TechRadar News

Congratulations, you've made it to the end of another week. You know what that means – yep, it's time to kick back and enjoy a plethora of new movies and TV shows that have just landed on the world's best streaming services.

I'll admit that this week's streaming list is very light on the new film front, but at least there are lots of options for TV aficionados to be entertained by. So, without further ado, these are seven things you won't want to miss before Monday arrives. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Love, Death & Robots volume 4 (Netflix)

Netflix's animated anthology series Love, Death and Robots has finally returned with 10 new episodes, each hailing from a different team of talented artists. Indeed, what's so striking about the series is the drastically different visual styles on showcase, from stop motion and hand-painted 3D models to photorealistic CGI.

It's one of the best Netflix shows for this exact reason and has wide appeal because of the different stories it brings to life. In volume 4, you can expect to find a mix of genres again, including horror, sci-fi and fantasy. To give you an idea of the variety, there's even a Red Hot Chilli Pepper music video that David Fincher directed.

If, however, you don't want to go into the series blind and risk falling prey to a jump scare, then make sure to give our episode ranking of Love, Death and Robots volume 4 by fear factor a read to avoid any unwelcome surprises. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Love, Death & Robots volume 4 on Netflix

The Brutalist (Max)

The Brutalist is out now on Max this weekend, and the three-hour-plus movie has received much critical acclaim, making it worthy of a space on our best Max movies round up.

As well as scoring a healthy 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, it also won three Oscars including Best Actor for Adrian Brody and Best Cinematography, so it's no surprise people were excitedly waiting for its streaming release.

The movie is so long, in fact, it had an intermission in theaters, which is a very rare occurrence these days. Watching it in the comfort of your own home, though, means you can choose your own intermission where you can get up and make a cup of tea. Or, you can stay glued to your screen the whole time, and given how good it is I wouldn't blame you if you did! – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch The Brutalist on Max

Overcompensating (Prime Video)

This new Amazon TV Original is a yet another comedy about fraternities, football players, and enjoying the perks that college has to offer. But, before you roll your eyes, it's got a very surprising score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. I guess that's what I get for judging a series by its marketing!

Prime Video's latest offering follows Benny, a football player who struggles with his sexuality. As the title suggests, he starts overcompensating to try and fit in as someone he's not, and the result is a heartfelt comedy show that's really all about self-acceptance.

Those who love coming-of-age-dramas will likely have a good time with Overcompensating, which should join our best Prime Video shows hub by virtue of its high RT rating. It's also soundtracked by Charli XCX, so you can expect some catchy tunes along the way. – LB

• Watch Overcompensating on Prime Video

Duster (Max)

J. J. Abrams helms this new Max thriller series, which seems to be a divergence from his usual brand of 'watch out for lens flares!' sci-fi. Instead, he's honing in on the FBI's first Black woman agent as she works to stop a crime syndicate with the assistance of a talented getaway driver.

It's set in the Southwest in 1972, looks like it'll be a very intriguing watch, and is a marked change for projects Abrams is involved in. It's important to note that the characters and their storylines have no direct connection with real-life people or events so, while it may have been inspired by things, it's ultimately a work of fiction. – LB

• Watch Duster on Max

Murderbot (Apple TV+)

You've heard of The Terminator, now get ready for Murderbot. Alexander Skarsgård leads the cast of this new Apple TV+ show, which follows a rogue security robot who secretly gains free will and spends more time trying to decipher humanity than, well, murder people he comes across.

TechRadar recently spoke to Murderbot's cast about, their bias aside, it sounds pretty unique for its primary genre. Sci-fi has done well on Apple TV+ so far, so this looks like another genre-based winner for the tech giant that'll deserve a spot on our best Apple TV+ shows list. – LB

• Watch Murderbot on Apple TV+

Bad Thoughts (Netflix)

New Netflix sketch comedy Bad Thoughts has proven divisive with the critics, which asks the question: what would happen if you actually followed through on your intrusive thoughts.

However, I’m among those that actually had a very good time with this. While it’s not rated highly enough by my peers, I’d still argue it’s worth a go and its controversial brand of comedy will definitely land with some viewers. If you’re a fan of dark comedy and crude humor, then Tom Segura’s latest project might be your ideal binge watch this weekend

You can expect parodies of things like action flicks, disaster movies, and A24 movies, as well as some ridiculous characters, many of which are played by Segura himself. If you’re looking for something quick to watch, its episodes are on the short side, too. – LB

• Watch Bad Thoughts on Netflix

Welcome to Wrexham season 4 (Hulu/Disney+)

The soccer-based docuseries that just keeps on giving, Welcome to Wrexham returned for its fourth season on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally) this week. And, spoilers notwithstanding, it may be the show's most intense installment yet.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McIlhenney, two of Hollywood's most recognizable faces and the owners of Welsh soccer club Wrexham FC, are the driving force behind this program and the sport team's rapid rise up the English football pyramid. But, as always, it's the personal stories of those involved in the day-to-day running of Wrexham FC, plus the local community, that make this such a compelling and oft-times tear-jerking watch.

Season 4's first two episodes are out now and, with new entries releasing weekly, I'm ready to laugh, cry, and learn more about one of the UK's oldest soccer institutions in one of the best Hulu shows' (and best Disney+ shows') latest chapter. – TP

• Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Prime Video movies, best Paramount+ shows, and best Apple TV+ movies.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, May 16 (game #439).

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 #440) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… She's got game

NYT Strands today (game #440) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• RALLY
• SORT
• VETO
• SEEM
• MASK
• BRUT

NYT Strands today (game #440) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #440) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #440) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #440, are…

• LYNX
• WINGS
• STORM
• LIBERTY
• DREAM
• FEVER
• MERCURY
• SPANGRAM: BASKETBALL

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

In my ignorance I thought we were looking for female game characters – and being unfamiliar with game characters male and female, I thought LYNX (which I got from a hint) sounded like a possibility.

It wasn’t until I tapped out the spangram that the penny dropped and I realized we were looking for WNBA team names to coincide with the start of the 2025 season.

Today’s search didn’t include the best-named and newest team to join the league – the Golden State Valkyries.

In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (which means  'chooser of the slain') is a female figure who guides souls of the dead to the god Odin's hall Valhalla. I don’t quite know how this translates to basketball prowess, but it sounds good. Maybe they’ll arrive on court in a longboat.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, May 16, game #439)

• GOWN
• PHOTO
• SPEECH
• DIPLOMA
• TASSEL
• PROCESSION
• SPANGRAM: GRADUATION

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.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 17 (game #705).

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 #706) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MACARONI
• ANIMAL
• KING
• MAIL
• RULER
• SCOOTER
• PLANT
• EMPEROR
• BEAKER
• BACTERIA
• COMMERCE
• SYRINGE
• FUNGUS
• SIGNATURE
• CHINSTRAP
• PROTRACTOR

NYT Connections today (game #706) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Classification of organisms
• GREEN: Tools to measure 
• BLUE: Varieties of flightless bird 
• PURPLE: Precede with a letter

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 #706) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY 
• GREEN: GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS 
• BLUE: KINDS OF PENGUINS 
• PURPLE: "E" THINGS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #706) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #706, are…

• YELLOW: MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANT
• GREEN: GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS BEAKER, PROTRACTOR, RULER, SYRINGE
• BLUE: KINDS OF PENGUINS CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR, KING, MACARONI
• PURPLE: "E" THINGS COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A clear run for me today. My only hesitation was over KINDS OF PENGUINS, as I knew CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR and KING but took a guess with MACARONI as there seemed no likely alternatives.

