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• New Klipschorn AK6 and La Scala AL6 stereo speakers unveiled
• New compression drivers for even more power
• New active crossover with adjustable HF and LF gain

Paul W Klipsch made hi-fi history in the 1940s with his Klipschorn speaker, first sold from a tin shed in 1946. It's been in continuous production ever since, albeit with many improvements over the decades, and now it's been updated for 2025 alongside its 1960s sibling, the Klipsch La Scala.

The new Kipschorn AK6 and La Scala AL6 are the latest addition to the firm's Heritage range, and while they retain the speakers' iconic looks and unusual furniture-like design, they've been significantly improved once again – and there's a new colorway and optional external crossover too.

The Klipsch La Scala AL6 speaker. (Image credit: Klipsch) Kipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6: new features and pricing

Design-wise, these speakers look just like their predecessors, although there's a new American Auburn finish to replace the previous Natural Cherry. And there's a newly designed input/output panel on both models with passive and active inputs and a passive output, making it easy to use the new Heritage Active Crossover in a plug-and-play setup.

Both speakers have a three-way horn-loaded design, and the K-771 compression driver is paired with a patented, wide-dispersion extended phase plug to minimize cancellations and deliver a wider, more consistent sound stage.

There's a new three-inch midrange compression driver, an inch larger than in the previous models. That larger area means the driver doesn't require as much energy to push the sound to the horn's throat.

Another key addition to both is Klipsch's Tractrix technology: there's a new K-604M modified Tractrix mid-range horn with a shorter two-inch throat for improved time alignment. And Klipsch's mumps design promises to improve coverage for all drive units to maintain an even frequency response to the horn's edge.

The La Scala also gets a new 12-inch K-281 woofer with a folded horn and a new enclosure. Klipsch says this provides richer and more robust bass from any room placement.

The new optional active crossover was designed by Klipsch’s VP of Technology and Innovation, Matt Spitznagle, and tuned by legendary acoustician Roy Delgado. It draws on the work done for the acclaimed Klipsch Jubilee and promises superior time and phase alignment, balanced EQ and true-to-source response.

According to Delgado "the Heritage Active Crossover unlocks performance enhancements that are simply unattainable with a passive design." They're a lot larger than most of the best stereo speakers that we test, but we can't resist something with this much heritage and a gorgeous finish.

The new models' prices are:

• Klipschorn AK7: $17,998 / €25,998 per pair (about £21,720 / AU$55,568)
• La Scala AL6: $14,998 / €19,998 per pair (about £16,700 / AU$34,282)
• Klipschorn Active Crossover: $3,499 / €3,999 (about £3,340 / AU$6,855)
• La Scala Active Crossover: $3,499 / €3,999 (about £3,340 / AU$6,855)

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• Now Bar is a key new feature in One UI 7
• More third-party app integrations are reportedly on the way
• One UI 7 is heading to older phones next month

Samsung launched One UI 7 (its take on Android 15) at the same time as the Galaxy S25 flagships back in January, and one of the key new features is the lock screen Now Bar – a feature which is set to get much more useful in the near future.

According to South Korean outlet ET News (via SamMobile), more third-party apps are set to support the Now Bar – though there's no specific timeframe for the integration. Two South Korean apps are mentioned specifically, Kakao T for booking taxi rides and Naver Sports for live sports scores.

Presumably, those efforts to add more third-party apps will extend internationally, though ET News doesn't namecheck any others. The more apps support the Now Bar, the more useful it becomes, which means more users will take advantage of it.

Samsung has been pushing the Now Bar as a major innovation in One UI 7, and we've also described it as one of the best features in the software. It's essentially Samsung's take on Live Activities on iOS, displaying useful information from apps right on the lock screen, which can be updated in real-time.

Making use of the Now Bar

Currently supported apps are from Google and Samsung (Image credit: Future)

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S25, you've got One UI 7 already – and the Now Bar is most likely already appearing at the bottom of your lock screen, displaying widgets for timers, the Now Brief summary, media playback, and more.

Head to Settings and choose Lock screen and AOD to find the Now Bar page. You'll see you can set which apps appear in the Now Bar from here: currently, the list is dominated by Samsung and Google apps, which is why third-party app integrations would be welcome going forward.

Google Maps is one app that recently added Now Bar support, so you can see turn-by-turn directions on the lock screen. Android already offers persistent notifications for this sort of real-time information, but the Now Bar makes it easier to get at on a locked phone.

