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Back in March 2024, we reported how British AI startup Literal Labs was working to make GPU-based training obsolete with its Tseltin Machine, a machine learning model that uses logic-based learning to classify data.

It operates through Tsetlin automata, which establish logical connections between features in input data and classification rules. Based on whether decisions are correct or incorrect, the machine adjusts these connections using rewards or penalties.

Developed by Soviet mathematician Mikhail Tsetlin in the 1960s, this approach contrasts with neural networks by focusing on learning automata, rather than modeling biological neurons, to perform tasks like classification and pattern recognition.

Energy-efficient design

Now, Literal Labs, backed by Arm, has developed a model using Tsetlin Machines that despite its compact size of just 7.29KB, delivers high accuracy and dramatically improves anomaly detection tasks for edge AI and IoT deployments.

The model was benchmarked by Literal Labs using the MLPerf Inference: Tiny suite and tested on a $30 NUCLEO-H7A3ZI-Q development board, which features a 280MHz ARM Cortex-M7 processor and doesn’t include an AI accelerator. The results show Literal Labs’ model achieves inference speeds that are 54 times faster than traditional neural networks while consuming 52 times less energy.

Compared to the best-performing models in the industry, Literal Labs’ model demonstrates both latency improvements and an energy-efficient design, making it suitable for low-power devices like sensors. Its performance makes it viable for applications in industrial IoT, predictive maintenance, and health diagnostics, where detecting anomalies quickly and accurately is crucial.

The use of such a compact and low-energy model could help scale AI deployment across various sectors, reducing costs and increasing accessibility to AI technology.

Literal Labs says, “Smaller models are particularly advantageous in such deployments as they require less memory and processing power, allowing them to run on more affordable, lower-specification hardware. This not only reduces costs but also broadens the range of devices capable of supporting advanced AI functionality, making it feasible to deploy AI solutions at scale in resource-constrained settings.”

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The first iOS 18.2 developer beta is out right now. Here's how you can get it on your iPhone.

• The developer betas of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 have landed
• They have new Apple Intelligence tricks like Genmoji and Image Playground
• Apple also rolled out a major upgrade to Writing Tools across platforms

Shortly after confirming that Apple Intelligence will debut for all folks with eligible devices next week with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple is now giving developers a look at its next set of features. Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, and ChatGPT integration for Siri are appearing for the first time in the iOS 18.2 developer beta, being released today (October 23, 2024).

iOS 18.2 developer beta 1, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are available now for registered developers as part of the Apple Beta Software Program. Critically, these are still developer betas and not close to final, meaning that bugs, slowdowns, and speedbumps are to be expected.

In addition to four major new additions to Apple Intelligence, they also introduce support for English (Australia), English (Canada), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), and English (UK).

Leading the charge beyond support for new languages is the first glimpse at Genmoji, Apple’s generative AI emoji tool that lets you combine emojis to create custom ones. This lands alongside Image Playground, Apple’s answer to the best AI image generators. We haven't had the chance to test these features yet, but Genmoji and Image Playground can be accessed directly from the Messages app, Notes, and Freeform.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

Image Playground will also be a standalone app on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Thanks to dedicated Genmoji and Image Playground APIs for developers, more apps will have access to these AI image tools.

Elsewhere, Siri now has ChatGPT integration allowing you to ask OpenAI’s chatbot questions directly from inside Apple’s voice assistant. It's worth noting that this will be entirely opt-in, and Siri will flag when ChatGPT is answering a request.

Siri is also smarter; while not quite as smart as the final Apple Intelligence-powered version we expect to see next year, it will still be able to respond if you stumble over your words. Furthermore, Siri now has access to all of Apple’s how-to guides to help you with important device information.

Even more Apple Intelligence

Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 (Image credit: Apple)

There’s also an added surprise for iPhone 16 owners, as Camera Control now works with Visual Intelligence, allowing you to take a picture of anything you see and let Apple Intelligence do the searching for you.

In Apple’s demo of the feature during the iPhone 16 keynote, Visual Intelligence could give you the opening hours for a restaurant from just a picture of the building or even determine the breed of a dog – pretty cool indeed. It's one that we cannot wait to try.

Writing Tools, one of the first Apple Intelligence tools set to release next week, has also received a big upgrade in 18.2 with new options to help shape text generation. You’ll be able to ask Apple Intelligence to write in specific tones, giving users far more control over the generated text.

iOS 18.2 looks like an excellent upgrade to the iPhone, and we can’t wait to try out all of the new Apple Intelligence additions. However, while you can try the iOS 18.2 developer beta today alongside iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2, all of these are still in development. There is always the chance you could experience major bugs, and it is not recommended to be installed on your primary device.

iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 developer betas are available later today. iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 will officially launch next week.

