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Data sovereignty has rapidly become a critical consideration for organizations evaluating and selecting data center solutions.

At its core, data sovereignty is the principle that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the country in which it is physically stored or collected. This principle is embedded deeply into two foundational legislative instruments: the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

While organizations have always been concerned about the safety and security of their information, the concept of sovereignty introduces an added layer of complexity. It is not just about protecting data from breaches, but also about always ensuring the correct jurisdictional authority over it.

Mandatory standards

Both the DPA 2018 and the UK GDPR establish mandatory standards for how personal data must be handled, but they go beyond that. These laws define the standard of sovereignty and shape the processes surrounding the collection, storage, access, and processing of personal data. Consequently, the selection of a data center provider is no longer just a matter of performance metrics or operational efficiency.

Instead, it’s a decision heavily influenced by regulatory compliance and the ability of the provider to support the broader digital transformation goals of a business. Choosing the wrong partner could mean costly delays in projects, added legal scrutiny, and potential breaches of customer trust, making the decision-making process far more strategic than it has been in the past.

This consideration becomes especially important when organizations seek to harness the potential of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies are data-intensive and require vast amounts of computing power. They demand a digital infrastructure that can handle complex processing workloads in real time. UK-based high-performance data centers are emerging as essential to this transformation.

These facilities offer powerful computing capabilities combined with localized data handling, resulting in significantly reduced latency and faster processing speeds. For AI and ML, where split-second decision-making and continuous data training are essential, any delay or disruption can severely impact the effectiveness of models and applications.

Being able to process information securely and locally gives businesses a critical edge in fields that are becoming increasingly competitive and innovation-driven. By ensuring that data remains close to its point of origin, these centers support more agile, secure, and compliant technological innovation.

Cloud platforms

In parallel with this trend, UK-based private cloud computing platforms are gaining traction as a strategic enabler for organizations looking to maintain data sovereignty while remaining agile in a competitive digital environment. These platforms are built on networks of data centers that are not only physically located within the UK but also owned and operated by domestic entities.

This domestic control provides peace of mind, particularly when combined with access to secure partner ecosystems and direct, high-speed interconnections to public cloud providers. For organizations, this translates into more control, better predictability around data transfer costs, and simpler compliance with increasingly complex data protection regulations.

It also eliminates the uncertainties associated with cross-border legal disputes, particularly in a climate where international data transfer rules are under constant review and renegotiation. Businesses no longer must wonder whether a change in global politics will suddenly make their infrastructure non-compliant or expose them to new liabilities.

Put simply, the ‘stick’ element of data sovereignty lies in the serious consequences for non-compliance. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has made it clear that failing to properly manage the transfer of personal data, particularly to jurisdictions outside the UK that do not have adequate data protection frameworks, can result in heavy penalties. These fines can reach up to £17.5 million or 4% of a company’s global annual turnover, whichever is greater.

These are not hypothetical threats; they are actively enforced, and they highlight the very real financial and reputational risks associated with poor data governance. The reputational damage alone can be devastating, especially in sectors where customer trust is fundamental. Companies that suffer breaches or compliance failures often see long-term declines in customer confidence, partner relationships, and market value, compounding the original financial penalties.

Data in transit

What many businesses may not fully realize is that these risks don’t just apply to where data is stored, but also to how it moves. Data in transit, when data migration between servers, centers, or even across international boundaries, falls under the same stringent scrutiny. And with the UK’s upcoming Data Protection Bill set to introduce even tighter restrictions on data flows and increased responsibilities for data controllers and processors, the pressure to adopt robust sovereignty practices is only going to intensify.

This means that simply having strong cybersecurity policies is no longer enough. Organizations must now monitor and manage the full lifecycle of their data with far greater precision, including every transfer, replication, and access point.

However, the ‘carrot’ on offer is equally compelling and far more constructive. Organizations that invest in sovereignty-conscious infrastructure and best practices aren’t just ticking a compliance box, they are unlocking the ability to innovate more quickly and confidently. Keeping data processing geographically close to its source not only meets regulatory requirements, but it also reduces the reliance on distant infrastructure that may be slower or less secure.

The result is improved performance, lower latency, reduced operational risk, and stronger overall resilience. These gains can be transformational for businesses, particularly those operating in sectors where agility, speed, and security are essential to competitiveness.

