Feed aggregator

• Dell's unified private cloud manages multiple cloud stacks on Dell hardware
• The Dell Automation Platform can save customers 90% of steps
• New environments can be set up in 2.5 hours

Dell has introduced a new platform that allows customers to create private clouds using VMware, Natanix or Red Hat stacks, but instead of being a single private cloud, it acts as a unified system to manage multiple cloud stacks across Dell hardware.

Centralized management allows customers to take care of diverse deployments, and while different private clouds can't share a single node, they can co-exist across a shared fleet of servers and storage.

The company noted that customers deploying private clouds using its Dell Automation Platform could now be subject to 90% fewer steps, marking considerable efficiency improvements.

Dell unveils unified private cloud platform

The Dell Automation Platform is described as a "software platform designed to simplify how customers deploy and operate disaggregated solutions with secure, zero touch onboarding and centralized management."

Dell claims that new environments can be set up in just 2.5 hours, with the company supporting both bring-your-own-license and its own licensing.

Only VMware vSphere (not Cloud Foundation) will be supported to begin with, but more templates are said to be coming later this year.

The company said in an announcement: "Organizations can protect their investment with reusable infrastructure, simplify operations with full lifecycle management and support customer choice with a catalog of validated blueprints."

Referring to early adopter Nature Fresh Farms, Dell cited its VP for IT and Security, Keith Bradley: “The flexibility to transition between cloud ecosystems and the ability to repurpose hardware is a game-changer for us by providing investment protection and enabling us to respond to evolving business needs quickly."

“Our disaggregated infrastructure approach helps customers build secure, efficient modern data centers that turn data into intelligence and complexity into clarity," Dell's President for Infrastructure Solutions Group Arthur Lewis said.

You might also like

• We've listed the best cloud hosting providers
• Check out our roundup of the best small business servers
• Dell CEO tells us how AI can make us “more effective as a species” - “there are a lot of things we don’t do, that we used to do, because we now have the tools”

Zluri provides a comprehensive software asset management platform that helps IT teams see and control their SaaS applications from start to finish. We found it great for discovering apps across the organization, even the most elusive shadow IT. During our tests, Zluri's easy-to-use dashboard helped us track usage, manage licenses, and optimize spending on a range of business software.

The platform's main strength is its discovery engine. It uses 9 different methods to ensure 100% SaaS discoverability. We were impressed by how quickly Zluri connected with existing systems like SSO, financial tools, and browser extensions. The automated workflows for onboarding and offboarding employees can save your IT team a lot of time. It automatically manages access based on employee status changes, too.

Cost optimization is another area where Zluri excels. It helps you spot underused subscriptions and duplicate apps. We liked the renewal monitoring feature, which tracks end dates and sends reminders. This prevents missed renewals and opens up chances for negotiation. AI-powered license forecasting helps with budgeting, allowing your team to make informed decisions about software.

Setting up Zluri needs some initial time, but the responsive customer support team makes it easier than you might expect. We found the multi-level access certification workflows very helpful for compliance. They ensure no access issues are missed. While the platform could use more detailed documentation and more integrations for niche apps, Zluri's ongoing improvements suggest these issues will be resolved in future updates.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Plans and pricing

Zluri has a flexible pricing model based on employee count. Plans start at about $4-8 per user each month for their core SaaS management platform. The pricing includes Standard, Professional, and Enterprise options. Higher tiers come with extra features like advanced automation, custom integrations, and dedicated support.

In our testing, the Professional plan stood out for mid-sized organizations. It strikes a good balance of features and value. This plan gives access to key tools such as application discovery, license management, and basic workflow automation.

Zluri also offers a free trial. This lets organizations test the platform before subscribing. We liked the clear pricing model — there were no hidden fees or surprises during our evaluation. For larger enterprises, Zluri offers custom pricing. This can be tailored to include specific modules or integration options based on needs.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Features

Zluri's complete SaaS management platform has many strong features. During testing, we found it great for spotting shadow IT and improving workflows for IT admins. Here are the key features that stood out during our evaluation:

Application discovery and management

Zluri's discovery engine was very effective at finding SaaS apps used in our testing, even those not approved by IT. We were impressed by how the platform connected with our financial systems, SSO providers, and browser agents to build a complete app inventory. The central dashboard simplified categorizing apps, tracking usage metrics, and spotting security risks. This gave us clear visibility into the whole SaaS landscape.

Automated workflows

The workflow automation features reduce admin work by simplifying onboarding, offboarding, and access management. The pre-built workflows were easy to customize, allowing us to automate license assignments and access revocations.

Another great thing is that the platform integrates with HR software systems, so employee status changes automatically trigger updates to software access. This reduces security risks and keeps you compliant with internal policies.

License optimization

Zluri's license management features uncovered major cost-saving opportunities in our sample portfolio. The platform's analytics showed us underused licenses, duplicate subscriptions, and chances to consolidate or downgrade. We especially liked the renewal calendar, which gave alerts for upcoming renewals. This could help the procurement team negotiate better and avoid unwanted auto-renewals.

Compliance safeguards

The security and compliance features give lots of useful insights into vulnerabilities in a software ecosystem. We found the risk assessment dashboard particularly helpful for spotting applications with poor security practices or compliance issues. The access certification workflows make it easy to review user permissions, so that regulatory requirements can be met even with less administrative work.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Analytics

Zluri's analytics offer deep insights via data visualization into SaaS usage, spending, and security. The easy-to-use dashboards provide both broad overviews and detailed views. This helps IT admins spot trends, anomalies, and chances for optimization quickly. We found the spend analytics especially useful. They clearly visualized costs by department, application category, and time period. This helped us find ways to combine redundant tools and renegotiate contracts.

