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The New York Times reported Musk would be getting a briefing on U.S. plans for any potential war against China. The Trump administration pushed back, saying this is false.

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan)

• NAKIVO patched a high-severity flaw in November 2024
• However CISA has now added it to KEV, signalling abuse in the wild
• The bug can lead to remote code execution

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added a NAKIVO bug to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, signaling in-the-wild abuse and giving government agencies a deadline to apply the provided patch.

The bug in question is tracked as CVE-2024-48248. It is an absolute path traversal vulnerability affecting the Backup & Replication software, in versions before 11.0.0.88174.

It has a severity score of 8.6/10 (high) and can lead to remote code execution across the vulnerable enterprise.

CISA's deadline

The bug was patched in November 2024, two months after being tipped off by watchTowr Labs.

"Exploiting this vulnerability could expose sensitive data, including configuration files, backups, and credentials, potentially leading to data breaches or further security compromises," NAKIVO said in its security advisory.

While the security advisory does not discuss the idea of abuse in the wild, CISA removed any doubt when it added the bug to the KEV catalog. Now, Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies have three weeks (until April 9), to apply the patch, or stop using the NAKIVO product entirely.

"These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise," CISA said.

While FCEB agencies are mandated by the Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01, commercial businesses are not. It would still be wise to follow CISA’s lead and apply the patch, especially knowing that cybercriminals are actively exploiting the bug.

NAKIVO is a US-based company, specializing in backup, ransomware protection, and disaster recovery solutions for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments.

Backup & Replication is its flagship product, supporting platforms such as VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, Amazon AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Microsoft 365, and various NAS devices.

According to some reports, the company has 25,000 customers in 183 countries and a network of over 7,500 partners worldwide. Some of its clients include Honda, Cisco, Coca-Cola, and Siemens. Their clientele spans multiple industries, including IT, hospitality, government, and education.

Via BleepingComputer

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Many Pentagon materials now labeled as "DEI" were a bit more like advertisements — aimed at recruits who have shown a willingness to serve, military experts tell NPR.

(Image credit: Mike Groll)

Apple is a fantastic tech company that is, perhaps, not having its best moment. It failed to deliver the AI Siri update we were promised, it's being pestered by the EU to open its secret sauce to competitors, its iPhone 16e failed to inspire, and it hasn't had a major category splash in a while.

I want Apple to step out of its comfort zone and show us what it's working on, specifically in the folding space. This might be the best way for it to reclaim the conversation and, perhaps, inspire a new legion of future Apple customers.

It's not that the work on Siri isn't important or worth pursuing. I desperately want a better Siri, but I think what I miss is Apple delivering FOMO-inducing products.

A new vision

Those who insist that Vision Pro, unveiled almost two years ago, was it, a reminder that Apple could do big things, they're right, in a way. The Vision Pro remains an almost unmatched piece of engineering but has not moved the consumer needle.

This is partly because it's so expensive but also because of the fundamental limits of what people are willing to wear on their faces for extended periods of time.

Apple's steady stream of new utility apps and services, like Journal, Sports, and News+ Food, are not it and I won't even bother to argue the point.

You might counsel me to be patient. After all, that promised Siri update is now, possibly back on track thanks to rumored new leadership in the person of Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell. I happen to agree with Daring Fireball's John Gruber that the real news here is Apple Senior Vice President Software Engineering Craig Federighi is now in charge of the Siri project (Rockwell reports to him).

The delivery of a Siri that can dig into your phone and use your data to help you live a better digital life is good but also just a fulfillment of a promise made at WWDC2024. It's not something new and not the reset Apple needs.

Similarly, excellent iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, AirPods, and iPad updates are not it – though I welcome all of them.

Let's get folding

(Image credit: Ming-Chi Kuo)

A folding iPhone, however, comes very close to a new product category since there's nothing else quite like it in the Apple product corral. It'll potentially be a true hybrid between a smartphone and a small tablet.

Current rumors have it launching in 2026 (a larger folding iPad could follow in 2027). That's not soon enough. Apple needs something this year.

My hope is that Apple will tease its first folding device at WWDC 2025. It's something of a necessity to distract from what Apple has failed to deliver: a Siri that knows your screen as well as it does you and can act on all that information.

Apple will have to address Siri and make fresh iOS 19 promises, ones it has a better chance of delivering with this rumored new leadership. But it'll still feel mostly like a mop-up.

Apple can essentially wave its hands and point in the direction of this new folding device, completely distracting consumers and media from the less-than-sunny Siri story.

I'm not suggesting Apple launch the phone in June, but a brief video and even Apple CEO Tim Cook standing on stage at Apple Park with a prototype could be a game changer.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

As much as I'd like to see it, I still don't expect Apple to unveil the foldable in September along with the iPhone 17 lineup, but that should not stop them from doing something extraordinary, like teasing an upcoming smartphone design breakthrough.

You might argue that this is not Apple's way, and you'd be right, but Apple hasn't necessarily been itself lately.

It has yet to address the true state of the Vision Pro. It failed to deliver a true AI Siri and fully enter the AI race, and even its efforts to update its "budget" iPhone with the iPhone 16e left many confused.

It's time for Apple to return to surprising people with one more eye-popping thing

Apple has in recent years, done extremely well with services and has had a cultural phenomenon hit on its hands with Severance, but content and annuity-based services are not, I'd argue, what drives Apple or its consumers.

It's time for Apple to return to surprising people with one more eye-popping thing and the folding iPhone would be perfect. We know it's hidden somewhere at Apple Park, where engineers try to make it perfect, perhaps the best folding smartphone ever.

That's fine, keep at it, but give us something at WWDC to keep customers inspired and remind everyone that Apple is still very good at being Apple.

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The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 is a beautiful desk. It's sleek and modern and has been purposefully designed to appeal to the creative and "sleek-tech-loving" markets. On the purchasing page, Autonomous touts that many big-tech employees have purchased this desk from Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and more.

