Last quarter, tariffs cost the auto industry billions of dollars. So far, that's come out of profits instead of being passed along to buyers. But that could change.
(Image credit: Martin Meissner)
Dummy units of the rumored iPhone 17 range have given us a good idea of what colors to expect from Apple's next-generation phones, and if they come to fruition, could see the iPhone Pro lineup get a dose of punchy color.
This comes from Apple-centric tipster Sony Dickson, who posted a selection of iPhone 17 dummy units in a mix of colors, which we're led to believe come from insider information.
While the iPhone 17 features a fetching pink pastel-like hue, and the rumored iPhone 17 Air comes in a pleasant sand-ish color, the standout is an iPhone 17 Pro dummy unit in a bright orange hue.
First look at iPhone 17 color dummies, The new orange really stands out this year — definitely a bold addition. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/M0gB6NSglIJuly 29, 2025
If this information turns out to be accurate it could mark a mild direction change for Apple, in that previously the Pro iPhones have tended to use somewhat muted colors: the Desert Titanium model of the iPhone 16 Pro Max was probably about as bold as the flagship phones go, with the rest of the iPhone 16 Pro lineup leaning on more basic shades such as white, black, and grey.
So the addition of orange could give the iPhone Pro a shot in the arm when it comes to punchy colors. From the dummy units, the orange has a candy-like hue with a form of pastel flatness to it; the latter would be in keeping with the style of recent Pro iPhones.
Complementary colorsWith the caveat that these images are far from official and there's no clear indication of where these dummy units have come from, I feel the colors on offer across the proposed iPhone 17 range work nicely.
They have the usual black and white options to appease people who like muted phones, with a dark blue shade potentially making a comeback for the iPhone 17 Pro models.
The light blue and pink options for the iPhone 17 offer a pop of freshness without being too oversaturated. While the light blue and light yellow/sand colors for the iPhone 17 Air look like they could work nicely on a slimmed-down iPhone.
For the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, I reckon the tipped colors work well for the new rectangular rear camera array; sort of emphasising it, yet also helping it blend into the rear of the phone at the same time... if that makes a jot of sense.
Of course, I'm still not entirely convinced this much-rumored camera design change will happen, as I can't see how it would benefit the iPhone 17 Pro's camera performance; Apple tends not to just change its phone designs for pure aesthetics alone.
Unless adopting this rectangular camera array is a means to better package components, and thus leading to a slimmer iPhone Pro. But this is just educated speculation on my side.
With Apple very likely to launch new iPhones in September, when it usually holds a phone-centric Apple event, we really don't have much longer to wait before we hear about new iPhones.
You might also likeThe Atlantic journalist Franklin Foer explains how SpaceX and the Trump administration are changing the face of NASA, and why Musk's dream of Mars may come at the cost of the agency's mission.
Cryptocurrency users are being targeted by a highly sophisticated, widespread cybercriminal campaign with the goal of deploying malware capable of grabbing exchange and wallet information, essentially robbing the people of their tokens, experts from Check Point have warned.
Apparently active since March 2024, what makes this campaign, dubbed JSCEAL by the researchers, unique is the use of compiled JavaScript files (JSC), which allows the malware to remain hidden from most traditional antivirus solutions.
The criminals created fake cryptocurrency exchange and wallet apps, which come with an infostealer. They also created websites to host these apps, and managed to purchase thousands of advertisements on the internet to promote the scam. Check Point says that just in the European Union (EU), 35,000 malicious ads were served between January and June 2025.
JSCEAL malware“The use of Facebook’s Ad Library enabled us to estimate the campaign’s reach, while in a very conservative approach we can estimate the total reach of the malvertising campaign at 3.5 million users within the EU alone, and likely above 10 million users worldwide,” the researchers explained.
People who fall for the scam download an MSI installer which triggers “a sequence of profiling scripts” that gather critical system information. These scripts also use PowerShell commands to collect and exfiltrate data, in preparation of the final payload deployment.
This final payload is the JSCEAL malware, which steals crypto-related data such as credentials and private keys. The payload is executed through Node.js, it was said.
What makes this malware particularly dangerous is the use of compiled JavaScript files.
“The JSCEAL campaign uses compiled V8 JavaScript (JSC) files, a lesser-known feature of Google’s V8 engine that enables code obfuscation and evasion of static analysis,” the researchers added.
“This innovative technique allows attackers to bypass detection systems, making it extremely challenging to detect the malicious code until it executes. JSCEAL is notable for its scale, technical complexity, and persistence, having evolved significantly since its discovery.”
