TechRadar News

• 93% of UK companies have faced a business-critical incident (86% globally)
• They're not testing recovery plans frequently enough, though
• Some are putting together inventories of critical systems

New research has warned UK companies could be at a higher risk of facing dangerous cyber incidents, with 93% having experienced a business-critical incident compared with 86% globally.

The data comes from a Commvault study in the months following the impactful attack on UK retail giant M&S and reveals a recent uptick in incidents, with 57% having occurred in the past 18 months.

However, despite the more at-risk nature of UK companies, 21% are less likely to have dedicated recovery environments than their global counterparts and 11% are less likely to have tested recovery plans in the last month.

UK firms get more cyberattacks than the global average

Commvault noted, even though British firms are more likely to experience "frequent devastating incidents," they're falling behind when it comes to their recovery readiness, and that's down to three key failures: the complexity of existing systems and applications (52%), the struggle to keep recovery plans in line with their changing needs (47%) and difficulties separating core systems from less business-critical operations (30%).

"Having a tested recovery plan in place and a dedicated recovery environment in the cloud can make all the difference between chaos and continuous business," Commvault EMEA SVP Richard Gadd explained.

However, tables and turning and companies are starting to lay the foundations of change. The report details how two in three (65%) have an inventory of business-critical systems and dependencies, which is higher than the global average (50%).

Looking ahead, companies can strengthen their cybersecurity postures by adopting zero trust and deny-by-default principles to prevent many threats while also deploying continuous monitoring systems.

With UK firms less likely to have conducted a recovery test in the past month, there's clear scope for further testing including both recovery and penetration testing to highlight any weak points before an attack takes place.

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• A generous helping of new Pixel 10 leaks have appeared
• There's a promo clip, eSIM rumors, and pricing too
• The Pixel 10 Pro Fold might be delayed

We only have a few hours left before the Google Pixel 10 is official, and you can follow all of the latest news in our Pixel 10 launch liveblog. But leakers aren't slowing down: we've got a repeated rumor about a controversial design change, plus a 30-second clip showing off some Pixel 10 features.

First that design change, and well-known tipster @evleaks has again hinted that the Pixel 10 phones will be eSIM-only, by posting what looks to be an image from the phone's packaging: "you no longer need a physical SIM card" the text reads.

It's something that the same source predicted earlier this month, though it's not clear which regions and handsets this would apply to. It seems it may be a US-only move, and that the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold will hang on to a physical SIM card slot.

There are a lot of advantages to eSIMs, which make it easier to set up and swap numbers, but some users still prefer the physical SIM – especially for convenience when traveling and swapping between services. Apple went eSIM-only with the iPhone 14 back in 2022, though iPhones outside the US still have SIM slots.

Bonjour, Pixel 10

Bonjour, Pixel 10 pic.twitter.com/KYvJPYpbN8August 19, 2025

Our second leak of the day comes from another veteran tipster, @MysteryLupin. It's a full 30-second promotional clip for the Google Pixel 10, showing off some of the features we can expect – though it is in French.

We have Gemini Live shown off here, which of course isn't a new feature. In the demo, the user asks how to make an espresso using the coffee machine that's just been unboxed, and Google's AI serves up the necessary instructions.

One feature here that is new is Coach Photo, which seems to be a way of helping you get the best photos by advising you on framing, zooming, and so on. It's something that's already been rumored, albeit under the name Camera Coach.

The last feature demoed is Video Boost for stabilizing shaky video: it's already available on Pro Pixels, but the indications from this video are that it may come to the base Pixel 10 this year (presumably it has the necessary processing power to handle it).

And yet more leaks

Pricing. The Buds 2a slot in at $129. Enjoy the launch tomorrow, especially those planning to buy. pic.twitter.com/ZSKwq52LDMAugust 20, 2025

There's more to mention: @evleaks has also confirmed what we've heard from previous leaks that Pixel 10 pricing will match Pixel 9 pricing – so the range should be starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 for the cheapest Pixel 10, and going up from there.

We also have a social post from @rquandt.bsky.social‬, another reliable tipster, showing off marketing materials and specs for the Pixel 10 handsets, including screen sizes: 6.3 inches for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, and 6.8 inches for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The rumored Pixelsnap wireless charging is also mentioned again.

As for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it's listed as having a 6.4-inch outer display and an 8-inch inner one. Based on this leak it seems as though the phone may have delayed availability, with one Belgian retailer suggesting that preorders will start on September 25.

All of this will shortly be made official, and we'll bring you the news as it happens. The Made by Google event gets underway at 10am PT / 1am ET / 6pm BST today (August 20), which is August 21 at 3am AEST for Australia, and you can watch along online.

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How to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17

The Gang are back… and it’s been the usual chaos. From law breaking to dodgy dealing, after two long years, everyone’s favourite narcissists returned. Read on, as we explain how to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 online from anywhere.

Premiered: July 9

Finale: Wednesday, August 20 at 9pm ET / PT

US broadcast: FXX via Sling TV

US stream: Hulu (30-day trial)

International stream: Disney Plus (CA, AU)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Season 17 is the season of crossovers for the crew of Paddy’s Pub, as not only did we finally see the Gang’s PoV of the Abbott Elementary mash-up in the season opener, but Danny DeVito’s Frank finds himself a contestant on The Golden Bachelor in tonight's finale. Elsewhere, there’s been PR disasters, Saudi dealings, side hustles and reinventions, all in the pursuit of money, and lots of it.

The usual core cast are here, with the newly rechristened Rob Mac, starring alongside Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson. We also saw the return of David Hornsby as the long-suffering Cricket.

Ready to say goodbye to another round of beautiful chaos? Here's our guide on how to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 online and from anywhere.

How to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 in the US

If you have cable, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 airs on Wednesdays, with the finale set for August 20 at 9pm ET / PT.

Don't have cable? Cord-cutting services with FX include Sling TV – specifically the Sling Orange package from $46 per month. You can even get $10 off your first month, before returning to the original fee. There's also Fubo from $84.99 and Hulu with Live TV from $82.99 per month after a 3-day free trial.

If you're happy to watch on demand, episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu the following day.

Away from the US? Use a VPN to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 online from abroad.

How to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 from anywhere

For those away from home looking to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you’ll be unable to watch the show as normal due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN allows you to stream geo-blocked services safely and securely online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. Our favorite is NordVPN.

Use a VPN to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 from anywhere:

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How to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 in the UK, Canada or Australia

Disney Plus is the international home of brand new episodes from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17.

In Canada, new episodes stream every Thursday, while Aussies can catch weekly episodes every Wednesday.

There's currently no release date set for the UK, but typically episodes don't start streaming in Blighty until the whole season has aired Stateside.

American away from home? You can still connect to your usual VOD services by downloading a VPN and pointing your location back to the US.

What you need to know about It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17It's Always Sunny... S017E7 recap

Episode 7: "The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time ": "Upon learning Frank's making a 'Hometown Visit' with his Golden Bachelor partners, the Gang rehearses their family dinner to appeal to America."

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 release date

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 premiered on Wednesday, July 9 in the US with episodes made available to stream in Canada from July 10 and Australia from July 16. A UK release date is TBC.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 trailerIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 episode schedule

• Episode 1 - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary": Wednesday, July 9
• Episode 2 - "Frank Is In a Coma": Wednesday, July 9
• Episode 3 - "Mac and Dennis Become EMTs": Wednesday, July 16
• Episode 4 - "Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation": Wednesday, July 23
• Episode 5 - "The Gang Goes to a Dog Track": Wednesday, July 30
• Episode 6 - "Overage Drinking: A National Concern": Wednesday, August 6
• Episode 7 - "The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time": Wednesday, August 13
• Episode 8 - "The Golden Bachelor Live": Wednesday, August 20

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast

• Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly
• Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds
• Rob McElhenney as Ronald "Mac" McDonald
• Kaitlin Olson as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds
• Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• The iPhone 17 series could be the last phones with a Camera Control button
• This is apparently because Apple has found that people aren't using it much
• But the source doesn't have much of a track record, and there are other reasons to doubt this claim too

It’s fair to say that responses to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series have been mixed. While some users are unconvinced by this addition to the iPhone, others have found a lot to love about the Camera Control button. But if you’re in the latter camp you’ll be disappointed to hear that its days might be numbered.

According to Weibo poster OvO Baby Sauce OvO (via GSMArena), the iPhone 17 series might be the last phones with this button, as Apple has apparently told its suppliers it will no longer order Camera Control button parts.

This is apparently because Apple has found that iPhone owners aren’t using the button much, and that by removing this key, the company can cut some costs – which could be especially beneficial in this new age of tariffs.

Still, I’m unconvinced. It’s hard to get a sense for how many people actually use the Camera Control button much, with social media suggesting it’s a real mix of lovers and haters, but even if not many people are using it, we doubt Apple would give up on it so fast.

Even the much-maligned MacBook Touch Bar lasted five years before Apple ditched it, and it’s clear that some people do like the Camera Control.

More than just camera controls

Visual Intelligence identifying a dog (Image credit: Apple)

Plus, the Camera Control button does more than that name suggests – it’s also the gateway to Visual Intelligence, which is one of Apple’s headline AI features. Now, there are other ways to access this, but they’re less immediate, or require you toggling it to the Action button, which then means you can’t use that for something else.

Right now, Visual Intelligence itself might not seem a big deal to most people, but that’s in large part because Apple Intelligence lags behind rival AI services. If and when it starts to catch up, Visual Intelligence could be something you’d reach for often, as it lets you use AI to learn about or translate whatever you’re looking at.

