Feed aggregator

One of those stories you'd probably think was way too far-fetched if you didn't know it was based on true events, the five-episode Atomic hits screens on August 28 on Sky Atlantic in the UK and available for free in New Zealand thanks to TVNZ+. Read on for how to watch Atomic online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE.

Premiere date: Thursday, August 28

FREE stream: TVNZ+ (New Zealand)

Stream: Sky Atlantic (UK) | Binge / Foxtel (Aus)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Inspired by William Langewiesche’s account of his own barely believable story in the non-fiction book Atomic Bazaar, this miniseries takes viewers into the shady world of the nuclear weapons black market. Needless to say, it's a milieu fraught with danger, shady characters and potentially lethal consequences.

Expect plenty of tense confrontations and nail-biting chases across North Africa as drug smuggler Max (Alfie Allen) and mysterious JJ (Shazad Latif) are forced to join forces to pull off a perilous mission to traffic uranium across continents, with CIA operative Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley) hot on their heels every step of the way.

We’ve got all the information on where to watch Atomic online and stream episodes from anywhere – including FREE options!

Can I watch Atomic for free?

You can watch Atomic online for free – but not in all countries.

The free-to-stream TVNZ+ website and app in New Zealand is showing episodes of Atomic absolutely free from August 28. All you need to do is register, using your email address, name, year of birth and gender.

Australians can also watch episodes for free by signing up to a free trial to streaming service Binge.

Not at home in those countries right now? That's where downloading the best VPN can help...

How to watch Atomic online from outside your country

If you’re traveling abroad when Atomic airs, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Use a VPN to watch Atomic from anywhere

NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all.

The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at $3.09 per month, and includes an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. There's also an all-important 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.

- Try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 daysView Deal

Can I watch Atomic in the US?

Shows like Atomic that go out on Sky in the UK often find their way to the Peacock platform in the US and the international rights for this are indeed held by NBCUniversal. However, it has not yet been confirmed if or when Atomic will be shown in the US.

Currently travelling to the US? You can watch your normal domestic stream using a VPN as described above.

Can I watch Atomic in Canada?

We suspect Atomic will eventually turn up on the Showcase channel and Global TV platform in Canada, but nothing has been announced at the time of writing.

Visiting Canada from New Zealand? Use NordVPN to access your free TVNZ+ stream of Atomic.

How to watch Atomic in the UK

Sky has the rights to will show Atomic in the UK.

It all gets started with two episodes from 9pm BST on Thursday, August 28 on Sky Atlantic. After that, the remaining three episodes will air one per week at the same on Thursday evenings.

Sky subscribers can stream episodes on their smartphone, smart TVs, games consoles and online via the Sky Go app. You can also watch Atomic through a Now Entertainment Membership from as little as £6.99 a month.

How to watch Atomic in Australia

Atomic will begin streaming on the Binge streaming service with episodes landing weekly on Thursdays from August 28. Try the service with its FREE 7-day trial, after which it costs from $10 a month.

On TV, episodes are due to go out on Fridays on Foxtel via Showcase at 8.30pm AEST, meaning you can also watch via Foxtel Now.

Atomic - Need to KnowAtomic cast

• Alfie Allen as Max
• Shazad Latif as JJ
• Samira Wiley as Cassie Ellio
• Brian Gleeson as Mark Ellis
• Franklin Virgüez as Antonio Alam
• Avital Lvova as Oksana Shirokova
• Stuart Martin as Rab Mackintosh
• Vahid Gold as Khaled Awad
• Charlie Murphy as Laetitia
• Mostafa Benkerroum as Rifat Atillah

Atomic episode guide

Atomic starts with a double bill in the UK on Thursday, August 28. Here's the full episode release date for UK viewers:

• Episode 1 – Thursday, August 28
• Episode 2 – Thursday, August 28
• Episode 3 – Thursday, September 4
• Episode 4 – Thursday, September 11
• Episode 5 – Thursday, September 18

VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

• Citrix fixes three flaws in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway
• Among them is a critical-severity one used as a zero-day which allowed for RCE and DoS attacks

Citrix has fixed three bugs in its NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway instances, including a critical zero-day flaw which was apparently being abused in the wild.

In a new advisory, the company said it patched multiple flaws, including a memory overflow vulnerability that could lead to remote code execution (RCE) or Denial of Service (DoS) attacks in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway (when NetScaler is configured as Gateway or AAA virtual server).

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-7775 and has a severity score of 9.2/10 (critical).

Configuration flaws

Citrix has urged users to patch up immediately since the hackers are already leveraging the bug in real-life attacks.

"As of August 26, 2025 Cloud Software Group has reason to believe that exploits of CVE-2025-7775 on unmitigated appliances have been observed, and strongly recommends customers to upgrade their NetScaler firmware to the versions containing the fix as there are no mitigations available to protect against a potential exploit," it said.

Fortunately, leveraging the bug is not particularly straightforward, as devices need to be configured in a specific way for that to happen:

- NetScaler must be configured as Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual server

- NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS and NDcPP: LB virtual servers of type (HTTP, SSL or HTTP_QUIC) bound with IPv6 services or servicegroups bound with IPv6 servers

- NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS and NDcPP: LB virtual servers of type (HTTP, SSL or HTTP_QUIC) bound with DBS IPv6 services or servicegroups bound with IPv6 DBS servers CR virtual server with type HDX

Citrix has released configuration settings that can check if the NetScaler device’s configuration leaves it vulnerable to exploits.

Other two bugs patched are a memory overflow vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-7776, and an improper access control on the NetScaler Management Interface bug tracked as CVE-2025-8424.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• CitrixBleed 2 flaws are officially here - so get patching or leave your systems at risk
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Caught Stealing is a nostalgic slice of '90s New York City life that comes out swinging. Set in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Darren Aronofsky’s new movie captures the nostalgic atmosphere of the time in this cat-and-mouse crime caper chase.

Austin Butler (Elvis; Eddington) plays Henry Thompson, a former baseball player turned bartender with a drinking habit, who insists on being called Hank. Tormented by a car accident that ended his promising sports career, the San Francisco Giants fan has been lifted straight from the pages of Charlie Huston’s novels that the movie is based on.

