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• Daredevil: Born Again episode 8 is generating plenty of discussion online
• The Disney+ show has got viewers debating some of its most interesting story beats
• Marvel fans should get some answers in next week's season 1 finale

Daredevil Born Again episode 8 is out now – and the penultimate episode of the Marvel TV show's first season is generating plenty of discussion online.

Until now, the Disney+ series has largely kept its main characters apart. That all changes in 'Isle of Joy', which sees Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, and other key individuals collide in arguably the show's most explosive episode to date. And, predictably, Marvel fans have had plenty to say about events that unfold.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Daredevil: Born Again season 1's eighth chapter.

Who really killed Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson – and is he actually dead?

That big fan theory about Foggy Nelson might not be so outlandish after all (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

The death of Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson, Matt Murdock's best friend and fellow lawyer, was an emotionally devastating way for Daredevil's standalone Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project to begin. That's particularly true for those of us who watched Netflix's Daredevil TV show, which Born Again is a direct continuation of.

However, while we saw Foggy die on-screen, Marvel fans have a wild theory that Foggy isn't dead. After all, one of Daredevil's most famous comic book runs is built around a story where Foggy is supposedly murdered, but actually faked his own death to enter a witness protection program. Born Again is somewhat inspired by that Ed Brubaker-written series, which is why some viewers aren't convinced Foggy has shuffled off his mortal coil.

I know what you did last year, Vanessa (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

It's looking increasingly likely that fans were right to assume this, too. At the time, we believed Benjamin 'Dex' Poindexter, aka Bullseye, was responsible for Foggy's death. Indeed, we watched him shoot Foggy in one of the best Disney+ shows' first episode.

'Isle of Joy' upends that by revealing Vanessa Fisk was responsible for putting the hit out on Foggy. Bullseye might have pulled the trigger, but it was Vanessa who initiated the plan that led to Foggy's apparent demise.

Or, so it would seem. While Vanessa doesn't explicitly confirm Foggy is still alive, she insinuates as much to Matt. Okay, she only tells him "you need to relax", which could be interpreted in numerous ways. I believe, though, that she's telling Matt to calm down because, as long as he takes a few deep breaths, Matt will be calm enough for Vanessa to tell him Foggy isn't actually dead (that's what, like me, Redditor Responsible_Cod_3973 is hoping for, anyway).

Vanessa might've told Matt, too, if Bullseye didn't shoot up the Mayor's Ball seconds later. But, more on that later.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

If Foggy is revealed to be alive in the season 1 finale or Daredevil: Born Again season 2, there are questions that require answering.

What spooked him so much that he not only faked his own death, but sought Vanessa's help to do so? When and how did Bullseye become involved in it? As Reddit user cig_sg_throwaway points out, Dex tried to kill Vanessa in the Netflix show's final season. Why, then, would she bring him into the fold to help 'bump off' Foggy?

And, most importantly, what will Matt make of this if he learns Foggy is alive, that Foggy lied to Matt and Karen, and that Foggy successfully staged his own death with the aid of criminals?

Why does Matt Murdock save Wilson Fisk's life?

Taking the phrase 'keep your enemies closer' to new extremes, eh, Matt? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Those questions will have to wait, though, because there's a more pressing one at hand. Namely, why did Matt save his archnemesis Wilson Fisk's life at the Mayor's Ball?

As I alluded to above, Bullseye – who escaped captivity earlier in 'Isle of Joy' with, according to some fans, Matt's help (more on this fiercely debated topic later) – manages to infiltrate the glitzy black tie event. It appears he has a solitary goal for doing so, too: killing Wilson Fisk.

It's not surprising that Bullseye would want to murder him. As directors, Julian Benson and Aaron Moorhead pointed in a recent YouTube interview, the pair have a history.

For starters, Fisk left Dex paralyzed in the season 3 finale of Netflix's Daredevil series, so they have previous form for *ahem* locking horns. Then there's the fact that Fisk is responsible for getting Bullseye moved from solitary confinement to the prison's 'gen pop' (general populace) area in Born Again episode 8. Effectively, Fisk is throwing Dex to the wolves with the hope that other serial offenders will bump him off.

Smile for the camera! (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

So Bullseye has two major reasons to seek out and murder Fisk in the Marvel Phase 5 TV show. He would've succeeded, too, if it wasn't for Matt's intervention.

Using his superhuman hearing, Matt learns that someone is readying a loaded rifle to shoot Wilson Fisk. As Bullseye pulls the trigger, Matt throws himself in front of the shot; the bullet hitting his chest and severely wounding the titular character.

Considering Murdock and Fisk are long-time enemies, some viewers are asking why the former wouldn't let Bullseye kill Murdock's sworn adversary.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

To me, the answer is a simple one: Murdock (and Daredevil by proxy) has a no-kill rule. It's something he's regularly grappled with in Marvel Comics and his two TV shows, but Murdock's Catholic upbringing always wins out.

Sure, he almost broke that rule in Born Again's premiere when he threw Bullseye off a roof for seemingly killing Foggy. Even then, Murdock was so disturbed by his own behavior that he gave up being Daredevil for an entire year. The vigilante doesn't take lives – he saves them, so it makes sense that he wouldn't let Bullseye kill Wilson Fisk.

Regardless, on ResetEra, users including Violence Jack, Lonestar, and PlanetSmasher think this moment will shake up the dynamic between Murdock and Fisk again. Hopefully, we'll see the immediate fallout in next week's season 1 finale.

Did Matt Murdock intentionally free Benjamin 'Dex' Pointdexter, aka Bullseye?

Fans can't agree on whether Matt intentionally helped Bullseye escape prison (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Perhaps this episode's biggest talking point, though, is whether Murdock intentionally freed Bullseye.