Additional assurance

In addition to these benefits, privacy-preserving computing (PPC) models are providing organizations with additional assurance. These models ensure that data remains within UK borders and is handled in environments specifically designed for high security, maximum uptime, and seamless interconnectivity.

The IT infrastructure behind these models is increasingly being viewed not just as a support system, but as a vital part of a company’s core value proposition. In sectors like finance, retail, and public services, where milliseconds can matter, localized and resilient infrastructure is no longer a luxury but a necessity for delivering outstanding user experiences and meeting rising customer expectations.

In this evolving landscape, data sovereignty is no longer just a compliance requirement or a legal consideration. It is becoming a strategic differentiator, an asset that enables businesses to manage risk more effectively, embrace innovation with confidence, and build a more robust, future-ready digital foundation.

As such, those making data center purchasing decisions must consider sovereignty not merely as a legal obligation, but as a pathway to enhanced performance, better control, and sustained competitive advantage.

We've compiled a list of the best data recovery software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Opera Neon is a new fully agentic browser capable of performing tasks
• The new premium browser is subscription-only and coming soon
• You can join the waitlist today

Opera Neon is a new premium subscription web browser that can understand your commands in natural language thanks to AI while also performing a variety of tasks for you.

For instance you could ask Opera Neon to produce a detailed report, make a website or even code projects like games, all in the browser.

“We’re at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser. Opera Neon brings this to our users’ fingertips,” said Henrik Lexow, Senior AI Product Director at Opera.

“We see it as a collaborative platform to shape the next chapter of agentic browsing together with our community.”

Opera Neon keeps its complexity hidden by offering you a simple choice between Chat, Do and Make. (Image credit: Opera)Fully agentic on the web

Of course, you can currently chat with AI in the standard Opera browser, which has access to Aria AI and ChatGPT in the sidebar, but Opera Neon is a fully agentic browser, which means you can ask it to perform tasks for you as well as chat or search with AI.

That could include filling out a form that appears in the website you’re viewing, making a hotel reservation, or even going shopping. Best of all, it does all this locally in the browser, without risking your privacy or security.

The AI agent inside Opera Neon has previously been showcased by Opera as Browser Operator and you can give it tasks with simple prompts like “Keep me updated on the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence,” and it would regularly collect and summarize the most relevant articles.

So, instead of wading through an endless news feed, you’d get just what matters to you the most, neatly packaged.

You can also chat with Opera Neon as if it were an AI chatbot, just like ChatGPT, and it can also search the web for you to find answers.

(Image credit: Opera)Chat, Do and Make

Opera Neon boils its core functionality down to three main options: Chat, Do and Make.

Chat is the chatbot function. Here you can ask the AI contextual questions about the web page you are viewing and search the web.

Do is where Opera Neon can interact with the website you are viewing. We're talking about things like filling in forms, booking reservations and shopping. This is the technology we've previous known as Bowser Operator.

Make is the truly new part of Opera Neon. Here you can ask the browser to make you something, and it will interpret what you mean, then go away and do it for you. Once you've tasked it with making something you're free to go off and do something else.

Opera Neon looks like being one of the most exciting uses of AI I’ve seen in a while. The prospect of being able to ask the AI questions about the website you’re currently viewing in the browser and getting reliable answers back isn’t new, but the agentic qualities of the browser sound incredibly valuable.

Opera Neon isn’t out yet, but Opera says you can join the waitlist today. In the meantime, Opera has made this video to explain what an AI agent is:

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If you and your compliance team are jumping between separate systems just to track Slack messages, email threads, mobile chats and collaboration tools, you're not alone. The digital-first workplace has made communication faster, but supervision more fragmented, and riskier than ever.

Regulators like the SEC, FINRA, and the CFTC have made it clear that all business-related communications must be captured, supervised, and auditable, no matter the channel. Yet, many organizations struggle with siloed monitoring approaches that slow down compliance efforts and leave vulnerabilities unchecked.

The answer is a single, unified view of employee communications in one system that captures everything - what I like to call a Single Pane of Glass approach.

What is a Single Pane of Glass?