Hank gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity when his neighbor Russ, played by Matt Smith (The Crown; Doctor Who) – who looks like a punk-rocker that just stepped out of Camden in London (mohawk, studded leather jacket, piercings – the full uniform's here) – asks him to look after his Maine Coon cat named Bud (who you might recognize from Pet Sematary), setting in motion a chaotic chase with a growing group of eclectic goons across underpasses, subways and basements through East Village.

Caught Stealing is a chaotic crime caper crashing into the summer box office (Image credit: Columbia Pictures; Protozoa Pictures)

You wouldn’t expect that cat-care could get you killed, but that’s exactly the catalyst that drives the next 107 minutes of the white-knuckle drama. The bone-splitting violence splattered throughout does not hold back, letting you hear every crunch and snap against the backdrop of a soundtrack composed by Rob Simonsen (The Whale; Deadpool & Wolverine).

What starts with Russian mafia, played by Yuri Kolokolnikov (Tenet; The White Lotus) and Nikita Kukushkin (Attraction), beating up Hank (Kukushkin's mobster has a signature headbutt move) quickly snowballs as more players become involved to look for a mysterious key that they all believe Hank is hiding.

This hunt has got the attention of not just the Russian mobsters but a Puerto Rican gangster, played by Benito Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny (Bullet Train; Happy Gilmore 2), and two extremely ruthless Orthodox Jewish brothers.

These last two might be the most threatening characters of the movie, but who also happen to have the most comedic lines. That's largely down to menacing performances from Liev Schreiber (Spotlight; X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Vincent D'Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket; Men in Black) that make for a humorous contrast when you find them slurping soup or refusing to drive during Shabbat.

Liev Schreiber and Vincent D'Onofrio provide some of the best laughs in the film (Image credit: Columbia Pictures; Protozoa Pictures)

There may not be any baseball in this film (apart from the brief opening scene) but funnily enough, it's the more violent scenes where it really comes out as we watch Hank sprinting past pedestrians like he's on a home run and swinging a baseball bat at his assailants as if he's a deadly batter.

The sport offers a bridge between the violence and Hank's soft nature. After all, Hank's not a fighter – a fact we're reminded of throughout by police detective Roman, played by Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk; Ray), as well as by his relationships with people (and creatures) around him, from his mother to the homeless man on the street outside of his apartment that he helps out.

Zoë Kravitz’s (The Batman; Blink Twice) Yvonne, Hank’s girlfriend, is a welcome respite from all the violence, breaking up the gut punches and shootouts with a softer charm that shares the heart of the film with the weight of a drink driving accident from when Hank was younger.

Bad Bunny joins Russian mobsters played by Yuri Kolokolnikov and Nikita Kukushkin. (Image credit: Columbia Pictures; Protozoa Pictures)

The biggest highlight of the movie is the nostalgic set created by production designer Mark Friedberg (Joker; Noah) that immerses the characters in the gritty streets of East Village in 1998 during its transformation into the trendy art scene it is today. This is complemented by a soundtrack that includes '90s hits such as Bitch by Meredith Brooks and Wandering Star by Portishead.

However, unlike the secrets of Bud’s litter tray, Caught Stealing isn’t too mysterious, relying on action movie ideas you've seen many times before. From the reluctant hero to the classic revenge storyline, it goes exactly where your brain naturally expect it to go based on the familiar elements – despite it coming from an interesting an unpredictable filmmaker in Darren Aronofsky.

It also lacks the intensity that his movies are known for, and can feel disjointed at times as it transitions from scene to scene, sometimes brushing over key moments. For instance, a lingering shot of a chameleon seems like it could be a reference to Hank's resourcefulness, but this idea isn't hinted at again, making it feel like a stray musing rather than an interesting theme.

Caught Stealing is not a deep psychological character study like Aronofsky's The Whale or Black Swan, it's an action-packed adventure centered around a self-destructive protagonist that's trying to turn the corner.

Indeed, the sunny grasses of California where Hank is originally from are in real contrast to the grimy streets of the Lower East Side, where he now finds himself, is not the subtle backstory that we're used to seeing from the filmmaker. They say stealing third base is a high risk, low reward play in baseball; unfortunately, I think that phrase captures the end result of Aronofsky's push into a new genre.

You might also like

• Hostage review: Suranne Jones is the perfect Prime Minister in Netflix’s heart-pounding new political thriller
• Peacemaker season 2 review: James Gunn makes it three wins out of three for his DC Universe reboot
• Weapons review: the new horror movie’s scariest moment happens in broad daylight

It's not long now until Foundation season 3 is over. Three episodes remain before the Apple TV Original's latest installment comes to a close, so I suspect you'll want to know when its eight chapter will air on the tech giant's streaming platform.

As I've done every week prior to this one, I'll tell you when the space opera's next entry will be available to watch on one of the world's best streaming services. If you're new around these parts, you'll also find a full release schedule at the end of this article, so you can see when episodes 9 and 10 will be released. So, hop to it!

What is the launch date for Foundation season 3 episode 8?

I'm not sure how Brother Day's going to get out of this one, fellow viewers... (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Season 3's eighth episode, titled 'Skin in the Game', will make its Apple TV+ bow on Friday, August 29. As always, I imagine North and South American viewers will be able to tune in a day earlier (August 28) due to the time zones that operate on these continents.

Like its Apple TV Original brethren, the release times for new entries of Foundation's third season aren't publicly revealed ahead of schedule. The below times, then, are the best predictions I can make, based on when other episodes have launched on the service, about the release time for 'Skin in the Game':

• US – Thursday, August 28 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 28 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• UK – Friday, August 29 at 5am BST
• India – Friday, August 29 at 9:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 29 at 12pm SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 29 at 2pm AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, August 29 at 4pm NZST

When will new episodes of Foundation season 3 come out?

