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I spend a lot of time poking, prodding, and generally tormenting AI agents to see what makes them tick, and I've developed a keen eye for what’s genuinely useful and what’s merely shiny tech hype.

Recently, my curiosity led me to test ChatGPT's latest feature, Deep Research, and I have to admit – I’m genuinely impressed. But before we jump into why, let’s briefly unpack what exactly this feature is and how it works.

Deep Research is the brilliant librarian addict you always hoped to be paired up with in school. It can gather, analyze, and repackage huge amounts of information in useful and even fun ways. Unlike a typical quick Q&A session, Deep Research takes its time. That can mean anything from five minutes to, theoretically, a full half hour. It will then deliver detailed, trustworthy insights tailored precisely to your query.

I've spent a lot of time with it and genuinely think it's the best bit of ChatGPT right now. If you're unsure whether it's worth the hype, I've put together a handful of reasons you might want to stick a toe in Deep Research.

The perfect vacation

(Image credit: Pixabay)

I've spent more time than I like to think about scrolling through travel blogs, Reddit threads, and outdated TripAdvisor reviews just to plan a simple getaway. Planning vacations, especially if you want something beyond the standard tourist traps, is something Deep Research is quite good at. For a test, I asked the AI to "Plan a two-week trip to Portugal, emphasizing local culture, hidden gems, authentic cuisine, and avoiding crowds."

Deep Research’s response was genuinely impressive. After about 20 minutes, it came back with a carefully planned itinerary filled with interesting recommendations, like a quiet day exploring the historic fishing villages along Portugal’s Silver Coast and sampling fresh seafood in lesser-known local restaurants. It included thoughtful touches, such as attending a small-town festival celebrating traditional crafts, and practical logistics, such as ideal transport options and lodging suggestions outside major tourist hubs.

I gave it another go with, "What’s the best month to visit Costa Rica for wildlife viewing, especially if you’re hoping to see sea turtles?"

Again, Deep Research produced a thorough report. It neatly summarized the nesting and hatching seasons of various turtle species and described weather conditions and tourist patterns month by month. It provided useful tips about where and when to find volunteer opportunities with conservation projects.

Health help

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Deep Research can be a real boon if you've ever had that middle-of-the-night headache and discovered that, according to WebMD, it's a rare tropical disease.

Reliable online health information sometimes takes more than a little digging to work out which bits apply to your hypochondriac moment. Deep Research can personalize your answers while avoiding the more nonsensical suggestions like combatting viruses with crystals. The same goes for more lifestyle-related health queries. For instance, I asked Deep Research to "Investigate whether intermittent fasting has significant long-term health benefits and if it’s safe for everyone."

Instead of sensational headlines, Deep Research returned an extensive, measured overview of clinical studies and expert opinions. It outlined potential benefits like improved metabolism and weight loss. Still, it balanced it with thoughtful cautions about groups who should avoid fasting, such as pregnant women and people with certain chronic health conditions.

Hobbying

(Image credit: Netflix)

Taking on a new hobby can be exciting until you realize the first steps usually involve wading through conflicting advice on YouTube or outdated instructional articles. Here, Deep Research acts like your patient, knowledgeable guide.

I asked the AI to "Create a beginner’s guide for someone who wants to start baking bread from scratch, including common mistakes to avoid."

It took a while, around 15 minutes, to get the report. I presume this is because there was a massive glut of people writing about their experiences with baking in 2020.

Still, I eventually had an accessible yet comprehensive bread-baking guide that even included troubleshooting tips for issues like overly dense dough or uneven rising. It suggested easy starter recipes, explained the science behind yeast fermentation in simple terms, and even included advice on necessary equipment that wouldn’t cost too much.

Purchase power

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The infinite ocean of online shopping choices can instantly overwhelm the most decisive person. I love the idea of a personal shopping guru who can show their work on what to buy.

So I started by asking Deep Research to, "Compare the top-rated robot vacuums under $300, considering user reviews, battery life, cleaning ability, and ease of maintenance."

Deep Research dove into the specs, scoured customer experiences, and filtered through the noise to deliver a report that helped. It laid out the differences between leading models with real clarity. Within minutes, I knew exactly which vacuum would keep my floors spotless without emptying my wallet. With Deep Research, you might finally get rid of much of that shopping stress.

Nerding out

(Image credit: Andrew_t8 / Pixabay)

We've all spiraled down internet rabbit holes chasing our curiosity, emerging bleary-eyed but fascinated hours later. Deep Research offers a much more efficient and satisfying way to scratch your intellectual itch. It's probably one of the best parts of ChatGPT.

For instance, I was thinking about early printing compared to today's flood of digital content, so I asked Deep Research to "Give an accessible but detailed overview of how the printing press influenced European society and culture in the 15th century."

After half an hour, Deep Research produced an engaging summary highlighting key historical events across the Renaissance and Reformation. It detailed how printed texts democratized knowledge, spurred literacy, and even reshaped politics and religion, all explained clearly enough to satisfy casual history buffs without overwhelming them.

I decided I wanted another flavor of nerdy fun on an intriguing subject, without totally grasping it. I requested that the AI "Simplify and explain quantum computing and its possible impacts in everyday life over the next decade."

After a surprisingly shorter time than the printing press request, ChatGPT had a report that could help me understand things like quantum bits and entanglement. It thoughtfully speculated on near-future applications like drug discovery, cybersecurity, and even predicting traffic patterns, basically delivering a compact TED Talk tailored just for me.

Now, of course, Deep Research isn’t without limitations. It can occasionally stumble, serving up overly confident but incorrect responses. Deep Research’s dependency on publicly available internet content means controversial or rapidly evolving topics may present challenges. But these shortcomings don’t overshadow the immense practical value and ease of use this feature offers

In a world increasingly overloaded with questionable information and digital noise, having a reliable, thorough, and easy-to-use tool like ChatGPT Deep Research genuinely feels like having a brilliant, ever-ready assistant waiting at your beck and call.

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The latest AI assistant to stir excitement is Manus, Latin for hand. An apropos choice since Manus is pitched as the helpful hand for any sort of complex research or content creation.

Manus allegedly outpaces any rivals in sophistication. The most obvious comparison is to DeepSeek, but, while that matchup would be interesting (and one I will probably perform), I think it's worth ranking Manus against the far more widely used ChatGPT.

Manus is invite-only and requires the company to approve your reasons for wanting to test it out. Happily, they've provided a variety of demonstrations showing what Manus can do. Of course, any demo should be taken with a grain of salt since they'll almost certainly show the only examples that portray the AI in the best light. Even so, the demos show what Manus can do.

In fact, some of the demos go well beyond what ChatGPT can accomplish at the consumer level. With that in mind, I stuck to prompts that both models could respond to productively. I also focused on projects the average person might engage with, regardless of their profession. Neither caveat narrowed the options drastically. In the images below, the Manus result is on the right and ChatGPT's output is on the left.

