Feed aggregator

Streaming Netflix on your phone is about to get more interactive.

Home screen remix loading...

Apple forged the iPhone 16 series to be the ultimate platform for Apple Intelligence. But over half a year later, the best iPhone 16 Pro features have little to do with AI.

As carriers begin to unveil their own satellite plans, here's everything you need to know whether your phone supports satellite connectivity or is "satellite optimized."

This year, the annual list from the National Trust for Historic Preservation includes a mysterious castle, flooded communities in Florida and North Carolina, historic hotels and a gigantic turtle.

Weighted vests may look like they’re a blast from the past, but their practicality is timeless.

Roughly 200,000 Afghans came to the U.S. after the Taliban seized control in Afghanistan in 2021. Many are worried about their future as President Trump has steadily eliminated legal protections.

(Image credit: Sayedyaqoob Qattali)

• Nvidia has announced its RTX 5060 arrives on May 19
• The GPU has an MSRP of $299 and comes with 8GB of VRAM (which remains controversial)
• With AMD rumored to reveal its rival RX 9060 XT on May 21, the week after next could be a huge one for gamers seeking a more affordable GPU

Nvidia has announced that its RTX 5060 desktop graphics card will go on sale on May 19, as will the laptop version of this GPU.

VideoCardz caught wind of the date being announced on X (formerly Twitter). It was a launch day that had been previously rumored, with the price tag on the desktop GPU being $299, and the specs already revealed by Nvidia previously (when its sibling, the RTX 5060 Ti, was launched).

Starting May 19 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, GeForce RTX 5060 graphics cards, desktops, and GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs will be available from our partners and retailers worldwide.#GeForceRTX50 pic.twitter.com/VLA9bZUWRWMay 6, 2025

The RTX 5060 Ti arrived in both 16GB and 8GB flavors, but the RTX 5060 will only debut with the latter loadout of video RAM (VRAM), and that has already proved controversial among PC gamers.

Again, like the RTX 5060 Ti, there will only be third-party versions of this graphics card, meaning Nvidia isn’t producing its own Founders Edition model.

To recap on the (already revealed) specs, the RTX 5060 has 3,840 CUDA Cores which is a 17% drop compared to the core count of the RTX 5060 Ti. Clock speeds and other specs are in the same ballpark, but as mentioned, there’s no 16GB spin on the vanilla RTX 5060.

Power usage is also lower with the RTX 5060 at 145W compared to 180W, which could be a consideration for folks who have a lesser power supply and not much room to maneuver when it comes to the overall wattage that their gaming PC can cope with.

Analysis: Lane drain and other VRAM complications

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Not to bang on about it, but the obvious problem with the RTX 5060, as I discussed at length yesterday, is Nvidia’s choice to run with 8GB of VRAM. I won’t go over the same ground I’ve already covered (see yesterday’s piece for the full lowdown), but there are some further points to consider now the launch date is primed and ready to go.

The arguments in favor of accepting 8GB (as a pricing compromise) might include ‘it’s fine for 1080p gaming’ meaning those running at Full HD resolution should be more or less okay with this helping of VRAM. However, various third-party tests have illustrated that with some games and graphics settings, 8GB is a bottleneck at 1080p now, slowing down frame rates substantially.

Yes, Nvidia does have its bag-of-AI-tricks in the form of RTX Neural Texture Compression as revealed with the Blackwell generation, which helps VRAM go much further. But the trouble is, nothing’s happening quickly to bring support in with games for that tech. It could be a long way down the road before texture compression makes a meaningful impact (though it may indeed be a big piece of the puzzle for Nvidia eventually).

As things stand in the here and now, that 8GB loadout is looking plain shaky. The central tempting factor for the RTX 5060, then, is that it’ll be a much more affordable outlay – we hope. With that MSRP of $299, if third-party graphics cards are available at that price level, this GPU could be seen as a decent shot at an affordable gaming card with some limitations that you’ll just have to live with.

At least for those with a motherboard that supports PCIe 5.0, because if you have a PCIe 4.0 motherboard, you’ll experience additional slowdown in scenarios where the 8GB of memory isn’t enough, as evidenced with the RTX 5060 Ti. Why? Because when the on-board VRAM can’t cope, the graphics card taps the main system RAM, using that PCIe 4.0 interface to reach it – and it’s a lot slower than PCIe 5.0.