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The experimental "computer use" capability points toward AI encroaching further into the realm of human skills.

Netflix's November 2024 list is rich with Netflix original entertainment as well as its usual wave of movies and shows that span drama, comedy, and even reality TV. As for its October 2024 schedule, horror was the stand-out genre where the likes of Hitchcock made an appearance throughout the month. But November 2024 is all about the holidays, even if the Christmas movies on offer seem a little cliché.

Though I'd like to see more Christmas classics coming to one of the best streaming services, it still hasn't knocked Netflix down from its pedestal. Instead, I'll be looking to catch up on some of the best Netflix movies coming to the platform this month, including Oscar winners The Whale (2022) and Whiplash (2014) – the latter which sits high and proud on my Letterboxd four.

Everything new on Netflix in November 2024

Arriving November 1

60 Days In season 7 (TV show)
A Paris Christmas Waltz (movie)
Barbie Mysteries: The Great Horse Chase (TV show)
Fall Into Winter (movie)
Free State of Jones (movie)
Goosebumps (movie)
It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football (Netflix Original documentary)
Just Go With It (movie)
Let Go (Netflix Original movie)
Love in the Wild season 2 (TV show)
Maid in Manhattan (movie)
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (movie)
Oblivion (movie)
Pompeii (movie)
The Scorpion King (movie)
Sixteen Candles (movie)
Superbad (movie)
The Whale (movie)
Whiplash (movie)

Arriving on November 5

Dirty Jobs seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Love Village season 2 (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 6

Love Is Blind: Argentina (Netflix Original TV show)
Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix Original movie)
Pedro Páramo (Netflix Original movie)

Arriving on November 7

10 Days of a Curious Man (Netflix Original movie)
Born for the Spotlight (Netflix Original TV show)
Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson (Netflix Original TV show)
Face Off seasons 6-8 (TV show)
Outer Banks season 4 part 2 (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 8

A Holiday Engagement (movie)
Bank Under Siege (Netflix Original TV show)
The Cage (Netflix Original TV show)
The Christmas Trap (movie)
Investigation Alien (Netflix Original documentary)
My Dad's Christmas Date (movie)
Mr. Plankton (Netflix Original TV show)
Vijay 69 (Netflix Original movie)
Umjolo: The Gone Girl (Netflix Original movie)

Arriving on November 9

Arcane season 2 act I (Netflix Original TV show)
The Lost City (movie)

Arriving on November 10

Focus (movie)

Arriving on November 11

Rob Peace (movie)

Arriving on November 12

Adrienne Iapalucci: Dark Queen (Netflix Original comedy)
Rhythm + Flow: Brazil (Netflix Original TV show)
The Fast and the Furious (movie)
2 Fast 2 Furious (movie)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (movie)
Fast & Furious (movie)
Fast Five (movie)
Fast & Furious 6 (movie)

Arriving on November 13

EMILIA PÉREZ (Netflix Original movie)
Hot Frosty (Netflix Original movie)
The Mothers of Penguins (Netflix Original TV show)
Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley (Netflix Original documentary)
Sisters' Feud (Netflix Original TV show)
SPRINT part 2 (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 14

Beyond Goodbye (Netflix Original TV show)
The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish (TV show)
The Lost Children (Netflix Original documentary)

Arriving on November 15

A.P. Bio seasons 1-4 (TV show)
Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 (Netflix Original TV show)
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (Netflix Original TV show)
Million Dollar Decorators season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on November 16

Arcane season 2 act II (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 18

Wonderoos season 2 (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 19

UNT. Adam Ray / Dr. Comedy Phil Special (Netflix Original comedy)
Zombieverse: New Blood (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 20

Adoration (Netflix Original TV show)
Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy (Netflix Original documentary)
GTMAX (Netflix Original movie)
The Merry Gentlemen (Netflix Original movie)
Our Oceans (Netflix Original documentary)
Rhythm + Flow season 2 (Netflix Original TV show)
Shahs of Sunset seasons 3-4 (TV show)

Arriving on November 21

Maybe Baby 2 (Netflix Original movie)
Tokyo Override (TV show)

