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As a child, I loved fingerpainting and anxiously awaited the weekly, colorful in-class activity. It wasn't so much the art that compelled me; I loved the distinctive smell and visceral feel of the fingerpaint. The entire process felt like an exploration, and through it, I discovered my creativity.

It was messy, chaotic, and crucial, I think, for my development. The new idea with fingerpainting is to separate a child's fingers from the paint. You splash some of the squishy colors onto a canvas, then seal the goop under plastic. The child then basically pushes the colors around without actually touching them.

It's clean, antiseptic, terrible, and a metaphor for what I think AI might be doing to learning.

My concerns were sparked anew by a recent and well-researched story in USA Today explaining "How AI is affecting the way kids learn to read and write."

It's full of details and anecdotes about how teachers are turning to AI in the classroom to help students, for instance, ideate. One teacher complained that the kids' essay ideas were growing "stale," so she's having them use AI to help them come up with better ones.

Antiseptic AI learning

Forget brainstorming in the classroom, kicking around ideas big and small that might spark others. AI offers a valuable shortcut. It also cuts out the messiness of bad ideas. AI's job is not to come up with answers randomly. The Large Language Models (LLMs) in ChatGPT, for instance, have been trained on millions, if not billions, of parameters to have a better understanding of a broad range of topics.

I often describe this as AI's knowing better than us "what comes next." That works in reading, writing, coding, and art. It's not always a clean process, though.

Early AIs (ones from 12 months ago) with somewhat limited training didn't always understand that humans have five fingers on each hand, so we got six fingers and sometimes extra phantom limbs. Interestingly, we seem quite comfortable with AI's learning through their own messy mistakes.

Literacy, the report notes, is dropping among grade school children largely because they're doing less reading of long-form content – they mostly read stuff on small screens if they're not ingesting endless video scrolls – and the pandemic set almost all learning back by a few years.

(Image credit: Besjunior via Shutterstock )

Educators struggle with this and AI has arrived as a handy tool for navigating around many of these issues.

Students are also engaging in more back-and-forth with AI for research. While boomers and Gen X might have used encyclopedias, Millennials and Gen Z have largely grown up using the web as a core research tool. They learned how to search on Google and, through trial and error, find the details they needed.

AI, though, is a conversation where the response is presented as fact, and the student assumes it is so. There is no error or assumption of error, and mistakes could easily be hidden in AI hallucinations.

Again, the engagement with a teacher and even other students is lost. Ideas no longer float in the ether. Questions are not shared among a group.

Let's make mistakes

Good teachers used to say, "There's no such thing as a dumb question." Asking "dumb" questions was how we learned. Students using AI are shielded from that moment. They just type in the prompt and the AI responds.

We learn through trial and error, and studies have shown that young minds, in particular, need to learn from the messiness of mistakes.

In a 2016 study, Learning from Errors, researchers wrote, "Although error avoidance during learning appears to be the rule in American classrooms, laboratory studies suggest that it may be a counterproductive strategy, at least for neurologically typical students. Experimental investigations indicate that errorful learning followed by corrective feedback is beneficial to learning."

A world in which students are potentially paired with their own AI chatbot and self-navigate without any experimentation or flat-out mistakes means that the conversation about why the work was wrong will never happen.

There is an exploration lost for the student who will not learn about the right way and understand how that error might lead to other reasoning dead ends and for the teacher who will fail to learn about the best way to engage and teach that student.

The sad thing is that I'm not sure we can convince students and their parents that this lack of messiness, error-making, and feedback loops will harm the students.

Outside the classroom, students teach themselves how to use ChatGPT to produce essays and get the best results and grades. At least educators are hip to these efforts. In the USA Today story, one educator who discovered them began running all the essays through AI checkers. Those are, of course, not fool proof.

The sad thing is that I'm not sure we can convince students and their parents that this lack of messiness, error-making, and feedback loops will harm the students. They will not learn as much, and I'm pretty sure their intellectual curiosity and creativity will be stunted.

How do we learn fresh things when our teacher is an AI, one that's been trained on all that was and is still not that good at telling us what comes next?

