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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, May 28 (game #717).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #718) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FROST
• RIGHT
• MUSCULAR
• HONOR
• HAIL
• FIT
• POLISH
• POWDER
• PROPER
• ENTHUSIAST
• NUDE
• APPLAUD
• SPRINKLE
• PRAISE
• APT
• GLAZE

NYT Connections today (game #718) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Tribute
• GREEN: Satisfactory
• BLUE: Dunkin and Krispy
• PURPLE: Connecting word rhymes with “stuff”

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #718) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SALUTE 
• GREEN: SUITABLE
• BLUE: VERBS FOR FINISHING DONUTS
• PURPLE: WHAT "BUFF" MIGHT MEAN

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

NYT Connections today (game #718) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #718, are…

• YELLOW: SALUTE APPLAUD, HAIL, HONOR, PRAISE
• GREEN: SUITABLE APT, FIT, PROPER, RIGHT
• BLUE: VERBS FOR FINISHING DONUTS FROST, GLAZE, POWDER, SPRINKLE
• PURPLE: WHAT "BUFF" MIGHT MEAN ENTHUSIAST, MUSCULAR, NUDE, POLISH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 mistake

Fools jump in... so I immediately thought that FROST, POWDER and SPRINKLE were describing types of snow, added HAIL… and got "one away".

That’s when I realized it had to do with baking instead, although I wasn’t thinking VERBS FOR FINISHING DONUTS.

I got SALUTE next, which was quite tricky for the so-called easiest group and then the SUITABLE green group.

I missed seeing WHAT “BUFF” MIGHT MEAN but four different meanings for one word make it the archetypal hardest Connections group – and I say this as a Connections buff.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, May 28, game #717)

• YELLOW: CONNECT BRIDGE, JOIN, LINK, UNITE
• GREEN: PARTS OF A BIKE CHAIN, PEDAL, SADDLE, WHEEL
• BLUE: BEST PICTURE WINNERS SINCE 2000 CHICAGO, CRASH, GLADIATOR, MOONLIGHT
• PURPLE: MUSIC GENRES PLUS A LETTER BLUEST, POPE, ROCKY, SKAT

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 28 (game #451).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #452) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's a little buggy

NYT Strands today (game #452) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• GIANT
• SPARE
• SPAM
• SALE
• FAST
• ANTICS

NYT Strands today (game #452) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #452) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #452) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #452, are…

• BUTTERFLY
• MOTH
• WASP
• FLEA
• HORNET
• DRAGONFLY
• SPANGAM: INSECT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

After getting BUTTERFLY, MOTH and WASP in succession, I thought we were looking for a spangram describing flying minibeasts. Instead it was the much more straightforward INSECT

A six-letter spangram is very off-brand for Strands these days, but this game's ability to keep players guessing is impressive. That said, this was one of our easier days.

I know many people like them, but the sight of a DRAGONFLY freaks me out a bit as I’ve got an irrational fear that they’re going to fly in my mouth. So, whenever I see one I clamp my mouth shut. I guess I’m the freak, not them.

That said, they do breathe out of their rectums, so there is that too. I don't want something that breathes out its rectum in my mouth, thanks.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, May 28, game #451)

• WINNER
• CHAMP
• TITLEHOLDER
• VICTOR
• MEDALIST
• SPANGRAM: FINISH STRONG

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

• Vietnam has issued an order to block Telegram for failing to cooperate with authorities in halting crimes
• According to authorities, nearly 70% of Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam contain harmful content
• A new law requires social media providers to store Vietnamese users' data and share it with authorities upon request

Vietnam has blocked Telegram for failing to cooperate with authorities in halting crimes allegedly happening on the platform.

As reported by Reuters, the country's Head of the Telecom department issued the blocking order against telecommunications companies on May 21, 2025, with an obligation to report back to the ministry by June 2.

While the block didn't come into force immediately, Telegram appears to be inaccessible from the country at the time of writing. This means everyone living in or visiting Vietnam now needs one of the best VPN services to keep accessing the popular messaging app from the country.

Vietnam Telegram block

As per international and local sources, Vietnamese police said that nearly 70% of the almost 10,000 Telegram channels and groups accessible in the country contain "poisonous and bad information," Al Jazeera reported. Some groups have even been found to have links with illicit activities, like drug trafficking or terrorism.