So it seems unlikely that Apple would make such a major feature less easily accessible – it would be like admitting not only that these camera controls aren’t that useful, but that Visual Intelligence isn’t either.

I can’t see Apple doing that, and it’s worth noting that the source making this claim also doesn’t have much of a track record. So until the same claim is made by someone like Mark Gurman – who has a history of accurately leaking Apple information – you should probably file this under unlikely.

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• Python remains popular for data exploration, processing and engineering
• Younger developers are still using the coding language
• Only 15% use the latest release of Python, research finds

An extensive survey of around 30,000 developers has revealed Python is still a preferred language for many programmers, with around three in four (72%) using it for work, and 86% preferring it over any other language.

The Python Developer Survey (perhaps unsurprisingly) revealed an important bit of information that ties in with Python's ease of use – half of its users have less than two years' experience, suggesting its user base spans younger developers.

Still, it remains unbeatable across many categories, with more programmers using Python for web development (46%) compared with previous studies (42%).

Python is an all-time favorite programming language

Python is also a popular choice when it comes to data exploration and processing (51%), artificial intelligence and machine learning (41%) and data engineering (31%).

However, there remains a broad reluctance to upgrade to the latest release, with only 15% on 3.13.

More than a combined half are still using 3.12 (35%) and 3.11 (21%), with few seeing the need to upgrade at all – 53% say their current version meets their needs and 25% note a lack of time to upgrade.

A further 27% noted compatibility issues associated with choosing newer releases, despite the promised performance improvements such as 10-15% less memory usage and 11% faster performance when upgrading from 3.11 to 3.13.

Still, the language remains crucial for an important part of the community – around one in three developers continue to open source software, including documentation and tutorials, which are among the most popular learning mechanisms for new developers (followed by videos hosted on platforms like YouTube and AI tools like ChatGPT).

Given that Python isn't going anywhere, the need to upgrade is clear. With only 15% operating on the newest release, huge free performance gains are on the cards.

"By taking this action, you will be able to take advantage of the full potential of modern Python, from the performance benefits to the language features," Talk Python founder Michael Kennedy explained in a blog post.

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Affiliate marketing in 2025 is undergoing a transformation that reflects the dynamic nature of the industry. A 3.38% conversion rate for e-shop owners, according to platform data from 2Performant, reflects a strong industry performance, but it only tells part of the story. Growth is happening across multiple alternative channels, with video-first platforms, social commerce and emerging formats challenging conventional affiliate marketing approaches.

The shift towards alternative channels is an evolution in how consumers discover and purchase products across multiple touchpoints. With video content representing over 62% of internet traffic in the EU, social commerce growing at 30% annually, and mobile commerce accounting for 74% of all global mobile data, the infrastructure for multi-channel affiliate marketing is not only ready but actively driving consumer behavior.

The Dynamics of Emerging Trends in the European Market

Europe's embrace of alternative channels varies across regions, reflecting differences in consumer behavior, market maturity, and commercial infrastructure. What works effectively in the US market doesn't automatically translate to European consumers, who tend to be more cautious about online purchases and more research-driven in their shopping behavior.

Across Europe, Google campaigns and CSS affiliates continue to serve as the primary sales drivers, consistently delivering the most reliable revenue. The continued dominance of PPC affiliates stems from financial accountability. Agencies invest their own money in campaigns, creating a direct relationship between their profitability and performance that reflects how campaigns are optimized.

Yet, the live-shopping and video commerce trend is catching on.

Platforms like Temu and Trendyol are investing heavily in promotional campaigns and growing in European markets. This expansion isn't happening in isolation. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has made consumers more prudent but it has also created demand for the very benefits that video commerce provides, including real-time interaction, immediate question answering and detailed product demonstration.

When 55% of European consumers report they "can't afford to make wrong choices," live shopping's ability to provide authentic, detailed product information becomes a competitive advantage rather than a nice-to-have feature.

Video Commerce: The Leading Alternative Channel

Video commerce has emerged as the most visible alternative channel, with TikTok Shop processing thousands of live sessions daily in the UK alone and live shopping generating billions in global merchandise value. Individual sellers are seeing meaningful results, with typical live sessions moving around 100 items worth approximately £773 in sales.

The platform's success stems from its understanding of modern consumer behavior. Today's shoppers, particularly younger demographics, expect entertainment, education and commerce to be seamlessly integrated. TikTok Shop delivers this integration and creates shopping experiences that feel natural rather than transactional.

However, the effectiveness varies significantly by product category and target demographic. Beauty and personal care categories are generating billions in gross merchandise value globally, while other categories struggle to achieve similar conversion rates. This selective success highlights the importance of channel-product fit rather than assuming general applicability.

Social Commerce Beyond Video

Social commerce includes Instagram Shopping, Pinterest Product Pins and Facebook Marketplace integrations, extending beyond video platforms. These platforms are experiencing significant growth by allowing consumers to discover and purchase products without leaving their preferred social environments.

Instagram Shopping has evolved into a commerce platform with features like product tags, shop tabs, and checkout functionality creating seamless purchase journeys. Pinterest's visual discovery model aligns with product exploration, making it effective for home décor, fashion and lifestyle categories.

The key advantage of social commerce is in its ability to capture consumers during moments of inspiration rather than active search. This discovery-based approach complements traditional search-based affiliate marketing by reaching consumers earlier in their purchase journey.

The Advantage of the Performance-Based Model

The transition towards cost-per-sale pricing models favors alternative channels that can demonstrate clear conversion paths. When agencies and creators are compensated based on actual sales rather than clicks or impressions, the conversion capabilities of well-executed alternative channel strategies become clear competitive advantages.

Video commerce's ability to demonstrate products, answer questions and build trust translates directly into higher conversion rates for businesses willing to invest in quality content and authentic presenter skills. The integrated nature of video platforms means that attribution and performance management tracking provide clearer insights into what drives conversions, making it easier to optimize campaigns for maximum effectiveness.

While search-based affiliate marketing continues to generate revenue, it's increasingly competing for attention with more engaging formats. The mobile performance crisis affecting traditional affiliate marketing, with click-through rates dropping by 50% and AI overviews further reducing traffic, doesn't impact alternative channels in the same way.

Google's algorithm changes increasingly favor video content, making it harder for traditional affiliate sites to maintain their search rankings. Social platforms are also investing heavily in commerce features that make alternative channel shopping more seamless and attractive.

Consumers, particularly younger demographics, are moving away from text-based research towards multi-channel discovery and decision-making processes that blend entertainment, education, and commerce across multiple touchpoints.

The Technology Infrastructure Is Ready

The technology for multi-channel affiliate marketing has matured quickly. Attribution systems can now track performance across multiple touchpoints from initial discovery through final purchase.

Content creation tools have democratized production across multiple formats, making it possible for individual creators and small businesses to produce engaging content for video, social and emerging channels without substantial budgets. Mobile-first platforms have eliminated many technical barriers that once made alternative channels accessible only to well-funded enterprises.

Payment platforms have also evolved to support seamless purchase journeys across all channels, with fintech solutions enabling smooth transactions regardless of where the customer journey begins.

Integration Over Replacement

The future of affiliate marketing is in understanding how to integrate traditional and alternative channels effectively. Alternative channels represent opportunities for growth and differentiation, but they work best when combined with the reliability and reach of established channels.

Live shopping will continue growing throughout 2025, but scalability challenges prevent it from becoming a dominant revenue source for most businesses. Social commerce works particularly well for discovery and inspiration, while emerging technology channels excel at reducing friction for specific use cases.

The most important factor remains the quality of commercial offers presented to consumers. No amount of creative content, sophisticated technology or innovative formats can compensate for poor pricing, low-quality products or complicated purchasing processes. Success in 2025 will come from businesses that build their affiliate marketing strategies around creating genuine value for consumers across multiple channels.

Alternative channels are defining the next wave of sales because they align with how consumers actually want to shop in 2025. The transformation is already underway, and the question is how quickly businesses will adapt these alternative channels to capture the opportunity while maintaining the foundation that traditional channels provide.

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

A few months ago, Chinese LLM DeepSeek-R1 made headlines. The world was introduced to an open-source AI model that matched OpenAI o1’s reasoning abilities at a fraction of the cost. A relatively obscure startup topped Apple’s App Store rankings and sent shockwaves through global stock markets.

DeepSeek’s breakthrough proved AI could be built without massive capital investment or Nvidia’s highest-grade chips. More importantly, it showed that an open-source strategy could challenge America’s AI hegemony. China is betting that widespread, open-source use offers more value than the West’s paywalled models, such as ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Perplexity.

But if DeepSeek was a minnow, a Chinese whale is now having its own open-source moment: Baidu, China’s answer to Google, with 704 million monthly active app users and a market cap of 31.6 billion USD, has announced it will open-source its powerful generative AI model, Ernie. This release represents a dramatic policy reversal for Baidu, whose CEO Robin Li had previously advocated for proprietary, closed-source models as the only viable path for AI development.

If DeepSeek demonstrated that China could compete with the West, Baidu’s open-source pivot makes Chinese AI seem almost unstoppable. The commoditization of AI is accelerating, and China’s tech giants are redrawing the battle lines with the West from a performance race into a price war.

Here’s why Baidu’s open-source play matters more than DeepSeek's January breakthrough.

Deep Pockets

While DeepSeek was, at least in appearance, a proof of concept from a scrappy startup, Baidu brings the institutional weight, capital firepower, and, crucially, the distribution channels, to ensure widespread adoption.