Look, I am not anti-AI, but AI in the hands of children and young students is like the sealed fingerpainting kit: antiseptic, wrong, and the opposite of the beautiful mess that is learning.

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The Large Magellanic Cloud, a close neighbor to the Milky Way, may house a giant black hole. It's the closest supermassive black hole outside of our galaxy.

(Image credit: CfA/Melissa Weiss)

It's unclear what will happen to rural customers in Ontario with one less option for internet service.

New internet restrictions at the embattled SSA have cut off access to WIRED, along with other “general news” websites like The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Despite myriad leaks and rumors surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, the phone remains a relative mystery in official terms. We know its name, we know it’s got two cameras, and we know it’s improbably slim, but in the months since its announcement at Galaxy Unpacked in January, Samsung has refrained from sharing, well, anything about its presumed iPhone 17 Air competitor.

For the most part, that didn’t change at MWC 2025, though in an exclusive interview with TechRadar during the Barcelona-based showcase, Samsung’s UK Marketing Director, Annika Bizon, did reveal that the Edge’s form factor (it’s rumored to measure just 5.84mm thick) won’t come at the expense of durability.

“I can’t say too much, but what I will say is that [the Edge] is about beautiful form factor. And there are two points I want to make,” Bizon explained. “One is that it’s absolutely stunning. And if you think about the technology that’s going into that size of space, it’s pretty impressive.

“The second thing I’ll say concerns durability. With anything slim, durability [has to come as part of the package]. Those are the two features [of the Edge] that are exciting [for us]. Well, I know durability isn't exciting – but it’s really important. So watch this space, because there are some exciting things to come regarding this phone.”

@techradar

♬ Strange Times, Dark Days - Isla June

OK, nothing groundbreaking, but it does sound like the Edge will bring something new to the table regarding durability, which matches up with a very specific design rumor we’ve heard already.

According to reports, the Galaxy S25 Edge could break away from the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup by using a ceramic rear panel instead of Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Ceramic is tougher than glass, so a fully ceramic or ceramic-infused glass panel would ensure that the Galaxy S25 Edge is more resistant to drops and knocks – crucial for a phone of its rumored thickness.

This would also explain why Samsung has maintained a ‘look don’t touch’ approach with the Edge at both Galaxy Unpacked and MWC 2025, where the phone was on display behind a barrier. Perhaps, if fans were permitted to go hands-on with the device, they’d be able to feel the difference in rear panel material, which is presumably something Samsung wants to keep under wraps for a dedicated reveal event.

Other rumored durability specs for the Edge include an IP68  water and dust resistance rating and aluminum sides, which would match the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, meanwhile, uses Gorilla Glass Armor 2 and a titanium body.

Why Edge? Why now?

(Image credit: Future/Viktoria Shilets)

As for why Samsung is bringing the Galaxy S25 Edge to market this year – and in doing so shaking up its tried-and-tested product release strategy – Bizon puts it down to an in-house commitment to innovation and consumer interest in something new.

“The thing with slim phones,” she explains, “is people want to know that they’re still getting very good technology. Innovation is in our DNA. It’s about the right timing, and when we think a product is ready to take to market, coupled with the fact that people do want form factor changes.

“We’ve seen that with foldables. We’re a brand for everyone. And being an open brand means you have to have technology that’s for everyone. Some people do not want to change from a flat phone; some people love the Flip; some people love the Fold. There’s something for everyone, and I think that’s where Samsung is genuinely leading the way.”

Bizon concluded: “The Edge is exciting because it’s a new form factor that’s quite sexy. It’s quite different. And that’s fun. It’s a fun thing to be able to market, too. It’s absolutely stunning, I’m super excited about it.”

And as for the even-more-secretive Samsung Galaxy tri-fold: “I really can’t tell you anything,” Bizon confesses, “not unless you want someone to come around and grab me by the neck.” Suffice it to say, we stopped the interview there.

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Today’s digital media landscape is shifting. In the early days of the internet, it was the wild west, with everybody heading out to establish their own piece of the web with personalized websites. Those fell to the wayside when social media took over, giving everybody generic profiles but bolstering connectivity and reach. However, as social media becomes less reliable for sharing your thoughts, building your brand, or growing your online business, having your own website is more important than ever. That’s where WordPress.com comes in.