Even today, many versions of the malware remain undetected by common security tools.
Anyone concerned their data may be under threat should ensure their antivirus protections are up to date - we've rounded up the best free antivirus software around - and for those who prefer using Apple technology, also the best Mac antivirus software.
You might also likeIf you miss the old days of Pebble watches, you’re in luck, as the smartwatch brand that began it all is making an unexpected comeback. That means it might not be long before you can slap a Pebble watch on your wrist like it’s 2015 all over again.
Pebble was originally founded by Eric Migicovsky, who now runs Core Devices, which succeeded Pebble when it shut down in 2016. Although Migicovsky previously revealed that he was working on two new watches that were based on the open-source PebbleOS operating system, they were to be made under the Core Devices brand name. Now, that’s all changed.
Writing on his blog, Migicovsky explained that he had been able to reacquire the Pebble trademark, which will now be incorporated into upcoming products. And it seems that the company is not wasting time, as its Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 smartwatches have both been renamed to Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2, respectively.
Neither are ready for launch yet, though, with the former shipping out to beta users and the latter undergoing engineering verification testing (EVT). But for anyone excited by the Pebble brand, the name change alone will be enough to get the heart racing.
Shipping in August(Image credit: Core Devices)Want to get your hands on one of these rebranded watches? You can pre-order both from Core Devices’ rePebble website. The devices are still using the old “Core” names, and presumably this will be updated shortly. The Pebble 2 Duo is available for $149, while the Core Time 2 can be ordered for $225.
In his blog post, Migicovsky wrote that his company hopes to start shipping the Pebble 2 Duo by the end of August (a delay from its original July estimate). The hold-up is due to testing of an improved waterproofing rating, while a speaker has also been added that needs to be waterproofed as well.
There’s one additional hitch with ordering: tariffs. Migicovsky says you’ll be charged about $10 per Pebble 2 Duo if you’re ordering from the US. Non-US orders won’t be affected by tariffs, as the devices are shipped out from Hong Kong.
Migicovsky has also been testing the Pebble 2 Duo’s Bluetooth range (in a “super unscientific” manner, he concedes), and says it hits roughly 140 meters in open-air surroundings. On a street with buildings, the range is slightly longer.
The blog post also mentioned a handful of updates to the Pebble Time 2. Among them, Migicovsky said the design had been made “a bit sleeker,” although he didn’t share any specifics. Since the watch is in the EVT stage of manufacturing, it’s a little too early to start thinking about shipping dates.
Still, with the Pebble name making a comeback almost a decade after it stopped being sold, fans of the smartwatch will undoubtedly be excited for further news. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more in the meantime.
You might also likeThe handheld gaming space is continuously growing each year with new devices from the likes of Nintendo plus contenders in the PC department, such as Asus, Lenovo, and MSI. However, there's an outlier in the Android and PC market that appears to be taking strong inspiration from the Nintendo DS with one of its upcoming devices.
Announced on Ayaneo's website is the brand-new Ayaneo Pocket DS, which claims to be the 'world's first' dual-screen Android handheld gaming device and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor. Pricing details are set to be announced in August.
The Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor is built to provide high-power performance on handheld devices as an 8-core CPU packed with an Adreno A32 GPU – and it's worth noting that Qualcomm's processors often excel at power efficiency.
This comes shortly after Ayaneo announced another dual-screen handheld, the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS, which also takes after the Nintendo DS dual-screen design, but for PC gamers using Windows. Both of these devices will utilize a 7-inch OLED main screen, but the newly-announced Pocket DS will have a 165Hz refresh rate over the Flip 1S DS's 144Hz.
While the Pocket DS isn't a handheld gaming PC, it utilizes a "PC-Class Turbo Cooling System", designed to keep the dual-screen handheld cool while under heavy load. Ayaneo also built its own handheld management software, which will allow users to quickly change power settings on the fly thanks to the 5-inch LCD secondary screen – and also serves as a great tool for multitaskers.
It's doubtful that Nintendo will revisit its dual-screen design any time soon, especially after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, so it looks like Ayaneo is the one to rely on in this space.
Analysis: I'll take a dual-screen device over an 8-inch handheld any day(Image credit: Ayaneo)Just to be clear, I'm fully locked in on Ayaneo and its potential success with these dual-screen handhelds – specifically the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS, using one of AMD's most powerful APUs.
I've been in the market for a handheld that has an 8-inch screen with a powerful processor at a reasonable price; I thought the Lenovo Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme) would be the answer, but it's hardly available, and it's too expensive at $729.99 (around £549 / AU$1,130).
