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• Cybernews found a major database belonging to Sydney Tools left unsecured online
• It exposed employee and customer data
• As many as 34 million orders could be exposed

Millions of Australians (and possibly others) may have had their sensitive information exposed on the internet due to a leak from a major retailer.

Researchers from Cybernews uncovered a huge exposed Clickhouse database belonging to Sydney Tools, an Australian retailer specializing in power tools, hand tools, and industrial equipment for tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts.

The database reportedly contains entries belonging to both Sydney Tools employees (current and former), and customers.

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Millions of customers

For employees, there are more than 5,000 entries containing full names, branches of employment, salaries, and sales targets. Since Sydney Tools apparently has around 1,000 employees, it’s safe to assume that the majority of entries in this category fall on former employees.

While payment or banking information was not exposed here, there are still plenty of “ingredients” for a dangerous phishing, or identity theft cocktail .

Employees aside, the leaked database also spilled more than 34 million online purchase records.

These contained people’s names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, and ordered items, which makes this part of the leak objectively worse.

“The leaked data is sensitive as it included extensive personally identifiable information in large volumes, as well as sensitive information regarding which customers purchased expensive items, and the salaries of their employees,” the researchers said.

The Cybernews report was published in late March, 2025 and said that, at press time, the archive was still exposed on the internet and leaking data. The researchers said they tried to get in touch with Sydney Tools to get them to close the archive, but were unsuccessful.

Unprotected databases remain one of the biggest causes of data leaks today.

Sydney Tools offers a wide range of products from major brands, including tools for construction, automotive, and woodworking applications. The company operates both online and through physical stores across Australia.

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• Pro-Ject has released a new vinyl flattener ahead of Record Store day 2025
• 'Flatten it' uses temperature-controlled plates to maintain consistency
• It's every vinyl enthusiasts dream, but you'll need deep pockets…

The day where vinyl collectors and music fans queue outside record stores for new, limited releases is near, and I’m one of the courageous warriors preparing for battle. That’s right, it’s almost time for Record Store Day 2025, which lands on April 12, and while the thrill of adding new additions to your vinyl collection is a top-tier feeling, some bask in the pleasure of crate-digging for rare pre-loved presses.

Getting your hands on that great LP you've been searching for can feel like you’ve hit the jackpot, but warped vinyl is nigh-on inevitable at some point in your collecting career. Enter Pro-Ject, and its rather impressive new solution to restoring warped vinyl records to their original shape, so you no longer have to worry about the needle on your deck not tracking through those concentric circles as well as it might.

‘Flatten It’ (for that is its name) is the latest piece of vinyl care tech from Pro-Ject, a ‘high-quality, durable cabinet’ designed to give your warped vinyl records the TLC they need and resuscitate their sonic abilities from drab, back to fab. And yes, it is as expensive as it sounds (£749 to be precise, which is around $966 or AU$1,529 as a rough guide), but compared to similar products it’s a mid-price point (the Orb DF-01iA+ disc flattener retails for around double that). There’s no doubt that serious vinyl record collectors will fork out for something that promises to keep their vinyl flat using a hysteresis temperature of just 2 degrees Celcius.

(Image credit: Pro-Ject )

Already a trusted hi-fi specialist and maker of some of the best turntables we've had the pleasure of testing, Pro-Ject is unafraid to take its already highly-respected status as an audio company and crank up the dial – and I like it! Even if it does look like a massive compact CD player.

No longer stuck in a (time) warp

So how does it work? Well, instead of abiding to common vinyl-flattening home hacks which could easily go wrong (we wouldn't advise leaving LPs in a cooling oven), Pro-Ject's ‘Flatten it’ offers a solution that’s suitable for all vinyl sizes and thicknesses for both casual and serious vinyl collectors.

Using just two settings (heating and cooling), temperature-controlled plates are used to sandwich the vinyl record together while a lower setting of just 2°C maintains consistency in the flattening process. Though there are plenty of alternative vinyl restoration products out there, you have to admit, this is literally pretty cool, landing just in time for Record Store Day 2025.

Record Store Day doesn’t just have to be about snagging the most exclusive presses, but can be the perfect opportunity to scout out albums that aren’t kicking about much these days. It's the perfect opportunity, especially when everyone else will have their undivided attention on the upcoming 7” Taylor Swift single… 

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Canon PowerShot V1: two-minute review

There's been a buzz surrounding the PowerShot V1, principally because the compact V-series vlogging camera is like a bigger sibling to the trending (and dated) PowerShot G7X Mark III, with an all-new 1.4-inch sensor and 16-50mm lens.

Put the two cameras side by side and the design / control layout similarities are clear (see below) – these are pocketable compact cameras, with the PowerShot V1 being the bigger of the two, and both offer impressive suites of video features.

The PowerShot V1's most obvious rival is the Sony ZV1-II, while the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a gimbal-stabilized alternative, and in many regards the well-rounded PowerShot V1 is a clear winner, even if there's a strong case to be made for DJI's take on the format.

Headline features include that 22.3MP, 1.4-inch sensor. That's a rare sensor size – it's essentially the same as Micro Four Thirds, but in 3:2 aspect ratio rather than 4:3. It measures 18.4 x 12.3 mm – much bigger than the 1-inch type used in the aforementioned rivals, which measures 13.2mm x 8.8mm.

A bigger sensor size in general means better image quality, but there are caveats. The notable PowerShot V1 drawback for me is the f/2.8-4.5 maximum aperture of its 3.1x optical zoom lens. Compare that to the ZV-1 II's f/1.8-4, and the PowerShot G7X Mark III's 4.2x zoom with a f/1.8-2.8 maximum aperture, and the V1 comes up short for light-gathering capabilities, which in some respects counters the image-quality advantage of its larger sensor.

