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• The April update for Windows 11 24H2 created a mysterious empty folder
• Some advised this could be deleted, but this isn’t actually the case
• If you delete the ‘inetpub’ folder, a security fix applied by the April patch won’t work, so you need to reinstate it if you removed the folder

Windows 11 24H2 users who were confused by a mysterious empty folder appearing on their system drive after applying the latest update for the OS should be aware that this is not a bug, but an intentional move – and that said folder shouldn’t be deleted.

In case you missed it, last week Windows 11 24H2 received its cumulative update for April 2025, and it created an ‘inetpub’ folder that was the source of some bewilderment or annoyance for those who noticed it.

You may also recall that some folks advised that it was fine to just delete the folder, not an unreasonable conclusion to reach seeing as it was empty, didn’t appear to do anything, and was related to Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) web server software for developers (and was appearing for those who didn’t have IIS installed).

Still, at the time, I advised that you removed it at your own risk and that it might be best left alone – seeing as it was empty and appeared harmless (and also just because you never quite know what’s going on with Windows). It seems I was right, as Microsoft has now warned against removing the folder, as noted at the outset.

Microsoft told Windows Latest that the folder is created as part of a security fix for a vulnerability that “can let local attackers trick the system into accessing or modifying unintended files or folders.”

In its advisory for this security patch, Microsoft notes: “After installing the updates listed in the Security Updates table for your operating system, a new [inetpub folder] will be created on your [system drive]. This folder should not be deleted, regardless of whether Internet Information Services (IIS) is active on the target device. This behavior is part of changes that increase protection and does not require any action from IT admins and end users.”

In short, it doesn’t matter whether you use IIS or not, you need to leave this folder alone. Without the folder being present, the mentioned security hole will remain present in Windows 11, offering attackers a potential opportunity to compromise your PC (at least if they are local to the device, meaning they have physical access).

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Melnikov Dmitriy) Analysis: What if I’ve already deleted the folder, though?

This is an odd affair, and I assumed this was a bug when I wrote about it last week, since it seemed like a weird way of implementing a security fix. Of course, what Microsoft should have done is made it very clear in the release notes for this patch that it creates the folder and that users should leave it alone (while noting that it’s empty and harmless).

As I already observed, though, it’s best to proceed with caution when tinkering with Windows. What’s particularly strange about this affair is that there are reports in the past of this same folder being created, so maybe this was part of the implementation of security patches in these cases too – who knows.

What about if you’ve already deleted the folder? Well, in that case, you need to reinstate it, and Windows Latest is on hand with the solution. You need to open the Control Panel, then go into Programs > Programs and Features. On the left, you’ll see an option to ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ – click on this. Scroll down the alphabetical list of features and find ‘Internet Information Services’ and tick the box next to this, then click on the OK button.

The folder will now be recreated. If you did delete it last week, be sure to complete these steps.

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• The PS5 Digital Edition has seen price rises in some regions
• The price has gone up in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand
• The disc drive, however, has seen an overall reduction in price

As of today (April 14, 2025), the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition has been hit with another wave of price increases in some regions. But there is some good news for PS5 Pro owners looking to pick up the disc drive.

Announced via an official PlayStation Blog post, Sony has confirmed that the PS5's price will be increased in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company cited "a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates" as key reasons for the "tough decision."

In the UK and Europe, there have been no price changes for the standard PS5. Otherwise, you can see the current changes here:

In slightly better news, especially for PS5 Pro owners looking to add a physical disc option to their setup, the price of the disc drive has been reduced. The new disc drive prices are as follows:

The new prices in these regions have been reflected on PlayStation Direct, Sony's official storefront for PlayStation products including the PS5. However, you may still have luck at other retailers if you're currently in the market for the console.