This gets a bit complicated because it’s worsened by the decision made by Nvidia that all RTX 5060 models, Ti versions included, only support half the available PCIe lanes, and so half the bandwidth. Now, PCIe 5.0 is fine because it’s so fast, halving its bandwidth still leaves plenty of room to pipe data through. However, this becomes a real stumbling block with the slower PCIe 4.0 standard, and even more of a problem with PCIe 3.0 should you have a motherboard running that even older take on the interface.

I should note that the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is okay, because it has that much larger helping of VRAM, and so doesn’t need to run off to grab additional system RAM. And the RTX 5070 above it is fine, too – even if it only runs with 12GB of video RAM, which is arguably still light on the memory – because Nvidia didn’t hamstring that GPU by closing off half the PCIe lanes. The RTX 5070 has the full 16 lanes, rather than just eight as with the RTX 5060 models.

The long and short of it is that those without a new PCIe 5.0-toting motherboard will suffer the more outrageous slings and arrows bogging down performance with any RTX 5060 8GB (Ti, or non-Ti) graphics card. Pricing could also end up being higher than MSRP, too, as we’ve seen with the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, which is currently selling for something like 10% more than its recommended price (that’s the cheapest model at the time of writing in the US).

So, we could end up looking at $330 (around £250 / AU$510) for the RTX 5060 in the US realistically, or $350 upwards for beefier models of this graphics card (and in line with that elsewhere). At which point, given the mentioned shakiness around performance, would-be buyers may have more pause for thought.

Traditionally, the xx60 series has been a big seller for Nvidia, but maybe that won’t be quite as clear cut this time around – especially given the irony that you need a cutting-edge motherboard to most effectively run your affordable-level Blackwell GPU.

Furthermore, we also need to see what competition AMD’s RX 9060 XT will be – although that may also have an 8GB spin (as well as a 16GB model), we don’t know that for sure yet, or how the full specs will pan out. A lot of eyes are watching this lower-mid-range battle, that’s for sure, with the 9060 XT expected to be revealed just after the RTX 5060 goes on sale.

You might also like...

• Disappointed about those rumors that AMD’s RX 9070 GRE graphics card won’t appear until late 2025? We’ve got some good news for you
• Microsoft is digging its own grave with Windows 11, and it has to stop
• I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is

Nike Vomero 18: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

The Nike Vomero 18 is new for 2025 and is Nike's new king of cushioning. Replacing the Invincible 3, the Nike Vomero 18 combines ZoomX and React X foam, as well as the largest stack height we've ever seen in the Vomero line, 46mm.

They take their place as the third shoe in Nike's recalibrated road running line-up, alongside the Structure range for runners who overpronate, and the popular Pegasus 41 as an everyday trainer.

The Nike Vomero 18 is absolutely a high-mileage shoe designed for slower runs, recovery, and long distances. You won't be setting any track records in them, but as a big, squishy shoe, they're definitely some of the best running shoes out there.

(Image credit: Future)

The Nike Vomero 18 contends with another recent shoe I tried, the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2. Whereas the Elite 2 is a really disappointing package from a style standpoint, the Vomero 18 looks exquisite. We picked them up in the new Men's Barely Green/Hyper Crimson/Barely Volt/Metallic Silver, and I have to say they're absolutely stunning.

The colors are electrifying, although there are more neutral tones available if these look a bit much. The overall silhouette is really impressive, and once on they really stand out. If you want a head-turning trainer for the gym or road, this is a prime contender.

The upper is extremely soft and cushioned, and the whole trainer screams quality. Another gripe of mine with the Elite 2 was the rather cheap-feeling foam. By contrast, the Nike Vomero 18 shoes feel much more premium and exude build quality.

(Image credit: Future)

Stepping into the Vomero 18 for the first time, I was immediately struck by how cushioned and soft the interior felt overall, however, there's one standout catch. Compared to other shoes I've used – including Nike's own Pegasus 41 – the Vomero 18 feels extremely snug.

During all my testing, I found the Vomero 18 to be ever-so-slightly too small at my standard size 10, and on reflection, I would recommend sizing up to pretty much everyone. Coupled with the pronounced arch, the fit is extremely close and feels ripe for going up .5 on the size charts.