Arriving on November 22

900 Days Without Anabel (Netflix Original documentary)
The Empress season 2 (Netflix Original TV show)
Gold Rush seasons 1-2 (TV show)
The Helicopter Heist (Netflix Original TV show)
JOY (Netflix Original movie)
The Piano Lesson (Netflix Original movie)
Pokémon Horizons: The Series part 4 (Netflix Original TV show)
Spellbound (Netflix Original movie)
Tex Mex Motors season 2 (Netflix Original TV show)
TRANSMITZVAH (Netflix Original movie)
When the Phone Rings (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 23

Arcane season 2 act III (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 25

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Netflix Original documentary)
The Creature Cases chapter 4 (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 26

Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All (Netflix Original comedy)

Arriving on November 27

Chef's Table volume 7 (Netflix Original documentary)
Our Little Secret (Netflix Original movie)

Arriving on November 28

Asaf (Netflix Original TV show)
Is it Cake? Holiday (Netflix Original TV show)
The Madness (Netflix Original TV show)

Arriving on November 29

Senna (Netflix Original TV show)
The Snow Sister (Netflix Original movie)

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More details have emerged surrounding FUNNULL, the company that bought the Polyfill.io service and used it to launch a major supply chain attack?

New research claims the service is now being used as part of an enormous money-laundering scheme that involves tens of thousands of fake gambling sites for Chinese victims.

Security researchers Silent Push published a new report claiming to have mapped out a network of 40,000 Chinese gambling sites, propped up by FUNNULL, and redirected to using Polyfill. In its attack, FUNNULL impersonated a dozen brands from the gambling industry, and used more than 200,000 unique hostnames, 95% of which were created using Domain Generation Algorithms.

No workaround

Polyfill.io grants modern functionalities on older browsers, allowing web developers to use modern web standards without worrying about compatibility. The service, and accompanying domain, was acquired February 2024 by a little-known company called FUNNULL. Subsequent investigation has shown that the company is of Chinese origin, and most likely completely fake and non-existent.

When FUNNULL acquired Polyfill, its original developers urged the users (approximately 100,000 websites) to stop using it immediately, and go for safe alternatives (both Cloudflare and Fastly propped up legitimate mirrors at the time).

In June 2024, cybersecurity experts from Sansec warned that polyfill was serving malware. "This domain was caught injecting malware on mobile devices via any site that embeds cdn.polyfill.io," Sansec said at the time. Google also chimed in, notifying affected advertisers about their landing pages now possibly redirecting visitors away from their intended destination, and towards possibly malicious websites.

Earlier this week, security researchers from Silent Push published a new report, claiming to have mapped out a network of 40,000 Chinese gambling sites, propped up by FUNNULL, and redirected to using polyfill.

In its attack, FUNNULL impersonated a dozen brands from the gambling industry, and used more than 200,000 unique hostnames, 95% of which were created using Domain Generation Algorithms.

The websites were most likely used for money laundering, and other schemes, with Silent Push believing FUNNULL is directly linked to the Lazarus Group, a notorious North Korean state-sponsored threat actor that’s known for targeting cryptocurrency users.

Via TechCrunch

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The Jameses, who both play for the L.A. Lakers, shared the court for several minutes on the NBA's opening night. They join a very small club of father-son teammates in American professional sports.

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The widely versatile Worx Aerocart is down to just $160 at Best Buy right now.

If like me you were hoping we might see a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE – i.e. an affordable alternative to Samsung’s pricey foldable phones – then I have some bad news. According to Samsung itself, there’s no plans to launch a cheaper foldable for the time being.

Samsung has just launched a new foldable; specifically it’s a new Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition with some exclusive upgrades such as wider displays, a 200MP main wide camera, and a thinner and lighter body than the base Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. These upgrades come at price, however, with the device costing 2,789,600 won (or roughly $2,000 / £1,550 / AU$3,000).

It’s also exclusive to South Korea – with the rumored China launch remaining unconfirmed.

As for a cheaper alternative, Samsung appears to have no plans to make a cheaper foldable, with an official saying to Korean outlet Sisa Journal (translated for Korean), “As of now, we have no plans to release a separate product with a lower price.”

It doesn’t really get any clearer than that.

The wrong move?

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was already a step up in price (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Admittedly there’s still a non-zero chance Samsung is working on some kind of Galaxy Z Fold FE – to match other cheap Fan Edition Samsung handsets – as the statement is a little non-committal. The sort of non-promise either way that Samsung might mike if it has nothing to announce at this time (and teasing a cheap phone right before launching a mega pricey one likely isn’t a good business move).

And I seriously hope it has something less pricey up its sleeve, as the last thing foldables need to be is more expensive.

