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In the decade-plus since Amazon introduced its line of Echo smart speakers, we've been using "Alexa" to address them. It's the default wake word, and soon, as Alexa+, will be the name that marks its most significant AI glow up.

However, the hardware is still officially known as Echo Dot, Echo Show, and so on – but if a new report is any indication that might change, and we could end up calling an Echo Show an Alexa Show.

After a tip-off from a reader, The Verge was able to confirm that sometimes you might see an Echo Show listed as an Alexa Show on Amazon.com, as part of a test the online retail giant is running. I've tried without success to get Amazon.com to show me such a result, but I truly hope the name change becomes a real thing.

The reality is, no one thinks about their Amazon smart speakers as 'Echo' devices. We call them Alexas because that's the name they respond to. We've never said, "Echo, what's the weather tomorrow?" Perhaps if Amazon had gone that route back in 2015, we might be arguing that these are truly all Echo devices.

Do you call your Amazon EchoMarch 27, 2025

Echo has never been a great name. The Oxford Dictionary defines Echo as:

"A sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener."

If all the various Echo devices were simply speakers, this might make some sense. But Echo smart speakers are not simply reflecting our voices and requests; they're listening, thinking, and they're responding, and not simply bouncing back what we said.

Also, the combination of names isn't much better. "Echo Show" is not great. It ends up sounding like the "an echo you can see." Nothing in it says, "intelligence plus a display."

Now, let's try out "Alexa Show". We already know what Alexa means, and the combo instantly becomes "smarts you can see".

Just imagine

Even though Amazon is rolling out a much smarter and more generative AI-infused Alexa with Alexa+, I do not see the need to squeeze a '+' into the various product names. However, putting 'Alexa' front and center on products is probably a smart way to incentivize more Alexa+ adoption.

It tickles me to imagine the entire Amazon line of the best Alexa speakers, many of which are part of our best smart speakers list, refashioned around the 'Alexa' brand ideal:

• Alexa Dot
• Alexa Spot (for more simplification, combine with above)
• Alexa Studio
• Alexa Pop
• Alexa Frames
• Alexa Earbuds
• and so on

I'd even argue that the branding could extend to other Amazon native devices like the Fire Stick line (Alexa Fire Stick) and Fire tablets (Alexa Fire Tablet). Kindles would make sense only if Amazon decides to integrate some basic Alexa features (not likely, though, since most people read their kindles offline).

A dose of reality

As much as I want Amazon to fully adopt the Alexa branding across all these devices, it's not likely to happen. When I asked Amazon directly about the test they threw a giant bucket of cold water on the idea of a major product category rebranding.

An Amazon spokesperson told me: "I wouldn’t read too much into this. Customers love both Echo and Alexa, and search for our products in a number of different ways – we’re running an experiment to better understand product discovery, but that doesn’t mean anything is going to change."

As I read that, though, the message is not "it will never change." Instead, they said, "...that doesn’t mean anything is going to change."

It's like when I ask my wife if she thinks we'll win the lottery and she says, "Almost certainly not," and I always answer, 'So, you're saying there's a chance..."

Dropping Echo and adopting Alexa everywhere would be a smart move, and I still hope Amazon takes it from experiment to strategic update. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

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Just days before the official Switch 2 Reveal, the company is giving fans a way to get all their Nintendo news.

• Influencers are being used to share 2FA messaging in the UK
• The NCSC is using social media to help protect against fraud and scams
• Social media accounts are sharing comedy sketches and informative videos

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has turned to influencers to spread the word on the importance of two-factor authentication through the power of social media.

The campaign forms part of former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s 2024 Stop! Think Fraud initiative that seeks to spread awareness for online fraud and scams.

Comedians and personal finance influencers have been putting together sketches and advice videos to share on social media with the aim of both entertaining and educating

2FA goes viral

One sketch by thesquidvids sees a group of criminals attempting to hack into an account, with all the classic hacking movie theatrics such as Matrix-esque code tumbling down the screen, and incorrectly used tech idioms including “dropping a logic bomb” and “copying the blockchain.”

The sketch even sees the group successfully guess a password that uses the NCSC’s Three Random Words guidance to craft a secure password (in this instance ‘BulldogSlapheadJalfrezi47?’) with two numbers, a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, and a special character.

However, the group is stopped in their tracks when they encounter a 2FA prompt, with one of the criminals saying “As long as he's got two-step verification we're not getting any further, I don't think.” and the other responds, “Fair enough. I guess that's the end of the film really.”

An NCSC spokesperson told The Register, “To boost public awareness about the crucial benefits of enabling two-step verification on their most important accounts, we've partnered with popular social media influencers to amplify this vital message and encourage a wider audience to adopt secure online habits.”

Two-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication are ways to make accounts more secure. It works by having a code sent to a separate device when logging in that must be entered before access is granted. Biometrics, such as a finger print or facial recognition scans are also used, as well as dedicated authenticator apps.

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The World Food Programme says it has just five days left of flour and two weeks left of other food supplies in Gaza.

(Image credit: Jehad Alshrafi)

Among Netflix's April 2025 schedule are some of my favorite titles on the platform, and while I'm beyond excited to see one of the best Netflix shows returning, I'm even more excited to share them with you.

