Feed aggregator

• Huawei is preparing to test its most advanced AI chip to date
• Reports says Ascend 910D aims to challenge Nvidia H100 in AI performance
• Analysts are skeptical, due to software gaps and ecosystem disadvantages

Huawei has been stepping up its ambitions to be seen as the Chinese rival to Nvidia in recent weeks - first, launching a new AI infrastructure architecture set, the CloudMatrix 384 Supernode, to rival the U.S. chip giant’s NVL72 system.

Then, a day after the United States announced plans to further tighten restrictions on AI chip exports to China - including Nvidia's H20 processor - Huawei revealed the Ascend 920, its next-generation AI chip, set to enter mass production in the second half of 2025.

Now, a report in The Wall Street Journal claims Huawei is preparing to test its most advanced AI chip to date, the Ascend 910D, and has approached several Chinese tech companies to begin technical evaluations. Sample batches are expected to be available as soon as late May 2025.

Sights set on Nvidia's H100

The Ascend 910D is the latest iteration of Huawei's AI processors, building on the existing 910B and 910C models. While the chip is not yet commercially available, Huawei reportedly hopes it can match - or even exceed - the performance of Nvidia's H100.

Independent analysts are, naturally, skeptical that Huawei will be able to close the performance and ecosystem gap between itself and Nvidia anytime soon.

HPCwire reports Neil Shah, VP at Counterpoint Research, as saying: “From an overall system-level design - compute, memory integration, networking scalability, and, crucially, software orchestration - Nvidia remains three generations ahead.”

That gap is partly due to Nvidia’s established software stack, notably CUDA, which plays a major role in accelerating and managing AI workloads. Huawei, by contrast, lacks a similarly mature software platform, making it harder to optimize across GPUs or scale across complex AI infrastructures.

Despite these hurdles, Huawei continues to ship its 910C chips in volume to Chinese data centers and research labs and the move to test the 910D suggests the company is doubling down on efforts to build a self-sufficient AI hardware ecosystem.

Whether the 910D becomes a true rival to Nvidia's H100, or remains a “good enough” option for domestic use, it signals a continuing shift in global AI hardware competition.

You might also like

• US sanctions allow Huawei 'case-by-case' access to chip-making equipment
• Huawei is pairing its supercharged SSD with a 60-year old technology
• Huawei's blueprint for a post-Trump, non-US centric technology world

• New earbuds have 11mm dynamic drivers in a super-light open design
• They offer up to 28 hours of battery life and quick-charging from flat
• Accentum Open cost $130 / £70 (or about AU$145)

It's official: as we reported last month, Sennheiser has a new set of open earbuds called the Accentum Open – and they're cheaper than previous reports predicted, unless you live in the US.

The new Accentum Open are available in a choice of cream and black with a recommended retail price of £69.99 / €89.90 / or about AU$145. Unfortunately, US pricing is somewhat steeper at $129.95. Ouch.

If you're not familiar with open-style earbud designs, this means you're not plugging a tip into your ear canal and sealing yourself from the outside world. Unlike many of the best open earbuds, the Accentum Opens are similar to the AirPods 4 in offering a stem-like design that sits outside your ear canal.

And despite lacking ANC (active noise cancellation), they could be a fine alternative to the AirPods 4 (which cost $129 / £129 / AU$219), depending on where you live...

Sennheiser Open earbuds: key features

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

The Sennheiser Open look very like the AirPods 4, with a long stem containing touch controls and a fairly AirPods-esque charging case. Each bud is just 4.4g, roughly the same as a single playing card, and battery life is 6.5 hours per bud and 28 hours with the charging case. Ten minutes of USB charging delivers up to 1.5 hours of listening time.

Inside each earbud there's an 11mm dynamic transducer that sits just outside your ear canal, enabling you to listen to music and podcasts in comfort without blocking out the outside world.

Sennheiser didn't go into more details, but the product listing on the Thomann retail site says the frequency range is 25Hz to 15,000Hz and that the supported codecs are SBC and AAC.

The earbuds have Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint and there are dual beamforming microphones for clear calling. Overall, a compelling bundle then, particularly if they match the rest of the Accentum line during our testing – though that US price could make them less enticing if you live there.

You might also like

• The best open ear headphones you can buy right now
• The best headphones of all kinds
• The best running headphones 2025: top audio for running

A U.S. official has confirmed to NPR that the Trump administration is planning to deport migrants to Libya, another step in a crackdown on illegal immigration

(Image credit: John Moore)

Printique photo book: review

The Printique photo book service offers a great option for whipping up a personal gift for a loved one or presenting your photography portfolio in its best light. It offers a wide range of pre-formatted themes, while allowing you all the flexibility you need to design a truly custom photo book from scratch.

If you’re just looking for quick and easy results, Printique’s photo books offer plenty of templates to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a clean and classy wedding photo book, a striking photography portfolio, or a photo album of your pet pupperino, there are a good number of options – although at 88 themes, its options are dwarfed by the more than 500 options listed by Mixbook. Just select a template and Printique will apply it to your whole project, then all you need to do is drag and drop your chosen snaps into the provided frames.

For those who want a little more customizability, Printique also provides layouts you can drag into individual pages and spreads in your photo book. From full-bleed images that span both pages to inset grids of thumbnail-size pics, these make it easy to include more variation in layouts and really adapt your book to fit your photos, rather than the other way around.

But what if you don’t want to color within the lines? What if you want to make a completely original photo book from scratch? Well there’s good news: building my own DIY Printique photo book was a snap, easily rivaling the best photo book services.

