant Milstead, VP of Digital Technology for the airline, told us that it was “kind of enabling the living room in the sky experience.”

How? Well, once Starlink is installed on United Airline’s aircraft, the result is free, fast Wi-Fi while on the ground and in the air as long as you are a member of MileagePlus, which is free to join. United Airlines sped up its planned rollout by confirming that the first commercial flight was expected on an Embraer E175 in the spring and that its entire regional fleet would be covered by the end of the year. Its first mainline aircraft would also have Starlink installed by the end of the year.

Now United Airlines has successfully installed Starlink on its first regional aircraft, learned some new lessons, and confirmed some theories about what this process would look like. And for anyone who flies United Airlines, it’s great news as you’re one step closer to getting this stronger, more stable connection in the sky.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

The most significant learning is that installing the Starlink antenna, the wiring, and the wireless access points inside the cabin of the aircraft is a lot less time-consuming than a typical antenna for traditional airline Wi-Fi. United says that it takes about eight hours to install the Starlink equipment, which is about 10 times faster than the current in-flight Wi-Fi equipment (though that eight-hour window doesn’t include de-installation or the testing equipment).

And here’s the best part for me as someone who tends to fly United Airlines, and for any others who do – you can expect Wi-Fi speeds up to 250Mbps on these regional aircraft, which is 50 times faster than current internet speeds. That means, when connected, you won’t have to worry about missing a text – even one with images – being able to browse the web, stream a show, or be productive and accomplish some work while cruising in the sky. I, for one, can’t wait to put that to the test.

Additionally, the Starlink antenna and corresponding equipment weigh 85 pounds and are electronically steered, which means no moving parts inside. That makes it easier to move, and less likely to need maintenance. It’s also a lot lighter (other antennas weigh upwards of 300 pounds) and United Airlines says it “means the aircraft requires less fuel to operate than with other inflight providers.”

The faster installation process also means the aircraft will be out of service for a shorter time. Currently, non-Starlink Wi-Fi installations for United take over 10 days, meaning the plane will not be flying for that period. United Airlines expects the Starlink installation and testing to take just four days, and that includes removing the old equipment. Remember, it’s outside on the aircraft's hull and inside under panels, where access points are located.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

Here are the steps for the installation process as it stands for United Airlines regional aircraft:

• Uninstall the existing Wi-Fi system.
• Install the Starlink system, which consists of the main antenna, an internal reinforcement structure, wireless access points for the cabin, and a power supply.
• The install team tests the whole system before and after closing the aircraft's interior.

It’s clear that United Airlines is still operating on this sped-up schedule and is eager to get Starlink-powered internet to more passengers, starting with regional aircraft. It’s not a small set of flyers either – while United Airlines' entire fleet is over 1,000 aircraft, the regional fleet is over 300 airplanes.

With one of those airplanes already done, United Airlines expects to install Starlink on over 40 aircraft a month starting in May before wrapping at the end of 2025. The goal is to cover all regional aircraft and then at least one mainline airplane.

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• Garmin Fenix 6, Enduro, Marq and Tactix watches are getting a new update
• The update fixes a list of bugs, including a problem which could cause the watches to crash
• The update is currently in beta

If you've got a Garmin Fenix 6, original Garmin Enduro, Quatix, Tactix Delta or MARQ watch, a new update is on the horizon, although it's currently only available to those who've signed up to Garmin's public beta program.

The update, version 28.01, doesn't add any of the new software features present on the best Garmin watches to these older watches, so it might not seem terribly exciting at first glance. However, it does make a few vital fixes to some potential issues on these watches.

Notably, Notebookcheck reports at least one user complaining that accessing music controls on their Garmin Enduro watch resulted in the device unexpectedly crashing, and others mentioning that update 28.00 results in faster-than-expected battery drain. Both issues are reportedly fixed in beta, according to Garmin's change logs.

Other issues fixed during the update include a user interface problem on the Garmin MARQ Aviator, errors with loading courses saved to the watch, and slow notifications.

What if I'm not part of Garmin's public beta program?

If you're experiencing any of the problems above, and you're not part of Garmin's public beta, don't fret: this means the fix is being actively trialled on user watches, and will be coming to the wider community very soon.

Garmin's public beta program, like all beta testing, is a bit of a double-edged sword: yes, you can access new features to test before anyone else, but you also open up your watch to a lot of potential bugs, which helps Garmin solve these issues before pushing them out in wider updates.

It's a necessary service for a smoothly-run, regular update schedule, but it does mean your day-to-day experience can be a little inconsistent.

If you'd like to know more about signing up for Garmin's public beta program, our guide on how to sign up for the Garmin Beta Software program can get you started.

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Leading VPN firm, ExpressVPN, has just released its biggest ever update to its Linux app, promising to deliver a user-centric experience with usability and enhanced security at its core.

ExpressVPN's new Linux application finally introduces the much-requested Graphical User Interface (GUI), meaning that users will be able to interact with the same easy-to-use interface used across other platforms. The upgrade also includes some new features like an advanced kill switch, split tunneling, and more.

The new Linux VPN app is currently available for beta testing only and is compatible with Ubuntu 24.04+, Debian10, Fedora30, Raspberry Pi OS Buster, Mint 20, and Arch. If you wish to keep using the command-line interface (CLI) app, you can still benefit from the upgraded version and its new advanced features.

More customization and security, with an intuitive interface

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers on the market, known for its feature-packed and easy-to-use applications. The upgrade comes then as a response to the popularity of Linux products and the need for high-quality VPN solutions.

"We recognized that the rapidly growing Linux community needed a powerful and intuitive VPN experience and got to work immediately," said Himmat Bains, ExpressVPN Head of Desktop apps.