I can imagine that, like me, you're most excited for Black Mirror season 7 which is returning on April 10 with six more episodes packed with yet another star-studded ensemble cast (I'm personally excited for Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, and Peter Capaldi) and some familiar characters from seasons past. And speaking of iconic casts one of my favorite Netflix reality TV shows, Love on the Spectrum, is coming back for season three and you don't know how itching I am to see how dream couple Abbey and James are getting on.

If you couldn't already tell, I'm a little more than excited for the next few weeks ahead, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop. But it doesn't stop there because on top of its new shows Netflix has even more movies lined up for April – check out the list below to see all the new movies and shows that are coming to one of the best streaming services next month.

Everything new on Netflix in April 2025

Arriving on April 1

The Age of Innocence (movie)
Big Daddy (movie)
Bonnie & Clyde (movie)
The Breakfast Club (movie)
Conan the Destroyer (movie)
Couples Retreat (movie)
The Croods (movie)
Draft Day (movie)
Field of Dreams (movie)
For Love of the Game (movie)
Geostorm (movie)
Get Him to the Greek (movie)
Heat (movie)
Insidious: Chapter 2 (movie)
Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins (Netflix original movie)
K-9 (movie)
Lucy (movie)
Matilda (movie)
The Mauritanian (movie)
The Place Beyond the Pines (movie)
Psycho (movie)
Rise of the Guardians (movie)
Rooster Cogburn (...and the Lady) (movie)
Rudy (movie)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (movie)
Smokey and the Bandit (movie)
Smokey and the Bandit II (movie)
Uncle Buck (movie)
Weak Hero Class 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 2

Banger (Netflix original movie)
Garnachas: Glorious Street Food! (Netflix original documentary)
Love on the Spectrum season 3 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 3

Devil May Cry (Netflix original series)
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory season 3 (Netflix original series)
PULSE (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 4

Karma (Netflix original series)
TEST (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on April 7

Blippi's Job Show (Netflix original series)
Kill Tony: Kill or Be Killed (Netflix original comedy)

Arriving on April 8

The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (Netflix original series)
How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) season 4 (Netflix original series)
Kian’s Bizarre B&B (Netflix original series)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman season 5 part 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 9

The Addams Family (movie)
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (Netflix original documentary)
The Dad Quest (Netflix original movie)
The Hating Game (movie)
Unicorn Academy chapter 3 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 10

Black Mirror season 7 (Netflix original series)
Frozen Hot Boys (Netflix original movie)
Moonrise (Netflix original series)
North of North (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 11

The Gardener (Netflix original series)
Meet the Khumalos (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on April 12

Resident Playbook (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 13

Life or Something Like It (movie)

Arriving on April 15

The Glass Dome (Netflix original series)
Young Sheldon season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on April 16

Baby Mama (movie)
The Diamond Heist (Netflix original documentary)
I Am Not Mendoza (Netflix original series)
Project UFO (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 17

Istanbul Encyclopedia (Netflix original series)
Ransom Canyon (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 18

iHostage (Netflix original movie)
Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 19

Heavenly Ever After (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 21

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 23

A Tragedy Foretold: Flight 3054 (Netflix original documentary)
Battle Camp (Netflix original series)
Bullet Train Explosion (Netflix original movie)
Carlos Alcaraz: My Way (Netflix original series)
UnBroken (movie)

Arriving on April 24

A Dog's Way Home (movie)
You season 5 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 25

Havoc (Netflix original movie)
Pokémon Horizons —The Search for Laqua season 2 part 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 28

Chef's Table: Legends (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 30

Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (Netflix original series)
The Eternaut (Netflix original series)
Exterritorial (Netflix original movie)
Turning Point: The Vietnam War (Netflix original documentary)

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• Witchbrook, the new magical life-sim from Chucklefish, finally has a release window
• It's arriving in Holiday 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC
• A new gameplay trailer offers an in-depth look at the game's playable city, customization options, and spell-binding mechanics

Almost 10 years after its initial reveal, Chucklefish has finally announced that its magical life-sim Witchbrook will launch Holiday 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC this holiday season.

The news comes from the latest Nintendo Direct Showcase alongside a fresh gameplay trailer showcasing the bustling seaside city of Mossport, the surrounding woodlands, and Witchbrook College, where they will be able to enroll as a witch-in-training.

Making friends, finding romance amidst a cast of characters, and spending time between classes by foraging in the deep woodland are just a few aspects the game offers.

You can also sell crafts at the Sunday Market, take part in seasonal events, and renovate and customise your cozy woodland cottage and garden, with customisable clothing, hair, and accessories available.

The game will also feature up to four-player online co-op, allowing players to craft their own unique stories and experience witch academia together, something I find incredibly appealing on top of Witchbrook's beautiful pixel art aesthetic.

"Witchbrook is the most exciting project I've ever worked on, and it's been a long time coming, but I'm very eager to get the game in the hands of the players soon," said Chucklefish CTO Rodrigo Braz Monteiro.

"I don't think that the level of simulation and fidelity we've aimed for in this game is expected of any games short of AAA, and to see it realized in a pixel art indie game has been very satisfying to us. For now, we're only sharing a small glimpse into a vast game, and I can't wait for the community to see what's coming over the next few months."

"Witchbrook is our love letter to thoughtful living, the quiet magic of slow moments, and the connections we share with each other and the world around us. Whether players are exploring solo or sharing in the adventure, we hope Witchbrook becomes a space to relax and make lasting memories," said art director Steph Caskenette.

The Nintendo Switch Direct Showcase was filled with reveals and trailers, including the announcement of Virtual Game Cards, a new Switch feature that makes it easier for players to lend out their digital games.