Why host your site on WordPress.com?

(Image credit: WordPress.com)

WordPress.com is a platform specifically designed to host websites built on WordPress, an open-source content management system that has revolutionized how personal and professional websites are built. Supported by thousands of independent contributors and further bolstered by plugins and third-party themes, WordPress is easily configurable to work for a multitude of website purposes. WordPress.com’s fast and secure managed hosting is designed to give your site the best performance and reliability.

Website hosting can be a surprisingly individualized need. Whether you’re looking to highlight a personal portfolio and get more eyes on your work or launching an online store to sell your crafted wares, WordPress.com easily handles whatever kind of website you throw at it.

(Image credit: WordPress.com)

So you build a site, you’re gaining traffic, and – uh oh! You’ve gone viral. There’s a significant uptick in new visitors to your site. Other website hosts can crumble under the weight of a successful, high-traffic website. They may jack up your hosting rates or temporarily disable your site to compensate for the higher bandwidth demand. Rest easy knowing your site is backed by WordPress.com’s 99.999% uptime, plus unlimited bandwidth and traffic. No surprise fees—just smooth sailing, no matter how big you grow.

Is WordPress.com secure enough for my website?

(Image credit: WordPress.com)

Building a website is easy, but maintaining one can seem incredibly daunting. What if there is a DDoS attack? Who do you call if there is malware, or if you accidentally delete your entire site? Good news: WordPress.com has an expert support team who are ready to help when you need it most. There’s no need to stress about middle-of-the-night backups or WAF protection when WordPress.com’s Happiness Engineers are on standby 24/7 to protect your website and keep things running smoothly.

WordPress.com's hosting plans are unlimited, unmetered, and include everything you need – a 28+ location custom-built CDN, burst scaling, free SSL, edge caching, scalable PHP workers, and automated data center failover – to stay reliably online and lightning fast. Say goodbye to fickle social media platforms that can throttle your visibility or go offline unexpectedly, and stay connected by hosting your website on WordPress.com.

Meta, Snap and X applaud the move to put the onus on app stores rather than on specific websites and platforms.

Our favorite internet provider in Hickory has more affordable and higher speed plans, but limited availability may force you to look elsewhere.

• Dyson has released a consumer version of its Supersonic r Professional
• It's the brand's smallest, lightest, most powerful hair dryer
• Available now in US for $569.99, due 2 March in UK at £449.99

Previously a professional-only hair dryer, the Dyson Supersonic r has now been added to the core haircare range, and made available to us mere (non-hairdresser) mortals for the first time. This is Dyson's smallest, lightest and most powerful dryer – it's 20% smaller and 30% lighter than the original Supersonic – so if you have deep pockets and want to create salon-worthy styles from the comfort of your own home, this is your chance.

The Supersonic r first went on sale back in February 2024, and initially turned heads because it looked more like a pipe than any hair dryer we'd ever seen. After everyone had stopped making jokes about its appearance, the dryer began to win people over with its performance. That weird design is far more comfortable and easier to wield than a traditional dryer, and allows for more precise styling too.

The only thing stopping it from troubling our best hair dryer list was the fact it was professional-only. Until now. The Dyson Supersonic r that's about to go on sale is identical to the original pro version, save for a shorter cable (home-length, rather than salon-length).

(Image credit: Dyson)

The more streamlined and maneuverable shape and lower weight are made possible by some redesigned mechanics. Under the hood you'll find a more streamlined air heater than the one found in the regular Supersonics, and a Dyson Hyperdymium motor too (possibly the same / a version of the one that powers today's best Dyson vacuums).

The r will initially be available in Ceramic Pink, and a Jasper Plum version is in the works too. These are two of the new colorways being filtered into the Dyson's haircare lineup, and, in my option, a big upgrade on its previous tropical tones.

(Image credit: Dyson)

The r also comes with some intriguing looking new magnetic attachments to play with. What is this PowerfulAir tool? How the heck does the SmoothNozzle work? All things I look forward to discovering when I get my hands on one. I am pleased to see there's an compatible version of the fan-favorite FlyAway attachment.