Remember, Dex was given a whole life sentence for killing Foggy and numerous other patrons at Josie's Bar in this season's opening chapter. And, after he's moved to 'gen pop' under Fisk's orders, he reaches out to Murdock to enlist the champion lawyer's help to get sent back to solitary confinement for Dex's own safety.

As you might expect, Murdock isn't receptive to the idea because, well, by the time the duo meet midway through 'Isle of Joy', Murdock still believes Bullseye killed Foggy. Clearly still furious over his friend's death at the hands of this psychotic killer, Murdock smashes Dex's face into the table he's chained to before calling the on-call pop to lead Dex back to his cell.

On the surface, it seems Murdock is simply lashing out at Bullseye for murdering Foggy and then having the audacity to ask for Murdock's help. However, sections of the Marvel fanbase argue that Murdock actually helped Dex escape prison. Indeed, some suggest that, by roughing up Dex, Murdock knew Dex would get sent to the prison's medical unit. With his hand unshackled, the sharpshooting sociopath would be able to break out of jail.

Comment from r/marvelstudios

Indeed, Reddit and ResetEra threads, as well as other social media sites and apps, are full of fans fiercely debating and/or offering their opinions on the above.

ResetEra user Grunty said they hadn't even considered that Murdock would help Dex, while Lonestar believes the former purposefully helped the latter.

Others were less happy with this possible story beat, though. On Reddit and ResetEra, fans including RealDealAce and Coiote expressed frustration over the possibility that Murdock may have aided one of his biggest foes in escaping jail.

Sitting squarely on the fence, PlanetSmasher and Minthara were less sure about the true meaning behind this contentious scene.

If Matt aided Bullseye's escape, it's his own fault he was shot at the Mayor's Ball (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Based on the YouTube video I linked to earlier, Benson and Moorhead indicated they left things intentionally vague, so fans can make up their own minds.

Will we find out if Murdock helped Dex or not in episode 9? Maybe. For now, one thing is for sure: whether he did or not, he ended up being shot by Dex in 'Isle of Joy'. Chalk up one more bullet-based scar on Murdock's body, everyone!

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The next time you fly, you could be handed a Meta Quest 3 to keep you entertained with mixed reality experiences and movies following the success of Meta’s recent pilot program. Though it’s somehow already being ruined by being used for some next-gen in-flight advertising.

Travel Mode landed on Quest headsets a little less than a year ago to allow you to use your VR device while on a flight (and later while on a train journey). Normally, the vehicle’s movements would confuse your headset’s sensors, but travel mode uses a “tuned” algorithm, according to Meta, that accounts for your airplane’s motion so it doesn’t cause disruption.

At the time, Meta announced a partnership with Lufthansa to provide in-flight entertainment to people traveling in their Allegris Business Class Suite (on select flights) so they could enjoy activities like virtual chess, meditation exercises, and virtual sightseeing previews.

Now, 4,000 travelers later, Meta and Lufthansa are heralding that trial a success and announced that this service will be expanding to “more airlines and routes” in the near future. Something I’m super excited about.

(Image credit: Meta / Lufthansa)

Beyond more immersive in-flight entertainment – which could lift your movie off that tiny screen on the seat in front of you and suspend it on a giant virtual display instead – I’m particularly interested in those in-flight meditation exercises and other techniques that could help nervous fliers.

I’m fine with flying, but I know plenty of people who find the experience stress-inducing. A VR headset that can whisk you away to somewhere more relaxing. Useful mindfulness exercises could be just what they need to make flights a less nerve-wracking experience.

One feature I’m not keen on, though, is how the Quest headsets could be used for in-flight advertising – something Meta also just announced in its blog post.

(Image credit: Meta/Lufthansa)

Lufthansa and Cupra (a brand in the Volkswagen Group) have partnered to create an “in-flight test-drive app.” Meta explains that headset users will be able to customize their own Cupra car and “engage with the CUPRA Tavascan” as they explore virtual recreations of the streets of Barcelona and a Cupra garage – where you can learn more about the cars the company offers.

Presumably, this will be an opt-in experience rather than a feature that will be forced onto users, but I still can’t help but feel like it’s already cheapening the revolutionary in-flight entertainment system VR headsets could offer by reducing it to another boring way to sell you stuff. A cool Cupra-sponsored in-flight driving sim would be one thing; this is something way more icky-feeling.

I still believe in-flight virtual and mixed reality will be an awesome thing – I got a taste when using the Xreal One AR glasses on a few recent trips – but we’ll have to wait and see if it evolves in a fun way or if it just becomes another tool to sell us stuff.

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• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) driver sync lives on
• It was due for deprecation on April 18, but that’s been postponed
• Microsoft says it listened to customers who weren’t happy about the change

Azure Compliance Senior Program Manager Paul Reed has confirmed that Microsoft will be continuing to support driver update synchronization to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) servers.

The news comes just weeks after Redmond gave users a 60-day warning that it would be ending support, quoting an end date of April 18.

Reed added that the company had listened to “valuable feedback,” guiding its decision to postpone the deprecation, however the post lacks any definitive guidance as to what’s next.

Microsoft continuing WSUS support for driver synchronization

Reed noted the definition of deprecation, noting that while a product might not be in active development any more, it can still be used. “Seeing how many of you are already moving to the available cloud-based driver services, we initially proposed the removal of WSUS driver synchronization,” he added, before confirming that feedback from customers made it clear that there’s still a need for WSUS driver synchronization.

“Effective immediately, we are postponing the plan to remove WSUS driver synchronization,” he confirmed. The announcement comes just two weeks before the initially proposed end date, offering little time for companies to change plans but a relief for organizations who are not quite ready to make the transition.