Fantasy Movie

(Image credit: Manus/OpenAI)

I started with a fun movie screenplay prompt: "Develop a fantasy screenplay exploring a hypothetical interaction between Mayan and ancient Egyptian civilizations. Balance historical accuracy with creative liberty. First, compile relevant reference materials. Then, propose potential narrative directions and creative inspirations. Finally, select the most compelling concept and draft a preliminary script outline."

Notably, Manus devised the prompt with only a few concepts then had the AI do research, brainstorm, pick an option, and then produce an outline for the actual script. It came through with a selection of research on the two civilizations, then a handful of seed ideas for the movie before picking the one above and writing a pretty competent outline for a whole film. ChatGPT, while not as eloquent in drafting the outline or deep in its research, nonetheless impressed me with what it came up with. While Manus is more thorough, ChatGPT proved it could match its creativity in some ways.

Adobe Bio

(Image credit: Manus/OpenAI)

Next, I selected a more long-form writing prompt, asking for a whole novel on what would normally be a very dry subject. I asked ChatGPT to follow the Manus prompt, "Write a novel-style biography of Adobe Company, approximately 10,000 words in length. While maintaining factual accuracy, go beyond a simple chronological narrative to create a compelling story."

I'm not saying either turned software development into a gripping narrative, but Manus definitely followed the length demand better. And while I didn't spot any errors in the ChatGPT approach, it felt more like a creatively written Wikipedia article rather than a novel. Manus had a full book, with quotes and lots of context. Perhaps ChatGPT's Deep Research feature could match it, but I wanted to stay focused on the more usual ChatGPT model for now.

Business Cards

(Image credit: Manus/OpenAI)

I was curious about Manus' claim around design and image creation, so I picked the business card prompt for the next ChatGPT comparison, asking it to also, "Create a minimalist, elegant business card for me inspired by Apple's design philosophy. I've attached my resume for reference."

Manus made a very nice business card that does exactly what the prompt said and incorporates the relevant details from the included resume. When I used the same resume and prompt with ChatGPT, the results were somewhat messy. The text isn't all clear (or seemingly in human language), the Apple reference has become much more literal, implying a job at the company, and frankly it's less a business card and more what looks like an actual Apple product, perhaps a personalized mini-battery. Not exactly the professional reminder of yourself you'd want to hand out.

Ocean Meditation

(Image credit: Manus/OpenAI)

For the final test, I went with an interesting writing and audio generation prompt from Manus, "Please help me create a five-minute meditation audio. My name is Wayne, and I like the ocean."

Manus, as expected, made a lovely script, edited it, and had a nice voice read it with accompanying ocean sounds. You can listen to the combination on the demo page, which allows you to adjust the relative volume of voice and wave sounds. ChatGPT wrote a script significantly under five minutes long, and while it produced audio, there were no wave sounds despite the claim in the script. And, even when it's just the audio of the script, it's very obvious which voice will help you meditate. The Manus audio is the first file, and the ChatGPT effort is below it.

Manus magic

After running the Manus prompts on ChatGPT, I can see why the new AI assistant has drawn more comparison to DeepSeek. It does seem to execute prompts in impressive ways. If you're a researcher, a designer, or someone who needs deeply researched lesson plans and multimedia integration, Manus makes sense, if you can get an invite.

That said, ChatGPT is still the best AI for everyday users. If you need an AI that’s quick, reliable, and capable of generating high-quality responses in most circumstances, I'd say ChatGPT (and other AI tools of similar power) has everything you'd need. It gives you what you need without making things harder than they should be. In most cases, ChatGPT is more than enough. But if you want an AI that feels like it belongs in a boardroom or research lab, Manus is probably the right call.

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It was easy to miss in Apple's blast of launches last week – which also included the new MacBook Air M4 – but Apple recently launched a new iPad Air M3.

Alongside a fresh processor, the mid-range tablet was given a new, Pro-level Magic Keyboard companion. For such a powerful tablet, it's pricing also remains at a tempting level, starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999 (for the 11-inch model) and $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 (for the 13-inch version).

But should you buy the iPad Air M3? Or is it a pointless middle ground between the refreshed base iPad and the more powerful, OLED-packing iPad Pro M4?

We've rounded up all the biggest reviews from around the internet below to see if there's a consensus and help you decide the best iPad for you. Starting, of course, with TechRadar's experiences with Apple's latest Air...

The iPad Air M3 reviews TechRadar: "Stretches the value even further with more power for the same price"

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The good

• Power of the M3 chip
• Vibrant screen
• Strong battery life
• Impressive audio

The bad

• No ProMotion display
• Familiar design

Our iPad Air M3 review concludes that it's an even better value option than before – and potentially a reason to skip the iPad Pro (2024). The Air lacks the Pro's best-in-class screen and (ironically) ultra-thin design, but we "really noticed and enjoyed the speed boost" from its M3 chip.

That means, as our review concludes, that the new iPad Air "blurs the line between who this is for and who the iPad Pro is for." It rattled through most tasks we threw at it, from photo and video editing to work apps and gaming. While it isn't far ahead of the M2 chip's performance, we found it "almost impossible" to even slow it down.

In short, the iPad Air M3 is definitely a worthy upgrade "if you have an M1 iPad Air or older, an entry-level iPad, or another tablet" and need more power.

The Verge: "An excellent tablet, and I wish Apple would use iPadOS to make it a more versatile one"

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The good

• Faster M3 chip
• Big Magic Keyboard upgrade

The bad

• No Face ID
• Apple Intelligence is limited
• Much pricier than base iPad

The Verge's iPad Air M3 review chimes with most of our findings – which means it concludes that it's a great option if you want a slightly more future-proofed tablet than the more affordable base iPad.

Unlike us, The Verge reviewed the 13-inch version. The conclusion was, "if you want a larger model, I’d encourage you to consider the 13-inch Pro instead". We thought the same after crunching the numbers on the iPad Air M3's various configuration options.

Another slight point of difference was that The Verge didn't notice any real-world difference from the M3 chip compared to its predecessor. That means it recommends that "2024 Air plus 2025 Magic Keyboard" could be the combo to go for if you can find it on sale.

CNET: "Once again, the Pro iPad for most"

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The good

• Speedy M3 processor
• No price rise
• New Magic Keyboard

The bad

• No OLED display
• Can get expensive

Unlike The Verge, CNET doesn't think the iPad Pro is now worth the upgrade compared to the new Air (unless you're considering a high-end Air like the 1TB model).

What's the difference between the two? The Pro gets you an OLED display, thinner design, Face ID camera, and a Lidar scanner alongside an M4 chip. But as we also concluded, the lines between the Air and Pro are now even more blurred – and it depends on how much you want those extra features.