We're still waiting for One UI 7 to make its way to Samsung handsets beyond the Galaxy S25 series, though the rollout is scheduled to get underway next month. It's not clear at the moment how recent a phone you're going to need to take advantage of the Now Bar feature, but we should get some clarity on that soon.

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Under Armour Infinite Elite 2: two-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

New for 2025, the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 is UA's second crack at the Infinite Elite, a cushioned, comfortable shoe for long distances.

The second iteration features a softer HOVR+ foam underfoot that's also a lot lighter. On the flip side, the upper has been engineered to be more lightweight and breathable.

So how does the Infinite Elite 2 stack up as a longer-distance shoe that's great for slower runs, recovery, or even a daily trainer for those who want a bit more cushioning?

(Image credit: Future)

Out of the box, my feelings about the Infinite Elite were a little mixed. I was really enticed by the prospect of adding a larger, more comfortable shoe for long distances to my rotation, but I have to say these won't be winning any design awards anytime soon.

Flashier options from the likes of Nike might scream form over function to some, but I still really value a good design in a pair of trainers. Under Armour's aesthetic generally is a bit divisive, but I'm not sure anyone could describe these as head-turners.

The stack looks imposing, but the overall vibe is pretty bland and uninspiring. This is a shame because, as we'll see later, they perform well. The colorway reviewed here is the Ares Red / Castlerock, which is probably one of the nicer options on offer.

I also didn't love the feel of the materials. While not too disconcerting, the foam that makes up the sole feels uncannily like the polystyrene you'd find in the box of your new OLED TV. The mesh upper is more pleasant and feels more quality, but generally, the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 isn't the most stylish option out there.

(Image credit: Future)

Slip the Infinite Elite 2's on, however, and things start to pick up quickly. The Infinite Elite 2 has a 3D-molded sock liner to help cradle your foot, and I found the shoe overall to be extremely comfortable.

The edges of the shoe around the heel took a little softening up (the collar is high and firm), so it wasn't until my third or fourth run that the experience was blister-free, but overall the on-foot experience was extremely pleasant.

I'm happy to report that Infinite Elite 2 runs true-to-size, while the toe box is generous and comfortable, without feeling too roomy or too tight. Those looking for a comfortable fitting shoe are well-catered for here, with no slippage or movement as you run.

The Infinite Elite 2 is all about that big heel stack, an impressive 36mm (the forefoot is 28mm, giving an 8mm heel-to-toe drop) allowing the HOVR+ foam to absorb impacts with ease.

From the first stride, I was impressed with how soft the landing was on concrete terrain and sidewalks, especially given my larger frame.

The feel underfoot is delightful, especially on smooth ground, and they deliver mile after mile in terms of caring for your joints and reducing fatigue.

(Image credit: Future)

While you don't get carbon-plated energy return, the rocker motion gently propels you forward. 8mm is quite generous, so the rocker is more pronounced than you'd find on the likes of the Altra FWD Via, but I loved it. Naturally, these generally aren't a shoe for tempo runs or breaking your PBs, and while you can push the pace in them, you'll find a lot of your energy going to waste.

Best to stick to the longer, slower runs Under Armour is targeting here.

(Image credit: Future)

Thanks to the massive stack, heel strikers will love these, but there's also a generous amount of forefoot cushioning that should see nearly all running styles served well.

Naturally, these are a little on the unsteady side when it comes to stability. If you tend to overpronate or you're running over a lot of broken or uneven ground, the very large stack might betray you on occasion.

I had to catch a couple of wobbles that wouldn't have caught out my Nike Pegasus 41 shoes. As such, I definitely wouldn't recommend this as a shoe for runners who over-pronate, or anyone looking to kick up the dust around tight bends.

The stability isn't bad by any stretch, but the extra give simply comes with the territory of having such a larger, comfortable underfoot structure. If you stick to the slower, comfortable miles, however, the stability is commendable.

Overall, I've been really impressed with the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2. They're extremely forgiving over pretty much any distance, and after a little breaking in are extremely comfortable to wear. These are now my go-to for longer, slower runs, I just wish they were a bit more stylish.

Under Armour Infinite Elite 2: price & availability

• $160 / £145 / AU$220
• Men's and women's options, limited colors

The Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 running shoes are available from Under Armour's website and a host of third-party retailers. Prices start at $160 / £145 / AU$220, although I've seen this discounted in Australia to as little as $132, almost half price. Depending on the territory, you can find up to nine colorways for men and seven for women, with sizes from 7-15 (US) and 5-12 (US) respectively.