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• StreamElements confirmed a data breach happening at a former third-party
• Hundreds of thousands of customers lost sensitive information
• Hackers are already using the data to send phishing emails

Cloud-based streaming tools provider StreamElements has confirmed suffering a data breach after a hacker compromised one of the company’s former third parties.

“We recently became aware of a data security incident involving a third-party service provider we stopped working with last year,” the company said in an announcement on X. “We can confirm no StreamElements servers have been breached.”

In mid-March 2025, a threat actor with the alias “victim” opened up a new thread on BreachForums (a popular forum for all things cybercrime) and claimed to have stolen sensitive information belonging to 210,000 StreamElements customers. The archives included people’s full names, postal addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, and their authenticity was confirmed by journalist Zach Bussey, who found his own information in the database.

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Fake updaters

StreamElements is a cloud-based platform that provides tools for livestreamers, including overlays, alerts, chatbot automation, and tipping services.

While it claims no foul on its side, and shifts the blame on the unnamed third party, the threat actor says that they actually compromised a StreamElements employee with an infostealer.

That gave them enough access to exfiltrate the data, with the archives containing information generated between 2020 and 2024.

While there are not many things a threat actor can do with names, email addresses, and phone numbers, they can still engage in identity theft, or run custom-built phishing campaigns, whose success rate is usually better than generic ones.

To that end, StreamElements is already warning its customers that phishing emails started going out, tricking people with fake “data breach” emails.

“Heads up: Scammers are using this 3rd-party breach as bait to send fake “data breach” emails,” a new X post says. “These are not from StreamElements.

Do not open, don’t click, just report & delete. The breach is under investigation, and we’ll share updates via official channels when more information is available.”

The company said it started reaching out to affected customers to warn them about the possibility of attack. In the meantime, BleepingComputer reports that the original post on BreachForums has been deleted.

Via BleepingComputer

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A year on from the M3 MacBook Air, Apple has announced the latest version of its lightweight laptop. Launched alongside the ultraportable MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) adds a few key improvements to a proven formula.

Like its predecessor, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is a streamlined large-screen laptop with a silent design and excellent performance, courtesy of Apple’s cutting-edge M4 chip. In a rare twist, it also comes in cheaper than the previous edition: prices start at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099.

But does the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) offer good value for money? And is it worth upgrading if you already own the M3 MacBook Air?

We’ve pulled together the biggest reviews from across the web and distilled the results below, to help you decide which MacBook is best for you. First up is the feedback from our own experience…

The MacBook Air M4 reviews TechRadar: "An excellent thin and light laptop, and one of the best 15-inch laptops you can currently buy"

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Impressive performance
• Lower entry price
• Silent fanless design

The bad

• Not a major upgrade
• Lack of Wi-Fi 7

Our MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review concludes that it’s “the best 15-inch laptop you can buy”. We complimented its “brilliant thin and light design” and found that it offers a “more immersive sound experience” than the 13-inch version. We also acknowledged that the lower price makes it “a better model for less money.”

We did observe that it’s “more of a refinement than a complete reimagining” and noted that the improved performance of the M4 chip, while “very good,” doesn’t justify the upgrade if you already have an M2 or an M3 MacBook.

That said, we still found it “a solid performer that can handle any day to day task”, with battery life good enough for “several work days on a single charge.” Together with webcam improvements and the usefulness of a larger screen, we rated the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as “excellent value for money.”

The Verge: “Continues to nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price.”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Full-day battery life
• Thin, light design
• Excellent everyday laptop
• Loud speakers

The bad

• Limited basic storage
• Not enough ports
• Throttled performance

The Verge’s MacBook Air (M4) review agrees with most of our feedback. It notes that the new version offers “even better value”, making it an “excellent choice for most people’s everyday needs.” The main reservation relates to the “lackluster spec” of storage on the base-level version, though it does note the increase from 8GB to 16GB of RAM.

Unlike us, The Verge reviewed both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions together at the same time. Like us, it found that “the two extra speakers on the 15-inch” allow it to “get quite loud without sounding distorted.”

It concludes that the new models “don’t do anything groundbreaking” but continue to “nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price.” That includes “some solid performance gains over the M3”, along with “exceptional battery life” and “a great keyboard.” The Verge also comments that the “haptic trackpad is the best around.”

CNET: “Sits in the Goldilocks Zone of Apple's MacBook lineup”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Screen size and weight
• Efficient performance
• Cheaper starting price

The bad

• Expensive storage
• Costly RAM upgrades
• No ProMotion display

CNET’s review shares many of those opinions. It sees the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as an update that “adds incremental improvements to an already fantastic laptop,” awarding it an impressive 9/10.

It echoes the view that “the performance gains aren't enough on their own to necessitate an upgrade” from an M2 or M3 model but identifies “the lower price and bigger screen” as two reasons to change. CNET has plenty of praise for the 15.3-inch display, which offers more space for “open windows and Chrome tabs,” as well as streaming.

Like The Verge, CNET has a word to say about the M4’s storage options, balking at “the semi-outrageous charge of $200 to double the storage to a 512GB SSD.” Even so, it thinks the “roomy display, trim design and new lower starting price” mean the 15-inch M4 “should be viewed as the default Air.”