Meanwhile, I got the group MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY thinking the four words described an evolutionary scale from BACTERIA to FUNGUS to PLANT to ANIMAL. Wrong, but also right.

“E” THINGS is somewhat of a cruel category as there are hundreds of products that have the same prefix. In fact, think of anything and it’s likely that there’s also an “E” version of it – from eAlarm to E-Zips. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 16, game #705)

• YELLOW: KINDS OF PLANTS HERB, SHRUB, TREE, VINE
• GREEN: DISCONTINUE DISSOLVE, END, SCRAP, SUNSET
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS MICHAEL JORDAN, RODEO, TAURUS, WALL STREET
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS HOLLYWOOD, HOURGLASS, KUBRICK, NEUROPLASTIC

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.

• Inkjet-printed OLEDs are very close to mass production
• Samsung Display seems may have solved EL-QD's longevity problem
• Don't pause your new-TV plans if you're currently shopping

The race to find the next big thing in TV tech just passed two big milestones: TCL CSOT – TCL's display-making subsidiary – has demonstrated its inkjet-printed OLED tech at a TV size with panels up to 65 inches, and Samsung Display has demonstrated the potentially OLED-beating EL-QD in a new and brighter version.

IJP OLED and EL-QD are vying to be the next tech that replaces current OLED production, and both are self-emissive technologies like current OLED.

Both are very exciting, but neither's coming to your front room any time soon – and of the two, printed OLEDs are likely to arrive long before EL-QD. But they could both prove to be revolutionary.

Why we're a bit excited about printed OLED and EL-QD

Inkjet-printed OLED panels are the most immediately exciting, because they can be used in a wide range of applications: phones, tablets, laptops, PC monitors, TVs, car dashboards... pretty much anywhere you might want to put a display.

TCL has showed inket-printed 65-inch panels before: an early prototype in 2021, and a curved prototype in 2023. But this one is much closer to production than before, and some of the smaller panels TCL showed off included a new oxide backplane that apparently delivers faster response times and lower power consumption.

Although TCL CSOT says that it has become "the first manufacturer to commercialise a complete family bucket of IJP [inkjet printed] OLED products", we're not pausing our new-TV plans just yet: any new panel technology starts off eye-wateringly expensive until yields improve and costs come down.

IJP OLED is still very much an OLED tech in that it uses organic material to create self-emissive pixels, but structure of the panel is totally different because of the manufacturing process, so it's very much a next-gen OLED rather than just tweaking the current tech.

It has the potential to be more power efficient and cheaper long-term – but it's not quite ready to go.

TCL has told TechRadar directly that it will likely be several years before IJP OLED will be affordable in TVs – but it's landing in smaller screens already.

(Image credit: FlatpanelsHD.com) Is the future bright for EL-QD?

EL-QD sounds like it should be the name of a bullfighter, and Samsung Display is bullish about its prospects: it uses quantum dots as light-emitting diodes and could deliver wider color gamuts, faster response times and lower power consumption than other display technologies.

Like TCL CSOT, Samsung Display was showing off its tech at the SID show in the USA. It brought some printed OLEDs and some bendable ones, but the most technically interesting was EL-QD because Samsung seems to have solved that tech's biggest problem.

So far, EL-QD displays have suffered from a lack of longevity: early versions used cadmium, and that's banned in many countries; without it, the longevity of the blue materials essential to EL-QD wasn't great. But Samsung Display says it has "dramatically increased" the lifespan with its latest cadmium-free prototypes.

That enabled Samsung to make the brightest EL-QD prototype to date, but it still falls far short of the brightness you'd want in your front room: the latest EL-QD panel has 400 nits; many of the best OLEDs deliver over 1,000 nits while my mini-LED TV appears to put out ninety billion nits.

It's also quite a bit smaller than your TV: 18.2 inches with 3,200 x 1,800 pixels.

EL-QD is a long way from production, then – assuming it ever makes it into mass production at all. The future's bright, but it needs to get a lot brighter before it can be an HDR TV.

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• Acer, a company best known for computing components, is releasing a new health-tracking smart ring
• The Acer FreeSense Ring comes in Rose Gold or Black, and will pack 'AI enhanced' wellness insights
• Acer hasn't announced a price of the ring, but it has said there will be no additional subscription fee

Acer has announced the Acer FreeSense Ring, a new health-tracking smart ring offering 'AI enhanced' wellness insights.

It was unveiled at this year's Computex conference in Taipei, and we don't yet know how much the Ring will cost, or when it will go on sale – but we do know that it won't come with any additional subscription fees.

With two color options, Rose Gold (a matte finish) or Black (gloss finish), the Ring will be available in sizes 7-13. It'll weigh between 2-3g, and Acer says it's "crafted from ultra-light titanium alloy."

Even the best smart rings have a plastic interior to better accommodate the sensor array, and we imagine that will also be the case here. It's waterproof-rated at 5ATM, which means it's shower- and swim-safe, but likely not suitable for diving.

The Acer FreeSense sounds a lot like other smart rings from Oura and Samsung, specifically in terms of the data it collects. A press release from Acer states that "the ring tracks vital physiological metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, and sleep quality.

"The data points are analyzed through a companion mobile app, which generates personalized wellness insights and provides suggestions. With features such as sleep stage analysis and continuous tracking, the Acer FreeSense Ring helps encourage proactive health management and lifestyle awareness."

Back in the health & fitness ring

Acer has released smartwatches and fitness trackers in the past with its Acer Leap range, but none of those devices ranked among the best fitness trackers of the era, and never really caught on. With smart rings now a rapidly growing category of health device, this could prove to be a second chance for Acer in the health space.

Acer is also the latest of several smart-ring manufacturer to make a point of the fact that its device doesn't require an additional subscription, as a key selling point to differentiate it from the likes of the Oura Ring 4. With so many health and fitness services now requiring a subscription, it's refreshing to see more companies embracing the one-time-purchase philosophy.

Acer is already busy at Computex this year – in addition to the FreeSense Ring it's also announced a pair of earbuds specifically for translation, a new range of electric bikes, and computing equipment.

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With Computex 2025 now just a few days away, we can expect a whole host of new PC hardware announcements soon – and fortunately, Acer has already made a start on that, with its new Swift and Aspire laptops ready to hit the market for consumers as early as June and, in the case of the ones below, July.

While there are plenty of new Acer devices coming your way, we've cherry-picked a few in particular that stand out the most; the Acer Swift X 14, Swift X 14 AI, the Swift Go 16 AI, and the Acer Aspire 16 AI (Intel).

All of these new laptops share similar specifications, such as processors that are built to provide great performance in a number of scenarios including gaming – most importantly for AI workloads as Copilot+ PCs. But here are the four main things you need to know about Acer's new laptops...