Microsoft now promises to be working on a “revised timeline,” so it’s unclear whether WSUS driver synchronization will lose support at a later date or whether the company will keep it going in recognition of the continued demand for it.

On that note, WSUS remains critical in certain highly restricted networks where companies may have legal or contractual obligations, thus continued support can only be a good thing for them.

“Please continue helping us create solutions that meet your needs and expectations,” Reed said, noting that Microsoft appreciates customer feedback on the matter.

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• Kaspersky found a new malicious campaign leveraging SourceForge
• The campaign distributed a crypto miner and a clipboard jacker
• SourceForge said the attack was quickly stopped

Hackers tried using SourceForge to distribute malware, but thanks to the platform’s swift reaction, a major escalation seems to have been averted.

Earlier this month, security researchers Kaspersky said they spotted a “rather unique” malware distribution scheme in which a fake Microsoft Office project, called ‘officepackage’, was uploaded to the main website sourceforge.net.

Officepackage was advertised as a compilation of Microsoft Office add-in development tools. Its description and files are a copy of the legitimate Microsoft project ‘Office-Addin-Scripts’, it was said, which can be found on GitHub.

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"No malicious files hosted"

In reality, the files serve as a malware dropper, a cryptocurrency miner, and a clipboard jacker. Kaspersky said the threat actors can use the files deployed through the project to drop additional malware on compromised endpoints, or to use their computing power to mine cryptocurrencies. Furthermore the files keep track of the clipboard for copied crypto addresses and replace them with the ones belonging to the attackers, on paste.

For those unaware of SourceForge, it is a popular website that hosts open-source software projects, and provides hosting, comparison, and distribution services.

Kaspersky said that before being pulled, the malware infected 4,604 systems, most of which are in Russia.

SourceForge, on the other hand, says that its platform wasn’t broken into: "There were no malicious files hosted on SourceForge and there were no breaches of any kind,” the project’s president, Logan Abbott, said in a written statement shared with BleepingComputer.

“The malicious actor and project in question were removed almost immediately after it was discovered. All files on SourceForge.net (the main website, not the project website subdomains) are scanned for malware and that is where users should download files from. Regardless, we’ve put additional safeguards in place so that project websites using free web hosting cannot link to externally hosted files or use shady redirects in the future."

Via BleepingComputer

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• Microsoft said it observed a threat actor known as Storm-2460 abuse a use after free flaw in Windows Common Log File System Driver
• The flaw is used to deploy PipeMagic, which is then used to deliver ransomware
• Users are advised to install the released patch immediately

Cybercriminals are abusing a post-compromise zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) to deploy ransomware.

Earlier this week, Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) and Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) published a new in-depth report, describing how a flaw tracked as CVE-2025-29824 is being used in cyberattacks.

The bug is described as a “use-after-free” vulnerability in Windows Common Log File System Driver that allows threat actors to elevate privileges locally. It was given a severity score of 7.8/10 (high).

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PipeMagic and RansomEXX

The caveat here is that this is a post-compromise vulnerability, meaning that the threat actors already broke into these systems before being able to abuse the flaw. It doesn’t particularly bother ransomware operators, Microsoft claims:

“Ransomware threat actors value post-compromise elevation of privilege exploits because these could enable them to escalate initial access, including handoffs from commodity malware distributors, into privileged access,” the blog reads. “They then use privileged access for widespread deployment and detonation of ransomware within an environment.”

In any case, at least one group is abusing this flaw in the wild right now. It is tracked as Storm-2460 and apparently, it is using it to deploy the PipeMagic malware.

PipeMagic is a backdoor trojan which allows the group to ultimately deploy ransomware. It seems that the group used RansomEXX this time, a variant that’s not particularly popular, or known.

Storm-2460 managed to use the flaw to target a “small number” of organizations, Microsoft said. Most of them are in IT, finance, and retail industries, and are located in the United States, Venezuela, Spain, and Saudi Arabia.

A security advisory discussing the use after free flaw was published on April 8, Microsoft said.

“Microsoft highly recommends that organizations prioritize applying security updates for elevation of privilege vulnerabilities to add a layer of defense against ransomware attacks if threat actors are able to gain an initial foothold,” the blog concludes.

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• Samsung's Ballie AI-infused robot will launch this summer in the US and Korea
• It'll now feature Gemini thanks to a partnership between Samsung and Google Cloud
• Samsung says it'll make Ballie more helpful and allow for natural conversations

Samsung finally spilled the beans on Ballie – its bright yellow AI-infused robot companion – at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, and now just four months later, we’re learning more about the forthcoming product feature set.

In a partnership with Google Cloud, Samsung announced that just like the deep integration of Google Gemini on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 series, the two technology giants are bringing the AI assistant to Ballie. Ballie will feature Gemini and other generative AI technology from Google Cloud and Samsung’s language models.

We already know that Samsung’s Ballie is voice-activated with four far-field microphones on board. At CES 2025, I saw a demo of someone saying, “Hey Ballie,” to control smart home devices and spill information on places in Las Vegas.

Now, though, Samsung and Google Cloud aim to make interacting with Ballie even more natural and for the robot companion to be even more helpful. In a shared release, it’s teased that you could tell the robot, “I feel tired today,” and have it serve up ways to improve energy levels or if you have other Samsung-connected wearables to suggest monitoring sleep patterns. Pretty neat and clearly the promise of weaving Samsung’s tech with Gemini.

You can also work with Ballie to build out your personal style and ask the robot how you look. Ballie will then use its onboard cameras to provide style recommendations. Here it’s likely a similar technology to Gemini Live crossed with Google Lens for a multi-modal experience to see what styles could match with whatever you’re wearing.

