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VRURC T6S power bank review

The T6S is a small power bank with an eye-catching appearance. The light pink colorway of my review unit was certainly striking, and the small rainbow stripe adds a nice accent to the overall finish. It also comes in black, white, and light blue finishes.

Quite why it has the design of a digital camera from 20 years ago I’m not sure, but this does lend it a fun, retro charm. The faux camera lens also cleverly doubles as an LED display, which is very bright and clear, although it only displays the battery level of the T6S and nothing else.

The T6S is pleasingly compact for a 10k power bank, being shorter and thinner than some of the best power banks with the same capacity. However, it’s quite thick in terms of depth, so some may struggle to fit this comfortably in their pocket. The weight is perhaps a little too hefty for this style of carry as well, although it still isn’t what I’d call heavy.

It’s free of any kind of interface, save for a very discreet power button hidden away on the rear side, which sits flush with the chassis and finished in the same color, so as not to spoil the contours of the T6S.

There are two USB-C ports and one Lightning port, all of which function as inputs in addition to outputs. However, the Lightning port and the adjacent USB-C port are heavily recessed with an opening that was too small to fit any of my numerous spare cables. Thankfully, the other USB-C port on the opposite side isn’t recessed, so there’s no issue here.

The T6S comes with a USB-C-to-Lightning cable that fits like a glove in these slots. At first, this connection type threw me, as I couldn’t see the point. Then I realised that it’s actually quite versatile, allowing you to charge your USB-C devices by plugging the Lightning end into the bank, or your older Apple devices by plugging in the USB-C end.

What’s more, since these inputs are right next to each other, you can plug both ends of the cable to create a carrying loop, which works thanks to the durable cable material and the secure fit of the ports. The drawback of this cable, though, is its short length, so you’ll need your device right next to the T6S while charging.

All ports are capable of 20W PD charging, and three-way simultaneous charging is possible too. I managed to charge my 4,385mAh Google Pixel 7a from half to full capacity, using the included Lightning-to-USB-C cable, in just over an hour, which is a good performance.

However, the battery of the T6S depleted by 40% in the process, which is less impressive, and doesn’t quite seem to chime with its 10,000mAh capacity; other power banks I’ve tested with the same capacity dipped by about a third instead, and I would’ve expected to get closer to two full charges out of it than I did. Charging the bank itself takes about four hours from empty to full, which is about average for its size.

At just over £20, the T6S represents good value considering its portability, fun looks, and clever cable. Other power banks at this price offer similar features, but not many have the same quirky stylings as the T6S, so if that’s important to you in a power bank, not many can match the T6S on that front.

(Image credit: Future) VRURC T6S power bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VRURC T6S power bank? Buy it if…

You want something stylish
The T6S doubles as a fashion accessory thanks to its vibrant colorways and retro camera aesthetic.

You want a clever cable
It may be short but the included cable is versatile for charging purposes, and doubles as a carrying handle to boot.

Don't buy it if…

You want to use your own cables
Not many cables will fit in the two recessed ports. Thankfully, the non-recessed USB-C port has no problem in this regard.

You don’t have older Apple devices
Lightning is a defunct connector type, so unless you still have older Apple devices, the port will be surplus to requirements.

VRURC T6S power bank review: also consider

INIU B61 Power Bank 10000mAh
Another fun-sized 10k power bank, the Iniu B61 is slightly more expensive than the T6S, but has a little more power at 22.5W. It might not come with a clever cable, but the B61 does have two USB-A ports, which are probably more useful to more users than a Lightning port. If you want a cheaper power bank with the same capacity, there’s the B41, although this has less power (15W). Read our INIU B61 review.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #645) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PICKUP
• GARBAGE
• ABANDON
• FIBER
• MAROON
• FREEDOM
• MC
• STRAND
• THREAD
• MONSTER
• SPONTANEITY
• JACKSON
• BEN FOLDS
• STRING
• UNRESTRAINT
• DUMP