Still, it's the widest lens of the bunch, with a 16-50mm range that's ideal for vlogging. Even with digital image stabilization active and the consequent image-area crop applied, the framing is plenty wide enough for vlogging with the camera at arm's reach – that extra 2mm at the wide end goes a long way.

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Here's the Canon PowerShot V1 compact (left), alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III (right) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 2

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot V1 and Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The comprehensive suite of video features includes cooling vents and unlimited 4K 30fps video recording times, a built-in ND filter, Canon's best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot compact, plus mic and headphone ports.

Photographers are well catered for too, with a hotshoe accepting an external flash (but not 5-pin ones), and a rapid 15fps burst shooting speed that's doubled when using the electronic shutter, ably supported by that reliable subject-tracking autofocus.

Image stabilization is unavailable when shooting 4K video at 60fps, plus there's a 1.4x crop using this setting – I'm sure I'll discover a few more drawbacks when I have the camera back in for in-depth testing.

However, the PowerShot V1 makes a strong first impression. As a complete package with Sony-beating features and a relatively decent price, it looks set to be a vlogging star.

Canon PowerShot V1 specs

(Image credit: Tim Coleman) Canon PowerShot V1: Price and availability

• £959.99 (US and Australia pricing TBC)
• Available from early April, exact date TBC

The Canon PowerShot V1 costs £959.99, with US and Australia pricing to be confirmed, and is due to hit the shelves in early April, with an exact release date also yet to be confirmed by Canon.

That starting price is less than what the older G7X Mark III currently goes for, with scalpers are capitalizing on the smaller model's popularity. However, the Sony ZV-1 II costs around 20% less than the V1, while the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is about half the price.

Canon PowerShot V1: Design

• 16-50mm f/2.8-4.5 lens with customizable ring and 5EV optical stabilization
• Similar design and control layout to the PowerShot G7X Mark III
• Includes hotshoe, tally lamp, headphone and mic ports

Canon has created a well-rounded and solid compact camera with a focus on video, but which also packs a solid suite of photography features.

Its design and control layout are strikingly similar to the PowerShot G7X Mark III's (see below), but on a larger scale that has enabled extra features such as a hotshoe, vari-angle screen, plus of course that larger sensor.

The camera sits nicely in the hand thanks to a generous handgrip, and is adorned with a number of customizable buttons and controls, with special mention going to the lens ring, which is ideal for making quick changes to aperture or your desired setting.

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From left to right: Canon PowerShot V1, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 4

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V1, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 4

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, Canon PowerShot V1 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 4

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, Canon PowerShot V1, Canon EOS R50 V (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

With the camera off and the lens retracted, I'd call the PowerShot V1 pocketable, which is impressive given the decent-size 1.4-inch sensor within.

A vari-angle touchscreen is pretty much the norm in 2025 for video-focused cameras – it can be flipped out and tilted upwards for easy viewing from awkward angles when shooting horizontally, and flipped around for vlogging.

Another handy feature for vlogging is a tally lamp, which lights up red to confirm when you're recording. You can also opt for manual focus peaking and zebra display, plus timecode – again, all handy video features.

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Cooling vents are found on the top and left-hand side of the camera, and these effectively enable unlimited 4K video record times. This isn't the sort of feature I'd expect in a camera at this level and price point, so kudos to Canon for that.

There's a decent internal mic, and Canon provides a wind muff with the camera that slots into the hotshoe to be positioned over the mic for clearer audio on breezy days.

When using the internal mic, the wind muff feels like a must, even if it somewhat obstructs some of the camera controls, such as the on/ off switch.

Still, if you're a serious creator you'll be using an external mic instead, and these can be connected using the 3.5mm mic input, with sound monitoring possible through headphones and on-screen.

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The lens is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) that's rated up to 5EV. That's a decent performance for photography, though it's of little use for video. For that, there's digital (or electronic) image stabilization (DIS). There's a small crop of the image area with DIS active, and even more with the enhanced DIS option, and that's where the V1's wider-than-most 16mm wide focal length is particularly handy – you'll still be able to frame yourself nicely in the shot with stabilization active.

Canon PowerShot V1: Performance

• Canon's best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot
• Digital image stabilzation only for video
• 4K video 30fps, 4K 60fps with a 1.4x crop, Full HD 120fps

I haven't had enough time with the PowerShot V1 to run full tests, but during my two-day hands-on time I have been able to use the various video record modes, snap a few photos, check image stabilization performance and shoot a few short vlogs using the internal mic.

In the sample footage below, I cover 4K 30fps, 4K 60fps, image stabilization, and the 3.1x optical zoom among other things.

Overall, 4K video footage is crisp, and subject-tracking autofocus is reliable – and that's something that's not to be taken for granted. Canon says it has put its best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot compact in the V1, and it really does perform well.

Usually, the camera's exposure metering and color are linked to the focus area. When focus was locked onto me, exposure looked fine with the help of an auto ND filter, although I have seen shifts in the color of my skin in vlogs – some look spot on, others a little green, others too magenta. It's a good practice to set white balance manually, rather than rely on auto white balance.

4K 60fps video looks great too, although you'll lose out on the option for Digital Image Stabilization at this setting, while there is also a 1.4x crop of the image area.

I don't mind the crop so much, as it effectively extends the lens for close-up B-roll. There's also a crop when you employ enhanced DIS (not available with 4K 60fps), but the V1's widest 16mm focal length gives a lot of scope for cropping into the image area for vlogging. Lens focal length might sound like a small thing, but Canon has been smart with its choice of 16mm focal length for the wide setting.