As a reminder, Samsung’s Ballie has a ton of tech built-in, including a front Full HD triple-laser projector that can cast on surfaces near and far, a 4K camera on the front, a 2K camera on the back, a LiDAR sensor stack, Time of Flight (ToF) sensor, speakers, and the microphones as mentioned above.

Of course, it also has wheels to move around your home and even follow you. When the onboard battery depletes, it can return to its charging dock, much like a robot vacuum.

Ballie should arrive in the US and Korea this summer

(Image credit: Samsung)

Further, Samsung’s once again reaffirming – and recommitting to – the promised launch of later in 2025. Thankfully, it’s getting more specific, confirming that Ballie will launch in the United States and Korea this Summer. It’s for a completely unknown price, but Samsung has set up a page to register your information that, quite interestingly, asks for city and state. That leads me to think that Ballie might be rolled out in a trial for specific states, potentially linked to Samsung’s SmartThings cities, or just that supplies will be limited at first.

Regardless, I’m still eager as ever to see Ballie formally launch and to put it through its paces. And for those keeping track, Samsung’s news today is a very-fast follow to the robot’s appearance at CES. Ballie was first announced in 2020, returned in 2024 with a promise to launch that same year, and then shown off again in January 2025 with a promise launch later this year.

Considering this is the most Samsung’s told us about Ballie, I’m leading more faith and the company’s showing more proof that Ballie will indeed arrive, and I can’t wait. You can sign-up to mark your interest in Ballie on Samsung’s site here.

Of course, stick with TechRadar for the latest on Ballie, and you can read our first look at the robot from CES 2025 and our chat with Samsung’s Head of Product, Home Entertainment, Lydia Cho here. Remember, she said, “We just think it’s the perfect companion for you to meet all your needs,” and Gemini could help it.

I just personally think it’s now the second cutest robot compared to Disney’s BDX Droids. Those are the clear winners.

@techradar

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• BYD, Zeekr and Huawei are all developing EV chargers that deliver 1MW
• Seeker’s 1.2MW charger is designed for passenger vehicles
• Early experiences suggests that more power might not be the answer

Several major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have recently announced powerful new charging networks that are capable of reaching in excess of 1,000kW rates – or 1 megawatt, as highlighted by numerous attention-grabbing headlines. But early reports from China suggest they might not be the game-changers they sound like on paper.

The staggeringly-powerful outlets eclipse the current “ultra fast-charging” offering, which generally sees tops out at around 350kW, allowing a handful of EVs fitted with an 800V electrical architecture to charge from 10-80% in around 20-minutes.

However, BYD’s recent Super e-Platform proved that it can add 249 miles of range in five minutes from its proposed 1MW charging outlets.

Not to be outdone, Huawei quickly teased its 1.5MW charger and Zeekr introduced a single connector, car-focussed liquid-cooled charger that is capable of delivering 1.2MW of power to its next-generation EVs.

But not everyone is convinced that ultra high-power chargers are the answer and early reports surfacing from China suggest that a number of EV owners are failing to achieve the advertised charging rates.

According to Car News China, users have reported that even vehicles marketed as capable of charging 80% in 15 minutes usually require closer to 30 minutes or longer in practical scenarios.

(Image credit: BYD)

The article goes on to explain that BYD’s technology requires a sustained delivery of 1000V and 1000A to achieve the proposed “five minute” charge times, which is difficult to achieve in real-world scenarios, where there are fluctuations due to demand on the grid, the performance of the charger’s built-in cooling system, and even the weather.

Secondly, these high-powered outlets tend to require a complicated cooling system to prevent them from melting, which makes each individual charger up to five times more expensive than a traditional charger and costlier to maintain over the long term.

Finally, there is the important issue of strain on local grids, as the power draw is so high it could massively disrupt supplies to homeowners and local business.

The Chinese manufacturers have attempted to combat this by also installing large scale back-up power packs, which can be charged from solar or be trickle-fed form the grid to provide excess power to the charging outlets when demand is high.

Car News China points out that the reliance on energy storage, such as the system proposed by BYD, introduces another limitation: once the stored energy is depleted, subsequent vehicles will not be able to benefit from the same ultra-fast charging speeds.

Ultra-fast charging might not be the answer

(Image credit: Tesla)

While range anxiety and concerns around the public charging network are undoubtedly major hurdles facing indecisive EV buyers, simply throwing ever-more powerful charging outlets at the problem likely isn’t the best solution.

As EV battery tech continues to improve, owners will be able to achieve greater mileage out of a single charge. A robust, functioning network, like the one offered by Tesla and its Superchargers, provides the peace of mind that you can simply stop, plug in and get on your way.

Most regular drivers crave a quick pit stop and a break from driving when covering hundreds of miles and, in my experience, a stop to charge coincides with my natural need to have a rest anyway.

By the time I’ve ushered my kids out of a vehicle and into a service station for a toilet break and a drink, most modern EVs will have nailed the 10-80% charge.

Granted, the sort of five-minute charge advertised by BYD is attractive and would be ideal for those electric vehicles that can only manage 150 miles on a single charge, but the technology won’t be associated with these “more affordable” vehicles.

It will be the reserve of the larger, more expensive EVs with massive battery packs or, as is the case with most 1MW charging technology, heavy duty trucks and commercial vehicles.

Siemens, for example, completed the first successful 1MW charge early last year, showcasing the ability to rapidly top up a long-haul prototype eTruck from 20-80% in around 30 minutes.

For haulage firms that rely on speed and reliability, this is essential, but for passenger cars, I’m not so sure.

The technology is hugely expensive, puts excessive strain on the grid and requires a greater level of planning and infrastructure to install – all factors that will deter anyone investing in a burgeoning charging network.