In the age of AI, it pays to be a big company. Their sheer scale enables larger investments, improves resilience against market shocks and trade sanctions, and offers hyperscalers the advantage of applying this technology to their existing products.

Just look at Google. The American search engine giant is leveraging its existing broad and loyal customer base to attract traffic to its Gemini models, which are being integrated into its search function. At the May Google I/O conference, Google announced that its ‘AI Overviews’ (the AI summaries displayed next to search results) are used by more than 1.5 billion people each month. Baidu will doubtless do the same, leveraging its economies of scale to make Ernie a winner.

Meanwhile, DeepSeek’s momentum has sputtered. The smaller tech outfit has been forced to delay the release of its next-generation R2 model after struggling to procure enough of Nvidia’s high-end graphics processing units to complete training, because of new U.S. sanctions on chip exports to China, according to The Information.

As it stands, Baidu’s Ernie API has an 18% market share, still some way behind DeepSeek’s 34% share; however, Baidu’s size means it can rapidly make up ground.

From Performance Race to Price War

China is commoditizing AI faster than the West can monetize it. When developers can access high-performance AI without Big Tech’s pricing gates, it fundamentally rewrites who can afford to innovate.

DeepSeek-R1 debuted at $0.55 input/$2.19 output, undercutting the then SOTA model o1 by 90%+ on output token pricing. Since then, reasoning model prices have cratered, with OpenAI recently cutting its flagship model price by 80%, according to SemiAnalysis. Baidu already said in March that its Ernie X1 model delivers performance on par with DeepSeek-R1 “at only half the price.”

“If open-source AI becomes just as powerful as proprietary US models,” wrote June Yoon, Asia Lex Editor of the Financial Times in an article earlier this year, “the ability to monetize AI as an exclusive product collapses. Why pay for closed models if a free, equally capable alternative exists?”

The West may be forced to rethink its pricing strategies and business models when China can release equally good AI at virtually no cost.

Developer Ecosystem

China could never compete when the U.S. is making deals the size of Stargate, which is set to rise to $500 billion, and imposing tariffs on the tools used to build AI. That’s why China was forced to become self-sufficient.

By open-sourcing AI, they can bypass U.S. sanctions, decentralize development, and access global talent to improve models. Restrictions on Nvidia’s chips matter less when the rest of the world can refine China’s models on alternative hardware.

This approach may render restrictions moot, as much development occurs on Nvidia infrastructure outside China. By publishing the code of its flagship LLM, Baidu aims to foster broader adoption and a developer community around the technology.

CEO Li said as much to Chinese developers in April this year: “Our releases aim to empower developers to build the best applications — without having to worry about model capability, costs, or development tools.”

More developers using Ernie’s code will help it scale to new heights.

Game on

As more Chinese tech giants embrace open-source AI, they’re creating an alternative technology stack that bypasses U.S. control. Every developer who builds on Ernie instead of GPT-4 is one less customer for Silicon Valley and one more node in China’s AI ecosystem.

While DeepSeek faces delays and hardware shortages, established players like Baidu can take on the baton and sustain the open-source assault indefinitely. They have the capital to subsidize free AI and the scale to support millions of users.

For Western tech companies clinging to closed models and subscription fees, the message is clear: the game has changed. Adapt or become irrelevant.

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

Artificial intelligence has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of modern business transformation. From enhancing customer service to streamlining operations and uncovering insights from data, AI’s role in the enterprise is no longer experimental - it is essential.

For many organizations, this journey has been powered by cloud-based infrastructure. The cloud has allowed businesses to quickly scale AI tools without investing in specialist hardware, accelerating adoption and innovation. However, as AI moves from tactical deployments to deeper integration across operations, cracks are beginning to show in the cloud-first model.

Latency, Cost and Compliance Risks

Real-time responsiveness is critical to the success of AI applications, especially for tasks that require instant decision making. Cloud processing, by its nature, depends on the transmission of data across networks, introducing latency that can affect performance. In sectors like finance, healthcare or manufacturing, even small delays can make a meaningful difference.

At the same time, the financial burden of running large-scale AI models in the cloud is growing. What was once a cost-efficient way to experiment with AI can become expensive at scale. As models increase in complexity and the demand for high-volume data processing grows, many businesses are finding that cloud service costs escalate quickly and sometimes unpredictably.

Then there is the issue of data governance. With regulations tightening globally, organizations are under pressure to ensure data remains within secure and compliant environments. Cloud-based AI often involves the transfer and storage of sensitive information on third-party servers, which can create challenges around data sovereignty and auditability.

Why On-Device AI Is Gaining Ground

These limitations are driving renewed interest in on-device AI as a model that processes data locally on endpoint devices such as PCs or mobile workstations. Rather than relying on remote servers, these devices are equipped with dedicated capacity to run machine learning models directly, offering a range of operational and strategic benefits.

Recent research from HP and YouGov, surveying over 1,000 UK workers and senior IT decision makers, underlines this shift. More than half of business leaders indicated they would be more likely to adopt AI if it were embedded directly into employees’ devices. And nearly a third of employees said they would be more likely to use AI if it were seamlessly integrated into the software they already rely on each day.

This reflects a broader theme: workers want AI that is immediate, intuitive and trustworthy. On-device AI addresses all three, offering speed, convenience and stronger data control.

Improving Adoption Through Experience

AI’s potential is not just about what it can do, but how it is experienced by users. When embedded within familiar tools - summarizing meetings, suggesting email phrasing, or analysing data on the fly - AI becomes a natural part of the workflow, not another task to manage. This frictionless integration drives deeper engagement and delivers sustained, tangible value.

By processing data locally, on-device AI also reduces exposure to external networks, helping organizations to meet stringent data protection requirements. In regulated industries, this ability to maintain control over sensitive data without compromising functionality is a powerful enabler of compliance.

Scaling AI Requires a Hybrid Future

Despite AI’s growing presence, widespread enterprise adoption remains limited. Only around 11 per cent of organizations have scaled AI across departments. Yet among those who have, the benefits are tangible. According to HP and YouGov’s survey, one in three report cost savings of over 11 per cent, illustrating that the challenge is not in proving AI’s value, but in deploying it effectively.

Going forward, AI strategy will increasingly demand a hybrid approach that combines the scalability of cloud with the performance, security and personalization of on-device intelligence.

Business leaders must evaluate not just where AI runs, but how it fits into the fabric of their organization. The goal should be to deliver intelligence where it creates the most value, in a way that enhances employee experience, strengthens compliance and makes operations more resilient.

Cloud-based AI helped prove the value of intelligent systems. On-device AI may well be the model that ensures that value is sustained.

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

In the rush to capitalize on Generative AI, software development and delivery has shifted into overdrive. Teams are moving faster, delivering more code, and automating everything from testing to deployment. In many ways, it’s a golden age for software productivity. But beneath the surface, a growing problem threatens to undo those gains: software quality isn’t keeping up.

Call it the ‘AI speed trap’. The more we trust AI to ship code autonomously without rigorous due diligence, the wider the quality gap becomes. And the consequences are already visible. Outages, security breaches, mounting technical debt, and, in some cases, millions in annual losses as the result of business disruption.

In fact, recent research shows that two-thirds of global organizations are significantly at risk of a software outage within the next year, and almost half believe poor software quality costs them $1m or more annually. There is an emerging tension in AI-driven software development: speed vs. stability.

Faster doesn’t always mean better

Modern DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines were built to prioritize velocity; GenAI has turbocharged this further, creating more code than ever before.

But AI doesn’t ensure quality; it ensures output. We all know that AI can get it wrong. Without proper guardrails, AI-powered development becomes like a high-speed factory churning out code without accountability. So why are so many teams pushing code live without fully testing it? Because the pressure to deliver quickly outweighs the mandate for due diligence.

That’s not just anecdotal. The 2025 Quality Transformation Report found that nearly two-thirds of organizations admit to releasing untested code to meet deadlines. It’s a staggering statistic, and a stark warning.

The new definition of ‘quality’

Traditional metrics like test coverage, defect rates, or system stability used to define quality. Today, speed is starting to stand in for quality, but it’s a dangerous substitution. Shipping faster doesn’t mean shipping better.

If quality becomes synonymous with velocity, teams risk ignoring deeper indicators, including resilience, maintainability, and customer experience. And when those things fail, the fallout can be major: lost revenue, compliance failures, or service outages that damage trust.

Software quality must be redefined for the AI-first world. It’s not just about finding bugs, it's about ensuring long-term performance, user satisfaction, and business continuity. In this landscape, quality is less about the absence of errors and more about the presence of confidence.

When confidence is missing

Here’s the paradox: even as organizations accelerate releases, many teams hesitate internally. Over 8 in 10 (83%) of EMEA IT teams (as well 73% in the US) say they delay launches because they aren’t confident in their test coverage. The disconnect between external pressure to move fast and internal uncertainty about product stability is a symptom of broken feedback loops and incomplete visibility.

Worse still, misalignment between leadership and delivery teams creates confusion about what quality even means. While C-suite leaders push for speed and innovation, engineering teams struggle to maintain test rigor under shrinking timelines and budgets.

This breakdown isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a cultural one. To fix it, organizations need stronger alignment around goals, clearer quality metrics, and smarter automation that doesn't just accelerate work but elevates it.

AI needs to be accountable

Trust in AI is growing, and for good reason. Used well, it can offload repetitive tasks, help developers ship faster, and even make autonomous release decisions, with nine in 10 tech leaders backing its judgment. But handing over the reins to AI doesn’t mean humans should abdicate oversight.