1. Acer's Swift X 14 AI, Swift Go 16 AI, and Aspire's 16 AI laptops will all have OLED displays

(Image credit: Acer)

Yet again, OLED is getting the attention it deserves, and Acer is using OLED panels across a wide range of its new laptops – fortunately, all of these cherry-picked laptops are among them.

The Acer Swift X 14 AI will feature an OLED 14.5 WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) touchscreen display, which will also take advantage of the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification. It's ideal for accurate image quality with deep blacks, with a minimum of 500 nits in brightness.

The Acer Swift Go 16 AI will fare slightly differently, with a 16-inch OLED WUXGA+ (2048 x 1280) display. It uses a lower-resolution panel, but to compensate for the difference in graphics capabilities (which I'll get into soon).

With the Acer Aspire 16 AI, only one of the configurations features an OLED (2048 x 1200) display; unlike the Swift X 14 AI, it won't be touchscreen but its IPS configuration will.

2. All of them will be powerful gaming machines, especially the Swift X 14 AI

(Image credit: Acer)

I must note that these aren't gaming laptops, as they're made for creators using tools like Copilot+. However, both processors and GPUs (including iGPUs) are powerful enough to yield great gaming performance.

The Acer Swift X 14 AI will be the most powerful among the group; configurations up to Nvidia's RTX 5070 (the laptop GPU, including Nvidia Studio Drivers) and AMD's Ryzen AI 9 365 processor will be available, which are both capable of great performance in demanding creative AI workloads, or gaming. Its non-AI counterpart (Swift X 14) will feature up to Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H processor.

While the Swift Go 16 AI and Aspire 16 AI won't feature any discrete GPUs, they'll both be powered by (depending on the configuration) Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V – the same processor and Arc 140V iGPU featured in the MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld gaming PC, known for its great gaming performance.

3. The Swift Go AI models are among the thinnest and lightest Acer laptops

Acer Swift X 14 (Image credit: Acer)

While it packs a powerful processor, fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and an OLED display, Acer claims the Swift Go (its 14-inch model in particular) is "as light as 15.9mm and as light as 1.39kg". To put it simply, this means it will be one of Acer thinnest and lightest laptops, easy for travel and packing – even with its 14-inch screen size.

It's a similar story with the Swift Go 16 AI. While it's not exactly as thin or light as its counterpart, it only weighs 1.6kg, which shouldn't be enough of a noticeable jump in weight.

They will both also take advantage of an "all-day battery life", ensuring you don't miss a beat during productive and creative workflows, and will have a 64Wh battery that should last a claimed 16 hours (likely with adjusted brightness levels or settings).

4. They will be available starting from July going into August

These new Acer laptops in particular will arrive as early as July; the Acer Swift X 14 AI (and Swift X 14) will be available in Europe in July, starting at €1,799 – prices in North America and Australia are yet to be announced, but that converts to around $2,015 / £1,515 / AU$3,140.

Unlike the Swift X 14 AI, the Acer Swift Go 16 AI will be available in Europe in August, starting at €1,299 – again, prices in North America and Australia have not been announced, but that converts to about $1,455 / £1,095 / AU$2,270)

In similar fashion, the Aspire 16 AI (Intel) will be available in Europe in August, starting at €1,099 as the cheapest of the group – there is again currently no word on prices in North America and Australia, but that equates to around $1,230 / £925 / AU$1,920.

It's worth noting that each laptop's price will vary depending on the chosen configuration, which ranges in processors, GPU, RAM, storage, and display.

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The best Marvel Rivals graphics settings can really make the difference in battle, allowing you to make use of higher frame rates, spot enemies more easily, and more. Depending on which console you're playing on, you'll have different options to work with. There are extra bells and whistles for some, allowing for a best-of-both-worlds balance between performance and resolution.

Now that I've played hundreds of hours of Marvel Rivals at this point, I'm in a good position to offer my advice on which graphics setting to pick. I've been playing since Season 0, and have been busy keeping my Marvel Rivals Tier List up to date as Season 2 continues on. After the time spent on my Marvel Rivals review back at launch, I'm impressed that it has managed to evolve with each seasonal update, something that's kept it firmly on my list of the best crossplay games to play in 2025.

Here's my recommendations for the Marvel Rivals best graphics settings, including which mode to pick on PS5 Pro. I'll give some info on each of the three modes, and some additional advice on settings to change to make the game clearer and easier to read.

Marvel Rivals best graphics settings for PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox

(Image credit: NetEase)

Here's an overview of the best graphics settings to use depending on the platform you're playing on. I'll then go into detail for each and offer some additional advice.

• PS5 - High Frame Rate Mode (120 FPS)
• Xbox Series X - High Frame Rate Mode (120 FPS)
• Xbox Series S - Standard Mode
• PS5 Pro - High Framerate Mode

It's worth noting that additional graphics options have been added since launch, like the Pro Mode for the PS5 Pro. Keep an eye on updates via our Marvel Rivals Patch Notes page.

Marvel Rivals best graphics settings for PS5

(Image credit: NetEase)

On PS5, you have two options to choose from: Standard Mode and HFR Mode (High Frame Rate). The former achieves 1440p resolution while hitting a consistent 60fps (frames per second), and HFR Mode boosts things up to 120fps while reducing resolution somewhat. I'd recommend HFR Mode if it's available to you.

You'll need a monitor capable of 120fps or higher, and you will get the best possible advantage over your opponents. You'll be able to react faster and generally have more control over your Hero.

Marvel Rivals best graphics settings for PS5 Pro

(Image credit: NetEase)

Once again, there are two modes to choose from for the PS5 Pro. One of them is exclusive to Sony's most powerful console, however, and it's a great option for those looking for a balance between graphical fidelity and performance.

Pro Mode targets a stable 60fps and delivers higher 4K resolutions. In addition to Lumen Global Illumination, it also features support Lumen Reflections, offering more immersive and dynamic lighting effects for an enhanced visual experience. PS5 Pro also offers higher resolutions in 120fps High Frame Rate Mode.

Personally, I recommend going with High Frame Rate Mode here, as extra frames per second can be crucial to improving your performance in a Competitive game like Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals best graphics settings for Xbox

(Image credit: NetEase)

On Xbox Series X, you have two modes to choose from: Standard Mode and HFR Mode. As with PS5, and especially if you plan on playing Competitive Mode, you'll want to go with HFR Mode. Of course, you'll need a display capable of 120fps and above.

If you're playing on Xbox Series S, you unfortunately only have access to Standard Mode. This still hits 60fps, so you'll be on par with the majority of other players anyway.

Marvel Rivals best graphics settings - enemy outline colors

(Image credit: NetEase)

I also think that there are some extra changes you can make in an effort to make Marvel Rivals a little bit easier to read when you're in battle.

I find that heading to the Accessibility settings and switching the enemy outline to yellow makes it much easier to pick out targets. This is generally because maps tend to have dark purple, blue, and black areas. Yellow stands out more than red does for me personally. If you'd like to take things further, consider my guide on changing your Marvel Rivals crosshairs.

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• Coinbase confirmed suffering a cyberattack recently
• The attack started when crooks bribed the company's employees overseas
• Passwords, and user funds, were not affected

Coinbase, one of the biggest centralized cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, suffered a cyberattack which might cost it between $180 million and $400 million. This is according to Reuters, citing a regulatory filing submitted by the company earlier this week.