User-level analytics give clear insights into application adoption and engagement across the organization. We were able to track inactive users, find power users, and monitor license usage. This data could help you make smart choices about resource allocation. The customizable reports also generate specific insights for different stakeholders, making it easier to get to the issues you care about.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Ease of use

Zluri's user interface balances strong functionality with an easy-to-use design. This makes it friendly for teams new to SaaS management. The dashboard is clean and organized, showing key metrics at a glance. You can navigate it easily to get detailed views for specific applications, departments, or users. During testing, we were able to master the interface quickly, after only a brief orientation. Contextual help features also offer useful guidance for complex tasks.

The platform’s workflow automation cuts down the learning curve even more by simplifying common tasks that usually need several steps. We liked the smart design of the application discovery process, which can integrate with various data sources without coding. Some of the advanced features, like custom integrations and complex workflows, need technical skills however. Still, Zluri offers templates and wizards to make these features easier to access.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Support

Zluri provides different support options based on pricing plans. All customers can access email support, knowledge base resources, and regular webinars. In our evaluation, we found the support team to be both responsive and knowledgeable. They usually reply to inquiries within a few hours and offer clear, actionable solutions. The platform's implementation specialists are especially helpful during setup. They give personalized guidance for integrating with your systems and customizing workflows to meet your needs.

(Image credit: Zluri) Zluri: Security

Zluri shows a strong commitment to security. It has SOC 2 Type II certification, regular penetration testing, and robust data encryption for data both in transit and at rest. The platform's handling of user permissions is also pretty robust. It offers granular role-based access controls, letting organizations define what team members can see and change in the system based on their jobs.

Zluri's clear security documentation was another highlight during our research. But it doesn't just commit to these security standards for its own platform. Zluri can proactively spot security risks in your existing SaaS ecosystem. This includes applications without proper security certifications or those storing sensitive data.

Zluri: The Competition

Zluri has many competitors, including BetterCloud, Torii, and Productiv. Each has its strengths and focus areas.

BetterCloud excels in workflow automation and has been around longer. However, Zluri's discovery engine is better at spotting shadow IT. Its interface is also more user-friendly for daily tasks.

Torii offers similar core features, focusing on automated workflows and a sleek interface. Still, Zluri stands out with stronger financial optimization and vendor management.

Productiv is all about application engagement analytics and benchmarking. This appeals to organizations that value adoption metrics and ROI analysis. For enterprises using ServiceNow, Productiv's SaaS Operations Management module provides integration benefits. However, it lacks the same depth and specialization as Zluri.

While each competitor has unique strengths, Zluri provides the best mix of discovery, cost optimization, workflow automation, and ease of use.

Zluri: Final Verdict

Zluri delivers on its promise of great SaaS management. It offers strong discovery features, an easy-to-use interface, and useful cost optimization tools.

During our evaluation, we found the platform excels at finding shadow IT, improving workflows, and giving insights to optimize software spending.

The initial setup does take time and resources. Some advanced features can be harder to learn. Still, Zluri's ongoing improvements and helpful support team make it a strong option for organizations with a complex tech stack.

We've listed the best IT documentation tool.

I spent yesterday walking the floor of Computex 2025, checking out the latest and greatest computing tech of the year, and I got to spend a lot of time at the MSI booth.

As one of the biggest PC component makers in the world, MSI had a lot to show off on the components front, from cases to power supplies to graphics cards to motherboards, and all of it was either what I expected from MSI (their components are great), or even better, some limited edition and concept products that anyone would want to include in their own PC build.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Starting on the premium build side of things, the MSI MEG Maestro 900L is a real showpiece of a PC case with a three-sided curved glass enclosure with diamond chamfer edges and support for a custom liquid cooling loop. It's more or less a perfect case for a high-end build that isn't a completely custom design.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Next, the IRONMOUSE VTuber-themed PC build with IRONMOUSE-branded components looked fantastic, and is the kind of build and component design that should inspire a lot of builders out there to go for a similar look.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Obviously, graphics cards were a big part of MSI's booth this year, and that makes sense, seeing as it consistently makes some of the best graphics cards on the market, especially on the higher end of the stack, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Liquid SOC, but also smaller form factor cards on the lower end of the stack like the new MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Inspire 2X OC.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Of course, with so many components, you could build a whole PC out of just MSI parts, and MSI went out of its way to showcase some of its DIY innovations that aim to make PC building easier and less intimidating for first-time builders.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In addition to its mainstream graphics card lineup, MSI also showed off new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 Expert OC and RTX 4080 Super Expert OC cards with a cool-looking grill design built into their shrouds.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

There were also some awesome special edition cards being shown off, like the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Cyclone Visual OC, which is a single, large-fan design that has an LCD display in the center.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Of course, there was also the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Suprim Titanium Edition SOC card with a lux golden-colored finish. How much this card would set you back I can't say, but I can't imagine it's cheap even by RTX 5090 standards.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

But the component that really stole my heart at the MSI booth yesterday was a simple bracket, one that I'm not even sure you'd be able to buy on its own, but which would come with the MSI MPG Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

See, here's the thing. I test a lot of processors for my reviews and features, and this often involves me swapping out motherboards with different chipsets. But in order to keep results comparable between Intel and AMD processors, I really need everything else on the testbench to stay the same, including the AIO cooler.

The problem, though, is that the mounting for CPU coolers between AMD and Intel isn't standardized. Instead, both chipmakers have their mounting screws oriented differently. Intel's CPU cooler mountings form a square, while AMD's form a rectangle with uneven length and height.

This means that I have to swap out the mounting bracket for the AIO cooler every time I switch between the two chip brands, and losing one of those brackets is an absolute nightmare that could wreck days of testing. I know this because it's happened to me more than once.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Enter the MSI Unibracket. A single bracket that works with both Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 motherboard mountings.

As soon as I saw the Unibracket, I wanted to scream, because the solution to the problem is so blindingly obvious, I don't understand how this part isn't standardized across every CPU cooler manufacturer.

Their loss is MSI's gain, however, as once I get a Coreliquid P13 360 AIO cooler in the lab, it's all but guaranteed to be my go-to CPU cooler for the testbench for the foreseeable future.