No need to antagonize Doctor Seldon about new episode release dates, The Mule – just read our handy guide instead! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Want to know when the final two episodes of one of the best Apple TV+ shows' third season will debut? Read on:

• Foundation season 3 episode 1 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 2 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 3 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 4 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 5 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 6 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 7 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
• Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
• Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12

You might also like

• Here's everything we know about Severance season 3
• Find out what we know so far about Ted Lasso season 4
• Or get the lowdown on Slow Horses season 5

• Users will no longer need to apply Windows updates after first signing in
• By updating during the OOBE, PCs are protected from day one
• The change applies to Microsoft Entra joined and hybrid joined devices

Starting from September 2025, Windows 11 (22H2 or later) devices will be able to install quality updates during the Out of the Box Experience (OOBE) by default, which means it’s set to become even easier for admins to install updates during setup.

The change applies to Microsoft Entra joined and Entra hybrid joined devices.

For IT admins, they’ll see Windows now checks for and installs applicable updates on the final OOBE page so that users won’t need to apply any updates when they sign in for the first time.

Smoother Windows updates for all

“With Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune (or alternative management solutions), you can maintain seamless control over quality update behavior during provisioning, while ensuring alignment with organizational security and compliance requirements,” Microsoft Product Manager Victoria Wang wrote in a blog post,

The system requires that devices are running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education or SE, and companies must be using Microsoft Intune to manage Windows quality updates.

The OOBE updating experience is also only available for those who have had the August 2025 OOBE zero-day patch or those imaged with the June 2025 Windows non-security update.

Because devices will be handed out to workers with the latest security and quality updates, companies can improve security and compliance right from day one. It also reduces burden on workers and IT teams after device handout.

This marks a welcome change from the previous setup, which saw end users having to update their computers after receiving them.

The improvement comes as more companies update to Windows 11 ahead of the impending Windows 10 end of support in October 2025.

Canalys Research Manager Kieren Jessop explained that the commercial refresh cycle is now “providing vital momentum for the [PC] market” while consumers exercise more caution.

You might also like

• Ready to upgrade? These are the best business laptops and best mobile workstations
• Microsoft launches new hyper-powered disaster recovery service for Cloud PCs
• Desk workers should consider the best workstations

It’s fair to say that Nintendo’s slate of Nintendo Switch 2 Editions has been a mixed bag, both in terms of what the company offers in each, how much it’s charging, and how the reception has been.

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 18, 2025

The Switch's Zelda titles getting a frame rate and resolution boost for a few bucks each was very welcome but many were left decidedly out of the party mood when it came to Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Jamboree TV add-on.

In many ways, that makes the hilariously titled Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World an outlier, and not just because it’s got possibly the longest name on the platform.

It meshes a modest visual improvement with additional content that’s easy to recommend, and takes a fantastic platformer to new heights, not unlike its protagonist floating on the breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a great stand-in as the wait for a new open-world Mario game goes on.

Rescue mission

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It sounds odd, but I’ve always likened Kirby and the Forgotten Land to the early Astro Bot games, before Sony’s cute mascot went and became a platforming megastar. Its levels feel diorama-like - they’re 3D, but with minimal camera panning, and you’re tasked with searching in every nook and cranny to find a Waddle Dee.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The best part of Star-Crossed World is how it expands on areas from the base game in surprising new ways, with one highlight being a new ‘train track’ style area that begins at ground level before climbing ever higher, with the original level stretched out below it.

If you’re coming to this new version, wondering if anything has changed in that regard, the answer is yes, but only insofar as you’ll be hunting down Starries this time around. While I must admit I had been expecting a separate menu icon a la Jamboree TV Switch 2 upgrade, or even Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, I was surprised to jump into my old save and see that everything happens in the same world map.

Star-Crossed World's story is as simple as a mystery meteor landing and turning various older areas into more colorful, crystal-tinted versions, while even giving some of Kirby’s (admittedly adorable) foes a crystalline makeover, too.

Your pink blob’s mission is simple: rescue Starries in each level, while also ticking off some side objectives that might require a little more exploration.

What’s old is new

(Image credit: Nintendo)

While there’s an argument that for around $20 / £16.99, fans should be able to expect wholly new levels, that’s not what’s happened here. In fact, it’s much cleverer than that. Kirby is tasked with reclaiming Starries (not as cute as Waddle Dees, for my money) by finding them in existing levels, but each becomes a much more expansive quest.

As an example, one area sees Kirby travel through an existing level, only to essentially part the sea midway through and explore a whole new region under what would have been the water. In another (and a personal favorite), our puffy pink protagonist hits the gem to open a new path, only for it to begin a railway track or rollercoaster of sorts that they need to fight and platform their way along.

Given a big differentiator of the base game from the rest of Kirby canon was having our hero wander through a sort of post-apocalyptic, recognizable world, some took umbrage with the more restrictive creativity brought upon by a new setting. That’s almost entirely jettisoned here, like Nintendo is letting its hair down somewhat.

In fact, if you’re jumping in for the first time, the meteor hits right after the first set of levels is completed, so you don’t have to reach the end credits to experience everything new.

All you can eat

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Mouthful mode returns in Star-Crossed World, and the same criticisms from the original TechRadar Gaming review apply - namely that, as funny as it is to see Kirby become a vending machine or a traffic cone, its implementation is all very linear.

This time around, there’s a Spring for jumping high and crashing down on foes, as well as a Sign that turns Kirby into a sort of flat shape for downhill sliding sections. The highlight, however, is the Gear Mouth, which allows Kirby to roll around on floors, walls, and ceilings, adding a literal new dimension to platforming.

That brings us to the platforming, and while it’s mechanically great to play, it’s just lacking the challenge of, say, a Super Mario Odyssey or even some of Donkey Kong Bananza’s trickier sections. I should stress that this doesn’t make all of the game’s imaginative ideas moot, but it does mean it’s easier to blow through in a weekend than some of its genre peers.

Another holdover from the base game is that boss fights are a little formulaic. While I appreciate that there are usually a handful of approaches to take with a few different upgrades available before the start of each skirmish, it does tend to devolve into dodging as much as you can and then spamming whichever attack you have to hand.

There’s a new Ultimate Cup Z EX boss rush that’s been added to the Coliseum for those looking for more of a challenge, though, which is a nice touch and helps scratch that trickier itch similarly to the Forgo areas of the 2022 original.

Not quite 4K(irby)

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Although the original game was hardly a slouch in terms of visuals, the bump in resolution on Nintendo Switch 2 is welcome.