Over the last several years, the concept of something being "what Apple would do" has been a common way to describe things. Apple has a distinguished way of designing simplistic and minimalistic beauty in their products. I see Apple or Google releasing this desk. It's clean, well-designed, minimal, smooth, elegant and beautiful, and in this regard, it's one of the best standing desks I've tested.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Autonomous SmartDesk 5: Price and Availability

The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 is sold for $599 through the Autonomous website by clicking here, and through selected retailers. They have bulk discounts if you're buying for the office, and they have two height options. Three colorway options allow you to pick the best color for your space.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Autonomous SmartDesk 5: Unboxing & first impressions

The packaging for the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 is well-organized and very secure. All parts arrived in excellent condition without a scratch or a dent in the pieces. In one box, I got the desktop itself; in another, I got the legs, feet, and other accessories.

Right off the bat, I loved how smooth the desktop texture was and how simple the setup was. All the necessary parts were in the box, though I used my electric screwdriver set to speed things up.

Once everything was put together, I quickly grabbed a mouse to check just how great the tracking was since this is something that Autonomous heavily promotes. The mouse on the desk's surface was accurate, responsive, and uncomfortable. Granted, I still prefer the feel of a deskpad, but that may be due to familiarity. I tried out an Apple Magic Mouse, a Logitech MX Master 3, a Logitech MX Anywhere, a mouse from ProtoArc, and even a Dell mouse. All of them tracked well on the surface of the Smart Desk 5.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

I'm happy to see C-shaped legs on this desk. I've tried a lot of different desk leg types, and for most people, C-shaped is the way to go. It helps get the legs out of the way of your... well, legs... and pushes them back so you won't knock your knees while twisting around in your fancy ergonomic chair.

Another thing that I loved was the cable management. I'm used to having this be a feature or add-on that I must assemble or figure out independently. There are some offerings from Ergonofis, and I have come to love some more from Flexispot, but they have frequently been add-ons. With the Smart Desk 5, though, it's built-in. There is a nice drop-down that tucks things away nicely. However, I had to add another power strip on the back right of the desk because my desks usually need more than four outlets, but hey, that's just me. You could run a simpler desk. I would like to have mine ready for anything and serve multiple purposes.

The last thing I'll mention on first impressions is the control surface. This reminds me of the Beflo Tenon or several others moving to this surface-mounted control panel. While these are super nice not to hit your chair on, using the desk is a very different experience. For example, if you are someone who uses a desk pad, now you need to keep an eye out for not hitting this pad, or if you rest your arms on the desk, lean on the desk, or put things on your desk other than work, all of those are scenarios in which you need to watch out, but all in all, it's not a bad thing at all.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Autonomous SmartDesk 5: Design & build quality Specs

Dimensions: 53”L x 29”W x 1.2”H
Frame Type: C-frame design
Motor Type: Dual motors
Height Range: Adjustable from 24" to 50"
Weight Capacity: Up to 330 lbs
Surface Material: High-density fiberboard (HDF) with smooth-touch finish
Color Options: Meteor Grey, Titanium White, Stone Desert
Control Panel: Integrated touchscreen
Cable Management: Built-in system with power outlets

The Autonomous Smart Desk 5 is made of a 1.2-inch HDF material on the desk, with a C-shaped frame, legs, rounded edges, and three modern colorways. In addition to these high-quality materials, Autonomous includes bag hooks, a touchscreen built into the top of the desk, and fantastic cable management, helping the design feel streamlined and minimal while staying highly functional and beautiful.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Autonomous SmartDesk 5: In use

I've had this desk in rotation for a while now, and it's been great so far. There have been a few instances where the touchscreen takes a second to respond, but other than that, this desk is terrific. As you can see in the photos, I have it set up with a single BenQ RD320UA monitor, the Grovemade Studio Pad and vertical laptop holder, the Logitech MX Master 3, the SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard, a cheap desk shelf off Amazon and a few other accessories.

I wanted to create a relaxing yet multi-functional workspace for one of my team members, and the SmartDesk 5 is the perfect candidate. It's decent, not too big or small, and the material is gorgeous in most locations. I've had this desk set up in a couple of different places to test it out, and in all of them, this grey looked stunning.

As I mentioned, the touch control can be slow to respond sometimes. Regardless, having the three-height presets has been great. I could set this desk at an excellent sitting height, a great "working on something height," and a wonderful "standing and working" height. Sadly, I wish to move the studio pad down a hair more, but it stops at the top of the built-in keypad. However, this is not the end of the world.

While the materials used, the great size, the smooth mechanics, the sleek top, and the rounded edges are all great, the actual great feature of this desk is the cable management. As I mentioned, it's not only great but easily expandable. I added a power strip (admittedly, one I had from FlexiSpot) to the back right of the desk to give me some more outlets since I knew this would be a powerful, multi-use desk. Other than that, having the drop-down for quickly accessing and adjusting, having the spot to wrap cables, and having it all lift and tuck away is beautiful, and I hope other desk companies are taking note.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Autonomous SmartDesk 5: Final verdict

As a desk for the masses, the SmartDesk 5 delivers. It's an all-around excellent desk; it's beautiful, sleek, smart (heh, SmartDesk), functional, and durable. It's built for professionals, though it could be used by gamers, home officers, creatives, or anyone looking for a quality desk.

In Atomfall, you play as a total unknown, risen from a bunker and confronted by a bleeding scientist begging for help. Whether you assist them or not is up to you, but what’s important to know is that you’re in the Windscale Atom Zone, you shouldn’t be here, and ‘it’s all gone wrong’.

One more thing, actually, is that the only way out is through the ‘Interchange’... whatever that is. Armed with a keycard and literally nothing else, you emerge from the dingy, dilapidated bunker into a gorgeous world flush with as many blooming flowers as there are gun-toting lunatics.

From this point on, the choice of where you go is entirely up to you, the only obstacle in your way being how long you can stay alive. Decisions make up most of Atomfall, an intriguing role-playing game (RPG) that takes cues from Bethesda’s beloved Fallout series. It dances between enthralling and frustrating, but all told, Atomfall is a hilarious jaunt through rural Britain that begs the question – why aren’t more survival games set in the north?

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 24, 2025

On my journey out of the bunker, I opted for a conflict-averse route, trailing past a ringing telephone booth and down toward the central plot point on the horizon: a dangerous-looking power plant featuring a plume of swirling purple around it. Down the country lane, I came upon a ginger bearded straggler, Nat, who generously caught me up on the town gossip.