Similarly, CNET's review concluded that there are two big reasons to get the new Air over the base iPad – its M3 chip and compatibility with the Pencil Pro. It also praises the Magic Keyboard, which it says is "a better option now than it was," and in a running theme, says that the 11-inch model "would be the one I'd consider."

Wired: "Now an option for creatives and gamers, but lacks exciting upgrades"

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The good

• Small performance boost
• New Magic Keyboard case
• 5G connectivity
• Advanced graphics powers

The bad

• Heavier than iPad Pro
• Basic LCD screen
• No new color options
• iPadOS still limited

Wired settled on a middling 7/10 rating for the iPad Air M3, with the main recommendation being to wait for price drops on it if you need the M3 power. "It delivers a great experience, but it doesn't bring anything vital to the table that warrants paying full price," Wireds review concludes.

Its side-by-side comparisons with the M1 and M2 iPad Airs showed that "it was tough to spot a distinction in performance between all three," other than the M3 feeling "a bit snappier" but not noticeably so.

The other main criticisms are the Air's design ("it's comical that the iPad Air is still a few grams heavier and almost a full millimeter thicker than the iPad Pro") plus the lack of battery life and screen improvements. Wired thinks Apple should have replaced its LCD panel with the mini LED one seen on the iPad Pro in 2021 and 2022.

In short, while Wired thinks the Air M3 is still a solid option, it reckons that "we're on the precipice of an even thinner, faster, and better model" in the near future.

Engadget: "A modest update that's still easy to recommend"

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The good

• Affordable big-screen iPad
• Improved, cheaper keyboard
• Powerful M3 chip

The bad

• Aging screen tech
• No face ID
• Colors could be brighter
• Can get expensive quickly

Like most iPad Air M3 reviews here, Engadget didn't notice much of a real-world impact of the new M3 chip (despite Geekbench scores showing a 16% improvement over the M2). However, it does point out that the chip makes the tablet slightly more future-proofed.

Like Wired, Engadget thinks Apple should have upgraded the Air's screen tech to the iPad Pro's mini LED panel from a few years ago. The combo of a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits brightness (1,600 nits for HDR content) would, it says, "be a major improvement" given how popular iPads are for watching video. Then again, it also admits that "the iPad Air’s screen remains quite lovely."

In conclusion, Engadget says, "the Air remains a clear upgrade over the base iPad," thanks to its "improved display, stronger performance, more robust multitasking experience and better accessories." But also that most people who want "just a good iPad" likely wouldn't miss the Air's upgrades.

The iPad Air M3 verdict

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Despite some minor differences of opinion, there's a clear consensus in the iPad Air M3 reviews – all reviewers think it's a fine mid-range tablet if a slightly boring, incremental upgrade.

The new Air may also potentially be caught in between two stools. The refreshed base iPad remains better value for those who simply want an Apple tablet (and don't care about Apple Intelligence), while the cost of the iPad Air M3 configurations can mount to the point where the iPad Pro M4 might be the better bet (particularly if you need a 13-inch screen).

The main reasons for picking an iPad Air over the base iPad are its M3 chip and Apple Pencil Pro compatibility. The iPad Pro M3, meanwhile, offers a much better OLED display, an M4 chip, Face ID, a Lidar sensor, and better speakers.

But most reviews also concluded that, if the latter aren't important to you, the new Air remains a fine tablet, with the 11-inch model being the sweet spot for size and price.

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Metallica is coming to Vision Pro. The legendary thrash metal band known for their distinctive melodies and razor-sharp lyrics are now contained within Apple's $3,499 mixed-reality headset.

Vision Pro's latest immersive music experience is Metallica performing hits for a crowd of 65,000 fans in Mexico City. Apple filmed the band last year using 14 "Apple Immersive Video Cameras." While we hoped Apple was referring to the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive, a nearly $30,000 dual-lens 8K camera system built specifically to capture Vision Pro content, Apple let us know it was not that high-end system.

In a release on the experience, Apple says the immersive 180-degree video will put you onstage, giving you "unprecedented access" to band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo.

The cameras were also set up backstage and inside the legendary "Snake Pit," a mosh-pit space for super fans in the middle of the concert stage.

(Image credit: Apple)

Positioning all those 180-degree cameras on and around the stage (some were on pulleys over the stage, some were on remote-controlled dolleys) puts you in the action as Metallica reminds you to "sleep with one eye open" in Sandman and encourages you to "Bang your head against the stage like you never did before" in Whiplash.

They also play the hit One, but the Vision Pro footage does not give you access to the full nearly two-hour concert.

For Metallica and Vision Pro fans, the new immersive video is good news. Still, if you happen to be a Metallica fan without a pricey headset, you can, starting March 14, book a Vision Pro demo at your local Apple Store, where you'll get to watch Metallica perform Whiplash.

Fade to black

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple has been steadily building up its immersive content library with short films like the harrowing Submerged and animations/games like Marvel's What If…? An Immersive Story.

These are compelling showcases of Vision Pro's formidable capabilities. Watching a standard movie about a sinking submarine differs from watching an immersive 3D experience where it feels like you're going under with the sub.

It's also quite memorable to stand almost nose-to-nose with a tightrope walker traversing an expanse between two towering rock edifices or go ice diving with some intrepid Arctic explorers.

Each of these experiences is unforgettable in its own way, but one gets the sense that Apple is still struggling to connect with consumers on these devices.

$3,500 is a significant investment for a headset that will mostly cut you off from those around you, not counting the creepy EyeSight when you wear it.

Apple is clearly deeply invested in the Vision Pro content ecosystem. Still, no amount of compelling content or even Apple Intelligence integration will turn Vision Pro into a must-buy for cash-strapped consumers. Apple probably needs to lower the price and hurry up with the lower-cost Vision Pro alternative.

Nearly two years after Apple first unveiled the Vision Pro headset, it's clear that if Apple doesn't do something, the bell may soon toll for its immersive headset.

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• Some HP laser printers are being blocked following a firmware update
• Affected models include LaserJet MFP M232-M237
• HP says it is aware of a “limited” issue

Already in trouble for blocking or reducing the performance of third-party ink cartridges, HP has now been accused of blocking legitimate HP-branded toner in some laser printer models.

Firmware version 20250209, released on March 4, now looks to be causing issues for owners of the LaserJet MFP M232-M237 models.

According to Ars Technica, the update was only meant to address “security updates,” a “regulatory requirement update,” “general improvements and bug fixes.”

HP is blocking its own ink?

Users on HP’s support forum have been reporting seeing error code 11 and flashing toner lights after the update, preventing them from being able to print.

One wrote: “I installed this toner cartridge about a month ago, with no issues. But today suddenly an error code 11 popped up which means the printer doesn't accept / recognize the cartridge any more.”