Autonomous AI agents making release decisions may boost productivity, but without transparency, explainability, and traceability, they can also introduce risk at scale. Responsible AI use in development means embedding governance into automation. It means having a way to audit what AI did, and why.

This starts with AI-literate teams. Developers and testers need to understand the logic behind AI-generated outputs, not just blindly accept them. Ethical awareness, systems thinking, and contextual judgment must be part of every team’s toolkit if AI is going to serve as a true partner in quality.

Closing the quality gap

If software engineers want sustainable gains from AI, leaders need to clearly define what quality means for their teams, what level of risk is acceptable within their business and build that into testing strategies from day one.

The quality gap won’t close with more speed, but with smarter systems. This means investing in autonomous software testing and quality intelligence not as an afterthought, but as a strategic function.

By leveraging AI-driven insights and real-time automation, it’s possible to proactively identify risks, eliminate bottlenecks, and embed quality throughout the software development lifecycle. This enables teams to deliver at speed without compromising reliability.

It also requires a return to fundamentals: clear requirements, continuous feedback, and cross-functional accountability. These aren’t outdated concepts, they’re the foundation for any resilient development practice. In short: if AI is the engine, quality must be the brakes and the steering.

A smarter, more balanced future

AI has given us the ability to build and deploy software at unprecedented speed. But if we don’t pair that speed with intelligent quality engineering, the risks will outpace the rewards. The future belongs to organizations that move fast and stay resilient.

That means building AI-augmented testing into every stage of the software lifecycle. It means defining quality not by how fast you ship, but how confident you are that your software can perform in the wild.

It means treating AI as a tool, not a shortcut. Because in the race to deliver, the real winners won’t just be the first to cross the finish line. They’ll be the ones who don’t crash on the way.

We've listed the best Large Language Models (LLMs) for coding.

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

• Dates: Thursday, August 21 – Sunday, August 24
• Watch for FREE on BBC iPlayer (UK)
• Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Comprising twin festivals taking place 190 miles apart, one at Richfield Avenue in Reading, the other at Bramham Park near Leeds, R&L isn't for the faint-hearted. Travis Scott, Bring Me the Horizon, Hozier and Chappell Roan are headlining both events, so read on as we explain how to watch Reading & Leeds 2025 streams online from anywhere and for FREE on BBC iPlayer.

As the unofficial annual post-exam results blowout for teenagers up and down the UK, there tends to be an end-of-days feel to Reading & Leeds, while the twin format and north-south divide are a recipe for one-upmanship.

The audience energy is just as big a part of the music, but we have seen a huge shift from the rock heavy bands of the early 2000s. That was of course since the arrival of 50 Cent as a headliner back in 2004, who among others like Panic! at the Disco, Good Charlotte, Twenty One Pilots, My Chemical Romance and Meat Loaf have been given particularly short shrift in the past.

Aside from the headliners, further highlights include Lambrini Girls, Wunderhorse, Bloc Party, Limp Bizkit and The Kooks. The Reading Friday lineup and the Leeds Saturday lineup are the same, as are the Reading Saturday lineup and the Leeds Sunday lineup, and the Reading Sunday lineup and the Leeds Friday lineup.

Read on as we explain how to watch Reading & Leeds live streams from anywhere. We've also listed the full lineups further down the page.

Can I watch Reading & Leeds for FREE?

Yes. Viewers in the UK can watch Reading & Leeds festival for free on the BBC iPlayer streaming service.

Not at home? Use a VPN to access you usual streaming services from abroad and watch Reading & Leeds for free.

How to watch Reading & Leeds 2025 from abroad

For those away from home looking to watch Reading & Leeds, you’ll be unable to tune in due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN allows you to stream geo-blocked services online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. Our favorite is NordVPN.

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How to watch Reading & Leeds in the UK

The best place to watch Reading & Leeds unfold is BBC iPlayer, which is hosting a dedicated Reading & Leeds popup channel. It will run from 2pm BST until late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, showcasing performances from Reading's Main Stage and Chevron Stage.

TV coverage is limited to highlights of the Chappell Roan and Bring Me The Horizon Reading sets, which will air on BBC One at 10.40pm on Friday and 11.55pm on Saturday, respectively. An overall highlights show will air on BBC One at 11.40pm on Thursday, August 28.

Outside the UK? If you want to watch Reading & Leeds 2025 on BBC iPlayer whilst traveling abroad you'll need to download NordVPN.

Can I watch Reading & Leeds 2025 in the US, Canada and Australia?

You won't see Reading & Leeds in any international listings, but snippets of the festival will be posted on the BBC Music YouTube channel.

Brit abroad? Use a VPN to watch Reading & Leeds on BBC iPlayer from abroad.

Reading 2025 lineup

(All times BST)

Thursday, August 21

Chevron Stage

• 9:15pm – Cam Smith
• 10:45pm – Jack Marlow
• 12:15am – Charlie Tee
• 1:45am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 22:30pm – Jay Knox’s Jams
• 12am – Hun FM
• 1:30am – Swiftogeddon

Friday, August 22

Main Stage

• 12pm – Red Rum Club
• 12:50pm – Alessi Rose
• 1:45pm – The Royston Club
• 2:45pm – Bloc Party
• 4:10pm – Wallows
• 5:20pm – The Kooks
• 7:10pm – Chappell Roan
• 9:40pm – Hozier

Chevron Stage

• 12:25pm – Good Health Good Wealth
• 1pm – Charlotte Plank
• 1:50pm – Badger
• 2:45pm – Nemzzz
• 3:50pm – Still Woozy
• 4:55pm – Soft Play
• 6:10pm – Rudim3ntal
• 8:40pm – AJ Tracey
• 11:30pm – C100
• 1am – Badger
• 2am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 1pm – Any Young Mechanic
• 1:50pm – Glixen
• 2:40pm – Jasmine.4.T
• 3:30pm – Been Stellar
• 4:20pm – Sofia Isella
• 5:10pm – Snayx
• 6pm – The Linda Lindas
• 7:40pm – Heartworms
• 8:30pm – Mannequin Pussy
• 9:35pm – High Vis
• 10:40 – The Chats
• 12am – Pop Never Dies
• 1:30am – Fuzz Club

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – Girl Group
• 12:55pm – Enna
• 1:50pm – Charles
• 2:45pm – Phoebe Green
• 4:35pm – Artio
• 5:30pm – Overpass
• 6:25pm – Jack Dean
• 7:20pm – Ashley Singh
• 8:15pm – Chanel Yates

The Smirnoff Stage

• 1:15pm – Djbe
• 2:45pm – Sofa
• 4:15pm – Stresshead
• 5:45pm – Champion
• 7:15pm – Lu.Re
• 8:45pm – Annabel Stop It
• 10pm – Zero
• The Aux Stage
• 1pm – Climate Live Takeover
• 3pm – Brittany Broski in conversation with Max Balegde

Saturday, August 23

Main Stage

• 12pm – VOILÁ
• 12:50pm – Lambrini Girls
• 1:45pm – South Arcade
• 2:45pm – Good Neighbours
• 3:55pm – Royal Otis
• 5:10pm – Conan Gray
• 6:30pm – Enter Shikari
• 7:55pm – Limp Bizkit
• 9:50pm – Bring Me The Horizon

Chevron Stage

• 12pm – James And The Cold Gun
• 12:45pm – Blanco
• 1:30pm – Issey Cross
• 2:15pm – Pozer
• 3:05pm – Example
• 4:15pm – Pale Waves
• 5:30pm – Bakar
• 6:35pm – Wunderhorse
• 7:35pm – Jazzy
• 8:50pm – Becky Hill
• 1am – Jeremiah Asiamah
• 2am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 12:25pm – Sunday (1994)
• 1:15pm – Rifle
• 2:05pm – Mouth Culture
• 2:55pm – Origami Angel
• 3:45pm – Ecca Vandal
• 4:35pm – Vlure
• 5:25pm – Balming Tiger
• 6:15pm – House Of Protection
• 7:20pm – Bilmuri
• 9:10pm – Snow Strippers
• 12am – Uprawr

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – Mudi Sama
• 12:55pm – Keo
• 1:50pm – Eville
• 2:45pm – Finn Forster
• 4:35pm – V.I.C
• 5:30pm – Lleo
• 6:25pm – The Pill
• 7:20pm – Unpeople
• 8:15pm – Nxdia

The Smirnoff Stage

• 1pm – Johnnie Hartmann
• 2:30pm – Lleahdavies
• 4pm – Driia (DJ)
• 5:30pm – Bvnquet
• 7pm – Omar+
• 8:30pm – Megra
• 10pm – In Parallel

The Aux Stage

• 1pm – Rock Revival
• 3pm – Old & Bald
• 5pm – Jaackmaate’s Happy Hour

Sunday, August 24

Main Stage

• 12:50pm – Demae
• 1:40pm – Songer
• 2:30pm – Waterparks
• 3:25pm – Sea Girls
• 4:20pm – Suki Waterhouse
• 5:30pm – Amyl & The sniffers
• 6:45pm – Trippie Redd
• 8:05pm – D-Block Europe
• 9:50pm – Travis Scott

Chevron Stage

• 12pm – Lyvia
• 1:35pm – Late Night Drive Home
• 2:45pm – Del Water Gap
• 3:20pm – Leigh-Anne
• 4:30pm – Girl’s Don’t Sync
• 5:45pm – Lancey Foux
• 7pm – DJ EZ
• 8:40pm – Sammy Virji
• 11:30pm – BL3SS
• 1am – Millie Cotton
• 2am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 12:10pm – Aviva
• 1pm – Bartees Strange
• 1:50pm – Balu Brigada
• 2:40pm – Nell Mescal
• 3:30pm – Skye Newman
• 4:20pm – Antony Smierzek
• 5:20pm – Luvcat
• 6:10pm – Matilda Mann
• 7pm – Good Kid
• 8:05pm – Nieve Ella
• 9:10pm – The Dare
• 12am – For The Nightcrawlers
• 1:30am – Face Down