Between bouts of endearing slang, Nat explains that the ‘boffins’ are all gone after an incident at the plant and that all that remains are loons and outlaws. Before taking my leave, Nat offered me one more piece of information: there’s a trader down the way who could help me find some survival goods.

Chasing leads is a major part of Atomfall's semi-apocalyptic gameplay loop. In place of specific missions or levels, your job is to chinwag with as many willing non-player characters (NPCs) as possible to find clues about what is happening and who you could be.

The other half of your time is spent managing your heart rate as you bludgeon strangers and loot as much ammunition, bandages, and cornish pasties as your inventory will allow. It’s a simple set-up that’s surprisingly challenging, with essential items like cloth and gunpowder appearing sparsely across the map, limiting your ammo and healing supplies.

Thankfully, if you did want to make things slightly more beginner-friendly, Atomfall’s comprehensively customizable difficulty options allow you to tweak specific gameplay aspects like item drop rates and NPC aggro into a specific ‘playstyle’.

(Image credit: Rebellion) Knackered and afraid

There is a series of central districts to explore as you wander across Atomfall’s approachably sized map, with pathways connecting each area. Some are clear to find and appear as menacing metal doors, while others are obscured and hidden within cave systems, or behind enemy lines.

You can crawl under broken doors, vault over fences and windows, and squeeze between cracked cement blocks in search of new spots, and I was impressed by how vulnerable I felt while trying to navigate the claustrophobic housing clusters, ruins, and mines. I certainly didn’t explore every nook and cranny in my campaign, but the shortcuts I earned soon became a blessing, aiding with the fatigue of sprinting between one district to get to another.

On its recommended difficulty setting, Atomfall’s map doesn’t add specific waypoints when you pick up leads to follow and instead requires you to discern your next move with the information at hand. Some folks will help you orienteer, but for the most part, it’s you and your sense of direction.

At first, this fed into my decision anxiety, and I wasn’t sure where to turn, though soon enough, I let my intuition take the wheel, dashing through fields, flashing my sickle at anyone who looked at me the wrong way and getting into a few heavy-handed scraps. It’s a refreshing approach to exploration that leads to many thrilling encounters, far from the typical hand-holding we’ve come to expect in contemporary RPGs.

As you chart Atomfall’s major districts you’ll come face-to-face with the factions that ultimately come to define your experience in this morally-murky playground. There’s the brutish British infantry known as Protocol, the heretic-hating Druids, and vicious, Droog-like Outlaws. In the wild, you can also find curious outliers like trapped scientists, rogue traders, stately poshos and infected monsters who all have their own prerogatives, the last one being your brains.

Unfortunately, Atomfall’s narrative isn’t nearly as thorough as Fallout: New Vegas and the questions it lays up don’t all have satisfying answers. But there are still tough — if not a little predictable – decisions to be made in its endgame. Best of all, the lead ensemble of NPCs is a memorable bunch who approach this imagination-stoking situation with challenging perspectives, colored in with witty dialogue.

Best bit: Not elementary, my dear Watson

Progressing in Atomfall isn’t just about firepower. To move forward, you’ll also have to dust off your best deerstalker and investigate the motivations behind the various factions that litter the broken British landscape. Alongside conversing with the straight-faced locals, you can pilfer their belongings and find secret notes that allude to their true feelings, summoning campaign-changing leads that are worth following up on. You can also shoot first and ask questions later, of course – just be sure not to take everything at face value.

Atomfall hides a creative post-currency trading system between its complex moral figureheads. Instead of trawling the dales for pounds and pennies, the items you collect accrue a ‘weight’ that can be counterbalanced with another trader’s goods.

Bread isn’t as valuable as a gun, and you’ll need quite a few baker's dozens to earn one. While personally, I think bread is more valuable than a weapon, the process helped to push me into the wilds in search of better bits and bobs — and inevitably into mysterious, illuminating outposts, I would have never found otherwise.

Alas, if bartering doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s also a crafting system where you can turn the objects you find into functional parts and subsist that way. With plenty of systems at play and a small-but-handy skill tree, I soon felt as if I was tailoring my playthrough as I went, and would find it hard to replicate in another playthrough. Ultimately, Atomfall’s greatest strength is how it makes following your nose so consistently alluring.

(Image credit: Rebellion) Fighting words

Yet despite all the engaging interactions with leaders and citizens, Atomfall’s more limited gameplay suite can shatter some of the immersion. For example, I could go into the pub and chat with the owner about trading. Then, walk behind him, steal his stuff, and sell it back to him, no questions asked.

Certain areas are restricted, signified by a ‘Trespassing’ graphic at the top of the screen. However, the distinction felt at odds with my actions—Why was I more likely to get punished for robbing an empty house than a town hall in front of a military captain?

At one point, I tested the boundaries by killing a soldier in the light of day. With no comrades around, I silently took him out and fled the scene briefly. Upon my return, it appeared nothing had changed, with soldiers spouting the same few lines as if one of them hadn’t been murdered.

The captain didn’t seem bothered, either. Beyond the major and often-material impact of major decisions (as well as a few tannoy announcements), I didn’t get the moment-to-moment sense that anyone was all that aware of my plots and schemes, or who I was planning to betray for the narrative I wanted.

(Image credit: Rebellion)

And while Atomfall’s combat is appropriately desperate, it’s also a bit janky and lethargic, lacking a few conventional coats of polish. Particularly, the enemy AI is aberrant, and will often react in an unusual manner that can shut down your dreams of a rewarding stealthy infiltration. Lacklustre platforming also takes the wind out of the game’s sails, with what may feel like simple maneuvers often taking a few tries.

Despite these limitations, Atomfall does well to keep you on your toes with enemy-shaped speedbumps (read: massive robots) and some slick side quests. There were also plenty of instances where I felt frustrated enough to want to put down the controller before I realized the solution could be much simpler if I approached it from a different angle.

At its best, there are shades of a deeper RPG here, but it doesn’t quite have the mechanical backing to fulfill this proposal. Even so, while the systemic scope of Atomfall isn’t massive, the small world it conjures feels rich and full all the way to its atmospheric finale – or at least the atmospheric finale I chose.