This is where the new GUI comes in. The improved interface, which is available in light and dark modes across 17 languages, allows users to take control of their digital life in just a few clicks.

As Bains points out, though, the GUI is only one part of the upgrade. He said: "The new app integrates a host of advanced features that enable users to tailor their digital security experience – for more control and privacy while benefitting from the ease of use that ExpressVPN is known for."

For the first time, in fact, also Linux users can benefit from a split tunneling feature to select specific apps or IPs to be routed through the VPN or bypass it. An advanced kill switch option (here called Network Lock) also allows them to prevent internet access at all times unless the VPN is connected.

Image 1 of 3

Thanks to the new light and dark modes, you can fully customize your app's look in 17 different languages. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)Image 2 of 3

Head on the network tab to enable the advanced kill switch protection and LAN access. The latter allows you to securely connect to local devices on your network. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)Image 3 of 3

From the split tunneling tab, you can select which apps and IP you want to either include or exclude from the VPN connections for better usability. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Other security features that come with the new ExpressVPN's Linux app also include post-quantum encryption, alongside some advanced protection features to block intrusive ads, web trackers, malicious websites and adult content.

As with other platforms, the Linux app also comes with a choice of VPN protocol options that include OpenVPN and ExpressVPN's very own Lightway. Users will also be able to choose across servers in 105 countries worldwide.

As mentioned earlier, ExpressVPN will keep supporting CLI users, too, extending many of the same upgrades also for its Linux CLI new version. The provider suggests uninstalling your existing ExpressVPN Linux app (v3 and older) before installing the new Linux app (v4) to avoid any issues.

ExpressVPN’s new Linux app is now available for download in beta from the ExpressVPN website.

All in all, Bains said: "At ExpressVPN, our users have always been the driving force behind our innovations. Our major Linux enhancements are just one example, and reinforce our mission of making robust privacy protection accessible to everyone."

• S-RM outlines how a company was targeted by Akira ransomware gang
• It was protected by an EDR solution, but had an unprotected webcam
• The webcam allowed Akira to deploy a Linux-based encryptor

Criminals from the Akira ransomware group have been found using an unsecured webcam to launch their attack and encrypt their target’s entire network.

This is according to cybersecurity researchers S-RM, who found the threat actors first accessed their target’s remote access solution, either by brute-forcing the login credentials, or buying them off the black market. From there, they installed AnyDesk to pivot to other devices on the network, establish persistence, and steal sensitive data.

Then, they tried to deploy the encryptor for Windows, but were stopped by the company’s Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) mechanism. After hitting this roadblock, Akira looked for other devices, outside EDR’s watchful eye, and found a live webcam vulnerable to remote shell access.

Avoidable incident

The webcam ran on a different operating system based on Linux, allowing Akira to use its Linux encryptor. Speaking to BleepingComputer, S-RM said Akira used the webcam to mount Windows Server Message Block (SMB) network shares of the company's other devices. Then, they encrypted the network shares over SMB, successfully working around EDR.

"As the device was not being monitored, the victim organization's security team were unaware of the increase in malicious Server Message Block traffic from the webcam to the impacted server, which otherwise may have alerted them," S-RM said.

To make matters worse, S-RM confirmed that a fix for the webcam was available, meaning the entire attack could have been avoided with timely patching.

Other details were not disclosed, so we don’t know who the victims were, or what type of files Akira stole in this attack. We also don’t know if the company paid any ransom demands, or if the stolen files made it to the dark web.

Next to the infamous LockBit, Akira remains one of the bigger ransomware threats out there, so users should be on their guard.

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• Another leak predicts the thinness of the iPhone 17 Air
• However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may get thicker
• The iPhone 17 Air could also feature a high-density battery

It sounds very much like we're going to get a brand new iPhone model this year in the form of the iPhone 17 Air – which is apparently replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – and a couple of fresh leaks give us a bit of a better idea about what to expect from it.

First up, in his post about Apple's plans for a foldable iPhone, well-respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentions that the folding iPhone will "use the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17".

The suggestion is that both the iPhone 17 Air and the foldable iPhone will make use of tweaked battery tech that packs more capacity into a smaller space – very handy when you're talking about super-slim handsets (one of which folds).

That should allay some concerns about the iPhone 17 Air having a relatively short battery life, due to its thinness. The new Apple C1 chip that made its debut in the iPhone 16e should also improve internal efficiency and help battery life on the iPhone 17 series.

Size matters

Exclusive revelation: The length, width, screen size, and bezel（same iPhone 16 Pro Max） of the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max are exactly the same.Only the thickness is different. The iPhone 17 Air is 5.5mm thick, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 8.725mm thick. pic.twitter.com/YjcMFva5IWMarch 7, 2025

So, how thin is the iPhone 17 Air going to be? Regular tipster @UniverseIce suggests it's going to be a mere 5.5 mm (0.22 inches) front to back, which fits in neatly with what we've previously heard from other sources.

The same tipster also hints at the dimensions of the iPhone 17 Air, which are apparently also the same as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max: a height of 163 mm (6.42 inches) and a width of 77.6 mm (3.06 inches).

However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to have a thickness of 8.725 mm (0.34 inches), compared to the 8.3 mm (0.33 inches) of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This increased thickness could be down to improved cameras and a significant redesign.

So the iPhone 17 Pro Max is likely to be going thicker, while the iPhone 17 Air goes thinner – something for everyone, no matter what the size of your hands or pockets. If Apple sticks to its usual annual schedule, these phones will appear in September 2025.

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• The latest Xbox Insider Program Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead update seems to be causing problems
• Users are reporting that their profiles have been wiped from their consoles with others unable to install the update at all
• The issue has now reportedly been fixed, but you should still be careful

I've got some bad news if you're a member of the Xbox Insider Program, as it seems as though the latest update pushed to the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead channels could be wiping user profiles from Xbox consoles.