With the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS, pricing is reasonable for what it offers (above $900 for most configurations) as this is a popular portable design, and it's using an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, which easily outperforms the likes of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Fortunately, since the Ayaneo Pocket DS is built for Android gaming, I don't expect it to be as expensive.
Again, I doubt I'll go all-out to spend that much on a handheld device that I only use when I'm away from my desk. However, if I had to choose and I was already contemplating buying an MSI Claw 8 AI+, MSI Claw A8, or ROG Xbox Ally X, I would have to include the Flip 1S DS in the conversation too.
You might also like...The latest iPhone 17 Pro rumors point to Apple’s premium flagship handset getting a new telephoto camera with 8x optical zoom, up from 5x zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro.
What’s more, this new camera is tipped to make use of moving components that could allow for continuous optical zoom between an as-yet unknown range of focal lengths. That’s rarely-seen technology, usually reserved for phones that are specifically designed for photography like the Sony Xperia 1 VI, and the idea of such niche tech coming to one of the world's most popular phones is properly exciting.
So why aren't I jumping for joy?
On paper, I should be. Most flagship phones – and some particularly well-specced mid-range handsets like the Oppo Reno 13 Pro – come with a telephoto camera, offering optical zoom through the addition of a specialized lens and sensor.
However, in order to create a continuous zoom between different lenses, phones typically use digital zoom to close the distance between their various lenses. For example, a phone with a main camera at 1x zoom and a telephoto camera at 3x optical zoom will digitally zoom the main camera to achieve 2x zoom.
If those aforementioned iPhone 17 Pro rumors hold true, the new telephoto camera will add even more reach and flexibility to what is already one of the best camera phones.
It could also explain the new camera housing that many rumors and leaks predict the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to launch with. We previously thought that this design change was a purely aesthetic choice, but this Pixel-style camera bar could, in fact, house a periscope lens or other tech to support the new zoom camera.
With that all said, I can’t help but wonder whether I’d actually use this (admittedly very cool) new feature. Once the excitement around the iPhone 17 Pro’s possible 8x zoom camera settles, will it still be worth using?
Three times is the charmThe iPhone 15 Pro is seemingly the last iPhone to ship with a 3x telephoto camera (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)I'm a maximalist when it comes to tech – I like to have the best specs possible, and for a long time, I found myself pining after the 5x or even 10x telephoto lenses fitted to some of the best camera phones. I specifically remember feeling amazed when the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra launched with a 10x optical zoom camera.
But to be honest, it’s rare that I find myself zooming in that much – apparently I’m not the only one, either, as Samsung scaled down its long-range zoom camera from 10x to 5x with the release of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. As I mentioned before, unless you’re zooming into or beyond the 10x mark, a 10x zoom camera will be of no use.
If you ask me, the sweet spot is actually a 3x telephoto camera, like the one the iPhone 15 Pro had before it was upped to 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro.
The Oppo Find X8 Pro comes with a 3x telephoto camera and a 6x telephoto camera, making it a flexible and powerful camera phone (Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)It’s not that I don’t see the point in longer zoom lenses. In fact, last year, I wrote that the Oppo Find X8 Pro’s 6x zoom camera had opened up new possibilities when it comes to mobile photography. It's just that 3x strikes a better balance between reach and everyday usefulness; a 3x zoom lens brings details forward without feeling cramped, and the smaller lens distortion is ideal for more natural portraits.
I’m not the only 3x zoom fan in the TechRadar office, either – last year, Phones Editor Axel Metz wrote that the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3x telephoto camera was his go-to for natural and more professional-looking social media pics, like those below.
Image 1 of 53x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)Image 2 of 53x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)Image 3 of 53x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)Image 4 of 53x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)Image 5 of 53x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)An 8x zoom camera – or even better, a lens that continuously zooms from, say, 5x to 8x – would be a win for certain users: concertgoers, nature photographers, maybe even portrait photographers who don’t mind standing pretty far away.
But without an intermediate telephoto lens to bridge the long gap between 1x and 8x, for me, this won’t be a selling point.
Even the Galaxy S21 Ultra switched to a 3x camera before you got to the full 10x zoom, and while the iPhone’s digital zoom is excellent, there’d surely be a noticeable loss of quality at zoom levels that don't activate the new camera. I'd be reluctant to give up my 3x lens without some kind of software magic to get around that.
We're expecting the iPhone 17 series to be revealed in September 2025, so we hopefully won't have to wait long to see what Apple's cooking up.
What do you think about this rumor? Would an 8x telephoto camera be a boost to the iPhone, or has tech gone too far? Let us know in the comments below.