Should you play Atomfall? Play it if...

You love a northern British accent
While many games on the market opt for the BBC British accent, Atomfall leans hard into its Cumbrian setting, providing a variety of accents – beyond British alone – that are a joy to hear.

You want to experience a British post-apocalypse
Technically, Atomfall is a localized event rather than a full-blown apocalypse. Still, seeing a world-shattering event set around the Cumbrian dales is a rare experience that Rebellion does well to imagine.

Don't play it if...

You want fine-tuned gameplay
An intriguing premise does well to paste over the sharper edges of Atomfall’s combat and platforming, which are both fairly mediocre.

Accessibility

You can alter your accessibility settings from the pause menu anytime while playing Atomfall. There are multiple options to tweak your playstyle including combat, survival, and exploration. Each option can be toggled between Assisted, Casual, Challenging, and Intense. Combat impacts the enemy aggression and spawn numbers, Survival affects how frequently loot drops and how generous trading is, and Exploration affects your map and traversal options.

You can toggle how frequently you would like the game to autosave, as well as manually save at any point from the pause menu. From the Gameplay submenu in settings, you can also toggle on Pause Game in Menus to ensure you won’t get into trouble when looking at your inventory or the map.

Where combat is concerned, players can toggle on Melee and Aim Assist, Snap Aiming, and Automatic Fire and Reload. There are also sliders to control Aim, Look, and Hip Fire sensitivity from the Control submenu of the setting. From here you can also switch the controller vibration and adaptive triggers on or off.

For audio, there are multiple sliders to control specific streams of audio such as background SFX and Music. Plus for subtitles, you can change the subtitle color, speaker color, and subtitle box opacity to suit your preferences.

(Image credit: Rebellion) How I reviewed Atomfall

I completed Atomfall’s main story on PlayStation 5 in approximately sixteen hours and experienced two of its multiple endings. I teamed my PS5 console with an AOC 27-inch QHD VA 144Hz gaming monitor, a regular DualSense controller, and external Creative Pebble V2 computer speakers.

First reviewed March 2025

• HP unveiled HP Go, a zero-touch, multi-carrier 5G eSIM solution
• Initially only available in the US, with worldwide deployment to begin in late 2026
• Multi-carrier support with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon

HP has announced a zero touch, multi-carrier 5G eSIM solution designed to keep professionals connected on the go.

Launching in Spring 2025, HP Go looks to eliminate the need for a physical SIM card and manual activation with pre-loaded carrier profiles to ensure instant connectivity from when a device is powered on.

HP Go is not an eSIM for international travel and is only available in the US with plans to deploy worldwide in late 2026 - at launch, it will support multi-carriers including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon allowing automatic switching to the strongest available network.

Decline of physical SIM cards

As remote and hybrid working becomes the norm, tech brands tapping into the growing eSIM market suggest the end of the traditional use of physical SIM cards. At the same time, we have seen global shipments of eSIM volume surpassing half a billion units.

With HP Go, users will receive a factory setting pre-loaded eSIM profile that is ready to use when they turn on their devices and the Windows setup is complete. This zero-touch deployment reduces IT complexity and time. IT administrators can also monitor devices remotely, control access, and analyze real-time data consumption—reducing security risks and hidden costs for businesses.

If you are changing locations while working at your HP Go PC, it will automatically switch from Wi-Fi to 5G and connect to the strongest carrier in the area.

The HP Go eSIM will debut on the HP EliteBook 6 G1q Next Gen AI PC, with additional device compatibility expected in late 2025.

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• The Lenovo Legion Go S powered by AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor will launch on May 25
• The SteamOS Z1 Extreme variant starts at $749.99 while the Z2 Go version starts at $549.99
• The highest configuration using the Z1 Extreme costs $829.99

While we await the introduction of more next-gen handheld gaming PCs, all eyes have been on Lenovo with its Legion Go 2 prototype and the already-launched Legion Go S. Now, the more powerful model of the Go S finally has a release date and price tag - and the latter is not the prettiest.

As reported by Wccftech, the Lenovo Legion Go S (with Windows 11 & SteamOS variants) powered by AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme will officially launch on May 25 alongside SteamOS Z2 Go variants. On Best Buy, the former starts at $749.99 while the long-awaited SteamOS Z2 Go starts at $549.99 - both are available for pre-order now.

Each will have different configurations: the Z1 Extreme processor will be used on both Windows 11 and SteamOS variants using 32GB of RAM. In comparison, the Z2 Go processor will power a new SteamOS model with the choice of 16GB or 32GB of RAM including a storage capacity of either 512GB or 1TB.

The previously-released Legion Go S model with Windows 11 (available at $729.99) is also powered by the Z2 Go processor - and it's safe to say that it didn't compete well against other handhelds on the market. With the Asus ROG Ally seeing frequent price drops and Valve's Steam Deck arguably still the best available in terms of affordability, the prices of these Legion Go S models likely won't do Lenovo any favors. It doesn’t help that this is a fairly messy release slate with multiple differently-priced models, which could potentially confuse buyers.

While the Z1 Extreme processor is no slouch, the highest configuration (with the Z1 Extreme on Windows 11) is available at $829.99 - in other words, you’re paying an extra 80 bucks just to have Windows 11 instead of SteamOS, which feels like a rip-off, especially when anyone with a small amount of know-how could simply install Windows 11 on the device themselves. At around the same price, you can buy the MSI Claw 8 AI+ which excels in performance and battery life for $899.99, making it the better option for gamers.

(Image credit: Lenovo) The only worthwhile upgrade beyond Z1 Extreme-powered handhelds is the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Now, AMD's hotly anticipated Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor hasn't been released yet: the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is expected to be the first handheld gaming PC using the APU (a processor with CPU and GPU on the same die). However, it's not exactly clear how much of a performance leap it will offer over its predecessor, nor does it have a definite launch date.