A Single Pane of Glass approach consolidates communications data from multiple channels into a single, real-time dashboard. The term doesn’t just refer to all the information being visible in one place, but also its transparency, as nothing is hidden or obscured. Instead of managing different supervision separately across email, chat, social media and mobile, compliance teams can monitor through one interface. This means a holistic view of all employee interactions, ensuring greater efficiency, clarity, and regulatory adherence.

This unified approach helps compliance teams:

1. Provide real-time monitoring across multiple channels.

2. Automatically flag noncompliant language and behavior across all sources.

3. Streamline audits and reporting for regulatory examinations.

4. Align compliance, IT, and risk teams to work together with a shared source of truth.

With a centralized system, teams can spot issues faster, reduce false positives and strengthen their response to potential violations.

It’s also important to distinguish what a true Single Pane of Glass is not, and that’s a dashboard packed with sub-modules. Everything might be technically accessible, but if you’re forced to click around to find what matters, it's missing the point. Key insights get buried, messages get missed, and the whole value of a unified view falls apart.

Why Fragmented Monitoring Falls Short

Regulators have made it clear: failing to supervise digital communications properly will lead to fines. In recent years, financial institutions have faced millions in fines due to gaps in their monitoring capabilities, particularly around unauthorized messaging apps and personal devices.

Here’s what’s at stake:

Regulatory non-compliance: Disconnected systems make it harder to capture, search, and audit all relevant communications.

Operational inefficiencies: It’s not uncommon for compliance teams to spend up to 12 hours a week navigating between different monitoring systems, as reported by Smarsh. That kind of manual effort adds up—and pulls focus away from higher-value tasks.

Exposures to fines and reputational damage: Missed violations due to fragmented oversight can lead to financial penalties and unwanted attention.

Without a unified system, firms are left reacting to issues after they occur, often under intense scrutiny.

What to Look for in an Effective Unified Supervision Platform

Not all Single Pane of Glass solutions are created equal. To be effective, a platform needs to deliver more than just aggregation. It should be purpose-built for capturing complex communications channels, flexible enough to adapt, and easy to use across teams.

Key features to prioritize:

1. Comprehensive Channel Coverage – Email, instant messaging, social media, collaboration tools (Teams, Slack, Zoom), SMS, and more.

2. Automated Surveillance – Automate keyword tracking, sentiment analysis, and anomaly detection to proactively flag risks and regulatory violations.

3. Audit & Reporting Tools – Easy access to communication history in the event of regulatory requests and internal reviews.

4. Scalability & Integration – A solution that integrates with the existing compliance infrastructure and evolves with regulatory developments.

Choosing a platform where you can leverage these capabilities can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance risk mitigation.

How to Start Implementing a Single Pane of Glass Strategy

Transitioning to a unified supervision approach requires careful planning, but it’s worthwhile. With the right planning, this move will deliver long-term value across compliance, risk, IT and overall business performance.

Here’s how firms can get started:

Assess Current Gaps – Identify where compliance monitoring is fragmented, incomplete and where risks exist.

Define Key Compliance Goals – Ensure alignment with relevant requirements, from the SEC to FINRA, the FCA, ASIC etc, depending on your location.

Select the Right Technology Partner – Look for platforms that integrate easily, offer strong customer support, and specialize in regulated industries.

Secure Cross-Functional Buy-In – Engage IT, compliance, and risk teams to ensure a smooth rollout and long-term adoption.

Monitor & Adapt – Continuously refine supervision policies as regulations and communications trends evolve.

A successful Single Pane of Glass strategy not only enhances compliance but also improves operational efficiency and agility in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The Future of Communications Supervision is Unified

With regulators tightening oversight on digital communications, compliance leaders must adopt a proactive approach. Now is the time to evaluate your current compliance framework and explore unified supervision solutions. A Single Pane of Glass approach gives compliance leaders a more efficient and scalable way to manage risk.

By consolidating communications oversight, compliance leaders can focus on strategic risk management rather than reactive firefighting, future-proofing their communications compliance programs and ensuring they’re always one step ahead of evolving regulations.

We've compiled a list of the best call center software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Home design apps and tools are plentiful these days, and you’ll find loads f options for designing interior and exterior spaces online, on your desktop, and on mobile devices. IMSI Design FloorPlan Pro offers high end options for your desktop.

I was keen to see how this professional design tool compared to the best interior design software I've tested - especially considering the company behind it is also responsible for the excellent TurboCAD.