Moreover, basic troubleshooting measures like cleaning the contacts and reinstalling the toner do not seem to resolve the issue.

Although the company has already been tied with dodgy firmware updates that impact printing quality and performance with certain inks, it looks like this might not be a case of intended consequences. The company shared with TechRadar Pro:

“We are aware of a firmware issue affecting a limited number of HP LaserJet 200 Series devices and our team is actively working on a solution. For assistance, affected customers can contact our support team at: https://support.hp.com.”

HP aside, it’s a busy week for printers, with Brother recently being accused of throttling certain devices with firmware updates in a similar manner to HP – something the company has actually denied doing. Brother partially blamed reduced performance on third-party ink quality, but said that firmware throttling claims were “false.”

TechRadar Pro has asked HP for an update on the situation, but we have not received a response.

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• Hard drives are getting larger, but performance is a problem in data centers
• Meta sees QLC flash as a solution, bridging the gap between HDDs and TLC
• With 512TB QLC SSDs planned, Meta is shifting away from E1.S and E3

Hard disk drives are still the go-to storage choice for most data centers, mainly because they are cheaper and use less power than TLC flash.

But while HDDs are getting ever larger, their input/output performance hasn’t kept up. As a result, bandwidth per terabyte has been shrinking, forcing data centers to move frequently accessed data to TLC flash or overprovision storage.

In a recent Facebook Engineering blog post, Meta outlined its approach to integrating QLC flash as a solution to these challenges. QLC flash has existed since 2009, but adoption has been slow due to limited capacity, high cost, and lower write endurance.

QLC SSDs are the future

Meta explained it sees QLC as the middle ground between HDDs and TLC SSDs. The technology delivers enough performance for workloads that previously relied on 16TB and 20TB HDDs and supports large batch I/O tasks that need more than HDDs can offer. Since most power consumption in flash storage comes from writes, QLC’s lower write activity makes it a feasible, energy-efficient option.

While QLC is currently cheaper than TLC, it is not yet at a price point for widespread deployment. The power savings make it an attractive option for certain workloads however, and recent advancements are making the flash format more practical. The arrival of the 2Tb QLC NAND die and the widespread use of 32-die stacks are driving higher storage density and QLC SSDs are expected to scale faster than TLC. This will ultimately help to improve server efficiency while lowering costs.

Meta is planning for QLC SSDs to reach capacities as large as 512TB and sees E1.S and E3 form factors as dead on arrival for its needs. Instead, it intends to focus on U.2-15mm and Pure Storage’s DirectFlash Module for scaling QLC in its infrastructure.

Meta is also refining its storage software to handle the high-density nature of QLC. Since QLC SSDs have a large gap between read and write speeds, proper scheduling is needed to maintain performance.

As QLC technology advances, Meta expects its role in data centers to grow, a view that's shared by StorageReview.

The site's Brian Beeler writes, “Our testing has reinforced QLC’s role in AI storage. A recent deep dive explored how Solidigm’s D5-P5336 QLC SSD performs in checkpointing workloads for AI model training. These tests showed that while TLC SSDs still lead in write-heavy environments, QLC SSDs hold their own regarding capacity, efficiency, and read performance - making them a strong option for AI pipelines.“

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• Mufasa: The Lion King arrives on Disney+ on March 26
• Despite earning a lot at the box office, the movie has a disappointing 57% Rotten Tomatoes score
• It recently joins Moana 2 among the line-up of original Disney movies

Disney+ is expanding its library this month, as Mufasa: The Lion King arrives on one of the best streaming services on March 26, so you can bring the thrill of the Pride Lands to your own home. This follows other new movies, such as Moana 2 which arrives on Disney+ on Wednesday, March 12.

Despite the box office success of the original animated movie, though, Mufasa: The Lion King won't be added to our Best Disney+ movies roundup due to its disappointing 57% Rotten Tomatoes score. Still, if you want to watch the film and decide for yourself, it'll soon be available to stream.

Now is the perfect time to try out Disney+, as there's a great Hulu bundle deal available so you can check out the finest the streaming services have to offer.

Disney+ and Hulu ad-supported bundle: was $10.99 per month now $2.99 at Hulu and Disney+
A bundle normally priced at $10.99 per month, you'll save 72% with this great Disney+-Hulu offer. It's for the ad-supported versions of both services and lasts for four months, after which the price goes up to $10.99 per month if you don't cancel. The offer runs until March 31, though, so be sure to snap it up while you can!View Deal

Is Mufasa: The Lion King a sequel?

(Image credit: Disney / YouTube)

If you're curious where Mufasa: The Lion King falls into the timeline, it's technically classified as a prequel and a sequel. This is because it's set after the events of the 2019 remake, The Lion King, while also exploring Mufasa's formative years, so it covers an extensive timeline.

Once again, there's a huge cast attached to this movie, such as Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara.

Additional voices include Mads Mikkelsen and Seth Rogen, the latter of who just snagged a big new comedy at Apple TV+.

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• Apple has added two new services to its Apple One services subscription bundle
• Its new Invites app has been added, with News+ Food following in April this year
• Despite this bundle saving money on multiple service subscriptions, we're not entirely convinced it's worth it

For the past five years, Apple One has been helpful when it comes to saving you money on Apple’s growing list of services from Apple News+ to Apple Music, bundling them under one subscription umbrella for a lower monthly fee for three different tiers; Individual, Family, and Premier. In a recent update, Apple has added two new perks to its Premier plan, possibly to entice more customers, but is its near $40 monthly fee justifiable?

In the past few weeks, Apple has added its new Apple Invites app to the Apple One Premier bundle and will add Apple News+ Food to the mix in the upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates. Apple One Premier already packs Apple News, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness, and Apple Arcade with the added bonus of 2TB of iCloud storage, standing at $37.95/ £36.95 a month, while its Individual ($19.95/ £18.95) and Family ($25.95/ £24.95) tiers cost less, but don’t offer Apple News or Apple Fitness.

Apple One price plans start at $19.95 a month for the Individual tier. (Image credit: Apple )

Not only is Invites an Apple One newcomer but it’s one of the latest additions to Apple’s long line of services, providing a space for users to get more organized with event planning. Aside from sending out invites, which is implied in the service's name, you can curate and add descriptions to your events, and even create a guestlist to keep track of your RSVPs.

The second new benefit in the Premier plan is Apple News+ Food, which is due to roll out to Apple One in the upcoming iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates in April. As its name implies, this new service will pack all things food and recipes, but what’s more exciting is that the new service will offer content about restaurants, and guides on healthy eating and kitchen essentials all from leading publications including Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and more. For those who thrive in the kitchen, this could be a useful app.

How much money are you actually saving?