Wired: “The 15-inch MacBook Air has finally come into its own.”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Lower price
• Sharper webcam
• Powerful M4 chip
• Keyboard and trackpad

The bad

• Extra storage is expensive
• One-sided port layout

Wired joins CNET in awarding the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) a score of 9/10, noting that it “improves upon the previous model in noteworthy ways while also dropping the price.” The key takeaway is that it’s a “more well-rounded option” overall, with an “increase in performance and capabilities, paired with a lower price.”

It notes that the core design hasn’t changed, but that “people are still marveling at it”, including “the excellent keyboard and trackpad”. Wired does bemoan that “all the power connections are on the left side”, but applauds the addition of “support for up to two external displays”.

Wired notes “no discernible performance difference between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air”, but find that the “extra screen real estate” of the larger model makes a huge difference, “without giving up sharpness”. In summary, it rates the 15-inch M4 as “a clear winner.”

Engadget: “The ideal ultraportable for most users”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Rapid performance
• Streamlined design
• Strong battery life
• Great touchpad and keys

The bad

• Not enough ports
• Screen refresh rate

Like others, Engadget notes that “the M4 chip isn’t a transformative upgrade” for the MacBook Air, reporting that it “couldn't actually feel a difference.” But it still finds the new 15-inch model “a no-brainer purchase” and rates it as “a nearly flawless ultraportable.”

As elsewhere, Engadget praises several aspects of the Air’s “impressively thin” design, describing the keyboard as “a dream to type on” and stating that “it has one of the best trackpads around.” It also commends the battery life and appreciates the tracking feature of the Center Stage camera, even if the upgrade “isn’t exactly earth-shattering.”

Like The Verge, Engadget reviewed the 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the MacBook Air M4 together. It acknowledges the benefits of both, finding that “the smaller one is definitely easier to travel with” but the larger has the more “immersive screen”. The Engadget review does wish for “more ports and a faster screen refresh rate” but fundamentally sees the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as “heads and shoulders above the competition”.

The MacBook Air M4 verdict

(Image credit: Future)

While opinions on finer details might differ, there’s a strong consensus in the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) reviews: every reviewer felt that Apple’s new 15-inch laptop gets close to the sweet spot in terms of price, performance, and screen size.

Every review commented favorably on the model’s new lower price and the general sentiment is that it offers better value and a superior everyday user experience than the previous edition. That includes an excellent trackpad and keyboard, plus extra speakers.

Most of the reviews agree on the drawbacks, which will be familiar to owners of previous verions of the MacBook Air. Apple hasn’t been generous with the ports, while the base-level storage capacity is limited and the cost of upgrading is high.

The main audience for the smaller MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is students and regular travelers. The 15-inch otherwise offers fuller sound and a larger display without much additional weight.

Almost all of the reviews conclude that the performance improvements delivered by the M4 chip don’t warrant upgrading if you already own a MacBook Air 15-inch (M3). But for everyone else, this is one of the best 15-inch laptops you can buy.

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Ahmed al-Sharaa founded the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, but is now advocating unity. The Atlantic's Robert Worth discusses al-Sharaa's leadership and the Trump administration's group chat on Signal.

 

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1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51: two-minute review

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are a pair of budget-friendly over-ear headphones that set out to do it all. They aim to serve up adept audio, noise-crushing ANC and an eye-catching design – all for less than $100 / £100. I must confess, that’s quite the tall task, and I did have my reservations at first. But after two weeks of testing, I’m pleased to report that these 1More cans do all of those things… and more.

Before we really drill into things, let’s take a glance at the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51’s headline info. These headphones come in with a modest list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 and offer ANC and transparency mode, LDAC for ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming and up to 100 hours – yes 100 hours – of battery life.

Let’s zoom in on the area that matters most – sound. Now, you’re not going to get audio quality that competes with the more premium options in our guide to the best headphones, nor indeed the more aspirational models in our best noise-cancelling headphones roundup, but they still perform commendably for the money. You get clear audio that’s free of tinniness, even at higher volumes. Also, these cans certainly have a more bass-heavy sound signature, which is ideal for fans of dance music, for example, but you can temper low-end output with the 1More Music app’s EQ settings if you so please.

You also get a fairly detailed listen, especially when using the aforementioned LDAC option (if your source device supports it) – or wired connectivity. And sound quality is solid with ANC turned on or off – though I preferred to keep this on for the most part. That ANC is pretty effective too – chatter on public transport, keyboards clacking away and cars zooming past were severely dulled – if not muted when listening to my favorite tracks.

I mentioned that excellent 100 hour battery life, but that’s only if you have LDAC and ANC turned off. But still, even with ANC on, you get 65 hours out of these cans – that’s more than enough for the money! These over-ears are also super comfortable thanks to their generous use of padding on the headband and earcups. So rest assured, the Sonoflow Pro have the battery and design for high-comfort, long-lasting listening sessions.

In addition, these headphones are awesome-looking when in-use. They’re angled forward slightly, giving them a curved, sleek look. They also have a tidy matte finish – there’s style and substance on tap here. The only real downside is that the button controls are a little plasticky and the headband feels a touch feeble – but that’s perhaps to be expected for cans in this price range.

There aren’t too many other downsides to note, luckily. One small thing: the app situation is a little unclear. I could only connect these headphones to the 1More Music platform, rather than the typical 1More app, which was a little frustrating. 1More Music is a little dated, with certain features such as multi-point connectivity (why would you not want this?) hidden in a sub-menu, which made for a less-than-ideal user experience.