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – DJ Cliffe
• 12:55pm – Cliffords
• 1:50pm – Wench!
• 2:45pm – Indoor Foxes
• 4:35pm – Niki Kini
• 5:30pm – Mcxxne
• 6:25pm – EV
• 7:20pm – Deyyess
• 8:15pm – Amie Blue

The Smirnoff Stage

• 1pm – Aki Oke
• 2:30pm – LILI
• 4pm – Charlie Boon
• 5:30pm – Disrupta
• 7pm – Ordley
• 8:30pm – ODF
• 10pm – Riordan

The Aux Stage

• 5pm – Josh & Moyo

Leeds 2025 lineup

(All times BST)

Thursday, August 21

Chevron Stage

• 11pm – Joe Depz
• 12:30am – Lens
• 2am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 7pm – Ben Ellis
• 7:50pm – Jo Hill
• 8:35pm – Freak Slug
• 9:25pm – Chloe Qisha
• 10:20pm – Mazza_I20

Reload Stage

• 7pm – Lewis Taylor
• 8:15pm – Bullet Tooth

LS23

• 10pm – Dr Dubplate
• 12:15am – DJ Semtex
• 1:45am – Anaïs

Friday, August 22

Main Stage

• 12:20pm – Demae
• 1:10pm – Songer
• 2:00pm – Waterparks
• 2:55pm – Sea Girls
• 3:30pm – Suki Waterhouse
• 5:00pm – Amyl & The Sniffers
• 6:15pm – Trippie Redd
• 7:35pm – D-Block Europe
• 9:20pm – Travis Scott

Chevron Stage

• 12pm – Lyvia
• 1:30pm – Late Night Drive Home
• 2:20pm – Del Water Gap
• 3:15pm – Leigh-Anne
• 4:25pm – Girl’s Don’t Sync
• 5:35pm – Lancey Foux
• 6:45pm – DJ EZ
• 8:10pm – Sammy Virji
• 11:00pm – BL3SS
• 12:30am – Millie Cotton
• 1:45am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 12pm – Aviva
• 12:45pm – Bartees Strange
• 1:34pm – Balu Brigada
• 2:25pm – Nell Mescal
• 3:15pm – Skye Newman
• 4:05pm – Antony Smierzek
• 5:05pm – Luvcat
• 5:55pm – Matilda Mann
• 6:45pm – Good Kid
• 7:40pm – Nieve Ella
• 8:40pm – The Dare

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – DJ Cliffe
• 12:55pm – Cliffords
• 1:50pm – Wench!
• 2:45pm – Indoor Foxes
• 4:35pm – Niki Kini
• 5:30pm – Mcxxne
• 6:25pm – EV
• 7:20pm – Deyyess
• 8:15pm – Amie Blue

Reload Stage

• 12:30pm – CamUKG
• 2pm – SHADEV
• 3:30pm – FUZION
• 5pm – ESC
• 6:30pm – Sophia Violet
• 9:30pm – Riordan

LS23

• 10pm – ESC
• 11pm – Douvelle19
• 12:15am – P-rallel
• 1:45am – Silva Bumpa

Saturday, August 23

Main Stage

• 12pm – Red Rum Club
• 12:40pm – Alessi Rose
• 1:30pm – The Royston Club
• 2:25pm – Bloc Party
• 3:50pm – Wallows
• 4:55pm – The Kooks
• 6:40pm – Chappell Roan
• 9:10pm – Hozier

Chevron Stage

• 12:00pm – Good Health Good Wealth
• 12:35pm – Charlotte Plank
• 1:25pm – Badger
• 2:15pm – Nemzzz
• 3:20pm – Still Woozy
• 4:25pm – Soft Play
• 5:40pm – Rudim3ntal
• 8:10pm – AJ Tracey
• 12:30pm – C100
• 1:45am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 12:35pm – Any Young Mechanic
• 1:25pm – Glixen
• 2:15pm – Jasmine.4.T
• 3:05pm – Been Stellar
• 3:55pm – Sofia Isella
• 4:45pm –Snayx
• 5:35pm – The Linda Lindas
• 7:15pm – Heartworms
• 8:05pm – Mannequin Pussy
• 9:05pm – High Vis
• 10:10 – The Chats

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – Girl Group
• 12:55pm – Enna
• 1:50pm – Charles
• 2:45pm – Phoebe Green
• 4:35pm – Artio
• 5:30pm – Overpass
• 6:25pm – Jack Dean
• 7:20pm – Ashley Singh
• 8:15pm – Chanel Yates

Reload Stage

• 2pm – Scruz
• 3:30pm – Tommy Villiers
• 5pm – Daisy
• 6:30pm – Saint Ludo
• 8pm – T-Lex
• 9:30pm – Gentlemens Club

LS23

• 10pm – Daisy
• 11:15pm – Badger
• 12:30am – TBA
• 1:45am – Disrupta

Sunday, August 24

Main Stage

• 12pm – VOILÁ
• 12:45pm – Lambrini Girls
• 1:35pm – South Arcade
• 2:25pm – Good Neighbours
• 3:25pm – Royal Otis
• 4:40pm – Conan Gray
• 6pm – Enter Shikari
• 7:25pm – Limp Bizkit
• 9:20pm – Bring Me The Horizon

Chevron Stage

• 12pm – James And The Cold Gun
• 12:35pm – Blanco
• 1:15pm – Issey Cross
• 1:55pm – Pozer
• 2:45pm – Example
• 4:05pm – Pale Waves
• 5:10pm – Bakar
• 6:15pm – Wunderhorse
• 7:10pm – Jazzy
• 8:20pm – Becky Hill
• 12:30am – Jeremiah Asiamah
• 2am – DJ Battle

Festival Republic Stage

• 12pm – Sunday (1994)
• 12:50pm – Rifle
• 1:40pm – Mouth Culture
• 2:30pm – Origami Angel
• 3:20pm – Ecca Vandal
• 4:10pm – Vlure
• 5pm – Balming Tiger
• 5:50pm – House Of Protection
• 6:50pm – Bilmuri
• 8:40pm – Snow Strippers

BBC Introducing Stage

• 12pm – Mudi Sama
• 12:55pm – Keo
• 1:50pm – Eville
• 2:45pm – Finn Forster
• 4:35pm – V.I.C
• 5:30pm – Lleo
• 6:25pm – The Pill
• 7:20pm – Unpeople
• 8:15pm – Nxdia

Reload Stage

• 2:30pm – Megan Wroe
• 4pm – Tomike
• 5:30pm – Gee Lee
• 7pm – Omar+
• 8:30pm – Bushbaby
• 10pm – Dj Jackum

LS23

• 10pm – Auramatic
• 11:15pm – n4tee
• 12:30am – MPH
• 2am – [IVY]

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• Mullvad will remove OpenVPN support from January 15, 2026
• The move comes as the VPN provider looks to prioritize WireGuard
• Mullvad has also announced the arrival of in-app updates for Windows and Mac

Mullvad, the Sweden-based VPN provider known for its strong privacy focus and flat-rate pricing, will soon be removing OpenVPN support in favor of WireGuard.

The change will take effect on January 15, 2026, providing existing Mullvad subscribers with time to make the switch before OpenVPN servers and support are removed.

Already the default protocol for all Mullvad apps, WireGuard is employed by many of the best VPN services on the market.

Reminder about removing OpenVPN: we are removing support for OpenVPN entirely on 15th January 2026, in six months time.OpenVPN servers will be completely removed on this date, and support for it within our app will disappear.Please reconfigure your configurations to use…August 18, 2025

"We are removing support for OpenVPN entirely on 15th January 2026, in six months time. OpenVPN servers will be completely removed on this date, and support for it within our app will disappear," wrote the provider in an announcement shared on X.

With Mullvad’s Android and iOS apps already supporting WireGuard exclusively, the transition only impacts desktop users who will receive reminders within Mullvad’s Windows, Mac, and Linux apps.

Mullvad has reminded subscribers to adjust existing OpenVPN configurations to avoid potential interruptions to the service.

Although the news may come as a surprise, Mullvad co-founder Fredrik Strömberg wrote that "WireGuard is the future" as early as 2017.

Why WireGuard?

(Image credit: WireGuard)

A VPN protocol is a set of rules and algorithms that dictate how your device encrypts, tunnels, and transports internet traffic through a VPN server.

WireGuard, a newer VPN protocol first launched in 2016, has been adopted by major VPN providers including Surfshark, IPVanish, and Proton VPN. NordLynx, the proprietary protocol of NordVPN, uses a custom implementation of WireGuard.

Mullvad’s decision to drop OpenVPN marks a significant shift, as most VPN providers still offer multiple protocols for flexibility across networks and devices. As Jan Jonsson, Mullvad CEO, told TechRadar’s Chiara Castro in November 2024, less than 7% of Mullvad users are using OpenVPN.

“By moving to a single protocol, we will be able to focus our resources where they can make a difference”, said Mullvad in a November 2024 blog post.

WireGuard has just 4,000 lines of code, compared to more than 70,000 lines for OpenVPN. Mullvad has praised WireGuard’s simple design, which, aside from making for easier integration of new features, allows for faster speeds. This doesn’t come at the cost of security either, with Mullvad citing WireGuard’s “state-of-the-art cryptography.”