Both The Forgotten Land and its Star-Crossed World additions run at what appears to be 1440p while docked, meaning it’s not quite as sharp as the Switch 2 upgrades of Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, but it does run at a crisp 1080p in handheld.

The real relief is that it’s now running at 60fps across the board, which makes replaying even old levels feel just a little fresher thanks to the smoothness on offer. Load times have been improved, too.

Still, I do feel like Nintendo could have divorced the new content and the visual upgrade when it comes to what’s on offer.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Is the company really going to be any worse off for giving away the visual upgrade for free and charging just for the extra content? It’s hard to say, but if you’ve been waiting to play Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch 2, you won’t get any visual improvements without paying.

All in all, then, Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is one of the easiest ‘upgrade packs’ to recommend at the time of writing for Nintendo’s nascent console.

While I wish the visual upgrade had been free to anyone with a Switch 2 and a copy of the base game, the added areas in Star Crossed World are some of the best yet, and I’d wager playing the game without them would now make the game feel incomplete in some ways.

Should you play Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed WorldPlay it if...

You want a meaty adventure
There’s so much here to keep you busy, from finding Waddle-Dees and Starries to completing additional objectives across new and older areas alike, that you could be playing for a while to earn 100%.

You’re looking for a platformer post-Donkey Kong
Bananza’s destruction-based platforming wasn’t for everyone, and if you’re looking for something more traditional, Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World will fill that gap.

You want a Switch 2 upgrade that’s actually worth the money
While Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Switch 2 upgrade pack was less comprehensive, it’s hard to argue that what’s on offer in this Switch 2 upgrade is worth the money, between the visual improvements and additional content.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You’re looking for a challenge
While the new content is a tad more challenging than the base game, it’s a low bar to clear. It’s simply not the game for anyone looking for a real challenge, but that does make it pretty approachable for almost everyone.

Accessibility

Sadly, there aren’t a huge number of accessibility features here. There are two difficulty modes, Wild Mode and Spring-Breeze Mode, which offer additional difficulty for more coins, or additional health, respectively.

There’s no button remapping outside of swapping between a pair of preset options, either.

How I reviewed Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

I spent the last couple of weeks playing the new content, immediately after replaying the entirety of the base game to give me a better perspective on how things differ and what’s new.

I played both in docked and handheld, with the former being on a Sky Glass TV while the latter made use of AirPods Max for listening to those oh-so-satisfying sound effects that had me itching to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate again.

First reviewed August 2025

• Bluesound launches the big Pulse Cinema Dolby Atmos soundbar
• And also the much more compact Pulse Cinema Mini
• Pulse Cinema: $1,499 / £1,149 | Pulse Cinema Mini: $999 / £799

Bluesound has announced two serious soundbars in a choice of sizes. The flagship Pulse Cinema is a 47-inch-wide model, making it suitable for TVs of 55 inches and up, and the Pulse Cinema Mini is a more compact 33 inches, so should work for TVs of 40 inches and up.

Both models are pretty powerful, with Dolby Atmos support, hi-res audio and MQA support, and Bluesound's BluOS multi-room audio platform.

BluOS works with over 20 streaming services including TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and Deezer, and it supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. And the speakers can be teamed up with other Bluesound speakers to create a larger, multi-channel surround system.

Both soundbars are compatible with home systems from the likes of Control4, Crestron, RTI and others.

(Image credit: Bluesound)Bluesound Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini: key features and pricing

The Pulse Cinema is the star here, with 500 watts of power driving 16 drivers including a center channel, dual four-inch woofers and dedicated upfiring speakers. There's on-board digital signal processing to adjust the audio depending on placement – the soundbar can be wall-mounted as well as sat on a unit – and there's HDMI eARC, optical input, analog RCA inputs, Bluetooth in and out and AirPlay 2. There's also a subwoofer output.

This makes it an interestingly expandable competitor to the Sonos Arc Ultra – it adds more analogue inputs, and the subwoofer output means you can connect whatever kind of low-end driver you want, similar to the Marshall Heston 120.

But it also costs more than the Sonos Arc Ultra, so that power will have to really come through in the real-world.

The Pulse Cinema Mini is smaller but it still packs a punch: it has 280W of power. There aren't any up-firing Atmos speakers here but there are angled drivers and Atmos 2.1-channel virtualization. Once again there's a subwoofer out, optical and RCA inputs, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 – and again, this makes it more versatile in some ways than the Sonos Beam 2, but also more expensive.

The Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini will be available for pre-order on 24 September 2025 with shipping starting on October 24. The prices are:

• Pulse Cinema $1,499 / £1,149 / €1,299 (about AU$2,315)
• Pulse Cinema Mini $999 / £799 / €899 (about AU$1,543)

You might also like

• The best soundbars: TV audio upgrade for all budgets
• The best Dolby Atmos soundbars for all budgets
• The best cheap soundbars, all tested by our experts

Think you have what it takes to successfully manipulate the market and build a domestic industry from the ground up? If so, these eight questions stand between you and your Summer School diploma in Political Economy.

• Framework and Nvidia have teamed up to introduce swappable laptop GPUs, starting with a new RTX 5070 module
• The Framework Laptop 16 with RTX 5070 is now available for pre-order, and the GPU module will soon be sold separately for upgrades
• This idea is an improvement from the swappable MXM laptop GPUs of the past

Upgrading a gaming notebook to get better performance usually means buying an entirely new system - maybe one of the best gaming laptops out there - but one laptop manufacturer, Framework, and Nvidia are hoping to change all that.

As reported by The Verge, the Framework Laptop 16 features an upgradable Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module, allowing gamers to swap the existing GPU with a new and more powerful one. This Framework Laptop 16 packing the RTX 5070 module is now available for pre-order, with the first batch shipping in November.

Framework claims the installation of the Blackwell graphics module takes 'under five minutes' using the tools provided, and by the looks of it, installation should be a simple slot-and-screw process after removing the existing GPU.

While there's no option to buy it yet, Framework will be selling the Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module individually.