You might also likeWorld Photography Day is celebrated on Aug. 19 to celebrate the storytelling behind photos. This year, NPR wants to hear the story behind your favorite picture you've taken.
(Image credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
In a letter that resembles one of Sam Altman’s long rambling blog posts, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes his vision of the future where there is personal superintelligence for everyone, and there’s not a single reference to the Metaverse in it.
Zuckerberg also delivered the letter in a monologue form via his Instagram account .
Titled “Personal Superintelligence”, the 600+ word article sees Zuckerberg attempt to stamp his ownership onto superintelligence. “Developing superintelligence”, he confidently says, “is now in sight.”
In words that eerily echo exactly what the CEO of OpenAI has recently said, Zuckerberg proclaims, “I am extremely optimistic that superintelligence will help humanity accelerate our pace of progress. But perhaps even more important is that superintelligence has the potential to begin a new era of personal empowerment where people will have greater agency to improve the world in the directions they choose.”
A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)
A photo posted by on
Personal superintelligenceAccording to Zuckerberg, everyone having their own accessible superintelligence will “help you achieve your goals, create what you want to see in the world, experience any adventure, be a better friend to those you care about, and grow to become the person you aspire to be.”
In a nod to the Ray-Ban and Oakley Meta AI Glasses that the company is so proud of, Zuckerberg says: “Personal devices like glasses that understand our context because they can see what we see, hear what we hear, and interact with us throughout the day will become our primary computing devices.”
Personally, I find this a bit hard to accept based on the current evidence. While I haven't had the pleasure of using Meta's AI glasses yet, I have used AI devices like the Rabbit R1, which require voice commands to do everything, and it's a slow and awkward way to use AI compared to quickly typing a prompt or opening apps on a screen.
On exactly when we can expect this new era of personal superintelligence to kick in, Zuckerberg still seems to be hedging his bets a little: “The rest of this decade seems likely to be the decisive period for determining the path this technology will take, and whether superintelligence will be a tool for personal empowerment or a force focused on replacing large swaths of society.”
Could devices like these Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses become the dominant personal computer device? (Image credit: Meta / Ray-Ban)A force for good or evilThis battle between AI being used for good or evil seems to be a theme that is playing on CEO’s minds lately. For example, Sam Altman recently couldn’t seem to decide if he was scared of the power of ChatGPT 5 or in awe of it.
While predicting the imminent dawn of superintelligence seems to be the favorite pastime of tech CEOs at the moment, it seems that the technology is building towards a tipping point where superintelligence becomes a reality. Let's just hope that the movies got it wrong about what happens next.
You might also likeWe love to give practical buying advice on the latest gadgets here at TechRadar. But sometimes what we love even more is to indulge in the most high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious tech on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money no Object columns – you can read the whole series here.
If you're looking for a high-end pre-amp and multi-room audio matrix for potentially massive home-install systems, McIntosh has just the thing. The new CR106 delivers up to six independent audio zones from a single unit, and it can be networked with others to provide as many as 30 different, customizable and controllable zones.
The CR106 combines a pre-amp and audio matrix – essentially a traffic controller for audio, providing you the ability to set custom audio tweaks for different zones – and it works with a wide range of amps and speakers. It can be rack mounted in a standard AV rack, where it'll take up a modest 2U of rack space.
(Image credit: McIntosh)McIntosh CR106: key features and pricingThe CR106 is controlled via the McIntosh connect app for Apple and Android, via a web interface, or via its front panel. The app offers lots of zone customization tools, enabling you to name each zone, group multiple zones together, selecting the audio sources for different zones and configuring their subwoofer settings too.
There are four unbalanced analog and four digital inputs, and if you have a large home or budget you can chain up to five CR106 units together via the Dante network interface to create up to 30 two-channel zones.
In addition to the hardware inputs, there's also Bluetooth with AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, so you can stream into one of these units, and send it out to any of the connected wired setups.
Each zone that it supports has two sets of unbalanced outputs, and dedicated subwoofer outputs.
The CR106 will be available globally from McIntosh dealers from August 2025. The MSRP is $5,500 / £6,999.
You might also likeVibe coding platform Base44 contained a major security vulnerability which could have allowed unauthorized users to access other people’s private applications, experts have warned.
The issue was discovered in early July 2025 by security pros from Wiz Research, who explained how exposed API endpoints on Base44’s platform allowed threat actors to create a verified account on private apps using nothing more than app_id, a piece of code that is publicly visible.