The exchange said that on May 11, it received an email from an unknown threat actor who claimed they obtained internal documents, and sensitive data about certain customer accounts. Coinbase later confirmed these claims, saying that only a “small subset” of customers were affected.

The data stolen doesn’t include login credentials or passwords, but Coinbase did say it would reimburse anyone who gave their money to the attackers. To obtain the files, the criminals allegedly paid “multiple contractors and employees” who were working in support roles outside the US.

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Demanding ransom

The individuals involved were identified and subsequently fired. There is no information on possible legal action against them.

The attackers demanded a ransom of $20 million in exchange for the data, which Coinbase refused to pay. Instead, it is now offering that exact amount of money - $20 million - as a bounty to anyone who comes forward with actionable information regarding the hackers’ identities or whereabouts.

Crypto is in a difficult position right now, trying to establish itself as a legitimate industry, while being surrounded by theft, scams, crime, and regulatory pressure. Just a few months ago, ByBit - another major cryptocurrency exchange - was hacked, with North Korean cybercriminals walking away with $1.5 billion in different tokens.

Earlier this May, Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of the bankrupt crypto bank, Celsius Network, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to securities fraud and commodities fraud, and recently - in broad daylight - three individuals tried to kidnap the daughter of a crypto exchange CEO.

At the same time, Reuters is reporting that the SEC took the opportunity to investigate if Coinbase misstated user figures and if it has inadequate KYC practices. Coinbase denied the probing, though.

Via Reuters

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• Nikon Rumors says mirrorless Nikon Zr is coming later in 2025
• Nikon acquired RED in April 2024
• Since takeover, RED has released Z-mount versions of two of its cameras

Nikon could be working on a video-oriented mirrorless camera incorporating technology from RED – at least that's according to a new rumor.

Nikon Rumors posted a story claiming the next camera to be released by Nikon will be a Z-mount model bristling with cinema-focused RED features and tech. The story suggests it could even be called the Nikon Zr or Nikon ZR – the ‘R’ in the name possibly a nod to the RED tech on board.

Other claims in the story are that the camera will have a ‘brick-shaped’ design, without a pentaprism or an electronic viewfinder, and will look something like a cross between the Sony FX3, Nikon Z30 and the blocky look of existing RED cameras like the Komodo or V-Raptor.

It also states that the camera will have the same sensor as the excellent Nikon Z6 III (a 24.5MP partially-stacked full-frame sensor, then) and a ‘very large’ LCD screen. Most mirrorless cameras have 3-inch screens, so we think this suggests a 4-inch or even 5-inch screen is in the offing.

RED's V-Rapter and Komodo cinema cameras are now available in Z-mount editions. (Image credit: Nikon) Nikon is now firmly in the RED

RED, originally founded in the USA in 2007 as RED Digital Cinema, was acquired by Nikon in April 2024 for $85 million. Since then, it has released versions of the Komodo and V-Raptor with the Nikon Z-mount, but it’s long been expected that closer collaborations would emerge from the partnership.

In the wake of the RED purchase, Nikon president Muneaki Tokunari told Nippon.com, “Nikon Corp. aims to expand its market share for cameras by utilizing the video technologies of a U.S. movie camera company acquired in spring.” The rumored Nikon Zr could be the first all-new camera to come with those technologies.

Nikon Rumors believes the camera will be officially announced later in 2025, most likely in the third or fourth quarter. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more hints of what this rumored Nikon Zr might bring to the table.

Filmmakers and cinematographers, what would you like to see from RED-influenced Nikon Z camera? Let us know your dream features in the comments below.

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• The Beako Kiwibit bird feeder camera launches on Amazon on May 20
• It delivers 4K video – that's more detail than our current favorites
• It also has some unique design features, including a pole attachment

We've reviewed most of the best bird feeder cameras, and they're the kind of tech we can truly get behind – literally getting you closer to nature by delivering a close-up view of your feathered garden visitors.

Designed to be left in situ for months and even years on end, bird feeder cameras snap into action when they detect motion, providing a live view and capturing videos of your garden birdlife. The novelty of the remote view and bird notifications doesn't wear off.

However, to date there's been one area where most bird feeder cameras come up short, even our favorite options like the Bird Buddy, and that's image quality – but that could be set to change with the new Beako Kiwibit.

Following the Camojojo, which we're yet to test, the Kiwibit records true 4K video and 8MP stills – that's much more detail than is currently possible with our top-rated bird feeder cameras, which max out at half the resolution.

And that's not all. There are some pretty nifty design features that we haven't seen before, and which could make the Kiwibit one of the most versatile bird feeder cameras available.

(Image credit: Beako) Designed for any garden

Like most of today's bird feeder cameras, the weatherproof Kiwibit is armed with AI-powered bird recognition, informing you which birds have visited from a database exceeding 10,000 species, plus it can be paired with a solar panel for continuous power.

It also has pest deterrents, which are especially useful if squirrels frequent your garden. However, those features are nothing new, and the Kiwibit goes one step further than most options, with multiple mounting options.

In addition to a wall and tree mount common in bird feeder cameras, Kiwibit features a pole mount on its underside, meaning it can be placed freestanding anywhere in your garden, without relying on something to attach it to – neat.

But that's not all. The seed tray is removable for easy cleaning, plus the entire 1.5L twin seed compartment can be removed for easy refills, and cleaning. There's also an adjustable flow control to limit the amount of seed in the tray.

Features-wise, it feels like the Beako Kiwibit has left no stone unturned, even if the FeatherSnap Scout's integrated solar panel looks slicker, while Wi-Fi connectivity is just 2.4GHz.

Initially the Kiwibit launches in the US only at Amazon and the product website on May 20, 2025, with an initial $167.99 deal available.

We're yet to complete a review of the Kiwibit – that'll land in the coming months, and hopefully the Kiwibit delivers on its lofty 'unmatched detail' promises.

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• The Breville Luxe Brewer is a new premium drip coffee maker
• It has a removable water tank and customizable brewing profiles
• It's available with either a glass or stainless steel insulated carafe

Breville, maker of some of the best coffee makers we've tested here at TechRadar, has launched a new drip coffee machine that helps you get more flavor from your beans, and avoid one of the most common pitfalls when making filter coffee: water spills.

Even the best drip coffee makers tend to have an integrated water tank, so you have to fill it using the carafe (risking spillage) and you can't easily see how clean it is, whether it needs descaling, or how much water is inside.

That's not the case with the new Breville Luxe Brewer, which has a 12-cup water tank with integrated filter that simply lifts off the base, and has an extra-wide top for easy filling.

(Image credit: Breville)

Like the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker I reviewed recently, the Breville Luxe Brewer can make brewing as simple or technical as you like. You can begin brewing a pot of coffee with a single button press, or get technical by customizing the bloom volume (the amount of hot water dispensed to pre-infuse your coffee grounds before brewing), bloom time (how long that water is allowed to sit on the coffee grounds), brewing temperature, and flow rate. Once you've found your preferred settings, you can save them as a preset for next time.