Yes the technology is awesome, I had an absolute blast using the regular Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 when it launched, but it’s tough to justify $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749 for a smartphone when a $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 Galaxy S24 does a lot of the same stuff. It’s especially a tough pill to swallow when you consider the non dustproof Galaxy Z Fold 6 design makes it less durable, meaning you could end up ruining your expensive gadget with one trip to the beach.

At, say $1,200-ish – £1,200 / AU$1,800 – or around two-thirds the price a Galaxy Fold would be a heck of a lot more appealing, even if that does mean Samsung has to make some sacrifices on the hardware side of things.

We’ll have to wait and see if Samsung changes course, but for now it looks like the best we can do is start hoping for some amazing deals in this year’s Black Friday sales if you want a cheap foldable.

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Tribit StormBox 2: two-minute review

The Tribit StormBox 2 is a cheap, hard-wearing Bluetooth speaker that's designed to deliver 360-degree sound for not much cash. The next-generation upgrade from 2018’s StormBox, it’s a pocket-sized portable speaker that sports unassuming looks and extreme levels of volume and battery life.

The Tribit StormBox 2 very much colors inside of the lines when it comes to design. It apes the near-cylindrical form factor of many of its rivals in the portable speaker space, even echoing the drop-resistant end caps and rubberized buttons that you’ll find on many speakers at the more affordable end of the market. Fortunately, this does make it rugged enough for use in the great outdoors; it will see off drops and dings, while its IPX7 water-resistance means it survived a minute-long dunking in the TechRadar testing tank without any ill effects.

Given its position at the cheaper end of the market, naturally it's missing some features that you’ll find on some of the best Bluetooth speakers. The StormBox 2 doesn’t offer Wi-Fi connectivity, nor less-lossy codecs such as LDAC or ALAC, which means you won't get audiophile-grade sound here.

Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised by the Tribit’s performance. Playing Black Eye by Allie X, the speaker did a great job of representing her vocals and those synthy stings, while that saw-toothed bassline delivers plenty of teeth. Given its frequency range only stretches as low as 70Hz though, it does lose a little presence in its low end – and, like many cheaper speakers, the treble can on occasion sound a little bit bright and overdriven.

On the plus side, like its less-rugged sibling, the Tribit XSound Plus 2, the StormBox 2 has some solid audio profiles that will let you polish the sound it produces and compensate for some of these weaknesses. XBass, in particular, gives everything much more oomph in the low end; I found myself increasingly just leaving it on as standard. And if you really want to get into the nitty gritty, the Tribit app offers a full nine-band EQ to allow you to tweak its sound to suit your favorite genres.

There are more features where that came from, too. One of the most noteworthy is its pairing options: you can link two StormBox 2s together, either to boost volume in party mode or to create a stereo pair, which offers decent separation and a convincing soundstage.

But perhaps the StormBox 2’s most impressive party trick is its battery life. Its stated 24-hour battery life makes the lasting power of Bluetooth speakers such as the JBL Flip 6 look ephemeral by comparison. And at lower volumes, at the 50% I regularly listened at, for example, I actually found it lasted far longer, stretching to as long as a preposterous 30 hours. This speaker has serious playing power.

Is it the best-sounding speaker on the market? Hardly. It displays some definite unevenness in the bass and treble, and the audio it produces isn’t the most detailed or expressive you’ll hear. But for its super-low price, it sounds far better than it has any right to – and the battery life alone makes it a solid investment. So, ultimately, if you’re looking to get change for $100 / £100 / AU$150, this will absolutely be your best option. If your budget can stretch further, there are far finer speakers available on our guide to the best bluetooth speakers.

(Image credit: Future) Tribit StormBox 2 review: price & release date

• Released on May 31, 2024
• Retails for $67.99 / £60 / AU$129

The Tribit StormBox 2 is available now, having been released on May 31, 2024. It currently retails for the bargain price of $67.99 / £60 / AU$129 – which is cheap, even for a budget Bluetooth speaker. This is roughly comparable to the much smaller JBL Clip 5, which only has 7W of amplification compared to the StormBox 2’s 34W, so in theory you’re getting much more oomph for a very similar spend.

When it comes to purchase options, you’re limited: there aren’t any color variations on offer, so what you see here is what you get. Fortunately, what you get is very generous, considering the price you’ll pay.