• Interested in FloorPlan Pro? Check out the website here

FloorPlan Pro; Pricing & plans

• It's not the cheapest 3D home design software out there, but it promises to offer a wealth of features, which you can try free for 15 days

As for this writing, although FloorPlan Pro is available for both Macs and PCs, the former hasn’t been updated in years, and we’ve been told a brand new version is just round the corner. As such, we’ll be focusing our attention on the Windows version.

FloorPlan Pro is the high-end version of IMSI Design’s 3D home design family, the other two being “FloorPlan Deluxe”, and “FloorPlan Instant Architect”. As such it bears the highest price at just under US$280.

With it, you’ll get over 1,000 3D interior design furnishings and materials, over 4,000 plants for landscaping, foundation and HVAC planning tools, advanced dimensioning tools, the ability to import your own materials, backgrounds and plants, and much more.

This is a big software package and you may feel you need time to explore it and make sure it offers all the features you’re after. Thankfully, IMSI Design allow you to try their program free for 15 days.

• Score: 4 / 5

FloorPlan Pro: Quick Start

The Quick Start section helps you design the overall structure of your buildings in minutes (Image credit: IMSI Design )

• A great way to quickly and easily create the basic outline of the building you’re about to create

There’s little doubt that FloorPlan Pro is replete with powerful features, and is designed with someone who’s serious about 3D home design in mind. However, despite that, the software is also designed to be as approachable as possible, and this is made exceedingly clear from the outset, thanks to the Quick Start section, which greets you when you launch the software.

This enables you to create the bare bones of your building in next to no time: to the right is a sidebar containing various generic rooms, such as a Kitchen, a Bedroom, a Garage, and so forth. Drag them onto your blank canvas (pretty much the rest of the interface), resize them, place them next to others, and within seconds, you’ll have created the outline of your building.

Now, you can’t do much else with this section - you can’t even add windows or doors - that’s for later on - but it does let you get started at lightning speed. Once you’re happy with the results, click on ‘Continue’ to access the ‘proper’ interface.

• Score: 4.5 / 5

FloorPlan Pro: Interface

The interface feels crowded, and a little dated, but everything you need is only a click away (Image credit: IMSI Design )

• The interface feels crowded as there are buttons and icons on every edge of the screen, but everything is well organised and it won’t take you long to figure out where everything is and make good use of the available tools

FloorPlan Pro’s main interface is pretty busy, although well organised, despite the fact it looks antiquated and could do with a more modern lick of paint. You have alignment controls at the bottom, a series of cursors offering different functions to the left, and at the top, all the tools you need to design your home, organised by category, with ‘Floor’ being selected by default.

That section contains the tools you need to build walls, add windows and doors, insert stairs, railings, columns, and more. Other categories allow you to work on the foundations, add a roof, design the electrics and plumbing, work on the ventilation and air conditioning, add a deck, landscape the outside, etc. It’s incredibly full featured.

If you’re unsure what a tool does, just hover over it for a couple of seconds, and a detailed tooltip will appear telling you exactly what it does, and how to use it. Some even include a short animation to explain the concept more clearly.

By default, you’ll be working in a traditional 2D view, but you can also add a 3D view to the mix, which you can explore in parallel. You can use it to navigate through your design, select items and such, but you cannot manipulate your work from there.

When it comes to making alterations, the interface is very responsive: click on an object to select it, and drag it to move it around or resize it. We did notice however, that unlike other competing products, when you reposition a wall, adjoining walls aren’t resized and repositioned at the same time to accommodate that wall’s new position: you need to work on each in turn.

It’s cumbersome if you’ve grown used to the other way of working, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker, especially if you like more precise control over your project.

• Score: 4 / 5

FloorPlan Pro: Tools

Hover over a tool for it to reveal what it does. Some even include a short animation to explain how they work (Image credit: IMSI Design )

• There’s a lot of tools at your disposal, and once you’re used to the interface’s layout, you’ll start enjoying the creation process

As mentioned above, you can find the tools along the interface’s edges, and once you’ve gotten used to their location, accessing the right tool when you need it becomes second nature. In fact we found designing a project to be pretty easy considering the number of available options - not as easy as the “Quick Start” feature, mind, but still, it can become an immersive experience, as you focus on your design.