Placing images is simple: I just dragged my photos onto the page and they’d be added as image frames. On top of this, Printique’s built-in snap functionality made it easy to align them with each other or clip them to each spread’s margins. It even allows for really granular control over the size and position of image frames: the pop-up menu’s Properties section let me manually set images to specific dimensions and XY coordinates, as well as checking the DPI of each one to ensure it would print at a decent resolution.

There was the occasional bug here though – some images stubbornly insisted on defaulting to weirdly specific decimals like 4.97 inches, and resisted all of my attempts to set them to a whole integer. Odd behavior, but ultimately not a deal breaker.

Recreating the colored blocks and ribbons from TechRadar’s photo book test template was also pretty painless. Printique offers a range of shapes that you can add to your projects, and these are all super-flexible: I could precisely control their dimensions, add borders, and apply drop shadows from the properties menu. I was also able to change their color by entering a HEX code, setting RGB values or dragging a cursor to set saturation or brightness. However, the latter exhibited some odd behavior – changing either value would cause the color I’d chosen to creep away from my chosen hue, which occasionally proved irritating when I had a specific tone in mind.

(Image credit: Future)

Adding captions and credits to my photo book was also easy. Once I’d dropped a text box onto the page, I quickly was able to choose the font, size, styling and alignment. A small time-saver I especially appreciated is the ability to save chosen font settings as a style, which made it easy to achieve a consistent look for text throughout my photo book.

Thanks to some extra settings, it’s possible to get really creative with your layouts. First, Printique provides a wide range of shaped frames that allow you to show off your pics in rounded, slanted or even letter-shaped frames. While some of these are potentially a bit cheesy – star-shaped frames anyone? – they do add a high degree of flexibility that allows you to create some sleek, professional-looking designs.

You can also add extra flourishes and detail to your photo book using Printique’s background and sticker tools. Backgrounds offer everything from customizable block colors to a wide array of illustrations and patterns. Meanwhile, the stickers allow you to add pre-formulated text and illustrations to your photo book, from inscriptions about love to holiday iconography. Personally, some of the stickers aren’t to my tastes, giving things a distinctly clip-art vibe, but there are still a lot of choices there that could make useful ornaments to your text.

You will have to pay a premium for such powerful tools, however. Printique’s photo books were marginally more expensive than some of the other services we've tested. A 12 x 12 inch photo book cost $145.78 including delivery (roughly £112), whereas Shutterfly cost $132.5 (roughly £102) and Mixbook cost $133 (£102.25). It’s only a tiny price increase though, and I would argue one that’s more than worth it, given the flexibility of Printique’s platform.

(Image credit: Future) Printique photo book review: performance

The printed photo book we received from Printique offered very high-quality results, with extra-thick pages and consistently good color and accuracy. Hues looked excellent throughout, whether it was a bright, sunny photo or more nuanced fog with creamy bokeh.

All of the photos were arranged perfectly, exactly as we set them, with no printing errors or unexpected margins. The book excels at photos that cross the binding, with a consistent look that feels mostly unbroken, allowing for very large spreads. I especially liked the brightness of the print and paper on our magenta TechRadar signature cover pages. Branding from Printique was minimal, but still present.

The heavy feel of the Printique photo book adds a nice bit of gravity to photos with the weight of the paper. I was almost worried that I would tear the heavy paper as I turned the pages, but the book held its binding nicely, and the photos feel even more special on such a thick presentation. This would make a fine photo book for wedding photography, very special occasions, or to highlight the best shots in your portfolio.

The pages may be a bit too thick if you're printing a large volume of work, and I still worry about those thick pages tearing with constant turning over the years. But for making a selection of photos feel extra premium, Printique’s photo books are a great choice.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Printique photo book? Buy it if…

You want a high degree of customizability
Whether it’s precisely controlling image dimensions, adding shaped image frames, including shapes in every color of the rainbow, or stamping your book with illustrations, you’re free to customize your photo book your way.

You want a polished final product
With quality tactile paper, vivid colors and unerringly precisely alignments, Printique's photo books are finished to an excellent standard, making them a gorgeous gift for loved ones.

Don’t buy it if…

You want big savings
There are cheaper photo book services out there. While Printique offers one of the best services we’ve tried, you can absolutely save some money elsewhere.

You want a huge array of ready-to-go templates
Printique has a decent number of templates for you to start plugging your photos into, but if you don’t care about customizability and just want the most prefabricated options, services like Mixbook offer many more.

Printique photo book review: also consider

Mixbook
With over 500 templates locked and loaded, Mixbook is a great choice if you want a no-hassle layout without needing to get into the nitty-gritty of creating your own designs. However, during our Mixbook photo book review we did find there were a few marks left by the printing process, so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re considering it for a gift.

Mimeo
For sheer simplicity, Mimeo can’t be beat – its stripped-back offering allows you to just get on with the design without having to wade through too many options. However, it is pricey. Creating a 10 x 10-inch layflat photobook – the closest you can get to the 12 x 12 inch one we created here – will set you back $169.51 (£133.11) and that’s not including the $13.99 (around £10.80) shipping fee. Read our full Mimeo photo book review.

How I tested the Printique photo book

• I exactly recreated TechRadar’s photo book test template
• I spent many hours using the platform and experimenting with templates
• I have over a decade’s experience working in print and design

At TechRadar, we use a set photo book template that we attempt to recreate using every photo book platform we review. I followed this as closely as possible, sizing images according to precise measurements, adding colored shapes in specific hues and shades, and recreating captions and credits in specific fonts and styles, allowing me to assess how easy it was to recreate specific designs that users might have in mind.

Our US Mobiles Editor Philip Berne then assessed the final product, analyzing its overall quality and finish, and comparing it to the template to identify any potential errors in the printing process.