Other features include a programmable timer so you can wake to freshly brewed coffee first thing in the morning, a cold-brew setting that promises to make smooth, full bodied filter coffee in just 30 minutes, and a hot plate to keep your brew warm for up to six hours.

Hot stuff

Opinions on hot plates vary. Personally I find them convenient and don't find they affect the taste of my drinks too much, but if you disagree then you'll be pleased to know that it's not the only way to keep your coffee at the right temperature. Like its predecessor, the Breville Precision Brewer, the Breville Luxe Brewer is available in two versions: one with a glass carafe, and one with an insulated double-walled jug to keep your coffee hot for up to four hours.

The machine is supplied with two filter baskets – one cone-shaped and one flat-bottomed – which are intended to help your coffee infuse in different ways, bringing out subtly different flavor profiles.

According to research by the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) and partners, the cone should create fruitier notes, while the flat-bottomed basket brings out softer chocolatey and floral flavors.

(Image credit: Breville)

The Breville Luxe Brewer is on sale now, and costs $319.95 (about £240 / AU$500) with a glass carafe, or $349.95 (about £260 / AU$550) with a thermal pitcher.

The new brewer isn't yet available outside the US, but we'll keep you updated with international launch dates and prices when they are announced, and hope to bring you a full review very soon.

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• Two Netflix video game film remakes have received exciting updates from their creators
• The streamer's Gears of War movie has reportedly found its director
• The filmmaker behind Netflix's Bioshock flick has provided a positive update on its script

Two highly anticipated Netflix video game movies have received significant updates.

The streaming giant's adaptations of Bioshock and Gears of War have been trapped in development hell for years now. But, with new information about both projects emerging, it sounds like there'll be forward momentum on the pair in the near future.

Where Netflix's take on 2K Games' beloved Bioshock game franchise is concerned, director Francis Lawrence recently spoke positively about the development of its script. During a conversation with IGN that took place on May 6 but was only published yesterday (May 15), Lawrence admitted that making progress on the film had been "tricky" of late but, ahead of a meeting with its new screenwriter, he was confident that the bulk of the project's problems were behind it.

"It's a tricky adaptation, so there's lots of things to figure out and to get right," Lawrence, whose previous credits including The Hunger Games film series, said. "There [have beeen] regime changes at Netflix, and so things stall out and get re-energized, and stall out and get re-energized, [but] I think we're in a pretty good place, honestly.

"I just actually just got a [new] draft [of the script]," he added. "[And] we have a meeting with the writer [Justin Rhodes] tomorrow [May 7]."

The streamer's Gears of War film was initially revealed in November 2022 (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

As for Netflix's similarly long-gestating Gears of War flick, The Hollywood Reporter has claimed that David Leitch is in talks to helm that project.

Leitch, whose most recent movie was 2024's Ryan Gosling-fronted offering The Fall Guy, hasn't officially signed on to make it. However, he's supposedly thrashing out terms with Netflix to board the big-budget adaptation.

If Leitch signs on, his production company 97North will reportedly co-develop the film alongside The Coalition. That's the Xbox-owned studio that took over development of the movie's video game franchise namesake from Epic Games in 2014. Jon Spaihts, who co-wrote the scripts for the first two Dune films, A Minecraft Movie, and Passengers, is said to be penning the Gears of War flick's screenplay.

Gaming the system

Netflix has enjoyed success with its TV adaptations of beloved video game franchises, such as Arcane (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Netflix has made no secret of its desire to turn its streaming platform into the go-to hub for all things video games-related.

Indeed, the world's best streaming service hasn't just become home to a number of Netflix video game originals and classic third-party titles, such as the Grand Theft Auto franchise, in recent years. It's also looking to make its own mark on the golden age of video game film adaptations.

From money-printing productions like A Minecraft Movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, to fan-favorite offerings including the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, the world's leading entertainment companies are going all-in on big-screen video game adaptations.

It's no great surprise, then, that Netflix wants its slice of the pie. The streaming titan has already shown it can produce unmissable video game-inspired TV shows, such as its multi-award-winning and hugely popular League of Legends animated series Arcane, plus its reimagining of Capcom's Devil May Cry and Castlevania franchises. If you've seen any or all of them, it won't shock you to learn that these have appeared on our best Netflix shows list over the last few years.

So, the foundations are in place for the streamer to create similarly great new Netflix movies that are influenced by, or are direct translations of, game series like Gears and Bioshock. Of course, there are those (myself included) who are still trepidatious about both projects – after all, they've languished in development purgatory for years at this point.

However, if Lawrence and – if he signs on – Leitch can get them up and running, and deliver takes on both that honor the tone, vibe, and style of these acclaimed franchises, I'll be the first to suggest that they deserve a spot in our best Netflix movies guide. Now, would you kindly get the development cogs fully turning on these projects please, Netflix?

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• Meta addresses the FTC's complaints over Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions
• It says quality and output have improved since it took over ownership
• It added that the FTC's evidence was speculative

Meta has filed a Rule 52(c) motion for judgement, claiming that the FTC has failed to prove its case relating to an antitrust lawsuit it brought on over Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

According to Meta, no distinct monopoly power evidence has been shown – being that Meta's apps are free to use, traditional pricing-based monopoly indicators don't apply.

The social media giant also noted that the FTC failed to show that it had reduced the quality or output of its services, instead arguing that user engagement has grown and app quality has improved since it took over.

Meta says the FTC has no evidence over its social media monopoly

In its early days, Instagram was a small photo-sharing app with limited features, no revenue, and poor infrastructure. The company proudly proclaims to have massively improved the app's quality, reach, and features post-acquisition - with co-founder Kevin Systrom testifying to the fact that Meta had accelerated the app's growth, allowing Instagram to "thrive."

Meta also added that WhatsApp was focused on simple messaging before it was bought out, with no plans to add social features or ads, therefore it was not deemed a competitive threat to Facebook.

As a whole, the FTC's evidence has been widely criticized by Meta, with even the FTC's lead expert admitting that much of the competitive harm claim was speculative.

"The FTC has no evidence that Meta has a 60 percent share of any market that includes TikTok or YouTube along with Snapchat," the motion added.

Meta also noted: "Virtually every feature of TikTok exists on Instagram (and Facebook), and virtually every feature of Instagram exists on TikTok."

The social media giant's conclusion is simple: "The Court should enter judgment in Meta’s favor under Rule 52(c)."

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• Retailers like Aldi, Amazon, and Carrefour have backed a complaint against Visa/Mastercard
• High fees and a lack of transparency are central to the discussion
• Fees rose 33.9% between 2018 and 2022

Major European retailers and online platforms have urged the European Commission to address high fees charged by Visa and Mastercard, according to a report by Reuters.

Complaints relate to the negative impact of fees on EU competitiveness and the lack of transparency surrounding them, with the two payment network providers dominating about two-thirds of transactions in the euro zone.

Retailers have accused the International Card Schemes (ICS) of unchecked fee increases and complex pricing structures that aren't always so clear.

Visa and Mastercard criticized over fees in Europe

A 2024 report by Brattle Group revealed a 33.9% cumulative rise across ICS fees between 2018 and 2022, despite no corresponding service improvement or justification.