Tribit StormBox 2 review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Tribit StormBox 2 review: features

• Flexible sound profile and EQ options
• No Wi-Fi or less lossy codecs
• Insane 24+ hours battery life

The Tribit StormBox 2 possesses two 48mm full-range drivers that rock a combined power of 34W. While the 70HZ – 20KHz frequency range these drivers deliver isn’t exactly going to give you gut-punching sub bass, it’s still decent enough for such a compact unit. In addition, it's also capable of 360-degree sound – something you’ll be thankful for any time you’re listening to it in big groups.

Want even more room-filling sound? You’re in luck: you can chain several StormBox 2s together. Hit the TWS button on your connected StormBox 2 and then press the same button on a compatible Tribit speaker and they’ll form a stereo pair. Alternatively, for those more worried about achieving window-rattling volume, you can press the TWS button again and they’ll switch to a mono Party mode.

It's possible to augment the sound in other ways as well. Not only can its XBass button switch on the Tribit’s bass-boosting audio profile, but if you fire up the app, you can access four other sound modes: Audiobook, Classical, Rock and Jazz. However, those looking for granular control over their music will get the most use out of its nine-band EQ – this both lets you tweak the sound balance to your heart’s content and create your own custom profiles, something that quite a few more expensive models still lack.

Given the price, it will hardly be news that the StormBox 2 doesn’t pack the fancier features of premium Bluetooth speakers such as the Sonos Roam 2. While its connection utilizes Bluetooth 5.3, you’re out of luck for Wi-Fi connectivity or higher-res codecs such as LDAC or ALAC. And if you’re looking for the auto-tuning smarts that some high-end speakers offer, forget it: you’re never going to find it in a speaker this cheap.

Where the StormBox 2 does shine over almost any other speaker, however, is its battery life; it makes the Energizer Bunny look like a bone-idle clock-watcher. Tribit estimates the speaker will last you up to 24 hours of solid listening time. Wanting to put this to the test, I ran it for six hours at 50% volume, during which it lost less than 20% of its battery. At that rate, you could potentially eke out up to 30 hours use out of it, which is just ludicrous – even my most epic, 22-hour-long playlist wouldn’t come close to tuckering out this speaker.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit StormBox 2 review: sound quality

• Lush mids and rich bass – but only in XBass mode
• Premium speakers offer more precision and clearer soundstage
• Capable of eardrum-perforating volume

For its price, the Tribit StormBox 2 offers impressive sound. Firing up St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, I was instantly struck by how crisp and immediate the toms sounded. The richly timbred sax soars above everything, while beneath it you can still hear the piano line nice and clear, something not all speakers could have delivered so well. All in all, I have little to complain about when it comes to the middle of the mix.

As is often the case with budget Bluetooth speakers, though, the StormBox 2 does occasionally trip over itself at the high end. Sometimes, the bite of the guitars in Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way sounded a little over-keen to me, like the treble was a bit overdriven and the speaker wasn’t quite able to bring out enough of their bass tones to soften them.

This hypothesis was borne out when probing the lower frequencies the speaker could manage. Playing something with a bit of low-end heft, such as Nobody But You by George Fitzgerald, the StormBox does an admirable job of communicating the low-mids. However, when you compare it to the dynamic punch of bassier speakers such as the JBL Flip 6, everything feels a little looser in the lowest frequencies. It’s just a little too soft to have any impact, like being hit by a cotton-candy cannonball.

Fortunately, there is a way to take care of this. Flicking on XBass mode helped mitigate some of that wooliness. The kick just has a bit more punch, while the bassline resonates much more, giving the whole sound more glue, even while preserving delicate elements such as that piano line. Even though it’s lacking those under 70Hz sub tones, XBass really helps to give things more conviction and I found myself just leaving it on by default.

When putting its pairing options to the test, I was pleasantly surprised by how convincing a stereo field two linked StormBox 2’s created. Listening to my go-to stereo testing track, Manchild by Eels, there was no appreciable lag between each unit and the separation was precise. The samples were appropriately separated on each side of the mix, while the harmonizing of E’s vocals washed over me from either ear, creating a gorgeous layered effect. Not bad for $135.98 / £120 / AU$258, all in.

Despite this, comparing the whole sound to a five-star speaker such as the Sonos Roam 2, the difference between their two audio profiles was pretty clear to me. While the Tribit is undeniably punchier – at least with XBass mode on, anyway – the Sonos is far more discriminating, giving each element in the mix greater separation and breathing room. Naturally, you’d expect better poise from the Roam 2’s less lossy audio codecs, but it's worth considering the capability of a more premium speaker.