That puts the Infinite Elite 2 almost squarely in the bracket of our current long-distance favorite best running shoes, the Altra FWD Via, which retails at $160 / £145 / AU$249.

(Image credit: Future) Under Armour Infinite Elite 2: specifications Under Armour Infinite Elite 2: scorecard Should I buy the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2?

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

You want a cushioned shoe for long distance

The Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 is very forgiving over long distances, perfect for slower runs and recovery.

You run on more even ground

With its larger stack height and squishy cushioning, the Elite 2 excels over more even terrain

Don't buy it if...

You want a stylish running shoe

There are definitely more enticing designs out there when it comes to long-distance shoes

You're an unstable runner

If you over-pronate or generally struggle with stability, or you're running over more uneven terrain, these might be a little on the soft and wobbly side.

Also consider

(Image credit: Future)

Altra FWD Via

Our current favorite for long-distance, slow runs.

Read our full Altra FWD Via review

How I tested

I used the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 as my primary running shoe for multiple runs of varying pace and distance, but primarily for longer, slower runs. I tested them on a variety of outdoor terrains.

First reviewed: March 2025

With lightning-fast speeds, straightforward terms and decent perks, Verizon Fios has a lot to like.

• Sony has released a new PS5 firmware update
• Version 25.02-11.00.00 improves activities and adds new Unicode 16.0 emojis
• New parental controls have also been implemented

A new firmware update for the PlayStation 5 has been released, adding more system improvements.

This latest patch comes in a 1.3GB and is one of the more significant updates since the console's successor, the PS5 Pro, launched.

As the patch notes detail, it mainly targets the system's communications features and makes it easier for users to view activity details, which will now be displayed on cards.

Support for Unicode 16.0 emojis has been added for messages, too, along with new parental controls for Communication and User-Generated Content, which should now default to 'Restrict' when changing levels to Late Teens or Older.

Like previous updates, this patch sees some of the usual software performance and stability improvements to the system, messaging, and overall usability, as well.

PS5 Version 25.02-11.00.00 - Patch Notes

• We’ve made it simpler to view details about activities.
  • Activity details are now fully displayed on cards.
  • Potential spoilers will still be hidden.
• Unicode 16.0 emojis are now supported. You can use them in your messages.
• When you set the parental controls' restriction level to Late Teens or Older, Communication and User-Generated Content will now default to Restrict. If you have previously set the level to Late Teens or Older, your previous settings will not be affected and it will be shown as Customize.
• We've improved system software performance and stability.
• We've improved the messages and usability on some screens.

Last week, it was reported that the PS5 is still dominating in console sales, outselling the PS4 in the United States, as well as the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which are currently falling behind the Xbox One by a signigicant margin.

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Netflix has announced that it's adding support for the HDR10+ advanced HDR format, which is a rival to Dolby Vision, and is supported on TVs from the likes of Samsung, Panasonic, Hisense and TCL.

You'll need a Netflix Premium account to access HDR10+, and Netflix said that initially it will be available on 50% of "eligible viewing hours", including new releases and existing movies and shows on the platform.

Exactly what is meant by "eligible viewing hours" is unclear, but I take it to mean that it's not necessarily on 50% of HDR titles, but rather that only half of the total number of hours content is possible to view in HDR.

In any case, Netflix says that its plan is to have HDR10+ support on every HDR movie and show by the end of the year.

This is great news for owners of the best Samsung TVs and best Samsung phones, because these don't support Dolby Vision HDR – in the world of TVs, Samsung is the only brand that doesn't support the format on its premium TVs.

Our TV of the year in 2024, the Samsung S95D, will benefit from Netflix's HDR10+ support. (Image credit: Future)

HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are superior to regular HDR (officially called HDR10) because they can support a wider dynamic range to make the most of today's brighter and bolder TVs, but they can also embed scene-by-scene tone mapping – meaning that instead of your TV having to work how best to get all the detail out of a super-dark or super-bright scene, this information is included in the video stream.

It should mean less blown-out highlights, fewer crushed blacks, and an overall look that's closer to the original master version of one of the best Netflix movies or one of the best Netflix shows.

Dolby Vision is generally considered to be technically superior, and is more widely supported in both hardware and on streaming services – but despite this, support has been growing for HDR10+ in recent years, and it's already become available on Prime Video and Apple TV+. Now Netflix has joined the party.