This is why authorities decided to issue an order to all the country's telecoms providers "to deploy solutions and measures to prevent Telegram's activities in Vietnam."

Talking to Reuters, a Telegram spokesperson said to be "surprised by those statements," adding that the team responded to legal requests from Vietnam on time.

Yet, as per what a government official told Reuters, Telegram failed to share user data with authorities when asked as required by law.

Vietnam indeed enforced a controversial law in December last year that requires social media providers to store Vietnamese users' data and share it with authorities upon request. However, as per Surfshark's data, Vietnam had already restricted social media twice before that, with temporary blocks on Facebook and Instagram in 2016.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in August 2024 in France for, among other things, failing to properly moderate the app to combat crimes occurring on the platform. After that, Telegram appears to have strengthened its moderation policies.

Globally, Surfshark recorded a total of 34 countries that have banned Telegram since 2015, either temporarily or permanently, with Vietnam being the 35th to do so.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

How a VPN can help

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts your internet connections while spoofing your real IP address location. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Some local journalists and internet users lamented difficulties in accessing Telegram from Vietnam without a VPN starting from May 25, 2025.

Local users also confirmed TechRadar that Telegram is blocked in the country at the time of writing, but VPNs keep working fine to bypass restrictions.

This is because VPN services and similar circumventing tools come with IP-spoofing capabilities that allow users to look like they're browsing from a different country entirely within a couple of clicks.

All you need to do is download a reliable VPN for Vietnam, pick a server in a country where Telegram isn't blocked, and keep using the app as usual. You can find all the up-to-date information on how to unlock Telegram with a VPN on our dedicated page.

If you aren't willing to invest some money in a premium services, I reccommend checking out our free VPN page to pick the most secure freebie out there. Tor browser is also a great alernative to stay anonymous and bypass internet cenrsohip free of costs.

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• Many of CISA's senior leaders are leaving the agency, memo claims
• The organization is currently facing its third staff reduction of 2025
• There are worries about how the agency will perform going forward

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is reportedly experiencing a serious flight of senior personnel, with most planning to leave by the end of May 2025.

CISA is responsible for safeguarding US critical infrastructure, and its senior personnel are critical in the agency’s ability to liaise with its strategic partners, other federal agencies, and international security organizations.

The sudden exodus in senior leadership across five of CISA’s six operational divisions and six of its 10 regional offices comes as the agency faces its third workforce reduction this year.

CISA loses leadership

A statement issued by CISA’s executive director, Bridget Bean, said, “CISA is doubling down and fulfilling its statutory mission to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and strengthen our collective cyber defense. We were created to be the cybersecurity agency for the nation, and we have the right team in place to fulfill that mission and ensure that we are prepared for a range of cyber threats from our adversaries.”

While the remaining CISA leadership may be putting on a brave face, a number of CISA employees who spoke to Cybersecurity Dive shared reservations about the agency’s future and performance following the departure of senior leadership.

One employee, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said, “With these significant number of senior departures, several of which are leaders who have been here since the days of US-CERT, there’s a lot of anxiety around when the cuts and departures will finally stop and we can move forward as an agency.”

A second employee, also speaking anonymously, said, “It feels like the wrong people are leaving. All of these departures make it feel like people are leaving the mission and creating a vacuum.”

For CISA’s operational divisions, acting head of the Infrastructure Security Division Steve Harris left on May 16, acting head of the Stakeholder Engagement Division Trent Frazier left on May 2, No. 2 official in the Emergency Communications Division Vince Delaurentis is due to leave on May 30. These follow the previous departures of No. 2 official in the Cybersecurity Division Matt Hartman, and head of the Integrated Operations Division Boyden Rohner.

Recent and upcoming regional office departures include Region 2 Director John Durkin, Region 4 Director Jay Gamble, Region 5 Director Alex Joves and Deputy Director Kathy Young, Region 6 Director Rob Russell, Region 7 Director Phil Kirk, and Region 10 Director Patrick Massey.

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Internet security giant Kaspersky has released a report saying that it identified over 7 million "compromised accounts" for the best streaming services that have leaked online in 2024 alone.