(Image credit: Future)

Built with long, slow, steady-state runs in mind, the Vomero 18 has a pronounced 10mm heel-toe drop and an enjoyable rocker design. That's more than the aforementioned Elite 2, and might put some folk off, but I've generally found the rolling motion of the Vomero 18 to be extremely pleasant.

(Image credit: Future)

The combination of the ZoomX and React X foams serves the Vomero 18 extremely well. Compared to the Elite 2, they're still squishy and soft (possibly moreso), but are much more stable by contrast.

I've had absolutely no wobbles or complaints despite the elevated stack height, and the Vomero 18 is very pleasant to run in, mile after mile. With the enormous heel stack, these will naturally favor heel strikers, however, there's so much cushioning on the shoe in general that they'll suit pretty much everyone.

While on the slightly heavier and bulkier side, the Vomero 18 shoes don't feel overly cumbersome, and I've had no concerns with overheating.

Nike Vomero 18: price & availability

• $150 / £135 / AU$220
• Men's and women's options, six colors
• Size up

The Nike Vomero 18 running shoes are available from Nike.com and a host of third-party resellers in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.

Priced at $150 / £135 / AU$ 220, they have been extremely popular since their launch in February 2025 and are often sold out on Nike's website. As such, they're extremely difficult to find at a discount.

As noted, the Vomero 18 is too snug to be described as true to size. I'd recommend sizing up half a size. If you can, be sure to test these out at your local running store, or buy them from somewhere you can return them if the size isn't right. Most retailers will let you return shoes within two weeks, provided you haven't used them outdoors.

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Nike Vomero 18: specifications Nike Vomero 18: scorecard Should I buy the Nike Vomero 18?

(Image credit: Future) Buy if it...

You want a striking long-distance shoe

The Nike Vomero 18 is definitely one of the most stylish long-distance options on the market.

You want brilliant cushioning

The Vomero 18 offers some of the best cushioning I have experienced in a running shoe.

Don't buy it if...

Your feet are on the larger side

The Vomero 18 are very snug; for some, even sizing up may not be enough.

You want a lighter, speedier shoe

The Vomero 18 shoes are fairly weighty and won't see you setting record times.

Also consider

(Image credit: Future)

Altra FWD Via

Our current favorite for long-distance, slow runs, also with a rocker.

Read our full Altra FWD Via review

Under Armour Infinite Elite 2

A slightly more comfortable, but far less stylish alternative.

Read our full Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 review

How I tested

I used the Nike Vomero 18 as my primary running shoe over a number of weeks, testing them at a variety of speeds and distances.

First reviewed: May 2025

• Proofpoint observes notable spike in phishing emails targeting Japanese businesses
• The emails are being sent out via a kit called CoGUI
• The researchers attributed the attack to a Chinese-speaking threat actor

Threat actors are flooding Japanese businesses with phishing attacks, and are using a unique phishing kit framework called CoGUI to do it.

Cybersecurity researchers Proofpoint say they have observed a “notable increase” in high-volume Japanese language campaigns using CoGUI in the wild in October 2024, before starting to track it in December of the same year.

“The campaigns typically include a high-volume of messages, with counts ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions per campaign, with an average of approximately 50 campaigns per month campaigned by our researchers,” Proofpoint explained.

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

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

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

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Millions of messages

The campaign peaked in January 2025, when 172 million messages were sent out.

The attackers were mostly pretending to be Amazon, PayPal, or Rakuten, but other brands were abused, as well. Japan was, by far, the most targeted country, but Proofpoint also said that there were victims in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

The goal of the campaign was to steal people’s login credentials, and system information. That data includes the geographical location of the IP address, language configuration of the browser, browser type and version, monitor height and width, OS, and the type of device used (mobile, desktop, laptop).

Proofpoint added the kit cannot grab 2FA code, but still described it as “sophisticated”, with advanced evasion techniques such as geofencing, header fencing, and fingerprinting.

These allowed the threat actors to focus on specific geographies, while evading most of today’s security measures.

The researchers attributed the attacks to a Chinese-speaking threat actor that mainly targets Japanese language speakers in Japan.

The best way to defend against these attacks remains the same - to use common sense, and slow down when reading and responding to email messages.

You might also like

• What is phishing and how dangerous is it?
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Electric bike manufacturer Cowboy is recalling its C4 ST MR Edition
• The voluntary recall is due to a frame problem, after cracks appeared in some models after 2,500km
• Cowboy will provide a replacement frame free of charge

Electric bike manufacturer Cowboy is recalling the MR Edition of its step-through C4 bikes, after identifying an issue with cracks forming in the frame after the bikes have been ridden for an extended period of time.