All attachments have RFID sensors, which means the dryer knows which one is attached and will remember your last-used temperature and airflow settings with each.

Mysterious new compatible attachments include (L-R) PowerfulAir, Smooth Nozzle and GentleDryer (Image credit: Dyson) When and where can I get my hands on it?

The Supersonic r has just gone on sale in Ceramic Pink in the US, at a list price of $569.99.

In the UK, the Supersonic r will come with a list price of £449.99 (£50 more than the Nural). The Ceramic Pink version will go on sale from 2 April at Dyson Demo stores, Dyson.co.uk and select retailers (you can sign up for a UK release notification).

It looks like it will also launch in Australia – you can sign up for AU release notification – but I haven't had a date or price confirmed yet. The Nural costs AU$749, so it'll be perhaps a little more than that.

The Dyson Supersonic r Professional will remain on sale on Dyson’s 'For Business' website page as well as via select trade distributors. It looks like the two versions are identical, except the 'Professional' version has a longer cable, making it more suited to use in a salon. The Pro version also has different colorways.

(Image credit: Dyson) Nural vs r – which dryer will reign supreme?

The brand's current range-topper is the Supersonic Nural. I was blown away by that model when I tested it for my Dyson Supersonic Nural review, and it remains the best premium hair dryer we've tested at TechRadar. I'll do a proper comparison once I've had a chance to try the r out, but at a glance it looks like the r is smaller and lighter, but that the Nural might have more special features.

The Nural has a Scalp Protect setting that seems to be absent on the r (Image credit: Future)

The Nural comes with a Scalp Protect setting, where the dryer monitors how far away from your head it is, and gets hotter or cooler to maintain what feels like a constant temperature on your scalp. There's no mention of that with the r. Ditto the automatic drop to lower power when you put the Nural down.

Many of the attachments look different, but I think most are different versions of the same idea. It's notable that the r doesn't come with the upgraded, two-part diffuser, but rather a more traditional-looking version. Both dryers can recognize which attachment is on, and switch to your last-used settings with that attachment. Based on US and UK pricing, the Nural is slightly cheaper, too.

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Tournament favorites head to Denmark for last-16 tie.

• Metacritic's annual publisher rankings crowns Sega as the highest-rated of 2024
• Sega takes first place thanks to the successful launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• The publisher beat out Capcom and Sony

Sega was the highest-rated publisher of 2024, according to Metacritic's annual rankings.

Another year of video game releases has gone by, and with that Metacritic's 15th annual publisher rankings have officially been released, revealing Sega as the winner with a score of 325.5 points.

Sega is the first publisher to achieve Metacritic's first-place ranking three times, the first in 2016 followed by 2021, and it's all thanks to the several critically acclaimed role-playing game (RPG) releases we saw in 2024.

Those include the award-winning Metaphor: ReFantazio from Persona developer Atlas, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, which also got a Nintendo Switch launch, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Even though Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board didn't kick off like Sega's other titles, the publisher still beat out the likes of Sony, which had a great year with the release of Game of the Year winner Astro Bot and numerous PC ports.

For Metacritic's 2023 rankings, Capcom was crowned the highest-rated publisher, however, this year it falls behind Sega in second place by only a few points despite the successful launch of Dragon's Dogma 2.

With Monster Hunter Wilds making waves in its first week of release, it just surpassed 8 million units sold, Capcom has the potential to see a similar ranking or higher next year.

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Waiting until the last minute to file taxes can be costly, especially for freelancers and filers looking to itemize expenses.

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs head to the Netherlands for this last-16 match.

You'd be forgiven for missing the news. After all, Apple's had quite the week, and nobody's judging anyone for not being able to see past the new M3 chip-enhanced iPad Air, an M4 chip-enhanced MacBook Air, an M4 Max-enhanced Mac Studio (with an even better M3 Ultra option – is this confusing to anyone else?) plus some new budget-friendly iPads.