For example, in the UK, Argos currently has the PS5 Digital Edition bundled with Astro Bot at a very wallet-friendly £339.99 right now. Currys is also yet to reflect the price increase, and the PS5 Digital Edition is still available here for £389. If you've been planning on picking up a PS5 soon, then, it may be a good idea to pounce now before the price increases are reflected across the board.

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• Samsung has reportedly paused its rollout of One UI 7 on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6
• This is said to be due to a bug that prevents users from unlocking their phone
• This delay might mean there's also a delay in other Samsung devices getting One UI 7

It's been a long wait for Android 15 on the best Samsung phones (notwithstanding the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, which launched with it). The update arrived on Google’s Pixel phones back in October, but it has only just started rolling out to Samsung’s flagships – and now a delay has set it back further.

According to leakers @UniverseIce and @tarunvats33 (via Android Police), the One UI 7 update – which is Samsung’s take on Android 15 – has been halted for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 globally.

As for the reason, @UniverseIce claims that some people who downloaded the update found that their phones “could not be unlocked normally in some cases." ​So, that sounds like quite a significant issue, which would make sense given that Samsung has reportedly halted the update.

Unable to unlock

The reason for the delay in the Galaxy S24 push is that users of the official version of One UI7 of the Korean S24 series found that "they could not be unlocked normally in some cases." ​​​Samsung urgently reviewed the firmware withdrawal in other countries.Have you ever…April 14, 2025

It’s not clear how widespread this issue is, but if you already have the One UI 7 update and are experiencing it, we’d imagine Samsung is working on a fix as fast as possible.

As for everyone else, you’ll probably have to wait a bit longer than expected to get One UI 7 – but at least, once you do, it will hopefully be working as intended.

Sadly, though, this delay likely means there will be a delay in rolling out One UI 7 to other Samsung devices, too, so if you’re rocking an older or less high-profile handset, you might have a while to wait yet.

That's all the more disappointing given that Android 16 might just be a couple of months away, so Samsung is in danger of slipping well behind.

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• The first leaked images from the Avengers: Doomsday set have appeared online
• Pictures seem to show two legacy X-Men characters engaging in conversation
• The photographs also reveal the return of a prominent supporting MCU hero

Filming is underway on Avengers: Doomsday – and, surprise surprise, images from its set have already leaked online.

The cameras only started rolling on the highly anticipated Marvel movie in late March. However, despite the comic book giant's best attempts to keep everything in-house, some sneaky photographers have snapped some slightly spoiler-based pictures of what's being shot.

Potentially big spoilers immediately follow for the next Avengers film. Do not proceed if you're actively avoiding them.

Wong (right), Benedict Wong's MCU character, has been spotted on the Doomsday set (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Last Friday (April 11), Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan account BuiltFromSmash posted a tweet with one of the aforementioned images attached to them.

The photograph appeared to confirm the return of Wong, one of the MCU's most prominent supporting characters. He wasn't announced as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast on March 26, but Marvel has teased that more cast announcements will be made in the months ahead. So, Benedict Wong's hero is unofficially the first addition to Avengers 5's increasingly sizeable ensemble.

Wong's surprise return notwithstanding, the pictures also seemingly showed him interacting with James Marsden's Cyclops – one of many legacy X-Men heroes set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. It's unclear what they're talking about but, according to some fans, it may have something to do with the apparent soon-to-be-constructed spaceship that was first teased by industry leaker UnBoxPhD.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

Now, there are many, many spacefaring vessels in Marvel Comics that this spaceship could be.

On Reddit, though, some MCU devotees think it'll be the Life Raft. In the comics, that spacecraft was used to relocate survivors from multiple universes to Battleworld during the Marvel Multiverse's destruction.

Given that Doomsday and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars will, as the films' directors Joe and Anthony Russo exclusively told me "draw inspiration" from both of Marvel's 'Secret Wars' comic series, the Life Raft seems like a safe bet from a speculation standpoint.

If you want to catch up on what that might mean, there's a great deal on Marvel's Unlimited digital subscription right now.