But all in all, I’d certainly recommend the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51. They nail the basics: impressive audio, plenty of playtime and a ruthless approach to external noise. And to do all of that at such a low cost is really worth shouting about. If you want truly premium sound and have a more generous budget to spend on headphones, they might not be the best option in the world – perhaps consider some headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4, but the quality on offer from 1More’s Pro cans is more than good enough for anyone on a tighter budget.

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: price & release date

• $89 / £99 / AU$130
• Launched in 2024

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 – sometimes just listed as the 1More Sonoflow HQ51 – have a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130. They launched in 2024 in three colorways: Black; Blue; and Silver.

Price can vary slightly by color variant, but typically, these are in the same kind of ballpark. And good news – I’ve already spotted the Sonoflow Pro on sale with retailers like Amazon US and UK, where they’ve dropped to around $70 / £70 in the past.

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: Specs 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: features

• Up-to-scratch ANC
• Phenomenal battery life
• Companion app could use some work

The Sonoflow Pro come through with all the features you’d hope to find from some modern day Bluetooth headphones – and then some. You get Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, multi-point and a handy companion app too.

A quick note on that companion app, though. I downloaded the 1More app – as advertised on the webpage for this model – but had no joy on my Samsung phone. Instead, I found that I needed to use the 1More Music app, which seems a bit more old-fashioned and clunky to navigate, but works fine.

Anyway, when I finally got things working, I wanted to explore the ANC options. You get three settings: ANC off; ANC on; or passthrough. Now firstly, I have to say that I was surprised by how successful the ANC was here. That’s meant to be one of the key areas of improvement over the original Sonoflow, and 1More pulled it off. When I was in the office, I could barely hear anything aside from my music when listening at 50% volume. Even when out and about or on public transport, external noises were pleasingly kept to a minimum.

Sure, you’re not going to get the best-in-class ANC you’d expect from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, for instance, but that’s to be expected given these are a fraction of the price. And the passthrough mode works well too – you’ll hear a few more sounds from your surroundings, which can be handy for when you’re walking in a busy area and want to keep your whits about you.

As well as toggling between ANC, you can activate hi-res music streaming and adjust EQ – there’s a tidy selection of genre-specific presets as well as a custom option. There’s also an indicator to show battery levels. Speaking of, these cans are seriously long lasting – you’ll get days, if not weeks of use from one single charge. They boast a playtime of 65 hours with ANC on or 100 hours with it off. That will vary if you have hi-res streaming active and listen at top volumes – but still that’s an exceptional amount of listening time.

On top of all of this, there are a few less common features that I unearthed in the 1More Music app. The first is smart burn-in, which is essentially meant to ‘break in’ the drivers and optimize sound quality. I didn’t pick up on any real difference and the whole burn-in deal is a controversial one in the audiophile community, so its inclusion was neither here nor there for me. The second is Soothing Sounds, which plays noises like ‘Waterfall’, ‘Volcano’ and ‘Medium Fire’. This one’s a dud. Sound quality is poor and the audio files stop pretty abruptly, then replay – but you can always just leave it alone.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: sound quality

• Clear quality with rich bass
• Solid detail levels with wired and LDAC listening
• Customizable sound thanks to EQ options

I’ll be honest, reader, I wasn’t expecting much from these 1More headphones in the sound department. But they only went and blew my expectations out of the water! OK, you’re not going to get that premium, beautifully balanced, neatly separated and layered sound that some more premium cans can deliver, but what’s on offer here is pretty tasty for the humble outlay.

Like a lot of budget-friendly headphones out there, the Sonoflow Pro certainly lean into a more bass-heavy signature – ideal if you’re a lover of dance music or hip-hop for instance. If you want a more balanced sound, just head into the 1More Music app and adjust EQ with the five-band equalizer or included presets – nice and easy.

So, let’s start with bass. Unlike a lot of budget options, the big bass doesn’t sound overly cluttered or lethargic here. For instance, when I tuned into Black Eye by Allie X, the punch of the drum machine was rapid and didn’t overstay its welcome. And there’s impressive depth on offer too. When tuning into tracks with imposing sub bass – like The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – the low-end boom rumbling through the track hit with massive impact, but was still clear and controlled.

But booming bass output doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality. In I Want You by Moloko – a busy, layered track – breathy, grand vocals maintain admirable presence and clarity, even alongside the punchy bass and flurry of strings, keys, percussive elements and more.

Even when listening to more mellow tracks like I Remember You by Masayoshi Takanaka, rhythmic guitar was tonally accurate, sweet harp trills never sounded tinny and smooth bass, though prominent, never overstepped its remit. Instrument separation isn’t bad at this price point, but I did feel some of the string and guitar elements could’ve sounded a little more spaced out, for a more airy, nuanced listen.

Having said that, you will get to pick out some neat details with the Sonoflow Pro – that’s thanks to the inclusion of both a 3.5mm headphone slot for wired listening and higher-resolution Bluetooth audio via LDAC. Delicate synths that gradually build are audible early in Kolter’s Overflow and light samba drums in SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe add some added seasoning to an already groovy tune.