Essentially, this is bringing the advantage of a desktop gaming PC to the laptop world, making easy GPU upgrades possible. Of course, the RTX 5070 mobile graphics card isn't as powerful as its desktop counterpart, but it still offers plenty of grunt for a notebook. And it's clearly a huge upgrade from the Framework Laptop 16's previous AMD Radeon RX 7700S GPU.

Now, it's worth noting that this isn't the first swappable laptop GPU. MXM GPUs allowed gamers to perform this same trick of switching out an old laptop graphics card for a new model.

However, these pretty much vanished in the last decade (at least for gaming or mainstream laptops), and besides, they weren't the best option for non-tech-savvy gamers anyway. Installation required deeper disassembly and complications including reapplying thermal paste.

In contrast, with Framework and Nvidia's new GPU module, it's claimed to only take a few minutes to install via a simple unscrewing and replacing process. The end result is a more than capable Blackwell GPU with tools like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation at its disposal. There's also a USB-C output on the module that can transmit to an external monitor and charge the system simultaneously.

Graphics module removal may be easier than you think... (Image credit: Framework)Analysis: could we see something similar for handhelds in the future?

Swappable chips in handhelds might sound far-fetched right now, but what could we possibly write off at this point?

Swappable laptop GPUs aren't entirely unheard of, as already noted, but in contemporary times, they may have sounded like a myth to many – but now they are again a reality.

We're already seeing mind-blowing designs like a DIY RTX 4090-powered handheld, and the GPD Win 5 with detachable battery functionality (which may be a negative for some) while using AMD's most powerful APU, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

If that's not a strong sign that things are only heading upwards from here in terms of portable gaming PC hardware, then I'm not sure what is – and I won't be surprised if we see something similar to what Framework and Nvidia have cooked up here in future handhelds.

You might also like...

• Watch out, Nvidia: AMD's FSR 4 tech offers a big leap for PC games – but there's a catch
• The ROG Xbox Ally's official release date has been announced, but pricing is still a mystery
• I think the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the only gaming laptop I'd spend money on – and it's all thanks to Nvidia's powerful RTX 5070 Ti

When parents die, sibling tensions can arise over inheritance. In many traditions, the oldest child used to get it all. In a part of Pakistan, there's a surprise twist: The youngest is the chosen one.

(Image credit: Shayan Ali Khan)

Fed Governor Lisa Cook plans to fight to keep her job with a forthcoming lawsuit challenging President Trump. And, the DNC addresses the Democratic Party's challenges.

(Image credit: Michael M. Santiago)

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair wrote a letter to 13 US tech giants, calling on them to resist foreign demands to weaken encryption or censor content
• FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as problematic
• The pledge comes days after the US managed to get the UK to drop the encryption backdoor demand against Apple

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is calling on US tech giants to resist foreign demands to either weaken the security of their users by breaking encryption protections or impose censorship on their platforms.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson wrote a letter to 13 tech companies, including Apple, Alphabet (parent firm behind Google), Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as attempts to "censor content or degrade security for users." These actions, he warns, could also violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act that prohibits unfair or deceptive acts, while eroding Americans' freedoms and online security.

"Foreign governments seeking to limit free expression or weaken data security in the United States might count on the fact that companies have an incentive to simplify their operations and legal compliance measures by applying uniform policies across jurisdictions," wrote Ferguson.

This pledge comes only days after the US officials managed to score a win and made the UK agree to drop its encryption backdoor request against Apple, which was issued back in February via a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act.

A greater push for control

(Image credit: Photo Illustration by Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The UK and the EU have pushed for greater control over the internet in the name of safety over the last few years, crafting legislation that often requires US tech providers to adjust their services.

There are two main areas of contention: encryption and harmful, but legal, content.

Encryption refers to the technology used by security software like the best VPN apps, secure email, and encrypted messaging apps to keep online communications private between you and the receiver.

While that's a crucial protection – especially as major cyberattacks like Salt Typhoon become the norm – authorities see this as an obstacle to criminal investigation and are pushing for the creation of backdoors into encrypted software.

The likes of Signal and WhatsApp have already voiced their concerns against laws and proposals such as the UK Online Safety Act and EU Chat Control.

US tech firms and officials alike have also been raising concerns about new UK and EU requirements to mitigate online dangers by halting the spread of misinformation and content that could harm minors.

These frictions led the Trump administration to consider imposing sanctions on the EU for censoring Americans and imposing higher costs on US tech firms under its Digital Service Act – Reuters reported on Monday, August 26.

You might also like

• Europe needs to decouple from Big Tech USA: Here are 5 ways it can be achieved
• The Online Safety Act isn't just about age verification – end-to-end encryption is also at risk
• "A war against online anonymity" – why Switzerland wants to change its surveillance law and what's at stake

How do you heal the wounds of war? That is the mission of Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a reconstructive and plastic surgeon at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

(Image credit: Diego Ibarra Sanchez for NPR)

At a time when Congressional Republicans are generally opting against town halls, Missouri Rep. Mark Alford is embarking on a four-day, 15-stop tour to meet with constituents.

(Image credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel))

• The ROG Xbox Ally X's early benchmark indicates strengths in power efficiency and cooling
• Gaming at 18W TDP with frame generation yields high frame-rates in Doom: The Dark Ages with low temperatures
• Pricing is still not confirmed ahead of its October 16 launch

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launch isn't too far away, with the handheld landing on October 16 to challenge the best handheld gaming PCs on the market. However, early benchmarks have given us an insight into what we should expect performance-wise – and I'm not convinced just yet.

As highlighted by Windows Report, the ROG Xbox Ally X excels at power efficiency and cooling, based on early benchmarks by Cary Golomb on X. At 18W TDP (Thermal Power Design or, essentially, power consumption) with FSR upscaling, ray tracing, and frame generation enabled, it hit 70fps in intensive sequences in Doom: The Dark Ages.

This was achieved while using AMD's Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme processor, with the GPU load at 97%, and the temperature remaining stable at 57C. Gamers will be able to save plenty of battery life while using the Xbox Ally X on the go, thanks to its 80Wh battery, and this early benchmark is a clear indication of that.