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To me, my X-Men!

James Marsden's Cyclops (right) was snapped speaking to McKellen's Magneto (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

As for the other leaked image, which was again uploaded to X/Twitter by BuiltFromSmash, it shows Marsden's Scott Summers discussing matters with Ian McKellen's Magneto.

Considering these mutants have sparred in Marvel literature, and on the big and small screens, across the decades, it seems strange to see them on apparently amicable terms in the Marvel Phase 6 film. As BuiltFromSmash points out, though, there are rumors circulating online that Magneto is trying to assemble The Brotherhood of Mutants, a Magneto-led mutant supremacy group that resorts to extreme measures to fight human prejudice.

If that's true, it's plausible that Magneto is trying to recruit Cyclops to join his fellow mutants in combating the threat from Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom or – whisper it quietly – to face off against The Avengers. Marvel detectives already think that Doomsday's plot will revolve around an X-Men versus Avengers storyline, so that's not out of the realms of possibility.

Should that prove to be the case, it's also likely that Wong might be trying to convince Cyclops that an Avengers-X-Men showdown is a bad idea because, you know, multiversal incursions and all that.

Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to release on May 1, 2026. Expect plenty more set leaks in the weeks and months to come, then.

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• Microsoft shed 203 UK workers between June 2023 and June 2024
• However it still has more than 5,000 employees in the UK
• Microsoft revenue grew by 15-16% in that year

Microsoft has reportedly cut 203 jobs from its UK workforce despite healthy financial performance, however it might not spell out disaster for the company.

The figures come from account documents shared with Companies House (via City AM), revealing the company had reduced its headcount from 5,540 to 5,337 in the year to June 30, 2024.

However, despite the small drop, Microsoft had grown its headcount from 4,955 in the previous year, so the UK footprint is still of a considerable size.

Microsoft trims UK workforce

Microsoft Limited, the company’s primarily British arm, posted £9.62 billion in revenue in the 12 months leading up to June 30, 2024, marking a considerable 15% increase from £8.38 billion in the previous year.

Microsoft as a whole generated $245.12 billion in revenue in the same period – itself a 16% increase over the $211.92 billion 2023 saw in revenue.

One of the most notable regulatory things to have happened for Microsoft in the UK last fiscal year was the clearing of its partnership with OpenAI by the Competition & Markets Authority, which ruled that a full-scale investigation would not be required.

However, more recently, two US Senators have raised concerns about both Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and Google’s partnership with Anthropic.

Despite the headcount reduction, Microsoft continues to expand its footprint in the UK, having announced plans for a new hyperscale data center near Leeds after the acquisition of a 48-acre site in June 2023, which had previously been used for a power station.

This marks the third series of minor layoffs in 2025 (via layoffs.fyi), and a considerable slowdown from previous years.

TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft to share details of the nature of the redundancies, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is not new – it has been evolving for over 70 years. However, recent advancements in compute power, the rise of AI applications like ChatGPT, the emergence of Agentic AI, and real-life use cases have created a perfect storm, driving unprecedented demand for data centers.

Yet, this surge presents significant challenges for operators who must rethink infrastructure to keep up. A holistic approach to design is now essential to overcome operational inertia and ensure scalability.

I recently chaired a panel at Data Centre World 2025, where industry leaders Niklas Lindqvist, Nordics General Manager at Onnec and Stefan Nilsson, Sales & Marketing Manager at Conapto shared their insights on the future of AI-ready data centers. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion.

Designing AI-Ready Data Centers

AI investment is accelerating, but traditional data center infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Unlike conventional IT workloads, AI tools are highly unpredictable and often require immense power and cooling capabilities.

In some regions, such as Sweden, retrofitting existing sites is becoming increasingly unfeasible. Many Swedish facilities have been upgraded in recent years, making another wave of retrofits for AI impractical – both financially and spatially. For instance, AI requires increased height above racks for cooling solutions, which many legacy facilities simply cannot accommodate.