You might also like...

• The MSI Prestige 13+ AI Ukiyo-e Edition is nothing short of a work of art, and my only complaint is that so few people will get to see it in person
• Best laptops of Computex 2025 - meet the future of notebooks from HP, Asus, and more
• MSI's new AI-infused QD-OLED monitor and improved MEG Vision X AI gaming PC make AI a bit more practical for gamers

ServiceNow is a powerful cloud-based ITSM tool that streamlines workflows and service management in IT, HR, and customer service. During our testing, we were impressed with its ability to automate complex processes. This feature lets organizations swap manual tasks for advanced digital workflows without any coding knowledge. The platform's flexibility helps businesses define, design, and automate their service delivery, enhancing operational efficiency for larger enterprises.

ServiceNow connects easily with popular tools like Jira, DocuSign, Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce. We liked how the customization options allowed us to tailor it to our needs. However, this flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve than we expected. The self-service portals were particularly useful, letting end-users create tickets and report incidents easily.

While researching the platform, we noticed how many reviews mention that the user interface feels dated. While the recent upgrade to the Next Experience UI addresses much of these issues, some occasional clunkiness still remains. And the reporting and business intelligence features, while functional, were not as strong as some competing systems we looked at.

Still, ServiceNow's AI-powered intelligence is quite impressive. It automatically categorizes, prioritizes, and routes incoming tickets based on historical data, cutting response times. For large organizations with complex IT environments, ServiceNow provides great value due to its service management tools and automation features. However, smaller businesses might find the platform's complexity and high licensing costs challenging.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Plans and pricing

ServiceNow uses a subscription-based pricing model. Prices vary based on modules, features, and the number of users. We found that the company does not share pricing publicly. Instead, potential customers must contact the sales team for a tailored quote based on their needs. That said, current users mention that annual contracts usually start at $75-$100 per user per month for companies with 50 to over 100 users.

The platform has several product lines, including IT Service Management, IT Operations Management, Customer Service Management, and HR Service Delivery. Each line has its own pricing structure. Most organizations begin with the IT Service Management (ITSM) package, with the option to add more modules later. ServiceNow also provides a limited free trial, which is helpful for testing basic functions, but it does not include all features available in paid subscriptions.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Features

ServiceNow offers a complete set of tools to improve workflows and service delivery across departments. In our tests, we were impressed by how well the platform automates complex processes. It also allows for easy customization. Here are the key features that stood out to us:

Workflow automation

ServiceNow's workflow automation is key to its offerings. It let us design, implement, and optimize complex workflows with little to no coding. We found the visual workflow editor easy for business analysts to use for basic processes. It also offers the depth developers need for complex automation. The platform triggers actions based on set conditions, cutting down manual work during testing. Automated escalations and notifications helped ensure nothing was missed.

Service catalog and request management

ServiceNow's service catalog can create a central marketplace for all your services. During our evaluation, we made a number of custom request forms. These forms had dynamic fields that changed based on user selections, making requests intuitive for end-users. The approval workflows were strong. They allowed multi-level approvals and delegation, ensuring business continuity even when key approvers were unavailable.

Knowledge management

The knowledge management system in ServiceNow offers strong tools to create, organize, and share information. We liked how the platform suggests relevant articles to service desk agents based on incident details. This feature greatly reduces resolution times. The knowledge base also has solid version control and review workflows that keep content accurate. Plus, the self-service portal helps users find solutions before submitting tickets.

Configuration management database (CMDB)

ServiceNow's CMDB gave us a clear view of the IT infrastructure and service links. This was crucial for change management and solving problems. During our review, we saw that the discovery tools mapped relationships between configuration items well. They created a visual map of how systems work together. The platform tracked changes to configuration items over time. This feature added important context for troubleshooting. And its integration with incident and problem management modules made managing IT services seamless.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Analytics

ServiceNow's reporting and analytics tools give clear insights into service performance and operations. They offer both pre-built and customizable dashboards. We found the Performance Analytics module very helpful for tracking key performance indicators. We used it to monitor metrics like mean time to resolution, SLA compliance, and ticket volume trends over time. The platform also let us dig into specific metrics, helping us spot bottlenecks in service delivery and make informed decisions on resource use.

The platform includes predictive intelligence features. These use machine learning to find patterns and predict future service demands based on past data. We were impressed by how the system can automatically categorize and prioritize incoming requests. This significantly lessened the manual workload for any service desk team. However, creating custom reports sometimes needed more technical skills than we expected. Additionally, the visualization options were not as flexible as those in some dedicated business intelligence tools we have used.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Ease of use

ServiceNow offers a mixed experience with usability. Its comprehensive interface can be overwhelming for new users. Our testing revealed a steep learning curve, especially for administrators and developers. The navigation structure is logical, but it has many menus and options. End-users may sometimes struggle to find specific services in the portal.

The platform does include features that improve usability, like role-based views. These views show only relevant information and functions for each user type. We also liked the mobile app, which simplified approving requests and checking status updates. Recent updates have brought many UI improvements, but some parts of the system still feel like traditional enterprise software.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Support

ServiceNow provides tiered support options based on subscription levels, including Standard, Enterprise, and Elite packages. During our evaluation, we found the knowledge base and active community forums helpful for troubleshooting common issues. This allowed us to solve problems without contacting official support.

But the Elite support package offers 24/7 assistance, with quicker response times for critical issues. But complex customization questions still sometimes needed escalation to specialized technical teams. ServiceNow also offers professional services for implementation and optimization. Smaller organizations with limited IT resources may find these helpful due to the platform's complexity.

(Image credit: ServiceNow) ServiceNow: Security

ServiceNow has SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certifications for its cloud infrastructure. It also offers strong role-based access controls.

Apart from that, the platform provides detailed audit trails that record all system changes to make compliance reporting easy. ServiceNow's data encryption, both in transit and at rest, meets industry security standards. It also offers regular security updates and strong vulnerability management tools to keep pace with growing security threats.