The details weren't leaked due to a breach in the security system of the streaming services themselves, but were instead grabbed by other malicious means, such as spyware browser extensions, which scrape the information you type into your computer and send it away to scammers, or fake websites that trick you into entering your account information (known as phishing).

Netflix accounts were by far the majority of the leaked information identified by Kaspersky, numbering over 5 million of the 7 million in total. However, there were also leaked accounts for Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and Apple TV+.

The highest number of leaked accounts appears to be for people based in Brazil, then Mexico, then India – but accounts leaked from everywhere, from the UK to Canada to Australia to Japan.

How big a problem is this?

If your account has been breached, the good news is that it shouldn't put your financial information in much danger, with a couple of notable exceptions.

Your billing info should be securely stored by all of these streaming services, and not visible to anyone simply browsing your profile if they log in maliciously.

With the likes of Netflix and Disney+ cracking down on password sharing between households, someone using your logins to watch from another country could cause these streaming services to give you a warning about adhering to their terms.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

However, the larger danger is whether the passwords involved give them access to other services. For example, if your Prime Video login is the same as your Amazon Prime login, then that one account may mean they can order things online from your account.

Similarly, if your Apple TV+ login is the same as your overall Apple ID login, then someone could potentially spend money from the payment details connected to your Apple ID.

However, Amazon and Apple both support two-factor authentication, meaning the password alone shouldn't be enough for someone to log into your account – if you don't have this active, you absolutely should change that now.

However, in all cases, if your password for these services is the same one you use for every other login, then the danger isn't someone logging into your Netflix – it's them using the same details to log in as you on online shopping platforms, or other sites where they could do some financial damage.

This is why we always recommend using one of the best password managers, so you have a unique password for every service without the hassle of needing to remember them all. iPhones and Android phones all have this capability built into them.

What should you do next?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you're concerned about your accounts for these services, you should log in to them and change your password right away.

In general, activating two-factor authentication on any services that support it is a no-brainer. Netflix, notably, doesn't offer this option, but it has its own page on how to keep your Netflix account secure.

If you aren't already using one of the best password managers, now is the perfect time to start. Many of these services will tell you if one of your passwords appears in leaked account information, so you can take action to change it right away.

But also bear in mind how these details leaked: not through hacks of the services, but because people downloaded dodgy browser extensions and software, or were caught in phishing schemes that asked them to enter their details into fake websites.

Being cautious online is just as important as using technical options like a password manager or two-factor authentication.

Kaspersky's report highlights three things to remember:

• "Always use a legitimate, paid subscription when accessing streaming services and ensure you’re using apps from official marketplaces or the official websites."
• "Always verify the authenticity of websites before entering any personal information. Stick to trusted, official pages when watching or downloading content and double-check URLs and company name spellings to avoid phishing sites."
• "Be cautious about the file extensions you're downloading. Video files should not have .exe or .msi extensions — these are typically associated with harmful programs."

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• Nvidia could be releasing a gaming laptop APU soon, according to rumors
• It's slated to release at either Q4 2025 or Q1 2026
• It could be a chance for Nvidia to use its hardware for a handheld gaming PC

AMD and Intel are continuously competing with each other within the SoC market for laptops and handheld gaming PCs – and one of their fierce rivals looks poised to join the party.

According to a reputable leaker, Moore's Law Is Dead, Nvidia has a new gaming laptop processor slated for release between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. This would be akin to AMD's Ryzen Strix Halo APUs, with an iGPU as the driving force for gaming performance. It's also expected to have a TDP (power consumption) between 80 and 120W.

It's best to take leaks and rumors as such with a grain of salt; Nvidia's recent heavy focus on AI suggests that gaming would be an afterthought, so a gaming laptop SoC would be a surprise, to say the least. However, if this is legitimate, it may be a starting point for Nvidia SoCs coming to handheld gaming PCs.

As it stands, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the only handheld gaming device in this generation that will have access to Team Green's DLSS upscaling method, using the Tegra T239 processor – and it's worth noting that DLSS is a significant advantage the Switch 2 holds over current handheld gaming PCs.

We've seen both Intel and AMD's laptop processors used in handhelds, notably the former's Core Ultra 7 258V in the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Essentially, the same could apply to Nvidia's rumored SoC and could be a strong challenge to its competitors by providing great gaming performance.