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General detail in this selfie is really sharp, plus subject-tracking autofocus has delivered pin-sharp focusing on the eyes (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 6

Close focusing capabilities are impressive (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 6

There's a trippy feeling to this image when the focal length is at the widest setting and the focusing is close-up. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 6

Taken at the 50mm focal length and maximum f/4.5 aperture, there's still a reasonable focus fall off here (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 6

This close up at 50mm f/4.5 shows what the 1.4-inch sensor is capable of (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 6 of 6

Here's the same subject but with the aperture set to f/11 – this depth of field is what you could expect from a standard smartphone. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Canon's 22.3MP 1.4-inch sensor is new, but we get Canon's familiar color science, and that's a good thing. Full-size photos look natural and are packed with detail – my skin and facial hair are super-crisp in the selfie above.

The PowerShot V1 also has decent close-focusing skills, so you can create photos and dynamic video cutaways for vlog footage – check out the flower closeups, again in the sample gallery above.

Would I have preferred a faster maximum aperture, say f/1.8-2.8? Yes, but that wouldn't be possible within the same compact lens dimensions. In any case, with the lens set to its maximum aperture (f/2.8-4.5) and when the focus distance is close, it's possible to get a lovely shallow depth of field.

I'll share more findings in my upcoming in-depth review.

How I tested the Canon PowerShot V1

• Tested for two days, full production model
• I shot various handheld video clips using a range of resolutions and frame rates, and with stabilization active and off.
• I recorded vlogs using the in-camera mics only

I've not had long enough with the PowerShot V1 to give a definitive verdict. However, the two days over which I tested the compact vlogging camera gave me enough time to have a play with the various video modes on offer, including 4K and Full HD videos, and 60fps and 30fps frame rates, make short vlogs using the in-camera microphone, and shoot comparison videos with the stabilization active and turned off, to see how effective digital stabilization is for video. I've also made several photos in full quality.

• First reviewed March 2025

• Global launch of EOS R50 V and PowerShot V1 V-series of vlogging cameras
• A new RF-S 14-30mm power zoom lens was also unveiled for the EOS R50 V
• The PowerShot V1 costs the same as the EOS R50 V with 14-30mm lens

Canon has unveiled the new EOS R50 V alongside confirming global availability of its PowerShot V1, which was announced last month for Japan only.

Both V-series models are part of Canon's vlogging-focused camera range, joining the PowerShot V10 point-and-shoot compact – we expect more models to follow.

I had a two-day hands-on with both cameras ahead of launch, and you can discover if the compact camera's fanfare is justified in my PowerShot V1 hands-on review.

The EOS R50 V on the other hand is Canon's first V-series mirrorless camera, and unsurprisingly it utilizes the same RF-mount and 24MP APS-C sensor as the EOS R50.

Alongside the EOS R50 V, Canon launched the new RF-S 14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens (£379.99). The PZ stands for Power Zoom – a smooth zoom function ideal for video, and custom designed for the EOS R50 V.

Despite their different design cues, the PowerShot V1 and EOS R50 V with 14-30mm lens share the same launch price – £959.99. Alternatively, the EOS R50 V can be purchased body for £729.99, or in a Creator Kit with lens and accessories for £999.99. Sales start on April 10, and I'll update this article with US and Australia pricing when I have that info.

Let's take a closer look at the EOS R50 V, and then consider which of the two new models offers better value for beginner vloggers.

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The EOS R50 V (right) alongside the EOS R50 (left) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 3

The EOS R50 V (left) alongside the EOS R50 (right) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 3

The EOS R50 V (right) alongside the EOS R50 (left) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) Canon EOS R50 V vs EOS R50: a new video-focused design

In essence, the EOS R50 V packs much the same EOS R50 tech into a body designed for video, with slightly better video features, but it lacks a viewfinder.

Take its shooting mode dial as an example – there’s a host of video options including three custom settings you can save for quick access, but just one option for photography. The EOS R50's shooting mode dial is the flipside of that.

It also has tripod mounts for vertical and horizontal setups and accessories, record buttons on the front and rear, a tally lamp, plus a vari-angle screen for selfies and awkward angles, with auto support for vertical live view and menus. That all feels pretty high end for a camera at this sub £1,000 price point.

Other handy video features include aspect markers, timecode, USB-C power and charging, mic and headphone ports, false color, zebra display and manual focus peaking.

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4K 30fps 4:2:2 10-bit video is oversampled from 6K, plus there’s Canon's C-Log 3 color profile and record times up to 2 hours. You can up 4K frame rate to 60fps, while Full HD delivers up to 120fps.

The same dual pixel autofocus II system utilized by the EOS R6 Mark II is found here, offering subject and eye detection for humans and animals.

The camera features a power zoom lever and can be bought with the new RF-S 14-30mm power zoom lens for smooth video zooms. It’s also a decent live-streaming camera, with 4-channel audio and compatibility with Canon’s Live Switcher app for multi cam setups – up to three EOS R50 V's can be synchronized.

That's a decent array of upgrades for video-focused users from the EOS R50.

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, Canon PowerShot V1, Canon EOS R50 V (Image credit: Tim Coleman) EOS R50 V versus PowerShot V1

Unlike the EOS R50 V, the PowerShot V1 is a compact camera, meaning it has a built-in 3.1x optical zoom lens – it's a complete package. But with the PowerShot V1 costing the same as the EOS R50 V with 14-30mm lens, which model makes most sense for beginner vloggers?