Bundle services like Apple One have one main aim: to save you money. But outside of that, it’s clear that subscriptions like this one are designed to get you signed up to as many of Apple’s services as possible. There’s also the high chance that you wouldn’t take advantage of all of the services on offer (I know I wouldn’t), which makes bundles like this rather off-putting if you know you won’t use them to the full extent. With that said, here’s a price break-down of individual apps compared to the Apple One Premier tier.

This means that you'd be saving $29/ £27.99 a month if you subscribed to all six of Apple One Premier's services at once, but even so, is there any point in paying for something you know you'll never use, even if you aren't really paying for it?

Is it enough to entice non-subscribers? I’m not entirely convinced

Though Apple One reads as a helpful and money-saving resource bundle on paper, I'm not if all of its services would genuinely be taken advantage of by a single subscriber - especially when many of us rely on alternatives such as Spotify, Strava, and even the BBC Breaking News app to guide us through the day. At least these are the services I use.

As convincing as Apple Premier One sounds, my stubborn-mindedness wouldn't pay for something I know I would never use. I'm talking Apple Arcade, and even Apple News+ for current affairs, which I can easily replace with updates from social media and the web. Even if it will save me money, I'd rather just not pay for it altogether.

The only services I could really see myself using are Apple Fitness+ and the upcoming News+ Food add-on, but even then, that's what I use Strava and TikTok food recipes for.

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• Apple will soon end support for its old HomeKit architecture
• A note about the change was spotted in the iOS 18.4 beta source code
• After upgrading, you will no longer be able to use an iPad as a Home Hub

It looks like Apple will soon require all users to upgrade to the latest HomeKit architecture – which is bad news if you're currently using an iPad as a Home Hub.

The source code for the third beta version of iOS 18.4, which was released to developers earlier this week and seen by 9to5Google, contains a string warning users that support for the old version of Apple Home will end soon and that they should upgrade to the new architecture now "to avoid interruptions" to their smart home devices.

The new HomeKit architecture is intended to be faster, more efficient, and more reliable, but until now, it's been voluntary. In fact, some users have deliberately delayed as long as possible because after upgrading, they will no longer be able to use an iPad as a Home Hub to control their smart home devices.

Home is where the hub is

Reactions to the news have been mixed, with some users on the HomeKit subreddit expressing shock that anyone would have held off upgrading this long, while others are left frustrated at the prospect of having to change their hardware.

Comment from r/HomeKit

If you currently use an iPad as your HomeKit Hub, don't panic – you may already have another device you can use instead. Apple HomePod speakers will work as hubs for your smart home system, as will an Apple TV. You can see Apple's guide to setting up a Home Hub here for more details.

You'll probably have some time to plan your next move, too. iOS 18.4 is currently in beta and expected to roll out next month.

Still, it seems likely that the HomeKit upgrade won't become mandatory until the launch of iOS 19, which is expected to arrive in November, along with the rumored Apple HomePod Hub – which could prove to be an ideal iPad alternative for use around the home.

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• Leaked footage from inside Sony Interactive Entertainment showed off an AI-powered character
• Horizon's Aloy was used as the prototype, harnessing OpenAI tech
• This could be an hint at the future use of AI in PlayStation games

Future PlayStation games could have generative AI-powered characters if this leak is anything to go by.

A video posted by X (formerly Twitter) user Oliver Darko shows what appears to be leaked footage of a presentation by Sharwin Raghoebardajal, a director of software engineering at Sony Interactive Entertainment, discussing work on an AI prototype as part of Sony’s PlayStation Studios Advanced Technology Group.

The footage (sadly, it's not available to embed) showed Raghoebardajal interacting with an AI-powered Aloy from the Horizon series; it would appear this prototype has been created with the help of developer Guerrilla Games.

Raghoebardajal asks this AI Alyo “How are you?”, and after a pause, she responds, complete with accurate facial moments, that she’s ok but is “dealing with a sore throat”. The interaction feels a tad stifled and a little ‘uncanny valley’ but demonstrates generative AI in action.

The conversation then evolves into Raghoebardajal asking about the premise of the Horizon series and - *spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn* - how Aloy feels about being a clone. She responds it’s a unique feeling.

The Verge got access to the full video and repeated that the prototype uses OpenAI’s Whisper speech-to-text tech, Sony's own Emotional Voice Synthesis to generate a somewhat realistic voice, and large-language models GPT-4 and Llama 3 to power AI Aloy’s decision-making.

While this is very much a prototype and has some clear obstacles to overcome, like faster responses and less stilted speech, it’s an interesting demonstration of how AI tech could be used in games.

This is just a glimpse of what is possible,” said Raghoebardajal, The Verge reported.

A new horizon for AI in games?

(Image credit: Sony/PlayStation)

The natural reaction to this tech would be a concern that generative AI could be used to potentially replace voice actors and writers in the gaming industry. While I think that’s a legitimate concern worthy of deeper discussion and scrutiny, from this demo it doesn’t seem like generative AI is anywhere near up to the task of replacing the quality of speech and narrative delivered by human development teams, certainly not for AAA games.

However, much like Horizon Call of the Mountain was used as a high-end showcase for all the features of PSVR 2, there’s scope that the same approach could be used to create a spin-out game or virtual experience using AI and the Horizon setting.

I could imagine a short-form experience where you visit a handful of small hubs across both Horizon games and interact with their inhabitants, who use generative AI tech to answer questions and serve up observations.

Equally, given the extensive lore in the Horizon universe, I could see an AI-powered Aloy being used as some form of in-game or app-based companion to serve up information about certain parts of the world or how to tackle some of the robotic enemies.

I know from my experience taking on some of the larger dinosaur-like machines in Horizon Forbidden West I could’ve done with someone or something directing me on what to target instead of me speedily scanning for vulnerable parts while desperately avoiding unnervingly accurate, health bar-deleting attacks.

Of course, Sony appears to be very much at the experimental stage here, and I doubt we’ll see a deluge of AI in PS5 games anytime soon. But I’d also be surprised if AI wasn't used in PlayStation games further down the line, say when the PS6 arrives.

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• President Trump picks Sean Plankey as CISA director
• Plankey also served as part of Trump's previous administration
• CISA faces potential turbulence under Trump

President Trump has announced Sean Plankey as his pick for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director in Sean Plankey.

Plankey’s nomination will be heard before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and if confirmed, he will head up the agency following some potentially interesting directional changes. This follows the news that the US is set to pause cyber-offensive operations against Russia, despite CISA reaffirming its commitment to defending against all cyber-threats, “including from Russia”.

Prior to the 2024 election, Plankey predicted a second Trump presidency would bring “more pointed measures at [our] adversaries,” anticipating a landscape with “more delineation between competitive nations versus adversarial ones.”

A supportive President?