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• AMD's Ryzen AI Max 395+ will be used in GMKtec's upcoming mini-PC
• It's reportedly launching in May
• China's pre-order pricing indicates a $2,000 price point for US consumers

It's safe to say that chips from the likes of Intel and AMD are once again in the spotlight, considering their integrated graphics gaming performance capabilities amid a messy GPU market - and now, one of Team Red's strongest processors ever will finally be available in a mini-PC.

As VideoCardz reported, GMKtec could launch a new mini-PC, the EVO-X2, in May, powered by AMD's Ryzen AI Max 395+ APU. This comes from VideoCardz's insight into pre-order details: pre-orders are already live in China, with pricing confirmed at 14,999 RMB, which roughly converts to around $2,000 (without tariffs!) / £1,599 / AU$3,400 - and pre-orders for US and EU buyers are reportedly set for April 15.

This is the listing for the highest tier configuration, which includes 128GB of RAM and 2TB of storage space - so it's got a lot to offer for tiny PC lovers.

While its price is certainly hefty, it's worth noting that the Ryzen AI Max 395+ processor using the Radeon 8060S iGPU is an absolute powerhouse, especially for gamers. ETA Prime on YouTube has previously showcased its performance in games like Cyberpunk 2077 - on the ultra graphics preset in 1440p (with upscaling), there's a near-consistent 60fps, which isn't possible for some desktop GPUs.

It's all possible thanks to the APU's 16 cores and 32 threads, along with a seriously impressive 40 cores on the Radeon 8060S integrated GPU. It's also a significant step in the direction of discrete GPUs becoming obsolete: although that may still be a long way away considering the presence of high-end GPUs like the RTX 5080 or RTX 5090, it's a promising start.

The system shown in the video (available above) using the APU is a prototype, so aspects like cooling, power consumption, and chassis dimensions are yet to be finalized - we'll have to wait and see its real-world performance ceiling.

Fortunately, mini PCs like this offer gamers a way into the PC gaming ecosystem, supposedly at the same price (in fact, even less with the current inflated GPU prices) as Nvidia's RTX 5090 would cost with its $1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039 price - and that’s for a whole system, not just a graphics card. However, the issue of tariffs could see the purported $2,000 price of the GMKtec EVO-X2 skyrocket soon.

Systems powered by AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ chips aren't safe from inflation and tariffs either...

As of now, no PC hardware (including game consoles) is safe from tariffs: we've already seen Nintendo pause pre-orders for its Switch 2 in the US due to uncertainty from tariffs, including retailers selling AMD and Nvidia partner cards, and I fully expect the same to apply to APU-powered systems.

If the $2,000 price point is legitimate, then we could easily see a price point upwards of $3,000 in the US with the tariffs currently in place - or even worse, no availability whatsoever. It's an indication of how uncertain the PC gaming space is at the moment, and it's probably one of the worst possible times for sanctions to come into effect.

Nvidia, in particular, is facing difficulties with its new RTX 5000 series GPU lineup, with driver problems, missing ROPs, and limited availability at the forefront of it all. With inflation set to hike even more, it'll likely place PC gamers like me further away from the temptation of buying any of the Blackwell GPUs.

There aren't any Ryzen AI Max+ APUs used in handheld gaming PCs just yet, but if there was any chance of that happening any time soon, you can probably forget about it for now. My only hope is that this present debacle doesn't last too long...

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Like a laser sight emerging from the dark, Hulu has dropped a surprise trailer for the long rumoured secret Predator movie, Predator: Killer of Killers.

Confirming that the franchise renaissance director Dan Trachtenberg kicked off with 2022’s Prey is in full swing, the new movie “follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent – the ultimate killer of killers.”

And judging by the trailer – which you can watch below – the Predator’s journey through the ages looks like a bloody good time, with the historical carnage of Prey given a dose of animated excess.

It’s fair to say the Predator franchise has had its ups and downs. While the Arnie-starring original is a bonafide classic featuring the most macho handshake of all time, the sequel – which sees the titular hunter in the centre of an LA gang war – is less well regarded, although has built up a cult following over time.

While the franchise had a pair of crossover films with the Alien series in the 2000’s, it took two decades for another stand-alone Predator movie, 2010’s Predators. Produced by Robert Rodriguez, the film flipped the original on its head, seeing a group of mercenaries and various other ne'er-do-wells dropped into the Yautja’s game reserve. Despite a stacked cast featuring the likes of Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Walton Goggins and Laurence Fishburne, the film received a lukewarm reception, leaving the franchise dormant until Shane Black’s 2018 effort, The Predator, which again, failed to reignite the franchise.

What can we expect from Predator: Killer of Killers?

Prey proved to be a shot in the arm for the Predator franchise, taking it in a bold new direction with its story of a young Comanche woman (Amber Midthunder) having to protect her tribe from a vicious Yautja hunter. The historical setting, fresh themes and shocking violence made for the best reviewed installment to date and Predator: Killer of Killers looks to be more of the same, albeit with the animated medium cranking things up a notch.

Taking an anthology approach, the new movie sees the fearsome extra-terrestrial warrior battling some of the best of the best from across the eras from blood spattered vikings to sword swinging samurais and ace WW2 Spitfire pilots, all brought to life in stunning animation courtesy of The Third Floor. If live action is more your thing, worry not, as Trachtenberg also has a third Predator film, Badlands, which sees the warrior become the hero, hitting cinemas in November.

In the meantime, we can’t wait for Predator: Killer of Killers to arrive on some of the best streaming services (Hulu in the US, Disney Plus worldwide) on June 6, when it’ll likely become one of the best Disney+ movies of the year.