According to the comments on a recent post to the r/xboxinsiders subreddit, users were finding their Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles seemingly reset when turning them on over the last couple of days. If you're unlucky enough to be impacted, this means that you will have to go through most of the setup process again in order to sign in with your Xbox account. While your purchases and game installations are thankfully unlikely to be impacted, customization settings and quick resume data are going to be missing and it might take a bit of time to get back to your desired setup.

Some users also reported being unable to get the update working at all, with multiple failed installations. One unlucky Redditor even stated that the language setting of their Xbox console is now "randomly set in what appears to be Chinese" leaving them completely unable to use the system because they "can’t read anything".

The issues have now reportedly been resolved, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't tread carefully. This is a good reminder that you likely shouldn't have your main Xbox console signed up to the Xbox Insider Program as, while very rare, there is always a chance that early updates like this can go wrong.

This latest update was first released on March 5, becoming mandatory on March 6. It was intended to introduce a few small fixes to the profile system, TV options, and various small localization tweaks.

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• Official Google Pixel 9a images appear to have just leaked
• They show four colors including what appears to be a new purple version
• Google also appears to be ditching the iconic camera bar bump

If the rumors are to be believed, the Google Pixel 9a could make its official debut sometime later this month – but while we're waiting, a plethora of leaked images have found their way online, showing off the mid-range handset.

These pictures come from well-known tipster @evleaks, and look to be official marketing images from Google. We get a look at all four colors – Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Peony (pink), and Iris (purple) – though it's the purple that features the most.

Some key Android features are shown off in these images, such as access to the Google Gemini AI assistant, and built-in theft protection. There are also some lifestyle shots showing the phone in use in a variety of scenarios.

One of the pictures shows the Pixel 9a splashed with water, which makes us think it's going to retain the IP67 dust and water resistance of the Google Pixel 8a that launched last year, and which this handset will be replacing.

Ready for a close-up

The leaked images suggest the Pixel 9a will bring new color options compared to the Pixel 8a (above), including black, white, pink and purple (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

These leaked images also give us a close-up look of a controversial design choice Google has seemingly made with the Pixel 9a: the iconic Pixel camera bar bump is going away, with the rear camera sitting almost flush against the back of the device.

You can see from one of these pictures that there is what appears to be a very slight camera bump – and we do mean slight. That suggests the phone won't actually lie perfectly flat on its back when you put it down.

It's a bold move for Google to take away the one design choice that made the Pixel series distinctive, but it's a move that's been rumored for a while. It's possible that Google wants to get its mid-range phones and its flagship phones looking less similar to each other.

Whatever the thinking, this will all be official very soon. Most rumors are pointing to Wednesday, March 19 as the launch date for the Pixel 9a – and of course as soon as Google makes its announcement, we'll bring you the news here.

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• Philips Hue Impress outdoor lights are now available in the US
• The three weather-resistant lights were previously only on sale in Europe
• They're available from the Philips Hue online store, starting at $159.99

There's a new set of Philips Hue lights available in the US, specifically designed for use outdoors. The Impact series were previously only available in Europe, but they're now getting a wider launch, so you can use them to add a dash of light and color to your yard.

As Fabian of fan site Hueblog.com explains, the Philips Hue Impress series comprises three weather-resistant lights to brighten up your garden: the Impress Outdoor Wall Light, Impress Wide Outdoor Wall Light, and Impress Pedestal Light.

All three are fitted with Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs, meaning you can set them to white light at a color temperature of your choice, or take your pick from 16 million RGB colors. You can use them on their own, or as part of a larger Hue setup.

You can install the low-voltage Philips Hue Impress Pedestal Light anywhere in your yard using the spike on the bottom (Image credit: Philips Hue) Make a good impression

The standard Impress Outdoor Wall Light (priced at $159.99) is the only one of the set that's designed to be hard-wired into the wall so there are no visible exterior cables. It contains two Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs, and its case measures 9.4 x 6.1 x 5 inches.

The Impress Wide Outdoor Wall Light ($179.99) is a low-voltage light that's designed to be easy to install and extend yourself without the help of an electrician. As the name suggests, it's the larger of the two wall-mounted fixtures, measuring 11.7 x 6.8 x 8 inches.

The Impress Pedestal Light ($189.99) is another low-voltage unit that you can safely install yourself, and is held in place with a spike so you can position it anywhere you like outdoors. Its dimensions are 15.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches.

All three require a Philips Hue Bridge, which creates a mesh network that connects all your Hue lights, switches, sensors and cameras to your home Wi-Fi network, and to each other.

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• ChatGPT can now automatically insert code directly into Xcode
• That means you no longer need to copy and paste code back and forth
• It could save developers a great amount of time in the long run

One of the main uses of ChatGPT is helping with coding and programming, and it’s one of the best AI tools for that purpose. Now, the latest version is able to generate code and add it directly into Apple’s Xcode development app in macOS without any longwinded steps. That could help make the whole process run much more smoothly than before.

In a post on X, ChatGPT developer OpenAI explained that the latest ChatGPT update features a new “Apply” button that automatically inserts the generated code into the correct location in your project. There’s also a toggle to “Auto-apply code,” which streamlines the workflow even further.

You’ve been able to spin up code in ChatGPT for a while now, which has helped make it more capable than even the best text editors for your coding needs. Yet ChatGPT has previously required you to manually copy and paste the generated output into Xcode yourself. Now, the two apps are much more tightly integrated.

ChatGPT can detect the code editing app that you’re using, whether that’s Xcode, VS Code, or something else. That allows it to automatically insert the code it creates in the right spot.