All in all, you get surprisingly good sound from these budget-friendly 1More headphones. General audio isn’t as crisp as I’ve heard from cans like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and you won’t get stunning spatial audio like the Sonos Ace. But if you want clear, decently detailed sound, the Sonoflow Pro have you covered.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: design

• Sleek on-ear look
• Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
• A little flimsy

Something I really appreciate about the 1More Sonoflow Pro is their curved on-ear look. They’re angled slightly, which gives a more defined, sharp look to them in use – something I already liked about the original Sonoflow model. On top of that, the Black model I tested had an attractive matte finish, making for a very attractive pair of over-ears.

But they’re more than just a pretty face. The Sonoflow Pro are also pretty comfortable to wear – even for longer listening sessions. They might not quite have the cushion-like comfort of the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, but there’s still plenty of padding on the headband and plump earcups and so I was happy to listen with these for hours on end. They’re also foldable, making them a compact option for on-the-go use.

The only thing I didn’t really love design-wise is that these cans don’t feel the most durable. The headband is pretty thin and the buttons appear and feel quite plasticky. There’s also no waterproofing or dustproofing here – but that’s pretty common for over-ears. This is no dealbreaker, just don’t expect premium build quality.

Back to the positives though: I loved the hard carry case which is included in the box. It will keep your headphones damage free if you want to throw them in a bag when traveling – that’s an enticing bonus. There’s also a USB-C charging wire and 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable with an attached mic, which offers relatively clear, albeit not ultra-crisp quality for phone calls.

• Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: value

• Awesome all-round budget package
• Included case makes for staggering overall value
• Similar price to original Sonoflow, but some key improvements

It will come as no surprise that the category these cans perform best in is value. Their list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 is already great, but again, these are available on sale semi-regularly, meaning you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Solid sound, sleek design and even a carry case – not bad at all!

Not only that, but these are priced exceptionally closely to the original 1More Sonoflow cans, while still offering some significant improvements. You get enhanced ANC, longer battery life and faster charging – specifically, the Pro give you ten hours of playtime with a five minute charge, double as fast as the standard model.

There are some amazing cheap headphones out there, like the Earfun Wave Pro, for instance. But these 1More cans have better battery life, a more distinct on-ear look and color options. It's a case of several smaller improvements adding up to one big uptick in value. You really can’t ask for much more from some sub-$100 headphones.

• Value score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51? Buy them if…

You want capable ANC
I found that the Sonoflow Pro offered better-than-expected ANC, which kept me focused on my music at all times, even when in busier, more chatter-filled areas. There’s a passthrough mode if you want to keep some ambient sounds, too, which is a nice touch.

You’re not looking to spend your life savings
With a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130, the Sonoflow Pro are certainly on the more budget-friendly side of the spectrum. They’re also available at a cut-price from time to time, meaning you’re getting up-to-scratch audio and a sleek design at a more than reasonable price.

Don’t buy them if…

You want S-tier audio
The Sonoflow Pro have a pleasingly customizable sound and given their price, you’re getting very solid audio quality too. But they’re not going to offer that immersive, carefully separated, premium sound that audiophiles will be looking for. If you’re looking for peak performance, you’ll be better served by cans like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the Apple AirPods Max.

You want phenomenal build quality
Now don’t get me wrong, I like the way the Sonoflow Pro look on, but there’s no denying they’re still pretty plasticky. The headband and button controls aren’t the sturdiest, so if you’re looking for premium build quality, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

(Image credit: Future) 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: also consider

Earfun Wave Pro
For some time, the Earfun Wave Pro have held the title of best budget option in our guide to the best over-ear headphones. And it’s easy to see why. These cans supply stupendous battery life, above-average sound and a neat design all at a temptingly low price. You can’t ask for much more than that! Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review.

Sony WH-CH720N
I’ve personally owned the Sony WH-CH720N for well over a year and can comfortably recommend them. They offer great sound for the price you pay, as well as upscaling technology for lower-quality music files. On top of that, you get effective ANC, a handy companion app and a classy set of color options to choose from. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: How I tested

• Tested for two weeks
• Used at home and on public transport
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 over the course of two weeks. I used the over-ears in a variety of environments, including at home, on walks near built-up roads and on public transport. Typically, I connected the headphones to Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy 24 FE with the LDAC codec enabled for the best quality audio.

When listening to music, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. I also tested the headphones with my Windows laptop to test out quality using a wired connection. When appropriate, I also compared the Sonoflow Pro directly to the Soundcore Space One Pro.

• First reviewed: March 2025
• Read more about how we test

We love comedy here in the UK – as a stereotypically serious nation, those amongst us that can break through the noise of day-to-day life by giving us something to laugh about are often elevated to national treasure status, and while some rely on scripted jokes and pre-planned routines, many of our comics are seemingly just very funny people by nature.

So when I heard about the Japanese game show LOL:Last One Laughing getting a UK version, courtesy of Prime Video, I knew we’d be in for a good time. The show is a bit like Live at the Apollo meets Big Brother, with a dash of The Hunger Games in there for good measure – 10 of Britain’s best comedians are locked in a room for six hours and banned from laughing or even cracking a full smile.

The series condenses this into six half-hour episodes, so it strikes a nice balance between real-time suspense and moving at pace. Each contestant gets one chance to laugh with a football-style card system, and the last one to laugh wins a gaudy plastic trophy – it’s all very classy.

That’d be difficult enough for any group of people, but for the cast Amazon has assembled it’s a pretty mammoth task. Alongside legends like Richard Ayoade and Sara Pascoe are TV staples like Judi Love and Daisy May Cooper – the full cast also includes Lou Sanders, Joe Lycett, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, Bob Mortimer, and Rob Beckett.