However, what the StormBox 2 lacks in finesse it more than makes up for in terms of sheer volume. For the vast majority of contexts, I found 50% volume was high enough to flood the room with confident, 360-degree sound. Cranking up the volume as high as 80% did finally start to show some ragged edges and limiting, but this was also past the level where the loudness had started to hurt my ears. In the vast majority of scenarios, this speaker is plenty loud enough without sacrificing too much in terms of quality.

• Sound score: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit StormBox 2 review: design

• Not the most exciting design
• Strap isn’t that usable
• Rugged build and IPX7 waterproofing

When it comes to its looks, the Tribit StormBox 2 hardly reinvents the wheel. It’s the kind of cylindrical-ish unit with drivers either end that’s almost so familiar at this point to be a design cliche. It also features three rubberised buttons on its face – a circular play / pause and a giant volume plus and minus combo. There are no vibrant color options on offer here, either. To paraphrase the industrialist and automotive pioneer Henry Ford: "look, it comes in black – like it or lump it".

But not every speaker has to be an aesthetic revolution. And the StormBox 2 is pleasing enough: the fabric that wraps around its core feels hard-wearing yet pleasant to the touch. Thanks to its 2.72-inch (69mm) depth, it sits comfortably enough in your grip, while a weight of just 1.54lbs (699g) means it’s easy enough to carry around wherever you go. Its strap is a bit of a misstep, though: you can’t easily unclip it, making it hard to loop it through a belt loop or bag strap, so you’re purely reliant on your meathooks here.

The Tribit is also suitably rugged. Thanks to its sturdy build and rigid end-caps, it should survive knocks and falls without anything more than cosmetic damage. On top of this, its IPX7 rating protects it from a plunge in up to 1m for up to 30 minutes. To test this out, I sprayed some water over it and allowed it to dry before powering it up again. I also gave it a thorough baptizing in TechRadar’s testing tank, first letting it merrily bob along on the surface before fully submerging it for a minute. I’m pleased to say that it bounced back from both of these dousings with zero damage, coming out of it sounding as responsive as ever, which puts it up there with many of the best waterproof speakers.

• Design score: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit StormBox 2 review: value

• Cheaper than any similar sounding rivals
• Not a match for more premium speakers

When doing a side-by-side comparison, the Tribit StormBox 2 obviously isn’t going to beat more expensive speakers such as the Roam 2 or even the JBL Flip 6. You can’t expect the kind of precision and quality that pricier components and less lossy codecs can deliver.

However, what the StormBox 2 does for its price is seriously impressive. With its speakers, Tribit is helping to redefine what you can expect from the bargain end of the market. If the biggest thing you care about is getting as much value as you can squeeze out $67.99 / £60 / AU$129, this is the speaker you should choose. If you’re wanting thumping bass or audiophile-grade sound, you’ll have to spend a bit more to get it.

• Value score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Tribit StormBox 2? Buy it if…

You want the best sound you can get for the least cash
Few speakers at this price offer audio that's actually worth the investment. But the Tribit offers confident, loud and sufficiently detailed sound that's deeply impressive for such a low price.

You want highly customizable sound
With five preset sound profiles and a nine-band EQ that allows you to create your own custom profiles, the StormBox 2 is a great option for anyone who's constantly looking to tinker with the balance of their music.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want audiophile-pleasing audio
In light of its cheap price and the lack of codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD on offer, this speaker doesn’t offer top-tier resolution. Anyone who doesn’t want to compromise on sound quality should be looking to invest in a higher-end speaker.View Deal

You’re after a speaker that makes a statement
The StormBox 2 offers neither a hugely distinctive dynamic sound signature nor eye-catching, vibrant design. If you want a Bluetooth speaker that draws comment, this may not be the one for you.View Deal

Tribit StormBox 2 review: also consider

Sonos Roam 2
Costing $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Sonos Roam 2 is more than double the price of the Tribit StormBox 2. But in return for that price, it offers a whole lot. Connectivity comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi, and it can integrate with Sonos’s multiroom speaker system for seamless playback, while offering crisp and detailed audio. It also offers IP67 ingress protection, meaning it can see off grit and submersion in water, making it great for listening poolside or trips to the beach. Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review.View Deal

JBL Flip 6
At the more affordable end of the market, the JBL Flip 6 has a good 50% price increase over the StormBox 2, at $109 / £99 / AU$169. But in return, you get more dynamic, bubbling bass and more adventurous looks, with the speaker coming in a range of colorways from salmon pink to camo. And, again, its IP67 ingress protection makes it a hardier companion for use in the great outdoors, seeing off dust and soakings with ease. Read our full JBL Flip 6 review.View Deal

Tribit StormBox 2 review: how I tested

• Tested the device over two weeks using multiple sources
• Compared it the Sonos Roam 2 and JBL Flip 6
• Used specific benchmarking tests to assess battery and waterproofing

I tested the Tribit StormBox 2 over the course of two weeks. I listened to the TechRadar testing playlist and tracks in a variety of different genres to make sure I’d built up an accurate picture of its sonic profile. In addition, I used multiple sources, including Spotify and Apple Music. I compared it side by side with other class-leading Bluetooth speakers, including the Sonos Roam 2 and JBL Flip 6.