Analysis: A high-tier Nvidia SoC would take the handheld gaming market by storm

(Image credit: Siberian Art / Shutterstock)

While Nvidia's Tegra T239 processor will be used in the Switch 2, with DLSS also available, I yearn for an Nvidia mobile processor of a higher tier, and this sounds like it could be it.

Gamers using the likes of an Asus ROG Ally X or MSI Claw 8 AI+, only have access to FSR 3 and XeSS, respectively. I'm not saying those upscaling methods are any slouch, but they would have a hard time competing against DLSS (at least DLSS 3), as they do on the desktop GPU end.

It may not be the same with handhelds, but DLSS on desktop gaming PCs has been the game-changing tool for a while, providing smooth performance through upscaling a lower internal resolution. I admit, I'm not a fan of game devs relying on the technology for steady performance in games (because they're so poorly optimized), but it's hard to deny the benefits of DLSS.

If this were available for handhelds, I could easily see it outshining both Team Red and Team Blue's efforts, especially on a smaller display. Let's just hope this purported SoC isn't only coming to gaming laptops...

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• Anker Soundcore P41i has USB-C cable and 3,000mAh battery
• 10-12 hours of playtime, rising to 192 hours with the case
• £79.99 (about $100 / AU$160), available now

If you're fed up lugging one of the best power banks around to stop your phone running out of juice, Anker's Soundcore brand may have just the thing. The charging case for its new P41i earbuds doesn't just charge the earbuds, it can charge your other devices too.

The earbuds themselves are mid-range models, but the case is something more unusual. Don't expect to recharge a MacBook Pro with it, but it's got a 3,000mAh battery that's good for delivering a 50% top-up to an iPhone 16 Pro and 45% to a Samsung Galaxy S24 via its integral USB-C cable. And the case even doubles as a smartphone stand.

(Image credit: Soundcore)Soundcore P41i: key features and pricing

At 10W, you're not going to get the fastest charge, but Anker says you can expect to charge up to 30% in about 40 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8, and 30 minutes for an iPhone 14 Pro.

I think the power bank capability is useful: I'm just back from a very long day of travel where once again my iPhone 16 Pro's all-day battery didn't live up to that promise.

50% extra would have been more than enough to make it past midnight without looking for a charge point or having to carry my heavy power bank around.

The earbuds' own batteries are pretty big too: Soundcore says you'll get 12 hours with ANC off and 10 with ANC on, which is above average for the best earbuds of today. And with that charging case, the figure increases to a whopping 192 hours of total listening time.

The buds have 11mm drivers, six mics, and five levels of ANC with three different noise-cancelling modes. There's Bluetooth 5.3 with multi-point and fast pairing, and they're IPX5 certified. UK pricing is £79.99, which converts to around $100 / AU$160.

The Anker Soundcore P41i earbuds are available now in the UK at Amazon, and will launch elsewhere soon.

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• Scotland's rail service has replaced the human train announcement voice with an AI one on some routes
• The voice technology is powered by Swedish company ReadSpeaker
• A voice actor claims the company is using her voice without permission, but ReadSpeaker says it has "comprehensively addressed" these complaints

If you live in Scotland, or have ever visited our beautiful country and travelled on a train, you'll have probably heard the homely lilt of the female voice announcing station stops and other information.

However, train company Scotrail has now replaced the iconic voice with AI, sparking uproar among commuters – and claims from a voice actor that Scotrail has stolen her voice.

The new AI announcer is called Iona, and the robotic voice has replaced the human one that the majority of Scots have grown up with. Iona is currently rolling out on routes across Scotland, but so far has been met with hostility.

HATE the new ScotRail AI announcer voice. It sounds like a Scottish version of HAL from Space Odyssey!May 17, 2025

The AI voices uses text-to-speech technology that allows train conductors to input announcements that are then spoken across the public address system by Iona.

That's my voice!

Following the initial backlash against the AI voice rollout, Scotrail responded on X, saying, "Give it time and it may grow on you."

One person the voice isn't growing on is voice actor Gayanne Potter, who's accused the Scottish Government-owned train company of stealing her voice. Potter is a voice actor who did some work for the Swedish company ReadSpeaker in 2021.

ReadSpeaker is the company behind Iona, and at the time, Ms Potter was told her voice work would only be used for accessibility and e-learning software.