But AirPods owners should know that while all this was taking up space in your news boxes and Discovery feeds, Apple quietly published new and fairly extensive instructions for cleaning your AirPods, and even endorsed a third-party Belkin AirPods cleaning kit (which Apple is now selling).

Tim Cook's behemoth has decided to lead with instructions for cleaning the AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 (both variants), with detailed images circling which meshes you should clean.

If you're not buying the recommended Belkin kit (which costs $12.95, so around £10 or AU$20) Apple's list of items you'll need to buy is really quite specific too, including "Micellar water that includes PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, such as from Bioderma or Neutrogena; distilled water; a soft-bristled children's toothbrush; two small cups and a paper towel".

More than one way to clean an AirPod?

Clean tech is an area close to my heart, reader – not least because TechRadar's Senior Writer of AI, John-Anthony Disotto used to work at the Apple Genius bar, and his tale of customer earwax being flicked into his beard as he tried to clean their AirPods is the stuff of legend.

I too have penned a missive on how to clean your AirPods (or any wireless earbuds), and I'm happy to report that my methods are largely similar to Apple's, although Apple's use of highly-specific micellar water is new to me – and while Apple doesn't mention it, I have found on occasion that a quick blast from the nozzle of a compressed air can often dislodges dust and wax from those hard-to-reach metal contact points in the case.

And I'm not alone! TechRadar's Editor at Large, Lance Ulanoff has also extolled the virtues of a very quick but controlled blast of compressed air (cans are available for just a few dollars) on your tech.

Of course, Apple's AirPods are made by – you guessed it – Apple, and following manufacturer guidelines is also something I always recommend. And now, the company has nailed down a step-by-step procedure depending on which models you own, along with a recommended cleaning kit. It feels like a no-brainer if you're thinking your AirPods are a little gunky.

Oh, and one final recommendation: don't eat dinner before asking John-Anthony Disotto (or anyone who cleans Apple tech professionally, for that matter) to tell you about the worst experience he ever had trying to clean AirPods at the Apple Genius bar. How can you get actual cooked food stuck in AirPods though? How…

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• Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone has been detailed in a new report
• It contains some surprises relating to the price and Touch ID
• It’s still probably a few years away from launching

The likes of Samsung and Google have produced some of the best foldable phones over the past few years, but Apple has remained conspicuously absent. That might not be the case for long, though, as a new report has laid out the company’s folding iPhone plans in enticing detail. Look closely and you’ll find a few surprises.

The testimony comes from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a strong track record for Apple leaks. In the report, Kuo outlined his expectations of the device’s starting price, its features, and how well it might sell. Here’s the lowdown.

1. An eye-watering price

Folding phones command a premium price tag, and it looks like Apple’s attempt will be no different. Kuo estimates that the foldable iPhone will sell for “above $2,000,” with the price potentially going as high as $2,500 (around £2,000 / AU$4,000).

Considering the most expensive current-gen iPhone – the iPhone 16 Pro Max – starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, that’s a massive increase on the price of a flagship iPhone. It’s also a decent chunk above what you’ll pay for the top-end foldables from Samsung and Google, both of which charge around $1,800 for their devices.

Yet that price might not matter. Given the iPhone’s top-tier reputation and Apple’s loyal fanbase, Kuo thinks the device will “generate strong replacement demand … provided quality meets expectations.”

Mass production will apparently begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and Apple is expected to sell 3.5 million units, Kuo says. A second-generation model is tipped to enter mass production in the second half of 2027 and could sell 20 million units.

2. AI first

(Image credit: Apple)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage at the moment, and Apple is getting in on the act with its own (albeit flawed) Apple Intelligence system. This will be front and center in the foldable iPhone, Kuo says, with the device being positioned as a “true AI-driven phone.”

That means it’ll come with “Multimodal functionality and cross-app integration,” Kuo says. “Larger screens [will] enhance the AI experience,” he believes, “enabling scenarios like chatting with a chatbot about travel plans while viewing a full map app simultaneously.”

In other words, expect a truly next-gen iPhone that's been sorely needed for several years now.

3. A book-style design

(Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

The foldable iPhone will apparently adopt a “book-style design,” according to Kuo, with a vertical fold rather than one that crosses the device horizontally. That means it's likely to be a Galaxy Fold 7 rival (or perhaps a Galaxy Z Fold 8 alternative by that stage).