Coming to Windows soon

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Elle Aon)

ChatGPT’s developer OpenAI says that these changes are coming to all desktop ChatGPT users on Mac, including those on the app’s free plan. It also sounds like these capabilities will be coming to additional apps and integrated development environments in the future, although OpenAI didn’t specifically explain which ones.

Windows users don’t need to miss out either, as OpenAI staff member Alexander Embiricos confirmed on X that this functionality will be coming to Microsoft’s operating system “soon.”

The update brings ChatGPT in line with GitHub Copilot and Xcode’s own Swift Assist tool, which is already built into the app. Swift Assist runs on Apple’s private cloud servers, and the company says that your code is not stored or used for training. That might make it a more secure option than ChatGPT if you’re concerned about your code being swept up by a third-party artificial intelligence (AI) tool.

With Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) set to open its doors in June, we could see further updates to Swift Assist at that time, and it’s a good bet that ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot will receive plenty of new features in the meantime. That means if you’re looking for an AI coding assistant, you’ve got plenty of options.

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The global AI race is intensifying with new developments coming every week - take China’s launch of DeepSeek for example, which caught the industry by complete surprise. Despite a united approach being attempted with the publication of the International AI Safety Report, countries across the globe continue to strive for leadership.

The new US government had already been quick to announce 500 billion dollars of private sector investment in Project Stargate to build advanced AI infrastructure, with a landmark collaboration of backers including OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank. This came hot on the heels of the UK’s recent launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, supported by funding of £14 billion from leading tech firms.

The widening regulatory disconnect

However, while both the UK and US set out aggressive plans for growth, the gap between regulatory approaches is widening. The US government swiftly revoked its earlier Executive Order which was supposed to guard against the risks AI posed to consumers and national security, which had required important safety disclosures regarding development. The about turn underlines the new administration’s commitment to prioritize AI innovation above what it deems as barriers to progress, even those relating to security, privacy, and bias.

Following suit to some degree, the UK is maintaining a lighter touch to governance than the EU. Its AI Action Plan sets out a commendable vision for the future, but, arguably, with insufficient regulatory oversight. This is potentially leaving the UK exposed to cyber threats and undermining public trust in AI systems.

The proposal to create a new National Data Library to unlock the value of high impact public data to support AI development also raises more security questions than it answers. How will the data sets be assembled? Who is responsible for their protection? And how can their integrity be guaranteed several years down the line when they are part of many AI models integral to businesses, public sector services, and the supply chain?

In sharp contrast, the EU is moving forward with its AI Act, a comprehensive, legally binding framework that clearly prioritizes regulation of AI, transparency, and prevention of harm. It sets out unequivocal obligations for AI development and deployment, including mandatory risk assessments and significant fines for non-compliance.

Adapting security principles to AI

This regulatory divergence is creating a complex landscape for organizations building and implementing AI systems. The lack of cohesion makes for an uneven playing field and conceivably, a riskier AI-powered future.

Organizations will need to determine a way forward that balances innovation with risk mitigation, adopting robust cybersecurity measures and adapting them specifically for the emerging demands of AI. Areas already raising concerns include data poisoning and the data supply chain.

Poisoning data models

Data poisoning, where bad actors deliberately manipulate training data to alter the performance of models, will be a major risk for AI. This could be subtle changes that are difficult to identify, perhaps slight modifications that generate errors and incorrect outcomes. Or attackers could alter code so they can remain hidden inside a model and gain ongoing control over its behavior. Such imperceptible tampering could slowly compromise a business over time, leading to bad decision-making and financial ruin. Or even, if politically motivated, could promote biases and influence attitudes.

The stealthy nature of these attacks makes them hard to detect until the damage is too late to reverse, as bad data can blend seamlessly with legitimate data. Combatting data poisoning requires robust data validation, anomaly detection, and continuous monitoring of datasets to identify and remove malicious entries as poisoning can be perpetrated at any stage. It may occur initially during data collection, later injected into data repositories, or maybe introduced inadvertently from other infected sources.

Protecting the data supply chain

The government’s proposal to create a National Data Library highlights the risk of apparently reliable models becoming compromised and flowing rapidly through the supply chain. In a couple of years, it’s likely many organizations will be dependent on such models to run their business and daily operations. With criminals already taking advantage of AI’s capabilities to supercharge their attacks, the consequences of rogue AI entering the supplier ecosystem could be catastrophic and widespread.

Business leaders will need to have strong protection and defenses to ensure resilience throughout their supply chain and have tried and tested disaster recovery plans. Effectively this means prioritizing the applications that really matter, and defining what constitutes a minimum viable business and acceptable risk posture. Ony then can they be confident that critical backups can be restored quickly and completely in the event of compromise.

Staying mindful of the risks

While AI offers immense potential for innovation, it's crucial to consider its implementation with caution. The vast capabilities of AI bring equally substantial risks, particularly in terms of cybersecurity, privacy, and ethics. As AI models become more ingrained in organizational infrastructures, the scope for security breaches and abuse will escalate dramatically.

Maintaining reliable safeguards, transparent development processes, and ethical standards are vital to mitigate these risks. Only by balancing innovation with zero tolerance of misuse can businesses safely reap the benefits of AI and protect against its dangerous downsides. In tandem, although its looking unlikely, coordinated government-led regulation remains essential for establishing enforceable frameworks for AI safety and security worldwide.

We provide a comprehensive list of the best AI tools.

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

Disjointed cinematic universes, mediocre sequels, and recycled franchises. Formulaic straight-to-streaming flicks, AAA video games with the same tired mechanics, and the rise of the celebrity author. The death of the music genre, an influx of cancelled series, and a tentative approach to new IPs. The mainstream media is experiencing a creative crisis, and while AI has the power to rejuvenate the slump, I fear it will only perpetuate the problem.