Normally, authentication systems ask for strong credentials, and means of identity verification, but Base44’s setup apparently lets anyone bypass those checks using just that one code. One could think of it like showing up to a locked office building, shouting “I’m here for app_id 12345”, and the doors would open - no questions asked.
Vibe codingAttackers could easily grab an app_Id from public files, and use it to “register” through unsecured API routes, accessing apps that handle sensitive employee data and company communications.
The vulnerability could have affected enterprise apps handling HR and personally identifiable information (PII), internal chatbots and knowledge bases, as well as automation tools used in day-to-day operations.
Once Wiz discovered the flaw, it reached out to Wix, the company which owns Base44, who fixed it within a day.
Wix added it found no signs of abuse by threat actors. The researchers also identified vulnerable apps and reached out to some of the affected companies directly.
Vibe coding is a relatively new slang term for coding with the help of generative AI and through natural language rather than writing actual code. A developer will discuss their ideas and needs with the AI, which would come back with code. It has gained a lot of popularity lately, but news such as this one highlight that the method is not without its risks.
Since the background infrastructure is shared, there is always a risk of information leaking somewhere.
You might also likeFoundation season 3 is already a third of the way through its run on Apple TV+. And, with a new episode set to drop on the tech giant's streaming platform later this week, it won't be long until it reaches its midpoint.
For now, though, you'll want to know when this season's fourth installment will arrive on one of the world's best streaming services.
Below, I'll outline the dates on which we expect Foundation's next entry to drop, and predict what time it'll be released. There's also a full rundown of this season's episodic release schedule at the end of this article, so you can block out some time in your own busy schedule to watch it.
What is the release date for Foundation season 3 episode 4?Dawn will continue to meet with Gaal in secret in Foundation season 3 (Image credit: Apple TV+)This season's fourth episode, titled 'The Stress of Her Regard', will land on Apple's streaming service on Friday, August 1.
Well, that's in some world territories at least. Apple tends to release new episodes of its TV Originals a day earlier in some regions of North and South America. Long story short: Foundation season 3 episode 4 could launch in some parts of these continents, such as the US west coast, on Thursday, July 31.
As for what time it'll debut, that's hard to determine. Apple doesn't publicly state when new episodes will arrive. However, some of the best Apple TV+ shows' latest entries have shown up at 9pm PT on Thursdays and 12am ET on Fridays. It's possible, then, that 'The Stress of Her Regard' will do likewise.
For a breakdown on when I expect season 3 episode 4 to be released, read on (NB: use 12am ET to work out when it'll launch in your country if it isn't listed below):
Want to know when you can stream new episodes of Foundation season 3 in the weeks ahead? Check out the list below:
Republicans in the Texas House have released a proposed new redistricting map that seeks to fulfill President Trump's desire to add up to five additional GOP congressional seats in the state.
(Image credit: Eric Gay)
This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.
One of the most aggravating things about buying technology is that you can always go one further. Spend a little more, get a little more. And that’s exactly the case if you increase your budget from £1,000 to £1,250, with the Palicomp AMD Destiny offering a significant speed hike over the CyberPowerPC opposite.
The vast majority of this is due to the presence of an RTX 4070 Super card rather than an RTX 4060. At retail, the 4070 Super costs around £600 compared to £300 for its lesser sibling, and it’s roughly twice as fast, too. 3DMark Time Spy is a great measure of this, with the Destiny scoring 18,932 versus 10,518 for the Infinity X145 Elite.
In practice, I can simplify the differences between the two machines in one sentence: the Destiny is a solid option for 4K gaming where the Infinity is not. That’s shown by a trio of results at 4K and High settings in Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt 5, where Palicomp’s PC returned averages of 79fps, 114fps and 119fps compared to 39fps, 57fps and 54fps. It doesn’t take a mathematician to spot that the Destiny’s scores are almost exactly twice as fast.
Palicomp has given the RTX 4070 Super a helping hand by using one of the fastest gaming processors on the planet, namely the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The chip’s X3D suffix indicates the extra Level 3 cache (made possible by a 3D-stacked chipset) that AMD adds over the standard 7800X, which gives an instant boost in most games.
An RTX 4070 Super graphics card takes center stage (Image credit: Future)The downside of AMD’s X3D range of chips is that they don’t have an unlocked multiplier and can’t boost to as high frequencies as their “X” counterparts, so if gaming isn’t your main use then you’re better off with the 7800X (or even the Ryzen 7 7700X, which is roughly 7% faster in multicore tasks). However, in its own right the 7800X3D is a brilliant day-to-day processor, pushing the Destiny to 2,705 and 14,806 in Geekbench 6, 110 and 1,028 in Cinebench 2024, and 1,765 and 17,017 in Cinebench R23 (single-core results first, multicore second).