Visa has defended its fees: "This includes extremely high levels of security and fraud prevention, near-perfect operational resilience and reliability, and a wide range of consumer protections and high-quality, innovative products and services that serve consumer and merchant needs."

An extract from the letter addressed to the Commission's antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, financial services commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque and economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis, seen by Reuters, reads:

"International Card Schemes (ICS) have been able to increase their fees without competitive challenge or regulatory scrutiny. They have also rendered their system of fees and rules so complex and opaque that players are unable to understand, let alone challenge, what they are paying for and why."

Supporters include major trade associations and corporations, such as Aldi, Amazon, Carrefour, H&M, IKEA, and eBay.

They're calling for antitrust action against the two payment network providers, including the introduction of fee regulation, transparency, and further regulatory tools.

The two companies had previously agreed to reduce their multilateral interchange fees for payments in the EEA by an average of around 40%.

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• An AirPods Pro 3 hint has just been spotted in some Apple code
• This follows rumors about ANC boosts and possibly heart-rate monitoring
• AirPods Pro 3 could come this year, but there’s no solid release date yet

Apple’s AirPods Pro are some of the best earphones you can buy, with fantastic sound and features packaged up into a tiny product. If you’ve been hoping for Apple to release an AirPods Pro 3 update this year, you’re in luck, as it seems the company might be working on just such a device.

Interestingly, this idea didn’t come from a well-connected analyst or a bit of lucky guesswork – it came from Apple itself. It appears that the company might have accidentally leaked the AirPods Pro 3 in its own software code, as spotted by eagle-eyed researcher Aaron Perris.

According to Perris, Apple has updated a text string with info that hints at future AirPods. The text previously read “requires Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation” – now, it says “requires Apple AirPods Pro 2 or later.” It’s not clear which app or software this string appears in, though.

You might think that this is a simple update to account for Apple’s AirPods 4, which launched after the AirPods Pro 2. Yet Perris claims that there was already a separate text string for AirPods 4 in the software. That suggests that the information cited may be referring to an as-yet-unreleased set of AirPods Pro, although we can’t be certain.

When might we see AirPods Pro 3?

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Right now, there’s no solid information on when the AirPods Pro 3 might be announced. Apple hasn’t given any indication of when the launch date might occur, so most information you’ll see at the moment is speculation.

However, the fact that Apple has apparently made the update spotted by Perris could suggest that AirPods Pro 3 will land sooner rather than later – after all, the change might be part of preparations the company is making to release the headphones. While that’s just conjecture at this point, a 2025 release date would make sense, given that it will be three years after the AirPods Pro 2 update.

So far, AirPods Pro 3 have been rumored to come with a new design, an updated chip, and “much better” noise cancelation. We’d also love to see the ability to connect to multiple cross-platform devices (including Android phones), as current AirPods are limited to Apple products.

With Apple’s WWDC 2025 conference less than one month away, the event could be an ideal time for Apple to reveal AirPods Pro 3 to the world. Keep your eyes peeled.

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Over the last week, I’ve been tasked with testing the new Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones to their absolute limit. And yes, they’re pretty great. With class-leading noise cancelling capabilities, awesome audio and features for days, these compete against even some of the best headphones around. But should you buy them now?

For many, the answer will be a resounding yes – but, you wouldn’t be alone in having a few reservations or questions. So, if you’re on the fence, here are my top three reasons to pick up the Sony WH-1000XM6 right now… as well as three reasons to hold fire.

If you’d like to check out my full thoughts, head over to my Sony WH-1000XM6 review – but for the quicker takeaway, let’s dive straight into things…

(Image credit: Future) Why you should buy them 1. You get class-leading active noise cancelling capabilities

Now, when it comes to noise cancelling, these are by far the best Sony headphones you can buy. But I’d go a step further. They’re also arguably the best noise cancelling headphones available – period.

The Japanese tech giant’s new cans use the fresh QN3 HD noise cancelling processor, which is seven times faster than the old QN1. It harnesses the capabilities of twelve mics in order to offer truly sound crushing ANC. Whether you’re looking for near-silence on your daily commute, an isolated listening session at the local café, or cans to help you lock in at the office, the WH-1000XM6 have you covered.

Even when compared to the noise-nixing legends that are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the XM6 are more than capable of holding their own.

I found them to be equally as good, if not better, than the Bose in my real-world testing, which included vacuuming my apartment, walking in traffic-heavy areas, and taking public transport. On occasion, you will hear sounds creep through, but fear not – the most harsh noises will be drastically dampened, meaning you can stay focused on your favorite tunes, at all times.

(Image credit: Future) 2. They sound fantastic and can mold to your specific taste

In terms of sound quality, the Sony WH-1000XM6 perform very nicely indeed. There’s a fantastically balanced sound signature out of the box, which aims to get closer to the ‘flat’ presentation that many audio engineers seek out. No need to worry about over-zealous bass or harsh treble here.

But still, you’re able to get an exciting listen out of Sony’s new flagship cans. In my hours upon hours of testing, I was treated to clear highs, rich mids and driving low-end output, which kept me coming back time after time. And with Sony’s ‘noise shaper’ technology, these cans can pre-empt sudden sound changes for a distortion-free, controlled listen.

There’s also DSEE Extreme for upscaling lower quality audio files, and Sony’s proprietary LDAC codec for getting the best out of ‘hi-res’ tracks over Bluetooth. And if you really want to make the XM6 sound your own, you can have a play with EQ settings, which include a Find Your Equalizer test that creates a tailor-made sound, just for you.

(Image credit: Future) 3. You get access to a treasure trove of smart features

But wait… the smart features in the app don't stop there. Sony has added even more features to its Sound Connect app for WH-1000XM6 owners. There’s Auracast, a type of Bluetooth technology that enables you to tune into an audio broadcast transmitted from a phone, TV or similar device without pairing. But there’s also an instant mute function on the mic that's useful for calls, and Scene-based Listening, which can adjust ANC levels based on your environment.

And on top of these new additions, you’re getting the very best of everything that’s come before in the WH-1000X line. I’m talking multi-point connectivity, wear detection, voice assistant compatibility and adaptive sound control, which adjusts audio output depending on your location and movement.

There’s also an Ambient Sound mode and Speak to Chat for when you want to be more aware of your surroundings. Alternatively, just cover your hand over the right earcup and you’ll be able to hear everything around you super-clearly until you lift your hand away.

And I could go on… there’s a Cinema listening mode that up-mixes stereo sound into a more immersive, three-dimensional format, and Background Music mode, which makes it seem as if your tunes are playing in a café or living room.

(Image credit: Future) Why they might not be right for you at the moment 1. They’re not cheap… to say the least

Okay, I might’ve made the Sony WH-1000XM6 sound like the perfect pair of headphones so far. But still, they might not be right for everyone, at least at the minute. And perhaps the most obvious reason for that is they’re pretty pricey.

In fact, they’ll cost even more than their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5, did at launch. The brand spanking new XM6 have a list price of $449 / £400 / AU$699, which is $50 / £20 / AU$50 more than the last flagship model at launch.

The XM5 are now widely available for closer to $300 / £250 and rivals like the aforementioned Bose QuietComfort Ultra are also on sale for under $350 / £350 pretty regularly.