ServiceNow: The Competition

The enterprise service management market has several alternatives to ServiceNow. Atlassian's Jira Service Management is a popular choice for organizations using the Atlassian ecosystem. In fact, Jira Service Management is easier for smaller teams and much cheaper. But it lacks some of ServiceNow's advanced workflow features.

BMC Helix is another strong competitor. It has similar enterprise functionality and a more modern user interface than ServiceNow. But, it requires a similar effort for implementation.

For those seeking simpler solutions, Freshservice stands out. It has an intuitive interface and a faster implementation timeline, making it great for mid-sized businesses with basic needs. Zendesk also competes in this space. Its service management offerings are excellent for customer service but lack depth in IT operations management compared to ServiceNow.

ServiceNow: Final Verdict

ServiceNow is a powerful platform that offers great value for large businesses ready to invest time and resources. During our testing, we were impressed by its customization options and strong workflow automation. But the learning curve is steep and the costs high. Hopefully, ServiceNow's added efficiency will make the price worthwhile for large-scale IT operations.

We've listed the best help desk software.

• Nvidia lost around $5.5 billion in costs and $15 billion in revenue due to H20 export bans
• CEO Jensen Huang celebrates Trump's decision to reverse some restrictions
• The AI market in China could reach $50 billion this year

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has criticized the US AI chip export controls to China, calling them a "failure" that ultimately ended up costing American businesses billions.

Speaking at this year's Computex event, the leader praised Trump's move to modify the Biden-era export curbs (via Reuters), stating that "President Trump realizes it's exactly the wrong goal."

In April, the world's most valuable chipmaker declared it would accrue an estimated $5.5 billion in costs solely relating to the export of H20 chips to China and other restricted nations.

Nvidia praises chip export ban reversal

Huang said the original export assumptions were flawed, and didn't stop AI research in China, which continues with heavy local investment. However, while the country continues virtually unaffected, Nvidia's market share in China dropped from 95% to 50% in the period after Biden's export restrictions were introduced.

Intense competition from domestic firms, like Huawei, has already filled the gaps left by US suppliers.

The CEO explained that China's AI market could reach a staggering $50 billion this year, marking a major opportunity for Nvidia if access to the nation is restored via lifted restrictions. Apart from the $5.5 billion in estimated costs, Nvidia expected $15 billion in lost revenues due to export restrictions on its H20 chips.

Nvidia is also developing a compliant version of its Blackwell AI chip with downgraded memory to meet US restrictions.

Despite reversing some Biden-era bans, the Trump administration is considering replacing the tiered export system with a global licensing regime for better leverage in trade talks. Earlier this week, China responded to US actions by demanding an end to "discriminatory" policies.

"AI is advancing at light speed as agentic AI and physical AI set the stage for the next wave of AI to revolutionize the largest industries," Huang said in the company's most recent earnings report, when it revealed a 78% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue.

You might also like

• These are the best AI tools and best AI writers
• Access powerful AI chips with the best cloud computing services
• Chinese tech companies want to enter the US market despite trade and tariff war

• Video and browser apps are "coming soon" to Android Auto
• The apps will only be available when you're parked
• We should also now see more weather apps for the platform

The Google news just keeps on coming: as we enter the second day of Google I/O 2025, Google has flagged up "new in-car app experiences" for Android Auto, which will include video players and browser apps for the first time.

As per the official blog post, support for both video and browsers is "coming soon" to Android Auto. However, like games on Android Auto, these apps will only work when your vehicle is parked to prevent them from distracting you on the road.

For video players, the roll-out will initially be for Android 16 devices and "select compatible cars", so it sounds as though this might depend a little bit on the hardware you're using and the dashboard you're connecting up to.

Google does mention being able to listen to the audio from videos while you're driving, but this is still at the "early access" stage for now, and there's more work to do here for Google, car makers, and app developers.

Take the weather with you

The current state of play with Android Auto apps (Image credit: Google)

In the same blog post, Google says the weather app category has now graduated from beta, which means they don't need specific approval to run on Android Auto – look for more weather apps appearing soon.

For cars with Google dashboards already built in (which isn't many, at the moment), the development is even further ahead: the video app category is now open for submissions, while the browser category is currently in beta.

The blog post also mentions that the Gemini assistant will be coming to Android Auto in the "coming months", which is something we'd already seen signs of. Eventually, it'll take over all voice control duties on the dashboard.

Being able to sit and watch a video with passengers on Android Auto would be a very welcome upgrade. For me, web browsing on a car dashboard is less appealing, but it's good to see the platform being upgraded and expanded over time.

You might also like

• Google Search just got its biggest-ever AI upgrade
• I finally tried Samsung's Project Moohan Android XR headset
• Gemini Live is now free for everyone on Android and iOS

Spiceworks offers a complete IT service management solution that's packed with features — for free. We found it very easy to set up, needing little configuration to manage tickets. The clean interface is very easy to navigate, but the ads can be a bit distracting.

The ticketing system is central to Spiceworks' functions. It lets your team track and manage IT support requests via email and a customizable self-service portal. We liked the automated notifications and response templates. They made the overall workflow smoother and improved communication with users. The platform also has useful asset management tools that work well with the help desk, giving you a full view of our tech setup.

Spiceworks impressed us with its strong reporting tools and customization options. However, we did face some performance issues during testing. Sometimes, the system took longer than expected to restart after shutdowns. We also experienced a few moments where the app became unresponsive. Despite these issues, the overall value is compelling, especially for smaller organizations with tight budgets that don't need enterprise-level features.