Don't expect a new dawn for HDR10+

Despite HDR10+ becoming available on the biggest streaming service in the world, I don't expect to see the long-term holdouts on the format – LG and Sony – supporting it in their TVs.

I asked LG about the potential for supporting it now that it's on more streaming services (and there are some big 4K Blu-rays that use it) directly during a launch event for its 2025 TVs – read our five-star LG C5 review if you're interested on more on that – and was told "we don't believe in that".

Sony hasn't announced its 2025 TVs yet, but we have seen a demo of its next-gen RGB mini-LED tech, and the company seemed unmoved by the idea of adding new formats during that launch event.

One thing LG noted is that while support for HDR10+ is growing, it tends to be an additional alternative to Dolby Vision on the best streaming services, not a replacement – so by supporting Dolby Vision the company is providing all the advanced HDR support it thinks is needed.

That approach backed up by how Netflix is adding its support: the company confirmed that it's asking production companies and studios to supply it with the Dolby Vision version, and is then adding HDR10+ support as part of its tech pipeline. This means that anything with HDR10+ must logically also have Dolby Vision support.

Still, this is great for Samsung owners in particular, who can get a nice image boost – especially for its less bright TVs, such as its lowest-tier OLEDs and budget QLED models, which don't have high-end brightness, and so tone mapping is really important for them.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs embraced telehealth, especially for mental health care, in recent years. Now, staffers hired to give therapy and other health care remotely are ordered to do it from offices lacking privacy, VA clinicians told NPR.

(Image credit: Kayla Bartkowski)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a suite of technologies at the company's GPU Technology Conference 2025 designed to help robots learn how to be robots.

• MSI has listed an RTX 5080 24GB model on its website
• It's not the first time MSI has hinted towards a higher capacity card
• Some claim it's a mistake, others a sign of things to come

MSI has teased an RTX 5080 model featuring 24GB GDDR7 VRAM (up from the standard 16GB) of the 80-class card on its website.

Spotted by TweakTown, a compatibility listing of MSI's X870 Tomahawk Wi-Fi motherboard features support for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 model with "24576" under the Memory Size.

Before the RTX 5080's launch date on January 30, 2025, we previously covered rumors that an RTX 5080 24GB version could be "inbound" because Samsung's GDDR7 memory modules are shipped in 2GB (with 3GB configurations on the way). This is part of the reason why the RTX 5090 features 32GB GDDR7 (up from the 24GB GDDR6X of the RTX 4090).

This source also notes a previous occasion when MSI showcased an RTX 5080 Vanguard variant featuring 24GB GDDR7 in a promotional video, with the alleged memory pool seen on the packaging. However, it's been quiet (outside of rumors and speculation since then) until now.

It's possible that this could just be an error on MSI's part, but it also shows that the 80-class card could feature double the available VRAM. Interestingly, the listing does not feature the standard 16GB version in the specs sheet, so the company could have listed a placeholder amount based on pre-release information rather than the retail figures.

With that said, it's not the first time that we've seen different memory pool capacities of graphics cards, such as with the original launch window for the then-cancelled RTX 4080 12GB (which later became the RTX 4070 Ti). Similarly, the RTX 4060 Ti exists in both 8GB and 16GB configurations, proving that two versions of the same GPU can succeed in the market without confusing consumers.

A sign of things to come for the 80-class card?

Whether the RTX 5080 24GB listing is a genuine mistake or not, the possibility of having two options on the market is only a good thing for people as you'll have the option of two different GPUs, with a potential latter model more "futureproofed" for 4K gaming as releases demand more VRAM than what we typically see.

Some gamers have expressed disappointment in the RTX 5080 having the same memory pool as the RTX 4080 (despite the jump in GDDR7 from GDDR6X and the differences in bandwidth seen). This was seen with the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, both featuring the same respective 12GB and 16GB memory pools as their previous-generation counterparts.

After many months of speculation around an upgraded RTX 5080 24GB version, we may see it surface, or it could remain little more than a possibility, hinting towards the next generation instead. If it does release, it could be the half-step between it and the RTX 5090, which makes sense given the $1,000 difference in MSRP between the two; if we were to speculate on potential pricing, $1,200 (matching the original RTX 4080) seems most likely.