Such is its belief in WireGuard, Mullvad made “a sizable donation” in 2017 to support the open-source protocol’s development. To make things easier for subscribers looking to make the switch, Mullvad’s website provides guides on how to use WireGuard.

Keeping up with Mullvad’s updates is now easier than ever

Mullvad’s decision to retire OpenVPN and fully focus on WireGuard isn’t its only recent change. The VPN provider has also announced in-app updates for desktop.

Instead of having to visit Mullvad’s website to download and install the latest updates, Windows and macOS users can now view and download them directly within the app, making it quicker and easier than ever to stay up-to-date.

Mullvad states that Linux users can also benefit from automatic updates via its Linux app repositories and provides instructions to make the process more straightforward.

You might also like

• ExpressVPN adds WireGuard to support industry transition to post-quantum VPNs
• You can now verify if your Mullvad VPN app is legit
• Mullvad VPN promises to be even better at protecting you against AI surveillance

Earlier this year, the 4 Day Week Foundation announced that 200 UK companies signed up for a permanent four-day working week with employees on full pay. With three new pilot programs planned in 2025 to further explore the benefits and challenges of a reduced working week, there is growing momentum behind the concept. However, whilst adoption can be observed across various sectors and regions, large enterprises have notably remained cautious.

It’s important to consider what's holding back Britain's biggest businesses from embracing this shift to more flexible work. At the heart of their hesitation are concerns about alignment, productivity, and the fear that fewer working days could mean reduced momentum. However, businesses cannot tackle this on their own and AI powered tools can help alleviate many of these concerns and obstacles.

AI's potential to cut out mundane work

A modern approach to work doesn't necessarily mean working less, it means working smarter. A central component to this is using AI tools to streamline activities, boost productivity and take on the heavy lifting of repetitive tasks that drain time and focus. The Asana Work Innovation Lab found that 67% of UK workers use AI at least weekly for their individual work, with 37% using it daily.

Embracing flexible working arrangements doesn’t have to mean sacrificing efficiency. AI can substantially alleviate these concerns by automating repetitive, mundane tasks such as data entry, preliminary research and report generation. Instead, AI frees up employees to focus on high-value activities offsetting the perceived loss of a working day.

Moreover, AI can help ensure continuity in projects and operations by providing instant access to consolidated, real-time data and predictive analytics. With these tools, businesses can remain agile and aligned, regardless of a shortened week.

To achieve this impact, AI must be embedded where work happens, within business-critical workflows. Only then can AI function alongside humans as an autonomous team member, meaningfully reducing overwhelm and increasing productivity.

What’s holding back larger companies

Continuity becomes especially critical for large enterprises where operational consistency is non-negotiable. These organization's leaders, often grappling with teams operating from different locations, complex workflows, and deeply entrenched cultures, worry that flexible working might create more gaps than bridges.

Against this backdrop, the hesitance from leaders towards the four-day week is understandable. Leaders at large companies are tasked with maintaining continuous operations, consistency across departments, and productivity levels. Losing a traditional workday can appear disruptive, potentially causing alignment issues or slowing critical projects. This is why, rather than being a "nice to have," AI should be seen as a “must have” in alleviating these concerns.

In large companies, senior leaders often understand the strategic value of AI, but may underestimate the practical challenges employees face in using new technologies. Without adequate training, support, and a clearly articulated vision of how AI can improve their work experience, employees struggle to integrate these tools effectively.

In contrast, when employees can clearly see the benefits AI brings to their daily tasks, adoption rates increase, leading to wider organizational efficiency and smoother workflows. This “showing, not telling” approach is a key way for senior leaders to enable their teams to move forward.

Scaling AI use across teams

Once AI is effectively deployed alongside comprehensive, accessible training programs, the next challenge is scaling this effectively across the entire organization to truly unlock flexibility without compromising productivity.

This is important because companies that have broadly integrated AI across their operations are seeing much greater returns on investment compared to those still experimenting with it in isolated teams or limited use cases. Our research found that AI ‘Scalers’ are 43% more likely to report revenue gains and 40% more likely to report boosted productivity.

Despite these evident advantages, there remains a striking lack of AI use beyond simple individual experimentation. Research shows nearly half of AI workflows are built for individual use, driving only 6% of AI adoption by colleagues and peers. Furthermore, data suggests that AI adoption is trapped in a ‘leadership bubble’, with senior leaders being 66% more likely to be early AI adopters than their employees. The net result is as many as 67% of companies fail to scale AI tools effectively across their organizations.

Before companies can truly scale AI within their organization, they must first examine how teamwork happens. If teams are operating in silos, workers are more likely to continue using AI for solo use rather than unlock AI use within teams – and crucially, across different team functions, where we are seeing the strongest impact.

The majority of AI workflows being designed for individual use needs to change if AI is to achieve widespread adoption and add tangible value. Companies that achieve this transition will be best positioned to offer initiatives like the four-day week without sacrificing alignment across teams.

The road to enhanced work is built on smarter tools

The desire for flexible working is clear, with our research showing that currently only 16% of British workers stick to the traditional 9-5 schedule. The next stage is overseeing how a four-day week can be unlocked - and the answer may just lie in AI tools.

Companies that successfully integrate AI and automation into their operations won't just sustain productivity levels, they'll boost them. Employees, freed from the burden of routine tasks, can contribute more meaningfully to their organizations.

The path toward adopting the four-day week isn't simply about cutting hours, it's about enhancing efficiency through smarter work practices enabled by AI.

We've listed the best employee management software.

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

The rise of sovereign clouds has become inevitable as regulatory demands, and geopolitical pressures push enterprises to rethink where their data resides. Localized cloud environments are increasingly becoming essential, allowing organizations to keep their data within specific jurisdictions to meet compliance requirements, and provide risk mitigation.

But sovereign clouds can’t succeed without data portability, which is the ability to move data seamlessly between systems and locations. Today organizations shouldn’t wait to be pushed by regulations, they need to be ahead of the game.

Enterprises need to address the reality that data migration across hybrid environments is far from straightforward. It’s not just about relocating primary data, you also must keep it protected while considering associated datasets like backups and the information used in AI applications.

While some may need to address the protection of Large Language Model (LLM) training data, many organizations are instead turning to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) or AI agents to bring intelligence to their proprietary data without building models from scratch.

Either way, data sovereignty is a valid approach to the pressures facing organizations today, but the focus should always be on data resilience first, no matter where it's stored.

It’s a familiar tale - the cloud will give businesses more options and flexibility, but to take advantage of these properly, they’ll need some joined up thinking.

Today’s forecast

Regulators around the globe are driving organizations to look at their data differently, appearing at pace in response to increasing data globalization as countries try to get a better grasp on their data. The European Union (EU) has been particularly stringent, introducing the comprehensive General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that stipulates data sovereignty.

Under it, the laws of the country where data is stored or processed are now applicable to the data, regardless of where the data was originally collected. Special attention is also being paid to the chain of custody of data in the EU with both the NIS2 and DORA regulations demanding robust risk management for data, especially when held or handled by third parties.

As data, including highly sensitive and classified data, is being increasingly handled by these third parties, namely cloud providers, keeping it bound under privacy laws has become a priority for both organizations and governments as their data moves across borders.

With this increased movement of data between countries, or even continents, global instability concerns have become unavoidable, especially for governments. Some have already adopted sovereign clouds to protect their most sensitive data from potential malevolent access. And some have taken it one step further.

With cloud services completely reliant on data center infrastructure, some governments have started to divest their interest in foreign cloud and IT infrastructure, reinvesting instead in their own. This way, they can avoid storing their most sensitive data with foreign providers.

But cloud sovereignty is not a silver bullet. For those utilizing multinational cloud providers, there might be the option to stipulate where your data is ultimately stored and what countries’ laws it will be held under, but there is no guarantee that it will not change. The issue isn’t just solved by relocating the primary data.

Sure, it needs to be protected, but what about all the related data? Cloud backups and Large Language Model training data sets for example, all need to be carefully considered to meet data sovereignty – or alternatively, organizations can utilize RAG or AI agents to level up their data without having to deal with reams of AI training datasets in the first place.

Freedom of Movement

But to do all of this, organizations need to ensure that data portability is enshrined in their data resilience planning. After all, there’s a fine line between protecting your data and inadvertently restricting it beyond the point of use. If organizations are unable to ensure data portability, then moving to a hybrid cloud environment to take advantage of both sovereign clouds and localization of data storage is a non-starter.

There are SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) and DRaaS (Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service) providers that can simplify the process, but it’s not a task that can be completely offloaded to a third party. Organizations still need to take a hands-on approach, planning and managing it thoroughly to ensure data remains secure throughout the process. Otherwise, organizations will be unable to utilize sovereign clouds to adhere to the myriad data residency and sovereignty regulations.

It’s not without caveats though. For those larger, multinational organizations operating across countries and continents, multiple cloud environments will be required to house multiple sovereign clouds. But this also brings increased complexity for both the monitoring and management of data across jurisdictions.

Not only will multiple cloud environments need to be considered, but also multiple sets of data regulations across countries. And, for those organizations that do get it right, the benefit of enhanced data resilience comes with the added risk of data fragmentation.

There’s no easy win, but what’s certain is that data portability will be an essential part of any solution that organizations settle on. Whichever approach is taken, being able to move data seamlessly across platforms and clouds will be a necessity as organizations wrestle with data sovereignty. And, as regulations continue coming down the line, data portability will give organizations a head start on future compliance, allowing them to flex more easily to meet regulations, where less portable counterparts will struggle.