In the meantime, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ provides fantastic performance across the board, outperforming Team Red's Z1 Extreme using Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor - and notably, it uses an 80WHr battery (also present in the Asus ROG Ally X) compared to the Legion Go S' 55WHr battery. The Claw manages to provide high and stable frame rates in multiple games, even at lower TDPs.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the price for MSI's handheld is a bit too high - and like I've said before, just buy a desktop gaming PC or laptop at that point - but, if you're adamant about handheld portability and high performance is up your alley, then right now you should look no further than the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Alternatively, shoppers looking for value first should be strongly considering the Asus ROG Ally.

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• Veeam released a patch for a 9.9/10 severity flaw that can lead to RCE
• It was found in Veeam Backup & Restoration
• The bug only works on installations joined to a domain

Veeam released a patch for a critical-level vulnerability recently discovered in its Backup & Replication software.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-23120, is described as a deserialization flaw that allows authenticated domain users to conduct remote code execution (RCE) attacks. It was given a severity score of 9.9/10 (critical), and affects Veeam Backup & Replication 12.3.0.310 and all earlier version 12 builds.

It was fixed with version 12.3.1 (build 12.3.1.1139).

Blacklists and whitelists

The bug was discovered by cybersecurity researchers watchTowr Labs, who slammed Veeam for the way it addresses deserialization problems:

“It seems Veeam, despite being a ransomware gang's favorite play toy - didn’t learn after the lesson given by Frycos in previous research published. You guessed it - they fixed the deserialization issues by adding entries to their deserialization blacklist,” the researchers explained.

Adding entries to a deserialization blacklist doesn’t work because hackers can always find new avenues, and the developers will always end up being reactive to their behavior, watchTowr explained. Instead, it suggests Veeam should opt for a whitelist approach.

Despite its critical severity, the bug is not that simple to explicit since it only impacts Veeam Backup & Replication installations joined to a domain.

On the downside, any domain user can exploit the bug. BleepingComputer claims that “many companies” joined their Veeam server to a Windows domain, “ignoring the company’s long-standing best practices.”

The same publication claims that ransomware gangs already told them they always target Veeam Backup & Replication servers, since they are an easy way into archives of sensitive information, and allow them to block any restoration and backup efforts.

At press time, there were no reports of in-the-wild abuse, but it is safe to assume that there will be, and soon - now that the cat is out of the bag.

If your company is using Veeam’s Backup & Replication, make sure to upgrade it to version 12.3.1 as soon as you can.

Via BleepingComputer

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• The SluTune Q1 is an 11mm-thick Bluetooth speakers
• Up to 28 hours from a 1-hour charge, skin-friendly fabric covering
• $29 early bird offer; usually $59

Names are important, especially for products: some, such as Mazda's Bongo Friendee, are inspired; others, such as Dry Sack Sherry and the Nintendo DS Touch Dic, are not so great. The SluTune Q1 is definitely in the latter category, as noted by The Verge . And that's a shame, because it's an interesting little speaker.

The SluTune Q1 is "like a small UFO", with a disc design that's just 11mm high. Inside there's a speaker with an acoustic chamber optimized for the unusual shape, and it has Bluetooth 5.4 with a 28-hour battery and "Hi-Fi Audio".

I very much doubt it'll have Bowers & Wilkins or Klipsch quaking in their boots, but if you're looking for a small, lightweight speaker to slip onto your pillow it could be worth checking out, and is very different to anything else in our list of the best Bluetooth speakers.

(Image credit: SluTune / Kickstarter) Who is this super-slim speaker for?

The Kickstarter highlights three rivals: built-in pillow speakers, which can be cumbersome; under-pillow speakers, which can be muffled by the pillow; and in-ear headphones, which can press on your ears if you're not lying on your back. So this speaker has been designed for you to rest your head on it, and it's wrapped in a linen-like fabric that the makers say is skin-friendly.

I'm not sure I'd like to rest my face on what looks awfully like a Qi charger, or that it's going to be any good for the quoted problem of sleeping next to a snorer, perhaps unless you smother them with it.

But it's small enough to sit next to you on your pillow, playing soothing sounds or your favorite podcast until the two-hour timer kicks in.

It's very portable too, weighing just 0.1 lbs and coming in at 3.78 x 0.43 inches. Charging takes around an hour.

As ever with Kickstarters, there are early bird deals: right now the Q1 is $32, down from the official price of $59. It's already smashed through its funding goal with two more weeks to go. And even if you don't fancy buying one, the Kickstarter is worth a look for the promo video's sudden musical shift at the ten-second mark.

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With a 3D printer, a projector and a lot of pixie dust (spray paint), you too can bring Disneyland into your home.

• QD-EL promises super brightness with OLED contrast
• Samsung, Sharp, TCL and others have shown off prototypes already
• Likely to make its way to compact monitors first

The alphabet soup of TV technology continues to grow, with Samsung turning greater attention to QD-EL. That's short for Quantum Dot Electroluminescent, although the tech is also variously known as NanoLED, QD-LED, EL-QLED and QDEL because life isn't confusing enough. But whatever you call it, it's quite exciting and Samsung is investing heavily in it.

According to new reports in the Korean business press, as spotted by FlatpanelsHD, Samsung is accelerating development for QD-EL displays in order to fend off Chinese competitors. BusinessKorea says that "Samsung has set an internal target to commercialize EL-QD within a few years and is fully committed to its technological development."

Some reports are suggesting that QD-EL could be the future of TV, and they might be right. But I think Samsung is likely to be thinking more about monitors than big TVs for the time being. And that's still pretty exciting.

What is QD-EL and why are people excited about it?

At the moment there are two rival TV technologies: backlit LED TVs, and OLED TVs. The former are generally brighter but the latter have better darkness and contrast because OLEDs aren't backlit.

QD-EL promises to give you the best of both. Like OLED it's self-emissive, so there's no backlight. But because it uses quantum dot LEDs rather than organic LEDs, it promises longer life, more efficient energy usage and no burn-in.

Samsung, and firms including Sharp and TCL, have shown off QD-EL prototypes at trade shows, and attendees have been really impressed. But those prototypes have been pretty small – Samsung's one was an 18-inch display, and is at the end of the video below – and the tech is not yet ready for prime time: BusinessKorea says that Samsung is facing issues with the quantum dots' stability and energy efficiency. Presumably rivals face similar challenges too.

So my money's on this tech moving into monitors first, rather than larger TV screens.