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• The Google Pixel 9a reportedly has an overheating issue
• This is apparently why Google delayed sales of the phone
• Supposedly it can be fixed with a software update

The Google Pixel 9a hasn’t had the smoothest of launches, with the discovery that it lacks various Pixel 9 features and an unexpected delay to its on-sale date. That delay was, according to Google, down to a “component quality issue”, but the company didn’t get more specific. Now, though, someone else has.

According to leaker @techauntyji posting on X (via Phone Arena), an unnamed “very high profile phone” was delayed due to “heating probs. Especially around the camera.” So, it sounds like the Google Pixel 9a was prone to overheating when the camera was in use.

We would, however, take this with a pinch of salt for a couple of reasons. First, the source doesn’t have much of a track record, and second, they claim a software update should be able to fix the issue, whereas Google’s comment about a “component quality issue” suggests a hardware problem.

Darlings,the controversy over sudden withdrawal of a very high profile phone from many reviewers evidently revolves around heating probs. Especially around the camera. Should be back in action in April after an update to fix bugs. I personally use Hit spray for the same, dearies.March 24, 2025

Of course, it’s possible that, when Google first delayed the Pixel 9a, it wasn’t sure whether the problem would be fixable with an update, and has now learned that it can be.

It’s also worth noting that, since the Google Pixel 9a isn’t mentioned by name here, it’s possible @techauntyji is referring to another device. However, this is very unlikely, as we can’t think of anything else this phrasing would apply to (also, in a reply, they joked: “don’t Google it”).

Pick one up in April

In any case, the leaker echoes Google itself in claiming that the Pixel 9a will be back in action in April, so you hopefully won’t have to wait too long to get one.

That said, with the Google Pixel 9a lacking some of its siblings' AI tools and even the potentially life-saving Satellite SOS feature found on other Pixel 9 models, you might want to think twice about whether you actually want the phone.

It still has a lot going for it, mind, including a bigger battery than even the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the same chipset as its pricier siblings, and a lower price than those phones. Stay tuned for our full review in the coming weeks.

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This review first appeared in issue 352 of PC Pro.

Logitech’s traditional Rally Bar video conferencing (VC) room solutions offer an incredible range of features, but small businesses may be put off by their size. Enter the Rally Bar Huddle, which steps in below the Mini model, and is designed for meeting rooms of up to six participants.

Width-wise, the Huddle is 170mm shorter than the Mini and weighs less than half as much. Its 4K UHD camera dispenses with the motorized pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) functions used by its bigger brothers and goes fully digital.

There’s room for Logitech’s standard six-microphone beamforming array for auto-framing of active participants, while audio output is handled by a single downward-firing ported speaker. The graphite fabric magnetic front cover can be swapped out for an off-white fabric version for £109 or a white plastic cleanable cover, which costs £129.

As with Logitech’s other Rally Bars, the Huddle supports three operational modes, and you can connect it to a dedicated room computer or let users bring their own device (BYOD) and load the VC app of their choice. In appliance mode, Logitech’s on-board Android-based CollabOS turns the Huddle into a standalone system, with it currently supporting Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms.

The 4K UHD camera uses digital pan, tilt and zoom (Image credit: Future)

Deployment is smooth. After connecting the Huddle’s gigabit network port (Wi-Fi 5 is also available) we used its web interface to choose BYOD, Teams or Zoom mode. We could access all audio and video settings, run firmware upgrades and enable Logitech’s RightSight 2 video enhancement technology, although only the Group view was available, with the Speaker and Grid views yet to be implemented.

Load Logitech’s Sync app on the host PC and you can add the Huddle to a Sync cloud account for remote management of all your Logitech room devices and room usage analytics. The Huddle also supports Logitech’s optional Tap IP and Scheduler touchscreen tablets.

BYOD mode is easy to use: we connected a Windows 10 host PC to the camera’s HDMI-in port and an HD monitor to its HDMI-out port and used our local Teams, Skype and Zoom VC apps. Configuring the Huddle in appliance mode is equally swift. We chose Teams from the web console and, after a reboot, used the unique code it presented to assign it to our Microsoft 365 account. The Huddle duly appeared in our Teams admin console as a new Teams Rooms on Android device, while our attached Full HD monitor presented the familiar Microsoft Teams interface.

The Huddle can be cloud managed and supports three operating modes (Image credit: Future)

Connect a PC over USB and the Huddle will swap to BYOD mode and back to Teams when you remove the cable, although we noted that in Teams mode the web console was disabled and returning the Huddle to BYOD-only mode requires it to be reset to defaults.