Crucially, it will be crease-free, and the hinge will reportedly “combine stainless steel and titanium alloy, while the casing opts for titanium alloy,” Kuo reports.

As for the size, the device will apparently come with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. It will be 9mm to 9.5mm thick when folded, the report claims, and 4.5mm to 4.8mm thick when unfolded.

That would make the iPhone Fold (or whatever it's ultimately called) marginally thicker than the Oppo Find N5, which is 8.93mm thick when folded. But the camera bump will likely add a few millimeters to the total thickness anyway.

4. Touch ID returns

When the iPhone 16e replaced the iPhone SE, Apple phased out Touch ID in all of its iPhones. Or did it? As per Kuo, Touch ID will return in the foldable iPhone. It will seemingly find its way into a side button, which sounds reminiscent of the Touch ID button in the iPad Air.

Why might this old tech make a comeback when Face ID is more secure? Kuo states that “Face ID may be absent due to thickness and internal space constraints.”

5. A dual-camera setup

(Image credit: Future)

Fancy yourself as a photographer? The foldable iPhone might not be your first choice in that case, as Kuo thinks it’ll come with a dual-lens camera array.

This will presumably be a little less advanced than the triple-lens setup you get with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The dual-lens camera mirrors an earlier report on Apple’s foldable iPhone from leaker

There will also likely be a front-facing camera, and Kuo says you can expect “one front-facing camera [to be] available in both folded and unfolded states.”

6. An ultra-thin battery

Kuo quickly touched on the foldable iPhone’s battery life, which he argues will feature “the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17.” That’s likely a reference to the iPhone 17 Air (or whatever it ends up being called), a rumored super-slim iPhone that’s slated to launch in September of this year.

We don’t know what sort of battery life to expect from the foldable iPhone, though. But given Apple’s past marketing habits, it could well still be touted as “all-day battery life" despite its slim design.

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The Inspired Home Show in Chicago draws housewares industry insiders from all over the country to network and show off their latest gadgets. This year, they're making plans to cope with tariffs.

The return of pop icon Lady Gaga is imminent, and Spotify is hosting an exciting event in collaboration with the artist herself – and they’re getting the fans involved. To mark the release of Gaga’s new album Mayhem, which comes out on March 7, Spotify is hosting a live press conference with her, marking a first-of-its-kind event for the streaming platform. There’s just one catch: Gaga won’t be taking questions from journalists – just the fans.

You heard me right. For once Spotify is thinking beyond its general scope of subscribers and is paying attention to specific fan bases, and you can bet that I’ll be tuning into its fan-run press conference titled the 'Little Monsters Press Conference'. When Gaga took to Spotify’s social media accounts on February 21 to announce the event (see below), she said: “I want you to ask me every burning desire of a question [you] have,” so by the sounds of it, nothing is off limits at this Spotify-exclusive press conference.

A post shared by Spotify (@spotify)

A photo posted by on

For most Spotify subscribers, this news won’t be as exciting as its long-awaited Spotify HiFi tier – but in spite of that absence, Gaga’s press conference with the music streaming service marks one of the first major fan-centric events at Spotify, which is a pretty exciting step towards fan inclusion if you ask me. Spotify has nailed it with its social features and personal interactional functions, but has yet to really make space for fan bases to thrive. Until now.

The burning questions are: 'How do I stream Lady Gaga’s Spotify press conference?' and 'What can I expect from this unprecedented event from Spotify?'. Luckily, you’ve found the right person to tell you everything you need to know.

A post shared by Spotify (@spotify)

A photo posted by on

How can I watch the Spotify Presents: Little Monsters Press Conference?

The press conference will be taking place today (March 6) and will be live streamed on Spotify's TikTok and Instagram pages, as well as the Spotify YouTube channel. The event starts at 6pm ET / 3pm PT, meaning 11pm for UK fans - a late start, but one that's worth staying up to catch.

If you find yourself in a location where Spotify's channels may be blocked or unavailable, it's worth seeking out your options so that you don't miss out on the fan event, or you want to stream it securely. We recommend using NordVPN.