The cloud-based version of Spiceworks replaced the desktop app after December 2021. It provides the same core functions with the added benefit of access from anywhere. The mobile apps offered easy access to tickets, though they had limited functionality compared to the full web interface. For organizations looking for a free way into help desk automation, Spiceworks strikes a strong balance of features, usability, and community support. And for those wanting more than that, there's a Premium version at $6 per user per month.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Plans and pricing

Spiceworks has a unique pricing model. It offers a free tier and a new Premium option for teams needing more features. The Core plan is free for up to 5 seats. There are no limits on tickets, users, or storage. This makes it great for small to medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources. Our testing showed this approach is clear and easy to understand. However, the free version does show ads, which can distract from support tasks.

For teams with 5 or more users who want an ad-free experience, Spiceworks offers a Premium tier. It costs $6 per seat per month. This option includes all the features of the free version without ads. It provides better value than many competitors in the help desk market. We liked that Spiceworks keeps its pricing simple with just two tiers. There are no complex features or hidden costs, making budgeting easy for organizations of any size.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Features

Spiceworks offers a complete set of help desk tools for IT support teams. In our tests, we found the platform balances functionality and ease of use well. It has intuitive workflows without losing depth. Here are the standout features that impressed us the most.

Ticket management

The ticket management system is key to Spiceworks. It provides flexible options for creating, assigning, and tracking support requests. We found the email integration very useful. It automatically turns incoming messages into tickets while keeping the entire conversation history. The customizable ticket fields and status workflows let our team tailor the system to our needs. However, we sometimes wanted more advanced automation for complex routing scenarios.

Knowledge base

Spiceworks has a strong knowledge base feature. It helped our team cut down on repetitive support requests by offering self-service options. We liked how simple it was to turn resolved tickets into knowledge base articles. These articles included rich formatting, attachments, and internal notes. The platform also provides public and private knowledge base options. This lets us share some information with end users while keeping other documents for internal use only.

Asset management

The integrated asset management tools give clear insights into your IT infrastructure and support activities. In testing, the network scanning tool successfully found and listed our devices. It gathered detailed data on hardware specs, installed software, and warranty status. Linking tickets to specific assets helped our support team understand issues better. However, we noticed that the scanning sometimes missed devices or provided incomplete information.

Community support

Spiceworks has a unique advantage with its large IT community. This community acts as a support resource and a professional network. Our team often found answers to technical issues in the community forums. Thousands of IT professionals share advice and troubleshooting tips there. The link between the help desk and the community lets you search for solutions while working on tickets. This can save you a lot of research time.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Analytics

Spiceworks offers strong reporting tools that show help desk performance and workload distribution. During testing, we found that the pre-built reports covered most key metrics we needed. These included ticket volume, resolution times, and support team performance. The dashboard gives quick insights through customizable widgets. However, we sometimes wanted more flexibility to create fully custom visualizations.

The platform also has advanced reporting features. You can add filters or mix filters to make reports that fit your needs. We liked generating reports that ranged from simple overviews of open tickets to detailed analyses of pending tickets over specific timeframes. For organizations needing deeper data analysis, Spiceworks provides a custom Power BI Desktop Data Connector. This tool lets you pull data directly from your Cloud Help Desk account and refresh it into your Power BI report template with one click after setup.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Ease of use

Spiceworks has an easy-to-use interface. Even team members with limited tech skills found it simple to navigate. The dashboard gives a clear view of ticket status, recent activities, and key metrics. The menu structure is logical, making it easy to access different features. During testing, we liked the contextual help tips and the option to customize views. However, we sometimes had to click through multiple screens to finish tasks.

The ticket creation and management process is straightforward. It has clear status indicators and lets users quickly assign, prioritize, and categorize support requests. We found the email integration user-friendly. It allows users to create and respond to tickets without logging into the system. The knowledge base editor feels like a familiar word processor, making it easy to create and format documentation. However, the search function sometimes struggled to return the most relevant articles when using partial keywords.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Support

Spiceworks offers different support channels, each with varying response times based on your tier. We found the knowledge base and community forums to be the most useful. They often provide solutions faster than direct support. Premium users enjoy priority email support, which has quicker response times. Free users can submit tickets but may wait longer for complex issues. The company also provides regular webinars and training resources to help users maximize the platform.

(Image credit: Spiceworks) Spiceworks: Security

Spiceworks takes security seriously. They use industry-standard measures to protect sensitive help desk data. Our testing showed that the platform uses TLS encryption for data in transit. Regular security audits and SOC 2 compliance add extra reassurance. The granular permission system lets administrators control which team members can access certain information and perform specific actions. However, we would have liked more detailed audit logging to track user activities in the system.

Spiceworks: The Competition

For organizations looking for alternatives to Spiceworks, Freshdesk is a strong choice. It has a better ticketing system with advanced automation and a clean, ad-free interface, even at lower tiers. In our testing, we found Freshdesk's multichannel support and AI features to be more comprehensive. However, its pricing can rise quickly, especially as you add users and features, making it pricier than Spiceworks' Premium tier.

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is another solid alternative, especially for larger organizations needing ITIL compliance and better workflow customization.

For teams focused on project management but with some help desk needs, Jira Service Management offers better integration with development workflows and more customization. Zendesk is also a strong competitor, providing better omnichannel support and advanced reporting tools, but it comes at a significantly higher cost than Spiceworks.

But for organizations on tight budgets, Spiceworks' free tier stands out for its functionality without any financial commitment.

Spiceworks: Final Verdict

Spiceworks offers great value as a help desk solution, especially for small to medium-sized organizations with tight IT budgets. In our testing, we saw that the platform balances functionality and simplicity well. It provides essential help desk features in an easy-to-use package that doesn't need a lot of training.

While the ads in the free tier can be distracting, and some advanced features from premium competitors are absent, the affordable Premium tier is a strong option. It makes Spiceworks appealing for growing teams that need dependable ticket management without overspending.

We've compiled a list of the best live chat software.

• AMD has officially unveiled the RX 9060 XT graphics card
• It comes in 8GB and 16GB versions priced at $299 and $349
• That pricing, and a peppy spec, outguns Nvidia’s rival RTX 5060 Ti

AMD has revealed its latest RDNA 4 graphics card over at Computex 2025, with the RX 9060 XT coming in both 8GB and 16GB flavors, as has been rumored for a while now.