Considering President Trump’s appointment of some pretty controversial cabinet members, Plankey does seem a more balanced pick, as he hold qualifications for the role. This includes experience as weapons and tactics branch chief at US Cyber Command, and global head of cybersecurity software for Indigo Vault - a post-quantum encryption document protection platform.

Industry professionals like Brian Harrell have previously praised Plankey’s appointment, calling him a “straight shooter” who will refocus CISA towards risk reduction and protection against adversaries.

In the first Trump administration, Plankey served as Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy, Security, and Emergency Response (CESER).

President Trump created CISA in 2018 with the aim of protecting government agencies and US infrastructure from cyberattacks and digital threats. Trump was “definitely supportive of cybersecurity issues”, in his previous administration, Plankey confirmed, so the partnership is certainly well established.

“For all the misinformation and disinformation on President Trump’s goals, our cybersecurity positions are not radical,” Plankey said before the election.

“Use cyberspace operations strategically and tactically to achieve U.S. national security goals. This is how you effectively protect the interests of America and if this is radical then the disinformation campaign has won."

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• In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, up $2.5bn year-on-year
• Scams originating online outperformed more traditional methods
• The elderly are no longer the ones losing most money

American citizens lost $12.5 billion to different kinds of fraud in 2024, a new report from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has claimed, meaning the number is up by $2.5 billion compared to the year before.

Fraud is not getting more frequent, the FTC says, but it is getting more expensive. One in three people who reported fraud in 2024 said they lost money, up from one in four last year.

Of the $12.5 billion, a huge chunk (more than $3 billion) came from scams that originated online, heavily outpacing the roughly $1.9 billion lost to more traditional scams (phone calls, for example). Phone calls, however, led to higher total losses, with victims losing a median of $1,500 per person, and scams going through bank transfers and payments accounted for $2 billion in losses, more than any other payment method. Cryptocurrency scams came in second with $1.4 billion drained.

Investment scams

Investment scams were the real money-makers for fraudsters, FTC further said, with four in five (79%) people who reported an investment scam actually losing money. The median loss was north of $9,000. Total losses from investment scams hit $5.7 billion, a $1 billion increase from last year.

Social media continues to be a major risk factor, as well, with seven in ten people who were contacted by scammers on social platforms losing money. Total losses through these platforms reached $1.9 billion, it was said.

One particular scam format - fake jobs - skyrocketed over the last half a decade. Between 2020 and 2024, reports nearly tripled, and losses ballooned from $90 million to $501 million.

Interestingly enough, the older generation is no longer the one losing most money. Those aged 20-29 reported losing money more often than any other age group. However, the elderly (70+) suffered far worse financial damage than any other demographic.

Via BleepingComputer

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• A leaker claims Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch on April 17 for PS5
• Preorders open on March 25 and there will be a Standard and Premium Edition to choose from
• Preordering the Premium Edition will allow two days early access

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is reportedly coming to PlayStation 5 next month.

That's according to the reliable leaker Billbil-kun for French outlet Dealabs, who claims that after a few months of Xbox and PC exclusivity, MachineGames' first-person action-adventure game will finally be released for PS5 on April 17, 2025 (via Eurogamer).

The game was recently spotted on the ESRB website and a French user on X / Twitter also spotted a PS5 listing that originally mentioned a May 30 release date before the same user said it was changed to April 17, days later.

Billbil-kun claims that the PS5 version will be up for preorder on March 25, 2025, in Europe and that there will be two versions of the game available at launch, including a Standard and Premium Edition.

The leaker was unable to find any information about a potential PS5 Collector's Edition.

Billbil-kun has a strong previous track record of PlayStation-related leak accuracy so this is definitely one to take notice of.

Just like the Xbox and PC versions, players who preorder the Premium Edition will be able to play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle two days early, on April 15.

It's also said that both the Standard and Premium Editions will be available as physical copies and be priced the same as the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S versions.

So this means the Standard will cost $69.99 / £69.99 / €79.99, while the more expensive Premium Edition will cost $99.99 / £99.99 / €109.99.

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• OpenAI throws its hat into the AI agent ring
• New tools include Responses API and Agents SDK
• Several new tools also launched to make its agents smarter and more effective

OpenAI has launched its bid to lead the AI agent race with the release of several new tools, including an agent builder platform, aimed at bringing the technology to more businesses than ever before.

The company has revealed a host of new tools which it says will help its platform to evolve and, “help developers and enterprises build useful and reliable agents,” providing, "the first building blocks for developers and enterprises".

The new releases include Responses API, several new built-in tools including web and file search functions, and a new Agents SDK (software development kit) looking to help streamlining the building of agents.

New APIs, and new tools to boot

“We believe agents will soon become integral to the workforce, significantly enhancing productivity across industries,” an OpenAI blog post announcing the news stated. “As companies increasingly seek to leverage AI for complex tasks, we're committed to providing the building blocks that enable developers and enterprises to effectively create autonomous systems that deliver real-world impact.”

“Our goal is to give developers a seamless platform experience for building agents that can help with a variety of tasks across any industry.”

The new Responses API builds on several of the company’s existing services, with OpenAI saying it, “combines the simplicity of Chat Completions with the tool-use capabilities of the Assistants API.”

The aim, unsurprisingly, is to make building agents much quicker and more straightforward for developers, allowing them to solve complex tasks with multiple models, without the complexity of integrating multiple APIs or external providers.

These will be supported by a number of new built-in tools which should make the agents themselves smarter and more effective.

These include web search, which can quickly provide up-to-date answers from web-based sources, file search, which does the same, but with the file library on your device or within your business, and computer use, which enables agents to complete tasks typically done on a computer, such as automatically diagnosing and fixing technical issues, or everyday tasks like scheduling meetings or handling emails.

For those developers or businesses which want that extra level of customization and personalization, the new Agents SDK allows them to build single and multi-agent workflows to their exact requirements.

OpenAI says the open source platform can offer greater power and flexibility than its previous Swarm tool, making it ideal for tasks such as customer support automation, multi-step research, content generation, code review, and sales prospecting.

Developers will be able to integrate Agents SDK into their Python codebases, and will work with models from other providers which provide a Chat Completions style API endpoint.

All the new services are available now to OpenAI subscribers at no extra cost, with the company promising additional tools and capabilities soon.

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• Severance star Dichen Lachman doesn't know when filming will begin on season 3
• Director/producer Ben Stiller has confirmed its scripts are being written
• Lachman hopes to find out when it'll start shooting before the end of March

It appears that Severance actor Dichen Lachman has more in common with her character Gemma/Ms. Casey than we realized.

Indeed, speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Lachman revealed she had no idea when filming on the hugely popular Apple TV Original's third season will commence. That's in spite of the sci-fi mystery thriller's director/producer Ben Stiller confirming that work is underway of season 3's scripts.