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What can I expect from Spotify Presents: Little Monsters Press Conference?

Well, since it's a first-of-its-kind event for Spotify, it's difficult to guess exactly what will be discussed and what will occur during the livestream. However, given Gaga's encouragement to fans in her social media announcement, the event could take an unexpected direction and invite queries outside of the expected music and streaming-related questions.

Since it's been nearly five years since Gaga's last solo studio album Chromatica (2020) – sorry, I'm not counting her passion project Harlequin (2024) – I'd imagine that a lot of the questions will get to the nitty gritty of the next project's inspiration and roots, and possibly what comes next once it drops on March 7.

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Apple might have only unveiled the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 yesterday, March 5, 2025, but I’ve gotten an early preview, putting my eyes and hands on the latest laptop from the Cupertino-based tech giant.

While the leading feature is in the name – the M4 chipset – two other things bubbled up in my mind: the new Sky Blue shade, which has a unique quality to it, and that more affordable price.

I didn’t get to do a formal hands-on, per se, but here are my thoughts after seeing the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air in all four colors, along with some photos and videos of them in action.

Sky Blue really looks stunning

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

I wasn’t expecting an all-new color for the MacBook Air, but I am thrilled to see Apple expanding the lineup. I, of course, just wish a few more shades were ushered in, potentially some more vibrant colors like the pink and orange of the iMac. One can dream.

In person, the Sky Blue shade is really delightful and almost an optical illusion. Depending on how the light hits it, it can sometimes look silver. It’s not a vibrant blue or a darker one like Midnight, but rather, it sticks out as a light, pastel-y shade of turquoise.

Further, as much as I’d love a punchy Ultramarine MacBook Air like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, that’s not the case here.

While Apple is ushering Sky Blue to the MacBook Air color options, it’s replacing Space Gray. So, if you don't want the new color, your options are Starlight, Silver, or Midnight – you can see them in the gallery below.

Apple added its special anodization process to Midnight with the M2 model to help reduce and remove fingerprints – mileage varied at times here. that's unchanged with the M4, but there's no such finish on the Sky Blue MacBook Air.

Image 1 of 6

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Sky Blue. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Image 2 of 6

Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air in M4 in Sky Blue. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Image 3 of 6

Apple's 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 in Sky Blue. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Image 4 of 6

An up-close look at the MagSafe and USB-C/Thunderbolt ports on the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Image 5 of 6

Lid of 15-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)Image 6 of 6

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue on a table. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Even so, Sky Blue does a pretty good job of hiding fingerprints and smudges on the outer shell. It’s a natural property of this shade and the materials here.

If I were to purchase a MacBook Air right now, I would choose Sky Blue for either size. It’s a great shade – not too poppy or vibrant, just the right amount of color to add flair. Please don’t snap a plastic case on the outside of it; stickers are fine, though.

I do hope that with whatever comes next – maybe it’s M5 MacBook Air? – Apple rolls out some additional shades.

A return to form for price

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

In the United States, the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 for the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. That same model is £999 in the UK or $1,699 in Australia, which is actually a price cut, and Apple’s really stretching the value here. That’s even better than when the MacBook Air M1 rolled out.

Although I didn’t spend much time playing around with macOS on these MacBook Airs, I have zero doubts about the M4 chip's performance. I saw demos of it playing a game and performing some masking in Pixelmator Pro without skipping a beat or dropping frames.

When I reviewed the iMac as well as TechRadar’s Matthew Hanson with the Mac mini and Lance Ulanoff with the 14-inch MacBook Pro last October – all featuring variations of the M4 – the speeds and performance were fast.

I have a feeling that for the price, the MacBook Air will be the obvious choice for most folks – even for the 15-inch, starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099, which also got a price cut.

@techradar

♬ Pretty (Sped Up) - MEYY

Alongside the new color and the M4 chip, Apple also made another change to the MacBook Air: upgrading the FaceTime camera to a 12-megapixel lens with support from CenterStage.