The RX 9060 XT has 32 compute units (CUs) – compared to 56 CUs in the RX 9070 – as we also heard via the grapevine, and in fact, the rumor mill was pretty spot on about the specs here.

The main piece of key info we were lacking was the price, and we now have that: the 8GB model will sell at $299, and if you want the 16GB version of this graphics card, that’ll run to $349.

Other specs include the 9060 XT using GDDR6 VRAM and having a boost clock of 3.1GHz, with a TDP of 180W.

AMD provided some early performance teasers, and apparently, the RX 9060 XT is going to edge out Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti in gaming when not using frame generation.

As VideoCardz reports, AMD let us know that the new graphics card will go on sale come June 5 (which was again predicted via rumors).

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: A value-packed GPU with a lot of promise

AMD’s benchmarks must be taken with some caution – as with any marketing materials, some cherry-picking can be involved – but the RX 9060 XT is looking sharp going by this testing. It’s shown as 6% faster than the RTX 5060 Ti in a suite of 40 games at 1440p resolution with ‘ultra’ graphics details.

Coupled with that competitive pricing, the RX 9060 XT is a very welcome addition to the lower-mid-range of the GPU market. Indeed, AMD also showed a presentation slide declaring that the RX 9060 XT gives buyers 15% more performance-per-dollar than the RTX 5060 Ti (working with that same battery of tests over 40 games).

I should note that AMD is comparing the 8GB version of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti to the 16GB flavor of the 9060 XT, which does cast something of a different light on those performance metrics – but the relative pricing still looks good value from Team Red here.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you do go with the 9060 XT 8GB, this uses the full complement of PCIe lanes, whereas that’s cut in half with the 5060 Ti 8GB – and that can be important for older PCs that don’t have PCIe 5.0. Mainly because (last-gen) PCIe 4.0 proves a bottleneck on the bandwidth available to the GPU with only half of those lanes active (but not with the full set of 16 lanes, as per AMD’s design choice).

So, that’s another win for AMD, and it has a strong offering on the table with the RX 9060 XT. The remaining question is, with no reference boards from Team Red, and the company relying entirely on third-party graphics card makers, are we going to see the MSRP adhered to? Or, if the RX 9060 XT models turn out popular, will pricing be inflated by those board-making partners?

A lot of the answer to that may be tied up in stock levels, which is another variable here: how robust will initial supply levels be? The good news is that rumor has it that AMD won’t leave us in the lurch for stock, and much of the speculation around these new RDNA 4 models has proved correct, so hopefully that assertion will pan out, too.

We won’t know for a couple of weeks yet, though, and real pricing on the shelves, as opposed to target MSRPs set by AMD, will still be a critical part of the equation here with the initial launch of the RX 9060 XT.

You might also like...

• I tested the RTX 5060 - is 8GB of VRAM really enough in 2025?
• AMD Radeon RX 9070 review: a great choice if the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 are out of reach
• Microsoft is digging its own grave with Windows 11, and it has to stop

Every pool owner knows that there’s nothing better than a cool dip on a hot day – and nothing more dull than the chore of cleaning your pool. Wouldn’t it be great if you could relax while a robot quietly cleans from the floor to the waterline to make your pool crystal-clear and debris-free? That’s exactly what the Dreame Z1 Pro delivers. It takes care of the cleaning so you can enjoy your pool even more.

AI power for incredible cleaning

(Image credit: Dreame)

Dreame are experts in making robots that make humans' lives easier, and the Dreame Z1 Series brings the power of AI to efficiently and quietly clean pools of any kind. It's been designed for above ground and recessed pools, saltwater and freshwater pools, and pools of every shape and size.

The Z1 Series comes with Advance PoolSense, powered by AI. It's the world's first robotic pool cleaner with a Triple Surround Fusion Perception System – and that means intelligent navigation and path planning, optimal zoning and adaptive cleaning routes, specially created S-shaped and Z-shaped routes for floor and wall cleaning respectively, and smart obstacle avoidance to steer clear of pool noodles and other obstacles – even really small ones.

It's clever stuff, combining ultrasound, 3D structured light and time-of-flight (TOF) sensing to deliver exceptional environmental awareness: the Z1 Pro knows where to go and what path to take to deliver the best results each and every time. It automatically detects the shape of the pool and intelligently creates cleaning zones for targeted cleaning.

Serious suction and brilliant brushing

(Image credit: Dreame)

The Z1 Pro's AI smarts are teamed up with a really powerful cleaning system with a whopping 8,000GPH of suction power, dual brushless pump motors, active dual brushing and horizontal waterline cleaning. That system effortlessly eliminates leaves, dirt, algae and other debris, creating a cleaner, safer swimming environment all year long – including the icky bits along the waterline.

The Dreame Z1 Pro is packed with clever technology, but it's been designed with ease of use in mind. It's the world's first pool cleaner with a poolside-operable remote, and it comes with a smart app that makes it easy to control and to choose cleaning modes. There are four cleaning modes, enabling you to choose between deep cleans and targeted cleaning for your pool floor, walls and waterlines.

Quiet, clever and incredibly easy to live with

(Image credit: Dreame)

The Z1 Pro is also extremely easy to live with. Its advanced filtration means there's minimal debris, because it can capture even very small items such as small stones, leaves, sand, gravel and hair. It even filters particles as small as 180 micrometers, ensuring your pool stays crystal clear and impeccably clean. Those filters are also really easy to clean, as they live in a filter basket that can be removed with a single click.

The Z1 Pro's powerful battery delivers cordless convenience with long-lasting power, with a working time of up to 4 hours from a single charge. And when it's done, its auto poolside parking means it even tidies itself away when the pool is back to its sparkling best.

That makes the Dreame Z1 Pro the perfect present for any pool owner – including you! Click here to find out more about the smartest and easiest way to keep any pool crystal clear.