Working primarily in 2D to create your project might be viewed as a drawback, but there’s an inherent simplicity to the concept that we ended up enjoying the process, occasionally switching to 3D to see how it was all shaping up. The biggest drawback though is that you need a large screen, especially with the 3D view activated, as it can overlap with the rest of the interface and all too easily gets in the way, especially when you’re furnishing your building.

Altering the topography is done through the 3D view (Image credit: IMSI Design )

When it comes to furnishings and materials, everything is located in a drop down menu to the right. All items are organised by category which you can explore, or just use the search field to quickly find what you’re looking for, which you then click and drag onto your design.

We really liked the landscape feature, and can understand why FloorPlan Pro have so many available plants for you to populate your grounds with. The versatility is immense, even allowing you to create uneven ground, creating a much more realistic look for the surrounding area; you can even build a house, cut into a hill for instance, and turn the garden into a dense forest.

The 3D view truly comes into its own when altering the landscape, as this is where you get to change the topography with the various available tools.

• Score: 4 / 5

Should I buy FloorPlan Pro?Image 1 of 3

FloorDesign Pro has thousands of objects you can use to furnish your home (Image credit: IMSI Design )Image 2 of 3

Use the 3D view primarily to explore your design (Image credit: IMSI Design )Image 3 of 3

The landscaping is a big part of this software, allowing you to create complex exteriors (Image credit: IMSI Design )Buy it if...

You’re looking for a professional-grade home design program, with a vast array of features and options, and don’t mind the somewhat dated interface.

Don't buy it if...

You prefer creating, designing and altering your house in a 3D environment, or feel you need an interface that looks a little more modern.

For more design essentials we tested the best landscape design software and the best architecture software.

The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said.

(Image credit: Mark Schiefelbein)

Law officers searched Arkansas' rugged Ozark Mountains for an ex-police chief and convicted killer who escaped prison by impersonating a guard and walking out through a gate a guard opened for him.

(Image credit: Arkansas Department of Corrections)

The Conservative Political Action Conference held its first meeting in Poland on Tuesday, just days before a presidential election between a liberal mayor and a conservative backed by President Trump.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

A T-Mobile spokesperson explains what's going on with a new setting that could be construed as a privacy risk.

You can enjoy the sounds of a crackling campfire from the comfort of your home or out at a cafe.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 28.

While there are Disney Parks worldwide, there’s always something special about the first. And right now, Disneyland – the park that started it all way back in 1955 – is celebrating its 70th Anniversary, and you could say it’s throwing a party.

And it celebrates the past and looks towards the future. As the celebration is in swing, you’ll see the return of classic nighttime spectaculars and the introduction of entirely new ones, updates to some fan-favorite attractions, a trove of new bites to eat and drinks to, well, drink, and a heavy dose of technology to push the immersion.

I had the chance to visit Disneyland for the 70th Anniversary Celebration, and it was also my first time at the park. Suffice to say, it was a lot to take in and explore, and a heck of a lot of fun. Sadly, the BDX Droids weren’t there, as these tiny, personable droids are currently on a world tour, with their next stop being Disneyland Paris. However, the 70th anniversary activities kept me plenty busy.

So now, I’m sharing my five favorite things about Disneyland’s 70th Celebration and why now might be the best time to go, whether it’s your first time or you know the park like the back of your hand.

The MagicBand+ unlocks special experiences

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

The MagicBand+ is already a key part of experiences at Disney Parks globally, I’m used to wearing one at Disney World and have even used it to become a bounty hunter in Batuu at Galaxy’s Edge, but for the Disneyland 70th it unlocks a tech-powered, immersive experience at any time, day or night.

Commemorating several of Disneyland’s original day-one attractions are new booths themed to each of them and – you guessed it – a spot to scan your MagicBand+. Upon scanning your band, the machine will play sounds and lights themed to the rides, but your MagicBand+ will also vibrate and light up thanks to a built-in haptic motor and a string of LEDs.

At the Jungle Cruise near the skippers' lockers, it even printed out a ticket for a VIP tour on ‘the world famous Jungle Cruise’ letting me know I’d be aboard the “Mekong Maiden.’ It’s not an actual ticket, but certainly a lovely keepsake.