There are two reasons why I think that. The first is that if QD-EL were close to being ready for really big displays, manufacturers would likely be showing them off already.

And the second is that big displays are a big risk when you're talking new technologies. It's common for new emission tech to start small and only scale as manufacturers find ways to reduce the often massive wastage that comes with large panels in the early days of manufacturing something new. You lose a lot less money on material wasted from an imperfect result if your screen is 21 inches than if it's 65 inches.

Here's a great example of that: inkjet-printed OLEDs. TCL started mass producing their panels in late 2024, and those panels are for 21.6-inch monitors. TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, Matt Bolton, has been told that inkjet-printed OLED won't come to TVs for years for this exact reason – it just won't be cost efficient in the short term to risk it on big screens.

I think QD-EL is really exciting, but I think it'll be a while before it moves off the desktop and into your home theater. Although I'd be happily surprised if I'm wrong: after all, Samsung skipped the monitor stage when it launched its QD-OLED panels in 2022 and launched a range of TVs directly, and then brought the tech to monitors later.

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Feinstein, who died March 13, was known for his insights, and inside portraits, of some of the most talented and temperamental characters in sports. Originally broadcast in 2011.

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank: review

The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with an integrated USB-C cable for added convenience, making it ideal for light travelers. The smart, minimalist looks are welcome too. The Ice Blue colorway I had looked classy, but there’s a Tan variant if you want something a little lighter. Both models are elegant and complement the sleek form of the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank.

In keeping with its uncluttered approach, there’s no screen or interface to speak off, aside from a power check button and four discreet LED dots to indicate battery and charging status. Despite their small size, they’re pleasingly bright, which makes them easy to see at a glance or at a distance.

I also appreciated the small form factor, with its square shape taking up little room. This is all the more impressive considering its 10,000mAh capacity, as not even some of the best power banks this size have such a small footprint. However, it’s thicker than some of them, and while the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank isn’t exactly heavy, it’s not the lightest either.

The plastic material body feels reasonably premium, as it’s smooth to the touch and feels solidly constructed. However, the stress relief for the integrated USB-C cable seems quite flimsy, and I wouldn’t trust it to withstand too many bends or prolonged squashing, so I’d be careful when packing it deep inside a bag. I also wouldn’t use it as a carrying handle, although in fairness, Xiaomi doesn’t mention this as a feature.

Unfortunately, the housing that keeps the jack end stowed away isn’t as secure as I would’ve liked either. It does preserve the perfectly flat contours of the bank, though, as the jack sits flush with the side panel when stowed.

In addition to the integrated cable, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank also has a USB-A port and a USB-C port. Three-way simultaneous charging is supported too, as well as two-way 30W fast charging.

Charging performance is good, as it managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a solid performance.

More impressively, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one of its four LED dots, which means you should get between 2-3 full charges of a smartphone out of it. Charging the bank itself takes somewhere between three and a half to four hours, which is reasonable for this battery size.

For the price of £19.99 (about $26 / AU$41), the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank represents good value. Not many power banks with this capacity take up so little real estate, nor have an integrated cable in addition to two extra ports. The cable might not endure as much punishment as others, but for light traveling the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank should make for a convenient companion.

(Image credit: Future) Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want something small
Not many power banks with this capacity are so small, and it’s quite easy to tuck away in a pocket.

You want multiple charges
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one bar after fully replenishing my smartphone, so you should get at least a couple of charges from it.

Don't buy it if…

You’re going to take it on adventure holidays
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is built well enough, but the stress relief for the integrated isn’t the sturdiest, and the jack housing isn’t the most secure.

You want something thin
It may be short across its length and width, but it’s quite thick in terms of depth, which arguably might be the most important dimension for some.

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: Also consider

Iniu B41
The Iniu B41 has the same capacity as the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank but is slightly cheaper, although it has less power and doesn’t have an integrated cable. It does, however, include a handy flashlight. And while it’s longer than the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank, it’s thinner, which might be preferable for some users. The port selection is slightly different too, with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Read our Iniu B41 review.

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with a design that makes it a fashion accessory as well as a portable battery. The Cath Kidston crossover means you get the brand’s illustrative designs. The bee print finish of the model I had was rather subtle, with its cream background and the small drawings lacking any vivid colors.

If you want a little more vibrancy, two more finishes are available, both floral in nature, and incorporate bright shades of red and green. All schemes have a high-gloss finish, which VQ claims is scratch-resistant. After spending a couple of days with it, I didn’t notice any blemishes.

Other nice touches include the small power button integrated on the bezel, and the equally discreet LED dots indicating the battery life of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank. These are integrated on the front panel in the bottom right corner, and are barely noticeably, designed to intrude as little as possible on the Cath Kidston design. The problem is, however, that they’re hard to see even when they’re lit up, and are virtually invisible when looking at them from an angle, which is less than ideal.

What is more practical, though, is the pleasingly light and slim form factor, making it easy to carry in a bag or pocket. However, while the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is built quite well, it isn’t up there with the very best power banks. The plastic panels do flex somewhat, and while the joins to the bezel are strong enough, I did notice a few wide gaps in places. Also, the power button doesn’t quite sit flush with the bezel as perhaps it should, although it’s at least easy to use.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank features one USB-C, one USB-A, and one Lightning port – disappointingly, though, only the USB-A can be used for charging devices, as the other two are for input only. This is especially baffling in the case of the Lightning port, as this is a now-defunct standard for older Apple devices, so quite what it’s doing here as an input is a mystery.

What’s also unusual is that VQ doesn’t provide a power output figure, although it does list the voltage and amperage for both the input and the output, so with some basic math, its total wattage should be 20.5W.

Charging my Google Pixel 7a from 50% to full took about two and a half hours, which is an adequate performance. The bank depleted by one dot, meaning it should be able to handle two roughly full charges. Charging the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank itself from about half full took just over two hours, which again isn’t an overly impressive effort.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is more expensive than other popular power banks with similar specs, so it seems you’re paying for its looks more than anything else. Unless you really must have the Cath Kidston design, there are better value picks out there.

(Image credit: Future) VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want some flair
The Cath Kidston designs certainly add more interest and personality than many other power bank finishes.