The camera delivers a sharply focused image with good color balance, and its backlight compensation works very well.

Sound quality from the single speaker is easily good enough for small meeting rooms, and we liked the Huddle’s motorized privacy shutter, which automatically closes when a meeting has finished.

The Huddle’s digital PTZ speaker tracking is much faster than Logitech’s other Rally Bars, which can often take up to eight seconds to respond to movement. During a Teams meeting, we wandered around our room as we spoke and the camera smoothly tracked us with delays of no more than three seconds.

Some features are yet to be added, but Logitech’s Rally Bar Huddle is a good choice for small businesses with equally small meeting rooms. Speaker tracking is the fastest of all the available Rally Bars, audio and video quality are good, and Logitech’s integral CollabOS adds extra versatility.

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This review first appeared in issue 351 of PC Pro.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT, in part because it’s so wee and in part because you get to choose from two eye-catching pastel colors: Cherry Blossom (pink) or Agave Green as pictured. Or you can opt for boring black. Despite its attractive price, the KW 7100 Mini comes with a travel pouch (made from recycled plastic), although it’s only offered in dark grey.

Build quality is up to Cherry’s usual high standards, with its SX scissor mechanism delivering a shallow but satisfying typing action similar to a good-quality laptop. It isn’t up there with mechanical keyboards, but it’s also much quieter. With big Enter, backspace and space keys, I don’t think you’ll struggle to hit high typing speeds despite its slim 295mm width.

The KW 7100 Mini should look just as good on day 500 as it does on day one, with the key lettering protected by a UV coating to guard against abrasions. Those keys are designed to last for more than ten million hits apiece, which is no doubt why Cherry feels confident enough to offer a three-year warranty.

A row of function keys sits at the top, all of which are customizable using the Cherry Keys software. This is almost charmingly basic, and it will take moments for you to assign actions or favorite websites. You also use the F1, F2 and F3 keys to switch between active Bluetooth connections; there’s no USB adapter here, and Apple devices aren’t supported either (it refused to pair with my iPad).

Aside from the sturdy feet that lift the rear of the keyboard for a better typing angle, that’s it for physical features. Backlighting isn’t present, merely LEDs to indicate which Bluetooth channel is active and if the Fn or Caps lock are active. These will also start flashing when the two AAA batteries run low, which will probably be months; all Cherry says about battery life is that it strongly depends on user behavior.

One final word for those who love matching accessories: you can buy a color-coordinated Cherry Gentix BT mouse, but its clicky keys reflect its low price: £16 from cclonline.com.

The KW 7100 Mini BT isn’t for those who love frills, then, nor is it for Apple fans. For everyone else, though, it’s a superb travel-friendly choice.

We also rated the best eco-friendly travel apps.

• A new update for the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo has been released
• More ways to customize the alarm clock have been added including a way to set the device's time and mode for each day of the week
• Improvements have been made to system stability and alarm scene selection

Nintendo has released a new update for its Sound Clock: Alarmo, adding even more ways to customize the device.

As the latest patch notes detail, version 3.0.0 has introduced a bunch of new features that will allow you to modify the alarm clock in several ways, some of which users have highly requested.

Now, the Alarmo's ON/OFF, time, and mode can each be set separately for each day of the week, and Sleepy Sounds, which is the device's ambient music feature that will play after the 'Bedtime' you set, can now be set in one-minute increments between one and 60 minutes. A way to play Sleepy Sounds again even if they have already been played has also been implemented.

Alongside some system stability improvements, the new update also adds a way for scenes to be previewed on the alarm scene selection screen and a screen brightness option for darkness has been increased. The full patch notes can be read below.

Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo Version. 3.0.0 - Patch Notes

• The alarm's ON/OFF, time, and mode can now be set separately by each day of the week.
• Sleepy sounds play time can now be set in one minute increments between 1-60 minutes.
• Scenes can be previewed from the alarm scene selection screen.
• Improvements to the determining of when to play sleepy sounds.
• Ability to set up playing sleepy sounds once again even if they have already been played has been added.
• Screen brightness option for darkness has been increased.
• The device's MAC address can be checked when the device is offline.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

The Sound Clock: Alarmo's latest update arrives just before the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase, which is scheduled to air next week on April 2. The broadcast is expected to announce the console's launch date, along with new details about the hardware and when fans can pre-order.