Hope springs eternal, though, for anyone who might be disappointed by that update. With the final episode of Severance season 2 set to debut on March 21, Lachman said she's due to attend a post-season 2 finale event in LA on March 22. She hopes, then, to learn more about Severance season 3's filming schedule in the near future.

Please try to enjoy this disappointing season 3 filming update, everyone (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

"I'm so in the dark!" Lachman told me with a smile. "I'm very much like Gemma in that respect. It's like art imitating life that's imitating art. I'm very separated from the rest of the cast. You know, most of them live in New York, but I'm here in London.

"I'm sure there's stuff going on, but I'm not like privy to it," Lachman added. "Maybe when I see them in late March, I'll get some little tidbits. But yeah, I don't have any insider information."

When will Severance season 2 episodes 9 and 10 be released on Apple TV+?

Will Gemma be rescued from her Lumon purgatory in season 2's final two episodes? (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

We don't know when principal photography will start on Severance's third season, but we do know when season 2's last couple of episodes will air on Apple TV+.

If you're in the US, you'll be able to watch episode 9 on one of the world's best streaming services at 6PM PT / 9PM ET on Thursday, March 13. The season 2 finale will be released at the same time one week later, too – i.e., at 6PM PT / 9PM ET on Thursday, March 20.

UK viewers can tune into season 2's last two episodes at 1AM GMT on March 14 and March 21. That's an hour earlier than this season's first eight episodes, which is down to the clocks going forward in the US.

As for Australian fans, one of the best Apple TV+ shows' next two chapters will be available from 12PM AEDT on March 14 and March 21.

I'm expecting season 2's final two installments to be explosive and shocking affairs – and you can bet that I'll be covering them in-depth once they've launched on Apple's streaming service. So, be sure to check back in with TechRadar this Friday and the next for a breakdown (and more theories!) about one of 2025's hottest TV shows.

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• Nvidia RTX 5060 has been spotted in a French retailer’s product listing
• That product page is for an Acer gaming PC, and it gives us a couple of specs
• The RTX 5060 is (once again) shown to purportedly have 8GB of video RAM, and it’s GDDR7 memory

Nvidia’s RTX 5060 GPU has been sighted in a retailer’s product listing of an Acer desktop PC, adding another rumor to the growing pile of speculation that these are the next Blackwell models to launch (perhaps very soon).

VideoCardz reports that regular leaker @momomo_us on X noticed the listing at a French retailer, EvoPC.

It’s a product page for an Acer Nitro N50 gaming PC (still live, at the time of writing) which has an RTX 5060 graphics card, and we get a couple of small spec details about this GPU too.

Obviously regard all of this with a sizeable helping of skepticism, but the RTX 5060 is listed as having 8GB of VRAM and the type of memory is shown as GDDR7.

It’s already been rumored that Nvidia will use GDDR7 video RAM for all its Blackwell graphics cards – save perhaps for the RTX 5050, if the desktop version does indeed exist, as claimed – so this tallies with existing rumors. As does the allocation of 8GB of VRAM for the RTX 5060, for that matter.

(Image credit: Pexels) Analysis: Another round of the video RAM blues?

Another rumor pointing to 8GB of video RAM for the vanilla RTX 5060 is going to cause groans from gamers who weren’t impressed that the RTX 4060 stuck at this level, let alone its successor. But it’d hardly be a surprise given that the RTX 5070 also maintained 12GB of video memory (again, to the disappointment of many).

Nvidia may argue that this new GDDR7 RAM is much faster – and it is, for sure – and that the company has tricks up its sleeve to make leaner VRAM loadouts work better (such as RTX Neural Texture Compression). The trouble with those AI boosts is that they won’t apply across the board – they’re only for supported games – and so the overall picture of where we’ll end up with this eventually is muddy.

I suspect, however, like many out there, that Nvidia is underequipping the RTX 5060 (and the 5070) VRAM-wise, for any real level of future-proofing anyway.

As you may recall, Nvidia is supposedly keeping the same formula as Lovelace for the RTX 5060 Ti, too, meaning there’ll theoretically be both 8GB and 16GB spins on that GPU (and again, the latter will offer more VRAM than its higher-tier sibling, the RTX 5070). So, for those who do want a better level of protection against the VRAM blues, there should hopefully be the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB – albeit with the prospect of it exacting a less-than-fair toll on your wallet. (Bearing firmly in mind that all this is rumors, of course).

The grapevine also reckons that the RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti might be revealed in March, very soon – perhaps even later this week, or early next week – and these GPUs could go on sale later in March, or in April, when we might see the RTX 5050, too. The hope is that the latter could be a truly wallet-friendly Blackwell graphics card, fingers crossed.

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• The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann has revealed that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will be about "faith and religion"
• The team spent years developing "this new religion" that takes place on one planet
• Druckmann said the player will crash land on this planet and need to figure out how to escape, saying, "I want you to be lost in a place that you're really confused about what happened here"

Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has revealed new details about the studio's new game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

In an almost one-hour-long Sony 'Creator to Creator' discussion, Druckmann, alongside 28 Years Later director Alex Garland, sat down to discuss their mutual inspirations and their respective process in how they each tackle their creative process.

On the topic of Naughty Dog's next major title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann revealed that it will take place "2000 years in an alternate future that deviates in the late 80s". The game director then joked that the game will receive less hate than the divisive The Last of Us: Part 2, since it's about "faith and religion".

"I joke about this with the team," Druckmann said, "With The Last of Us 2, we made certain creative decisions that got us a lot of hate. A lot of people love it, but a lot of people hate that game," to which Garland said, "Who gives a sh*t."

"Exactly. But the joke is like, you know what, let's do something that people won't care as much about. Let's make a game about faith and religion," Druckmann said.

Speaking more on the game's narrative, Druckmann added, "So there is not only in this alternate history timeline, we've made this - where the where the timeline deviates - this new religion becomes pretty prominent and then we spend years just building out this religion like from the original prophet all the way [to] how it gets like changed and sometimes bastardised and evolves over all these years."

Druckmann continued, revealing that this religion takes place on one planet until, one day, all communication suddenly stops. The playable character and bounty hunter, Jordan A Mun, who is chasing her bounty, eventually crash lands on this planet alone and is left to figure out how to escape.

On top of tackling faith and religion, Druckmann said that he wanted to also focus on isolation.

"So many of the previous games we've done there's always like an ally with you," he said. "I really want you to be lost in a place that you're really confused about what happened here, [about] who are the people here, what was their history, and in order to get off this planet like, again no one has been heard from this planet for 600 years, so if you ever have hoped to have a chance to get off you have to figure out what happened here."

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet doesn't have a release date just yet, but we can expect the game to get a PS5 launch.