I also need to note here that they cost the same as the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, and those have clearly superior sound quality, though the Sony beat them on ANC power and features.

So, even though the XM6 offer better sound quality than their predecessor and ANC that stands up to Bose’s recent supremacy, it might take a discount for some to take the plunge on a purchase.

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones next to their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5 (Image credit: Future) 2. They don’t supply the best battery life around

The Sony WH-1000XM6 dish out 30 hours of playtime with ANC on. Is that bad? Not at all. But is it particularly impressive? Again, no, not really. To be frank, 30 hours is pretty average for a pricier pair of headphones like these.

For instance, it's the same amount you’ll get out of the five-star rated Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, as well as the Sonos Ace headphones.

On the flip side, there are some competitors that totally blow that 30 hours of playtime out of the water. The fantastic Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 boast a battery life of 60 hours with ANC on and as the name suggests, a mind-boggling 100 hours with noise cancelling off. Another pair that manages 60 hours is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, which are great all-rounders with a significantly lower price than the WH-1000XM6.

(Image credit: Future) 3. You might not be bowled over by their looks

So this last one is a lot more subjective, but the design of the Sony WH-1000XM6 might not be for you. See, I do like the look of these new cans overall, but I can’t help but feel that the earcups are quite chunky. So, if you’re after a more curved or low-key look, these might not be the absolute best headphones for you.

In addition, Sony has only opted to launch the XM6 in three colorways: Black; Midnight Blue; and Platinum Silver. There’s no Smoky Pink variant at the point of release, which was a popular addition to the XM5 lineup after entering the fray in September 2024. Fans of a more vibrant look may also be better served by the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (hold the Ultra – these are the cheaper model), which you can grab in green, blue and lilac.

If I was picking some headphones on looks alone, I’d have to go with the Marshall Monitor III ANC. They have a faux leather casing on the earcups, discreet buttons and a luxury-looking carry case. When it comes to style alone, they’re among the best.

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• Google has updates for Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• The new features cover Android and Google Chrome
• You can now ask Gemini questions about images on screen

We've already seen a bunch of updates for Apple products in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day this week, and now it's Google's turn – with four important upgrades on the way to Android and Chrome.

As per the official blog post, the TalkBack screen reader feature in Android is getting some extra smarts, on top of the existing Gemini-powered functionality. The feature provides image descriptions for blind and low-vision users, even when no alt text is provided.

Now, you'll be able to ask Gemini follow-up questions about the image that's showing on screen – so if you need to know what color something is, or what else is showing in the picture, Gemini will be able to help out.

There's also an update to Expressive Captions, which provides on-screen subtitles for anything with audio on your phone. Those subtitles will now reflect drawn on words, so you'll be able to tell the difference between "no" and "noooooooooo", Google says.

Chrome and language support

Page Zoom in Android can now zoom on text only (Image credit: Google)

We've got some accessibility improvements to talk about with Google Chrome, too. First up, scanned PDFs are getting Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which means you'll be able to search for text inside them, and copy that text somewhere else.

For Chrome on Android, Page Zoom (above) is adding a feature to let you increase the size of text on pages, without affecting anything else (like images or layouts). To set up the feature, tap the three dots (top right) in a tab, then Settings > Accessibility.

Google is also improving speech recognition technologies around the world, giving developers more resources for non-standard speech patterns and non-English languages, as part of its ongoing Project Euphoria initiative.

Finally, a full suite of accessibility features are on the way to Google's Bluebook app, which can be used as a testing platform. Upgrades for dictation and the screen reader tech should make the app more accessible than ever.

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• Microsoft was meant to make EU-specific changes to Azure by last month
• ECCO has issued its second amber report against Microsoft
• The company must now engage in Plan B

Microsoft has failed to deliver a special, EU-specific version of Azure – a milestone it was meant to achieve by mid-April 2025.

The Washington tech giant had previously committed to building a Hoster Product for EU providers, promising features like multi tenancy support, unlimited virtualization and pay-as-you-go SQL Server licensing.

It all stems from a November 2022 antitrust complaint, when CISPE accused Microsoft of engaging in anticompetitive business practices that saw it favor its own Azure cloud over competitors.

Microsoft missed a major CISPE antitrust milestone

CISPE complained that it was more expensive to run Microsoft software on rival cloud platforms than on Azure, thus the company pledged to tweak some of its licensing terms to open up competition.

The European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO) published its second report on Microsoft, maintaining its amber rating – not a good look for a company that's been the subject of antitrust investigations on a global scale. "Some concerns exist but corrective actions have been proposed," ECCO explains.

"Although there have been setbacks, specifically in the delivery of a product-based resolution, both sides continue to engage in positive discussions," CISPE wrote.

CISPE Secretary General Francisco Mignorance commented: "It is disappointing that the proposed product did not deliver, but this is in not the end of the Agreement. Phase 2 opens the door to discuss alternative, commercially equivalent solutions that enable CISPE members and Europe’s cloud infrastructure providers to compete fairly, while still offering Microsoft’s productivity tools to their customers."

Microsoft must now propose alternatives – a Plan B – by July 10, 2025, or face potential new legal action. In the meantime, the UK's CMA continues to review the company's licensing tactics.

TechRadar Pro has asked the company for more details on the missed deadline, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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• James Gunn has dropped a big tease about Wonder Woman's DCU debut
• The DC Studios co-chief won't say when Diana Prince will return to the big screen
• But fans are convinced she'll be part of Gunn's next project, which could be a team-up movie

James Gunn has set tongues wagging among DC comic-book fans after he teased that Wonder Woman's DC Universe (DCU) debut might not as far away as many people think.

Posting on Threads yesterday (May 15), the DC Studios co-chief dropped the biggest hint yet that Diana Prince could be part of his and Peter Safran's new-look cinematic universe sooner than expected.

Asked by a fan if he could share any news on Wonder Woman's possible arrival in the DCU, Gunn replied: "Not to be shared publicly yet but yes. Encouraging."

Gunn shared a promising update on Wonder Woman's DCU debut on May 15 (Image credit: Threads)

Admittedly, it's not much to go on. However, given that Wonder Woman is the only member of DC Comics' Trinity – that trinity being, the company's three most popular heroes in Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman – not to get her own DCU project yet, it's nonetheless intriguing to hear Gunn talk up her eventual appearance in the DCU.

Fans have long questioned the decision not to announce a Wonder Woman film as part of Gunn and Safran's initial DCU movie and TV show lineup in early 2023.

At the time, Gunn's Superman movie, which arrives on July 11, was confirmed to be the first of numerous superhero flicks that'll comprise DCU Chapter One. The Brave and the Bold, a Batman film inspired by its comic-book namesake, was also unveiled alongside Chapter One's initial 11-strong slate.

Gunn did reveal a Wonder Woman-esque TV series as part of Chapter One's original lineup. However, while that show – Paradise Lost – is billed as a Game of Thrones-inspired story that'll be set on Themyscria, aka Prince's idyllic home island, the Amazonian won't be its lead character. Unsurprisingly, that irked some DC aficionados who felt that, despite Wonder Woman's enduring popularity, she was being overlooked.