An overall score of 8,772 in PCMark is also one of the highest I’ve seen, and here I must give due praise to the supporting cast of 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB Adata S70 Blade SSD. The latter is particularly fast, with an astounding 7,476MB/sec sequential reads transfer rate in CrystalDiskMark and a none-too-shoddy 5,461MB/sec result in the writing test.
(Image credit: Future)If you’re thinking 1TB is too small for your needs, there’s one empty M.2 slot on the AMD TUF Gaming motherboard, while removing the right side of the chassis reveals two mounting spaces for 2.5in SSDs and one 3.5in hard disk caddy. There’s also a rat’s nest of cables, but at least that allows Palicomp to keep the visible side of the Destiny relatively empty. This is mainly for aesthetic reasons, as on-board upgrades are minimal: only one PCI-E x1 slot is accessible.
You can at least add to the memory, with two unimpeded DIMM sockets lying empty despite the size of the air cooler. DeepCool isn’t a name I’m familiar with, and while it does its job well – together with the total of six RGB fans on the front, top and back of this PC – it contributes to a continual hum from the Destiny. It’s by no means annoying (more the kind of hum that you only notice when the PC is switched off) but it’s reflected in the idle power draw of 84W compared to 52W for the CyberPowerPC Infinity.
The Kolink Observatory HF Mesh chassis is basic, but does allow all those RGB lights to shine through and has a handy hinged door to make accessing the innards simple. Palicomp also saves money by choosing a CIT 80 Plus Bronze-rated power supply, rather than a bigger name with better efficiency ratings, but at 700W it won’t hold you back.
The Destiny is designed with 4K gaming in mind (Image credit: Future)One of Palicomp’s perks is that you can pick from a variety of components at time of purchase, from CPU to GPU to PSU, and you can also upgrade the warranty. I would consider doing this, as it’s one area where this PC falls behind CyberPowerPC – only the first year includes parts, and you have to pay for courier costs. £108 buys three years of C&R cover. You may also be tempted to pay for faster delivery than the standard ten working days, with £75 accelerating that to the next business day.
Overall, the Destiny isn’t as refined a package as the CyberPowerPC opposite, but there’s no arguing with its powerful components, which are all geared towards one thing: making games run fast.
For on the go play, we've also reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia's Far East is sending tsunami waves to Hawaii, Alaska, California and Oregon. More countries, like Peru and Chile, are bracing for impact.
(Image credit: Michelle Bir)
Google has just admitted that the UK government hasn't requested access to end-to-end encrypted user data.
Meanwhile, Apple has been hit by a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), forcing it to shutter its iCloud Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK as a result.
The backlash that followed the UK's request for access to end-to-end encrypted data from Apple echoed throughout the rest of the world. It now turns out that the request may have been more targeted than it first seemed, with Google seemingly immune to it for now.
"We haven't received a technical capabilities notice"(Image credit: Shutterstock / nikkimeel)In February this year, the UK authorities requested that Apple break its end-to-end encryption policies in the Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature. ADP isn't on by default, but when enabled, it adds an extra layer of security. Not even Apple itself can access the data that's been encrypted in this way; it's completely private.
Unsurprisingly, the order was not met with a warm reception. Mounting scrutiny of the UK's Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) led US senators to investigate whether other companies have also received similar requests.
According to TechCrunch, Google refused to answer questions about any involvement from the UK government when prompted by US Senator Roy Wyden. Companies that are subject to government surveillance orders are unable to disclose them under UK law.
However, Wyden disclosed that at least one technology giant confirmed that it hasn't received such a notice. That turned out to be Meta, which told Wyden's office back in March that it hadn't been served an order to backdoor its encryption services.
Although Google remained silent, it appears to have broken that vow of silence in a statement to TechCrunch. Karl Ryan, Google spokesperson, said: "We haven't received a technical capabilities notice."
That's as good a confirmation as we're going to get in this situation. If Google had received such a notice, it would imply that the UK government was surveying whether a backdoor could be added to its end-to-end encryption or not.
Ryan also told TechCrunch: "We have never built any mechanism or 'backdoor' to circumvent end-to-end encryption in our products. If we say a product is end-to-end encrypted, it is."
The UK government might still back downWhen asked to build a backdoor in its ADP service, Apple instead chose to turn off the feature for users in the UK, leaving them without access to additional data protection.
Although using one of the best VPN services can help boost Brits’ online privacy, it's certainly not going to replace iCloud’s end-to-end encryption protection that users in other countries are able to benefit from.