Moderating (and instigating) throughout are Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty, who issue the cast with prompts and commands to keep things reasonably chaotic and entirely not safe for work.

As well as conversation starters and guest performers, each cast member can be compelled to play their 'joker', a unique performance lasting several minutes – I’d be remiss to spoil any of them, but they are unfailingly ridiculous and pose the biggest challenge for both our cast and anyone playing along at home.

Taking the challenge

Jimmy Carr (right) and Roisin Conaty (left) serve as the show's presenters and mastermind challenges for the contestants (Image credit: Amazon)

That’s exactly what me and my family (of adults – again, this isn't for kids) did for the show’s first three episodes – and after valiantly trying to hold it together through the Judi Love’s straight-faced flirting with Richard Ayoade, and Lou Sanders needling Joe Wilkinson with nonsense rhyming slang, I can confidently say Last One Laughing UK is the funniest show I’ve ever seen.

As someone who grew up watching Shooting Stars on BBC Two, I’ve got a weakness for this kind of off-the-cuff absurdism. I’m not exaggerating when I say a certain joker sequence made me laugh harder than I ever have before, the kind of paralyzing, breathless howling that leaves you completely catatonic for a few minutes while you try to piece together exactly what’s going on.

And sticking with Shooting Stars, Last One Laughing UK confirms the theory that Bob Mortimer is like some kind of comedic weapon of mass destruction. His impish poise and disarming aura make him completely intolerable to most of the cast through the first episode – I nearly broke at him asking, with totally misplaced sincerity, whether Rob Beckett had a kitchen island in his house. I may be biased, but a fair bit of my viewing experience was spent watching him patrol around the room like a lifeguard tracking a wandering shark.

I’d truly recommend going all in and trying to play along. The suspense of following the challenge at home, especially with others, makes even the small glances and petty comments hard to get through – and the big set pieces dizzyingly hilarious. It’s worth it just for Daisy-May Cooper’s stoic screw-face as things become increasingly tense.

If you’re feeling a bit down after watching some of the other new shows out on streaming services this month (specifically Adolescence), this is one of the best Prime Video shows that’ll lift your spirits with Olympic force.

Last One Laughing UK – who I'd want to see in series 2

Big Narstie would be a perfect fit for a potential second season (Image credit: Netflix)

So, there we have it – the new funniest show I’ve ever seen. While I’m looking forward to getting into the remaining episodes of the series, which released today (March 27), I’ve already got some ideas as to who I’d like to see appear in a second outing.

Firstly, let’s get Big Narstie in there. Though not a comedian by trade, rapper and media personality Big Narstie is a true one-of-one whose confidence and liberal approach to language fills any room with personality. Not to mention one of the most famous and infectious laughs you’ll ever hear, creating a Pandora's box situation for the other contestants.

I also think the ironic powers of Diane Morgan (known for her character Philomena Cunk) would make her a good fit for this format – I can see Morgan and Ayoade getting into a sort of war dance with one another as each tries to deliver droll remarks with the least expression.

And how about another newcomer? Britain’s Got Talent winner Axel Blake is enjoying a career renaissance at the minute via social media – I’d be up for seeing if his new, fast-paced approach to character work could crack some smiles in that high-pressure room.

The full series of Last One Laughing UK is out now on Prime Video – once you’re through all six episodes be sure to check out our list of seven great new shows and movies out on streaming services this week for more recommendations.

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Bold predictions claim AI will boost productivity, generate game-changing insights, and streamline operations - from risk management and compliance to the front office and beyond. Yet behind the headlines, a more uncomfortable question lingers: can AI truly meet these lofty expectations, or is it at risk of collapsing under the weight of its own hype?

The heart of the challenge isn’t AI itself, it’s data. In many institutions, outdated infrastructure, fragmented architectures, and siloed legacy systems continue to dominate. These setups were never intended to handle the scale and urgency that modern AI demands. Without an overhaul of data foundations, even the most powerful AI models will produce inaccurate results, create false confidence, and leave firms ill-prepared to respond to market developments.

The missing link in data readiness

AI algorithms crave completeness, accuracy, and consistency. Yet firms often rely on data systems that are anything but unified. It’s no surprise many financial institutions struggle to reconcile different feeds or update data in real time. As a result, data quality quickly degrades. AI then ends up basing its decisions on stale or inconsistent information, leading to questionable outputs at best - and costly mistakes at worst.

Recent research by Gresham, polling firms split over the US, the UK and the DACH region, found that while nearly all firms are starting to use AI to some degree, just 41% said they had extensively deployed AI across business operations. This discrepancy is telling: where data remains siloed or inconsistent, AI efforts stay small-scale or purely exploratory. Where data strategies are robust, AI initiatives advance more rapidly.

Investments in data management are also rising. In the same survey, 63% of senior decision-makers employed by financial services firms globally said that AI would result in an increase in the cost of data within their organization, reflecting a need for new tools and expertise to ensure data is ready for advanced analytics. Notably, 40% of the sample predicted a rise in operational headcount, contradicting the common assumption that AI automatically reduces numbers employed.

Scoping the barriers

These challenges come into sharp focus when we consider the underlying systems and structures found across financial institutions. Many companies have spent years building proprietary back-office platforms and custom integrations, and layering AI into these older environments is far from simple. Communication breakdowns between AI models and legacy platforms can lead to inconsistent data flow and unreliable outputs.