The Cowboy 4, now named the C4, is on our list of the best electric bikes you can buy in 2025, but some owners of the step-through (ST) MR Edition version of the bike have noticed cracks appearing in the bike's frame, as described in the Reddit post below.

Cowboy has said this is a frame problem that occurs after the bike has been ridden for around 2,500km, stating on its website that "these bikes, welded by one manufacturing partner, may develop fatigue cracks at the joint between the headtube and downtube.

"This issue stems from a production deviation and does not reflect the standards we uphold. As rider safety is our top priority, we are taking proactive measures and have initiated a voluntary recall of the affected frames."

Cowboy will be contacting registered riders likely to be affected, and will be replacing frames free of charge. If you own a C4 ST MR Edition but haven't yet been contacted, you can check if your bike is eligible for recall here.

What happens when a bike is recalled? Do you think I had a lucky escape? from r/cowboybikes

Cowboy has asked users whose bikes are likely to be recalled to not use their bike for the foreseeable future, in case the frame breaks completely while it's being ridden. Or, as one Reddit user put it, "this is some Final Destination level bull****".

Cowboy does have the ability to disable your bike using its anti-theft measures, but it has decided not to do so in this instance – so the onus is on owners to not use their bikes.

Eventually, all owners will be contacted by Cowboy, and their frame will be replaced free of charge.

Cowboy states: "Cowboy is committed to completing each frame replacement as quickly and safely as possible. Bikes with the highest mileage will be given priority, as they carry a higher risk."

Cowboy has committed to replacing all affected frames this year. However, if you've got an affected bike that's relatively low in mileage, you might be waiting a while to get a replacement, so it may be worth looking at our best cheap e-bikes list for a temporary fix.

You might also like...

• The Cowboy 4 e-bike's latest update showed me the future of travel
• Brompton electric P-Line review: An addictive and enjoyable classic e-bike
• I tried an experimental electric bike converter kit, and now I’m converted

• The Sony WH-1000XM6 are expected to launch this month, May 2025
• They're likely to be significantly more expensive than the current model
• Specifications have leaked and now there's a photo too

Sony's latest flagship headphones are leaking all over the place. Over the weekend, The Walkman Blog reported that the Sony WH-1000XM6 were slated for a May release; two days later a listing for the new headphones accidentally appeared on Amazon Spain with some key specifications. And now there's another leak that appears to be a photo, which we've included below.

The news comes via Notebookcheck.net, which spotted that the image (below) had leaked on Reddit. And while it's hardly hi-res, it does show enough detail to corroborate one of the key details of the Amazon Spain link: a return to the foldable hinges of the XM4, which Sony dropped for the WH-1000XM5.

WH-XM6 from r/SonyHeadphones

The lack of a foldable hinge was something we noted in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review, which concluded that this makes them "a bit large when it comes to storing them away" and that if you wanted a "truly on-the-go pair of headphones" you should consider Sony's WF-1000XM4 in-ears (now succeeded by the WF-1000XM5, and perhaps one day this year by the XM6s) as an alternative.

Well, it seems the incoming WH-1000XM6 flagships could again offer a more travel-friendly design than their predecessors, alongside some other new features...

Sony WH-1000XM6: what we know so far

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones could bring back some foldable hinges like the ones last seen in the XM4 model (above). (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The Amazon leak included a price of €470 including tax; without, it's about €439. That's roughly $499 / £439 / AU$770, which tracks: rumors suggested we'd see a price hike with this new version. The current model launched at $399 / £380 / AU$649.

The Amazon listing detailed a new QN3 processor, more microphones for the noise cancellation and a new magnetic case. It also listed a 10-band equalizer, 30-hour battery life and 30mm drivers – smaller than the ones in the XM5. The listing also promises 360-degree audio upmixing to create surround sound.

The marketing text from the Amazon listing, as screenshotted by The Walkman Blog, also includes some handy details. We can apparently expect that "new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and 12 microphones", a "new headband" that's "even more comfortable and secure than the previous model" and "six Al-powered microphones" that use Al noise reduction to filter out unwanted sounds.