Speculation around a thinner iPhone raises questions about battery capacity and camera features. Here's what we know so far.

• PNY has revealed microSD Express cards compatible with Nintendo Switch 2
• They're available now in 128GB and 256GB capacities
• Expect to pay $44.99 for the 128GB card and $55.99 for the 256GB option

Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is just a couple of weeks away from launch on June 5 (no, we can hardly believe it, either), you may already be looking at storage options if you've managed to successfully place a pre-order.

Manufacturer PNY might just have you covered there, as it has just announced and released its new lineup of microSD Express cards. Compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 (and replacing the previous microSD format), PNY's memory cards can be purchased from the brand's website now or at participating retailers soon.

PNY's microSD Express options come in two sizes. The 128GB card is available to buy for $44.99 (around £39.99), while the 256GB card - which matches the size of Switch 2's internal storage - can be picked up for $55.99 (around £49.99).

Furthermore, the 128GB card has read and write speeds of 890MB/s and 550MB/s, respectively. Meanwhile, the 256GB card has the same read speed but an improved write speed of 750MB/s, making it the faster of the two.

So, why would you want to buy a microSD Express card at or around the launch of Nintendo Switch 2? After all, the system itself boasts 256GB, which is a huge improvement over the original Nintendo Switch's 32GB (or 64GB on Nintendo Switch OLED).

Well, when you factor in that Switch games are compatible with Switch 2, you may want that extra peace of mind if you're transferring your library and saves over to your new console. Especially as your old microSD cards won't be compatible with Switch 2. If you want to carry the whole lot over without issue, having a microSD Express card ready to go will save you the headache of picking and choosing which games you want to carry over.

That said, if you're just planning on getting stuck in with one or two games at launch, such as Mario Kart World or Street Fighter 6, you can afford to hold off picking up a microSD Express card until the Switch 2's library grows over the next couple of years.

You might also like...

• The newly revealed Logitech G522 Lightspeed could become the new mid-range wireless gaming headset to beat
• New Nintendo Switch 2 Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay has been revealed – say what you like, but I'm still not impressed
• Nintendo has partnered with Samsung to increase Switch 2 chip production

• Nothing has confirmed that the Nothing Phone 3 will land in July
• The company's teaser doesn't reveal much else
• Previous teasers and leaks point to this being a true flagship

We knew the Nothing Phone 3 was coming sometime this ‘summer’, but now the makers have got a bit more specific, saying that the phone will land in July.

This was revealed in a teaser on Nothing’s X account, which… doesn’t tell us much else. Below text with the July launch window the number ‘3’ simply flashes on the screen several times, followed by text saying “it’s a magic number”.

That ‘3’ is created from a series of white blocks that are reminiscent of the glyph lighting system on the back of Nothing’s phones, so that will probably be making a return here, but that was always expected.

Phone (3). It's a magic number. Coming July 2025. pic.twitter.com/WEQ7Vcf72HMay 20, 2025

A top-end chipset and a reworked camera

Still, while this teaser doesn’t tell us much else, previous teasers and leaks do give us some idea of what to expect.

Nothing itself has previously said that the Nothing Phone 3 will be the company’s “first true flagship”, and that it will have a price to match, coming in at around £800 (roughly $1,060 / AU$1,640). That price will apparently be justified through “premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that really levels things up.”

Beyond that, a recent rumor pointed to the Nothing Phone 3 having a “flagship Snapdragon chipset”, which might mean the Snapdragon 8 Elite, also found in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series.

The same tip also pointed to a significantly reworked triple-lens camera, complete with a larger primary sensor than the Nothing Phone 2 and a periscope telephoto lens, suggesting this phone could offer long-distance optical zoom.

The battery could be in for a boost too, with this said to possibly exceed 5,000mAh – up from 4,700mAh in the Nothing Phone 2.

So, the Nothing Phone 3 could be quite an exciting handset, and if you’ve liked the look of Nothing’s phones but wanted something higher end, this could finally be the device for you. We’ll find out in July.

You might also like

• The latest Nothing Phone 3 leak hints at chipset, camera, and battery specifications
• Leaked Nothing Phone 3 memo teases lots of AI
• These are the best phones you can buy right now

NPR spoke with two international students about their decision to continue speaking out despite the government's aggressive effort to deport pro-Palestinian activists.

(Image credit: Keren Carrión/NPR)

Agents have typically taken a commission on the sale of a home that totals 5% to 6% of the price. But new rules have created an opening for brokers who charge much less.

(Image credit: Jim Xiao)

The weekend bombing of a Palm Springs, Calif., fertility clinic has cast a fresh spotlight on a 19th century philosophy linked to Russian revolutionaries. What does "nihilism" mean?

(Image credit: David McNew)

The car you drive years in the future might run off a battery being invented in a lab today. Companies in China and the United States are racing to perfect and scale up next-generation technologies.

(Image credit: Steve Fecht for General Motors)

Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.

(Image credit: Elijah Nouvelage)

President Trump wants to reframe how the country's stories are told. But historians are pushing back, saying the administration's actions amount to an attack on core institutions — and on history itself.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a game-changer in the fight against market manipulation. As stock trading practices diversify, globalization expands and competition intensifies with the daily addition of modern businesses, the complexity of monitoring and maintaining fair play across markets has increased exponentially.

However, as global exchanges have invested in adopting and developing AI tools, so too have their criminal counterparts. Market manipulators have become more sophisticated in their tactics, employing highly advanced pump and dump and spoof trading strategies to influence market conditions to their advantage.

To get ahead of illicit activity, the human immune system has emerged as an unlikely source of inspiration for enhancing AI powered detection tools.

Detecting and Preventing Market Manipulation

AI's role in financial markets is akin to a vigilant sentinel, tirelessly scanning vast amounts of data for signs of manipulation. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and complex pattern recognition, AI systems can identify irregularities and potential manipulative behaviors that would be nearly impossible for humans to spot due to the sheer volume and speed of high frequency stock market trading.