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• Output resolution for Nintendo Switch 2 camera models have been revealed
• The official camera outputs at 1080p, while Hori's third-party option comes in at just 480p
• Both are currently listed on the UK My Nintendo Store website

Hori's Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat camera may be cheaper than the official option, but its resolution will be significantly worse overall.

IGN spotted that both the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory, and the third-party Hori Piranha Plant Camera have had their outputted resolutions confirmed on the My Nintendo UK store.

The official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory is pricier at $49.99 / £49.99, but it has video capture quality of 1080p.

I can see why folks are more interesting in Hori's officially licensed camera. The Piranha Plant design is eye-catching, and it might look nice perched on top of your Switch 2 system. It's also much cheaper, with a UK price of £33.99.

The major downside here is that Hori's model outputs at a paltry 480p, which will make for a much grainier image compared to the official camera. This is even more of an issue given that - at least from what we've seen so far - the camera output is quite small on the TV screen. This will make your appearance even less defined when compared to that sharper Full HD output.

I do love the look of Hori's camera, especially when stood next to the rather boring design Nintendo has opted for. So for kids and family, the Piranha Plant camera may still be a decent and affordable choice. But for more fulsome multiplayer sessions with friends, it's tough to argue against the official camera being the way to go.

At TRG, we will of course endeavor to have both options tested and reviewed around launch time, so there's still a chance Hori's camera could surprise us. But official specs typically don't lie, and right now, it's not looking good for this cheaper model.

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Night sweats got you in a bother? With this cooling bedding, waking up hot, wet and uncomfortable will be a thing of the past.

• Some Samsung Galaxy Watch models offer sleep apnea detection
• The company is partnering with Stanford University to research more innovation in the sector
• It hopes to use AI to go beyond detection and develop sleep apnea management technology

Samsung has announced ambitious plans to take the sleep apnea features of its Galaxy Watch range beyond detection, possibly using AI to one day power sleep apnea management.

Announced on April 8, Samsung has partnered with Stanford University and Stanford Medicine to conduct a research project into "an innovative health solution based on Samsung's obstructive sleep apnea feature."

Samsung says the study is designed "to explore potential ways to further enhance Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature to better support sleep health through timely interventions."

According to Samsung, the company wants to move beyond detection, the current functionality offered by devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7, and toward technology that can help users manage the condition.

Samsung isn't sleeping on sleep apnea

Perhaps most excitingly, Samsung specifically mentions AI technology, which it hopes to leverage in this pursuit, "empowering users with the best possible sleep tools to improve their health".

Samsung also noted that its sleep apnea feature was recently certified in Brazil and will roll out to the country in April to bring the total number of supported territories to 29.

The feature is designed to help spot and detect sleep apnea earlier to prevent long-term complications, a noble goal shared by Apple, which added sleep apnea detection to its best Apple Watch models last year.

According to estimates, sleep apnea affects more than one billion people worldwide, mostly undetected. Sleep apnea is a condition where the body briefly stops breathing during sleep, cutting off oxygen to the body. Undiagnosed, it can cause more significant health complications such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiac issues.

It sounds like Samsung's ambitions extend beyond mere detection, with future sights set clearly on monitoring the condition or perhaps even preventing it in the first place. In more immediate Galaxy Watch news, we're expecting a new Galaxy Watch 8 and possibly a classic model to debut sometime this summer.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Two minute review

First unveiled in mid-2024, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is Samsung's answer to the Apple Watch SE. At least in theory. It's designed to be a cheap, entry-level smartwatch that offers many of the features you'd expect from a wearable without the loftier prices of the best smartwatches on the market.

For Apple, it's a strategy that works well. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 10 stand out against the very cheap Apple Watch SE 2. You get some basic features and a much friendlier price tag.

Yet, Samsung's attempt to emulate this strategy has left me confused and bewildered, and after a few days with the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, I'm afraid I simply can't make head or tail of this watch or the purpose that it serves.

I could tell you about the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE's figures and performance statistics. I could tell you that during workout tracking, it performs generally well against my Apple Watch Ultra 2, tracking heart rate, distance, and GPS admirably. I could also tell you that it needs to be charged out of the box for around 90 minutes before you can use it and that even with the always-on display turned off, battery life will offer just 22 hours on a single charge.

(Image credit: Future)

I could tell you that Wear OS, while amply equipped with plenty of health tracking and smartphone connectivity features, performs very poorly, thanks to a rather underpowered chip borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

I could also tell you that the strap is fairly comfortable, but that the 40mm size, very large bezel, and small display make for a quite disappointing viewing experience.

Really though, the only thing I'm actually going to tell you is that you should buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 instead.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is only one year older than the FE. Despite this, it sports a more powerful CPU – clocked to 1.4GHz, not 1.18GHz – and more memory that will give you snappier performance, faster app loading, and more longevity from software updates.

While the FE is available as a 40mm model only, the Watch 6 can be found in two different sizes, including a larger 44mm configuration. The display on the Galaxy Watch 6 is larger and brighter, measuring 1.3 inches on the 40mm as opposed to 1.2 inches on the FE.

The Galaxy Watch FE also features the same internal storage and comes with more sensors. Finally, the battery capacity of the Galaxy Watch 6 is considerably larger.

This all makes sense on Samsung's website, where the Galaxy Watch 6 is considerably more expensive than the FE. However, out in the real world, you'll routinely find the Galaxy Watch 6 discounted to the same price or less than the enigma that is the Galaxy Watch FE.

If I may be so bold, I've even seen the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 discounted to less than the list price of the Galaxy Watch FE in both the UK and the US. Even at its own discounted prices, I've generally seen the FE similarly priced to the Galaxy Watch 6 on numerous occasions.