NYT Connections today (game #645) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Material
• GREEN: Carefree words
• BLUE: Big wheels 
• PURPLE: Music artists 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #645) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: FILAMENT 
• GREEN: UNINHIBITEDNESS 
• BLUE: KINDS OF TRUCKS 
• PURPLE: BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #645) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #645, are…

• YELLOW: FILAMENT FIBER, STRAND, STRING, THREAD
• GREEN: UNINHIBITEDNESS ABANDON, FREEDOM, SPONTANEITY, UNRESTRAINT
• BLUE: KINDS OF TRUCKS DUMP, GARBAGE, MONSTER, PICKUP
• PURPLE: BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE BEN FOLDS, JACKSON, MAROON, MC

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Seeing the name BEN FOLDS in Connections was a nice buzz – a good human, excellent songwriter, and of course forever associated with the number five, making BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE the most gettable purple group (for me at least) for a month. JACKSON and MAROON were also easy to find, but I took a guess on MC before remembering that they’re a heavy rock band.

Here’s a good game to play if you’re bored and with a friend – take it in turns to name artists with numbers in their names and see how far you can count. If you forget 15 and 18 you should be able to get to Matchbox 20.

Meanwhile, seeing MONSTER and PICKUP in close proximity made the Green group equally easy and it probably says a lot about my own lack of SPONTANEITY that I got UNINHIBITEDNESS last.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 16 March, game #644)

• YELLOW: BUNCH CLUSTER, COLLECTION, CONSTELLATION, GROUP
• GREEN: ENDING WITH SILENT "T" BALLET, DEBUT, RAPPORT, TAROT
• BLUE: SERIAL KILLER MOVIES MONSTER, PSYCHO, SEVEN, ZODIAC
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH CONSTELLATIONS DRACONIAN, HYDRANT, LEONARDO, LIBRARY

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1148) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1148) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1148) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1148) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1148) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• F

• C

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1148) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1148, are…

• INFER
• FLINT
• CHUMP
• SHEER

A slightly more thoughtful three start words (using up 15 letters) got me good results today, with just one wrong guess (NICER instead of INFER).

Talking of start words, FLINT, CHUMP, and SHEER wouldn’t be bad, if not for the repeated H and E. I may try those tomorrow.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1148) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1148, are…

• MUSIC
• REACT
• STINK
• DRILL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANK
• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #379) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Sound switching

NYT Strands today (game #379) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• DINE
• TRICK
• STICK
• HELP
• BEEN
• GRIN

NYT Strands today (game #379) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #379) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #379) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #379, are…

• CROW
• CHIPS
• WELLS
• BEDDING
• BLUSHING
• STRICKEN
• SPANGRAM: SPOONERISMS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 hints

SPOONERISMS are a verbal error where the speaker mixes up the letters of two or more words in a phrase, often with comedic results.

They also make for a very tricky Strands and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who struggled with the search – not least because if you didn't have the first one you'd find it tough to locate its pair.

Spoonerisms often occur when someone is struggling to find the right words or speaking in a hurry and getting their words muddled – for instance a priest talking about BEDDING WELLS or someone delivering a BLUSHING CROW.

Back in the late 20th century there was a British comedian called Stanley Unwin who became famous after turning Spoonerisms into an artform and creating his own language (Unwinese) out of it.

He’d begin by asking the audience: “Are you all sitty comftybold two-square on your botty?” before launching into his routine of nonsense verse and rambling stories, interspersed with cries of “deep joy”. He was a lovely man.

Anyway, got to go, I’m off to make a chilled STRICKEN CHIPS sandwich for lunch.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 16 March, game #378)

• RACE
• QUALIFYING
• PITS
• PODIUM
• PRACTICE
• SPRINT
• SPANGRAM: FORMULA ONE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

It was not immediately clear if the deportations happened before or after a federal judge in D.C. on Saturday issued an emergency order that told the administration to stop using wartime powers to deport anyone, and turn around any planes already in the air.

(Image credit: Alex Peña)

We’ve rounded up our favorite speakers that let you talk to Alexa, from the best Echo speakers to third-party options like the Sonos Era.