There will always be creative outliers, but on the whole, mainstream media has become formulaic, because industry moguls are afraid. And with good reason. Habits have changed, short-form content is king, ‘forever games’ are challenging AAA dominance, and audiences are no longer flocking to see the next big Hollywood blockbuster. But beyond this backdrop of uninspired creativity and financial uncertainty, artificial intelligence is waiting to throw an AI-generated spanner in the works.

When the generative-AI floodgates opened in 2023, the creative industry was changed overnight. Suddenly, anyone could open a browser window and access powerful AI-image generators such as Midjourney and DALL-E. Digital imagery that would have previously required years of training, expensive industry-standard software, and peripherals such as lightboxes and drawing tablets, could be ‘generated’ in seconds, with a simple prompt.

A post shared by Photomedia & AI Artist (@boriseldagsen)

A photo posted by on

I’m a photography tech journalist and nothing made me understand the impact artificial intelligence was going to have on the creative industry than when an AI-generated image won the creative open category in the Sony World Photography Awards 2023. Its creator, or ‘prompter’, Boris Eldagsen, outed the image himself and refused the award. To this day, Pseudomnesia: The Electrician is one of the most convincing AI-generated photographs I’ve seen.

So, if AI has the power to fool a panel of prestigious photography judges, why has the Internet become a breeding ground for AI-generated humanoids, rammed so far up the uncanny valley that doom scrolling through Facebook is fraught with more jump scares than Five Nights at Freddy’s?

Because crap AI-generated content is cheap. And this is my cause for concern…

AI will be used, not for expanding creativity but because it's cheap...

I’m worried that artificial intelligence – which has the power to usher in a gilded age of creativity – will be used to spiral the mainstream media further into a creative depression. In his book The Coming Wave: AI, Power and Our Future, CEO of Microsoft AI, Mustafa Suleyman, states: “it [AI] now looks set to reach human-level performance across a very wide range of tasks within the next three years.” He continues to predict that in just a “few decades (...) AI systems would replace “intellectual manual labor””. And while I’m not suggesting we’re going to see purely AI-generated blockbusters or AAA video games anytime soon, artificial intelligence is already becoming increasingly prevalent.

Just recently, speculation was rife that Posters for Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps were AI generated – and poorly at that. And although The Wrap confirmed that Marvel has denied this, it’s clear that audiences are already on the lookout for poorly implemented AI. The root of this skepticism surely comes from past faux pas. And there is perhaps no better example than the film industry’s misuse of computer-generated imagery.

Jurassic Park is a movie that helped pioneer CGI and despite being over 30 years old, it still holds up remarkably well today (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

CGI has become a constant criticism of modern film, but there’s nothing inherently bad about it. Films such as Tron, Jurassic Park, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and Avatar, all made the best of their respective CGI, but too many films have relied on the technology as a cheap alternative to practical effects, extras, locations, and even costumes (Green Lantern’s horrific CGI costumes anyone?) And I can’t help but wonder if a worse fate awaits AI. I say worse because, unlike CGI, AI has the potential to affect almost every facet of the filmmaking process. From casting to script writing, storyboarding to concept design, set dressing, and of course, computer-generated imagery.

My main cause for concern is that where other technological innovations require human input, AI will increasingly need very little. And we’re only at the beginning of what AI is capable of. Artificial intelligence may have been conceptualized in the 1950s, but AI as we know it today is very new and evolving rapidly. AI writers won’t strike. AI visual effects artists won’t complain that they’re underpaid and overworked. AI has no concept of an unrealistic deadline. It doesn’t require expensive recording studio time, and won't need a break between book sequels. AI isn’t there yet, but the temptation will be to use AI to cut costs as it evolves, and that’s the wrong way to use it.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware AI is here to stay. Once ChatGPT became every high school student's best homework buddy, the AI cat was out of the bag. But the mainstream media has a choice. Use AI to bolster creativity and improve working conditions. Or use AI to churn out movies, video games, music, and books faster and more cost-effectively than ever before.

Choose the latter and Green Lantern will be the tip of the iceberg.

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• Google Chrome Enterprise will now support custom branding with logos
• The browser will become more visually distinct for work users
• More admin controls are also here for BYOD policies

Google Chrome Enterprise users will now see improved warning labels when logged into a work profile, hopefully helping them to keep personal and work browsing sessions separate.

The enhanced interface and branding changes are even more prominent to distinctly separate work and personal profiles.

The change was announced in an update to the business-oriented version of Google's popular web browser, along with upgrades to the sign-in experience and improved reporting for admins.

Chrome Enterprise warnings

“With the browser playing a more critical role in daily work, it’s more important than ever for IT teams to make it clear to employees that they are logged into a corporate browsing experience that is managed and monitored by their company,” wrote Product Manager Julia Lomakina and Group Product Manager Hakan Kilic in a blog post.

The managers explained how companies can use their own branding and logos to customize the Chrome experience. They also noted employees can use the browser to understand which additional controls may be in place, imposed by their workplaces.

Lomakina and Kilic noted that, even if companies decide not to customize their Chrome Enterprise, upcoming releases will add more features to make work browsers stand out from personal ones: “employees will receive an indication that they are in a managed ‘Work’ profile environment.”

In recognition of the continued popularity of hybrid working, the post also highlights new reporting features that let admins see signed-in managed users across platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, which is great for companies with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.

Browser customization with logo support is available for Chrome Enterprise Core, which is available to all businesses at no additional cost. Advanced data protections and profile reporting come with the Chrome Enterprise Premium package.