ROG Xbox ALLY X Doom the Dark Ages1080p upscaled (FSR 50% 540p base res)Ray Tracing enabledCustom low-medium settingsFSR Frame-gen enabled.~70fps in this scene.~26w total (~18w TDP) but good news is we see the system self balancing power.My YouTube video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/v6gh6uhpkhAugust 22, 2025

However, without the use of frame gen in this early benchmark, the frame rate would likely fall between 35 to 40fps, which isn't that much better than you would get with the Z2 Extreme's predecessor, the Z1 Extreme.

It's unclear whether the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor used in the ROG Xbox Ally will show significant performance differences over the standard Z2 Extreme. One thing that's clear to me (based on early showcases), though, is that this handheld isn't impressive enough to warrant a high price tag.

Analysis: A minor improvement from the Ryzen Z1 Extreme isn't worth the cost

Now, I must reiterate that the price for the ROG Xbox Ally X isn't confirmed and is due to be announced later in September once pre-orders become available. However, all the signs from rumors and leaks point towards the device costing €899 – that would work out to around $1,050 (about £775 / AU$1,600) or potentially more. If that's the case, then its future success could be in the balance.

It's worth noting that the ROG Xbox Ally will be the cheaper and less powerful alternative, reportedly costing €599 (which should be around $700, or about £520 / AU$1,070), but its Ryzen Z2A with RDNA 2 architecture is highly unlikely to challenge the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Based on benchmarks between the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the performance jump does not appear to be significant enough to warrant paying $1,000; the original Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go handhelds can be found much cheaper on sale.

As I've said before, I've got my eye on the Lenovo Legion Go S using the Z1 Extreme, since it's the only reasonable upgrade for me with 32GB of RAM and an 8-inch screen. Any other handheld is priced too high, and unfortunately, it looks like the ROG Xbox Ally X is joining that list, too.

You might also like...

• Best Xbox One games 2025: top titles to play right now
• New Xbox Series X games 2025 - the most anticipated Xbox release dates
• Where to buy the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handhelds: latest pre-order details, key information, and best early retailer links to bookmark now

• Square Enix has announced the dates for Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival 2026
• The three events take place next year across the US, Europe, and Japan
• We can likely expect the first details of the game's next expansion to be revealed

Great news, fellow Warriors of Light: Square Enix has just announced the official dates for Final Fantasy 14's Fan Festival 2026.

In case you're new to the popular MMORPG, or are generally unfamiliar, Fan Festival (usually shortened to 'Fan Fest') is a bi-annual in-person convention meant to celebrate everything Final Fantasy 14. You can usually expect game-related challenges, musical performances, cosplay contests and the like.

More importantly, though, is that developer Creative Studio 3 - including game director Naoki Yoshida - typically reveals the first details of Final Fantasy 14's next expansion at Fan Fest. So whether you're going in-person or not, you'll certainly want to tune in if you're a fan of the game.

The first of next year's Fan Fest events is to take place at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, US, on April 24, 2026. The second is three months later at Messe Berlin, Germany, on July 25. Finally, Tokyo's Makuhari Messe will host the last of three Fan Fests on October 31. Spooky!

Typically a two-day event, each Fan Fest gradually reveals more information about Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion. If next year's events follow similar patterns, we can expect preliminary info and a title drop at the US convention. More detailed info, including new areas, jobs (read: classes), extended trailers and release date will then be revealed at the European and Japanese-based events.

While we won't know the next expansion's official release date for a while, we can speculate based off of Tokyo's Dawntrail Fan Fest, for the game's current major expansion. That took place on January 7, 2024, with the expansion launching roughly six months later on July 2.

With the next Tokyo Fan Fest airing on October 31 - November 1, there are some concerns among the fanbase that we may not get to play Final Fantasy 14's next expansion until mid-2027. That would be an awful long time to wait, so hopefully, we can expect to play it a little earlier than what we might think.

You might also like...

• Fortnite Dino Megazord release date and what to expect from the new Power Rangers skin
• 'Just rely on backwards compatibility' – Switch 2 dev kits aren't making their way to some studios, and it could be a deliberate move from Nintendo
• The next Nintendo Direct showcase will reportedly air next month, just in time for Super Mario Bros.' 40th anniversary

• Report find CISOs are less confident in their staff protecting their companies
• Nearly twice as many experienced a material data loss this year
• Many are worried about AI’s risks, some are set to use it to their benefits

Barely more than half (57%) of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) believe staff understand their role in protecting the company, new research from Proofpoint has claimed.

The figure is down from 84% in 2024, and comes alongside a finding that despite their best efforts and investments in preventative measures, human error remains the top vulnerability, cited by around three in five CISOs.

This comes as three in four (74%) UK CISOs experienced material data loss in the past year – nearly double the 39% in 2024.

UK CISOs are worried that workers are risking their companies

Proofpoint's research added 86% of the material data loss instances involved departing employees, yet despite awareness programs, 30% of organizations still lack insider risk resources.

Looking ahead, nearly two-thirds (63%) are expecting a material cyberattack in the next 12 months, and yet nearly as many (61%) admit their organization is unprepared to respond with 57% prepared to pay a ransom to quickly restore systems or prevent data leaks.

Cybercriminals aside (as AI tools have lowered the entry barrier while simultaneously boosting attack sophistication), CISOs are also worried about AI use within their companies. Two in three (66%) restrict employee GenAI use altogether, with only 60% boasting GenAI usage guidelines.

“As GenAI adoption accelerates both opportunity and threat, CISOs are being asked to do more with less, navigate unprecedented complexity, and still safeguard what matters most,” Proofpoint Global Resident CISO Patrick Joyce noted.

Still, more than half (55%) are exploring AI-enhanced defenses moving forward, with 72% prioritizing safe GenAI use over the next two years.

“CISOs now face a dual responsibility: harnessing AI to strengthen their security posture while ensuring its ethical and responsible use,” Proofpoint Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Kalember added.

However, all of this has resulted in increased pressure on CISOs – 67% report excessive expectations (up from 62% last year), and 58% have either experienced or witnessed burnout in the past year.

Kalember noted that CISOs have now become central to company decision-making, however Proofpoint’s research revealed boardroom alignment with UK CISOs has declined from 84% in 2024 to 57% in 2025, suggesting they’re not getting the support they need.