The question of talent is another barrier. AI in finance demands more than coding prowess, it requires a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, specialized financial products, and institutional processes. This mix is hard to find, leaving the field short on people who can develop, implement, and maintain AI solutions at scale.

Legal and licensing matters add further complication. As generative AI begins to analyse text, images, and market data, firms must handle intellectual property constraints and commercial usage rights with great care.

Licensing agreements for market and reference data, for instance, were not designed with AI’s evolving capabilities in mind. There are also concerns about inadvertently exposing confidential information through AI-driven tools. The legal and operational frameworks that govern these new technologies continue to lag behind AI’s rapid adoption.

Shifting concepts of data quality

Data quality is no longer just about whether a field is correct or incorrect; it’s about understanding whether you’re allowed to use certain data in the first place, and whether it makes sense to do so. Permissions, provenance, and the potential for biased or ambiguous outputs all come into play. Large language models, for instance, can provide confident but factually inaccurate answers, making rigorous testing and validation essential.

Older data cataloguing and governance tools can’t keep pace with these evolving requirements. A static dictionary that flags ownership or acceptable values doesn’t capture the contextual nuances that AI demands. Instead, modern cataloguing must account for data lifecycles, usage restrictions, and the need to red-team or pressure-test models to reveal potential flaws.

Moving forward - Why bother?

It’s easy to see why some remain skeptical. Retooling data infrastructure, refining governance, and hiring specialized staff can be expensive and time-consuming.

However, the benefits of AI are too significant to dismiss. Smart algorithms excel at spotting patterns in massive data sets, exactly what financial institutions need for fraud detection, real-time market insights, and predictive risk analysis. Institutions that manage to integrate AI properly often find themselves making decisions faster and catching opportunities that competitors overlook.

Efficiency gains can be especially compelling. Routine tasks, like reconciliation and document processing, can be automated, freeing human teams to focus on high-value, analytical work. Moreover, AI-driven personalization can deepen customer relationships. Tailored product offerings and proactive service tweaks help retain clients in an industry where loyalty can’t be taken for granted.

Making AI work

If the industry wants AI to live up to its potential, it must address data issues head-on. This means modernizing legacy architecture, ensuring data quality is consistently maintained, and creating clear guidelines around privacy and licensing. It also requires investing in people who can bridge the gap between software engineering, finance, and regulation. Meanwhile, legal teams must keep pace with changing models, usage restrictions, and licensing obligations.

So, can AI truly deliver in financial services? The short answer is yes: provided institutions build the necessary groundwork. These tools can overhaul how data is processed, accelerate complex decisions, and uncover meaningful insights in a realm where timing and accuracy matter. But unless firms commit to cleansing and modernizing their data, AI may never advance beyond flashy proofs of concept. Genuine success demands reliable foundations.

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• Nintendo Virtual Game Card is a new Switch feature arriving in April
• Virtual Game Cards make it easier for players to lend out their digital games
• The feature will also be available on Switch 2 at launch

Nintendo has announced a new Switch feature called the Virtual Game Card, making it easier to lend out digital games.

Revealed during the March 27 Nintendo Direct Showcase, the new Virtual Game Card feature lets players easily manage their digital Nintendo Switch games, and it's arriving in late April as a new system update.

This feature will also make lending to Nintendo Account Family Group members straightforward.

When the update goes live, players will be able to see their digital Switch games as Virtual Game Cards. They can then be virtually loaded and ejected from their library, just like physical game cartridges.

Players can only lend out one game at a time on a Nintendo Account family group member’s console, and it will automatically be returned to the owner after 14 days; however, save data will be stored afterward.

"This optional feature allows you to view virtual game cards or eject them from your console," Nintendo said. "The digital game can also be lent to a Nintendo Account family group member’s console via local wireless connection."

Nintendo has also confirmed that this Virtual Game Card feature will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.

The announcements don't stop there. On April 2, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase will air and will likely reveal the pricing of the console, as well as showcase new software, like the new Mario Kart.

We are also expecting preorder details, although the latest leaks suggest that Switch 2 pre-orders will go live on the same day, April 2.

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• Nintendo is launching the Nintendo Today app later today
• It will detail the latest Nintendo news on a daily basis
• The app will be available on both iOS and Android devices

The latest Nintendo Direct presentation ended on something a little different, as the company announced a brand new smartphone app.

Called Nintendo Today, it's available today for iOS and Android devices. The app was introduced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, who said "it functions like a daily calendar," adding that it's a convenient way to keep track of various Nintendo events.

It's not just a one-stop shop for the latest Nintendo news, however, as it appears to feature comics and fun information on Nintendo games and characters on a daily basis.

More crucially, Miyamoto explains that after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, news on the upcoming console and its games will be "delivered daily" via the Nintendo Today app.

The app is now available to download on both Google Play and the App Store. Simply type the name of the app into your phone's store and you'll be able to download it right away.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Personally, Nintendo Today is giving me Smash Bros. Dojo vibes. This was a website that, in the run-up to Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii, delivered daily news and tidbits on characters, stages, items, and the like.

Naturally, Nintendo Today is going to be a bit more broad in the news and features it covers. But it's certainly not Nintendo's first take on a daily news delivery system such as this.

Once I've had some time with the Nintendo Today app, I'll be sure to deliver my thoughts in a more thorough feature to see if it's worth downloading and keeping track of. Which, with Switch 2 on the horizon, I'm going to assume it will be.

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