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• The Rotel DX-3 is a headphones amp that can also act as desktop DAC
• Wireless aptX Adaptive and HD as well as wired headphones support
• It costs $1,499.00 // £1,399.00 (about AU$3,065)

Huge specification. Tiny footprint. That's the pitch for the new Rotel DX-3, a compact headphone amplifier and standalone DAC that promises audiophile-grade audio for the best wired headphones – but not only wired headphones.

Inspired by Rotel's home city of Tokyo, where space is at a premium, the DX-3 is very small: just 215mm x 76mm x 247mm (8½ x 3 x 9¾ inches). But it boasts lots of power and plenty of connectivity too.

(Image credit: Rotel) Rotel DX-3: key features and pricing

Rotel describes the DX-3 as "the ultimate desktop audio companion" with inputs including PC-USB (32-bit/384kHz) with DSD 4X support, coaxial and optical (24-bit/192kHz), and an RCA analog connection for inputs.

The headphone amp supports high, low and medium impedance models and comes with user-selectable amplifier gain; there are both 4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm connectors on the front panel, and there are XLR Balanced and RCA outputs on the back so you can use the DX-3 as a stand-alone DAC and pre-amp. But it also supports the best wireless headphones as well as wired options, thanks to support for wireless aptX Adaptive / HD and AAC Bluetooth.

I'm going to assume this is considered an optional extra for convenience's sake, since it seems a shame to have all this audio power and then squeeze it into compressed wireless tech – event aptX is pretty limited compared to the full quality of what's on offer here.

Inside, there's an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO eight-channel DAC and Rotel's own ultra-low noise toroidal transformer. That features high current-drivers and high-quality capacitors to deliver what Rotel says is "the ultimate resolution, rhythm and timing, and on an immersive sound stage".

The volume is controlled by an audiophile-grade NJW1195A fully differential analog controller delivering 0.5dB steps, and the analog and digital power supplies are fully isolated from each other to apparently ensure minimal interference. There are also custom-engineered low pass filters with a full balanced, fully differential signal path for even further nose and distortion reduction.

The Rotel DX-3 is available in the UK now and will launch globally "soon after". Its official price is $1,499 / €1,499 / £1,399 / about AU$3,065.

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• New Shark TurboBlade is a powerful, bladeless fan with an unusual design
• Arms can pivot and twist to send directional blasts of air
• Currently only available in the US, for $249.99

Released earlier this week, the new Shark TurboBlade reimagines what a fan should look like and how it should behave, and I think it could be absolutely amazing when the hot weather kicks in. The fan part is made up of two arms, each of which blasts out a blade of concentrated air. These arms can be angled up and down, to direct the airflow, and the bit they're attached to can also be rotated – so they can blast air horizontally ('Blanket mode') or vertically ('Tower mode'). The whole thing is height-adjustable too.

The two blades are independently articulated, which means you can position them so one is pointing in a completely different direction to the other – so one can go high and the other low, or one can go right while the other's going left.

(Image credit: Shark)

Like most of today's best fans, it can still be set to oscillate, too. For that, the blades are oriented into 'tower mode'. The whole pillar will then turn, widening the cooling field up to 180 degrees. On maximum power, the TurboBlade can blast out air up to an impressive 80 feet.

There are 10 different settings to explore. In Sleep mode, sounds are muted, lights dimmed and fan speed is optimized for minimal disturbance. For night-time use, you might also want to deploy 'AirBlanket' mode, where the fan will expel a wide, horizontal jet of air, and do so quietly (kudos to whoever came up with that name; I've never wanted a chilly night's sleep more).

Or if you're feeling experimental, you could try 'Natural Breeze' mode. Here, the fan will randomize its airflow so it feels like you're on, I guess, a windy mountainside or something, rather than stuck in a sweltering living room.

(Image credit: Shark)

This brand has form when it comes to innovative fans – last summer saw the release of the Shark FlexBreeze, which doesn't just blast air but can also mist you with water vapor, to intensify the cooling process. The TurboBlade doesn't do that, but it's innovative nonetheless. Bladeless fans are fairly common now, but I've never seen one designed quite like this. In fact, I could imagine someone mistaking the TurboBlade for a lamp (and getting a surprise when switching it on).

While it looks a little odd, I'm really coming round to this design. While overall it's on the larger side, the footprint is small and it can be adjusted into a space-saving upright orientation when not in use. Being bladeless, there are minimal nooks and crannies to trap dirt, so keeping it clean should be easy (the inlet grille has a removable, easy-clean filter to ensure the insides don't get clogged up, too).

It's currently only available in the US, at a list price of $249.99, in a charcoal colorway with a white option due soon. No news yet as to whether it'll also be coming to the UK, Australia or elsewhere.

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• 2,500 HPE workers will lose their jobs by redundancy, another 500 by attrition
• Next-quarter revenue could be as low as $7.2 billion, $0.7 billion down
• HPE’s Juniper acquisition is causing another headache for the firm

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has revealed it is set to lay off an estimated 2,500 workers following disappointing economic performance.

CEO Antonio Neri confirmed an estimated 3,000 workers could leave the company, with the remaining 500 coming in the form of attrition (via Bloomberg).

The news followed a 19% dip in extended trading shares yesterday after the company issued weak guidance in its earnings call.

HPE set to axe up to 3,000 workers

Reducing its workforce is estimated to cost HPE about $350 million over the next two years, the company confirmed, but it hopes to see the benefits by 2027.

"We are pleased that we met our revenue guidance estimate as we navigated the quarter,” HPE CFO Marie Myers said, noting the company generated $7.9 billion in its most recent three-month period, ending January 31 2025.

“We took actions in the quarter to streamline costs, which helped us offset other impacts to profitability. We continue to align our strategy and execution with long-term growth trends that will fuel our performance,” Myers added.