Looking ahead, companies can make subtle changes to close the insider risk gap and to enhance data loss protection while also establishing CISO role clarity in the AI era.

You might also like

• We’ve listed the best endpoint protection software
• Prepare for evolving attacks with the best ransomware protection
• UK firms at at risk of more cyber incidents - here's how to stay protected

The browser wars are back — only this time, the battleground isn’t tabs or load times. It’s intelligence.

A new wave of AI-powered browsers promises to transform how we interact with the web, turning passive pages into active assistants that summarize, search, automate, and act on your behalf. But while the tech may feel novel, the business model behind it isn’t. These browsers don’t just offer smarter tools — they risk ushering in a new era of data extraction, baked into the very architecture of how we browse.

On 9 July, Perplexity launched Comet — a slick new browser that promises to revolutionize how we interact with the web using embedded AI assistants. Soon, OpenAI is expected to follow, reportedly designing its browser to take on Google Chrome by baking agentic AI models directly into the browsing experience. These models won’t just help you navigate the web — they’ll act on your behalf, making decisions, summarizing content, and even initiating tasks.

For all the talk of innovation, though, there’s an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu. Because while the front end may be changing, the business model behind it all feels eerily familiar — surveillance, packaged as convenience.

Privacy failures

We’ve been down this road before. For anyone who remembers Cambridge Analytica or Google’s $5 billion Incognito tracking lawsuit, the idea that tech companies might exploit user data in the name of progress shouldn’t come as a surprise.

What is surprising, though, is how quickly AI companies are embracing the very same privacy failures that landed their Web 2.0 predecessors in hot water. Comet, for instance, reportedly tracks “everything users do online” to build hyper-personalized ad profiles — a move straight out of the early-2000s Google playbook.

But this isn’t just a repeat of the past. The stakes are much higher now. AI systems don’t simply store information — they learn from it. They don’t just record your browsing history — they analyze it, infer your intent, predict your preferences, and adapt to your behavior. This isn’t passive tracking. It’s predictive, persuasive, and increasingly invisible.

Invisibility

And that invisibility is part of the problem. When a browser starts finishing your sentences, anticipating your questions, and helping with your emails, it feels like magic. But behind that seamless experience is a complex black box trained on your digital life. And unlike cookies or ad IDs, this kind of data isn’t easily wiped.

Once an AI model ingests your personal information, there’s no reliable way to make it forget. What goes in becomes part of the model’s DNA — shaping its outputs long after you’ve closed the tab.

Some argue that users understand this trade-off — that people are willingly giving up privacy for smarter tools. But let’s not pretend “I agree” on a 12,000-word terms of service means informed consent.

Most users don’t know what they’re giving away, let alone how it might be used months or years down the line. We’ve normalized this kind of ambient data collection to the point that it barely registers as a privacy issue anymore. That doesn’t make it harmless. It just makes it harder to spot.

Building user trust

As the founder of Aloha Browser, I’ve spent years watching the industry flirt with these trade-offs. I understand the temptation to lean into data-driven personalization. But I also know that building user trust requires restraint, not reach. Respecting people’s boundaries shouldn’t be considered radical — it should be the baseline.

The urgency of this moment isn’t just technical — it’s also regulatory. Earlier this month, the European Commission released a voluntary Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, marking the first major milestone in the rollout of the EU’s AI Act.

Full compliance will become mandatory by August 2026, but these early guidelines already signal the direction of travel — transparency, documentation, and accountability. Europe now has the chance to lead by example — to show that it’s possible to build transformative AI products without reverting to the surveillance capitalism model that defined the last digital era.

Invisible surveillance

But regulation moves slowly, and the industry doesn’t wait. The AI browsers launching now will set precedents — technical, legal, and cultural — that could shape the next decade of digital life.

If we let these tools define “normal” before the rules catch up, we may find ourselves trapped in an architecture of invisible surveillance that’s far more entrenched than anything we faced in Web 2.0. If we’re not careful, today’s AI browsers could usher in a form of surveillance even more pervasive — and less visible — than anything we saw with Cambridge Analytica.

We don’t have to accept that outcome. If we don’t fight for privacy now, we’ll lose it — not with a bang, but with an instant, frictionless click.

We've featured the best business VPN.

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

Financial services firms are no strangers to cyberattacks, often facing some of the most expensive consequences. In 2024, the average cost of a data breach in the financial industry worldwide was $6.08 million, while the global average cost of a data breach across all studied industries was $4.88 million.

The growth of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has amplified this threat. Today’s attackers often operate within organized networks that leverage AI-driven technologies for target selection, breach execution, and extortion. This is a particular challenge for financial services, already a key target by cybercriminals thanks to the sector’s lucrative assets and sensitive data.

To counteract this rising tide, the EU introduced the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) earlier this year - a sweeping regulation that mandates enhanced risk management, incident reporting, and third-party oversight in the financial sector. For financial institutions, compliance with DORA is more than a tick-box exercise, it’s a strategic imperative for operational survival.

A structured path to resilience

DORA’s framework provides financial institutions with a structured path to resilience by requiring institutions to develop comprehensive strategies for identifying, reporting, and mitigating information and communications technology (ICT)-related incidents. In the context of ransomware, the regulation emphasizes the importance of early detection, accurate reporting, and verified data integrity.

When a ransomware attack occurs, the initial response window, often within the first hour, is critical. Swift, coordinated actions can mean the difference between a controlled incident and a full-scale operational crisis. As a result, DORA compels financial organizations to establish and regularly test detailed response plans, ensuring staff are trained and roles are clearly defined.

One of the cornerstones of compliance is the ICT risk management audit, which involves identifying all types, locations, and classifications of data and storage infrastructure. To do this effectively, organizations must adopt tools that provide full visibility into their data environments, as this allows for rapid and accurate reporting when incidents occur. These tools can link isolated datasets and apply uniform security policies across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, saving a business large amounts in downtime damages.

Ensuring data visibility and control

cybercriminals increasingly targeting critical data sites, IT teams are now required to continuously monitor for infrastructure anomalies. This is particularly important in cell-level data corruption, a stealthy form of attack where malicious code is embedded deep within databases, lying dormant until it’s triggered to corrupt vital assets. These attacks are difficult to detect and can undermine trust in the integrity of the entire dataset.