Historically, data centers were designed for moderate-density, air-cooled environments, but AI demands high-density solutions with hybrid cooling methods. Operators must rethink their design philosophy, to ensure that new builds can support liquid cooling and other innovative technologies. Without this shift, retrofitting will remain costly, slow, and ultimately ineffective in supporting AI growth.

The Need for a Holistic Design Approach

A successful AI-ready data center must integrate both traditional and AI-specific infrastructure under one roof. Flexibility and scalability are paramount here. AI-ready facilities must accommodate a range of workloads, from low-density racks to 100kW+ liquid-cooled deployments. This is where a modular approach is key. Operators must be able to expand incrementally by adding power and cooling modules as demand grows. This strategy helps to align with customer-specific hardware needs and avoids unnecessary upfront costs.

Operators must embrace a holistic design mindset. Power, cooling, and cabling cannot be treated as separate components – they must be integrated from the outset. Poor planning leads to capacity constraints, delays, and costly modifications.

There is also a need for an “inside-out and outside-in” approach: operators must first understand computing needs and design the data center accordingly, while also considering space constraints and facility requirements. High-quality cabling is another crucial yet often overlooked element.

Many operators prioritize speed to market and opt for second-tier cabling, but this short-term gain results in long-term operational headaches and frequent retrofits. Hyperscalers invest heavily in structured cabling strategies, and colocation providers must follow suit to remain competitive.

Sustainability: The Industry’s Biggest Challenge

Sustainability remains the most pressing issue facing the data center industry. Simply acquiring renewable energy certificates is no longer enough – operators must actively reduce their carbon footprint. One major consideration is location. Many data centers in the Nordics are built in remote areas where excess heat cannot be effectively utilized.

In contrast, urban data centers offer opportunities to contribute to local infrastructure, turning AI into part of a circular economy. Many Swedish data centers are integrated with Stockholm’s district heating network, selling excess heat back to the city. This approach is made even more efficient with liquid cooling and internal cooling loops that ensure sustainability without compromising operations.

Regional climate also plays a role in determining the best cooling strategies. For example, in southern Europe, where temperatures remain high year-round, immersive cooling systems may be more effective than traditional liquid cooling. Best practices in sustainability extend beyond cooling solutions.

Operators must prioritize genuine renewable energy sourcing, heat reuse initiatives, and battery storage solutions that enhance grid stability. Sustainability must be embedded in every stage of AI data center design – treating it as an afterthought will only lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

The Human Factor: Skills, Safety, and Community Engagement

As AI data centers boom, the demand for skilled professionals in power, cooling, and infrastructure design is outpacing supply. This skills gap presents a serious challenge, as AI facilities require expertise in handling high-power densities, advanced cooling systems, and complex network architectures. Undertrained workers in these environments pose significant operational risks.

The rapid pace of AI-driven expansion also increases workplace safety concerns. Shortened build timelines can lead to accidents if proper safety protocols are not enforced. Proactive risk assessments, rigorous documentation, and meticulous planning are essential to maintaining a safe working environment. Operators today must prioritize worker safety as much as they do technological innovation.

Community engagement is another critical aspect often overlooked. Data centers frequently face local opposition due to misconceptions about their environmental impact and perceived lack of community benefits – think ‘not in my backyard’. To counter this, operators must take an active role in educating the public about their role in digital infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and economic contributions.

Keeping Up with the AI Race

The rise of AI is transforming data center demands at an unprecedented pace, requiring operators to adapt quickly, and smartly. Meeting these challenges isn’t just about scaling up power and cooling; it’s about rethinking the entire approach to design. AI-ready data centers must be built with flexibility, efficiency, and resilience at their core, ensuring they can evolve alongside fast-moving technological change.