Horipad Turbo: One-minute review

It’s hard to find good Nintendo Switch controllers at the $30 / £30 price mark. Typically, budget gamepads around this point simply don’t feel all that great to play with and often have a build quality that leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Horipad Turbo, a budget Switch controller that certainly has some of the hallmarks of a cheap pad, but manages to make up for it in other key areas.

Obviously, some compromises have been made to keep costs low. The Horipad Turbo does feel lightweight and somewhat hollow in the hands. It’s a strictly wired controller and doesn’t offer arguably basic features like gyro aiming, vibration, or remappable rear buttons. I’m also not the biggest fan of its simple, mushy D-pad.

But the Horipad Turbo gets most other things right where it counts. Its thumbsticks and buttons all feel great, and its satisfying-to-press digital triggers are perfectly suited for the best Nintendo Switch games. The titular Turbo function also works very well and is quite robust with three distinct input settings.

Throw in options for officially licensed liveries inspired by Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series, and it’s clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into making the Horipad Turbo an attractive budget option. If you’re interested in purchasing a new Nintendo Switch controller, then, but don’t have the funds to splash out on the likes of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller or 8BitDo Ultimate, I highly recommend checking out the Horipad Turbo instead.

(Image credit: Future) Horipad Turbo: Price and availability

• $29.99 / £29.99
• Available in three colorways
• UK availability appears to be very limited

The Horipad Turbo is available to purchase for $29.99 / £29.99. In the US, it’s available on Hori’s own website as well as Amazon. Unfortunately, it’s much more difficult to track down in the UK. Here, Hori’s website doesn’t currently have any stock, and listings at retailers like Amazon are limited (though often come in well under the retail price).

Three distinct colorways are available for the Horipad Turbo. There is a standard black version, as well as fancier liveries for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. These don’t cost any extra, either, so you’re free to pick one that best suits your tastes without making a bigger dent in your wallet.

Before you do decide to pull the trigger, though, I would also recommend you check out the GameSir Nova Lite. This controller comes in at $24.99 / £29.99 and is more widely available in both regions. It also has some key upgrades over the Horipad Turbo, including Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity. It still lacks gyro aiming, however.

Horipad Turbo: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Horipad Turbo: Design and features

• Lightweight build, but certainly not uncomfortable
• Standard asymmetrical layout like the Switch Pro Controller
• Overly mushy-feeling D-pad

The Horipad Turbo very much comes as advertised (well, apart from one particular thing that I’ll touch on in the performance section below). The box contains the wired controller, an instruction booklet and that’s it. No fancy extras like swappable thumbsticks, carry cases, or all that jazz. But this is to be expected for a gamepad that’s firmly placed in the budget price bracket.

The controller itself certainly has a budget, plastic feel, and it’s extremely lightweight. As a result, it feels almost listless in the hands. However, this isn’t to say holding the controller is unpleasant. While it lacks textured grips a la the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, it’s comfortable enough and easy to keep a firm grip on while you play.

Sticks and face buttons both feel great to use and the bumpers, while a little chunky for my tastes, are still adequate. The digital ZL and ZR triggers are the real stars of the show, with an immediate press that’s perfect for the vast majority of the first-party Nintendo Switch game library.

(Image credit: Future)

The clue’s in the name when it comes to the Horipad Turbo’s key feature. Its Turbo functionality allows for rapid inputs simply by holding down the button it’s assigned to.

To do this, simply hold the Turbo button in the center of the gamepad, followed by your face button of choice. There are options for 5, 10, and 20 inputs per second. So it’s a great fit for simpler, arcade-like titles you might find within the Nintendo Switch Online retro libraries. Prefer being able to quickfire projectiles in games like Blaster Master and Super R-Type? The Turbo button can help shave some of that difficulty off while keeping your thumb thoroughly blister-free.

The controller’s 10ft (3m) cable is industry standard, but as it’s non-braided it did tend to coil up more than I’d like. The D-pad is also a real letdown here. For one, it’s really thin, making diagonal inputs a touch harder than they need to be. It also feels very mushy to press, leading to a pretty unsatisfying gameplay experience. Stick to those analog sticks for movement if you can.