I quickly tested this. As I moved the MacBook Air up or down, the camera frame moved swiftly to keep me in the video (it does this via a crop of a much wider 12MP video frame). It’s nice to have, and considering Center Stage also arrives on the MacBook Pro with the M4, it’s good form to trickle it down to the MacBook Air.

I wish Apple had at least offered the nano-texture option here, as it works great on the MacBook Pro. While I’m at it, upping the base storage to 512GB would also be nice. As it stands, I think this is one of the best MacBook Airs, yet from the price cut to the M4 chip to the shiny shade of blue.

Be sure to check out our first look video with the MacBook Air below, and stay tuned for a review once we get our hands on it, as there is plenty to test here.

If you're already sold, the M4 MacBook Air is up for preorder now and will formally launch on March 12, 2025.

• 13-inch MacBook Air with M4, starting at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 from Apple or Amazon
• 15-inch MacBook Air with M4, starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099 from Apple or Amazon

@techradar

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• 12 Chinese hackers have been charged by the US Department of Justice
• Two of these were allegedly involved in the 2024 US Treasury hack
• The individuals have not been apprehended

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has announced it is bringing charges against 12 Chinese hackers who are accused of targeting over 100 American companies, including the US Treasury.

The individuals are all accused of playing key roles in Chinese hacking offensives. Officials confirmed some of those charged were contract hackers and Chinese law enforcement officials who targeted firms in the US and worldwide in order to suppress “free speech and religious freedoms”.

Of those twelve, two of the individuals are allegedly linked to the state-sponsored hacking group Silk Typhoon - identified by Microsoft as the group responsible for the US Treasury hack in late 2024.

Hackers-for-hire

The attackers targeted law firms, defense contractors, government agencies, universities, tech companies, and healthcare services, prosecutors confirmed - gaining access to victims' networks by exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in enterprise software.

The DoJ also announced it was bringing charges against eight individuals who were part of an organization, Anxum Information Technology Co.Ltd. - nicknamed “i-Soon”.

This organization, “conducted computer intrusions at the direction of the PRC’s [Ministry of Public Security] MPS and Ministry of State Security (MSS)” - for which the MPS and MSS “paid handsomely", allegedly rewarding between approximately $10,000 and $75,000 for each email inbox the group successfully exploited.

“The FBI is committed to protecting Americans from foreign cyber-attacks,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division.

“Today’s announcements reveal that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been paying hackers-for-hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

None of the individuals have been detained, and the US Government has offered up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests and convictions of the malicious cybercriminals.

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• Nisos uncovers network of fake identities, all looking for software development work
• At least two personas are working in small businesses
• The goal is to earn money for North Korea's weapons program

North Korean cybercriminals are faking their identities in order to get jobs in software development companies in Asia and the West, new research has claimed.

A report from researchers Nisos claims to have identified at least four fake personas working as software developers, blockchain developers, IT pros, and similar, with the goal, “to earn cash to fund Pyongyang’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development programs."

To create these fake identities, the threat actors are using GitHub and reusing matured GitHub accounts and portfolio content from older personas. This helps them backstop their new identities, the researchers said. It also helped two individuals get jobs at companies with fewer than 50 employees.

Lazarus?

While these identities have accounts on employment and people information websites, they don’t have social media accounts, which is always a red flag. Furthermore, their profile photos are “photoshopped” and they have, in some cases, obviously pasted a different face over a stock photo to show them working in a team.

Finally, all personas in the network use similar email addresses, often including the same numbers and the word “dev”.

While it’s difficult to know for certain, Nisos says there are “several indicators” that the hackers are affiliated with the North Korean government, including “consistent tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) attributed to North Korean employment fraud actors.”

In the past, there have been reports of Lazarus, a known North Korean state-sponsored threat actor, hunting for software development jobs. Getting hired helps them gain access to the company’s back end, which they use to steal sensitive data, or even money.

Lazarus was also observed creating fake companies and fake jobs, and head-hunting software developers in major IT firms. During the “hiring process”, they would drop malware onto their victim’s devices, with the same goal of accessing their employer’s IT infrastructure.

The group usually targets blockchain-related businesses and has pulled off some of the biggest crypto heists in history.

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