You want something easy to carry around
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is small, thin, and light, so this is an easy power bank to take on your travels.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best build
The overall construction is good enough, but the chassis isn’t rock solid, and there are some questionable gaps where the panel meets the bezel.

You’re want the best performance
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank doesn’t have enough power to charge smartphones fast, and only the USB-A port can actually charge devices, which is a shame.

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: also consider

Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank
For about the same price as the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, the Ugreen provides a similarly small and sleek form, but with the added bonuses of a USB-C port for both input and output, and a MagSafe wireless charging pad for use with the best iPhones and other Apple products. It might lack the style of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, but it makes up for it in performance. Read our Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review.

• New Chromium code has revealed NotebookLM will be pre-installed on ChromeOS
• NotebookLM is a powerful AI tool for educational work, and analysis
• It's not confirmed whether it will be rolled out in an update or only available on new Chromebooks

Google has announced a new suite of Gemini AI features coming to ChromeOS, including NotebookLM, which will soon ship on the hardware by default. It will soon be available in the app drawer on Chromebooks, as evidenced by a code change to Chromium Gerrit.

NotebookLM is an AI-powered tool for summarizing and analyzing documents, videos, and other forms of content. You upload sources to it, including PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, audio, and the Google Suite with answers generated by Google Gemini.

The AI tool is currently available through its dedicated website, but it's not something that's been widely marketed or pushed by Google, even with all the new updates and advancements made around Gemini in recent months.

Google will be adding NotebookLM to the preinstalled web apps in its operating system. However, it's currently unknown whether this will apply in an update for all ChromeOS users or if it will become standard in only brand-new Chromebooks being released, such as those upcoming from Acer this summer.

NotebookLM isn't just exclusive to ChromeOS, as the Google Gemini feature can be used by any Chrome (or Chromium) user. If you were not aware of then now you are, meaning the best laptops as well as the best Chromebooks can benefit from one of the best AI tools for getting work done.

Recognition for a undermarketed AI tool

NotebookLM has been available to users since July 2023, but there's a good chance this could be the first time that you've heard of it. Developed by Google Labs and powered by Gemini, it was originally conceived primarily as a research and note-taking assistant before its versatility expanded with a suite of updates over the last 19 months.

It's a powerful tool for understanding large amounts of information, as it can simplify otherwise complicated documentation for educational use. It was recently announced that Mind Maps will be coming to NotebookLM, which works for both the free and paid services of the program, with Audio Overviews applying to more than just podcasts. It's quickly becoming one of our favorite learning tools, and it's only getting better with time.

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• Severance's Dichen Lachman has revealed what she knew about Project Cold Harbor before this season's finale
• The Lumon experiment has been one of season 2's biggest mysteries
• Lachman says she wasn't told about what lay behind its test room door for a long time

Severance actor Dichen Lachman wasn't aware of what the show's creative team had planned for one of season 2's biggest mysteries for a long time.

Project Cold Harbor has dominated fan discussions ever since it was first mentioned in Severance season 2 episode 1. Indeed, one of the biggest enigmas of the Apple TV+ show has been speculated about since the series returned in mid-January.

I too have spent countless hours coming up with my own ideas on what Project Cold Harbor was. I've discussed the Lumon experiment in numerous articles over the past nine weeks, beginning with my season 2 episode 1 theories piece and recently in my season 2 episode 9 recap.

With the Severance season 2 finale, ironically titled 'Cold Harbor', making its long-awaited debut, we finally know what it's all about. Full spoilers immediately follow for season 2 episode 10, so turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

This is what was hiding behind Cold Harbor's door all along (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The test room known as Project Cold Harbor is a near-empty space with a solitary baby's crib at its center.

That bassinet will be instantly recognizable to Severance diehards. It's an exact replica of the one Mark and Gemma owned, which we saw in season 2's Gemma-focused seventh episode.

So, what's it doing here? Well, it's the final test that Gemma has to complete – one that'll help Lumon determine if its severance procedure can be used to create multiple 'innies' within the same person. Gemma has been the test subject for these experiments and, once she completes this 25th and final one, Lumon will have the requisite data to prove it can sever someone numerous times.

Lumon won't need Gemma's services anymore, so they plan to kill her once she's finished. All she has to do, then, is – per Doctor Mauer's instructions – take apart the crib using the screwdriver she's given.

Gemma's Cold Harbor innie doesn't recognize the crib that she and Mark owned in the real world (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Unfortunately for Lumon, Mark – Gemma's husband – comes to her rescue and prevents her from completing Project Cold Harbor (NB: read my Severance season 2 ending explained piece for more details on that).

That's more than enough rambling on my part, though. When did Lachman learn more about Project Cold Harbor? Funnily enough, just like Gemma, she was kept in the dark for a long time by creator Dan Erickson and executive producer Ben Stiller.

"I didn't read [the script for] episode ten until we were almost filming it," Lachman told me ahead of the Apple TV Original's latest episode. "I didn't find out until a few weeks before [filming began], whereas I'd had [the script for episode] seven for quite a long time. So, I had a lot of time to let seven's events sink in.

"I got ten's script relatively soon before we started filming it, but I never really dove into it with Dan because they [Dan and Ben] only told me what I needed to know," Lachman added. "I'm not sure why they [Lumon] put her [Gemma] in that particular situation. Obviously, they're trying to see if the severance technology holds, but I'm not sure why Mauer says to her [in episode seven] that this is going to change the world. I guess it's just like a final drug trial, which is that final step they [Lumon] have to cross."

Where will Gemma's story go next? (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

That isn't the only information that Erickson and Stiller have withheld from Lachman. She also told me that she has no idea when filming on season 3 will begin, nor has she seen any of next season's scripts that Stiller says Erickson and his fellow writers are currently working on.

Nevertheless, Lachman has some ideas of her own about where she'd like Gemma's story to go in one of the best Apple TV+ shows' recently announced third season.

"It's interesting that she has so many different innies," Lachman mused. "I wonder what they're all like and what that means for her in the real world. Mark only has [one innie in] Mark S. She has... I mean, I don't know how many rooms are down there. I stopped counting and focused on other things!