Horipad Turbo: Performance

• Perfectly responsive across all fronts
• Works on PC as well as Nintendo Switch
• Missing features include rumble and gyro aiming

The Horipad Turbo is compatible primarily with the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED models. You won’t get PlayStation or Xbox functionality here, but the controller is compatible with PC. This is not mentioned on Hori’s website or on the box itself, but I was able to hook the controller up to my PC via USB and it worked there without issue.

(Image credit: Future)

That said, I think the Horipad Turbo is a better fit for the Switch, and not just because of those officially licensed liveries. It’s got the Switch’s ‘reversed’ face button layout (with X/Y and A/B swapped from the typical XInput layout) and its digital triggers are perfect for a game library where pressure-sensitive triggers are never really required.

As a result, it’s a great fit for several games that I tested, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - all games where quick trigger presses are utilized regularly. Though when it came to both Zelda and Splatoon 3, I certainly did lament the lack of gyro aiming here. The fact there’s no rumble, while less of a dealbreaker overall, is also a shame.

Should I buy the Horipad Turbo? Buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
The Horipad Turbo is one of the most affordable Nintendo Switch controller options that, similar to the GameSir Nova Lite, I can actually recommend thanks to its overall strong performance despite some middling build quality.

You prefer more precise trigger presses
The Horipad Turbo’s digital triggers are a blessing on Switch, and I much prefer them over the more traditional analog triggers you find on most controllers.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a Splatoon 3 player
One of the most unfortunate omissions here is the lack of gyro aiming. You can of course use the analog sticks for aiming in Splatoon 3, but do you really want to do that?

You were hoping for more features
Even more recent controllers at a similar price like the GameSir Nova Lite have the Horipad Turbo beat on features, like offering Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity.View Deal

Also consider...

The Horipad Turbo is a solid controller, but if you’re after a new Nintendo Switch gamepad you may also wish to consider these budget-friendly alternatives.

GameSir Nova Lite
My favorite budget Nintendo Switch pad offers drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks and wireless connectivity with up to 15 hours of battery life. It’s technically an upgrade when compared to the Horipad Turbo, offering several customization options via its multifunction button. It doesn’t have Turbo functionality, though, on top of missing out on gyro aiming.

Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review

8BitDo Ultimate C
Another incredibly budget-friendly controller, it carries on the brand’s tradition of having excellent build quality despite the low price.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate C review

How I tested the Horipad Turbo

• Tested over the course of a week
• Played primarily on Nintendo Switch with some PC
• Compared and contrasted mainly with the GameSir Nova Lite

I tested the Horipad Turbo for this review for roughly a week. During that time I tried the gamepad with a range of top Nintendo Switch games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Astral Chain, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I also put the Turbo button through its paces by playing a variety of fitting retro titles on Nintendo Switch Online. These included Blaster Master, Ninja Gaiden, Mario Party 3, and Super R-Type.

I also spent some time comparing the Horipad Turbo to what I feel is its closest budget equivalent - the GameSir Nova Lite. I do prefer GameSir’s controller, owing to its Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity options. But the Horipad Turbo isn’t far off, with similar build quality and a nice Turbo button addition. Both controllers lack gyro aiming, though, which is a bit of a shame.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

Keep your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods topped up with these WIRED-tested docking systems.

• Oracle reveals Newfold Digital is migrating to its cloud platform
• Newfold’s portfolio of hosting brands includes Bluehost and HostGator
• Bluehost is one of the web hosts recommended by WordPress.org

You may not be massively familiar with Newfold Digital, but the privately held global web and ecommerce giant provides a wide range of digital solutions to help businesses establish and grow their presence online.

In Oracle’s latest earnings call, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison talked about the gigantic 64,000-GPU, liquid-cooled Nvidia GB200 cluster Oracle is building for AI training, saying: "Our multicloud business at Amazon, Google, and Microsoft grew 200% in the last three months alone. But in addition to these rapidly growing existing businesses, new customers and new businesses are migrating to the Oracle Cloud at an unprecedented rate."