After a friend sent her a link to ReadSpeaker's website, Potter recognized the voice, noticing similarities between her own tone and that of Iona, a persona that Scotrail is marketing as a red-haired Scottish woman, with an image that's also – of course – AI-generated.

Ms Potter told the BBC, "It is my voice – I'm absolutely certain it's my voice.” Potter has been in a dispute with ReadSpeaker over the use her voice for two years.

In response to the complaints, ReadSpeaker told the BBC, "ReadSpeaker is aware of Ms Potter's concerns, and has comprehensively addressed these with Ms Potter's legal representative several times in the past."

In the BBC report you can listen to a comparison between Ms Potter and Iona. There's no denying the voices are very similar, although the real issue here is the protection of workers in the creative industry, and awareness of how they sign over their rights when producing work.

Potter said, "It's hard enough for people in the creative industry to sustain careers, but to be competing with a robotic version of yourself just adds insult to injury."

This is just the latest controversy in the debate over who owns what in the rapidly evolving world of AI. Potter says she didn't know at the time that her voice would be used to train a robotic one heard across Scotland. Now, she can't escape her 'own' AI voice.

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• Study reveals continuing resistance to RTO mandates
• Many workers say they would look for a new job, or just quit, if forced to go back full-time
• Women more resistant than men, but BME workers also affected

A new study has revealed attitudes towards a full-time return to office (RTO) are still incredibly resistant, as workers look for more flexibility and productivity in their roles.

Over a one million observations from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and some 50,000 responses from the Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes (SWAA) UK from between early 2022 and 2024 were analyzed by researchers from King’s College London (KCL) and King’s Business School to see if worker opinions on RTO mandates had changed.

Unsurprisingly, the report found many workers were still opposed to the policies, with less than half (42%) saying they would agree to go back to the office full-time - and the overall figures showing there is "no clear trend of a mass return to the office in the UK".

RTO resistance

"Despite the growing public announcement of CEOs and reports of mass return-to-office mandate of companies, based on two large scale representative surveys of the UK labour market we see no evidence of this," authors Professor Heejung Chung and Research Fellow Shiya Yuan stated in their report.

"We do not see any clear signs of workers returning to the office, nor do we see evidence of employers restricting workers’ homeworking possibilities in their policies. In fact, we see a growing number of workers who can work from home."

Overall, the figures showed working-from-home (WFH) rates remained stable since 2022, with over a quarter of all workers saying home is their main place of work, and about 40% of workers work remotely at least once per week, with over 25% work three or more days from home.

The report appears to indicate that RTO mandates are a potential deal-breaker for many workers, as half of those surveyed said they would rather look for a new job than return to full time at their current employer - an increase from 40% in the earlier survey.

Women were more likely to look for a new job (55%) or quit entirely (9%) than men (43% and 8%), with young mothers much more unlikely to comply.

However black and minority ethnic workers were found to be slightly more compliant with returning to the office, which the study hypothesised could be due to possible "job insecurity and workplace discrimination".

"For HR leaders and policymakers, the message is clear: well-designed hybrid working models offer significant benefits for both employers and employees that supports equality, talent retention, collaboration, and business resilience," the authors concluded.

"Rigid RTO mandates not only risk reversing these gains but may also create serious recruitment and retention challenges in a labour market where flexibility has become a baseline expectation."

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• Images appear to confirm tiltable EVF and 33MP full-frame sensor
• 4K 60fps video will require a crop to Super 35 format
• $3,500 rumored price tag and 32-bit float audio still TBC

Sony is launching a new Cinema Line mirrorless camera later today – but a set of leaked photographs appears to have spilled the beans and spoiled the surprise a few hours early.

Posted over at Sony Alpha Rumors, the four images show the purported Sony FX2, a full-frame video-focussed E-mount camera. Three of the photos are promotional lifestyle shots showing the camera in action, while the fourth and most interesting is packed with top-line information about features and specs.

As rumored already, the Sony FX2 looks set to sport the same 33MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor as previously seen in the company’s A7 IV and A7C II cameras. It will apparently support dual native ISO (800 and 4000) and video capture up to 4K 60fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 quality with over 15 stops of dynamic range.