Additionally, I spent several hours playing around with the platform’s templates, layouts, shaped frames and illustrations to see how effective its off-the-shelf design elements were.

I’m an experienced photographer, having spent many years shooting both on my Canon DSLR and my iPhone 16 Pro. I’ve also spent many years working in print, creating layouts for magazines and doing post-production on images, meaning I've spent a lot of time using design tools for producing printed products.

• First reviewed: May 2025
• Read more about how we test

• LG’s innovative display has been designed for automotive use
• Company says a display and buttons can merge seamlessly into one
• The tech is just a concept, but we could see it in cars soon

The argument surrounding physical buttons in modern vehicles continues to rage, with some vocal sectors (arguably led by journalists) calling for a reduction in potentially distracting touchscreens and more easily locatable switches when driving.

But LG may have come up with an intriguing solution, as it's revealed a Stretchable automotive display ahead of SID Display Week in California – arguably the CES of the screen world.

The company says that its unique display, which sees a curved touchscreen miraculously come to life with a physical dial and buttons, has been designed to turn every interior space into a display… but one with physical buttons built into it.

There’s scant information about the inner workings of the innovation, but LG claims the display can expand by up to 50% while maintaining a high resolution of 100 ppi (pixels per inch) and full RGB color, comparable to that of a standard monitor.

In a video demo (below), the company shows how a dial rises out of the touchscreen surface when activated, allowing the user to increase or decrease volume or other settings with a twirl of a finger.

(Image credit: LG)

Similarly, a further two buttons rise out of the display below the main dial, which allow the user to more easily navigate menu screens.

LG points out that a conventional automotive fascia requires a separate automotive display and physical buttons, whereas this doesn't. Although it seems to have ignored the fact that many automakers tend to remove the physical buttons entirely, anyway.

As a result, LG thinks its expandable display, complete with protruding touch buttons, offers the best of both worlds that is "easy to operate even while driving".

Alongside the Stretchable display, the South Korean tech giant is also showcasing the world’s largest pillar-to-pillar 57-inch automotive display, as well as an 18-inch Slidable OLED display that can be rolled up and hidden in a vehicle’s interior headliner.

Analysis: One touch too many

(Image credit: LG)

While LG’s display technology is mightily impressive, looking like something hailing directly from an alien aircraft, it doesn’t really solve the issue of driver distraction when behind the wheel.

The beauty of physical buttons is that they remain static, easy to locate and the sort of thing drivers can operate with muscle memory alone, negating the need to take eyes off the road.

LG’s demonstration reveals that the unit has to be tapped a number of times before the physical buttons appear, often via very small and possibly quite fiddly parts of the screen.

It’s almost like a futuristic BMW iDrive system, but with additional steps required to reveal the physical dials and buttons that made the German marque’s system so easy to use... although the new version has controversially dispatched of buttons.

While a stretchable display might not be the best solution for drivers, it could be an ultra-luxurious system for those traveling in the rear – allowing designers the freedom to keep spaces looking clean and minimal, while offering a bit of drama when occupants decide they want to enjoy some Netflix on the 18-inch Slidable OLED display that’s tucked away in the roof.

You might also like

• Mercedes' new steer-by-wire tech is the next big EV trend – and I'll begrudgingly accept that it's the future
• I’ve tried the new Mercedes-Benz Superscreen – and its Google Gemini-powered smarts push EV infotainment to the next level
• Move over, Rolls Royce – I tried the BMW i7's 31-inch 8K Theater Screen and it's the height of automotive luxury

Cory Bowman, who shares a father with Vance, says he was inspired to enter the race after his half-brother's inauguration. A Republican last ran for Cincinnati mayor, unsuccessfully, in 2009.

(Image credit: Carolyn Kaster)

Disney's seventh theme park destination could open by the early 2030s on Yas Island.

The right travel credit card can help you cover hotel stays, transportation and food if you're held up at the airport.

Rümeysa Öztürk has been detained at a federal facility in Louisiana after being arrested on the street in Sommerville, Massachusetts on March 25 by six plainclothes agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(Image credit: Mostafa Bassim)

Can the Gunners mount a comeback against the French Ligue 1 champions?

New York Times reporter Eric Lipton says the Trump family businesses, including their crypto company, are capitalizing on the President's position, and creating unprecedented conflicts of interest.

• Pakistan restored access to X across the country on May 7, 2025
• Since February 2024, people in Pakistan haven't had access to X without a VPN service
• The ban was enforced after it was "used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."

Pakistan has restored access to X across the country after a 15-month-long ban.

Restored on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, authorities blocked access to the popular social media platform back in February 2024. The blockage forced citizens to turn to the best VPN service to keep accessing the app.

No more need for Pakistan VPN to use X

"Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in Pakistan," confirmed internet watchdog NetBlocks on Wednesday.

Pakistan authorities began blocking the popular social media platform on February 17, 2024. The block came about a week after completely restricting the internet before and during election day as an alleged "security measure."

Yet, according to NetBlocks, "The platform was restricted by authorities in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."

Furthermore, while the large-scale disruptions to the internet connection lasted just a few days, the X ban persisted for almost 15 months.

Now, people in Pakistan can finally access X without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN) to spoof their real IP address location.

ℹ️ Confirmed: Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in #Pakistan as conflict breaks out with neigbouring India. The platform was restricted by authories in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud pic.twitter.com/nvwgpfja8OMay 7, 2025

X hasn't been the only victim of Pakistan's internet censors, though.

The likes of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Bluesky have also been briefly restricted in the past. While all these platforms are now accessible without a VPN, NetBlocks confirmed to TechRadar that Telegram is still blocked in the country at the time of writing.

What's certain is that VPN services remain a crucial tool for Pakistanis.