You’ll have to go on a treasure hunt around the park to find them all. These booths are also at a Fantasyland Window by the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, in Frontierland near the Silver Spur Supplies, and on Main Street near the front of the park is Tilly’s Booth. There will soon be one at the Autopia attraction in Tomorrowland. The experience will vary, but you’ll need a MagicBand+ to unlock it and create a memory.

MagicBand+ can be purchased at the park or in advance from the Disney Store for $34.99. The wearable can be your park ticket, a form of payment, and a key to unlocking interactions around the park. You can monitor battery level, perform software updates, and link it to your MyDisney account to link tickets via the Disneyland app for Android or iOS – it’ll sync over Bluetooth.

Two all-new projection shows, and a fireworks show returns

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Disney is known for its live entertainment productions – be it projecting onto water with World of Color at Disneyland or with full fireworks shows. Even so, Disneyland’s entertainment offerings for the 70th are stretching far and wide.

A highlight for me was two new projection-only shows, which transformed the outer frame of the It’s a Small World attraction at Disneyland and the Cathay Circle restaurant at Disney California Adventure into widely colorful, animated displays with speakers hidden throughout the area playing a bouncy soundtrack for viewers to enjoy.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

While Cathay Circle is a restaurant, its unique front and triangular finish present a distinctive canvas for Disney's complex projection system. The resulting light show is impressive and speaks to Disney's technology and projection mapping expertise. This show runs nightly for about three minutes and is named "Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit Of Magic."

Similarly, It’s A Small World’s outer shell is a good bit larger, but not just a long flat surface – instead, it has varying heights and depths, with some parts being closer to pathways and other parts further back. The result is the "Tapestry of Happiness" show, which draws from Disney’s extensive catalog of characters and storylines, but more importantly, other parts of the park, including the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Scene projection design is done in the style of Mary Blair, the original art director for the ride.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol

Both projection shows feature excellent sound, even though my eagle eyes couldn’t pinpoint exactly where Disney hid the speakers. Trust me, though, it gets plenty loud. The hiding of technology is used to showcase the stories and bring the facade to life with sound all around, which is essentially how Disney creates most of these experiences.

Similarly, Disneyland is also bringing back a fan-favorite fireworks evening spectacle, but it's more than just rockets in the sky. The entirety of Sleeping Beauty Castle serves as a screen for projectors to display vivid animations – many of which are custom – but this also extends to other nearby buildings and down Main Street.

Additionally, through the power of what I believe is a drone of some sort, "Baymax" from Big Hero 6 flies across the sky, accompanied by fireworks and epic projections. “Wondrous Journeys” will be running most nights and lasts just over 15 minutes, so be aware that the weather needs to be right.

@jakekrol

♬ original sound - Jake Krol 70th touches for an iconic ride

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

Now, I’m a big fan of Toy Story – one of my favorite films hands-down – so it makes sense I enjoy a spin around Toy Story Midway Mania. It just so happens that it’s also a very tech-infused ride, with blasters mounted in a ride vehicle that will spin and stop in front of large 3D screens. Targets – think bullseyes and dartboards – appear on the screens, allowing you to score points by shooting the wheel.

A rollicking soundtrack also accompanies it, interactions with characters like Buzz, Woody, and the green army men, as well as bursts of air shooting, and again, pretty chaotic visuals.

It was always a race of points, with you wanting to hit the highest targets – ie, 500 or 1,000 or 2,000 – but Disneyland is letting you scroll even higher on the leaderboard, up to 70 or 7,000 if you will, as they’ve added special elements into the game.

The Walt Disney Imagineering team used little more than a software-based update to level up an already loved attraction, making it feel fresh and new for the 70th anniversary.

Another ride that received an update was It’s a Small World, featuring Miguel from Coco as a doll. This classic film is now streaming on Disney+, one of the best streaming services. You can also watch Toy Story 1 through 4 there and see my colleague Lance Ulanoff unpack Pixar Typestry – one of the first pieces of software the company made before Toy Story and countless other films.

Tasty new food, but there’s no need to wait in line

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

I mean, what’s a party without food? And Disneyland answered the call by rolling out 70 new food items – ranging from coffees to fuel you through the day to a 70th Stuff dessert that was super good. There is something for everyone, and all these light bites and drinks are available at shops throughout the park.

They are all highly sought after, leading to some long lines, but here’s the best tip I can offer you. Please use mobile ordering via the Disneyland app on iOS and Android. It not only lets you skip the line and take another ride around Dumbo or any other attraction, but it’s also a lot more seamless.