Tying down the cloud

Data globalization is showing no signs of slowing, with information flows now their own form of trade, even generating their own economic value. And with global instability as an ever-present factor, data sovereignty will only move higher up the priority list. But it’s not a task that can just be passed onto a third-party provider.

Although organizations may not fully realize it yet, data sovereignty and operational clarity are closely linked. To start securing your data, you need to know exactly where it’s stored and how. Then, with this comprehensive understanding of your data landscape, you can pinpoint those operations or processes where data resilience might be lacking and tackle your data portability.

By reworking data resilience from the ground-up, organizations can cement security, compliance, and sovereignty into their operations, and actively manage them through risk assessments, compliance audits, and strategies that take into account multiple suppliers.

With this in place, organizations can start leveraging hybrid cloud environments effectively, perhaps storing the most sensitive data on-premises under precise data sovereignty regulations, while offloading less critical data to the cloud.

But this can only be utilized by organizations that have prioritized data portability. Rather than waiting for regulations to enforce it, organizations need to be proactive to take advantage of the flexibility, longevity, and most importantly, security of the cloud.

We've listed the best IT management tool.

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

• OpenAI is retiring ChatGPT's Standard Voice Mode in September
• Only the faster, more expressive Advanced Voice Mode will be available
• Many users are upset about the change, preferring the sound and approach of the voice OpenAI is removing

The voice people have come to associate with ChatGPT is retiring come September 9, and not everyone is happy about it. ChatGPT’s “Standard" voice is going away in favor of the “Advanced” voice option first released to a limited selection of ChatGPT users last year. Rebranded simply as “ChatGPT Voice,” it will be the only choice going forward.

The original “Standard” voice mode debuted in 2023, built on a simple pipeline: you’d speak, OpenAI’s servers would transcribe your input, generate a response using the GPT model, then read it back using a relatively neutral synthetic voice.

ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode is designed to respond more quickly, to be more human in its tone and manner of speech, and to generally perform at a higher level than its predecessor. Nonetheless, plenty of people think it's a mistake.

"The standard voice offers a warmth, depth, and natural connection that the advanced voice simply doesn’t match," one user wrote in a post on OpenAI's forum. The advanced voice comes across as robotic and detached, lacking the soulful and understanding tone I value."

More than one person described the new voice as less engaging to speak with. There were also complaints that the new model speaks too quickly, as if it were trying to get the interaction over with.

"Standard Voice is thoughtful and has a voice and cadence that is natural and comforting. Poignant," A Reddit user posted. "Advanced Voice doesn’t have the same characteristics, doesn’t give thoughtful answers, has restrictive content limits, and always sounds like they’re trying to rush through a mediocre response. "

Advanced voices

Even if you don't mind how the new voice sounds, some ChatGPT users are annoyed because they've found it won't even perform the same as the earlier voice.

Advanced Voice Mode integrates your voice, the AI’s responses, and its vocal expression in one real-time process. The integrated process means the AI doesn't quote the written response verbatim. Instead, it expresses ideas more conversationally, sometimes skipping phrases, condensing clauses, or adjusting tone based on context. Technically impressive, but not what some ChatGPT users want.

"The Standard voice would literally read out the exact response that ChatGPT would normally give you. It was a direct line, you know?" read one example post on Reddit. "But this new one? It sounds like it's paraphrasing or summerizing [sic] it instead. It skips over the little details and makes the whole conversation feel way more disconnected."

That might sound minor in the grand scheme of AI progress, but it echoes a broader trend in tech where people are upset when there's a big change, even if it's ostensibly an upgrade.

Not everyone dislikes the new voice option, of course. Some like its realism and speed, and how it makes for a more fluid conversation. OpenAI has promised more improvements to come, as well. But, given that complaints about GPT-4o's removal when GPT-5 debuted led to the older model's return, I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Standard Voice Mode stage a comeback too.

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• Many AI models aren't as effective as they're marketed to be, report claims
• 95% of surveyed companies have seen very little impact from their LLMS
• Specialisation is the key to successful AI adoption

New research by MIT’s NANDA initiative has claimed the vast majority of GenAI initiatives attempting to drive rapid revenue growth are ‘falling flat’.

Of those sampled, 95% of companies deploying Generative AI are stalling, “delivering little to no measurable impact” on profit and loss.

It seems to be an all-or-nothing game, as the 5% of companies who are benefiting from generative AI are excelling - these are primarily, the lead author says, startups led by 19 or 20 year olds, who have seen revenues ‘jump from zero to $20 million in a year’.

GenAI tools on the rise

It seems the key to success with AI models is specialisation. Successful deployment is about picking ‘one pain point’ and executing this well, and carefully partnering with companies using tools.

Specialised vendors have success around 67% of the time, but internally built models succeed only around a third as often. Highly regulated sectors like the financial industry see many organizations build their own AI systems, but the research suggests the companies are much more prone to failure when they do so.

When line managers are empowered to drive the adoption, they see success because they are able to choose tools that can adapt over time.

Allocation is important too, as most GenAI budgets are dedicated to sales and marketing - but the biggest ROI was seen in back-office automation.

This isn’t the first time that research has suggested that AI models aren’t working as they should. A significant number of companies have introduced layoffs of lower level workers and brought in AI systems - but over half of UK businesses who replaced workers with AI regret their decision.

Tangible benefits from these models are increasingly difficult to find, and security risks linked with the models are concerning organisations - as well as AI models making ESG goals much more difficult to reach.

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• Grammarly has debuted a collection of specialized AI tools for aiding students
• The AI agents can simulate grading, find citations, and predict reader reactions
• The tools are part of the new Grammarly Docs platform

Grammarly is looking to take a more active role in helping students write with a new set of AI agents that go well beyond simply ensuring you use semicolons correctly. The company has released a set of eight AI agents built for specific writing support, embedding them directly into a new writing platform called Docs (not the Google kind).

The new features combine AI abilities with quieter digital assistance. You don't need to write a prompt asking for specific help, just tap on the right tool, and Grammarly's AI will help find sources, predict how a professor will react to your wordplay, and make sure you don't sound like an AI yourself (RIP em-dash).

Grammarly has been augmenting its services with AI for a while, including rewriting tools and an AI chatbot last year. The new agents go beyond that reactive approach by using the context of your writing and the reason you're writing it to offer advice without you having to explain it explicitly.

Grammarly is pitching the new tools to both students and professionals, but the academic demand seems particularly dire. Students are currently torn between doing whatever it takes to succeed academically and compromising that success with unethical AI use that bypasses the actual learning.

Grammarly's bet is that students who don't want to cheat themselves with AI can use these tools to help them learn, not do it for them. They could use the AI Grader for feedback that mimics a real instructor's assessment using course-specific materials and details of what the teacher is looking for. The Citation Finder agent can check your sources and help you find better ones, formatting them properly, too. Plus, the Expert Review agent can offer domain-specific feedback on writing in fields like law and medicine, measuring arguments against professional standards.

And if you perhaps inadvertently hew too closely to a source, the Plagiarism Checker will help flag unintentional copying done when you're up late. And the AI Detector checks to make sure your fatigue hasn't made your writing seem machine-generated.

Learning for a world of AI

The tools can help students succeed in the long term, according to Grammarly, by teaching them how to research and write well without compromising ethics, even though AI tools and shortcuts are everywhere.

According to the company’s internal research, only 18% of college students feel “very prepared” to use AI professionally after graduation, despite the demand for AI literacy among employers. Grammarly wants to become the training ground for those skills without undermining academic integrity along the way. You can access all these tools in Grammarly’s new docs platform, both as a free and paid subscriber.

Of course, Grammarly’s not the only player chasing this idea. Microsoft Copilot in Word offers some similar features to Grammarly, as does Google's Gemini AI in Google Docs. But Grammarly’s approach is both more comprehensive and streamlined because of its focus on avoiding having an AI write everything for the user. That’s what might make this update stick.

Because while Grammarly could have just been another AI writing tool, it made its AI support take a step back. As imperfect as all AI tools are, at least this approach tries to address the very real crisis of people having no idea how to use AI writing aides ethically, if they even want to.

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My M1 Mac mini has been one of the best purchases I’ve made in recent years. It’s performed incredibly well since I bought it and has served me well over the years despite having nothing more assuming than an entry-level chip. Throw in the fact that it only cost me $699, and it’s left me one happy bunny.

Now, AppleInsider says it’s been told by sources inside Apple that the company is testing an M5 Mac mini. This follows up on the outlet’s report earlier this year that an M5 Pro Mac mini was in the works and suggests we could be getting close to seeing the next generation of Apple’s tiny desktop computer.

As well as my M1 Mac mini has performed, I’m sorely tempted to upgrade to an M5 model. By all indications, it’ll come at the right time and with the right features to make the outlay worth it.

An upgrade that’s built to last

(Image credit: Apple)

The Mac mini is already the best mini PC you can buy, and it’s not even close. Its powerful, efficient chips deliver significantly more performance than you would expect from a computer this small. And it really is small, leaving a tiny footprint on your desk, even by the standards of these small-scale devices. It’s made from high-quality materials with a solid aluminum chassis, yet its $599 price tag - $100 less than I paid for the M1 model – means it offers tremendous value.

That’s all with the M4 chip, but with an M5 on the way, we can expect things to get even better. The M5 chip is rumored to bring a performance increase of 15-25% over the M4, as well as Thunderbolt 5 in the entry-level models and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. It’ll be a modest but meaningful upgrade.