To test its battery, I ran the speaker for six hours at 50% volume to see how much it declined, before dividing this by the amount the battery had decreased to get its overall playing time. To test the waterproofing, I sprayed the speaker with water, dried it out and tested its functionality again, as well as fully submerging the speaker in 12 inches (30cm) of water and doing the same.

I have over 10 years of experience reviewing and writing about tech products and have tested many Bluetooth speakers, as well as other audio equipment, during that time. I’ve also spent many years producing audio and music, which has given me a lot of first-hand experience at assessing the performance of audio products.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: October 2024

What triggers geysers to go off is still not well understood. A new paper shows that one small earthquake likely triggered an eruption of the world's tallest active geyser, Steamboat.

(Image credit: Tara Kaestner/Getty Images)

Cybersecurity experts have revealed a specific phishing tactic which has become increasingly popular - including malicious QR codes in .PDF files.

Researchers from Barracuda said that in the three months between June and September 2024, they observed (and later analyzed) more than half a million of phishing emails employing this tactic.

By sharing QR codes in .PDF files, threat actors are doing a number of things: first - they are evading detection from email security solutions, who can now scan the contents of images in the email’s body, but not in the .PDF files attached; and second - they are tricking users into accessing malicious content via their mobile devices, which are generally less defended compared to their desktop counterparts.

Shift in tactics

The overall theme of these attacks remains the same - the hackers would impersonate a major brand, and send out an email that warranted a swift reaction. That email could be a pending invoice, a payment notification, information about a bounced parcel, or something similar. The victims were urged to respond immediately, with further information being provided in the .PDF file attached.

Since .PDF files are not as dangerous as .EXE or .LNK files, they rarely raise any suspicion with the victims. Opening the file up does nothing, but it also shows nothing except the QR code, which the victim is enticed to scan with their mobile phone.

From there, the threat actors have an easier time navigating the victims to malicious landing pages, fake login sites, or places where malware can be downloaded.

Barracuda also says that certain industries such as finance, healthcare, or education, are being increasingly targeted these days, due to the sensitive data they handle. The researchers also said small-and-medium businesses (SMBs) were particularly vulnerable given the lack of advanced security tools needed to defend against such sophisticated attacks.

“The shift in tactics from embedding QR codes in the body of an email to attaching them in PDF documents makes it harder for traditional defenses to identify and block these attacks before they reach employees,” the researchers concluded.

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Russia, Iran, and China are targeting the US election with an evolving array of influence operations in the last days of campaign season.

Windows 11 users, I have some good news (for a change) about the new feature update for 2024, version 24H2. Thanks to major improvements to how the Windows Update app works, 24H2 will be installed faster than previous major updates.

Microsoft published a blog post explaining how it’s been working on changes behind the scenes that speed up how updates are installed, and the process will draw significantly less system resources as well, contributing to the speeding up of the installation process.

Thanks to 24H2’s servicing stack, a crucial software component that is responsible for installing updates in the operating system, installation is 45.6% faster and restart time is 39.7% faster than we saw with Windows 11 version 22H2 (and 23H2, as both versions have the same servicing stack) when installing cumulative updates for devices that were up to date and regularly maintained.

Systems that were running older versions of Windows 11 also saw big improvements, according to tests carried out by Microsoft. On a computer that hadn’t been updated for a year a half, Microsoft claims improvements of installation being 43.6% faster and taking 33.5% less time to restart. Good news all around.

As described by Microsoft, this was done using a couple of methods. First, Microsoft implemented parallel processing, allowing Windows PC devices to handle multiple parts of the update simultaneously. Second, it used smart caching, meaning that when Windows 11 processes part of an update, it stores (or ‘caches’) that information so it doesn’t redo the same parts of the process twice.