These AI systems are trained on historical data, learning from past instances of market manipulation to recognize the subtle signals that may indicate foul play. They can monitor multiple markets simultaneously, track the behavior of individual traders, and correlate seemingly unrelated events to uncover hidden patterns. This comprehensive monitoring capability is crucial in a landscape where a single manipulated trade can have far-reaching consequences.

Despite its potential, applying AI to market surveillance has many challenges. Financial markets are complex, dynamic systems with a multitude of variables at play. The bespoke nature of AI models required for each unique scenario means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. AI systems must be tailored to the specific characteristics of each market and the types of manipulation that may occur within them.

Moreover, the AI must be capable of adapting to new strategies employed by market manipulators. Just as viruses evolve to bypass the immune system, so do manipulative tactics to evade detection. This necessitates AI systems that can learn and adapt in real-time, a feat that requires significant computational power and advanced algorithms.

Learning from the Human Immune System

The human immune system is a marvel of natural engineering, capable of identifying and neutralizing a vast array of pathogens. It is this remarkable adaptability that has inspired the development of AI systems for market surveillance. The immune system's ability to remember past infections and recognize new ones that share similar characteristics is mirrored in the way AI can learn from historical market data and adjust to new forms of manipulation.

Just as the immune system has different mechanisms to deal with various threats, AI systems can employ a range of strategies to tackle different types of market manipulation. The abstract term used for such mechanisms is Artificial Immune Systems (AIS), and are computational intelligence methods modelled after the immune system. These systems develop a set of pattern detectors by learning from normal data, incorporating an inductive bias that applies exclusively to this baseline data, which may shift over time (due to its non-stationary nature).

The Dendritic Cell Algorithm (DCA), a biologically inspired subset of AIS, mirrors the human immune response by monitoring, adapting, and identifying potential threats. From statistical analysis to behavioral analytics, AI leverages this adaptive framework to help preserve the integrity of financial markets.

In recently published research, we explored how DCA can identify market manipulation patters. The model performs anomaly detection for a selective set of outputs obtained from DCA while examining multiple types of manipulative patterns. The uniqueness of this approach is in reducing the dimensions of the input dataset and avoiding the inconsistency in selecting the thresholds for the parameters involved.

It is also unbiased towards specific types of manipulation, as any knowledge about the anomalies injected is not provided to the model a priori. The distinctiveness of the results is visible when compared with existing models, for a variety of evaluation metrics from area under the ROC curve to false alarm rate.

The Balance Between Human Oversight and AI Empowerment

While AI can process and analyze data at speeds and volumes beyond human capability, it is not infallible as it lacks the human ability to understand nuances. The balance between human oversight and AI empowerment is critical in stock exchange surveillance. Human expertise is essential for interpreting the findings of AI, providing context, and making judgement calls on whether identified patterns truly constitute manipulation.

Humans can also provide the ethical and regulatory framework within which AI operates, ensuring that surveillance practices remain fair and just. As financial markets continue to grow in complexity, the need for sophisticated surveillance tools becomes ever more pressing.

AI, with its ability to learn from the past and adapt to new threats, offers a powerful solution to this challenge. However, it is the combination of AI's analytical prowess and human expertise that will ultimately ensure the fairness and integrity of financial markets. As technology continues to advance, this partnership will only become stronger, safeguarding the financial ecosystem against those who seek to undermine it.

We list the best monitors for trading.

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

• Logitech G has revealed the Logitech G522 Lightspeed
• This wireless gaming headset boasts an impressive feature set and a great microphone
• It hits shelves on June 16 for $179 / £139.99 / AU$299.95

Gaming accessory brand Logitech G has announced the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, a new wireless gaming headset intended to supersede the popular Logitech G733 Lightspeed.

The G522 Lightspeed features redesigned earcups, with a wider shape and an added layer of memory foam for enhanced comfort. It has a lightweight, adjustable fabric headband, which now rests flatter than its predecessor and has built-in ridges for better cooling.

The exterior of each ear cup features four eye-catching customizable RGB lighting zones, which can be tweaked to the color of your choice in the Logitech G Hub desktop software. It's also compatible with the Logitech G mobile app.

Under the hood, the headset is packing Logitech G's highest-fidelity 40mm Pro-G drivers with 24-bit / 48kHz signal processing for enhanced audio clarity and detail.

The headset comes bundled with a removable omnidirectional microphone, which offers an impressive 16-bit / 48kHz bandwidth. It's the same microphone found in the excellent, but much more expensive, Astro A50 X, which impressed with its crystal clear recordings in my hands-on testing.

On the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, the microphone has the added benefit of a built-in red LED indicator that illuminates when it's muted.

As its name would suggest, the headset can connect to PC or PlayStation 5 via Logitech's Lightspeed wireless dongle (which is included in the box), but also supports traditional Bluetooth for the aforementioned platforms in addition to Nintendo Switch and mobile. There's also the option for wired play via its USB Type-C connector.

Logitech claims up to 40 hours of battery life with the default lighting on, or up to 90 hours with it disabled, which is a pretty impressive figure. It's not quite the up to 200 hours promised by the competing HyperX Cloud III S, but it's still more than enough juice for a few weeks' worth of intense gaming sessions.

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed hits shelves on June 16 in white or black colorways. It costs $179 / £139.99 / AU$299.95, putting it in the midrange price bracket.

Its expansive feature set seems very promising, but only time will tell whether it becomes one of the best PC gaming headsets or best PS5 headsets around.

You might also like...

• Backbone CEO details the 'Apple Watch level engineering' behind the company's new Pro mobile controller
• I’ve tested two of GameSir’s best controllers, and, for me, there’s one clear winner
• Bloober Team breaks down upcoming survival horror game Cronos: The New Dawn, 'this will be farther away from Silent Hill 2 or anything we did before'