He then went on to reveal that "all four of the leading cloud security companies - CrowdStrike, Cybereason, Newfold Digital, and Palo Alto - they all decided to move to the Oracle Cloud." That’s huge news and highlights the company’s growing influence in the cloud market.

Database available everywhere

Ellison didn’t go into any specific details, so we don’t know how much business Newfold Digital is moving over to Oracle, or whether it has entirely shifted away from the likes of AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure.

He did, however, state, "Customers can get our database everywhere. They can install an Oracle Cloud region on their premises. They can get Oracle from Azure. They can get Oracle from Google. They can get Oracle from AWS. They obviously can get Oracle from OCI. And that Oracle database is becoming more and more capable. It does store most of the world’s valuable data."

Formed in 2021 through the merger of Endurance Web Presence and Web.com Group, it owns and operates a portfolio of well-known brands including Bluehost, HostGator, Network Solutions, and Register.com.

It serves millions of small-to-medium businesses globally and offers services such as domain registration, website hosting, website building tools, email marketing, ecommerce solutions, and digital marketing services.

Bluehost, arguably the best known of Newfold Digital's businesses, powers millions of websites worldwide. It’s also officially recommended by WordPress.org (alongside Pressable and Hostinger), so that’s likely going to mean a lot of WordPress sites will be shifting over to Oracle Cloud in the near future.

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Building a new computer or looking to upgrade your memory? Here are our favorite options right now.

Tech's artificial intelligence boom is moving fast and some fear it's breaking things vital to human creativity.

I'm not a morning person, and I'm also a light sleeper. Even the best wake-up lights tend to startle me awake when they start to brighten, and don't even get me started on those irritating snippets of synthetic bird song that gradually increase in volume until sheer annoyance motivates you to get out of bed.

It doesn't have to be that way, though - if only my Garmin watch had a smart alarm.

The premise of a smart alarm is simple. Each night, we go through sleep cycles comprising periods of light, deep, and REM sleep. During light sleep we're easily woken and generally feel okay, but if something (like fake birdsong or a bright light) wrenches us out of deep sleep then we end up feeling groggy, confused, and disoriented.

A smart alarm is designed to wake you during a period of light sleep at roughly the time your alarm would normally go off, with a backup alarm in case you're firmly stuck in the land of nod and at risk of oversleeping.

It's a feature offered by many of the best fitness trackers, including those from Fitbit, and there are third-party smart alarm apps available for most of the best smartwatches, but so far there's nothing for Garmin owners like me.

Many smartwatches supports third-party sleep apps with smart alarms, such as Sleep As Android for WearOS (Image credit: Samsung) Wakey wakey

Each night my trusty Garmin Fenix 7 tracks my sleep stages based on my heart rate and movement, and it can be set to wake me with an audible or vibrating alarm, so far the two have never been combined. It seems like a no-brainer, but it's something that's still missing from even the best Garmin watches.

I'm not the only Garmin user who'd love to be woken more naturally during a period of light sleep. It's a subject that comes up regularly on Garmin's support forums, and the Garmin Subreddit.

Why can’t garmin introduce a smart alarm? from r/Garmin

I could just break away from Garmin entirely, but it would be a wrench. There's years of health and fitness data attached to my Garmin profile – not to mention all those hard-earned virtual badges. I'm halfway up Mt Everest and only 3% off completing the Appalachian Trail badge.

I'd hoped that smart alarms might be introduced along with the three sleep badges last year (Sleep Savant, Sleep Sleep, and Mythical Sleep – none of which I've managed to earn) but sadly not.

For now, I can only wait and hope that smart alarms are one of the features that comes to the latest batch of watches over the coming months. Who knows, if it's limited to the latest devices like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Instinct 3, it might even be enough to convince me to upgrade.

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• Report claims finance leaders prioritize Excel over AI for automation and security
• Cautious optimism defines finance's approach to AI integration challenges
• Regulatory compliance remains a significant barrier to AI deployment

There is a significant gap between the industry’s excitement about AI tools and the cautious reality of their implementation in finance, new research has claimed.

Rossum surveyed 470 finance leaders from the UK, US, and Germany to understand how they are navigating the current landscape of automation, and what challenges lie ahead.