According to Access Now data, in fact, Pakistan imposed 21 shutdowns in 2024. This is the highest number ever for the country.

Recent reports also suggest that China is helping Pakistan build a Great Firewall-like internet censorship system. This project is expected to considerably increase both authorities' blocking and surveillance capabilities.

At the same time, a new licensing category for VPN providers was introduced in December as the latest bid to regulate Pakistan VPN usage.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

You might also like

• Pakistan grants first VPN licenses in a bid to regulate VPN usage in the country
• Proton Mail hit with blocking order in India
• Apple has removed yet another popular VPN app from its Russian App Store

Sony Inzone M9 II: Two-minute review

As someone who uses a single monitor for both PC and PlayStation 5, the Sony Inzone M9 II really feels like it was made to meet my specific needs.

A follow-up to the popular Sony Inzone M9, the II eschews the white PlayStation look and bulky tripod stand design. Although I did like the unique appearance of the original M9, the stand of the II is undeniably more practical, with a more generous tilt adjustment range and full 360-degree pivot that makes finding the perfect angle a breeze.

The refreshed aesthetic does help emphasize that this is a monitor intended for use with a PC, too, and ensures that it no longer seems out of place on your desk.

Despite coming in a little cheaper than its predecessor at $799.99 / £899, the II also packs some small, but nevertheless appreciated, spec upgrades. This includes slightly better brightness (which now peaks at 750 nits rather than 600) and a boosted 160Hz refresh rate.

(Image credit: Future)

As the PS5 can only output at a maximum of 120Hz, this latter change was clearly made with PC players in mind, and helps this model hold its own against some of the best gaming monitors aimed at the PC audience right now.

This faster refresh rate, paired with the 1ms GtG response time, and not to mention built-in 24.5-inch mode, could also make the Sony Inzone M9 II a great pick for those who enjoy high-intensity PC esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant.

Thanks to a wealth of console-specific features, it’s also one of the best monitors for PS5 and PS5 Pro - full stop. It’s got full variable refresh rate (VRR) support, plus Auto HDR Tone Mapping to automatically calibrate brightness for your PS5 during setup. There’s even an Auto Genre Picture Mode that detects the title that you’re playing and dynamically adjusts the picture to match the likes of FPS titles or RPGs.

The built-in speakers lack bass and can be a little tinny at higher volumes, but they are surprisingly decent overall. That means console players used to the generally superior sound systems of a gaming TV won’t have to run out to pick up an extra pair right away.

It’s easy to lament the use of an IPS LCD panel, especially when OLED options are available from competitors at around the same price, but I don’t have any practical complaints about the 27-inch 4K display here.

It’s bright and responsive, with accurate colors and HDR10. Everything from Assassin’s Creed Shadows to Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks absolutely stunning, cementing the Sony Inzone M9 II as a superb all-rounder.

(Image credit: Future) Sony Inzone M9 II: Price and availability

• Retails for $799.99 / £899
• Slightly worse value in the UK
• Expect occasional sales

The Sony Izone M9 II retails for $799.99 / £899. This pricing means that it is slightly worse value in the UK, which is a little disappointing and could weigh on your decision if you’re buying in that market.

Although early Inzone products were marked by their eye-wateringly bad value prices (I’m looking at you, Sony Inzone M3), the Sony Inzone M9 II is actually reasonably priced given its spec.

It comes in a bit more expensive than similar options like the Gigabyte M32UC, though it benefits from a significantly more premium overall design that makes the added cost worthwhile in my book.

If you’re after a 4K screen on a tight budget, alternatives like the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q could prove tempting as they come in at less than half the price of the Sony Inzone M9 II. Just bear in mind that there are noticeable compromises, including significantly higher response times and noticeably lower refresh rates.

The Sony Inzone M9 II is quite good value, then. I recommend it at full price, but, judging by the discount patterns of other Inzone products, I would expect occasional sales to come along and make it an even better proposition.

The monitor is readily available via the Sony website, in addition to the usual retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart in the US and Amazon, Argos, and Very in the UK.

Sony Inzone M9 II: Specs Sony Inzone M9 II: Design and features

• Easy assembly process
• Low profile base
• Plenty of adjustment options

I’ve never had a bad experience putting together a Sony Inzone monitor and the Sony Inzone M9 II is no exception.

It’s well packaged, with the monitor, stand, and its base secured separately in plenty of polystyrene foam. To assemble, you simply screw the bottom of the base onto the bottom of the stand and clip it all into the back of the monitor. It took me about fifteen seconds overall and did not require the instruction manual.

As I’ve already mentioned, the Sony Izone M9 II has a radically different design compared to the original M9. It’s black instead of white and has an entirely redesigned stand. Rather than a tripod, the Sony Inzone M9 II is held up by a single thick column on a circular base. It’s quite similar to the design of the stand on the Sony Inzone M10S, which was released at the same time, after all, though a bit chunkier on the whole.

With a radius of just under 3.5in / 9cm, the base is still rather compact for a monitor of this size, which makes it easy to fit on a desk - even if you have limited space. The stand can also pivot, offering a smooth 360 degrees of rotation. This is surprisingly handy, ensuring that you can quickly rotate the monitor to show something to a friend or simply adjust it slightly to better suit your current position.

The monitor can be tilted downwards by five degrees or upwards by 25, so you won’t have any trouble finding the right viewing angle either. The height can also be adjusted by 5.1in / 13cm, which is more than enough leeway to raise or lower it to a healthy height in most setups.

(Image credit: Future)

On the back right-hand side of the monitor is the power button, alongside a well-sized thumbstick for accessing the on-board settings menu.

The menu here is well organized and easy to navigate, but I’d still recommend installing the compatible Inzone Hub PC app, which offers a slightly more in-depth level of tuning.