With lens attached, the EOS R50 V is a heavier and larger package, but not by a lot – its height and width are no bigger. Both cameras could slip into a jacket pocket, while the V1 could squeeze into smaller pockets.

The EOS R50 V has a larger APS-C sensor to the V1's new 1.4-inch sensor, so expect slightly better image quality overall.

However, you can expect a similar depth of field and focus fall-off from the two aforementioned lenses, plus optical stabilization rated up to 5EV. (Of course you could buy different lenses for the EOS R50 V for different looks – for example, there are decent Sigma fast aperture zoom and prime lenses available that I've tested and can recommend.)

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Canon PowerShot V1 (middle) alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III (right) and PowerShot V10 (left) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 6

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Canon says the EOS R50 V's autofocus is better than the PowerShot V1's, plus it has slightly more powerful video features, some of which were mentioned earlier. However, it doesn't have a built-in ND filter, like the V1 does, while the 14-30mm (21-45mm effective) kit lens isn't as wide as the V1's 16-50mm either – the latter is probably more versatile for vlogging especially.

If you want a simple one-stop vlogging camera, the PowerShot V1 probably makes more sense. But if you want a camera that can support you as your skills grow, with the option to swap lenses, then the EOS R50 V is a more serious package, for the same money.

Which model would you go for and why – the Canon EOS R50 V or Canon PowerShot V1? Let us know in the comments below.

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• Canon's fourth 'hybrid' f/1.4 prime lens joins the 24mm, 35mm and 50mm
• Versatile 20mm wide-angle perspective and fast aperture
• List price is £1,919.99 (US and Australia pricing plus sales start date TBC)

Canon continues to grow its range of 'hybrid' RF lenses designed for photo and video with its latest addition, the Canon RF 20mm F1.4L VCM.

It's virtually identical in size, weight and design to three other f/1.4 hybrid primes, the 24mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses (see them all side by side, above), but offers the widest perspective of the quartet.

The 20mm focal length is widely used by astro, landscape, architecture and interior photographers, plus it's also handy for video work in tight spaces and, again, for sweeping vistas.

Canon's fastest-ever 20mm lens packs an 11-blade f/1.4 aperture that should prove particularly handy for low light work, while its close focusing skills of just 0.2m could also deliver decent shallow depth of field shots with dynamic perspectives.

It's a pricey optic, mind you – £1,919.99 (US and Australia pricing to follow) makes it the costliest of the four primes by around 15%. Still, it's the only 20mm fast aperture prime for Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Canon still doesn't allow third-party brands to make lenses for its full-frame cameras, which means it might remain the only choice for wide-angle prime lovers for sometime yet.

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(Image credit: Tim Coleman) Canon's most versatile hybrid prime yet?

I had a brief hands-on with the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM at Canon UK's headquarters ahead of launch and the lens is a familiar sight. Its design is practically identical to the 24mm, 35mm and 50mm options in Canon's hybrid lens line up.

The weather-proof lens measures 76.5 x 99.3mm and weighs 18.3oz / 519g, which makes it an excellent fit with a camera like the EOS R5 Mark II (see below) – a logical camera / lens pairing – and like the other primes it features a 67mm thread for lens filters and a rear gel filter holder.

There's an iris (aperture) ring with smooth click-free adjustments ideal for video, plus a customizable lens control ring and buttons too.

VCM stands for Voice Coil Motor – it's the motor that drives autofocus, which Canon says is rapid, accurate and near silent. I can attest to the autofocus efficiency from my brief time with it and other lenses in the range.

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As an L-series lens, the 20mm F1.4 is built for pros, with a complex lens element arrangement that should deliver supreme sharpness and clarity. The lens comprises, and I take a breath...two aspheric lenses, one Super UD lens, two UD lenses and one BR lens, plus ASC, SWC and Super Spectra coatings.

In many respects, the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM is the most compelling lens of the hybrid bunch, because there's simply no other lens like it. The RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM is a 5-star rated ultra-wide-angle zoom, but its maximum aperture is f/4.

I can see the 20mm option being one of the more popular options in Canon's hybrid lens range. It provides a versatile wide perspective for video work, particularly those that work in multiple aspect ratios, and looks like the ultimate money-no-object astro photography lens.

What do you think of Canon's range of hybrid lenses so far? Let us know in the comments below.

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• F1 25 has been officially revealed by EA Sports and Codemasters
• Braking Point is returning, alongside some My Team mode overhauls
• It's set to launch on May 30, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

EA Sports and Codemasters have officially revealed F1 25, the latest entry in the long-running official Formula 1 racing sim series.

Launching on May 30, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this year's headline features include the return of the Braking Point campaign, as well as a "significant overhaul" to the popular My Team game mode.

If you're unfamiliar, Braking Point made its last appearance in F1 23 and is a bespoke story mode with original characters and cutscenes. In F1 25, the fictional Konnersport team has progressed from the midfield to being genuine championship contenders, but players can expect "a dramatic event" that "throws the team into chaos."

While certainly not perfect and occasionally quite cheesy, I really enjoyed prior iterations of Braking Point, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the storyline progresses.

The accompanying EA press release also details a "significant overhaul" for My Team mode. Details are thin on the ground for now, but it seems we can expect "new responsibilities before getting behind the wheel as either of the team's drivers."

Codemasters senior creative director Lee Mather has also chimed in on F1 25's announcement, saying: “F1 25 delivers more ways for players to experience Formula 1 and race their way, from the drama of Braking Point to making headlines in the pursuit of World Championship glory.

"This year, there are new opportunities for players to connect, collaborate, and compete than ever before. We look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.”