"But, how many different compartments are there in her brain?" Lachman added. "I do wonder if they [the writers] will explore that. But, you know, the possibilities with the show are endless."

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• Severance will return for season 3, Apple TV+ has confirmed
• The news was announced on social media after the season 2 finale arrived
• A release date for the third season is unknown

Praise Kier, because Severance season 3 is officially happening!

The news was confirmed on Friday, March 21, on Apple TV+'s official Instagram account, where the streamer shared some clips from the previous season which led all the way to this week's devastating Severance season 2 finale. For more on that, check out our Severance season 2 episode 10 ending explained piece which breaks it all down.

Take a look at Apple TV+'s announcement below, which reads: "Cue the choreography and merriment. Severance has been renewed for Season 3."

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

A photo posted by on

Even though Severance has been crowned one of the best Apple TV + shows, it has seen some criticism this season, with our Phones Editor Axel Metz writing about how he thought Severance season 2 had a pacing problem, something that seems to have caused some serious debate in the fandom over the past few weeks.

Personally, I've enjoyed every minute, and in our glowing Severance season 2 review, senior entertainment reporter Tom Power said the series "deserved a pay rise for being this good". There's certainly an appetite for more, even if there has been frustration that the second season hasn't delivered many of the answers we were hoping for.

That's where Severance season 3 comes in, hopefully – even if we now have more questions that need answering. I'm not keen to turn my back on the show any time soon though, as it remains one of the best I've ever seen. There's nothing else like it, and that's about the highest compliment I can give.

Let's just hope we don't have another agonizingly long wait for season 3!

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• Spotify has launched a new playlist in its Live Events feed called Concerts Near You
• The new feature will make it easier for you to see which artists are touring in your area
• As well as including songs based on your listening habits, each song has a link that takes you to third-party booking platforms to secure tickets

Though Spotify has rubbed music fans the wrong way with its lack of lossless audio (I’m still waiting for you Spotify HiFi), there’s no doubt that people use it enough for it to still be considered one of the best music streaming services. When it comes to live music, Spotify is aiming to bring you closer to your favorite artists with its new Concerts Near You playlist feature.

Combining informative and personalized features, Spotify’s Concerts Near You playlist aims to help you discover upcoming concerts in your area while providing expandable track links to third party ticket sites such as Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets, and Dice so that you can secure yourself a place in the crowd. The playlist is updated every Wednesday based on your listening habits, bringing you 30 fresh songs from artists with scheduled shows in your area.

When I open my Concerts Near You playlist, Spotify shows songs of artists with upcoming shows in my area - even for supporting acts. (Image credit: Future)

In Spotify’s announcement, the platform went into detail about the app’s newest addition claiming that “There’s nothing worse than realizing that your favorite artist played your town last week”.

Charlie Hellman, Vice President, Global Head of Music Product added: “this new playlist not only makes it easier for fans to find shows nearby, but it also gives artists a powerful new way of selling more tickets and filling venues with the audiences who love their music most.”

A useful feature, but one that’ll have to grow on me

Since it introduced its in-app Live Events feed, Spotify has doubled down on its mission to bring you closer to the artists you love the most, while also boosting artist ticket sales and exposing them to wider audiences. There’s no doubt that these listings are beneficial to those who aren’t in the loop with local gigs and tours, but what about those who are?

Don’t get me wrong, I love using Spotify to discover new artists through features like Blends and the New Music Friday playlists. But when it comes to live music, I pretty much have my ear to the ground with regard to local live music simply because I keep up with it by following the artists or reading live music listings on social media.

However, while I don’t find myself reaching for Spotify’s Live Events feed often, as a means of discovering new artists I can see how Concerts Near You could give you an advantage. As it stands, I’m not quite as enticed to use this feature as others might be, but heck, that was my first impression of Daylists, and now I can’t get enough of it.

Where to find Concerts Near You

(Image credit: Future)

It’s very easy to keep track of who’s performing in your area with Spotify’s Concerts Near You playlist, you just need to know where to look.

For starters, head to the search hub in the Spotify app and tap ‘Live Events’. From there, you can access your personalized Concerts Near You playlist under the ‘Discover concerts near you’ section. To get more accurate recommendations, make sure your location settings are adjusted in the Live Events feed, and Spotify will fill you in on upcoming shows and new announcements.

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• Nanoleaf has launched a new screen-mirroring light system for gaming PCs
• It connects to your PC via USB-C instead of using a camera on the screen
• This should mean less latency and better color reproduction

Nanoleaf, maker of some of the best smart lights we've tested here at TechRadar, has launched a new light strip designed to make PC gaming more immersive, by bathing the wall behind your monitor in a wash of color that shifts to mirror what's happening on screen. And it's much cheaper than you might expect.

The idea is that, like an Ambilight TV, the light strip effectively blurs the edges of the screen by extending its colors, helping you feel more involved in the action.

Many of the best Ambilight alternatives (such as the Nanoleaf 4D and the Govee Flow Pro Wi-Fi TV Smart Bars) can do this with any screen, including TVs and PC monitors, but these usually work by using a camera to monitor the changing colors. This can work fine in optimum lighting conditions, but reflections on the screen can throw things off, and there's always a slight delay before the lights behind your TV change color to match.

With Nanoleaf's new PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip, that should no longer be a problem because the system connects directly to your PC via USB-C, and picks up the data being sent to your monitor. It's very similar to the way a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box intercepts the HDMI signal being sent to your TV, and uses it to provide real-time synced backlighting.

The light strip is shaped to bend around the corners of your monitor without cumbersome brackets (Image credit: Nanoleaf) How to order

As Notebookcheck explains, the system also does away with the awkward brackets that make many light strips tricky to fit onto the back of TVs and monitors. Instead, it has a zig-zag shape that lets it easily bend around corners. It's compatible with monitors up to 32 inches, and can be cut to fit smaller ones.

The PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip is controlled using Nanoleaf's desktop software, which is available for Windows and macOS, but at the time of writing it's not compatible with the Nanoleaf mobile app.

It's available to pre-order now direct from Nanoleaf for $49.99 in the US, £39.99 in the UK, and orders should be delivered by the end of March so you won't have to wait long. The company hasn't yet announced pricing or a launch date for Australia.

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