The key effective countermeasure is to maintain secure, immutable backups that are regularly tested for integrity and can be restored rapidly if needed.

AI plays a vital role here. Modern AI tools can detect anomalies in user behavior, flag potential compromises, and automate the process of isolating malware-infected backups. By continuously scanning for subtle changes in data patterns, these systems serve as an early warning mechanism, triggering immediate recovery and minimizing disruption.

To be effective, backup systems must also be resilient themselves. This means ensuring that storage locations are physically secure, regularly tested, and not connected to the network in a way that would allow them to be compromised during an attack. Immutable storage is increasingly seen as a best practice, as it ensures data cannot be altered once written.

Speed matters: responding to an active threat

Once a ransomware attack is detected, a fast response is required . IT teams must act swiftly to isolate affected systems and end-users, minimizing the potential spread of malware. Data management tools enable teams to quickly identify which datasets have been accessed or altered, allowing for precise damage assessment and targeted recovery.

If backups have been properly maintained, organizations can restore data without paying a ransom. However, in order to avoid fines for non-compliance and to assist regulatory investigations, institutions must also be able to accurately report the specifics of the attack, including the strain of ransomware involved and its impact on operations.

Building a culture of preparedness

True cyber resilience doesn’t begin in the moment of attack, it starts with preparation. DORA mandates that financial services providers not only implement technical defenses but also cultivate a culture of readiness and transparency. This includes having a clearly communicated, continually updated ransomware response strategy that extends to third-party service providers.

Failure to comply with DORA can result in substantial penalties, including fines of up to 2% of global annual turnover. Beyond avoiding financial harm, compliance also offers a strategic advantage; it demonstrates to customers and partners that an institution can be trusted to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational continuity in the face of threats.

The future of data protection

As ransomware threats continue to evolve, financial institutions must shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience. Regulatory frameworks like DORA offer not only a roadmap for compliance but an opportunity to strengthen operational integrity and customer trust. By investing in visibility, rapid response capabilities, and a culture of preparedness, organizations can not only meet regulatory expectations—but emerge stronger, more secure, and more competitive in an increasingly high-risk digital environment.

We've featured the best online cybersecurity course.

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

While many boardrooms buzz with excitement about AI, cloud migration, and digital transformation, the reality on the ground tells us a different story. The gap between strategic vision and technical execution is widening, creating what we call the "last mile problem”, where promising technologies fail when they meet the messy reality of legacy systems, data governance, and real-world constraints.

Digital transformation isn’t just a matter of buying the right tools, the right computer, and getting rid of legacy tech. But anyone who has actually tried to implement these technologies on a scale knows the reality is messy and complicated.

As businesses scramble to capitalize on AI, green software, cloud, there is a growing disconnect between technical reality, and grand strategic vision. We call it the ‘Devil’s in the Detail’ approach: a philosophy that embraces the often uncomfortable, technical realities of deploying innovation, where real, lasting transformation occurs.

Many initiatives fail in the ‘last mile’ - we’ve seen this from self-driving cars to retailers implementing new payment systems. Often, the grand vision survives until it meets the messy reality of legacy systems, data governance, and cross-border compliance.

Understanding what sounds good in a boardroom presentation versus what works in real life

What sets builders apart from talkers isn’t always just the technical expertise - it's understanding that implementation is strategy. Consider the challenge of AI bias mitigation, a priority that generates significant attention across every industry, from automotive giants to the NHS and schools across the UK.

The technical reality is often more complex than typical policy discussions suggest. Everyone agrees AI bias is bad, but practically speaking, it’s extremely difficult to get your hands on digitized data in certain languages or from underrepresented groups to actually train the bias out of an LLM model - what you put in, you get out. Even if you could, there are often substantial compliance issues when it comes to moving sensitive data across borders.

More fundamentally, addressing AI bias requires understanding the full data lifecycle, from collection and preprocessing through model training and deployment. Each stage introduces potential bias amplification that technical teams must identify and mitigate. This requires expertise that spans machine learning, data engineering, regulatory compliance, and domain-specific knowledge about the business processes being automated.

This represents the operational reality that technology consultancies must navigate. Bridging the gap between strategic intent and technical execution. The approach requires organisations to maintain rigorous standards while managing client expectations around feasibility and timelines. A practical step may also be an ‘AI/Data Officer’ in the room when discussing plans for tech strategy. It’s something we use to make sure that the goals being shared will match technical execution.

Making new tech ready for prime time

How can organizations make new tech ready for prime time? It’s about making sure the approach works in the real world, not just in word documents. This approach is particularly crucial in retail, where the gap between digital transformation promises and delivery reality can make or break customer experiences. A checkout system that works beautifully in testing but crashes under Black Friday traffic volumes isn't just a technical failure; it's a business catastrophe.

The organizations that thrive in digital transformation recognize that implementation complexity is not a barrier to overcome but a competitive advantage to master. The technical depth required to navigate these challenges becomes a differentiating capability in markets where strategic vision alone is insufficient.

As media narratives elevate hype over practicality, the businesses that succeed will be those who can decode the messy middle, not just theorise from the top. The devil, as they say, is in the detail, and that's exactly where real transformation happens.

Technical expertise becomes a strategic asset when organizations understand that successful digital transformation requires mastery of implementation complexity rather than just conceptual innovation. Companies that invest in deep technical capabilities, understanding distributed systems, data governance, and integration patterns, create sustainable competitive advantages that can't be easily replicated through strategic planning alone.

Decoding the messy middle

The broader lesson here is that enterprise technology transformation isn't just about adopting new tools or the shiniest new product. It's about understanding how those tools actually work in complex, real-world environments. As media narratives elevate hype over practicality, the businesses that succeed will be those who can decode the messy middle, not just theorize from the top.

Lots of people have lofty points of view on AI, cloud, and responsible tech. But these technologies are usually much more complicated when you lift up the hood. Untangling this complexity is hard and important. It's a reminder that in an industry obsessed with the next big thing, sometimes the most valuable skill is knowing how to make the current big thing work. The devil, as they say, is in the detail. And that's exactly where real transformation happens.

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