This initial announcement doesn't give much else away when it comes to what we can expect in F1 25, making it sound like a fairly iterative update at face value. However, developer Codemasters will be keeping players up to date as we approach launch with its F1 25 Deep Dive video series. There, we can expect more details on improvements and additions to this year's game.

We're only two races into the real-world 2025 Formula 1 season at the time of writing, and it's already proved to be an extremely chaotic one. From Mercedes and Williams off to surprisingly strong starts to Ferrari struggling even with Lewis Hamilton's services (not to mention a veritable influx of promising rookie talents at Alpine, Sauber, Haas, and Racing Bulls), I'm most interested in learning how F1 25's driver ratings are going to shape up.

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Apple just announced WWDC 2025, its annual developer's conference, with a keynote highlighting the next year of software at its core. This year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) takes place on June 9, and there's more at stake this year than maybe ever before.

Why is WWDC 2025 such a big deal? I hear you ask. Well, coming off the back of Apple's public delay of an Apple Intelligence-powered Siri, we're about to hit the year anniversary of Apple's initial AI announcement, yet we still don't have access to its magical powers that were originally showcased.

At WWDC in June, Apple will have to address the delays and highlight the future of Apple Intelligence to try and win back the credibility that has taken a hit over the last 12 months.

By June, we'll only be a few months away from the launch of the iPhone 17, and if Apple wants consumers to trust in its next flagship iPhone, I think Apple Intelligence needs to be ready.

The world will be watching WWDC 2025 to see how Apple claws itself out of the AI-fuelled mess it's created, and here are three things Tim Cook and Co should do to get the hype train going again.

1. Address the ghosts

(Image credit: Future)

In my opinion, the very first thing that should be discussed at WWDC is the Siri delay. Now I know that's not very "Apple" to highlight mistakes but I think it would be incredibly refreshing to see Apple execs put their hands up and take responsibility for advertising a product that just wasn't ready.

I highly doubt we're even going to get a mention of any delays, I'd actually expect we're more likely to get a timeframe on when Apple Intelligence-powered Siri will launch, glossing over any turmoil.

As long as Apple lays out its plans for on-screen awareness, personal context, and app intents powered Siri, then I think we can move past this mess and start to think more positively about AI in the iPhone.

I won't be satisfied unless we see an actual live demo of Siri working with Apple Intelligence and finally reaching the potential we were promised at WWDC 2024.

I may be naive, but I'm optimistic that Apple will, in fact, showcase Siri in all its glory because if it doesn't and focuses on the rumored iOS 19 redesign, I'll be genuinely disappointed.

This first entry into this list is almost a necessity, and until Apple is able to showcase the promised features, I don't know how we can move on. Fingers crossed, at WWDC 2025, we get a demo of Siri 2.0, a release date, and a newfound trust in Apple to deliver to its loyal fanbase.

2. Apple Intelligence 2.0

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

How can I think about Apple Intelligence's second wave of features when the first wave hasn't rolled out yet? AI development is so fast-moving that new features and capabilities are coming out almost daily, and that's very hard to cope with when your company is playing catchup.

Apple needs to do something very special with Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2025; it needs to showcase some form of consumer AI tool that blows the competition out of the water and reaffirms Apple as THE tech company to beat.

Unfortunately, following the Siri failure, I'm not sure if I believe Apple is capable of AI software innovation in the way it has shown to be capable of hardware innovation over the years.

Siri's 2.0 release would bring the iPhone up to speed with its competition powered by Gemini, but for Apple to pass Google's smart assistant, Siri needs to do more. Personally, I want AI on the iPhone to blow my mind and make the mundane of my daily life a breeze.

If Apple takes its Apple Intelligence offering to the next level by showcasing Siri powers we haven't even seen yet, say AI-powered task management that's on a whole new level, then WWDC will get all the right headlines.

3. Make AI relatable

(Image credit: Future)

Apple's tagline, "AI for the rest of us." is excellent. Those words were the number one thing I remembered from last year's Apple Intelligence reveal.

That said, AI still feels like a gimmick and alien to many people, and I think Apple needs to find a way to make it connect with individuals like we've not seen before. Too many people overlook AI or simply don't use it on their devices because, quite frankly, it doesn't make their lives better.

If Apple is going to promote that incredible slogan, it needs an AI strategy that backs it up and highlights why Apple Intelligence is worth using and not worth missing out on.

Nearly a whole cycle has gone by, with those who have invested in an iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence disappointed, and those who are waiting to upgrade still probably not sold on the idea of Apple's AI.

If Apple can make AI relatable by highlighting new features that connect with the audience, then not only will it make Apple Intelligence a success, but it will also push users to purchase new iPhones come September.

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• Garmin's golf watches are getting a big upgrade
• The company is bringing integration with Clippd
• Clippd is a data platform that can help golfers improve their game

Garmin has announced a big upgrade for its golf watches that will bring data-driven insights from Clippd to its specialist golf line.

Not only does Garmin make some of the best smartwatches for running and fitness, its Approach range includes many of the best golf watches thanks to features like preloaded course data, shot-tracking, and more.

Now Garmin has announced integration with Clippd, a data platform that helps golfers understand and improve their game.

"The agreement will seamlessly integrate Garmin’s on-course information into the Clippd consumer golf technology platform, giving players a more complete picture of their game," Garmin said this week.

Clippd will get on-course data from Garmin's smartwatches that include shot detection (including the Approach S70, Approach S44, and Approach S50), with even greater insights for those using the Approach CT10 sensors.