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• PwC study finds more than half of investors predict global economic growth
• They want businesses to invest more in upskilling - especially around AI
• Environmental factors still influence decisions

The business world has high expectations for generative AI tools in the year ahead, with hopes specifically that efficiency and business growth will see positive impacts, new research has claimed.

PwC’s recent survey of investors and analysts revealed around three-quarters (74%) believe the tech will boost productivity, outpacing the global average of 66%, which means that three in five now anticipate increased profitability.

More broadly, investors appear to be optimistic about the broader economic outlook, with more than half (53%) anticipating global economic growth over the next 12 months.

AI is driving economic growth after all

The figures mirror another recent PwC study of company CEOs, 61% of whom expect to see global economic growth this year.

Artificial intelligence’s impacts aren’t just limited to financial benefits, though; scaling the business (61%), measuring ROI (42%), shaping stakeholder perception (43%) and enhancing workforce impact (43%) were also noted as the tech’s biggest opportunities.

“GenAI has been a game changer for businesses worldwide, but investors now expect it to deliver real, measurable value," noted PwC UK Asset & Wealth Management Leader Albertha Charles.

Looking ahead, investors are more keen for companies to upskill their workforce (77%) than deploy artificial intelligence at scale (72%), highlighting the crucial role human workers are to play in the AI revolution.

Charles added: “As AI adoption accelerates, investors will be watching closely to see how leaders balance technology with upskilling their workforce to unlock meaningful gains in profit and productivity.”

Despite the optimism, investors are still keeping an eye on macroeconomic volatility (39%), geopolitical conflict (35%) and cyber risks (34%). Three-quarters (74%) also noted that they’d be looking to increase investment in companies who are working with suppliers and communities to build sustainable supply chains, highlighting the environmental weighting on decision-making.

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• Design company AndoAndoAndo released a turntable-inspired wrist watch
• The design takes inspiration from the classic Technics SL-1200
• Shipping rolls out in April, but the collection is limited to only 30 pieces

Design company AndoAndoAndo is taking the Hamilton Brothers' funky bop Music Makes the World Go Round quite seriously in its upcoming release of wrist watches, which are an ode one of the world's best turntables. The company’s latest creative venture takes the legendary DJ turntable, the Technics SL-1200, and reimagines it as an automatic wrist watch for music and vinyl fans alike – making it the tiniest turntable I’ve ever seen (albeit one that can't actually spin a tune), and it’s kind of adorable.

Powered by Miyota 9039 Premium automatic movement, the watch is a tiny replica of the legendary DJ turntable which uses a tiny vinyl record as the clock face. Its attention to detail is admirable, going the distance to avoid including numbers in its design and instead using a distinct pattern of dots to indicate the hours, minutes, and seconds. And again, no it can’t spin actual vinyl records nor play music of any kind, but that would be very impressive wouldn’t it?

The larger red disc with the letter 'A' points to the current hour. The smaller red disc indicates seconds past which, when the text returns to its original position, marks the beginning of a new minute. (Image credit: AndoAndoAndo)

It’s a unique take on a classic deck (and a chance to wear your analog-loving heart on your wrist), however it may take some getting used to when it comes to deciphering the actual time – and its designer, Yu Ando, seemingly agrees. When referring to the watch’s minute hand in the product description online, Ando writes: "Yes it's not straight, it's not pointing (to) the minute marker straight, but so you can interpret it in your own way". OK – I still want one.

The minute hand is designed to replicate the turntable’s tonearm, hence its slightly bent shape, and sitting on top of the vinyl record are two spinning discs; a large one with the letter ‘A’ that points to the current hour, and a smaller one that shows the seconds past, which can be difficult to read – although Ando has stated that when the text on the disc is level and back to its original position, that indicates that the zero second has begun.

The watch is available to preorder now, and is available in three different finishes; red, black, and silver, or gold and black both for $438 (which is around £350 or AU$697), or a slightly pricier all-gold version at $455. Shipping will be processed in April, but according to the AndoAndoAndo website there’ll only be 30 pieces made for this edition – so it’s a very limited run indeed.

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• Asus has launched three new monitors using its new built-in air ionizer technology
• Asus claims it removes up to 90% of airborne dust in indoor environments
• One of the monitors is a WQHD ultrawide, which uses a VA panel for better contrast

Asus is shaking things up with its monitors, not only by focusing on high refresh rates and good response times but also by introducing an innovative feature that aims to improve indoor air quality - and it may be something that other monitors should copy.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, Asus has launched three new monitors under the VU series: the VU249HFI-W (24-inch), VU279HFI-W (27-inch), and the VU34WCIP-W (34-inch WQHD ultrawide), all of which maintain a 100Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time - but these aren't just any ordinary monitors - they take advantage of Asus' new built-in air ionizer design.

Asus claims this removes up to 90% of airborne dust, leading to fresher air which could be highly beneficial for office spaces and gaming setups. This is possible thanks to 'Innovative Nano-Ion Technology' that does not require a filter, and instead uses negative ions to eliminate dust, pollen, and allergens - essentially, these monitors will draw air in from their rear to refine your room's air quality.

Both the VU249HFI-W and the VU279HFI-W use IPS panels, which are bright and designed for greater color accuracy - however, the VU34WCIP-W will use a VA panel, which is better for higher contrast ratios and response times (it's still 1ms MPRT in this case) including VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) to ensure that the refresh rate matches the frame rate of gaming or video content.

The specifications of these new monitors may not be the best when compared to other high-end displays from Asus, but it’s still good enough to cater to productivity, gaming, and video content uses. It’s also a good way for Asus to test its new technology on a monitor without all the bells and whistles (at a low cost), with hopes that it becomes a newfound success that inspires other manufacturers to follow suit.

(Image credit: Asus) Now, just use this technology on gaming monitors, and I'll be happy

It might be easy to dismiss Asus' efforts here as simply a gimmick, especially if you're more excited about improvements in terms of display quality - but I'd argue this is a great innovation.

I'm fully aware that there is a chance it won't be widely adopted by Asus for its other monitors or by other manufacturers - but this could help reduce the dust buildup I'm sure we all hate with our desktop setups. If this saves me from having to regularly clean my desktop (and the desk itself), then I’d be very interested in using one of these monitors in the future.

Price and availability are currently dependent on your region, but the standout choice for me, the VU34WCIP-W model, is currently available at various US retailers for $359 (around £280 / AU$570).

Ultrawide monitors with 3440x1440 resolutions have always been my go-to for productivity and gaming - and don't get me wrong, I'd never choose this over my Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED or the PG49WCD super ultrawide monitor Asus sent me for testing, but it has me hoping this can somehow be used for gaming monitors. Let's just hope the air-purifying quality is good enough (and therefore proves popular enough with consumers) to make that a reality.

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