Although that 4K 60fps recording will only be supported in Super 35 format, meaning it’ll be forcibly cropped rather than utilizing the entire surface of that huge sensor. That’s likely to disappoint some videographers.

First Leaked images of the new Sony FX2! - https://t.co/1X1yTLBFt2 pic.twitter.com/ervRZHw6FuMay 28, 2025

What about 32-bit float recording?

The image also appears to confirm the previously mentioned tiltable electronic viewfinder (EVF); it’s shown in one of the lifestyle shots too.

The FX2 will also support 16-bit RAW output via its HDMI, have an active cooling system to combat overheating issues and a Venice user interface that’s pitched towards videography rather than still photos. There’s no mention of 32-bit float audio recording here, which is another feature we’ve heard will be included.

So, while the cropped 4K 60fps isn’t what many users would have been hoping for, the FX2 is shaping up to be a very well-equipped camera for content creators and YouTubers. Much will depend on the price, of course. $3,500 is the rumored RRP (which converts to around £2,600 / AU$5400), which seems quite steep for a cinema camera that tops out at 4K.

For now, all of the above remains unconfirmed by Sony, but there isn’t long to wait for the official launch. It’s happening later on today, May 28 2025, at 3pm BST / 4pm CET. You can watch the unveiling live on YouTube (above).

We’ll report back on the Sony FX2 once it’s all official and we have the full details on spec, features and pricing.

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• Adidas confirms suffering major cyberattack
• Customer data was included in the breach
• This is the latest in a number of retail incidents, so customers should be on their guard

Adidas has confirmed it is the latest retail giant to fall victim to a cyberattack, with customer data at risk following an ‘unauthorized’ party stealing information from a third-party customer service provider.

The affected data primarily consists of contact information of customers who contacted the Adidas help desk - with passwords, credit card information, or any other type of payment data not involved.

“Adidas is in the process of informing potentially affected consumers as well as appropriate data protection and law enforcement authorities consistent with applicable law. We remain fully committed to protecting the privacy and security of our consumers, and sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern caused by this incident,” the company confirmed.

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A string of attacks

2025 has seen a number of high-profile cyberattacks on retailers, with three massive UK retailers targeted. Luxury department store Harrods became the latest victim following attacks on Marks and Spencer and supermarket Co-op - some of which had to take systems offline in order to protect the organisation - although there is no official link between the incidents.

British retailers aren’t the only ones at risk either, with fashion brand Dior also suffering an attack that led to customer data being leaked. Any customer who is concerned about their data being accessed by cybercriminals or unauthorised parties should make sure to be vigilant and monitor their accounts. In particular, customers are at risk of identity theft or fraud.

“The surge of attacks is driven by a perfect storm of factors: the rapid digitisation of industries, increased reliance on third-party systems, and the rise of financially motivated, highly organised cybercriminal groups,” warns Spencer Starkey, Executive VP of EMEA at SonicWall.

"In sectors like retail, sprawling digital ecosystems, outdated infrastructure, and fragmented cyber defences create easy entry points. Threat actors are also leveraging increasingly sophisticated social engineering and exploiting identity-based vulnerabilities, as we saw in the recent attacks on Marks & Spencer and the Legal Aid Agency."

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• PowerSchool hit by cyberattack which saw student and teacher data stolen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Analysis: A seemingly good use of Copilot

(Image credit: Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

White label model

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salesforce Informatica takeover

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mandatory standards

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

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

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

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

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

Cloud platforms

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

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

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

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

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

Data in transit

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

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

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

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

Additional assurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Opera)Chat, Do and Make

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is a Single Pane of Glass?

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

This unified approach helps compliance teams:

1. Provide real-time monitoring across multiple channels.

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

3. Streamline audits and reporting for regulatory examinations.

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

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

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

Why Fragmented Monitoring Falls Short

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

Here’s what’s at stake:

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

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

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

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

What to Look for in an Effective Unified Supervision Platform

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

Key features to prioritize:

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

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

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

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

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

How to Start Implementing a Single Pane of Glass Strategy

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

Here’s how firms can get started:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Future of Communications Supervision is Unified

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The MagicBand+ unlocks special experiences

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

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

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

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

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

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

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

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

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

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

@jakekrol

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

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

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

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

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

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

A parade with over one million LED lights, all synced

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Apple/Future)

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

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

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

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

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