This helps speed things along when the same parts of the update show up repeatedly. Finally, updates will now make better use of RAM (your computer’s temporary memory storage), by checking if your PC is low on RAM and adjusting the update process accordingly to avoid slowing things down.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Faster, more efficient updates all around for Windows 11

Faster cumulative security updates aren’t the only improvement, with larger feature updates (that bring new tools and features) being made more efficient as well. This will include Edge, Microsoft’s default browser for Windows 11, saving about 200MB of space during bigger feature updates. You can read more in to the technical details of all of these processes in Microsoft’s blog post.

If Microsoft has its numbers right, you should feel that updates install significantly faster. The time it takes to download and install updates is one of the biggest complaints you hear from Windows 11 users and this will mean less down time and less frustration due to having to wait for your device to update or restart. Using fewer system resources during the update process means that you should be able to use your computer for various tasks while updates are installed, allowing you to get on with your activities.

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While Virgin River season 6 fans have already saved the date for Mel Monroe and Jack Sheridan's wedding, there's more good news as the hit romantic drama has been renewed for season 7 ahead of the season 6 premiere on December 19.

Netflix officially confirmed the news, posting a video on social media with the cast announcing that Virgin River has been renewed (see below). This won't come as a huge surprise to the Virgin River fandom since the series has been known to constantly top the best streaming service’s weekly top 10 most-watched shows list.

What's On Netflix first reported that it had seen several numerous members of the show's production team tease a season 7 and the rumor has since become a reality.

Good news, VIRGIN RIVER is confirmed to come back for Season 7! More love, drama, and small-town charm coming your way. You're very welcome ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WcJYNko3HTOctober 23, 2024

Netflix's greatest love story will be getting another chapter

According to What's On Netflix, after season 6 had wrapped some of the production team teased on social media that they'd be returning for another installment of the best Netflix show and a writer's room for season 7 had been active for a while now.

Patrick Sean Smith became the new showrunner for season 5 and is apparently expected to resume his duties for season 7. Meanwhile, there's been no official announcements regarding production dates, but it probably won't be until early 2025 when they begin filming in British Columbia. Now that Virgin River has been renewed for season 7, it will join the likes of Orange is the New Black and Grace & Frankie in becoming one of Netflix's longest-running English language scripted shows.

Despite Virgin River "showing some signs of declining viewership season over season, it still remains a bankable show" and there was a boost in watchers when the season 5 Christmas episodes aired.

While Virgin River's renewal has now been confirmed, there's plenty to look forward to when Virgin River season 6 comes out, with two new characters set to join the titular sleepy town. Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Callum Kerr (One Piece) will play a young version of Mel's parents, Sarah and Everett Reid who appear in flashbacks as they meet and fall in love in the 1970s.

The Virgin River universe is also set to expand with a rumored prequel series focused on Mel's parents that's currently in early development and will tell the love story of Sarah and Everett.

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A database believed to belong to the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has been discovered unsecured online, containing financial reports, bank account information, staff details, victim testimonies and more.

The database, containing a total 228 GB of information, was discovered by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler and reported to vpnMentor.

It lacked any password protection, with the 115,141 files displayed unencrypted and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Victim and worker information exposed

While currently unconfirmed, the database contained information linked it to the UN Women and UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, including letters and documents addressed to the UN and stamped with UN logos, with specific reference to UN Women.

Amongst the information within the database, Fowler identified scanned passport documents and ID cards, alongside detailed information on staff roles including names, job roles, salary information and tax data.

“There were also documents labeled as “victim success stories” or testimonies,” Fowler wrote in his report for vpnMentor. “Some of these contained the names and email addresses of those helped by the programs, as well as details of their personal experiences. For instance, one of the letters purported to be from a Chibok schoolgirl who was one of the 276 individuals kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.”

A collection of documents and certificates from the UN Women database. (Image credit: vpnMentor / Jeremiah Fowler)

It is not known how long the database has been exposed for, whether the database is managed by the UN Women organization or a third party, or whether the database has been accessed by anyone outside of the organization.

Fowler explains several hypothetical situations in which the data could be misused, such as convincing spear phishing attacks against exposed email addresses using manipulated documents. Theoretically, a threat actor could also use the documents to gain a high-level understanding of the organization’s organizational and financial layout.

The UN Women organization has a scam alert posted on its website which is undated, but the page dates back to at least July 2022, with an update occurring in July 2024 adding a guide to using the Quantum procurement verification portal. Fowler alerted the UN Information Security team to the unprotected database, and received a response stating, “The reported vulnerability does not pertain to us (the United Nations Secretariat) and is for UN Women. Please report the vulnerability to UN WOMEN.”

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