There’s also a small white power indicator LED built into the side of the display. It is completely invisible from the front, which is a good thing as it stops it from becoming distracting in the corner of your eye, though can still be disabled in the software if you prefer.

You will find all the expected ports at the bottom of the monitor. There’s a DisplayPort 2.1 connector, 2 HDMI connectors, a USB Type-B input (for enabling the USB hub functionality), and two corresponding USB Type-A outputs.

A Type-C port would certainly be a bonus, but given how many peripherals still use USB Type-A, its absence is not that big of a deal. There’s also a third USB Type-A port that’s clearly labelled as being used for software updates via a USB stick only. Lastly, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack for hooking up any compatible audio devices.

In terms of features, you get pretty much everything that you would expect from a premium gaming monitor. It supports Full Array Local Dimming for enhanced contrast, in addition to meeting the VESA Certified DisplayHDR 600 standard.

(Image credit: Future)

On PC, you benefit from a speedy 160Hz refresh rate via a DisplayPort connection, in addition to Nvidia G-Sync support. On PS5, you have VRR and Auto HDR Tone Mapping. The monitor also automatically detects when a PS5 is detected, enabling a pre-tuned PS5 profile.

This is all on top of the usual array of display modes (I’d recommend turning off Auto Picture Mode and sticking to the DisplayHDR profile for the most life-like look in most situations), plus optional settings for on-screen frame rate counter, crosshair, and timer.

Sony Inzone M9 II: Performance

• Brilliant for PC, perfect for PS5
• A bright, smooth picture suited to a range of genres
• An ideal all-rounder

Out of the box, the monitor was in its Power Saving mode, which unfortunately looks rather dim and makes for a lacklustre first impression.

Still, when you turn that off and enable HDR, the resulting picture is fantastic. Despite not being an OLED panel, colours are bright and blacks are surprisingly deep. 4K video is absolutely stunning, while general web browsing and office work benefit from the 160Hz smoothness and highly detailed image.

You likely won’t pick up the Sony Inzone M9 II purely for productivity, though, and gaming does not disappoint. As I used the Sony Inzone M9 II for multiple months, I experienced an extremely wide range of games on it. Highlights on PC include Counter-Strike 2, which is delightfully smooth at 160Hz, in addition to lots of Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, where the detailed models in its diorama-like world come through with excellent clarity.

Hitman World of Assassination benefited hugely from the crisp 4K and cheerful brightness in the sunny stadium of the fictional Miami Global Innovation Race, while the moodier aesthetic of the Dartmoor map showcased the monitor’s strong contrast. Again, this is not an OLED panel, but it still delivers colors that are just as vivid as some of the OLED models that I’ve tried.

(Image credit: Future)

It was a similar story over on PS5, where I played through the bulk of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, sunk hundreds of hours into the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season and tried out Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered in addition to many other games. The VRR support was a gamechanger in Assassin’s Creed Shadows in particular, where its Balanced preset appears significantly smoother than on monitors without it.

It’s plenty smooth, but on PS5, you are still constrained to a maximum of 120Hz. If you’re buying purely for use with a console, do bear in mind that you won’t benefit from the true refresh rate capabilities of the Sony Inzone M9 II.

Unlike the more expensive Sony Inzone M10S, the Sony Inzone M9 II also packs some built-in speakers. Will they blow your mind? No, but they’re certainly good enough. At 50% volume, sound is clear and accurate with a decent level of detail. It lacks bass, but acceptable audio still puts them in the upper echelons of gaming monitor speakers. They can go impressively loud, which is good, but as you begin to crank that volume up, the sound becomes a bit more tinny.

If you are viewing the Sony Inzone M9 II as quite a significant investment, you can take comfort in knowing that you won’t need to run out to buy an expensive separate set of speakers to experience your favorite games in an enjoyable fashion right away.

Should you buy the Sony Inzone M9 II? Buy it if...

You want an all-round gaming powerhouse
The Sony Inzone M9 II is a superb all-round option, delivering excellent performance in a wide range of game genres. It’s got plenty of features and even some decent built-in speakers.

You play on both PS5 and PC
The Sony Inzone M9 II is at its best when you own both a PC and PS5 and use them both on the same display, as it supports a range of features for both platforms. If that’s you, then this monitor is well worth its asking price.

Don't buy it if...

You want to save some cash
Although it is a fair price, the Sony Inzone M9 II is still quite an expensive monitor. There are cheaper 4K options out there, especially if you don’t mind skimping on the overall design and build.

Also consider

Not convinced by the Sony Inzone M9 II? Keep these alternatives on your radar.

Sony Inzone M10S
If you’re more of a PC player, then I’d recommend the Sony Inzone M10S. It’s one of the best monitors that I’ve ever tested, with a beautiful but functional stand and a blazing-fast 480Hz OLED panel. It is 1440p, however, so intended for competitive shooter players first and foremost.

Read our full Sony Inzone M10S review

Gigabyte M32UC
A titan of affordable 4K monitors, the Gigabyte M32UC frequently goes on sale and is the one to choose if you want to save some cash. It has loads of features and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate, though it definitely lacks the premium materials and design of the Sony Inzone M9 II.

Read our full Gigabyte M32UC review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Sony Inzone M9 II

• Tested for multiple months
• Evaluated with both PC and PS5
• Tried with loads of different games

I tested the Sony Inzone M9 II for more than two months, using it as my primary monitor for the entirety of that time.

I used it extensively with both PC and PS5, in addition to some light Xbox Series X gaming. During that time, I used it for hours of web browsing, office work, and playing countless games.