Why Gunn's Wonder Woman tease has sent DC fans into a frenzy

Gal Gadot is the latest actor to play Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Image credit: Warner Bros)

Gunn's Threads post comes hot on the heels of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) CEO David Zaslav's own comments about the company's desire to capitalize on the popularity of four specific DC superheroes.

Speaking during WBD's Q1 2025 earnings call (as reported by Yahoo), Zaslav said: "When you look at the major characters... that James Gunn and Peter Safran are developing with their 10-year plan around DC, that is to build asset value globally [with] Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, [and] Supergirl. So, we look at those as big asset builders and big differentiators."

Clearly, Zaslav wants WBD subsidiary DC Studios to take a more proactive approach to building the DCU around its most iconic metahumans – and, surprising no-one, that includes Wonder Woman.

Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman teamed up twice in the now-defunct DCEU (Image credit: Netflix)

With Zaslav and Gunn publicly responding to queries about Diana Prince in recent days, fans have renewed hope that it won't be too long until the Princess of Themyscira is back on the big screen. And, if a new fan theory is to be believed, some observers believe she'll return in Gunn's next project, which – whisper it quietly – could be a team-up between Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman.

Taking to Threads on May 10, Gunn revealed that he'd started working a new DCU movie. Curiously, though, he confirmed that it was a new project, i.e., not one of the seven that currently make up DCU Chapter One, aka 'Gods and Monsters'.

That post, coupled with his comments about Wonder Woman, have unsurprisingly caused a stir. So much so, in fact, that some fans claim he must be penning the script for a Trinity film. Indeed, a thread on the DCULeaks Reddit page is full of people theorizing that this is what Gunn is secretly working on.

Comment from r/DCULeaks

What's my take on the situation? A movie that brings DC Comics' three greatest heroes together would not only be (hopefully) absolutely brilliant, but would also help us to forget about the – how can I put this politely – less-than-ideal team-up we got with Zack Snyder's Justice League and Batman v Superman's undercooked third act.

Marvel has proved that people will flock to see their favorite superheroes unite on the silver screen, so there's no reason why the DCU wouldn't benefit from seeing Prince, The Dark Knight, and the Man of Steel join forces to take down a common foe.

That all said, it could be years before a Trinity film sees the light of day. Yes, Superman is ready to take flight in the DCU and, while Kara Zor-El isn't part of the Trinity, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which lands in theaters next June, will introduce wider audiences to the fourth main pillar Zaslav mentioned earlier this week.

But, until The Brave and the Bold's development gets off the ground, and either Paradise Lost or a standalone Wonder Woman film introduce us to the DCU's Diana Prince, I can't see a world where a Trinity movie would be the right project for Gunn to tackle next.

We live in hope, but if the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has taught us anything, it's that cinematic franchises need to walk before they can run, and making and releasing a Trinity movie before its legendary metahumans are all established in the DCU would be the opposite of that.

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• Figma launches new design and dev tools
• AI powers the suite
• Focused on giving teams ability to go from idea to product faster

Last week in San Francisco, design and development platform Figma unveiled four new tools aimed at giving users the full end-to-end package.

Figma Make, Figma Sites, Figma Draw, and Figma Buzz offers teams the ability to ideate and create everything from vector images to full-blown websites. And, as you’d expect, it’s all AI-powered for faster iteration.

At Config London, I got a more in-depth peek into exactly what these tools are capable of - and how they fit into Figma’s plans to create a platform that lets users go from idea to product launch without pause.

Create and launch at speed

One of the biggest issues facing businesses today is team siloing - where one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing (or, at least, has a different way of doing the same thing).

With that in mind, Figma has released four new tools alongside its beloved Figma Design and FigJam that almost entirely remove that problem.

Yuhki Yamashita, Figma’s Chief Product Officer, explained the thinking behind the new line-up, saying, “How do we help you do everything, going from an idea to a final product? And all the things that you will see in the future, too, will be anchored in this, in this framework of helping people go through this journey faster, explore more ideas, and make that process as efficient as possible.”

Figma CPO Yuhki Yamashita on stage during Config London (Image credit: Figma // Future)

Figma Make is an overarching tool for content ideation. Here, you can start from scratch or copy and paste existing designs from Figma Design, and collaborate on these with the rest of the team (Figma calls this a “multiplayer” tool). You can then port over into other apps like Figma Sites to tailor the design to suit the product.

What’s interesting here is the concept of throwing away designs. Effectively, what Figma wants is to make it easy to rapidly ideate, that if something doesn’t work, you can throw it out and start afresh.

During the press briefing, Yamashita said: “Our thought experiment was, how can we make it so easy for you to go from the idea into your head to something that is actually you can put in front of users and validate really quickly. And if it doesn't work, that's great. You can then move on to the next idea, or you can keep iterating from there.”

Figma Sites is an AI-powered website builder for all-in-one design, prototyping, and publishing. One of the chief purposes behind this is saving time - a space where developers can work on templates, responsive design, custom interactions, and transitions and motion effects. Using grids, and with a little help from AI, designing responsive sites looks and feels easy (assuming you know what you're doing, that is).

During Config London, I was treated to a brief, playful example - taking static words and prompting the AI to come up with three different ways to add some design sparkle, for example, repelling each word as the cursor hovers over it. However, as Yamashita later noted, there are more practical uses here such as connecting an API to the back-end.

There’s also the promise of future updates, with Yamashita saying, “we wanted to make sure that we could support scaled use cases, too. For example, a marketing site with tons of content, or maybe a blog. And with these kinds of content, it's much easier if we have a CMS, so that a non-designer can come in and comfortably edit that content in a way that's familiar to them. And this is something that's coming soon.”

(Image credit: Figma)

Figma Draw is, in a sense, Figma’s AI-powered answer to Adobe Illustrator. But it goes a little deeper than that, with the company keen to help designers make content that doesn't have a generic look and feel, while letting them freely express themselves and elevate their craft.

I saw a few examples of what the Figma community has already created during the event, some in hand-drawn stylings, others photorealistic images - and it’s fair to say, they’re certainly impressive. Yamashita explained, “We add things like texture and noise to make it feel much more organic, while still being a vector.”

Figma Buzz tackles the social media marketing side - once a product is launched, Buzz is a tool for promoting it online. But more importantly, it's a way to help those on the team who can’t or don’t use Figma Design to create content that matches brand guidelines. Built for designers and marketing teams, Yamashita called this “the purpose-built tool for on-brand asset creation” for dynamic and custom assets at scale.

He and his team asked themselves “how could it feel as simple as filling out a form, so that you can actually create some dynamic content?” Figma Buzz is the answer to that. Helpfully, the tool also connects to Figma Design, serving up all the features designers use, without “complicating the experience” for non-designers.

I saw this one in action on stage and came away impressed. In a matter of seconds (ok, maybe ten or so seconds), a single post was automatically localized 80 different ways, switching language, image, and national flag for the correct territories - all without removing that on-brand element.

Figma Buzz demonstration in action, creating social media assets in real-time (Image credit: Figma // Future)

You can check out Figma’s latest tools right now by clicking here and navigating to the Products section. To watch the full Config London keynote speech with Yamashita and Figma CEO Dylan Field, it's on YouTube here.

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