Success will depend on more than just infrastructure – it will require a shift in mindset. Operators who invest in integrated, sustainable designs, prioritize skills development and safety, and engage with local communities will be best positioned to thrive in the AI era. Those who fail to take this holistic view risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive landscape. The AI race is on – and the data centers that power it must be ready to run at full speed.

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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

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The first few months of the new year have already proven transformative for the AI sector, with rapid advancements reshaping the industry landscape. As we close out the first quarter of the year, let’s look ahead at how emerging trends are likely to evolve throughout 2025.

From reasoning models with enhanced critical thinking capabilities to agentic systems operating with greater autonomy, we are entering a new era where AI implementation moves from experimental to essential.

From tailored model training to groundbreaking advances in IT infrastructure, the focus has shifted towards solving real-world problems at scale. However, addressing the substantial costs of acquiring, operating, and maintaining GPU compute remains a critical challenge for long-term sustainability. Organizations that can implement more energy-efficient solutions will not only optimize computational resources but also significantly reduce utility expenses.

2025 will also push the AI industry to redefine innovation and accessibility. With heightened attention to sustainability, regulatory oversight, and hardware specialization, the stage is set for a new wave of breakthroughs with AI tools that will impact industries across the board.

AI gets personal for enterprises

The era of one-size-fits-all AI is coming to an end. In 2025, enterprises will accelerate their efforts to fine-tune AI models using proprietary data, creating hyper-targeted tools that transform industry-specific workflows. Large-scale AI adoption will move beyond proof-of-concept to fully integrated systems designed for efficiency and measurable impact.

From an infrastructure perspective, as AI models grow more complex, demand for advanced GPUs and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters will continue to rise. Meeting this demand will require not only innovation in hardware but also significant improvements in data center power efficiency, cooling, and network capabilities.

The compute divide persists and innovators step in

Access to high-powered computing resources remains uneven, with large enterprises and well-funded AI labs enjoying privileged access to superclusters, while startups, independent researchers, and universities struggle to secure the latest chips at reasonable costs.

This imbalance presents an opportunity for specialized providers to step in and level the playing field. Some companies are addressing this challenge by offering flexible, affordable access ranging from on-demand GPU rentals to dedicated, high-performance clusters. By making AI infrastructure more accessible, it ensures that innovation is available to a broader ecosystem of builders and researchers.

Green is the new gold

As AI adoption skyrockets, so too will its energy demands. The computational requirements of training and running increasingly sophisticated models are straining already overburdened power grids and challenging sustainability commitments.

This growing energy footprint is prompting organizations to pursue innovative cooling techniques, renewable energy partnerships, and more efficient model architectures that deliver comparable performance with reduced computational resources. As industry leaders recognize that addressing AI’s energy consumption is not only an environmental imperative but also a significant cost factor, sustainability will drive innovation in more efficient chips, data center design, and AI model optimization.

AI systems will evolve and become autonomous

AI is evolving beyond simple tools into self-directed agents capable of handling complex, multi-step tasks with minimal human intervention. The shift will move beyond model fine-tuning and prompt engineering towards fully integrated AI solutions that can automate entire workflows, creative processes, and business operations.

We'll see more focus on developing specialized chips designed specifically for AI tasks. These chips will make AI systems faster, more efficient, and more affordable to deploy across various industries. Having hardware for specific AI functions will enable businesses to run generative AI solutions at scale without the high costs or performance issues that come with general-purpose hardware. This will enable a wider range of applications, from healthcare to entertainment, and could make advanced AI more accessible to companies of all sizes, and for their final customers.

Regulation homes in on dataset copyright

With AI permeating every sector, legal and ethical scrutiny will intensify. Expect stricter regulations around data ownership, licensing, and privacy, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability. These changes will likely mean more clear guidelines on who can access and use data, and how it should be handled by different parties.