The order was widely criticized worldwide, with US lawmakers warning against "systemic vulnerabilities." Meanwhile, Apple decided to challenge the request in Court.
More recently, two senior British officials disclosed that the UK government might have to give up on pursuing encryption backdoors due to pushback from the US government. "They don't want us messing with their tech companies," they said.
No matter where this case ultimately leads, the fact that Apple was involved, but Google walked away unscathed, is an interesting development. Google’s hands-off status may offer reassurance that the UK’s encryption demands aren’t as sweeping as they first appeared — at least not yet.
You might also likeDJI is well-known for their excellent lineup of drones, videography gimbals and actions cams etc, but all these devices have one thing in common. They are all powered by batteries.
And that's where the DJI Power 2000 comes in, letting you charge your DJI drone (amongst other devices) while out in the field. It's not the first from the company, but is it the best portable power station for drone operators? I put it to the test.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE2048Wh capacity from LiFePO4 batteries
3000W continuous output
4 x AC sockets, 4 x USB-A and 4 x USB-C
0-80% charge in 45minutes
Multiple methods of charging
Fast 10ms response UPS
For drone operators, 30 minutes of flight can equal hours of charging unless they were to buy several expensive, propriety batteries which only have one use, drone power.
DJI may now have the answer for drone operators who not only want to fast charge their drone batteries but other things as well with added flexibility.
Not wanting to miss out on the action, about a year ago DJI brought out their Power 1000 Station. Now they have released the Power 2000 increasing everything for those who need more which we are reviewing with some accessories.
(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: PackagingThe power station and its accessories were all packaged individually in non-descript, plain cardboard boxes with only simple outlines of the products and what they were printed on the box. No fancy glossy or satin box with listed features, photos, pictures or illustrations.
Removing the Power 2000 from the box, we were given only the quick start guide, certificate of conformity and AC power cable, no other accessories were provided.
(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: The power stationOnce out of the box, the Power 2000 measures 448 × 225 × 324mm or 17.6 x 8.9 x 12.7 inches (L x W x H) and weighing in at 22kg (or 48.5lbs).
The Power 2000 has two large, grippy handles on the top to facilitate portability
All the sockets, plugs, ports etc are at the front of the Power 2000 as is the status screen. The sides and back are bereft of anything much save for some threaded holes which we will come back to later.
At the front of this UK model are the following sockets/plugs:
4 x UK Type G sockets outputting 230V at 50Hz AC pure sine wave
4 x USB-C sockets, 2 x max. 140W and 2 x max 65W
4 x USB-A sockets, each able to output 24W
1 x AC charging socket
2 x SDC multi use sockets
And the status screen
(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: ChargingSwitching on the Power 2000 the first time showed us a state of charge of 51%. We were pleased to see that the AC charging socket was an industry standard C13/14 connector.
But it was here that we stumbled on the first hurdle, the cable has screws on either side to prevent accidental disconnection, but the screws were too small, tool free thumb screws would have been better.
Next to the AC charge socket is a small switch that allows you to set it for fast or slow charge, on slow charge the Power 2000 was charging at 1300W and on fast nearly double that at 2200W.
The AC charging socket at the front wasn’t well received, having reviewed several power stations, they often segregated charge on the side or back and discharging sockets on the front.
Also, to the right of the AC socket is a mysterious multi pin socket, is not documented in any of the manuals or software, our assumption, it’s a terminal used by DJI for servicing.
Charging it using solar panels sent for this review, it was noted that this was a third-party panel made by “IBCPower”. Fortunately, the panel uses MC4 connectors. Using the provided MC4 to XT60 cable means that the panels can be used for other power stations.
Plugging in the panels into the Power 2000 is a nuisance. The panels plug into the provided DJI Solar panel adapter module (MPPT). A small adapter box with three XT60 sockets, this allows you to plug three panels to the Power 2000 via this box which is plugged into the Power 2000’s large SDC sockets to charge it.
With only one 200W panel on a moderately bright day, we were only seeing 180W input with already 89% charged, an estimated 92minutes to full charge. Charging from 0% to 100% using only one panel would likely take over 10 hours.
Mentioned before were the screw holes on the sides and back of the Power 2000. You can see that the MPPT box has screw holes through it and it is here that the MPPT box is screwed on to the side of the Power 2000 to secure it in place so you don’t lose it. Screws and a hex wrench are provided.