There's one scenario in which the FE makes more sense, and at the time of writing, I recently saw it half price. If you can get one for literally $100/£100, it's more enticing. However, that puts you squarely in really cheap smartwatch territory, and for that price, I'd recommend the absolutely stunning Amazfit Active 2, which handsomely beats the Galaxy Watch FE in terms of style, performance, features, and battery life. That's why we crowned it one of the best cheap smartwatches money can buy.

As such, while there's more I could say about the Galaxy Watch FE's performance, it's a smartwatch that I find myself unable to recommend to anyone.

At its usual price, it's simply no match for a discounted Galaxy Watch 6 or Galaxy Watch 7. Even with the heftiest discount, it's no match for the more stylish and performant Amazfit Active 2.

If the Galaxy Watch 8 arrives later this year, I'll return to this review and replace all the 6's to 7's to reflect that the Galaxy Watch 7 is now a better proposition than the FE.

Sorry, Samsung, but this one is a swing and a miss.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Specifications Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Price and Availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $199 / £199 / AU$399
• LTE Version $249 (US only)
• Barely cheaper than the much better Galaxy Watch 6

Available now, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE at a host of different retailers around the world. Prices start at $199/£199/AU$399, the only exception being the $249 LTE version that gets you cellular connectivity and is only available in the US.

Strangely, the only place you won't find it is Samsung's UK website, which lists the device as no longer available. However, UK fans can get their fix at the likes of Currys, Argos, and, of course, Amazon.

Price-wise, the FE is an extremely strange proposition. Despite being essentially a repackaged Galaxy Watch 4, the FE retails for more than you can buy a distinctly more impressive Galaxy Watch 6. For all the aforementioned reasons, you should probably buy that instead.

The FE is also priced squarely alongside the Apple Watch SE and is vastly more expensive than many of the best cheap smartwatches, notably the Amazfit Active 2 and Nothing's CMF Watch Pro range.

• Value score: 1/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Scorecard Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if...

It's less than $100 / £100

This is the only price at which this smartwatch makes sense, and even then, I'd consider alternatives.

Don't buy it if...

You want value for money

The FE is generally the same price or more expensive than the much better Galaxy Watch 6

You want a good budget smartwatch

If you're really on a budget, consider the Amazfit Active 2 or a CMF Watch Pro from Nothing.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: How we tested

I used the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE as my main smartwatch for fitness tracking, sleep tracking, and more. I fully drained the battery to test battery life and tracked multiple workouts against my Apple Watch Ultra 2 to compare accuracy.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Also consider

One of our very favorite cheap smartwatches, the Amazfit Active 2, is cheaper and has better battery life than the Galaxy Watch FE.

Read our full Amazfit Active 2 Review

The CMF Watch Pro 2 is a classy circular smartwatch that's very cheap, has great battery life, and performs more consistently than the FE

Read our full CMF Watch Pro 2 Review

The Galaxy Watch 6 is often the same price as the FE, if not cheaper. It comes in more sizes, is faster, and has more features.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review

First reviewed: April 2025

• GreyNoise says scannings for vulnerable TVT DVRs are spiking
• More than 2,500 unique IP addresses were hunting at one point
• A 2024 vulnerability allows threat actors to run admin commands on the device

Operators of the Mirai botnet are actively hunting for vulnerable TVT DVRs to assimilate them into the nefarious network, cybersecurity researchers GreyNoise have revealed after observing a spike in exploitation attempts.

In May 2024, security researchers from SSD Secure Disclosure reported on a vulnerability affecting NVMS9000 DVRs built by the Shenzhen-based TVT Digital Technology manufacturer. The vulnerability was described as an authentication bypass, allowing threat actors to run admin commands on the device unabated.

All versions prior to 1.3.4 were said to be affected, but a patch was released and versions 1.3.4 and newer were no longer vulnerable.

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"No malicious files hosted"

Users who don’t keep track of updates and don’t patch their systems on time are now at risk. GreyNoise said that on April 3 the attack peaked, with more than 2,500 unique IP addresses scanning for vulnerable endpoints. We don’t know how many of these DVRs there are or how big the attack surface might be.

The researchers said that the malware being deployed on the DVRs is tied to Mirai, one of the most infamous botnets in cybersecurity history. Mirai usually targets smart devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and internet-connected hardware, and is used to run disruptive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

GreyNoise said that in the past 30 days it logged 6,600 unique IP addresses associated with this activity. All of the addresses were confirmed to be malicious. They mostly came from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, targeting devices in the US, UK, and Germany.

Mirai operators are quite active this year. In mid-January, news broke that they targeted industrial routers vulnerable to a zero-day. A few weeks later, security researchers from Akamai said they caught a new variant of the botnet targeting business phone devices built by Mitel.

Via BleepingComputer

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It's Charlie Brooker's world; we're just living in it.

NOAA relies on hundreds of contracts to keep the agency running. The new commerce secretary is reviewing many of them individually, causing disruptions to many normal operations within the agency.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

• Meet Dan Clark Audio's latest elite planar magnetic wired over-ears
• Noire X feature proprietary tech used in headphones nearer $5,000 / £4,100
• They're cheaper than that – although hardly entry-level

Dark, brooding, black-on-black Nickel-Titanium alloy with Gorilla Glass 3 and a leather-wrapped headband, Dan Clark Audio’s Noire X would be the ideal gothic-inspired cans for Vince Noir (of UK early-noughties classic The Mighty Boosh fame) or of course for the man in black himself, JR Cash.

They'd also be fantastic for me and my devotion to wired, leave-me-alone listening.