Open-source video models will reshape content creation

The availability of open-source tools for video generation will make advanced video creation more accessible to everyone, fueling a new wave of creativity and innovation. In the coming years we will see major advancements in real-time, interactive, and personalized video generation, enabling new forms of media, entertainment, and marketing experiences. In terms of creativity the possibilities will be endless. Things we haven’t seen or even thought about will be possible through video and image generation tools accessible to everyone.

Future-forward AI

As we progress through 2025, AI is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, shaped by enterprise-driven innovation, sustainability imperatives, and increasing regulatory oversight. While compute access disparities persist, new players are stepping up to bridge the gap. AI systems are becoming more autonomous, open source video generation is unlocking new creative frontiers, and specialized hardware is making large-scale AI adoption more efficient.

The organizations that adapt to these shifts, investing in tailored AI solutions, sustainable infrastructure, and regulatory compliance will be the ones leading the next wave of technological transformation. Meanwhile, AI builders of all sizes will benefit from increased access to high-performance infrastructure, unlocking new levels of creativity and innovation. With these forces converging, 2025 is not just a turning point, it is a proving ground for the future of AI.

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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

A giant of Latin American culture, Llosa used powerful imagery and sometimes fantastical storytelling to explore issues of male violence, societal disruption and authoritarian politics.

(Image credit: Manu Fernandez)

The MDLondon Curl is a curling wand with a difference. For one, it looks more like something you'd find in a tool box than on a dressing table. That right-angled wand is designed to be more comfortable to hold, for a styling experience with more control and less arm-ache. Unfortunately, the only demo video I can find shows someone having their hair done, and I'm struggling to envisage how you might use it on yourself.

The main body of the curler is shaped very similarly to most of today's best hair dryers. It's not a hair dryer, though – there's no air blowing out. The ceramic barrels simply heat up to set the hair into place, like a traditional curling tong.

Another cool upgrade is that the curl barrel is swappable. The Curl comes with four different barrel styles, and you can simply switch them out for different looks. There's a fairly standard 25mm barrel, a chunkier 31mm one for bigger curls, an ultra-thin 10mm one for super-tight corkscrews and an intriguing reverse conical one (pictured below) that the brand says will give you a relaxed, beachy look.

(Image credit: MDLondon)

While I'm still a little unsure about the right-angled design, I am fully sold on the idea of swappable barrels. In a market flooded with multi-stylers, it's starting to feel old-fashioned to have a tool that just does one thing, and this is a clever way to add versatility. Tiny curling wands (to create tight curls) are having a bit of a moment right now, but for most people that'll just be an occasional look rather than something for every day. Adding it as an option alongside more relaxed curl barrel options saves you from having to buy a whole separate gadget that you just might not need that often.

We've tested MDLondon hair gadgets before and been consistently impressed – the MDLondon Strait features in our best hair straightener roundup, and we found the MDLondon Blow hair dryer "lightweight yet luxurious, compact yet powerful". Both have some slightly out-of -the-ordinary design tweaks, although neither are quite as head-turning as the Curl. I'm interested to see how it holds up in practice, and if other haircare brands start to follow suit.

Heat vs air

It's a little unusual to see a traditional heated tong (albeit within a non-traditional design) being launched these days. The current focus seems to be all about Dyson Airwrap-style tools that use directed air to create curls using the Coanda effect. The idea is that it's better for your long-term hair health because there's less extreme heat.

While I do like that approach – I've just reviewed the Dyson Airwrap i.d. and was very impressed, and today's best Airwrap dupes are increasingly capable too – I will concede that it does have its drawbacks. Curls created using air still tend to drop more quickly than those created using heat, the styling process takes longer (and especially if you're diligent about using a cold shot to help set each curl) and it can be fiddly, too – hair is attracted to the barrel and wraps around automatically, but you have to be precise or you'll end up with strands from other curls getting pulled into the curl you're currently working on. It might be that a revamped traditional tong is just what we need.

The MDLondon Curl curling wand is only currently available in the UK, and it costs £129 (but that would make it around $168 or AU$270, as a rough estimate).

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