(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: In useThe status screen is your typical affair that shows all the useful information that you will need at glance such as state of charge, input and output wattage. Output voltage and AC Hz, USB as well as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
Putting the Power 2000 through its paces, using it to power a variety of high draw household devices such as a rice cooker, mini-induction cooker, hair dryer, air fryer. The Power 2000 was able to power all of them separately and remained silent throughout.
Using the USB is about as ubiquitous as it is, it was able to charge a variety of phones, a Lenovo ThinkPad, MacBook Air laptops with ease.
The Power 2000 has a combined output power of 3000W continuous power.
A feature that stood out to us was the Uninterruptable Power Supply or UPS feature, whilst other power stations are capable of this, most advertise a 20 to 30ms response time or require setting up. The response time is the time the power station detects grid outage and switches over to battery.
The Power 2000 boasts a fast 10ms response time. UPS mode is automatically activated when the Power 2000 is plugged into mains, AC is on and power drawn.
We tested this by plugging in a typical home office setup, into the Power 2000 via multiplugs. The setup drew around 200W, we let the set up drain the Power 2000 for about two hours taking it from 89% to 61%.
We then switched the mains on to charge the Power 2000 back to 100%, you can see the UPS logo (small, orange battery with arrows under the “INPUT”) automatically activated and the Power 2000 began charging at 1360W in slow mode.
Once at 100%, we flicked the mains switch again whilst keeping an eye on the setup, not a flicker. The set up carried on as if there were no power outage, the Power 2000 drew power from the batteries and the UPS mode switched off.
(Image credit: Future)One prominent feature that stands the Power 2000 different to other power stations is the inclusion of two SDC ports on the far upper right.
These are multi use sockets able to charge or discharge from the Power 2000 using DC power, the connectors are essentially QS10 sockets/connectors which are high current anti spark connections.
We were only able to use this to charge the Power 2000 via the afore mentioned MPPT solar adapter box.
The SDC connections would allow a user to plug in add on batteries to the Power 2000 or charge it faster using separately available cables and adapters capable of up to 1800W of input.
The other is to allow fast charging of DJI drone batteries using one of the appropriate adapter cables. It can charge a DJI Mavic 3 series battery from 10% to 95% in about 32minutes. The Mavic 3, Mavic 4, Air 3, Matrice 30, Matrice 4 and Inspire 3 drones, each cable costs £19 at time of review.
Also provided as part of this review is the DJI Power Series Hand Truck.
Essentially a hand trolley with a sculpted foot for the DJI Power Series batteries so that a power station such as the Power 2000 sits nicely at the base. The trolley supports a further two add on batteries to stack on top of the main one with a simple ratchet strap to batten them down.
Also, we mentioned the screws on the back of the Power 2000, these are for the middle handle retaining arm to screw into so that the Power 2000 has at least two points of anchorage to the trolley.
The trolley has 12cm heavy duty rubberised wheels, it can also be folded up for storage but the handle cannot be shortened or extended. The handle height is 98cm high.
(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: The appThis is one place we think that DJI could vastly improve upon and was one where we had some concerns.
Most brands of power stations such as Jackery or Bluettti have apps that go beyond just simply controlling the power station. They are the place where you access your profile/account for that brand as many have loyalty schemes. It is the app that allows you to access your power stations hidden features, settings to tweak to your liking, even if just once.
The competition, mentioned above, have well translated apps that are downloaded from your app shop of choice, here we used the Google Play Store.
On setting up the Power 2000, we searched the Google Play Store to get the DJI Home app and could not find it. It was then discovered that you have to manually download and install the APK file from the web, not exactly what we like doing as it isn’t as curated as it would be from the Play Store.
On firing it up, the first menu is a DJI Product Improvement Project that gives us the choice to disagree or “加入”? It was in Chinese but we were able to translate this as “Join In”. Not off to a good start.
Detecting the battery and setting up was straight forward but once in the app you can see the Power 2000, see where/what is drawing power, state of charge etc. There are limit options you can tweak.
DJI Power 2000: PricingCurrently the Power 2000 is on retail in the UK DJI store for £1185
DJI Power 2000: Final verdictThe Power 2000 is a solid power station but needs some improvement here and there.
If you have already invested in one of DJIs above mentioned drones and are in the market for a power station, then the Power 2000 is the one for you. The SDC connectors allows you fast charging of your drone batteries will allow you to fly more for longer.
The UPS feature was among the fastest response and easiest to set up and its near silent operation means that it can happily work silently in your home office too.
However, it is let down by some poor decisions such as the AC charging socket at the front and the woeful app, both in getting it and it being a glorified status screen if anything.
For more power solutions, we've reviewed the best UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).