On PC, highlights included Counter-Strike 2, Resident Evil 4, Split Fiction, Cities Skylines 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, Persona 3 Reload, Hitman World of Assassination, and Inzoi.

Even some smaller indie games like Monster Prom 4: Monster Con looked great, with the monitor’s vivid colors really complementing the expressive art style.

On PS5, games tested included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Days Gone Remastered, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Forza Horizon 5, Zenless Zone Zero, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Throughout my time with the monitor, I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of other gaming monitors, including the more premium Sony Inzone M10S.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2025

• Wix announced Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server
• The tool allows devs to generate code faster
• It is now available at no extra cost

Wix, one of the best website builders around, just announced a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to help both developers and website managers. It is called the Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, and enables users to generate code through AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.

With MCP Server, Wix users can simply talk to an AI assistant to get things done, instead of having to write code themselves. For example, users could ask the AI to add a product to the Wix store, and the AI will send the request to the Wix MCP Server. The tool will then connect to the right tools (for example inventory, checkout, CRM, or something different), and come back with either a confirmation message, a code snippet, or similar.

In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix added that no manual coding, or additional setting up, is needed, and that the tool works in IDEs for developers and in chat interfaces for non-tech users.

Boosting productivity through AI

The tool is now available, at no additional cost, with an option to upgrade to a Premium Plan for extended functionalities, such as accepting online payments. Those interested in the new offering can check out more details on this link.

“This framework not only enhances productivity but also provides access to a wide variety of APIs and services, enabling the creation of seamless, cross-vertical solutions such as integrated commerce, blogs, scheduling, and events,” said Yaniv Even Haim, CTO at Wix. “As we step into the world of LLM-powered code generation, the quality and completeness of our APIs become one of our most important assets.”

Over the past year, Wix has significantly expanded its suite of AI-powered tools, introducing more than 30 new features, such as the AI website builder, AI Image Creator, AI Product Descriptions, SEO Meta Tags Generator, and many more.

More from TechRadar Pro

• Save on your Wix subscription with our Wix promo codes
• Learn more with our full Wix review
• Wix teams up with ActiveCampaign to help customers grow

• iHeart confirms "several" radio stations were hit with a data breach
• Crooks took names, health, and payment data, from an undisclosed number of people
• The company notified the government and law enforcement

Multiple iHeartMedia radio stations suffered a cyberattack in which crooks stole sensitive customer data, the company has confirmed in a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals, as well as filings with multiple US state attorney generals.

The Record spotted iHeartMedia reporting the breach to Maine, Massachusetts and California, but noted the company left out the field on the total number of affected individuals, so it isn't known how many people had their data stolen.

In the notification letter it’s been sending out, the company said that between December 24 and December 27, 2024, an unauthorized actor “viewed and obtained” files stored on systems “at a small number of our local stations.”

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month

​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.

It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Millions of messages

So, several radio stations appear to have been hit, but the company did not say how many.

iHeart is the largest audio-focused media company in the US, with 870 radio stations and a quarter of a billion listeners every month.

No threat actors have yet assumed responsibility for the attack, however, iHeart said that whoever it was, they managed to steal people’s full names, passport numbers and other governmental identification numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, payment card information, health information, and/or health insurance information.

The threat actors struck gold with this database. With names, birth dates, and health and insurance information, they can target people with tailored phishing attacks, and with passport numbers they can engage in identity theft.

Financial account information - particularly payment card information - can be used in wire fraud. The data hasn’t yet emerged for sale on the dark web either.

To tackle the threat, iHeart is giving out a year of identity theft protection services to affected individuals. It also set up a dedicated phone number for people with inquiries.

Via The Record

You might also like

• iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 – how to watch online from anywhere
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Google Fi VPN has been replaced by VPN by Google
• It becomes the latest service to make the switch after Pixel devices converted throughout 2024
• The rebrand promises no technical or functional changes to the service for users

Google Fi VPN has become the latest Google VPN service to undergo a rebrand in favor of uniformity across devices.

As reported by 9to5Google on May 6, 2025, Google Fi VPN is now VPN by Google, aligning with the naming adopted by the VPN on Pixel devices in 2024.

VPN by Google is a built-in service released in 2024 for Pixel 7 and newer devices, after Google One VPN was disconnected. Google claims the change comes to ensure consistent branding, and no technical or functional changes will occur for both Android and iOS users.

Google VPN rebranding

While Google decided to kill its Google One VPN last year due to a lack of users, the Big Tech firm wanted to keep offering a virtual private network (VPN) tool for Pixel users.

Pixel VPN was then released in beta at the beginning of June 2024. The company, however, decided to change the name to VPN by Google right before the full launch at the end of the month.

The rebrand of Google Fi VPN comes as the latest step in the company's rebranding of its VPN product.

Originally an exclusive feature for Pixel 8 models, the built-in VPN by Google has been extended to Pixel 7 series, 7a, and Fold owners. The service is available in 25 countries at the time of writing, including Australia, Canada, some EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more), Japan, the UK, and the US. You can find the full list on Google's support site.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

If you are a Fi subscriber and using a Pixel 7 or newer model, you can directly head to the Fi app to have more information.

As reported by 9to5Google, the app explains that "Beginning May 22, VPN controls are moving to Settings. To make sure your online activity is protected, turn on VPN by Google now."

Once you turn on the new VPN, you'll be able to enable or disable the service by tapping on the "Manage VPN Settings" bar.

While access to VPN by Google is included with any Google Fi plan, "Use of VPN by Google may increase data costs depending on your plan," notes the provider.

In case you're on the hunt for a valid alternative, I recommend looking into some of the best VPN services on the market right now, as these can offer extra features like ad/tracker blocker and more.