So while the rumored price rise isn't great news, it sounds like the Sony WH-1000XM6 could still deliver some worthy upgrades – and we should hear about them all officially during their launch this month.

You might also like

• The best headphones in 2025 so far
• The best over-ear headphones for all budgets
• The best wireless headphones money can buy

The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump Administration to start executing its ban on trans military service members. And, the conclave to elect the Catholic Church's new leader begins today.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

• Security researchers have seen a bug in Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server abused in the wild
• It is being used to deploy malware
• The bug was fixed in August 2024, so users should patch now

Cybercriminals are abusing a vulnerability in Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server that was patched almost a year ago.

Cybersecurity researchers SSD-Disclosure published an in-depth analysis and a proof-of-concept (PoC) of the threat against the company's digital signage content management system (CMS).

It is used to manage, schedule, and monitor multimedia content across Samsung smart displays, and is a popular solution in different industries such as retail, or transportation.

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

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

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

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

PoC and abuse

In August 2024, Samsung announced fixing a remote code execution vulnerability. It described it as an “improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability allowing attackers to write arbitrary files as system authority”. It was tracked as CVE-2024-7399, and was given a severity score of 8.8/10 (high).

BleepingComputer described it as an ability to upload malware through a file upload functionality intended for updating display content. Samsung addressed it in version 21.1050.

Despite being fixed almost a year ago, threat actors are finding unpathed endpoints to target. SSD-Disclosure said attackers are uploading malicious .jsp files via an unauthenticated POST request.

In addition, security firm Arctic Wolf noted how, several days after the PoC was released, it observed the flaw being leveraged in attacks.

"Given the low barrier to exploitation and the availability of a public PoC, threat actors are likely to continue targeting this vulnerability," the researchers said.

We don’t know how successful these attacks are, who the threat actors are, or how many organizations fell victim. We also don’t know if the threat actors are focusing on any specific industry, or if they are simply casting a wide net.

In any case, organizations using Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server are advised to apply the latest patch, or at least bring their software to version 21.1050 to mitigate the risks.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Some Samsung Exynos phone chips have a worrying security flaw
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• One UI 8 should bring new features to the Now Bar
• The software may also fix a problem with the Secure Folder
• One UI 8 assets for watches have also leaked

With One UI 7 (based on Android 15) only just making its way out to older Galaxy handsets, Samsung is already prepping One UI 8 (based on Android 16) – and there are some key upgrades in the pipeline for both phones and watches.

We know that Google is planning to push out Android 16 very soon, ahead of the Pixel 10 phones, and it looks as though Samsung is keen to catch up. There have been rumors that One UI 8 could launch with the next Galaxy foldables sometime in July.

Let's start with the Now Bar, the dynamic lock-screen widget added in One UI 7. As per @Topraks9plus on social media (via 9to5Google), the One UI 8 version of the widget will add the ability to show phone calls and 'do not disturb' modes.

Both would be useful additions. Right now, the Now Bar can show live updates from apps such as Samsung Health and Google Maps, but the more information that's available on the lock screen the better.

Phones and watches

Updates are also on the way for the Galaxy Watch 7 (Image credit: Samsung)

Separately, a social post from @DevOfIpos (via Android Authority) suggests the Secure Folder in One UI 8 will be based on the Private Space feature in Android 15. This would be a small change, but it would fix one of the few privacy issues with Secure Folder.

Right now, the apps and files in Secure Folder can be exposed in certain scenarios. Samsung hasn't publicly acknowledged the problem, but it seems it might be about to fix it.

We've also seen assets for One UI 8 Watch leaked, again leaked by @DevOfIpos (via SamMobile). There are new system sounds, refined app icons, and more hints that Gemini will soon be appearing on Galaxy Watch devices.

Samsung hasn't yet updated any of its Galaxy Watches to One UI 7, and it looks almost certain that wearables like the Galaxy Watch 7 will jump directly to One UI 8 instead. We can expect more leaks in the near future, and hopefully some official news fairly soon too.

You might also like

• These are the best Samsung Galaxy phones right now
• The Galaxy Watch 8 is already being leaked
• Your Android phone is about to look very different

• Screen Time is set to gain new parental controls in iOS 18.5
• Other changes include tweaks to Mail, Settings, and more
• iOS 18.5 is expected to launch as soon as next week

Apple is on the brink of releasing the iOS 18.5 update, and it’ll come with a bunch of useful new features that could enhance all the best iPhones when it arrives. And judging by Apple’s release notes for the update, there’s a particularly useful change coming to Screen Time.