HPE says it anticipates revenue of $7.2 billion to $7.6 billion in the next quarter – even the higher figure would mark a drop.

Although AI-driven demand has surged, costly AI components have led to lower-than-ideal margins. HPE also ended up with excess inventory when Nvidia transitions to Blackwell GPUs, adding unnecessarily to the cost with heavy discounts for both dated and less headline-grabbing traditional servers.

HPE isn’t the only business in the family struggling – parent company HP also laid off around 2,000 workers just a few weeks ago.

The company is also facing non-financial struggles – despite EU approval, both UK and US antitrust regulators have expressed concern over HPE’s planned $14 billion acquisition of Juniper. If it goes ahead, the Department of Justice alleges the two combined companies would account for “well over” 70% of the market.

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Full spoilers follow for Severance season 2 episode 8.

The layers of Severance season 2's biggest mysteries are really being peeled back now. After the Gemma-focused seventh episode that aired last week (February 28), the increasingly popular Apple show's latest entry is all about Harmony Cobel. And, while it's the series' shortest episode so far, it's no less revelatory than the others.

So, what does season 2 episode 8, titled 'Sweet Vitriol', tell us about Lumon's former Severed Floor manager? And what do we learn about the clandestine biotech company and its mysterious Cold Harbor project? I'll answer (or, at least, try to answer) those questions and more here.

This is your final warning: full spoilers immediately follow for Severance's latest installment. Turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

1. Harmony Cobel has at least one living relative – and they don't get along

Sissy is Harmony's aunt – and an even more devoted Kier follower than her niece (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Reuniting us with Harmony Cobel for the first time since Severance season 2 episode 3, 'Sweet Vitriol' sees her return to Salt's Neck, aka the remote town she used to call home. Until this episode aired, we didn't know where she was going – indeed, our last dealings with Harmony came in Severance season 2 episode 2. Back then, she had walked away from a showdown meeting with Helena Eagan and Lumon's board, and the only time we'd seen her since was the aforementioned brief appearance in episode 3.

Anyway, Harmony tracks down Hampton, a childhood friend who worked alongside Harmony at Salt's Neck's Lumon Ether factory when they were kids. Long story short: she persuades a hesitant Hampton to drive her to visit someone called Sissy. Harmony thinks Lumon is following her and, if she turns up at Sissy's home in her company car, Lumon will recognize it, track Harmony down, and force her to return to Lumon to beg forgiveness for her indiscretions.

Sissy was a Lumon Youth Apprentice Matron and Quarterly Striver: 4th Quarter Year of Vision placard recipient (Image credit: Apple TV+)

As it turns out, Sissy isn't just a random individual – she's Harmony's aunt. It's implied that Sissy – full name Celestine 'Sissy' Cobel – used to work for Lumon, too, as evidenced by the plaque that's hung on one of the Cobel family home's walls (see above).

But this is no happy family reunion. Based on the arguments they have throughout 'Sweet Vitriol', there's clear animosity between the pair. They know how to push each other's buttons as well, with Harmony goading Sissy over the death of Harmony's mom (more on this later), and even insinuating that Sissy was responsible for her sister's demise. Indeed, Harmony suggests that Sissy was the one who ended her mother's suffering by removing the medical apparatus she needed in order to breathe.

2. The breathing tube in Harmony's possession belonged to her mom

We finally know why Harmony Cobel has a breathing tube and who it originally belonged to (Image credit: Apple TV+)

As I said above, 'Sweet Vitriol' reveals that the breathing tube in Harmony's possession belonged to her mother. That's a mystery that's lingered since the Apple TV+ show's first season aired, so it's about time we learned its true origins.

Given what we learn in this episode, it seems the Cobel family's matriarch had some form of lung disease or breathing difficulties (was she an Ether addict like everyone else in Salt's Neck? Possibly). Eventually, Harmony's mom needed a ventilator to help her breathe, which left her bedridden and in need of constant care from Sissy. Harmony wasn't able to help due to her school studies – even worse, she didn't even get to say goodbye to her mom before Sissy supposedly ended her suffering.

Did anybody else's heart break during the scene? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Clearly, Harmony has held onto her mom's breathing tube as a keepsake to remind her of the fact that she couldn't see her mother before she passed.

It's a moment made all the more tear-jerking when Harmony finds the key to unlock the door to her mom's room, attaches the breathing tube to the ventilator, lies on her mother's bed, and uses the breathing apparatus to mask her sobbing as her repressed childhood trauma finally rises to the surface.

3. Harmony is a Wintertide Fellowship graduate

Ms Huang isn't the only Wintertide Fellowship student we've met in Severance (Image credit: Apple TV+)

As part of Harmony's homecoming, we also learn that she's a Wintertide Fellowship graduate. Sissy reveals as much during in episode 7's second act, and it's later reconfirmed when Harmony finds her Annual Reminiscences book from her time at Myrtle Eagen School for Girls.

For those who may have forgotten: the Wintertide Fellowship program is the same one that Ms Huang is currently 'studying' for as the Severed Floor's deputy manager. We know this to be true since it was first mentioned by current Severed Floor manager Seth Milchick in Severance season 2 episode 5.

I predicted that Ms Huang was being prepped to become a future Severed Floor manager in my Severance season 2 episode 6 theories piece and, on this Cobel-based evidence, it seems I could be right. It's unclear, though, how much more studying a Wintertide Fellow has to do once they graduate before they're offered a job at Lumon.

4. Harmony Cobel invented the severance procedure, not Jame Eagan

Hold on, Harmony Cobel is the brainchild behind the severance procedure?! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Well, if this isn't a turn-up for the books. It was Harmony, not current Lumon CEO Jame Eagan, who invented the severance procedure.