Once in the park, you open the Disneyland app, select the three lines in the bottom right corner, tap ‘Order Food,’ select the location, and make your selections. You’ll be given a window to return, and once you're near, you’ll tap “I’m here, prepare my food” to let them start cooking. Then, you’ll receive a notification with the window number to head to, share your name and order name, and you’re ready for a delicious meal.

The best part, if you’re on an iPhone, is that it supports Live Activities – so you can tap “I’m here” right from the lock screen without needing to unlock and navigate through the app.

A parade with over one million LED lights, all synced

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

The jaw-dropping moment, and maybe even a hallelujah event for fans of Disneyland, is the return of the Paint the Night parade. Yes, it’s choreographed beautifully with excellent performers and exciting songs, but the real spectacle is the pure amount of color.

As the name suggests, the floats, characters, and costumes are all adorned with LEDs that sparkle, glow, and flash, all in a unified, synchronized beat to the music. It looks incredible at night. There are eight moments of the parade, spanning floats and performers across several Disney franchises – Tinker Bell, Monsters Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Frozen, and Mickey and Friends.

It’s super impressive, just check out the video and photos, but it goes beyond just LED string lights. Take the Monsters Inc. float, which Sulley and Mike Wazowski ride on – it’s over 21 feet long with 17,000 points of light but also features five doors, as seen in the film, that spin and rotate with over 40 LED video panels.

Or with Cars, beyond Lightning McQueen, the classic Mack truck is reimagined with an open rear trailer that’s composed of glowing orbs that are strung and fill the whole space – in fact, it creates glowing depth from 27,000 orbs and 2,000 feet of LED neon that line the trailer.

All of these LEDs are controllable, and Disney Live Entertainment uses them all to create a show, pairing them with audio speech and classic songs. Disney shared that there are more than 200 universes of control to operate the parade.

Additionally, a few extra LEDs light up and ‘dance’ as the ones built into your MagicBand+ turn off when the various floats pass. That’s magic, well, RFID and knowing your location.

(Image credit: Disney Parks)

All in all, this is just scratching the surface of Disneyland's 70th Celebration. There are also more iconic character art installations setup around the resort that your MagicBand+ will react to, a purchasable ‘Key to Disneyland’ that interacts with memorable keyholes around the parks, a Mickey Mouse popcorn bucket that responds to “Hey Mickey,” and a bubble wand with a USB-C port for custom sounds effects.

Then, of course, there are all the classic rides, numerous parades, and "World of Color: Happiness," another evening show where you can vote on certain characters to appear.

The 70th Celebration will be going on for a year, so there’s plenty of time to get out there and enjoy it all. I certainly hope all these tech immersion- and entertainment-enhancing moments stick around and carry over to other parks as well.

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• Apple might push further into gaming with a dedicated hub on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K
• It'll be a showcase for new titles available directly for the platforms and through Apple Arcade.
• It's rumored to be announced at WWDC 2025, right after the Nintendo Switch 2 launches

Between Apple Arcade on the iPhone and iPad, as well as the resurgence of game support on the Mac since the debut of Apple Silicon, the Cupertino-based tech giant is eager to drive the growth of gaming across its various platforms. The adage that you can game on the Mac has extended to nearly all its other platforms aside from the Apple Watch.

Now, a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicates that a dedicated app for video games will be announced soon for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K streaming box.

The report teases that it’ll arrive later in 2025 and that it will serve as a one-stop shop for gaming on these devices, offering easy access to the games themselves as well as “in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications, and other activity.”

(Image credit: Future)

The hub will serve as a home for Apple Arcade titles, Apple’s $ 6.99-per-month service offering a variety of mostly family-friendly games. These titles will reside in this new app alongside editorial content, likely from the same team that supports the App Store, and it will replace Game Center.

The latter has been a social network feature for game titles on the iPhone for quite some time, but never as a standalone app – instead, it would flash when you first open a game that supports it, or be accessible when you look for leaderboards.

Considering the Mac is included as a platform, and this dedicated gaming app is supposedly being developed for it, it aligns with Apple’s broader push for the various Macs on the market to be seen as powerful gaming devices. Baldur’s Gate 3, Lies of P, Resident Evil 4, and Death Stranding, among many others, are some AAA titles that have launched for Apple Silicon, and Cyberpunk 2077 will eventually arrive.