According to Apple, parents will soon be notified when their Screen Time passcode has been successfully entered into a child’s device. That should immediately let parents know that their offspring have found a way past the restrictions on their device.

Screen Time can be used to limit how long a person spends in a specified app, block inappropriate content, and confine device access to predefined times. If a child finds a way around these restrictions, they might be able to change or disable them.

Parents will also be able to get similar notifications in macOS once they’ve installed the macOS 15.5 update. The release candidate builds of both iOS 18.5 and macOS 15.5 were released yesterday, with the full versions expected to be launched next week.

More changes coming to iOS 18.5

(Image credit: Future)

Improved parental controls are not the only changes coming to Apple’s next operating system updates. There are minor tweaks like Apple bundling a new Pride Harmony wallpaper to support LGBT rights, but some wider changes are coming too.

The Mail app now has options to show or hide contact photos in your inbox, while you can also disable the Group by Sender view. In the Settings app, meanwhile, it’s now easier to view your AppleCare+ information and find out more about the service. These updates were previously spotted in the iOS 18.5 beta in early April.

The changes aren’t just focused on the latest iPhones. Users of the iPhone 13 will also benefit, with carrier-provided satellite services available to all models in the iPhone 13 range. That doesn’t refer to Apple’s own satellite services – like Emergency SOS via Satellite – but rather those provided by carriers, such as T-Mobile’s collaboration with Starlink.

With iOS 18.5 on the brink of launching to the public, it won’t be long until everyone will be able to try out these new features. That should set us up nicely for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where iOS 19 is expected to be unveiled to the world.

You might also like

• iOS 18.5 looks like a minor update, but the big changes are coming in iOS 19
• Apple's first iOS 18.5 beta makes it easier to get the old-style Apple Mail back
• Finding iOS 18.4 a bit buggy? An update is rolling out soon to fix it ahead of iOS 18.5

• ServiceNow is adding agentic AI to its CRM platform
• The company criticized the market for being "outdated" and "overbuilt"
• AI agents promise contextually-aware resolutions for happier customers

ServiceNow is looking to take on industry giant Salesforce with its next-generation CRM platform, enhanced with agentic AI, in a bid to help significantly improve efficiency across the board.

ServiceNow's agents will connect with third-party tools and systems using open source protocols like Google's A2A and Anthropic's MCP to make the platform even more powerful.

Referring to the CRM industry as one, "dominated by outdated, overbuilt systems," the company says its updated platform will enable it to make better use of data that was previously siloed, such as "spreadsheets, shared inboxes, and human middleware."

ServiceNow criticizes CRMs

In a press release, the company revealed CRM is its fastest-growing workflow, reaching $1.4 billion in annual contract value and growing 30% year-over-year. In fiscal 2024, the company made $10.98 billion in revenue, marking a healthy 22% growth compared with 2023.

"ServiceNow is delivering a groundbreaking new vision for CRM that transforms the entire customer experience around the powerful capabilities of AI," explained John Ball, the company's EVP and GM of CRM and Industry Workflows.

The company added customer service has evolved in recent years, and customers are now expecting "personalized, proactive experiences that anticipate their needs and resolve issues without friction."

ServiceNow also compared next-generation agentic AI with existing automation solutions, detailing how AI agents can dynamically determine the best course of action while taking into account broader context for quicker and more accurate resolutions.

"Far beyond rebranded chatbots, we’re enabling our customers to orchestrate end‑to‑end sales and service on a single AI‑powered platform, helping organizations manage the entire customer lifecycle with greater efficiency," Ball added.

You might also like

• HMRC launches £1 billion bid for new CRM system
• Make yourself indispensable with the best online learning platforms
• Boost productivity with the best AI tools and best AI writers

It's slick, comfortable and clever, but you pay the premium for it.

• Garmin released its new subscription service in March
• It has proven extremely unpopular with users
• CEO Cliff Pemble says the response has been positive, and says the company will likely reserve some premium features for it going forward

Garmin claims the response to its Connect+ subscription service "has been positive," but it's also hinted at a future where premium features are reserved for behind the paywall, in what is likely to be seen as another blow to loyal users.