Until now, we'd been led to believe that Jame devised the revolutionary medical technique. However, 'Sweet Vitriol' confirms that this isn't the case.

After getting high on Ether with Hampton, Harmony realizes that her mother wouldn't have discarded the item that Harmony has desperately tried to find throughout this episode. In a moment of enlightenment, she heads to an outdoor store that's dug into the fields around her family home.

Comment from r/SeveranceAppleTVPlus

There, she finds her Wintertide Fellowship award, which contains a secret compartment. Unlocking it, Harmony rediscovers an old notepad that – shock horror – is full of her original designs for the severance procedure. That includes many of its supporting concepts and mechanisms, too, including the base code for the severance chip, and the Overtime Contingency and Glasgow Block programs.

All of Harmony's hard work is almost for nought, however. After she confronts Sissy and shows her that it was she who invented the severance technique, Sissy attempts to burn the evidence in her wood fire, but Harmony stops her. Now that she's armed with this proof of concept, it'll be fascinating to see how Harmony uses it to potentially overthrow the Eagan family and/or destroy Lumon once and for all (NB: For what it's worth, I think the former is more likely than the latter – why would Harmony burn down the company that her genius ideas helped to build?).

5. Cold Harbor's origins are tied to Harmony Cobel's home town

Hmm, I wonder what Harmony Cobel's icy and coastal hometown could be a reference to... (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Project Cold Harbor was first mentioned in Severance season 2 episode 1. Since then, the show's fanbase has fallen over itself trying to work out what it is. I gave my opinion in my Severance season 2 episode 1 theories piece and, while I was right that it has something to do with Gemma/Ms Casey, its true purpose is still an unknown quantity after last week's chapter.

That said, I don't think it's a coincidence that Harmony not only dreamt up the severance procedure, but also hails from a icy, coastal region of the world. Cold Harbor could simply be the codename attached to one of the test rooms we first saw in episode 7, but I think there's more to it than that. After all, if Harmony created the severance operation, she probably had a hand in the development of the test rooms that Gemma is used as a guinea pig for.

Harmony, then, may hold the key to helping Mark rescue Gemma – and, with Harmony on her way to meet Mark and Devon after that phone call in episode 8's final scene, maybe Harmony has officially turned her back on Lumon and will look to punish them for *ahem* freezing her out of the company.

6. The Nine are the core pillars or values that Lumon's cult-like followers worship

So, there are Four Tempers and Nine... what, exactly? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

There are plenty of mysteries that need to be solved before one of the best Apple TV+ shows ends, but 'Sweet Vitriol' just gave use another one to unravel: who or what is The Nine?

Initially, it appears that The Nine is just a passing reference to the location of the Cobel household. Indeed, Hampton suggests as much when chatting to Harmony outside of Salt's Neck's decaying Lumon factory. However, Sissy later tells Harmony that their mom might have found solace in The Nine if she'd been a Kier devotee. So, it seems The Nine are another aspect of the Kier doctrine that his acolytes follow.

That appears to be the case, too. As Harmony searches for the key to her mom's bedroom, we see some cards laid out in an orderly fashion on a table (see the image above). Each one bears an unusual word, too, such as Probity, Wiles, Verve, Benevolence, and Vision (alright, the last one isn't weird, but work with me here!).

Where have we seen and/or heard uncommon, 'Ye Olde' words before? Okay, yes, whenever Milchick speaks – but, no, I'm talking about the Four Tempers (Woe, Malice, Frolic, and Dread) that Kier tamed and which are part of the Kier philosophy. I predict, then, that The Nine are the opposite of the Tempers – i.e., they're core pillars or values that Kier's followers, erm, follow in order to live a happy life.

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• The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller is releasing next month
• It's compatible with Xbox Series X|S as well as PC and Android devices
• Expect Hall effect sticks, swappable components and a nifty LCD screen

Nacon's latest Xbox controller, the Revolution X Unlimited, is now available to pre-order.

In what looks to be an upgrade over the original Revolution X and the PS5 model Revolution 5 Pro, the Revolution X Unlimited features drift-resistant Hall effect sticks, swappable components (including stick caps, D-pads, and grip weights), and an LCD display for instant on-board customization.

You can pre-order the controller now at Nacon's store page for $199.90 / £179.90, which is overall cheaper than the Revolution 5 Pro's $199.99 / £199.99. It's due to be available from April 30, 2025. UK folks can also pre-order at Argos should they desire.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Nacon)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Nacon)Image 3 of 4

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(Image credit: Nacon)

I got some brief hands-on time with the Revolution X Unlimited at a recent Nacon event in Paris, and while my session was short I came away quite impressed.

The biggest surprise for me was the in-built LCD screen. I'm usually not a fan of these on controllers as I find they can be overly complicated and an unnecessary battery drain. On the Revolution X Unlimited, the screen was accessible at the press of a button, its menu was very clean and all options (such as button mapping and stick sensitivity) were simple and to the point.

Made with competitive players in mind, the Revolution X Unlimited will also feature dedicated PC and 'Shooter Pro' profiles. The former aims to reduce latency to around a millisecond on PC via a wired connection and even enables keyboard shortcuts for those remappable buttons (this time found on both the top and rear of the pad. The latter removes stick deadzone entirely, which in theory should offer enhanced precision for the best FPS games.

If there's one concern I have, it would be in battery life. Nacon estimates you'll get "a minimum" of 10 hours of battery on a single charge which is the same as the Revolution 5 Pro. That's not a whole lot compared to some of the other best Xbox controllers. But, the Revolution X Unlimited does ship with a dedicated charging dock, providing an easy way to top up while you're away from your PC or console.

We've got another month and a half until the Revolution X Unlimited releases, but you can expect a full written review here at TechRadar Gaming in the near future.

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