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• Interpol reveals successful law enforcement operation across seven African countries
• More than 300 people were arrested, and around 2,000 electronic devices seized
• Roughly $100,000 was recovered, Interpol says

Interpol and a coalition of seven African law enforcement agencies have recently arrested more than 300 people and seized almost 2,000 electronic devices in a major crackdown on cybercrime.

The agency said Operation Red Card, which was active between November 2024 and February 2025, aimed to “disrupt and dismantle cross-border criminal networks which cause significant harm to individuals and businesses”.

More than 5,000 people fell victim, Interpol said, adding that over $305,000 was stolen through social engineering scams in Rwanda alone. Just over $100,000 was recovered. The operation included Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia.

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Help from cybersecurity experts

The individuals were involved in all sorts of criminal activity, Interpol said.

They were running mobile banking scams, investment fraud, online casino scams, SIM box fraud and smishing, malware-based phone hacking, impersonation, and more. They were laundering the stolen money through digital assets.

Interpol was also provided intelligence by three cybersecurity outfits: Group-IB, Trend Micro, and Kaspersky.

The latter firm said it analyzed a sample of Android malware allegedly used to target African users and shared it with law enforcement, together with data on related infrastructure.

Interpol added Nigerian authorities established, “some of the people working in the scam centres may also be victims of human trafficking, forced or coerced into criminal activities.”

The findings also led to the police seizing 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 devices. It is not known if the assets were purchased with stolen money.

“The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished, commented Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate.

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• Fiio FX17 in-ear monitors are extremely high-end in-ear monitors
• 8 electrostatic drivers, 4 custom Knowles BA drivers per ear
• 3 connection options, including USB-C with an elite DAC

I think FiiO's engineers may have been on the Red Bull: how, other than if you're absurdly over-caffeinated, do you decide to put 26 speaker drivers into a single pair of IEMs?

They don't look like they've got 13 drivers apiece, but the FiiO FX17 do – and they're there because FiiO wants to get the full benefit of their different sonic powers.

That means mixing up electrostatic, balanced armature and dynamic drivers to deliver what FiiO says is a "generational step forward in IEM design".

It looks like a weird motorcycle engine but we're assured this is the inside of FiiO's new flagship IEMs. (Image credit: FiiO) Drive, baby, drive

The FX17 have eight electrostatic drivers, four custom Knowles balanced armature drivers with extra vents, and a dynamic driver in each bud, made with a lithium-magnesium alloy. That's extremely light and extremely rigid, delivering very precise audio with significantly reduced vibration and resonance.

Those drivers are packed into good-looking titanium shells milled from a single block and polished by hand, and they're connected via a three-metal cable – gold, silver and copper – that comes with three swappable terminators: 3.5mm, 4.4mm balanced and USB-C.

That latter connection includes a built-in DSP audio decoding chip that supports up to 32-bit/384kHz high-resolution PCM. And it also enables you to customize the frequency curve of your FX17s via its eight-band high-precision PEQ, which you can control via the companion app or web interface.

The FiiO FX17 will be priced at £1,399 / $1,499 / about AU$2,873 which is a major high-end price to match the specs – we usually rate Fiio for the amazing value its products offer, such as the Fiio M11S or the Fiio FT5. These might still be good value, just at a totally different end of the market… we look forward to comparing them to the best wired earbuds after they’re available from April 14th.

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This review first appeared in issue 352 of PC Pro.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is the most unusual laptop I’ve ever reviewed. Not only does it have a color E Ink display on its lid, but it also features a hinge that lets you swivel the screen 180°. Note that isn’t 360°, which is a shame – I kept trying to twist it in the wrong direction.

So, let’s address the obvious question: why? According to Lenovo, it offers four modes: laptop, tablet, e-paper and typewriting. It also ships with a stylus – although sadly there’s nowhere for it to be stowed – so you can write, annotate and draw on it. I find the Apple Pencil more enjoyable to write with thanks to its greater heft and girth, and while Lenovo’s stylus is precise it’s still no match for a real pen and paper.

The color E Ink display is meant to make reading books and taking notes feel similar to performing the same acts on real paper. It can show anything the OLED panel can, so you aren’t reduced to viewing content made specifically for e-readers. While a novel feature, I wouldn’t recommend it due to the E Ink panel’s low 12Hz refresh rate. Scrolling web pages or documents is choppy, and a ghosting effect (when traces of a previous image remain on screen) adds to the annoyance.

…but the hinged lid allows you to swivel the display by 180º… (Image credit: Future)

Colors on the E Ink panel also look washed out at best, hitting 0.4% (that is not a typo!) of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Still, it’s better to have some color than none at all.