During its recent Q1 2025 earnings call, Garmin announced earnings of $1.54 billion, up 11% year on year, and a record $330 million in operating income.

Naturally, questions and concerns revolved around the impact of tariffs on Garmin's business. However, CEO Cliff Pemble also touched on the launch of its controversial Garmin Connect+ service, with some news that users of the best Garmins devices won't want to hear.

In the opening Q&A, Pemble was asked about Garmin's decision to launch Connect+ when it did, given the company's previous reservations about charging its customers for more features.

"I think we've been saying for a while that we are evaluating opportunities to have a premium offering on Garmin Connect," Pemble responded. "I think the developments of AI and particularly around AI-based insights for our users was one of those things that we felt was important to recognize the value for the investment that it takes to do."

He added that "we felt like it was the right time," and echoed previous sentiments that Connect+ isn't a requirement for users, and that the company hasn't taken away any previously free features from users.

A positive response?

(Image credit: Garmin)

Pemble claimed the response to Connect+ "has been positive," despite widespread user outcry over the principle of a subscription service and specific complaints about the extremely thin offering Connect+ currently gives users.

Active Intelligence insights, in particular, are woefully basic, and mocking them has become something of a sport over on the Garmin Subreddit.

In passing, Pemble also dropped a very quiet bombshell. Noting the broad range of features available to users currently, he said, "certain ones, we will likely reserve for premium offerings." It's the clearest confirmation yet that Garmin plans to introduce future premium features to its lineup that will only be accessible to Garmin Connect+ subscribers.

The news is a double-edged sword, of course. Garmin is under fire in part because the Connect+ offering isn't fantastic, so adding more features to it is a key part of improving the product. However, that will mean some features aren't accessible to users who don't pay, a fact that goes to the heart of why Garmin users seem so opposed to a subscription service in principle.

Garmin users' worst fears, that a growing subscription service will eventually see more and more features hidden behind a paywall, are quickly being realized.

That's not such a burden if you've spent a relatively small sum on a Garmin Forerunner 55, but for those who've spent the best part of $1,000 / £1,000 on a Fenix 8 hoping for Garmin's most premium experience, it could prove a bitter pill to swallow.

You can read the transcript of the earnings call, or listen to a recording on YouTube. Pemble's Connect+ remarks can be found beginning at 19 minutes and 40 seconds.

You may also like

• Polar's latest software update might have finally convinced me to ditch my Garmin
• The Apple Watch SE 3 is apparently in 'serious jeopardy', and the news isn't much better for the Ultra 3 or Series 11
• 23andMe is bankrupt and about to sell your data

• AWS study finds 90% of businesses use AI, with spend now surpassing security
• Three in five have already appointed a Chief AI Officer
• Budgets and uncertainty could hinder training efforts

Spending on generative AI has surpassed cybersecurity, with financial services, ICT, manufacturing and retail all looking to adopt the technology, new research has claimed.

As a result, three in five organizations have now appointed a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) or similar to oversee their strategy, the latest Generative AI Adoption Index from cloud computing giant AWS found.

According to the report, almost all (90%) organizations are using GenAI in some capacity, with 44% already having moved from experimentation to full implementation.

GenAI spending has surpassed security spending

AWS's report explores the different ways companies are planning to go about deploying AI, with half as many companies again planning to build their own custom apps using existing models (58%) as those using off-the-shelf tools (40%).

An equally high number of businesses will also use fine-tuned models based on their own proprietary data. (55%), but on the whole, a hybrid of building and buying AI tools appears to be favored.

Over half (56%) or the companies surveyed also noted that they already have internal AI training programs, but that figure is expected to jump by 19 percentage points to 75% by the end of 2025. However, with constrained budgets and uncertainty about how to go about defining precise AI skillsets, it's clear that companies will be spending time finding their feet before workers might feel fully supported.

Still, 92% of companies are requiring AI skills during recruitment in 2025, demonstrating a huge opportunity for workers to upskill and prepare for an evolving workplace.

An additional one in four (26%) also plan to adopt more AI over the next year, showing how leadership roles are developing to handle AI as well as humans – a sentiment felt by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who believes the current and next generations of CEOs will need to manage AI agents alongside humans.

You might also like

• We've listed the best AI tools and best AI writers
• Prepare for the future with the best online learning platforms
• HR departments could soon be set for a major shake-up as AI takes hold