What you're looking at is a pair of closed-back planar magnetic headphones of the highest order. They also promise to bring Dan Clark Audio – a company that holds six tech innovation patents to date – to a "more accessible" price.

Okay, that price is still an eye-watering £1,000 (so around $1,280 or AU$2,135), but you're getting the San Diego-based headphone maker's proprietary planar driver and "metamaterial tuning tech" that went into its top-tier, closed-back Stealth and open-back Expanse, both of which retail at £4,100 – so, you know… bargain.

DCA describes Noire X as the Johnny Cash of headphones, and I don't mind it. (*Sings If they were mine, I'd walk the line… )

Why planar is better than dynamic, in the ring of fire

(Image credit: Dan Clark Audio)

Noire X feature DCA's upgraded Aeon planar driver – but let us backtrack just a second. Most headphones use dynamic drivers, which combine a stiff cone-shaped diaphragm with a voice coil around a magnet, to produce sound waves via pistonic movement. Noire X uses a thin membrane that is immersed in a magnetic field, causing it to vibrate – aka a planar magnetic driver. This is often considered a superior headphone solution for detail, timing and an expansive soundstage – when it is done well.

The Noire X's new 62x34mm driver diaphragm is significantly more rigid than its predecessor, following "extensive R&D investments" and "new manufacturing processes" to make the upgrade.

The Noire X’s self-tensioning headband promises to reduce listening fatigue by distributing pressure evenly across the head for a ‘barely there’ fit. You're also getting newly designed ear pads featuring ultra-stable, memory foam-wrapped synthetic leather (do note though, real leather is used for the headband).

Finally, a comprehensive range of cable terminations comes with your purchase, including combo 6.3mm and 3.5mm tips, balanced 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR. If you're seeking greater flexibility in cable length and termination, you could always upgrade to DCA’s premium VIVO cables, available in multiple lengths and options.

Given the Noire X's quoted Impedance (13Ω) and recommended minimum power of 250mW @ 16Ω, it would be advisable to supply them with one of the best headphone DACs that include a jolt of extra oomph to get the best out of them – but I have a couple of those. What I don't have is these headphones…

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Trump's new sweeping tariffs took effect after midnight. China says it's toughing out the trade war. And, the Supreme Court ruled that firings of thousands of federal workers could proceed.

(Image credit: Andy Wong)

• 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is coming to the Las Vegas Sphere
• Using the power of AI, Google is reimagining the film for the 16k spherical screen
• The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere opens on August 28

The Wizard of Oz is coming to the Las Vegas Sphere, and it's all thanks to Google's incredible AI technology.

Following last week's announcement that the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is being reimagined for Las Vegas' iconic 16K LED screen spherical theater, set to open on August 28, Google is now giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the magic behind the production.

While The Wizard of Oz was not the first film to be shot in color, it's often referenced as one of the first true movie experiences to capture color efficiently, thanks to its incredible mix of colors and use of black-and-white in the film's Kansas scenes.

In Google's blog post, the company says, "Likewise, “The Wizard of Oz” may not be the first film to be reconceptualized with AI, but it may soon be known for that, too."

This is a massive project combining the teams at Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Sphere Studios, Magnopus, and Warner Bros. Discovery to create an incredible experience, coming off the success of Wicked, which is set in the same world as The Wizard of Oz.

With the launch of Wicked: For Good set for November 2025, it's the perfect time to put eyes on the movie that inspired Elphaba and Glinda's epic two-part musical.

The power of tech and AI will showcase The Wizard of Oz in the "venue's 17,600-seat spherical space to create an immersive sensory experience," and Google says "generative AI will take center stage, alongside Dorothy, Toto and more munchkins than could ever fit in a multiplex."

(Image credit: Google) How to turn a classic into a modern epic

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Google's blog post on the work that has gone into bringing The Wizard of Oz to The Sphere is nothing short of mind-blowing.

The man behind the project, Buzz Hays, is the global lead for entertainment industry solutions at Google Cloud and a veteran producer in the world of Hollywood.

He said, "We’re starting with the original four-by-three image on a 35mm piece of celluloid — it’s actually three separate, grainy film negatives; that’s how they shot Technicolor,” Hays says. “That obviously won’t work on a screen that is 160,000 square feet. So we’re working with Sphere Studios, Magnopus and visual effects artists around the world, alongside our AI models, to effectively bring the original characters and environments to life on a whole new canvas — creating an immersive entertainment experience that still respects the original in every way.”

The Sphere has the highest resolution screen in the world, which means The Wizard of OZ's grainy 1939 imagery would've caused a huge issue for the experience. Luckily, the teams found solutions using Veo, Imagen, and Gemini to completely transform the movie using an "AI-based 'super resolution' tool to turn those tiny celluloid frames from 1939 into ultra-ultra-high definition imagery that will pop inside Sphere."

Following the upscaling, the teams then perform a process called AI outpainting, which essentially expands the scenes of The Wizard of Oz to fit the larger space found on the massive screen. AI then generates elements of the performances to fill out the created space and make the shots look and feel seamless.

Keeping the soul of the original

While I don't blame you if you think this sounds like an AI-generated catastrophe, ruining a classic that shouldn't be messed with, Google emphasises how the team has the traditions of cinema at the forefront of every decision.

"In addition to old footage, the team scoured archives to build a vast collection of supplementary material, such as the shooting script, production illustrations, photographs, set plans and scores."

Then, these materials were uploaded to Veo and Gemini to train the models and build on the "specific details of the original characters, their environments and even elements of the production, like camera focal lengths for specific scenes."

"With far more source material than just the 102-minute film to work with, the quality of the outputs dramatically improved. Now, Dorothy’s freckles snap into focus, and Toto can scamper more seamlessly through more scenes."

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