It found finance leaders are cautiously optimistic, recognizing the potential benefits of AI but still wary of the associated risks - a point reflected in 58% of finance leaders still relying on traditional productivity tools like Excel.

Excel still dominates as the automation tool of choice

Leaders in the finance industry, known for handling sensitive and highly regulated data, face unique challenges when it comes to adopting AI.

Cybersecurity is a top concern for many leaders, as AI agents and systems introduce new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit.

AI also complicates compliance with GDPR and financial data protection law, and finance departments must establish clear guidelines to govern how these technologies are used.

AI or not, compliance and legal requirements have long posed a barrier to cloud based tools. Google Sheets, often touted for its cloud-native advantages, remains far less popular than Excel, particularly in larger enterprises.

While AI is seen as a powerful tool for automating document management, the survey found that 27% of finance leaders believe that the risks of implementing AI outweigh the potential benefits.

For finance leaders looking to embrace AI-powered automation, the report outlines several tactical steps. First, addressing the gap between current tools like Excel and more advanced AI technologies is crucial, and Rossum advise organisations to invest in training employees in AI implementation.

Additionally, building robust cybersecurity frameworks and ensuring compliance with regulations will help mitigate the risks associated with AI adoption, and establishing governance protocols, especially for generative AI, will be essential in navigating the complexities of maintaining ethical standards while implementing AI.

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• Asus is making a Fragrance Mouse with an essential oil compartment
• No pricing has been announced, but it’s expected in April or May
• Asus last year announced a laptop with a scent dispenser

If you’ve ever wanted to improve the aroma of your workspace, Asus could have the answer: it’s working on a wireless computer mouse with a refillable fragrance compartment.

The idea is that you’ll fill the perfumed peripheral with an aromatherapy oil of your choice. As you use the mouse, it will passively scent your desktop.

Not an early April Fools’ joke – in fact, it's really quite a genius idea – the MD101 is very real and very much in development. Asus hasn’t confirmed pricing or a release date, but a company spokesperson has been quoted by The Verge as saying that the mouse will hit US shelves in “late April, early May.”

It follows last year’s announcement of the Asus Adol Book 14, a laptop with a built-in fragrance dispenser. Whether other Asus product lines are due to receive a scented upgrade remains to be seen, the company did also recently announce three new air-purifying monitors – so it's very much into the idea of melding homeware with computing tech. And we reckon it's onto something.

The scent of a good idea

(Image credit: Asus)

When choosing one of the best computer mice, most users go for physical ergonomics over the smell of a given model. Yet there could be an argument for scented accessories.

While oils can naturally give your workspace a nicer aroma, they could also have soothing benefits for different health conditions. Many people find aromatherapy oils soothing for headaches and stress, for example.

There’s an argument, then, that the olfactory characteristics of accessories do have a role to play in making workspaces more ergonomic. That certainly seems to be what Asus is suggesting with the MD101. How many people will buy into that thinking is another matter.

It’s worth noting that 100% pure essential oils can’t be used with the Fragrance Mouse. In the small (smell?) print of the product listing, Asus instructs users to only fill the vial with “essential oils for reed diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers, and aroma stones.” While that means you can’t mix up your own blend of pure essential oils, it still gives you plenty of scents to choose from.

(Image credit: Asus)

Unlike powered diffusers, it seems the MD101 won’t actively distribute whatever oil you choose to fill it with. Instead, it appears to be a passive diffuser. While this approach will be beneficial for battery life, only real-world testing will determine how effective the mouse actually is at scenting an area.

Besides the refillable vial, the Fragrance Mouse MD101 is otherwise a pretty standard wireless mouse. Available in Iridescent White or Rose Clay finishes, it can connect to Windows, macOS and Chromebook devices via Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless. DPI is adjustable up to 2400, while PTFE feet promise to glide easy on different surfaces.

A single AA battery is expected to deliver up to a year of usage, although that may vary depending on how much you make use of the MD101’s “delicate underglow lighting”. Together with the fragrance compartment, Asus reckons it will add “a dash of elegance” to your work surface.

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