Garmin ups its golf game

Clippd provides golfers with metrics to measure golfing skills, including player quality, shot quality, the skills that drive their scores, and personalized improvement plans.

This move makes Clippd the first company to use Garmin's Golf Premium AP, which was launched earlier this year.

So, if you've been on the fence about a Garmin golf watch, this could be a great reason to take the plunge and bag one. Likewise, if you're a Clippd user, Garmin's Approach line is now the perfect complement to the platform. Clippd isn't cheap, mind you. Its monthly costs start at £20/$20, with prices north of $3,500 for annual team subscriptions.

The only bad news, of course, is that now you've even less of an excuse for your ropey bunker play and all those sliced tee shots.

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Samsung has announced US pricing and availability for its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, and the pricing news is mostly good, but it's also sprinkled in with some less good news for fans of the company’s cutting-edge 8K TVs.

The new Samsung Neo QLED TV lineup consists of two 8K series, the QN990F and QN900F, and two 4K series, the QN90F, QN80F. Pricing and availability for a third 4K series, the entry-level QN70F, will be announced later.

The main good news here is that pricing for the flagship 4K QN90F series is comparable to last year’s flagship 4K Samsung QN90D TVs, with a 65-inch model priced at $2,699. And the new QN80F series is priced even lower than last year’s entry-level Neo QLED Samsung QN85 series, with initial pricing for a 55-inch QN80F clocking in at $1,299 – $100 less than a 55-inch QN85D at launch.

The less-good 8K news is that Samsung’s flagship 8K QN990F series TVs are mostly priced higher than last year’s flagship 8K Samsung QN900D series. Initial pricing for a 75-inch QN990F model is $6,499, for example, while the 75-inch QN900D we reviewed in 2024 launched at $6,299.

According to Samsung, the 65-inch and 75-inch QN900F series models are available from today, and the 85-inch model will be available soon, along with the full QN990F series. The full QN90F and QN80F series TVs are also available starting today.

Pricing for Samsung’s 2025 Neo QLED TVs is as follows:

QN990F 8K

98-inch: $39,999

85-inch: $8,499

75-inch: $6,499

65-inch: $5,499

QN900F 8K

85-inch: $5,499

75-inch: $4,299

65-inch: $3,299

QN90F 4K

98-inch: $14,999

85-inch: $4,499

75-inch: $3,299

65-inch: $2,699

55-inch: $1,999

50-inch: $1,499

43-inch: $1,399

QN80F 4K

85-inch: $3,499

75-inch: $2,299

65-inch: $1,799

55-inch: $1,299

(Image credit: Samsung) 8K TV prices: going up!

Samsung’s new flagship QN990F mini-LED TV series is a definite upgrade over last year’s QN900D series, the top 8K pick in our best TVs guide, with new features including a Wireless One Connect Box and Glare-Free tech to reduce screen reflections in bright rooms. It also carries over the 8K AI Upscaling Pro processing found in the QN900D series and supports both 8K at 120Hz and 4K at 240Hz (though with higher than expected input lag in Game mode, as we determined in a hands-on test of the QN990F).

While these upgrades are meaningful, consumers typically expect to see new features and enhancements in TVs year-over-year with prices remaining stable or, better yet, decreasing. Back in 2023, we considered how 8K TVs were supposed to be the next big thing – what happened? In that article, we said “there’s ample hope for more affordable big-screen 8K mini-LED TVs in the not-distant future,” a position based on an 8K TV sales forecast by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

Having 8K TV prices shoot up is the exact opposite of what we were expecting, though Samsung’s step-down 8K QN900F series models are $200 less expensive at all sizes than last year’s QN800D series.

Fortunately, prices for Samsung’s 4K mini-LED TVs are holding fast, and the company is providing more lower-priced options with the new QN80F series, and the presumably even cheaper QN70F series. And if history repeats itself, we’ll see prices for all new Samsung 8K and 4K TVs drop soon after launch, as they did in 2024.

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Creative Pebble Nova: One-minute review

Like any decent work of art, the new Creative Pebble Nova will mean different things to different people. TechRadar's audio editor Becky Scarrott said they looked like Magic 8-Balls, or lawn bowls with audio credentials – and she meant that as high praise. My partner thought they looked like an overly-elaborate microphone set up. I saw them more as delightful flotsam from an alien spacecraft, which had found its way to my desk.

However you look at it, the Pebble Nova speakers are a novel-looking new audio set-up fitting to strut their way onto our list of the best desktop speakers (and possibly even the best stereo speakers) on fashion chops alone.

The proposition doesn't need to rely on its good looks to get by, though. These speakers sound great, with defined bass, a high max volume and selection of enhancement features that make a marked difference to the norm for the money. They're elevated from your desk to create a much more immersive surround-sound effect and use coaxial drivers to refine the audio they deliver.

You'll find, though, that they cost a fair amount of aforementioned money. As the newest in Creative's line of affordable Pebble computer speakers, you'd think they might adhere to the affordable end of the market, but they're fairly premium in price. Not bank-breaking, but definitely enough to think twice about.

Maybe not twice actually, perhaps thrice. The Pebble Nova take a fair amount of set-up, with Creative channeling its inner Ikea with how much construction is needed. They also require a fair bit of space due to their design, so you'll need to make sure your desk is relatively large and uncluttered for them.

All that said, if you do decide you have the space, money and patience for them, the Creative Pebble Nova are a great set of computer speakers, regardless of what kind of audio you need them to play.

Creative Pebble Nova review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced in December 2024
• Mid-range at $279.99 / £239.99 / AU$499.95

The Creative Pebble Nova were released in December 2024, as the latest entry in Creative’s Pebble line-up of desktop speakers. They are, by a significant margin, the most expensive.