If all you’re doing is reading or using it as a typewriter, then the E Ink display still has its advantages. For a start, it’s easier on the eyes, but it also cuts down on distractions. Switch on the Lenovo Reader mode and you can devour ebooks, while you can use Lenovo Notebook to scribble notes. If the performance is too sluggish, you can also use Reader and Notebook with the OLED display.

This 13.3in touchscreen panel is as vibrant as you would expect, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut with an average Delta E of 0.21. It’s bright, too, hitting 360cd/m2 in our SDR tests and 480cd/m2 with HDR content.

…to reveal a versatile 12.2in color E Ink screen (Image credit: Future)

You can happily watch films on the ThinkBook Plus without headphones, thanks to clear audio and plenty of volume without distortion. Music lovers won’t appreciate the lack of bass on offer, however.

Bearing in mind that Lenovo is pitching the ThinkBook Plus as a typewriter, it’s a shame that it isn’t part of the ThinkPad range with its deep key travel. Still, I found the keys snappy and responsive, and even though this is a compact laptop it never felt cramped when typing (and I have big hands). The trackpad’s small footprint proved more challenging, not always registering my gestures.

While I say compact, I don’t say light. At 1.4kg, this is substantially heavier than the streamlined 13in laptops we see elsewhere, with many now ducking under 1kg. What’s more, they’ll offer far better battery life than the Plus, which gave up after 6hrs 50mins of our web-surfing rundown test. That’s poor.

Finally we come to speed, which is in line with expectations for a laptop with a Core i7-1355U. It’s extremely fast for day-to-day operations, but those who use heavyweight apps or want to play AAA games should look elsewhere. Only one configuration is on sale, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which also restricts usage, but not as much as the fact that Lenovo UK hasn’t announced a release date or price yet.

(Image credit: Future)

So, should you rush over to the US and spend $3,039 on this machine? For the vast majority of people, the answer to that is a straightforward no. That’s a shame, as I really wanted to love the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4. After all, it’s not every day you come across a 2-in-1 with a built-in color E Ink display and twistable hinge. As foldable phones have shown, having a device that serves multiple functions is advantageous. But while the idea behind this ThinkBook Plus sounds great on paper, it doesn’t live up to the promise — especially for a device at this price.

We also rated the best digital art and drawing software.

• Researchers spot critical vulnerability in Next.js
• If authorizations happen in middleware, they could be bypassed in older versions
• A patch, and a temporary workaround, are both available, so update now

Experts have warned there is a critical severity flaw in the Next.js open source web development framework which allows threat actors to bypass authorization checks.

Security researcher Rachid.A from Zhero Web Security posted an in-depth analysis of the findings, with the vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-29927, and receiving a severity score of 9.1/10 (critical).

Prior to versions 14.2.25, and 15.2.3, it was possible to bypass authorization checks in Next.js, if they happen in middleware.

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Patching or mitigating

Next.js is a popular React framework for building web applications, offering features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes.

It’s widely used for SEO-friendly and high-performance websites, including ecommerce platforms and dashboards.

Next.js is backed by Vercel and is used by major companies like Netflix, TikTok, and GitHub, making it one of the most adopted frameworks for modern web development. It counts more than 9 million weekly downloads on npm.

Middleware in Next.js is a function that runs before a request is completed, allowing developers to modify requests and responses, handle authentication, or implement redirects. The function is useful for tasks like user authentication, A/B testing, and localization without affecting page load speed.

It was also stated that just self-hosted versions, using ‘next start’ with ‘output:standalone’. Apps hosted on Vercel or Nerlify, or deployed as static exports, are not affected.

Ideally, users should patch to the above-mentioned versions to mitigate any chances of exploits. However, those that cannot apply the patch so fast are advised to prevent external user requests which contain the x-middleware-subrequest header from reaching the Next.js application.

“This vulnerability has been present for several years in the next.js source code, evolving with the middleware and its changes over the versions,” the researcher concluded, before stressing that Next.js is “widely used across critical sectors, from banking services to blockchain”.

Via BleepingComputer

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Patients and parents speak out after Lurie Children's in Chicago joined other hospitals in stopping gender-affirming surgeries. President Trump's executive order threatened their federal funding.

(Image credit: Manuel Martinez)

This QD-OLED monitor with an excellent burn-in warranty is $950 -- over 40% off -- during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.