Given that the report states this dedicated app will also integrate with the Mac App Store, where many of these titles are sold, Apple could be positioning this as an alternative to Steam, making gaming more prominent and accessible on macOS.

The report also describes “a Mac version of the app that can tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store” – a move that could appeal to gamers, developers, and publishers alike.

It’ll be interesting to see if this dedicated app for these platforms arrives with a notable expansion of titles for Apple Arcade or some other bolstered features for the streaming services.

Maybe, it’ll be the first time a AAA title gets bundled in, or rather, it’ll be announced alongside some other major titles launching on the Mac. A day and date release with other consoles has become more common, but it’s clear that more work needs to be done to get more games launching on the Mac and more people playing.

The same could be said for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, and even the Vision Pro – though the latter platform, visionOS, isn’t mentioned in the report as getting this dedicated app.

(Image credit: Apple/Future)

Bloomberg reports that while the gaming app will be announced at Apple’s 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference – set to kick off on June 9, 2025 – it won’t ship until September 2025, alongside the next version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Of course, these dates slip and Apple’s plan could change, so we’ll need to track WWDC to see what comes to fruition.

The timing of this report and the rumored announcement at WWDC 2025 places it right before and immediately after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is scheduled for June 5, 2025.

It won’t be the only announcement that day, though. We’re already expecting iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 as well as the next generation of visionOS, macOS, and tvOS. This report also promises a new AI-powered battery tool to help stretch runtimes, new health capabilities, a redesigned Translate app, and, maybe most exciting, a live translation feature for AirPods. The latter would continue Apple’s tradition of rolling out significant software updates and features for its earbuds at no additional cost.

If you’re keen for this dedicated gaming app or new platforms, the good news is that the opening keynote for WWDC 2025 is only 13 days away.

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• Dyson Cool FC1 is an upgrade of the original Dyson Cool tabletop fan
• It has the same powerful, blade-less design and Air Multiplier technology
• It adds a Night mode, more setting options, and a useful LCD screen

The original Dyson Cool was the world's first blade-less fan, and the catalyst for many of the brand's air-care innovations that followed. Since its launch 16 years ago the brand has released many more cooling, heating and air-purifying products with increasingly advanced features, but the Dyson Cool hasn't seen an upgrade – until now.

The next-gen model, called the Dyson Cool CF1, has the same powerful airflow and sleek, blade-less design, but adds some helpful features and usability tweaks to bring it in line with the rest of the best fans on the market. It's not as big or splashy as some of the brand's other launches, but it delivers exactly what I want from a tabletop fan.

(Image credit: Dyson)

So what's new? Firstly, you have more customization options to play with. The oscillation settings have been extended – you can now choose between 15, 40 and 70 degrees of oscillation (or no oscillation at all) – and you've now got 10 fan speeds to play with.

Dyson has added a Night mode, which automatically dims the displays and adjusts fan speed for cooling that'll help you drop off, rather than being distracting. This is combined with a new sleep timer that shuts off the fan when you're (hopefully) happily away in the land of nod. There's also an LCD screen, which shows at a glance what mode you're in and which airflow setting you're using.

(Image credit: Dyson)

Elsewhere, there's still an energy-efficient brushless DC motor, and it uses Dyson's patented 'Air Multiplier' technology, which can apparently amplify the air around it by up to 13 times. As with all Dyson's fans, there are no blades, which means smooth and even airflow, and a design that's safer and far easier to keep clean.

There are no air purification (or heating, or humidifying) functions, as appear on other Dyson fans in the wider range. The Dyson Cool FC1 is focused entirely on efficient personal cooling.

(Image credit: Dyson)

"The original bladeless fan revolutionized the way we think about airflow, combining cutting-edge engineering with sleek, safe, and efficient design," says Logan Thomson, Dyson Design Engineer. "This latest iteration builds on those core benefits by introducing modern upgrades like intelligent features, including sleep mode, to meet the demands of today’s customers.”

The Dyson Cool CF1 goes on sale in the UK on May 28 priced at £249.99, at Dyson Demo stores or online at Dyson.co.uk. We're waiting for Dyson to confirm pricing and launch date information for the US and Australia.

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