There won’t be a new design for the Mac mini, but that really doesn’t bother me. Considering the current look is less than a year old – and still looks fantastic – there’s no need to change it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

All this talk of a new Mac mini comes at the ideal time for me to upgrade. My M1 Mac mini is five years old and can’t always keep up with more heavy-duty tasks. My MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip, meanwhile, is doing OK, but I’m increasingly having to turn down the settings in more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077. In both instances, my Macs are starting to show their age.

A Mac mini with an M5 or M5 Pro chip would be perfect for my more performance-intensive work (such as reviewing high-end games), allowing my MacBook Pro to focus on less-demanding work on the go. Given how much I’ve managed to eke out of my M1 Mac mini, an upgraded model could last me well into the future.

Pro possibilities

(Image credit: Apple)

I recently took the macOS version of Cyberpunk 2077 for a spin on two different Macs: my MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip, and an iMac with M4 chip. And thanks to its extra graphics cores, the M1 Pro actually outperformed the M4, despite being several generations out of date.

That makes me excited to think about what might be possible with an M5 Pro Mac mini and the extra graphical oomph granted by its increased core count. Throw in frame generation – Apple has its own MetalFX implementation of this in the works – and the next Mac mini could achieve frame rates I never thought possible from a Mac. And that’s all for $599, which makes the Mac mini a pretty spectacular bargain.

For now, we don’t yet know when the M5 Mac mini is going to launch. AppleInsider previously suggested that it would arrive in 2025, but early 2026 is also a possibility.

Either way, it’s going to come at a potentially expensive time for me. I’m eyeing up the MacBook Pro with M6 Pro chip, as its expected combination of high-grade performance and OLED display could make it a gaming dream machine. At the same time, I also want to upgrade my desktop PC from 2021, which isn’t quite able to hit the levels I want with its RTX 3070 graphics card.

But given what could be coming to the Mac mini, it’s going to be hard to resist prioritizing Apple’s dinky desktop Mac. All in all, it feels like a great time to be an unashamed computer nerd.

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• Gaming company Bragg spotted an attack on its systems recently
• It says no data was stolen, and no encryptor deployed
• No threat actors claimed responsibility yet

Bragg Gaming Group, a Canadian company which provides casinos with software, games, and backend platforms, has confirmed it recently suffered a cyberattack, but fortunately it doesn’t seem to have caused much trouble.

A short press release published on the company’s website said that Bragg learned of a “cybersecurity incident” on early Sunday morning, August 16.

Upon learning of the incident, Bragg brought in third-party cybersecurity experts to contain the attack and assess the damage, it said. Preliminary results showed that the attack was “limited to Bragg’s internal computer environment.”

Targeting iGaming providers

“At the present time, there is no indication that any personal information was affected. Additionally, the breach has had no impact on the ability of the company to continue its operations, nor has it been restricted from accessing any data that has been subject to the breach,” the company added.

So, this either wasn’t a data breach or ransomware attack, or the incident was stopped quickly enough to prevent any actual harm.

Bragg Gaming Group does not run casinos itself. It is a B2B provider building software, games, and backend platforms that online gambling operators use to run their businesses. It also seems to be rather successful. It serves operators across North and Latin America, as well as Europe, having more than 200 customers and more than 450 employees.

Between 2019 and 2023, it experienced a 37% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), and projects a total addressable market of about $40 billion by 2028.

In its writeup, The Record hints there is a pattern here, since Bragg is not the only gaming company to face a breach in recent months, after Australia’s Ainsworth Game Technology, as well as International Game Technology, both reported “significant disruptions” late in 2024.

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I don't know if there's a right age for an iPhone, but I think most can agree that there should be different smartphone and online experiences based on age, and that's really the philosophy behind most digital parental controls, including the fairly voluminous ones found across Apple's ecosystem. Now, with iOS 26 – and other platform updates – on the horizon, that system is set for a series of small but important updates.

I've seen most of them in action and, on the whole, I think these may be just the series of privacy and safety controls parents and, yes, even teens and kids, have been looking for.

To Apple's credit, it's been adding to and enhancing its parental control ecosystem for years. So much so that many parents may only scratch the surface of its vast platform of controls.

Worth noting that if you identify a new device like an iPhone or iPad as going to a child or teen, many of the controls, like web content restrictions, app restrictions (apps rated 4-plus only), screen distance alerts, and messaging filters that automatically blur out the naughty bits, will function automatically.

There are, though, key safety changes that you can enable when Apple releases public versions of its OS updates for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

The age of appropriateness

Your child's iPhone and iPad are already pretty good, based on your Parental Control settings, at managing your kid's access to age-appropriate apps, but Apple is going further in iOS26, iPadOS26, and macOS 26 (essentially any platform that's part of your Family Plan and that can access the App Store).

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Age Appropriate Experiences seems designed to help prevent App developers from inadvertently delivering inappropriate in-app content to your children and teens. It's enabled through a series of simple screen prompts that let you supply the age (but not birthdate) of your children to developers.

Using this information, developers can ensure that regardless of which apps you let them download, their apps only deliver content that aligns with the child's age.

I appreciate that there's another level of control: parents can choose if the Age range is "Always" shared, if developers have to "Ask First", or if it's "Never" shared. I think I like the second option best because it's the only one that allows the child to choose if they want their age range shared with developers.

Getting the right message

Once your child has an iPhone and a phone number, it's almost guaranteed that they will be targeted by predators. There is a simple setting in iOS right now that lets you automatically block unknown numbers (Filter Unknown Senders under Settings/Apps/Messages). However, iOS 26 will take these protections further.

With iOS 26, your child won't be able to add just anyone to their contacts and messaging lists.

If your child wants to add a study buddy to messaging on their iPhone or iPad, they'll see a new pop-up that will let them "Ask a Parent or Guardian to Approve this Person".

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If the child or teen selects the pop-up, a pre-populated message appears where they can fill in the friend's details and add a message explaining who the person is. Parents get a time-sensitive notification on their devices with the details and message. They can choose to add the contact, decline, or select "Not now."

Once the friend is added, your child or teen will get a message telling them they can call or message the new contact. Of course, it might make sense to pause in the middle of this process to chat in person with your kid and make sure the "study buddy" is really just another kid.

Apps less limited

Apple's parental controls make it quite easy to set time limits and even exclude apps from view so that when your child searches the App Store, they won't even see those not-age-appriate apps in the App Store.

Apple, though, appears to have recognized that some kids are, well, sneaky.

When you set time limit controls at an app level or even globally, your child can request more time with the app. Approving the extension requires the parent's passcode, which they can enter remotely from their best iPhone or best iPad, or in person if they happen to be sitting next to their kid. If the kid has been surreptitiously watching you enter the passcode and has it memorized, they could be granting themselves more screen time.

With this small yet useful upcoming update, parents will receive notifications whenever their passcode is used.

Making the exception

Parents get to choose which apps their kids can access, but there will soon be a new button at the top of App description pages that will offer the ability to request an exception.

That request goes to parents who can grant permission, which immediately turns on the "Get" option on an app.

This might come in handy when, say, your child has a project where some YouTube research will come in handy. However, when the project is done, you can just as quickly revoke the exception, and then not only does access in the App Store disappear, but the app also disappears from your child's device.

This is a level of control I can get behind.

Tell us how you manage your child's screen time in the comments below.

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• Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1 Ryzen AI MAX chip promises strong workstation power
• Display refresh reaching up to 180Hz seems excessive for workstation needs, leaning toward gaming territory
• At 2.45 kilograms, this laptop feels more like a desktop replacement than a mobile workstation

Emdoor, a company that has mostly kept a low profile since 2023, is now releasing another system that it calls a "high-end PC workstation with next-gen AI chip."

The device, listed under the code "EM-959-NM16ASH-1," comes with AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX processors, also known as Strix Halo.

The Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1 features soldered LPDDR5X-8000 memory on a 256-bit bus, giving high bandwidth but preventing upgrades.

A workstation or gaming laptop?

Although the memory is limited to a maximum of 128GB at purchase, the storage is more flexible with two PCIe 4.0×4 M.2 slots supporting up to 8TB.

The display is a 16-inch panel at 2560x1600 resolution, with refresh options of either 165Hz or 180Hz.

Such specifications may attract users looking for a video editing laptop, but they also blur the line between workstation and gaming hardware.

That impression is further reinforced by leaked internal file names tied to the design, which included the term "GAMES."

At 2.45kg, the system is heavier than many of its rivals, with the likes of Sixunited's XN77-160M-CS and HP's ZBook Ultra G1a weighing less than 1.8kg.

Although bulkier construction may have been chosen to handle the 45–120W thermal design of Strix Halo, this weight might be acceptable only for a stationary workstation, as buyers seeking a business laptop may not find this design appealing.

It also includes a 99Wh battery that is claimed to last eight hours, but without independent testing, such claims remain promises.

Cooling is handled by a dual-fan setup coupled with triple heat pipes and a quad-exhaust system.

The company markets this system as a workstation, but the aesthetics, refresh rates, and naming history suggest gaming roots.

Since Emdoor acts as an original design manufacturer, the same model could easily appear under another brand marketed as a gaming system.

Whether this laptop becomes a reliable tool for professionals or fades into obscurity, as some of the firm’s past projects have, will only be clear once it reaches the market and real-world feedback emerges.

Currently, only a limited number of PCs feature the Strix Halo chip, with examples including the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (13.4″), the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a, and a handful of others.

In terms of pricing, these devices cost well over $2,000, and considering the specifications of the Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1, it will likely cost more.

Via Videocardz

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