You can pick up the Creative Pebble Nova for $279.99 / £239.99 / AU$499.95 (although fair warning: they’re out of stock in several of the regions I checked). That ain’t cheap, especially when you consider that the next most expensive members of the Pebble family, the Pebble X, cost $89.99 / £84.99 / AU$169.95.

At that price, there’s no doubt that these are premium speakers. There are only a few entries on our list of the best computer speakers that cost more, although admittedly those cost a lot more, so if you want premium speakers but don’t want to hand over your life savings for them, these could be a good option.

As audiophiles will know, though, you can spend a lot more on high-spec speakers, up to ten times as much.

Creative Pebble Nova review: Specs Creative Pebble Nova review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• USB, Bluetooth and AUX connections
• Creative App brings ways to customize audio
• Acoustic Engine brings some useful features

The Creative Pebble Nova offer three ways to connect to your chosen device. First up is with a 3.5mm jack, which will let you play music but won’t let you customize it via the Creative App (more on that later). Second is Bluetooth, with the Nova supporting Bluetooth 5.3 to various devices including phones, computers and games consoles. Thirdly is with USB, which is what I did for the majority of this review. In the box is a USB-C to USB-C cable but if, like me, your PC only has USB-A ports, you can buy cheap adaptors online.

If you connect via Bluetooth or USB, the Creative App (available on mobile and PC) is a no-brainer. It offers the ability to change the Nova’s LED lighting effects, an equalizer along with loads of presets, the ability to switch which of the speakers is the left and right one and the promisingly-titled Acoustic Engine.

Take my advice: when you first set up the Pebble Nova, go to the Acoustic Engine page and turn everything on. It includes features like audio upscaling, dialogue enhancement and virtual surround-sound, all of which have marked improvements on the way the speakers sound. I regret that I was already weeks into the testing process before I bothered to open this page!

• Features score: 4.5/5

Creative Pebble Nova review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Bowling balls on stalks
• Takes up lots of space
• Time-consuming set-up process

How do you describe the design of the Creative Pebble Nova? Are they eyeballs on stalks? Alien command consoles? Magic 8-Balls? If you’re able, check out the review pictures because they’ll do better justice to the odd look of the Nova than my Creative Writing degree ever could. If you can’t see them, then… they’re basically giant spheres, held up from a circular base by a thin dowel.

It’s certainly a unique look taking the spherical-ish looks of other Pebble devices and literally elevating it. But it has a second advantage: the speakers themselves are higher than computer speakers generally are, which means ‘surround sound’ audio actually does surround you, as it’s at ear level (with the 45-degree point of the speakers also helping).

You can pick the Novas up in black, as you see in the images, and in a chic white-and-bronze model too.

I can see this design being a bit divisive but I didn’t mind it (I also spent lots of the review period with them hidden by my second screen). However there are two issues too.

(Image credit: Future)

Firstly, these take up a lot of space. Said space is at a premium when it comes to the desk upon which I use my desktop computer, and I found it quite hard to accommodate the Pebble Nova given the dimensions of both the speakers and my London apartment – it’s why the images accompanying this review are of my laptop, because my desk was too cluttered with the Creatives on it!

The second thing to note is that the Pebble Nova take quite a bit of setting up: not only do you need to go through all the usual cable rigamarole of desktop speakers, but you also have to attach the dowels to the stands and those to the speakers. This was admittedly easier than your average Ikea project, but it still took a little while to accomplish (I should note, you don’t have to elevate the speakers if you don’t want, and can attach them straight to a stand).

On the primary– ‘orb’? – you get several ports: the USB-C power delivery port, another USB-C port to connect to your computer, and the 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as the cable which runs to the other speaker. You also get a range of buttons for volume, power, connection and more.

The speakers have LED lights which you can program using the app, although they’re not huge or bright and I didn’t really notice them during everyday PC use.

• Design score: 4/5

Creative Pebble Nova review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• 1-inch driver + 3-inch woofer
• Exuberant, clear bass and mids
• Unnecessarily-high max volume

Each of the Creative Pebble Nova speakers packs both a 1-inch tweeter with a 3-inch woofer in a coaxial set-up.

I'm used to PC speakers being good for certain tasks and struggling with other ones (a set-up that's great for music might struggle for the range of sounds needed for gaming, or be poorly-tuned for YouTube videos, for example) but I was pleasantly surprised at how the Creative was a jack of all trades.

I say 'pleasantly surprised' because it wasn't necessarily expected. The presence of a woofer gives away that the Pebble Nova has a distinctly energetic sound profile, with plentiful bass. However these lower tones are well-defined and clear, instead of being overpowering and thumping like some bassy speakers can be.

This meant I could enjoy different kinds of music but then could listen to spoken-word audio without low voices having an unnatural rumble to them, an issue I've faced before.

(Image credit: Future)

Treble is a little less bright than it could be, but I quickly fixed this in the Creative App with some quick equalizer tweaking.

The Creative Pebble Nova is great for the kind of sound stage or surround-sound audio that really benefits immersive gaming. This is because the elevated height of the speaker poles, plus their being angled upwards at 45 degrees, means that audio is a lot closer to ear-level than your standard desktop speakers.

The result is a marked improvement in immersion: the tweeting of birds, the sound of wind in trees, the repeated taunting of a dangerous bandit I was unsuccessfully trying to run away from, all felt well-placed around me during gaming sessions. The effect was definitely more pronounced than on other desktop speakers I've tried, which sit lower than your ear level.