NordVPN is currently topping our rankings thanks to great performance, tons of security features, and easy-to-use apps. Proton VPN is then a great pick if you don't want to invest any extra cash as it comes with an unlimited free VPN plan.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

You might also like

• Google pokes fun at Apple for the iPhone 17’s rumored Pixel-style redesign
• What are the benefits of using a VPN in 2025?
• The VPN industry reacts to the EU's plan for end-to-end encryption backdoors

The political tug-of-war on student loan policy isn't helping anyone get out of debt.

• Microsoft has revealed fresh changes for normal Windows 11 devices, alongside all the revelations just made about Copilot+ PCs
• This includes a big move with redesigning the Start menu which was previously leaked in testing
• Hopefully the choice to drop the recommendations section from the Start menu, as seen in that leak, will be kept in

Microsoft has confirmed that a major redesign of the Windows 11 Start menu is coming, along with some other useful-sounding tweaks.

In case you missed it, Microsoft dropped a major reveal about all the goodies inbound for Copilot+ PCs – including an AI agent embedded in the Settings app, to sort out changes for you – but there were also revelations regarding normal Windows 11 PCs (you know, the kind that almost everyone still uses).

The revamped Start menu is not a surprise, as a leaker previously uncovered the work hidden in test builds. However, with Microsoft now officially revealing it, we know it’ll be live and being tested in Windows 11 preview builds soon.

The idea is to take the Start menu and turn it into a single scrollable panel, with pinned apps at the top, recommendations underneath, and the full exhaustive list of apps installed on your PC under that at the bottom. The current layout has that full list of apps split off into a separate panel (which you switch to with a button click).

Consolidating all this into one section makes sense to me, and the menu will wider to help accommodate the extra content.

On top of this, Microsoft has been doing some tinkering with the layout choices for the full list of apps to enable them to fit the available space better. That’s already underway in testing, allowing you to organize the app list in a more compact manner using categories as one option.

Microsoft notes that: “The new all apps category view automatically sorts based on the apps and categories you use most, so you can quickly access all your favorites.”

Aside from the work on the Start menu, Microsoft is also introducing AI actions in File Explorer. This means that when you're working with File Explorer – the folders on your desktop – you’ll get AI-related actions on the right-click menu. So, for example, an image file might have an AI ability pertaining to the Photos app as a shortcut.

This is essentially a vanilla take on ‘Click to Do’, which is the more in-depth context-sensitive system of AI functionality incorporated with Copilot+ PCs (which have a fair few extra AI capabilities, of course, and that number is slowly increasing as we've seen).

Windows 11’s Notepad app is also getting beefed up, with AI features that allow for generating text or summarizing an article. Some more formatting options are arriving, too, in the form of headings and support for lists, plus bolding and italics.

These appear to have been drafted across thanks to the demise of WordPad, with Notepad slowly getting more features added to offer a workable alternative in Windows 11. (Although some folks don’t want Notepad to be bloated with this stuff, it must be remembered).

All the above is inbound for Windows 11 testers soon, and Microsoft says these features should arrive at some point this month. It may still be a good while before they filter through to release versions of the OS, mind you – especially that Start menu overhaul, which is obviously a sizeable undertaking. That could be destined for Windows 11 25H2, which Microsoft is rumored to be working on now.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: a good Start – but I hope Microsoft retains a key option leaked in testing

It’s good to see that this new layout for the Start menu is coming into play, because, as I remarked when it was first sighted hidden in test builds, I think it’s a laudable transformation for this crucial part of the Windows 11 interface (ignoring that awful green color scheme visited upon the desktop in Microsoft’s teaser, I should add).

Some of my praise, mind you, was based on the fact that the leak also highlighted a new option to get rid of the recommendations panel entirely in the Start menu. Now, Microsoft certainly doesn’t mention that here, but the company wouldn’t go into any nitty-gritty details in a brief first reveal like this.

So I’m hoping that this option will still be available when this new layout officially comes to Windows 11 test builds – and it makes sense that it would be, because, as noted, space is at a premium here, and dumping that section of the panel would be handy in that respect. The choice to ditch recommendations is also an ability that many Windows 11 users have been keen to see implemented (and that’s an understatement).

For those worried about the overall size of the Start menu with the offshoot Phone Link side panel also being present – on the right-hand side, as you can see in Microsoft’s above screenshot of the new UI – it doesn’t hog the whole desktop anymore, as it seemed to do when a leaker fudged it to appear in a Windows 11 test build recently.

All in all, the redesigned Start menu is shaping up well. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that the choice of jettisoning the recommendations section isn’t something that Microsoft has had a rethink about.

You might also like...

• Been hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? There’s nowhere to run now as Microsoft’s made the update compulsory
• Microsoft looks to be making a big change to how you install and log in to Windows 11 – and I’m not happy about it at all
• Windows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsoft’s OS in a hassle-free way

In the rush to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, do companies risk exacerbating existing problems with technical debt – or might AI provide the answer to effectively tackling them?

It’s an interesting question. While technical debt has been a familiar challenge in the IT world for years, the question now is whether AI can help us finally tackle it – or if it will simply add to the burden.

Personally, I see both sides in this debate. AI might be a potential cause of technical debt, but it could also be the cure. A lot depends on how the technology is deployed.

Technical debt

To take a brief step back, the phrase ‘technical debt’ is one that we use to describe the situation that builds up when time and budgetary constraints force developers to focus on workarounds, shortcuts and stopgaps in the introduction of new digital products and services.

This approach takes into consideration previous IT investments and the constraints imposed by the existing systems architecture, and is typically favored over a more radical refresh that would take longer, cost more, or both.