According to Creative, the Pebble Nova has a whopping 100W power output for high volumes. Since I have neighbors, I didn't test quite how loud it goes, but it definitely reached (and could easily exceed) my needs. Why you'd need incredibly-loud speakers for your desktop, presumably within half a meter of you, isn't quite clear, but it means that they can double as general party speakers if you prefer.

• Sound quality: 4.5/5

Creative Pebble Nova review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Not a viable option for people on a tight budget
• Other Pebbles may appeal to money-conscious buyers

While the overall Pebble line of Creative desktop speakers is known for offering great value for money, that's naturally less true of the Nova, as premium equipment always offers incremental returns for the price.

The Nova are good, but you're paying for it, as they're not cheap (at least, by Creative standards, although you can easily find countless pricier alternatives). They're not poor value for money, but they're not as much an obvious bargain as other Pebbles. That said, if I had the expendable income, I'd buy them – so take from that what you will.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Creative Pebble Nova?

(Image credit: Future) Buy them if…

You like the look of them
Fan of the way the Novas look? Then you should go for them, as you'll be hard-pressed to find anything quite as distinctive.

You're particular about your audio
The Creative app's equalizer, and Acoustic Engine options, will let picky listeners fine-tune the way the speakers sound more so than some rivals.

Don’t buy them if…

You think they look silly
If you prefer your desktop speakers to speak only through the drivers instead of the fashion statement, you best check out other options.

You've got limited space
I have a medium-sized desk and I had to remove some decorations to fit the Pebble Nova, so if you're short on desk real estate, these might not fit.

Creative Pebble Nova review: Also consider

Creative Pebble Plus
There are plenty of cheaper Creative Pebble desktop speakers on the market including the Plus, which we said will give you "more than your money’s worth".

See our full Creative Pebble Plus review

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne
Of the two options in our best desktop speakers round-up that have a similar price to the Pebbles, the Vigilants are the most recent. They have a pretty 'standard' design but sound great to listen to.

See our full Vigilant Audio SwitchOne review

How I tested the Creative Pebble Nova

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for one month
• Tested at home connected to phone and windows PC

The testing process of the Creative Pebble Nova was over a month.

For most of that time, I tested the Nova alongside my Windows desktop PC, with the speakers on my desk. I also tested it paired via Bluetooth to my phone and, for a short while, connected to my Windows laptop (as pictured).

I used my PC as normal during the month which includes my day job, various other types of work, watching TV shows and YouTube videos, streaming lots of music and playing video games.

I have over six years' experience testing gadgets for TechRadar which includes other desktop speakers, audio products (including from Creative) and other types of tech.

• First reviewed in March 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

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• New Researcher and Analyst tools are here for Microsoft 365 Copilot
• New deep reasoning tool in Copilot Studio will use models like OpenAI’s o1
• It’ll take the time to analyze and recognize patterns to make better decisions

Microsoft has announced a series of updates to its Copilot generative AI tool to take advantage of the latest innovations in AI, including tapping into OpenAI’s most powerful models, as well as two new agents designed for work.

The company says its new Researcher and Analyst tools will bring Copilot-powered advanced reasoning to everyday work, making employees more productive and effective.

"They analyze vast amounts of information with secure, compliant access to your work data - your emails, meetings, files, chats, and more - and the web to deliver highly-skilled expertise on demand," a Microsoft 365 blog post announcing the new releases read.

Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft says the new Researcher agent will look to deliver insights, "with greater quality and accuracy than previously possible".

It will utilize both OpenAI’s deep research model with Microsoft 365 Copilot’s advanced orchestration and deep search capabilities to tackle complex or multi-step tasks such as building a go-to-market sales strategy, or build a quarterly report based on all your work data.

Researcher can also connect to third-party data to provide even more comprehensive insights, with the likes of Salesforce, ServiceNow, Confluence, and more feeding directly into Microsoft 365 Copilot, as well as other company agents such as the recently-announced Sales Chat.

Built on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model, Analyst is focused towards advanced data analysis tasks, using chain-of-thought reasoning and Python to help turn raw data into demand forecasts, trend visualizations, and revenue projections.

Deep reasoning comes to Microsoft Copilot

Taking to LinkedIn to announce the changes, Business & Industry Copilot CVP Charles Lamanna introduced deep reasoning in Copilot Studio, which uses advanced reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1 for tasks that require detailed analysis, methodical thinking and nuanced understanding.

Lamanna highlighted how these models take more time to analyze complex datasets, recognize intricate patterns and make thoughtful decisions, making them ideal for tackling complex problems.

Copilot takes into account input analysis and instructions to decide when it’s appropriate to spend the extra time leveraging deep reasoning, but Lamonna also explained that agent makers can choose to include the keyword ‘reason’ to invoke deep reasoning as part of a user’s prompt.

At the same time, Microsoft lifted the wraps off agent flows, which are designed to plug the gaps where AI agents have proven not to be so capable. “Between agents and agent flows, it is possible to automate any task you can imagine,” Lamonna added.

Agent flows are designed for repetitive tasks like document processing, routine financial approvals and compliance tasks, and they can operate either independently or as skills within existing agents.

In an example, Lamonna describes how an agent flow can direct customer feedback to a feedback tracking agent for summarization and the creation of action points, or to a customer service agent to answer the customer’s questions and take action to resolve the issue.

The final piece to the puzzle will allow businesses to react to signals automatically through 50 pre-built triggers – they’re called autonomous agents, and promise to enhance efficiency across device procurement, supplier discovery, fraud prevention and other knowledge work.

Deep reasoning in Copilot Studio is available in preview today, with agent flows set to become generally available on March 31.

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