But while some level of technical debt is inevitable at fast-moving, forward-thinking companies, it can easily spiral out of control if not monitored carefully. It’s often a serious drain on time, energy and skills, as IT teams struggle to monitor, manage and secure increasingly complex IT environments.

AI technologies can potentially add to the burden of technical debt for some organizations. In October 2024, analysts at market research company Forrester warned that more than 50% of technology decision-makers will see their technical debt rise to a “moderate or high level of severity” in 2025. predicted to reach 75% by 2026, as a direct result of the introduction of AI solutions.

But at the same time, the Forrester analysts readily acknowledge the potential of AI to “enhance human judgement, automatically remediate incidents and improve business outcomes”.

Time to automate

Search – the process of querying and retrieving specific information from a database or dataset based on search criteria or keywords – when combined with AI, helps organizations to automate many manual processes associated with software development, such as code review and refactoring, that frequently contribute to technical debt.

One illustrative use case is the deployment of AI agents to search for older code that may require review. As new digital services are developed, AI can be used to identify and automatically fix issues long before they are rolled out, in a proactive approach that keeps technical debt under firm control.

By streamlining these tasks, AI alleviates the burden on hard-pressed IT teams, enabling them to focus on strategic projects rather than maintenance. Used well, it can lead to more robust software solutions and actually reduce the long-term cost and complexities associated with technical debt.

I've seen firsthand how businesses use AI to balance modernization with security concerns. While updating legacy systems can introduce vulnerabilities, integrating AI with search capabilities makes updates more efficient and low-risk, without compromising operational stability.

So yes, I agree that there will be some organizations that see their technical debt grow as a result of adopting AI – but I’d venture to comment that these will be organizations that don’t do a sufficiently thorough job with comprehensive architecture reviews that ensure that new AI technologies provide a good fit with existing architectures at the onset of implementation.

They may also be organizations that end up implementing multiple AI solutions from multiple vendors and then go on to find that they’ve simply added to complexity with point solutions that don’t flex to meet new demands as they emerge. AI tool sprawl will be a reality for many.

But for other organizations, AI may represent the best opportunity they’ve had in years to fix their technical debt problems – or at least maintain them at manageable levels. These organizations will likely be those that take a platform approach to AI, using a curated, consolidated set of AI technologies and tools that enhance search, observability and security capabilities.

Only by unlocking the full potential of data scattered throughout their IT architectures, smart organizations will remain confident and competitive in their adoption of AI.

We've featured the best IT infrastructure management service.

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

It’s been a mixed bag for comedy fans over on Apple TV+ recently, with mega hit Ted Lasso being seemingly revived from the dead for a fourth season, while Rob McElhenney’s Mythic Quest was cancelled after four seasons (the streamer went so far as to edit the cliffhanger ending to bring the story to a close).

But the latest update from one of the best streaming services gives subscribers plenty to look forward to, with two critical darlings – both of which currently have over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics – confirmed to be returning for a new season.

The shows in question are Seth Rogen's movie-making satire The Studio, which is due to wrap its first season on May 21, and sweet parenthood comedy Trying, starring Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, season four of which aired last year.

While the creative team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have a series of hits under their belt, including Prime Video’s The Boys, The Studio has been the most critically adored work yet for the pair that cut their teeth on mid-00s stoner comedies.

The show follows Rogen’s Matt Remick, a cinephile who still sees movies as art more than business, who finds himself appointed as head of the struggling Continental Studios production company. In a world increasingly dominated by corporate aims and IP driven ‘content’, Matt struggles to find the balance between blockbuster hits and quality cinema.

The show has been praised for its whip smart satire of the film industry, and its meta approach – episode two, 'The Oner' masterfully winks at its audience – buoyed by a string of high profile celebrities starring as themselves. It feels like a show only Rogen and Goldberg could make, drawing on their own experience and relationships within the industry, often feeling like a more grounded version of their apocalypse comedy This is the End.

Speaking on their season two commission, the pair teased more meta storytelling, saying: “We’re thrilled to be making a second season of The Studio. We’re looking forward to taking the lived experience of making season one and immediately putting it into season two, then repeating that loop for 10 more seasons. And, we’re excited to keep all our industry friends and colleagues guessing as to when one of their personal stories will stream on Apple TV+.” Indeed, Rogen himself said in a video announcing the renewal news that "I wouldn't say it's a 'formula' so much as a structure that we 100% know works so we're gonna do it over and over again".

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Trying, meanwhile, may have had less of an instant impact, but has quietly made a name for itself as one of the best Apple TV+ shows over four feel-good seasons.

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith star as Jason and Nikki, a couple desperate to be parents but struggling to conceive. Deciding to adopt, the initial seasons follow the trials and tribulations that come with the adoption process. Hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, the latest season of the show rebooted things somewhat with a six-year time jump, shifting the focus to the couple's life as parents. While the show may not be one of Apple’s biggest hits, the critics have praised the cast and the writing, earning the series a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Season 5 of the show “finds Nikki and Jason dealing with the consequences of Princess and Tyler’s biological mother Kat (Charlotte Riley) turning up at their doorstep, and the whirlwind of chaos she brings into their settled family life,” which sounds like the perfect hook to guarantee the latest outing generates the requisite tears, laughter or otherwise.

It looks like the future is bright for comedy fans over at Apple TV+, with these two great shows making a return and the aforementioned Ted Lasso comeback, but if you’ve got a structure you 100% know works… why not do it over and over again.

You might also like

• 3 new Apple TV+ movies and shows you should stream this month
• 10 new Apple TV+ shows and movies are coming in mid-2025 – here are the 3 I'll be streaming on my Apple TV 4K
• 'I’m such a huge sci-fi nerd': Murderbot stars reveal what attracted them to the unusual Apple TV+ show